Chapter sixty-nine: "Arise, O watchman and pray! Stand in the gap!"

The past week has been a remarkable intensive spiritual training period for Jack. He attended an advance watchmen (intercessors) conference. His original goal was to know how to prepare his family for end time as this theme has been on his mind more frequently. Whilst he has read the brochure, he was not even aware that it was meant for advance intercessors and watchmen.
He has participated similar courses before and has learned useful lessons from them. In fact, his life was changed after those lessons. However this time he was preoccupied by the signs of end time and how he could make sure the little ones in his extended family can be persuaded to live a godly life and Spirit-filled life. He prayed that the heavenly Father (God) will reveal to him how to hear God more, how to be more sensitive to the Holy Spirit, and show him what God has promised through the prophet Isaiah (Isa.45:11): Thus says the Lord, the Holy One of Israel, and his Maker: 'Ask Me of things to come concerning My sons; and concerning the work of My hands, you command Me.'
The course ran daily from morning 9am to the next morning 1am. After that there was overnight prayer meeting until 5am. They were given short breaks for breakfast, showers and dinner. They skipped lunch. Those who followed the regiment strictly had about 7 hours daily for travel (to and fro the hotel and the conference venue), food, showers and sleep in total.
Jack was physically worn out the first day. He had spent the bulk of the day traveling (including driving). When he finally found the hotel it was late afternoon. He had a quick shower and decided to go to the conference venue by shuttle bus. On arrival he had to spend another two hours waiting in the stuffy hall without air-conditioning. To his horror, a lady with considerable size decided to sit in front of him, blocking his vision and leaving no room for his legs to stretch forth for five solid hours!
By the time he returned to the hotel room he was tired beyond words. He  managed a quick shower and went to bed after 2am. He had five hours' sleep and rushed for breakfast (to sustain him until dinner) which was only available for a limited time. After that he caught the shuttle bus to the conference hall.
That second morning he chose a seat in front to have clear view of the speakers and the screen. But he was sleepy and tired and had a hard time keeping his eyes open at times. By the end of the second afternoon, Jack decided to skip the night session as he was exhausted. So he took the shuttle bus back to the hotel after dinner and thought he could have a good long sleep. However, as he was puzzling over a vision he saw earlier during the morning worship about one of the speakers, he communicated with his unofficial 'spiritual adviser' back home. She prayed in the Spirit and received the instruction that he had to intercede immediately for the speaker for whom he saw an adverse vision. He realized the seriousness of the matter and interceded until he received clear confirmation from the Holy Spirit (through the Bible, Psalm 103) that the matter was resolved. He fell flat on the bed and slept soundly after that!
The third day he continued sitting in front during the day. At dinner, he heard that they were going to do the marching again (as they did the previous two nights) that night. One of the speakers also told them that pieces of red clothes will be anointed so they could all walk under the cloth claiming the benefits of the Covenant for which Jesus had shed His precious blood. It was a symbolic act of course. By then he was tired and felt that he could do without the marching so he decided to go back to the hotel like the previous night for a good long sleep.
However, his 'spiritual adviser' contacted him and asked about the previous night's intercession. So he told her how he prayed until he received the confirmation in Psalm 103, and how this was confirmed the next morning when that speaker ended her lesson by quoting this psalm and even requiring them to proclaim this psalm at midnight that night under the starry sky!
When he asked the adviser whether he should attend that night's session and told her that he did not like 'warfare' (even when it is spiritual), she prayed and said that he should, at least show respect to the speakers. She told him that he had to go because this is part of his training as an intercessor. "This is the last days, every child of God MUST be trained in spiritual warfare (she messaged through her mobile), it is NOT an optional topic BUT a compulsory and core subject. So you must LEARN all you can! If each of us tries to avoid warfare, who is going to stand in the gap for the little ones in our family? Have they not been attacked enough?"
She further messaged, "When God asks us to do things that do not make sense, we better obey. It was how God brought down the walls of Jericho. His ways are not our ways." She further admonished, "Just now Holy Spirit gave me this phrase specifically for you, 'Obedience is better than sacrifice'. "
She then messaged the following addressing his reluctance. "You are already covered by the blood of the LAMB. No evil can harm you. I have never heard of God losing any of His prayer warriors during training. We are called to be the most powerful army (spiritual). So relax! No intercessors have ever lost because our prayers release the power of the Holy Spirit, so how can God lose to His creation, the devil?"
"The battle belongs to the Lord. We only stand in the gap and call forth His intervention. Being an intercessor is one of the easiest calling. We just pray and God will do the rest. The victory is 100%! "
"Am praying for you. Just relax and watch what God can do when we are at rest. He is indeed an awesome God. The biggest warfare is in your mind. There may be more than one negative thoughts there. Speak this loud 7 times to the air around you, personalize it: 1 John 4:4, 'You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world'."
After reading all these, Jack obeyed God. He knelt down and took Holy Communion, confessed all his sins (including pride and unbelief) and was assured that he has been forgiven and empowered. He went through that night's conference sessions without feeling worn out or exhausted. At 3am he felt fresh and well while waiting for the shuttle bus to take him back to the hotel.
Although he only managed to sleep for about four hours, he went through another day's training without falling asleep. That morning, they sang the song, "The battle belongs to the Lord", again confirming the spiritual adviser's message to him on the previous night! Jack managed to write down the following excerpts of the song, "In heavenly armor we enter the land, the battle belongs to the Lord. The watchmen on the tower are interceding for the land and the saints proclaim the victory of the Lord. And we sing glory, honor, power and strength to the Lord."
At the end of the course, Jack managed to drive another three and half hours in the evening to his next destination. He felt refresh and filled with a new sense of purpose and reality of his journey in the Holy Spirit.
There was another amazing incident. On that same morning, he saw a bit of clouds in the sky and decided to give thanks for the weather (even though he was told that the conference venue had had hot and dry weather for a long time). He even carried an umbrella into the conference hall. He must have looked ridiculous. (However, it turned out to be a prophetic act). At the end of the conference he was disappointed to find that it did not rain as he expected. But he continued to hold on to that umbrella to meal (late lunch at 3.30pm). After meal he drove to his next destination.
It was still bright and sunny and other drivers were all wearing dark sun glasses. He resisted the temptation to put on his. As he drove, he saw the sky gathering clouds. Only after he had driven two third of his journey, a bit of rain drops fell. By the time he almost reached his destination he saw the rain but it did not hinder visibility although by then he had to drive on narrow country lane in the dark. But the road was wet and he could see pools of water by the road side. On arrival, he was told that after a hot and dry spell, heavy rain suddenly poured for about fifteen minutes just before he arrived and stopped upon his arrival. The air became cool and clean. It was a lovely evening for all. It was as though the whole atmosphere had been washed and liberated by the Holy Spirit!
Indeed, God has been faithful and answered the prayers of his children.
What a remarkable experience in the Spirit!

chapter sixty-eight: Do not assume, just follow the Holy Spirit

One thing Jack has learned lately is to be really focused on the Holy Spirit leading and not to simply assume anything. He has been blessed with the fellowship and guidance of a number of brethren in Christ who are led by the Spirit.
It is not easy to be focused, as he tends to be distracted by a lot of things in his daily life. However, when he has to make a big decision like buying a piece of land he decides to ask for godly and spiritual advice. He acted on the advice.
Today he received an information about a piece of land which is being auctioned with a reserved price about three times below the market value of property in the same area.
He thought it was a good deal. It also excited him as it appeared to confirm his  recent reading of the Bible verses. However he called his brethren for advice. The brother advised him to go and see the land, step on it and claimed it and waited for the Holy Spirit to say whether to buy and if so, how much. He was also advised to go with someone (another brethren in Christ) in that vicinity at that time.He had Holy Communion with his family members before he went.
He went with three brethren in Christ (of whom two are his family members too). They prayed over the land and went home. The brethren in that vicinity prayed for covering of Jesus blood.
At night he and his family decided to intercede for their extended family and the forthcoming journey for two family members. After that they prayed for the land again.
At the end of the prayer, they were clear that the Holy Spirit said “NO”! The answer was unanimously received. It was given to three of them in three different revelations. To one the question was financial and she realized that the deal would have contradicted her desire. To a member who happened to visit Jack and his family that day, the answer was clear and in great spiritual and practical details.
To Jack, it was given in a vision which gave him no peace.
So he told them his vision and decision.It was confirmed by a visiting family member who has seen a number of visions on the land and has already received a number of big “NO”s and detailed reasons from the Holy Spirit.
Then Jack realized that the Holy Spirit has in fact earlier told him the answer. He was told he was not one assigned to do spiritual warfare and the land requires such gifts. He was told the land was in a cluster of stronghold and the location was not strategic. He was reminded that his purpose was to have a school for training and not for the intentions he thought he could use this land for.
It was amazing how the Holy Spirit has given him another important lesson on how to listen to the Holy Spirit and not to simply assume. The Holy Spirit has been a wonderful teacher indeed!
He is grateful that the Holy Spirit has arranged for these brethren to be around at the right time at the right place. If the information about the land was available on another date, he would not have had such clear direction within such a short but crucial time as the auction date gave him little time to research.
Praise God for His grace (unmerited favor) and mercy!

chapter sixty-seven: a watchman/disciple school?

As Jack ponders on the question of how one knows one is called by God to be a watchman, he realizes it is a big subject and not as simple as his mind would want him to think. In fact it is a spiritual issue and he does not know the answer. Lately he has these words, "school for the disciples of prophets" (translated into another language) entering his mind a number of times. He has no idea how this enters his mind at all as he has not been thinking of this. He has not read the parts of the Bible about the prophets for quite sometime.
He has thought about this subject and wondered if this is from the Holy Spirit. He does not even consider himself a prophet. How can he ever start a class (not to mention a school) for discipleship of prophets? Yes, he has taught Bible classes, led small Christian groups, trained adults and youth on both academic and practical matters of Biblical living in the past. But he has stopped doing that for a number of years. The more he seeks to live in the Holy Spirit the more he understands how one has to be called and empowered by the Holy Spirit to carry out such role.
He decided to put the idea aside. On the other hand he has obeyed the calling (when confirmed by Bible verses and also by several brethren) to teach the subject of how to be led by the Holy Spirit in Bible reading. His vision is to eventually train enough faithful men and women who will be able to train others too. He visualizes a place on a mountain, with living streams, lush green trees and garden, where such future trainers will be equipped in the Holy Spirit on God's word.
Indeed, the more he thinks of the multitude of Christians who want to know God but do not know how to be led by the Holy Spirit, the more he perceives the urgency.
He has been reading the Bible and listening to messages about the need to sow seeds for the kingdom of God. So he prayed for seeds one day. He was duly given one seed, an opening to speak to a group of elderly Christians. At the same time he met young brethren who thirst to know God more. These are seeds for the kingdom of God.
The word of God never fails to produce immediate materialization of its truth.
The more he believes in this truth the more Jack encounters the reality of God.
As for the school? He has decided to let the Holy Spirit continue to lead him into its reality.

Power from heaven for financial freedom (1)

Introduction

Why do I agree to give a talk on finances? In this time of increasing global turmoil with intensive destructive forces at work, the hearts of people are being crushed under a greater sense of uncertainty and emptiness. Indeed, even a Christian feels lost at times. When I think of such big issue like life and death which hits upon every family and even every life without notice, my heart feels heavy and wordless.

The more I think of this subject of financial management, the more I realize it is not management practice that matters. What matters is the way we treat our lives. When people are dying like flies, or worse, what is the value of lives? Can a life be measured by monetary value? Why, indeed why do people who have gone through a great disaster choose to live on even when all their loved ones have died and all that they have established in life had vanished and there seems no foreseeable physical and emotional relief from their pains?

How does finance come in? Can money solve their problems? If so why did not money prevent such disasters? Why is there such great a disparity between the opulent rich and the poor living below poverty line? The matter is not management. It is value.

So I intend to talk about value when I talk about financial management.

The fact that you are reading this or listening to this talk means that you are not yet the opulent rich. This message is therefore for those who are still in want and still feel they lack.

When I asked my prayer partner what make people feel that they still lack, she thought that all should feel contented with what little they have (and have-not) and there is no such word as bare minimum. When I search my deepest soul, I realize that it is a matter of security craving. Different people look for different thing to fill their security vacuum. The thing may be love, friendship, companionship, sense of achievement, self-esteem, others’ respect and acceptance, physical comfort etc. Many think that a lot of these can be bought with money. That is why money becomes a prominent object of want.

The goal of a money talk is therefore to facilitate people to find ways to feel more secure.

So the focus of this talk should be on value.

What is your value in life? What is the life purpose of a Christian? An average Christian would know the answer easily. We live to glorify God, to fulfill God’s plan for us on earth. We believe that God has a good plan for each Christian. We believe He can help us to live and complete that plan. So why are we still lacking in security? Why do we still feel we lack?

When we see this life goal we realize that we are on a different track from the race track God has set for us. All those men and women of faith who had completed the race before us had run on another track, the track of faith. If we run on a wrong track we would never reach the same destination as they did. No amount of money and/or capable financial management could transfer us to that goal.

How do we know we are not on the right track? When we feel that we are in financial want.

How do we go back to the right track? Here are the seven steps: (7 Rs in brief)

1. Repent and renounce your past and present money mismanagement.

2. Be Reconciled with God in your value in life. A humble and contrite heart He will not overlook.

3. Renew your mind (not be conformed to the world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, so that you know what the good, acceptable and perfect will of God is).

4. Review: review and assess your current damaged situations, the ruined walls -your assets and liabilities, and ask God for an effective plan to address them.

5. Rebuild: ask God for fresh strategies, supplies and support to rebuild your new financial security.

6. Restore: ask God to restore with seven folds what the enemy had stolen from you.

7. Reap the harvest of your financial management. Continue on the right track of faith, led by the Holy Spirit.

There are three absolute conditions for successful implementation of the above steps:

1. You must be led by the Holy Spirit.

2. You must have faith.

3. You must focus on the author and finisher of faith: Jesus Christ Himself.

How to be led by the Holy Spirit?

Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you answers to the above seven steps.

Spend time in the presence of God. Worship Him in Spirit and in truth. Read His words. Wait for Him to speak to you (through His words, dreams and visions). In quietness and stillness wait upon Him. Attend prayer meetings where there is a strong presence of the Holy Spirit and consistent focus on Jesus and the love and grace of God. Have Holy Communion with other Christians with clear focus on Jesus (His shed blood and broken body on the cross and what they mean). Attend church where only the words of God (the full Gospel of Jesus Christ) are being preached (not man’s words or man’s philosophy). Attend church where the Gospel messages are being followed by signs and wonders (healing, deliverance and transformed lives).

Practice living the words of God and take a step of faith in the Spirit (practicing the gifts of the Holy Spirit; practice praying in the Spirit, speaking in tongues). Do not doubt or let the sin of unbelief cripple your spirit. Never grief the Holy Spirit by denying His power in you.

Only the Holy Spirit can convict us of sins, of self-righteousness and of judgment. Only the Holy Spirit can transform and renew our minds and reveal God’s will to us. Only the Holy Spirit can make and do all things (working together for our good). He is the sanctifier and edifier. He is the grace and blessing of God, comforter, helper, and finger of God. Read all scripture about the Holy Spirit.

Word of caution: do not think that you are led by the Holy Spirit in your rational mind. What you reason out may not be from Him. He works perfectly without your mental input. You cannot take credit for what He has done.

How to have faith?

Faith is given by God to every Christian, in the same measure and precious as the one given to the Apostles. Jesus said all you need is faith as small as a mustard seed. It is not how much or how big your faith is that counts. What works miracles is simple faith not off-set by unbelief. Faith is a substance and certainty in itself. Just have faith. Do not doubt. Remember: when you can see the obvious result you do not need faith! Read all scripture about faith and start practicing faith.

Why must one focus on Jesus?

Jesus is the one who has won the battle for us on the cross. He has redeemed us from sin and death. He has borne the curse (including the curse on Adam that he had to toil on the ground before he could eat of it) for us. Jesus is the only one entitled to every blessing from God. He is the only righteous one. Without His sacrificial blood we cannot have any access to God. There is no way any Christian can finish his race on the right track without looking to Jesus! Do not let others fool you into thinking that you only need to acknowledge Jesus once (on the occasion of receiving His salvation) and thereafter conveniently put him aside. He is our every blessing!

Jesus said, “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven. “ He also warned that many would say they had done a lot of works and wonders in His name, but His answer for them on that day would be, “I never knew you. Depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!” (Matt. 7:22-23)

One pastor challenged his congregation: “If you do not have a habit of seeking God and staying close to Him, what makes you think you will suddenly be ready one day when Jesus comes to take His own people with Him to heaven?” Think about that. The matter is far more serious than having a good financial report on earth.

Remember the story about a beggar called Lazarus who went to heaven and an unnamed rich man who ended down in hell? Jesus knew the beggar by name. But the rich man remained unknown as far as Jesus was concerned.

To stay close to Jesus and be known by Him is absolutely essential!

2010-01-26

CHAPTER SIXTY-SIX: HOW DOES A WATCHMAN KNOW HE IS BEING CALLED?

A young man discussed this matter regarding special calling with Jack one day. Is it difficult to know what one’s calling in life is? How does one know he is being called to be a watchman? Jack has never thought of this before. He himself has stumbled his way into this spiritual journey in the first place. Surely there are other more focused ways!

As they discussed, he asked the young man what he thought his calling was. The young man told him that he felt more inclined to be an intercessor too. He said his favorite character in the Bible was Elijah. It was indeed an interesting and unusual choice. The Holy Spirit has been working on him! Jack thought about his own favorite Bible character. He could only think of two with whom he sort of identified: the prophet Jeremiah and the wall builder Nehemiah.

Are there similarities in these two Bible characters? How were they called to be watchmen? Jeremiah was called when he was a young man. He was a reluctant watchman. He was asked to speak to audience who rejected his messages. He had been ridiculed and even persecuted for his messages. He saw visions and spoke prophecies. God’s words burned inside him and he had no choice but to speak them. Yet he was most unwelcome for speaking the truth.

Jack of course had not encountered such experiences as he never saw significant visions for nations and assigned risky duties. All he ever saw and did was mostly limited to within his personal and sometimes wider church/mission scope. At times he was urged to pray in the Spirit although he did not know the content of his intercessions. He definitely has an easier watchman life than the ancient watchmen! However, deep in his heart he wanted to identify with Jeremiah. He felt as if he could see how Jeremiah wept for his city and nation who rejected his prophecies. This picture touched his heart.

Nehemiah was not called until he was already an established official (cupbearer) well trusted by the King in the Persian court. There was no mention of his calling by God. Nevertheless, he was touched and interceded fervently when he heard the sad news about his city and nation back home. He prayed until he knew God has answered his prayers. He was indeed granted favor by the King to return to Jerusalem to re-build the walls. He was different from Jeremiah as he was not only an intercessor he was a builder too. How could a cupbearer (a man who tested the wine before handing the wine to the King so that no one could poison the King) become a capable and efficient governor and city builder? This sounds impossible, yet Nehemiah had succeeded. What he completed was physically evident, in the form of the duly completed walls of Jerusalem, built in 52 days despite external political and military threat and harassments and internal discouragement among the workers.

Jack would like to identify with him in that he stayed close to God and prayed through the whole building project. It appeared to Jack that during Nehemiah’s intercessions, God had revealed to him His plan for the walls of Jerusalem and thus all Nehemiah did was to listen carefully and obeyed God’s instructions! It was no easy task but certainly exciting and worthwhile! The picture of Nehemiah kneeling down before the great God in heaven, interceding day and night until God answered (complete with a wonderful work plan and supplies) is certainly inspiring to Jack.

How does a watchman know he is being called? Looking at the above two cases, there is no one definite answer. God’s way cannot be limited. However, the certainty is that when one stays close to God, and is sensitive to the Holy Spirit, God will let him know. In the above two examples, one watchman was selected by God even when he was in his mother’s womb. Another watchman became one when he paid attention to news about God’s people and cared about matters that touched God’s heart. No matter how they were called, both had chosen to obey the calling. Both are models for emulation for all watchmen-to-be. Thus Jack concluded.

2010-01-24

CHAPTER SIXTY-FIVE: WHAT ARE THE QUALIFICATIONS OF A WATCHMAN (ON THE WALLS)?

Recent events had prompted Jack to review his role as a watchman. He does not want to fool himself into thinking that he is especially righteous or holy so he qualifies as one. He knows he is not yet the spiritual man he has strived to become. When he first started this journey of living in the Holy Spirit, he only wanted to know God more and follow Jesus by faith (in the Spirit). However, something happened on the way and he encountered events which he has never had a clue previously in his natural man. The spiritual realm has been revealed to him gradually as if he was watching a never ending movie that has no fixed plot.

After a dry eventless season, he recently encountered intensive working of the Holy Spirit in him. One night he was sleepless for four hours during which he saw nine visions! He knew they were visions as he was not dreaming. Another day he even saw two visions in broad daylight! Most recently he was led to wake up after only one and half hours of sleep. He was not allowed to continue his sleep although he was reluctant to get up from his comfortable bed. Then he saw a vision. The vision conveyed a sense of urgency and he had no choice but to jump out of his bed at 1.30am.

When he sat down at the kitchen table he opened his Bible to see if he could have a confirmation of the vision. What he read was exactly what he saw! He realized that he had seen part of the army scene described in the book of Joel chapter two! When he came to verse 17 he knew he was asked to intercede. So he interceded in accordance with the verse which commands: “Let the priests, who minister before the Lord, weep between the temple porch and the altar. Let them say, ‘Spare your people, o Lord, do not make your inheritance an object of scorn, a byword among the nations. Why should they say among the peoples, ‘where is their God?’”

He was tired and sleepy but he persisted (knowing that he was asked to stand in the gap for the priests as well as they were sleeping), “Spare your people, o Lord!” After he had prayed these words sometime he was led to pray for his own nephew, a lost sheep somewhere. So he interceded for the poor young man. Unlike what he thought at first, although he had completed his “watchman assignment’ for that occasion, he did not feel in a hurry to return to bed. Instead, he continued to worship and sing hymns. He was also led to intercede for a number of other matters (mostly for people) and read the Bible at intervals. By the time he knew the time with God was over that morning, it was already 3.30am. He had only four hours of sleep after that but he felt well and refreshed that day!

What are the qualifications of a watchman? He concluded that all a watchman needs is to be ready when called for an assignment. So far, all he did was to seek God, be thirsty for God’s presence and His words, be sensitive to the Holy Spirit and heeded His calls. There was no other requirement on him. There is nothing special about him. He believes that a lot of others like him are quietly responding to the calls of the Holy Spirit and intercede as required. Is it an exciting life? Yes! He feels happy and honored, as the almighty God cares to be present and listen to a man’s prayers.

Notwithstanding the odd hours he has to get up at times, he would not trade these with any other events. No words can describe the joy one feels in the presence of the holy, majestic, all powerful yet caring God!

2010-01-22

CHAPTER SIXTY-FOUR: WATCHMAN, WALLS OF MY HEART AND MORNING STAR

A time has come for Jack to take stock as a watchman.

He has gone on this journey in the Holy Spirit for almost a year during which he has experienced the reality of the spiritual and supernatural realm as described in the Bible. He has also discovered the ability of man to communicate with the Holy Spirit. He has encountered God.

The year can be compared to that of a class conducted by the Holy Spirit. Although he was not exactly the responsive and sensitive student, he has managed to see and hear important messages at random and responded accordingly. He knew that there had been times he failed as watchman and other watchmen must have stood in for him. He is grateful for that.

Even now he is still not sure of how he could receive the interpretations and explanations to some of his visions. He relies on others to interpret for him if possible. Otherwise he takes a long time to decipher the message by reading relevant passages in the Bible over and over again and asking for more signs from the Holy Spirit. He used to think that it would get easier as he continues his quest. He is wrong. When he first sought God in the Holy Spirit, he saw visions easily and had the related interpretations almost immediately. As the year went by he lost momentum and could not settle down to seek God’s presence quietly. He did not even enquire of God and he saw less and less visions. Lately when he resumed his quest he found that he saw visions without any clue to interpret them!

The recent events were good illustrations of how he had to go through a lot of channels before he understood the message the Holy Spirit was trying to pass to him. On this subject he still has promptings in his heart that the message is more than just a personal one for the young man who is seeking to become godly. He needs to look further beyond the walls of Nehemiah. He needs to search his heart and see if there are walls there to be pulled down as well. He needs to ask the Holy Spirit to reveal His greater purpose if any for making him read the book “Walls of my heart” after reading the book of Nehemiah.

Surely it was no coincidence that he was led to read both books. He has determined in his heart to find out more about this message which he is yet to decipher. Indeed, he has been listening to teachings about a Christian being the temple of the Holy Spirit and that the body of Christ consists of individual Christians together becomes a church. Church building is in fact body building for Christ. Each member of the body of Christ needs to be built up. The walls are made up of each brick (member of the body of Christ). Hence, re-building the ruined walls require regeneration and rebuilding each individual member of the church.

What is a watchman’s role in this rebuilding effort? He needs to really listen and watch. When he receives a message it is his role to pass it faithfully to the intended target. Like in the rebuilding project in Nehemiah, the job of a watchman is never completed until the walls are completed. But he dared not presume anything, knowing the serious consequences of human presumption.

Apostle Peter warned us of this, “And so we have the prophetic word confirmed, which you do well to heed as a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts; knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation, for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.” (2 Peter 1:19-21)

Carry on watching and praying!

2010-01-20