End Times Church countdown: Are you using the right weapon, church?

The watchman recently found an interesting Biblical example illustrating how a man led by the Holy Spirit used the right weapon to overcome a crisis supernaturally as described in 2 Kings 4:31-37.

The passage recorded how Gehazi the servant of Elisha and Elisha the prophet handled the case of a dead child. Gehazi was sent by Elisha to take Elisha’s staff and go to the child and put the staff on his face. The child’s mother refused to go home unless prophet Elisha went too. So he agreed to return with her.

But the servant Gehazi hurried ahead and duly laid Elisha’s staff on the child’s face. Nothing happened. There was neither voice nor hearing from the child. He returned to meet Elisha and told him the child was still dead. It was all done within a short span of time as Elisha was still on his way.

Elisha arrived and found the child was indeed dead, lying on the prophet’s bed (put there by his mother before she went and fetched the prophet). Elisha went in and supernaturally resurrected the child.

The steps carried out by the servant Gehazi and the prophet Elisha are as follows with comments from the watchman with perspective of a watchman-intercessor:

Gehazi the servant: He merely followed the instruction of the prophet. He faithfully brought the prophet’s staff, hurried to the dead child’s house, laid it on the child’s face as instructed. He had no further input as he had none. (We can only give to others what we have). Gehazi had nothing of his own that could give life. But he followed instruction well on this occasion and did exactly what his master told him. There are intercessors who follow the prayer list faithfully. However, as they do not have relationship with the Lord intimately they do not have the confidence to persist in their prayers. They do not have any input other than their own flesh as they do not know how to listen to the Holy Spirit.

They do not know whether the Lord has heard and answered their prayers. They do not know how to use the spiritual authority and power given to them to fight out the warfare against the spiritual enemy. They cannot do so as they cannot see into the spiritual realm where the actual real war is being fought. Their prayers are like jabbing at empty air with feeble forefingers.

Elisha the prophet: He encountered the same problem, i.e. the child was dead. But he adopted an entirely different set of strategy.

1.He went into the room alone, shut the door and prayed to the Lord. He started by going to the presence of the Lord -the original source of life. He interceded for the dead child.

2.Then he took a prophetic act of faith, what his own teacher-master, Elijah had done before (raising a boy from dead too), lay down on the child’s body, by placing his mouth on his mouth, eyes on his eyes, hands on his hands. He was standing in the gap for the child covering the child against the spirit of death, pouring out his own life prophetically for the child.

3.As the child’s body began to grow warm Elisha got up, walked back and forth across the room once, another prophetic act like Jericho March, building a fiery hedge of spiritual protection surrounding the child against the spiritual enemy. Why did he do that? It was possible that he saw or sensed the obstruction in the spiritual realm. So he took further spiritual action to block off the obstruction from the spiritual enemy.

4.Then he repeated his earlier act of faith, stretching out himself again on the child. This time indeed the boy sneezed seven times and opened his eyes! The boy was resurrected by Elisha’s anointed faith in action in the spiritual realm.

What did Elisha do differently? Why was his way effective? Medically and scientifically what the two ‘healers’ did would make no difference in the physical realm.

But Elisha was a spiritual man. He could see into the spiritual realm. He knew how to use his prophetic act of faith which has the anointed authority and power of the Almighty God. For example, in another incident, he knew exactly when and where the enemy king was going to attack Israel and Elisha would always warn the Israelite king beforehand to be on alert. He remained calm when surrounded by the enemy’s great army because he could see into the spiritual realm and saw the Lord’s larger and greater army (the hillside around Elisha was filled with horses and chariots of fire to protect him). But his servant could not see until Elisha asked the Lord to open his spiritual eyes.

He also talked to the Lord intimately and confidently like between close and trusted friends. For example, when the Aramean army advanced toward him, he prayed, “O Lord, please make them blind.” So the Lord struck them with blindness as Elisha had asked. (2 Kings 6:18) Then Elisha went out and led them to the city of Samaria. As soon as they had entered Samaria, Elisha prayed, “O Lord, now open their eyes and let them see.” So the Lord opened their eyes. (2 Kings 6:20)

In the eyes of the natural world, the prophetic faith in action of Elisha would seem irrational, stupid, and even ridiculous. Yet, it had the power to bring life back to the long dead child.

Because Elisha knows God. And God is Spirit. Elisha knows the spiritual reality of life. Thus, he was empowered to accomplish his assignment using spiritual weapon successfully as led by the Holy Spirit. On the other hand, the natural man Gehazi failed miserably because he was using a wrong weapon.

Church, are you using the right weapon? If so, why are so many members being depressed, oppressed, suppressed, crushed, defeated and even dying like flies?

Watchman’s Adventure: a night discourse on Love

Watchman’s Adventure: a night discourse on Love

The watchman does not normally go out at night. He prefers the comfort and quietness of his own garden in the cool evening breeze. But last night he was called to attend a date. The Date (the Holy Spirit) wanted him to attend a worship service where He will have something important to say to the watchman.

So the watchman obediently went. He was full of expectation as this was the first time for him to be called to go to a place for a specific message. He waited there until the later part of the worship and he felt ready to ask the Lord what His message was. Then he heard a small inaudible voice in his heart, “I love you.”

He was a bit disappointed as he thought this was probably his own self or this was a trick by false god(s) (the devil). But the voice asked him, “Is there any other ‘god’ who says to their followers I love you?” The watchman admitted no. Then he also realized that he had never told himself he loves himself. He is not a person who likes to be exposed to the vulnerability of love and other emotion.

So he asked the Lord, “Why do you love me?”

The small voice asked, “Why do you love your beloved?”

The watchman thought for awhile and could not find any reason so he answered, “I just love. ” The small voice said, “I too, just love.”

Then he understood, any other form of love, i.e. love with any reasons or conditions is not love. they are mere rationalizations, demands, conditions, and stipulations with the self in mind and not really for the object of love.

“If you can explain love in the purest way, you can explain God, Who is Love.” He came to this conclusion at the end of the discourse.

During the meeting he suddenly felt thankful for his life and gave thanks to the Lord for two kind and faithful persons who have often helped him doing the things he cannot do. They are faithful ‘assistants’ who come to his aid whenever he needs them, just like his right and left hands. Then he lamented to the Lord that one of them has not yet come to know the Holy Spirit and seems reluctant to do so despite his invitations.

The Lord asked, “How often have you prayed for him and his family?” The watchman was speechless as he hardly remembered them in his prayers. So the Lord said, “Start by praying for this man and his family.” This is the second lesson of Love that the Lord revealed to the watchman on the same date.

It was indeed a wonderful evening out with LOVE!

End Times Church Countdown: Salmon revelation to apostles and seers

The watchman had a wonderful surprise 2 days ago when he persisted to ask the Lord what the sequence of reading Acts chapters: 20, 13, 16-17 in that order meant. It was a breakthrough in hearing the Holy Spirit accurately.

On the night before, he asked another intercessor to uphold the senior intercessor in prayer and he also mentioned how he was led to read Acts 20 when he interceded for the senior intercessor. Hr did not tell her he was led to read further chapters in an unusual order.

The answer came back shortly that the Lord said the senior intercessor had completed her assignment here and would move on to higher ground – uncharted waters and would not be seen here anymore. The intercessor also mentioned a name of the uncharted waters.

The next morning the watchman asked the Lord again why he was led to read the above chapters of the Book of Acts in that non-sequential order. Then the answer dawned on him!

The non-sequential order and its meaning is summarised as follows:

Acts 20: This is the end and closing of the existing assignment.

Acts 13: This is the beginning of a new assignment.

Acts 16-17: This is the exciting and miraculous events that will happen in the new assignment!!

WOW! This exactly confirmed what the other intercessor has received from the Lord. So the watchman happily prayed for and blessed the senior intercessor further favour from the Lord and favour from kings as well as the kings’ hearts are in the hand of the Lord. Indeed, the answer to Jabez’s prayer is coming to pass for a lot of apostolic prophet-intercessors at the national level.

O watchman, open your eyes and see further and wider and be prepared to intercede over uncharted waters up the ancient waterfalls!

Watchman’s adventure: The Holy Spirit confirmed thrice!

The watchman was told a prophecy of his next assignment. He asked for confirmation. When he first heard it he thought it would require a miracle to accomplish it. But he was looking at the physical world and his natural resources then.

However he said he would be willing to go when his is fully equipped to do so. Then to his surprise things started moving very fast, with more visions, dreams and confirmations showing the intensified moving of the Holy Spirit. He discovered that his gifts were being sharpened and multiplied supernaturally.

Yesterday he received a final confirmation which indeed meant the Lord is serious about keeping His Word.

It started with a vision someone saw several years ago at his late mother’s funeral. The vision showed his mother very young with five small kids all facing one direction looking at an unfamiliar scenery. Two kids were wearing helmets on their heads.

Next was a discovery that the scenery actually exists in a region and there is a name to it.

After that there was a prophecy that he and four others will go there one day.

After that there was another geographical vision showing the place where one of the others will be going to stay within that region. But there was no name to that place.

Two weeks ago the watchman and the intercessor who saw the vision decided to search the internet maps to identify the exact location. When they came across a map, the intercessor recognized the exact spot and asked the watchman the name as she could not read the language. So the watchman took note of that name. After that they stopped looking as he was told by the Lord that He will provide the place and all resources when he sends them.

Yesterday he heard from another one of the other four that he had received an opening to go to a place and live there, and he casually mentioned a place name (unaware of the above mentioned map findings and earlier vision of the location). To the watchman’s amazement, the place name is exactly the name of the location he and the other intercessor identified on the map which matched her vision.

To his further amazement when he looked up the description of that location he found that it was exactly as required for weather, food, and ease of adjustment to living!

The Lord is an awesome God!

(The watchman admits he will have no excuse not to obey when the times comes.)

End Times Church Count Down: Apostles & Seers, Read Acts 20!

Today’s message is for high level prophets, seers and Apostles. The watchman started to intercede for the senior intercessors (seer-prophets/apostles level) and to his surprise he was led to read some very disturbing passages in the Bible: Job 4:3-6, 12-19; 1 Cor.15; Acts 20.

His reading was right after he finished praying for them. during the prayers he was led to using words like “consolidate”, “circuit”, “strengthen”, “share visions and missions afresh”, “give end times preparation directions (practical stratgies). In his spirit he saw Samuel going round the major cities (bases) minstering to his people, Paul and John going to churches planted or helped built up by them, encouraging, exhorting, sharing visions and goals, entrusting to the elders to carry on what they had initiated.

After he finished praying he asked the Lord to give confirmation to what he had just prayed. He was led to read Jobs, then 1 Cor.15, and finally Acts 20. When he read Jobs he was disturbed because he hardly knew the national leaders and he hardly knew what to pray for them. But it was clear that they did not visit them except for yearly rally (which had been stopped) and some ‘daughter’ churches had gone through tumultuous situations in recent years.

Job 4:3-6 3 “In the past you have encouraged many people; you have strengthened those who were weak.
4 Your words have supported those who were falling; you encouraged those with shaky knees.
5 But now when trouble strikes, you lose heart. You are terrified when it touches you.
6 Doesn’t your reverence for God give you confidence? Doesn’t your life of integrity give you hope?

Acts 20 confirmed the urgent and even dire needs of ‘daughter’ churches further by the example of Paul visiting his churches before he left finally for Jerusalem to face an arrest and imprisonment in Rome later.

There is a spiritual authority issue here. The daughter churches are covered by a mother church and the most senior intercessor leader (the spiritual leader of the mother church, representing the spiritual strongman of the house). The churches were built upon the vision of the initial ’leader’. Although some blievers in the daughter churches see visions, dream dreams and hear from the Lord (Holy Spirit), they see in parts. The overall big picture is revealed to the ‘leader’. The ‘leader’ has the responsibility of standing in the gap and provides coverings for all her ‘daughters’.

When the watchman sees this spiritual implication, he understands why Paul and Samuel spent all their working life going round their ‘churches’ in addition to interceding for them. After Paul was martyred John continued to stay in Ephesian church and mentor the younger disciples until he too left this world.

There was a touching parting scene in Acts 20 describing the Ephesian elders meeting with Paul at a place called Miletus. Paul shared with them his visions ahead, affrmed and entrusted them to God and their corporate reponsibility. Paul’s brief statement contained the following important facts:

1. His vision & mission: “I am bound by the Spirit to go to Jerusalem. Jail and suffering lie ahead. But my life is worth nothing to me unless I use it for finishing the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus.”

2. His prophecy on their future together: “I know none of you will ever see me again.”

3. His exhortation: “So guard yourselves and God’s people. Feed and shepherd God’s flock -His church, purchased with His own blood.”

4. His affirmation of their spiritual authority: “Over which (the church) the Holy Spirit has appointed you as elders.”

5. His warning about the future: “I know that false teachers, like vicious wolves, will come in among you after I leave, not sparing the flock. 30 Even some men from your own group will rise up and distort the truth in order to draw a following.”

6. His instruction to follow his personal example: “Watch out! Remember the three years I was with you—my constant watch and care over you night and day, and my many tears for you.”

7. His encouragement: “And now I entrust you to God and the message of his grace that is able to build you up and give you an inheritance with all those he has set apart for himself.”

Why read 1 Cor.15? It is all about resurrection and transformation of the mortal bodies into immortal bodies. It also brings out the uncompromising fact: all human die one day. This ties with Jobs 4:17-19 as follows:

17 ‘Can a mortal be innocent before God? Can anyone be pure before the Creator?’ 18 “If God does not trust his own angels and has charged his messengers with foolishness, 19 how much less will he trust people made of clay! They are made of dust, crushed as easily as a moth.

All apostolic leaders must accept the fact like Paul did that one day they have to depart from this world or they could lose their physical freedom by imprisonment. The message today is to strenghten your ‘daughters’ (some of whom are mere spiritual babies!). Remember how Paul kept reinforcing his churches spiritually and using his spiritual authority to cover (protect) them.

Paul’s churches were Spirit-filled and led by the Spirit in many ways. But he remained watchful, prayerful and in constant communication with them as intercessor and as the spiritual strongman prviding overall cover against the evil spiritual power until he considered his assignment completed and left this world.

The watchman only sees in parts and thus speaks in parts. He prays that the spiritual strongmen for most houses of God see a bigger picture and know more accurately what the Lord has required them to do at the time. He also prays that those who still do not see or know now wake from their slumber (or cast off the distraction spirit) and ask the Lord for the direction of the time and obey.

Watchman’s adventure: diagnosis and prescription Old Way

For the recent massive tragic sudden death everywhere, there is a remedy in the Holy Spirit’s Way. To break off and cast out the deadly soul ties in the spiritual realm with the dead, put on the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness (despair).

Isaiah 61:1-3

1 The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me,

because the LORD has anointed me

to proclaim good news to the poor.

He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,

to proclaim freedom for the captives

and release from darkness for the prisoners,[a]

2 to proclaim the year of the LORD’s favor

and the day of vengeance of our God,

to comfort all who mourn,

3 and provide for those who grieve in Zion—

to bestow on them a crown of beauty

instead of ashes,

the oil of joy


instead of mourning,


and a garment of praise


instead of a spirit of despair.

They will be called oaks of righteousness,

a planting of the LORD

for the display of his splendor.

Here is a very “old” yet Spirit inspired song to sing and ponder upon.
Lyrics

Chorus 1

Put on the garment of praise

For the spirit of heaviness

Lift up your voice to God

Praise with the Spirit

And with understanding

Oh magnify the Lord

Verse 1

All you that mourn in Zion

I have authority

To appoint unto you in Zion

Oil of joy that will set you free

Verse 2

Lift up the hands that hang down

Lift up the voice now still

Give unto God continuous praise

Sing forth from Zion’s hill

Verse 3

Sing to Yahweh alleluia

Worship and praise our God

Praise and adore Him

Bow down before Him

Oh magnify the Lord

© 1976 David Ingles Music

watchman’s Adventure: meaning of the roof top dream revealed

The watchman knew that his roof top dream still needs to be interpreted as he could not find peace when he sought the Lord today. So he asked the Lord what it means. Then he was told to read Isaiah 22 carefully. So he obeyed. Indeed he was given this passage yesterday but he did not read it. He merely glanced at the verse which described people went up the roof.

When he read the passage carefully and completely he understood what the Lord was saying to him. The description of the people on the roof, continuing to feast on meat and drink wine, dance and play, not showing any remorse, not weeping and mourning in sorrow for their sins, depending on their own military strength instead of returning to enquire of the Lord and seek the Lord’s help etc. were exactly what was displayed in the dream!

It was so real and frightening. So he repented for his own omission to be alert immediately after that dream and asked the Lord what it meant and started interceding instantly and faithfully. He knew now he was supposed to do the intercessor job and yet he was so busily engrossed over something else.

The lesson he learns is that for a watchman intercessor the first thing the Lord wants is that he pays attention to the Lord’s message and intercedes for others’ needs without delay. He is not to assume that the dream is related to himself and put it aside. Today after his session he relaxed and looked out of his window and admired the beautiful leaves. But he was told to close his eyes and when he obeyed he saw a colorless bleak scene. The message was, “Watchman, be alert as this is how the real world looks, in the unseen!”

___________________________

PRAYER FOR ISRAEL

The nation of Israel is under prolonged drought. The following is an excerpt from a source: ” Fresh water supply has reduced in size by 25 percent in the last five years. Israel has created innovative solutions to combat the consequences of the drought. For example, Feinerman attests that 50 percent of the water that Israel uses for agricultural purposes, which above another other use demands the most water, is recycled water. This percentage is far above that of any other country in the world. Other techniques Israel uses to compensate for the lack of fresh water include desalination and conservation. “

Here is ANOTHER EXCERPT from another source on praying for the water crisis in Israel:

Quote “ November 18th was declared by the Chief Rabbi to be a day of prayer and fasting for rain which is desperately needed in Israel. The prayers brought together the Ashkenazai and Sepphardic leaders as they agreed to repent for the sins of the people in not following the Lord.

But the land which you go to possess� drinks water of the rain of heaven: a land which LORD your God desires. The eyes of LORD your God are always upon it� and it shall come to pass, if you hearken diligently unto My commandments which I command you this day, to love LORD your God, to serve Him with all your heart and� soul, that I will give you the rain of your land in his due season� Deuteronomy 11:11-14a

Lord, although according to the above verses, You could withhold the water from this nation, yet we stand in the gap asking for mercy. We plead with You to send Your rain in abundance this winter season. You promised to even create new water sources. We ask that You do just that so that You will receive the glory.

When the poor and needy seek water, and there is none�, I LORD will hear them, I the God of Israel will not forsake them. I will open rivers in high places, and fountains in the midst of the valleys: I will make the wilderness a pool of water, the dry land springs of water� That they may see, and know, consider, and understand together, that the hand of LORD has done this, the Holy One of Israel has created it. Isaiah 41:17-20

Reveal to us if there is something specific You would have us pray concerning this issue. We trust in You alone to provide for Your people whom You have brought home.” (unquote)

__________________________
Isaiah 22


A Message about Jerusalem

1 This message came to me concerning Jerusalem—the Valley of Vision[a]: What is happening?

Why is everyone running to the rooftops?

2 The whole city is in a terrible uproar.

What do I see in this reveling city?

Bodies are lying everywhere,


killed not in battle but by famine and disease.

3 All your leaders have fled.

They surrendered without resistance.

The people tried to slip away,

but they were captured, too.

4 That’s why I said, “Leave me alone to weep;

do not try to comfort me.

Let me cry for my people

as I watch them being destroyed.”

5 Oh, what a day of crushing defeat!

What a day of confusion and terror

brought by the Lord, the Lord of Heaven’s Armies,

upon the Valley of Vision!

The walls of Jerusalem have been broken,

and cries of death echo from the mountainsides.

6 Elamites are the archers,

with their chariots and charioteers.

The men of Kir hold up the shields.

7 Chariots fill your beautiful valleys,

and charioteers storm your gates.

8 Judah’s defenses have been stripped away.

You run to the armory[b] for your weapons.

9 You inspect the breaks in the walls of Jerusalem.[c]

You store up water in the lower pool.

10 You survey the houses and tear some down

for stone to strengthen the walls.

11 Between the city walls, you build a reservoir

for water from the old pool.

But you never ask for help from the One who did all this.


You never considered the One who planned this long ago.

12 At that time the Lord, the Lord of Heaven’s Armies,

called you to weep and mourn.


He told you to shave your heads in sorrow for your sins


and to wear clothes of burlap to show your remorse.


13 But instead, you dance and play;


you slaughter cattle and kill sheep.

You feast on meat and drink wine.

You say, “Let’s feast and drink,

for tomorrow we die!”

14 The Lord of Heaven’s Armies has revealed this to me: “Till the day you die, you will never be forgiven for this sin.” That is the judgment of the Lord, the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.