End Times Witnessing: How a king missed heaven call?

Even kings can miss the heaven call. How does a king do this? Let us look at the sad but real and relevant life example of King Saul. Watchman’s comments are in brackets.


1 Samuel 15

1. (The Lord sent Prophet Samuel and gave a specific command to King Saul. He was called to be king over Israel. He was assigned a job, i.e. to go and smite the Amalek, and eliminate all. The Lord even gave the reason of this command.)

1SAMUEL TOLD Saul, The Lord sent me to anoint you king over His people Israel. Now listen and heed the words of the Lord. 2Thus says the Lord of hosts, I have considered and will punish what Amalek did to Israel, how he set himself against him in the way when [Israel] came out of Egypt. 3Now go and smite Amalek and utterly destroy all they have; do not spare them, but kill both man and woman, infant and suckling, ox and sheep, camel and donkey.

2. (Saul chose to obey some of the commands and disobey some.)

4So Saul assembled the men and numbered them at Telaim–200,000 men on foot and 10,000 men of Judah. 5And Saul came to the city of Amalek and laid wait in the valley. 6Saul warned the Kenites, Go, depart, get down from among the Amalekites, lest I destroy you with them; for you showed kindness to all the Israelites when they came up out of Egypt. So the Kenites departed from among the Amalekites. 7Saul smote the Amalekites from Havilah as far as Shur, which is east of Egypt. 8And he took Agag king of the Amalekites alive, though he utterly destroyed all the rest of the people with the sword. 9Saul and the people spared Agag and the best of the sheep, oxen, fatlings, lambs, and all that was good, and would not utterly destroy them; but all that was undesirable or worthless they destroyed utterly.

3. (The Lord told Prophet Samuel about this and the Lord’s decision to remove and replace Saul as king. Samuel faithfully obeyed the Lord’s command even though he was personally and emotionally affected by this decision.)

10Then the word of the Lord came to Samuel, saying, 11I regret making Saul king, for he has turned back from following Me and has not performed My commands. And Samuel was grieved and angry [with Saul], and he cried to the Lord all night.

4. (Saul missed the heavenly call because he just did not know God in Spirit and in Truth. He was just like any other human being, living by his old nature (lust of the flesh, lust of the eyes and pride of life; including his carnal mind) and the usual sensual way of life in the world. He thought his reason for not following the exact commands of the Lord was reasonable! This sounds just like any unbeliever’s ‘perfect’ argument for not believing in Jesus being the ONLY Savior, and ONLY Way to heaven! Their argument is that ‘my way’ or ‘any human way’ with the purpose of sacrificing to God is just as good as believing in Jesus!)

12When Samuel rose early to meet Saul in the morning, he was told, Saul came to Carmel, and behold, he set up for himself a monument or trophy [of his victory] and passed on and went down to Gilgal. 13And Samuel came to Saul, and Saul said to him, Blessed are you of the Lord. I have performed what the Lord ordered. 14And Samuel said, What then means this bleating of the sheep in my ears, and the lowing of the oxen which I hear? 15Saul said, They have brought them from the Amalekites; for the people spared the best of the sheep and oxen to sacrifice to the Lord your God, but the rest we have utterly destroyed.

5. (But Samuel had to tell Saul to shut up. He then faithfully gave him the message from God. He pointed out Saul’sole unforgivable sin was disobedience to God. Samuel thus witnessed for the holy and righteous God!)

16Then Samuel said to Saul, Stop! I will tell you what the Lord said to me tonight. Saul said to him, Say on. 17Samuel said, When you were small in your own sight, were you not made the head of the tribes of Israel, and the Lord anointed you king over Israel? 18And the Lord sent you on a mission and said, Go, utterly destroy the sinners, the Amalekites; and fight against them until they are consumed. 19Why then did you not obey the voice of the Lord, but swooped down upon the plunder and did evil in the Lord’s sight?

6. (But Saul further revealed his ignorance of God. He even stooped to using a lame excuse. Indeed for a mighty warrior and successful commander of the army of hundreds of thousands, how can he be afraid of his people and not enforce strict discipline?)

20Saul said to Samuel, Yes, I have obeyed the voice of the Lord and have gone the way which the Lord sent me, and have brought Agag king of Amalek and have utterly destroyed the Amalekites. 21But the people took from the spoil sheep and oxen, the chief of the things to be utterly destroyed, to sacrifice to the Lord your God in Gilgal.

7. (No wonder Samuel felt grieved and angry with Saul when he first heard from the Lord how Saul had disobeyed God, by rejecting the word of the Lord. He just could not understand how a man made king over God’s chosen nation could be so ignorant about God. Who does Saul think God is? Like any other so called ‘gods’? Samuel witnessed that for our God, “To obey is better than sacrifice”. He also gave the reason that, “for rebellion is as the sin of wichcraft, and stubbornness is as idolatry”. )

22Samuel said, Has the Lord as great a delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams. 23For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as idolatry and teraphim (household good luck images). Because you have rejected the word of the Lord, He also has rejected you from being king.

8. (Saul finally heard that the Lord meant serious business. He was not going to be king any longer! What happened in this earthly life was all he cared for in this conversation. He wasn’t bothered with Who God is. Even so, he cared for men’s opinion more than God’s opinion of him! Indeed a tragic case of a king missing heaven!)

24And Saul said to Samuel, I have sinned; for I have transgressed the commandment of the Lord and your words, because I feared the people and obeyed their voice. 25Now, I pray you, pardon my sin and go back with me, that I may worship the Lord. 26And Samuel said to Saul, I will not return with you; for you have rejected the word of the Lord, and the Lord has rejected you from being king over Israel. 27And as Samuel turned to go away, Saul seized the skirt of Samuel’s mantle, and it tore. 8And Samuel said to him, The Lord has torn the kingdom of Israel from you this day and has given it to a neighbor of yours who is better than you. 29And also the Strength of Israel will not lie or repent; for He is not a man, that He should repent. 30Saul said, I have sinned; yet honor me now, I pray you, before the elders of my people and before Israel, and return with me, that I may worship the Lord your God. 31So Samuel turned back after Saul, and Saul worshiped the Lord.

9. (Saul did not make it finally. )

35And Samuel came no more to see Saul until the day of his death, though Samuel grieved over Saul. And the Lord repented that He had made Saul king over Israel.

10. (Conclusion: Saul is a natural man who lives by flesh and not by the Spirit (by faith). He does not know God. He is just not interested in God! Sad. That is exactly why many do not enter through the narrow gate today! On the other hand we see how faithful Samuel has witnessed for God and God’s Way. Samuel is a man who lives by the Spirit and obeys the Word of God. He has human feelings but he does not allow his emotion and mind interfere with the spiritual matters pertaining God, because he knows God in Spirit and in Truth.)

The narrow way to heaven:


(The narrow gate is Jesus. The difficult way is by faith and by the Spirit of God. it takes a miracle to enter heaven. The miracle is, no longer trusting our usual natural way of thinking and physical experience.)

Jesus said, “Enter by the narrow gate, for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destructions, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.” (Matthew 7:13-14)

END TIMES WITNESSING: “NEVER AGAIN! -再不” (TODAY’S MESSAGE: DON’T TURN BACK!)

During Sunday morning worship the watchman saw open vision of two words appear on the ceiling fan in another language. The words can be translated to “NEVER AGAIN”!


He took heed and could feel the oppression in the church. The Spirit prompted him to wave the Jesus flag in red. He looked around and saw that there was no space left as the small worship hall was packed. He waited but the Spirit kept prompting him. When the worship leader led all to pray in the Spirit, the watchman then detected someone in the congregation at the back praying in a different spirit.

He could not hesitate anymore and took the big red Jesus flag and started waving. The Spirit led him to turn to facing the back and waved. He obeyed and waved at that direction and proclaimed Jesus’ name. The disturbing spirit stopped. The oppression lifted as the congregation flowed with the Holy Spirit in unison.

One person then gave words of exhortation and petition for the Holy Spirit to open the eyes of those who were still blinded to the spiritual realm and living in defeat and oppression.

After that the watchman was led to proclaim the two words he received earlier. The message was clear, “Never go back to Egypt! Don’t go back to your old sinful nature, your old man that had died on the cross with Jesus!” “All who had baptized were crucified with Christ and died with Him, buried and were raised to a new life, a new being born again by the Holy Spirit and the Word of God. So, do not turn back to the world.” “Do not turn back to living by the flesh (by body and soul), but continue to live by the Spirit”.

The anointing of the Holy Spirit continued to flow and many went to the altar to repent and receive from the Lord healing and deliverance. Another intercessor was led by the Spirit to pray a repentance prayer for all.

The sermon that followed was on end time from Daniel 7, Revelation 12-13, and 2 Thessalonians 2, confirming what the Spirit has been prompting many of us in churches today!

This morning while sharing the revelation of the two words “Never again” with another intercessor, the person exclaimed, “Yes, this is exactly what the Lord Jesus Himself has warned His followers in the Gospel, “On that day a person out on the deck of a roof must not go down into the house to pack. A person out in the field must not return home. “

O watchman, the Spirit is speaking loud and clear. Watch and Pray! Proclaim, “Never Again!” Time is near!

LUKE 17:20-37

The Coming of the Kingdom

20One day the Pharisees asked Jesus, “When will the Kingdom of God come?”

Jesus replied, “The Kingdom of God can’t be detected by visible signs.[d] 21 You won’t be able to say, ‘Here it is!’ or ‘It’s over there!’ For the Kingdom of God is already among you.[e]”

22 Then he said to his disciples, “The time is coming when you will long to see the day when the Son of Man returns,[f] but you won’t see it. 23 People will tell you, ‘Look, there is the Son of Man,’ or ‘Here he is,’ but don’t go out and follow them. 24 For as the lightning flashes and lights up the sky from one end to the other, so it will be on the day when the Son of Man comes. 25 But first the Son of Man must suffer terribly[g]and be rejected by this generation.

26 “When the Son of Man returns, it will be like it was in Noah’s day. 27In those days, the people enjoyed banquets and parties and weddings right up to the time Noah entered his boat and the flood came and destroyed them all.

28 “And the world will be as it was in the days of Lot. People went about their daily business—eating and drinking, buying and selling, farming and building—29 until the morning Lot left Sodom. Then fire and burning sulfur rained down from heaven and destroyed them all. 30 Yes, it will be ‘business as usual’ right up to the day when the Son of Man is revealed. 31 On that day a person out on the deck of a roof must not go down into the house to pack. A person out in the field must not return home. 32 Remember what happened to Lot’s wife! 33 If you cling to your life, you will lose it, and if you let your life go, you will save it. 34 That night two people will be asleep in one bed; one will be taken, the other left. 35 Two women will be grinding flour together at the mill; one will be taken, the other left.[h]”

37 “Where will this happen, Lord?”[i]the disciples asked.

Jesus replied, “Just as the gathering of vultures shows there is a carcass nearby, so these signs indicate that the end is near.”[j]

Footnotes:

(d) Luke 17:20 Or by your speculations.

(e) *Luke 17:21 Or is within you, or is in your grasp.(

(f) Luke 17:22 Or long for even one day with the Son of Man. “Son of Man” is a title Jesus used for himself.

(g) Luke 17:25 Or suffer many things.

(h) Luke 17:35 Some manuscripts add verse 36, Two men will be working in the field; one will be taken, the other left. Compare Matt 24:40.

(i) Luke 17:37 Greek “Where, Lord?”

(j) Luke 17:37 Greek “Wherever the carcass is, the vultures gather.”

路 加 福 音 17:20-37

20法 利 赛 人 问 ： 神 的 国 几 时 来 到 ？ 耶 稣 回 答 说 ： 神 的 国 来 到 不 是 眼 所 能 见 的 。

21人 也 不 得 说 ： 看 哪 ， 在 这 里 ！ 看 哪 ， 在 那 里 ！ 因 为 神 的 国 就 在 你 们 心 里 （ 心 里 ： 或 作 中 间 ） 。

22他 又 对 门 徒 说 ： 日 子 将 到 ， 你 们 巴 不 得 看 见 人 子 的 一 个 日 子 ， 却 不 得 看 见 。

23人 将 要 对 你 们 说 ： 看 哪 ， 在 那 里 ！ 看 哪 ， 在 这 里 ！ 你 们 不 要 出 去 ， 也 不 要 跟 随 他 们 ！

24因 为 人 子 在 他 降 临 的 日 子 ， 好 像 闪 电 从 天 这 边 一 闪 直 照 到 天 那 边 。

25只 是 他 必 须 先 受 许 多 苦 ， 又 被 这 世 代 弃 绝 。

26挪 亚 的 日 子 怎 样 ， 人 子 的 日 子 也 要 怎 样 。

27那 时 候 的 人 又 吃 又 喝 ， 又 娶 又 嫁 ， 到 挪 亚 进 方 舟 的 那 日 ， 洪 水 就 来 ， 把 他 们 全 都 灭 了 。

28又 好 像 罗 得 的 日 子 ； 人 又 吃 又 喝 ， 又 买 又 卖 ， 又 耕 种 又 盖 造 。

29到 罗 得 出 所 多 玛 的 那 日 ， 就 有 火 与 硫 磺 从 天 上 降 下 来 ， 把 他 们 全 都 灭 了 。

30人 子 显 现 的 日 子 也 要 这 样 。


31当 那 日 ， 人 在 房 上 ， 器 具 在 屋 里 ， 不 要 下 来 拿 ； 人 在 田 里 ， 也 不 要 回 家 。


32你 们 要 回 想 罗 得 的 妻 子 。


33凡 想 要 保 全 生 命 的 ， 必 丧 掉 生 命 ； 凡 丧 掉 生 命 的 ， 必 救 活 生 命 。

34我 对 你 们 说 ， 当 那 一 夜 ， 两 个 人 在 一 个 床 上 ， 要 取 去 一 个 ， 撇 下 一 个 。


35两 个 女 人 一 同 推 磨 ； 要 取 去 一 个 ， 撇 下 一 个 。 （ 有 古 卷 在 此 有 ：


36两 个 人 在 田 里 ， 要 取 去 一 个 ， 撇 下 一 个 。 ）

37 门 徒 说 ： 主 阿 ， 在 那 里 有 这 事 呢 ？ 耶 稣 说 ： 尸 首 在 那 里 ， 鹰 也 必 聚 在 那 里 。

End Times Witnessing: Watch face and death of a watchman

The watchman woke today and realized that the turning of his watch face by one quarter has coincided with the recent death of a watchman for this century. A quarter of End Times has passed.


The time in the spiritual realm is not for humans to speculate, not even watchmen who see signs and hear God. No one knows how the Lord sets His time and how His time counts down at the end. The watchman can only read signs and asks the Holy Spirit to reveal an answer or answers, with further confirmations in His words and other signs.

The watchman however remains alert and keeps his eyes open. Today he shared his notes with another watchman. The other watchman came back with this question: “Could he be one of the two witnesses in Revelation?”


If that is the case, then another witness’ death will remove another quarter of the time. All that will be left then will be the half time!

Note: Another confirmation came in the form of a headline on the front page (sports section) of one foreign national newspapers that declared (translation from the original language): “Snatch for the 19th crown overtaking Red Army TODAY!” “Red Devil to rise to top Count Down Time“! (see the picture at the end of this blog!)

Here is the passage from Prophet Isaiah for TODAY:


Isaiah 8:11-22

Fear God, Heed His Word


11 For the LORD spoke thus to me with a strong hand, and instructed me that I should not walk in the way of this people, saying:
(NLT: "The Lord has given me a strong warning not to think like everyone else does. He said,")

12 “ Do not say, ‘A conspiracy,’

Concerning all that this people call a conspiracy,

Nor be afraid of their threats, nor be troubled.


13 The LORD of hosts, Him you shall hallow;


Let Him be your fear,


And let Him be your dread.

14 He will be as a sanctuary,

But a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense

To both the houses of Israel,

As a trap and a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem.

15 And many among them shall stumble;

They shall fall and be broken,

Be snared and taken.”

16 Bind up the testimony,

Seal the law among my disciples.

17 And I will wait on the LORD,

Who hides His face from the house of Jacob;

And I will hope in Him.

18 Here am I and the children whom the LORD has given me!


We are for signs and wonders in Israel

From the LORD of hosts,

Who dwells in Mount Zion.

19 And when they say to you, “Seek those who are mediums and wizards, who whisper and mutter,” should not a people seek their God? Should they seek the dead on behalf of the living? 20 To the law and to the testimony! If they do not speak according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.

21 They will pass through it hard-pressed and hungry; and it shall happen, when they are hungry, that they will be enraged and curse their king and their God, and look upward. 22 Then they will look to the earth, and see trouble and darkness, gloom of anguish; and they will be driven into darkness.
 
Isaiah 9:1-2
The Government of the Promised Son


1 Nevertheless the gloom will not be upon her who is distressed,

As when at first He lightly esteemed

The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali,

And afterward more heavily oppressed her,

By the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan,

In Galilee of the Gentiles.

2 The people who walked in darkness

Have seen a great light;

Those who dwelt in the land of the shadow of death,

Upon them a light has shined.

The original sports front page (of May 14th 2011) with the headlines that include words: ‘TODAY’, ‘RED DEVIL’, COUNT DOWN TIME’, ‘SNATCH’, ‘RISE TO THE TOP’

End Times Witnessing: Count down started on watchman’s watch face

The watchman woke up on Monday (May 8^th 2011) and was shocked to see his watch had its face turn upside down. The number 12 was at the bottom and the number 6 was on top of his watch face. But the time (as expressed by the hour and minute hands) was running perfectly!
He has not dropped it or exposed it to any shocks but the figures on the watch mysteriously changed positions during the night. He tried to wear the watch the opposite way for 2 days after which he decided to wear it the usual way. However, he discovered that the face had since changed to the direction which is evident in the above picture (taken at 2:40pm; 14:40).  The dates are running backward. For example, instead of going forward to the next day, say, from 12^th to 13^th, the date went backward from 12^th to 11^th and then 10^th and so on. The frightening part is that the date changes fast as if the minutes are now counted as hours and days are being accelerated to run out (thus shortened)!

This is not a nightmare. This is a sign of the open visions that the watchman has asked for. However instead of visions he has received actual physical signs, e.g words ‘projected’ (from nowhere), actual appearance of one ‘human being’, light rays, pictures that stand out by themselves out of the bigger pictures. Many are real physical things except for the words and the one ‘human being’.

In one case, he accompanied someone to a meeting at a large church and saw a man dressed complete in Western (like cowboy clothes and boots) bending down on the altar with his backside facing the audience. He knew it could not be a real man. He thought the church had put some clothings and boots there which position made it look like a real irreverent man. He asked the other person to look but that person said there was nothing unusual and there were only two drums at that place! The watchman could not see any drums as that bent man was blocking. The bent man remained there through out the whole worship and preaching service. The following night he saw that truly there were only two drums where the man was! (That church was the same one in which he had once seen vision of two Red Indian chiefs with war head gears and battle axe standing on the new multi-million dollars car park scaffolding).

Today he asked the Lord what his watch means. The message he has received is the urgent Word “TODAY”! He is urged to share the following Bible verses with you as time is running down.

HEBREWS 3

⁷Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says: Today, if you will hear His voice,

⁸Do not harden your hearts, as [happened] in the rebellion [of Israel] and their provocation and ^[a]embitterment [of Me] in the day of testing in the wilderness,

⁹Where your fathers tried [My patience] and tested [My forbearance] and ^[b]found I stood their test, and they saw My works for forty years.

¹⁰And so I was provoked (displeased and sorely grieved) with that generation, and said, They always err and are led astray in their hearts, and they have not perceived or recognized My ways and become progressively better and more experimentally and intimately acquainted with them.

¹¹Accordingly, I swore in My wrath and indignation, They shall not enter into My rest.^©

¹²[Therefore beware] brethren, take care, lest there be in any one of you a wicked, unbelieving heart [which refuses to cleave to, trust in, and rely on Him], leading you to turn away and desert or stand aloof from the living God.

¹³But instead warn (admonish, urge, and encourage) one another every day, as long as it is called Today, that none of you may be hardened [into settled rebellion] by the deceitfulness of sin [by the fraudulence, the stratagem, the trickery which the delusive glamor of his sin may play on him].

¹⁴For we ^[c]have become fellows with Christ (the Messiah) and share in all He has for us, if only we hold our first newborn confidence and original assured expectation [in virtue of which we are believers] firm and unshaken to the end.

¹⁵Then while it is [still] called Today, if you would hear His voice and when you hear it, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion [in the desert, when the people provoked and irritated and embittered God against them].^(D)

¹⁶For who were they who heard and yet were rebellious and provoked [Him]? Was it not all those who came out of Egypt led by Moses?

¹⁷And with whom was He irritated and provoked and grieved for forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose ^[d]dismembered bodies were strewn and left in the desert?

¹⁸And to whom did He swear that they should not enter His rest, but to those who disobeyed [who had not listened to His word and who refused to be compliant or be persuaded]?

¹⁹So we see that they were not able to enter [into His rest], because of their unwillingness to adhere to and trust in and rely on God [unbelief had shut them out].^(E)

[Comment by watchman: they had been saved out of Egypt, meaning from unbelievers to believers! Yet, they became rebellious and provoked God. Who were they? They were the ones who sinned, disobeyed and had not listened to God’s word. ]

“Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says: Today, if you will hear His voice, Do not harden your hearts!”


“Then while it is [still] called Today, if you would hear His voice and when you hear it, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion!”

End Times Witnessing: Armor 4 – Shield of Faith

Shield of Faith is a must in the whole armor of God that we need to put on daily. This spiritual shield quenches the fiery arrows of the enemy (which he shoots at you day and night). Here is a random list of faith in action from Bible verses with this watchman's comments in bold letters. Do read the Bible and find the rest of the faith verses which form the shield for you and your loved ones! 
_____________________

Have faith in God’s ability and willingness to provide all that we need.


Matthew 6:30 Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?

God (Jesus) is pleased with faith but cannot find it inIsrael (His own people –His church today! On the other hand the unbeliever is able to have great faith once converted!)

Matthew 8:10 When Jesus heard it, He marveled, and said to those who followed, “Assuredly, I say to you, I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel!

Fear hinders faith. The disciples became men of no faith!

Matthew 8:26 But He said to them, “Why are you fearful, O you of little faith?” Then He arose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm. Mark 4:40 But He said to them, “Why are you so fearful? How is it that you have no faith?”

Faith in Jesus can result in sins being forgiven.

Matthew 9:2 Then behold, they brought to Him a paralytic lying on a bed. When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, “Son, be of good cheer; your sins are forgiven you.”

Others’ faith contributed to a paralytic receiving healing from Jesus.

Mark 2:5 When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven you.”


Faith in Jesus can make one become well immediately.

Matthew 9:22 But Jesus turned around, and when He saw her He said, “Be of good cheer, daughter; your faith has made you well.” And the woman was made well from that hour.


The blind men received healing according to their faith in Jesus.

Matthew 9:29 Then He touched their eyes, saying, “According to your faith let it be to you.”


Doubt hinders faith. Peter (who prior to this manifestation was walking on water by faith in Jesus) sank when he started doubting Jesus.

Matthew 14:31 And immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and caught him, and said to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?”


A mother’s faith in Jesus resulted in her daughter being instantly healed by Jesus.

Matthew 15:28 Then Jesus answered and said to her, “O woman, great is your faith! Let it be to you as you desire.” And her daughter was healed from that very hour.


Faith means not looking at the physical aspects. Faith is spiritual. Live by faith means live by the Spirit.

Matthew 16:8 But Jesus, being aware of it, said to them, “O you of little faith, why do you reason among yourselves because you have brought no bread?


Unbelief hinders the mountain moving power of faith!

Matthew 17:20 So Jesus said to them, “Because of your unbelief; for assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you.


Faith means not doubting and carrying out faith related action (by speaking God’s word)

Matthew 21:21 So Jesus answered and said to them, “Assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what was done to the fig tree, but also if you say to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ it will be done.


Even the essence of the law includes faith (together with justice and mercy).

Matthew 23:23 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faith. These you ought to have done, without leaving the others undone.


A woman’s faith in Jesus had made her well from her long term illness.

Mark 5:34 And He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace, and be healed of your affliction.”


A blind man’s faith in Jesus had made him well.

Mark 10:52 Then Jesus said to him, “Go your way; your faith has made you well.” And immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus on the road.


Faith means faith in Jesus (God).

Mark 11:22 So Jesus answered and said to them, “Have faith in God.


Both women’s faith in action has saved them. They received both healing and peace of God because of their faith in Jesus!

Luke 7:50 Then He said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you. Go in peace.” Luke 8:48 And He said to her, “Daughter, be of good cheer; your faith has made you well. Go in peace.”


Jesus expects use of faith in His followers. He wants to see their faith. Did they put it in a closet? Why did they not use their faith? (He implies that all they need is to take it out and use it, they would even overcome the powerful elements of nature! Winds and stormy waves are no match for faith in Jesus!)

Luke 8:25 But He said to them, “Where is your faith?” And they were afraid, and marveled, saying to one another, “Who can this be? For He commands even the winds and water, and they obey Him!”



Faith requires belief in the words of God and use them without doubt. There is no need to ask for increase of faith! Faith’s application overcomes natural law.

Luke 17:5 [ Faith and Duty ] And the apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith.” Luke 17:6
So the Lord said, “If you have faith as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be pulled up by the roots and be planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you.


One out of ten lepers returned to give glory to God when he saw that he was healed. Thus, by putting his faith in Jesus and being thankful (and worshipful), he received wellness from Jesus in addition to being cleansed of his leprosy!

Luke 17:19 And He said to him, “Arise, go your way. Your faith has made you well.”


Jesus has forewarned that He will look for faith on the earth when He returns. He also has linked faith and persistent prayers together. (For those who do not pray you would have no faith to show to the Lord when He comes).

Luke 18:8 Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?”


Faith must not fail. Jesus even interceded for Peter so his faith should not fail. Intercession will help your loved ones’ faith not to fail.

Luke 22:32 But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren.”



Faith in Jesus’ name has made a man lame from his mother’s womb healed. Peter had faith in Jesus’ mighty name and he gave this to the lame man who also received with faith. Thus the miracle occurred!

Acts 3:16 And His name, through faith in His name, has made this man strong, whom you see and know. Yes, the faith which comes through Him has given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all.


(Stephen) A man having faith and the power of the Holy Spirit work together to do great wonders and signs.

Acts 6:8 [ Stephen Accused of Blasphemy ] And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and signs among the people.


(Barnabas) A good man having faith and full of the Holy Spirit together bring many to Christ.

Acts 11:24 For he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And a great many people were added to the Lord.


Faith to be healed can be observed. The cripple from mother’s womb thus received his healing from Paul.

Acts 14:9 This man heard Paul speaking. Paul, observing him intently and seeing that he had faith to be healed,


Having faith is a life time requirement to enter the kingdom of God.

Acts 14:22 strengthening the souls of the disciples, exhorting them to continue in the faith, and saying, “We must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God.”


Faith is a door to enter the kingdom of God.

Acts 14:27 Now when they had come and gathered the church together, they reported all that God had done with them, and that He had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles.


Faith cleanses and purifies the believer’s heart for the indwelling Holy Spirit.

Acts 15:8-9 So God, who knows the heart, acknowledged them by giving them the Holy Spirit, just as He did to us, and made no distinction between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith.


Churches’ growth in number relates to being strengthened in the faith.


Acts 16:5 So the churches were strengthened in the faith, and increased in number daily.


Testifying, repentance and faith work together in salvation.


Acts 20:21 testifying to Jews, and also to Greeks, repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.


Those sanctified by faith in Jesus may receive double blessings: forgiveness of sins and inheritance as sons of God from God

Acts 26:18 to open their eyes, in order to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in Me.’

End Times Witnessing: Narrow Gate Plumbline -Jeremiah 23: Judgment on False Prophets

How prophet Jeremiah had lamented. The same message is still relevant today. Just substitute the word ‘prophet’ with ‘whoever’ who preaches or teaches in our churches today. Use the plumbline of the Bible and take heed what Jesus said about false religious leaders and teachers/preachers.


O watchman, watch and pray…the end times count down clock is running!

Jeremiah 23

9 My heart is broken because of the false prophets,

and my bones tremble.

I stagger like a drunkard,

like someone overcome by wine,

because of the holy words

the Lord has spoken against them.

10 For the land is full of adultery,

and it lies under a curse.

The land itself is in mourning—

its wilderness pastures are dried up.

For they all do evil

and abuse what power they have.



11 “Even the priests and prophets

are ungodly, wicked men.

I have seen their despicable acts

right here in my own Temple,”

says the Lord.

12 “Therefore, the paths they take

will become slippery.

They will be chased through the dark,

and there they will fall.

For I will bring disaster upon them

at the time fixed for their punishment.

I, the Lord, have spoken!



13 “I saw that the prophets of Samaria were terribly evil,

for they prophesied in the name of Baal

and led my people of Israel into sin.

14 But now I see that the prophets of Jerusalem are even worse!

They commit adultery and love dishonesty.

They encourage those who are doing evil

so that no one turns away from their sins.

These prophets are as wicked

as the people of Sodom and Gomorrah once were.”



15 Therefore, this is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies says concerning the prophets:



“I will feed them with bitterness

and give them poison to drink.

For it is because of Jerusalem’s prophets

that wickedness has filled this land.”



16 This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies says to his people:



“Do not listen to these prophets when they prophesy to you,

filling you with futile hopes.

They are making up everything they say.

They do not speak for the Lord!

17 They keep saying to those who despise my word,

‘Don’t worry! The Lord says you will have peace!’

And to those who stubbornly follow their own desires,

they say, ‘No harm will come your way!’



18 “Have any of these prophets been in the Lord’s presence

to hear what he is really saying?

Has even one of them cared enough to listen?

19 Look! The Lord’s anger bursts out like a storm,

a whirlwind that swirls down on the heads of the wicked.

20 The anger of the Lord will not diminish

until it has finished all he has planned.

In the days to come

you will understand all this very clearly.



21 “I have not sent these prophets,

yet they run around claiming to speak for me.

I have given them no message,

yet they go on prophesying.

22 If they had stood before me and listened to me,

they would have spoken my words,

and they would have turned my people

from their evil ways and deeds.

23 Am I a God who is only close at hand?” says the Lord.

“No, I am far away at the same time.

24 Can anyone hide from me in a secret place?

Am I not everywhere in all the heavens and earth?”

says the Lord.



25 “I have heard these prophets say, ‘Listen to the dream I had from God last night.’ And then they proceed to tell lies in my name. 26 How long will this go on? If they are prophets, they are prophets of deceit, inventing everything they say. 27 By telling these false dreams, they are trying to get my people to forget me, just as their ancestors did by worshiping the idols of Baal.



28 “Let these false prophets tell their dreams,

but let my true messengers faithfully proclaim my every word.

There is a difference between straw and grain!

29 Does not my word burn like fire?”

says the Lord.

“Is it not like a mighty hammer

that smashes a rock to pieces?



30 “Therefore,” says the Lord, “I am against these prophets who steal messages from each other and claim they are from me. 31 I am against these smooth-tongued prophets who say, ‘This prophecy is from the Lord!’ 32 I am against these false prophets. Their imaginary dreams are flagrant lies that lead my people into sin. I did not send or appoint them, and they have no message at all for my people. I, the Lord have spoken!



False Prophecies and False Prophets



33 “Suppose one of the people or one of the prophets or priests asks you, ‘What prophecy has the Lord burdened you with now?’ You must reply, ‘You are the burden![c] The Lord says he will abandon you!’

34 “If any prophet, priest, or anyone else says, ‘I have a prophecy from the Lord,’ I will punish that person along with his entire family. 35 You should keep asking each other, ‘What is the Lord’s answer?’ or ‘What is the Lord saying?’ 36 But stop using this phrase, ‘prophecy from the Lord.’ For people are using it to give authority to their own ideas, turning upside down the words of our God, the living God, the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.



37 “This is what you should say to the prophets: ‘What is the Lord’s answer?’ or ‘What is the Lord saying?’ 38 But suppose they respond, ‘This is a prophecy from the Lord!’ Then you should say, ‘This is what the Lord says: Because you have used this phrase, “prophecy from the Lord,” even though I warned you not to use it, 39 I will forget you completely. I will expel you from my presence, along with this city that I gave to you and your ancestors. 40 And I will make you an object of ridicule, and your name will be infamous throughout the ages.’”



Footnotes:



1.Jeremiah 23:5 Hebrew a righteous branch.

2.Jeremiah 23:6 Hebrew Yahweh Tsidqenu.

3.Jeremiah 23:33 As in Greek version and Latin Vulgate; Hebrew reads What burden?

End Times Witnessing: Narrow Gate Plumbline -The Spirit says, listen! No more ‘CRAFT’ (MAGIC OR PUPPET)!

The watchman woke from a nightmare today, which he had not encountered for a long long time. Prior to that he was up at 3-5am interceding for his church. Then he asked the Lord to tell him what he needed to write for his blog. He went to bed and slept for about 2 hours. He had a dream.

In the dream he was with a group of people at a seminar after which they were caught without air ticket to fly home. So they decided to fly to another destination from where they could catch another flght for home. He was in his room (located in a hospital/medical center. Next to his room was a clinic with people waiting to see the doctors) packing and then he realized he had to give instruction to the one arranging the travel. So he climbed the stairs and went a floor up to speak to that person. He left his room door wide open and his money and travel documents on the table! He knew he should not be doing this but he did it. While talking to the travel person his spirit reminded him of the verse “the thief came to steal, kill and destroy.” (John 10:10). So he raced down the stairs, and alas, his room was not there anymore. The place became another waiting hall for other clinics! He was so frustrated that he shouted and woke.

He knew the meaning of this dream. It was about open door to the enemy by being disobedient to the words of God. The enemy conveniently came in to steal, kill and destroy. He repented immediately. Then he was reminded of a warning word “Craft” (pointing to travelling magic shows performed by a senior pastor of a mega church from Asia). He received the warning verse from 2 Cor.4:2.

During a recent seminar he quietly asked the Lord about the correct way of teaching his own Bible class (whether he should use some of his management training skills and technics, like ‘mind mapping’). On that occasion, the Lord answered him through flashing through his mind the warning word ‘CRAFT’ followed by the above same Bible verse (2 Cor.4:2) and also the Spirit-led speaker suddenly blurted out one statement, “Do not teach unless you have revelations!” (The speaker was at that time talking about totally different subject and referred to 2 Cor.4:3-4 on the subject of how ‘the god of this world had blinded the unbelievers’ minds’)

2 Cor.4:2 (Amplified Bible) “ 2 We have renounced disgraceful ways (secret thoughts, feelings, desires and underhandedness, the methods and arts that men hide through shame); we refuse to deal craftily (to practice trickery and cunning) or to adulterate or handle dishonestly the Word of God, but we state the truth openly (clearly and candidly). And so we commend ourselves in the sight and presence of God to every man’s conscience.”

HERE is the WARNING: to WHOEVER who preaches/teaches the word of God using crafts, tricks and cunning instead of stating the truth openly, clearly and candidly. This warning also applies to churches which use magic or puppet shows to teach Sunday School children. The frightening part is that you are opening your church door to the enemy to come in to steal, kill and destroy! The word of God must be preached the way Paul and other Apostles had preached, openly, clearly, and candidly.

Paul declared, “For I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ, for it is God’s power working unto salvation to everyone who believes..” (Rom.1:16)

By going to the world (which is under the devil) to learn and use the world’s way you have submitted to the evil spirits behind the ‘crafts’ or ‘idols’.

God’s word is more than sufficient to convict and save. By not turning to the mighty power of God’s Spirit-filled Word, you are committing the sin of unbelief.

(The watchman shudders here.)


Here are some Bible verses evidencing how God views at ‘craftiness’.

Ephesians 4:13-15 (New King James Version) 13 till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; 14 that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, 15 but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ—

Job 5:12-14 (Amplified Bible) 12 He frustrates the devices of the crafty, so that their hands cannot perform their enterprise or anything of [lasting] worth. 13He catches the [so-called] wise in their own trickiness, and the counsel of the schemers is brought to a quick end. 14In the daytime they meet in darkness, and at noon they grope as in the night.

Genesis 3:1 NOW THE serpent was more subtle and crafty than any living creature of the field which the Lord God had made. And he [Satan] said to the woman, Can it really be that God has said, You shall not eat from every tree of the garden?

Luke 13:32 And He (Jesus) said to them, Go and tell that fox (Herod) [sly and crafty, skulking and cowardly], Behold, I drive out demons and perform healings today and tomorrow, and on the third day I finish (complete) My course.

1 Thessalonians 2:2-4 (New Living Translation) 2 You know how badly we had been treated at Philippi just before we came to you and how much we suffered there. Yet our God gave us the courage to declare his Good News to you boldly, in spite of great opposition. 3 So you can see we were not preaching with any deceit or impure motives or trickery. 4 For we speak as messengers approved by God to be entrusted with the Good News. Our purpose is to please God, not people. He alone examines the motives of our hearts.

Revelation 18:22 (On the New City of God) The sound of harpists, musicians, flutists, and trumpeters shall not be heard in you anymore. No craftsman of any craft shall be found in you anymore, and the sound of a millstone shall not be heard in you anymore.


________________A word for watchman prophet:

How not to be a false prophet?

Jeremiah 23: 22 If they had stood before me and listened to me,

they would have spoken my words,

and they would have turned my people

from their evil ways and deeds.