And recovery of sight to the blind

 THE LORD GOD HEALS BOTH PHYSICAL AND SPIRITUAL BLINDNESS AND ALL MANNERS OF DISEASES (BODY, SOUL AND SPIRIT)

Exodus 4:11
So the LORD said to him, “Who has made man’s mouth? Or who makes the mute, the deaf, the seeing, or the blind? Have not I, the LORD?
Exodus 4:10-12 (in Context) Exodus 4 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations 
 Psalm 146:8
The LORD opens the eyes of the blind; The LORD raises those who are bowed down; The LORD loves the righteous.
Psalm 146:7-9 (in Context) Psalm 146 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations
Isaiah 29:18
In that day the deaf shall hear the words of the book, And the eyes of the blind shall see out of obscurity and out of darkness.
Isaiah 29:17-19 (in Context) Isaiah 29 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations
Isaiah 35:5
Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, And the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped.
Isaiah 35:4-6 (in Context) Isaiah 35 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations
Isaiah 42:16
I will bring the blind by a way they did not know; I will lead them in paths they have not known. I will make darkness light before them, And crooked places straight. These things I will do for them, And not forsake them.
Isaiah 42:15-17 (in Context) Isaiah 42 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations
Isaiah 43:8
Bring out the blind people who have eyes, And the deaf who have ears.
Isaiah 43:7-9 (in Context) Isaiah 43 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations
Jeremiah 31:8
Behold, I will bring them from the north country, And gather them from the ends of the earth, Among them the blind and the lame, The woman with child And the one who labors with child, together; A great throng shall return there.
Jeremiah 31:7-9 (in Context) Jeremiah 31 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations 


JESUS (WITH THE ANOINTING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT) HEALS ALL KINDS OF BLINDNESS

Luke 4:18
“The Spirit of the LORD is upon Me, Because He has anointed Me To preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives And recovery of sight to the blind, To set at liberty those who are oppressed;
Luke 4:17-19 (in Context) Luke 4 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations
Luke 7:22
Jesus answered and said to them, “Go and tell John the things you have seen and heard: that the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, the poor have the gospel preached to them.
Luke 7:21-23 (in Context) Luke 7 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations
Matthew 11:5
The blind see and the lame walk; the lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear; the dead are raised up and the poor have the gospel preached to them.
Matthew 11:4-6 (in Context) Matthew 11 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations
Matthew 15:31
So the multitude marveled when they saw the mute speaking, the maimed made whole, the lame walking, and the blind seeing; and they glorified the God of Israel.
Matthew 15:30-32 (in Context) Matthew 15 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations  

BUT THE BLIND MUST BELIEVE AND TAKE THE STEP OF FAITH TO COME TO JESUS FOR HEALING
 
Matthew 9:28
And when He had come into the house, the blind men came to Him. And Jesus said to them, “Do you believe that I am able to do this?” They said to Him, “Yes, Lord.”
Matthew 9:27-29 (in Context) Matthew 9 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations Matthew 12:22
[ A House Divided Cannot Stand ] Then one was brought to Him who was demon-possessed, blind and mute; and He healed him, so that the blind and mute man both spoke and saw.
Matthew 12:21-23 (in Context) Matthew 12 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations 
Matthew 21:14
Then the blind and the lame came to Him in the temple, and He healed them.
Matthew 21:13-15 (in Context) Matthew 21 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations
Mark 8:23
So He took the blind man by the hand and led him out of the town. And when He had spit on his eyes and put His hands on him, He asked him if he saw anything.
Mark 8:22-24 (in Context) Mark 8 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations
Mark 10:49
So Jesus stood still and commanded him to be called. Then they called the blind man, saying to him, “Be of good cheer. Rise, He is calling you.”
Mark 10:48-50 (in Context) Mark 10 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations
Mark 10:51
So Jesus answered and said to him, “What do you want Me to do for you?” The blind man said to Him, “Rabboni, that I may receive my sight.”
Mark 10:50-52 (in Context) Mark 10 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations

SPIRITUAL BLINDNESS IS WORSE THAN PHYSICAL BLINDNESS

Isaiah 59:10 (THEY CANNOT SEE NOT BECAUSE THEY HAVE NO EYES, BUT BECAUSE OF THEIR SIN AND TURNING AWAY FROM GOD)
We grope for the wall like the blind, And we grope as if we had no eyes; We stumble at noonday as at twilight; We are as dead men in desolate places.
Isaiah 59:9-11 (in Context) Isaiah 59 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations
Romans 11:7 (ISRAEL IS BLIND TEMPORARILY. BUT THE GENTILES WHO WERE NOT IN THE ELECT WERE REALLY BLIND).
What then? Israel has not obtained what it seeks; but the elect have obtained it, and the rest were blinded.
Romans 11:6-8 (in Context) Romans 11 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations
Romans 11:25 (SOME BLINDNESS CAN BE HEALED WHEN GOD'S TIME IS UP)
For I do not desire, brethren, that you should be ignorant of this mystery, lest you should be wise in your own opinion, that blindness in part has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in.
Romans 11:24-26 (in Context) Romans 11 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations
2 Corinthians 3:14 (BLINDNESS HAPPENS IN THE MIND!)
But their minds were blinded. For until this day the same veil remains unlifted in the reading of the Old Testament, because the veil is taken away in Christ.
2 Corinthians 3:13-15 (in Context) 2 Corinthians 3 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations
2 Corinthians 4:4 (TO THOSE WHO CHOSE NOT TO BELIEVE IN THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST)
whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them.
2 Corinthians 4:3-5 (in Context) 2 Corinthians 4 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations
Ephesians 4:18 (TO UNBELIEVERS)
having their understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart;
Ephesians 4:17-19 (in Context) Ephesians 4 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations
2 Peter 1:9 (TO THOSE WHO FORGOT HIS SALVATION)
For he who lacks these things is shortsighted, even to blindness, and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins.
2 Peter 1:8-10 (in Context) 2 Peter 1 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations
1 John 2:11 (HATRED BRINGS DARKNESS WHICH IN TURN CAUSE BLINDNESS).
But he who hates his brother is in darkness and walks in darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes.
1 John 2:10-12 (in Context) 1 John 2 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations
Revelation 3:17 (TO THE BLIND CHURCH)
Because you say, ‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing’—and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked—
Revelation 3:16-18 (in Context) Revelation 3 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations
 

the end times book: God's call for end times

The watchman has waited such a book for end times for a long time. It finally came out and it is entitled “God's Final Call for the End Times” by Pastor Susan Tang (Station of Life). The book is a must for all serious intercessors to read many times over and take heed.

__________Some powerful excerpts and quotations from the book:

PERSONAL WORD (by the author)

“Yes, God's mandate and God's call for every believer is that we fight for our set apart and apostolic faith, without which we can never overcome the world. (1 John5:4)”

“The book of Jude has so impacted me that I know I must be apostolic for if I am not, I may end up an apostate. I cannot be ambiguous in these end-times days.”

“Indeed NOW is the end and the END HAS BEGUN NOW. This is why we cannot be ambiguous, we must either be apostolic or we will end up as apostates.”

“I keep hearing our Lord's warning so clearly and consistently. This is the reason why this book is written: “watch therefore and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man.” (Luke 21:36)”

“We must know that every form of crisis nations of the world...are all a buildup or prelude to the unspeakable destruction ahead of us.”

“If we do not live in awareness of the end, then our present living is nullified and meaningless -we all live as others live...for self and to please self.” (Jeremiah 8:7)

“If we do not have the end in view, we will just flow with the present antichrist culture;” “Jesus did not need to go to the cross,” “Is Jesus in the culture or is He above it?”

“We must live in awareness that society today is not just influenced by education, industry or technology. It is shaped by demons...sin has given them so much influence over the human race, including the Christians. Technology like the mobile phones, the computers and television (which the prophet Jeremiah called 'windows' in Jeremiah 9:21) had indeed admitted the spirit of death into so many lives, especially the lives of our youths.”

“Like Daniel, I must possess both the tenacity and the intensity to pray and pray and pray even though I do not feel like praying at times.”

“Daniel, the end-time prophet, mourned and travailed until a breakthrough came into the heavens, a breakthrough which affected him, his nation and the nations of the world.” (Dan.10:12-14)

“There are so many troubled Christians. Is it because our faith is not an apostolic or set-apart faith?”

INTRODUCTION

“Why must the church engage in PURPOSEFUL AND INTENSIVE intercessory prayers in these end times called the 'beginning of sorrows?' Because God has called us into it....”

“If we are the true church we will have the apostolic distinctive of knowing that the end, or the DAY OF THE LORD is near. All universal shakings and meltdowns now are just birth pangs of the coming kingdom of our Lord. There are calamities, upheavals, crises and great stirrings on earth now because there is war in heaven!”

“More and more we can feel it as these present evil days...”

“It is sad that many Christians are still in denial”

“”The prophets of old saw visions of these dark and foreboding 'tribulation' days...” (Ezekiel 21:7; Zechariah 13:8-9)

“The purpose of this book is to call you to return to your basic duty -return to your priesthood and be that house of prayer that God wants (Isaiah 56:7).”

CHAPTER 1 -have we missed the vital signs of the Messiah's second coming?

“Learned high priests like Caiphas and Annas could stand in front of the Messiah and not discern that He is the One.” “Many who are made to rule in God's house do not know the Lord nor understand His word.”

“All the vital signs of Christ's second coming (in heaven and on earth) are pronounced today and yet we carry on as usual; not wanting to make preparations for these coming evil and devastating days that we may be 'counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man.” (Luke 21:36)”

Jesus Christ warned us that the day of destruction will come to us like the days of Noah...when people carry on as usual.” “Their time was never deliberately prioritized for God.”

“also days when Nimrod arose in defiance against God to form his 'one world government' and to build his high towers and monuments.”

“also be like the days of Lot” “when fire literally fell out of heaven suddenly!” “Iran and Israel also have nuclear bombs pointed at each other and should one go off, the entire world will be affected.”

CHAPTER 2 -The end has begun and the beginning of the end, ('the beginning of sorrows') is already here

“Today, we too, have talked much about the end times but unfortunately we have also failed to discern that the time is now -it has now come upon us! The next change will be terrible, for almost without warning, the 'tribulation' days will come upon us.”

“Why couldn't they discern? Because their hearts were not right. Ambitions and ego-centrality have often robbed men of spiritual discernment. These ambitious men seem to have enough spiritual light to prophesy and sit in their position as the nation's spiritual leaders (John 11:49-53), but they definitely did not have enough light to carry themselves through to salvation!” “Caiphas prophesied accurately that Jesus is the Saviour but he himself remained unsaved!”

“There are many modern Caiphases and Annases today” “They have enough light to teach others and to prophesy but they do not have enough light to acknowledge their own sin so that they can be saved.”

“The light that comes from one's scholarship, study, degrees, etc., must be tempered with the light that comes from our prayers, revelation knowledge and personal experiences with God which must result in self-denial, humility and servanthood.”

CHAPTER 3 -Intensified prayers from the remnant will evict the enemy out of the heaven

“Since Israel as a nation, did not want to keep their distinction as God's people...the prophet Daniel and his three undefiled friends did it for them.”

“May God, in His mercy, in these troublesome and turbulent days of much spiritual upheaval and natural disasters, also raise up a 'Daniel-like' group of people who will remain distinct and whose spirit and intercessory travail will be of the same pattern, in order to reach out to God.”

“Deborah proclaimed that when there were leaders (leading by examples) then the people would willingly offer themselves (Judges 5:2). She was commissioned and she was willing so she just got in there and led by example! And people were willing to follow her. Do you want prayer groups set up? You need to lead by example.”

“The time to pray and travail is NOW, not later when the heat is on because our ability to stand will come from the sum total of the times we have spent in the presence of God.”

“Israel went after God when they were in the wilderness because they had nothing. (Jeremiah 2:2)” “You may find this hard to believe, but God is definitely going to bring both the church and Israel back to the 'wilderness days' again.”

CHAPTER 4 -Halt the enemy's activities to accelerate God's work in the spiritual realm

“It is vital we pray with prophetic declaration to declare what God Himself has already declared in these end times.”

“We need to do what Ezekiel did -speak directly into the situation (Ezekiel 36). “

“Such is the power of God's word! Jesus taught His disciples to speak to the mountains, not pray, if they want the mountains to shift.” (Matt.17:20)

“We puncture these times of great deception, desertion, depression, darkness and desolation with God's spoken words, God's declarations that are true and right!”

CHAPTER 5 -To know the end we must know the beginning

“We have no excuse of not knowing the end because God has taken the end and hidden it in the beginning!”

“To me, the key that unlocks end times is found in Isaiah which says: Remember the former things of old...there is none like Me; declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times things that are not yet done...” (Isa.46:8-10)

“EVERYTHING THAT HAPPENED IN THE BOOK OF DANILE WILL BE REPEATED IN THE END TIMES”

CHAPTER 6 -Intensified suffering means intensified miracles, signs and wonders

“As Daniel travailed in prayers on earth, angelic activities prevailed in heaven!”

“The 'open heaven' coming our way when God's fullness is experienced is as sure as the coming of the days of tribulation!”

“We must recognize that Daniel symbolizes a corporate group of God's people who must rise up in these end times to engage themselves in purposeful and relentless prayers.”

“This is why God told us to be a generation of priests -why have we forsaken our destiny? If the church is not a kingdom of priests ministering to God and apprehending His fullness for the nations of the world, what then is the church?”

“Remember, as long as the hands of Moses, representing the prayers of the nation, were lifted up towards heaven, Israel has the upper hand over the Amalekites.”

“To watch and pray means we pray with the word of God into every situation and see all present situations as God sees them. We keep our spiritual antenna up and we are to be alert to present signs and world events.”

“Pray with intensity and pray fervently, which means your spirit, soul and body must be in agreement.”

CONCLUSION -we are now in the end times

“The end has certainly begun...twenty-four hours a day God's ears are bombarded by the outcries of sin in the nations of the world but He wants to hear prayers, confessions, supplications but they seem to be getting lesser and lesser.”

“May God...also give you the courage to change and prioritize your time to pray, to be 'thrown in' together with this great network of intercessors spanning both heaven and earth.”

“You must heed the final call to fight, to enter into godly travail by praying, pleading, declaring...”

“So many people complain of being lonely...But when we are bonded up with God and threaded together into His prayer network and are aware that prayer has eternal validity, it will rid us of all loneliness.”

“Safety is definitely not the absence of danger but the presence of God, but this presence is not to be taken for granted. We need to spend time to be connected with Him and to bring His presence into where we are.”

Watchman's Bible Study -who cannot discern the signs of the times

The message today is: hypocrites cannot discern the signs of the times because they operate and focus on the level of the flesh (physical level, and mind and emotion -soul level). They are not mindful of the things of God but the things of men. They are not spiritually discerning. Jesus stated clearly that no one can see and enter the kingdom of God unless he is born again of the Spirit. Why cannot many 'Christians' see or hear God and live by the Spirit? The reason is the same as mentioned. To be born again of the Spirit, one must believe and obey the word of God as led by the Holy Spirit. Mere knowledge in the mind will not make one a born-again Christian. The willingness to know God in the Holy Spirit, through being joined to Jesus, and be of one spirit with Him, and the focus on spiritual matters rather than flesh matters, are prerequisites for being a spirit-led Christian, a true son of God. Only sons of God can discern the signs of the times and know Jesus as He is, the Son of God, the Christ. Only sons of God can overcome the devil.

The watchman's Bible study notes are in bracket.

Matthew 16

New King James Version (NKJV)

The Pharisees and Sadducees Seek a Sign

16 Then the Pharisees and Sadducees came, and testing Him asked that He would show them a sign from heaven. ² He answered and said to them, “When it is evening you say, ‘It will be fair weather, for the sky is red’; ³ and in the morning, ‘It will be foul weather today, for the sky is red and threatening.’ Hypocrites!^[a] You know how to discern the face of the sky, but you cannot discern the signs of the times. ⁴ A wicked and adulterous generation seeks after a sign, and no sign shall be given to it except the sign of the prophet^[b] Jonah.” And He left them and departed.

Watchman's notes: (The hypocrites do not really mean what they say, pray, proclaim or sing. Even when they quote a lot of Bible words in their 'displays' of religiosity, they would not gain or give life if they are not led by the Holy Spirit. To them signs are mere physical things, something that could give them physical sensation and they feel good about. Jesus had performed many miraculous signs but they still asked for more!)

The Leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees

⁵ Now when His disciples had come to the other side, they had forgotten to take bread. ⁶ Then Jesus said to them, “Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the Sadducees.”
⁷ And they reasoned among themselves, saying, “It is because we have taken no bread.”
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?^{[c] 9} Do you not yet understand, or remember the five loaves of the five thousand and how many baskets you took up? ¹⁰ Nor the seven loaves of the four thousand and how many large baskets you took up? ¹¹ How is it you do not understand that I did not speak to you concerning bread?—but to beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.” ¹² Then they understood that He did not tell them to beware of the leaven of bread, but of the doctrine of the Pharisees and Sadducees.

Watchman's notes: (Even the disciples were not spiritually discerned. Today many Christians have the same problem because they focus on the flesh realm -physical and soul- and ignore the spiritual truth. Only spiritual truth sets one free from bondage, including that of the flesh -the old nature. Jesus said His words are life and spirit.  Reading His word needs spiritual discernment.)

Peter Confesses Jesus as the Christ

¹³ When Jesus came into the region of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, saying, “Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?”
¹⁴ So they said, “Some say John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”
¹⁵ He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?”
¹⁶ Simon Peter answered and said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
¹⁷ Jesus answered and said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. ¹⁸ And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. ¹⁹ And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed^[d] in heaven.”
²⁰ Then He commanded His disciples that they should tell no one that He was Jesus the Christ.

Watchman's notes: ( Only God, who is the Father in heaven for Christians, can reveal spiritual truth to His children. Why then cannot many Christians understand spiritual truth? The question everyone needs to ask is: am I a child of God? Do I have a spiritual relationship with God as the Father in heaven? Is Jesus the Christ, the Son of the living God to me personally?)

Jesus Predicts His Death and Resurrection

²¹ From that time Jesus began to show to His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised the third day.
²² Then Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him, saying, “Far be it from You, Lord; this shall not happen to You!”
²³ But He turned and said to Peter, “Get behind Me, Satan! You are an offense to Me, for you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men.”

 Watchman's notes:(the key difference between the children of God and the children of Satan is: the children of God are mindful of the things of God. God is Spirit. Only those born of the Spirit are His children. They are spiritually discerning. Their focus is on God- hear His word, do His will and live His divine nature, as led by the Holy Spirit.

Take Up the Cross and Follow Him

²⁴ Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. ²⁵ For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. ²⁶ For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? ²⁷ For the Son of Man will come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and then He will reward each according to his works. ²⁸ “Assuredly, I say to you, there are some standing here who shall not taste death till they see the Son of Man coming in His kingdom.”

 Watchman's notes:(the spiritual man is not afraid to deny his flesh, his old nature, his 'self'. True disciple has no difficulty to follow Jesus as he walks and lives through the Spirit, living the kingdom of God's life even on earth.)

Footnotes:

1. Matthew 16:3 NU-Text omits Hypocrites.
2. Matthew 16:4 NU-Text omits the prophet.
3. Matthew 16:8 NU-Text reads you have no bread.
4. Matthew 16:19 Or will have been bound . . . will have been loosed

 Watchman's notes: in summary, please read Romans 8, 1 Corinthians 2, 2 Corinthians 10:2-5

Now there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon

^{This is the time to watch for signs for the return of the Lord Jesus. Ask that you be raised to be the Simeons of today.} 

 Luke 2:5 Now there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon, and this man was righteous and devout [cautiously and carefully observing the divine Law], and looking for the Consolation of Israel; and the Holy Spirit was upon him. 

²⁶ And it had been divinely revealed (communicated) to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One).

²⁷ And prompted by the [Holy] Spirit, he came into the temple [^[j]enclosure]; and when the parents brought in the little child Jesus to do for Him what was customary according to the Law,

²⁸ [Simeon] took Him up in his arms and praised and thanked God and said,

²⁹ And now, Lord, You are releasing Your servant to depart (leave this world) in peace, according to Your word.

³⁰ For with my [own] eyes I have seen Your Salvation,

³¹ Which You have ordained and prepared before (in the presence of) all peoples,

³² A Light for ^[k]revelation to the Gentiles [to disclose what was before unknown] and [to bring] praise and honor and glory to Your people Israel.

³³ And His [legal] father and [His] mother were marveling at what was said about Him.

³⁴ And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary His mother, 

Behold, this Child is appointed and destined for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is spoken against—

³⁵ And a sword will pierce through your own soul also—that the secret thoughts and purposes of many hearts may be brought out and disclosed.

End Times Witnessing: The faithful ones (revised September 29, 2012)

Watchman’s notes on 29th September 2012:

When the watchman was asked to wake shortly after he had fallen asleep after an overnight prayer meeting he knew the Lord had word for him. So he obeyed. But he could not hear anything so he read Isaiah and Jeremiah and prayed and interceded as the Lord’s Spirit led him.  By the time he knew he just had to sleep a while as it was almost dawn, he asked the Lord whether there was a message for him. He also asked the Lord about finding a church now that the former church’s time was up. Then the Lord led him to read Jeremiah 35 -The Obedient Rechabites. “⁷ And do not build houses or plant crops or vineyards, but always live in tents. If you follow these commands, you will live long, good lives in the land.’ ⁸ So we have obeyed him in all these things. ¹⁹ Therefore, this is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, the God of Israel, says: ‘Jehonadab son of Recab will always have descendants who serve me.’” 

It is certainly reassuring to be told by the Lord what He considered and that faithfulness to Him is of great value in His eyes! The Recab are a small household of no fame or fortune or power in the eyes of Men. But the the Lord made sure they were recognized and recorded in the Bible as an example of “faithfulness”!

_______________________________

originally blogged on 9-8-2010

THE FAITHFUL RECABITES (The watchman heard, “What makes you think you are the faithful one? I will show you the truly faithful in My eyes!”)

1 This is the message the Lord gave Jeremiah when Jehoiakim son of Josiah was king of Judah: 2 “Go to the settlement where the families of the Recabites live, and invite them to the Lord’s Temple. Take them into one of the inner rooms, and offer them some wine.”

3 So I went to see Jaazaniah son of Jeremiah and grandson of Habazziniah and all his brothers and sons—representing all the Recabite families. 4 I took them to the Temple, and we went into the room assigned to the sons of Hanan son of Igdaliah, a man of God. This room was located next to the one used by the Temple officials, directly above the room of Maaseiah son of Shallum, the Temple gatekeeper.

5 I set cups and jugs of wine before them and invited them to have a drink, 6 but they refused. “No,” they said, “we don’t drink wine, because our ancestor Jehonadab[a] son of Recab gave us this command: ‘You and your descendants must never drink wine. 7 And do not build houses or plant crops or vineyards, but always live in tents. If you follow these commands, you will live long, good lives in the land.’ 8 So we have obeyed him in all these things. We have never had a drink of wine to this day, nor have our wives, our sons, or our daughters. 9 We haven’t built houses or owned vineyards or farms or planted crops. 10 We have lived in tents and have fully obeyed all the commands of Jehonadab, our ancestor. 11 But when King Nebuchadnezzar[b] of Babylon attacked this country, we were afraid of the Babylonian and Syrian[c] armies. So we decided to move to Jerusalem. That is why we are here.”

12 Then the Lord gave this message to Jeremiah: 13 “This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, the God of Israel, says: Go and say to the people in Judah and Jerusalem, ‘Come and learn a lesson about how to obey me. 14 The Recabites do not drink wine to this day because their ancestor Jehonadab told them not to. But I have spoken to you again and again, and you refuse to obey me. 15 Time after time I sent you prophets, who told you, “Turn from your wicked ways, and start doing things right. Stop worshiping other gods so that you might live in peace here in the land I have given to you and your ancestors.” But you would not listen to me or obey me. 16 The descendants of Jehonadab son of Recab have obeyed their ancestor completely, but you have refused to listen to me.’

17 “Therefore, this is what the Lord God of Heaven’s Armies, the God of Israel, says: ‘Because you refuse to listen or answer when I call, I will send upon Judah and Jerusalem all the disasters I have threatened.’”

18 Then Jeremiah turned to the Recabites and said, “This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, the God of Israel, says: ‘You have obeyed your ancestor Jehonadab in every respect, following all his instructions.’ 19 Therefore, this is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, the God of Israel, says: ‘Jehonadab son of Recab will always have descendants who serve me.’”

_____________________________

WHO ARE THE FAITHFUL ONES?

Faith in God results in faith in action. No action, no faith. No faith, no justification. No justification, no salvation. O, Christians, examine your faith. The hourglass is ticking fast. (The watchman shudders).

_____________________________

Faith takes time and longsuffering to build and establish. Fear of the Lord (rather than fear of men) is a number one priority for those who want to emulate the Recabites.

The following is excerpt quoted for information only (something more about the Recabites):

____________”Over the centuries, pockets of Rechabites have turned up in remote locations. Benjamin of Tudela (1160) found descendants “twenty-one day’s journey from Babylon, through the desert of Sheba, or Al-Yemen, from which Mesopotamia lies in a northerly direction, are abodes of the Jews who are called the Rechabites.” He described them as an independent tribe that lived in large, fortified cities. Rechabite Jews were discovered in China in the 1500s. Isaiah 49:12 confirms that Israelites were dispersed to the land of Sinim, which is China. In the 1800s English missionary Dr. Joseph Wolff located about 60,000 Rechabites living in Arabia. They spoke Arabic and some Hebrew. Wolff noted that they did not drink wine, lived in tents and remembered the word of Jonadab the son of Rechab. Dwelling with them were children of the Israelite tribe of Dan, who along with the Rechabites expected “the speedy arrival of the Messiah in the clouds of heaven.” A Bedouin tribe recently was found near the Dead Sea that claimed to be descendants of Jehonadab.” (Jeff King)

Rate this:

Rate This

Not Carnality but Christ

 The watchman is reminded today of the way we should live in Christ. 

Last night during a home prayer meeting one brethren suggested praying for a local Christian group. When the others started praying, the watchman asked the Lord what to pray for and he was shown a terrible verse, which stated that when Israel asked the prophet to pray they did not mean it. They had no intent to obey what God would speak to them through the answer to prayers by the prophet. So there was no need to pray for them! The stern words were sad. How can any Christian meeting come to such a terrible stage? Yet, history showed that the Israel nation sank to that low over again and again. God sent prophets to warn them but they killed the prophets. The same thing happened to the apostles and many disciples of Jesus when they faithfully proclaimed the word of God -the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Today he asked the Lord further how to pray for such and he was given sterner words in Job 34:21-30, in particular, verses 21, 22, 26, and 30. The assurance is that God’s eyes is on the ways of man and He sees all his steps, and He takes corrective action. One verse stood out: Job 34:30

“that the hypocrite should not reign, lest the people be snarled.”

Therefore, the positive focus for watchman today continues to be on Jesus, the perfection in the love of God, our real life!

Colossians 3

New King James Version (NKJV)

Not Carnality but Christ

3 If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. ² Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. ³ For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. ⁴ When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.

⁵ Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. ⁶ Because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience, ⁷ in which you yourselves once walked when you lived in them.
⁸ But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth. ⁹ Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds, ¹⁰ and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him, ¹¹ where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised nor uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave nor free, but Christ is all and in all.

Character of the New Man

¹² Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; ¹³ bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. ¹⁴ But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection. ¹⁵ And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful. ¹⁶ Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. ¹⁷ And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.

Colossians 3

New Living Translation (NLT)

Living the New Life

3 Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honor at God’s right hand. ² Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth. ³ For you died to this life, and your real life is hidden with Christ in God. ⁴ And when Christ, who is your^[a] life, is revealed to the whole world, you will share in all his glory.

⁵ So put to death the sinful, earthly things lurking within you. Have nothing to do with sexual immorality, impurity, lust, and evil desires. Don’t be greedy, for a greedy person is an idolater, worshiping the things of this world. ⁶ Because of these sins, the anger of God is coming.^{[b] 7} You used to do these things when your life was still part of this world. ⁸ But now is the time to get rid of anger, rage, malicious behavior, slander, and dirty language. ⁹ Don’t lie to each other, for you have stripped off your old sinful nature and all its wicked deeds. ¹⁰ Put on your new nature, and be renewed as you learn to know your Creator and become like him. ¹¹ In this new life, it doesn’t matter if you are a Jew or a Gentile,^[c] circumcised or uncircumcised, barbaric, uncivilized,^[d] slave, or free. Christ is all that matters, and he lives in all of us.
¹² Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. ¹³ Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. ¹⁴ Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony. ¹⁵ And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful.
¹⁶ Let the message about Christ, in all its richness, fill your lives. Teach and counsel each other with all the wisdom he gives. Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts. ¹⁷ And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father.

 (Watchman’s study notes: Take note of all the ‘therefore’ , ‘since’, and ‘but now’. )

When the enemy comes in like a flood

Isaiah 59

New King James Version (NKJV)

Separated from God

59 Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened,
That it cannot save;
Nor His ear heavy,
That it cannot hear.
² But your iniquities have separated you from your God;
And your sins have hidden His face from you,
So that He will not hear.
³ For your hands are defiled with blood,
And your fingers with iniquity;
Your lips have spoken lies,
Your tongue has muttered perversity.

⁴ No one calls for justice,
Nor does any plead for truth.
They trust in empty words and speak lies;
They conceive evil and bring forth iniquity.
⁵ They hatch vipers’ eggs and weave the spider’s web;
He who eats of their eggs dies,
And from that which is crushed a viper breaks out.

⁶ Their webs will not become garments,
Nor will they cover themselves with their works;
Their works are works of iniquity,
And the act of violence is in their hands.
⁷ Their feet run to evil,
And they make haste to shed innocent blood;
Their thoughts are thoughts of iniquity;
Wasting and destruction are in their paths.
⁸ The way of peace they have not known,
And there is no justice in their ways;
They have made themselves crooked paths;
Whoever takes that way shall not know peace.

Sin Confessed

⁹ Therefore justice is far from us,
Nor does righteousness overtake us;
We look for light, but there is darkness!
For brightness, but we walk in blackness!
¹⁰ We grope for the wall like the blind,
And we grope as if we had no eyes;
We stumble at noonday as at twilight;
We are as dead men in desolate places.
¹¹ We all growl like bears,
And moan sadly like doves;
We look for justice, but there is none;
For salvation, but it is far from us.
¹² For our transgressions are multiplied before You,
And our sins testify against us;
For our transgressions are with us,
And as for our iniquities, we know them:
¹³ In transgressing and lying against the Lord,
And departing from our God,
Speaking oppression and revolt,
Conceiving and uttering from the heart words of falsehood.
¹⁴ Justice is turned back,
And righteousness stands afar off;
For truth is fallen in the street,
And equity cannot enter.
¹⁵ So truth fails,
And he who departs from evil makes himself a prey.

The Redeemer of Zion

Then the Lord saw it, and it displeased Him
That there was no justice.

¹⁶ He saw that there was no man,
And wondered that there was no intercessor;
Therefore His own arm brought salvation for Him;
And His own righteousness, it sustained Him.
¹⁷ For He put on righteousness as a breastplate,
And a helmet of salvation on His head;
He put on the garments of vengeance for clothing,
And was clad with zeal as a cloak.
¹⁸ According to their deeds, accordingly He will repay,
Fury to His adversaries,
Recompense to His enemies;
The coastlands He will fully repay.
¹⁹ So shall they fear
The name of the Lord from the west,
And His glory from the rising of the sun;
When the enemy comes in like a flood,
The Spirit of the Lord will lift up a standard against him.

²⁰ “The Redeemer will come to Zion,
And to those who turn from transgression in Jacob,”
Says the Lord.

²¹ “As for Me,” says the Lord, “this is My covenant with them: My Spirit who is upon you, and My words which I have put in your mouth, shall not depart from your mouth, nor from the mouth of your descendants, nor from the mouth of your descendants’ descendants,” says the Lord, “from this time and forevermore.”