The Lord speaks to the church elders today: ONE MESSAGE

TODAY’S MESSAGE FROM THE HOLY SPIRIT: THE LORD WANTS US TO EMULATE PAUL. HE HAS ONLY ONE MESSAGE -THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST.
Paul Speaks to the Ephesian Elders Acts 20:17-35 (NLT)
¹⁷ But when we landed at Miletus, he sent a message to the elders of the church at Ephesus, asking them to come and meet him.
¹⁸ When they arrived he declared, “You know that from the day I set foot in the province of Asia until now ¹⁹ I have done the Lord’s work humbly and with many tears. I have endured the trials that came to me from the plots of the Jews. ²⁰ I never shrank back from telling you what you needed to hear, either publicly or in your homes. ²¹ I have had one message for Jews and Greeks alike—the necessity of repenting from sin and turning to God, and of having faith in our Lord Jesus.
²² “And now I am bound by the Spirit^[a] to go to Jerusalem. I don’t know what awaits me, ²³ except that the Holy Spirit tells me in city after city that jail and suffering lie ahead. ²⁴ But my life is worth nothing to me unless I use it for finishing the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus—the work of telling others the Good News about the wonderful grace of God.
²⁵ “And now I know that none of you to whom I have preached the Kingdom will ever see me again. ²⁶ I declare today that I have been faithful. If anyone suffers eternal death, it’s not my fault,^{[b] 27} for I didn’t shrink from declaring all that God wants you to know.
²⁸ “So guard yourselves and God’s people. Feed and shepherd God’s flock—his church, purchased with his own blood^[c]—over which the Holy Spirit has appointed you as elders.^{[d] 29} 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. ³¹ 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.
³² “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.
³³ “I have never coveted anyone’s silver or gold or fine clothes. ³⁴ You know that these hands of mine have worked to supply my own needs and even the needs of those who were with me. ³⁵ And I have been a constant example of how you can help those in need by working hard. You should remember the words of the Lord Jesus: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”

Footnotes:

1. Acts 20:22 Or by my spirit, or by an inner compulsion; Greek reads by the spirit.
2. Acts 20:26 Greek I am innocent of the blood of all.
3. Acts 20:28 Or with the blood of his own [Son].
4. Acts 20:28 Greek overseers.

On the third day after the superstorm: They have washed their robes

On the third day after the superstorm, the watchman heard, Revelation 7. So he opened his Bible and read.

A Great Multitude from Every Nation

^{Revelation 7: 9} After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, ¹⁰ and crying out with a loud voice, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!” ¹¹ And all the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures, and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, ¹² saying, “Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might be to our God forever and ever! Amen.”
¹³ Then one of the elders addressed me, saying, “Who are these, clothed in white robes, and from where have they come?” ¹⁴ I said to him, “Sir, you know.” And he said to me, “These are the ones coming out of the great tribulation. They have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

¹⁵ “Therefore they are before the throne of God,
    and serve him day and night in his temple;
    and he who sits on the throne will shelter them with his presence.
¹⁶ They shall hunger no more, neither thirst anymore;
    the sun shall not strike them,
    nor any scorching heat.
¹⁷ For the Lamb in the midst of the throne will be their shepherd,
    and he will guide them to springs of living water,
and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”

________________________More verses on 'washing' and 'wearing white garments':

1 Corinthians 6:11
And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.
1 Corinthians 6:10-12 (in Context) 1 Corinthians 6 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations

Hebrews 10:22
let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.
Hebrews 10:21-23 (in Context) Hebrews 10 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations

Acts 22:16
And now why do you wait? Rise and be baptized and wash away your sins, calling on his name.’
Acts 22:15-17 (in Context) Acts 22 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations

Ephesians 5:26
that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word,
Ephesians 5:25-27 (in Context) Ephesians 5 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations

Isaiah 1:16
Wash yourselves; make yourselves clean; remove the evil of your deeds from before my eyes; cease to do evil,
Isaiah 1:15-17 (in Context) Isaiah 1 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations

 

Jeremiah 4:14
O Jerusalem, wash your heart from evil, that you may be saved. How long shall your wicked thoughts lodge within you?
Jeremiah 4:13-15 (in Context) Jeremiah 4 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations

 

What qualified them to wear white robes?

1. The blood of the Lamb.
2. They have not soiled their garments by sins.
3. They are considered worthy by the Lord.
4. The one who conquers (overcomes sins)
    
   Revelation 3:4-5
   Yet you have still a few names in Sardis, people who have not soiled their garments, and they will walk with me in white, for they are worthy. The one who conquers will be clothed thus in white garments, and I will never blot his name out of the book of life. I will confess his name before my Father and before his angels.
   Revelation 3:3-5 (in Context) Revelation 3 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations
   Rewards for those who get to wear white garments in heaven
   
   1. The Lord will allow them to walk with Him (in white).
      
   2. Their names will be kept in the book of life.
      
   3. Jesus will grant them to sit with Him on His throne. (Rev.3:21)
   Revelation 3:18
   I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire, so that you may be rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself and the shame of your nakedness may not be seen, and salve to anoint your eyes, so that you may see.
   Revelation 3:17-19 (in Context) Revelation 3 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations
   Revelation 4:4
   Around the throne were twenty-four thrones, and seated on the thrones were twenty-four elders, clothed in white garments, with golden crowns on their heads.
   Revelation 4:3-5 (in Context) Revelation 4 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations

 How to be sanctified?

BY THE HOLY SPIRIT AND BY THE TRUTH -THE WORD OF GOD

2 Thessalonians 2:13

[ Stand Firm ] But we ought always to give thanks to God for you, brothers beloved by the Lord, because God chose you as the firstfruits to be saved, through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth.

John 17:17
Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth.
John 17:16-18 (in Context) John 17 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations

John 17:19
And for their sake I consecrate myself, that they also may be sanctified in truth.
John 17:18-20 (in Context) John 17 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations

 ABSTAIN FROM SEXUAL IMMORALITY

1 Thessalonians 4:3
For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from sexual immorality;
1 Thessalonians 4:2-4 (in Context) 1 Thessalonians 4 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations

THE GOD OF PEACE SANCTIFIES YOU -BY HIS (JESUS) BLOOD

1 Thessalonians 5:23
Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
1 Thessalonians 5:22-24 (in Context) 1 Thessalonians 5 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations

How much worse punishment, do you think, will be deserved by the one who has trampled underfoot the Son of God, and has profaned the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has outraged the Spirit of grace?
Hebrews 10:28-30 (in Context) Hebrews 10 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations

Hebrews 13:12
So Jesus also suffered outside the gate in order to sanctify the people through his own blood.
Hebrews 13:11-13 (in Context) Hebrews 13 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations

   BY FAITH, BELIEF, AND OBEDIENCE TO JESUS (RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD)

Acts 26:18
to open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.’
Acts 26:17-19 (in Context) Acts 26 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations

Romans 6:19
I am speaking in human terms, because of your natural limitations. For just as you once presented your members as slaves to impurity and to lawlessness leading to more lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves to righteousness leading to sanctification.
Romans 6:18-20 (in Context) Romans 6 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations

Romans 6:22
But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the fruit you get leads to sanctification and its end, eternal life.
Romans 6:21-23 (in Context) Romans 6 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations

Day after the superstorm: the Holy Spirit says, come!

The watchman woke and heard the verse from Revelation 22:11 "Let the evildoer still do evil, and the filthy still be filthy, and the righteous still do right, and the holy still be holy." He prayed for the East Coast and New York in particular before he fell asleep. He asked the Spirit of intercession helped him to pray as he ran out of words. When he heard this verse he knew what it meant. He got up and asked for mercy and time. But then the Lord told him not to despair and read the whole chapter. So he read. There is still HOPE for ALL.

(His notes are in bracket. The boldness of some words were added by him.)

Revelation 22 (ESV)

The River of Life (the good news first!)

22:1 Then the angel^[a] showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb ² through the middle of the street of the city; also, on either side of the river, the tree of life^[b] with its twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit each month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. ³ No longer will there be anything accursed, but the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and his servants^[c] will worship him. ⁴ They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. ⁵ And night will be no more. They will need no light of lamp or sun, for the Lord God will be their light, and they will reign forever and ever.

(The Lord showed John the river of the water of life first. This is the same river that the prophet Ezekiel saw in his vision in Ezekiel 47, that flowed from the temple of God and became deep enough to swim in. "For this water goes there, that the waters of the sea may become fresh; so everything will live where the river goes." On the banks will grow trees, "Their fruit will be for food, and their leaves for healing." This is how the Holy Spirit works. The same power that raised Jesus from the dead gives lives to our mortal bodies. )

Jesus Is Coming -This is imminent: "must soon take place"; "behold I am coming soon" (said twice); "for the time is near"!)

⁶ And he said to me, “These words are trustworthy and true. And the Lord, the God of the spirits of the prophets, has sent his angel to show his servants what must soon take place.”

⁷ “And behold, I am coming soon. Blessed is the one who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book.”

⁸ I, John, am the one who heard and saw these things. And when I heard and saw them, I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel who showed them to me, ⁹ but he said to me, “You must not do that! I am a fellow servant^[d] with you and your brothers the prophets, and with those who keep the words of this book. Worship God.”

(Who are the servants of the Lord? the angels who do His work, the prophets of God, and those who keep the words of the Bible. They worship God. They live before God lives of living sacrifice: Romans 12:1-2 "I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.² Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.^")

¹⁰ And he said to me, “Do not seal up the words of the prophecy of this book, for the time is near. ¹¹ Let the evildoer still do evil, and the filthy still be filthy, and the righteous still do right, and the holy still be holy.”

(This is the key message today: the Lord looks at two things. Who you are and what you do physically. Indeed, what you do in your physical bodies impact whether you will be acceptable to God in eternity. This is a frightening message. Often Christians do not think much of what their bodies do. But reading the Bible as a whole, from Genesis to Revelation, one message is clear: God is holy. He only accept holy sacrifices. Someone may argue that it is impossible to keep our bodies holy all the time, or for some, anytime at all. But God is still holy. He still demands His called ones to be holy. Without holiness one just cannot enter into His presence in eternity. reading this key verse which appears at the end of the Bible, the last 11th verse, we just cannot ignore what the Spirit is telling us.)

¹² “Behold, I am coming soon, bringing my recompense with me, to repay each one for what he has done. ¹³ I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.”

¹⁴ Blessed are those who wash their robes,^[e] so that they may have the right to the tree of life and that they may enter the city by the gates. ¹⁵ Outside are the dogs and sorcerers and the sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.

(This is the final list of defilement that will disqualify one's entrance into the presence of the holy God in eternity.)

(The Lord wants us to take heed of the defilement pertaining to the body. In his letters to the Corinthians the Apostle Paul was adamant that the Christians keep their bodies holy for the Lord. 1 Cor.6:13b “The body, however, is not meant for sexual immorality but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body.” 18-19 “ Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a person commits are outside the body, but whoever sins sexually, sins against their own body. Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own,” 2Cor.7:1 “Therefore, since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God.” Defiling the body defiles one's spirit too. The key again is we must be aware of the spiritual and not just the seen physical world.)

¹⁶ “I, Jesus, have sent my angel to testify to you about these things for the churches. I am the root and the descendant of David, the bright morning star.”

(This warning is issued to churches, not the unbelievers.)

¹⁷ The Spirit and the Bride say, “Come.” And let the one who hears say, “Come.” And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who desires take the water of life without price.

(The good news is repeated here by the Spirit. Come and drink from the Holy Spirit. He can cleanse and sanctify you! )

(1 Corinthians 6:9-11 (ESV) 9 Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, 10 nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. 11 And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God. )

¹⁸ I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book, ¹⁹ and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book.

(God's words are forever settled in heaven. Psalm 119:89)

²⁰ He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming soon.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!

(Jesus is coming soon!)

²¹ The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all.^[f] Amen.

Footnotes:

1. Revelation 22:1 Greek he
2. Revelation 22:2 Or the Lamb. In the midst of the street of the city, and on either side of the river, was the tree of life
3. Revelation 22:3 Greek bondservants; also verse 6
4. Revelation 22:9 Greek fellow bondservant
5. Revelation 22:14 Some manuscripts do his commandments
6. Revelation 22:21 Some manuscripts all the saints
   
   

   Watchman’s summary:

   God is holy.

   God wants His people to be holy.

   Jesus is coming soon.

   The Holy Spirit is here to make us holy.

   All who thirst for holiness are invited to come and drink from the Holy Spirit’s river of living water (which washes us by the word of God)!

   Today is the time. Do not delay anymore.

   The spiritual realm is real. You can be transformed by the power of the Holy Spirit. There is still hope for all!

For as in the days before the flood -seeing the unseen

1. Genesis 7:1
   [ The Great Flood ] Then the LORD said to Noah, “Come into the ark, you and all your household, because I have seen that you are righteous before Me in this generation.
   Genesis 7:1-3 (in Context) Genesis 7 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations
2. Genesis 7:7
   So Noah, with his sons, his wife, and his sons’ wives, went into the ark because of the waters of the flood.
   Genesis 7:6-8 (in Context) Genesis 7 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations
3. Genesis 7:10
   And it came to pass after seven days that the waters of the flood were on the earth.
   Genesis 7:9-11 (in Context) Genesis 7 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations
4. Genesis 7:17
   Now the flood was on the earth forty days. The waters increased and lifted up the ark, and it rose high above the earth.
   Genesis 7:16-18 (in Context) Genesis 7 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations
5. Genesis 9:11
   Thus I establish My covenant with you: Never again shall all flesh be cut off by the waters of the flood; never again shall there be a flood to destroy the earth.”
   Genesis 9:10-12 (in Context) Genesis 9 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations
6. Genesis 9:15
   and I will remember My covenant which is between Me and you and every living creature of all flesh; the waters shall never again become a flood to destroy all flesh.
   Genesis 9:14-16 (in Context) Genesis 9 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations
7. Genesis 9:28
   And Noah lived after the flood three hundred and fifty years.
   Genesis 9:27-29 (in Context) Genesis 9 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations
8. Genesis 10:1
   [ Nations Descended from Noah ] Now this is the genealogy of the sons of Noah: Shem, Ham, and Japheth. And sons were born to them after the flood.
   Genesis 10:1-3 (in Context) Genesis 10 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations
9. Genesis 10:32
   These were the families of the sons of Noah, according to their generations, in their nations; and from these the nations were divided on the earth after the flood.
   Genesis 10:31-32 (in Context) Genesis 10 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations
10. Genesis 11:10
    [ Shem’s Descendants ] This is the genealogy of Shem: Shem was one hundred years old, and begot Arphaxad two years after the flood.
    Genesis 11:9-11 (in Context) Genesis 11 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations
11. Job 22:16
    Who were cut down before their time, Whose foundations were swept away by a flood?
    Job 22:15-17 (in Context) Job 22 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations
12. Job 27:20
    Terrors overtake him like a flood; A tempest steals him away in the night.
    Job 27:19-21 (in Context) Job 27 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations
13. Psalm 29:10
    The LORD sat enthroned at the Flood, And the LORD sits as King forever.
    Psalm 29:9-11 (in Context) Psalm 29 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations
14. Psalm 32:6
    For this cause everyone who is godly shall pray to You In a time when You may be found; Surely in a flood of great waters They shall not come near him.
    Psalm 32:5-7 (in Context) Psalm 32 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations
15. Psalm 74:15
    You broke open the fountain and the flood; You dried up mighty rivers.
    Psalm 74:14-16 (in Context) Psalm 74 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations
16. Psalm 90:5
    You carry them away like a flood; They are like a sleep. In the morning they are like grass which grows up:
    Psalm 90:4-6 (in Context) Psalm 90 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations
17. Isaiah 28:2
    Behold, the Lord has a mighty and strong one, Like a tempest of hail and a destroying storm, Like a flood of mighty waters overflowing, Who will bring them down to the earth with His hand.
    Isaiah 28:1-3 (in Context) Isaiah 28 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations
18. Isaiah 59:19
    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.
    Isaiah 59:18-20 (in Context) Isaiah 59 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations
19. Jeremiah 46:7
    “Who is this coming up like a flood, Whose waters move like the rivers?
    Jeremiah 46:6-8 (in Context) Jeremiah 46 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations
20. Jeremiah 46:8
    Egypt rises up like a flood, And its waters move like the rivers; And he says, ‘I will go up and cover the earth, I will destroy the city and its inhabitants.’
    Jeremiah 46:7-9 (in Context) Jeremiah 46 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations
21. Jeremiah 47:2
    Thus says the LORD: “Behold, waters rise out of the north, And shall be an overflowing flood; They shall overflow the land and all that is in it, The city and those who dwell within; Then the men shall cry, And all the inhabitants of the land shall wail.
    Jeremiah 47:1-3 (in Context) Jeremiah 47 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations
22. Daniel 9:26
    “And after the sixty-two weeks Messiah shall be cut off, but not for Himself; And the people of the prince who is to come Shall destroy the city and the sanctuary. The end of it shall be with a flood, And till the end of the war desolations are determined.
    Daniel 9:25-27 (in Context) Daniel 9 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations
23. Daniel 11:22
    With the force of a flood they shall be swept away from before him and be broken, and also the prince of the covenant.
    Daniel 11:21-23 (in Context) Daniel 11 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations
24. Nahum 1:8
    But with an overflowing flood He will make an utter end of its place, And darkness will pursue His enemies.
    Nahum 1:7-9 (in Context) Nahum 1 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations
25. Matthew 24:38
    For as in the days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark,
    Matthew 24:37-39 (in Context) Matthew 24 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations
26. Matthew 24:39
    and did not know until the flood came and took them all away, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be.
    Matthew 24:38-40 (in Context) Matthew 24 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations
27. Luke 6:48
    He is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. And when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently against that house, and could not shake it, for it was founded on the rock.
    Luke 6:47-49 (in Context) Luke 6 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations
28. Luke 17:27
    They ate, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all.
    Luke 17:26-28 (in Context) Luke 17 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations
29. 1 Peter 4:4
    In regard to these, they think it strange that you do not run with them in the same flood of dissipation, speaking evil of you.
    1 Peter 4:3-5 (in Context) 1 Peter 4 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations
30. 2 Peter 2:5
    and did not spare the ancient world, but saved Noah, one of eight people, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood on the world of the ungodly;
    2 Peter 2:4-6 (in Context) 2 Peter 2 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations
31. Revelation 12:15
    So the serpent spewed water out of his mouth like a flood after the woman, that he might cause her to be carried away by the flood.
    Revelation 12:14-16 (in Context) Revelation 12 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations
32. Revelation 12:16
    But the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed up the flood which the dragon had spewed out of his mouth.
    Revelation 12:15-17 (in Context) Revelation 12 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations

Journey to See God: Seeing God intimately

God reveals Himself in His way

Life is more interesting, never dull when one lives in the Spirit and walks by the Spirit, just as the apostles had experienced during the time of the early churches (as in the book of Acts). Without the leading of the Holy Spirit, one cannot possibly understand the Bible, the watchman has thus discovered.
The Bible is all about God. The Holy Spirit has come to show us how to see God. Reading John 7 and 8 has revealed new truth to the watchman. The truth is just there, all over the pages as he sees through the eyes of his spirit.
________________________Here is his brief note on 10-14-2012:
The Bible is all about God, revealing Himself to man, not the other way round. God takes initiative: set time, ‘when’, ‘whom he sent’, ‘for what purpose’. But man looks at ‘what’, ‘where’, ‘who is who’ all in the physical.
How does Jesus describes His focused intimate relationship, interactions and identification with God? (Just read the following list. The words ‘He’, ‘His’, ‘Him’ are used to denote God.)
‘He sent’, ‘He knows’, “in His time’, “His will’, ‘He teaches’, ‘comes from Him’, ‘His truth’, ‘learn from Him’, ‘return to Him’, ‘He speaks the truth’, ‘seek to honor Him’, ‘with Him’, ‘know who He is’, ‘belong to Him’, ‘from above’ (where God is), ‘not of the world below’ (where man is), ‘heard from Him’, ‘completely truthful’, ‘always do what please Him’, ‘do nothing on one’s own’, ‘say only what ones hears from Him’, ‘sent by Him’, ‘set sinners free’ (do His work), ‘saw what He did’, ‘tell the truth’, ‘come from God’,'consistent with God’s character’, ‘belong to God’, ‘listen gladly to the words of God’, ‘honor God’, ‘no demon in Him’, ‘no wish to glorify self’, ‘obey His teaching’, ‘know God’ and ‘obey Him’, ‘know Him and His Son’, know He is ‘I AM’.
______________________Relevant excerpts from “Spiritual Intimacy  & Communion” (from “Demands of Love” book by Susan Tang)
“The early Christians did not pick up spirits as easily as we do now because they were serious Christians who had a strong river of Spirit-life running inside them. They believed in spiritual communion and intimacy with God and spent time in serious prayer daily. They were people who knew how to drink long and deep at the Living Fountain. That was why they had no problems with demons..”
“Ministry today is dangerous because the emphasis is all on the outward _ the size of the church, the numbers, the performance, the buildings. Satan will be happy to give us these (and he can) provided he can keep us away from “The Drink”.”
http://www.station-of-life.org/demands-love.htm

SPIRITUAL INTIMACY (book by Susan Tang) 
MORE EXCERPTS: Psalm 143: 11
Quicken me O Lord, for thy name’s sake: for thy righteousness’ sake bring my soul out of trouble.
The word, ‘quicken’ actually means ‘to make alive.’ Many people, even Christians, lose their will to live because they cannot take the m and the pressure. When David lost the will to carry on, he screamed out to God many times, “O God, make me live!” He would not give way to suicide because he knew life came from God and it was not right for him to end it himself.
There is such power in intimacy with God. Even when David lost the will to live, he realized he could still carry on living when he allowed God to impact into him the purpose of living – to live for Him! Through intimacy with God, David knew he had a destiny to fulfill, and this gave him the strength to carry on. Yes, we can definitely derive meaning and strength to live on when we know intimacy with Father God.

———–
“The common Christian today knows everything from prophecy to anointing, from home cells to music, from miracles to visitations, from missions to running errands etc. but they simply cannot enter into intimacy with the Lord or prevail in His presence. Seeking His face is just too much for them.” [Read More]

spiritual intimacy & communion with God

Today’s sermon from the Holy Spirit: God remembers & records prayers and living right

The Holy Spirit gave a second sermon this morning: Acts of the Apostles chapter ten. When the watchman woke, he was led to read psalms 65 (all the way back to 53, plus two verses from 52 v8-9.) He received one verse specifically, 65:2 “O You who hear prayer.” This has turned out to be the message and prayer for today!

(In this journey to see God, the watchman’s study notes are in either boldness or in brackets. He also highlighted/made bold those verses/words that the Lord has required to be noted specifically in today’s message!)
Here is the summary note from the watchman:
One unusual event occurred: He printed the verses of this chapter but the printer printed one sheet of paper with the word ‘God’ repeated sixteen times!

1. God is again the focus today. See God and see what He has taken the initiative to give to man.
2. God works in us by the power of the Holy Spirit. (Jesus was anointed with the Holy Spirit and with power. Peter heard from the Holy Spirit and received instructions and obeyed. Cornelius and households and close ones received the Holy Spirit and His gift of tongues when they believed in the word about Jesus.)
3. Those who receive from God share these qualities: They fear God. They do right living before God. They pray continually to God. They raise devout household (family, servants, relatives and close friends). They are eager to hear from God and are willing to wait in the presence of God to hear all that God has commanded! (God remembers, honors, and records these qualities.)
4. God does the cleansing (of believer’s spirit, soul and body) and saving. God shows no partiality. God loves the ‘world’ and sent His only Son to die for the ‘world’. (John 3:16-21)

Acts 10 (the Bible verses with notes)

English Standard Version (ESV)
Peter and Cornelius (each called by God as they were praying at separate time. One saw angel, and another saw vision of things coming from heaven. Both heard and conversed with the heavenly messenger).

10 At Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion of what was known as the Italian Cohort, ² a devout man who feared God with all his household, gave alms generously to the people, and prayed continually to God. ³ About the ninth hour of the day^[a] he saw clearly in a vision an angel of God come in and say to him, “Cornelius.” ⁴ And he stared at him in terror and said, “What is it, Lord?” And he said to him, “Your prayers and your alms have ascended as a memorial before God. ⁵ And now send men to Joppa and bring one Simon who is called Peter. ⁶ He is lodging with one Simon, a tanner, whose house is by the sea.” ⁷ When the angel who spoke to him had departed, he called two of his servants and a devout soldier from among those who attended him, ⁸ and having related everything to them, he sent them to Joppa.

Peter’s Vision (“What God has made clean, do not call common.”)

⁹ The next day, as they were on their journey and approaching the city, Peter went up on the housetop about the sixth hour^[b] to pray. ¹⁰ And he became hungry and wanted something to eat, but while they were preparing it, he fell into a trance ¹¹ and saw the heavens opened and something like a great sheet descending, being let down by its four corners upon the earth. ¹² In it were all kinds of animals and reptiles and birds of the air. ¹³ And there came a voice to him: “Rise, Peter; kill and eat.” ¹⁴ But Peter said, “By no means, Lord; for I have never eaten anything that is common or unclean.” ¹⁵ And the voice came to him again a second time, “What God has made clean, do not call common.” ¹⁶ This happened three times, and the thing was taken up at once to heaven.
¹⁷ Now while Peter was inwardly perplexed as to what the vision that he had seen might mean, behold, the men who were sent by Cornelius, having made inquiry for Simon’s house, stood at the gate ¹⁸ and called out to ask whether Simon who was called Peter was lodging there. ¹⁹ And while Peter was pondering the vision, the Spirit said to him, “Behold, three men are looking for you. ²⁰ Rise and go down and accompany them without hesitation,^[c] for I have sent them.” ²¹ And Peter went down to the men and said, “I am the one you are looking for. What is the reason for your coming?” ²² And they said, “Cornelius, a centurion, an upright and God-fearing man, who is well spoken of by the whole Jewish nation, was directed by a holy angel to send for you to come to his house and to hear what you have to say.” ²³ So he invited them in to be his guests.
The next day he rose and went away with them, and some of the brothers from Joppa accompanied him. ²⁴ And on the following day they entered Caesarea. Cornelius was expecting them and had called together his relatives and close friends. ²⁵ When Peter entered, Cornelius met him and fell down at his feet and worshiped him. ²⁶ But Peter lifted him up, saying, “Stand up; I too am a man.” ²⁷ And as he talked with him, he went in and found many persons gathered. ²⁸ And he said to them, “You yourselves know how unlawful it is for a Jew to associate with or to visit anyone of another nation, but God has shown me that I should not call any person common or unclean. ²⁹ So when I was sent for, I came without objection. I ask then why you sent for me.”
³⁰ And Cornelius said, “Four days ago, about this hour, I was praying in my house at the ninth hour,^[d] and behold, a man stood before me in bright clothing ³¹ and said, ‘Cornelius, your prayer has been heard and your alms have been remembered before God. ³² Send therefore to Joppa and ask for Simon who is called Peter. He is lodging in the house of Simon, a tanner, by the sea.’ ³³ So I sent for you at once, and you have been kind enough to come. Now therefore we are all here in the presence of God to hear all that you have been commanded by the Lord.”

Gentiles Hear the Good News (The good news is all about Jesus Christ Whom God had sent to save that everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness of sins through His name.)

³⁴ So Peter opened his mouth and said: “Truly I understand that God shows no partiality, ³⁵ but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him. ³⁶ As for the word that he sent to Israel, preaching good news of peace through Jesus Christ (he is Lord of all), ³⁷ you yourselves know what happened throughout all Judea, beginning from Galilee after the baptism that John proclaimed: ³⁸ how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him. ³⁹ And we are witnesses of all that he did both in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They put him to death by hanging him on a tree, ⁴⁰ but God raised him on the third day and made him to appear, ⁴¹ not to all the people but to us who had been chosen by God as witnesses, who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. ⁴² And he commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one appointed by God to be judge of the living and the dead. ⁴³ To him all the prophets bear witness that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.”

The Holy Spirit Falls on the Gentiles (All who heard the word and believed in Jesus received the Holy Spirit, with the gift of the Spirit poured out, and they were baptized in the name of Jesus Christ!)

⁴⁴ While Peter was still saying these things, the Holy Spirit fell on all who heard the word. ⁴⁵ And the believers from among the circumcised who had come with Peter were amazed, because the gift of the Holy Spirit was poured out even on the Gentiles. ⁴⁶ For they were hearing them speaking in tongues and extolling God. Then Peter declared, ⁴⁷ “Can anyone withhold water for baptizing these people, who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?” ⁴⁸ And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked him to remain for some days.

Footnotes:

1. Acts 10:3 That is, 3 p.m.
2. Acts 10:9 That is, noon
3. Acts 10:20 Or accompany them, making no distinction
4. Acts 10:30 That is, 3 p.m.

Today’s Sermon from the Holy Spirit: set apart; sent off; filled with the Holy Spirit; proclaim the Word of God

The Holy Spirit gave a first message to the home church, a handful of faithful remnants (mainly families). Indeed, in the end time, the Lord takes charge of His own called ones and makes sure they receive pure heavenly food. They all received with tears-filled eyes. When there is no church and no preacher of God's word, the Holy Spirit takes over! God is awesome and merciful. His word comes to pass for those who believe!

Acts 13 (ESV)

(note: the watchman has added boldness and some of his notes in brackets)

Barnabas and Saul Sent Off (set apart by the Holy Spirit after fasting and praying)

13 Now there were in the church at Antioch prophets and teachers, Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger,^[a] Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen a lifelong friend of Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. ² While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” ³ Then after fasting and praying they laid their hands on them and sent them off.

Barnabas and Saul on Cyprus (sent out by the Holy Spirit to proclaim the word of God, confirmed by signs and wonders)

⁴ So, being sent out by the Holy Spirit, they went down to Seleucia, and from there they sailed to Cyprus. ⁵ When they arrived at Salamis, they proclaimed the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews. And they had John to assist them. ⁶ When they had gone through the whole island as far as Paphos, they came upon a certain magician, a Jewish false prophet named Bar-Jesus. ⁷ He was with the proconsul, Sergius Paulus, a man of intelligence, who summoned Barnabas and Saul and sought to hear the word of God. ⁸ But Elymas the magician (for that is the meaning of his name) opposed them, seeking to turn the proconsul away from the faith. ⁹ But Saul, who was also called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked intently at him ¹⁰ and said, “You son of the devil, you enemy of all righteousness, full of all deceit and villainy, will you not stop making crooked the straight paths of the Lord? ¹¹ And now, behold, the hand of the Lord is upon you, and you will be blind and unable to see the sun for a time.” Immediately mist and darkness fell upon him, and he went about seeking people to lead him by the hand. ¹² Then the proconsul believed, when he saw what had occurred, for he was astonished at the teaching of the Lord.

Paul and Barnabas at Antioch in Pisidia

¹³ Now Paul and his companions set sail from Paphos and came to Perga in Pamphylia. And John left them and returned to Jerusalem, ¹⁴ but they went on from Perga and came to Antioch in Pisidia. And on the Sabbath day they went into the synagogue and sat down. ¹⁵ After the reading from the Law and the Prophets, the rulers of the synagogue sent a message to them, saying, “Brothers, if you have any word of encouragement for the people, say it.” ¹⁶ So Paul stood up, and motioning with his hand said:
MESSAGE TO THOSE WHO FEAR GOD:
“Men of Israel and you who fear God, listen. ¹⁷ The God of this people Israel chose our fathers and made the people great during their stay in the land of Egypt, and with uplifted arm he led them out of it. ¹⁸ And for about forty years he put up with^[b] them in the wilderness. ¹⁹ And after destroying seven nations in the land of Canaan, he gave them their land as an inheritance. ²⁰ All this took about 450 years. And after that he gave them judges until Samuel the prophet. ²¹ Then they asked for a king, and God gave them Saul the son of Kish, a man of the tribe of Benjamin, for forty years. ²² And when he had removed him, he raised up David to be their king, of whom he testified and said, ‘I have found in David the son of Jesse a man after my heart, who will do all my will.’ ²³ Of this man’s offspring God has brought to Israel a Savior, Jesus, as he promised. ²⁴ Before his coming, John had proclaimed a baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel. ²⁵ And as John was finishing his course, he said, ‘What do you suppose that I am? I am not he. No, but behold, after me one is coming, the sandals of whose feet I am not worthy to untie.’
THE SALVATION MESSAGE: THE GOOD NEWS FROM GOD
²⁶ “Brothers, sons of the family of Abraham, and those among you who fear God, to us has been sent the message of this salvation. ²⁷ For those who live in Jerusalem and their rulers, because they did not recognize him nor understand the utterances of the prophets, which are read every Sabbath, fulfilled them by condemning him. ²⁸ And though they found in him no guilt worthy of death, they asked Pilate to have him executed. ²⁹ And when they had carried out all that was written of him, they took him down from the tree and laid him in a tomb. ³⁰ But God raised him from the dead, ³¹ and for many days he appeared to those who had come up with him from Galilee to Jerusalem, who are now his witnesses to the people. ³² And we bring you the good news that what God promised to the fathers, ³³ this he has fulfilled to us their children by raising Jesus, as also it is written in the second Psalm,

“‘You are my Son,
today I have begotten you.’

³⁴ And as for the fact that he raised him from the dead, no more to return to corruption, he has spoken in this way,

“‘I will give you the holy and sure blessings of David.’

³⁵ Therefore he says also in another psalm,

“‘You will not let your Holy One see corruption.’

³⁶ For David, after he had served the purpose of God in his own generation, fell asleep and was laid with his fathers and saw corruption, ³⁷ but he whom God raised up did not see corruption.
ONLY THE TRUTH OF JESUS SETS THOSE WHO BELIEVE FREE!
³⁸ Let it be known to you therefore, brothers, that through this man forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you, ³⁹ and by him everyone who believes is freed^[c] from everything from which you could not be freed by the law of Moses. ⁴⁰ Beware, therefore, lest what is said in the Prophets should come about:

⁴¹ “‘Look, you scoffers,
be astounded and perish;
for I am doing a work in your days,
a work that you will not believe, even if one tells it to you.’”
THE WORD OF GOD SPOKEN BY THE HOLY SPIRIT CONVICTED AND CONVERTED THE PEOPLE (WHO FEARED GOD): THEY RECEIVED THE WORD OF GOD AND ETERNAL LIFE WITH REJOICING, GLORIFYING GOD. THE WORD OF GOD SPREAD WITHOUT BOUNDARIES (GEOGRAPHICAL LIMIT, HUMAN RACES, SOCIAL OR RELIGIOUS STATUS ETC).

⁴² As they went out, the people begged that these things might be told them the next Sabbath. ⁴³ And after the meeting of the synagogue broke up, many Jews and devout converts to Judaism followed Paul and Barnabas, who, as they spoke with them, urged them to continue in the grace of God.
⁴⁴ The next Sabbath almost the whole city gathered to hear the word of the Lord. ⁴⁵ But when the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy and began to contradict what was spoken by Paul, reviling him.⁴⁶ And Paul and Barnabas spoke out boldly, saying, “It was necessary that the word of God be spoken first to you. Since you thrust it aside and judge yourselves unworthy of eternal life, behold, we are turning to the Gentiles. ⁴⁷ For so the Lord has commanded us, saying,

“‘I have made you a light for the Gentiles,
that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth.’”

⁴⁸ And when the Gentiles heard this, they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the Lord, and as many as were appointed to eternal life believed. ⁴⁹ And the word of the Lord was spreading throughout the whole region. ⁵⁰ But the Jews^[d] incited the devout women of high standing and the leading men of the city, stirred up persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and drove them out of their district. ⁵¹ But they shook off the dust from their feet against them and went to Iconium. ⁵² And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.
WATCHMAN’S NOTE: WHO ARE THOSE WHO OPPOSED THE WORD OF GOD BEING PREACHED? “Elymas the magician opposed them; the Jewsincited the devout women of high standing and the leading men of the city, stirred up persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and drove them out of their district.”
WHY? THE MAGICIAN WANTED TO TURN THE PROCONSUL AWAY FROM THE FAITH; THE JEWS “were filled with jealousy and began to contradict what was spoken by Paul, reviling him.” WHO ARE THE ENEMIES OF GOD? MEN PRACTICING THE OCCULT (MAGIC, SORCERY, WITCHCRAFT, IDOL WORSHIP) ARE CONTROLLED BY EVIL SPIRITS AND OPPOSE THE GOSPEL NATURALLY. MEN FILLED WITH JEALOUSY ARE THE SAME AS THOSE PRACTICING THESE (READ THE LIST BELOW)!

Galatians 5:19-21 (list of enemies of God)

¹⁹ Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, ²⁰ idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, ²¹ envy,^[a] drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
Footnotes: Galatians 5:21 Some manuscripts add murder

ACTS 13 Footnotes:

1. Acts 13:1 Niger is a Latin word meaning black, or dark
2. Acts 13:18 Some manuscripts he carried (compare Deuteronomy 1:31)
3. Acts 13:39 Greek justified; twice in this verse
4. Acts 13:50 Greek Ioudaioiprobably refers here to Jewish religious leaders, and others under their influence, in that time
   

   Mark 16:15-18; 20 (ESV) ¹⁵ And he said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation. ¹⁶ Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. ¹⁷ And these signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will cast out demons; they will speak in new tongues; ¹⁸ they will pick up serpents with their hands; and if they drink any deadly poison, it will not hurt them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will recover.” ²⁰ And they went out and preached everywhere, while the Lord worked with them and confirmed the message by accompanying signs.