Chapter Seventy-Six: A Watchman's Vision of End Time Survival Kit

A dream came to the watchman in vivid details which he could remember clearly when he woke. It is about end time survival for God’s children.
Indeed he has thought about this matter previously. He thought of finding a piece of land on high ground which can be cultivated for self-subsistence. But he is no farmer, or even gardener. He has one pet dog and that is all he knows about keeping animals. He cannot do carpentry, mud shelter construction, handle heavy manual hand tools, not even basic plumping. He has never done a hard day’s manual labor before. When he realized the need for manual labor practice, he thought it better to put the idea (or vision) aside.
But this dream is a different sort. It has opened his spiritual eyes and mind. It tells him how wrong he has been all this while thinking of surviving end time using mere physical resources and skills. He woke knowing that this is what the Bible has been teaching him all this while!
In the dream, an organization controls all goods and services. Every one with a chip implant can buy whatever supplies they require. There is constant surveillance on all economic and social activities.
A man without a chip implant has no legal identity and social right and cannot access any of the world supplies. How can one survive without such access? For the followers of Jesus, survival is ‘outside the camp’ as they choose to identify with Jesus Christ (Hebrews 13:13)!
On waking he was led to search the Bible for the way out  and found this: Put on the full armor of God: “Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all these, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the fiery arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.” (Ephesians 6:14-18)
There are three important components in this full armor for all Bible believing Christians who have believed and accepted Jesus Christ as their personal Savior and Lord (and thus have the helmet of Salvation, breastplate of Righteousness and gospel of Peace): The Holy Spirit, the Word of God and Faith. Praying in the Spirit is the essential operational tool for working in the spiritual realm.
Living in the Spirit is not optional for Christians.
It is compulsory. Without living in the Spirit you would not be able to rise above the physical elements and live outside the camp. Jesus and His disciples had demonstrated this truth. The Apostle Paul has written on this at great length and clarity. You already have the supernatural power in you to live accordingly. Read this following important truth:
Read 1 Corinthians Chapter two. God has revealed His mystery to us by His Spirit. The Holy Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. We have received the Spirit of God and understand what God has freely given us. The spiritual man makes judgments about all things but he himself is not subject to any man’s judgment. We have the mind of Christ.
How to live by the Spirit? Read the Bible and believe every word of God by faith and act on them. Seek God diligently daily in worship, prayers and His word. Pray in the Spirit as often as the Spirit leads you. Practice by faith praying in the Spirit. Receive power from the Holy Spirit by faith as a son of God. The Holy Spirit will come and help you when you ask.
Some of the practical living examples are: believe in divine healing and divine health. Proclaim God’s word by faith on all aspects of life. Take up your legal authority as a son of God and use the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth by faith. Cast out your unbelief (worldliness). Align your desire with the will of God. Fast and pray to subject your body and soul (mind and emotion) to the control of your spirit (which is to be led by the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Christ Himself)!
For those who fear hunger, here is another verse of truth to dispel your doubt as to how your physical food will come. “By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible.” (Hebrews 11:3) This makes sense as who can see a small atom?
For those who think they can wait till the last minute to practice divine living, the watchman’s advice (through personal experience) is you really need a lot of practice to let the faith in you come forth. For example, you need to practice praying the word of God by faith now, believing in the power of the name of Jesus Christ and take authority over the headache instead of reaching for the painkillers. You need to build up the faith practice until you can take authority over more serious chronic diseases. You will find that you save a lot of money and worries that way (even if end time does not come during your lifetime)!
Another reminder is to memorize the word of God. You would not have a Bible ready for you at end time. The word of God in your heart must rise as resources (materials) for the Holy Spirit to bring forth produce that you need in the physical world.

Remember: Faith + the Word of God + the Holy Spirit + Practice living by faith in the Spirit = keys to your survival.

Chapter Seventy-five: A watchman's prophetic acts

Often Jack has found that the things he is required to do are insignificant and at times foolish in others' eyes. When he read the Bible he found that many faithful watchmen were asked to do ridiculous acts. He lists some of the more prominent ones as follows:
Noah was asked to build an ark on dry land based on God's specifications for his family and two of every sort of living things (possibly becoming the greatest laughing stock among the inhabitants of that land then). (Genesis 6-7)
Moses was asked to lift up his rod and stretch out his hand over the Red Sea in front of at least two millions of panicky people under death threat by the powerful enemy army close at their heels. (Exodus 14)
Joshua was asked to march daily once around the Jericho city walls  for six consecutive days, with seven priests bearing seven trumpets of rams' horns before the ark silently in front of his entire armies , and on the seventh day march around the city seven times, and the priests shall blow the trumpets. (Joshua 6)
Samuel gathered all Israel to Mizpah, drew water and poured it out before the Lord, then took a suckling lamb and offered to the Lord as a whole burnt offering, while their arch enemies the Philistines armies drew near to battle against Israel. (1 Samuel 7)
When three nations' armies came to battle against Judah, King Jehoshaphat led his people to worship the Lord and the Levites praised the Lord with loud voices. On the day of the battle, Jehoshaphat appointed those who should sing to the Lord and those who should praise the beauty of holiness to go out before the army saying, "Praise the Lord, for His mercy endures forever." (2 Chronicles 20)
Elijah took his mantle, rolled it up and struck the water of the River Jordan. (2 Kings 2:8)
Elisha cut off a stick, and threw it into the River Jordan where the axe head had fallen into. (2 Kings 6:6)
Naaman, commander of the army of the King of Syria, dipped seven times in the River Jordan, at the instruction of Elisha the prophet. (2 Kings 5:14)

What happened when men did the foolish things in obedience to their callings by God? God acted and performed the great things. God sent the great flood, rid the land of evil and gave Noah and his family a fresh new life as promised. Moses and his two million people saw the Red Sea parted and they were delivered from the Egyptians. The tall and mighty walls of Jericho fell down flat and Joshua captured the city without fighting. Samuel and his armies saw the defeat of their enemy armies. God thundered with a loud thunder upon the Philistines and so confused them that they were overcome before Israel. When King Jehosaphat's men began to sing and praise God, the Lord sent ambushes and defeated their enemies.  Of course the River Jordan parted and even iron axe head swam to the surface! Namaan, an alien leper, who chose to obey the watchman/prophet, was instantly healed after the seventh dip.

1 Corinthians 2:13-14 "These things we also speak, not in words which man’s wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual. But the natural man (the man without the Spirit) does not receive (accept) the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned". v16 For “who has known the mind of the LORD that he may instruct Him? But we have the mind of Christ."

Unless a man stops trying to reason the things of God with his mind, he will not see a miracle. This is called unbelief. Unbelief cancels out faith. Faith rests in our spirits. Let your spirit man rise up and you will see miracles! Jack has taken a long time to accept this truth. Now he knows the truth and the truth has set him free just as Jesus has promised! (John 8:32)

A watchman has to see with his spirit and not his mind, to reach God's rich supernatural resources. The Holy Spirit provides the way to such vision.

Chapter Seventy-four: The Holy Spirit confirms the same message twice

What Jack has learned since his journey in the Holy Spirit is that the Holy Spirit responds to our prayers quickly and very often immediately. however, it takes us sometime to receive and respond accordingly. It is therefore our receivers that need fixing and not the transmission from God the Holy Spirit. Jack sometimes wishes that there is a shortcut for him to listen to the Holy Spirit.
However, the more he seeks God the more he enjoys the seeking process. It has been a wonderful and often awesome journey for him in the Holy Spirit. So a short cut would have been a waste.
During the last week he has been seeking God more intensely as led by the Holy Spirit. The advance intercessors conference has opened his inner eyes further and he can sense the urgency of the time. He feels like a man racing on a fast moving train going somewhere. He must race against time as all his assignments are urgent and must be completed before the train reaches its destination.

However he does not know each exact assignment until the last minute. He has to focus, watch and listen carefully for the signals. The signals are given in the supernatural. He may receive a vision. He may have a dream. He may have a name or a Bible verse appearing in his heart or right before his eyes when he reads the Bible. He may receive the signal in broad daylight while driving in his car. He may receive it when worshiping God. He may receive it in the midnight hours. All he needs to do is to respond.
When he is not sure he asks the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit will speak to him again through another means: a song, a person, a verse, a sermon passage, a phone call, a mobile message, a piece of news etc. Sometimes he asks his spiritual mentor to pray too and see if she receives similar or further clarifications. Sometimes before he asks, she already receives the message for him separately and sends it in the form of a mobile message!

During the last two days he has been reading a very important book. He could not sleep last night so he decided to read more of it. When he reached some verses he meditated on them and prayed as led by the Holy Spirit. He tried to memorize some of them.
This morning he woke from a dream. In the dream he was back in his former company and was shown by an internal office inspector (his junior) of a list of operations under his charge which required his rectification. He only remembered one warning word for him when he woke.
In the morning before going to church, he decided to walk on his treadmill while worshiping and memorizing Bible verses. Then he remembered one verse in the book which he was urged by the Spirit to memorize on the previous night. The verse appeared in his heart strongly with urgency. So he looked through the verse in the Bible. To his surprise he found that just one verse below, the warning word which he received in his dream appeared!
The word relates to handling of God's word. It was not a common word. But it does serve an accurate reminder for Jack as he is trained to use his mind more than his spirit. He used to take pride in his mind as he thought all his former successes in the corporate world were attributed to his mind! So the Holy Spirit knows exactly what to warn Jack! The Holy Spirit confirmed the same message twice!
When he attended church later, another incident happened. He was asked to pray the opening prayer. He was led to pray the verse which the Holy Spirit has already prepared his heart for on the previous night. It occurred that the sermon on that day was on the same topic. Again, the Holy Spirit confirmed the same message twice!
In another incident, he was approached by someone to intercede for her close relative. He did not feel any leading from the Holy Spirit then so he did not commit himself. However, almost a week later while driving on a long distance, after listening to a message about Jesus' completed salvation on the cross, her name appeared and he was prompted by the Holy Spirit to pray fervently for her and that loved one of hers. He obeyed.

Jack has discovered that the prayers of an intercessor are not usual. He has become a person who does not pray much in the public. Prayers require the input of the Holy Spirit. Often times he needs to spend time before God and read and meditate God's word before he knows what to pray and intercede. God's word are like seeds. An intercessor needs seeds before he can sow by faith. He also needs the water from the Holy Spirit for the ground before he can sow them.
All in all he has learned to become a novice spiritual gardener. O, how he loves gardening this way, in the cool of the morning and evening, in the gentle presence of the Holy Spirit, knowing that the real gardener is in heaven ensuring the produce of fruits, thirty-fold, sixty-fold and hundred-fold!

Chapter Seventy-Three: The Holy Spirit cries out, “What I do have I give you: in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk!”

After much soul searching and praying about finances and whether to invest further in a particular stock, Jack heard clearly the verse from Acts 3:6. The Apostle Peter told a beggar, “Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you: in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk.” He immediately read the chapter about this revelation. It was indeed amazing how the beggar, a grown man, who had been lame from his mother’s womb received strength in his feet and ankle bones immediately, leaping up, stood and walked and entered the temple with the Apostles, walking, leaping and praising God!
The man had never walked or worked all his life. He depended on others to lay daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms from those who entered the temple. Suddenly he could stand up, walk and leap! How he must have rehearsed these movements in his heart as he watched others since he was a toddler with helplessness and despair, knowing that he would never be able to experience the freedom others had!
After reading aloud and pondering on this verse, Jack was led to hear a message from Malachi 4:2, wherein the Lord proclaimed, “But to you who fear/revere My name, the Sun of Righteousness shall arise with healings in His wings; and you will go out and leap like the claves released from the stall.”
A stall is an enclosed small area set off by walls for special use. We all have stalls in our mind, called mind-set. One mind-set is unbelief.
Even Christians have such mind-set. But the Lord promises that those who revere His name (the name of Jesus Christ of Nazereth) will be set free from such bondages and oppressions. They will see the Sun of Righteousness arising with healings on His wings. They will go out and leap like calves released from the stall!
Jack knows his own mind-set. He repents and faith arises in his heart. He sees the greatness in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazereth. He believes the power of that name. The Bible clearly says that there are no other names but that name by which anyone can be saved (healed, delivered, blessed and prospered in all aspects: spirit, soul and body). How dull and foolish his heart had been in thinking that that one name was only powerful in one area and not in all others. He repents deeply.
What happened to that investment? Jack made a decision based on his fresh mind-set. He has made a commitment not to use the Lord’s name in vain. He has determined in his heart to use the Lord’s name with belief. It was wonderful and liberating.
Life suddenly brightens up and his heart leaps like calves released from the stall, under the bright light of the Sun of Righteousness!
Acts 3:16 “By faith in the name of Jesus, this man whom you see and know was made strong. It is Jesus’ name and the faith that comes through him that has given this complete healing to him, as you can all see.”
Thank you, Holy Spirit!

Chapter Seventy-Two: A watchman on the wall cries out, “Enter through the narrow gate!”

The more Jack seeks God the more he knows that time is short and there is a sense of increasing urgency for God's people to know God. Jesus defined "eternal life" as "know God the only true God, and Jesus Christ, Whom God has sent". (John 17:3) So there is no other more important matter than this, making sure that one knows God and Jesus.
Has God made it difficult? No. As God has so loved the world that He has given His only Son Jesus to die for and has thus redeemed the lost world (including the whole human race). It is only logical that he would similarly make it easy for those who believe to get to heaven. There is only one problem for Christians. The problem of unbelief.
What Jack has been learning lately has cried out to him loudly, "What makes you think you know God? If you know God can you still harbor unbelief in your heart? Unbelief is not believing in all the word of the Lord and still preferring to do things the usual worldly way!"
His greatest unbelief is not living fully by the Holy Spirit. The teaching from his previous Churches do not believe in the absolute requirement by God that Christians live in the Spirit and be led by the Spirit. The churches teach that Christians are considered as having complied in their mind. They teach that it is risky to try to really follow the Holy Spirit and live in the Spirit. They do not believe that God (the power of the Holy Spirit) can protect His children who have come to Him by faith and trusting and obeying His word by faith, and exercising the spiritual authority that Jesus has given to all His followers.
Yet, it is so clear in the whole Bible that there are no other way to obey God and His word except through the Holy Spirit. Jack has discovered that Jesus Himself and the Apostles (inspired by the Holy Spirit) have given Christians clear instructions (on how to enter the kingdom of God through the narrow gate) in this respect.
The First Clue: You can only enter heaven like the wind.
Jesus told Nicodemus (a high positioned political official and authority on Jewish religion) that unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh. That which is born of the Spirit is spirit. (John 3:5-6)
This clue clearly says that one can only enter the kingdom of God in spirit (born of the Holy Spirit).
Jesus in fact illustrated how this will happen. "The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit." (John 3:8) This means when one is born of the Spirit one can enter the kingdom of God as free as the wind blows and as unencumbered by flesh (a body and/or a mind that is against God). (Romans 8:7)
Conclusion: If you do not want to become involved in the matter of the Holy Spirit, you cannot get there.
The Second Clue: You can only enter heaven living the spiritual, supernatural life.
The Apostle Paul further explained clearly in Romans 8:1-16 how there is no alternative for a Christian but to be led by the Spirit and walk according to the Spirit.
How to know you are one of them? Those who are in Christ Jesus have the Spirit of Christ dwell in them, walk according to the Holy Spirit, set their minds on the things of the Spirit, are spiritually minded, and are led by the Spirit of God. These are Christians (sons of God) who can live the supernatural life of Christ (living divine and empowered by the Holy Spirit).
How to know you are not one of the above? These are people who do not have the Spirit of Christ, walk according to the flesh (following the world and its system/way, loving the world and the things of the world, only seeing and caring for the things that can be seen), setting their minds on things of the flesh, knowing only how to do deeds of the body (not of the Spirit).
If you think that you can be led by the Spirit in your mind, you are wrong. The mind is carnal and is against God. (Romans 8:7)
Conclusion: You just have to practice living in the spirit on earth as it is in heaven.
The Third Clue: Christians are elected to worship God. God is seeking true worshipers. There is a place for you in heaven if you are one!
Jesus told the Samaritan woman by the well this truth. "But the hour is coming and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth." (John 4:23-24)
It therefore makes sense to practice worshiping in spirit and in truth when on earth. A pastor thus challenged, "What makes you think you can suddenly become a true worshiper on that Day when you do not practice now on earth? What makes you think you will like worshiping day and night there when you never like it here?" Indeed, there is no way you can fit into the elect group when you heart does not desire to worship God. How many minutes can you bear worshiping God? Are you worshiping God even when you are alone, at any moments? Be honest as it is a life and death matter!
Conclusion: You can only enter heaven if you are a true worshiper. If you cannot worship in spirit (not in mind/mere emotion, but in the Holy Spirit) and in truth (based on the word of God and in Jesus who is the Truth), then you do not qualify.
The Fourth Clue: You can only enter heaven with Jesus.
Jesus told His disciples that He would come again and receive them to Himself. He also told them clearly that He is the way, the truth and the life and that no one goes to the Father except through Him. (John 14:6). He then gave an important key : "If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; and from now on you know Him and have seen Him." (John 14:7) He promised them that He would pray the Father to send the Spirit of truth (the Holy Spirit) to guide them into all truth, and tell them things to come.  The Holy Spirit will dwell with them and will be with them.
There is a further crucial clue. Jesus told them, "If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him." (John 14:23) Here, a Christian is promised of the presence of God Himself, with the condition that the Christian keeps God's word.
Conclusion: You need the Holy Spirit and the word of God to enter heaven.
Summary: in all four clues, you need the Holy Spirit to take you to heaven!
Christ is our real life. How to live the real life? Jack has been learning to practice this in his journey in the Holy Spirit. He prays that you too may find the desire in your heart to do so. You do not have any alternative, really.

Chapter Seventy-One: How a watchman on the wall interacts with the Holy Spirit

During the advance training for intercessors, Jack had a number of supernatural encounters. Overall, he has again been tutored by the best, the Holy Spirit Himself.
The following are examples of some of his personal learning:
1. He became more sensitive to the Holy Spirit. For example, on the previous night he heard a sharing of a senior watchman/intercessor’s being severely spiritually attacked, the next morning he saw a vision on what to intercede for her. As his intercession was only limited to her, he was further led by the Holy Spirit to intercede for her whole ministry by showing him another vision on her co-worker!
2. He learned to intercede prophetically. For example, the intercessors walked under clothes anointed to symbolize the blood of Jesus (the Lamb of God), to be reminded of His Covenant. As they walked they could intercede as led by the Spirit. A lot of them were filled with great joy!
3. While worshiping and listening to the word of God being preached or in the midst of prayers made by the senior intercessors, the participants were asked to lift up their hands from time to time to receive the anointing of the Holy Spirit. He lifted up his hands as called even though he had felt nothing sensational. He felt nothing in fact. However, the result showed after the whole conference was over. He became very alert to the calling of the Holy Spirit and responded fast. The followings are some of the immediate examples.
On the day after his course, he thought he could sleep late but the Holy Spirit woke him at 4am! He was reluctant but the Holy Spirit immediately reminded him that he could always go back to sleep after his assignment. So he got up. He did not have to wonder what to do like before, as he was led to read the Bible aloud, to let the environment be saturated by God’s word. After he has read for about two hours, he heard the loud chanting/praying of a pagan religion nearby. He knew it had no power as the true God is here! He was allowed to go back to sleep after that.
However, when he woke around 7.30am, he was prompted by the Holy Spirit to jog on the treadmill, which he would normally not have done as he had to travel again soon. But the instruction was urgent. So he obeyed. He was asked to read the Bible verses aloud while jogging and he did for another 45 minutes until the Holy Spirit urged him to stop. So his job was completed in that house with a pagan altar in front and another pagan temple nearby.
On the second day after he arrived at his own home, he was woken early by the Holy Spirit. He was asked to jog on his own treadmill. So he thought he was to read the Bible aloud while jogging. But the Holy Spirit corrected him and led him to take out a CD of worship songs from his car and played it and worshiped while jogging. It was a wonderful experience. He worshiped for about an hour and felt completely refreshed by the Holy Spirit!
On the next morning when he woke he thought of repeating what he did the previous day before he went to church for morning worship. But the Holy Spirit said no. He was led to read a Bible passage and was urged to repent and intercede for the churches in that city. He felt overwhelmed by what he read but he obeyed. By the time he reached his own church he was already in the Spirit and was richly blessed by the presence of God! The whole morning he was Spirit-filled and prayed and interceded (quietly) prophetically at times. While praying it was revealed to him that what the church was doing and proclaiming as a corporate body of Christ was prophetic too for the churches of that land! (As he lifted his eyes to look beyond the physical number, he was filled with the awareness of the awesome great God he worshiped!)
On the following night he encountered two unusual incidents. He woke around 1.30am shivering and chattering. He felt freezing cold. But the room temperature was not cold at all. He knew the cold had come from his mind so he forced words out of his chattering teeth and rebuked the enemy in the name of Jesus. he also called forth the fire of the Holy Spirit to warm him. Then he put on thick clothes and more layers of blankets and went back to sleep.  He then dreamed of an incident of a religious persecution. He woke again around 5am and decided to intercede. During his Bible reading of Psalm 37 he knew clearly he was asked to intercede for a pastor (and his 24 hour prayer center) who was being persecuted. So he read the psalm and proclaimed its prophetic promises for the oppressed church.
He was led to intercede through singing spiritual songs instead of prayers. The first one came to him as he was worshiping in his own home. He could not believe the words and music that came out from his mouth. It was a beautifully touching song for Israel, prophetically calling forth the opening of her gate to welcome the arrival of the Messiah King Yeshua in His second coming for her elect. He did not manage to write it down as he was so engrossed singing the song from the Holy Spirit!
When his assignment was over he went back to sleep and immediately saw another vision about a young man. But he was too tired so he told the Holy Spirit he would pray for that young man when he woke. He was then given another dream confirming the urgency to intercede for the prayer houses (of intercessors for all nations). When he woke again he continued to feel the urgency and spent the bulk of the day interceding.
There was an interesting incident whereby the Holy Spirit told him off and he heard. One day he was strongly urged to read a Bible passage and he did. But he then thought to himself that it was odd as it did not apply to him or his household. He immediately heard in his heart (not audible) “What are you doing?” He knew it was the Holy Spirit, so he was puzzled. Then the Holy Spirit asked again, “What do you think you are doing?”
It woke him. He was called to be an intercessor/watchman. He should be reading the Bible passages for his assignments to intercede for those for whom he was called to stand in the gap: the churches and the nations he was in. (Instead of being so self-focused)
When he realized this important role, he repented and read the Bible with a new perspective. Indeed he was led to intercede for the lost churches and the lost lands faithfully.
Today he read the following passages which really shook him. Mark 13:33-37 Jesus commanded and instituted this assignment:
“Take heed, watch and pray; for you do not know when the time is. It is like a man going to a far country, who left his house and gave authority to his servants, and to each his work, and commanded the doorkeeper to watch. Watch therefore, for you do not know when the master of the house is coming-in the evening, at midnight, at the crowing of the rooster, or in the morning- lest, coming suddenly he finds you sleeping. And what I say to you, I say to all: Watch!”
There is no other more important and wonderful task for a watchman. Watch! (and pray)

Chapter Seventy: Prosper through The Seed (Word of God) and Water from Heaven (the Holy Spirit)

One day Jack was strongly urged in the spirit to do a search on all the verses about the rich provision of God. What was revealed has transformed his whole perspective about the blessings of God. He discovered that indeed God has supplied seeds and ensure material security and provision growth for all God’s children.
He is overjoyed to see how God provides the seeds for the sowers and food for them as well. The Lord supplies the resources he needs, ensures the right circumstances and environments and produces the abundant end results / fruits and profits of his labor/investment.
However, there is one crucial key: the whole operation process requires the pouring of the Holy Spirit! It is all about the Holy Spirit bringing forth the blessings (as covenanted with Abraham and re-validated by Jesus) and making them materialized. The word of God is the seed and the Holy Spirit is the water.
Isaiah 32:15 “Until the Holy Spirit is poured upon us from on high, and the wilderness becomes a fruitful field, and the fruitful field is counted as a forest.”
Isaiah 32:20 How blessed you will be, sowing your seed by every stream. (The word of God and the Holy Spirit go hand in hand!)
Deut 32:2 Let my teaching fall like rain and  my words descend like dew, like showers on new grass, like abundant rain on tender plant.
Those who believe will be richly and abundantly blessed by these verses!
Isaiah 30:23-26 God will provide rain for the seeds you sow. The grain that grows will be abundant. Your cattle will range far and wide. Oblivious to war and earthquake, the oxen and donkeys you use for hauling and plowing will be fed well near running brooks that flow freely from mountains and hills. Better yet, on the Day God heals his people of the wounds and bruises from the time of punishment, moonlight will flare into sunlight, and sunlight, like a whole week of sunshine at once, will flood the land.
Isaiah 55:10-11
10 “ For as the rain comes down, and the snow from heaven,
And do not return there,
But water the earth,
And make it bring forth and bud,
That it may give seed to the sower
And bread to the eater,”
11 “So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth;
It shall not return to Me void,
But it shall accomplish what I please,
And it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.”
Psalm 65:9-13
9 You visit the earth and cause it to overflow;
You greatly enrich it;
The stream of God is full of water;
You prepare their grain, for thus You prepare the earth.
10 You water its furrows abundantly,
You settle its ridges,
You soften it with showers,
You bless its growth.
11 You have crowned the year with Your bounty,
And Your paths drip with fatness.
12 The pastures of the wilderness drip,
And the hills gird themselves with rejoicing.
13 The meadows are clothed with flocks
And the valleys are covered with grain;
They shout for joy, yes, they sing.
Psalm 104:13-14
13 He waters the hills from His upper chambers;
The earth is satisfied with the fruit of Your works.
14 He causes the grass to grow for the cattle,
And vegetation for the service of man,
That he may bring forth food from the earth.
Psalm 72:6 He will be like rain falling on a mown field, like showers watering the earth. In his days the righteous will flourish; prosperity will abound till the moon is no more.
Psalm 72:16 Let grain abound throughout the land; on the tops of the hills may it sway. Let its fruit flourish like Lebanon; let it thrive like the grass of the field.
Psalm 144:13 Your barns will be filled with every kind of provision.
Psalm 147:14 He grants peace to your borders and satisfies you with the finest of wheat.

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

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

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

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

chapter sixty-seven: a watchman/disciple school?

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

Power from heaven for financial freedom (1)

Introduction

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

So the focus of this talk should be on value.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

1. You must be led by the Holy Spirit.

2. You must have faith.

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

How to be led by the Holy Spirit?

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

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

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

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

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

How to have faith?

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

Why must one focus on Jesus?

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

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

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

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

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

2010-01-26

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

2010-01-24

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

2010-01-22

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Carry on watching and praying!

2010-01-20

CHAPTER SIXTY-THREE: watchman saw visions of wolves, serpent and one young man

Something amazing happened. Jack found out lately how patient the Holy Spirit has been in trying to give him an important message. The following is a summary of the sequence of recent events illustrating this:


He attended Sunday morning worship and was filled with the Spirit.

The following Tuesday he was prompted by the Holy Spirit to read the Book of Nehemiah. He thought the book has something to do with church building. But he kept this thought to himself at the back of his mind.

After the above experience he was fired up to read the Bible, pray and ask the Holy Spirit to reveal more to him so he would know God’s will and obey.

He was reminded one day by his prayer partner that he was yet to read one little booklet about God’s creative power for finances. She gave him that booklet sometime ago and he forgot all about it. So he finally located it in an unused briefcase and read it.

While reading the booklet he said amen to the Bible verses and repented his past careless words about finances. He also asked the Holy Spirit to show him what seeds he should plant in accordance to the inspired teachings.

The minute he finished the booklet he received a phone call. Someone from a Christian organization invited him to give a talk on managing finances in two weeks time. He knew this was the seed he asked for, so he agreed without hesitation.

One morning he decided to do research on what the Bible says about finances. He spent the whole morning before God reading God’s words and meditating on God’s matters.

By the afternoon he was a bit tired and sleepy so he decided to rest by reading a book. He took one book at random from the shelf of some new books he bought about a month ago while travelling overseas. The book is “Walls of My Heart” by Dr. Bruce and Barbara Thompson.

When he had read a few pages he closed his eyes to rest. He saw a clear vision of a young man from his church. The young man was walking alone outdoor (with tall grass nearby and no building in sight). He was followed by a pack of wolves (or wild dogs). He seemed troubled but he was not aware of the presence of the wolves and the danger! Jack responded in surprise and opened his eyes. He had not been praying for the church and had no reason to see this young man at all. But he thought it would be better to wait for clearer instruction from the Holy Spirit before he told the young man or anyone.

He spent the whole afternoon reading the book in between doing his usual chores. By night time he almost finished reading the book. He felt tired and closed his eyes to rest for awhile. The minute he closed his eyes a second vision appeared. He saw the young man close up and there was a pole by the side of the young man. There was a serpent coiled round the pole and its mouth was open. Its head was at level with the young man’s ear as though it was speaking to the young man. Jack was stunned so he opened his eyes. He knew he should not delay and he called the leader of the church, who confirmed that he should communicate with the young man about the visions.

Later at night the young man (who was contacted by the church leader) called him. Jack thought the leader had already told him the visions so he asked the young man what he had been doing. The young man said he was concentrating on character building and wanted to learn to become a godly grown man. He said he was no longer a child. So he should learn to be a grown up from godly people. So Jack shared how he was led to read Nehemiah and later the book on “Walls of My Heart” which makes use of Nehemiah’s example for character building. He suggested that the young man read Nehemiah.

The next morning Jack re-read the introduction of the book and discovered that the writer in fact quoted a verse from Ephesians 4:13, “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.” Verse 14 says, “That we should no longer be children…” So the answer to the young man’s quest is in the book of Ephesians!

The young man called and said Jack had not yet told him the visions so Jack told him accordingly. Jack also shared with him about his discovery and asked him to read the book of Ephesians chapter 4, which aptly ends with the verse, “And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another even as God in Christ forgave you.” (By the way, the dangers of the enemy, the lying serpent and angry wolves were all described in that chapter too!)

The Holy Spirit summed up His instruction with this verse from Ephesians 5:1, “Therefore be imitators of God as dear children.”

Imagine the long suffering the Holy Spirit must have gone through in order to accommodate Jack in his dull in hearing and seeing in the spirit. On the other hand Jack was elated that God has not given up in revealing to him important visions like this so that he can continue to learn to carry out the task of a watchman. The books of Nehemiah and Ephesians have benefitted him too. The book “Walls of My Heart” is a must-read for all hurting Christians, aspiring counselors and watchmen.

January 19, 2010

CHAPTER SIXTY-TWO: WHEN THE HOLY SPIRIT POURED ON A CONSTRUCTION WORKSITE SUPERVISOR

Jack told a friend (a construction work site supervisor who had been seeking to be filled by the Holy Spirit) that the New Year series of sermons would be on getting to know more about the Holy Spirit and suggested that he attends the Prayer House worship service on the second Sunday morning. During the worship, Jack heard a loud noise which sounded as though a tractor was running at full force toward the main entrance of the building. He also heard sizzling sound like something burning. In his mind he was reminded of Nehemiah and the re-building of the Jerusalem walls (wherein half the men had to be on guard against the enemy). So he went out and investigated.

He went to the front entrance and found that it was peaceful and calm. He noted nothing unusual. So he walked round the building to the backyard. There he discovered that the neighbor property was under re-construction and workmen were working with tractor and welding tools. The worksite was separated from the church building by a chain-link fence. There was no protective temporary fencing for security.

So he prayed in the spirit as he walked round the whole church compound, for God’s protection. When he reached the front entrance he looked at the wide open gate and decided to close it. After that he returned to the worship service. Shortly after that he noted that his friend’s seat was vacant. However after a while he saw the friend returning. After the service he was engaged elsewhere and did not notice that the friend had left.

In the evening due to his fever he thought of not attending the evening service which sermon would be a continuation of the morning’s sermon. However as he lied on his bed the power blacked out and he was unable to rest further. So he decided to go to the evening service. He was surprised to see his friend there as well.

After the service he asked the friend whether the worship services benefitted him. The friend told him that that morning he wanted to leave for his worksite as a new project was being launched but he could not get out as he thought the gate was locked (unaware that Jack was the one who closed it shortly before he wanted to leave). So he thought he better stayed back for the whole service as God probably wanted him to stay. After the end of the service he rushed to his worksite but while driving, he found tears gushing out and he also burst out speaking in tongue (praying in the spirit) for the first time in his life! He had to stop the car by the road side s he could not drive on.

That morning’s sermon was on how the Holy Spirit convicts us of sin, righteousness and judgment. The preacher told them that when the conviction comes, tears will flow. At the same time the Holy Spirit would also comfort. How true it had turned out to be for the friend. He was beaming all over that evening despite his red and swollen eyes. His face was radiant and the light of Christ was on him. It was indeed a most blessed start for him for this New Year.

January 11, 2010

CHAPTER SIXTY-ONE: NEHEMIAH, PRAYERS, WATCHMAN AND WEAPONS

On the first Tuesday after the Sunday encounter with God the Holy Spirit, Jack decided to spend time doing the morning worship and Bible reading on his own. He started his praise and worship in the spirit while driving and by the time he reached home he continued to sing hymns and choruses. Then he read the Bible. The Book of Nehemiah came to his mind and he read the verses aloud. The reading continued and before he realized it was noon and he had spent the whole morning reading the Bible. The reading was different from his previous reading of the same Book. The whole Book brought to him a clear message about the church they are building right now.
The place was meant for prayers and intercessions and was used for that purpose for the past ten years. All the services were conducted in the evenings and focused on worship, healing and deliverance. People came and left as they wished. Many had been ministered to, received healings and deliverance but had not returned with gratitude. The Christians returned to their own churches. The non-believers maintained their distance. Only now a decision is made to start the Sunday morning worship like a church does.
Jack pondered on the task of re-building of a church. He could imagine how Nehemiah felt. It was a monumental task for Nehemiah, to rebuild the Jerusalem walls. Nehemiah started the project alone. With God. God was the master builder. Nehemiah merely listened and obeyed. He prayed every step of the way. He prayed and God answered immediately. He did not take things for granted. In fact, Nehemiah had followed the Holy Spirit all the way.
Nehemiah was a watchman. He watched and prayed and interceded. God answered and gave him the solutions. He obeyed and followed the instructions. His problems were thus solved.
Jack noted in Nehemiah the following spiritual truth applicable in the present re-building efforts:
1. Recognize that the war is not against flesh and blood but against spiritual principalities, rulers and wicked forces in the heavenly realm. (Ephesians 6)
2. Recognize the key role of the Holy Spirit (the power behind all re-building efforts) and the words of God (the sword of the Spirit).
3. Recognize the importance of regular prayers and intercessions (to switch on the power).
4. Recognize the rightful functions of the gates and the walls. The gates are to open and welcome the entrance of the King of kings, Lord of lords. The walls are for the defense against the enemies.
The strategy of Nehemiah is to: watch, pray, defend and build.
Jack was led to note that Nehemiah deployed half his men to build and half to be equipped with weapons and posted behind the workers/builders. Even the builders wore swords. The materials carriers worked with one hand and held a weapon in the other. Such caution and defense!
His conclusion is that we need to pray more and read the Bible more, much more than what we have been doing. Without the words of God (the swords of the Spirit), without the switch (prayer) that switches on the power of God in the spiritual realm, the battle will be lost. Above all, we must seek the presence of the Holy Spirit as He is the power source.
January 6, 2010

CHAPTER SIXTY: OUT OF HIS HEART WILL FLOW RIVERS OF LIVING WATER

26 years ago Jack first encountered God in a big way and the amazing experience imprinted in his heart had never faded all these years when he continued to seek God’s presence through God’s words. However, he sometimes thought with sadness that he would never encounter God again in that way. Last Sunday he attended the first Sunday morning worship service in the Prayer House. God met him in exactly the same way and more powerful and touching. Jack was totally overwhelmed!

It was like any other Prayer House worship except that it was in the morning for the first time. They started the first Sunday morning worship with the leader singing in the spirit followed by the first hymn, which was a short chorus with the full Gospel message in the song. As Jack knelt down and sang, he was totally surrounded by the words (lyrics) which became alive and real. The Holy Spirit worked deeply in him and he was filled with such great peace and joy and gratitude as the Gospel of Christ was sung.

Tears streamed down like a river and washed him through out the worship. The love of God came to him and worked into his heart. He was led (in the spirit) to focus on the cross and Jesus’ painful yet powerful humiliation, suffering and even death, just for the sake of all mankind. He felt the heart of God saying to him: “How much I have loved you, and many others, indeed, the whole world!” All the hymns (and choruses) were Jesus-focus. The whole Gospel of Christ was narrated in the lyrics.

The Word of God became real: “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16)

As they took Holy Communion, he was reminded of the body of Christ, broken for him and many, and by which (Jesus’ stripes) he was healed, and the blood of Christ, shed for him and many for the forgiveness of their sins. He was redeemed, and set free, all because of God’s love.

He was reminded that God is love and God’s perfect love cast out all fears. God is light and darkness must flee in the presence of God. God is life and Jesus has conquered death! As Paul has declared victoriously: “O death, where is your sting?” He took the bread and cup in grateful tears.

What a morning! Jack was completely soaked in tears but he was not alone. He shared this experience with a leader in the evening and was surprised that two leaders of the church had the same encounter that morning with God (the Holy Spirit) and were equally soaked in tears too!!

The sermon (based on the Acts of the Apostles) was another blessing. The preacher preached the first incidence of the Holy Spirit pouring onto the disciples of Jesus Christ on the Pentecost Day at the third hour (around 9am, the time of the morning sacrifice) of that day followed with their speaking and praising God in many tongues (other languages) and preaching of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, converting three thousands to Christ, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles. The church was thus born empowered mightily by the Holy Spirit.

At the ninth hour (around 3pm, the time of the evening sacrifice) of a day, Peter and John went up to the temple and Peter healed a man who was lame from his mother’s womb. This was the first miracle specifically recorded after the out pouring of the Holy Spirit on the disciples.

Indeed, God has answered Jack’s prayer on looking for a church (read chapter forty-three: “I am looking for a church”). He was grateful and filled with great joy.

On the last day, that great day of the feast (of Tabernacles), Jesus stood and cried out, saying: “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart shall flow rivers of living water (Holy Spirit).” (John 7:37-39)

January 6, 2010

CHAPTER FIFTY-NINE: JACK DISCOVERS THAT GOD IS REAL AND GIVES GRACE (UNMERITED FAVOR)!

On the eve of the last day of 2009, Jack was led to give thanks for the year. He looked back and without hesitation agreed that it was a year full of unmerited favor from the Almighty God, Whom he called Abba Father in his prayers.

He summarized below what happened to him when he sought God seriously through being led by the Holy Spirit:

1. He was led by the Holy Spirit to encounter the reality of God.

As a result, he learned to live differently. He attended a Prayer House to worship and pray instead of attending the usual services of a church. He attended seminars teaching him in practice how to wait upon God, worship God for hours and not feel bored or tired. He listened to teachings on the needs to keep one’s temple (the body, which is the temple of the Holy Spirit) holy (being separated from the worldly values and worldly beliefs and practices) for the indwelling Spirit of Christ. He learned how to keep his temple cleansed (through the regular and daily washing of God’s words, the Holy Spirit, and the presence of God).

2. He was led by the Holy Spirit to re-examine his faith and belief system.

As a result, he saw and admitted his religious failures in the past despite having been a committed evangelical Christian for over 25 years, reading Bible daily, attending church without fail and serving in Sunday school etc. faithfully. He had a lot of knowledge about what is right to do and made his best effort too, though without the power of the Holy Spirit (as the churches he attended preached Holy Spirit for mind knowledge and not in practice with power). He had been disillusioned over the years watching the weak churches, pastors, elders and members being attacked spiritually and succumbed. He admitted he had been guilty as he was part of the church system without making any effort to seek the Holy Spirit and cry for help!

3. He learned about the true church.

As a result, he sought God on his own at home and also attended a place where he found worshippers really seeking God, basked in God’s presence and instead of the “Thing” called church. As he continued to seek, he found the true church in the Acts of the Apostles. He shuddered at the thought that he had been so deceived and was part of the “Thing” for so many years. Without the Holy Spirit, church becomes the “Thing”!

4. He practiced as a member of the true church.

He learned that as he takes Holy Communion with the other believers of Jesus Christ, he becomes a member of the corporate body of Christ. Christ is the head of the body. The words Jesus spoke about His disciples abiding in Him and being one with Him as He is one with the Father in heaven become a reality. By this belonging, the body of Christ enjoys the authority (over all spiritual principalities, rulers and wicked forces in the heavenly realm) and all privileges of Christ who has given to His believers.

5. He learned to trust God (including believing the words of God and obey).

As he allowed himself to be led by the Holy Spirit, he found that gradually he could listen to what the Holy Spirit was saying to him. It was not in audible voice. Ideas (in visions/pictures, dreams and God’s words) came into his heart. He sought confirmation in the words of God. He learned to follow them.

He learned to communicate to God. His prayers changed. Unlike the former usual political correct prayers which he had uttered as he was expected to do so, he was led by the Holy Spirit to pray in ways he had never imagined before. He knew it was not his usual human effort that was in the pilot set anymore.

6. He learned to use a variety of spiritual gifts.

He prayed in the spirit. He sang in the spirit. He mingled his prayers with worship and praise songs. He exercised his faith and even prayed for the sick that were brought to him on a day when all the usual healing leaders were absent. He continued to read the Bible in new light under the tutorship of the Holy Spirit. He shared with (and perhaps taught) others through his writing what he had learned.

7. He lived by the Spirit (and by faith).

After listening to repeated teachings and reading the Bible about divine healing and divine health from Jesus, he stopped his medicine for nose allergy and high heart rate. By faith he believed he was completely healed. He now enjoys divine health.

Looking back, Jack marveled at the amazing things that happened. He has discovered the reality of God’s presence. He has learned that God responds to our prayers without hesitations. God loves us. Indeed, the Holy Spirit has responded to his request so fast that he was caught surprised.

Today he tells himself and all his readers that he is very happy because God is real! Holy Spirit is real. Jesus is real.

His New Year resolution is thus: Be real. Live in the Spirit.

2010-01-01