End Times Narrow Gate: Church, Never Presume that God will Hear Your Prayers!

The watchman heard this urgent message, “Wake up! Do you know whose prayers are being heard by God? What make you presume that God hearsyour prayers because you are a Christian or a Jew?”

He was led to read about the Roman Officer, Cornelius, who was not a Jew, so he was not under God’s Covenant with Abraham. He was also not a Christian when he was living a righteous life, so he was not covered under the New Testament Covenant (i.e. having the right to use the name of Jesus to pray to God). But the Bible recorded that God heard his regular prayers and took note of his righteous deeds (looking after the poor, livimng a life well respected even by the Jews).

What happened to Cornelius revealed God’s heart. He looks into man’s heart and man’s deed. True worshiper worships in truth and in spirit. Cornelius took the bother to learn all about God’s laws and practice them diligently. He truly fears God. He respects and honors God by maintaining a close relationship with God through his  regular daily prayers, and a righteous relationship with men, giving honor to God. For example, he knows the time of public prayers at the temple of Jerusalem is three o clock in the afternoon and he also prays at that hour. He knows that God’s laws require charity and kindness in action to the poor and he obeys and carries out regularly. His belief and faith in action influence not only his own family and relatives, also his friends and even his subordinates/soldiers!

Wake up, church, God is looking for such men to honor His name! Stop your mere lip service or fantastic worship, singing lies, offering your unrepentant, un-regenerated selves which are totally unacceptable and unholy offerings (lame, blind, defective) to God. (Read Malachi and tremble)

__________________________Below are excerpts from Acts of the Apostles chapter 10, on what happened to Cornelius.

4 “And the angel replied, “Your prayers and gifts to the poor have been received by God as an offering!”

²² They said, “We were sent by Cornelius, a Roman officer. He is a devout and God-fearing man, well respected by all the Jews. A holy angel instructed him to summon you to his house so that he can hear your message.”

²⁴ They arrived in Caesarea the following day. Cornelius was waiting for them and had called together his relatives and close friends. ²⁵ As Peter entered his home, Cornelius fell at his feet and worshiped him. ²⁶ But Peter pulled him up and said, “Stand up! I’m a human being just like you!” ²⁷ So they talked together and went inside, where many others were assembled.

²⁸ Peter told them, “You know it is against our laws for a Jewish man to enter a Gentile home like this or to associate with you. But God has shown me that I should no longer think of anyone as impure or unclean. ²⁹ So I came without objection as soon as I was sent for. Now tell me why you sent for me.”

³⁰ Cornelius replied, “Four days ago I was praying in my house about this same time, three o’clock in the afternoon. Suddenly, a man in dazzling clothes was standing in front of me. ³¹He told me, ‘Cornelius, your prayer has been heard, and your gifts to the poor have been noticed by God! ³² Now send messengers to Joppa, and summon a man named Simon Peter. He is staying in the home of Simon, a tanner who lives near the seashore.’ ³³ So I sent for you at once, and it was good of you to come. Now we are all here, waiting before God to hear the message the Lord has given you.”

³⁴ Then Peter replied, “I see very clearly that God shows no favoritism. ³⁵ In every nation he accepts those who fear him and do what is right. ³⁶ This is the message of Good News for the people of Israel—that there is peace with God through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all.

⁹ “And we apostles are witnesses of all he did throughout Judea and in Jerusalem. They put him to death by hanging him on a cross,^[c] 40 but God raised him to life on the third day.

⁴² And he ordered us to preach everywhere and to testify that Jesus is the one appointed by God to be the judge of all—the living and the dead. ⁴³ He is the one all the prophets testified about, saying that everyone who believes in him will have their sins forgiven through his name.”

The Gentiles Receive the Holy Spirit

⁴⁴ Even as Peter was saying these things, the Holy Spirit fell upon all who were listening to the message.

Then Peter asked, ⁴⁷ “Can anyone object to their being baptized, now that they have received the Holy Spirit just as we did?” ⁴⁸ So he gave orders for them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ.

__________________________

The end times countdown clock is ticking fast…Don’t presume anymore, church! Do you know that some poor men out there are crying out to God against your injustice, your unrighteousness? Why do you think Jesus reminds us of the narrow gate?

End Times Church Countdown: the busy busy church hits back

Soon after the sleeping church has left the busy busy church comes knocking on the watchman’s door. “You idling fellow, come out and confront us! When have we missed the mark?”

It is indeed quite a sight. The busy busy senior pastor has a container load of stuff, proving he has done so so much during the last ten years. Programs, rallies, camps, seminars, training, TV, radio, internet, motivation, retreat, revival, you name them and he has them! It is very impressive. His chairman also displays photos showing how impressive their church building is, really ultra modern comfort and convenience, and expensive high tech stuff. Their attendance number is impressive too.

The pastor and church board chairman demand that the watchman proves where they have erred. Oh, yes, they have met the sleeping church on their way and have a glance of the list of non-sleeping church characteristics. They say, “It is too general. We want the specifics!”

So the watchman brings out another list, named, “the Non-busy-busy-missing-mark-church” Bible-based characteristics.

1. Worship God and not worship man.

2. Minister to God and not to man.

4. Hear and Fear God and not hear and fear man.

5. Focus on Jesus Christ and His redemptive work on the cross.

6. Believe in the Bible and practice accordingly.

7. All aspects of the church activities are centered on the above.

8. All aspects of the lives of the believers are centered on the above.

9. Very end times focussed, just as Jesus has commanded and the Apostles have duly obeyed. So did the early Christians.

10. There is an increasing intensity of the moving and manifestation of the Holy Spirit in all aspects of above.

11. There is deep conviction by the Holy Spirit when the Word of God is read, and all will repent!

“BUT THIS IS THE SAME LIST AS THAT OF THE OTHER CHURCH!” The chairman and senior pastor exclaim.

The watchman tells them that he has no other list but this one. He also cannot change the list as he is just a messenger and not the author of the list. Yes, he is not original. He is not creative. He is not resourceful. He is not politically correct… (He admits to the accusations hurled at him by the other two) However, he reminds them that there is one additional item on this list, ‘Repentance’.

The two men turn red in their face and shout, “But there are no specifics, so how can they be implemented effectively?”

“Oh, that is easy”, the watchman explains, “you just need the Holy Spirit and the Word of God- the plumb line of God to guide you.”

So the busy-busy-missing-the-mark church leaves with their list and container load of stuff.

Once again, the watchman cries, “Oh, church, watch and pray!”

End Times Church Countdown: the sleeping church answers back

The watchman knows this will happen. The sleeping church knocks on his door and says, “You there, come out and confront us. when have we been sleeping?”

The church shows him a lot of stuff they have been doing: Sunday worship service, Sunday school, youth meeting, cell group meeting, women fellowship, Wednesday prayer meeting, monthly Holy Communion, baptism, wedding, periodically visiting and bringing gifts to old folks home, patients and prisoners etc.

The pastor proudly displays the program list. “See, we are fully occupied.” The committee chairman proudly shows a set of accounts of weekly collections, regular tithes, faith pledges, building funds received from the old faithful. “See, we are never in the red.”

“So, where have we erred?” They challenge the watchman. They bring along a list of the topics of sermons preached over the last year to prove that they have not slacked in preaching. The topics are indeed popular, mostly concerned with how to live healthy balanced Christian living, covering a full range of useful topics: health, relationship, finances, social behavior, career, good neighbor, responsible citizenship, education, parenting, marriage, morality etc.

The watchman has nothing to say. He sees no need to answer to this question. It is not him who says they are sleeping. They just knock on his door and say so.

However, he gives them a list of the non-sleeping church priority Bible-based characteristics:

1. Worship God and not worship man.

2. Minister to God and not to man.

4. Hear God and Fear God and not hear man and fear man.

5. Focus of Jesus Christ and His redemptive work on the cross.

6. Believe in the Bible and practice accordingly.

7. All aspects of the church activities are centered on the above.

8. All aspects of the lives of the believers are centered on the above.

9. Very end times focussed, just as Jesus has commanded and the Apostles have duly obeyed. So did the early Christians.

10. There is an increasing intensity of the moving and manifestation of the Holy Spirit in all aspects of above.

The church takes the list and leaves. The watchman prays that the church will wake up and abide in Christ and let the Word of Christ abide in them. Then they will be the awake church and not the sleeping church as they themselves know they are!

Oh, church, watch and pray!

End Times church countdown: how to intercede for lost churches?

The life of a watchman is not enviable. He rises at a time when everyone sleeps the sweetest. He talks to Someone who is invisible. He moans and sighs over matters which are not his own concern. He kneels and bows and prostrates before the invisible God. He sings and shouts and cries like he is not of his own mind. He takes risks which can be avoided. He looks like a man out of this world if someone gets to really know him. He has no life of his own. He is a hidden man. Where is he? He does not even know himself.

How to intercede for lost churches? This is his latest assignment.

Having just heard the testimony of two dreams about the Lord’s return ‘THE NEXT DAY’, he just sat on the floor and moaned. realizing the scale of the problem and the ‘set time’ being counted down, he could not see any possibility of interceding in time.

Sleeping church, church busy with meaningless activities, producing unbelieving ‘Christians’, having other altars (bowing down to other gods), church not believing in the redemptive and cleansing power of the blood of Jesus Christ, churches not bother with the imminent return of Christ…the list of defects is endless.

How to intercede for these lost churches?
Oh, oh, oh…He can only cry out in agony. This is too much to bear when the reality hits this poor man. What about his own family? Are they saved? Are they in any of the three churches? Is he one of them? He cannot help but shudder.

Yes, an intercessor once wrote, “the worship is fantastic, seems anointed, but there is no power for lives to be transformed.” Why? This is not new. This happened during the Old Testament prophets’ time. Sacrifices at the temple were carried out and religious life was booming. Yet, God spoke through the prophets/intercessors/watchmen and issued warnings after warnings. Alas, no one bothered. No one heard.

Thus, the kingdom was crushed. The temple burnt. The people was held captives and sold as slaves and scattered all over the world.

The previous exiles were allowed to return after a set time. But this time it will not be the same. The exiles are forever exiled, out of the kingdom of God.

Oh, how to intercede for lost churches? Please tell the watchman.

End Times Witnessing: The Righteous Plumb Line -your wedding robe

Urgent attention to all Churches: this is a very important message. We all need this wedding robe for the return of the Lord (the groom).

God's standard for mature Christians is righteousness: Isaiah 28:17  I will make justice the measuring line and righteousness the plumb line; hail will sweep away your refuge, the lie, and water will overflow your hiding place. God rains down righteousness from above: Isaiah 45:8 "You heavens above, rain down righteousness; let the clouds shower it down. Let the earth open wide, let salvation spring up, let righteousness grow with it; I, the LORD … Read More

End Times Church count-down: one wedding, three venues, a bride-to-be

A LIFE TESTIMONY

A lay believer since 1985 has been faithfully seeking and worshiping the Lord closely, reading the Bible, attending church services, serving in various capacities. During the last five years she personally witnessed and experienced the power of the Holy Spirit (in healing and deliverance) following the preaching of the Word of God.

Recently she asked the Lord to give her visions and dreams. Two nights ago she responded to a pastor’s altar call to receive fresh and more anointing of the Holy Spirit.

The same night she had a detailed dream. On the following night she had another detailed dream. Both dreams are on the theme of WEDDING, which will take place THE NEXT DAY, AND SHE (THE BRIDE) WAS NOT READY!!!

THE FIRST DREAM

She dreamed that she was getting ready for her WEDDING which will take place THE NEXT DAY and the two of them went to see two seaside cottages to rent one for the wedding.

The first venue: this is a tiny one room shack and there is one bed in the center of the room. A man was sleeping on it. He opened his eyes and he did not bother to get up. He was not that interested in the use of his place for the wedding. The room is very untidy and there are rubbish around. So the couple decided that this place is not suitable for the wedding. There is no time to clear the rubbish and tidy up the room.
The second venue: this is a more spacious cottage. A lady in her sixties is in charge. She was pleasant and friendly and was interested in renting out her place for the wedding. Her place is clean and furnished but the furniture are old and need to be replaced. She said she had five children and all had grown up and left. Only one son (her favorite) called her daily and kept in touch. However her children let her bring up all the grandchildren and she had brought up a lot and they all had left when grown up. Three infants were int he house. One was carried by a dark (foreign) maid. Another two were lying in a cot. The two were the surviving of sextuplets (of whom four died at birth). They had deformed facial features so severe that the couple thought these babies needed surgery when grown up. There was an altar with incense burning for foreign god at the wall facing the entrance. The old lady showed the couple a drawing block on which she had been asked by her favorite son to practice drawing (more like stick-on crafts) of pictures (like butterflies but not butterflies etc) and English words. She seemed happy doing such laborious childish and meaningless tasks.

The couple at first thought they could use this place for the wedding only and not to stay overnight as they needed to go back to work after the wedding day. They also thought of going to buy new furnitures as the present ones were not suitable. They thought of giving the old lady the new furniture as gift after the wedding. Then the bride realized that it would be easier to use a hotel reception than using such a remote and unready place. She also realized that she was already married and wondered why she needed to go through the wedding again. She woke feeling puzzled.

THE SECOND DREAM:

On the second night she dreamed of another wedding scene. Again she was GETTING MARRIED THE NEXT DAY and she was back to her old childhood home. It was a big house with old and young and lots of normal daily activities going on but none related to preparation of a wedding. No one seemed to be aware of or interested in the next day’s wedding. The house was not decorated and no one seemed to care. The following then happened:

1. She went into the toilet and saw a lot of long dresses hanging there. It was totally clustered from ceiling to floor. On top of the toilet bowl a long red dress was dripping onto the toilet seat drops of red dyes.

2. She looked out of the window and saw her grandmother and her elder brother were walking in the garden. They examined the plants and noted that the lady fingers were too old and could not be eaten. So the brother said that they should be cut down and thrown away.

3. Then she looked into the mirror and saw that she had white hair patches and needed to dye them. She also realized that she had not bought her wedding gown. So she drove alone (as she could not find any friend to go with her) and rushed to town to shop for her wedding.  On arrival she went to a room and saw the groom (an old high school mate whom she hardly knew)already getting almost ready, with wedding suits and hairdo etc.). Whilst she wondered why she was to marry this stranger, she noted that he was ready but she was not ready so she rushed out for her shopping.

4. She walked for a long time and could not find any shops selling wedding gowns.She noted that she was carrying several bundles of cash and car key in a bag casually slung on her shoulder and started to worry someone might come and snatch it from her. She reminded herself she should be careful with her valuables and hold it near to her chest.

5. The shops were all ancient and sold food or other ordinary provisions. There was no shop that sold wedding gown. She thought of calling the groom and ask for the address of a shop that sold wedding gowns. So she switched on her hand phone but pressed the wrong button. A screen came on with lots of numbers. One number kept changing. She thought it was a game program but she could not change the screen and return to the main menu. The screen was stuck there and one number kept changing very fast. She could not use the phone and she realized that she did not even know the groom’s phone number. It was already getting dark by then.

6. She thought to herself, she did not even know the groom, she did not love him (no intimacy whatever), so how could they ever get married? Then she woke.

________________________________

Interpretation: This is a wedding that is coming soon in heaven. The groom (Jesus) is coming tomorrow (THE NEXT DAY) and the bride (His church) has to be ready. Every believer has to be ready with suitable attire for the wedding.

Alas, all three churches in the above two dreams are not ready. One is sleeping and not interested. One is interested but has been busy doing activities that had nothing to do with the kingdom of heaven and the wedding of the Lamb. Her children and grandchildren were “strange children” and not the children of God. ” She even had an altar offering incense to other gods/idols. The third church had useless fruits that could not be eaten. Like Noah’s days, old and young people carried on their ‘daily normal’ physical activities and not even know or concern that the Lord’s wedding was imminent! 
The worst thing is that the third church uses fake ‘blood’ (which is red color dye) to try to cleanse their sins! There is no genuine repentance and conversion there and thus no salvation.

When she went somewhere else, a town (more well developed and established churches), to buy the wedding gown, she found that none of them sold the gowns.

MEANWHILE, THE END TIMES COUNTDOWN HAD STARTED AND RUNNING DOWN FAST! THERE IS NO REVERSAL OR EXTENSION OF TIME FOR ANYONE.

(The dreamer indeed had a shock.  Asking for more anointing means more responsibilities. The next step is to ask the Lord what He wants her to do. )