Holy Spirit Practical 2

In another Sunday evening session on Holy Spirit Practical subject, the watchman invited a believer to demonstrate how one hears from the Holy Spirit, giving her free flow with the Holy Spirit.


It turned out to be a Spirit-filled, anointed time for some participants. The believer speaker merely strummed a guitar and sang Spirit songs for quite sometime. Some participants prayed in the Spirit with her. They started without the watchman who was held up somewhere.

By the time he reached the meeting place, the room was ‘electrified’ -saturated with the Presence of the Lord. After the songs, there was quite a pause. Then the speaker started sharing her testimony on her walk with the Holy Spirit. By the time she reached the part narrating how she always went back to her own room and cry before the Lord, another participant had so manifested (soaked in tears) that she had to run to the washroom and had a good cry until someone came to knock on her door! She had been unable to cry for quite sometime was set free! The Anointed One destroyed the yoke!

On that same morning, the watchman heard in his spirit the familiar verse from Zechariah 4:6 “It is not by force, nor be strength, but by My Spirit, says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.” The verse woke the watchman as he has been pondering for two days about a critical (life and death) parenting situation, which is impacting the whole globe. Young children and teens have been captivated by the digital and electronic games all over the world. He has recently been given the task of guardianship over one teen boy of 15 years old.

The boy manifested violence after binging on cyber games secretly with his friends. The boy first took a fruit knife and pointed at the watchman. When the watchman did not respond, the boy went and took a meat cleaver and pointed at the watchman’s chest. The reason for his manifestation was that the phone shop they visited no longer sell cheap package for the boy’s cell phone! The boy could not send messages to his many friends for one hour and he just could not stand it. So he turned to meaningless violence against an innocent man who just happened to be around during his manifestation.

Sound familiar? The watchman (who had had some training by now under the tuitorship of the Holy Spirit) was unruffled and took charge of the crisis without being harmed physically.

But he still had no wisdom of his own to solve such a case of young teens being possessed by games monsters. So he sought the Lord (the Holy Spirit) for help and rescue. After praying and seeking breakthrough, he received two spiritual instructions.

1. Take authority in the Name of Jesus, bind and cast out the monkeys (or whatever beasts and monsters manifesting). Speak to your mountain and command it to be removed and cast into the sea!

2. Win this war not by own strength but by the Holy Spirit. Pray in the Spirit at all times and see the difference!*


This confirmed what he has been reading about the key to victory is through taking our spiritual authority seriously and put our faith into action.


*For those who wonder why we need to pray in the Spirit, the watchman’s advice is that you just do it and see for yourself. Personally he carries out this faith in action and can see the significant and positive breakthrough in the spiritual realm which in turn has impacted his physical living! God is real. The Holy Scripture is real. Just believe and carry out with childlike faith. The Holy Spirit will show you how.

Holy Spirit Practical

One important the watchman has learned about the Holy Spirit is that practice in hearing the Holy Spirit is essential for all believers. How to hear the Holy Spirit? This is a question with unlimited answers. Each week he has asked a different member to give a testimony to his class on how the individual hears the Holy Spirit. Based on their sharings he has noted the rich varieties of experiences each individual has encountered in their journey in the Holy Spirit.



For example, in one case the believer has started by reading the Bible and related books hungrily after he was born again and baptised in the Holy Spirit. Then he started manifesting one of the gifts of the Holy Spirit, prophecy. He took the courage and gave the word of prophecy faithfully and received more as he obeyed the Lord. He spent much time before the Lord and praying in the Spirit. He also took part in the worship ministry.

Over many years of faithful walking in the Holy Spirit and storing the Word in his heart, he was led by the Lord to do prayer drive and other related spiritual warfare ministry. One day as he was in his usual kneeling position before the Lord, praying, he heard one unusual word very clearly. He prayed with that word. The next day the whole country and a neighbouring country had a major power failure which lasted seven days! He subsequently found out that the strange word given by the Holy Spirit was the name of the strongman of the land.

The believer continues to pray daily and carry out his ministry before the Lord and has received more revelations as he moved forward by faith. He has vivid dreams and carefully records them. He also has other gifts of the Holy Spirit.

A number of the verses from the Lord aptly describe his spiritual encounter:

Mark 4:24-25

24 Then He said to them, “Take heed what you hear. With the same measure you use, it will be measured to you; and to you who hear, more will be given. 25 For whoever has, to him more will be given; but whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him.”

Matthew 25:29

29 ‘For to everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have abundance; but from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away.

Acts 5:32

32 And we are His witnesses to these things, and so also is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey Him.”

John 14:15-18

Jesus Promises Another Helper

15 “If you love Me, keep[a] My commandments. 16 And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever— 17 the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. 18 I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you.

Footnotes:
a.John 14:15 NU-Text reads you will keep.

End Time Faith in Action: Follow the Lord’s example

The Lord Yeshua says things in a very simple and precise way when He preached the Gospel, healed and delivered the afflicted and sick. He does not waste words, as demonstrated below in the Gospel recorded by Mark.

1:15 He spoke to all: “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel!”

1:17 He spoke to the disciples: “Follow Me, and I will make you become fishers of men.”

1:25 He cut short the evil spirit in a man in the synagogue: “Be quiet, and come out of him!”

1:41 He responded with compassion to the leper who knelt down before Him asking to be cleansed (healed): “I am willing; be cleansed.”

2:5 When he saw the friends’ faith, he spoke to the paralytic: “Son, your sins ar forgiven you.” v11 ”I say to you, arise, take up your bed and go to your house.” The man was healed instantly.

3:3,5 He said to the man with a withered hand in the synagogue: “Step forward.” “Stretch out your hand.” As he stretched it out the hand was restored.

4:39 He rebuked and calmed the great windstorm and roaring waves: “Peace, be still.” The wind ceased and there was a great calm.

5:8 He delivered the man with two thousands demons: “Come out of the man, unclean spirit!”

5:34 He reassured the woman who had been healed of her bleeding ailment (of 12 years) just be touching His garment: “Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace, and be healed of your affliction.”

5:41 he reaised a dead child from the dead: “Little girl, I say to you, arise.” Immediatey the girl arose and walked.

He gave the disciples power and authority to do the same. 6:12-13 “So they went out and preached that people should repent. And they cast out many demons, and anointed with oil many who were sick and healed them all.”

Mark 16:15-18

And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. 16 He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. 17 And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; 18 they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.” 20 And they went out and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the word through the accompanying signs.

_____Acts 1:8 Yeshua says: “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”___________

Thus, end time faith in action for all believers should be just like the above: preach the Good News to everyone, with miraculous signs accompanying those who believe. The accomplishment is not by force, not be strength, but by the Holy Spirit! (Zechariah 4:6)

The Church Prospers

Acts 9:31-43 (New King James Version)

The Church Prospers

31 Then the churches[a] throughout all Judea, Galilee, and Samaria had peace and were edified. And walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, they were multiplied.

Aeneas Healed

32 Now it came to pass, as Peter went through all parts of the country, that he also came down to the saints who dwelt in Lydda. 33 There he found a certain man named Aeneas, who had been bedridden eight years and was paralyzed. 34 And Peter said to him, “Aeneas, Jesus the Christ heals you. Arise and make your bed.” Then he arose immediately.

35 So all who dwelt at Lydda and Sharon saw him and turned to the Lord.

Dorcas Restored to Life

36 At Joppa there was a certain disciple named Tabitha, which is translated Dorcas. This woman was full of good works and charitable deeds which she did. 37 But it happened in those days that she became sick and died. When they had washed her, they laid her in an upper room. 38 And since Lydda was near Joppa, and the disciples had heard that Peter was there, they sent two men to him, imploring him not to delay in coming to them. 39 Then Peter arose and went with them. When he had come, they brought him to the upper room. And all the widows stood by him weeping, showing the tunics and garments which Dorcas had made while she was with them.

40 But Peter put them all out, and knelt down and prayed. And turning to the body he said, “Tabitha, arise.” And she opened her eyes, and when she saw Peter she sat up. 41 Then he gave her his hand and lifted her up; and when he had called the saints and widows, he presented her alive.

42 And it became known throughout all Joppa, and many believed on the Lord. 43 So it was that he stayed many days in Joppa with Simon, a tanner.

Footnotes:

1.Acts 9:31 NU-Text reads church . . . was edified.

you are not really interested in the Lord’s Supper

The importance of taking the Holy Communion with the right attitude and manner is clearly stated in the Bible. Yet many do not know or pay attention to this truth.

The Scripture says, “For if you eat the bread or drink the cup without honoring the body of Christ, you are eating and drinking God’s judgment upon yourself.”

As the watchman reads this passage, he realizes that it does matter with whom he partakes the cup and the bread. He can no longer assume that the religious institution is honoring the body and the blood of Christ when the leaders conduct the rite with an unbelief attitude! Indeed, that was the reason he escaped from his former church. Despite the watchman’s reminders, the pastor and elders refused to mention the blood and the body of Jesus Christ when they conducted the communion service. No wonder he felt the urgency to run away!

If the church does not recognize the Lord’s blood and body, what do they think they are partaking? If they refuse to honor the body and blood of the Lord Jesus, to whom are they giving honor? The answer makes one shudder. (It is no wonder that the church spiritual door is wide open for the enemy to get in to attack the members one by one!)


Lesson from the past (Part Two): 1 Corinthians 11:17-32


17 But in the following instructions, I cannot praise you. For it sounds as if more harm than good is done when you meet together. 18 First, I hear that there are divisions among you when you meet as a church, and to some extent I believe it. 19 But, of course, there must be divisions among you so that you who have God’s approval will be recognized! 20 When you meet together, you are not really interested in the Lord’s Supper. 21 For some of you hurry to eat your own meal without sharing with others. As a result, some go hungry while others get drunk. 22 What? Don’t you have your own homes for eating and drinking? Or do you really want to disgrace God’s church and shame the poor? What am I supposed to say? Do you want me to praise you? Well, I certainly will not praise you for this!

23 For I pass on to you what I received from the Lord himself. On the night when he was betrayed, the Lord Jesus took some bread 24 and gave thanks to God for it. Then he broke it in pieces and said, “This is my body, which is given for you.[a] Do this to remember me.” 25 In the same way, he took the cup of wine after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant between God and his people—an agreement confirmed with my blood. Do this to remember me as often as you drink it.” 26 For every time you eat this bread and drink this cup, you are announcing the Lord’s death until he comes again. 27 So anyone who eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord unworthily is guilty of sinning against[b] the body and blood of the Lord. 28 That is why you should examine yourself before eating the bread and drinking the cup. 29 For if you eat the bread or drink the cup without honoring the body of Christ,[c] you are eating and drinking God’s judgment upon yourself. 30 That is why many of you are weak and sick and some have even died. 31 But if we would examine ourselves, we would not be judged by God in this way. 32 Yet when we are judged by the Lord, we are being disciplined so that we will not be condemned along with the world.

Footnotes:

1.1 Corinthians 11:24 Greek which is for you; other manuscripts read which is broken for you.

2.1 Corinthians 11:27 Or is responsible for.

3.1 Corinthians 11:29 Greek the body; other manuscripts read the Lord’s body.

O Watchman, run! You do not want to share their sins!

and their bodies were scattered in the wilderness

The watchman woke to an urgent truth. On a previous day he just encouraged the class to take Holy Communion, in their individual quiet time before the Lord. But he was led to read the following passages today urgently. As he read, he realized the importance to understand the manner in which we take the Holy Communion and be cautious over the company with whom we partake it.

Note: the Israelites drank from the same spiritual rock that traveled with them and that Rock was Christ! Yet God was not pleased with most of them and their bodies were scattered in the wilderness.
___________________________________

Lessons from the past Part One: 1 Cor.10

1 I don’t want you to forget, dear brothers and sisters,[a] about our ancestors in the wilderness long ago. All of them were guided by a cloud that moved ahead of them, and all of them walked through the sea on dry ground. 2 In the cloud and in the sea, all of them were baptized as followers of Moses. 3 All of them ate the same spiritual food, 4 and all of them drank the same spiritual water. For they drank from the spiritual rock that traveled with them, and that rock was Christ. 5 Yet God was not pleased with most of them, and their bodies were scattered in the wilderness.

6 These things happened as a warning to us, so that we would not crave evil things as they did, 7 or worship idols as some of them did. As the Scriptures say, “The people celebrated with feasting and drinking, and they indulged in pagan revelry.”[b] 8 And we must not engage in sexual immorality as some of them did, causing 23,000 of them to die in one day. 9 Nor should we put Christ[c] to the test, as some of them did and then died from snakebites. 10 And don’t grumble as some of them did, and then were destroyed by the angel of death. 11 These things happened to them as examples for us. They were written down to warn us who live at the end of the age. 12 If you think you are standing strong, be careful not to fall. 13 The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure. 14 So, my dear friends, flee from the worship of idols. 15 You are reasonable people. Decide for yourselves if what I am saying is true. 16 When we bless the cup at the Lord’s Table, aren’t we sharing in the blood of Christ? And when we break the bread, aren’t we sharing in the body of Christ? 17 And though we are many, we all eat from one loaf of bread, showing that we are one body. 18 Think about the people of Israel. Weren’t they united by eating the sacrifices at the altar? 19 What am I trying to say? Am I saying that food offered to idols has some significance, or that idols are real gods? 20 No, not at all. I am saying that these sacrifices are offered to demons, not to God. And I don’t want you to participate with demons. 21 You cannot drink from the cup of the Lord and from the cup of demons, too. You cannot eat at the Lord’s Table and at the table of demons, too. 22 What? Do we dare to rouse the Lord’s jealousy? Do you think we are stronger than he is?

Footnotes:

1.1 Corinthians 10:1 Greek brothers.

2.1 Corinthians 10:7 Exod 32:6.

3.1 Corinthians 10:9 Some manuscripts read the Lord.

End Times Witnessing: One More Year! Churches too!

Luke 13 A Call to Repentance


1 About this time Jesus was informed that Pilate had murdered some people from Galilee as they were offering sacrifices at the Temple. 2 “Do you think those Galileans were worse sinners than all the other people from Galilee?” Jesus asked. “Is that why they suffered? 3 Not at all! And you will perish, too, unless you repent of your sins and turn to God. 4 And what about the eighteen people who died when the tower in Siloam fell on them? Were they the worst sinners in Jerusalem? 5 No, and I tell you again that unless you repent, you will perish, too.”

Parable of the Barren Fig Tree

6 Then Jesus told this story: “A man planted a fig tree in his garden and came again and again to see if there was any fruit on it, but he was always disappointed. 7 Finally, he said to his gardener, ‘I’ve waited three years, and there hasn’t been a single fig! Cut it down. It’s just taking up space in the garden.’ 8 “The gardener answered, ‘Sir, give it one more chance. Leave it another year, and I’ll give it special attention and plenty of fertilizer. 9 If we get figs next year, fine. If not, then you can cut it down.’”

Jesus Heals on the Sabbath

10 One Sabbath day as Jesus was teaching in a synagogue, 11 he saw a woman who had been crippled by an evil spirit. She had been bent double for eighteen years and was unable to stand up straight. 12 When Jesus saw her, he called her over and said, “Dear woman, you are healed of your sickness!” 13 Then he touched her, and instantly she could stand straight. How she praised God! 14 But the leader in charge of the synagogue was indignant that Jesus had healed her on the Sabbath day. “There are six days of the week for working,” he said to the crowd. “Come on those days to be healed, not on the Sabbath.” 15 But the Lord replied, “You hypocrites! Each of you works on the Sabbath day! Don’t you untie your ox or your donkey from its stall on the Sabbath and lead it out for water? 16 This dear woman, a daughter of Abraham, has been held in bondage by Satan for eighteen years. Isn’t it right that she be released, even on the Sabbath?” 17 This shamed his enemies, but all the people rejoiced at the wonderful things he did.

Parable of the Mustard Seed

18 Then Jesus said, “What is the Kingdom of God like? How can I illustrate it? 19 It is like a tiny mustard seed that a man planted in a garden; it grows and becomes a tree, and the birds make nests in its branches.”

Parable of the Yeast

20 He also asked, “What else is the Kingdom of God like? 21 It is like the yeast a woman used in making bread. Even though she put only a little yeast in three measures of flour, it permeated every part of the dough.”

The Narrow Door

22 Jesus went through the towns and villages, teaching as he went, always pressing on toward Jerusalem. 23 Someone asked him, “Lord, will only a few be saved?” He replied, 24 “Work hard to enter the narrow door to God’s Kingdom, for many will try to enter but will fail. 25 When the master of the house has locked the door, it will be too late. You will stand outside knocking and pleading, ‘Lord, open the door for us!’ But he will reply, ‘I don’t know you or where you come from.’ 26 Then you will say, ‘But we ate and drank with you, and you taught in our streets.’ 27 And he will reply, ‘I tell you, I don’t know you or where you come from. Get away from me, all you who do evil.’ 28 “There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth, for you will see Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and all the prophets in the Kingdom of God, but you will be thrown out. 29 And people will come from all over the world—from east and west, north and south—to take their places in the Kingdom of God. 30 And note this: Some who seem least important now will be the greatest then, and some who are the greatest now will be least important then.[a]”

Jesus Grieves over Jerusalem

31 At that time some Pharisees said to him, “Get away from here if you want to live! Herod Antipas wants to kill you!” 32 Jesus replied, “Go tell that fox that I will keep on casting out demons and healing people today and tomorrow; and the third day I will accomplish my purpose. 33 Yes, today, tomorrow, and the next day I must proceed on my way. For it wouldn’t do for a prophet of God to be killed except in Jerusalem! 34 “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones God’s messengers! How often I have wanted to gather your children together as a hen protects her chicks beneath her wings, but you wouldn’t let me. 35 And now, look, your house is abandoned. And you will never see me again until you say, ‘Blessings on the one who comes in the name of the Lord!’[b]”

Footnotes: a.Luke 13:30 Greek Some are last who will be first, and some are first who will be last. b.Luke 13:35 Ps 118:26.

O, Watchman, cry out day and night as the time is hear and now!