End Times Witnessing: What is Righteousness? (a young ruler missed heaven too)

When a rich young ruler (almost perfect in man’s righteousness) came to Jesus he knew he still missed out something and he wanted to know what that missing act was, so he could make it up and enter heaven. But when Jesus talked to him he still missed seeing the truth, that is, no man has the physical ability to attain God’s righteousness. So he went away sadly because he was still thinking in the physical and mental perfection realm. He could not meet the righteous plumbline of God.

But Jesus assured His disciples, “The things which are impossible with men are possible with God”!

How sad it was that the rich young ruler did not see God (Jesus), who was right in front of him, talking to him so patiently, full of grace (undeserved favor for the young ruler) and mercy. If only he had lingered on and not in a hurry to go away…Alas, God had time for him but he had no time for God!

Luke 18:18-30

18 Jesus Counsels the Rich Young Ruler18 Now a certain ruler asked Him, saying, “Good Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?”

19 So Jesus said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God. 20 You know the commandments: ‘Do not commit adultery,’ ‘Do not murder,’ ‘Do not steal,’ ‘Do not bear false witness,’ ‘Honor your father and your mother.’”[a]

21 And he said, “All these things I have kept from my youth.”

22 So when Jesus heard these things, He said to him, “You still lack one thing. Sell all that you have and distribute to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.”

23 But when he heard this, he became very sorrowful, for he was very rich.

With God All Things Are Possible

24 And when Jesus saw that he became very sorrowful, He said, “How hard it is for those who have riches to enter the kingdom of God! 25 For it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.”

26 And those who heard it said, “Who then can be saved?”

27 But He said, “The things which are impossible with men are possible with God.”

28 Then Peter said, “See, we have left all[b] and followed You.”

29 So He said to them, “Assuredly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or parents or brothers or wife or children, for the sake of the kingdom of God, 30 who shall not receive many times more in this present time, and in the age to come eternal life.”

End Times Witnessing: What is Truth? (how a man missed entering heaven)

A life time one-off opportunity to encounter God and have a discourse with Him came to one man. Pilate was such a blessed man (even if momentarily).

The Jews brought Jesus to Pilate (the Roman governor of Judea) as he had the authority to judge and pass death sentence to a criminal. (The Jewish leaders wanted Jesus be crucified and dead.) So Pilate had a rare occasion to encounter Jesus. The following is the conversation between Pilate and God (Jesus):

John 18:33-38 (New King James Version)

33 Then Pilate entered the Praetorium again, called Jesus, and said to Him, “Are You the King of the Jews?”

34 Jesus answered him, “Are you speaking for yourself about this, or did others tell you this concerning Me?”

35 Pilate answered, “Am I a Jew? Your own nation and the chief priests have delivered You to me. What have You done?”

36 Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would fight, so that I should not be delivered to the Jews; but now My kingdom is not from here.”

37 Pilate therefore said to Him, “Are You a king then?”

Jesus answered, “You say rightly that I am a king. For this cause I was born, and for this cause I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice.”

38 Pilate said to Him, “What is truth?” And when he had said this, he went out again to the Jews, and said to them, “I find no fault in Him at all.

______________________

Pilate and Jesus were talking on two different levels. Pilate asked questions and Jesus answered. But Pilate could not understand what Jesus was telling him.

1. Pilate’s Question: “Are you the king of the Jews?”

Jesus’ Answer: “Are you speaking for yourself about this, or did others tell you this concerning Me?”

What Jesus was interested was Pilate’s motive behind the question. What was he trying to find out? Was he seeking God for himself? Or was he just repeating what others had accused as a routine part of the interrogation? Jesus was also trying to alert Pilate to ponder and see beyond his narrow vision.

2. Pilate’s Question: “Am I a Jew?” (meaning: what you are is none of my personal concern. I am not interested in who you are. I am just doing a job here) “What have you done?” (another interrogation question)

Jesus’ answer: ““My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would fight, so that I should not be delivered to the Jews; but now My kingdom is not from here.” (Jesus told him plainly who He is, so Pilate had a chance to rise to a higher level)

3. Pilate’s Question: “Are You a king then?” (Alas, he remained uninterested, merely continuing his usual interrogation)

Jesus’ answer: “You say rightly that I am a king. For this cause I was born, and for this cause I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice.” (Jesus gave Pilate another chance to know Him, the King of kings, Lord of lords)

4. Pilate’s Question: “What is truth?” (Pilate missed the chance. He was still engrossed in doing his normal usual mundane mortal chores as a governor. He missed the once in a life time opportunity to know God, whom he had encountered face to face!) He wasn’t looking for an answer to life. He remained a sceptical, hardened, pragmatic military-political-administrative man.

After this discourse, Pilate thought he had done his job and told the Jews his conclusion. “I find no fault in Him at all.” He told them.


The kingdom of God had come so near to Pilate but he missed it. Why? He was just a natural human, walking according to what can be seen and perceived by the senses. He could not understand the supernatural (spiritual) realm and its reality.

1 Corinthians 2:14 “But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.”

So, this is how you can get so close to entering the kingdom of God and and yet miss entering the narrow gate…

Days after Quakes and Tsunami: “Never Let me Go” (reblog for a Japanese blogging friend)

Here it is, ‘Never let Me Go’, the tragedy of being clones trying to become human through love. Alas, it never could be no matter how hard they tried. Only humans have spirits (which live on forever). Where do clones go after they no longer function temporarily as live humans want them to? One wonders. Alas, many humans do not even know they are humans with an eternal spirit that can only come from God. They live in the physical and sensual realm, and perish when these two realms pass away, being mere mortals on earth…

A sixty year old Japanese man was rescued from a piece of floating roof after two days. He told the rescuers that he had lost his wife. The watchman once got to know someone through sharing the same interest of reading books written by Kazuo Ishiguro . Here are some quotes from Kazuo Ishiguro. The excerpts are from “Never let me go” (2005) and “The remains of the day” (winner of the Booker Prize, 1989) Quotes_____________ “I keep thinking about … Read More
http://kzlam36.wordpress.com/?p=4116

End Times Witnessing: The Power of God’s Grace

The key Word today is grace. Grace and Truth came through Jesus Christ.

Hebrews 4:15-16 (New International Version, ©2011)

15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. 16 Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

1 Peter 5:8-11 (New International Version, ©2011)

8 Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. 9 Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings.



10 And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. 11 To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen.

2 Peter 1:1-3 (New International Version, ©2011)

1 Simon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who through the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ have received a faith as precious as ours: 2 Grace and peace be yours in abundance through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.

Confirming One’s Calling and Election

3 His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.

John 1:14

The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

John 1:16

Out of his fullness we have all received grace in place of grace already given.

John 1:17

For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.



Acts 4:33

With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And God’s grace was so powerfully at work in them all

Acts 6:8

[ Stephen Seized ] Now Stephen, a man full of God’s grace and power, performed great wonders and signs among the people.

Acts 13:43

When the congregation was dismissed, many of the Jews and devout converts to Judaism followed Paul and Barnabas, who talked with them and urged them to continue in the grace of God.

Acts 14:3

So Paul and Barnabas spent considerable time there, speaking boldly for the Lord, who confirmed the message of his grace by enabling them to perform signs and wonders.

Acts 14:26

From Attalia they sailed back to Antioch, where they had been committed to the grace of God for the work they had now completed.

Acts 15:11

No! We believe it is through the grace of our Lord Jesus that we are saved, just as they are.”

Acts 15:40

but Paul chose Silas and left, commended by the believers to the grace of the Lord.

Acts 18:27

When Apollos wanted to go to Achaia, the brothers and sisters encouraged him and wrote to the disciples there to welcome him. When he arrived, he was a great help to those who by grace had believed.

Acts 20:24

However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace.

Acts 20:32

“Now I commit you to God and to the word of his grace, which can build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified.

Romans 3:24

and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.

Romans 4:16

Therefore, the promise comes by faith, so that it may be by grace and may be guaranteed to all Abraham’s offspring—not only to those who are of the law but also to those who have the faith of Abraham. He is the father of us all.

Romans 5:2

through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God.

Romans 5:20

The law was brought in so that the trespass might increase. But where sin increased, grace increased all the more,

Romans 5:21

so that, just as sin reigned in death, so also grace might reign through righteousness to bring eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Romans 6:1

[ Dead to Sin, Alive in Christ ] What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase?

Romans 6:14

For sin shall no longer be your master, because you are not under the law, but under grace.

Romans 12:6

We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith;

Romans 16:20

The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you.


2 Corinthians 12:9

But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.

Ephesians 1:7

In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace

Ephesians 2:5

made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved.

Ephesians 2:8

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—

Ephesians 4:7

But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it.

Colossians 1:6

that has come to you. In the same way, the gospel is bearing fruit and growing throughout the whole world—just as it has been doing among you since the day you heard it and truly understood God’s grace.

2 Thessalonians 1:12

We pray this so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.

2 Thessalonians 2:16

May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope,


1 Timothy 1:14

The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.

2 Timothy 1:9

He has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time,

The beginning of sorrows: the future is here! (Revised after Tsunami and nuclear radiation fear)

When the blog below was first posted, the watchman did not realise that in less than a month’s time, more devastating pains and sorrows would hit Asia-Pacific. When he reviewed some of his former blogs he discovered that God is indeed awesome. Another intercessor saw the vision of tsunami waves crashing onto and swept over multi-storey buildings, as she was standing on a tower interceding, about the same time the watchman saw further revelation of the ‘nuclear winter’ at the beginning of this year. They never thought the two visions linked to each other and would happen within two months. But they happened. Although what happened in Japan had not led to a massive global neclear winter, it was bad enough as many lives had already perished and many more are hanging in the unknown and uncertain darkness and fearfulness.


O watchmen round the globe, intercede!!


_____________The original Post is as follows:
The watchman woke to hear that “the future is here!” Luke 21: The Signs of the Times and the End of the Age 7 So they asked Him, saying, “Teacher, but when will these things be? And what sign will there be when these things are about to take place?” 8 And He said: “Take heed that you not be deceived. For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am He,’ and, ‘The time has drawn near.’ Therefore[b] do not go after them. 9 But when you hear of wars … Read More
http://kzlam36.wordpress.com/?p=4064

via AAA Jack’s blog (A Watchman on your walls)

End Times Witnessing: The Good News!

The watchman heard, “GOOD NEWS!” Indeed, in the midst of such colossal Tsunami and Earthquakes and Nuclear Reactor Melt-down bad news, he is relieved to be reminded of the Good News!

Psalm 68:11
The Lord gives the word, and a great army brings the good news.

Psalm 96:2
Sing to the Lord; praise his name. Each day proclaim the good news that He saves.

Proverbs 15:30
A cheerful look brings joy to the heart; good news makes for good health.

Isaiah 41:27

I was the first to tell Zion, ‘Look! Help is on the way!’ I will send Jerusalem a messenger with good news.

Isaiah 61:1
[ Good News for the Oppressed ] The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is upon me, for the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to comfort the broken hearted and to proclaim that captives will be released and prisoners will be freed.

Matthew 4:23
[ Crowds Follow Jesus ] Jesus traveled throughout the region of Galilee, teaching in the synagogues and announcing the Good News about the Kingdom. And He healed every kind of disease and illness.


Matthew 9:35
[ The Need for Workers ] Jesus traveled through all the towns and villages of that area, teaching in the synagogues and announcing the Good News about the Kingdom. And He healed every kind of disease and illness.

Matthew 11:5
the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised to life, and the Good News is being preached to the poor.

Matthew 24:14
And the Good News about the Kingdom will be preached throughout the whole world, so that all nations will hear it; and then the end will come.

Mark 1:1
[ John the Baptist Prepares the Way ] This is the Good News about Jesus the Messiah, the Son of God. It began

Mark 1:15
“The time promised by God has come at last!” he announced. “The Kingdom of God is near! Repent of your sins and believe the Good News!”


Mark 13:10
For the Good News must first be preached to all nations.

Mark 16:15
And then he told them, “Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone.

Luke 1:19
Then the angel said, “I am Gabriel! I stand in the very presence of God. It was he who sent me to bring you this good news!

Luke 2:10
but the angel reassured them. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people.

Luke 4:18
“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, for he has anointed me to bring Good News to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim that captives will be released, that the blind will see, that the oppressed will be set free,

Luke 16:16
“Until John the Baptist, the law of Moses and the messages of the prophets were your guides. But now the Good News of the Kingdom of God is preached, and everyone is eager to get in.

Acts 14:15
“Friends, why are you doing this? We are merely human beings—just like you! We have come to bring you the Good News that you should turn from these worthless things and turn to the living God, who made heaven and earth, the sea, and everything in them.

Romans 1:2
God promised this Good News long ago through his prophets in the holy Scriptures.

Romans 1:3
The Good News is about his Son. In his earthly life he was born into King David’s family line,

Romans 1:17
This Good News tells us how God makes us right in his sight. This is accomplished from start to finish by faith. As the Scriptures say, “It is through faith that a righteous person has life.”

Romans 10:17
So faith comes from hearing, that is, hearing the Good News about Christ.

2 Corinthians 4:4
Satan, who is the god of this world, has blinded the minds of those who don’t believe. They are unable to see the glorious light of the Good News. They don’t understand this message about the glory of Christ, who is the exact likeness of God.

Ephesians 1:13
And now you Gentiles have also heard the truth, the Good News that God saves you. And when you believed in Christ, he identified you as his own by giving you the Holy Spirit, whom he promised long ago.


Ephesians 2:17
He brought this Good News of peace to you Gentiles who were far away from him, and peace to the Jews who were near.

Ephesians 3:6
And this is God’s plan: Both Gentiles and Jews who believe the Good News share equally in the riches inherited by God’s children. Both are part of the same body, and both enjoy the promise of blessings because they belong to Christ Jesus.

Colossians 1:5
which come from your confident hope of what God has reserved for you in heaven. You have had this expectation ever since you first heard the truth of the Good News.

Colossians 1:6
This same Good News that came to you is going out all over the world. It is bearing fruit everywhere by changing lives, just as it changed your lives from the day you first heard and understood the truth about God’s wonderful grace.

Colossians 1:23
But you must continue to believe this truth and stand firmly in it. Don’t drift away from the assurance you received when you heard the Good News. The Good News has been preached all over the world, and I, Paul, have been appointed as God’s servant to proclaim it.

2 Timothy 1:10
And now he has made all of this plain to us by the appearing of Christ Jesus, our Savior. He broke the power of death and illuminated the way to life and immortality through the Good News.

1 Peter 1:12
They were told that their messages were not for themselves, but for you. And now this Good News has been announced to you by those who preached in the power of the Holy Spirit sent from heaven. It is all so wonderful that even the angels are eagerly watching these things happen.

1 Peter 1:24-25 (New Living Translation)
24 As the Scriptures say, “People are like grass;
their beauty is like a flower in the field.
The grass withers and the flower fades.
25 But the word of the Lord remains forever.”[a] And that word is the Good News that was preached to you.

1 Peter 4:5-7 (New Living Translation)
5 But remember that they will have to face God, who will judge everyone, both the living and the dead. 6 That is why the Good News was preached to those who are now dead—so although they were destined to die like all people, they now live forever with God in the Spirit. 7 The end of the world is coming soon. Therefore, be earnest and disciplined in your prayers.

1 Peter 4:16-18 (New Living Translation)
16 But it is no shame to suffer for being a Christian. Praise God for the privilege of being called by his name! 17 For the time has come for judgment, and it must begin with God’s household. And if judgment begins with us, what terrible fate awaits those who have never obeyed God’s Good News? 18 And also,
“If the righteous are barely saved,
what will happen to godless sinners?”

Revelation 14:5-7 (New Living Translation)
5 They have told no lies; they are without blame. 6 And I saw another angel flying through the sky, carrying the eternal Good News to proclaim to the people who belong to this world—to every nation, tribe, language, and people. 7 “Fear God,” he shouted. “Give glory to Him. For the time has come when He will sit as judge. Worship Him who made the heavens, the earth, the sea, and all the springs of water.”

Days after Quakes and Tsunami: Bring my soul out of prison!

The watchman heard, “Never Let Me Go!”



“We took away your art because we thought it would reveal your souls. Or to put it more finely, we did it to prove you had souls at all.” Kazuo Ishiguro (Never Let Me Go)



The troubed and unsatisfied souls


Isaiah 29:8

It shall even be as when a hungry man dreams, And look—he eats; But he awakes, and his soul is still empty; Or as when a thirsty man dreams, And look—he drinks; But he awakes, and indeed he is faint, And his soul still craves: So the multitude of all the nations shall be, Who fight against Mount Zion.

Psalm 42:11

Why are you cast down, O my soul? And why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God; For I shall yet praise Him, The help of my countenance and my God.

Psalm 124:4

Then the waters would have overwhelmed us, The stream would have gone over our soul;

Psalm 124:5

Then the swollen waters would have gone over our soul.”

Psalm 142:7

Bring my soul out of prison, That I may praise Your name; The righteous shall surround me, For You shall deal bountifully with me.”

Psalm 143:3

For the enemy has persecuted my soul; He has crushed my life to the ground; He has made me dwell in darkness, Like those who have long been dead.


God can set free our afflicted souls


Psalm 23:3

He (God) restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness For His name’s sake.

Psalm 33:20

Our soul waits for the LORD; He is our help and our shield.

Psalm 41:4

I said, “LORD, be merciful to me; Heal my soul, for I have sinned against You.”

Psalm 55:18

He has redeemed my soul in peace from the battle that was against me, for there were many against me.

Psalm 56:13

For You (God) have delivered my soul from death. Have You not kept my feet from falling, That I may walk before God In the light of the living?

Psalm 72:13

He will spare the poor and needy, and will save the souls of the needy.

Psalm 107:9

For He satisfies the longing soul, and fills the hungry soul with goodness.


Isaiah 55 An Invitation to Abundant Life

1 “Ho! Everyone who thirsts,

Come to the waters;

And you who have no money,

Come, buy and eat.

Yes, come, buy wine and milk

Without money and without price.

2 Why do you spend money for what is not bread,

And your wages for what does not satisfy?

Listen carefully to Me, and eat what is good,

And let your soul delight itself in abundance.

3 Incline your ear, and come to Me.

Hear, and your soul shall live;

And I will make an everlasting covenant with you—

The sure mercies of David.


Isaiah 58:10-11

10 If you extend your soul to the hungry

And satisfy the afflicted soul,

Then your light shall dawn in the darkness,

And your darkness shall be as the noonday.

11 The LORD will guide you continually,

And satisfy your soul in drought,

And strengthen your bones;

You shall be like a watered garden,

And like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail.

Jeremiah 31:25

For I have satiated the weary soul, and I have replenished every sorrowful soul.”

Ezekiel 18:4

“ Behold, all souls are Mine; The soul of the father As well as the soul of the son is Mine; The soul who sins shall die.


What Jesus said about your souls

Matthew 10:28

And do not fear those (the devils) who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him (God) who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.

Matthew 11:29

Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me (Jesus), for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.

Matthew 16:26

For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?

Luke 12:20

But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul will be required of you; then whose will those things be which you have provided?’

Luke 10:27

So he answered and said, “ ‘You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind,’ and ‘your neighbor as yourself.’”

What the Apostles said about your souls

1 Thessalonians 5:23

[ Blessing and Admonition ] Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Hebrews 6:19

This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which enters the Presence behind the veil,

James 1:21

[ Doers—Not Hearers Only ] Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.

1 Peter 1:9

for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

1 Peter 2:25

For you were like sheep going astray, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.

_______________________________

This is the watchman’s prayer for you, my friends:
"Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers. "
(3 John 2)