Holy Spirit broadcasting: both watchman and Jonah heard

The watchman found out that the ancient calling of Jonah is not over afterall and has taken on a new form in the spiritual realm.

On 13th October he attended an evening healing meeting and the Spirit-filled pastor had an anointing to anoint a special group after his preaching. This was the first time he called for those who had previous calling by the Lord but had already forgotten or put their calling aside. To his amazement quite a number of people responded and stood up and let the pastor come round to anoint them afresh to the Lord's calling.
The watchman could not recall any precious calling. So he did not stand up. As he was happily watching others, he heard a soft reminder in his spirit, "Jonah 4, last verse." He turned to that verse (Jonah 4:11) and recalled the long forgotten past many many years ago indeed that was the verse that impacted him! So he was the last one who walked to the altar and had to call after the pastor who by then had left and mingled with the congregation. He told the pastor the verse he received much to the latter's delight.
The next day he received a call to share a message that evening. So he looked up the book of Jonah and meditated on the last verse. He asked the Lord who and where the "Nineveh people" are today. He was led to locate one people group who now live in an area touching 'many nations'! They have no state of their own but they are one unique people group artficially divided into 4-6 nations which boundaries cut through their land. They are named the Kurds.
So he downloaded prayer needs of the group and started to pray for them. He was led in the spirit to download a presentation on how to pray for this group too.
That Friday (14th Oct.) night or rather Saturday morning (1 am) he shared to a group of very tired and sleepy people that the Lord wants them to pray for this group of people. Prior to the sharing he asked the Lord whether it was necessary to speak on such topic and whether there was any audience at all. The Lord asked him whether he would speak if there was only one person who listens. He said yes. Then he heard, what if there is none, would you still speak? He said yes. Then he heard in his spirit that there would be more than one who would hear this message.
The reason the watchman said yes to speak even when there might not be one audience was that he believed that something would happen in the spiritual realm. The Holy Spirit braodcasted the urgency to pray for this group of "Nineveh" people and he was one of those who heard the broadcast in the spirit. He chose to obey in view of verse 4:11 in the Book of Jonah.

Ten days after his unusual sharing, he read the news about the Turkish earthquake.
He now quoted some of them as follows:
"The 2011 Van earthquake was a destructive magnitude 7.2 Mw earthquake that struck eastern Turkey near the predominantly Kurdish city of Van on Sunday, 23 October 2011 at 13:41 local time. It occurred at a shallow depth of 20 km (12.4 mi), causing heavy shaking across much of eastern Turkey and being felt across much of the Near East. Extensive areas sustained heavy damage to their structures, and as many as 1,000 people were feared dead." (excerpt from Wikipedia)
Later, on 26th, he read this latest news, "Earlier on Tuesday, Turkish officials said the death toll has reached 459, adding that 1,352 people were injured in Sunday’s quake." "A 14-day-old infant has miraculously survived 46 hours trapped in debris after the 7.2 Earthquake has shaken Van in eastern Turkey. Latest News report that the missing mother of the bab Azra has also been found.."

An earlier news on 25th: "Van /NationalTurk – Turkish rescue teams pulled an 14 day young infant, a newborn out of a collapsed building, as rescuers hopes of finding more survivors alive were fading. The news comes after a nine-year-old girl was rescued after spending over 30 hours under the rubble. And prior to that Mesut Ozan Yilmaz, 18, was found, 32 hours after the tea house he had been drinking in with friends collapsed on top of him. He walked out miraculously with only few minor scratches. “It was like the judgment day,” he said, explaining the horror he just survived."

Reading rescue stories has warmed one's heart. the number dead is not as earlier predicted by the officials afterall. He prayed that many more miracles would happen. His regret was he did not manage to reach many more intercessors. What saddened him was some had even slept through his presentation. He repented for his lack of forcefulness when sharing this urgent message (also not knowing that it was a SOS message he heard!)

Whilst the watchman does not know the number of global intercessors/watchmen had heard the broadcast in the spiritual realm and responded by prayers and intercessions, he believed that what mattered was the faithfulness of the Lord and His words never returned void even if only one man was interceding.
It is indeed a rewarding job to be 'working' for the Almighty God who loves and wants all peoples to repent and turn back to Him and be saved. His mercy, lovingkindness and grace (undeserved favor) is limitless!
John 3:16 "For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. "
 O watchman, watch (and hear the Holy Spirit global broadcast) and pray faithfully!

watchman’s adventure: 2011 Yom Kippur (2)

The watchman completed his Yom Kippur feeling refreshed. A group of them decided to gather together and celebrated the last few hours of the fasting. Whilst he had an attack of severe headache around noontime, he felt rested and well after a nap. By the time they gathered together he was feeling well and ready to read the word of God with others.

What he had learned from this year’s fasting:

1. Fasting has to be a life style and not just on one day of the year to be effective. He will carry on fasting in various combinations of ways throughout the following year. It is natural and a way of life now (after he started his journey in the Holy Spirit almost three years ago).

2. He must clarify his motive and set goals before the fasting. Then fasting has his own meaning and value in depth and not just a copycat action.

3. Fasting with a meaningful spiritual purpose is supernatural and help overcome his physical weakness and limitations. He has gained more realistic understanding of Biblical truth in this action of faith.

4. Fasting with others of the same mind as led by the Holy Spirit and Word of God builds faith and strengthens his commitment to the course. Knowing that many others are doing this that particular day has widened his vision and perspectives in life.

5. The right goal motivates him to press on and not give in easily. This is a must for the serious follower who want to become disciple of Jesus Christ!

By the end of the fasting, he was given a bowl of chicken soup. It was delicious! After that he went home and had another liquid drink and felt contented. He was in no hurry to drink coffee or eat a solid meal. The body was no longer his master. His mind was busy chewing on precious revelations.

One wonderful healthy outcome is that he begins to like drinking plain water!

Will he do it again in Yom Kippur 2012? Only the Lord can tell. Meanwhile, he would encourage all watchmen to seriously consider making fasting a regular part of lifestyle too.

Fasting God wants (NT)

Lent is a time when many Christians prepare for Easter by observing a period of fasting, repentance, moderation and spiritual discipline. The purpose of fasting is to spend time before God and get to know God more. Jesus Himself fasted forty days and forty nights in preparation for His ministry on earth. He set an example for His disciples. He also presented God to us in His life on earth. Fasting and praying are an integral part of Christian life.


Jesus Fasted

Matthew 4:2 And when He (Jesus) had fasted forty days and forty nights, afterward He was hungry.

Jesus taught on fasting:

Do not deliberate show it externally; fasting is not for show to man; fasting is not for scoring points with God (no boasting please!)

Matthew 6:16-18 [ Fasting to Be Seen Only by God ] “Moreover, when you fast, do not be like the hypocrites, with a sad countenance. For they disfigure their faces that they may appear to men to be fasting. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. But you, when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, so that you do not appear to men to be fasting, but to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly. (wrong fasting is just for show to other men, not for God)

Luke 18:12 I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I possess.’ (pride and boasting are detestable to God)

There is an appointed time and reason for fasting:

Fasting is for the Lord first

Mark 2:18-20 [ Jesus Is Questioned About Fasting ] The disciples of John and of the Pharisees were fasting. Then they came and said to Him, “Why do the disciples of John and of the Pharisees fast, but Your disciples do not fast?”And Jesus said to them, “Can the friends of the bridegroom fast while the bridegroom is with them? As long as they have the bridegroom with them they cannot fast. But the days will come when the bridegroom will be taken away from them, and then they will fast in those days.

Luke 2:37 and this woman was a widow of about eighty-four years, who did not depart from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day.

Fasting breaks bondages and yokes and delivers a person from the control of Satan

Matthew 17:21 However, this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting.” (In this case, Jesus referred to His disciples who want to heal and deliver others)

Fasting and praying are often linked and done together, leading to spiritual understanding and actions according to God’s will

Acts 10:30 So Cornelius said, “Four days ago I was fasting until this hour; and at the ninth hour I prayed in my house, and behold, a man stood before me in bright clothing,

Acts 13:2 As they ministered to the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, “Now separate to Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.”

Acts 13:3 Then, having fasted and prayed, and laid hands on them, they sent them away.

Acts 14:23 So when they had appointed elders in every church, and prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord in whom they had believed.

1 Corinthians 7:5 Do not deprive one another except with consent for a time, that you may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again so that Satan does not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.

Fasting can be done during crisis, when supernatural intervention from God is needed

Acts 27:9 [ Paul’s Warning Ignored ] Now when much time had been spent, and sailing was now dangerous because the Fast was already over, Paul advised them,

Fasting is part and parcel of an apostle’s life

2 Corinthians 6:5 in stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labors, in sleeplessness, in fastings;

2 Corinthians 11:27 in weariness and toil, in sleeplessness often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness—

THE FASTING GOD WANTS (OT)

FASTING AS DESCRIBED IN THE OLD TESTAMENT

FASTING IS LINKED TO REPENTANCE

1 Samuel 7:6 So they gathered together at Mizpah, drew water, and poured it out before the LORD. And they fasted that day, and said there, “We have sinned against the LORD.” And Samuel judged the children ofIsrael at Mizpah.

Joel 2:12 [ A Call to Repentance ] “ Now, therefore,” says the LORD, “ Turn to Me with all your heart, With fasting, with weeping, and with mourning.”

Joel 2:15 Blow the trumpet in Zion, Consecrate a fast, Call a sacred assembly;

Jonah 3:5 [ The People of Nineveh Believe ] So the people of Nineveh believed God, proclaimed a fast, and put on sackcloth, from the greatest to the least of them.

Zechariah 7:1 [ Obedience Better than Fasting ] Now in the fourth year of King Darius it came to pass that the word of the LORD came to Zechariah, on the fourth day of the ninth month, Chislev,

Zechariah 7:3 and to ask the priests who were in the house of the LORD of hosts, and the prophets, saying, “Should I weep in the fifth month and fast as I have done for so many years?”

Zechariah 7:5 “Say to all the people of the land, and to the priests: ‘When you fasted and mourned in the fifth and seventh months during those seventy years, did you really fast for Me—for Me?

FASTING IS LINKED TO MOURNING

1 Samuel 31:13 Then they took their bones and buried them under the tamarisk tree at Jabesh, and fasted seven days. 2 Samuel 1:12 And they mourned and wept and fasted until evening for Saul and for Jonathan his son, for the people of the LORD and for the house of Israel, because they had fallen by the sword.

A KING’S PLEADING WITH GOD (personal sin) 2 Samuel 12:16 [ The Death of David’s Son ] And the LORD struck the child that Uriah’s wife bore to David, and it became ill. David therefore pleaded with God for the child, and David fasted and went in and lay all night on the ground.2 Samuel 12:21-23 Then his servants said to him, “What is this that you have done? You fasted and wept for the child while he was alive, but when the child died, you arose and ate food.” And he said, “While the child was alive, I fasted and wept; for I said, ‘Who can tell whether the LORD will be gracious to me, that the child may live?’ But now he is dead; why should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he shall not return to me.”

A QUEEN PLOTTING EVIL 1 Kings 21:9 She wrote in the letters, saying, Proclaim a fast, and seat Naboth with high honor among the people; 1 Kings 21:12 They proclaimed a fast, and seated Naboth with high honor among the people.

A KING HUMBLED BEFORE GOD (when condemned for his sin)1 Kings 21:27 So it was, when Ahab heard those words, that he tore his clothes and put sackcloth on his body, and fasted and lay in sackcloth, and went about mourning.

A KING PLEADED BEFORE GOD (when faced with enemy attack) 2 Chronicles 20:3 And Jehoshaphat feared, and set himself to seek the LORD, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah.

PREPARATION FOR A SACRED JOURNEY Ezra 8:21 [ Fasting and Prayer for Protection ] Then I proclaimed a fast there at the river of Ahava, that we might humble ourselves before our God, to seek from Him the right way for us and our little ones and all our possessions. Ezra 8:23 So we fasted and entreated our God for this, and He answered our prayer.

REPENTANCE AND INTERCESSION (for nation and people)

Ezra 9:5 At the evening sacrifice I arose from my fasting; and having torn my garment and my robe, I fell on my knees and spread out my hands to the LORD my God.

Nehemiah 1:4 So it was, when I heard these words, that I sat down and wept, and mourned for many days; I was fasting and praying before the God of heaven.

Nehemiah 9:1 [ The People Confess Their Sins ] Now on the twenty-fourth day of this month the children of Israel were assembled with fasting, in sackcloth, and with dust on their heads.

Esther 4:3 And in every province where the king’s command and decree arrived, there was great mourning among the Jews, with fasting, weeping, and wailing; and many lay in sackcloth and ashes.

Esther 4:16 “Go, gather all the Jews who are present in Shushan, and fast for me; neither eat nor drink for three days, night or day. My maids and I will fast likewise. And so I will go to the king, which is against the law; and if I perish, I perish!”

INTERCESSION & SUPPLICATION BEFORE GOD

Psalm 35:13 But as for me, when they were sick, My clothing was sackcloth; I humbled myself with fasting; And my prayer would return to my own heart.

Psalm 69:10 When I wept and chastened my soul with fasting, That became my reproach.

Psalm 109:24 My knees are weak through fasting, And my flesh is feeble from lack of fatness.

WHAT GOD DOES NOT WANT FROM FASTING:

GOD DOES NOT WANT EXTERNAL PHYSICAL SHOW (whilst continuing to sin); GOD DOES NOT WANT FASTING WHICH IS SELF-CENTRED WITHOUT TRUE REVERANT FEAR OF GOD AND OBEDIENCE TO GOD’S WORD:

Isaiah 58:3 ‘ Why have we fasted,’ they say, ‘and You have not seen? Why have we afflicted our souls, and You take no notice?’ “ In fact, in the day of your fast you find pleasure, And exploit all your laborers. Isaiah 58:5 Is it a fast that I have chosen, A day for a man to afflict his soul? Is it to bow down his head like a bulrush, And to spread out sackcloth and ashes? Would you call this a fast, And an acceptable day to the LORD? Jeremiah 14:12 When they fast, I will not hear their cry; and when they offer burnt offering and grain offering, I will not accept them. But I will consume them by the sword, by the famine, and by the pestilence.”

Isaiah 58:4 Indeed you fast for strife and debate, And to strike with the fist of wickedness. You will not fast as you do this day, To make your voice heard on high.

WHAT GOD REALLY WANTS FROM FASTING: BREKING BONDAGES

Isaiah 58:6 “ Is this not the fast that I have chosen: To loose the bonds of wickedness, To undo the heavy burdens, To let the oppressed go free, And that you break every yoke?

PROCLAIMING GOD’S WORD
Jeremiah 36:6 You go, therefore, and read from the scroll which you have written at my instruction, the words of the LORD, in the hearing of the people in the LORD’s house on the day of fasting. And you shall also read them in the hearing of all Judah who come from their cities.

EVEN AN ALIEN KING FASTS BEFORE GOD TO PLEAD FOR HIS PEOPLE (DANIEL)

Daniel 6:18 [ Daniel Saved from the Lions ] Now the king went to his palace and spent the night fasting; and no musicians were brought before him. Also his sleep went from him.

INTERCESSOR FASTS AND INTERCEDES FOR NATION

Daniel 9:3 Then I set my face toward the Lord God to make request by prayer and supplications, with fasting, sackcloth, and ashes.

Joel 1:14 Consecrate a fast, Call a sacred assembly; Gather the elders And all the inhabitants of the land Into the house of the LORD your God, And cry out to the LORD.

APPOINTED TIME & PURPOSE FOR FASTING MUST BE FOLLOWED (Today, this means fast as led by the Holy Spirit and the word of God)

Esther 9:31 to confirm these days of Purim at their appointed time, as Mordecai the Jew and Queen Esther had prescribed for them, and as they had decreed for themselves and their descendants concerning matters of their fasting and lamenting.
Zechariah 8:19

“Thus says the LORD of hosts: ‘ The fast of the fourth month, The fast of the fifth, The fast of the seventh, And the fast of the tenth, Shall be joy and gladness and cheerful feasts For the house of Judah. Therefore love truth and peace.’

watchman’s adventure: 2011 Yom Kippur (1)

The watchman is half way through Yom Kippur. His last meal was 18 and half hour ago. He was still holding well in terms of energy. His last drink of water was 14 hours ago. He felt the discomfort in the mouth but it was still bearable. His last coffee intake was 30 hours ago and the abstinence makes him suffer physically. Lesson learned: Beware of coffee addiction! Take heed of good advice and cut coffee!

Here is a summary of what he has done so far during the first half of the day of atonement:

1. He has his pre-fast main meal early. The meal was mainly pasta with cheese, chicken meat, brocoli, potato and a chicken bone soup with onion and celery. He forgot to ask for less salt so he suffered a bit from having a higher level of sodium for his body to handle during the fasting.

2. At the start of Yom Kippur (following Jerusalem time), he gathered together with a group of Christians in worship, prayers and reading the word of God for three hours.

3. After the three hours of gathering, he and another believer were assigned the time slot of two hours to pray and intercede for Israel, reading the word of God too.

4. After that he drove home and had about 4 hours sleep and got up. The throat was uncomfortable as he was still having symptoms of a ‘cold’ which manifested just a few days ago. But he continued by faith and gurgled his mouth regularly with plain water. The withdrawal from caffeine was worse and he had to battle against his throbbing forehead.

5. He started to pray and read the word of God. He was led to read Malachi. He was led to repent for Christian churches and Christian parents instead of Israel. Why? Here are the verses that convicted his spirit as he started to stand in the gap as a watchman intercessor:

Malachi 1 Unworthy Sacrifices

6The Lord of Heaven’s Armies says to the priests: “A son honors his father, and a servant respects his master. If I am your father and master, where are the honor and respect I deserve? You have shown contempt for my name!

“But you ask, ‘How have we ever shown contempt for your name?’
7“You have shown contempt by offering defiled sacrifices on my altar.
“Then you ask, ‘How have we defiled the sacrifices?[c]’
“You defile them by saying the altar of the Lord deserves no respect. 8When you give blind animals as sacrifices, isn’t that wrong? And isn’t it wrong to offer animals that are crippled and diseased? Try giving gifts like that to your governor, and see how pleased he is!” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.

9“Go ahead, beg God to be merciful to you! But when you bring that kind of offering, why should he show you any favor at all?” asks the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.

10 “How I wish one of you would shut the Temple doors so that these worthless sacrifices could not be offered! I am not pleased with you,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, “and I will not accept your offerings. 11 But my name is honored[d] by people of other nations from morning till night. All around the world they offer[e]sweet incense and pure offerings in honor of my name. For my name is great among the nations,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.

12 “But you dishonor my name with your actions. By bringing contemptible food, you are saying it’s all right to defile the Lord’s table. 13You say, ‘It’s too hard to serve the Lord,’ and you turn up your noses at my commands,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. “Think of it! Animals that are stolen and crippled and sick are being presented as offerings! Should I accept from you such offerings as these?” asks the Lord.

14 “Cursed is the cheat who promises to give a fine ram from his flock but then sacrifices a defective one to the Lord. For I am a great king,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, “and my name is feared among the nations!
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Watchman’s comments:
The Lord is not just talking about offering material things here. God is Spirit. He is looking for worshippers who worship in spirit and in truth. He is looking for prayers and intercessions which will be gathered as sweet incense in heaven. He is looking for royal priests and holy nation, a special people for His kingdom. He demands spiritual quality and in exact specification according to His heavenly pattern, as given in His Word – the plumb-line of God.

Action: Let us search our hearts and see if we are quality offerings ourselves. Is my life a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, in accordance to the perfect will of God? Romans 12:1-2

watchman’s adventure: A day before Yom Kippur

The watchman has decided to keep Yom Kippur – day of atonement (full fast of food and water for 25 hours from Sundown to Sundown following Jerusalem’s time) this year. He has prepared his heart and spirit for the past two weeks and now the day will arrive soon. On this eve he carries out the following:

1. Set goal for the day of fast and repentance, as a watchman standing in the gap. His Goal: to seek God and intercede for Israel before God.

2. Ask and listen to the Holy Spirit on how to spend the next day. Activities: Fast, repent, read and proclaim God’s words.

3. Prepare himself in his body: He has two main meals to stock up on protein, carb., fibre and plenty of water. (During the previous year’s Yom Kippur, he had a hard time when he fasted water as well as food. Fasting water was very tough for him!)

4. Prepare himself in his soul and spirit: He rests before the Lord, reads the word of God, prays, and receives guidance from the Holy Spirit. Aligning himself with the Lord prepares him to enter the spiritual realm the following day.

Some of the Bible books and chapters he will read and proclaim as led by the Holy Spirit on the following day are as follows:
whole book of Hebrews ; whole book of Matthews; psalm 141-150 ; Isaiah 42-66 ; Ezekiel 33-48; Micah; parts of Jeremiah; Lamentations.

Why does he want to do the Yom Kippur observation? He asks. The answer is he believes the calling and choosing of Christians is linked to that of the returning of the elect (the Israelite people) to God as prophesied in the Bible. He has firm conviction in his spirit that the time is near and all Christians watchmen should arise and stand now for the fulfilment of the word of God.

O watchman, “Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man.” (Luke 21:36)
___________________
Zechariah 4:14 (NKJV)

14 So he said, “These are the two anointed ones, who stand beside the Lord of the whole earth.” (Both the Jews and the Gentiles Christians)

More ‘spiritual’ information on Yom Kippur

More information on Yom Kippur -spiritual aspect (as expressed by those who practise) as follows:

Quote: ” Introduction -Yom Kippur is the spiritual pinnacle of the Days of Awe. On this day, God moves from the throne of Justice (where God was metaphorically “seated” for Rosh Hashanah, the Day of Judgment) to the throne of Compassion. As we approach God on Yom Kippur, it is with the conviction that our sincere prayers will be heard and our sincere repentance accepted. For this reason, there is a Hasidic tradition that Yom Kippur, or Yom Hakippurim, should be K’Purim, as joyous as Purim.”

Inui Nefesh (Afflicting the Body) and Spiritual Rebirth

quote:”The most well-known characteristic of Yom Kippur is that it is a day of fasting. This fasting is actually part of a larger framework created by the rabbis called inui nefesh, the afflictions of the body. There are five things that we are prohibited from doing on Yom Kippur: washing, eating, drinking, having sex, and wearing leather. On Yom Kippur we refrain from activities, like eating, taking care of our bodies and making love, that affirm life. In addition, it is customary in some communities on Yom Kippur to wear a kittel, a shroud – the garment worn by Jews when they are buried. Finally, at the end of the Yom Kippur service, we recite the sh’ma, the words that are supposed to be the last ones on our lips before we die. On Yom Kippur, the peak of the period of self-transformation and teshuva (turning), we symbolize the death of our old selves and a spiritual rebirth as a new, pure soul. ” unquote

Quote: ” Torah Readings -The Torah reading for Yom Kippur morning is Leviticus 16, the account of how the sacrificial service was conducted on Yom Kippur by Aaron, the High Priest. The haftarah is Isaiah 57:14 – 58:14, a passage chosen because it discusses the true purpose of fasting. God seeks only the fast that will inspire us to begin to act with more justice and mercy, that will lead us to take greater care of those in need in our society. The Torah reading for Yom Kippur afternoon is Leviticus 18, which describes prohibited marriages and illicit sexual relationships. Some communities choose to read Leviticus 17, the “Holiness Code” in place of the traditional reading. The haftarah is the book of Jonah.”

(internet information from: The Abraham Joshua Heschel School)

Watchman's Adventure: Preparing for Yom Kippur's Fast

The watchman learned from last year’s experience that the most difficult part is not drinking water. He can stand the not eating part but needs to really fortify against dehydration. He is one of those who do not take much plain water. So the tips here are very relevant to him.

Here is a number of useful excerpts from various sources on how to prepare for this year’s Yom Kippur Fasting.

Tips for Yom Kippur Fasting Don’t make it any more difficult than it has to be; fasting is easier if you prepare your body in advance; there are things you can do to ease your fast after it has started. Above all, set goals before you start. Why do you want to fast? What motivates you to do so?

One of the primary and best-known observances of Yom Kippur is fasting. The purpose of fasting is to “afflict your soul,” a means of repenting. For some people, fasting is easy; for others, it is more difficult. But there is no particular merit in making this fast any more difficult than it has to be. Here are a few tips that have helped in the past.

Everybody’s body is different, and everybody reacts differently to fasting. These tips may or may not work for you. Above all else, you should listen to your own body and do those things that tend to make you less hungry while avoiding things that tend to make you more hungry.

A Week Before Yom Kippur: You can ease your fast by preparing your body about a week before the fast.

Taper Off Addictive or Habitual Substances

Starting on the day after Rosh Hashanah, taper off of the following:

■Coffee, tea or other caffeinated beverages

■Refined sugar and candy, especially chocolate

■Cigarettes, cigars and pipes

■Anything else that you eat habitually or compulsively, that you long for when you can’t have it

Sudden deprivation of any of the above can cause withdrawal symptoms that will make it harder to fast. If you taper off of these things about a week before the fast, you will find that your withdrawal symptoms are not as severe.

Vary Your Meal Schedule

Keep in mind that for most well-fed Americans (and others for that matter), the “hunger” that you feel at meal times is simply a result of your body preparing itself to receive food at the expected time. If you always eat lunch at precisely 12:30 and dinner at precisely 6 PM, your body will start preparing to digest at those times. That is what most people think of as “hunger.” If you vary your meal schedule, you will find that it eases your feelings of hunger at meal times.

Drink Plenty of Water

The need for water is much greater than the need for food (as the watchman has found out personally last year’s Yom Kippur) and if you are like most Americans, you don’t drink enough water under ordinary circumstances. During the last few days before Yom Kippur, make sure you drink plenty of water, so you do not risk becoming dehydrated during your fast.

The Meal Before

Your last meal before Yom Kippur should be chosen carefully.

Don’t Overeat

Some people seem to think that they can “make up for” not eating on Yom Kippur by having a big meal the night before. This is a very bad idea, and actually makes it harder to fast. Have you ever noticed how you feel particularly hungry the morning after a large meal? Eat a normal sized meal.

Eat Foods That Are Easy To Digest

Don’t eat anything that will sit in your stomach like a rock, give you heartburn or leave you feeling hungry. Think of foods that don’t leave you feeling hungry the morning after.

Get Plenty of Protein and Complex Carbohydrates

These are the foods that will stick with you during the next day and give you the long-term energy you need.

During Yom Kippur

Even after the fast has started, there are things you can do to ease your fast.

Go to a place of worship/prayer Aside from the fact that you’re supposed to be there praying and repenting anyway, this will actually make it easier to fast. Being with people who are also fasting, will make it easier for you to fast. Most importantly you will find that when you focus on the matters of God, your spiritual man rises and your body’s craving subsides. Live by the Spirit and not the flesh! The watchman has found that the presence of God makes him forget about food and the Bible verse “man does not live by bread alone but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of the Lord” is real!

Don’t Talk About Food or Hunger

Talking about your hunger will only focus your attention on it and make it harder to fast. Don’t talk about or think about what you are going to eat after the fast. You should also avoid being around people who are talking about these things. Be with people who are spiritual and Spirit-led.

Take a Nap in the Afternoon

During the break between services in the afternoon. Have you ever noticed that full feeling that you have when you wake up from an afternoon nap? Do not exert yourselves much physically. For those who do not nap, reading God’s Word and meditating on His Word as led by the Holy Spirit will refresh you.


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Two Weeks Before the Fast: Kick Your Bad Habits

Caffeine: For caffeine addicts, going without any caffeine on Yom Kippur can make the fast particularly challenging. Caffeine is technically an addictive drug, causing a chemical dependency that can trigger unpleasant withdrawal symptoms (headaches, fatigue, nausea, poor-motor skills, irritability, inability to concentrate, etc.) that compound the ordinary physical challenges of fasting. If you have a caffeine habit, it is best to prepare yourself for a caffeine free Yom Kippur several weeks in advance. Beginning at least two weeks before the holiday slowly reduce your caffeine consumption with the goal of stopping your caffeine intake 3-4 days before Yom Kippur. If you drink two cups of coffee a day, start by reducing this to one cup, then after a few days switch to half-caffeine before switching to decaf. This way you’ll experience the withdrawal more gradually and hopefully be through the worst withdrawal symptoms before the actual day. Be sure to drink plenty of water during this time and get extra rest if you need to. You may even consider quitting altogether after the fast to avoid this problem in the future.

Fatty/Sugary/Salty Foods: Generally these are the foods people crave during a fast, by reducing or eliminating these types of foods in the weeks before you’ll help to reduce cravings during the fast.

Hydrate: While a healthy adult can generally survive for weeks without food, dehydration can set in within a few days. It’s no surprise then that most of the discomfort of fasting is caused by lack of water not the lack of food. To help reduce the effects of dehydration during a fast it is critical to properly hydrate beforehand. Most of us do not drink enough water in our normal day-to-day routines, so it is even more critical to begin hydrating in the week before the fast. Generally an adult at rest should be drinking about half their body weight in ounces of water per day (i.e. A 150 lb. man should be getting 75 ounces of water per day, or about 9.5 cups of water). The best source for hydration is water, though fluids can be obtained from a variety of sources. Beware caffeinated beverages and soft drinks though, caffeine actually causes your body to use more water, and so caffeinated beverages and soft drinks do not have the same hydrating power as an equivalent amount of water and can actually contribute to dehydration.

Prescription Medication: Should you fast If you take any prescription medications (or have any health conditions that fasting may impact or worsen)? You would need to ask your doctor for answers.


Day before the Fast: Final Preparation

Stay On Target: All of the steps taken to prepare in the week or two leading up to the fast should still be followed the day before:

■Avoid caffeine, alcohol and salty foods that will worsen the effects of not drinking and contribute to dehydration.

■Drink sufficient water. Stocking up on extra water will help stave off the effects of dehydration during the fast.

Eat Normal Sized Meals: While being well hydrated will help stave off the effects of dehydration, over eating will not stave off the effects of hunger and may make you more uncomfortable. The excess fluids needed for your body to process large meals may also lead to dehydration.

Focus on Complex Carbs: Complex carbohydrates like those found in pasta, breads, rice, fruits, vegetables, and beans (legumes) are best for maintaining your body’s muscle energy levels during the fast. This is why runners stock up on pasta the night before a marathon, but your body will get a similar benefit prior to a fast. In addition carbohydrates help your body absorb water more efficiently, so eating carbs will aid in staying hydrated during the fast. Proteins and fats do not have this same hydration benefit. Whole-grain products and fruits/vegetables that are high in fiber are best, as these will not only provide energy but are slower to digest and will keep you feeling fuller the longest.


Yom Kippur Pre-Fast Menus and Recipes

Meal of Cessation

Jews traditionally eat a Meal of Cessation – called Seudat Mafseket - before the Yom Kippur fast. A family may eat a meat meal for lunch, and then eat a hi-carb dairy dinner directly before the fast. The meat menu includes low-salt vegetable soup, breaded chicken, potatoes and dessert. The dairy menu includes egg souffle, whole wheat bagels with various spreads and fruit salad.

Yom Kippur Post-Fast Menu and Recipes

At the end of Yom Kippur, Jews traditionally share a joyful Break Fast meal with family and friends. The Yom Kippur Break Fast is generally a festive breakfast menu consisting of foods such as eggs, cheese, bread.

________________Lastly, be watchful and prayerful. Continue to stay in the presence of the Lord.

Two Prophets' Shana Tova Greetings

Zechariah 12:10-14

10 “Then I will pour out a Spirit of grace and prayer on the family of David and on the people of Jerusalem. They will look on Me Whom they have pierced and mourn for Him as for an only Son. They will grieve bitterly for Him as for a firstborn Son who has died. 11 The sorrow and mourning in Jerusalem on that day will be like the great mourning for Hadad-rimmon in the valley of Megiddo.

12 “All Israel will mourn, each clan by itself, and with the husbands separate from their wives. The clan of David will mourn alone, as will the clan of Nathan, 13 the clan of Levi, and the clan of Shimei. 14 Each of the surviving clans from Judah will mourn separately, and with the husbands separate from their wives.

Isaiah 53

1 Who has believed our message?

To whom has the Lord revealed His powerful arm?

2 My servant grew up in the Lord’s presence like a tender green shoot,

like a root in dry ground.

There was nothing beautiful or majestic about His appearance,

nothing to attract us to Him.

3 He was despised and rejected—

a man of sorrows, acquainted with deepest grief.

We turned our backs on Him and looked the other way.

He was despised, and we did not care.


4 Yet it was our weaknesses He carried;

it was our sorrows[a] that weighed Him down.

And we thought His troubles were a punishment from God,

a punishment for His own sins!

5 But He was pierced for our rebellion,

crushed for our sins.

He was beaten so we could be whole.

He was whipped so we could be healed.

6 All of us, like sheep, have strayed away.

We have left God’s paths to follow our own.

Yet the Lord laid on Him

the sins of us all.


7 He was oppressed and treated harshly,

yet He never said a word.

He was led like a lamb to the slaughter.

And as a sheep is silent before the shearers,

He did not open His mouth.

8 Unjustly condemned,

He was led away.

No one cared that He died without descendants,

that His life was cut short in midstream.

But He was struck down

for the rebellion of my people.

9 He had done no wrong

and had never deceived anyone.

But He was buried like a criminal;

He was put in a rich man’s grave.


10 But it was the Lord’s good plan to crush Him

and cause Him grief.

Yet when His life is made an offering for sin,

He will have many descendants.

He will enjoy a long life,

and the Lord’s good plan will prosper in His hands.

11 When He sees all that is accomplished by His anguish,

He will be satisfied.

And because of His experience,

my righteous servant will make it possible

for many to be counted righteous,

for He will bear all their sins.

12 I will give Him the honors of a victorious soldier,

because He exposed Himself to death.

He was counted among the rebels.

He bore the sins of many and interceded for rebels.

End Times Witnessing: What will you do in the appointed day?

The watchman prepared his class notes on Saturday but by Sunday morning morning he was led in the spirit not to teach that day. He was told instead that he should allow the disciple class to put all that they have learned into practice that afternoon.

So he told the class to enact the end times scenario, wherein all their leaders are gone and they are left in the sanctuary alone. They were required to do three things:

1.Worship God: be in the Lord’s Presence for protection and shelter, as in Psalm 91. Be led by the Holy Spirit.

2.Preach the Word: save the lost souls who would pour into the prayer house in the end times.

3.Healing and Deliverance: Many will need to be ministered in these two main areas resultant of the Holy Spirit out pouring

The leaders acted as the lost souls who rushed into the sanctuary during the worship. The were determined to make it tough on the novice disciples. It was a time of chaos and distress for the class to fulfill their new roles.

They were required to worship and stay in the presence of God, be led by the Holy Spirit, whilst feeding the poor, heal the sick, cast out demons, preach the Gospel and save the lost. A number of important lessons emerged:

1.During such a crisis, when disorderly ‘strangers’ crashed in, the orderly Christians were caught without adequate preparation.

2.Although they were all eager to help and perform the full range of duties, they were at a loss when confronted with practical realities, despite knowing the ‘theories’ so well.

3.The practical exercise/simulation was eye-opening for many, seeing how inadequately prepared we are. There is no way we can cope with the end times harvest when the Lord pours out the Holy Spirit on all flesh (Joel 2:28-29).

4.Resolution: we need practice hands on training, complete with user friendly materials for sharing the Gospel, memory verses and proper steps of healing and deliverance. Practices of worship and sharing the word of God are needed too.

5.Positive outcome: Nearly all admitted the need for training and more personal preparation.

6.One revelation: The Lord uses ordinary people. The class who turned out that afternoon consisted of the most ordinary people of all ages who are indeed the end times workers for the Lord, who could easily disappear and blend into any crowd.

7.Negative discovery: Only one brethren remained praying in the Spirit as he had difficulty walking. The rest were too busy ministering and forgot to listen to the Holy Spirit and be led by the Spirit.

It was a rather hilarious time because all knew that they were acting. Only one lone worshipper was singing all by herself when all the commotions were going on. A leader was accused of having a stubborn spirit that refused to be cast out because the deliverers decided to do the casting despite the fact that she came in asking for a cigarette and later some money and not manifesting any demon at all! Another man was asked to repent and recite a sinners’ prayer which omitted ‘in Jesus Name’ (the 'sinner' had to prompt them on the omission!). The Gospel sharers had to ask each other what the next sentence would be. The helpers ignored the ‘poor stranger’s’ remark that he was dying of physical hunger as they were busy praying for him. When he told them his leg was badly injured and bleeding they told him to ignore the bleeding and not to look at the external symptoms! One man was ‘manifesting’ but no one gave him any plastic beg/container to cough into. He had to ask them to give him one! This happened to another man who 'manifested.

The leaders who acted as lost souls had a field day with the novice disciples who were at first required to minister for one hour. After 20 minutes they were too ‘distressed’ to carry on and so the watchman agreed to halt and let everyone share his/her experience and finding.

Conclusion: No one can predict what ‘the appointed day’ will be like. The most important thing is to get ready now and not be caught by surprise. When the real thing comes it would not be hilarious. It would be real and painful for those caught unprepared.

Prior the class the watchman was led to turn his Bible to this verse, Hosea 9:5a ”What will you do in the appointed day”? Indeed, it aptly describes how one may be caught not knowing what to do. The class had later demonstrated this scenario. On the other hand, he was encouraged as all hands were on deck that afternoon. Everyone who turned out participated. He could perceive the eagerness and commitment to obey and be disciples of Jesus Christ!

Relevant Bible Verses —————————————

Matthew 10:1 And when He had called His twelve disciples to Him, He gave them power over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease. 7-8 And as you go, preach, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons. Freely you have received, freely give.

Luke 9:1 Then He called His twelve disciples together and gave them power and authority over all demons, and to cure diseases. 2 He sent them to preach the kingdom of God and to heal the sick.

Watchman's Adventure: An evening with two messages

Indeed it was a wonderful day for the watchman. He received two different messages in one evening. The first message was Psalm 47. He was in a ward praying (for an elderly frail man to get well), together with two others in the Spirit. Then he was told to read this psalm, especially verse 2 “For the Lord Most High is awesome. He is the great King of all the earth.”
After that he went to a worship and prayer meeting. Prior the meeting he received Psalm 84 and to his surprise, he was praying part of the psalm on his way there! During the meeting, he was pleasantly surprised that the worship was indeed centred on the kingship of Jesus.

After the worship, prayer started and the time was spent almost entirely praying in the Spirit. He was led to understand why he read psalm 84:5-8. It describes the spiritual journey of an intercessor praying in the Spirit. (Words in brackets are what the watchman received in the Spirit).

Psalm 84

5 What joy for those whose strength comes from the Lord, who have set their minds on a pilgrimage to Jerusalem.

(Praying is like a pilgrimage journey)

6 When they walk through the Valley of Weeping,

(it is not easy to start as an intercessor has to know what to pray for and needs to enter the spiritual realm to intercede accurately. Even weeping and tears are expected. In this instance a group of intercessors are praying together)

it will become a place of refreshing springs.

The autumn rains will clothe it with blessings.

(But as they allow themselves to be led by the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of intercession, they will soon find that out of their bellies flow rivers of living water!)

7 They will continue to grow stronger,

(the group of intercessors who pray together will pray from strength to strength as they press on together in one Spirit of Christ)

and each of them will appear before God in Jerusalem.

(But each individual intercessor must appear before the Lord personally. No one can substitute him. If anyone does not pray he will not appear before God. God is Spirit.)

8 O Lord God of Heaven’s Armies, hear my prayer.

Listen, O God of Jacob.

(Only after he enters into the spiritual realm, getting into the presence of the Lord, he can pray this verse!)


Psalm 47

For the choir director: A psalm of the descendants of Korah.

1 Come, everyone! Clap your hands!

Shout to God with joyful praise!

2 For the Lord Most High is awesome.

He is the great King of all the earth.

3 He subdues the nations before us,

putting our enemies beneath our feet.

4 He chose the Promised Land as our inheritance,

the proud possession of Jacob’s descendants, whom he loves.

Interlude

5 God has ascended with a mighty shout.

The Lord has ascended with trumpets blaring.

6 Sing praises to God, sing praises;

sing praises to our King, sing praises!

7 For God is the King over all the earth.

Praise him with a psalm!

8 God reigns above the nations,

sitting on his holy throne.

9 The rulers of the world have gathered together

with the people of the God of Abraham.

For all the kings of the earth belong to God.

He is highly honored everywhere.

End Times Witnessing: How not to miss being saved?

There are two characters in the Bible who shared some similar worldly characteristics and yet ended differently in their eternal destinations. Both were men of worldly success in terms of power and wealth.

PILATE

Pilate was a shrewd governor working for the powerful Roman Empire. He was unpopular, cruel and feared by many. He had the power to put a person to death, regardless whether the person was found guilty or not. Jesus was tried in his court and found innocent but Pilate still sentenced him to death. He was politically ambitious and correct. He knew how to appease his subjects (mostly Jewish) on one historical occasion. He avoided civil upheaval by succumbing to the majority regardless of justice. His concern was to stay out of trouble and keep his governor’s position safe. Jesus gave him three chances to know Him and even receive from Jesus salvation for him and his household. Responding to the three mundane, routine, temporal political questions he asked, Jesus revealed to him spiritual truth leading to eternal life.

He asked Jesus: “Are you the king of the Jews?” (The Jews had accused Jesus of ‘revolting’ as they wanted Pilate to execute him). So Pilate was asking the accused what he was accused of. It was a pertinent interrogation question.

Jesus answered: “Is this your own question, or did others tell you about Me?” Jesus wanted Pilate to proclaim with his mouth he wanted to know Jesus personally. This is Salvation Truth Number One: Everyone must personally seek to know Jesus, the King of kings, the only Saviour of men!

Pilate missed the spiritual point. He went on and asked: “Am I a Jew? Your own people and their leading priests brought you to me for trial. Why? What have you done?” He just wanted to get the trial over as soon as possible. He had to ascertain the criminal act done by the Jewish accused and then pass the appropriate sentence. Then he would have completed another job. His own wife knew of Jesus’ ministry and even dreamed of Him on the night before the trial. But Pilate was just being ‘practical’ and could not be bothered with foreign spiritual issue.

Jesus gave him a further chance: “My Kingdom is not an earthly kingdom. If it were, My followers would fight to keep Me from being handed over to the Jewish leaders. But My Kingdom is not of the world.” Jesus stated that Salvation Truth Number Two is: Know that Jesus is the King far above human kings, and with far more superior authority and power. Only Jesus has the authority and power to life and kingdom beyond this world.

Pilate again missed the spiritual truth. “So you are a king?” He was still obsessed with earthly politics. He only wanted Jesus’ admission that He was a king so he could sentence Him (as accused by the Jewish leaders for political treason against the Roman ruler, Caesar). He was interested in getting to the earthly ‘truth’, that is, was what the Jews accusing Jesus of the truth?

Jesus gave him the third Salvation Truth: “You say I am a king. Actually, I was born into the world to testify to the truth. All who love the truth recognize that what I say is truth.” Salvation Truth Number Three: Genuine Truth-seeker will believe and acknowledge that Jesus is the Way, the Truth and the Life. The conviction will result in life transformation. The believer will submit to the kingship of Jesus with accompanying life changes toward God and others.

Pilate brushed aside this eternal TRUTH and remarked sarcastically, “What is truth?” In his human experience he knew there was no truth in human society. He knew he had to fit the so-called ‘truth’ to suit whoever in power at any moment.

The words that Jesus had spoken had gone into Pilate’s rational mind. They did not make sense to him. He had enough of worldly power struggle and wealth making worries to occupy his mind and emotion. The words never entered his spirit. So he missed the three chances.

ZACCHAEUS

Zacchaeus was a shrewd chief tax contractor-collector for the powerful Roman Empire. He too had wealth and power. Like Pilate he was not socially popular and was feared by those under his oppression. Like Pilate he miss-used his power and caused hardship and grievance.

But Zacchaeus differed from Pilate. He had heard of Jesus and His teachings through others. He determined to seek and know Jesus personally for himself. Undeterred by physical disadvantage he made an ingenuous effort, climbing a tree to position himself higher than anyone. Indeed Jesus noticed him and came to his house as his honored guest! Thus, Zacchaeus fulfilled Salvation Truth Number One!

Zacchaeus knew and believed that Jesus had far superior power and authority than what the worldly kings could offer. He heard and believed. When encountering Jesus personally his belief was confirmed. He submitted to this King immediately! Thus, he fulfilled Salvation Truth Number Two: Know that Jesus is the King far above human kings, and with far more superior authority and power. Believe that only Jesus has the authority and power to life and kingdom beyond this world.

Zacchaeus was convicted and submitted to the kingship of Jesus and responded by repentance and actions following repentance of his heart. He declared publicly his repentance and restitution actions. Thus, he fulfilled Salvation Truth Number Three: Genuine Truth-seeker will believe and acknowledge that Jesus is the Way, the Truth and the Life. The conviction will result in life transformation. The believer will submit to the kingship of Jesus with accompanying life changes toward God and others.

Why did Zacchaeus respond to Jesus differently? Zacchaeus believed and gave priority to spiritual reality. When he encountered God he knew and submitted. Pilate did not believe in or give importance to the spiritual. Even when God appeared to him he missed God completely.

Some will get to heaven and some will miss heaven. The chance is one hundred percent either way. You choose.

End Times Witnessing: Peace is the weapon to overcome fear today!

FEAR cripples people’s lives: Hebrews 2:15 (NKJV) 15 and release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. People are afraid of many things, such as: People are afraid of many things, such as: fear of death, loss of security, loss of loved ones, pain and suffering, being oppressed and harmed, subject to shame and humiliations, being robbed of what we treasure in life, having our life long dreams being crushed and destroyed, and many more. The most fearful words are, however, death and losses.

Overcome fear with the power of peace of Jesus!

John 20:19 That Sunday evening the disciples were meeting behind locked doors because they were afraid of the Jewish leaders. Suddenly, Jesus was standing there among them! “Peace be with you,” he said.

John 14:26-28 (NLT) 26 But when the Father sends the Advocate as my representative—that is, the Holy Spirit—he will teach you everything and will remind you of everything I have told you.

27 “I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid.

The power of Jesus’ presence

John 6:19-21 (NLT) 19 They had rowed three or four miles[a] when suddenly they saw Jesus walking on the water toward the boat. They were terrified, 20 but he called out to them, “Don’t be afraid. I am here!” 21 Then they were eager to let him in the boat, and immediately they arrived at their destination!

John 12:14-16 (NLT) 14 Jesus found a young donkey and rode on it, fulfilling the prophecy that said: 15 “Don’t be afraid, people of Jerusalem.[a] Look, your King is coming,

riding on a donkey’s colt.”

Luke 12:31-33 (NLT) 31 Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and he will give you everything you need. 32 “So don’t be afraid, little flock. For it gives your Father great happiness to give you the Kingdom.

What do they fear of: enemy’s threat, life & death issue, in awe, do not experience God’s love

Matthew 10:26 “But don’t be afraid of those who threaten you. For the time is coming when everything that is covered will be revealed, and all that is secret will be made known to all.

Matthew 10:28 “Don’t be afraid of those who want to kill your body; they cannot touch your soul. Fear only God, who can destroy both soul and body in hell.

Acts 19:17 Seven sons of Sceva case 17 This became known both to all Jews and Greeks dwelling in Ephesus; and fear fell on them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified.

Acts 2:43 A deep sense of awe 43 Then fear came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles.

1 John 4:18 (NKJV) 18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love. (NLT: because perfect love expels all fear ;not fully experienced his perfect love.)

The power of your position with God

Matthew 10:31 So don’t be afraid; you are more valuable to God than a whole flock of sparrows.

The power of faith

Matthew 8:25-27 (NLT) 25 The disciples went and woke him up, shouting, “Lord, save us! We’re going to drown!” 26 Jesus responded, “Why are you afraid? You have so little faith!”

Mark 4:39-41 (NLT) 39 When Jesus woke up, he rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Silence! Be still!” Suddenly the wind stopped, and there was a great calm. 40 Then he asked them, “Why are you afraid? Do you still have no faith?”

Mark 5:35-41 35, messengers told him, “Your daughter is dead. 36 But Jesus overheard and said, “Don’t be afraid. Just have faith.” (she was raised to life!)

People fear supernatural signs and miracles! (do not know spiritual reality of God)

Mark 5:13-17 13 So Jesus gave them permission. The evil spirits came out of the man and entered the pigs, and the entire herd of 2,000 pigs plunged down the steep hillside into the lake and drowned in the water. 14. People rushed out to see …and they were all afraid. 17 And the crowd began pleading with Jesus to go away and leave them alone.

Matthew 14:26-28 (NLT) 26 When the disciples saw him walking on the water, they were terrified. In their fear, they cried out, “It’s a ghost!” 27 But Jesus spoke to them at once. “Don’t be afraid,” he said. “Take courage. I am here!”

Matthew 17 The Transfiguration 2 As .. watched, Jesus’ appearance was transformed ..5, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my dearly loved Son, who brings me great joy. Listen to him.” 6 The disciples were terrified and fell face down. 7 Then Jesus came over and touched them. “Get up,” he said. “Don’t be afraid.”

Luke5: 8 When Simon Peter realized, he fell to his knees before Jesus 10 His partners, were also amazed. Jesus replied, “Don’t be afraid! From now on you’ll be fishing for people!”

The Holy Spirit –advocate, truth weapon, presence of God, peace of Jesus

We have a different Spirit: 2 Timothy 1:7 (NKJV) 7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.

John 14:15-17; 22-31 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate,[e] who will never leave you. 17 He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth.

23 Jesus replied, “All who love me will do what I say. My Father will love them, and we will come and make our home with each of them.

26 But when the Father sends the Advocate as my representative—that is, the Holy Spirit—he will teach you everything and will remind you of everything I have told you.

27 “I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid. 28 Remember what I told you: I am going away, but I will come back to you again.

30 “I don’t have much more time to talk to you, because the ruler of this world approaches. He has no power over me,

Fear, dread, terror (phobos: flight)

Hebrews 2:15 (NKJV) 15 and release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.

Don’t behave the way the world do -fear of external events/threats (beware of the spirits)

Isaiah 8:12 (NLT) 12 “Don’t call everything a conspiracy, like they do, and don’t live in dread of what frightens them.

Revised Chap.70: Prosper through The Seed and Water from Heaven (Fresh revelation – where is the money?)

When the global governments go bankrupt, where is the nations’ wealth? Having spent his entire working life in the strategic management of the economy of the world, the watchman cannot help but ponder on this pertinent issue.

Where is the money?

Here is a clue: Isaiah 33:6, 16-17.

Isaiah 33:6 (NKJV)

6 Wisdom and knowledge will be the stability of your times,

And the strength of salvation;

The fear of the LORD is His treasure.

Isaiah 33:16-17

16 He will dwell on high;

His place of defense will be the fortress of rocks;

Bread will be given him,

His water will be sure.

The Land of the Majestic King

17 Your eyes will see the King in His beauty;

They will see the land that is very far off.

To find out more, do read the following revised (August 2011) version of the blog…
____________________________________
"Chapter 70 (revised August 2011): Prosper through The Seed (Word of God) and Water from Heaven (the Holy Spirit)"

Hearing the Holy Spirit is of utmost importance for end times survival and wellness. This blog was originally written in Feb. 2010. At that time the watchman received warning in his spirit that shaking would come to big cities and apparently well developed economy. He had spoken and indeed written to warn some. But not all were able to unentangle themselves from the world economy as easily as he did. So here it is again one and half years later. (August 2011 – in the midst of the economy storm…)

_____________________________

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

read on http://kzlam36.wordpress.com/2010/02/20/chapter-sixty-eight-prosper-through-the-seed-word-of-god-and-water-from-heaven-the-holy-spirit/

Wholly Saved: Blessed Assurance Indeed!

Last morning when the watchman attended a morning prayer, he was led in the spirit to ask that the hymn of “Blessed Assurance” be sung to one sister there. The sister was terminally ill. She initially did not want to come out from her rest room to attend the worship, but changed her mind when another sister went in and encouraged her to at least join in the worship. The hymn was duly sung and the lyrics shown to her. He was also led to select another song which sang what Jesus has proclaimed in Matt11:28 “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”

(Lyrics: ” All you who labor and are heavy laden, Yeshua says, Come to Me, Do not fear, do not fear, come to Me, and I will give you rest. He is God, wholly loves you, He will never forsake you. He is God, truly loves you, He wants to give you rest.”)

A day later he was told that she had passed away. When he read the following hymn and the above lyrics again, he realized that the Lord had indeed foretold her He would receive her home to Him and rest in Him. He heard later that she had earlier uttered to another sister that she did not want to die in hell. So she had chosen to come to the House of God!

On one previous occasion he saw her he was led in his spirit to ask her to forgive her youngest son (even though he did not know her or her family at all) and she burst into tears and did as told by the Spirit. Then he knew she had a breakthrough in her spiritual (and soul )reconciliation with God and with her loved ones and others. He encouraged her to spend more time to give thanks and praises to God after that.

How merciful and awesome our God is!

(A pastor who has the gift of word of knowledge once prophecy one word “Reconciliation” to the watchman. Both wondered what it meant. It seems clearer now -like he being a spiritual messenger for reconciliation before it is too late.)

__________________________________

Blessed AssuranceText: Fanny J. Crosby, 1820-1915
Music: Phoebe P. Knapp, 1839-1908
Tune: ASSURANCE, Meter: 9 10.9 9 with Refrain

http://library.timelesstruths.org/library/music/B/Blessed_Assurance/Blessed_Assurance.mid

1. Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine!
O what a foretaste of glory divine!
Heir of salvation, purchase of God,
born of his Spirit, washed in his blood.

Refrain:
This is my story, this is my song,
praising my Savior all the day long;
this is my story, this is my song,
praising my Savior all the day long.

2. Perfect submission, perfect delight,
visions of rapture now burst on my sight;
angels descending bring from above
echoes of mercy, whispers of love.
(Refrain)

3. Perfect submission, all is at rest;
I in my Savior am happy and blest,
watching and waiting, looking above,
filled with his goodness, lost in his love.
(Refrain)

Power in the Blood of Jesus

http://www.worldinvisible.com/library/murray/5f00.0572/5f00.0572.c.htm

The Power of the Blood of Jesus by Andrew Murray

CHAPTER CONTENTS

I. WHAT THE SCRIPTURES TEACH ABOUT THE BLOOD
II. REDEMPTION BY BLOOD
III. RECONCILIATION THROUGH THE BLOOD
IV. CLEANSING THROUGH THE BLOOD
V. SANCTIFICATION THROUGH THE BLOOD
VI. CLEANSED BY THE BLOOD TO SERVE THE LIVING GOD
VII. DWELLING IN “THE HOLIEST” THROUGH THE BLOOD
VIII. LIFE IN THE BLOOD
IX. VICTORY THROUGH THE BLOOD
X. HEAVENLY JOY THROUGH THE BLOOD
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Excerpts:
CHAPTER 1
What the Scriptures Teach About the Blood
“Not Without Blood”-Heb. ix. 7 and 18.
GOD has spoken to us in the Scriptures in divers portions and in divers manners; but the VOICE is ever the same, it is always the WORD of the same GOD.

Hence the importance of treating the Bible as a whole, and receiving the witness it gives in its various portions, concerning certain definite truths. It is thus we learn to recognise the place these truths actually occupy in Revelation, or rather in the HEART OF GOD. Thus, too, we begin to discover what the foundation truths of the Bible are, which above others demand attention. Standing as they do, so prominently, in each new departure in God’s revelation; remaining unchanged when the Dispensation changes, they carry a divine intimation of their importance.

It is my object, in the chapters which follow this introductory one, to show what the Scriptures teach us concerning THE GLORIOUS POWER OF THE BLOOD OF JESUS, and the wonderful blessings procured for us by it; and I cannot lay a better foundation for my exposition, nor give a better proof of the superlative glory of THAT BLOOD AS THE POWER OF REDEMPTION, than by asking my, readers to follow me through the Bible, and thus see the unique place which is given to THE BLOOD from the beginning to the end of God’s revelation of Himself to man, as recorded in the Bible.

It will become clear that there is no single scriptural idea, from Genesis to Revelation, more constantly and more prominently kept in view, than that expressed by the words-”THE BLOOD.”
Our inquiry then is what the Scriptures teach us about THE BLOOD.

FIRST, IN THE OLD TESTAMENT;
SECONDLY, IN THE TEACHING OF OUR LORD JESUS HIMSELF;
THIRDLY, IN WHAT THE APOSTLES TEACH; and
LASTLY, WHAT ST. JOHN TELLS US OF IT IN REVELATION.
CHAPTER 2

Redemption by Blood
“Ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things . . . but with the precious blood of Christ as of a lamb without blemish and without spot”-I Pet. i. 18, 79.

THE shedding of His blood was the culmination of the sufferings of our Lord. The atoning efficacy of those sufferings was in that shed blood. It is therefore of great importance that the believer should not rest satisfied with the mere acceptance of the blessed truth that he is redeemed by that blood, but should press on to a fuller knowledge of what is meant by that statement, and to learn what that blood is intended to do in a surrendered soul.

Its effects are manifold, for we read in Scripture of RECONCILIATION through the blood; CLEANSING through the blood; SANCTIFICATION through the blood; UNION WITH GOD through the blood; VICTORY over Satan through the blood; LIFE through the blood.

These are separate blessings but are all included in one sentence: REDEMPTION BY THE BLOOD.

It is only when the believer understands what these blessings are, and by what means they may become his, that he can experience the full power of REDEMPTION.

Before passing on to consider in detail these several blessings let us first inquire, in a more general way, concerning THE POWER OF THE BLOOD OF JESUS.

1st. WHEREIN DOES THE POWER OF THAT BLOOD LIE?
2nd. WHAT HAS THAT POWER ACCOMPLISHED?
3rd. HOW CAN WE EXPERIENCE ITS EFFECTS?

CHAPTER 3
Reconciliation Through the Blood
” Being justified freely by his grace through the REDEMPTION that is in Christ Jesus, whom God bath set forth as a PROPITIATION through faith in his blood.”— iii. 24,25.

As we have seen, several distinct blessings have been procured for us by the power of the blood of Jesus, which are all included in the one word ” REDEMPTION.” Among these blessings, RECONCILIATION takes the first place. ” God hath set forth Jesus as a RECONCILIATION through faith in his blood.” In our Lord’s work of REDEMPTION, RECONCILIATION naturally comes first. It stands first also among the things the sinner has to do, who desires to have a share in REDEMPTION. Through it, a participation in the other blessings of Redemption is made possible.

It is of great importance also, that the believer, who has already received RECONCILIATION, should obtain a deeper, and more spiritual conception of its meaning, and blessedness. If the power of the blood in REDEMPTION is rooted in RECONCILIATION, then a fuller knowledge of what RECONCILIATION is, is the surest way to obtain a fuller experience of the power of the blood. The heart that is surrendered to the teaching of the Holy Spirit will surely learn what RECONCILIATION means. May our hearts be opened wide to receive it.

To understand what RECONCILIATION BY THE BLOOD means let us consider:
1. SIN, WHICH HAS MADE RECONCILIATION NECESSARY.
2. GOD’S HOLINESS WHICH FORE-ORDAINED IT;
3. THE BLOOD OF JESUS WHICH OBTAINED IT;
4. THE PARDON WHICH RESULTS FROM IT.
5. SIN, WHICH MADE RECONCILIATION NECESSARY.

CHAPTER IV
Cleansing Through the Blood
“If ye walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin”-I John i. 7

WE have already seen that the most important effect of the Blood is RECONCILIATION for sin.

The fruit of knowledge about, and faith in RECONCILIATION, is the PARDON of sin. Pardon is just a declaration of what has already taken place in heaven on the sinner’s behalf, and his hearty acceptance of it.

This first effect of the Blood is not the only one. In proportion as the soul, through faith, yields itself to the Spirit of God to understand and enjoy the full power of RECONCILIATION, the Blood exerts a further power, in the imparting of the other blessings which, in Scripture, are attributed to it.

One of the first results of RECONCILIATION is CLEANSING FROM SIN. Let us see what God’s Word has to say about this. CLEANSING is often spoken about, among us, as if it were no more than the pardon of sins, or the cleansing from guilt. This, however, is not so. Scripture does not speak of being CLEANSED FROM GUILT. CLEANSING from sin means deliverance from the pollution, not from the guilt of sin. The guilt of sin concerns our relationship to God, and our responsibility to make good our misdoings,-or to bear the punishment of them. The pollution of sin, on the other hand, is the sense of defilement and impurity, which sin brings to our inner being, and it is with this that CLEANSING has to do.

It is of the greatest importance for every believer who desires to enjoy the full salvation which God has provided for him, to understand aright what the Scriptures teach about this CLEANSING.

Let us consider :
I. WHAT THE WORD CLEANSING MEANS IN THE OLD TESTAMENT?
II. WHAT IS THE BLESSING INDICATED BY THAT WORD IN THE NEW TESTAMENT?
III. HOW MAY WE EXPERIENCE THE FULL ENJOYMENT OF THIS BLESSING?
IV. CLEANSING IN THE OLD TESTAMENT.

CHAPTER V
Sanctification Through the Blood
“Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with bis own blood, suffered without the gate”-Heb. xiii. 12.
“Cleansing through the blood” was the subject of our last chapter.

SANCTIFICATION THROUGH THE BLOOD must now occupy our attention.
To a superficial observer it might seem that there is little difference between CLEANSING and SANCTIFICATION, that the two words mean about the same thing ; but the difference is great and important.

CLEANSING has to do chiefly with the old life, and the stain of sin which must be removed, and is only preparatory.
SANCTIFICATION concerns the new life and that ,characteristic of it which must be imparted to it by God. SANCTIFICATION, which means union with God, is the peculiar fulness of blessing purchased for us by the blood.
Let us then consider :
I. WHAT SANCTIFICATION IS.
II. THAT IT WAS THE GREAT OBJECT OF THE SUFFERINGS OF CHRIST.
III. THAT IT CAN BE OBTAINED THROUGH THE BLOOD.
IV. WHAT SANCTIFICATION IS.

CHAPTER 8
Life in the Blood
“Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, 1 say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of Man, and drink bis blood, ye have no life in you. Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life ; and 1 will raise him up at the last day. For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed. 1-Ie that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood dwelleth in me and I in him “-John vi. 5 35 6.
“The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ?”-i Cor. x. 16.

The drinking of the blood of the Lord Jesus is the subject brought before us in these words. Just as water has a twofold effect, so is it also with this holy blood.

When water is used for washing it cleanses, but if we drink it we are refreshed and revived. He who desires to know the full power of the blood of Jesus must be taught by Him what the blessing of drinking the blood is. Everyone knows the difference there is between washing and drinking. Necessary and h Pleasant as it is to use water for cleansing, it is much more necessary and reviving to drink it. Without its cleansing it is not possible to live as we ought; but without drinking we cannot live at all. It is only by drinking that we enjoy the full benefit of its power to sustain life.

Without drinking the blood of the Son of God– is without the most hearty appropriation of it— life cannot be obtained.

To many there is something unpleasant in the phrase “drinking the blood of the Son of man,” but it was still more disagreeable to the Jews, for the use of blood was forbidden by the law of Moses, under severe penalties. When Jesus spoke of “drinking his blood,” it naturally annoyed them-but it was an unspeakable offence to their religious feelings. Char Lord, we may be sure, would not have used the phrase, had He been able otherwise to make plain to them, and to us, the deepest and most glorious truths concerning salvation by the blood.

In seeking to become partakers of the salvation here spoken of, as “DRINKING THE BLOOD OF OUR LORD”let us endeavour to understand:-

I. WHAT THE BLESSING IS, WHICH IS DESCRIBED AS. “DRINKING THE BLOOD.”
II. HOW THIS BLESSING IS WROUGHT OUT IN US.
III. WHAT SHOULD BE OUR ATTITUDE TOWARDS IT.
IV. WHAT THE BLESSING IS WHICH IS DESCRIBED AS “DRINKING THE BLOOD.”

CHAPTER 9
Victory Through the Blood
“They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony ; and they loved not their Uves unto death “-Rev. xii. i i .

FOR thousands of years there had been a mighty conflict for the possession of mankind, between the Old Serpent, who led man astray, and ” The seed of the woman.”

Often it seemed as though the kingdom of God had come in power; then at other times the might of evil obtained such supremacy that the strife appeared to be hopeless.

It was thus also in the life of our Lord Jesus. By His coming, His wonderful words and works, the most glorious expectations of a speedy redemption were awakened. How terrible was the disappointment which the death of Jesus brought to all who had believed in Him! It seemed, indeed, as if the powers of darkness had conquered, and had established them kingdom for ever.

Revelation 12:11(KJV) 11And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.

CHAPTER 10

Heavenly Joy Through the Blood

“After this I beheld, and lo, a great multitude, which no man could number . . . which stood before the throne, and before the Lamb. . . and they cried with a loud voice saying, g Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb.’ These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb “-Rev. vii. 9-z4.

End Times Witnessing: Famine Years – Bad to Worse

One day before the stock market plummeted, while praying a routine prayer for his family, the watchman was led in the spirit to read the following passages: 2 Kings Chapters 6,7, and 8:1-6. It was indeed awesome when he saw the headline the next day!

Summary:

6:1-7 th floating axe head. He has not yet received the meaning of this passage in relation to his family. But he found relevance in the statement from the disciple prophets to Prophet Elisha that “this place where we meet with you is too small. let’s go…there we can build a new place for us to meet.” Indeed lately he has run out of rooms in his house for the sudden arrival of the younger generations.

6:24-7:20 Samaria was besieged but the lepers plundered the enemy’s camp. There was a great famine in the city. But God intervened and caused the enemy to flee for their lives, abandoning all their possessions to Israel. Overnight there was a drastic drop in market prices!

8:1-6 This is about a woman from Shunem whom Elisha advised to leave home with her family during the seven years of famine and after the end of which returned home to re-claim her house and land successfully. She was even compensated for the values of the harvest of her crops during the period of her absence.
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The watchman suggested that readers SEEK GOD NOW for your own situation and direction for the famine years. Decode the above passages yourselves.