a watershed! how to walk the next step in Christ?

The point is, the physical world is openly exposing itself as what it has become. The spiritual world too has revealed itself just as real but toward another direction. The two paths have now merged into a physical-spiritual watershed point. It has come to a point where the divide between the physical and the spiritual is growing into a chasm. No, this is not a premonition. This is not a prophecy. Rather, this is the passing of ancient prophecies.

Being put in Christ (in union and communion with Him), walking this earth, today a believer in Christ looks at the paths ahead and realizes that one cannot proceed further without taking stock of their current spiritual state.

This is how one takes stock of their personal spiritual state, in order to carry on in the two parallel worlds. The Bible verses are quoted from the New Matthew Bible (NMB).

Look at the spiritual: Who God is and who I really am

Know and acknowledge that God is always good: “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom can be no variation, neither shadow that is cast by turning.” It’s an absolute truth; there are no exceptions. God is always good. (James 1:17)

Who I am and what my purpose is for being here (on this planet), in particular, at this increasingly perilous time
“9 But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, and his own special people, in order that you should show forth the virtues of him who called you out of darkness into his marvellous light –” (1 Peter 2:9)

What I am supposed to do next at the present scenario and in future:

This is a reminder to all who are serious about our life hereon and thereafter. It is all about stewardship of what we have been given. The people of God have resources. What do we do with our resources? Jesus said we need to be gentler than doves and yet wiser than serpents. Jesus also uses one last parable to describe a final set of criteria whereby the goats and sheep will be sorted into two categories, to each its end.

7 The end of all things is at hand. Be therefore discreet and sober, so that you may be fit for prayer. 8 But above all things, have fervent love among you. For love covers the multitude of sins. 9 Be ready to take one another into your homes, and that without grudging. 10 As each one has received the gift, minister the same to one another, as good ministers of the manifold grace of God. (1 Peter 4:7-10)

“The English word “sober” was translated from the Greek word “SOPHRONEO,” and this Greek word means “to be of sound mind, i.e. sane, (figuratively) moderate” (Strong’s Concordance). It is not just talking about not being drunk. The Amplified Bible renders this word “watch” as “alert.” So, true prayer will keep us alert unto what the Lord is doing.”

“The only way to maintain relationships is with fervent love, the kind that is described in 1 Corinthians 13:4-8. The word “fervent” was translated from the Greek word ektenes. The other occurrence was in Acts 12:5, where “fervent” was translated “without ceasing.” So “fervent charity” in this verse may be interpreted as “charity without ceasing.” ”

Love, God’s kind of love, is a power. It is a supernatural power. It has worked on the cross two thousands of years ago. This is the Truth that Jesus has revealed and personally demonstrated. God’s kind of love is God’s kind of power. And all the apostles and early church disciples of Jesus knew this. (Read the New Testament and the early church history)

We are required to be “watchful” and “alert.” So, true prayer will keep us alert unto what the Lord is doing. For this purpose, the Lord has given us the spiritual abilities to see, hear, understand, discern and make the right choices/decisions at the right time.

Jesus actually spoke at length about the perilous time. I will not repeat here. Please read the related chapters in the Gospels and also the Book of Revelation.

What is the consolation for His people? I have been comforted and reassured of the goodness of God and the confident expectation of good for the people of God, in countless Bible verses. I pray you too as you read this blog and meditate on the verses the Lord will give you as you move on from your own watershed point to a point of the hope in Christ that all born again believers have.

HCSB Now the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ Jesus, will personally restore, establish, strengthen, and support you after you have suffered a little. (1 Peter 5:10)

MSG Since everything here today might well be gone tomorrow, do you see how essential it is to live a holy life? Daily expect the Day of God, eager for its arrival. The galaxies will burn up and the elements melt down that day—but we’ll hardly notice. We’ll be looking the other way, ready for the promised new heavens and the promised new earth, all landscaped with righteousness. (2 Peter 3:13)

AMP For everyone born of God is victorious and overcomes the world; and this is the victory that has conquered and overcome the world—our [continuing, persistent] faith [in Jesus the Son of God]. (1 John 5:4)

17 And these signs will follow those who believe: in My name they will cast out devils, and will speak with new tongues, 18 and will kill serpents. And if they drink any deadly thing, it will not hurt them. They will lay their hands on the sick and they will recover. (Mark 16:17-18 NMB)

What is the next step for all who are the followers of Jesus and Bible believers?

“He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God;” （Romans 4:20）Abraham had done this as our trail blazer. So can we.

This is how Jesus has prepared and fully equipped us: (1 Corinthians 2:9-16)

9 But as it is written: The eye has not seen and the ear has not heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things that God has prepared for those who love him.

10 But God has revealed them to us by his Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yea, the bottom of God’s secrets. 11 For what man knows the things of a man, except the spirit of a man which is within him? In the same way, the things of God are known by no man, but by the Spirit of God. 12 And we have not received the spirit of the world, but the Spirit which comes of God, in order to know the things that are given to us by God –15 But he who is spiritual evaluates all things. Yet he himself is judged by no man. 16 For who knows the mind of the Lord, or who shall inform him? But we understand the mind of Christ.

We have the mind of Christ! (NKJV)

Application for all who believe: start practicing reading and mediating the Word of God, to know, understand and receive the wisdom of Christ and in Christ. Pray in the Spirit. Ask the Lord’s Spirit to speak to us and guide us specifically in every decision/direction. Be deliberate and be alert. Live as Jesus did and does now.

AMPC In this [union and communion with Him] love is brought to completion and attains perfection with us, that we may have confidence for the day of judgment [with assurance and boldness to face Him], because as He is, so are we in this world. (1 John 4:17)

καί notes, 2022-08-29

today we run the race of Christian faith

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us.2 We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith.[a] Because of the joy[b] awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne. 3 Think of all the hostility he endured from sinful people;[c] then you won’t become weary and give up. 4 After all, you have not yet given your lives in your struggle against sin.

5 And have you forgotten the encouraging words God spoke to you as his children?[d] He said,

“My child,[e] don’t make light of the Lord’s discipline,
    and don’t give up when he corrects you.
6 For the Lord disciplines those he loves,
    and he punishes each one he accepts as his child.”[f]

7 As you endure this divine discipline, remember that God is treating you as his own children. Who ever heard of a child who is never disciplined by its father? 8 If God doesn’t discipline you as he does all of his children, it means that you are illegitimate and are not really his children at all. 9 Since we respected our earthly fathers who disciplined us, shouldn’t we submit even more to the discipline of the Father of our spirits, and live forever?[g]

10 For our earthly fathers disciplined us for a few years, doing the best they knew how. But God’s discipline is always good for us, so that we might share in his holiness. 11 No discipline is enjoyable while it is happening—it’s painful! But afterward there will be a peaceful harvest of right living for those who are trained in this way.

12 So take a new grip with your tired hands and strengthen your weak knees.13 Mark out a straight path for your feet so that those who are weak and lame will not fall but become strong.

A Call to Listen to God

14 Work at living in peace with everyone, and work at living a holy life, for those who are not holy will not see the Lord. 15 Look after each other so that none of you fails to receive the grace of God. Watch out that no poisonous root of bitterness grows up to trouble you, corrupting many. 16 Make sure that no one is immoral or godless like Esau, who traded his birthright as the firstborn son for a single meal.17 You know that afterward, when he wanted his father’s blessing, he was rejected. It was too late for repentance, even though he begged with bitter tears.

18 You have not come to a physical mountain,[h] to a place of flaming fire, darkness, gloom, and whirlwind, as the Israelites did at Mount Sinai. 19 For they heard an awesome trumpet blast and a voice so terrible that they begged God to stop speaking. 20 They staggered back under God’s command: “If even an animal touches the mountain, it must be stoned to death.”[i] 21 Moses himself was so frightened at the sight that he said, “I am terrified and trembling.”[j]

22 No, you have come to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to countless thousands of angels in a joyful gathering. 23 You have come to the assembly of God’s firstborn children, whose names are written in heaven. You have come to God himself, who is the judge over all things. You have come to the spirits of the righteous ones in heaven who have now been made perfect. 24 You have come to Jesus, the one who mediates the new covenant between God and people, and to the sprinkled blood, which speaks of forgiveness instead of crying out for vengeance like the blood of Abel.

25 Be careful that you do not refuse to listen to the One who is speaking. For if the people of Israel did not escape when they refused to listen to Moses, the earthly messenger, we will certainly not escape if we reject the One who speaks to us from heaven! 26 When God spoke from Mount Sinai his voice shook the earth, but now he makes another promise: “Once again I will shake not only the earth but the heavens also.”[k] 27 This means that all of creation will be shaken and removed, so that only unshakable things will remain.

28 Since we are receiving a Kingdom that is unshakable, let us be thankful and please God by worshiping him with holy fear and awe. 29 For our God is a devouring fire.

Footnotes:

1. 12:2a Or Jesus, the originator and perfecter of our faith.
2. 12:2b Or Instead of the joy.
3. 12:3 Some manuscripts read Think of how people hurt themselves by opposing him.
4. 12:5a Greek sons; also in 12:7, 8.
5. 12:5b Greek son; also in 12:6, 7.
6. 12:5-6 Prov 3:11-12 (Greek version).
7. 12:9 Or and really live?
8. 12:18 Greek to something that can be touched.
9. 12:20 Exod 19:13.
10. 12:21 Deut 9:19.
11. 12:26 Hag 2:6.

The Holy Scripture is quoted from the Holy Bible: Hebrews 12  NLT

Safety is definitely not the absence of danger but the presence of God

Notes on 2-2-2019: I came across this book by an intercessor-author ten years ago. Since then I have learned that some intercessions and prayers need to be in line with the teaching in the New Testament. I have not deleted this blog because the author's experience and testament have shown us a spiritual realm which is real. I pray that you read it with wisdom and understanding of the God revealed by the Lord Jesus Christ. I refer especially to the prayers we should be making today after we have learned from Jesus that we have the power and authority over demons and sicknesses (which Jesus had borne by His stripes). We also do not need to plead to God as if He is stingy and harsh to His children. The God as personified by Jesus and described by the New Testament apostles and Scripture writers is of love and grace. God wants us well. God wants to save all people because Jesus died for all people. You need to read the New Testament to find out what Jesus had accomplished for you already. (Ephesians 1:3)
The end times tribulations are reserved for those who do not believe in God. Christians need to pray for the lost. On the other hand, prayers will not be able to bring souls to Christ unless believers go out and witness to them. Romans 10:14-15 How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? 15 And how shall they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who [b]preach the gospel of peace, Who bring glad tidings of good things!”

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“If we do not live in awareness of the end, then our present living is nullified and meaningless –we all live as others live…for self and to please self.” (Jeremiah 8:7)”

__________Some powerful excerpts and quotations from the book:

PERSONAL WORD (by the author)

“Yes, God’s mandate and God’s call for every believer is that we fight for our set apart and apostolic faith, without which we can never overcome the world. (1 John5:4)”

“The book of Jude has so impacted me that I know I must be apostolic for if I am not, I may end up an apostate. I cannot be ambiguous in these end-times days.”

“Indeed NOW is the end and the END HAS BEGUN NOW. This is why we cannot be ambiguous, we must either be apostolic or we will end up as apostates.”

“I keep hearing our Lord’s warning so clearly and consistently. This is the reason why this book is written: “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)”

“We must know that every form of crisis nations of the world…are all a buildup or prelude to the unspeakable destruction ahead of us.”

“If we do not live in awareness of the end, then our present living is nullified and meaningless –we all live as others live…for self and to please self.” (Jeremiah 8:7)

“If we do not have the end in view, we will just flow with the present antichrist culture;” “Jesus did not need to go to the cross,” “Is Jesus in the culture or is He above it?”

“We must live in awareness that society today is not just influenced by education, industry or technology. It is shaped by demons…sin has given them so much influence over the human race, including the Christians. Technology like the mobile phones, the computers and television (which the prophet Jeremiah called ‘windows’ in Jeremiah 9:21) had indeed admitted the spirit of death into so many lives, especially the lives of our youths.”

“Like Daniel, I must possess both the tenacity and the intensity to pray and pray and pray even though I do not feel like praying at times.”

“Daniel, the end-time prophet, mourned and travailed until a breakthrough came into the heavens, a breakthrough which affected him, his nation and the nations of the world.” (Dan.10:12-14)

“There are so many troubled Christians. Is it because our faith is not an apostolic or set-apart faith?”

INTRODUCTION

“Why must the church engage in PURPOSEFUL AND INTENSIVE intercessory prayers in these end times called the ‘beginning of sorrows?’ Because God has called us into it and this may well be the final call to prayers to evict the enemy …just before the great tribulation.”

“If we are the true church we will have the apostolic distinctive of knowing that the end, or the DAY OF THE LORD is near. All universal shakings and meltdowns now are just birth pangs of the coming kingdom of our Lord. There are calamities, upheavals, crises and great stirrings on earth now because there is war in heaven!”

“More and more we can feel it as these present evil days…”

“It is sad that many Christians are still in denial”

“”The prophets of old saw visions of these dark and foreboding ‘tribulation’ days…” (Ezekiel 21:7; Zechariah 13:8-9)

“The purpose of this book is to call you to return to your basic duty -return to your priesthood and be that house of prayer that God wants (Isaiah 56:7).”

CHAPTER 1 -have we missed the vital signs of the Messiah’s second coming?

“Learned high priests like Caiphas and Annas could stand in front of the Messiah and not discern that He is the One.” “Many who are made to rule in God’s house do not know the Lord nor understand His word.”

“All the vital signs of Christ’s second coming (in heaven and on earth) are pronounced today and yet we carry on as usual; not wanting to make preparations for these coming evil and devastating days that we 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)”

Jesus Christ warned us that the day of destruction will come to us like the days of Noah…when people carry on as usual.” “Their time was never deliberately prioritized for God.”

“Also days when Nimrod arose in defiance against God to form his ‘one world government’ and to build his high towers and monuments.”

“Also be like the days of Lot” “when fire literally fell out of heaven suddenly!” “Iran and Israel also have nuclear bombs pointed at each other and should one go off, the entire world will be affected.”

CHAPTER 2 –The end has begun and the beginning of the end, (‘the beginning of sorrows’) is already here

“Today, we too, have talked much about the end times but unfortunately we have also failed to discern that the time is now -it has now come upon us! The next change will be terrible, for almost without warning, the ‘tribulation’ days will come upon us.”

“Why couldn’t they discern? Because their hearts were not right. Ambitions and ego-centrality have often robbed men of spiritual discernment. These ambitious men seem to have enough spiritual light to prophesy and sit in their position as the nation’s spiritual leaders (John 11:49-53), but they definitely did not have enough light to carry themselves through to salvation!” “Caiphas prophesied accurately that Jesus is the Saviour but he himself remained unsaved!”

“There are many modern Caiphases and Annases today” “They have enough light to teach others and to prophesy but they do not have enough light to acknowledge their own sin so that they can be saved.”

“The light that comes from one’s scholarship, study, degrees, etc., must be tempered with the light that comes from our prayers, revelation knowledge and personal experiences with God which must result in self-denial, humility and servanthood.”

CHAPTER 3 -Intensified prayers from the remnant will evict the enemy out of the heaven

“Since Israel as a nation, did not want to keep their distinction as God’s people…the prophet Daniel and his three undefiled friends did it for them.”

“May God, in His mercy, in these troublesome and turbulent days of much spiritual upheaval and natural disasters, also raise up a ‘Daniel-like’ group of people who will remain distinct and whose spirit and intercessory travail will be of the same pattern, in order to reach out to God.”

“Deborah proclaimed that when there were leaders (leading by examples) then the people would willingly offer themselves (Judges 5:2). She was commissioned and she was willing so she just got in there and led by example! And people were willing to follow her. Do you want prayer groups set up? You need to lead by example.”

“The time to pray and travail is NOW, not later when the heat is on because our ability to stand will come from the sum total of the times we have spent in the presence of God.”

“Israel went after God when they were in the wilderness because they had nothing. (Jeremiah 2:2)” “You may find this hard to believe, but God is definitely going to bring both the church and Israel back to the ‘wilderness days‘ again.”

CHAPTER 4 -Halt the enemy’s activities to accelerate God’s work in the spiritual realm

“It is vital we pray with prophetic declaration to declare what God Himself has already declared in these end times.”

“We need to do what Ezekiel did -speak directly into the situation (Ezekiel 36). “

“Such is the power of God’s word! Jesus taught His disciples to speak to the mountains, not pray, if they want the mountains to shift.” (Matt.17:20)

“We puncture these times of great deception, desertion, depression, darkness and desolation with God’s spoken words, God’s declarations that are true and right!” (Notes from this blogger: read 2 Corinthians 10:4-5 the warfare is over our thoughts, in the mind! Paul pointed out that "For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, 5 casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ,")

CHAPTER 5 -To know the end we must know the beginning

“We have no excuse of not knowing the end because God has taken the end and hidden it in the beginning!”

“To me, the key that unlocks end times is found in Isaiah which says: Remember the former things of old…there is none like Me; declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times things that are not yet done…” (Isa.46:8-10)

“EVERYTHING THAT HAPPENED IN THE BOOK OF DANILE WILL BE REPEATED IN THE END TIMES”

CHAPTER 6 -Intensified suffering means intensified miracles, signs and wonders

“As Daniel travailed in prayers on earth, angelic activities prevailed in heaven!”

“The ‘open heaven’ coming our way when God’s fullness is experienced is as sure as the coming of the days of tribulation!” 

“We must recognize that Daniel symbolizes a corporate group of God’s people who must rise up in these end times to engage themselves in purposeful and relentless prayers.”

“This is why God told us to be a generation of priests -why have we forsaken our destiny? If the church is not a kingdom of priests ministering to God and apprehending His fullness for the nations of the world, what then is the church?”

“Remember, as long as the hands of Moses, representing the prayers of the nation, were lifted up towards heaven, Israel has the upper hand over the Amalekites.”

“To watch and pray means we pray with the word of God into every situation and see all present situations as God sees them. We keep our spiritual antenna up and we are to be alert to present signs and world events.”

“Pray with intensity and pray fervently, which means your spirit, soul and body must be in agreement.”

CONCLUSION -we are now in the end times

“The end has certainly begun…twenty-four hours a day God’s ears are bombarded by the outcries of sin in the nations of the world but He wants to hear prayers, confessions, supplications but they seem to be getting lesser and lesser.”

“May God…also give you the courage to change and prioritize your time to pray, to be ‘thrown in’ together with this great network of intercessors spanning both heaven and earth.”

“So many people complain of being lonely…But when we are bonded up with God and threaded together into His prayer network and are aware that prayer has eternal validity, it will rid us of all loneliness.”

“Safety is definitely not the absence of danger but the presence of God, but this presence is not to be taken for granted. We need to spend time to be connected with Him and to bring His presence into where we are.” (This blogger's notes: God is not far from us. he is in every believer. When we pray by faith we know He always hears us. He is our ever present help!)

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Postscript added by this watchman:

Jesus gave this to His disciples: Mark 16

The Great Commission

¹⁴ Later He appeared to the eleven as they sat at the table; and He rebuked their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they did not believe those who had seen Him after He had risen. ¹⁵ And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. ¹⁶ He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. ¹⁷ And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; ¹⁸ they^[p] will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.”

Christ Ascends to God’s Right Hand

¹⁹ So then, after the Lord had spoken to them, He was received up into heaven, and sat down at the right hand of God. ²⁰ And they went out and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the word through the accompanying signs. Amen.^[q]