May God always give you abundant harvests

KNOWING GOD: KNOW HIM THROUGH HIS PROMISES OF REAL BLESSINGS

GOD’S BLESSINGS TO HIS PEOPLE WHOM HE HAS RESCUED FROM THE ENEMY

Genesis 27:28
“From the dew of heaven and the richness of the earth, may God always give you abundant harvests of grain and bountiful new wine.
Genesis 27:27-29 (in Context) Genesis 27 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations
Deuteronomy 7:13
He will love you and bless you, and he will give you many children. He will give fertility to your land and your animals. When you arrive in the land he swore to give your ancestors, you will have large harvests of grain, new wine, and olive oil, and great herds of cattle, sheep, and goats.
Deuteronomy 7:12-14 (in Context) Deuteronomy 7 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations
Deuteronomy 11:14
then he will send the rains in their proper seasons—the early and late rains—so you can bring in your harvests of grain, new wine, and olive oil.
Deuteronomy 11:13-15 (in Context) Deuteronomy 11 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations

CONDITIONS FOR OFFERINGS TO THE LORD

Numbers 18:12
“I also give you the harvest gifts brought by the people as offerings to the LORD—the best of the olive oil, new wine, and grain.
Numbers 18:11-13 (in Context) Numbers 18 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations
Deuteronomy 12:17
“But you may not eat your offerings in your hometown—neither the tithe of your grain and new wine and olive oil, nor the firstborn of your flocks and herds, nor any offering to fulfill a vow, nor your voluntary offerings, nor your sacred offerings.
Deuteronomy 12:16-18 (in Context) Deuteronomy 12 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations
Deuteronomy 14:23
Bring this tithe to the designated place of worship—the place the LORD your God chooses for his name to be honored—and eat it there in his presence. This applies to your tithes of grain, new wine, olive oil, and the firstborn males of your flocks and herds. Doing this will teach you always to fear the LORD your God.
Deuteronomy 14:22-24 (in Context) Deuteronomy 14 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations
Deuteronomy 18:4
You must also give to the priests the first share of the grain, the new wine, the olive oil, and the wool at shearing time.
Deuteronomy 18:3-5 (in Context) Deuteronomy 18 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations
Deuteronomy 33:28
So Israel will live in safety, prosperous Jacob in security, in a land of grain and new wine, while the heavens drop down dew.
Deuteronomy 33:27-29 (in Context) Deuteronomy 33 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations

GOD’S PEOPLES MUST RESPOND TO GOD’S WORDS

2 Chronicles 31:5
When the people of Israel heard these requirements, they responded generously by bringing the first share of their grain, new wine, olive oil, honey, and all the produce of their fields. They brought a large quantity—a tithe of all they produced.
2 Chronicles 31:4-6 (in Context) 2 Chronicles 31 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations

THE LORD GAVE VERY GREAT RICHES AND HONOR TO A KING WHO DID WHAT WAS RIGHT IN HIS SIGHT

2 Chronicles 32:28
He (king Hezekiah) also constructed many storehouses for his grain, new wine, and olive oil; and he made many stalls for his cattle and pens for his flocks of sheep and goats.

WARNING ON DISOBEDIENCE TO THE WORDS OF GOD

Deuteronomy 28:51
Its armies will devour your livestock and crops, and you will be destroyed. They will leave you no grain, new wine, olive oil, calves, or lambs, and you will starve to death.
Deuteronomy 28:50-52 (in Context) Deuteronomy 28 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations

COUNTERFEIT OFFER OF “SIMILAR BLESSINGS” FROM THE ENEMY

2 Kings 18:32
Then I will arrange to take you to another land like this one—a land of grain and new wine, bread and vineyards, olive groves and honey. Choose life instead of death! “Don’t listen to Hezekiah when he tries to mislead you by saying, ‘The LORD will rescue us!’
2 Kings 18:31-33 (in Context) 2 Kings 18 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations
Isaiah 36:17
Then I will arrange to take you to another land like this one—a land of grain and new wine, bread and vineyards.
Isaiah 36:16-18 (in Context) Isaiah 36 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations

2 Chronicles 32:27-29 (in Context) 2 Chronicles 32 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations

RESTORATION OF GOD’S BLESSINGS CAME WITH OBEDIENCE TO GOD’S WORDS

Nehemiah 5:11
You must restore their fields, vineyards, olive groves, and homes to them this very day. And repay the interest you charged when you lent them money, grain, new wine, and olive oil.”
Nehemiah 5:10-12 (in Context) Nehemiah 5 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations
Nehemiah 10:37
We will store the produce in the storerooms of the Temple of our God. We will bring the best of our flour and other grain offerings, the best of our fruit, and the best of our new wine and olive oil. And we promise to bring to the Levites a tenth of everything our land produces, for it is the Levites who collect the tithes in all our rural towns.
Nehemiah 10:36-38 (in Context) Nehemiah 10 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations
Nehemiah 10:39
The people and the Levites must bring these offerings of grain, new wine, and olive oil to the storerooms and place them in the sacred containers near the ministering priests, the gatekeepers, and the singers. “We promise together not to neglect the Temple of our God.”
Nehemiah 10:38-39 (in Context) Nehemiah 10 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations

THE ENEMY STOLE IN  TO ROB YOUR BLESSINGS WHEN THE RELIGIOUS LEADERS BACK SLIDED!

Nehemiah 13:4-5
4 Before this had happened, Eliashib the priest, who had been appointed as supervisor of the storerooms of the Temple of our God and who was also a relative of Tobiah, 5 had converted a large storage room and placed it at Tobiah’s disposal. The room had previously been used for storing the grain offerings, the frankincense, various articles for the Temple, and the tithes of grain, new wine, and olive oil (which were prescribed for the Levites, the singers, and the gatekeepers), as well as the offerings for the priests.
Nehemiah 13:4-6 (in Context) Nehemiah 13 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations

IMMEDIATE ACTION REQUIRED TO RESTORE RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD

Nehemiah 13:11-13
11 I immediately confronted the leaders and demanded, “Why has the Temple of God been neglected?” Then I called all the Levites back again and restored them to their proper duties. 12 And once more all the people of Judah began bringing their tithes of grain, new wine, and olive oil to the Temple storerooms. 13 I assigned supervisors for the storerooms: Shelemiah the priest, Zadok the scribe, and Pedaiah, one of the Levites. And I appointed Hanan son of Zaccur and grandson of Mattaniah as their assistant. These men had an excellent reputation, and it was their job to make honest distributions to their fellow Levites.

GOD’S RESTORATION AND BLESSINGS BRING REAL JOY

Psalm 4:7
You have given me greater joy than those who have abundant harvests of grain and new wine.
Psalm 4:6-8 (in Context) Psalm 4 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations
Isaiah 62:8
The LORD has sworn to Jerusalem by his own strength: “I will never again hand you over to your enemies. Never again will foreign warriors come and take away your grain and new wine.
Isaiah 62:7-9 (in Context) Isaiah 62 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations
Jeremiah 31:12
They will come home and sing songs of joy on the heights of Jerusalem. They will be radiant because of the LORD’s good gifts— the abundant crops of grain, new wine, and olive oil, and the healthy flocks and herds. Their life will be like a watered garden, and all their sorrows will be gone.
Jeremiah 31:11-13 (in Context) Jeremiah 31 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations

WARNING TO THOSE WHO TURNED AWAY FROM GOD AND SOUGHT AFTER OTHERS WHO WERE NOT GOD

Hosea 2:8
She doesn’t realize it was I who gave her everything she has— the grain, the new wine, the olive oil; I even gave her silver and gold. But she gave all my gifts to Baal.
Hosea 2:7-9 (in Context) Hosea 2 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations
Hosea 2:9
“But now I will take back the ripened grain and new wine I generously provided each harvest season. I will take away the wool and linen clothing I gave her to cover her nakedness.
Hosea 2:8-10 (in Context) Hosea 2 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations
Hosea 7:14
They do not cry out to me with sincere hearts. Instead, they sit on their couches and wail. They cut themselves, begging foreign gods for grain and new wine, and they turn away from me.
Hosea 7:13-15 (in Context) Hosea 7 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations

GOD HAS PROMISED A FUTURE THAT WILL BRING REAL BLESSINGS TO HIS PEOPLE- THOSE WHO SEEK HIM EARNESTLY HE WILL SURELY REWARD

Joel 2:19
The LORD will reply, “Look! I am sending you grain and new wine and olive oil, enough to satisfy your needs. You will no longer be an object of mockery among the surrounding nations.
Joel 2:18-20 (in Context) Joel 2 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations
Joel 2:24
The threshing floors will again be piled high with grain, and the presses will overflow with new wine and olive oil.
Joel 2:23-25 (in Context) Joel 2 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations
Zechariah 9:17
How wonderful and beautiful they will be! The young men will thrive on abundant grain, and the young women will flourish on new wine.
Zechariah 9:16-17 (in Context) Zechariah 9 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations

Watchman’s Adventure: A watchman’s calling is to be different

(Picture above: The first watchman/intercessor/prophet, Abraham hearing God) It is hard to explain why anyone would want to be called to be a watchman. Indeed, there is no explanation. The watchman has come to this conclusion lately. He finds that the messages received in his spirit are increasingly difficult to pass on given his nature. Yet he has to obey. Often he has to contradict others and cause ‘unhappy’ feelings. (The reason: he ‘sees’ and they cannot. Those who see are the minority minority).

Sometimes even his own loved ones are offended and consider him without tact. Many times he has to choose between listening to man or to God. When he is certain what he hears is from God he does not hesitate anymore. He has no choice really. He has to choose God everytime.

One day he could not take it so he asked the Lord his mission on earth. Then he was shown Exodus 28:29-30 on Aaron’s duties. When he goes before the Lord he has to represent his people. When he goes in before the Lord he has to determine the Lord’s will for his people. An intercessor/prophet does these two jobs.

Can he ‘resign’ being a watchman? Can he not see into the spiritual realm’s reality and give warnings? Can he stop his ear from hearing or his eyes from seeing what others do not hear or see in the physical realm?

Can a man choose his spiritual calling?

These are the questions he is asking himself. Of course there are temporary ‘advantages’ in being ignorant of spiritual matters and matters concerning God. One can live in blissful oblivion and not knowing why things happen the way they happen and knowing what to do even when the thief comes to steal, kill and destroy. This would also mean choosing not to believe in the Bible, because the Bible is spiritual and is all about the supernatural spiritual God.

This is not a stance the watchman dares to take.

The watchman looks to the Bible for comfort and assurance of his stance. He can find a lot of examples of how those who see into the spiritual realm and obey God had suffered in the hands of men.

Jesus Himself is the number One example. His Apostles and disciples are expected to suffer the same. The godly and faithful prophets had suffered the same fate, and many were even killed when they faithfully carried out their assignments.

He has just finished reading a detailed spiritual testimony by a former medical consultant. He realized now that the reality of the spiritual realm cannot be disputed. Yet, reading the 40 pages long testimony would be like reading a science fiction to many sceptics (Christian or non-Christian). He can understand how the brethren must have felt giving the testimony.

The Lord lamented in Hosea 4:6, “My people are being destroyed for lack of knowledge (Knowledge of God)”.

Hosea 9:8 “The prophet is a watchman over Israel for my God, yet traps were laid for him wherever he goes. He faces hostility even in the house of God.”

Hosea 9:7 “Because of your great sin and hostility, you say, “the prophets are crazy and the inspired men are fools.”

The good news is, Jesus has foreseen all these and assured his followers:

Luke 6:22-23 (NLT)
“What blessings await you when people hate you and exclude you and mock you and curse you as evil because you follow the Son of Man. When that happens, be happy! Yes, leap for joy! For a great reward awaits you in heaven. And remember, their ancestors treated the ancient prophets that same way.”

Matthew 10:41
“Whoever welcomes a prophet as a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward, and whoever welcomes a righteous person as a righteous person will receive a righteous person’s reward.”

_______________________
Truly, the blessings and rewards for followers of Jesus and who choose to obey God are limitless and will not be shakened when the Day of the Lord comes.

End Times Witnessing: Rebuilding the Sheep Gate -keep proclaiming the Lord’s death until He comes! (Holy Communion Power)

This is the urgent message for all Christians today! Come to the Lord’s Holy Communion table and receive His wholeness for victorious living!

The watchman took the class to continue with the faith in action project in emulating Nehemiah 3: Rebuilding the Wall. The first gate group is Sheep Gate Group. Why Sheep Gate is recorded as the first group to build? This is very important to know and remember. Revelation One: It is definitely a crucial and powerful prophetic act to keep proclaiming the Lord's death until He comes! Every Christian must know and acknowledge that there is no way on … Read More

CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE: FASTING TO SHARPEN THE ULTIMATE SPIRITUAL WEAPON

There is no easy path to spiritual wellness. There is no option either. In his current quest to live Biblically and in the spirit, Jack has embarked on the fasting and praying journey seriously.

He has been on two meals or less for more than six months on and off, not really on a fixed schedule. He usually took breakfast (one slice of thick wholemeal toast/bread with cheese and a cup of warm milk/chocolate), and lunch (a small portion of carbohydrate, protein and a larger portion of vegetables). He took tea in the late afternoon (a cup of warm drink and a biscuit). He skipped dinner but took a drink (a glass of fruit and vegetable juice with milk). He skipped supper too, unless he went to the Prayer House and had a warn drink (or dessert) after the service.

Yesterday he started to fast after a light lunch and took nothing except water and one cup of cocoa and one biscuit for about 13 hours. He felt alright and was able to carry on his usual physical activities. He took part in a late evening worship and prayer meeting for three hours (11pm to 2am). After that he took a tiny bowl of grain dessert. The only discomfort he felt was he felt cold for the first time. He slept about 5-6 hours and woke up feeling fresh and well.

Today he started the first of his three days of fasting and prayer with nothing but water/liquid only. He had no breakfast, only one cup of hot drink and had a small portion of plain yogurt in the morning. Around noon he took another cup of warm cocoa. He took water when thirsty.

In the morning he did about one hour of light physical activities. Then he spent sometime praying and reading. The day seemed not as long as he had earlier expected. During lunch time he thought of food and went to the kitchen to look at the fridge but he took nothing. He felt fit and well up to this point.

The guide book advised him not to do too much physical activity. He was advised to pray and read the Bible too.

The Morning Prayer session went well as clearly the Holy Spirit was leading. His mind became focused and clear. He was able to pray for a number of issues for distant people who had never crossed his mind before. He could sense the need to repent and renounce a number of his own sins and areas which needed correction and renewal. The words flowed smoothly without efforts. He was led in the spirit to sing three hymns too. This had not happened for a long time and he was pleasantly surprised what the fasting could do to his spirit!

In the afternoon, he was tired and sleepy. His mind was on food. So he decided to read the Bible and pray. He started reading 2 Corinthians for no particular reason. He struggled for awhile and soon gave up. He dozed off for about 30 minutes.

When he woke he felt that he was fresher. So he went back to reading the Bible. This time he was led to read about the Levites in the Old Testament, how they were chosen by God to minister to Him. He read how they were assigned the responsibilities to take charge of the things pertaining to worshipping God. a group was assigned to sing day and night to God and had no other duties!

Suddenly he decided to sing in the spirit and he sang. As he sang, his spirit lifted and he felt energy surging up within him. He went on for sometime until he was led to pray and intercede. He interceded as led by the Holy Spirit. He realized that there was a breakthrough in his prayer and spiritual songs. He walked around and sang without effort. This went on for a long time. After that he asked the Holy Spirit to show him how to sing as the Levites did. Immediately he started singing new tunes as tunes sung by the Israelites!

It was indeed a wonderful experience for Jack.
2009-09-19

Let the weak say I am strong

Isaiah 35
Hope for Restoration
1 Even the wilderness and desert will be glad in those days.
The wasteland will rejoice and blossom with spring crocuses.
2 Yes, there will be an abundance of flowers
and singing and joy!
The deserts will become as green as the mountains of Lebanon,
as lovely as Mount Carmel or the plain of Sharon.
There the Lord will display his glory,
the splendor of our God.
3 With this news, strengthen those who have tired hands,
and encourage those who have weak knees.
4 Say to those with fearful hearts,
“Be strong, and do not fear,
for your God is coming to destroy your enemies.
He is coming to save you.”
5 And when he comes, he will open the eyes of the blind
and unplug the ears of the deaf.
6 The lame will leap like a deer,
and those who cannot speak will sing for joy!
Springs will gush forth in the wilderness,
and streams will water the wasteland.
7 The parched ground will become a pool,
and springs of water will satisfy the thirsty land.
Marsh grass and reeds and rushes will flourish
where desert jackals once lived.
8 And a great road will go through that once deserted land.
It will be named the Highway of Holiness.
Evil-minded people will never travel on it.
It will be only for those who walk in God’s ways;
fools will never walk there.
9 Lions will not lurk along its course,
nor any other ferocious beasts.
There will be no other dangers.
Only the redeemed will walk on it.
10 Those who have been ransomed by the Lord will return.
They will enter Jerusalem[a] singing,
crowned with everlasting joy.
Sorrow and mourning will disappear,
and they will be filled with joy and gladness.

What The Lord Has Done In Me

What The Lord Has Done In Me
VERSE 1:
C G C
Let the weak say, "I am strong."
F Am
Let the poor say, "I am rich."
G/B C G C
Let the blind say, "I can see;
Dm7 G C
It's what the Lord has done in me."
(repeat)

CHORUS:
Am G Am F C
Ho-sanna, hosanna to the Lamb that was slain.
Am G Am G/B C G C
Ho-sanna, hosanna, Jesus died and rose a-gain.


VERSE 2:
G C G C
In-to the river I will wade.
F Am
There my sins are washed a-way.
G/B C G C
From the heavens mercy streams
Dm7 G C
Of the Saviour's love for me.


VERSE 3:
C G C
I will rise from waters deep
F Am
Into the saving arms of God.
G/B C G C
I will sing salvation songs;
Dm7 G C
Jesus Christ has set me free.
©1998 Reuben Morgan / Hillsong Music Australia
Words and Music by Reuben Morgan

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i4H6Uv7BI7I&feature=related

day 123: one man’s journey in the Holy Spirit

Three months have passed with a lot of drastic changes in my life. Looking back, the journey was all about God the Holy Spirit. When I first started I never expected the shift moving of events and transforming power of the Holy Spirit. I was full of my own ideas of doing some religious services on my own. However, as I went through them, day after day, I realized that they were not as simple as I initially thought. For example, the momentum would have slowed down and died off if I had to carry on depending on my own effort to live Biblically and interceding as a church member performing his religious duty.
Thank God it was not like that. The Holy Spirit began to emerge and take charge as I continued to seek Him. The Holy Spirit took charge of the time, the length of time, the contents, the forms (methods), and the outcome. The Holy Spirit was the teacher, the motivating factor, the initiator, the power supplier, the master. It was indeed an exciting journey.

Most of the events happened in the inside. Some manifested in the outside of my being. Signs and wonders. For example, prior to the transformation, I dreaded singing. During church worship most times I maintained my silence. Occasionally I sang when the songs were familiar and meaningful to me. In the past three months I developed a liking for singing and even sing songs in the Spirit and some are really nice to my ears.

Another area of dread was prayer (when I had nothing to pray for). I stopped joining a group of business men who met during lunch time to pray, many years ago, not because I could not spare the time, but because I did not quite believe that those prayers worked. Many years ago one brother in Christ made it a point to come to my office during lunch time to pray and we were enthusiastic for awhile. After sometime we reduced the frequency and finally we stopped the prayer session entirely. I had led cell groups for years and prayed the routine prayers week after week, month after month, until none of us felt them really helping much. Singing and prayers became part of the rituals we did as part of the religion.

When the Holy Spirit took over, I was revamped inside out. Songs and prayers could stretch from one hour to two and half hours! All by myself! Sleeping four hours and not feeling tired the next day was not rare. How did the Holy Spirit take over?

I believe it started when I started to take God seriously. My early morning worship time helped me to be focused on God and the more focused I was the more I could sense the reality of His presence. At first I used faith to believe whether I sensed anything or not. Then I learned to appreciate the songs I sang. Then I became bold enough to ask the Holy Spirit to choose songs for me and subsequently prayers for me. Lately I asked Him to show me verses to read. God helped me a lot in this progress. He let me see some pictures, some words, and hear some tunes in my mind/heart. As I received messages through all these mediums (words, pictures, dreams, songs) I grew bolder and more confident of receiving the guidance of the Holy Spirit and answers from God.

Yes, it takes time and effort to seek God. However, it is worthwhile to give all to this quest. I never thought I could hear God’s voice before. But now I can even persuade others that they too can hear God’s voice. Believe me, it is wonderful.

Jesus has promised very clearly the following:

1. He will show Himself to those who love Him.

2. He will come and stay with those who love Him (those who keep Jesus’ commandments).

3. God will send the Holy Spirit to teach us all things and about what Jesus has said.

John 14:21 “He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him.”

John 14:23 “Jesus answered and said to him, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him.”

John 14:26 “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.”

AAA Jack

day 117: Holy Spirit, fire of God

One of my latest favorite songs is, “Holy Spirit, fire of God, fill this temple of Yours. We are waiting for You Lord, to fill all of our hearts. Holy Spirit fire of God, come and fill this whole world. Holy Spirit fire of God, come and fill our hearts.”

John the Baptist prophesied that Jesus would come and baptize the believers with the Holy Spirit and fire. (Matthew 3:11)

Every believer receives the Holy Spirit when he believes in Jesus and makes a commitment to follow Jesus. Before Jesus left this earth He promised to send the Holy Spirit in His place to every believer. The Holy Spirit in us is a guarantee and identity that we are the children of God and belong to Jesus. The Holy Spirit gives a lot of supernatural gifts to believers and the gifts will help them live and serve God in supernatural power and in truth. But not all believers believe in or have made use of these gifts.

What has happened to me and my family recently is directly linked to the Holy Spirit. An old acquaintance of ours met us and exclaimed that we look so different now compared to what he has seen before. “You both look so well and happy, so… (he ran out of words) what has happened?” He was expecting us to say we have just struck the first prize of the national lottery or something. To his disappointment, we merely smiled and thanked him and said we were just happy in Christ. How not be overjoyed, knowing that the Holy Spirit is real and does work in us? How not to shine in light when we know for sure that the God who is light is shinning in us? How not to look contented and fulfilled when the God who is love has filled us to the brim?

We are not newly converted Christians. Both of us have gone through more than twenty five years of solid Bible teaching in traditional evangelical churches. But this is the first time we know our God is real not only in head knowledge but also in our spirits. When one knows the supernatural God truly lives, and He is a good God, one cannot help but be overjoyed, because all that He has promised is true too. Both of us have been driven to read the Bible with fresh interest and zeal to know Him more. The words of God are alive in our lives. We are no longer spiritual orphans. We need no longer fear the unknown out there and beyond, this life or next or forever.

Every morning we wake to expect God talking to us and walking with us the whole day. Every night we go to bed secured in the arms of God. Sometimes we soar on His wings too. Many times we stand on high grounds with Him looking at the world out there with a totally elevated perspective of life.

Our combined economics, management, health psychology, wellness, counseling and medical professional training and experiences had never given us such security and rest before. The natural can never compare with the supernatural. This is all I can say in mere words.

Believe me, it is worth the effort to seek God and ask to be Spirit-filled and continue to abide in Christ by living in the Spirit as commanded by Jesus. If you are a Christian, do not forget to put on your whole armor of God daily: the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation, the readiness of the gospel of peace on your feet, the sword of the Spirit which is the word of God, and praying in the Spirit without ceasing. You can note that all these relate to Jesus.

AAA Jack

day 110-116: going forward in songs and in the Holy Spirit

Today I received a timely message, from the Book of Exodus. God told Moses, “Why do you cry to Me? Tell the children of Israel to go forward.” (Exodus 14:15)

For nearly three months now, I have been pondering on the words of Jesus and asking the Holy Spirit to guide me what to read and give me understanding of the truth. Jesus said His words are life and spirit. The word of God is also the sword of the Spirit. Without the Holy Spirit it is impossible to read the Bible not to mention to live the Bible.

When I heard a message I also asked the Holy Spirit to show me the truth I need to pay attention to and take action in my Biblical living. I recently heard a teaching on the passage from Exodus 14. The speaker told us that like the Israelites we have the assurance of God that He will fight for us and we shall hold our peace. (Exodus 14:14) Therefore all we need to do is not to continue crying out to God for help. Instead, we should just step forward by faith and win the battle. Whatever the battle is in your life, be it study or employment, financial, relationship, moral, behavioral, attitude, your mind, your emotion, your diseases, unhealthy or addictive habits, binges, obsessions, oppressions and depressions, suppressions, bondages, cravings of the flesh, the pride and arrogance of life etc. They can be overcome.

All the Israelites had to do was to step into the pathway God had opened for them by faith and cross over to the other side. God really took good care of His people as in the case of the Israelites. He miraculously delivered them out of Egypt, miraculously brought them across the Red Sea, miraculously through the wilderness, and miraculously into the promised land of milk and honey.

Reading this passage, I noted that after the children of Israel crossed over the Red Sea safely, all Moses asked them to do was to sing a song to God. God likes us singing songs and hymns to Him!

During the three months of learning to get close to God and learning to be sensitive to the Holy Spirit, I have transformed from a stiff, rational, and skeptical Christian to a Spirit-led, songs and hymns singing Christian; from one who normally would doubt anything to do with the spiritual, to one who pays serious attention to visions and dreams. I still make a lot of mistakes in hearing the voice of God and seeing visions. When I prayed for someone close I tended to use my knowledge of him or her to pray. But the Holy Spirit told me things that I did not know about but was in the plan of God. So when I saw the Spirit-led vision, I thought it was from my own thought despite the fact that I could not recall having thought of such matters previously. Only after I have received confirmation from another intercessor who saw the same vision or received the same message then I was convinced. Why am I still so doubtful? I believe it is because I am still young in the Spirit.

I have come to realize that living Biblically is to live spiritually by faith. I am still learning. But I do enjoy my new life and daily look forward to daily meeting with God. One morning I heard the wind in my garden and I thought to myself how nice it would be if I could hear God walking in my garden. After the intercession I prayed to God to reveal Himself by walking in the garden so I could hear Him. After my request, my heart was immediately urged to sing “Holy, holy, holy”. After I finished singing that hymn, before I could get up from the kneeling position, I was urged to sing “Jesus we enthrone You”. After that I was further urged to sing “Holy Spirit, thou art welcomed in this place”.

Only after I finished singing all three songs to the trinity God, I was allowed to stand up. God indeed responded instantly. What an awesome experience! (I did not hear the sound in my garden as I was too busy singing).

My advice to you, my brethren in Christ, is that be always ready to sing and expect the demand to sing songs and hymns (as led by the Holy Spirit) by memory as you may not have the song book with you. I did not have the song book on the occasion but I managed to memorize them (short choruses and one stanza of the hymn) even though I had to work hard to memorize anything. The preparedness is worth it. Otherwise, be careful what you pray for.

AAA Jack

today's hymns for your soul

Blessèd be the fountain of blood,


Words: Eden R. Lat­ta, 1881.

Music: Hen­ry S. Per­kins (MI­DI, score).


Blessèd be the fountain of blood,
To a world of sinners revealed;
Blessèd be the dear Son of God;
Only by His stripes we are healed.
Tho’ I’ve wandered far from His fold,
Bringing to my heart pain and woe,
Wash me in the blood of the Lamb,
And I shall be whiter than snow.

Refrain

Whiter than the snow,
Whiter than the snow,
Wash me in the blood of the Lamb,
And I shall be whiter than snow.

Thorny was the crown that He wore,
And the cross His body o’ercame;
Grievous were the sorrows He bore,
But He suffered Thus not in vain.
May I to that fountain be led,
Made to cleanse my sins here below;
Wash me in the blood that He shed,
And I shall be whiter than snow.

Refrain

Father, I have wandered from Thee,
Often has my heart gone astray;
Crimson do my sins seem to me—
Water cannot wash them away.
Jesus, to the fountain of Thine,
Leaning on Thy promise, I go;
Cleanse me by Thy washing divine,
And I shall be whiter than snow.

Refrain

http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/b/l/blefount.htm

Grace greater than our sin
Words: Julia H. Johnston, in Hymns Tried and True (Chi­ca­go, Il­li­nois: The Bi­ble In­sti­tute Col­port­age As­so­ci­a­tion, 1911), num­ber 2. Music: Daniel B. Towner, 1910 (MI­DI, score).

Marvelous grace of our loving Lord,
Grace that exceeds our sin and our guilt!
Yonder on Calvary’s mount outpoured,
There where the blood of the Lamb was spilled.

Refrain

Grace, grace, God’s grace,
Grace that will pardon and cleanse within;
Grace, grace, God’s grace,
Grace that is greater than all our sin.

Sin and despair, like the sea waves cold,
Threaten the soul with infinite loss;
Grace that is greater, yes, grace untold,
Points to the refuge, the mighty cross.

Refrain

Dark is the stain that we cannot hide.
What can avail to wash it away?
Look! There is flowing a crimson tide,
Brighter than snow you may be today.

Refrain

Marvelous, infinite, matchless grace,
Freely bestowed on all who believe!
You that are longing to see His face,
Will you this moment His grace receive?

Refrain

http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/g/g/ggreater.htm


Be blessed!

The Lord is my refuge, my place of safety

PSALM 91 (NEW LIVING TRANSLATION)
1 Those who live in the shelter of the Most High
will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
2 This I declare about the Lord:
He alone is my refuge, my place of safety;
he is my God, and I trust him.
3 For he will rescue you from every trap
and protect you from deadly disease.
4 He will cover you with his feathers.
He will shelter you with his wings.
His faithful promises are your armor and protection.
5 Do not be afraid of the terrors of the night,
nor the arrow that flies in the day.
6 Do not dread the disease that stalks in darkness,
nor the disaster that strikes at midday.
7 Though a thousand fall at your side,
though ten thousand are dying around you,
these evils will not touch you.
8 Just open your eyes,
and see how the wicked are punished.

9 If you make the Lord your refuge,
if you make the Most High your shelter,
10 no evil will conquer you;
no plague will come near your home.
11 For he will order his angels
to protect you wherever you go.
12 They will hold you up with their hands
so you won’t even hurt your foot on a stone.
13 You will trample upon lions and cobras;
you will crush fierce lions and serpents under your feet!

14 The Lord says, “I will rescue those who love me.
I will protect those who trust in my name.
15 When they call on me, I will answer;
I will be with them in trouble.
I will rescue and honor them.
16 I will reward them with a long life
and give them my salvation.”

DAY 101: SONGS, SIGNS AND WONDERS

We (four generations of us, one of each) continue to have family worship twice a day on most week days, and also attend the twice weekly prayer house worship. The youngest of us is six years and ten months old. She has acquired the habit of worship and has become the self-appointed organizer of worship. Every morning she will get the sitting room ready complete with a cushion for each person to kneel, exercise mats in two rolls, hymn books, Bibles, notebook (for us to write down spirit songs, if any), and ball pens.
The four of us love to sing. We each sing in our own ways. The master of the house used to be the worst singer. The mistress of the house can sing reasonably well. The guest is a spirit-filled intercessor who sings very high pitch songs (mostly spirit songs). The little one sings softly in her own childish way. All cannot read music notes.
Our meeting has four parts: songs, prayer in the Spirit, Bible reading, and more songs.
Initially only the Spirit-filled intercessor visitor could sing spirit song or see visions. The two other grown-ups and the young child had not displayed such gifts. After seeking God for sometime, the master of the house had developed the gift of seeing a bit of visions (in words and in pictures). Lately he developed the gift of singing (followed by interpreting and writing songs) in the spirit.
When the little one joined us for holiday she soon learned to hum songs in the spirit and pray in the spirit. She loves the worship sessions and has participated in and stayed throughout every meeting without fail. Of course she fell asleep (like any normal little child) while prostrating on the floor during late night prayer house meetings. Yesterday morning she participated in the whole Bible reading session in the prayer house. Three of us grown-ups were given the book of Isaiah to read (all sixty-six chapters). The little one helped us to read two chapters. Then she read five chapters in the Gospel of Mark. We finished reading aloud the book of Isaiah in two hours.
The little one is so used to such meetings that yesterday afternoon she voluntarily joined a group of adult ladies’ fellowship and knelt and bowed down with them and prayed in tongue when they were interceding in a home fellowship in this house. The prayer meeting was the first ever since its inception so Spirit-filled and charged up. The usually quiet and subdued ladies were loudly praying in the Spirit and extended the meeting by one hour!
The mistress of the house has been a committed Christian for over twenty years, actively serving God for a long time, recently seeking God in the spirit after attending a course on waiting upon God. She felt disappointed as she saw others heard from God, saw visions, and could sing spirit songs, whereas she could not. She felt she wanted to know God more and was hindered by the lack. She told God her feeling. During the last few days she progressed to seeing visions and yesterday she began to sing in tune as in spirit songs.
All we can say is that we cannot limit God. All we can do is to seek Him with thirst and hunger in our spirits and wait upon Him regardless of our feelings or experiences.
This morning I prayed for my own career and ministry, if any. As I worshipped and prayed in the spirit, I saw myself in two consecutive scenes. First I was playing a guitar to the audience of trees, as in a forest. There seemed to be flowing streams as well. The second scene was I playing a violin, to the open field with green grass, flowers and butterflies. The land could be hilly but I am not sure. In my mind I had words like spread, disburse, and grow.
I do not play both musical instruments. I do not consider myself having any talent to learn either. So far I only managed to sing and write in crude numerical symbols of the music I had created. Rationally I cannot imagine myself pursuing a musical direction in my career or in ministry. This vision is not a result of my wish fulfillment.
The spiritual development has led me and others to know God as a limitless God. Yes, He performs songs, signs and wonders in our lives.
AAA Jack
June 13 2009

DAY 98B: MY UTMOST FOR HIS HIGHEST

Reading what I have recorded lately, one cannot help but wonder how such a lot of unusual things could have happened to one ordinary person? Perhaps the person is just bragging or exaggerating. Perhaps the person is indeed a multi-talented or very knowledgeable person. Perhaps the person is a bit loose in the head etc. of course I would have thought of the person that way too if I were not the person involved here.
I have taken pain to record as best I could of each encounter with God. There are times when I could not remember the exact details but the gist is there. I am interested in learning new things but I am not that knowledgeable. I like creative things but I am not that creative. For example, I used to sketch a lot when very young but I have never developed beyond simple caricature. I can hum a song but I cannot read the proper music scores. I cannot compose music or write songs. My hearing is good but my visual is poor. I do not play any musical instrument. I like reading and listening to spoken words more than words sung. I am a rational sane person. In fact I have avoided spiritual matters until recently when I started this Biblical living quest.
As I have written before my goal in this quest is to know more about God and what His plan is for my life. I am prepared to live out my destiny. I am learning to live Biblically and be real spiritually.
I had not expected much when I first started this series of blogs three months ago. I was not aware of what I had let myself into. Someone may wonder why God had allowed an ordinary believer to experience such a lot within such a short time. I marvel too. If I have to give an explanation, I can only come to the conclusion that it is because I want to know more about God. God cannot be limited to one aspect or one talent. God is multi-talented. When I did something unusual like singing a spirit song and even writing the tune and lyrics, I knew that is just another one of His many ways of revealing Himself to me.
When I sang those songs in spirit and later in words, I was touched by them. This morning I could sing how much I adore God, really meaning what I said. How have I been changed? I believe it was during all those hours of waiting in God’s presence, seeking to know Him more.
I pray that by sharing my experience with you, I may encourage you to seek God too, my friend.
AAA Jack
June 10 2009

day 93-96: Be clean and be blessed

DAY 93-94: FIRST CLEAN THE INSIDE OF THE CUP AND DISH
I was off to spiritual adventure (training) these two days! On Friday we took off after work. By the time we reached the seaside it was around 10.40pm at night.
We started our worship at 11pm, had a small supper, and continued to listen to message until 1.40am. The next morning we continued to have worship around 8am, followed by breakfast, and continued with message. We left before midday to a small town for lunch. After that I continued my journey to visit the parent in-laws at another small town. By the time we reached there it was late afternoon.
During the seaside retreat, I learned about spiritual warfare and self-deliverance from unclean spirits. It was a practical lesson, which I am required to practice if I want spiritual growth. I summarize below what I learned.
In Matthew 23:25-26, Jesus told off the religious leaders, “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you cleanse the outside of cup and dish, but inside they are full of extorting and self-indulgence. Blind Pharisee, first cleanse the inside of the cup and dish, that the outside of them may be clean also.”
The trainer explained Bible verses to us and showed that we all have a number of personality and behavioral traits that hinder us from spiritual growth and living like Jesus. There are people who appear to be good moral and behavior Christians who fall when faced with temptations. Why? How not to stumble like them? The preacher had the following solution for us:
1. Find out what evil is in us. What is your regular recurring weakness? For example, anger? Bitterness? Gluttony? Alcohol? Gambling? Lust? Pride? Jealousy?
2. Find out the root of the evil. Where does your anger come from? For example, were you involved in occult practice or idol worship before? The Chinese ‘goddess of mercy’ (originated from an Indian god) was an idol of anger. A Chinese man suffered from burst of violent anger which got uncontrollable. He subsequently realized that in the past he was a devout follower of this idol. So he knew the root of his evil. The evil spirit controlled him from within. The war is within. (Ephesians 6:12)
3. Believe that Jesus has given you the spiritual authority to cast out demons in Jesus name. (Mark 16:17)
4. After finding out, you need to practice binding this evil and casting it out of your system and put it under Jesus’ feet (to crush it).
The advice is ‘just do it’. Keep practicing until you are clean. Your anger does not recur. Your lust dies. Your filthy habit stops. Your obsession ceases. Your bondage broken and you are set free!
AAA Jack
June 5-6 2009
DAY 95-96: IF YOU KNOW THESE THINGS, BLESSED ARE YOU IF YOU DO THEM
In John 13, Jesus demonstrated to the disciples one practical way to receiving blessing. He washed their feet. He being the master washed the followers’ feet. They were shocked. But He told them, “If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.” (John 13:17)
Again, Jesus has shown us the way to God’s blessing is not what the world tends to think. Blessed are not those who ask others to wash their feet. Blessed are those who voluntarily wash others’ feet! Note that there are two steps required:
1. Know these things.
2. Do them.
Seek to know God. Know God through knowing Jesus. Then do what Jesus has asked us to do. We shall be blessed. It sounds simple. However, not easy to do. How many of us are willing to do something that the world considers lowly and not commensurate with our social status? For that matter, how many are willing to seek God just to know Him more?
It is not easy to practice what Jesus has said. But it is dangerous not to try. Jesus warned, the thief (enemy of God) will come and steal, kill and destroy. There is danger lurking out there in the spiritual realm. When we read the Bible seriously and let the Holy Spirit guide us, we will realize that what we are involved in is spiritual and we need to know God in the spirit to receive all that He has promised. The body and the mind cannot receive His communication. Your spirit is a switch. Switch on.
AAA Jack
June 7-8 2009