Jesus said: Who are the overcomers?

Who are the overcomers? We read what the Bible says.
Psalm 112:5-7 New King James Version (NKJV) He will never be shaken because his heart is steadfast and trusts in God

⁵ A good man deals graciously and lends;
He will guide his affairs with discretion.
⁶ Surely he will never be shaken;
The righteous will be in everlasting remembrance.
⁷ He will not be afraid of evil tidings;
His heart is steadfast, trusting in the Lord.

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Psalm 119:133 God’s words overcome evil.

Guide my steps by your word, so I will not be overcome by evil.

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Mark 9:23-24 Turn to Jesus and you will overcome your unbelief

Jesus said to him, “If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes.” The father instantly cried out, “I do believe, but help me overcome my unbelief!”

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Jesus told His disciples He has overcome the world (ruled by Satan)

John 16:33

I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.”

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Jesus’ disciples overcame too! So can Jesus’ followers today -those who keep God’s commands and hold fast their testimony about Jesus. (Revelation 12:17)

Revelation 12:11 end time overcomers against “the great dragon, the serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world” (Revelation 12:9)

“And thy overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and thy did not love their lives to the death.”

James 4:7

Therefor submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.

end times church countdown: visions for the night

During the last conference for intercessor the watchman saw gloomy night visions about end times. He duly recorded the pictures which he summarised as follows for other intercessor watchmen.

1. 2 night scenes of rows of tall trees thickly linked to each other along the side of a road and a slope respectively. These are trees of righteousness planted by the Lord (Isa.61:3)

2. 2 scenes of entrances to underground tunnels with a few people walking toward the entrances.

3. 2 night scenes of a man looking from a valley with steep slopes on both sides. One scene showed the slopes as dark but the sky beyond the valley was of white light. Another scene showed the slopes as of white light but the night sky beyond the valley was pitch dark. (Isa.21:12)

4. An indoor scene: inside a big empty hall lined and packed with rows of empty chairs (like a run down theatre) with one or two persons or spirits(?) standing around. (The watchman’s spirit knew that it was an ex-mega church at end times. The members had deserted back into the world during the rule of the beast as they had never learned to live supernaturally without the worldly system). Then he heard a clear reminder: “There is no such thing as being a ‘BYSTANDER’. You are either in or out.”

5. 2 snow scenes: one view was from indoor looking through the window. It was bleak and void of lives out there. In another scene he could only see the heads of a few people sticking out of the snow.

6. On more cheerful note, he saw scene of buttery yellow/golden fluid flowing down all walls when the anointing of the Holy Spirit poured (at that time, the speaker confirmed his vision by asking all participants to lift up their hands to receive the anointing). In another session he saw cosmic activity in the heavenly realm in various shades of purple flowing like thick fluid. It was indeed an awesome sight, confirming the greatness of our God and the might of His hands.

Note: The theme of the teaching during the conference was on Revelation 12 and Daniel 12.

Isaiah 21:12 12 The watchman said,

“ The morning comes, and also the night.

If you will inquire, inquire;

Return! Come back!”

End times church Countdown: Christmas prophecy for country and a present for your family

The watchman wrote a blog last Christmas all about dreams and visions he had for his family. This year he wondered what he would encounter in his spirit. So he waited.

____________PROPHECY ONE: a stern warning to nation




On this eve of Christmas he rose as usual and started interceding for another matters. He asked about the prophecy of another senior intercessor and whether his country will be spared just as she has prophecied. He was shown in his spirit the name of one Book, “Nahum“. He was not sure where that Book was located, but when he opened the Bible, the Bible opened on the page, Nahum, Chapter one. so he read the whole Book. It was a judgment on Nineveh, a very successful and well developed capital city at that time.

The conclusion of this Book for his country is frightening: Nahum chapter 3 ”15 But the fire will devour you; the sword will cut you down.
The enemy will consume you like locusts,
devouring everything they see.
There will be no escape,
even if you multiply like swarming locusts.

16 Your merchants have multiplied until they outnumber the stars. But like a swarm of locusts, they strip the land and fly away.

17 Your guards[d] and officials are also like swarming locusts that crowd together in the hedges on a cold day. But like locusts that fly away when the sun comes up, all of them will fly away and disappear. 18 Your shepherds are asleep, O Assyrian king; your princes lie dead in the dust.

Your people are scattered across the mountains with no one to gather them together. 19 There is no healing for your wound; your injury is fatal. All who hear of your destruction will clap their hands for joy. Where can anyone be found who has not suffered from your continual cruelty?”

War defeat, economic failure, political/governmental corruptions/strives and downfalls, religious slumbering, sufferings and oppressions etc. are exactly what happens today. Indeed, the enemy in the spiritual realm consumes like locusts. The country is rich in resources and well developed, and yet, as described in Chapter 2:8-10 ”Nineveh is like a leaking water reservoir! The people are slipping away.

“Stop, stop!” someone shouts, but no one even looks back.
9 Loot the silver! Plunder the gold! There’s no end to Nineveh’s treasures—its vast, uncounted wealth.
10 Soon the city is plundered, empty, and ruined. Hearts melt and knees shake. The people stand aghast, their faces pale and trembling.”


_______________PROPHECY TWO: a Christmas present for family

Enough of gloom. On the eve of Christmas after interceding for his country, he asked the Lord what the future of his own family be like. He was told to read one Book in the Bible particularly one particular chapter. This was the third time he was told that their future will be there. In fact he has forgotten all about this Book and the chapter he was asked to read the last time he asked the Lord on the same topic.

By now the watchman knows how the Holy Spirit talks to him. In fact he has been receiving messages this way. When he asked the Lord, he will receive answer instantly through the Word. Sometimes he forgot that he has asked before and he asked the same topic again and received exactly the same answer!

He does not celebrate the season and give physical gifts anymore. The harsh and sudden wintry cold he has seen in his earlier visions has indeed arrived all over the world! Even in the hottest zone the temperature dropped to below freezing point! Is there anywhere safe in this world to run to and hide? The Lord has answered that question for his family!
He will not reveal the place in this blog but he will let his family know. Are they special people? Not more special than any believing followers of the Lord Jesus Christ!

However, the watchman shares the clue as follows. He prays that all who are led by the Holy Spirit will know the answer.

CLUE TO END TIMES SURVIVAL FOR YOU AND YOUR LOVED ONES:


BE LED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT. PRACTICE LIVING SUPERNATURALLY, JUST AS THE SAVIOR JESUS HAS DONE WHEN HE WAS ON EARTH.


How to do that? You need to read and believe every word in the Bible for a start! What other better way to herald in the New Year than to gather your whole family to exercising your faith, fast and pray and read through the whole Bible from Genesis to Revelation? As you seek the Lord you will find. God is pleased with faith. (Heb.11:1-3, 6)

End Times Church Countdown: Calling Retired Watchmen!

Again, the watchman is led to the same Old Way, “Enter through the narrow gate!” There had been many visions and dreams and words of confirmation lately. Just as Daniel had prophesied, a time, times and half a time seem rushing in…He recalled the first vision of Jesus who came to him in a hurry, handing out a scroll to him.

He could not believe when he heard himself praying recently. Yes, he was praying for faraway nations and people whom he had never met. One morning during his intercession in the prayer house, he was close to tears when he suddenly recalled a vision he saw a year ago of blood and fire sweeping through that vast ancient land like avalanche.

Lord, Lord, there are so few of us and so vast a sea to salvage…he felt completely helpless when he realized that the recent two dreams of three dysfunctional churches he heard from someone aptly described churches in that ancient land he saw a year ago in his dream.

Indeed he has known this for quite sometime. People of God had been crying day and night for the Word of God. But he has wished that many others would hear and go instead of him alone.

When Prophet Elijah had practically worn out himself trying to flee from his tormentor, the Lord told him that He had in fact preserved 7000 like Elijah in a small nation like Israel. In short, the Lord has multiple backup plan.

Thus, one morning the watchman cried out as hope surged in his heart, O Lord, raise the Elijah and Ezra currently hiding (resting) in their respective hamlets (peaceful retirement), wake them from their hibernation now please!

He has taken to blowing his ram horn towards the four corners of the earth. O, retired watchmen, wake up, arise, shine! Surely some (the Caleb of watchmen) will hear the call and respond. Surely he would not be blowing in vain. Ezra had called and a group of Levites, led by Sherebiah responded with his sons and brothers (18 of them), and others too.

The Lord’s gracious hand was upon Ezra when he obeyed his calling. Yes, the Lord’s gracious hand is still working mightily today!


Ezekiel 3

1 And he said to me, “Son of man, eat what is before you, eat this scroll; then go and speak to the house of Israel.” 2 So I opened my mouth, and he gave me the scroll to eat.
3 Then he said to me, “Son of man, eat this scroll I am giving you and fill your stomach with it.” So I ate it, and it tasted as sweet as honey in my mouth.
4 He then said to me: “Son of man, go now to the house of Israel and speak my words to them. 5 You are not being sent to a people of obscure speech and difficult language, but to the house of Israel- 6 not to many peoples of obscure speech and difficult language, whose words you cannot understand. Surely if I had sent you to them, they would have listened to you. 7 But the house of Israel is not willing to listen to you because they are not willing to listen to me, for the whole house of Israel is hardened and obstinate. 8 But I will make you as unyielding and hardened as they are. 9 I will make your forehead like the hardest stone, harder than flint. Do not be afraid of them or terrified by them, though they are a rebellious house.”
10 And he said to me, “Son of man, listen carefully and take to heart all the words I speak to you. 11 Go now to your countrymen in exile and speak to them. Say to them, ‘This is what the Sovereign LORD says,’ whether they listen or fail to listen.”

Ezekiel 22:30
30 “I looked for a man among them who would build up the wall and stand before me in the gap on behalf of the land so I would not have to destroy it, but I found none.
Ezra 8

Ezra’s Journey to Jerusalem

15 I assembled the exiles at the Ahava Canal, and we camped there for three days while I went over the lists of the people and the priests who had arrived. I found that not one Levite had volunteered to come along.18 Since the gracious hand of our God was on us, they sent us a man named Sherebiah, along with eighteen of his sons and brothers. He was a very astute man and a descendant of Mahli, who was a descendant of Levi son of Israel.

End Times Witnessing: How a Wine-Taster Nehemiah won the war

Nehemiah was not a warrior in the natural sense. He was just a man spending his life tasting wine and keeping the king and queen happy. However, that was his public life. In private he was a man of God. He studied the Word of God diligently and prayed and fasted before God to seek God’s will and purpose for him, despite the apparent futility as he was a captive in the enemy’s court and living a life of subjugation and humiliation. He was a man led by the Spirit. He was an overcomer!

With God’s favor, he took up the 12 years assignment to become a governor of Jerusalem and finished the rebuilding of Jerusalem walls in 52 days!

The neighboring enemies mocked, insulted, blatantly threatened harms, secretly plotted to attack and kill. They also tried soft tactics four times with the motive of murder and when failed adopted poison letter to accuse and slander Nehemiah of treason. They even hired a prophet to falsify, intimidate, and make him sin so they could discredit him.

HOW DID NEHEMIAH WIN THE WAR?

1. He prayed to God. He knew God. He identified with God’s will.

2. He focussed on the work: ie. to continue building and complete the walls within the shortest possible time (in 52 days).

3. He stuck to the truth (God’s plumb line -His Word and His will)

4. He was not afraid to die but he would not die for useless and foolish purpose.

5. He identified with his people’s needs and met their needs.

6. He posted guards. In fact he armed all builders. (Our enemies today are in the spiritual realm: we need to put on the full armor of God and stand guard as we continue building our temple of God and personal Jerusalem).

Enemies Oppose the Rebuilding: Chapter 4

FIRST ROUND OF ATTACK FROM ENEMY: BY INSULTS

1-2 “What does this bunch of poor, feeble Jews think they’re doing? (insulting the Jews: limited manpower) Do they think they can build the wall in a single day by just offering a few sacrifices? (insulting their worship to God: limitation of their temple worship) “Do they actually think they can make something of stones from a rubbish heap-and charred ones at that?” (Hit at their present problems/weak points: limitation in building materials/resources)

3 “That stone wall would collapse if even a fox walked along the top of it!” (insulting their capability: limitation of skill and equipment)

NEHEMIAH RESPONDED BY PRAYER: 4 Then I prayed, “Hear us, our God, for we are being mocked. May their scoffing fall back on their own heads, ..Do not blot out their sins, for they have provoked you to anger here in front of the builders.” (Pray to God to take up their case; continue building)

SECOND ROUND OF ATTACK FROM ENEMY: THREAT OF HARM

6 At last the wall was completed to half its height around the entire city, for the people had worked with enthusiasm. (people cheered by short term success) 7 But when Sanballat and Tobiah and the Arabs, Ammonites, and Ashdodites heard.., they were furious. 8 They all made plans to come and fight against Jerusalem and throw us into confusion. 9 But we prayed to our God and guarded the city day and night to protect ourselves.

THIRD ROUND OF ATTACK FROM INSIDE AND OUTSIDE: WEARINESS AND THREAT/SCHEME OF ATTACK

10 Then the people of Judah began to complain, “The workers are getting tired, and there is so much rubble to be moved. We will never be able to build the wall by ourselves.” (His workers complained: tired, too much rubble; not enough manpower.)

11 Meanwhile, our enemies were saying, “Before they know what’s happening, we will swoop down on them and kill them and end their work.”

Enemy threatened to attack them secretly.

12 The Jews who lived near the enemy came and told us again and again, “They will come from all directions and attack us!” (Jews frightened and kept repeating bad reports.)

13 So I placed armed guards behind the lowest parts of the wall in the exposed areas. I stationed the people to stand guard by families, armed with swords, spears, and bows.

(Nehemiah responded by positioning armed guards, and arming families.)

14 Then as I looked over the situation, I called together the nobles and the rest, “Don’t be afraid of the enemy! Remember the Lord, who is great and glorious, and fight for your families and your homes!” (Nehemiah also spoke encouraging words to his people.)

15 When our enemies heard that we knew of their plans and that God had frustrated them, we all returned to our work on the wall. (Enemy knew that the Jews have defense and halted their attack plan.)

v16 -23 Nehemiah continued to be vigilant against the enemy attack and armed his people.

Nehemiah 6 -Continued Opposition to Rebuilding: chapter six

FOURTH ROUND OF ATTACK FROM ENEMY: BY FAKE PEACE GESTURE & SLANDER

..our enemies found out that I had finished rebuilding the wall and that no gaps remained—..not yet set up the doors in the gates. 2 So Sanballat and Geshem sent a message asking me to meet them at one of the villages ..(enemy tried new tactic: pretend to be peaceful, but try to lure him to a remote place to murder him)

But I realized they were plotting to harm me, 3 so I replied .: “I am engaged in a great work, so I can’t come. Why should I stop working to come and meet with you?” (Nehemiah responded with discernment and avoided the danger) 4-7 the enemies tried five times making up story he wants to be king, but failed to distract Nehemiah. v8 I replied, “There is no truth in any part of your story. You are making up the whole thing.” (Nehemiah listened to the Holy Spirit, feared God and not fear men.) 9 “They were just trying to intimidate us, imagining that they could discourage us and stop the work. So I continued the work with even greater determination.”

FIFTH ROUND OF ATTACK FROM ENEMY: BY DECEPTION (FALSE PROPHECY FOR HIS DISCREDIT)

10-11 I replied, “Should someone in my position run from danger? Should someone in my position enter the Temple to save his life? No, I won’t do it!” 13 They were hoping to intimidate me and make me sin. Then they would be able to accuse and discredit me. (Nehemiah was able to discern in his spirit accurately and choose to obey God and not man)

The Builders Complete the Wall

15-19 “So on October 2 the wall was finished—just fifty-two days after we had begun.” Enemies were frightened and humiliated. They realized this work had been done with the help of our God. But There were enemies’ alliances among the nobles of Judah who spied on Nehemiah.

NEHEMIAH FIVE: SIXTH ROUND OF ATTACK FROM INSIDE: BY OPPRESSION

People protested against their fellow Jews.

The people borrowed money to pay taxes and sold their children as slaves to pay off their debts etc. they also lost their lands to the wealthy because of their debts.

Nehemiah’s response:  He was very angry at first. 7 “After thinking it over, I spoke out against these nobles and officials. He pointed out that the poor have been redeemed from the foreigners. How can the Jews make them slaves again?

9 “Should you not walk in the fear of our God in order to avoid being mocked by enemy nations?”

(He took the lead to redress the economic imbalances and social oppressions).

TODAY’S APPLICATION: SUMMARY OF ENEMIES’ TACTICS

1. Insult and verbal abuse: enemies tried to make the Jews builders focus on their present problems (limitations of resources: skilled manpower and finances; their ‘unrealistic’ hope for resumption of a worship life as before prior their fall to Babylon).

(Are you aware that even a seemingly harmless little ‘fox’ can crush your fragile walls when you focus on the present problems and the physical aspects?)

2. Intensified attack at midpoint by further verbal threat of violence: enemies make plan to physically attack and harm them; the threat aims to throw them into fear and confusion.

(At midpoint when some success is achieved is the time when the enemies would intensify attacks, like threats of violence and harm).

3. Sabotage from within: Jewish builders complained (too much work and not enough workers); Jewish people who lived near the enemies gave bad reports of enemies’ threats. Jewish nobles who collaborated with the enemies spied on Nehemiah and his building project and reported to the enemies, also trying to distract him from carrying out his building work.

(Internal strives causing divisions among Christians is the most common tactic by the spiritual enemy.)

4. More Intensified attack: enemies planned to attack suddenly and secretly and kill them.

(Enemies are serious. They came to steal, kill and destroy. John 10:10)

5. Fake Peace Gesture: to make him compromise or get him murdered; when failed, the enemies slandered him.

(Beware of enemies’ sweet talk and change of gesture -from a violent stance to a peaceful stance!)

6.  Further serious sabotage from within: The poor people were oppressed by their richer counterparts. People had to mortgage their lands and vineyards to get food and pay taxes. Eventually they were forced to sell their slaves into slavery for the rich.

(Economic hardship is the usual seed of discontent and disunity. That is why the Bible teaches us to take care of the poor.)

7. Enemies’ last Resort -attack from a trusted source: the enemies even hired a religious person (a Jewish prophet) to try to lure Nehemiah into hiding in the temple and thus discredit him.

(Always check and verify the words from men against the Word from God. Be well-versed with the Bible. Learn to walk closely with God and listen to the Holy Spirit. Sons of God are led by the Holy Spirit. Jesus’ sheep listen to His voice!)