Journey in the Holy Spirit: being spiritual

Because this blog is all about God, I am reluctant to say much about my own thoughts or sharing my life. But I have been witnessing the increasing chasm between the spiritual and carnal Christians (those who are more accustomed to use their five senses) all over the world. So I have decided to share a bit here, despite the limitation of my words.
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I have lived in different parts of the world and have encountered different customs and cultures for the bulk of my life.
In the last ten years I have gradually encountered the reality of the holy God in the Spirit, in the Bible and in life. I realized what it means to have the reverent fear of the Lord (Isaiah 11:2). This means agreeing the spiritual existence of absolute good and evil and the final accountability everyone must give to the holy God, who abhors things done not of the Spirit, but out of man’s flesh or carnality.
Jesus has Himself declared, the ruler of this world has nothing in Him. His disciples followed the same principle.

When one aligns with God, one does not yearn to be the same as the Jones. What do Christians have to do with evil? Why bring in their customs and cultures which are abominations in the eyes of the holy God? God wants us set apart for Him, away from the world and its customs, just as He had warned the Israel people. 
Being spiritual means we live in awareness of two realms: the physical and the spiritual. The spiritual reality governs the physical. All customs and cultures have a spiritual realm where the spiritual rulers rule and direct their adherents’ lives. Apostle Paul had revealed this truth in Ephesians 6:12.
Our Lord Jesus warned the disciples to be spiritually discerning when sending them into the world! “Look, I am sending you out as sheep among wolves. So be as shrew as snakes and harmless as doves.” (Matthew 10:16) Jesus was talking about the physical as well as spiritual enemies. Why? Because they were stepping into spiritual enemy’s territory as they go out and witness for Jesus!

The pagans know better about the spiritual. They are wise on what to avoid and when. For example, different cultures round the world have their own ‘ghost’ festivals. The Chinese called the Halloween in the West, the Westerners’ ‘ghost’ night, the night when the evil spirits paraded, (like the Chinese July month when hell opened its gates and let the hungry demons come out) and they avoid going out that night! Other pagan religions too have their own ghost periods and festivals.
A spiritually discerning person can see spirits. They see spirits in unclean houses, the streets, schools, offices, hospitals, shopping malls, movie theaters, and funeral parlors. A normally fit and healthy rational German Christian man recently testified that he walked under the air vent of a shopping mall, and saw this huge black thing coming at him, entered and went through him. He was instantly hit with severe pain and collapsed on the floor. His wife and daughter who regularly attend a Spirit-filled, Bible believing and adhering church, took authority using the name of Jesus, prayed fervently, as he lied there near dead, gasping for breath. he finally survived. The experience was traumatic.
When Christians stay away from certain locations during certain time, they merely obey the leading of the Spirit of the Lord, who is holy. The evil spirits know too whether you are walking in the Holy Spirit or not. The seven sons of the priest were attacked by the evil spirit because they knew Jesus and apostle Paul walked in the power of the Holy Spirit, but this group of exorcists did not. This group of believers were trying to do the right thing, casting demon, using the mighty name of the Lord Jesus. But they were not sent by the Lord. They went on their own flesh and of course they suffered the terrible consequences.
When God sent Moses to Egypt to confront Pharaoh, the Lord gave him spiritual power to overcome the territorial evil spirits controlling the land there. When the prophet Samuel patrolled the Israel land he was just one man, but the territorial spirit of the Philistines feared him, because he walked in the Spirit of the Lord. None of his words fell to the ground. He merely spoke and the words took effect.
Unless we are sent by the Lord and walk in discernment of the spiritual realm and in the power of the Holy Spirit, we do not do exploits. This is what I have learned over thirty years being a born again Christian, after having suffered immense loss.
So what shall an ordinary Christian do? Find out more about the reality of God and His words, the Bible. The Bible cannot be read as a knowledge book. Do not rationalize away the real meaning and purpose of the holy words. Jesus has warned clearly, as the pharisees and other religious leaders, even His own followers/disciples did not believe in the spiritual reality of Jesus and what Jesus has represented. Read the four Gospels again. Ask the Lord Holy Spirit to guide you. Daily pray the prayers of apostle Paul in his letter to the Ephesians (1:16-23; 3:14-21).
What happens if some still cannot hear the Holy Spirit? I believe in the grace and mercy of God. Keep seeking to know God, keep asking His Spirit to reveal to you. For a start, daily praying the Lord’s Prayer can help you a lot, if you believe!
John 6:61-65 (NKJV)
⁶¹ When Jesus knew in Himself that His disciples complained about this, He said to them, “Does this offend you? ⁶² What then if you should see the Son of Man ascend where He was before? ⁶³ It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life. ⁶⁴ But there are some of you who do not believe.” For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were who did not believe, and who would betray Him. ⁶⁵ And He said, “Therefore I have said to you that no one can come to Me unless it has been granted to him by My Father.”

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Hell is real!

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.”

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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.

Watchman’s Adventure: One night journey from Lamentations to Revelation!

After midnight, while in a hotel room, the watchman could not sleep so he got up and read the Bible. He was led to read the following passages. It was like he was led through the whole salvation plan. He started from Lamentations wherein the poet prophet mourned the sad state of his nation and cried to God for help as he still had hope in the Lord’s mercy and grace (undeserved favor). Then he was led to read Mark on the full passage towards the end of Jesus’ ministry on earth: the humiliation He went through in the hands of human, His crucifixion, death and burial, and then His resurrection and the power and authority He gave to all believers to follow His footsteps.


After that he was led to read a warning message to a church urging repentance, as in Revelations 3:14-22. By the time he finished praying and proclaiming the word, he thought it was over and he could get to bed. But the Spirit said, carry on and read Chapter four. so he continued, ignoring his body and soul being drawn to sleep by then.

However, it was a wonderful surprise as he read on. Chapter Four brought him to the heavenly realm: “Come up here, and I will show you what must happen after this.” It was all about worship in heaven! So the watchman was elated. He has always wanted to go up there like John did and see! He prayed and was told he could ask about things for himself. So he did. At the end of his prayer he thought he saw a vision of the Lion of Judah in his room.

He was told by the Spirit to continue to read Chapter Five, and to his amazement and great joy, he found verse 5 says, “Stop weeping! Look, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the heir to David’s throne,has won the victory. He is worthy to open the scroll and its seven seals.”

Then he was led to read descriptions of his ‘job specifications’: ‘prayers of the saints’, ‘redeemed to God by His son’s blood’, ‘kings and priests to our ‘God’.

One final bonus for his night journey: he started to hear unusual sound. It sounded like rushing waters or winds or rustling leaves in the most pleasant ways. He thought it was rain as it originated from above and outside his window. He went to the window and looked out but there was no rain. The night was quiet and still. He listened for a long time and wondered what it was. When he decided to sleep, it stopped. The next morning he read the passage again and realized that it could be the sound of a mighty heavenly choir (made up of hundreds of thousands of angels, living creatures, elders in heaven, creatures on the earth, under the earth and in the sea)! (Rev.5:11-13)

Indeed, it was a very awesome night journey for the watchman in the Holy Spirit!

Lamentations 3 Hope in the Lord’s Faithfulness
1 I am the one who has seen the afflictions that come from the rod of the Lord’s anger.
8 And though I cry and shout, he has shut out my prayers.
58 Lord, you are my lawyer! Plead my case! For you have redeemed my life.
59 You have seen the wrong they have done to me, Lord. Be my judge, and prove me right.
60 You have seen the vengeful plots my enemies have laid against me.

(The watchman says: Indeed the Lord has taken up this petition. He has heard and adjudicated. He has even paid the penalty for all who believe in Jesus! Jesus alone has borne the rod thirty nine strokes of whipping on His back.)

Mark 15:16-47 Jesus was mocked, crucified, buried
16 The soldiers took Jesus into the courtyard of the governor’s headquarters 18 Then they saluted him and taunted, “Hail! King of the Jews!” 24 Then the soldiers nailed him to the cross. 31 The leading priests and teachers of religious law also mocked Jesus. 46 Joseph bought a long sheet of linen cloth. Then he took Jesus’ body down from the cross, wrapped it in the cloth, and laid it in a tomb.

Mark 16 The Resurrection
but the angel said, “Don’t be alarmed. You are looking for Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He isn’t here! He is risen from the dead! 15 And then He (Jesus) told them (the disciples), “Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone. 20 And the disciples went everywhere and preached, and the Lord worked through them, confirming what they said by many miraculous signs.

(The watchman says: The risen Lord has given His believers power and authority to do the work He has done on earth, even greater ones. This is the Kingdom on God on earth.)

Revelation 3 The Message to the Church in Laodicea
14“Write this letter to the angel of the church in Laodicea. 15 “I know all the things you do, that you are neither hot nor cold. I wish that you were one or the other! 16 But since you are like lukewarm water, neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth! 19 I correct and discipline everyone I love. So be diligent and turn from your indifference.

20 “Look! I stand at the door and knock. If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal together as friends. 21 Those who are victorious will sit with me on my throne, just as I was victorious and sat with my Father on his throne. 22 “Anyone with ears to hear must listen to the Spirit and understand what he is saying to the churches.”

(The watchman says: This church is in deep trouble, being held bondage by a spirit of deception and a host of other evil spirits! Jesus (and the Holy Spirit) is outside and not inside. Can they hear His voice? Will they open the door? Are they willing to be corrected and disciplined? All these are the conditions set in this passage… O resist the devil and submit to God! Stop fooling yourself that you are already victorious if there is no Jesus (God) with you!)

Revelation 4 Worship in Heaven

1 Then as I looked, I saw a door standing open in heaven, and the same voice I had heard before spoke to me like a trumpet blast. The voice said, “Come up here, and I will show you what must happen after this.” 2 And instantly I was in the Spirit, and I saw a throne in heaven and someone sitting on it. 3 The one sitting on the throne was as brilliant as gemstones—like jasper and carnelian. And the glow of an emerald circled his throne like a rainbow. 9 Whenever the living beings give glory and honor and thanks to the one sitting on the throne (the one who lives forever and ever), 10 the twenty-four elders fall down and worship the one sitting on the throne (the one who lives forever and ever).

(The watchman says: He always wants to go up there!!!)

Revelation 5 The Lamb Opens the Scroll

5 But one of the twenty-four elders said to me, “Stop weeping! Look, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the heir to David’s throne,has won the victory. He is worthy to open the scroll and its seven seals.” 6 Then I saw a Lamb that looked as if it had been slaughtered, but it was now standing between the throne…He had seven horns and seven eyes, which represent the sevenfold Spirit of God 8 And when he took the scroll, the four living beings and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp, and they held gold bowls filled with incense, which are the prayers of God’s people. 9 And they sang a new song with these words:

“You are worthy to take the scroll and break its seals and open it.

For you were slaughtered, and your blood has ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation.

10 And you have caused them to become a Kingdom of priests for our God. And they will reign on the earth.”

11 Then I looked again, and I heard the voices of thousands and millions of angels around the throne and of the living beings and the elders. 12 And they sang in a mighty chorus: …13 And then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea. They sang: …14 And the four living beings said, “Amen!” And the twenty-four elders fell down and worshiped the Lamb.

End Times Witnessing: Today it is all about Life

TODAY’S food for thought for watchman: Why ponder over LIFE?

What makes the watchman ponder about life today?
In the past four weeks four persons with whom the watchman had acquainted passed away, all of whom (three men and one woman) died a sudden death, in their 30s, 40s and 50s. All were married with family. The three men came from one church.

The news had been saddening and even shattering for the unprepared.

The oldest man had had remissions from his previous stroke and his family was not prepared as he had recovered his functioning well for a number of years. He left behind his wife, adult children and young grand children.

The youngest man had good report from his yearly medical check-up until the sudden discovery of end stage liver cancer. He decided to join his wife and became a Christian after receiving his medical diagnosis. He left behind his young wife and two young boys.
The middle-aged man had rarely complained of medical illness until he suddenly developed liver ailments. He became a Christian earlier than the other two men did. He and his wife became estranged after years of unresolved family strife. At his death, the wife and daughter had already left him for over a year. His only son came home from another town to handle the funeral on his own.

The woman had heard the Gospel a number of times but had not pursued further. She befriended a devout Buddhist and lately opted to listen to the chanting of Buddhist monk daily until her sudden death (aneurysm in her brain). She left behind husband and two daughters.

Yes, the spirit of death came stealthily in the darkest hour of the night and took their lives unexpectedly.

Seeing death coming in like a flood, taking one life per week within a tiny community of familiar people, makes one notice how fragile the physical part of life can be. Even though he had not seen them for many years, he attended two men’s wake night services. Listening to the usual wake night sermons made him think of the words of Jesus about the meaning of life according to God. Where does life come from? Who can give life? Where does one’s spirit go when life on earth is extinguished?

It is time to read the word of Jesus again, this time, with belief in our hearts. Take heed what we hear today!

Watchman’s advice: You need to believe in the supernatural and spiritual reality to understand this. There is one crucial condition for entry to heaven, as stated below by Jesus, the Son of God Himself:

John 3:3, 5 New King James Version (NKJV)
3 “Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” 5 Jesus answered, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.

Matthew 7:14 Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it. Matthew 10:39 He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it. Matthew 16:25 For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.

Luke 10:25 [ The Parable of the Good Samaritan ] And behold, a certain lawyer stood up and tested Him, saying, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” Luke 12:15 And He said to them, “Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses.”

Luke 12:22 [ Do Not Worry ] Then He said to His disciples, “Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; nor about the body, what you will put on. Luke 12:23 Life is more than food, and the body is more than clothing. Luke 21:34 [ The Importance of Watching ] “But take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that Day come on you unexpectedly.

John 1:4 In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. John 3:15 that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. John 3:36 He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.”

John 5:21 For as the Father raises the dead and gives life to them, even so the Son gives life to whom He will.John 5:24 [ Life and Judgment Are Through the Son ] “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life. John 5:40 But you are not willing to come to Me that you may have life.

John 6:27 Do not labor for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to everlasting life, which the Son of Man will give you, because God the Father has set His seal on Him.”

John 6:63 It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life.

John 10:10 The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly. John 10:11

“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep. John 10:28 And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. John 11:25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. John 14:6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.

Jesus prayed this to the Father (God): John 17:2 as You have given Him authority over all flesh, that He should give eternal life to as many as You have given Him. John 17:3 And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.

John 20:31 but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name.

_____________________________Word of warning:
Romans 8:5-8 New Living Translation (NLT)

5 Those who are dominated by the sinful nature think about sinful things, but those who are controlled by the Holy Spirit think about things that please the Spirit. 6 So letting your sinful nature control your mind leads to death. But letting the Spirit control your mind leads to life and peace. 7 For the sinful nature is always hostile to God. It never did obey God’s laws, and it never will. 8 That’s why those who are still under the control of their sinful nature can never please God.
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Watchman’s comment: Often people do not know what they are worshiping. Letting one’s mind controlled by something (giving inroad to other spirits) that is not God leads to death. Very sad indeed. If you do not know God, seek to know Him. Meanwhile stay away from all forms of spirits (including spiritual philosophy).

Spiritual realm is real. God is real. Do not ignore this truth. Your family needs you. God loves you and wants you to have eternal life through His Son, who gave His life for you. Seek the true God who gives life now!

Watchman’s Adventure: Breakthrough from mental health into spiritual health perspectives

Having spent the previous night with brethren in Christ interceding, the watchman could still feel the heaviness in his spirit on the next morning. The more he hears of others’ familial problems, the more he realizes how much inroad the enemy has made into the lives of human beings. Practically every family (Christians no exception) has been infiltrated! The frightening part is that the Christians are not even aware of this spiritual infiltration and carry on their daily lives just like any other ‘dysfunctional’ pre-believer’s family, constantly in strife, division, anger, even mutual hatred and torment!

In mental health, such families are described as dysfunctional or malfunctioning. The members involved are described as having mental and emotional issues which require treatment (medicine and psycho-therapy). Such individuals are termed certain psychological terms (e.g. having depression, anxiety, mood disorders, personality disorders etc.). However, like studying and knowing medicine does not make one an effective doctor, having read and completed his postgraduate study including psychology and therapy has not made the watchman a more effective counselor. For years he has seen hopeless cases of human being forsaken by their families because they cannot be effectively treated to full recovery to fit into the society (to live the life their family expect them to live).

This significant group of human beings have their needs to be accepted by the society and their families and be loved too. They are often rejected, overlooked, and neglected by their families and the society at large. The reason why they are not easily accepted is because they cannot ‘function’ the way of the ‘norm’.

The family and society expect every one to fit into a pattern termed ‘functioning’. Deviations are termed ‘dysfunctioning’. Compliance to the ‘norm’ means ‘functioning’. The ‘norm’ is set by a group of people living together (e.g. a family, community, organization, society, nation).

What are the contents of the ‘norm’ of a family? Basic agreements and rules on hygiene, meals, housework, discipline, work and play, education and manners, relationship, communication, use of common resources and facilities, contributions, interactions, attitudes, values, beliefs, morals, behaviors, attitudes of living together and sharing, maintenance of the common living environment and shelter etc.

The watchman has found that in nearly every family there is a number (at least one-fourth) of people who cannot fit into the ‘norm’ required. Social, medical and psychological solutions cannot help those that he knows of. He has even once been given the task of rehabilitating an ADHD (attention deficit and hyperactive disorder) boy with LD (learning disorder) and OD (opposition disorder). For three years he battled with the symptoms with social, educational, and behavioral modification tools. He saw some positive physical results. But when the boy entered pre-teen, he rebelled in an uncontrollable way. He threw out everything he had learned. He obstructed violently against every effort to help him to ‘function’! He was hooked on to digital games like an addict to drugs (during which his heart rate went way beyond the ‘norm’ to dangerous high!)

The watchman was led to find a spiritual solution. The principal (a Christian pastor) of the boy’s school introduced him to a prayer house where the boy can receive prayers for supernatural healing and deliverance. The healing treatment consists of three parts: the presence of God (worship service), word of God (reading the Bible), and prayers. Nothing is out of the ordinary but people do get healed this way.

The only difference between such a place and the traditional church is the presence of God (in the Holy Spirit). The Holy Spirit does the work of healing, deliverance and sanctification. The word of God does the daily washing and cleansing. The redemptive work of Jesus on the cross is daily remembered through the Holy Communion as taught by the Lord too.

Although the boy soon decided to re-join his own parents, the watchman has stayed on in his journey in the Holy Spirit. He has experienced personal breakthrough.

Indeed, knowing the reality of the spiritual realm and how a Christian believer can effectively overcome his physical realm difficulties with spiritual authority and supernatural power according to the word of God, is a great relief. Breaking through from mental health into spiritual (divine) health perspectives is an absolute essential for any Christian counselor.

The battlefield is in the minds. How do we reach the minds to do battle? Only in the Spirit. God’s word is the sword of the Spirit. Praying in the Spirit is another essential weapon!

_________________________________Bible verses
Ephesians 6:12
New Living Translation (NLT)

12 For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.

Ephesians 6:13-18
New Living Translation (NLT)

13 Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm. 14 Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God’s righteousness. 15 For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared. 16 In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil. 17Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

18 Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere.

2 Corinthians 10:3-5
New Living Translation (NLT)

3 We are human, but we don’t wage war as humans do. 4 We use God’s mighty weapons, not worldly weapons, to knock down the strongholds of human reasoning and to destroy false arguments. 5 We destroy every proud obstacle that keeps people from knowing God. We capture their rebellious thoughts and teach them to obey Christ.

End Times Witnessing: “Do not scoff at spiritual matters!”

Today’s verse is on Jude 1. The passage is the entire Book of Jude. The watchman urges you to read and take heed today the importance to know and understand the spiritual realm is real.

Ponder and meditate on this truth: God is real, angels are real (good ones who minister to God and to believers; and bad ones-devil), heaven and hell are real, rewards and judgments are real. Prayers are real. Spiritual wars are real. The attacks by spiritual beings (devils) causing sickness on your bodies, minds and emotions are real. Eternal life and eternal death (by being forever separated from God) are real!


_______________________The watchman’s comment is at the end of the passage.

New Living Translation (NLT)
Jude 1
Greetings from Jude
1This letter is from Jude, a slave of Jesus Christ and a brother of James.
I am writing to all who have been called by God the Father, who loves you and keeps you safe in the care of Jesus Christ.
2May God give you more and more mercy, peace, and love.

The Danger of False Teachers
3 Dear friends, I had been eagerly planning to write to you about the salvation we all share. But now I find that I must write about something else, urging you to defend the faith that God has entrusted once for all time to his holy people. 4I say this because some ungodly people have wormed their way into your churches, saying that God’s marvelous grace allows us to live immoral lives. The condemnation of such people was recorded long ago, for they have denied our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.

5 So I want to remind you, though you already know these things, that Jesus first rescued the nation of Israel from Egypt, but later he destroyed those who did not remain faithful. 6 And I remind you of the angels who did not stay within the limits of authority God gave them but left the place where they belonged. God has kept them securely chained in prisons of darkness, waiting for the great day of judgment. 7And don’t forget Sodom and Gomorrah and their neighboring towns, which were filled with immorality and every kind of sexual perversion. Those cities were destroyed by fire and serve as a warning of the eternal fire of God’s judgment.

8 In the same way, these people—who claim authority from their dreams—live immoral lives, defy authority, and scoff at supernatural beings. 9 But even Michael, one of the mightiest of the angels, did not dare accuse the devil of blasphemy, but simply said, “The Lord rebuke you!” (This took place when Michael was arguing with the devil about Moses’ body.) 10 But these people scoff at things they do not understand. Like unthinking animals, they do whatever their instincts tell them, and so they bring about their own destruction. 11What sorrow awaits them! For they follow in the footsteps of Cain, who killed his brother. Like Balaam, they deceive people for money. And like Korah, they perish in their rebellion.

12 When these people eat with you in your fellowship meals commemorating the Lord’s love, they are like dangerous reefs that can shipwreck you. They are like shameless shepherds who care only for themselves. They are like clouds blowing over the land without giving any rain. They are like trees in autumn that are doubly dead, for they bear no fruit and have been pulled up by the roots. 13They are like wild waves of the sea, churning up the foam of their shameful deeds. They are like wandering stars, doomed forever to blackest darkness.

14 Enoch, who lived in the seventh generation after Adam, prophesied about these people. He said, “Listen! The Lord is coming with countless thousands of his holy ones 15to execute judgment on the people of the world. He will convict every person of all the ungodly things they have done and for all the insults that ungodly sinners have spoken against him.”

16These people are grumblers and complainers, living only to satisfy their desires. They brag loudly about themselves, and they flatter others to get what they want.

A Call to Remain Faithful
17 But you, my dear friends, must remember what the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ said. 18 They told you that in the last times there would be scoffers whose purpose in life is to satisfy their ungodly desires. 19These people are the ones who are creating divisions among you. They follow their natural instincts because they do not have God’s Spirit in them.

20 But you, dear friends, must build each other up in your most holy faith, pray in the power of the Holy Spirit, 21and await the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ, who will bring you eternal life. In this way, you will keep yourselves safe in God’s love.

22 And you must show mercy to those whose faith is wavering. 23 Rescue others by snatching them from the flames of judgment. Show mercy to still others,but do so with great caution, hating the sins that contaminate their lives.

A Prayer of Praise

24 Now all glory to God, who is able to keep you from falling away and will bring you with great joy into his glorious presence without a single fault. 25 All glory to him who alone is God, our Savior through Jesus Christ our Lord. All glory, majesty, power, and authority are his before all time, and in the present, and beyond all time! Amen.
___________________________________
Watchman’s comments: “They follow their natural instincts because they do not have God’s Spirit in them.”

The reason why a group of ‘church members’ who even take part in Holy Communion with the believers of Jesus Christ, and yet live the life of the un-believers, is because they do not have the Holy Spirit in them.

They are not born again by the Spirit of God. It is natrural for them to be guided by their natural instincts and desires. It is natural for them to scoff at spiritual and supernatural things.

But these people will perish if they do not repent and turn back to worship the true God in Spirit and in Truth.

O, church goers, laugh no more of the spiritual matters. The Lord hears and sees you… (Even the devil and his demons see and hear you too, scoffers).

End Times Witnessing: Winning wars Holy Spirit Way (David’s case)

Lately the watchman received instructions on end times war strategies. he was not directly involved in warfare, but he was led to read and take heed. the following passage was on how david followed the holy spirit and won two wars against his long time arch enemy -the philistines. (the watchman’s comments are in bracket. )


2 Samuel 5:17-25
New Living Translation (NLT)
David Conquers the Philistines

17 When the Philistines heard that David had been anointed king of Israel, they mobilized all their forces to capture him. But David was told they were coming, so he went into the stronghold. 18 The Philistines arrived and spread out across the valley of Rephaim. 19So David asked the Lord, “Should I go out to fight the Philistines? Will you hand them over to me?”

(David’s response to the bad news of his arch enemy mobilizing to capture him: 1. He went into the stronghold (physical and spiritual). 2. He asked the Lord for strategy. He was direct in asking: “Shall I fight? Will You let me win?” Take note that he knew and acknowledged that the winning key is in the hand of the Almighty God.)

The Lord replied to David, “Yes, go ahead. I will certainly hand them over to you.”

(The Lord’s response to David: The Lord gave straight and precise answers too. “Yes, fight. Yes, I will let you win.”)

20 So David went to Baal-perazim and defeated the Philistines there. “The Lord did it!” David exclaimed. “He burst through my enemies like a raging flood!” So he named that place Baal-perazim (which means “the Lord who bursts through”). 21The Philistines had abandoned their idols there, so David and his men confiscated them.

(David’s response to the Lord’s assurance: He acted and won accordingly. He was quick to give full credit to the Lord although he did not see or hear how that could happen. He just believed the Lord’s promise by faith.)

22 But after a while the Philistines returned and again spread out across the valley of Rephaim. 23 And again David asked the Lord what to do.

(David’s response to the second round of bad news: He asked the Lord again. To him, when being attacked, going to the Lord precedes counting military resources is a norm. He knew the Lord so well that he just sought the Lord naturally everytime he encountered a crisis.)

“Do not attack them straight on,” the Lord replied. “Instead, circle around behind and attack them near the poplar trees. 24 When you hear a sound like marching feet in the tops of the poplar trees, be on the alert! That will be the signal that the Lord is moving ahead of you to strike down the Philistine army.”

(The Lord’s response: The Lord told David a change in strategy. This time He wanted David to do it differently, with deeper spiritual discernment. He wanted David to know for sure that it would be the Lord’s heavenly army that would win the war! The Lord enabled David to hear the sound of His heavenly army marching, which would be the signal for David to join in with his ground troops. David’s obedience by faith the first time had pleased the Lord. He was now moved to a higher level of spiritual encounter with the Lord!)

25 So David did what the Lord commanded, and he struck down the Philistines all the way from Gibeon to Gezer.

(David’s response to the Lord: He obeyed and did as the spiritual Commander-in-Chief commanded and thus won again! This time he was more assured as he could hear the Lord’s army sound in the spiritual realm).

——————————————————
Summary:

1.Know and believe in God (through knowing and believing in Jesus, and knowing and believing in His word)

2.Believe that it is natural to go to the supernatural God everytime you encounter a war (physical, emotional, mental or spiritual attacks)

3.Ask in the Name of Jesus and you will receive answer

4.Believe in the Holy Spirit’s communicating with you

5.Obey and act on what the Holy Spirit has told you

6.Ask and receive your answer by faith (even if you cannot hear or see like what David did)

7.Always give credit to the Lord, Who is your Commander-in-Chief

8.Keep practicing and training your spiritual gifts

9.Obedience by faith brings one to a higher level of spiritual discernment and understanding.

End Times Witnessing: How a rubber tapper entered the kingdom of God

The watchman heard a wonderful testimony given by a veteran woman evangelist last week. It answered his prayer about how anyone can enter the kingdom of God. One woman rubber tapper in Asia accepted the Lord Jesus as her personal Savior and Lord one Thursday evening.


The next day the veteran evangelist visited the new convert to see how she was doing. The rubber tapper told the evangelist her testimony of divine healing and deliverance. She rose that morning and felt giddy and unable to go out to work. The work is done at night or in the early morning before the day’s temperature rises, so the latex will drip longer before coagulating and sealing the cut. So she used the name of Jesus to command all the unclean spirits to depart from her head. And it worked instantly!

The evangelist asked her how she knew how to cast out those demons. She said she remembered an incident that happened many years ago wherein a Christian pastor came to visit her son in the hospital and said the same command. She remembered and used the same words in the Name of Jesus and it worked.

The evangelist said that in all her years of pastoring this was the first time she witnessed a one day old Christian using the authority of the Kingdom of God by faith without doubt.

Truly a great testimony for all to emulate.

______________________

What does John the Baptist say about entering the Kingdom of God? Believe in the Son of God, obey Him (His Word)! (John 3:27-36)

In the case of the woman rubber tapper, she forgets who she is in the physical realm (i.e. in the eyes of men, a poor, illiterate woman rubber tapper, who is among the lowest in the society). She believes in Jesus (the Son of God) who has saved her from that kingdom of darkness and translated her into the kingdom of God, and she acted accordingly, using the authority of the Son of God (as a son of God herself, led by the Holy Spirit)!

John 3: 27-36 New Living Translation (NLT)

27 John replied, “No one can receive anything unless God gives it from heaven. 28 You yourselves know how plainly I told you, ‘I am not the Messiah. I am only here to prepare the way for him.’ 29 It is the bridegroom who marries the bride, and the best man is simply glad to stand with him and hear his vows. Therefore, I am filled with joy at his success. 30He must become greater and greater, and I must become less and less.

31 “He has come from above and is greater than anyone else. We are of the earth, and we speak of earthly things, but he has come from heaven and is greater than anyone else. 32 He testifies about what he has seen and heard, but how few believe what he tells them! 33 Anyone who accepts his testimony can affirm that God is true. 34 For he is sent by God. He speaks God’s words, for God gives him the Spirit without limit. 35 The Father loves his Son and has put everything into his hands. 36 And anyone who believes in God’s Son has eternal life. Anyone who doesn’t obey the Son will never experience eternal life but remains under God’s angry judgment.”

End Times Witnessing: White Horses coming to shore (revised after Japan Tsunami)

The watchman turned on the TV and saw a picture: Waves like white horses storming to Japanese shore…then he remembered this blog and the earlier vision. He had some Japanese readers who regularly read his blogs. He deeply regretted for not praying for them regularly. O, watchman, time to pray!


Recently an intercessor watchman saw a vision of white horses moving speedily on shallow ankle deep waters, coming toward the shore. They then formed a circular formation with their faces toward the centre, where a cross descended from heaven. It was an awesome sight. The watchman sensed the sense of urgency and the speed of time moving, like counting down of end times. O watchmen in all churches, rise up, slumber not! Watch and pray now! Revelat … Read More


http://kzlam36.wordpress.com/?p=3751

End times witnessing: Who lifts up the waves of the sea?

Psalm 107 (New King James Version)


Thanksgiving to the LORD for His Great Works of Deliverance

1 Oh, give thanks to the LORD, for He is good!

For His mercy endures forever.

2 Let the redeemed of the LORD say so,

Whom He has redeemed from the hand of the enemy,

3 And gathered out of the lands,

From the east and from the west,

From the north and from the south.



4 They wandered in the wilderness in a desolate way;

They found no city to dwell in.

5 Hungry and thirsty,

Their soul fainted in them.

6 Then they cried out to the LORD in their trouble,

And He delivered them out of their distresses.

7 And He led them forth by the right way,

That they might go to a city for a dwelling place.

8 Oh, that men would give thanks to the LORD for His goodness,

And for His wonderful works to the children of men!

9 For He satisfies the longing soul,

And fills the hungry soul with goodness.



10 Those who sat in darkness and in the shadow of death,

Bound in affliction and irons—

11 Because they rebelled against the words of God,

And despised the counsel of the Most High,

12 Therefore He brought down their heart with labor;

They fell down, and there was none to help.

13 Then they cried out to the LORD in their trouble,

And He saved them out of their distresses.

14 He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death,

And broke their chains in pieces.

15 Oh, that men would give thanks to the LORD for His goodness,

And for His wonderful works to the children of men!

16 For He has broken the gates of bronze,

And cut the bars of iron in two.



17 Fools, because of their transgression,

And because of their iniquities, were afflicted.

18 Their soul abhorred all manner of food,

And they drew near to the gates of death.

19 Then they cried out to the LORD in their trouble,

And He saved them out of their distresses.

20 He sent His word and healed them,

And delivered them from their destructions.

21 Oh, that men would give thanks to the LORD for His goodness,

And for His wonderful works to the children of men!

22 Let them sacrifice the sacrifices of thanksgiving,

And declare His works with rejoicing.



23 Those who go down to the sea in ships,

Who do business on great waters,

24 They see the works of the LORD,

And His wonders in the deep.

25 For He commands and raises the stormy wind,

Which lifts up the waves of the sea.

26 They mount up to the heavens,

They go down again to the depths;

Their soul melts because of trouble.

27 They reel to and fro, and stagger like a drunken man,

And are at their wits’ end.

28 Then they cry out to the LORD in their trouble,

And He brings them out of their distresses.

29 He calms the storm,

So that its waves are still.

30 Then they are glad because they are quiet;

So He guides them to their desired haven.

31 Oh, that men would give thanks to the LORD for His goodness,

And for His wonderful works to the children of men!

32 Let them exalt Him also in the assembly of the people,

And praise Him in the company of the elders.



33 He turns rivers into a wilderness,

And the watersprings into dry ground;

34 A fruitful land into barrenness,

For the wickedness of those who dwell in it.

35 He turns a wilderness into pools of water,

And dry land into watersprings.

36 There He makes the hungry dwell,

That they may establish a city for a dwelling place,

37 And sow fields and plant vineyards,

That they may yield a fruitful harvest.

38 He also blesses them, and they multiply greatly;

And He does not let their cattle decrease.



39 When they are diminished and brought low

Through oppression, affliction, and sorrow,

40 He pours contempt on princes,

And causes them to wander in the wilderness where there is no way;

41 Yet He sets the poor on high, far from affliction,

And makes their families like a flock.

42 The righteous see it and rejoice,

And all iniquity stops its mouth.



43 Whoever is wise will observe these things,

And they will understand the lovingkindness of the LORD.

watchman prophet calling: nor shall your tears run down

The watchman/prophet’s life has to be that of ‘super-supernatural’. When he completed his recent assignment and proceeded his long journey home, he suddenly noticed a huge truck with its container labelled with these words, “The Power of Hope“!


He did not know what it meant but he started praising the Lord. He also told the Lord his decision about a very important matter. The bad news hit him when he reached home eventually discovering something (of the worldly system) he used to consider important indeed was missing. It was no coincidence that prior to this he had already made a decision on his way home about not relying on the worldly system.

The same night he made a further big decision about his life. Once he had decided, the real pain finally hit him like a mental tsunami. But when he opened the Bible he found the page opened with these verses speaking to him and confirming the Lord’s message:

“Return to the stronghold, you prisoners of HOPE. Even today I declare that I will restore double to you.” (Zech.9:12)


Isaiah 49:9 9 That You may say to the prisoners, ‘Go forth,’ To those who are in darkness, ‘Show yourselves.’ “ They shall feed along the roads, And their pastures shall be on all desolate heights.”

“REJOICE greatly” (Zech.9:9) He happened to be the one who carried the banner displaying the word “REJOICE“ in the banner march during his past week’s faith in action participation.

Isaiah 61:1-3 The Good News of Salvation “The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon Me, Because the LORD has anointed Me To preach good tidings to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives, And the opening of the prison to those who are bound;
2 To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, And the day of vengeance of our God; To comfort all who mourn,
3 To console those who mourn in Zion, To give them beauty for ashes, The oil of joy for mourning, The garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; That they may be called trees of righteousness, The planting of the LORD, that He may be glorified.”

During the past week he saw two visions of night scenes (depicting end times) of rows of tall straight trees along the side of a road. One road led to a distant horizon and one man was walking on it. In another scene the row of trees shielded the building (the church) and completely hid it from sight. It was like end times churches will be hidden from those not led by the Holy Spirit. He did not know what the trees were then.

Now he knows they are called trees of righteousness, the remnant believers and followers of Jesus Christ. They were the planting of the Lord God Himself. He does not even need to worry how he should grow. The Lord will see to that!

Indeed, he was comforted and reassured by the oil of joy.

Of course, he is still human and he could feel the pain and silent inner weeping of the prophet watchman Ezekiel who was forbidden to express his grief for his most precious loss. He believed the oil of joy had comforted Ezekiel despite the command from the Lord that he should not mourn his loss.

The tragedy happened in chapter 24, but Ezekiel continued his journey by faith in the Holy Spirit and was given the breath taking prophetic act of faith in the dry bones revival miracle & prophesying the unification of Israel(in chapter 37), the New Jerusalem & New Temple (in chapters 40-46), and the Healing waters and Trees eventually (in the last chapter).

Ezekiel 24:15-18 The Prophet’s Wife Dies
“15 Also the word of the LORD came to me, saying, 16 “Son of man, behold, I take away from you the desire of your eyes with one stroke; yet you shall neither mourn nor weep, nor shall your tears run down. 17 Sigh in silence, make no mourning for the dead; bind your turban on your head, and put your sandals on your feet; do not cover your lips, and do not eat man’s bread of sorrow.”
18 So I spoke to the people in the morning, and at evening my wife died; and the next morning I did as I was commanded.”

Holy Spirit Practical

One important the watchman has learned about the Holy Spirit is that practice in hearing the Holy Spirit is essential for all believers. How to hear the Holy Spirit? This is a question with unlimited answers. Each week he has asked a different member to give a testimony to his class on how the individual hears the Holy Spirit. Based on their sharings he has noted the rich varieties of experiences each individual has encountered in their journey in the Holy Spirit.



For example, in one case the believer has started by reading the Bible and related books hungrily after he was born again and baptised in the Holy Spirit. Then he started manifesting one of the gifts of the Holy Spirit, prophecy. He took the courage and gave the word of prophecy faithfully and received more as he obeyed the Lord. He spent much time before the Lord and praying in the Spirit. He also took part in the worship ministry.

Over many years of faithful walking in the Holy Spirit and storing the Word in his heart, he was led by the Lord to do prayer drive and other related spiritual warfare ministry. One day as he was in his usual kneeling position before the Lord, praying, he heard one unusual word very clearly. He prayed with that word. The next day the whole country and a neighbouring country had a major power failure which lasted seven days! He subsequently found out that the strange word given by the Holy Spirit was the name of the strongman of the land.

The believer continues to pray daily and carry out his ministry before the Lord and has received more revelations as he moved forward by faith. He has vivid dreams and carefully records them. He also has other gifts of the Holy Spirit.

A number of the verses from the Lord aptly describe his spiritual encounter:

Mark 4:24-25

24 Then He said to them, “Take heed what you hear. With the same measure you use, it will be measured to you; and to you who hear, more will be given. 25 For whoever has, to him more will be given; but whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him.”

Matthew 25:29

29 ‘For to everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have abundance; but from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away.

Acts 5:32

32 And we are His witnesses to these things, and so also is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey Him.”

John 14:15-18

Jesus Promises Another Helper

15 “If you love Me, keep[a] My commandments. 16 And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever— 17 the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. 18 I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you.

Footnotes:
a.John 14:15 NU-Text reads you will keep.

End Time Faith in Action: Follow the Lord’s example

The Lord Yeshua says things in a very simple and precise way when He preached the Gospel, healed and delivered the afflicted and sick. He does not waste words, as demonstrated below in the Gospel recorded by Mark.

1:15 He spoke to all: “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel!”

1:17 He spoke to the disciples: “Follow Me, and I will make you become fishers of men.”

1:25 He cut short the evil spirit in a man in the synagogue: “Be quiet, and come out of him!”

1:41 He responded with compassion to the leper who knelt down before Him asking to be cleansed (healed): “I am willing; be cleansed.”

2:5 When he saw the friends’ faith, he spoke to the paralytic: “Son, your sins ar forgiven you.” v11 ”I say to you, arise, take up your bed and go to your house.” The man was healed instantly.

3:3,5 He said to the man with a withered hand in the synagogue: “Step forward.” “Stretch out your hand.” As he stretched it out the hand was restored.

4:39 He rebuked and calmed the great windstorm and roaring waves: “Peace, be still.” The wind ceased and there was a great calm.

5:8 He delivered the man with two thousands demons: “Come out of the man, unclean spirit!”

5:34 He reassured the woman who had been healed of her bleeding ailment (of 12 years) just be touching His garment: “Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace, and be healed of your affliction.”

5:41 he reaised a dead child from the dead: “Little girl, I say to you, arise.” Immediatey the girl arose and walked.

He gave the disciples power and authority to do the same. 6:12-13 “So they went out and preached that people should repent. And they cast out many demons, and anointed with oil many who were sick and healed them all.”

Mark 16:15-18

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 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.” 20 And they went out and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the word through the accompanying signs.

_____Acts 1:8 Yeshua says: “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”___________

Thus, end time faith in action for all believers should be just like the above: preach the Good News to everyone, with miraculous signs accompanying those who believe. The accomplishment is not by force, not be strength, but by the Holy Spirit! (Zechariah 4:6)

Watchman’s Adventure: a matter of spiritual method

It is easy to talk about why we need to deal with spiritual realm but it is difficult to know the right spiritual methods to use. For example, how to bind and cast out demons? Do we need to use repetitive command to address one demon and treat it as if it were deaf, dumb, or slumbering? Can one command of binding and casting out be effective? How many times do we need to bind and cast before that one reluctant demon get out and go away for good? The watchman could not help but ponder on this issue of spiritual methodology.


He has no particular role or assignment in this area of ministry. But he could not help but wonder the number of times one uses to issue one command before that command takes effect, as though the recipient of that command could choose not to obey the Mighty Name of Jesus and the Authority of Jesus.

So he decided to ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to him the answer in case one day he too goes to a foreign field and be assigned such task. The answer came, covering two aspects:

1. The use of authority.

2. The perfect example of Jesus.

When one knows the right (legal) spiritual authority he is using, he should use that authority confidently by faith. The authority is based on the unchangeability of God’s Word. There is no way the demon could refuse to obey that authority.

In the example of Jesus he observes the following:

1. Jesus knows His authority. He uses His authority calmly and confidently. He does not need to say twice to the demons to get them to obey His commands.

2. He knows where His authority comes from and He is confident of the ultimate sovereign power of the source of authority (God Himself). He does not fear that the authority may not work.

3. He always sees the real root of the problem and addresses it directly. He speaks to that root.

4. He is a spiritual man and He sees, hears and talks to the spiritual beings as though He is talking to the physical beings.

5. He knows His authority covers the natural realm as well as the supernatural realm and effectively uses the same authority to address it, for example, the wind, rough waves, demons, unclean spirits, the functioning of the body, creation etc.

The watchman also takes note of Jesus’ commanding words. They are short, accurate and to the point as illustrated in the Gospel of Mark, as follows:

1.Jesus rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Silence! Be still!” Suddenly the wind stopped, and there was a great calm. (He addressed the natural elements with a direct command and they obeyed Him)

2.Jesus said to a legion of evil spirits, “Come out of that man, you evil spirits!” after their repeated pleadings He gave them permission and the evil spirits came out of that man and entered 2000 pigs which plunged into the lake and drowned. (He commanded the legion of demons directly and they obeyed Him)

3.Jesus spoke to a woman who got well by touching His robe, “Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace. Your suffering is over.” (He focussed on why she was healed, i.e. her faith, and proclaimed her well, by His Word)

4.Jesus told a Phoenician woman, “Good answer! Now you go home, for the demon has left your daughter.” (He commended her, i.e. her faith, and proclaimed her daughter delivered and set free, by His Word)

5.In the case of a deaf man with speech impediment, Jesus led him away from the crowd so they could be alone, put His fingers in his ears, spitting on His own fingers, touched the man’s tongue, said, “Be opened!” The man was instantly healed. (He touched the malfunctioned organs and issued a specific functional command to them)

6.In the case of a mute and convulsive boy, and a growing crowd of onlookers, Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, “Deaf and dumb spirit, I command you, come out of him and enter him no more!” The spirit cried out, convulsed the boy greatly and came out of him. (He addressed the spirit describing its specialty, commanded it to get out and also blocked it from re-entry by His Word. He identified why His disciples failed as they had not detected the ‘re-entry’ tendency of this particular type of demons, quite possibly re-inforced by the many demons in that growing crowd! He later advised the disciples to fast and pray in future similar cases as that faith action would sharpen their spiritual discernment!)

7.With a blind man outside Jericho, Jesus responded to his repeated cries, “What do you want Me to do for you?” The man said he wanted to receive his sight. Jesus said to him, “Go your way; your faith has made you well.” And immediately he received his sight. (He focussed on why he was healed, i.e. his faith, and proclaimed him well by His Word)

Reading the above examples, the watchman concluded that he would choose to go the Jesus way, i.e. issuing simple command with the authority of Jesus, effective and straightforward, to malfunctioning parts, demons and even natural elements. Of course the best way is to encourage the faith level to rise in the persons in need of healing. Faith based on God’s Word alone can make the person well regardless of what they suffer from. He also notes that the manifestation of the appropriate gifts of the Holy Spirit and His anointing are required on all occasions of needs.

End Times Church countdown: Are you using the right weapon, church?

The watchman recently found an interesting Biblical example illustrating how a man led by the Holy Spirit used the right weapon to overcome a crisis supernaturally as described in 2 Kings 4:31-37.

The passage recorded how Gehazi the servant of Elisha and Elisha the prophet handled the case of a dead child. Gehazi was sent by Elisha to take Elisha’s staff and go to the child and put the staff on his face. The child’s mother refused to go home unless prophet Elisha went too. So he agreed to return with her.

But the servant Gehazi hurried ahead and duly laid Elisha’s staff on the child’s face. Nothing happened. There was neither voice nor hearing from the child. He returned to meet Elisha and told him the child was still dead. It was all done within a short span of time as Elisha was still on his way.

Elisha arrived and found the child was indeed dead, lying on the prophet’s bed (put there by his mother before she went and fetched the prophet). Elisha went in and supernaturally resurrected the child.

The steps carried out by the servant Gehazi and the prophet Elisha are as follows with comments from the watchman with perspective of a watchman-intercessor:

Gehazi the servant: He merely followed the instruction of the prophet. He faithfully brought the prophet’s staff, hurried to the dead child’s house, laid it on the child’s face as instructed. He had no further input as he had none. (We can only give to others what we have). Gehazi had nothing of his own that could give life. But he followed instruction well on this occasion and did exactly what his master told him. There are intercessors who follow the prayer list faithfully. However, as they do not have relationship with the Lord intimately they do not have the confidence to persist in their prayers. They do not have any input other than their own flesh as they do not know how to listen to the Holy Spirit.

They do not know whether the Lord has heard and answered their prayers. They do not know how to use the spiritual authority and power given to them to fight out the warfare against the spiritual enemy. They cannot do so as they cannot see into the spiritual realm where the actual real war is being fought. Their prayers are like jabbing at empty air with feeble forefingers.

Elisha the prophet: He encountered the same problem, i.e. the child was dead. But he adopted an entirely different set of strategy.

1.He went into the room alone, shut the door and prayed to the Lord. He started by going to the presence of the Lord -the original source of life. He interceded for the dead child.

2.Then he took a prophetic act of faith, what his own teacher-master, Elijah had done before (raising a boy from dead too), lay down on the child’s body, by placing his mouth on his mouth, eyes on his eyes, hands on his hands. He was standing in the gap for the child covering the child against the spirit of death, pouring out his own life prophetically for the child.

3.As the child’s body began to grow warm Elisha got up, walked back and forth across the room once, another prophetic act like Jericho March, building a fiery hedge of spiritual protection surrounding the child against the spiritual enemy. Why did he do that? It was possible that he saw or sensed the obstruction in the spiritual realm. So he took further spiritual action to block off the obstruction from the spiritual enemy.

4.Then he repeated his earlier act of faith, stretching out himself again on the child. This time indeed the boy sneezed seven times and opened his eyes! The boy was resurrected by Elisha’s anointed faith in action in the spiritual realm.

What did Elisha do differently? Why was his way effective? Medically and scientifically what the two ‘healers’ did would make no difference in the physical realm.

But Elisha was a spiritual man. He could see into the spiritual realm. He knew how to use his prophetic act of faith which has the anointed authority and power of the Almighty God. For example, in another incident, he knew exactly when and where the enemy king was going to attack Israel and Elisha would always warn the Israelite king beforehand to be on alert. He remained calm when surrounded by the enemy’s great army because he could see into the spiritual realm and saw the Lord’s larger and greater army (the hillside around Elisha was filled with horses and chariots of fire to protect him). But his servant could not see until Elisha asked the Lord to open his spiritual eyes.

He also talked to the Lord intimately and confidently like between close and trusted friends. For example, when the Aramean army advanced toward him, he prayed, “O Lord, please make them blind.” So the Lord struck them with blindness as Elisha had asked. (2 Kings 6:18) Then Elisha went out and led them to the city of Samaria. As soon as they had entered Samaria, Elisha prayed, “O Lord, now open their eyes and let them see.” So the Lord opened their eyes. (2 Kings 6:20)

In the eyes of the natural world, the prophetic faith in action of Elisha would seem irrational, stupid, and even ridiculous. Yet, it had the power to bring life back to the long dead child.

Because Elisha knows God. And God is Spirit. Elisha knows the spiritual reality of life. Thus, he was empowered to accomplish his assignment using spiritual weapon successfully as led by the Holy Spirit. On the other hand, the natural man Gehazi failed miserably because he was using a wrong weapon.

Church, are you using the right weapon? If so, why are so many members being depressed, oppressed, suppressed, crushed, defeated and even dying like flies?

Watchman Adventure: old cab driven by angel

The watchman was in a hurry to get to the airport. He phoned the radio cab and an old rickety cab pulled up at his doorstep. After the watchman got into the cab he discovered that the driver was ancient and half deaf. He seemed to be under the impression that the watchman was going to just a few blocks away. The watchman explained that he was going to the airport to catch a plane. The ancient looking driver shook his head and mumbled something and drove on.

The cab was ancient and the engine went dead whenever the driver applied the brake, at cross road, at traffic light junction, at heavy traffic, and even when they were speeding on the fast lane of the highway!

The watchman thought this could be a deploy by the enemy to stop him from getting to his scheduled destination. So he prayed in the spirit fervently. Then he thought he better called angels to come to his aide as the dead engine at fast lane was dangerous!

So he prayed for angels to carry the cab regardless how the engine performed. In his anxious moment he also called for chariot of fire to carry the cab. Then he found that the little cab which shook all over when it sped on the highway was overtaking many vehicles! He was being carried at amazing speed.

He knew the angels had to be at work, so he looked intensely outside his car window. After he looked for sometime he saw the first angel.

This was a serious but good looking neatly dressed person who looked like a modern corporate executive but was watching the performance of the cab at a distance. He was like a supervisor.

Then he saw the second angel. This was one with long straight hair and looked strong and young. He was closer to the cab and possible moving the cab as the watchman could only see his face which was close to the window.

The third angel was real close up and where his face was the watchman only saw reddish flame like color.

All three were concentrating on doing their respective work. The watchman realized how swiftly the angels came and carry out their tasks diligently and faithfully.

Indeed, the cab moved amazingly despite a little argument between the watchman and the cab driver. The cab driver insisted on going through a town against the advice of the watchman who thought they could be caught in a traffic jam there. But there was no traffic and as the cab driver predicted, they arrived at the airport with plenty of time for the watchman to check in and relax at the waiting lounge! On top of that, the flight was delayed for an hour!

It was a lesson for the watchman. He learned two things:

1. Never judge by the apparent. The Holy Spirit inspired Paul to say, “Therefore from now on, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know Him thus no more. ” (2 Cor.5:16)

2. Be alert and keep listening to the Holy Spirit. Do not panic even when things look desperate. Call for help from the spiritual realm and do not be afraid to make mistake.

It must be quite a sight that day with the broken old cab whooshing down the highway overtaking all the other newer and bigger vehicles. When they reached the destination he paid the cab driver the fare and asked him of his age. The old man broke into a smile and told him that he was 76 years old and he drove the cab just to pass time. He did not really need the money!

Was he also an angel? The watchman never found out.