“GOD’S WAY” is the only way in this end time, the watchman discovered. He was led in his spirit to start a new blog in this name:GOD’S WAY
http://citizenheaven.wordpress.com/
There are some interesting pictures for collectors. here is a sample.
The watchman went on an unusual journey in order to deliver an important message and carry out a prophetic act. He did not expect to go until around midnight before departure. He was praying and asking the Lord a number of questions.
Then he asked about the journey a household member would be taking with another brethren the next day. The answer came to him in three groups of verses as one overall message for someone at the destination of that journey. But he wanted specific confirmation to whether he needed to travel personally. The answer came as follows:
“We are traveling together to guard against any criticism for the way we are handling this generous gift. We are careful to be honorable before the Lord, but we also want everyone else to see that we are honorable.” (NLT 2 Cor.8:20-21)
The next morning he got up early to cook food for his two dogs, packed and stored in his refrigerator for someone to heat up and feed them daily during his absence. He also stocked up enough food for the rest of the household. He packed for a short trip as told by the Spirit. Another household member was not convinced and asked the Lord for second confirmation. She received the following verse (from the conversation between the prophets-disciples and the prophet Elisha):
2 Kings 6:3 [Then one said, "Please consent to go with your servants." And he (Elisha) answered, "I will go." ] So the watchman went on the sudden journey without further objection.
The whole time since waking up the watchman’s spirit was singing the song based on Zechariah 4:6b ["Not by might, not by power, but by My Spirit", said the Lord of Hosts. ] Only when he started driving the song stopped.
He was told that the person to whom the message was intended was not available until the third day. So he had to wait at the destination until the third day.
On the first day (Lesson One: sons of God are led by the Holy Spirit): They started the journey around noon and arrived late. The same evening, he was asked to attend a prayer meeting in a prayer house. He attended. A woman who could not stop talking came to his companion and kept talking.She brought her neighbor there for healing. By the time she told them that she was an anointed evangelist and busily saving souls instead of “wasting her time to read the Bible or attend church”, he closed his eyes and saw the ‘spirit’ speaking through her. So he stopped his companion from responding politely to the lady. He even made some impatient judgmental remarks on her ‘manifestation’ to others.
However, when he returned to his room around 1am he could not sleep. He was convicted by a passage in Luke 10 which he was led in the spirit to read a number of times lately. The chapter described at length how Jesus appointed seventy disciples in addition to the original twelve and sent them into where He Himself was about to go and how they returned and gave glowing report.
The same chapter also taught on the two Golden Commandments of God: Love God. Love your neighbor. The second law is tough. Instead of asking who my neighbor is I need to ask who I am to others. Am I a neighbor? God looks at whether I am a neighbor. There is no condition on who others are to me.
The watchman was led to recall two other recent incidents which happened all within the week prior his travel. Incident one: Two lady bank staff came to him and asked at length about their stiff and painful knees (and the watchman noted then that the medical system and their religion did not give them divine healing). Incident Two: One newspaper man talked at length about his being a very sick man and that he had reached a point now that he had to rely on himself as taught by his religion to continue bearing the suffering on earth. On both occasions the watchman responded politely but rather impatiently according to his own convenience. He did not witness clearly how Jesus had healed him and his loved ones and could heal them too. He merely mentioned divine healing briefly and gave them the amount of time he thought was sufficient as he though he had other ‘more urgent’ things to do after a while!
But the Spirit of the Lord asked, “Are you a neighbor?” He was convicted and repented. As he confessed and repented, he was convicted of his ‘loveless’ old nature.
Incident Three: About the lady who could not stop talking. He noted how others in the prayer meeting did not respond the way he did to the lady. They remained in peace and let the Spirit of the Lord take charge. They accepted her and extended to her hospitality just as a good neighbor would do.
So on Day One of this recent journey on special ‘mission” he failed his first lesson, “sons of God are led by the Spirit”. However, he prayed for another chance to practice this. The Lord answered the following day.
On Day Two (sons of God do the works of the Son of God -Jesus): the spirit in him sang and woke him up with this song from 1 John 3:8b “For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil.”
He sang this on and on until the watchman was wide awake. He went to a Bible reading and prayer staff meeting that morning. They took turn to read the Bible verse by verse, from psalms and the whole Book of Philippians. After that the others proceeded to take their breakfast. One elderly lady staff stayed behind. She told him to help one woman and read psalms in her language. He happened to know her language. She was left alone in one corner as others could not read her language. She talked to herself and made animal noises (like swine snorting) at random and was told by others to shut up from time to time during Bible reading time.He was told that her grown son had put her there as he had to work.
So the watchman borrowed a Bible in her language and read with her. She could not read on her own. She was willing to repeat after him, verse by verse. After about half an hour or more the others came back, so the watchman stopped and left. Looking back he was amazed at his patience and acceptance of that woman. He was given a second chance and this time he followed the Holy Spirit. But he was not sure and did not cast out the ‘swine’s’ spirits (Mark 5:13)
Day Three (sons of God march on, being in the heavenly victory procession): The watchman was woken by the song in his spirit,
Psalm 68:1-4, followed by Judges 5:2-3, 31a. Specifically, the spirit sang, “Let God arise, let His enemies be scattered” and “But let those who Love Him be like the sun when it comes out in full strength.”
As his appointment was in the late afternoon he had the bulk of the day to himself. He rested in the Lord and met the appointed person and delivered the Lord’s message and carried out a prophetic act.
That evening he saw the ‘swine-possessed’ woman in a prayer meeting and she looked more in peace. The meeting went on for over four hours and she started her animal noises after midnight. However, no one was bothered. She stayed at her corner and continued snorting. Prior the start of the meeting, he also saw another young girl being ‘dragged’ as she clung to the floor at the doorway into the meeting . She had been accompanied there by her parents for healing for quite sometime, he was told.
That night he asked the Lord many questions. He perceived in his spirit that this ‘group’ had advanced toward a ‘higher’ level of Kingdom of God living. They had trained youth disciples well versed in singing and praying Bible verses ministering to the Lord in heavenly realm. The two young worship leaders replicated exactly what the senior pioneer preacher had spoken or prayed or taught. The watchman was told that most of their local meetings were mainly attended by the regulars now. The group had changed its ministry focus to preaching the Gospels to foreigners and claiming their nations for the Lord. He was told they had no manpower for that local ‘swine-possessed’ woman.
(1) The first big question the watchman asked the Lord was whether the requirement to fill the Wedding Great Supper according to Luke 14:13 and 21 was already over. The Lord actually mentioned twice the same group of ‘guests’ to be invited: the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind. Are the number for the locals filled? He asked. He received the answer that like the Book of Acts, the events are repeatable for different ministry groups at different locations at different times. Only the Father in heaven knows when the number is up. He has to follow the Holy Spirit.
(2) His second question concerns money (and manpower). In the same chapter 14, Jesus warned, v28 “For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it-…” v31 “Or what king, going to make war against another king, does not sit down first and consider whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand?”
He knew he had to follow the Holy Spirit and not his analytical mind or emotion.
By 2am he was very tired. In answer, his NLT Bible opened to 2 Chronicles 3:1-2
“So Solomon began to build the Temple of the Lord…on the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite, the site that David had selected. The construction began in mid-spring (April/May)…”
Day Four: The watchman woke and felt rested. He continued the previous day’s question on winding up business and offering the premises for divine use.
His NKJV Bible opened to 1 Chronicles 21:26 “And David built there (watchman’s remark: on the threshing floor of the Jebusite, which David bought) an altar to the Lord, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings, and called on the Lord; and He answered him from heaven by fire on the altar of burnt offering.” After receiving this second confirmation he felt peace.
It is awesome that both answers refer to the same event, building the Temple of God!
In the physical realm, both King David and King Solomon had ample wealth. David purchased the land, built an altar, and prepared all the materials needed for the building of the Temple. The Temple building construction project was duly started and completed by Solomon according to plan and pattern given in heaven. Neither king had any lack.
Thus, during this unusual spiritual journey, the watchman thus resolved important personal issues through seeking and asking the Lord, while attending to others’ spiritual matters. He slept few hours but felt rested and refreshed in the Presence of the Lord.
He left for his next destination before noon and arrived well and fit, finding to his surprise the long awaited rain had come, washed and cooled the whole country side prior his arrival. He has always found the Lord answering his parched needs by opening His personal storehouse in heaven and send forth His rich resources!
His fasting also went well as he hardly felt it and the four days had passed quickly and fully. This was indeed a Kingdom journey led by the Spirit of the Lord!
In summary, the lessons for the sons of God are:
1. Led by the Holy Spirit in every aspect of life.
2. Live the lifestyle of Kingdom of God on earth, desiring and expecting to fulfill mission on earth as sons of God (just as the Son of God Himself had commanded His disciples).
3. Pray and intercede according to God’s words prompted by the Holy Spirit (use spiritual gifts and authority of sons of God).
4. Trust God to provide answers. Never tire of praying and seeking Him. Never give up.
Mark 10:27 (ESV)Jesus looked at them and said, “With man it is impossible, but not with God. For all things are possible with God.”
In the end three things will last forever – faith, hope, and love – and the greatest of these is love. Let love be your highest goal! (1 Cor.13:13; 14:1)
GOD IS LOVE. (1 John 4:16)
How to know you belong to God? The identity is verified by the LOVE code in everyone. It is not a physical, mental or emotional thing. It is spiritual. God is Spirit. For those who believe in Jesus, the Son of God (the Messiah – Christ), a coding in the form of the Holy Spirit is stamped, sealed on or deposited in them. This is the LOVE identity from God.
Today’s message is “FREEDOM”. THE LORD SAYS, “WHEN THE sON OF gOD SETS YOU FREE, YOU ARE FREE INDEED!” bUT BEFORE YOU ARE SET FREE, YOU NEED TO ADMIT YOU ARE BLIND. iF YOU SAY YOU CAN SEE (gOD) THEN YOU ARE DECLARED “gUILTY!” bECAUSE YOU ARE LYING.On the other hand, those who admit they cannot see God, they are telling the truth. God looks for a repentant, humble heart. A humble heart and a contrite spirit the Lord does not overlook. What did Jesus do to the blind man? He set him free, giving him his sight supernaturally. How wonderful it is to be able to see supernaturally, led by the Holy Spirit, walking in the power of God!
New Living Translation (NLT)
9 As Jesus was walking along, he saw a man who had been blind from birth. 2 “Rabbi,” his disciples asked him, “why was this man born blind? Was it because of his own sins or his parents’ sins?”
(Disciples are humans who have no knowledge of the spiritual reality of matters of God and therefore rely on their knowledge and practice in the natural physical realm and come to conclusions based on human traditional belief and teaching).
3 “It was not because of his sins or his parents’ sins,” Jesus answered. “This happened so the power of God could be seen in him. 4 We must quickly carry out the tasks assigned us by the one who sent us. The night is coming, and then no one can work. 5 But while I am here in the world, I am the light of the world.”
(Jesus corrected them. He told them about the “power of God”, in the spiritual realm and how he spiritual reality could affect the physical reality).
6 Then he spit on the ground, made mud with the saliva, and spread the mud over the blind man’s eyes. 7 He told him, “Go wash yourself in the pool of Siloam” (Siloam means “sent”). So the man went and washed and came back seeing!
(The humble materials used in the physical realm showed that physical resources do not matter at all in this miraculous divine healing. The blind man believed and obeyed Jesus. So he received his sight. He could not see what Jesus had done in the spiritual realm but he believed. So he was healed.)
8 His neighbors and others who knew him as a blind beggar asked each other, “Isn’t this the man who used to sit and beg?” 9 Some said he was, and others said, “No, he just looks like him!” But the beggar kept saying, “Yes, I am the same one!” 10 They asked, “Who healed you? What happened?” 11 He told them, “The man they call Jesus made mud and spread it over my eyes and told me, ‘Go to the pool of Siloam and wash yourself.’ So I went and washed, and now I can see!” 12 “Where is he now?” they asked. “I don’t know,” he replied.
(A miracle arouses a lot of interests. No miracle can be hidden. People like to hear a good story. But they asked and listened without really wanting to know the truth behind the story. The same truth about God who came to this world, that set free the blind man can set them free too if they believe. But they were not seeking God. They were not interested in God.)
13 Then they took the man who had been blind to the Pharisees, 14 because it was on the Sabbath that Jesus had made the mud and healed him. 15 The Pharisees asked the man all about it. So he told them, “He put the mud over my eyes, and when I washed it away, I could see!” 16 Some of the Pharisees said, “This man Jesus is not from God, for he is working on the Sabbath.” Others said, “But how could an ordinary sinner do such miraculous signs?” So there was a deep division of opinion among them. 17 Then the Pharisees again questioned the man who had been blind and demanded, “What’s your opinion about this man who healed you?”
(The Pharisees-religious leaders who were not led by the Holy Spirit responded with blatant unbelief towards the spiritual reality of God. Though seeing the physical evidence, they were not only not interested to know God, but they were ‘haters of God’. They reacted violently to the works of God, accomplished by the power of the Holy Spirit, demonstrating the might of God, in the person Jesus, the son of God, the Messiah.)
The man replied, “I think he must be a prophet.” 18 The Jewish leaders still refused to believe the man had been blind and could now see, so they called in his parents. 19 They asked them, “Is this your son? Was he born blind? If so, how can he now see?” 20 His parents replied, “We know this is our son and that he was born blind, 21 but we don’t know how he can see or who healed him. Ask him. He is old enough to speak for himself.” 22 His parents said this because they were afraid of the Jewish leaders, who had announced that anyone saying Jesus was the Messiah would be expelled from the synagogue. 23 That’s why they said, “He is old enough. Ask him.”
24 So for the second time they called in the man who had been blind and told him, “God should get the glory for this, because we know this man Jesus is a sinner.” 25 “I don’t know whether he is a sinner,” the man replied. “But I know this: I was blind, and now I can see!” 26 “But what did he do?” they asked. “How did he heal you?” 27 “Look!” the man exclaimed. “I told you once. Didn’t you listen? Why do you want to hear it again? Do you want to become his disciples, too?” 28 Then they cursed him and said, “You are his disciple, but we are disciples of Moses! 29 We know God spoke to Moses, but we don’t even know where this man comes from.”
30 “Why, that’s very strange!” the man replied. “He healed my eyes, and yet you don’t know where he comes from? 31 We know that God doesn’t listen to sinners, but he is ready to hear those who worship him and do his will. 32 Ever since the world began, no one has been able to open the eyes of someone born blind. 33 If this man were not from God, he couldn’t have done it.”
(Even the ex-blinded man knew that God has healed him, and that Jesus was from God. He knew and believed the spiritual credential of Jesus who has the power of the Almighty and holy God! Indeed he found it strange that the religious leaders did not recognize this truth. His belief in and personal encounter with the true God gave him the courage to stand up and witnessed the truth regardless of what men could do to him physically. On the other hand his parents could not because they did not encounter God first hand, so they feared men more than they feared God.)
34 “You were born a total sinner!” they answered. “Are you trying to teach us?” And they threw him out of the synagogue.
35 When Jesus heard what had happened, he found the man and asked, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?”
36 The man answered, “Who is he, sir? I want to believe in him.”
37 “You have seen him,” Jesus said, “and he is speaking to you!”
38 “Yes, Lord, I believe!” the man said. And he worshiped Jesus.
(The first reaction when a man encounters God is to worship God immediately. The man had no doubt and had no option but to worship God when he realized that he had met God. This is the same experience the watchman had when he first encountered the might of God in the Holy Spirit. He attended a Spirit-led and Spirit-Filled worship and the moment he heard the Spirit song being sung he knelt down and was in awe of the presence of God. He knew God in his mind previously. But that was the first time he met God Who is Spirit just as Jesus said in John 4:22-23)
39 Then Jesus told him, “I entered this world to render judgment—to give sight to the blind and to show those who think they see that they are blind.”
40 Some Pharisees who were standing nearby heard him and asked, “Are you saying we’re blind?”
41 “If you were blind, you wouldn’t be guilty,” Jesus replied.“But you remain guilty because you claim you can see.
(This is a very serious charge. The truth is only God knows who can see. Some see and some do not. How do we see God? Jesus said only the pure in heart can see God. The watchman sees in his spirit by faith. He does not rely on vision (though sometimes he saw visions) to prove that he sees. He just believes. He advises his class to see in their spirits, by faith, through believing in the word of God.
The time when he was alone with God, in the small hours of the day, when all else are quiet and slumbering, he could perceive the closeness with the Father in heaven. When he knelt down or sat on the floor at his little corner, he believed he could perceive the presence of God. He was never disappointed with the promise that Jesus made to everyone who follows Him, “Ask and you will receive, seek and you will find, knock and the door will be opened to you.” Luke 11:9-10)
The watchman was woken after five hours sleep but he felt refreshed. So he asked the Lord two questions. Then he received these passages.He was totally amazed at the answers. He knows time is urgent and NOW. He must start without delay the new direction – the school for prophet-disciples, with training focus on Spirit led worship, Bible reading, prayers/intercessions, living the Kingdom of God lifestyle (faith and divine health and healing), using the manifold gifts of the Holy Spirit, and the overcome life with the power and authority of the Son of God!WORSHIP IN HEAVEN
1 After these things, I heard what sounded like the roar of a huge crowd in heaven, shouting, “Halleluyah! The victory, the glory, the power of our God! 2 For his judgments are true and just. He has judged the great whore who corrupted the earth with her whoring. He has taken vengeance on her who has the blood of his servants on her hands.”
3 And a second time they said, “Halleluyah! Her smoke goes up forever and ever!” 4 The twenty-four elders and the four living beings fell down and worshiped God, sitting on the throne, and said, “Amen! Halleluyah!”
5 A voice went out from the throne, saying, “Praise our God, all you his servants, you who fear him, small and great!”
6 Then I heard what sounded like the roar of a huge crowd, like the sound of rushing waters, like loud peals of thunder, saying, “Halleluyah! ADONAI, God of heaven’s armies, has begun his reign!
7 “Let us rejoice and be glad! Let us give him the glory! For the time has come for the wedding of the Lamb, and his Bride has prepared herself – 8 fine linen, bright and clean has been given her to wear.” (“Fine linen” means the righteous deeds of God’s people.)
9 The angel said to me, “Write: ‘How blessed are those who have been invited to the wedding feast of the Lamb!’” Then he added, “These are God’s very words.”
10 I fell at his feet to worship him; but he said, “Don’t do that! I’m only a fellow-servant with you and your brothers who have the testimony of Yeshua. Worship God! For the testimony of Yeshua is the Spirit of prophecy.”
__________YESHUA – THE WORD OF GOD – GOES TO BATTLE
11 Next I saw heaven opened, and there before me was a white horse. Sitting on it was the one called Faithful and True, and it is in righteousness that he passes judgment and goes to battle. 12 His eyes were like a fiery flame, and on his head were many royal crowns. And he had a name written which no one knew but himself. 13 He was wearing a robe that had been soaked in blood, and the name by which he is called is, “THE WORD OF GOD.”
14 The armies of heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and pure, were following him on white horses. 15 And out of his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down nations – “He will rule them with a staff of iron.”c It is he who treads the winepress from which flows the wine of the furious rage of ADONAI, God of heaven’s armies. 16 And on his robe and on his thigh he has a name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.
_______________________WHAT JESUS SAID ABOUT THE KINGDOM OF GOD & HIS RETURN
Luke 17:20 One day the Pharisees asked Jesus, “When will the Kingdom of God come?” Jesus replied, “The Kingdom of God isn’t ushered in with visible signs. 21 You won’t be able to say, ‘Here it is!’ or ‘It’s over there!’ For the Kingdom of God is among you. “
24 For when the Son of Man returns, you will know it beyond all doubt. It will be as evident as the lightning that flashes across the sky.
26 “When the Son of Man returns, the world will be like the people were in Noah’s day. 27 In those days before the flood, the people enjoyed banquets and parties and weddings right up to the time Noah entered his boat and the flood came to destroy them all. 28 “And the world will be as it was in the days of Lot. People went about their daily business — eating and drinking, buying and selling, farming and building — 29 until the morning Lot left Sodom. Then fire and burning sulfur rained down from heaven and destroyed them all. 30 Yes, it will be ‘business as usual’ right up to the hour when the Son of Man returns.
__________THE RESPONSE JESUS EXPECTS FROM US
7 “When a servant comes in from plowing or taking care of sheep, he doesn’t just sit down and eat. 8 He must first prepare his master’s meal and serve him his supper before eating his own. 9 And the servant is not even thanked, because he is merely doing what he is supposed to do. 10 In the same way, when you obey me you should say, ‘We are not worthy of praise. We are servants who have simply done our duty.’”
11 As Jesus continued on toward Jerusalem, he reached the border between Galilee and Samaria. 12 As he entered a village there, ten lepers stood at a distance, 13 crying out, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!” 14 He looked at them and said, “Go show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went, their leprosy disappeared. 15 One of them, when he saw that he was healed, came back to Jesus, shouting, “Praise God, I’m healed!” 16 He fell face down on the ground at Jesus’ feet, thanking him for what he had done. This man was a Samaritan. 17 Jesus asked, “Didn’t I heal ten men? Where are the other nine? 18 Does only this foreigner return to give glory to God?” 19 And Jesus said to the man, “Stand up and go. Your faith has made you well.”
Luke 14:12 Then he turned to his host. “When you put on a luncheon or a dinner,” he said, “don’t invite your friends, brothers, relatives, and rich neighbors. For they will repay you by inviting you back. 13 Instead, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind. 14 Then at the resurrection of the godly, God will reward you for inviting those who could not repay you.”
15 Hearing this, a man sitting at the table with Jesus exclaimed, “What a privilege it would be to have a share in the Kingdom of God!” 16 Jesus replied with this illustration: “A man prepared a great feast and sent out many invitations. 17 When all was ready, he sent his servant around to notify the guests that it was time for them to come. 18 But they all began making excuses. One said he had just bought a field and wanted to inspect it, so he asked to be excused. 19 Another said he had just bought five pair of oxen and wanted to try them out. 20 Another had just been married, so he said he couldn’t come. 21 “The servant returned and told his master what they had said. His master was angry and said, ‘Go quickly into the streets and alleys of the city and invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind.’ 22 After the servant had done this, he reported, ‘There is still room for more.’ 23 So his master said, ‘Go out into the country lanes and behind the hedges and urge anyone you find to come, so that the house will be full. 24 For none of those I invited first will get even the smallest taste of what I had prepared for them.’”
1 For the Torah has in it a shadow of the good things to come, but not the actual manifestation of the originals. Therefore, it can never, by means of the same sacrifices repeated endlessly year after year, bring to the goal those who approach the Holy Place to offer them. 2 Otherwise, wouldn’t the offering of those sacrifices have ceased? For if the people performing the service had been cleansed once and for all, they would no longer have sins on their conscience. 3 No, it is quite the contrary – in these sacrifices is a reminder of sins, year after year. 4 For it is impossible that the blood of bulls and goats should take away sins.
5 This is why, on coming into the world, he says,
“It has not been your will to have an animal sacrifice and a meal offering; rather, you have prepared for me a body. 6 No, you have not been pleased with burnt offerings and sin offerings. 7 Then I said, ‘Look! In the scroll of the book it is written about me. I have come to do your will.’”
8 In saying first,
“You neither willed nor were pleased with animal sacrifices, meal offerings, burnt offerings and sin offerings,“
things which are offered in accordance with the Torah; 9 and then,
“Look, I have come to do your will“;
he takes away the first system in order to set up the second. 10 It is in connection with this will that we have been separated for God and made holy, once and for all, through the offering of Yeshua the Messiah’s body.
11 Now every cohen stands every day doing his service, offering over and over the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. 12 But this one, after he had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, sat down at the right hand of God, 13 from then on to wait until his enemies be made a footstool for his feet. 14 For by a single offering he has brought to the goal for all time those who are being set apart for God and made holy.
15 And the Ruach HaKodesh too bears witness to us; for after saying,
16 ” ‘This is the covenant which I will make with them after those days,’ says ADONAI: ‘I will put my Torah on their hearts, and write it on their minds . . . ,’ “
17 he then adds,
” ‘And their sins and their wickednesses I will remember no more.’ ”
18 Now where there is forgiveness for these, an offering for sins is no longer needed.
______________________________Yohanan (John) 8: 1-11
Yeshua said, “Now go, and don’t sin anymore”.
1 But Yeshua went to the Mount of Olives. 2 At daybreak, he appeared again in the Temple Court, where all the people gathered around him, and he sat down to teach them. 3 The Torah-teachers and the P’rushim brought in a woman who had been caught committing adultery and made her stand in the center of the group. 4 Then they said to him, “Rabbi, this woman was caught in the very act of committing adultery. 5 Now in our Torah, Moshe commanded that such a woman be stoned to death. What do you say about it?” 6 They said this to trap him, so that they might have ground for bringing charges against him; but Yeshua bent down and began writing in the dust with his finger. 7 When they kept questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, “The one of you who is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her.” 8 Then he bent down and wrote in the dust again. 9 On hearing this, they began to leave, one by one, the older ones first, until he was left alone, with the woman still there. 10 Standing up, Yeshua said to her, “Where are they? Has no one condemned you?” 11 She said, “No one, sir.” Yeshua said, “Neither do I condemn you. Now go, and don’t sin any more.”
Complete Jewish BibleAre you that stupid? Having begun with the Spirit’s power, do you think you can reach the goal under your own power?
Read Galatians 3 | View in parallel | Compare Translations
so that your trust might not rest on human wisdom but on God’s power.
Read 1 Corinthians 2 | View in parallel | Compare Translations
For the Kingdom of God is not a matter of words but of power.
Read 1 Corinthians 4 | View in parallel | Compare Translations
God raised up the Lord, and he will raise us up too by his power.
Read 1 Corinthians 6 | View in parallel | Compare Translations
Therefore someone who speaks in a tongue should pray for the power to interpret.
Read 1 Corinthians 14 | View in parallel | Compare Translations
The sting of death is sin; and sin draws its power from the Torah;
Read 1 Corinthians 15 | View in parallel | Compare Translations
I can do all things through him who gives me power.
Read Philippians 4 | View in parallel | Compare Translations
For God gave us a Spirit who produces not timidity, but power, love and self-discipline.
Read 2 Timothy 1 | View in parallel | Compare Translations
through the power of signs and miracles, through the power of the Spirit of God. So from Yerushalayim all the way to Illyricum I have fully proclaimed the Good News of the Messiah.
Read Romans 15 | View in parallel | Compare Translations
but he told me, “My grace is enough for you, for my power is brought to perfection in weakness.” Therefore, I am very happy to boast about my weaknesses, in order that the Messiah’s power will rest upon me.
Read 2 Corinthians 12 | View in parallel | Compare Translations
For although he was executed on a stake in weakness, now he lives by God’s power. And we too are weak in union with him, but in dealing with you we will live with him by God’s power.
Read 2 Corinthians 13 | View in parallel | Compare Translations
but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, this same Messiah is God’s power and God’s wisdom!
Read 1 Corinthians 1 | View in parallel | Compare Translations
and making every effort to preserve the unity the Spirit gives through the binding power of shalom.
Read Ephesians 4 | View in parallel | Compare Translations
as they retain the outer form of religion but deny its power. Stay away from these people!
Read 2 Timothy 3 | View in parallel | Compare Translations
He did not by lack of trust decide against God’s promises. On the contrary, by trust he was given power as he gave glory to God,
Read Romans 4 | View in parallel | Compare Translations
in that you have been enriched by him in so many ways, particularly in power of speech and depth of knowledge.
Read 1 Corinthians 1 | View in parallel | Compare Translations
and neither the delivery nor the content of my message relied on compelling words of “wisdom” but on a demonstration of the power of the Spirit,
Read 1 Corinthians 2 | View in parallel | Compare Translations
But I am coming to you soon, if the Lord wills; and I will take cognizance not of the talk of these arrogant people but of their power.
Read 1 Corinthians 4 | View in parallel | Compare Translations
In the name of the Lord Yeshua, when you are assembled, with me present spiritually and the power of our Lord Yeshua among us,
Read 1 Corinthians 5 | View in parallel | Compare Translations
then the culmination, when he hands over the Kingdom to God the Father, after having put an end to every rulership, yes, to every authority and power.
Read 1 Corinthians 15 | View in parallel | Compare Translations
But we have this treasure in clay jars, so that it will be evident that such overwhelming power comes from God and not from us.
Read 2 Corinthians 4 | View in parallel | Compare Translations
and truthfulness of speech; and by God’s power. We commend ourselves through our use of righteous weapons, whether for pressing our cause or defending it;
Read 2 Corinthians 6 | View in parallel | Compare Translations
because the weapons we use to wage war are not worldly. On the contrary, they have God’s power for demolishing strongholds. We demolish arguments
Read 2 Corinthians 10 | View in parallel | Compare Translations
But just as then the one born according to limited human capability persecuted the one born through the Spirit’s supernatural power, so it is now.
Read Galatians 4 | View in parallel | Compare Translations
and how surpassingly great is his power working in us who trust him. It works with the same mighty strength he used
Read Ephesians 1 | View in parallel | Compare Translations
far above every ruler, authority, power, dominion or any other name that can be named either in the ‘olam hazeh or in the ‘olam haba.
Read Ephesians 1 | View in parallel | Compare Translations
I became a servant of this Good News by God’s gracious gift, which he gave me through the operation of his power.
Read Ephesians 3 | View in parallel | Compare Translations
Now to him who by his power working in us is able to do far beyond anything we can ask or imagine,
Read Ephesians 3 | View in parallel | Compare Translations
Stripping the rulers and authorities of their power, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by means of the stake.
Read Colossians 2 | View in parallel | Compare Translations
who alone is immortal, who dwells in unapproachable light that no human being has ever seen or can see – to him be honor and eternal power. Amen.
Read 1 Timothy 6 | View in parallel | Compare Translations
one who became a cohen not by virtue of a rule in the Torah concerning physical descent, but by virtue of the power of an indestructible life.
Read Hebrews 7 | View in parallel | Compare Translations
quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, had their weakness turned to strength, grew mighty in battle and routed foreign armies.
Read Hebrews 11 | View in parallel | Compare Translations
For ever since the creation of the universe his invisible qualities – both his eternal power and his divine nature – have been clearly seen, because they can be understood from what he has made. Therefore, they have no excuse;
Read Romans 1 | View in parallel | Compare Translations
For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to bring you back again into fear; on the contrary, you received the Spirit, who makes us sons and by whose power we cry out, “Abba!” (that is, “Dear Father!”).
Read Romans 8 | View in parallel | Compare Translations
For the Tanakh says to Pharaoh, “It is for this very reason that I raised you up, so that in connection with you I might demonstrate my power, so that my name might be known throughout the world.”
Read Romans 9 | View in parallel | Compare Translations
Now what if God, even though he was quite willing to demonstrate his anger and make known his power, patiently put up with people who deserved punishment and were ripe for destruction?
Read Romans 9 | View in parallel | Compare Translations
May God, the source of hope, fill you completely with joy and shalom as you continue trusting, so that by the power of the Ruach HaKodesh you may overflow with hope.
Read Romans 15 | View in parallel | Compare Translations
For the Messiah did not send me to immerse but to proclaim the Good News – and to do it without relying on “wisdom” that consists of mere rhetoric, so as not to rob the Messiah’s execution-stake of its power.
Read 1 Corinthians 1 | View in parallel | Compare Translations
For the message about the execution-stake is nonsense to those in the process of being destroyed, but to us in the process of being saved it is the power of God.
Read 1 Corinthians 1 | View in parallel | Compare Translations
Just look at yourselves, brothers – look at those whom God has called! Not many of you are wise by the world’s standards, not many wield power or boast noble birth.
Read 1 Corinthians 1 | View in parallel | Compare Translations
For someone speaking in a tongue is not speaking to people but to God, because no one can understand, since he is uttering mysteries in the power of the Spirit.
Read 1 Corinthians 14 | View in parallel | Compare Translations
Moreover, God has the power to provide you with every gracious gift in abundance, so that always in every way you will have all you need yourselves and be able to provide abundantly for every good cause -
Read 2 Corinthians 9 | View in parallel | Compare Translations
The one by the slave woman was born according to the limited capabilities of human beings, but the one by the free woman was born through the miracle-working power of God fulfilling his promise.
Read Galatians 4 | View in parallel | Compare Translations
For it is by the power of the Spirit, who works in us because we trust and are faithful, that we confidently expect our hope of attaining righteousness to be fulfilled.
Read Galatians 5 | View in parallel | Compare Translations
Yes, I gave it all up in order to know him, that is, to know the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of his sufferings as I am being conformed to his death,
Read Philippians 3 | View in parallel | Compare Translations
He will change the bodies we have in this humble state and make them like his glorious body, using the power which enables him to bring everything under his control.
Read Philippians 3 | View in parallel | Compare Translations
We pray that you will be continually strengthened with all the power that comes from his glorious might; so that you will be able to persevere and be patient in any situation, joyfully
Read Colossians 1 | View in parallel | Compare Translations
With this in view, we always pray for you that our God may make you worthy of his calling and may fulfill by his power every good purpose of yours and every action stemming from your trust.
Read 2 Thessalonians 1 | View in parallel | Compare Translations
But the Lord stood by me and gave me power to proclaim the full message for all the Goyim to hear, and I was rescued from the lion’s mouth. d
Read 2 Timothy 4 | View in parallel | Compare Translations
For what the Torah could not do by itself, because it lacked the power to make the old nature cooperate, God did by sending his own Son as a human being with a nature like our own sinful one [but without sin]. God did this in order to deal with sin, and in so doing he executed the punishment against sin in human nature,
Read Romans 8 | View in parallel | Compare Translations
Some of you used to do these things. But you have cleansed yourselves, you have been set apart for God, you have come to be counted righteous through the power of the Lord Yeshua the Messiah and the Spirit of our God.
Read 1 Corinthians 6 | View in parallel | Compare Translations
Does this mean that the legal part of the Torah stands in opposition to God’s promises? Heaven forbid! For if the legal part of the Torah which God gave had had in itself the power to give life, then righteousness really would have come by legalistically following such a Torah.
Read Galatians 3 | View in parallel | Compare Translations
that the Good News we brought did not become for you a matter only of words, but also one of power, the Ruach HaKodesh and total conviction – just as you know how we lived for your sakes when we were with you.
Read 1 Thessalonians 1 | View in parallel | Compare Translations
Therefore, since the children share a common physical nature as human beings, he became like them and shared that same human nature; so that by his death he might render ineffective the one who had power over death (that is, the Adversary)
The watchman and his class went through a miraculous weekend fasting the Esther Fast (three days without food or water) together in the sanctuary of God., some with variations (3 days with water; one or two days without food or water). For the watchman this was the first time without food and water for 72 hours (Thursday 6pm to Sunday 6pm).
A week prior to this, he fasted caffeine (coffee and tea) totally. For a week he suffered the withdrawal symptoms and had a hard time adjusting. But reading the word of God and seeking God enabled him to hold on. By the time the actual fast started he was amazed to find that he did not have any more physical symptoms (manifestations).
A pastor came to minister to the class by sharing God’s words on fasting. They sang hymns of God’s words put in music. They proclaimed God’s words. They worshiped and praised God. The brethren gathered together in one unison in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. The Lord’s Spirit was in their midst. The anointing broke the yokes. During one session, on the second day, the watchman had chest pain which lasted thirty minutes. He prayed. He commanded it to go. When the hymn based on Isaiah 54:17 was sung, he decided to sing along.
“No weapon formed against you shall prosper,
And every tongue which rises against you in judgment
You shall condemn.
This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord,
And their righteousness is from Me,”
Says the Lord.”
He proclaimed the verses by applying them on himself. As he sang he could feel the pain which spread to his ear left just as suddenly as it came!
On the third day he found that he coughed out a bit of phlegm. Otherwise he felt fresh and well. The supply of moisture in his mouth was constant and supernatural. He could translate, speak, read aloud God’s words, sing and worship God. However when he felt he was safely near his goal, with four more hours to go, he had a frightful attack twice. At 2pm his breath stopped without symptoms or forewarning. He was taking a nap in his room alone when this happened. In that instant he got up. The first time it happened he did not take heed it was a spiritual attack. So he tried to sleep again. But this time it was very clear and he was not even sleeping when his breath stopped. (This time he heard in his spirit “take the Blood of Jesus, proclaim life!”) So he got up, knelt down and took the Holy Communion.
Later when he recalled this incident he recalled that just prior the fasting an agent called him for an appointment for a potential buyer to view his spare house on Sunday 2pm (the exact moment of the attacks). The agent said that this buyer can pay cash for his house and really wants to buy his house even at the rather high price he intends to sell. But a loved one who overheard this conversation immediately said no. She reminded him to Isaiah 58:13-14. The watchman obeyed. The words of God had saved him. (He dared not think of the consequences if he was driving long distance alone or in that empty house alone when the attacks occurred). The Lord was indeed merciful!
Some of the lessons learned from this fasting training for the watchman are as follows:
1. Believe and Obey the words of God.
2. Listen and obey the Holy Spirit.
3. Honor God (and His words).
4. Be humble and open to reminders from others (they are led by the Holy Spirit too!)
5. Watch and Pray always.
________________Bible Verses
13 “If you turn away your foot from the Sabbath,
From doing your pleasure on My holy day,
And call the Sabbath a delight,
The holy day of the Lord honorable,
And shall honor Him, not doing your own ways,
Nor finding your own pleasure,
Nor speaking your own words,
14 Then you shall delight yourself in the Lord;
And I will cause you to ride on the high hills of the earth,
And feed you with the heritage of Jacob your father.
The mouth of the Lord has spoken.”
The watchman has to deal with a number of important sales of assets and investment decisions lately. He asked the Holy Spirit for guidance. So this morning at 12.01am he was woken and led to read the following passage and again the whole book of Ecclesiastes with freshness. amazing. The richest man ever gave his personal advice in reply to his humble request.New Living Translation (NLT)
1 Send your grain across the seas,
and in time, profits will flow back to you.[a]
2 But divide your investments among many places,[b]
for you do not know what risks might lie ahead.
3 When clouds are heavy, the rains come down.
Whether a tree falls north or south, it stays where it falls.
4 Farmers who wait for perfect weather never plant.
If they watch every cloud, they never harvest.
5 Just as you cannot understand the path of the wind or the mystery of a tiny baby growing in its mother’s womb,[c] so you cannot understand the activity of God, who does all things.
6 Plant your seed in the morning and keep busy all afternoon, for you don’t know if profit will come from one activity or another—or maybe both.
The watchman was led to fast the Esther fast, no food and no water, for three days towards the end of March. He gathered all those who regularly go to the Prayer House and two families who come to his Bible reading house class weekly, urging them to start preparing for the fast. He knew it would be a major task for all concerned as they had never done this before. Some young people may not have the spiritual stamina to last it.
He was however encouraged when the respective heads of the two families purposed in their hearts to obey the Lord’s calling. One man started immediately on the eve after the Saturday Bible reading house meeting together with the watchman. Another couple started on the following Tuesday evening (on which day they had a Bible reading meeting in the couples’ house).
The fasting training for the first group was Yom Kippur style, no food and no water, from sundown to sundown (24 hours). The two have had some experience in fasting before so they did not feel much discomfort. The only problem with the watchman was that he had to fast coffee and water at the same time. He could live comfortably without food but the dryness of his throat was uncomfortable. On the following Sunday morning he was required to share the words of God for about one and half hours, during which he talked naturally and without any hindrance. Toward the later part of the following afternoon he could feel the heaviness on the side of his head. He regretted and repented his taste for coffee. (sigh)
The other brother reported that he was alright. This was his first time of complete fasting without food and water. He held well as he was not a coffee lover. He merely had to overcome not drinking water.
On a lighter side, the day the watchman announced to his own household (and guests) the fasting training, he was surprised to find that a family of three generations (a grandma, daughter and a grand-daughter) who are currently staying in his house decided to fast one meal (lunch). The 70 years old grandma stayed in her room and had her own quiet time and rest through out the day. The daughter (who is the aunt to the little nine-years old girl) and the 9 years old girl (60kg in weight) stayed in the lounge and argued with each other. The little girl was grumbling and said she was dying of hunger. The aunt said the trouble was that the little one did not believe that drinking water and feeding on God’s word would keep her well fed.The aunt said, “she is all flesh/carnal. It is time she toughens up and be spiritual and prepares for end times!” (Of course, the overweight child soon forgot all about food and happily ran into the garden to play with the watchman’s newly acquired yellow Labrador puppy, Grace, after the watchman gave her permission!)
The watchman promised his class that he would give them more information on how to prepare for the Esther fast. For a start, he advised them to progressively practice as follows in various combinations and stages, as led by the Holy Spirit, each according to his or her level of faith:
1. fast one meal a day, progressing to fasting two meals a day.
2. fast all meat: take vegetables and fruits and water.
3. fast all solid food. Take only liquid drinks and soups.
3. fast all food except drinking water.
4. fast all food and water.
5. fasting hours:
6am to 12pm same day ; 6am to 6pm same day; 6am to 12am same day; 6am to following day’s 6am; 6pm from sundown to the following day’s 6pm.
6. Activities: light physical activities. read Bible, meditate on God and His word, pray (in the Spirit and in understanding as led by the Spirit). Conserve water if one is fasting water as well.
7. Food before and after: light meals with little salt; avoid processed food or drinks; stop coffee.
8. On the actual Esther Fast three days (29th March-1st April 2012 from 6pm to 6pm):
a. Take leave from work.
b. Gather together in small groups (can include family as a unit) to worship, fast and pray together.
c. Stop unnecessary world ‘connection’/communication (e.g. mobile phone calls and messaging, internet, games, entertainment and social activities). Stop looking at the ‘windows’/screens (TV, hand phone, computer, gaming device).
d. Focus on building God connection: led by the Holy Spirit. Let the Holy Spirit anointing break your strongholds in the mind and emotion, your soul ties, your ‘connections’ to the second heaven (through the above mentioned windows that link your souls with the evil spirits/forces).
e. Focus on the goal of fasting: For your nation (just as Esther and the Jews in Sushan).
f. Assemble and hold a solemn meeting together before and after the fasting.
___________________________Bible verses:
15 Then Esther told them to reply to Mordecai: 16 “Go, gather all the Jews who are present in Shushan, and fast for me; neither eat nor drink for three days, night or day. My maids and I will fast likewise. And so I will go to the king, which is against the law; and if I perish, I perish!”
17 So Mordecai went his way and did according to all that Esther commanded him.[a]
Joel 2 King James Version (KJV)1Blow ye the trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm in my holy mountain: let all the inhabitants of the land tremble: for the day of the LORD cometh, for it is nigh at hand;
___________________________(Note the description of the ‘thing’ that is coming to hit. The power and invincibility is that of a Tsunami. Read the following verses as led by the Holy Spirit. Only the spiritually discerned can understand the matters of the spiritual realm. Joel 2:2-10)
2A day of darkness and of gloominess, a day of clouds and of thick darkness, as the morning spread upon the mountains: a great people and a strong; there hath not been ever the like, neither shall be any more after it, even to the years of many generations.
3A fire devoureth before them; and behind them a flame burneth: the land is as the garden of Eden before them, and behind them a desolate wilderness; yea, and nothing shall escape them.
4The appearance of them is as the appearance of horses; and as horsemen, so shall they run.
5Like the noise of chariots on the tops of mountains shall they leap, like the noise of a flame of fire that devoureth the stubble, as a strong people set in battle array.
6Before their face the people shall be much pained: all faces shall gather blackness.
7They shall run like mighty men; they shall climb the wall like men of war; and they shall march every one on his ways, and they shall not break their ranks:
8Neither shall one thrust another; they shall walk every one in his path: and when they fall upon the sword, they shall not be wounded.
9They shall run to and fro in the city; they shall run upon the wall, they shall climb up upon the houses; they shall enter in at the windows like a thief.
10The earth shall quake before them; the heavens shall tremble: the sun and the moon shall be dark, and the stars shall withdraw their shining:
______________________________________
11And the LORD shall utter his voice before his army: for his camp is very great: for he is strong that executeth his word: for the day of the LORD is great and very terrible; and who can abide it?
___________________(note the turning point below. All hope is not lost, watchmen!)
12Therefore also now, saith the LORD, turn ye even to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning:
13And rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the LORD your God: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil.
14Who knoweth if he will return and repent, and leave a blessing behind him; even a meat offering and a drink offering unto the LORD your God?
15Blow the trumpet in Zion, sanctify a fast, call a solemn assembly:
(This is the watchman’s trumpet call now. Those who have ears listen and act.)
16Gather the people, sanctify the congregation, assemble the elders, gather the children, and those that suck the breasts: let the bridegroom go forth of his chamber, and the bride out of her closet.
17Let the priests, the ministers of the LORD, weep between the porch and the altar, and let them say, Spare thy people, O LORD, and give not thine heritage to reproach, that the heathen should rule over them: wherefore should they say among the people, Where is their God?
(Watchmen and intercessors, especially those who stand in the capacity of Levi: Call the fast now and pray. Meet together for the three days’ Esther Fast on 2012 29th March 6pm to 1st April 6pm. Assemble and rent your hearts before the Lord for your respective nations/stations on earth.)
18Then will the LORD be jealous for his land, and pity his people.
19Yea, the LORD will answer and say unto his people, Behold, I will send you corn, and wine, and oil, and ye shall be satisfied therewith: and I will no more make you a reproach among the heathen:
(Focus on the mercy and loving-kindness of the Lord God Almighty.)
20But I will remove far off from you the northern army, and will drive him into a land barren and desolate, with his face toward the east sea, and his hinder part toward the utmost sea, and his stink shall come up, and his ill savour shall come up, because he hath done great things.
(The battle is in the spiritual realm. The Lord will remove your territorial spiritual enemy.)
21Fear not, O land; be glad and rejoice: for the LORD will do great things.
(Your land will be set free!)
22Be not afraid, ye beasts of the field: for the pastures of the wilderness do spring, for the tree beareth her fruit, the fig tree and the vine do yield their strength.
23Be glad then, ye children of Zion, and rejoice in the LORD your God: for he hath given you the former rain moderately, and he will cause to come down for you the rain, the former rain, and the latter rain in the first month.
(April is the first month! All watchmen take note. CALL for the Latter Rain to pour as promised.)
24And the floors shall be full of wheat, and the vats shall overflow with wine and oil.
25And I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten, the cankerworm, and the caterpiller, and the palmerworm, my great army which I sent among you.
26And ye shall eat in plenty, and be satisfied, and praise the name of the LORD your God, that hath dealt wondrously with you: and my people shall never be ashamed.
27And ye shall know that I am in the midst of Israel, and that I am the LORD your God, and none else: and my people shall never be ashamed.
28And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions:
29And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit.
30And I will shew wonders in the heavens and in the earth, blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke.
31The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and terrible day of the LORD come.
32And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the LORD shall be delivered: for in mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance, as the LORD hath said, and in the remnant whom the LORD shall call.
Esther 3 (KJV)1After these things did king Ahasuerus promote Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, and advanced him, and set his seat above all the princes that were with him.
2And all the king’s servants, that were in the king’s gate, bowed, and reverenced Haman: for the king had so commanded concerning him. But Mordecai bowed not, nor did him reverence.
3Then the king’s servants, which were in the king’s gate, said unto Mordecai, Why transgressest thou the king’s commandment?
4Now it came to pass, when they spake daily unto him, and he hearkened not unto them, that they told Haman, to see whether Mordecai’s matters would stand: for he had told them that he was a Jew.
5And when Haman saw that Mordecai bowed not, nor did him reverence, then was Haman full of wrath.
6And he thought scorn to lay hands on Mordecai alone; for they had shewed him the people of Mordecai: wherefore Haman sought to destroy all the Jews that were throughout the whole kingdom of Ahasuerus, even the people of Mordecai.
7In the first month, that is, the month Nisan, in the twelfth year of king Ahasuerus, they cast Pur, that is, the lot, before Haman from day to day, and from month to month, to the twelfth month, that is, the month Adar.
(Nisan is April. Note the date: 13th April, 2012. Passover falls on Sunset of April 6 through nightfall of April 14, 2012.)
8And Haman said unto king Ahasuerus, There is a certain people scattered abroad and dispersed among the people in all the provinces of thy kingdom; and their laws are diverse from all people; neither keep they the king’s laws: therefore it is not for the king’s profit to suffer them.
9If it please the king, let it be written that they may be destroyed: and I will pay ten thousand talents of silver to the hands of those that have the charge of the business, to bring it into the king’s treasuries.
10And the king took his ring from his hand, and gave it unto Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, the Jews’ enemy.
11And the king said unto Haman, The silver is given to thee, the people also, to do with them as it seemeth good to thee.
12Then were the king’s scribes called on the thirteenth day of the first month, and there was written according to all that Haman had commanded unto the king’s lieutenants, and to the governors that were over every province, and to the rulers of every people of every province according to the writing thereof, and to every people after their language; in the name of king Ahasuerus was it written, and sealed with the king’s ring.
13And the letters were sent by posts into all the king’s provinces, to destroy, to kill, and to cause to perish, all Jews, both young and old, little children and women, in one day, even upon the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is the month Adar, and to take the spoil of them for a prey.
(Adar is March).
14The copy of the writing for a commandment to be given in every province was published unto all people, that they should be ready against that day.
15The posts went out, being hastened by the king’s commandment, and the decree was given in Shushan the palace. And the king and Haman sat down to drink; but the city Shushan was perplexed.
______________________________________Jewish Calendar
| Hebrew | English | Number | Length | Civil Equivalent |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
Nissan | 1 | 30 days | March-April |
 |
Iyar | 2 | 29 days | April-May |
 |
Sivan | 3 | 30 days | May-June |
 |
Tammuz | 4 | 29 days | June-July |
 |
Av | 5 | 30 days | July-August |
 |
Elul | 6 | 29 days | August-September |
 |
Tishri | 7 | 30 days | September-October |
 |
Cheshvan | 8 | 29 or 30 days | October-November |
 |
Kislev | 9 | 30 or 29 days | November-December |
 |
Tevet | 10 | 29 days | December-January |
 |
Shevat | 11 | 30 days | January-February |
 |
Adar I (leap years only) | 12 | 30 days | February-March |
  |
Adar (called Adar Beit in leap years) |
12 (13 in leap years) |
29 days | February-March |
The watchman asked the Lord whether he might stay away from engaging in spiritual warfare. Can he be allowed to remain in his comfort zone? He pleaded that he had to take care of his own people first and make sure they are protected.Then he was asked to read the following psalm. There is really no option. (His notes are in bracket)
1 Praise be to the LORD my Rock,
who trains my hands for war,
my fingers for battle.
(The Lord trains us for battle and war. There is no reason that after training we can stay away from the spiritual battlefield. Jesus commanded His trained disciples in Matt.28:18-20, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” The Holy Spirit spoke through Paul, in 2 Timothy 2:2, “And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.”)
2 He is my loving God and my fortress,
my stronghold and my deliverer,
my shield, in whom I take refuge,
who subdues peoples[a] under me.
(God provides the whole armor. In fact, He is the armor and protection: He is the fortress, stronghold and shield against the enemy.)
3 LORD, what are human beings that you care for them,
mere mortals that you think of them?
4 They are like a breath;
their days are like a fleeting shadow.
(He considers even the most insignificant human important enough to be protected by HIM.)
5 Part your heavens, LORD, and come down;
touch the mountains, so that they smoke.
6 Send forth lightning and scatter the enemy;
shoot your arrows and rout them.
(Spiritual weapons come from heaven: fire, lightning, arrows Prayers will bring forth these weapons, as illustrated in many Biblical examples.)
7 Reach down your hand from on high;
deliver me and rescue me
(God’s hand is the mighty weapon against the enemy’s hands. The hand of the Lord saves and delivers. The hand of the Lord upon Prophet Ezekiel signifies the Holy Spirit and His might.)
from the mighty waters,
from the hands of foreigners
8 whose mouths are full of lies,
whose right hands are deceitful.
(The enemy’s weapon is his deceitful mouth and right hand.The right hand is a place of honor (1 Kings 2:19; Psalm 45:9); because of this, it is raised in swearing (Galatians 2:9). The enemy swears falsely. Satan is the accuser of the brethren. Rev.12:10)
9 I will sing a new song to you, my God;
on the ten-stringed lyre I will make music to you,
10 to the One who gives victory to kings,
who delivers his servant David.
From the deadly sword 11 deliver me;
rescue me from the hands of foreigners
whose mouths are full of lies,
whose right hands are deceitful.
(When the enemy comes in like a flood, The Spirit of the LORD will lift up a standard (the word of God) against him. Isaiah59:19 Praise and worship is an effective weapon and some kings like David, Jehoshaphat had used this weapon well. Instead of allowing the enemy to use our mouths to proclaim lies, we let the Holy Spirit use our mouths to proclaim Truth, the word of God. Truth sets captives free. His word is light and lamp. His word is life and Spirit.)
12 Then our sons in their youth
will be like well-nurtured plants,
and our daughters will be like pillars
carved to adorn a palace.
(Victory in spiritual wars will enable us to bring up our children well, godly and honorable.)
13 Our barns will be filled
with every kind of provision.
Our sheep will increase by thousands,
by tens of thousands in our fields;
14 our oxen will draw heavy loads.[b]
(Even our physical profession/business will do well in all our endeavors and have financial and material security and prosperity.)
There will be no breaching of walls,
no going into captivity,
no cry of distress in our streets.
(The enemy will not find any open door to enter to steal, kill and destroy, as the walls (protective hedges) will be well guarded and maintained. The enemy will have no power over us: body, soul and spirit.)
15 Blessed is the people of whom this is true;
blessed is the people whose God is the LORD.
(Summary: There is no need to fear spiritual wars. You will be blessed when you believe and practice the above, living the life of a citizen in the Kingdom of God, as a son of God, being led by the Holy Spirit, believing and living the word of God.)
_______________Bible verses on ongoing spiritual warfare
10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
14 Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16 above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; 18 praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints—
(Note: The full armor of God includes praying in the Spirit. This has often been overlooked by Christians. The word of God and praying in the Spirit are the only two offensive weapons here.)
3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. 4 For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, 5 casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ,
(The enemy sets up strongholds in the minds of men. The battlefield is in the mind -our thoughts and emotions.)
3 But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, 4 whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them.
(The enemy blinds the minds of human and thus prevents them from believing the Gospel of Jesus and accepting Jesus as their Savior and Lord and are thus saved and delivered from the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of light.)
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).
The final journey: A prodigal son returned
The watchman never realized that this blog would come to the forefront of his memory and would be just the right message today. During the past few days he went from one chamber of his life into another chamber. A brother passed on to be with the Lord. After an absence of over fifty years, the brother came back and now he left for eternity after just fifteen months of reunion. During the short and last phase of his life he reconciled with the Father in heaven, his own siblings and their children. He even gained a big family of brethren in a farm home living his last journey on earth before the Lord, reading and meditating the word of God day and night, learning to worship the Lord in Spirit and in Truth.
Miraculously, his gift in cooking (which had previously been totally robbed and destroyed by the devil through alcohol intoxication) was restored to him. He became a well respected and honored elderly in the home of old and young, men and women. Even more stunning to all who knew him before, from a man who could hardly read a few words, he had learned to read and write well by reading the Bible (completing the whole New Testament and some parts of Old Testament) and copying notes. He even memorized Key Verses. The blood of the Lamb of God (Jesus) had washed away his sins, and the word of God had cleansed and transformed him in and out. In addition to ridding off all his addictive habits, his common burst of anger was healed. A big group of brethren in Christ led the wake service for him and many shed tears for him (and for themselves when they recalled the journey they all went through). One message is clear: the Father in heaven does not give up on His sons.
On the last day of his life on earth he led worship and Bible reading. He passed away peacefully while resting after the daily morning worship service on 3rd March 2012. He was 59 years and ten months old. He did not suffer any major illness in the home. He just had his medical check up a month ago and was given clean bill of health. He was completely divinely healed and well. Three days previously he re-dedicated his life to the Lord for His use, kneeling down and the pastor of the home blessed him. He finished the race on earth well after a life of being a prodigal son. The Father in heaven accepted him into His bosom.
During the worship he picked his favorite eight worship songs. According to his brethren in the home all were positive Kingdom of God songs, praising God and focusing on God's greatness and glory. The watchman believed that he had joined the heavenly choir and happily singing and worshiping the Almighty God day and night now...
A favorite verse and song of the late brother of the watchman is from Job:
The watchman and his class found a dilemma in this verse. “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!” ( Mark 9:24)14 And when He came to the disciples, He saw a great multitude around them, and scribes disputing with them. 15 Immediately, when they saw Him, all the people were greatly amazed, and running to Him, greeted Him. 16 And He asked the scribes, “What are you discussing with them?”
17 Then one of the crowd answered and said, “Teacher, I brought You my son, who has a mute spirit. 18 And wherever it seizes him, it throws him down; he foams at the mouth, gnashes his teeth, and becomes rigid. So I spoke to Your disciples, that they should cast it out, but they could not.”
(A great multitude was there and they observed the physical condition of the sick boy and the failure of Jesus’ disciples to cast out the mute demon from him. They were even arguing with the ‘specialists’ -scribes over the treatment of this medical or mental case. The disciples had been given authority and power by Jesus previously and had been successful in their healing ministry. So why did they fail this time? The patient’s father of course complained to the master healer Himself. It was natural to react the way he did to failure and disappointment.)
19 He answered him and said, “O faithless generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I bear with you? Bring him to Me.”
(Jesus was not addressing the faithless crowd of bystanders or the patient and his father. They did not know Him or His power. Many had not even heard the full Gospel of the Kingdom of God and of Christ. Jesus was addressing His own disciples who had followed Him and lived with Him and witnessed His supernatural power and deeds. They had heard the full Gospel. They had been given authority and power by Him. Note how Jesus described them.)
20 Then they brought him to Him. And when he saw Him, immediately the spirit convulsed him, and he fell on the ground and wallowed, foaming at the mouth.
21 So He asked his father, “How long has this been happening to him?”
And he said, “From childhood. 22 And often he has thrown him both into the fire and into the water to destroy him. But if You can do anything, have compassion on us and help us.”
23 Jesus said to him, “If you can believe,all things are possible to him who believes.”
24 Immediately the father of the child cried out and said with tears, “Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!”
(Note the conversation between the patient’s father and Jesus. How can anyone be believing and not believing at the same time? Was he telling lies? But the poor man was in tears. He was in front of a big crowd. Yet he continued pleading to Jesus to heal his son. So he must have heard of Jesus’ power and believed that Jesus could do it. Yet, he admitted that he had unbelief. Amazing. This is the theme of today’s message. Can we have faith and unbelief at the same time?)
25 When Jesus saw that the people came running together, He rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it: “Deaf and dumb spirit, I command you, come out of him and enter him no more!” 26 Then the spirit cried out, convulsed him greatly, and came out of him. And he became as one dead, so that many said, “He is dead.” 27 But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him up, and he arose.
(Note how simple the matter was. Jesus merely commanded and the evil spirit obeyed and came out of the boy. The boy might have looked terrible when he was possessed. But Jesus saw the evil spirit and not the patient. In the spiritual realm Jesus’ authority is recognized and obeyed.)
28 And when He had come into the house, His disciples asked Him privately, “Why could we not cast it out?”
29 So He said to them, “This kind can come out by nothing but prayer and fasting.” **
(Note the conversation between the disciples and Jesus. The disciples were still obsessed with their job failure. They were looking at the physical (body and soul -mind and emotion) realm, the humiliation and inadequacy they felt in not delivering the required result.) But Jesus did not answer them about this ‘job’ or ‘performance assessment’. He revealed the true condition of their spirits. They were still living within the paradigm of their physical and natural world. they were unable to believe that Jesus’ Father (God)’s world is real, even though they could not see it. Jesus had taught them and demonstrated to them the reality of God and that He is from God. But their hearts were hardened by their preoccupation with the physical and natural and unbelief of the spiritual reality.)
Those who are not spiritually discerned cannot understand the things of God. God is Spirit. The Pharisees and Scribes cannot understand. Christians are expected to know and understand. But Many cannot. Why? Being spiritually discerning and believing in the spiritual reality of God (and His word), being led by faith and not by sight are all essential to know and understand the matters of God, that is, the matters as revealed by the Holy Spirit (often through the word of God).
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**Notes on FASTING: This does not mean certain evil spirits are so powerful that the disciples cannot cast it out even by Jesus Name. The fasting is for the disciples to cast their own flesh and unbelief of God’s spiritual reality. Unbelief nullifies their use of the Name of Jesus and the authority therein over spiritual beings (e.g. evil spirits). They did not believe because they were walking by sight and not by faith. Their hearts were hardened by the world and worldly knowledge. They could not discern spiritual matters because they were not led by the Spirit. Fasting deals with our flesh and carnal man. Being a disciple means we need to deny ourselves (body, mind and emotion and everything that makes up us in the physical natural realm), take up our cross and follow Christ daily. Only sons of God are led by the Holy Spirit. Only when we walk and live by the Spirit, can we discern spiritual matters and war in the spiritual realm, taking the authority of the name of the Son of God, Jesus effectively.
