End Times Church Countdown: A man’s three journeys in the Holy Spirit

The watchman was led to witness three journeys in the Holy Spirit during the last three days. He started praying and interceding for his church and the Spirit unfolded three journeys for a man used by God in the following sequence:

Acts 20: the Last journey (like the last chapter of a man’s life)

Acts 13: the First journey (like the first chapter, the introduction of a man’s life)

Acts 16-17: the second (Middle) journey (like the contents part of a man’s life)

Why did the Lord reveal the last journey first? The watchman asked. he could see the urgency in the Word revealed. It is like the Lord wants us to see the end part first. The single-mindedness, the clarity of revelation received. In Acts 20 Paul simply proclaimed, “And now I am bound by the Spirit to go to Jerusalem. I don’t know what awaits me, except that the Holy Spirit tells me in city after city that jail and suffering lie ahead.”

“But my life is worth nothing to me unless I use it for finishing the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus, the work of telling others the Good News about the wonderful grace of God.”

After revealing (in Acts 20) the Last (the final destiny), the Spirit revealed in the first journey (Acts 13) the First (when a man was called): “So Barnabas and Saul were sent out by the Holy Spirit.” Their mission was clearly prescribed: “I have made you a light to the Gentiles, to bring salvation to the farthest corner of the earth.” Result of their obedience: “And all who were chosen for eternal life became believers.” (A historical record of another Spirit-filled and led man of God: “After David had done the will of God in his own generation, he died.”)”

The third revelation, in Acts 16-17, revealed the middle part (like the contents of a man’s life). The content is filled with signs, wonders, miracles and adventure! For example, a visionary dream (the call from Macedonia – entrance to Europe), the establishment of the first European house church at the first convert-a business woman’s home, imprisonment and midnight worship at the prison with supernatural deliverance (like breakout), triumphant and honourable release from captivity!

The following is a brief summary of what the watchman has witnessed:

1. Look at the end first. Know where you are going before you embark on your spiritual journey. What makes your life worth living for? The answer is: you live to complete the assignment given to you by Jesus Christ Himself (through the Holy Spirit).

2. Look at the beginning. How will you start? The answer is you start by being led by the Holy Spirit. By the Holy Spirit, you are called, justified, sanctified and will be glorified at the end.

3. Know what to expect in your life’s content: that your journey in the Holy Spirit is rich, meaningful, exciting, miraculous and will fulfill all the promises of God as the journey has been well planned and provided for by the Lord Himself with the whole company of angels to assist you along the way.

Life is a journey for every man. But only the one led by the Holy Spirit lives out the assignment given by God. What will be the reward for such a man? The answer is given to the watchman in Daniel 12:3 & 13 after he has read the three journeys in the Holy Spirit:

“Those who are wise will shine as bright as the sky, and those who lead many to righteousness will shine like the stars forever,”

“As for you, go your way until the end. You will rest, and then at the end of the days, you will rise again to receive the inheritance set aside for you.”

End Times Church Count Down: Apostles & Seers, Read Acts 20!

Today’s message is for high level prophets, seers and Apostles. The watchman started to intercede for the senior intercessors (seer-prophets/apostles level) and to his surprise he was led to read some very disturbing passages in the Bible: Job 4:3-6, 12-19; 1 Cor.15; Acts 20.

His reading was right after he finished praying for them. during the prayers he was led to using words like “consolidate”, “circuit”, “strengthen”, “share visions and missions afresh”, “give end times preparation directions (practical stratgies). In his spirit he saw Samuel going round the major cities (bases) minstering to his people, Paul and John going to churches planted or helped built up by them, encouraging, exhorting, sharing visions and goals, entrusting to the elders to carry on what they had initiated.

After he finished praying he asked the Lord to give confirmation to what he had just prayed. He was led to read Jobs, then 1 Cor.15, and finally Acts 20. When he read Jobs he was disturbed because he hardly knew the national leaders and he hardly knew what to pray for them. But it was clear that they did not visit them except for yearly rally (which had been stopped) and some ‘daughter’ churches had gone through tumultuous situations in recent years.

Job 4:3-6  ³ “In the past you have encouraged many people;
      you have strengthened those who were weak.
 ⁴ Your words have supported those who were falling;
      you encouraged those with shaky knees.
 ⁵ But now when trouble strikes, you lose heart.
      You are terrified when it touches you.
 ⁶ Doesn’t your reverence for God give you confidence?
      Doesn’t your life of integrity give you hope?

Acts 20 confirmed the urgent and even dire needs of ‘daughter’ churches further by the example of Paul visiting his churches before he left finally for Jerusalem to face an arrest and imprisonment in Rome later.

There is a spiritual authority issue here. The daughter churches are covered by a mother church and the most senior intercessor leader (the spiritual leader of the mother church, representing the spiritual strongman of the house). The churches were built upon the vision of the initial ‘leader’. Although some blievers in the daughter churches see visions, dream dreams and hear from the Lord (Holy Spirit), they see in parts. The overall big picture is revealed to the ‘leader’. The ‘leader’ has the responsibility of standing in the gap and provides coverings for all her ‘daughters’.

When the watchman sees this spiritual implication, he understands why Paul and Samuel spent all their working life going round their ‘churches’ in addition to interceding for them. After Paul was martyred John continued to stay in Ephesian church and mentor the younger disciples until he too left this world.

There was a touching parting scene in Acts 20 describing the Ephesian elders meeting with Paul at a place called Miletus. Paul shared with them his visions ahead, affrmed and entrusted them to God and their corporate reponsibility. Paul’s brief statement contained the following important facts:

1. His vision & mission: “I am bound by the Spirit to go to Jerusalem. Jail and suffering lie ahead. But my life is worth nothing to me unless I use it for finishing the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus.”

2. His prophecy on their future together: “I know none of you will ever see me again.”

3. His exhortation: “So guard yourselves and God’s people. Feed and shepherd God’s flock -His church, purchased with His own blood.”

4. His affirmation of their spiritual authority: “Over which (the church) the Holy Spirit has appointed you as elders.”

5. His warning about the future: “I know that false teachers, like vicious wolves, will come in among you after I leave, not sparing the flock. ³⁰ Even some men from your own group will rise up and distort the truth in order to draw a following.”

6. His instruction to follow his personal example: “Watch out! Remember the three years I was with you—my constant watch and care over you night and day, and my many tears for you.”

7. His encouragement: “And now I entrust you to God and the message of his grace that is able to build you up and give you an inheritance with all those he has set apart for himself.”

Why read 1 Cor.15? It is all about resurrection and transformation of the mortal bodies into immortal bodies. It also brings out the uncompromising fact: all human die one day. This ties with Jobs 4:17-19 as follows:

¹⁷ ‘Can a mortal be innocent before God? Can anyone be pure before the Creator?’  ¹⁸ “If God does not trust his own angels and has charged his messengers with foolishness, ¹⁹ how much less will he trust people made of clay! They are made of dust, crushed as easily as a moth.

All apostolic leaders must accept the fact like Paul did that one day they have to depart from this world or they could lose their physical freedom by imprisonment. The message today is to strenghten your ‘daughters’ (some of whom are mere spiritual babies!). Remember how Paul kept reinforcing his churches spiritually and using his spiritual authority to cover (protect) them.

Paul’s churches were Spirit-filled and led by the Spirit in many ways. But he remained watchful, prayerful and in constant communication with them as intercessor and as the spiritual strongman providing overall cover against the evil spiritual power until he considered his assignment completed and left this world.

The watchman only sees in parts and thus speaks in parts. He prays that the spiritual strongmen for most houses of God see a bigger picture and know more accurately what the Lord has required them to do at the time. He also prays that those who still do not see or know now wake from their slumber (or cast off the distraction spirit) and ask the Lord for the direction of the time and obey.

Watchman’s adventure: diagnosis and prescription Old Way

For the recent massive tragic sudden death everywhere, there is a remedy in the Holy Spirit’s Way. To break off and cast out the deadly soul ties in the spiritual realm with the dead, put on the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness (despair).

Isaiah 61:1-3

 ¹ The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me,
   because the LORD has anointed me
   to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
   to proclaim freedom for the captives
   and release from darkness for the prisoners,^[a]
2 to proclaim the year of the LORD’s favor
   and the day of vengeance of our God,
to comfort all who mourn,
 ³ and provide for those who grieve in Zion—
to bestow on them a crown of beauty
   instead of ashes,
the oil of joy
   instead of mourning,
and a garment of praise
   instead of a spirit of despair.
They will be called oaks of righteousness,
   a planting of the LORD
   for the display of his splendor.Here is a very “old” yet Spirit inspired song to sing and ponder upon.Lyrics

Chorus 1
Put on the garment of praise
For the spirit of heaviness
Lift up your voice to God
Praise with the Spirit
And with understanding
Oh magnify the Lord

Verse 1
All you that mourn in Zion
I have authority
To appoint unto you in Zion
Oil of joy that will set you free

Verse 2
Lift up the hands that hang down
Lift up the voice now still
Give unto God continuous praise
Sing forth from Zion’s hill

Verse 3
Sing to Yahweh alleluia
Worship and praise our God
Praise and adore Him
Bow down before Him
Oh magnify the Lord

© 1976 David Ingles Music

Watchman’s adventure: Journey in the Holy Spirit Old Way

1Samuel10:1-8

Then Samuel took a flask of olive oil and poured it over Saul’s head. He kissed Saul and said, “I am doing this because the Lord has appointed you to be the ruler over Israel, his special possession.[a] (1 Samuel 10:1 Following Masoretic Text, Targum, and Vulgate; Septuagint reads His people Israel; and you shall rule the people of the Lord; Septuagint and Vulgate add And you shall deliver His people from the hands of their enemies all around them. And this shall be a sign to you, that God has anointed you to be a prince.)

2 When you leave me today, you will see two men beside Rachel’s tomb at Zelzah, on the border of Benjamin. They will tell you that the donkeys have been found and that your father has stopped worrying about them and is now worried about you. He is asking, ‘Have you seen my son?’ (And now your father has ceased caring about the donkeys and is worrying about you, saying, “What shall I do about my son?”’NKJV)

3“When you get to the oak of Tabor, you will see three men coming toward you who are on their way to worship God at Bethel. One will be bringing three young goats, another will have three loaves of bread, and the third will be carrying a wineskin full of wine. 4 They will greet you and offer you two of the loaves, which you are to accept.

5 “When you arrive at Gibeah of God,[b] where the garrison of the Philistines is located, you will meet a band of prophets coming down from the place of worship. They will be playing a harp, a tambourine, a flute, and a lyre, and they will be prophesying.

6 At that time the Spirit of the Lord will come powerfully upon you, and you will prophesy with them. You will be changed into a different person. (6 Then the Spirit of the LORD will come upon you, and you will prophesy with them and be turned into another man. NKJV)

7 After these signs take place, do what must be done, for God is with you. (7 And let it be, when these signs come to you, that you do as the occasion demands; for God is with you. NKJV)

8 Then go down to Gilgal ahead of me. I will join you there to sacrifice burnt offerings and peace offerings. You must wait for seven days until I arrive and give you further instructions.

Watchman’s Adventure: meaning of the roof top dream revealed (11/23/2010)

Dutch School; Boors Carousing; York Museums Trust; http://www.artuk.org/artworks/boors-carousing-8737

The watchman knew that his roof top dream still needs to be interpreted as he could not find peace when he sought the Lord today. So he asked the Lord what it means. Then he was told to read Isaiah 22 carefully. So he obeyed. Indeed he was given this passage yesterday but he did not read it. He merely glanced at the verse which described people went up the roof.

When he read the passage carefully and completely he understood what the Lord was saying to him. The description of the people on the roof, continuing to feast on meat and drink wine, dance and play, not showing any remorse, not weeping and mourning in sorrow for their sins, depending on their own physical (e.g. military) strength instead of returning to inquire of the Lord and seek the Lord’s help etc. were exactly what was displayed in the dream!

It was so real and frightening. So he repented for his own omission to be alert immediately after that dream and asked the Lord what it meant and started interceding instantly and faithfully. He knew now he was supposed to do the intercessor job and yet he was so busily engrossed over something else.

The lesson he learns is that for a watchman intercessor the first thing the Lord wants is that he pays attention to the Lord’s message and intercedes for others’ needs without delay. He is not to assume that the dream is related to himself and put it aside. Today after his session he relaxed and looked out of his window and admired the beautiful leaves. But he was told to close his eyes and when he obeyed he saw a colorless bleak scene. The message was, “Watchman, be alert as this is how the real world looks, in the unseen!”

____________________________

Isaiah 22 the Valley of Vision

1 This message came to me concerning Jerusalem—the Valley of Vision[a]:  What is happening?

Why is everyone running to the rooftops?

2 The whole city is in a terrible uproar.

What do I see in this reveling city?

Bodies are lying everywhere,

killed not in battle but by famine and disease.

3 All your leaders have fled.

They surrendered without resistance.

The people tried to slip away,

but they were captured, too.

4 That’s why I said, “Leave me alone to weep;

do not try to comfort me.

Let me cry for my people

as I watch them being destroyed.”

5 Oh, what a day of crushing defeat!

What a day of confusion and terror

brought by the Lord, the Lord of Heaven’s Armies,

upon the Valley of Vision!

The walls of Jerusalem have been broken,

and cries of death echo from the mountainsides.

6 Elamites are the archers,

with their chariots and charioteers.

The men of Kir hold up the shields.

7 Chariots fill your beautiful valleys,

and charioteers storm your gates.

8 Judah’s defenses have been stripped away.

You run to the armory[b] for your weapons.

9 You inspect the breaks in the walls of Jerusalem.[c]

You store up water in the lower pool.

10 You survey the houses and tear some down

for stone to strengthen the walls.

11 Between the city walls, you build a reservoir

for water from the old pool.

But you never ask for help from the One who did all this.

You never considered the One who planned this long ago.

12 At that time the Lord, the Lord of Heaven’s Armies,

called you to weep and mourn.

He told you to shave your heads in sorrow for your sins

and to wear clothes of burlap to show your remorse.

13 But instead, you dance and play;

you slaughter cattle and kill sheep.

You feast on meat and drink wine.

You say, “Let’s feast and drink,

for tomorrow we die!”

14 The Lord of Heaven’s Armies has revealed this to me: “Till the day you die, you will never be forgiven for this sin.” That is the judgment of the Lord, the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.