every spiritual blessing There is one book in the Bible that poses like a gigantic spiritual mountain, Paul’s letter to the Ephesians. This book has been read many times and many have been awed by the first three chapters. Some have been urged to memorize the whole book and did succeed in doing so. Memorizing stories requires some natural effort but memorizing doctrine requires supernatural effort. Prayers were made and even written and proclaimed based on some of the verses. Results as testified (verbal and written) are inspiring and encouraging in spiritual building.
After the 5am class had been formed for five months (during which the brethren were led to read Old and New Testaments, Psalms, Gospels and Epistles, often covering passages from a few books together), on this anniversary date of the fifth month, the members were led to read this Epistle of Paul who wrote this while in prison.
The process so far:
First day: at 5 am, as a group, they read the whole letter together at one go and ask the Lord to draw their attention to some key points.
Same day: individually through out the day the members re-read, listen, and meditate accordingly. The watchman found his old collection of a 15 hours audio teaching (verse by verse) and listened throughout the day.
Second day: 5 am class read first chapter and discussed verse by verse. The members were led to re-read the whole letter as many times as possible through out the day (making time to focus on this). Members also raised the urge to memorize this letter. Each will be led by the Lord to decide how to do it and which clutters of verses to memorize.
Challenge envisaged: Because this is doctrine and the words are spiritual (not physical or visual even in the mind) it would require a lot of effort to even understand, not to mention to remember. Memory and understanding work best when associating words with stories and pictures. How to visualize doctrine? The challenge is great.
Supernatural Advantage
By faith. 2 Cor. 5:7 “For we walk by faith, not by sight.”
By the Spirit of the Lord in us. 1 Cor. 2:12 “Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God.”
By the mind of Christ which we already have. 1 Cor. 2:16 “But we have the mind of Christ.”
By seeing and hearing the life testimony of others: the watchman has personally witnessed the recital of the Epistle of Ephesians by a young girl (around 13-14 years old). Her mother had taught her to read the Bible before she was old enough to go to school.
Goal of this group: The common goal is clear, just follow the Holy Spirit and obey the words of God. Jesus Himself is our ultimate example.
Bible verse: “This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.” Joshua 1:8
______________________Key verses or points received with joy so far (1:1-9) (Watchman’s suggested readings from NKJV and Amplified Bible)
God is God. God is the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. (1:3)
God has a will. God has a purpose and choice in His will.
God is pleased with His Beloved Son, Jesus. Through Christ, it pleased Him and was His kind intent to plan in love for us, and bless us. (1:3,5,9)
The will and purpose regarding our destiny is in Christ.
In Christ God has blessed us (the saints -consecrated, set apart- faithful, loyal, steadfast in Christ Jesus) with every spiritual (given by the Holy Spirit) blessing in the heavenly places.
Some of the God’s blessings (5-9) for us are: God’s plan for us to be revealed as His own children through Jesus Christ (His Beloved Son); His favor and mercy, glorious grace freely bestowed on us in the Beloved (Jesus Christ); In Christ we have redemption through His blood, the remission, forgiveness of sins; being lavished every kind of wisdom and understanding, practical insight and prudence; making known to us the mystery of His will, His plan and purpose.
One recent night after the watchman prayed he was led to see a vision. He saw an empty space of greenish color like ceiling. While puzzling he heard in his spirit to read Genesis 40. He got up and the prompting told him to sit in the corner which he had never sat to read. He obeyed. When he sat at that tiny green table located at a narrow space sandwiched between the wall and a row of chest, and looked up, he saw exactly the vision he saw earlier on.
The Bible passage in Genesis 40 was about Joseph interpreting two dreams for two fellow prisoners in a dungeon. The interpretations were correct but he was conveniently forgotten and left in the dungeon for another two years before he had another chance to be released, through interpreting the dreams of Pharaoh, the king of Egypt.
A day later he was led in his spirit to read Ephesians. He read the book and it was rich with revelations. He read through it again in another language with his 5am brethren. The next day he remembered his collection of a verse by verse study of Ephesians by a Bible teacher. He took out the computer and listened to the whole book being expounded.
Five hours later, while washing his garden patio, he suddenly heard this verse loud and clear: “For this reason, I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for you Gentiles–” (Ephesians 3:1) “Paul’s key to operating in victory”.
The teacher said, “Paul did not see Rome natural things as being in control of his life. But rather he saw the Lord Jesus Christ being in control of his life. He didn’t empower problems by giving them the victory and authority over him. He recognized that God was in control and was flowing through him.” “It’s what you view your situation that counts. It matters what you say about yourself.”
Joseph was also of the same attitude as Paul. He never blamed God. After the break in which he successfully interpreted the dreams of two officers close to the king, Joseph was left in prison for two further long years, serving a sentence which totaled thirteen years, in fact all his youthful years (from 17 years old to thirty years old), through no fault of his. The following conversations revealed his reverential attitude towards God despite ‘growing up’ in a dungeon.
“Do not interpretations belong to God? Tell them to me, please.” (Gen. 40:8) So Joseph answered Pharaoh, saying, “It is not in me; God will give Pharaoh an answer of peace.” (41:16) “And the dream was repeated to Pharaoh twice because the thing is established by God, and God will shortly bring it to pass.” (41:32) Joseph said to them, “Do not be afraid, for am I in the place of God?” (50:19) “But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good…to save many people alive.” (50:20)
How did Joseph keep this attitude? The king of Egypt said this of him, “Can we find such a man as this, a man in whom was the Spirit of God?” “In as much as God has shown you all this, there is no one as discerning and wise as you.” “ You shall be over my house, and all my people shall be ruled according to your word…” (41:39-40)
Joseph’s depth and breadth of spiritual knowledge through the Spirit of God, manifested in the physical realm in human wisdom and worked success. Was the worldly success important to him aside from fulfilling God’s purpose? After thirteen years of dungeon life nothing would have mattered except knowing God and God’s faithfulness for those who love God. Romans 8:28 “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.”
Both Joseph and Paul had a revelation of God’s love. The watchman too. He prayed that you too will have this powerful revelation. Here is the prayer of Paul for the church:
“for this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ…that He would grant you…to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man…that you…know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.” (Ephesians 3:14-19)
The watchman tried to figure out how visitors to this blog may be included to appear in the community list (which limits to 50 only). He experimented a number of combinations (the likers, followers and commenters). The collection of ‘community’ reflect only those who participated in clicking the ‘like’, ‘be ‘followers’, or ‘comment’. His conclusion so far is he still does not know how it works, because not all who participated are in the ‘community’ list published. His prayer for all is not to be deterred by the web site’s programming over which the watchman has no control. He appreciates your visit and does notice the regulars and visits their sites even though he does not comment much.
One thing he regrets to note is that the web site does not provide the picture of the frequent visitors from outside. However he also notes that the majority of the visitors are from all over the world and thus remain anonymous and faceless.
In his journey in the Holy Spirit, he has encountered a number of faceless believers and disciples of Jesus. They are the rubber tappers, vegetables sellers, corner provision shop keepers, fish mongers, road side cafe operators, cab drivers, clerks, book keepers, electricians, construction supervisors, plumbers…and so on. The list is the everyday people list. These are the people who have encountered God in their ordinary lives.
Some are Spirit-filled the moment they believed and accepted Christ Jesus as their Savior and Lord. A rubber tapper can command her migraine to leave her the day after her baptism. A vegetable seller can finish reading the whole Bible six times within a year of her salvation and miraculous full recovery from a seemingly hopeless and helpless bedridden condition. A housewife (grandma) has her sight fully restored after praying for four and half months (after she heard and believed that Jesus heals).
A new convert kindergarten nanny (widow mother of two grown up working children) after receiving salvation read the first three books of Old Testament and half way through the book of Matthew in the New Testament within ten days after her conversion to Christ Jesus from idolatry practice! She explained that due to her eyesight limitation she did not manage to read much!! (The confession made the watchman and those who heard this marvel at the transformation power of the Lord).
The miraculous list is endless, as the Kingdom of God continues to advance, and as disciples continue to obey the Lord Jesus and do what He has commanded His followers to do, led by the Holy Spirit and God’s words.
The scribe (who chose to be a servant/messenger/recorder for the most unpopular prophet then) appeared suddenly in the Book of Prophet Jeremiah starting chapter 32 ending chapter 45. Chapter 45 (with only five verses) was entirely about him. What an interesting and intriguing person of record. He himself was a recorder of messages (including signs). He even carried the messages he recorded to the audience as instructed. Was his role of any use in the spiritual realm? Definitely. He was even singled out by the unseen enemy as target. Here is his story in Biblical verses. (The notes of the watchman are in brackets after each sety of verses.)
Jeremiah 32:12 and I gave the purchase deed to Baruch the son of Neriah, son of Mahseiah, in the presence of Hanamel my uncle’s son, and in the presence of the witnesses who signed the purchase deed, before all the Jews who sat in the court of the prison. Jeremiah 32:13 “Then I charged Baruch before them, saying, Jeremiah 32:16 [ Jeremiah Prays for Understanding ] “Now when I had delivered the purchase deed to Baruch the son of Neriah, I prayed to the Lord, saying:
(Baruch appeared suddenly and undertook very important prophet act on behalf of prophet Jeremiah who was imprisoned.)
Jeremiah 36:4 Then Jeremiah called Baruch the son of Neriah; and Baruch wrote on a scroll of a book, at the instruction of Jeremiah, all the words of the Lord which He had spoken to him.
(Baruch’s key job was to write down accurately what Jeremiah had received from the Lord. Jeremiah could not have paid him or given him any physical or even social emoluments and amenities compared to other prophet employers who were in the king’s favor and enjoyed prestigious and materially better off status and positions. Baruch could not have worked for things that others valued. What drove him? What was he looking for when he chose to follow Jeremiah who was being persecuted by all the powerful and important leaders of the nation then? What did he see in that time of national crisis, chaos, confusion, insecurity and strife? Indeed Jeremiah had not much to offer except words from God. This scribe Baruch heard the words and believed. He was a man of words. He was drawn to God’s spoken words. He was a man of discernment. He discerned that the words were from God and not from man. He was a man who hungered for God’s words and sought out God’s words even at the time of impending nationwide shaking and collapse.)
Jeremiah 36:5 And Jeremiah commanded Baruch, saying, “I am confined, I cannot go into the house of the Lord. Jeremiah 36:8And Baruch the son of Neriah did according to all that Jeremiah the prophet commanded him, reading from the book the words of the Lord in the Lord’s house.Jeremiah 36:10 Then Baruch read from the book the words of Jeremiah in the house of the Lord, in the chamber of Gemariah the son of Shaphan the scribe, in the upper court at the entry of the New Gate of the Lord’s house, in the hearing of all the people.
(Baruch’s second assignment: Represent faithfully the one who sent him -Jeremiah- before the people, even before leaders and princes.He was an educated man and knew the political and religious scenario then. He knew Jeremiah was feared and hated by many and considered a national threat. Yet he obeyed Jeremiah and went ahead and did exactly what Jeremiah instructed him to do! Baruch was a courageous man. What gave him the boldness? He knew whom he believed. He knew the truth and the truth of God’s words had freed him from the fear of men. The words of God set free the captive.)
Jeremiah 36:13 Then Michaiah declared to them all the words that he had heard when Baruch read the book in the hearing of the people.
Jeremiah 36:14 Therefore all the princes sent Jehudi the son of Nethaniah, the son of Shelemiah, the son of Cushi, to Baruch, saying, “Take in your hand the scroll from which you have read in the hearing of the people, and come.” So Baruch the son of Neriah took the scroll in his hand and came to them.
Jeremiah 36:15 And they said to him, “Sit down now, and read it in our hearing.” So Baruch read it in their hearing. Jeremiah 36:16 Now it happened, when they had heard all the words, that they looked in fear from one to another, and said to Baruch, “We will surely tell the king of all these words.”
Jeremiah 36:17 And they asked Baruch, saying, “Tell us now, how did you write all these words—at his instruction?” Jeremiah 36:18 So Baruchanswered them, “He proclaimed with his mouth all these words to me, and I wrote them with ink in the book.”
Jeremiah 36:19Then the princes said to Baruch, “Go and hide, you and Jeremiah; and let no one know where you are.”
(Baruch’s next assignment: Witnessing the exact words of God. Tell the truth as he had received. Be the vessel as he was called. The messenger on behalf of the messenger. The faithful and obedient disciple. The servant. It was indeed a life and death mission and testimony. Even the princes advised him and his master to go and hide immediately.)
Jeremiah 36:26And the king commandedJerahmeel the king’s son, Seraiah the son of Azriel, and Shelemiah the son of Abdeel, to seizeBaruchthe scribe and Jeremiah the prophet, butthe Lord hid them.
(The enemy acted without hesitation. The Lord too.)
Jeremiah 36:27 [ Jeremiah Rewrites the Scroll ] Now after the king had burned the scroll with the words which Baruch had written at the instruction of Jeremiah, the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah, saying: Jeremiah 36:32Then Jeremiah took another scroll and gave it to Baruch the scribe, the son of Neriah, who wrote on it at the instruction of Jeremiah all the words of the book which Jehoiakim king of Judah had burned in the fire. And besides, there were added to them many similar words.
( Take note: the Lord God does not stop what He had decreed. Burning of the original scroll in the physical realm had no impact whatsoever in the spiritual realm. God’s plan continued and more words were added! How awesome it must have appeared to Jeremiah the true prophet and Baruch the true servant of God!)
Jeremiah 43:3 But Baruch the son of Neriah has set you against us, to deliver us into the hand of the Chaldeans, that they may put us to death or carry us away captive to Babylon.”
Jeremiah 43:6 men, women, children, the king’s daughters, and every person whom Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard had left with Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan, and Jeremiah the prophet and Baruch the son of Neriah.
(The enemy wasted no time and continued with their false accusations and persecutions in the physical.)
Jeremiah 45:1 [ Assurance to Baruch ] The word that Jeremiah the prophet spoke to Baruch the son of Neriah, when he had written these words in a book at the instruction of Jeremiah, in the fourth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah, saying, Jeremiah 45:2 “Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, to you, O Baruch
(The words of the Lord continues in the spiritual. That counts. The words have come to pass just as the Lord has spoken. It was worthwhile to serve the Almighty and Living God! Both Jeremiah and Baruch knew and indeed experienced. Today the same happens for all faithful servants of God.)
The low rumbling (sound like distant engine or thunder) sound had been on lately in the afternoon for hours. No lightning. No rain except bits of drizzles. The sky was like filthy rag. Something is changing in the heavenly realm. The watchman was alerted by another to intercede in the Spirit for an hour at least, preferably singing in the Spirit to get into the spiritual realm. Indeed, after he obeyed he knew what to pray for after about half way through. It was urgent and important. Someone important in the country he was in right now needed the prayer. The term that came to him after he finished praying was “David and Goliath”.
Today the message for the servant (watchman) is “And do you seek great things for yourself?” The watchman has been praying about the future (what, where, when, and how?) The prayer is essential because of the prophecy about changes ahead and the shift to cross over from one realm to another realm. Nothing of the old can be used anymore. No old wine skin. No old wine. None of the old pattern will be of any use. He was asked three times to read the testimony of a man of faith a century ago who let go everything except one dollar (when he started out in obedience to the Lord). When the watchman was asked to let someone else read the book he was led to carry with him on a short trip, he was reminded in his spirit to find the even bigger and much thicker (in fact complete collection) book he has also about that man!
Not only the thick book, he was led to take out two other books. One is written by a prophet about time and the other was written by a person who visited heaven and hell and back. He was given the assignment to read all and finish watching three sets of DVDs (each containing several real life testimonies) of divine healing that happened today, all in one week.
Then this morning he received the exact answer to his prayer. The short chapter of Jeremiah, chapter 45. The message is clear: look at the unseen, watchman and not the seen. Be led by the Spirit of the Lord. By flesh it is impossible to accomplish the assignment. By the Holy Spirit nothing is impossible. (Zech4:6)
O watchman/scribe,This is not the time to seek great things or anything for yourself. Seek God. His will be done on earth as it is in heaven!
Jeremiah (NKJV) 45 Assurance to Baruch (with whom the watchman identifies asone things he has been doing is recording ‘messages’ and ‘signs’, like Baruch did).
45 The word that Jeremiah the prophet spoke to Baruch the son of Neriah, when he had written these words in a book at the instruction of Jeremiah, in the fourth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah, saying, 2 “Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, to you, O Baruch:3 ‘You said, “Woe is me now! For the Lord has added grief to my sorrow. I fainted in my sighing, and I find no rest.”’
4 “Thus you shall say to him, ‘Thus says the Lord: “Behold, what I have built I will break down, and what I have planted I will pluck up, that is, this whole land. 5 And do you seek great things for yourself? Do not seek them; for behold, I will bring adversity on all flesh,” says the Lord. “But I will give your life to you as a prize in all places, wherever you go.”’”
___________________________
The above message is confirmed by another New Testament message which he was led to read after he prayed in response:
2 Corinthians 4:16 Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. 17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, 18while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.
2 Corinthians 5:16 Therefore, from now on, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know Him thus no longer. 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.
2 Corinthians 5:5 Now He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who also has given us the Spirit as a guarantee. 7 For we walk by faith, not by sight.
AAA watchman 
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