(2015 review)Journey on: key words

A review at the year end of 2015: “What have I been (as a person) in 2015 and what am I going to become in 2016?” The YEAR END REVIEW question focuses on the word ‘BEING’ instead of ‘DOING’. When the Bible opened at the Book of Numbers chapter 33, the watchman read and noted that it showed the record of “A JOURNEY”——Record keeping of its stages, organization, leadership, names of places, routes, geography and terrains, the motion of staying (camping) and leaving (moving on), crossing the sea, desert, passing oasis of springs and palm trees, mountains, plains, river and finally reaching specified boundaries. The whole chapter tells us about an aspect of God——He requires specific, detailed and accurate recording of each event of the people who matter to Him, on a journey made possible by Him. I was led to read this chapter of the Bible after I prayed and asked for direction as a spiritual blog-writer. True enough, this blog is a journey, and today’s revelation is a guide to me for the forthcoming year of a further journey in the Spirit——through reading of the Bible.

KEY WORDS/PHRASES: ‘they left’ (42 times), ‘camped'(42 times). I have left the names blank. (This looks like a generic biography template for the new year.) Who are the Israelites today? The ancient Israelites had a covenant given to Abraham for his biological descendants through the lineage of Isaac. After Jesus had come, He had established a new covenant in His blood. The Christians have come under the new covenant by believing in Jesus and become the descendants of Abraham by faith. In recent previous blogs I have written about the three perfect storms over raging sea and the ‘supernatural’ calmness of the three centered characters involved: Jesus, Paul and Jonah. All three knew God. They maintained close relationship/communication with God. Christians are supernatural because we live in the presence of the supernatural God. I am reminded of Zechariah 4:6 again. Reading Chapter 33 of Numbers means more as the Spirit of Lord leads us. I pray that each reader will seek and find his/her answer for New Year Resolution too.

Numbers 33 (NIV) Stages in Israel’s Journey (Quoted in parts; boldness added)

Here are the stages in the journey of the Israelites when they came out of Egypt by divisions under the leadership of Moses and Aaron. ² At the Lord’s command Moses recorded the stages in their journey. This is their journey by stages:

³ The Israelites set out from … on the fifteenth day of the first month, the day after the Passover. They marched out defiantly in full view of all the …

⁵ The Israelites left … and camped at … ⁶ They left …and camped at …, on the edge of the desert. ⁷ They left …, turned back to .., to …and camped near … ⁸ They left…and passed through the sea into the desert, and when they had traveled for three days in the Desert…they camped at … ⁹ They left …and went to…, where there were twelve springs and seventy palm trees, and they camped there. ¹⁰ They left … and camped by the …Sea… ¹¹ They left the …Sea and camped in the Desert of … ¹² They left the Desert of …and camped at … ¹³ They left … and camped at …. ¹⁴ They left …and camped at …, where there was no water for the people to drink. ¹⁵ They left … and camped in the Desert of … ¹⁶ They left the Desert of …and camped at … ¹⁷ They left … and camped at … ¹⁸ They left … and camped at … ¹⁹ They left … and camped at … ²⁰ They left … and camped at … ²¹ They left … and camped at …. ²² They left … and camped at … ²³ They left … and camped at Mount… ²⁴ They left Mount … and camped at … ²⁵ They left …and camped at … ²⁶ They left … and camped at … ²⁷ They left … and camped at … ²⁸ They left … and camped at … ²⁹ They left … and camped at … ³⁰ They left … and camped at … ³¹ They left … and camped at … ³² They left … and camped at … ³³ They left …and camped at … ³⁴ They left … and camped at … ³⁵ They left … and camped at … ³⁶ They left … and camped at …, in the Desert of … ³⁷ They left … and camped at Mount …, on the border of ... ⁴¹ They left Mount … and camped at …. ⁴² They left … and camped at …. ⁴³ They left … and camped at …. ⁴⁴ They left … and camped at …, on the border of …. ⁴⁵ They left … and camped at …. ⁴⁶ They left … and camped at …. ⁴⁷ They left … and camped in the mountains of …, near …. ⁴⁸ They left the mountains of … and camped on the plains of…by the Jordan across from Jericho. ⁴⁹ There on the plains of … they camped along the … from … to …

⁵⁰ On the plains of … the Lord said to Moses, ⁵¹ “Speak to the Israelites and say to them: ‘When you cross…, ⁵² drive out all…⁵⁵ “‘But if you do not drive out …They will give you trouble in the land where you will live. ⁵⁶ And then I will do to you what I plan to do to them.’”

Numbers 34  God has set and specified the Boundaries of the inheritance homeland for His people and promised protection for them

1-12 The Lord said to Moses, ² “Command the Israelites and say to them: ‘When you enter Canaan, the land that will be allotted to you as an inheritance is to have these boundaries:…“‘This will be your land, with its boundaries on every side.’”

Behold! The Kingdom of God has come!

The Kingdom of God has come and Christians can live in the Kingdom of God on earth as it is in heaven, just as the prayer that Jesus has taught His believers pray daily. What does it mean? It means we live in the presence of God and we live a life different from that of the unbelievers. When they believe in Jesus they can live inside this Kingdom too. While in the Kingdom we enjoy the abundant life and supernatural protection and undeserved favor of God, a supernatural living over the natural world——under the grace and mercy of God.

Is there a proof of this in the Bible? Yes. We read Acts 27 afresh today to see the proof.

God will tell us what he has planned for Christians to accomplish in this world. He will guide us to make the right decision at the right time in the right manner. This includes all aspects of our daily living. There are two things He will tell us: What His believers should do, and what the unbelieving world will encounter. The same physical natural storm comes upon both believers and unbelievers. The outcome will be different when Christians live the Kingdom of God life.

Here is a brief summary of the difference between those living in the Kingdom of God (people of God) and those living outside (people of the world): THE KINGDOM OF GOD IS REAL WHERE CHRISTIANS LIVE IN THE PRESENCE OF GOD AND LIVE IN THE SPIRITUAL REALITY OF THE UNSEEN REALM OF GOD.

1. What the world saw was merely physical and not the unseen: In the eyes of the world at the beginning of the journey, Paul was a mere prisoner just like any other prisoners. And he had no control over the journey. (Acts 27:1-8)

2. Paul gave his advice even when no one listened: but the world chose to listen to the wisdom of the physical man and not to God through a spiritual man. (Acts 27:9-13)

3. The storm event confirmed God’s words: the prediction of Paul, a spiritual man who lived in the Kingdom of God. (Acts 27:14-20)

4. God showed His favor for His own people: that even though the unbelievers chose to go their destructive way, because of the presence of His people (Paul and his fellow Christians) on board, His supernatural protection would also include those who happened to be on board with His people. An angel told Paul this, “God has graciously given you the lives of all who sail with you.” Just imagine, God favored Paul so much that the presence of Paul on board had saved the lives of all other on board as long as they stayed with Paul. (Acts 27:21-36) Why? Because Paul lived in the Kingdom of God, with the mighty presence of the living God!

5. When the unbelievers believed and obeyed God’s advice through Paul (a Kingdom of God citizen), continued to stay with Paul and even took steps to stop wanting to kill or harm him, the unbelievers were all saved and reached shore safely. (Acts 27:37-44)

This is how the Kingdom of God works.

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Acts 27

²¹ After they had gone a long time without food, Paul stood up before them and said: “Men, you should have taken my advice not to sail from Crete; then you would have spared yourselves this damage and loss. ²² But now I urge you to keep up your courage, because not one of you will be lost; only the ship will be destroyed. ²³ Last night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve stood beside me ²⁴ and said, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul. You must stand trial before Caesar; and God has graciously given you the lives of all who sail with you.’ ²⁵ So keep up your courage, men, for I have faith in God that it will happen just as he told me. ²⁶ Nevertheless, we must run aground on some island.”

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⁴² The soldiers planned to kill the prisoners to prevent any of them from swimming away and escaping. ⁴³ But the centurion wanted to spare Paul’s life and kept them from carrying out their plan. He ordered those who could swim to jump overboard first and get to land. ⁴⁴ The rest were to get there on planks or on other pieces of the ship. In this way everyone reached land safely.

(12-22-15) Watchman’s Christmas dream (a second look on 2020-12-12)

This morning I woke at 2:44am from a vivid Christmas end time dream of two parts: the first part shows the end time thief who blatantly comes in to steal, kill and destroy, even by cheating and lying to the face. It happened in a shopping scenario.  The ‘cheaters’ were from within the salesmen of the shop concerned. The second part shows how in the end times the ‘thieves’ (in the form of militant) blatantly distorts the Bible and imposes threat and violent force on those who want to hold fast to The Truth about Jesus. This happened in a ‘Christian’ indoor ‘camp’ or a gathering place. The uniformed ‘law’ enforcer of the ‘camp’ came in to arrest those who refused to wear a t-shirt bearing the distorted proclamation. (Jesus’ warning in John 10:10 about the enemy who came like thieves was enacted in the dream in two modern scenes).

I woke reviewing who we really are as believers of Jesus Christ. What are our real positions? What can we claim for ourselves according to the Bible? I pondered, refreshed my memory, and repeated aloud the following list in my heart before I finally got up from the bed. Here is the list:

I BELIEVE JESUS IS THE CHRIST, THE SON OF GOD. I HAVE LIFE IN HIS NAME
^“But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name:” (John 1:12 NKJV) “but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name.” (John 20:31 NKJV)
“And I have seen and testified that this is the Son of God.” (John 1:34 NKJV)

MY REAL LIFE IS IN JESUS, THE SON OF GOD. Jesus lives in me. The Holy Spirit dwells in me. His word abides in me.
I am born of God, the Holy Spirit.  ⁵ Jesus answered, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. (John 3:5 NKJV)
Jesus is the Son of God. I live by the faith of Jesus Himself. “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.” (Galatians 2:20 KJV)
My real life is in Jesus Christ (in God). I am in Christ.“For you died to this life, and your real life is hidden with Christ in God.” (Colossians 3:3 TLB) “And when Christ who is our real life comes back again, you will shine with him and share in all his glories.” (Colossians 3:4 GNT).
Jesus is the vine and I am a branch. I abide in Jesus. (“I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.” John 15:5 NKJV)
I am the righteousness if God in Christ.“God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” (2 Corinthians 5:21 NIV)

I AM OF GOD, THE HOLY SPIRIT LIVES IN ME
God the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit live in me.
I do the will of God by believing in Jesus, the Son of God. I belong to the family of God. I am one of the children of God. Jesus said, “Whoever does God’s will is my brother and sister and mother.” (Mark 3:35 NIV). “And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him may have everlasting life; and I will raise him up at the last day.” (John 6:40)
Because I belong to God, I have the Holy Spirit in me and have overcome the spiritual wickedness of the world. “You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.” (1 John 4:4 NKJV)

I HAVE THE LOVE OF GOD IN ME. I AM LED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT TO LIVE LIKE JESUS
Because God loves me so He has given me the status of a ‘child of God.’ “Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him.” (1 John 3:1 NKJV).
I am led by the Holy Spirit. I am a child of God. “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.” (Romans 8:14 KJV)
As Jesus is, so are we in this world- living like Jesus.“Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world.” (1 John 4:17 NKJV)
“Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves Him who begot also loves him who is begotten of Him.” (1 John 5:10 NKJV) I am born of God.

JESUS CHRIST HAS MADE ME AN OVERCOMER. I CAN LIVE BY FAITH, BELIEVING IN THE WORD OF GOD
Jesus came to destroy the work of the devil. “The one persisting in sin belongs to the diabolical one, who has been all about sin from the beginning. That is why the Son of God came into our world: to destroy the plague of destruction inflicted on the world by the diabolical one.” (1 John 3:8 The Voice)
I overcome the world by faith. “For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.” (1 John 5:4 NKJV)
I have Jesus as my protection from the evil one. “We know that God’s children do not make a practice of sinning, for God’s Son holds them securely, and the evil one cannot touch them.” (1 John 5:18 NLT)

I CHOOSE TO AND CAN LIVE THE SUPER-ABUNDANT VICTORIOUS (FREE FROM THE BONDAGE OF SIN AND DESTRUCTION) LIFE THAT JESUS HAS GIVEN ME, BY THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT IN ME
“12 So, my brothers and sisters, you owe the flesh nothing! You do not need to live according to its ways, so abandon its oppressive regime. 13 For if your life is just about satisfying the impulses of your sinful nature, then prepare to die. But if you have invited the Spirit to destroy these selfish desires, you will experience life. 14 If the Spirit of God is leading you, then take comfort in knowing you are His children. 15 You see, you have not received a spirit that returns you to slavery, so you have nothing to fear. The Spirit you have received adopts you and welcomes you into God’s own family. That’s why we call out to Him, “Abba! Father!” as we would address a loving daddy.” (Romans 8:12-15 The Voice)

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the watchman’s notes on 2020-12-12

On second look at this post (2015-12-22) I now realized that it was a prophetic warning. I was not prepared for it five years ago and I did not even ask the Lord for interpretation. At that time I was too shocked and disturbed when I woke up. So I went on auto-pilot, that is, to proclaim my position in Christ and defend myself in the spiritual realm. The proclamation is very powerful. I believe that is the number one thing every believer must do, let those powerful verses be engraved on your heart and set an auto-pilot in your system.

Kainotes, 2020-12-12

The Best Christmas present from the King: Power for Life

God sent His Christmas present through the preaching of a small church’s junior pastor last Sunday. He was following his routine sermon series throughout the season and finally came to the last chapter of Matthew. He decided to complete the series so he could get on to another book next year. But it turned out to be the best present this year. As he preached the truth about the resurrection of Jesus this watchman opened the Bible to 1 Corinthians 15 which declares clearly what a Christian could best receive as a Christian. What makes a Christian different from others? What is the only good gift that we receive that others will not until he or she receives the Son of God, Jesus as Savior and Lord? Yes, the Power that raised Christ from the dead, the same Power gives life to our mortal body. Yes, Salvation from Jesus means living His super abundant Life (John 10:10) on earth and Resurrection (John 3:16; 11:25-26) to be with God after death of the mortal body!

Romans 8:11 (The resurrection power God gives through the Holy Spirit to those who believe)

But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.

Ephesians 1:19-23 (NKJV) (Paul’s prayer for us to know this:)

¹⁹ and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power ²⁰ which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, ²¹ far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come.

²² And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, ²³ which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.

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1 Corinthians 15 New International Version (NIV) (quoted in parts; boldness added)

The Resurrection of Christ

15 Now, brothers and sisters, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received and on which you have taken your stand. ² By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain.

³ For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance^[a]: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, ⁴ that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, ⁵ and that he appeared to Cephas,^[b] and then to the Twelve. ⁶ After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers and sisters at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep. ⁷ Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles, ⁸ and last of all he appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born… ¹¹ Whether, then, it is I or they, this is what we preach, and this is what you believed.

The Resurrection of the Dead

¹² But if it is preached that Christ has been raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? ¹³ If there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. ¹⁴ And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith. ¹⁵ More than that, we are then found to be false witnesses about God, ... ¹⁷ And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins. ¹⁸ Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ are lost. ¹⁹ If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied.

²⁰ But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. ²¹ For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. ²² For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive. ²³ But each in turn: Christ, the firstfruits; then, when he comes, those who belong to him. ²⁴ Then the end will come, when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father after he has destroyed all dominion, authority and power. ²⁵ For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. ²⁶ The last enemy to be destroyed is death. ²⁷ For he “has put everything under his feet.”^[c] Now when it says that “everything” has been put under him, it is clear that this does not include God himself, who put everything under Christ. ²⁸ When he has done this, then the Son himself will be made subject to him who put everything under him, so that God may be all in all.

²⁹ Now if there is no resurrection, …what have I gained? If the dead are not raised, “Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die.”^[d]

³³ Do not be misled: “Bad company corrupts good character.”^{[e] 34} Come back to your senses as you ought, and stop sinning; for there are some who are ignorant of God—I say this to your shame.

The Resurrection Body

³⁵ But someone will ask, “How are the dead raised? With what kind of body will they come?” ³⁶ How foolish! What you sow does not come to life unless it dies. ³⁷ When you sow, you do not plant the body that will be, but just a seed, perhaps of wheat or of something else. ³⁸ But God gives it a body as he has determined, and to each kind of seed he gives its own body…

⁴² So will it be with the resurrection of the dead. The body that is sown is perishable, it is raised imperishable; ⁴³ it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; ⁴⁴ it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body.

If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body…. ⁴⁹ And just as we have borne the image of the earthly man, so shall we^[g] bear the image of the heavenly man.

⁵⁰ I declare to you, brothers and sisters, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable...⁵⁴ When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: “Death has been swallowed up in victory.”^[h]

⁵⁵ “Where, O death, is your victory?
    Where, O death, is your sting?”^[i]

⁵⁶ The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. ⁵⁷ But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

⁵⁸ Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.

Footnotes:

1. 1 Corinthians 15:3 Or you at the first
2. 1 Corinthians 15:5 That is, Peter
3. 1 Corinthians 15:27 Psalm 8:6
4. 1 Corinthians 15:32 Isaiah 22:13
5. 1 Corinthians 15:33 From the Greek poet Menander
6. 1 Corinthians 15:45 Gen. 2:7
7. 1 Corinthians 15:49 Some early manuscripts so let us
8. 1 Corinthians 15:54 Isaiah 25:8
9. 1 Corinthians 15:55 Hosea 13:14

 

The message from the real King

Jesus is the way the truth and the life. John 14:6

Many people at this time want to see what Christians see and to hear what we hear. What do we really see and hear? What message shall we say to those who hunger and thirst to know the truth and reality of our belief and why we are doing what we do and saying what we say persisting and insisting on the faith that has withstood time and history over two thousand years old? When Jesus sent out His disciples He reminded them several important things:

1. They are to go to those cities He Himself was about to go.
2. They are to know that the harvest is plentiful. The shortage is in the workers and not the harvest.
3. They need to know that the harvest field is full of wolves.
4. They need to remember that these three things are together: The Kingdom of God, healing the sick, the Peace of God.
5. They are to know that He has given them (those whose names are recorded in heaven in the Book of Life) His authority and power (of the Holy Spirit) to overcome the enemy and do mighty work.
6. They are to stay in the Peace given by Jesus regardless of the response of the people who hear their good news message and see their supernatural mighty good work which testify for Jesus.
7. They are to always remember and witness that Jesus is the only way to God. No one can come to the Father (God) except through Jesus.

John 14:5-6 New King James Version (NKJV)

⁵ Thomas said to Him, “Lord, we do not know where You are going, and how can we know the way?”
⁶ Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.

Luke 10:1-24 New King James Version (NKJV) (Please read the whole passage yourselves, as they are quoted in parts here; Boldness are added)

The Seventy Sent Out

10 After these things the Lord appointed seventy others also,^[a] and sent them two by two before His face into every city and place where He Himself was about to go.

² Then He said to them, “The harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few; therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest. ³ Go your way; behold, I send you out as lambs among wolves.⁵ But whatever house you enter, first say, ‘Peace to this house.’  ⁹ And heal the sick there, and say to them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you.’ ¹⁰ But whatever city you enter, and they do not receive you, …Nevertheless know this, that the kingdom of God has come near you.’ ¹² But^[c] I say to you that it will be more tolerable in that Day for Sodom than for that city.

Woe to the Impenitent Cities

¹³ “Woe to you, .! Woe to you, ..! For if the mighty works which were done in you had been done in .., they would have repented long ago, sitting in sackcloth and ashes. .. ¹⁵ And you, ..will be brought down to Hades.^{[d] 16} He who hears you hears Me, he who rejects you rejects Me, and he who rejects Me rejects Him who sent Me.”

The Seventy Return with Joy

¹⁷ Then the seventy^[e] returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your name.”

¹⁸ And He said to them, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. ¹⁹ Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you. ²⁰ Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rather^[f] rejoice because your names are written in heaven.”

Jesus Rejoices in the Spirit

²¹ In that hour Jesus rejoiced in the Spirit and said, “I thank You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and prudent and revealed them to babes. Even so, Father, for so it seemed good in Your sight. ²² All^[g] things have been delivered to Me by My Father, and no one knows who the Son is except the Father, and who the Father is except the Son, and the one to whom the Son wills to reveal Him.”

²³ Then He turned to His disciples and said privately, “Blessed are the eyes which see the things you see; ²⁴ for I tell you that many prophets and kings have desired to see what you see, and have not seen it, and to hear what you hear, and have not heard it.”

Footnotes:

1. Luke 10:1 NU-Text reads seventy-two others.
2. Luke 10:11 NU-Text reads our feet.
3. Luke 10:12 NU-Text and M-Text omit But.
4. Luke 10:15 NU-Text reads will you be exalted to heaven? You will be thrust down to Hades!
5. Luke 10:17 NU-Text reads seventy-two.
6. Luke 10:20 NU-Text and M-Text omit rather.
7. Luke 10:22 M-Text reads And turning to the disciples He said, “All . . .