Entering the presence of God

Did I become a spiritual being through fasting (water intake only)? On the first day, with a dull headache, I was somewhat surprised. On the second day the ache left. All physical discomforts left by the third day. I had a bowl of vegetable soup on the second evening. By the third evening I had to break the fast by eating a light vegetarian broth. What did I learn?

I was out of practice. I had not done the exact Esther’s fast (three days no food or water/drink) for years. I assumed that because I have been practicing light weight intermittent fast I could handle the Esther’s fast. I was wrong. I had not prepared myself prior fasting. My body was not prepared to co-operate with my spirit as required. Of course I have no excuse. I would not encourage anyone to do the intensive fasting without prior preparation.

Most time I had to lie down and rest. Because I was doing this alone I did not have the corporate presence wherein the like-minded believers could worship, pray and read the Word together, encourage and motivate one another, allowing the Holy Spirit to move and quicken us.

Spiritually I did manage to watch/read many videos/books on the Holy Spirit, of men and women of faith who walked in the Spirit and lived in the Spirit. I have mentioned Kathryn Kuhlman and some other names in my previous blog, about teaching and testimonies on miracle healing. In addition, for the entire April, I was led to read and repeatedly watch Benny Hinn’s (and others’) ministries specifically on miracle healing, relationship with the Holy Spirit and entering into God’s presence. I copied down and checked through the many Bible verses quoted and explained. I meditated on them and asked the Holy Spirit to explain to me too.

The following are what I have received and believe in my own words.

The Holy Spirit is the One who delivers the healing to manifest in our body.

The Holy Spirit is the One. He is the Lord. It is the Spirit who gives life.

When the Holy Spirit moves, things change.

Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty from sickness.

The Holy Spirit is the One who change us to be more and more like Christ.

Without the work/power of the Holy Spirit, no healing can manifest/take place/be evident on the body. If by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.

The Father (God) sent the word and healed. The Son Jesus accomplished the Father’s healing order on the cross. The Holy Spirit delivers the healed manifestation to our body.

One powerful wakeup call that really makes me think hard is the statement that “when Jesus becomes more real than your disease, then you will get healed”. The key question is how real is Jesus to me? The Holy Spirit can bring me into the spiritual realm. When I am in the spiritual realm, Jesus becomes real to me. The emphasis is therefore to first seek God’s presence and not the healing. Be still. Wait upon the Lord is a bridge between the body and the spirit. This is how the Holy Spirit brings us into the spiritual realm:

Be still. “Be still and know that I am God.”

Wait upon the Lord. “They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength.”

Worship. In Spirit and in Truth.

When we do that we could experience these (quoted): have a melody in our heart, sway (a bit), become light (like a feather), spiritual tongues become precise, and Jesus becomes more real than life.

For me, It means having a close relationship with the Holy Spirit (like your closest One) with daily communion with Him, talking and asking Him as naturally as you do with your best forever friend. At the same time because He is God (the third Person in the triune God), we reverently respect and honor Him. Because he dwells in us (our body being His Temple), we live His life, joined to Him, listened to Him, submit to Him, be transformed by the renewal of our mind, living the good and perfect will of God. When we are filled with the Holy Spirit, yield to Him, cooperate with Him, let Him do His work, He is able to put to death the deeds of the flesh/body (e.g. a tumor). He changes us into the glorious image of Christ (spotless/without blemish) -we being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.

Prayer: Dear Lord, Holy Spirit, you have the liberty to change me, bring my body into subjection, mortify the deeds of my body, so then I may become more and more like you.

Did I become a spiritual being through intensive fasting? The answer is no. We are born again to be spiritual and the Word and the Holy Spirit makes us spiritual. The fasting sharpens our sensitivity to spiritual matters, things about God. Fasting denies the body its usual attention as scheduled. Fasting breaks a vicious circle of bodily demand. I believe personally that something broke through in the spiritual realm when the body is subdued and is required to subject to the Lord Jesus, His Spirit, His name, His Word, His presence.

Some Bible verse to meditate upon:

Exodus 15:26, Psalm 107:20, Isaiah 11:2, Psalm 46:10, Isaiah 40:31, John 6:63, 2 Corinthians 3:6, John 3:5, 1 Peter 1:23, Romans 8:16, Galatians 4:4-5, Romans 8:15, 1 Corinthians 6:19, 1 Corinthians 6:17, Romans 8:13, 2 Thessalonians 2:13, 2 Corinthians 3:17-18, Romans 12:2, Romans 8:26, John 14:26.

kainotes, 2023-04-30

Worship God and know He is present

I like to imagine that out there we are the living and walking street lamps. The switch is our awareness of God’s ever presence in us, and He is our constant ever flowing power current.

In a Bible sharing meeting in response to a sister’s question on how she may overcome the persisting adversities in her workplace, the teacher suggested that she worshipped in those situations. After he left she asked the translator what he meant by worship in those situations. Does it mean singing hymns?

This exchange of conversation made me ponder after the session. What does it mean by worship? The pictures that come to my mind is how the people of faith worshipped God in the Old Testaments. They sacrificed. They sang hymns. They played musical instruments. They recited the words of God. They praised and exalted God with their voices. They lifted up their hands. They focused on God. They proclaimed His love, holiness, greatness, and goodness. They stood up, knelt down, and prostrated themselves on the ground.

What is the purpose of worship? Someone said, worship is the currency of exchange in heaven. I do not think we can use a monetary term to illustrate it, otherwise it becomes meaningless as it is no longer an action of faith in response to the grace (free gifts) of God. God is pleased with faith in action. Worship is a faith in action. It also serves as a spiritual weapon, as demonstrated in the Old Testament, by the famous seasoned warrior poet-king David, and king Jehoshaphat. In the New Testament a phenomenal demonstration by the power of God in response to worship was recorded in Acts 16:16-40. When Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, a great earthquake shook the foundation of the prison and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone’s chains were loosed.

Back to the dilemma of the sister. She worked in a crowded environment with long lines of people queuing up for their turns. How to worship literally?

I believe worship’s importance relates to God’s presence. He builds His throne in our praises. God enthrones Himself on, and lives in, our praise (Psalm 22:3) Psalm 149:6 “Let the high praises of God be in their mouth, And a two-edged sword in their hand,” Praises are a significant part of worship. As we praise God the Spirit of the Lord works in us and gives joy to our heart and countenance. Joy lifts us up. The higher we exalt our God in our heart the higher we are lifted up from the mire.

Yes, we can worship in our heart. We can pray in tongues under our breath. We can switch the focus of our inner eyes to see God and His goodness. Isaiah saw God in the midst of a deep loss of security and certainty of future. It was darkness all round. Yet he went and worshipped God. Then he saw God, heard from God, and was refreshed, and commissioned by God. Paul reminded the believers that our body is the temple of God. Jesus said that we can worship God in spirit and in truth (anywhere). (John 4:23-24)

Our change of focus gives us the awareness of God’s presence in us. Yes, it can be likened to a dark room switching on a lamp. It can mean we turn on our light inside. I like to imagine that out there we are the living and walking street lamps. The switch is our awareness of God’s ever presence in us, and He is our constant ever flowing power current. As we worship God, we become aware of God’s presence and the light is lit up. No darkness can stand the presence of light, what more the brilliant glorious presence of God residing in us?

Light attracts. Darkness attacks. God is light. Be light, just as He is. As Jesus is, so are we in this world. (1 John 4:17) We shall know when the light is on. So will all around us.

David is well versed in this lifestyle. In Psalm 68:1 he declared, “Let God arise, Let His enemies be scattered; Let those also who hate Him flee before Him.” “3 But let the righteous be glad; Let them rejoice before God; Yes, let them rejoice exceedingly.” Before he won the battle he anticipated and saw the victory in his worship and rejoicing. God described David, a worshipful man, as a man after His own heart. (1 Samuel 13:14)

2 Corinthians 4:6-7 ⁶ For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. ⁷ But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us.