AAA Jack's Blog

August 4, 2009

Jack has been practicing for quite sometime and is able to hear God in certain ways. Of course he missed the still small voice most of the times and discarded what God has said to him in his heart. After the event happened he regretted. For example, the Holy Spirit reminded suddenly that he needed to make a phone call to ask his staff to top up his parking fee (by sixty cents). He chose to ignore that prompting. When he went to the car park five minutes later, he realized that he had received a notice to pay $30.00 as fine! He could only kick himself for not listening to the Holy Spirit.

More significant example was the purchase of a stock when the market was down and panic was everywhere. He was led to read Jeremiah being asked to buy a piece of land in the midst of the city being captured by the enemy army. Then he was led to buy a stock. It was a step of faith of learning to listen to and obey the Holy Spirit. Nine months later, he made a 27% profit in capital gain in addition to dividend received.

Little steps meant a lot to him. He is now more confident of listening to God in the spirit. God is Spirit. He can only listen to God through his spirit. it takes training and practice over a period of time.

But the persistence is worth it.

Journal day 86: hearing God’s words (practical novice guide)

I have learned through unusual (sometimes ridiculous) ways in my endeavor to hear God’s words. So I decide to sum up what I have learned for information and encouragement. Every person must learn to find his own way. When you see how God is so ever ready to be found, you will be comforted and motivated to seek to know God.
Jesus has portrayed God on earth. The best way to start to know God is to read everything about Jesus. Look carefully at Jesus. Read what Jesus says many times until you become familiar with what Jesus says. Read with the single goal of knowing Jesus. Pray that the Holy Spirit guides you.

When I first read Jesus seriously at the beginning of this series of record, I had a difficult time because I was not spiritual at all. I “knew” the Holy Spirit only in my head, not in my spirit. I used my head to read and thought I knew all about the words of God. It seemed a straightforward project like any others. How wrong I was.
However, as I progressed and persevered, things happened. I was changed. A number of things helped.

1. I bought a new Bible (New King James Version, Giant print, words of Christ in red) just for the quest. I started afresh, un-influenced by my past perception, like and dislike. Verses appear now as though I never read them before.

2. I write down notes.

3. As I receive new insights (words, verses, pictures/visions, dreams, hymns, songs, and messages from third parties) I record them (not always immediately as I felt lazy to get up from bed and so missed the chance). But what I had recorded helped me to know God more.

4. I pray for guidance from the Holy Spirit, ponder over the thoughts and search the Bible. I sometimes chew on the thoughts for days and wait for confirmation. When confirmation comes I would believe that my earlier thought comes from the Holy Spirit.

5. I practice what that I have learned from godly people. I practice until I find my own way.

6. I changed my life priorities, my goals, my perspectives. In fact, it was the Lord, I believe, who initiated the changes. As I put my quest before Him, He intervened supernaturally, put me on the right path and gave me the strength to carry through.

An entrepreneur told me that when he dreamed of new inventions or bits and pieces of new things, he would jump out of bed, draw the pictures, and jot down notes without delay. He is a shrewd business man who endeavors to keep track of his human thoughts to develop them into something ‘profitable’.

Much more we should keep track and make good use of the supernatural truth from heaven that the Holy Spirit put into our minds, and confirmed by the Bible. The businessman gropes in the uncertain market to find his way. But we have a sure guide and guarantee from the Holy Spirit. We have the certainty of the manual (the Bible) too.

The Holy Spirit guides by ways that He thinks will best suit each individual.

Pray you find the right key.

AAA Jack
May 27, 2009

Jesus stood and cried out, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.” John 7:37-38 (39: But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing in Him will receive.)

Today Jack came to the Water Gate and pondered upon its meaning. Nehemiah 3:26 “Moreover the Nethinim who dwelt in Ophel, made repairs as far as the place in front of the Water Gate toward the east, and on the projecting tower.” The Water Gate tells about God, who is the source of the Holy Spirit through Jesus Christ. In the Old Testament water depicts the Holy Spirit. Spiritual meaning of the Water Gate is practical life in the Holy Spirit.

John 4:13 Jesus told the woman that whosoever drinks of the water that Jesus will give him shall never thirst; and it shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life. 1Peter 1:2 Peter addressed the “Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace to you, and peace be multiplied.”
Living in the Holy Spirit has become a way of life, like drinking water. Without water one cannot live. Likewise, without the Holy Spirit, one’s spirit shrivels and becomes less and less alive. Jack has found that it is not difficult to live according to the Spirit.

He laments that many Christians have chosen to ignore the reality of the Holy Spirit and thereby live in constant fears, defeats, weakness and oppressions. They have the Holy Spirit in them like precious treasure, but they keep the jar under tight cover and refuse to open it for the light to shine forth.

He also notes that many churches criticize those which manifest the power of the Holy Spirit. Why? Because of fears and unbelief, just as Jesus has warned the disciples of. Unbelief is equivalent to perverse generation. To believe in the supernatural power of the Holy Spirit is natural and normal. Unbelief is perverse and abnormal.

Matthew 17:17 "O unbelieving and perverse generation," Jesus replied, "How long shall I stay with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring the boy here to me."
Deuteronomy 32:20 “And He (God) said: ‘I will hide My face from them, I will see what their end will be, For they are a perverse generation, Children in whom is no faith.”

When churches accuse others of preaching the wrong gospel, they need to examine themselves as to whether their gospel is preached in accordance with what the Holy Spirit proclaimed through Apostle Paul, “For our gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Spirit and in much assurance, as you know what kind of men we were among you for your sake.” 1 Thessalonians 1:5.
Without the manifestation of the supernatural power of the Holy Spirit, the letters (words) kill. Only the Spirit gives life. (2 Corinthians 3:6)

It is easy to distinguish between the real and the fake. Jesus asked us to look at the fruits. Jesus Himself demonstrated all the power of the Holy Spirit whereas the Pharisees and scribes had mere words. Look at your preachers. Do they have mere words? If so, flee. Why? Weak churches are under severe attacks from the devil. They are defenseless and easy preys.

As it is a matter of life and death, Jack urges all his brethrens to flee from deadly “churches” (mainly preachers and buildings with membership) and run to God (the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit) and the body of Christ (the real church with spiritual power to defend themselves against spiritual attacks). Stop reading or listening to lies and deceptive words from human mind (self-serving and serving the purpose of the enemy). Start seeking God yourself and let the Holy Spirit take charge and lead you to the right path.


Journal day 76: but we have this treasure in earthen vessels

Today I read something else (instead of the Gospel of Mark). The reason is that last night I had a dream that was quite unusual. I was a hobo or someone like that, pushing a cart and own a bicycle as well. The cart was full of dirty junks or things of no value. I slept in front of a retail shop that sells all sorts of things. Another man who seemed to be homeless as well came to me and asked me if I could help. He was a younger man and seemed to be shabby and needed a wash. I cleared a space for him and said he could sleep there. Then I went into the shop to buy a bar of soap. I cannot remember whether I wanted the soap for myself or for that poor man who badly needed a wash. The shopkeeper showed me a bar of simple plain soap wrapped in a piece of brown paper. He said the name of the soap was called, “Precious Jar” (sound like Chinese name). He told me it cost only 60 cents. He said it was very good and washed everything clean. I bought it and went out of the shop. But the other man was gone. Then I noticed that my previously clustered cart was empty and washed clean. I woke up thinking of two verses in 2 Corinthians 4:6-7.
“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. But we have this treasure in earthen vessels that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us.”

So I decided to read the second Epistle of Paul to the Corinthians today.
When I read the whole book, my attention was drawn to a key point which effectively answered my latest query. Yesterday in the car I was discussing a point that has been bothering me lately. I talked about my concern that we could only communicate with God through our spirit that in turn talks to the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is like a live wire. Our spirit is like a light switch. Without touching the switch we cannot access the live wire and cannot turn on the light (our communication to God). It is not that God deliberately makes it difficult for us. It is just the way we are made of after the fall of Adam (too preoccupied and dominated by flesh and things of this world that we have lost the ability to hear God in the spirit). The same thing happens when we pray. Somehow we touch our spirit which in turn switches on the access to God. The name of Jesus is like a key (to the Holy Spirit) that gives us the identity code for heaven receiver.

(Please do not think that I am writing a science fiction. I am just trying to understand God in my own limited human perception using familiar human terms. )
In the same Epistle, Chapter 1: 22, the Holy Spirit recorded through Paul that God has sealed us and given us the Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee (to inherit His promises). This was affirmed in a number of other Scripture verses. “Now He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who also has given us the Spirit as a guarantee.” (2 Corinthians 5:5) Ephesians 4:30 “And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.” Paul spoke of those who have the first fruits of the Holy Spirit, eagerly waiting for the redemption of their body. (Romans 8:23)

As I have been concerned of who would be entering the kingdom of heaven, the answer is here. The person with the Holy Spirit will enter. The Holy Spirit is a guarantee. The Holy Spirit is like an identity card that entitles us to enter heaven. How do we know we have the Holy Spirit? Well, it is like having the “Precious Jar”. The more we seek God and enter into His presence, through worshiping, reading of God’s words, praying, or simply staying still and focusing on God, the more our spirits will be alert and be set attuned to the tempo of the Holy Spirit. The washing will come. The flowing of living water will come too. Like a light bulb being switched on, light will come out of you and life will not be the same.

What a strange dream. I thoroughly enjoyed reading the verses and finding God speak to me through His words.

AAA Jack
16-5-2009

It is only fitting that after the awareness of one’s filth in the Dung Gate that one wants to be washed clean and be set free to live a victorious life. The Gate that Nehemiah and his team built after the Dung Gate was the Fountain Gate.

Neh 3:15 But the gate of the fountain repaired Shallun the son of Colhozeh, the ruler of part of Mizpah; he built it, and covered it, and set up the doors thereof, the locks thereof, and the bars thereof, and the wall of the pool of Siloah by the king’s garden, and unto the stairs that go down from the city of David. The pool of Siloam is where Jesus said to the blind man to wash up in John 7:9. At the time of Nehemiah and after it many washed (mikveh) themselves before they entered to temple area. Spiritual meaning of the Fountain Gate is the fountain of living waters and its source, who is God in the Holy Spirit through Jesus Christ.

John 7:38 “He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.” Jesus promised that in His believer’s heart will flow living waters (the Holy Spirit). Jesus said His words are life and spirit. The Word and the Holy Spirit come hand in hand. Hence Jack discovered that he can only be cleansed by the three things: the blood of Christ, the Word, and the Holy Spirit. The following is what Jack recorded on matters of being filled by the Holy Spirit.

Jounral day 65b: how to be filled by the holy spirit?

After reading a non-believer’s quest of living one year biblically (regardless of his motives), I got down to thinking hard about my own daily living. Am I really taking God seriously? Am I living according to my belief in the Bible being God’s words? Is my faith real? Is my God real?

I decided to elaborate further on this topic. We know why we need to be filled by the Holy Spirit but we do not normally know how. Recently I have had the opportunity to personally observe two different types of filling process. (Please be led by the Holy Spirit as you read this. Do not take these as formula).

Two weeks ago a camp was arranged by a church (for pastors and church workers/leaders) to wait upon God and a 78 year old pastor was the sole speaker of the three days seminar camp. At night the meeting was opened to the public so I attended three night meetings. Every meeting started with a worship session followed by a short testimony of a pastor who had been through similar training before about how they were transformed in their relationship with God and how their churches were positively impacted too. The elderly speaker himself focused very much on teaching about the Holy Spirit. After the sharing of God’s words, he told us that he could feel the strong presence of the Holy Spirit and called all those who had not been filled to go to the front and be filled. Many people went and knelt at the front. They were lightly touched by those pastors who had already been filled. Many were filled and some lied down and could not get up. Some spoke in tongues. Some friends were among those who were filled. They told me that they felt a force (not the pastor’s hand) pushing them backward. One lady said she had to fall backward as the force was too strong but her feet were caught under her and she was stuck kneeling with her upper body leaning precariously backward. So she sat down. Then the force came again and she swayed and fell backward onto the floor and could not move for a long time after that.

In another recent incident, a 73 year old grandma was filled by the Holy Spirit and spoke in tongues. Her daughter was sharing the Bible with her, reading the whole Paul’s Epistle to the Ephesians (six chapters) and explaining to her the meanings. The old lady listened carefully. All this while another person was worshiping and singing old hymns in another part of the hall. At the end of the reading, a person suggested that the daughter pray for her mother to be Spirit filled as we perceived the old lady has faith. Prior to this, we had spent the afternoon and evening reading Bible, singing old hymns, praying (mostly in the Spirit), and worshiping God quietly. The presence of the Holy Spirit was by then very strong. So the daughter prayed by faith for her mother to be filled by the Holy Spirit. After the prayer, we prayed (in understanding and in spirit) that she could speak in tongue. Indeed the 73 year old lady spoke in tongue for about 20 minutes.
The grandma has had little formal education and has been baptized and become a Christian about two years ago and has been attending a very small traditional Presbyterian church that does not talk about the Holy Spirit except in scholarly/mind knowledge. The church pastor and congregation do not speak in tongues. But the grandma has a steadfast faith. She just believes without doubting. When she goes to church she does not know any hymn but she follows the others and sings the hymns anyway (a few words behind others). At home, when she hears her daughter singing the hymns she thinks they sound lovely and wants to sing along too. But she does not know the tune so she reads all the lyrics! When the daughter leads her to read the Bible, she would continue reading without feeling tired or bored and just goes on reading without regard for the time.

We observed three important things about her:
1. She really hungers and thirsts for the Lord and His words.
2. She believes without doubt that God is real and His words are real.
3. She trusts God completely.

In Matthew 5:6, Jesus says, “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled.” I believe the old grandma fits this category of Christians. She is indeed richly blessed!

AAA Jack
3-5-2009

6-how to fight a battle that seemed lost before it started?

The 3 children, Candace the mysterious lady, and the sheep people decided to travel by night and rest by day to avoid being detected as the wicked magician had probably sent out his evil lackeys hunting for them. They chose the mountainous road instead of the wider and easier valley, as led by the Spirit. They all traveled light and the boys were pleased that they needed not bath because they did not bring any change of clothes! But Cousin Candace made them memorize math tables and gave them a hard time.

Ari was engrossed in solving the map puzzle. To her, the adventure was like a big puzzle. She kept thinking of the map and wondered what it meant. Aunt Candace taught them how to pray in the Spirit and sing spiritual songs on the way. It is not difficult, she explained, all you need to do is to ask the Holy Spirit to come and guide you. It does not tire you either, as the Spirit sings and not you. Do not worry about what sound you are making and do not laugh at one another, she told the boys (who burst into laughter at each other whenever one tried to sing). Be natural and believe, the songs will just come to you when needed.

As they journeyed on at night, Candace and Ari would burst into songs, sometimes with words, most times in language and tunes they never heard before. The boys learned to appreciate such singing, as the songs were not songs. They were mysterious sounds with power to refresh, motivate, and build their faith and confidence. Soon the boys learned to hum a bit and then sing their own versions, in tones lower, deeper, and just as edifying and strong. The sheep people listened in awe. They felt hopeful and secured. The journey over steep, mountainous terrains at night became light and easy.
As they approached the Sheep Gate place, the sheep people were more and more anxious. They were fearful. Even from a distance they could see high fortresses surrounding the area. They had no idea how to get in and save their loved ones.
They decided to send a few brave men to spy on the land. Shep and Samboy wanted to go but they were scared too. Samboy thought of all sorts of possible tortures the wicked magician might impose on the prisoners when caught. Shep was worried about the hard labor as he had never worked a day in his comfortable city life. One elderly grandpa who was also a Sunday school principal volunteered to go and soon a number of other younger family men joined him. The two boys plugged up their courage and decided to go too.

They all knelt down and prayed for guidance, protection and courage. Ari noticed that her notebook glowed. So she opened the page and read, “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.”

At that moment, the staff in Shep’s hand glowed and became pure white light. Samboy thought it was like the light sword in the movie Star War but he soon checked himself. (This is real not a movie, stupid, he told himself). The sheep people felt comforted by the Word of God and bade goodbye to their friends. Candace reminded the two boys not to forget praying in the Spirit, and sing spiritual songs, and she blessed them both.

However, when the 12 spies entered the vicinity of the dark fortress, they realized that there was no gate or door. The whole place was just a block of black walls and heavily guarded. No one came out or went in. they waited in the bushes for day break. Nothing happened the whole day. There seemed no one around except the guards on the top of the fortress, patrolling the place. The wicked magician had walled in himself and the people! The sheep people felt helpless. Soon it was nightfall again.

How to fight a war which seemed lost before it started?

To be continued.
AAA Jack
July 30, 2009

5-The Sheep Gate Mystery
After Ari had read those words, Shep and Samboy almost shouted together, “Sheep Gate!” Yes, the Sheep Gate was the next destination. They both loved to play mystery games and find clues. The clue was obvious here. The people whom they had just saved were from a place called Sheep Gate. The notebook recorded verses about gate and sheep. These could not be mere coincidence. They pored over the map and saw green mountains surrounding a city. No names. They could not identify the place. So they all agreed to go to the Sheep Gate with those sheep people who were overjoyed!
The sheep people were kind and hospital. They were skilled to find food (mainly fruits, nuts and fishes which they caught from cool, sparkling streams) and offered to the children and their cousin/aunt, Aunt Candace, who had decided to go with them for this trip.
Cousin/Aunt Candace explained to them how she happened to be on that hill. She had just completed an assignment, was traveling near by on a leisure trip when the Holy Spirit called her to this place. She obeyed and found them in danger. She carried a light small bag. Shep offered to help her but she declined his assistance. They did not ask her what assignment she was on and how she came as she would not answer anyway. Her life had always remained a mystery to them.
During meal time, she ate very little of what the people offered. Instead, she ate some biscuits and made a cup of milk with milk powder which she carried in her bag. The sheep people were fascinated at the milk powder. They tried to explain to her that very soon they would be drinking fresh milk instead of this white powder water!
The sheep people told them about their homeland, a rolling hilly area with green pastures and still waters, indeed the most restful place. They had been there for thousands of years and had not left home until recently when the wicked magician came and took over. The whole place was run over by his evil lackeys now. The men were driven to do forced construction labor and the women and children were domestic slaves. The older folks were cast out into the wild to perish. The sheep people lamented.
Why did the magician come to the Sheep Gate? They had overheard that he was on the hunt for hidden treasure which according to the legend was buried somewhere in the Sheep Gate. Why did he do all those constructions? It seemed he was an insecure man. Despite all his black magic power he suffered from constant sleeplessness. He was obsessed with building fortresses to protect him. That was why he forced the sheep people to construct day and night, until they rebelled. When he heard that they stopped work he changed them into sheep as punishment. However, they decided to run away. That was how the children met them and subsequently saved them.
Shep and Samboy began to feel worried. They were scared of being forced to do hard labor or changed into a sheep or a goat. Ari and Aunt Candace showed the map to the sheep people but they said they had never seen such a map. No, that was not their homeland. The children were disappointed. But the sheep people pleaded with them to go along as they were scared of the wicked magician.
Samboy asked them what the hidden treasure was and they replied, “Gold!”
Gold! The children realized that this could be the gold that grandma had recorded in her notebook. They had to make a decision. Cousin/Aunt Candace however would not give them any advice. She merely said, “My job is to accompany you, while you are still novices in the Spirit, and that is all.”
Ari suddenly realized that she had not told her mom that she was on this expedition and she could see her mom working into frenzy running to the police to report a little girl lost in the big city. Shep and Samboy were not that worried about their parents’ feelings and thought it was a good thing to take an extra holiday! Aunt Candace told them that when prompted by the Holy Spirit she had already sent a message to the grown-ups that the three children were with her on a geographical expedition and she was expecting their reply any moment now.
The children were amazed when they saw a beautiful grey eagle with snowy patches flew toward them and rested on Cousin/Aunt Candace’s shoulder. The silver bell on her neck contained a reply from the grown-ups, saying that although they were concerned with the sudden disappearance and that they would expect the children to return home soon, they were comforted knowing that the children were in capable and safe hands. There was a separate letter to Candace urging her to make sure Ari sleep early, not catch cold and the two boys take regular baths and practice their sums. (The reason why the parents were not that worried was that after the last incident at the Stress Mountain, they had learned that the children were well protected and guided by God).
Candace suggested that they sang or pray to seek guidance. She started singing and Ari followed her, in beautiful unknown language and new tunes. The boys hummed a bit and then decided to just listen. The sheep people listened with respect. After a while, they could feel a cool and gentle breeze. It was night now and there were stars all over the clear sky. As they continued to sing, the stars became brighter and soon it was as bright as day! Hearts were filled with joy and hope! Then the singing stopped. The three children came to one decision, “Go!”
To be continued.
AAA Jack