2 Kings 6:16 (NKJV): So he (Elisha) answered, "Do not fear, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them."
If there's any 'trademark' set of words that Jesus said (over and over again) in his earthly ministry, I would say it is "Fear not!" For instance, in Luke 8:49-50, when news came that Jairus' daughter was dead, Jesus simply answered, "Fear not; only believe, and she will be made well."
And in John 14:26-27, Jesus said, "But the Helper (Comforter), the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you. Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid." Here, Jesus was actually saying when He goes up, His Spirit (the Holy Spirit) will be with you, so fear not! His Spirit is His presence. In other words, He promised that His presence will always be with you, so fear not!
Let's look now at an Old Testament example. In 2 Kings chapter 6, the king of Syria was planning to war against Israel, and he consulted his servants, saying, "My camp will be in such and such a place." Within his inner circle, he was indeed planning a secret strategy of war against Israel (2 Kings 6:8), but somehow Elisha (the prophet and the man of God) 'caught it in his spirit' and warned the king of Israel beforehand, saying, "Beware that you do not pass this place, for the Syrians are coming down there." (2 Kings 6:9)
Upon knowing that the Israelites had somehow found out their secret plans of war, the king of Syria was greatly troubled, and called his servants and said to them, "Will you not show me which of us is for the king of Israel?" (2 Kings 6:11) He was wondering who was the betrayer among them. And one of the servants then said, "None, my lord, O king; but Elisha, the prophet who is in Israel, tells the king of Israel the words that you speak in your bedroom." (2 Kings 6:12)
And so it was, from then on, Elisha became a marked man, a target of the enemy! In other words, he was deemed to be dangerous to the enemy, and he had to be annihilated! The king of Syria then said, "Go and see where he (Elisha) is, that I may send and get him." (2 Kings 6:13) And it was told him, saying, "Surely he is in Dothan." Therefore, the king of Syria sent horses and chariots and a great army there, and they came by night and surrounded the city (2 Kings 6:14).
So there was Elisha, and the whole army of the enemy went after this one servant of God! A whole lot versus one man! And he didn't even do anything wrong in God's eyes! In fact, he did the right thing by warning the king of Israel of the impending attack! Nevertheless, he did 'ruffle some feathers', and this did not go well with the enemy.
People of God, are you also going through a long night like Elisha was? And in the midst of the darkness that surrounds you, you also feel so lonely and no one seems to understand. Maybe, you have just embarked on something that God has called you to do, and all of a sudden, you find yourself a target of attack by the enemy and his cohorts?
If you are, take heart, because the Lord is here to assure you that even in the darkest of hours, He is still with you and His presence is still with you.
By the way, the name 'Elisha' ('Eliysha/Eliyshuwa' in Hebrew) means 'God of supplication, God who supplies, God who is rich in His supply'. Interestingly, the word 'Syria' actually means 'highland, elevated, citadel (fortress on a high land)' which speaks of 'the haughty, the lofty, the proud of this world'.
People of God, in the midst of the attacks and the darkness that may have surrounded you, God is saying to you that He is still the same God to you as in Elisha's time, a God who supplies, and a God who is rich in His supply (of His help, His wisdom, His favor, and His protection).
Look now how Elisha responded when his servant said, "Alas, my master! What shall we do?" (2 Kings 6:15) And he answered, "Fear not, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them." (2 Kings 6:16) He then prayed for the Lord to open his servant's eyes, and lo and behold, the servant saw 'the mountain full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha'! (2 Kings 6:17)
You see, Elisha chose not to see the enemy's entire army and get himself panicky. He really could have done that! In fact, many people would have done that! But instead, he saw God! People of God, for you too, if only you could see the chariots of fire all around you as well right now! If only you could see that you are never alone! Never alone even a second! If only you could see that His horses and chariots of fire always outnumber the enemy's! The Word of God says, "I will never (by any means) leave you nor forsake you." And if He is for you, who can be against you? (Romans 8:31)
The truth is when Jesus died for you on the cross, He has already also carried your loneliness all by Himself up at the cross, so now you'll never have to be alone. And His Spirit (His presence) is now always with you, never leaving you nor forsaking you.
And He has even carried all your darkest of hours on the cross (there was darkness about the sixth hour until the ninth hour when he was up at the cross alone - see Luke 23:44), so that now you have His light, and will always be in His light, no matter how dark the world outside may be!
Victory is therefore already yours for the taking. He has already won it for you, as He did for Elisha those days (2 Kings 6:8-23). Receive it now by faith. In Jesus' name. Amen!
Monday, December 2, 2013
God is releasing His balm to soothe and heal you today!
Jeremiah 8:22a (NKJV): Is there no balm in Gilead, is there no physician there?
'Balm' is defined as 'sweet-smelling oil, soothing (comforting, calming) ointment derived from trees as medicine for healing'.
What is 'balm of Gilead' then? It is the balm that comes from Gilead (pronounced 'ghil-awd' in Hebrew), a wooded and hilly area east of River Jordan, known for its medicinal balm and as a refuge for fugitives (people escaping and running away from war or problems).
Recently, during a time of personal worship and prayer at home, I heard these words from the Lord, and immediately an elderly lady whom I know came to mind. I then phoned her and faithfully released these words to her:
"Holy Spirit, the sweet Spirit of Jesus, fall upon (the name of the lady) like a balm that soothes and heals the many years of pain and hurt in this life. In Jesus' name. Amen."
As this 'balm' was being released, I knew this life was miraculously healed and set free in Jesus' name then and there, from the many years of pain and hurt in her soul. She couldn't hold back her joy neither, and she cried (and cried) with such joy that made me cry as well! There was indeed a real, tangible presence and the anointing of the Holy Spirit hovering and embracing her even when I was ministering to her on the phone that day.
Later on, I also heard from this same lady how her doctor was so surprised and amazed at the rate of her recovery from her lingering (and dimming) eyesight problems, and the doctor indeed acknowledged that "This must be God!" Praise God, and all glory to God!
Beloved of God, I also pray for a release of His balm upon you right now, in Jesus' wonderful name. I believe distance is never a problem in the spiritual realm, and so, wherever you may be right now, you too can receive His healing and be set free, just as this elderly lady had received on the telephone the other day!
When Jesus died on the cross for you, know that He had already carried upon Himself all your wounds, hurts, and the many years of pain (whether in your soul or in your body). Isaiah 53:4-5 says, "Surely He has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed Him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But He was wounded for our transgressions. He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed."
Just as the 'balm' (the sweet-smelling oil) is being derived from trees, the anointing oil that heals all your griefs and sorrows when Jesus died for you on a tree (Galatians 3:13-14) has also been released today to set you free even from all those years of 'captivity'. Indeed, just as the 'balm of Gilead', He is not just to you a medicine for healing, but He is also to you today a refuge in times of need. Amen.
'Balm' is defined as 'sweet-smelling oil, soothing (comforting, calming) ointment derived from trees as medicine for healing'.
What is 'balm of Gilead' then? It is the balm that comes from Gilead (pronounced 'ghil-awd' in Hebrew), a wooded and hilly area east of River Jordan, known for its medicinal balm and as a refuge for fugitives (people escaping and running away from war or problems).
Recently, during a time of personal worship and prayer at home, I heard these words from the Lord, and immediately an elderly lady whom I know came to mind. I then phoned her and faithfully released these words to her:
"Holy Spirit, the sweet Spirit of Jesus, fall upon (the name of the lady) like a balm that soothes and heals the many years of pain and hurt in this life. In Jesus' name. Amen."
As this 'balm' was being released, I knew this life was miraculously healed and set free in Jesus' name then and there, from the many years of pain and hurt in her soul. She couldn't hold back her joy neither, and she cried (and cried) with such joy that made me cry as well! There was indeed a real, tangible presence and the anointing of the Holy Spirit hovering and embracing her even when I was ministering to her on the phone that day.
Later on, I also heard from this same lady how her doctor was so surprised and amazed at the rate of her recovery from her lingering (and dimming) eyesight problems, and the doctor indeed acknowledged that "This must be God!" Praise God, and all glory to God!
Beloved of God, I also pray for a release of His balm upon you right now, in Jesus' wonderful name. I believe distance is never a problem in the spiritual realm, and so, wherever you may be right now, you too can receive His healing and be set free, just as this elderly lady had received on the telephone the other day!
When Jesus died on the cross for you, know that He had already carried upon Himself all your wounds, hurts, and the many years of pain (whether in your soul or in your body). Isaiah 53:4-5 says, "Surely He has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed Him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But He was wounded for our transgressions. He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed."
Just as the 'balm' (the sweet-smelling oil) is being derived from trees, the anointing oil that heals all your griefs and sorrows when Jesus died for you on a tree (Galatians 3:13-14) has also been released today to set you free even from all those years of 'captivity'. Indeed, just as the 'balm of Gilead', He is not just to you a medicine for healing, but He is also to you today a refuge in times of need. Amen.
Monday, November 11, 2013
Prepare for a change of 'soil' and for His 'seed' to be planted!
2 Corinthians 10:5 (KJV): Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.
The Bible says 'to cast down imaginations, and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God in your life. 'The knowledge of God' in this context can mean 'the knowledge of God's Word, God's will, God's plan, and God's vision for your life'.
The word 'imaginations' here is translated in New King James Version as 'arguments'. An imagination is like a 'seed', and if a wrong (and ungodly) imagination is not dealt with, it will eventually grow to become a 'big tree'. So, you see, imagination is a very powerful thing. As a matter of fact, whatever man can conceive in his imagination, it can become a reality, whether to the good or to the bad.
'Every high thing' here in this verse speaks of 'the cares of this world, the deceitfulness of ungodly riches, and the desires for the ungodly things that choke God's Word, God's will, God's plan, and God's vision that God has planted in your life'.
Recently, the Lord said, "This is the time to throw away the old soil, the thorny ground; and replace it with the new soil, the good ground, because I am in the midst of planting seeds in many of My people's soil."
'Soil' here speaks of 'your heart and mind', and a change of 'soil' speaks of a change of heart and mind, so that whatever 'seed' God is planting (in your 'soil') will yield a crop and bear fruit - some thirty fold, some sixty, and some a hundred. On the contrary, the 'soil' that is infested with thorns cannot yield a crop and becomes unfruitful, because the thorns would grow up and choke the 'seed' that is being planted. 'Seed' here speaks of 'God's Word, God's will, God's plan, and God's vision for your life'.
Mark 4:14 says, 'the sower sows the word'.
Mark 4:7 says, 'And some seed fell among the thorns; and the thorns grew up and choked it, and it yielded no crop'. Mark 4:19 explains it, 'and the cares of this world, the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things entering in choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful'.
Mark 4:8 says, 'But other seed fell on good ground and yielded a crop that sprang up, increased and produced; some thirty fold, some sixty, and some a hundred'. Mark 4:20 explains it, 'But these are the ones sown on good ground, those who hear the word, accept it, and bear fruit; some thirty fold, some sixty, and some a hundred'.
As you prepare for a change of 'soil' and for His 'seed' to be planted:
1. Consciously come under the blood of Jesus, and allow His blood to wash and cleanse you from any wrong imagination or thought.
The Bible says 'to cast down imaginations, and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God in your life. 'The knowledge of God' in this context can mean 'the knowledge of God's Word, God's will, God's plan, and God's vision for your life'.
The word 'imaginations' here is translated in New King James Version as 'arguments'. An imagination is like a 'seed', and if a wrong (and ungodly) imagination is not dealt with, it will eventually grow to become a 'big tree'. So, you see, imagination is a very powerful thing. As a matter of fact, whatever man can conceive in his imagination, it can become a reality, whether to the good or to the bad.
'Every high thing' here in this verse speaks of 'the cares of this world, the deceitfulness of ungodly riches, and the desires for the ungodly things that choke God's Word, God's will, God's plan, and God's vision that God has planted in your life'.
Recently, the Lord said, "This is the time to throw away the old soil, the thorny ground; and replace it with the new soil, the good ground, because I am in the midst of planting seeds in many of My people's soil."
'Soil' here speaks of 'your heart and mind', and a change of 'soil' speaks of a change of heart and mind, so that whatever 'seed' God is planting (in your 'soil') will yield a crop and bear fruit - some thirty fold, some sixty, and some a hundred. On the contrary, the 'soil' that is infested with thorns cannot yield a crop and becomes unfruitful, because the thorns would grow up and choke the 'seed' that is being planted. 'Seed' here speaks of 'God's Word, God's will, God's plan, and God's vision for your life'.
Mark 4:14 says, 'the sower sows the word'.
Mark 4:7 says, 'And some seed fell among the thorns; and the thorns grew up and choked it, and it yielded no crop'. Mark 4:19 explains it, 'and the cares of this world, the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things entering in choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful'.
Mark 4:8 says, 'But other seed fell on good ground and yielded a crop that sprang up, increased and produced; some thirty fold, some sixty, and some a hundred'. Mark 4:20 explains it, 'But these are the ones sown on good ground, those who hear the word, accept it, and bear fruit; some thirty fold, some sixty, and some a hundred'.
As you prepare for a change of 'soil' and for His 'seed' to be planted:
1. Consciously come under the blood of Jesus, and allow His blood to wash and cleanse you from any wrong imagination or thought.
2. Be focused on (be engrossed with) God's goodness in your life, God's good work in your life, God's
plan for your life, God's vision for your life, and God's love for you. As you focus on (be engrossed with) the right
things from God, all the strangleholds of sin (or addiction) will eventually have to be loosed
from your life.
3. Take authority over your thought life, and cast down every wrong imagination and high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God in your life.
4. Submit and surrender your imagination, mind, and thought to God, His Word, and His will.
Here are some of the verses you can meditate (speak/declare aloud over
and over again) till you have the mind of Christ again:
1. I cast down arguments, imaginations, and every high thing that
exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into
captivity to the obedience of Christ (2 Corinthians 10:5).
2. I think only of those things which are true, noble, just, pure,
lovely and of good report. I think of those things which have virtue and are
praiseworthy (Philippians 4:8).
3. God keeps me in perfect peace because my mind is stayed on Him and I
trust Him (Isaiah 26:3).
4. I set my mind on the things above and not on the things on this
earth. I set my mind on the things of God (Colossians 3:2).
5. I live according to the Spirit and mind the things of the Spirit. I
am spiritually-minded and have life and peace (Romans 8:5-6).
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