A time to declare heaven to open above your heads!

John 1:51 (NKJV): And He (Jesus) said to him (Nathanael) "Most assured, I say to you, thereafter you shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man."

As I was ministering prophetically to the congregation the other day, I suddenly heard these words, and therefore spoke them out by faith: "Declare heaven to open above your heads!" It immediately reminded me of Psalm 24:7-8 that says, 'Lift up your heads, O you gates! And be lifted up, you everlasting doors! And the King of glory shall come in. Who is this King of glory? The Lord strong and mighty. The Lord mighty in battle'.

Indeed, people of God, as you begin to declare heaven to open above your heads, this same King of glory will begin to come into every situation of yours today! Like the light that shines (from open heaven) and dispels every darkness! Jesus is the light, and in Him there is no darkness at all (1 John 1:5). And when this light comes, every darkness has to flee!

And you know what? The very next moment after Jesus had spoken in John 1:51, He began to perform His very first miracle by turning water to wine! John 2:11 says, 'This beginning of signs Jesus did in Cana of Galilee, and manifested His glory; and His disciples believed in Him'.

John 2:1-5 says, 'On the third day, there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. Now both Jesus and His disciples were invited to the wedding. And when they ran out of wine, the mother of Jesus said to Him, "They have no wine." Jesus said to her, "Woman, what does your concern have to do with Me? My hour (timing) has not yet come." His mother said to the servants. "Whatever He says to you, do it."'

This account written by John is very prophetic of our days and time as believers in the New Covenant.

'On the third day' here is symbolic of 'the resurrection of Jesus', and the fact that He is very much alive today!

Jesus being invited to this wedding banquet speaks of 'Jesus being invited into your life'. Just as there are 'highlights' in each wedding banquet (feast), there are also 'highlights' in each of our lives. Personally, the greatest 'highlights' in my life so far have always involved Jesus manifesting Himself and showing Himself so real, especially in times of need. In Revelation 3:20, Jesus says, "Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me."

'Wine' speaks of 'joy and celebration in life'. In the English Standard Version (ESV), Nehemiah 8:10 says, 'And he (Nehemiah) said to them, "Go your way. Eat the fat and drink sweet wine and send portions to anyone who has nothing ready, for this day is holy to our Lord. And do not be grieved, for the joy of the Lord is your strength."' It is interesting to see that the first miracle of Jesus has to do with turning your sorrow into joy, and mourning into dancing! In other words, He came to set you free from every sorrow! And of course, if He is invited into your life (or any situation you face in your life), you'll be sure that He'll always have a way or solution for you! The Bible says He is the way, the truth, and the life! (John 14:6)

The word 'hour' here in Greek is 'hora', which can be translated as '(high) time'. In other words, He holds the (right) timing as to when exactly He will perform it, and how He's going to do it! Simply because He knows better. Isaiah 55:8-9 says, '"For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways," says the Lord. "For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts."'

"What's my part then?"

Your part is simply to invite Him into your life (and of course, the situation you are facing at the moment), and as Mary had said, "Whatever He says to you, do it." People of God, these are keys to His miracle and manifestation in your life (and the situation you are facing now)!

In John 2:6-8, you'd see the very specific instructions of Jesus for that very specific situation. It says, 'Now there were set there six waterpots of stone... Jesus said to them (the servants), "Fill the waterpots with water." And they filled them up to the brim. And He said to them,"Draw some out now, and take it to the master of the feast." And they took it.'

Then, John 2:9-10 says, 'When the master of the feast had tasted the water that was made wine, and did not know where it came from (but the servants who had drawn the water knew), the master of the feast called the bridegroom. And he said to him, "Every man at the beginning sets out the good wine, and when the guests have well drunk, then the inferior. You have kept the good wine until now!"'

In John 14:21, Jesus says, "He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him."

The word 'commandments' here is 'entole' (pronounced 'en-tol-ay') in Greek, which can mean 'an authoritative prescription or instruction', from the word 'entellomai' meaning 'to (give) a charge, to (give) a command'. See the word 'authoritative' here? As you can see, His words carry authority and power! And the word 'keeps' here is 'tereo' in Greek, which means 'to hold fast (to a command), to fulfill a command, to act on a command'.

To put it simply, "Whatever He says to you, do it." And of course, take time to listen for that command (or commands). Do not be wise in your own eyes, but in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths. Read the Word, and let it never depart from your eyes (Proverbs 4:21), and pray in the Spirit often (Ephesians 6:18).

And you'll be sure to see Him manifest Himself in your situation as well. Amen!

Receive the power to overcome!

John 16:33 (NKJV): These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.

The word 'overcome' here is 'nikao' in Greek, meaning 'to subdue, to conquer, to prevail, or to get the victory', from the word 'nike' (pronounced 'nee-kay') which means 'conquest, victory'. Here in this verse, Jesus says that He has overcome the world. The word 'world' here is translated in Greek as 'kosmos' which means 'the patterns (or the ways) of this world'. 

If you look around you, you'd see that 'the patterns (or the ways) of this world' is full of tribulation. That's why Jesus says 'In the world ('kosmos') you will have tribulation'. And what does the word 'tribulation' mean here? It is the word 'thlipsis' in Greek, which can mean 'pressure, stress, anguish, burden, persecution, or trouble'. 

But the good news here is Jesus says in Him you may have peace. This word 'peace' is 'eirene' (pronounced 'i-ray-nay') in Greek, which means 'being at rest, having quietness, being at one (with God)', and as a matter of fact, the peace of God in you will always lead to prosperity (in your soul, in your health, and in every other area of your life).

As I was praying for someone recently, this word 'overcome' kept coming to mind, and later on, I decided to check this word in the Oxford Dictionary. Here's what I found out: 'to succeed in a struggle against (something), to defeat, to be victorious, to triumph, to find a way of dealing with or solving (a problem, etc)'. Indeed, Jesus is the solution to any tribulation in this world, simply because He is the way, the truth, and the life! (John 14:6) 

Therefore, people of God, whatever 'tribulation' you may be facing at the moment, I want to declare by faith that He has a way out for you! Let not your heart doubt, but believe and receive! To men, it may be impossible, but to God, all things are possible (Luke 18:27). Look to Him and receive the power to overcome! Like the light that overcomes the darkness, so will His light overcome every darkness that the 'enemy' throws at you!

I have received a number of testimonies recently on how God's people have overcome, and I would like to share some here:

"I joined youth fellowship since the age of 13, and was baptized in my early twenties. I have not been a victorious Christian until recently attending Triumph in Christ (TiC) listening and following your teaching. I am not glorifying you, but I have been greatly blessed. You are truly God-driven and you adhere to God's ways, and you have been conveying it effectively to the congregation. I thank God for sending you to us. Otherwise I would still be struggling in life and against the power of darkness. Praise God! I have finally conquered my fear..."

"I was representing my company in an exhibition the other day, and was unable to close any sales for our equipment. I sent my prayer request to you, and truly, not long after you have prayed, eight professors from different universities came and made inquiries about our company's equipment. Three confirmed buying. It was an arm's length transaction. By the way, no other booths in the exhibition had much traffic except ours on that day. Praise the Lord!" 

"I have been having spinal problems due to a cycling incident, and had to take medication and go for physiotherapy. Just one day after you prayed for me, I woke up in the morning to realize that the pain has gone and I am now totally healed! Your prayer of faith works! Thanks be to God!"

Beloved and friends, wherever you may be at the moment, and whatever situation you may be facing at the moment, know that His grace (His supply, His ability) is enough in your time of need (Hebrews 4:16).

When the light comes, the darkness has no choice but to flee. Jesus is the light that shines (1 John 1:5), and I pray likewise that this light shines right into your situation (name the situation..............) and causes every 'darkness' to flee as well. I pray this by faith (Mark 11:22-24, James 1:5-6, James 5:13-15), in Jesus' mighty name. Amen.

A time of renewal and refreshing

2 Kings 23:4 (NKJV): And the king (Josiah) commanded Hilkiah the high priest, the priests of the second order, and the doorkeepers, to bring out of the temple of the Lord all the articles that were made for Baal, for Asherah, and for all the host of heaven (the gods of the Assyrians); and he burned them outside Jerusalem...

Anything on earth can be your 'idol'. An 'idol' doesn't necessarily have to be statues or carved images that one bows down to worship. An 'idol' can be something that you've been indulging in, or something that holds you back from walking in the perfect will of God (or receiving from the Lord).

So, what exactly is an 'idol'? An 'idol' is anything (or anyone) that takes the place of God in your life, and it can even be a certain emotional attachment with something (or somebody) that you are not supposed to be attached with. It can also be a certain past that you are not supposed to hang on to anymore. These, if not cleared, will hinder God's perfect will and God's grace from flowing freely in your life.

Just as in King Josiah's days, this is also a time of 'spring-cleaning' (even spiritual 'spring-cleaning') for many of God's people today!

I heard these words from the Lord recently:
"Clear the clutter! This is a time to clear whatever that has been holding you back! Even the past that has been holding you back!"

And then, I heard further:
"I am preparing My people for a time of renewal and refreshing. There will be a new outlook! There will be a new vigor! Many of My people have become entangled in this complicated world. Many of My people have become entangled in the many issues of life. This is a time to return to My rest. This is a time to clear what needs to clear, and I will help you if you would allow Me."

By the way, a 'clutter' is defined as 'disorderliness, mess; unnecessary (or unwanted) things lying about untidily'.

I am attracted to the words 'new outlook' here. You know what it means? Future prospects! In other words, as you clear the 'clutter' in any particular area of your life, you will begin to see 'future prospects' in that particular area of your life! Believe that the Lord will show you, and He will help you. His grace (ability, supply) is enough for you. This is a time to declare that your future is bright, and your prospect is bright!

I also heard these words for this time and season of the Lord:
"Allow Me to turn your 'disorderliness' into 'orderliness'. By your own strength, it may be impossible; but with Me, all things are possible. My grace is enough for you."

Let's look at the life of King Josiah now. 2 Kings 22:1-2 says, 'Josiah was eight years old when he became king,... And he did what was right in the sight of the Lord, and walked in all the ways of his (fore)father David; he did not turn aside to the right hand or to the left'. And then, 2 Kings 22:3 says, 'Now it came to pass, in the eighteenth year of King Josiah, that the king sent Shaphan the scribe... to the house of the Lord...' Josiah meant it for the purpose of repairing the house of God which has been neglected for years.

Interestingly, the name 'Josiah' in Hebrew is 'YoshiYah', which means 'founded of Yah, or founded Yah'. In other words, he found the Lord, even in the midst of widespread idolatry in the land of Judah during his earlier years, and even though his grandfather (Manasseh) and father (Amon) had long forsaken the Lord (and entangled themselves with the 'idols' of the world). As a matter of fact, you are never too young or too old to find the Lord, and see Him using you (the way He used Josiah) to bring renewal and refreshing in the land you live in. Amen!

May a heart like Josiah be raised up in God's people today.

2 Kings 22:8-11 then says, 'Then Hilkiah the high priest said to Shaphan the scribe, "I have found the Book of the Law in the house of the Lord." And Hilkiah gave the book to Shaphan, and he read it... Now it happened, when the king (Josiah) heard the words of the Book of the Law, that he tore his clothes'.

With the Word of the Lord that he had heard, and with the conviction that the Lord had put in his heart, he began a great work of the Lord to clear the 'clutter' that had accumulated for generations before him.

And do you know what was the first and foremost thing written in the Bible that Josiah restored, renewed and refreshed? 2 Kings 23:21-23 says, 'Then the king (Josiah) commanded all the people, saying, "Keep the Passover to the Lord your God, as it is written in the Book of the Covenant." Such a Passover surely had never been held since the days of the judges who judged Israel, nor in all the days of the kings of Israel and the kings of Judah. But in the eighteenth year of King Josiah this Passover was held before the Lord in Jerusalem'.

'Passover' here speaks of 'the renewal and refreshing of the covenant (that the Lord had first made with His people)'. In cross-reference, let's look at Exodus 12:1-2 that says, 'Now the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt, saying, "This month shall be your beginning of months; it shall be the first month of the year to you."' Therefore, 'Passover' also signifies 'returning to the very beginning, your first love (the Lord), and reminding yourself of how the Lord had first saved you'.

In Exodus 12:5-13, the Lord then said, 'Your lamb shall be without blemish, a male of the first year... Now you shall keep it until the fourteenth day of the same month. Then the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall kill it at twilight. And they shall take some of the blood and put it on the two doorposts and on the lintel of the houses... They shall eat the flesh on that night, roasted in fire... It is the Lord's Passover. For I will pass through the land of Egypt on that night, and will strike all the firstborn in the land of Egypt... Now the blood shall be a sign for you on the houses where you are. And when I see the blood, I will pass over you; and the plague shall not be on you to destroy you when I strike the land of Egypt'.

As a believer in the New Covenant, know that Jesus has become your Passover Lamb when He died for you and His blood was shed for you on the cross some 2,000 years ago. It's a covenant made with His own blood (see also Isaiah 53:4-7, Romans 5:8-9).

I was praying the other day when I saw a vision of many new bottles of olive oil (never being used before, tightly-capped, not opened yet). Then, I saw the cap (caps) being opened by a pair of shining hands, and fresh olive oil being poured upon God's people's heads. I asked the Lord what all these meant, and then I began to understand. This is a time to receive renewal and refreshing from the Lord, like the fresh olive oil being poured upon God's people's heads! This is also a time for you to renew and refresh your covenant with the Lord again!

People of God, are there areas in your life that have become stale, dull or wearied, and you know you need a renewing and refreshing touch of the Lord all over again?

Isaiah 40:31 says, '...those who wait ('qavah' in Hebrew, meaning 'hope, collect, gather') on the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint'. The word 'renew' here is 'chalaph' in Hebrew, which means 'to spring up'. Just imagine a dying plant being watered (and nourished), and then it springs up again.

Therefore, return to His rest, receive from Him, and let Him water (and nourish) you all over again. You'll be sure to 'spring up' with a new outlook and a new vigor, as you look forward to many more good days ahead. Amen!