Kenneth Kang

Passing the test

2012-01-28T19:33:00.011+08:00

Ezekiel 47:3-4 (NKJV): And when the man went out to the east with the line in his hand, he measured one thousand cubits, and he brought me through the waters; the water came up to my ankles. Again he measured one thousand and brought me through the waters; the water came up to my knees. Again he measured one thousand and brought me through; the water came up to my waist.

This 'man' with the measuring line in his hand speaks of the 'prince', a picture of Jesus Christ Himself, whereas the 'measuring line' here represents 'passing your test'.

Upon passing your 'test' comes your promotion. The Bible says 'promotion (or exaltation) comes neither from the east, west, or south' (Psalm 75:6). Your promotion comes from the Lord. Ezekiel 47:2 says, "He brought me out by way of the north gate, and led me around on the outside to the outer gateway (of the temple) that faces east (toward the throne of God)..." The north here speaks of where Mount Zion is (Psalm 48:2).

As a whole, Ezekiel 47:1-12 speaks of God's river flowing from under the threshold of the temple toward the east (where God's throne is), and as the 'man' brought Ezekiel towards the east, the waters became broader and deeper, from ankle deep to knee high, then up to the waist, and eventually, so deep that one had to swim in it (see Ezekiel 47:5). I know the late Ruth Heflin used to speak of this as 'praising God till He brings us into the spirit of worship, and then worshiping Him till He brings us into the spirit of glory'. She was seeing these verses from 'prophetic and worship' point of view, and there's really nothing wrong with it. I have been an ardent learner from her teachings, and was truly blessed by her.

But today, I wish to explain these verses from 'passing your test' and 'promotion comes from the Lord' point of view: As you pass your 'test', God will bring you (lead you) to a deeper (greater) realm of success or anointing.

Maybe some of you have been asking these questions recently:
"When is my breakthrough going to come?"
"O God, when are you going to give me the promotion I've been yearning for?"
"O God, when am I going to see a greater manifestation of Your glory and power?"

In short, you've been asking, "O God, why is my 'river' not deep enough?"

People of God, we are all in the same boat. In life, one cannot avoid disappointments (or delays) at one time or another. The Bible even says, 'Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but when the desire comes, it is a tree of life' (Proverbs 13:12). But as a believer and a beloved of God, you must also know God allows certain disappointments or delays not because He hates you or He's all-out to punish you. He cannot, and He will not. His words say so. See Jeremiah 29:11-12.

You may then ask, "Then why does He allow it?"

He allows it because He loves you so much, because of His great love for you. He allows it because He is preparing you for something greater in your life. He allows it because He wants you to get ready for the greater blessings He's going to 'pour out' on you soon! But you've got to get ready for the greater blessings (or anointing), lest you cannot 'contain' it, or in other words, lest you break! Like the old wineskin trying to 'contain' the new wine! When the anointing came upon Jesus (Luke 4:18-19), He was ready. Not much was mentioned about His first thirty years on earth, but even He had to go through a preparation time as well. He has indeed shown us the way. By the way, the number '30' in Hebrew numeric means 'ministry maturation'.

So, take heart. I am convinced He allows 'test' not to harm you or hurt you. His love for you stays the same, i.e. His unfailing love for you. And His grace for you is definitely sufficient. Let's take His word for it. You'll pass your 'test', whatever it may be at the moment, by His grace. Not only that, you'll also rise up stronger than before! And here's a piece of good news for you: If you've been 'tested' left and right in the past year, this is your year of promotion.

Some of you may be facing a test of patience, and for some others, a test of walking in His way & timing (instead of walking hastily in your own way).

Let me share a little on the test of patience. Once, I was watching my wife Sharon planting a lime seed on a pot. Nothing seemed to happen for quite a long time though. No sign of seed sprouting. Definitely no sign of the first leaf growing. About a week later, there still wasn't any sign of life on the pot! By that time, I've already long concluded that the seed wasn't going to make it! A city boy I've been all my life, that's how little I knew about planting. And just as I was giving up on the seed (even tempted to replace the soil, thinking there's really something wrong with the soil!), Sharon confidently said, "Ken, be patient. Just watch and see for one more day." The rest, of course, was history. Not long after that, we started reaping the first fruits. You see, sometimes in life, we tend to 'throw away the whole pot' even before giving enough time for the 'seed' to even grow its first leaf!

People of God, keep walking 'unwaveringly' in what God has spoken or called you to be (no matter what other people may say against you). Some of you may also need to say "No" when 'forced to the edge' to do what God hasn't said for you to do, even if that makes you unpopular or a topic of gossip! May God give you the discernment to know what's God, and what's not, no matter what 'pressure' exerted against you.

Whatever your 'test' may be at the moment, just keep trusting and looking to the sure work of Jesus on the cross. He is your ONLY sure foundation in the midst of all uncertainties in this world. Just be bold and be very courageous, and do not allow yourself to be shaken (or harassed) by the words (or threats) of the enemy (see Joshua 1:9). Just as Joshua passed the 'test', and crossed over Jordan, your breakthrough is also at hand, if you don't give up. Men may disappoint, but God will not disappoint. Men may fail you, but God's love for you never fails (1 Corinthians 13:8). So, when He says 'He will be with you', HE WILL BE WITH YOU. See Joshua 1:9 again.

Note: God also sometimes allow certain disappointments (or delays) in order to wake you up, so you'll begin to humble yourself and seek Him (instead of doing it your own way).

Let's now get back to Ezekiel 47:3-4. If the number '10' means 'test, trial' in Hebrew numeric, interestingly the number 'one thousand' (as in 'one thousand cubits' in these verses) means 'divine completeness, perfect fruitfulness'! Jesus Himself has again shown us the way. After the 'trial' on the cross where He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, His name was later highly exalted (the name above all names), and at His name, every knee should bow, and every tongue should confess that He is the Lord! (Philippians 2:8-11)

Note: 1 cubit = the length from the elbow to the tip of the middle finger.

So, upon passing your 'test', He'll bring (lead) you deeper, from ankle deep to knee high, and then up to waist high. And as you pass further tests, He'll bring (lead) you even deeper and deeper, till you swim in His unlimited glory, i.e. a river so broad that it could not be crossed (Ezekiel 47:5-6).

May you fulfill all of His destiny for you. Amen!

Like a tree planted by the rivers

2012-01-09T07:07:00.009+08:00

Psalm 1:3 (NKJV): He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf also shall not wither; And whatever he does shall prosper.

Notice the word 'rivers' here. It's plural, which means more than one river. In John 7:37-38 (referring to the Holy Spirit), again notice the word 'rivers' of living water flowing out from you as you drink from Him.

Now, if 'rivers' refer to the Holy Spirit, then 'tree' refers to you as a believer. Psalm 1:1-2 says "Blessed is the man (i.e. believer)... whose delight is in the law of the Lord." The law here is none other than the Aleph Tav, the Alpha and the Omega, i.e. Jesus Christ Himself who has fulfilled the law (Matthew 5:17). He is the Word of God (John 1:1). So, this is also the time to meditate on the Word of God. Word and Spirit. Spirit and Word. These are keys. That's when Psalm 1:1-2 says in Him, you are blessed! Like a tree planted by the rivers of water! That's who you are!

As you are being planted, know that there'll surely be fruit. It means you can expect fruit. Any gardener will tell you that fruit comes forth easily (& effortlessly) when there's a right condition for the plant. So, you don't have to force 'it' out! You don't have to try hard and strive to 'make it happen'! Because He is the One who makes 'it' grow! In short, His 'rivers' bring you to your fruitfulness! His 'rivers' lead and guide you to your fruitfulness in all that you do!

This is a time to get near the river and drink. This is a time to allow Him to plant, and for some, replant you.

Different tree bears different fruit. Each kind of fruit has its own uniqueness and use. So, this is also the year you'll find (discover) your originality. Whatever tree you are meant to be (or destined to be), that'll be the fruit you'll bear! You know what it means? He wants you to grow in the calling and giftings He has given you, and not try to be someone else. He, the Planter, is here to help you. Rest in Him, and let Him do His work in you this year.

Let's now go to the Hebrew word for 'planted'. It is pronounced 'shathal' in Hebrew, which can also mean 'transplanted'. To transplant is to remove a growing plant with its roots, and replant it elsewhere, and in this case, by the river! Have you been far from the 'rivers' in the past months? Never mind about those months. Past is past. What matters is now, and it's never too late for Him to 'replant' you again.

Interestingly, this word 'shathal' (planted) is also where the word 'shathiyah' comes from, meaning 'to drink or to absorb'. Another meaning of the word 'shathiyah' is 'banquet'. Psalm 23:5 says the Lord prepares a table (or banquet) spread out before you, and your cup runs over. Wow! Overflowing of His living waters! Do you believe this is what the year's going to be for you? In fact, everything you ever needed can be found in His 'rivers'! In them, you find revelation, blessing, healing, restoration, abundance, anointing, and the list goes on. Hence the plurality of the word 'rivers'.

And the best part is His 'rivers' will never dry up or be exhausted, because He is unlimited. See Ezekiel 47:3-5. And where it flows, there'll be healing (Ezekiel 47:8). Where it flows, there'll be resurrection and life (Ezekiel 47:9). Where it flows, there'll also be harvest and abundance (Ezekiel 47:10). Praise God! Ezekiel 47:12 then says, "Along the bank of the river, on this side and that, will grow all kinds of trees used for food; their leaves will not wither, and their fruit will not fail. They will bear fruit every month, because their water flows from the sanctuary (i.e. throne of God). Their fruit will be for food, and their leaves for medicine."

Notice 'fruit' (for food) here speaks of your blessing, and 'leaves' (for medicine) here speaks of your healing. Blessing and healing! In Him, you have all the blessing and healing you needed! Not just that, you shall bear fruit every month in a year, not just a few months in a year. Let's now cross-refer to Revelation 22:1-2. It says 'bearing 12 fruits, each tree yielding its fruit every month.' See? Each fruit in each month, 12 months in a year! He wants you blessed not just a few months in a year, but every month in a year! It means every month this year, you'll have more than enough, and every month this year, you should be in good health. Believing, you'll receive. Amen! '12' also speaks of 'divine power'. It means you'll bear fruit not by your own power, but by His power working in you! Praise God! I know this verse talks about the New Jerusalem, but the truth is what happens in heaven can be reflected in you even right now on earth! The Bible says His kingdom come, His will be done (in your life) on earth as it is in heaven (Matthew 6:10).

Revelation 22:3 then says "there shall be no more curse, but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it..." Jesus has carried them all when He died for you on the cross. And today, you can receive His blessing (fruit for food) and healing (leaves for medicine) freely. No more curse and reproach. All carried away! So, go ahead! The river is here, and it's for you to drink and receive! Drink (& keep drinking) from Him, and all that you do this year shall prosper (Psalm 1:3). Amen!

Revelation, not resolution!

2012-01-01T18:53:00.014+08:00

Proverbs 29:18 (KJV): Without vision (revelation), My people perish.

The word 'vision' here is pronounced as 'khawzaw' in Hebrew, which also means 'to perceive, to have a vision of, prophetic vision/revelation, see, sight, spiritual insight'.

"Pastor, what then is the difference between revelation and resolution?"

'Revelation' is about "He will..., He will..., He will...", whereas 'resolution' is about "I will..., I will..., I will..."

How many of us have made new year resolutions like these before?
"I will go to gym in the morning 4 times a week without fail this year!"
"I will wake up at 5am every morning to read Bible & pray this year!"
"I will spend 3 hours with God in the morning everyday this year!"
Notice the words "I will..." here.
And then, lo and behold, one or two weeks later (or for some, one or two days later), especially on a nice cold rainy morning, and as your alarm clock began to ring, all you wanted to do then was just to snuggle up under your warm, cosy blanket in bed instead, and you gave in!

We are a people of revelation, not resolution! When I say 'resolution' here, I'm talking about self-made resolution by one's own human strength or effort. Now, don't get me wrong. I'm not against people making new year resolutions. But today, I choose to speak about God's vision/revelation.

See, it's one thing to strive to achieve your self-imposed resolution, but it's another thing when God is the one speaking to you what you are to do. One is about "I will...", but the other is about "He will do it through me..." One is about self-effort and self-imposed pressure, but the other is effortless and easy. Another difference is God's 'khawzaw' for you will last and remain till the end, but 'self-created' resolutions may not.

People of God, this is the time to receive God's vision/revelation. God is still in the 'business' of releasing His specific instructions for specific situations to His people. What it takes is a heart that hears! He is still (and will always be) the Lord who speaks, and that's exactly how He's going to lead you to your victories and breakthroughs this year! Make no mistake about it. In other words, without God's specific instruction (or revelation), we cannot go far.

So, we are here not trying to create resolutions (like the people in the world do), but we are here to receive His revelation for our year ahead! This is what makes you different from the world. As a believer, you are indeed a peculiar people (KJV), His own special people, set apart as a holy nation, a chosen generation, and a royal priesthood, who once were not, but are now the people of God (see 1 Peter 2:9-10).

Just as the sons of Issachar who had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do, and what ought not to do (see 1 Chronicles 12:32), so should God's people today!

As King David consulted the Lord and the captains of the army (see 1 Chronicles 13:2), there's every likelihood that the sons of Issachar were also some of those whom he consulted. I believe that's also how King David received God's timely revelation (& confirmation) on what Israel ought to do then. You see, there could be 101 things for King David to do then, but what he did next was to call for the ark of the covenant (representing God's glory and God's leadership) to be brought back!

Note that in their first attempt to bring back the ark, they failed (1 Chronicles 13:9-10). But as they followed God's specific instructions and specific patterns (1 Chronicles 15:2) in their second attempt, the ark finally was successfully placed where it should be (1 Chronicles 16:1). From then on, the Lord made a covenant with David (1 Chronicles 17), and began to lead Israel to many more great victories and breakthroughs (1 Chronicles 18).

See how one specific revelation led to so many other blessings?

Thank God for a hearing heart in King David! He has indeed caught in the spirit what Israel ought to do then, instead of trying to figure out what they ought to do by his own human wisdom, intelligence, or strength. Without revelation, God's people perish! But thank God where King Saul had failed, King David made it right (see 1 Chronicles 13:3). Israel would definitely not be who they were, if not for God's timely revelation! And that's how important 'khawzaw' is to God's people!

People of God, it's one thing to try (or strive) hard to make things happen by your own self-effort, but it's another thing to let Him make things happen through you, a ready vessel who's humble enough and who's willing to hear and act on His specific instructions (or revelation).

"Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man, the things which God has prepared for those who love Him." But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit... (1 Corinthians 2:9-10).

May you also see many more great victories and breakthroughs this year. Amen!

Be strong and of good courage!

2011-12-26T13:30:00.004+08:00

Joshua 1:9 (NKJV) says, "... Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go."

The word 'afraid' in this verse is pronounced as 'awrats' in Hebrew, which means 'fear, or be shaken, or allow yourself to be harassed (even by words/enemy's threats)'. In other words, do not be shaken, or allow yourself to be harassed (even by words/enemy's threats), as you 'cross over' into the new things God has for you.

Fear not, as you 'cross over'! These are His current prophetic words for you, likened to Joshua's 'crossing over' River Jordan. Whether it's a mandate, a calling, new ventures, change of vocation, re-direction in career, etc, it's a season to be bold. And by God's grace, you'll advance like Joshua advanced! Continue to stay focused in what God has called you to be, no matter what you see or what you hear, or no matter how 'dark' the world surrounding you may be. Don't let anything or anyone 'hold you back' from what God is doing in your life. Receive God's 'overcoming anointing' to advance. This anointing is for you to 'overcome' any 'obstacle' as you move into your God-given mandate/calling. I believe you'll rejoice in the end. Just be strong and be very courageous.

In Numbers 13:30, Caleb quieted the people who feared entering the Promised Land, and he said, "Let us go up at once and take possession, for we are well able to overcome it." People of God, in Christ, you have also overcome. 1 John 4:4 says, 'He who is in you is greater than he that is in this world'. God is raising up His Calebs of today! I want to believe you are one of those. By the way, the word 'Caleb' means 'force, attack (like a dog, in a good sense)' in Hebrew. He had a different spirit (Numbers 14:24). Instead of fear, he had God's faith. Instead of receiving the spirit of fear (like the majority in his days), he received the spirit of power, love, and sound mind. You see? That's the problem with 'fear'. Fear weakens power, negates love, and causes unsound mind (or unsound decision). But Caleb did not allow 'fear' to take place in his heart. And that's what made him different! People of God, let it be so for you too! Also, Caleb was from the tribe of Judah (Numbers 13:6), after the 'seed' of the 'Overcoming King', the Lion of Judah (i.e. Jesus). Likewise, as a believer today, you too are also after His seed. Amen!

For the record, Caleb was 40 when he spied the Promised Land, and he was 85 when he was given Hebron as his inheritance after the conquest (see Joshua 14:6-10). Yet, he was just as strong as before! (see Joshua 14:11) Age is never a factor for God to use you in His end-time army. The irony is I've seen people in their twenties very much 'bound' by human traditions and 'old wineskins', but I've also seen people in their eighties at the very 'cutting edge' of what God is currently doing, moving as He moves in new, unprecedented ways! However, on the other hand, if you are a youth, let not also anyone despise your youth (1 Timothy 4:12).

So, prepare yourself, just as God's people did those days (Joshua 1:11). Reflect back on the prophecies and dreams you know (that you know) are from the Lord. Be reminded of His promises you've received so far, as you 'cross over', just as God's people reminded themselves of 'the promise of a land filled with milk and honey' those days.

This is also your time to walk into the inheritance God has given you! Let go of those past regrets. Your 'Moses' is dead. This is a new season. It's your 'Joshua' time. A new season always comes with a fresh new anointing. His grace is also more than enough for you to 'overcome' as you 'cross over'. Just be bold and be very courageous. Know that your 'land that is to come' is good and filled with His shalom & rest (Joshua 1:13). So, go ahead, and go with God! He is with you. Joshua 3:3 says, 'When you see the ark of the covenant (representing God's presence & leadership), ..., then you shall set out from your place and go after it'. So, move as He moves. That's how He'll use you for His great exploits!

As the feet of the priests who bear the 'ark' rested in the waters of Jordan, the waters got cut off (Joshua 3:13), and God's people began crossing over. They've overcome their first 'obstacle'. Praise God! After everyone had completely crossed over, the 'ark' and the priests then also crossed over (Joshua 4:11). This is a 'picture' of the Lord going before and after you. On that day, the Bible says about 40,000 who were prepared for war crossed over before the Lord for battle (Joshua 4:13). Interestingly, the number 40,000 in Hebrew numeric means 'wise rule, skillful, expert'. Likewise, He is also currently raising up such people, a people 'wise and skillful' in the operation of the spiritual gifts and offices given them (see 1 Corinthians 12:1-11, 1 Corinthians 12:28, Ephesians 4:11-13). In regards to this, as Paul exhorted Timothy, God is also exhorting you now that He has not given you the spirit of fear, but He has given you the spirit of power, love, and sound mind (see 2 Timothy 1:6-7) as you 'stir up' (by using) the gifts given you.

Throughout this new season of yours, there's one vital principle He wants you to always keep in mind, and this is found in Joshua 5:9. Here, the Lord spoke to Joshua, "This day I have rolled away the reproach of Egypt from you." The words 'rolled away (like a wheel)' means 'Gilgal' in Hebrew, and that's also the place where the children of Israel camped upon 'crossing over'.

As you read through Joshua 1-11, notice that Gilgal was always the place of Joshua's camp throughout his conquest of Canaan:
After Joshua took Jericho and Ai, he returned to Gilgal (see Joshua 1-8).
Then, after Joshua launched a southern campaign against Lachish, Hebron, Debir, and Gaza, he returned to Gilgal again (see Joshua 10).
And finally, in a northern thrust all the way to Hazor, Joshua also launched the attack from his camp in Gilgal (see Joshua 11).
And that's also the importance of 'Gilgal' in your new season as well!

Now let Scripture interpret Scripture. In Luke 24:2, on the first day of the week when Jesus arose, the stone ('picture' of 'obstacle, stumbling block') was also rolled away. You know what that means? In your 'Promised Land', know that all your curse (whether spoken against you, or a generation curse) and reproach have been 'rolled away' through Jesus Christ your Lord! 'Promised Land' here is also a 'picture' of 'the New Covenant'. So, as a believer in the New Covenant, God doesn't want you to be conscious of whatever curse spoken against you anymore, but He wants you to be always conscious of His goodness and shalom for you! Just as Joshua returned and camped in Gilgal upon every conquest (central, southern, and northern), you too should always be reminded of your 'Gilgal' throughout your new season.

You know why Israel failed when they first attempted to take Ai? Yet, Ai was a much 'lesser' opponent compared to the Jericho they've just conquered! So what went wrong? Because somebody by the name of Achan took of the accursed things! (Joshua 7:1-3). That spells trouble! By the way, 'Achan' literally means 'trouble' in Hebrew. You know why? Achan had effectively 're-installed' curse, when all of Israelites' curse should have already been 'rolled away'! As a consequence, God wasn't there in that battle, and God's people had to flee. Not until the 'curse' was taken away did the children of Israel win again (see Joshua 7:13, Joshua 8:1). The message was clear, and that's how particular God was against His people being reminded of their curse and reproach.

Today, God also wants you to be always reminded that 'all your curse have also been rolled away'. At the cross, Jesus has already taken all your 'beatings, curse, and reproach', so now you can have all His 'blessings, goodness, and shalom'. Amen!

Unto us, a Child is born!

2011-12-25T16:36:00.017+08:00

Isaiah 9:6 (NKJV): For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

This verse has been prophesied by the prophet Isaiah some 700 years before Jesus (Yeshua, i.e. Salvation, Savior) came on earth (John 1:14). There is also no other name by which one is saved, but by the name of Jesus (Acts 4:12). He is the way, the truth, and the life (John 14:6).

People of God, not only was He born to this world, but He was also born to die for us.

He was born to suffer and die, so that you may have life (see John 3:16).
He was born to carry all your sins, so that you may become the righteousness of God in Him (see 2 Corinthians 5:21).
He was born to carry all your curse, reproach, shame, and beatings, so that you may have all His blessings, shalom peace, and goodness (see Galatians 3:13).
He was born to be stripped of everything, so that you may have abundance in every good thing (see 2 Corinthians 8:9).
He was born to be wounded, smitten, and stricken, so that you may have His healing, comfort, and health (see Isaiah 53:3-5).

There was such great 'exchange' when He died on the cross for you some 2,000 years ago. And these are the reasons why He came!

That's why the Bible says 'unto us, He was born!' (Isaiah 9:6) Those who walked in darkness have now finally seen the 'great light' (Isaiah 9:2). He is also the Word became flesh (John 1:14), and the psalmist wrote 'the entrance of His Word brings light' (see Psalm 119:130).

The Bible also says 'those who dwelt in the land of the shadow of death, upon them a light has shined (Isaiah 9:2). He has indeed broken every yoke and burden, even the rod of the 'oppressor'! (Isaiah 9:4) Praise God! And it's on this very background of Isaiah 9:1-5, comes Isaiah 9:6-7!

And His name is called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace.

"Pastor, what's so important about a name?"

It means everything! In fact, the word 'name' in 'Hebrew' is 'shem', which means 'character, authority, or fame'. It means a 'name' carries one's character, authority, or even fame! Take prophet Isaiah for example. His name is pronounced 'Yesha Yah' in Hebrew, which means 'Yah has saved'. 'Yah' is the name of God (i.e. the redemptive name of God), while 'Yesha' means 'save, set free, set at liberty, deliverance'. True enough, God used this prophet greatly to prophesy the coming of the Savior! You see, your 'name' carries your character, authority, and even fame!

Now that you know His name also means His 'character, authority, or fame', 1 John 4:17 also says 'as He is, so are you'. As a believer of Christ, you are after His seed, i.e. His spiritual DNA. There's no mistake about it. And because you are after His kind, you can also say: "As His character, authority, and fame is, so am I!" You know what? It runs in your 'blood'! It runs in your 'DNA'! Now, people of God, this is the best gift you can ever receive, and this is also supposed to be your best present of all! So, receive all that is 'Him' in your life right now, knowing that not only is He living in you, but His name, His character, His authority, and His fame is also living in you today! Wow! Praise God!

Let me define each of these 5 names of Jesus:
1. Wonderful ('Pele' in Hebrew = miracle, marvelous, greatness)
2. Counselor ('Yaats' in Hebrew = guide, advise, purpose)
3. Mighty God ('El Gibbor' in Hebrew = strength, excellence, champion)
4. Everlasting Father ('Abba Ad' in Hebrew = eternity, without end, advancement)
5. Prince of Peace ('Sar Shalom' in Hebrew = peace, wellness, wholeness)

All the above are His presents for you today. So, go ahead! Take it, and receive all that He has given you! Here are some examples:
Receive your miracle today!
Receive His marvelous work in you today!
Receive His purpose for you today!
Receive the DNA of a champion today!
Of course, receive His eternal life today, if you have not!
And the list goes on. Amen!

Interestingly, there are 5 names here, and the number '5' in Hebrew is also the number of God's grace. The Bible says, 'Grace and truth came through Jesus' (see John 1:17). Jesus is indeed God's grace and truth personified!

Finally, Isaiah 9:7 says, 'Of the increase of His government and peace, there will be no end..." The word 'government' here is 'misrah' in Hebrew, which means 'kingdom, empire', from the root word meaning 'prevail, victory, power'. You know what? It means 'of the increase of His prevailing power & victory, there will be no end'. Great is the Lord!

The kingdom of God is definitely advancing in our time, and you, His people, are in it together. Praise God! And nothing's going to stop Him. No evil, no forces of darkness, and no oppression can, both in this time, and forever (see Isaiah 9:7). That's who He is, the Great 'I AM' (Exodus 3:14), and the possessor of heaven and earth (Genesis 14:19). He will continue to advance until the whole earth is filled with His light (see Habakkuk 2:14). And 'the zeal of the Lord of hosts (Himself) will perform this' (Isaiah 9:7). Hallelujah!

People of God, remember as He is, so are you too! So, not just as a people, but as an individual, you too will also be increasing and advancing in His victory, power, and peace as well. Believe for it, and you'll receive. Amen!

Note: Some may ask, "Was Jesus really born on 25th December?" To me, any celebration when Christ is exalted (and no other name is), we will celebrate, whether it's in December, or March, or September, or October, or any other month! Any celebration that exalts the name of Jesus (and only Him), we are for it. In fact, whenever we meet as a church (i.e. a people) any time during the year, it should also always be full of Jesus. His name is what matters.

For the record, Jesus was more likely born during autumn (i.e. during Sukkot's season in September/October) than during winter (i.e. during Hanukkah's season in December). In other words, He was probably conceived in December, and about 9-10 months later, He was born.

Enforcing your victory through vehement praises!

2011-12-04T16:48:00.015+08:00

Matthew 11:12 (NKJV): And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force.

In New International Version, Matthew 11:12 puts it this way: From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has been forcefully advancing, and forceful men lay hold of it.

Recently, the Lord spoke to me, "Tell the people to 'praise vehemently'!" Yes, 'praise vehemently'! That's how you become 'violent' in the spiritual realm! That's how you are 'forcefully advancing'! Your vehement praises overcome every obstacle! Now, I'm not telling you to be violent in the flesh. We are not fighting flesh and blood (Ephesians 6:12). So, how do you become 'violent' in the spirit? Or in other words, how do you 'forcefully advance' in the spirit? The answer is in your praises! To praise Him is to declare His name into the spiritual realm. Praise the Lord! He is your everything! He is your El Elyon (The Most High God), He is your El Shaddai (God Almighty, God all-sufficient), He is your YHWH Nissi (The Lord your banner), He is your YHWH Rapha (The Lord that heals), He is your YHWH Jireh (The Lord provides), and the list goes on!

To praise Him is therefore to proclaim His name, His power, His redemption, and His blessings into every situation of yours! By praising Him, you are actually 'bringing Him down to your atmosphere', and as He is enthroned in your praises (Psalm 22:3), you are allowing Him to become King over your every situation (instead of you trying to be 'in charge' over your current situation). By praising Him, you also can't help but to give thanks, because you are declaring how great and how good He is to you!

Note: Of course, your praises begin from your heart, not just an outward show.

People of God, we are living in violent times. No one can deny this. Our health gets 'violated'. Our providence gets 'violated'. At other times, even our inheritance in Him gets 'violated'! This is none other but the work of the 'enemy'. He tries hard to 'violate' you, i.e. to steal, kill, and destroy all the good things God has given you (or meant for you). Some of you may even have reached the boiling point of saying, "Enough is enough of me (or family) getting violated!"

But praise God! God has His 'antidote' for you! Your 'antidote' against the works of the 'enemy' is praise (& keep praising Him), and yes, violently! Let's 'take the bull by the horns'! Psalm 149:6 says, 'Let the high praises ('tehillah') of God be in your mouth, and a two-edged sword (symbolizing the 'Word of God') in your hand'. You destroy the enemy's works (& plans) by your praises and the Word being proclaimed (& released)!

The Oxford Dictionary says 'to be vehement' means 'being passionate, violent, forceful, showing (or caused by) strong feeling, having intense emotion, or great intensity'. That's what your praises should be! Praise and keep praising! It's like keep knocking the door! It's like using the hammer to hit (& keep hitting) the wall, and finally the wall crumbles! That's vehement praise! Keep praising until you see His glory and power! It means 'until you see a breakthrough right before your eyes'! That's violent praise! The Lord is calling His triumphant people for such!

By the way, the word 'violent' in Matthew 11:12 (NKJV) is 'seize, forcefulness' in Greek. So, despite or in spite of, say, whatever health condition you are facing at the moment, keep praising the Lord! You may not see a complete manifestation of your healing yet, but just keep praising! Even if in anytime you don't feel like praising, just open your mouth and praise, by faith! And shout aloud! Sing your praises out loud! Get hold of a good praise cd if you need to! Praise until the spiritual atmosphere changes! Praise until you know you are above (rise above), and not under (a circumstance)! And there, you have your victory! And that's how you praise your way to your breakthrough! Victory has already been won for you at the cross! But you need to 'enforce' it! 'To enforce' is 'to allow it to happen, or to cause it to happen'. You need to 'declare' it! You need to 'sign' your land title deed! Praise is not a self-effort thing of 'trying to earn your victory'. No! As a believer in the New Covenant, you praise because you know your victory has already been won at the cross! In other words, in the spiritual realm, your breakthrough and victory has already happened! Now, 'enforce' it! Your praises enforce your victory! Your praises declare your victory! It's like when someone gives you a gift (say, a land title), it's already given to you (and meant for you). But unless and until you 'sign' the land title deed (i.e. in agreement), you'll still not have it physically! So now, 'enforce' it! 'Sign' the deed! 'To sign the deed' here is 'to praise', and you'll just be one step away from your victory and breakthrough! Hallelujah! This is the power of praise! Glory be to God!

People of God, this is your time to advance! This is your time to walk into your full inheritance! Enough is enough of the devil's violation! Do you want to see yourself advancing from where you are now? Or do you want to see a breakthrough after being stagnant for so long? If you've done all that you've been taught, say, taken holy communion, beheld Jesus and His finished work, etc, then it's time to 'praise' now! Your praises is like your last piece of the 'jigsaw puzzle'. Your 'praises' will break down the 'wall' that has been hindering you all these while. That's when your breakthrough comes! Your 'praises' will break the 'chains' that has been stifling you all these while! That's also when your breakthrough comes! People of God, there's a clarion call to 'praise' right now!

Look now at Joshua 6:5 and Joshua 6:20. Here's an example of 'the violent takes it by force'. As Joshua led the people to 'praise vehemently', and as they gave a 'great shout' ('teruwah' in Hebrew, which means 'jubilation, shout of praise and celebration, acclamation of joy'), the wall of Jericho fell down flat, and the people of God 'utterly destroyed' all that was in the city with the edge of the sword (a 'picture' of the Word of God). See? Praises and proclaiming the Word!

In New Testament, look now at Paul and Silas in Acts 16:25-26. At midnight (a 'picture' of 'being in the darkest hour'), chained and locked in the prison, and as they prayed and sang praises unto God (see King James Version), God sent an earthquake that shook the foundations of the prison, and that's how all the prison doors were opened, and everyone's chains loosed! You see, it didn't matter to Paul and Silas even if the other prisoners get offended by their loud voices of praise in the middle of the night! They continued to praise vehemently! They did not exactly know what to expect, but they just kept praising! In other words, they kept praising unashamedly! Triumphant people, don't be ashamed of your violent praises to Him! And that's when your breakthrough comes, just as it was for Paul and Silas.

Praises lead to your 'wall' crumbling down! Praises lead to your 'chains' breaking off and your 'doors' being opened! Praises lead to 'the captives being set free'! After an intense time of 'violent praise', there'll surely be peace and rest following suit. Wow! Let me back this up in the Bible. Not long after Matthew 11:12 (i.e. 'the violent take it by force') is Matthew 11:28 (when Jesus said, "I will give you rest"). By the way, the word 'rest' here is translated as 'Sabbath'. And after that, Matthew 12 continues with Jesus being the Lord of Sabbath. Do you see it? Say, for example, upon being awaken by a terrible (or scary) nightmare in the middle of the night, what would you do? Allow the spirit of fear to envelope you? No! Begin praying in tongues and begin praising the Lord violently! And as you praise, you can't help but also release the Word of God into the spiritual realm! And that's how you'll receive your peace and rest soon after.

You see, there's a difference between 'being passive' (i.e. being laid back, even escapism) and 'being restful' in the victory that the Lord has won for you. Choose to praise! Choose God's way of victory! And that's how you'll be triumphant in Christ, every day and in every area of your life. Amen!

God's thoughts toward you are thoughts of peace

2011-11-28T23:51:00.027+08:00

Jeremiah 29:11 (NKJV): For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.

The above verse can be personalized this way: God's thoughts toward me are thoughts of peace that give me a future and a hope.

The word 'peace' here is 'shalom' in Hebrew, which can mean 'wellness, happy, friendly, friendship, welfare, health, prosperity, peace, rest, safety, wholesome, favor'. You know what? God's thoughts for you are not just thoughts of peace, but His thoughts for you are also thoughts of wellness. Not only that, He has happy thoughts for you, and He thinks favorably of you. His thoughts for you are thoughts of friendship. He also has your welfare, health, prosperity, rest, and safety in His mind. And His thoughts for you are wholesome thoughts! The above are some examples of what He thinks about you, and this is how good He is to you!

God has 'shalom' thoughts (i.e. good thoughts) for you. What you need to do is receive, and let His 'shalom' thoughts flow in you and through you. Open your 'gates' to His 'floodgates'. Just as God has good thoughts for you, He also wants you to have good thoughts as well. Choose to think as He thinks.

Interestingly, the word 'thoughts' in this verse is 'machashabah' in Hebrew, which can mean 'imagination or invention'. Wow! 'Thoughts' here means 'inventions'! So, when God has 'shalom' thoughts for you, it means He also invents peace, wellness, happiness, friendship, prosperity, wholeness, favor, etc in you. And this is exactly who you are as a believer, i.e. His shalom 'invention'! Shalom is yours. And shalom is your birthright!

God is definitely the greatest 'inventor' of all time. In fact, He has been in this 'inventing' business since the very beginning. For example, when He thought of 'light', He then said "Let there be light", and there was light! (Genesis 1:3) As a matter of fact, every great invention on earth (e.g. light bulb, motorcar, etc) that benefits all of humankind also began with a thought. That's how powerful thoughts can be!

Thoughts lead to actions (or words being spoken). Good thoughts lead to good actions, while bad thoughts lead to bad actions (e.g. a suicidal thought leads to a suicidal action).

So, what have you been thinking lately? Good thoughts or not so good thoughts? Or have you been too engrossed with thinking about what other people think of you? Too busy thinking about what other people think of you sometimes causes you to forget what God thinks about you!

A good thought is likened to the fragrance of nice, pleasant perfume diffusing and filling a room. Pleasant smell attracts, while foul smell distracts. Likewise, a good thought attracts, while a bad thought distracts. Thoughts are also very much like magnet. Thoughts either attract or 'push away'. The same it is with thoughts about other people. Good thoughts attract them to you, but bad thoughts cause them to stay away from you.

"But, pastor, how can I have good thoughts for that someone who has been bad-mouthing me behind my back?"

You can still choose to have good thoughts for that person. You may pray this way: "Lord, Your grace is more than enough for me, and I thank You for helping me. I choose to forgive _______ and I choose to have good thoughts for _______ in spite of what he/she has spoken against me."

As long as you are on this earth, there'll also be people who may criticize, complain, gossip, or murmur against you (or misunderstand you), but as long as you know God is with you, and you know you are just following His direction, what other people think about you really doesn't matter anymore! Continue to set your mind on Him. Continue to set your mind on what He has spoken for you to do. He'll surely back you up and defend you. Trust Him. This is how you are going to advance in life and fulfill your God-given destiny.

So, choose to think God's thoughts and good thoughts (see Colossians 3:2 and Philippians 4:8) no matter what. I conclude with Isaiah 26:3 (personalized): "God keeps me in perfect peace (shalom) because my mind is stayed on Him and I trust Him." Amen.

Triumphal Procession in Christ

2011-11-20T18:58:00.002+08:00

2 Corinthians 2:14 (NKJV): Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place.

The word ‘triumph’ here is 'thriambeuo' in Greek, which means ‘to conquer, to be victorious, to rise above, or to shout aloud joyfully in a triumphal procession, with songs of praise, celebration and jubilation.’ In other words, to 'triumph' means to 'celebrate and rejoice with victory and jubilation'.

In the words of the apostle Chuck Pierce (Glory of Zion International): 'Triumph' indicates that an advantage has been gained over the enemy. Success has been granted through a supernatural grace that has been released.

In New International Version (NIV), 2 Corinthians 2:14 is written this way: Thanks be to God who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ, and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of Him.

Jesus’ triumphal entry to Jerusalem (Matthew 21:1-11) was a procession, an entrance of the glory of God, with shouts of 'Hosanna', which means 'Lord, help, save us, we pray!' The original Hebrew word here is 'Yesha-na' which carries the same meaning. It's also 'an exclamation of adoration' to the Lord, our Savior.

Likewise, in the days of David when the ‘ark of the covenant’ was brought to Jerusalem (1 Chronicles 15:1-29), there was also a jubilant procession of praise unto God, with singers accompanied by instruments of music, stringed instruments, harps, and cymbals, raising their voices with resounding joy, i.e. voices of triumph (see 1 Chronicles 15:16).

Today, the procession of the ‘ark of the covenant’ has begun again. The ‘ark of the covenant’ here symbolizes the glory of God, and Jesus Christ is the King of glory. It also represents God's promise, reminding His people of His leadership in a battle. So, this 'ark' (in the Old Covenant) is actually a 'picture' (or 'shadow') of Jesus Christ and His leadership in you as believers in the New Covenant today.

People of God, there is a sound coming. Do you hear this sound? It's a sound of triumph! Read Psalm 47. We are in this time and season now! Like the sons of Issachar who understood the times, knowing what Israel ought to do (1 Chronicles 12:32), so is this generation today!

This is your time to receive the new 'beak' and new 'feathers', like that of an eagle. The 'old' is dropping off, and the 'new' is coming. The wind of His Spirit is blowing, and soon, His rain will start falling. Get ready for the rain. Take this time to listen. Let your spiritual ears be opened. There'll be specific instructions for specific situations. There's also a fresh injection in the Spirit. There'll be new thoughts and new ways of doing things. Receive the anointing to break free from the 'status quo' that used to work, but not anymore. This is your time to allow Him to 'break out mightily' in fresh new ways through your life! The Lord will give you the boldness. Receive this boldness that you need now!

This is also a time to advance! The sound of the trumpet (shofar) is at hand (Psalm 47:5). It's the sound of triumph! This generation has arisen, a triumphant people whom God has preserved, but now He is using to subdue and take the nations in great measure (Psalm 47:3). Remember He is always the Leader. Move as He moves, and stop as He stops.

In 1 Chronicles 15:1, the Bible says 'David prepared a place for the ark of God and pitched a tent for it'. Just as David was then, it's also your time to prepare a place for this 'ark' right now. In the New Covenant, you are now the 'temple' (1 Corinthians 3:16), the dwelling place of this 'ark'. So, let this 'ark' be brought back to its rightful place, and let His glory fill you all over again! Be open to receive. Where the 'ark' is, there is glory! And where the 'ark' is, there is also triumph! Wherever He leads you, the 'ark' is also with you, going with you! And that's how you are going to subdue!

And just as Israel was so greatly blessed when the 'ark' was brought into the tabernacle, you too are also greatly blessed, because the 'ark' is also now in you today (1 Chronicles 16:1-2). Amen!

Forgiveness releases God's power through your life!

2011-11-13T19:58:00.000+08:00

Luke 23:34a (NKJV): 'Then Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do."

At the time of this verse, Jesus was already up at the cross, having been scourged, mocked, and humiliated, even though He did no wrong, and even after Pontius Pilate found no wrong in Him (Luke 23:4).

But because He forgave, this led to God's power and resurrection being released, so much so that even death could not hold Him! You see, He released forgiveness just before He died, and He then reaped the 'benefit' of resurrection (on the 3rd day). Such is the power of forgiveness!

In Acts 7:54-60, as Stephen was being stoned to death, he cried out, "Lord, do not charge them with this sin." And you know what? Jesus actually stood up and took notice!

Note: Also, not long after the stoning of Stephen, Saul (the person behind Stephen's death) was so dramatically changed by God's power (i.e. through a great light experience) that he eventually became a man greatly used by the Lord! (see Acts 9:1-9)

People of God, when you make the choice to forgive, God will also stand up (for you) and take notice!

There's a co-relation between 'forgiveness' and 'God's power being released'. In other words, forgiveness releases God's power to flow through your life! This power is His very own power, His resurrection power. And as you forgive, you'll see His resurrection power flowing (in & through you) in any area of your life that has been 'powerless' or 'dead'. This may be in your family relationships, health, career, business, ministry, or in any other areas.

Imagine the pipe of your wash-basin (or sink) getting clogged up. More often than not, this doesn't just happen overnight! Little by little, here and there, the tiny bits of grains or fragments would accumulate, and eventually become a huge 'blockage' that causes 'flooding' and 'clogging'! When this happens, the running water cannot flow as freely as it should anymore. Now, the same it is in life! Those tiny bits of grains or fragments are like those little hurts and unforgiveness (here and there) that clog up your 'passage'!

Have you been 'running out' of God's power recently? Or it seems many prayers of yours also went unanswered nowadays. People of God, it's time to allow God to 'purge' your 'passage' again!

You see, God doesn't just want you to know you are forgiven of all your trespasses (Colossians 2:13), He also wants you to receive His grace to forgive others (see Matthew 18:21-35).

When Peter asked Jesus, "Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?" (Matthew 18:21) Then, Jesus answered, "I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven." (Matthew 18:22)

The word 'forgive' here is 'aphiemi' (pronounced 'af-ee-ay-mee') in Greek, which means 'to lay aside (a situation or issue), to let go (of a situation or person)', while the expression 'seventy times seven' simply means 'to forgive perfectly, or to forgive all the time'.

"Wow, pastor, that's no easy feat at all. It's easier said than done!"

You see, just as no one is able to keep the law (The Ten Commandments) perfectly (not even Moses himself), likewise, no one in his or her own self-effort is able to 'forgive perfectly' and in every situation, all the time. All have fallen short of God's 'standard' (Romans 3:23). Only Jesus can keep the law perfectly (i.e. fulfill the law perfectly). And that's exactly why we need His grace (see 2 Corinthians 12:9). It's when you cannot, that's when He can! And one definition of 'grace' is 'God's ability to do for you what you cannot do for yourself'. True forgiveness is therefore supernatural. It's by receiving His grace to forgive.

'To forgive' a person is 'to let go (of him or her) from the prison of your mind or emotion'. As you let go, your burden and stress will also be lifted away. Any medical doctor will agree that burden or stress in the soul can in turn lead to many forms of physical sicknesses (e.g. high-blood pressure, hypertension, etc).

Is there anyone you've been keeping in the 'prison of your mind or emotion'? Or has there been any hurt, offense, strife, or unforgiveness you have not let go of? How about any 'unfair treatment' you've been receiving?

'Forgiveness' is about 'letting go' the person (or issue) into God's care and blessing, even to the point of wishing that person well. 'Unforgiveness', on the other hand, is about 'keeping the person (or issue) in the prison of your mind or emotion, which in turn causes unnecessary burden or stress to your own life'.

"But, pastor, it isn't fair at all!" I used to say this too, and that's when I heard, "Was it fair for Jesus to die on the cross?" And yet, He forgave. Yes, even when He was in such great pain.

So, it really doesn't matter who's more right or more wrong here. The irony is that many times, that other person may not even know you have been 'keeping' him or her in your emotional 'prison'. See, you got so stressed up and burdened by 'keeping' (or 'servicing') him or her in your emotional 'prison', while he or she may currently be having a jolly good time somewhere on earth! I don't know about you, but I think it's not worth it at all!

So, make the choice to 'let go' now, and God will take over and help you. Allow Him. His grace is more than enough for you, and He's here with you. He'll stand up and take notice the moment you make this choice! That's how powerful forgiveness is! As you 'release', His 'river' ('running water') is going to flow through you again! This 'river' is His very own resurrection power! Not only that, you'll also see many areas that have been 'dead' be revived again by this 'river'. And the good news is you'll also start to see your prayers being answered easily from now on! You'll begin to walk in favor after favor, not failure after failure!

Notice there's also a co-relation between 'forgiveness' and 'prayers answered'. Read Mark 11:23-26 as a whole, and you'll know what I mean. Notice the word 'forgive' in the midst of Jesus talking about 'whenever you stand praying' (see Mark 11:25). See? Not only 'unforgiveness' blocks God's power, it also blocks your prayers from being answered! The Bible says so.

People of God, as you receive His forgiveness, He also wants you to receive His supernatural ability to forgive others! The choice is yours. Make the choice now, and you'll begin to see His grace flowing like never before. Amen!

Set free from words that bound!

2011-11-06T19:56:00.009+08:00

1 Kings 19:7 (NKJV): And the angel of the Lord came back the second time, and touched him (Elijah), and said, “Arise and eat, because the journey is too great for you.”

Someone used to say, “The person who dominates your thoughts actually controls you.” Not only that, the words that dominate you (i.e. occupy your thoughts most of the time) can also control you! Words can either put a person in bondage, or sets a person free. That’s how powerful words can be! Today, you’ll see how fleshly or demonic words bound, but the Word of Christ sets you free! (see John 8:31-32)

After a great victory over the prophets of Baal (see 1 Kings 18:38-40), this same man Elijah was so affected by Jezebel’s words (see 1 Kings 19:2) that he ran for his life! Jezebel had said that in a day’s time, he would also end up like the prophets of Baal, i.e. death! By the way, ‘Jezebel’ here is a picture of ‘controlling words that bound, a bondage, a deception’. So, upon hearing those ‘curse’ words, Elijah escaped, went a day’s journey into the wilderness, expecting to die! He finally and somehow came to a broom tree (‘juniper tree’ in KJV), and there, he prayed that he might die (1 Kings 19:4).

But did Elijah die? No! Instead, and exactly in a day’s time (as spoken by Jezebel), an angel of the Lord came to him and touched him while he was lying down at the tree, saying, “Arise and eat.” (see 1 Kings 19:5-6) The ‘broom tree’ here is a ‘picture’ of the cross. In fact, this tree has a pole-like stem, very much like a cross. The Bible says, ‘Cursed is anyone who hangs on the tree’ (Galatians 3:13). Jesus has carried the curse (for Elijah) on the cross! The ‘bread and water’ Elijah was asked to ‘eat and drink’ therefore represented the ‘body and blood’ of Jesus Christ, broken and shed on the cross some 2,000 years ago. Now, here’s a beautiful ‘picture’ of Christ’s perfect work that sets you free from every curse! Do you see Jesus in the Old Testament? Indeed He is in the Old Testament concealed, and He is in the New Testament revealed! There was indeed a great exchange at the cross. He came down, so you can go up! He died, so you can live! And He carried your curse, so you can be set free!

Have there been words spoken against you that kept you in bondage? Maybe curse words? Or words that kept you ‘small’? Or even words from the demonic realm? Someone may also have said, “You amount to nothing good!”, and you are unknowingly bound by those words. But I have good news for you today. Your answer is at the cross. Come to Jesus and His perfect work at the cross! Here, your curse is broken, and your restoration begins! Not only that, as you keep feeding from the ‘bread and water’ (i.e. His Word), you’ll also receive His strength and His revelation to move ahead and do greater exploits, just as Elijah was. Notice that with the strength of this ‘spiritual food and drink’, Elijah then went forty days and forty nights as far as Horeb, the mountain of God (see 1 Kings 19:8). By the way, number ‘40’ in Hebrew means ‘total rule’. Praise the Lord! You’ll also therefore begin to rule and reign in life from now on!

People of God, arise therefore; eat the bread, and drink the cup, for your journey is going to be great as well!

Also, upon your setting free, let your ‘ears’ be opened to hear God’s further revelation, instruction, and guidance for your life. Be open and allow Him to speak to you. Elijah did so (see 1 Kings 19:12-16), and at God’s word, he went on to be greatly used by the Lord as a prophet in his days, and in the process, anointed Elisha as prophet in his place. Just for the record, Jezebel’s curse words against Elijah never came to pass, ever! These words have already gone down in history as mere empty threats by then. On the other hand, as for Elijah, his ending was great. In fact, he never ever had to die! Upon fulfilling his God-given destiny on earth, a chariot of fire came down and took him up in glory! (see 2 Kings 2:11) What an honorable ‘graduation’ for him. And indeed, he passed with flying colors. Amen!

Not deceived, but discerning!

2011-10-31T18:44:00.021+08:00

Colossians 2:3 (NKJV): In whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

The word ‘all’ here in Greek is ‘pas’, which means ‘all, every, any, the whole, whatsoever, thoroughly’. I love to confess this verse often, personalizing it this way: “In Christ, I have all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge!”Amen! Do you know in what context did Paul write this verse? Colossians 2:4 has the answer. It says, ‘Now this I say lest anyone should deceive you with persuasive words…’ Colossians 2:8 then says, ‘…lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world (i.e. worldly ways)’.

How do you like the feeling of being cheated? Many years ago, a good friend of mine (who’s new in a city) went to its street market to buy some apples. Anyone would have known he’s not a local, judging by his dialect. Naive and innocent looking he was, that means he became 'easy prey' to some advantage-takers! Having chosen the good apples, he paid happily. But when he got home, he found out most of the apples he bought were rotten ones! The seller had probably very skillfully and quickly changed his packet without him noticing it. He went back to the street market only to find the stall was gone! Of course, today, we can just laugh about it over a cup of tea.

On a more serious note, just flip the pages in the newspaper, and you'll see anything can happen in the world nowadays. People would think of all kinds of ways to deceive. I heard of this recently: An innocent looking child came crying to an unsuspecting lady, and then gave her a piece of paper with an address on it. This child ‘supposedly’ was lost, and ‘supposedly’ could not find his parents. But, when this unsuspecting lady brought the child to the address given, she in turn got robbed and raped!

This is a dangerous world we live in today, but fear not, for there’s one sure protection for you as believers, and it is found in Christ! Colossians 2:3 says ‘in Him is all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge’. 'All' here really means 'all, every, any,...' God can protect you from every kind of fraud, cheating, manipulation, trickery, subtlety, and even ulterior motive! Yes, whether in the real world or in the cyber world! Not only that, in Christ, you also receive His wisdom and discernment to make the right decisions in your business, career, or ministry, i.e. to know who you should deal with and who you should not, who to associate with, who to work with, who to entrust, or even who you should recruit! Open your ‘spiritual ears’ to listen to His Spirit!

Let’s look at Peter now. One of the earliest situations Peter faced upon receiving the enabling of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:1-4) was to face deceitful people. But God was with Peter. When a certain man named Ananias lied to him about the proceeds from the sale of a possession, Peter said, “Ananias, why has satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and keep back part of the price of the land for yourself?” (Acts 5:3) Peter was 'discerning' enough in his spirit to discern a lie (or wrong intention). Holy Spirit was definitely working in him, through him, and for him!

Not long before that, the rulers, elders, scribes, as well as the high priest and his family were also marveled at the wisdom and boldness of speech in Peter! They probably had wondered, “Isn’t this guy uneducated and untrained? How could he suddenly become so wise?” And that’s when they realized Peter had been with Jesus! (Acts 4:13) You see? Jesus is the source of all wisdom and knowledge, and He, of course, is also the Word (John 1:14). The Bible also says, ‘Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit…’ (Acts 4:8) See again? Word & Spirit! Spirit & Word! You have Him (& His Word and His Spirit), you have everything!

People of God, the good news is you can also be just as wise and discerning as Peter, because you are also in Christ, and you also have His Spirit! The same God who worked in, through, and for Peter is also now working in, through, and for you! He is the same yesterday, today, and forever! (Hebrews 13:8) Believe and receive wisdom and discernment in every situation of yours today. Open your 'gates' (heart and mind) to His 'floodgates', and see how He begins to work wonders for you today. In Jesus' name. Amen!

"Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit"

2011-10-18T21:36:00.004+08:00

Zechariah 4:6 (NKJV): "So he (angel) answered and said to me (Zechariah): This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel; ‘Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit’. Says the Lord of hosts."

'Zechariah' is pronounced 'Zekar-Yah' in Hebrew, which means 'The Lord (YHWH) remembers'. Israel is blessed because YHWH remembers the covenant He made with the fathers. Zechariah was a prophet and priest in his days, having been born in exile during the 70 years of captivity in Babylon, and returning to Jerusalem from Babylon. The Lord used him to inspire the people (i.e. those returning to Jerusalem) to look to God and to rebuild the temple in Jerusalem.

Who was Zerubbabel then? He was also among those returning to Jerusalem from Babylon, and as a governor, he was to take the lead in rebuilding the temple in Jerusalem. That was when the Lord spoke these words to him (in Zechariah 4:6) through Zechariah. By the way, the name 'Zerubbabel' means 'descendant of Babylon'. 'Babylon' represents 'the ways of the world'. This word actually comes from the word ‘Babel’, meaning ‘confusion’ in Hebrew. It speaks of 'worldly ways', i.e. people doing things by their own ‘might’ or ‘power’. Remember the tower of Babel? (see Genesis 11:1-9) So, even though Zerubbabel had this noble 'calling' of rebuilding the Lord's temple in Jerusalem, the Lord also wanted him to build it in His ways, not in worldly ways. Zerubbabel had probably been influenced much by the 'Babylonian ways' (of doing things) prior to Zechariah 4:6.

God’s work is to be done in God's ways, not in worldly ways! In other words, it is to be done by His Spirit (in His ways), and not by 'might' nor by 'power', i.e. the worldly ways (Babylonian ways).

Let's now do a little study on the words 'might', 'power', and 'Spirit' in Zechariah 4:6.

The word ‘might’ here is pronounced ‘khah-yil’ in Hebrew, which means ‘force, power, riches, strength (whether of human or other worldly resources).

The word ‘power’ here is pronounced ‘kowach’ in Hebrew, meaning ‘human ability or capacity, own human produce (including power of human persuasion or flattering).

The word ‘Spirit’ here is ‘ruwach’ in Hebrew, meaning ‘breath, life, wind, or spirit being exhaled’. Therefore, 'by His Spirit' is literally 'by the exhalation of His breath, life, wind, or Spirit'.

So, not by 'khah-yil' nor by 'kowach', but by the Spirit of the Lord!

Zechariah 4:7 (NKJV) then says: Who are you, o great mountain? Before Zerubbabel, you shall become a plain! And he shall bring forth the capstone ('headstone' in KJV) with shouts of "Grace, Grace to it!”

When God's things are done in God's ways, whatever 'mountain' (literally means 'to loom up' in Hebrew) shall become a 'plain'. This 'mountain' speaks of a 'problem' or 'hindrance', but when Jesus Christ has become your chief cornerstone (see Ephesians 2:20, 1 Peter 2:6), this same 'mountain' shall become a 'plain'! Jesus Christ is also God's grace personified (John 1:17). One definition of 'God's grace' is 'His ability to do for you what you cannot do by your own ability'. That's why your salvation is also by God's grace, through your faith (believing heart). By the way, the words 'capstone' and 'cornerstone' in Zechariah 4:6 and Ephesians 2:20 have similar meanings, i.e. 'the uppermost or the uttermost stone'. This speaks of Jesus Christ Himself, your 'chief cornerstone', whilst you and I (as believers) are the 'stones' (see 1 Peter 2:4-5).

Many believers today are like the Zerubbabels (who are so used to do things by their own 'khah-yil' or 'kowach'), and very much influenced (in one way or another) by the 'Babylonian ways' of doing things. I can't blame them. Having grown up in 'Babylonian' environment, many see this way as the only way to 'achieve' and 'prosper' in life. But beloved of God, there's a higher way - God's way. Will you begin to look to Him and His ways instead? (see Isaiah 55:8-9) Be it in your daily 'walk', in ministry, or in business, it's not by 'khah-yil' nor by 'kowach', but by His Spirit! Let's not repeat the same 'mistakes' as those who tried to 'build' the tower of Babel by their own ways!

As a believer in the New Covenant, Jesus Christ has indeed become your 'capstone' or 'headstone'. Allow Him. And as many as are led by His Spirit, these are also called sons of God (Romans 8:14), and know this, people of God, as you are being led by Him, whatever 'temple' or 'mission' that God has called you to 'build' will come to pass and prosper, just as it was in the days of Zechariah and Zerubbabel. Amen!

Winning in Spiritual Warfare

2011-10-09T22:41:00.001+08:00

Isaiah 60:18 (NKJV): Violence shall no longer be heard in your land, neither wasting nor destruction within your borders, BUT you shall call your walls Salvation (‘Yeshuwah’)...

Spiritual warfare is real. But there’s good news for you as believers. Isaiah 60:18 says you should not suffer ‘violence’, ‘wastage’ or ‘destruction’ in the course of whatever ‘warfare’ you may be facing right now. This verse also says your ‘walls’ shall be called ‘Yeshuwah’, which means ‘Savior, Deliverer, Victory, Rescuer, Aid, Health, Prosperity’ in Hebrew.

Note: 'Walls’ here speaks of your ‘protection or covering’.

The Bible says the devil is not only wily (i.e. cunning or tricky), but he is also wicked. He’s all out to steal, kill, and destroy lives. His ‘ministry’ is a ‘ministry’ of stealing, killing, and destroying lives. But fear not! Isaiah 60:18 says 'Yeshuwah' has become your 'walls'! You have 'protection or covering' in Him!

Some believers think if they are in a certain ‘spiritual warfare’, they have to be 'wounded' also in the process (before they get to win it). Some even ‘subconsciously’ expect a backlash by the devil! Otherwise, it's not called 'warfare' at all to them! Some of the ‘wounds’ may be attacks on one’s finance or health, i.e. wastage/destruction within one’s ‘borders’ (whether in one’s ministry, business, or household). Unfortunately, they also 'got what they thought'! In the spiritual realm, whatever one thinks or believes, one will also have it.

Some believers also believe ‘in order to win, one has to suffer also’. They may say, “After all, 'no pain, no gain', right?” Wrong! Isaiah 60:18 clearly says otherwise. The truth is, as a believer in the New Covenant, you don’t have to ‘suffer’ violence, wastage, or destruction in order to win. The reason is simply because Jesus has already carried all these for you on the cross, and He has become your 'walls'! Let’s take Him at His Word.

Let’s now cross-refer to Ephesians 6:11. This verse says, ‘Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil’.

The words ‘put on’ in this verse is ‘enduo’ in Greek. It means ‘to put a garment over you, to be clothed with, to be endued with, to be arrayed with’. ‘To endue’ is ‘to provide or supply somebody with a good quality or ability’. It also means 'you are clothed with' the whole armor of God. This actually speaks of your ‘consciousness’ of the armor. Just as you are now ‘conscious’ of the physical clothes you are wearing, the same truth applies: your spirit (& your mind) is also to be ‘conscious’ of the whole armor of God over you!

This ‘armor’ is synonymous to the ‘wall’ in Isaiah 60:18. Both have similar meanings, i.e. ‘protection or covering’, and as a believer, Jesus is your ‘protection or covering’!

Note: ‘Armor’ in Oxford Dictionary is defined as ‘protection or covering for the body’.

Here's just an illustration. Have you noticed the original guys in the movies of say, ‘Superman’ or ‘Spiderman' (before being ‘endued’ with their respective suits) were quite timid? But the moment they ‘put on’ the suits, everything changed! The ‘suits’ here is likened to the ‘armor’ we talk about, and Jesus is of course, your ‘armor’.

‘To stand’ in Ephesians 6:11 here is ‘histemi’ in Greek, which means ‘to be established, firm, permanent’. Isaiah 54:14 says, ‘In righteousness, you shall be established’. This word ‘established’ here in Hebrew is ‘kuwn’, which means ‘be sure, be of certainty’. So, ‘to stand’ is to ‘be sure, be of certainty’ in what Christ has already done for you on the cross. It is also to ‘be sure, be of certainty’ that victory has already been won for you some 2,000 years ago. No wonder just a few verses later in Isaiah 54:17, the Bible says, ‘no weapon formed against you shall prosper...’

In Christ, God always leads you in triumph! (2 Corinthians 2:14). Notice the word ‘always’ here. ‘Always’ means ‘always’! Philippians 2:9-11 then says, ‘at the name of Jesus, every knee should bow, and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, in heaven, on earth, or under the earth'. Again, notice the word ‘every’ here, and ‘every’ of course means ‘every’! So, every spirit (whatever its ranking in the spiritual or demonic realm) is subjected under this name Jesus!

This same name Jesus is also your ‘whole armor’! See Ephesians 6:14-17.

Jesus is your ‘belt’: He is your Truth (see John 1:17, John 14:6).

Jesus is your ‘breastplate’: He is your Righteousness (see Isaiah 54:14, 2 Corinthians 5:21).

Jesus is your ‘shoe’: He is your Prince of Peace (see Isaiah 9:6).

Jesus is your ‘shield’: He is the Author and Finisher of your faith (see Hebrews 12:2).

Jesus is your ‘helmet’: He is your Savior (see Luke 19:10, Acts 4:12).

Jesus is your ‘sword’: He is the Word (see John 1:14, Hebrews 4:12).

You see, He is 'everything' to you! He is your full armor! When you have Him, you have your victory! He has already won every victory for you on the cross! So, what you need to do now is simply ‘to stand’ therefore (Ephesians 6:14) on this 'Rock', Jesus Christ Himself!

And to cap it all, He has also given you the gift of praying in the Spirit (see Ephesians 6:18-19) to speak forth and declare your victory (as you follow His leading). Amen!

Accelerated times, the End-time

2011-10-03T22:39:00.000+08:00

Amos 9:13a (NKJV): “Behold, the days are coming,” says the Lord, “When the plowman shall overtake the reaper, and the treader of grapes him who sows seed…”

We are living in exciting and accelerated times. Just imagine how technology has advanced within the past 30 or 40 years! Just 30 to 40 years ago, there wasn’t any remote control for television, and there wasn’t anyone carrying cell phones around! Many today, even the most ‘savvy’ of users, are finding themselves trying to play ‘catch up’ with the latest models of gadgets. Even before one is done with all the features of his/her gadgets, new models/versions would have been launched in the market! This is how things are accelerating! And it seems quicker and quicker!

Read Amos 9:11-15. This prophecy is one of the most literal and clearest of prophecies about Israel in the end-time. In the year 1948, on May the 14^th, Israel became a nation again, and this marked the beginning of the accelerated times. Everything seemed to have advanced rather quickly (& still is) since then - in scientific discoveries, technological advancements, medical breakthroughs, or space technology. And of course the first rocket to the moon was also launched during this period of time! The prophecies in Amos 9:11-15 have indeed come to pass in our time.

God has always looked at Israel as a spiritual nation, and when you look at this nation, you’ll also see God’s spiritual ‘time-table’ at work. In short, you’ll know the sign of the times by looking at this nation, specifically Jerusalem. In Luke 21:24, the Bible says ‘Jerusalem will be trampled by Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled’. The second part of this prophecy became a reality in the year 1948.

Amos 9:13 describes the ‘accelerated times’ this way: ‘the plowman shall overtake the reaper, and the sower shall overtake the treader of grapes’! It means even before the seeds are planted (or while the seeds are still being planted), there’s already a harvest of the fruits! Such is our time today! To put it simply, this is harvest time! Picture it this way: Even before you finish preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ (or sharing a testimony of God’s glory) to someone, that person would have accepted the Lord as his/her personal Savior and Lord! And there’ll be more and more such testimonies all over the world! Hallelujah!

Let’s now cross-refer to Matthew 20:1-16, where Jesus shared a parable of the workers in the vineyard. This parable is also called ‘the parable of the 11^th hour’. Here’s how it goes: The landowner went out to hire laborers to work in his vineyard, and when he had agreed with the laborers to pay them a denarius a day (i.e. a day’s wage), he would then send them into his vineyard to work. So, he did this about the 3^rd hour (i.e. 9 am), he did the same about the 6^th hour (i.e. 12pm), and then about the 9^th hour (i.e. 3pm). Finally, he did likewise about the 11^th hour (i.e. 5pm).

By the way, the Jewish working time ends at the 12^th hour (i.e. 6pm). This means the 11^th hour laborers would only have worked for one hour. At evening, when the time came for the landowner’s steward to give all the laborers their wages (beginning with the last to the first), the 11^th hour laborers received a denarius each. And when the 3^rd hour laborers (i.e. the first group) came, they supposed that they would receive much more. After all, they have slogged for 9 hours (i.e. 9am -6pm) in the vineyard, and they thought they deserved better! But, to their surprise, they also received a denarius each. So, they complained against the landowner, saying, “These last men have worked only one hour, and you made them equal to us who have borne the burden and the heat of the day.” But the landowner answered one of them, saying, “I am doing you no wrong. Did you not agree with me for a denarius? Take what is yours and go your way. I wish to give to this last man the same as to you. Is it not lawful for me to do what I wish with my own things?”

The above parable actually speaks of God’s grace for the 11^th hour generation. You may ask, "So, who are those in the 11th hour generation?" You and I are! This is the end-time generation, i.e. the 11th hour generation! And mind you, this is also a greatly blessed generation, like those 11th hour laborers in the parable. Now, this parable is never meant to be a ‘religious’ parable. Instead, it’s meant to ‘shake’ those ‘religious’ people who thought they could earn God’s favor with their own strength or sacrifice. This parable is also not rewarding the so-called ‘heroes’ (who sacrificed the whole day), but instead rewards those who ‘have nothing to boast about themselves’. This parable speaks of the Father’s heart of grace for you. Grace is undeserved and unearned. It's about depending on Him and trusting in Him, instead of your own ability to 'make it happen'.

It's not about who work the hardest, but to those who trusts in the Lord, these are the ones whom God gives the most! God looks at the heart.

Jesus also said, “For many are called, but few are chosen” (Matthew 20:16). Indeed, you have been chosen for this '11^th hour generation', and it's a great blessing! Cherish it! Indeed, you are now reaping the benefits of all the hard work (and years of toil) of your forefathers! Your forefathers were those from, say, ‘the 3^rd hour, the 6^th hour, or the 9^th hour’ period of human history. For example, it took so much out of Thomas Edison to ‘light’ a bulb, but today, and with just a 'token', you can easily enjoy a good bulb by just purchasing it from a hardware store near home!

Spiritually, this is also harvest time! Souls everywhere are ready for the reaping into His kingdom, even in the hardest of grounds. God is working through you, the believers today, and you are born (and raised) for such a time as this, when ‘the gospel of God’s kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations’ (see Matthew 24:14). The stage is set! The time is now! And it's time for you to arise and shine! Read Isaiah 60:1-18. This prophecy also speaks of our time, the end-time! God has promised His providence. God has promised a transfer of wealth. There'll be protection at your 'walls'. His name is Salvation ('Yeshuwah' in Hebrew). There'll also be Praises of the Lord at your 'gates'! So, let your 'gates' be continually opened (Isaiah 60:11), because His glory has risen upon you and His grace for you is super-strong. Amen!

Increasing, not diminishing!

2011-09-27T14:19:00.000+08:00

Proverbs 4:18 (KJV) says, 'But the path of the just (translated as 'righteous' in NIV) is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day'.

Where you see the word 'but' at the beginning of a verse, you'll also most likely see its 'contrast' in the earlier verse (or verses). Notice the word ‘but’ in Proverbs 4:18. Now, compare Proverbs 4:14-17 with this verse, and you'll see the contrast between ‘the way of the world’ and ‘the way of the righteousness of God’. As a believer, you are definitely on Proverbs 4:18's side, because you are the righteousness of God in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:21).

So, in the above context, this verse actually says 'even though the world gets gloomier and gloomier, but the path of the righteous gets brighter and brighter'. Picture it this way: At the beginning of dawn, and the sun begins to come out more and more, increasingly bright till the full light of the day. You see? Increasing, not diminishing! The Bible says that's what your life should be!

The word ‘shining light’ (in NKJV ‘shining sun’) here is ‘nogahh’ in Hebrew, which means ‘illuminate, glitter, lighten up, cause to shine’. So, the path of the righteous 'illuminates, glitters, lightens up, causes to shine'! Wow! Not only that, the Bible says this path 'illuminates, glitters, lightens up, causes to shine' more and more!

And the word ‘shineth’ in this verse is ‘owr’ in Hebrew, which means ‘break of day, glorious, kindle, set on fire, light up’. This is the same word ‘owr’ as in Isaiah 60:1, that says, ‘Arise and shine ('owr'), for your light has come’! In Hebrew, it means, "Arise and shine, for your 'illumination, brightness' has come!" Isaiah 60:2 (NKJV) then says, ‘For behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and deep darkness the people; but the Lord will arise over you, and His glory ('kabowd', i.e. weight, splendor, glory, honor) will be seen upon you’. See the word 'but' again? See another contrast here? This verse contrasts ‘the gloominess of the world’ and ‘the glory on God’s people’. Read Isaiah 60:3-7 for the details on how His glory is seen upon God's people. The time is now!

Some people in the world may say: "gloomy outlook in the coming year", "likelihood of global recession", etc. However, this is only true as far as they are concerned. This is what they think or say, but this is not what Proverbs 4:18 says, or what Isaiah 60:2 says. You are in the world, but Jesus says 'you are not of the world' (John 17:16). So, you don't have to be affected by whatever 'gloominess' that happens in the world! Because you are of His seed! You are His! You belong to Him! And who is He? Genesis 14:19 says He is the Most High God! And your resources come from Him, not from men. The Bible says His path for you is as the shining light! And this path shineth more and more till the 'full light' comes! And when is that? That's when Jesus Himself comes! Because He is the 'full light'!

So, people of God, even though the 'outlook' of this world seems to get gloomier and gloomier, but you, the righteous (i.e. the people of God) will continue to shine brighter and brighter! Unfortunately, some believers got mixed up on this. They thought when 'gloominess' comes on the world, it also comes on them! This is not what God says!

Also, when His path for you shines brighter and brighter, the 'world' will see this glory ('kabowd') that comes upon you. You know what it means? The 'world' will take notice of the glory of God when they see you, and that's when they'll also know that Jesus is Lord!

Genesis 41:55-57 is a ‘picture’ or 'shadow' of what is happening currently (i.e. likelihood of global recession, uncertainties in many economies, etc). The world then was also going through global economic uncertainties and widespread lack. Interestingly, Pharaoh then said these words: “Go to Joseph, and whatever he says to you, do.” The name 'Joseph' ('Yowceph' in Hebrew) literally means ‘YHWH is adding’ or ‘YHWH adds'. Here is a ‘picture’ of Jesus Christ today. He is the One who 'adds'! He is the One who 'gives'! He is the Giver, and He gives every good thing! When the best of human intellect fails, and with no solution in sight, look to Him. Because He is the solution to your every situation! "Go to Jesus, and whatever He says to you, do."

People of God, this is the time to keep feeding from Him and keep drinking from Him. Keep hearing the Word, and of course, never let Proverbs 4:18 get out of your sight! Write it somewhere! Stick it somewhere! Personalize it for yourself! Take it with you wherever you go! Remember it, no matter what others may say! Believe every word in it! This is God's word for you today! 'Chew' it like you 'chew' your best steak! Taste and see how good He is to you! Proclaim this verse over every area of your life! Declare it over all your loved ones! Instead of surviving, you should be thriving! See your health increasing, not diminishing! See your business increasing, not diminishing! See your family relationships increasing, not diminishing! Also, be it in wisdom, in favor, in anointing, or in all that God has for you - increasing, not diminishing! Just as the 'light' that shines 'brighter and brighter', so are you! Believe and receive, and you'll have it! Amen!

Holy Spirit helps in your weaknesses

2011-09-18T22:53:00.001+08:00

Romans 8:26-27 (NKJV): Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God.

The word 'helps' here in Greek is 'sunantilambanomai', which actually means 'to take hold of the opposite together'. Notice the word 'together' here. You know what it means? The Holy Spirit is here 'together' with you, helping you when you do not know what to pray (in words you understand), or when you run out of words to pray.

Another meaning of this word 'helps' is 'to cooperate' (refer Strong's Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible). It means 'you cooperate with the Holy Spirit, and the Holy Spirit cooperates with you'. It is about 'working together'. So, it's obvious that 'helps' here doesn't mean you do nothing and let Him do everything. No, it doesn't work this way. It takes your participation as well, i.e. to open your mouth & use your own voice, and that's when you allow the Holy Spirit to pray through you!

Have there been times you wonder if you've prayed correct prayers? Or foolish prayers?
Or you wonder how specific your prayer should be?
Or you wonder if it's insulting to God to pray so specifically? (as if He doesn't know your every need/want)
You may even have asked, "Have I been too selfish to pray this way?"
Have you ever faced the dilemma of "What God thinks is best for me" versus "What I think is best for me"?
The above can be in any area of your life, e.g. praying for your future, praying for a life partner, praying for a job, etc.

How many times when you pray, you pray amiss? (and your prayers went unanswered)
And you wonder why someone else always gets his/her prayers answered!

Be anxious not, because I believe Romans 8:26-27 has the answer to all the above. May you begin to pray perfect prayers, i.e. prayers that 'hit the mark'!

Romans 8:26 also says, 'the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us...'. In Greek, it actually means 'the Spirit Himself intercedes on behalf of us'. To 'intercede' is to 'act as intermediary, mediating'. For example, when two parties have differences, 'interceding' is done to settle the differences. You know what it means? This verse says Holy Spirit helps you to 'settle the differences' between 'what God thinks is best' and 'what you think is best'!

You may not know what you are praying when you pray in tongues (1 Corinthians 14:14), but you can trust in His goodness (for you) every time you pray in the Spirit. You may ask, "What if I get 'shortchanged' when I pray this way?" No, you'll never get 'shortchanged'. Jeremiah 29:11 says 'His thoughts toward you are thoughts of peace, that give you a future and a hope.' Let's take Him at His word! He always has the best in store for you, even in ways you know not of! (Isaiah 55:8-9).

Romans 8:27 then says, "He makes intercession for the saints (i.e. the believers) according to the will of God". Notice the word 'for' here. It means the Holy Spirit is always working for you, i.e. for your good, and ensuring you have the best, i.e. walking in the perfect will of God! To walk in the perfect will of God is to walk in the fullness of His destiny for your life. And His will & destiny for you is that 'you should prosper and be in perfect health, just as your soul prospers' (3 John 2)

1 John 5:14-15 says, "if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us... And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions (i.e. requests/things we asked for) that we have asked of Him".

Of course, there is also a place for praying with the understanding (i.e. praying in the language you know). See 1 Corinthians 14:14-18. But, sometimes, you know praying this way has a limit, because you don't always know everything. Only the Holy Spirit knows everything. For example, there have been times upon waking up from a dream, I wasn't very sure how to pray with the understanding, and that's when the Holy Spirit 'helps' in my 'weaknesses' when I pray in the Spirit.

The Holy Spirit also 'helps' you whenever you sense a danger, or if you are awaken in the middle of the night (say, from a nightmare). Pray in the Spirit till you have a sense of release/peace, or when the burden is lifted. You may even have prevented a calamity from happening by praying in the Spirit!

In conclusion, and for your references, these are some of the verses on praying in the Spirit (i.e. praying in tongues) found in the Bible:
1 Corinthians 14:4: When you pray in the Spirit, your 'self' (i.e. your spirit, soul, and body - 1 Thessalonians 5:23) is being edified/energized.
1 Corinthians 14:14: When you pray in the Spirit, it is your spirit that prays. Your spirit is activated and it dominates your whole being.
1 Corinthians 14:2: When you pray in the Spirit, you are speaking unto God.
Acts 10:46: When you pray in the Spirit, you are magnifying God.
Jude 20: Praying in the Spirit builds your 'self' (i.e. your spirit, soul, body) up on your most holy faith.
Ephesians 6:18: Praying in the Spirit is part of your spiritual weapon against the devil.
Romans 8:26: Praying in the Spirit helps you in your prayer life.
Romans 8:27: Praying in the Spirit is praying in the perfect will of God.
Ephesians 5:18-19: Praying in the Spirit helps you in your worship life, and as you sing unto the Lord.
Isaiah 28:11-12: Praying in the Spirit brings 'rest and refresh' to your spirit and soul.

Be blessed with this wonderful gift from the Lord!

If you want to be filled in the Holy Spirit, desire and ask for it now (see Luke 11:13).

Pray this way: "Lord, I ask You to fill me with the Holy Spirit. I receive right now. I fully expect to speak with other tongues as You give me the utterance" (Acts 2:4).

Begin thanking and praising God for filling you with the Holy Spirit. Speak the words/syllables as you receive, not in your own language, but in the language given to you by the Holy Spirit. God will not force you to speak. So, you have to use your own voice. Continue worshiping and praising Him in this heavenly language, i.e. in other tongues.

As you continue with this blessing God has given you and pray in the Spirit each day, I trust your life will never be the same again!

Overcoming strife - The Life & Story of Gideon

2011-09-12T19:36:00.000+08:00

Judges 6:14 (NKJV): Then the Lord turned to Gideon and said, “Go in this might of yours, and you shall save Israel from the hand of the Midianites. Have I not sent you?”

‘Gideon’ in Hebrew is ‘Gidown’, which means ‘feller (i.e. warrior), to destroy, to fell, to cut’. ‘To fell’ means ‘to cut down, to knock down (with a blow)’. He was called by the Lord to free Israel from the Midianites. Interestingly, the word ‘Midianites’ comes from the word ‘madown’ (or ‘midyan’) in Hebrew which means ‘brawling, contention, strife, quarrel’. Israel then was greatly impoverished because of the Midianites (Judges 6:6), and whatever they have sown in the land, the Midianites would destroy, leaving no sustenance for them. They cried out to the Lord, and that's when He raised up the man Gideon.

Has there been ‘brawling, contention, strife, or quarrel’ in your land? Your ‘land’ may be your family, your business, an organization, or a ministry God has entrusted to you. You may have tried every way you knew how to overcome your ‘Midianites’, but to no avail. Without peace, harmony, and unity, whatever you’ve tried to ‘sow’ in your ‘land’ may just come to nothing. No wonder the book of Proverbs has so many verses about strife (or contentions), and why these must be cast out! See Proverbs 22:10 for example.

Nothing in the Bible is written without a reason. As you study Gideon’s life (in Judges 6, 7, & 8), you’ll learn great principles in overcoming strife. You’ll learn God’s way to ‘knock down’ strife in your ‘land’. He is definitely raising the Gideons of today, and there’s an anointing to ‘knock down’ the spirit of strife, in Jesus’ name. Receive.

Upon being called by the Lord to save Israel (Judges 6:14-17), Gideon in his own mind and strength actually did not know how to overcome the Midianites. In fact, he even told God, “O my Lord, how can I save Israel? Indeed my clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my father’s house.” (Judges 6:15) By the way, ‘Manasseh’ in Hebrew means ‘forgotten, neglected’. So, Gideon was the least among ‘the forgotten and the neglected’! But the Lord sees not as man sees. The Lord saw him ready, and He said, “Surely, I will be with you.”

In spite of his 'weakness', there’s one thing Gideon knew very well. He DID NOT ‘dash’ and go against the Midianites immediately! Instead, He prepared an offering of a young goat and unleavened bread on the rock, and brought them out before the Lord under the terebinth tree (Judges 6:19). Fire then rose out of the rock and consumed the meat and the unleavened bread. This is a ‘picture’ of Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross. He has become the burnt offering for you. The angel of God then asked Gideon to pour out the broth of the meat (Judges 6:20). This is a ‘picture’ of you pouring out before God by praying in the Spirit. You may not know what to pray (or what to do) in the situation you are facing now, but the Holy Spirit knows. He helps you in this ‘weakness’ of yours, and makes intercession for you with groaning which cannot be uttered (Romans 8:26). The Spirit also makes intercession for you according to the will of God (Romans 8:27). Praying in the Spirit is therefore praying in the perfect will of God. Your groan will reach the throne (of God), and the good news is He already has the answer to every situation of yours!

When you rest in Christ’s finished work on the cross, and as you begin praying in the Spirit (praying in tongues), specific instructions from the Lord will flow out. Be ready to hear & receive. His ways are always higher than your mind can ever imagine! He gives specific instructions for specific situations. Gideon needed that, because Israel’s situation at that time had no precedent. There was no past method he could count on, and definitely no textbook he could read on ‘how to’ overcome this ‘enemy’ called the Midianites! Even today, no two persons are exactly the same, and therefore, no two families, businesses, organizations, or ministries are the same either. Every situation is unique, and that’s why you and I need the Holy Spirit, who is All-knowing. Praise God, as a believer, you have this all-knowing God who has the solution to every situation! He is not just the source of peace (for He is YHWH Shalom), but He is also the source of all wisdom!

And you know what? On the same night, God began giving Gideon specific instructions (Judges 6:25), and he did as the Lord had said (Judges 6:27). People of God, it's worthwhile to wait on the Lord for His specific instructions first before you make a move. When you rest in all that Christ has done for you on the cross, revelation & every good thing will start to flow. As He moves, you move, and as He stops, you stop. And Gideon did just that. Today, God wants you to know that the ‘battle’ is His, not yours. He is surely with you, and He will lead you. 2 Corinthians 2:14 says so. And that’s how God led Gideon to 'progress' against the ‘enemy’. Notice Gideon also sought confirmation (or sign) from the Lord (see Judges 6:36-40).

After Gideon had destroyed the altar of Baal (see Judges 6:28-32), i.e. upon God’s instructions, God gave further instructions. Progressively. People of God, He will never leave you forsaken halfway through the ‘battle’. What He has begun, rest assured He will also bring them to full completion (Philippians 1:6). Keep hearing and keep receiving. This time, God gave Gideon specific instructions on preparing a team (see Judges 7:1-9), and He chose only 300 men.

Interestingly, ‘300’ in Hebrew numeric means ‘faithful remnant, character of God, protection of God’. In this ‘faithful remnant’, there’s protection! These were also the people who had the character of God, i.e. Gideon’s kind! And these turned out to be those with ‘one heart, one voice’ (in peace, harmony, and unity) with their leader Gideon (Judges 7:17-18), and eventually, the Midianites were overcome and subdued. Wow! God even gave specific instructions to Gideon to pick his winning team! I asked the Lord for revelation why God chose those 300 who ‘lapped (i.e. drink water with tongue) like a dog’ (Judges 7:5-6), and not those who ‘got down on their knees to drink water’, and the Lord had this to say: “Those who lapped like a dog were those who were hungry for My things, people after My heart, as the deer panteth for the water brooks in Psalm 42:1-2, but those who knelt were people who cared about position and recognition.” And these 'would-be' followers were ‘tested’ by their leader (Gideon) without even knowing they were being ‘tested’! This is definitely a great leadership principle! Praise the Lord! God is great!

People of God, you may think you are too 'weak' to overcome your 'Midianites' at the moment, but HE IS STRONG! And that's what matters most! So, go in this STRENGTH (for YHWH is in you) of yours, and you shall save your 'land' from the 'Midianites'! Amen.

The Power of Speaking God's Word - Othniel & Ehud

2011-09-05T13:30:00.002+08:00

Let's look at the book of Judges. The panorama (view of a wide area or 'picture') of the book of Judges in the Bible is a vicious circle of sin, oppression, repentance, and restoration. When a leader or judge (i.e. ruler, savior, or deliverer) whom God raised up died, the people's faith also died. They would then fall into idolatry again, getting oppressed by the enemy, crying out to God again, and finally God would raise up another 'deliverer' among them. This is what Judges ('Shophetim' in Hebrew, which means 'judges, rulers, deliverers, or saviors) is actually all about.

However, there are also some great principles you can learn from this book. Let's now study the lives of Othniel & Ehud, the first two 'judges' in this book.

Note: Every name and object in the Old Testament has its meaning and significance. This is how you interpret the Old Testament for New Testament times. These names or objects are actually 'pictures', 'typologies', and 'shadows of the things to come', symbolic rather than literal. A bible scholar used to say it very aptly, "The New is in the Old concealed, and the Old is in the New revealed".

Othniel:
In Judges 1:11-12, God's people was about to go against the inhabitants of Debir (formerly named 'Kirjath Sepher') when Caleb said, "Whoever attacks Kirjath Sepher and takes it, to him I will give my daughter Achsah as wife", and that's when Othniel rose to the occasion. The word 'Debir' in Hebrew means 'oracle, or spoken words', while 'Kirjath Sepher' means 'City of the Book'. Prior to this, the enemy has inhabited this city, and now, God's people was to claim this city for their possession. The above is a 'picture' of God's Word being robbed of (or stolen from) some of the believers' lives today. The enemy ('picture' of the devil) has even stopped some of God's people from speaking the Word, and that's why many are not living in the fullness of their 'inheritance' in Christ today! Instead of declaring, believing, and receiving what God has spoken about them, they chose to listen to what the 'enemy' or 'circumstances' say about them! This eventually spells the defeat in many believers' lives. So, that's when God raised up Othniel. The word 'Othniel' means 'lion of God, or might of God' in Hebrew, and this 'lion of God' has prevailed and claimed the 'city of the Book'! Whenever you open the Bible, read it, and declare God's promises for your life again, you have also become the 'lion' that prevails over the enemy! Jesus is THE Lion of Judah, and you are His 'lions'! In Judges 3:7-11, notice this same 'lion of God', Othniel also prevailed over Cushan-Rishathaim, the king of Mesopotamia (who had oppressed Israel for 8 years). The name 'Cushan-Rishathaim' in Hebrew means 'double wickedness of darkness', and as a result of Othniel's victory over this 'enemy', God's people had rest for 40 years, much longer than those years of oppression. Now, it is the same for you today. The moment you begin declaring and speaking God's Word aloud into your circumstances, all the 'double wickedness of darkness' surrounding you will have to flee! Hallelujah!

Ehud:
In Judges 3:12-30, watch again the power of God's Word. This time, God raised up Ehud among the children of Israel. 'Ehud' in Hebrew means 'joined together (to the Lord), or partner together (with the Lord)'. As believers, you too are the 'Ehuds' of today. See 1 Corinthians 6:17. By the time God raised up Ehud, Eglon (means 'fat, round, bull' in Hebrew), the king of Moab, had oppressed the children of Israel for 18 years. In short, Israel was already in bondage for 18 years by then (cross-refer Luke 13:11). But God was about to set them free! Ehud then made himself a double-edged dagger (Judges 3:16). This is a 'picture' of God's Word (see Hebrews 4:12 & Ephesians 6:17). 'Joined together' to the Lord, Ehud then went to Eglon and said, "I have a message from God for you" (Judges 3:20-21), and he reached with his left hand, took the dagger, and thrust it into Eglon's belly. Wow! It was really an example of 'taking the bull by its horn'! And the rest was history. Read Judges 3:22-30 for details. Victory was declared, Moab was later subdued under the hand of Israel, and the land had rest for 80 years! 18 years of bondage, but 80 years of rest! God's mercy always outweighs God's judgment! Hallelujah! One thing to note is Ehud was actually naturally weak (he was left handed), and especially so, he was also in the tribe of Benjamin (literally means 'sons of the right hand'). In those days, left-handed people were considered weaker (but of course, not at all in our modern days when many champions in sports today are actually left-handed). So, he was like the 'weakling' in his tribe. But, the one thing that made the difference was he 'joined together' to the Lord and he had the 'Sword of the Spirit', which is the Word of God! The 'enemy' wasn't afraid of him actually, but he was defeated by the 'double-edged dagger' in his hand, i.e. the Word of God!

People of God, have there been any 'curse' words spoken against you recently (or even in your younger days) that still affect you? Have you been a subject of certain evil 'chantings' against you or your loved ones? Or you seem to be 'under attack' in some areas of your life recently, yet not knowing why. Someone even told me recently that she has been a subject of certain 'curse words' spoken against her through some demonic 'fortune-telling' she has never asked for. Whatever it is, and despite those circumstances, begin to wield your 'Sword of the Spirit' again! Yes, like Ehud did! You may say, "But I'm so weak! What can I do?" But, so was Ehud. When you are 'joined to the Lord', though you may be weak in the natural, but HE IS STRONG! His Word is strong! Heaven and earth may pass away, but HIS WORD still remains! The Bible says so! The 'enemy' may not be afraid of you, but he's very afraid of the Word! So, just as Ehud was in his days when he said to the 'enemy': "I have a message from God for you", do you also have a 'message from God' for the 'enemy' today? Yes, you do! Even Jesus Himself used this 'Sword of the Spirit' when He was tempted by the 'enemy'! He said, "It is written..." (see Matthew 4) He has showed us the way! After all, HE IS THE WORD! (John 1:1)

Therefore, speak God's Word instead, and not what people say, or circumstances say. Declare God's Word out aloud! Personalize all the promises of God for yourself! As you say what God says, these words will 'expose' the works of the 'enemy', just as the dagger 'exposed' the dirt in Eglon's belly! The 'enemy' will have no way but to be floored! See, he is only like the roaring lion, not the real thing! The real lion is the Lion of Judah, YHWH Himself, and He is already in you. So, not only are you the Ehuds of today, you are also the Othniels of today, the 'lions' who prevail over whatever forces of darkness that comes your way!

So, if there's a certain spirit of fear that comes against you, speak forth God's promises for you in the Word, for example: "For God has not given me the spirit of fear, but He has given me the Spirit of power and of love and of a sound mind". (2 Timothy 1:7) Whatever that comes against you (whether it's sickness, financial problem, marriage problem, oppression, etc) the WORD has the ANSWER. Claim it! Believe it! Declare it! Receive it! And you'll be the Othniels and the Ehuds of today! Amen!

'Khane' & 'Khehsed'

2011-08-30T13:23:00.001+08:00

Esther 2:17 (NKJV): The king loved Esther more than all the other women, and she obtained grace and favor in his sight more than all the virgins; so he set the royal crown upon her head and made her queen instead of Vashti.

In Hebrew, the word 'grace' here is pronounced 'khane', while the word 'favor' here is pronounced 'khehsed', which can also mean 'beauty, grace (unearned favor), goodness'.

Let's now cross-refer the words 'khane' (grace) and 'khehsed' (favor) in the Bible:
Proverbs 22:1 says, 'A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches, loving 'khane' rather than silver and gold'.
Psalm 63:3 says, 'Because Your 'khehsed' is better than life, my lips shall praise You.'

In NKJV, the word 'khane' here in Proverbs 22:1 was translated 'favor', i.e. 'loving favor rather than silver and gold', while the word 'khehsed' in Psalm 63:3 was translated 'lovingkindness', i.e. Your lovingkindness is better than life (Note: 'life' here is pronounced 'khah-ee' in Hebrew, which means 'earthly life')...'

The Bible says God's 'khane' and 'khehsed' (i.e. grace and favor) is even better than the best the earthly life can offer! Yes, even better than a 7-star stay in the best of hotels, or being surrounded by gold and silver all the time! Now, having written these, it doesn't mean you cannot enjoy a good life or have gold and silver. When God put Adam and Eve in the garden of Eden (literally means 'pleasure, delight'), He wants them to enjoy it too! In fact, as a believer, you are supposed to be so blessed, enjoying all His goodness and blessings! Now that's what the Bible calls 'the blessing of Abraham'! (see Galatians 3:13-14) Some people put their 'faith' on money. But as a believer, you put your 'faith' (trust) on God and His goodness! When you have His grace and favor, you'll have all the good things in life! Every good thing will follow suit! Yes, money included. God loves to give to you. Never think He is stingy. In fact, astronomers have just discovered a planet that's made of diamonds! Imagine walking on diamonds everywhere, like you walk on rocks and stones on earth! And the streets in heaven are made of gold! That's how rich He is, the Most High God, the possessor of heaven and earth (see Genesis 14:19), and He is the God (YHWH) you worship!

Be conscious of God's 'khane' and 'khehsed' in your life always. 'Flowers' attract butterflies. 'Rubbish' attract flies. Good things happen ('outside' of you) when your 'inside' is filled with the revelation of God's goodness and lovingkindness. Just as what happens in the spiritual realm is reflected in the physical realm, what is in your 'inside' will also be reflected in your 'outside'. Say, if you have 'fear' in the 'inside', it will then manifest in the 'outside'. But if you have the revelation of God's goodness and lovingkindness in your 'inside', you'll also see it happening in your 'outside' (i.e. you can see and experience it in the physical realm).

Let's look at Esther now. She had this revelation of 'khane' and 'khehsed'. She also knew she was born and raised 'for such a time as this' (to save her people from being annihilated by the enemy), and she even said "If I die, I die!" (see Esther 4:14-16). With this revelation 'inside' of her, she was willing to 'take the risk'! You see, there's every 'risk' of her incurring the king's wrath and ended up like Vashti (the previous queen who became 'out of favor'), and in turn, losing everything! (Read the book of Esther in the Bible for the details)

But for Esther, she chose to walk in the fullness of God's destiny in her life, and to her, God's lovingkindness (to Israel) is better than her own life as a queen itself, i.e. with the arrays of gold and silver, the best earthly food, the best earthly clothes (that wears out anyway), etc.

Some people say: 'Get what you can, can what you get, and then sit on the can'. Most other 'queen' would have done this (i.e. to protect their own interests & position at all costs, but in earthly and carnal ways), but not Esther. Instead, she chose to walk in God's destiny.

So, did she (Esther) suffer in the end? No! Because of God's 'khane' and 'khehsed' in her life, she eventually became an even more powerful queen! The king even gave her the right to write her own law as she pleased! (see Esther 8:8)

A lot of people in the world now are struggling and striving in life, only to find themselves losing their 'soul' (& destiny). Imagine whales struggling and getting stranded at the beach (when they are supposed to be enjoying themselves in the ocean).

Esther was originally named 'Hadassah' in Hebrew, which comes from the word 'hadas' meaning 'myrtle tree' ( a tree with good-smelling leaves and white flowers - a 'picture' of sweet-smelling aroma and purity). Isaiah 55:13 says, 'instead of briers (a kind of thorny shrub), shall come up myrtle tree. So, myrtle is a choice plant in Israel, a 'picture' of God's promised blessing. So, instead of 'curse' (represented by 'thorns'), God has promised Esther 'blessings'!

God wants you to be the 'Esthers' of today. And just as Esther was, when you have God's 'khane' and 'khehsed', 'fear not, for what can man do to you?' (see Hebrews 13:6). The Bible also says, "whoever desires to save his 'life' will lose it, but whoever loses his 'life' for My sake (by walking in His destiny) will find it!" (see Matthew 16:25). God loves to give good things to you, and God will open a way for you, as He did to Esther. Receive.

What are you conscious of in your 'inside' (i.e. in your heart and mind) now? Is it God's lovingkindness for you, or is it the earthly, selfish cares and worries of life? 'Flowers' (like 'Esther', the myrtle flower) attract butterflies. 'Rubbish' attract flies. So, what are you 'attracting' today? Focus on His 'khane' and 'khehsed', and you'll have every good thing in 'life'. Focus on the earthly, selfish (self-conscious) life, and you'll be drowned in the cares, concerns, and struggles of life.

Therefore, look to God, and trust Him for His 'khane' and 'khehsed' in your life, and you'll have 'life', and 'life' even more abundantly! Amen.

"So, just how much does God love me?"

2011-08-14T18:46:00.004+08:00

1 John 4:18 (NKJV) says, "There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear..."

This verse says God's perfect love (for you) casts out (every) fear (of yours). The word 'perfect' in Greek here is 'teleios', which means 'complete, fullness'. It can also mean 'accomplished, finished, fulfilled, perfected'. And, who casts out fear? You, or Him? This verse says it's His perfect love that casts out fear!

So, whatever circumstance you may be facing at the moment, fear not, because there's no fear in His love and embrace. And when everything else seems to fail, know that His love (for you) never fails (1 Corinthians 13:8). The Bible also says His love has been 'poured out' on you! (Romans 5:5) The Bible doesn't say God 'sprinkles' His love on you! The Bible says He pours out His love on you! He is a generous and abundant God! Imagine yourself 'drenched' under a refreshing waterfall. What you need to do is just receive, and He will take care of the rest!

You may ask, "So, just how much does God love me?"

God so loved you He did not even withhold His only begotten Son (John 3:16).

Let's now look at Matthew 27:45-46. About the ninth hour, Jesus cried aloud, "Eli, Eli, lama sabachtani?", which means, "My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?" It was a cry of distress. 'Sabachtani' literally means 'thou hast left me', and the word 'shebak' here in Hebrew means 'quit, leave'. In other words, Jesus was crying out, "My God, My God, why do you quit Me?"

Jesus was left 'forsaken' at the cross, so God can now say to you, 'I'll never leave you nor forsake you'.

2 Corinthians 5:21 says, 'For God made Him (Jesus) who knew no sin to be sin for us, so that we might become the righteousness of God (in right standing with God) through Him (Jesus)'. It means Jesus carried all your sins, curse, and 'filth' on the cross. He became 'sin' for you. He became 'curse' for you (Galatians 3:13). And because of this, He became too 'filthy' for His Father to embrace! A sin is a sin, and a sin has to be judged! As a consequence, Jesus even lost His Father-Son relationship (from the sixth hour till the ninth hour) at the cross! For once, the unimaginable happened, because they have always been ONE (John 17:22). What happened in the spiritual realm in the heavenlies was also reflected in the physical realm during that three hours! Matthew 27:45 says 'there was darkness over all the land'. You know what? The physical 'sun' also lost its light (glory) at the same time! Imagine the 'sun' without its light? As a matter of fact, the 'sun' without its 'light' is no 'sun' at all! So, the 'sun' here reflects God the Father, and the 'light' here reflects God the Son (Jesus, the Word).

Note: The Lord has in fact given you a 'sign' (i.e. the sun) to understand who He is!

In Matthew 27:46, notice also Jesus called God 'Eli', instead of calling Him 'Father'. That was the only time Jesus called out to God as 'Eli'! In fact, in John 11:41-42, when Jesus raised Lazarus back to life, not only Jesus called God as 'Father', He also said, "You always hear Me" (i.e. His prayers have always been answered).

Jesus' prayer went unanswered ("Eli, Eli, lama sabachtani?") at the cross, so you can now have your prayers answered!

At the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus also said, "Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me; nevertheless, not My will, but Yours, be done." (Luke 22:42) Why did He say this? Was He afraid of the physical scourging and suffering on the cross? No, He IS the Jehovah Rapha, the HEALER Himself. He wasn't afraid of those 'beatings' at all! He said this because He knew He'd have to separate from His Father!

Jesus lost His 'Sonship' at the cross, so you can now become sons (& daughters) of God, and call Him 'Our Father in heaven' (Matthew 6:9).

Notice only 'sons and daughters of God' call Him 'Father', but 'servants' (or unbelievers) call God as 'Eli' (or God). See the difference? This is the difference between you (believers) and others. What happened at the cross has truly made all the difference!

And God did all the above with you in mind.

NOW is your Jubilee!

2011-08-12T19:00:00.012+08:00

Leviticus 25:9-10 (NKJV): Then you shall cause the trumpet of the Jubilee to sound on the tenth day of the seventh month; on the Day of Atonement you shall make the trumpet to sound throughout all your land. And you shall consecrate the fiftieth year; and proclaim liberty throughout all the land to all its inhabitants. It shall be a Jubilee for you; and each of you shall return to his possession, and each of you shall return to his family.

The word 'Jubilee' in Leviticus 25:9 is 'teruwah' in Hebrew, which means 'acclamation of joy (with trumpets), loud noise, shout of joy, shout of triumph, and jubilation'. In Leviticus 25:10, the word 'Jubilee' is 'yowbel' in Hebrew, which means "the blast of a ram's horn (trumpet)". This word comes from the word 'yabal', which means 'to lead forth, to bring forth (with pomp, splendor, magnificence - like a triumphant procession)'. And the Lord spoke to Moses regarding this fiftieth year, the year of Jubilee (see Leviticus 25:10-14), i.e. the year liberty was to be proclaimed throughout the land.

How does 'Jubilee' relate to you in the New Covenant? And when is your 'Jubilee' year?
The answer can be found in Luke 4:18-19.

When Jesus was handed the book of the prophet Isaiah in the synagogue on the Sabbath day, He read out Isaiah 61:1-2: "The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He has anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed; to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord." Note: The word 'to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord' in Luke 4:19 also means "to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor."

Then, Jesus closed the book (Luke 4:20), and said, "Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing."

Jesus has fulfilled this Scripture (Luke 4:21). 'To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord' is 'to proclaim a year of Jubilee'. 'Jubilee' is when 'one is being restored to his/her inheritance and possessions', and the blowing of trumpet signifies 'a new beginning', to set at liberty, i.e. forgetting the old & entering the new.

Today, Jesus has become your Jubilee, and this Jubilee is in you! So, you too are now set free from every bondage and slavery. Victory has been won for you at the cross! In fact, when Jesus shouted "It is finished!" (John 19:30), it was in effect a shout of triumph, declaring the beginning of Jubilee for you and me! As a believer, you are therefore 'accepted' in God's Beloved! (Ephesians 1:6) At that time (ninth hour, i.e. 3pm), the veil of the temple was torn, the graves were opened, and the captives were set free (Matthew 27:50-52). And because the ninth hour was also 'the hour of prayer' (see Acts 3:1), i.e. the evening sacrifice, the ram's horn (trumpet) was also sounded at the temple! And 'Jubilee' (or 'yowbel' in Hebrew) also means 'the blast of a ram's horn (trumpet)'.

By the way, to have a ram's horn, the ram has to be killed first. Jesus has become the fullness of sacrifice, once for all, for you (Hebrews 7:27), so that you can be 'at-one' (reconciled) with God. Leviticus 25:9 says, 'on the Day of At-one-ment, you shall make the trumpet to sound'.

People of God, Jesus has therefore proclaimed a Jubilee for you! So, you have been set at liberty! This is the day of your salvation! This is the day of your restoration! This is the day of your renewal! This is the day of your healing! This is the day of your deliverance! This is the day of God's favor & blessing on you! And the time is NOW! Claim back what should be yours! Claim back all your rightful 'inheritance'! Take back what the devil has stolen from you! And wait no longer. Take it NOW! Shout it out NOW! Say: "This is my day of salvation. This is my day of restoration. This is my day of renewal. This is my day of healing. This is my day of deliverance. This is my day of God's favor & blessing." Enforce it by faith. Declare it by faith. Believing, and you shall receive. And all these in Jesus' mighty name. Amen!

The 'tree' brings healing and recovery

2011-08-10T20:45:00.001+08:00

Galatians 3:13 (NKJV): Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, "Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree").

It was at a tree that curse began (see Genesis 3). But the good news is Galatians 3:13 says Christ has redeemed you from that curse, having Himself become a curse for you! In Deuteronomy 21:23, notice that under the law given to Moses, anyone who hangs on a tree is accursed.

All things went wrong at one tree (in Adam & Eve's time), but Jesus made all things right at another tree (in Calvary). He came for this very reason - redemption! And it was at this 'tree' (picture of the 'cross') in Calvary that He has redeemed you! So, because of that, as a believer, you have been set free! No more curse, whatever curse it may be! Only blessings. Blessings of Abraham (Galatians 3:14). Health. Wholeness. Recovery. Restoration. Breakthrough. These are yours to receive! Victory has already been won for you at the cross. So, take it. Walk in it. Run and soar with it!

Have you been struggling in the area of health recently? Or maybe you are stuck in a debt that seems rather impossible to clear? Or you're wondering if you'll ever recover from a loss opportunity?

Whatever situation you may be facing, or no matter how impossible it seems at the moment, Jesus can. He can set you free. In fact, He came for this very reason - setting you free (see Luke 4:18-19). He is also supernatural. He is the Most High God, the possessor of heaven and earth (Genesis 14:19). And because He loves you, He is also willing. Not only will He set you free, He'll also recover you. I believe. Because His Word says so. And for many years now, I've learned to really take Him at His Word, and it has ALWAYS worked! Somehow, someway. I know it will also work for you. Believing, you'll receive. He can open the way for you, supernaturally! He can give you the breakthrough you needed, supernaturally! Yes, He can. He has done it before in Moses' time. He has also done it in Elisha's time. So, He can do it for you too, because He is the same yesterday, today, and forever (Hebrews 13:8). People of God, expect nothing less than the supernatural from your supernatural God!

Let's look at Moses and Elisha now.

In Exodus 15:22-26, Moses was stuck in a situation when he (and his people) went three days in the wilderness but found no water. And even when they've found water (in Marah, meaning 'bitter'), it was too bitter to drink. Not only that, Moses also had to deal with the complaints and demands of his own people then. So, in the middle of the desert, and for three days without drinkable water, all hopes seemed lost. And that's when Moses cried out to the Lord, and the Lord showed him a 'tree'. When he cast the 'tree' into the waters, something supernatural happened. The waters were made sweet, and of course, good for drinking! You see, the answer is at the 'tree' (a 'picture' of the cross). When Jesus died for you on the 'tree' (cross), He has carried all those 'bitterness' away! So, yours have been made sweet as well! Amen! And it was at that very same place, God also said, "For I AM the Lord who heals you (Jehovah Rapha)."

In 2 Kings 6:1-7, Elisha and his servants were about to build a bigger place to dwell (because the one they've been dwelling in was too small for them by then). As they came to Jordan to cut down trees to build, a servant's iron ax head fell into the water! And when Elisha was told about it, he asked the servant where it fell. That's where the supernatural happened! Elisha cut off a 'stick', and threw it into the water where the iron ax head fell. And you know what? Instead of the 'stick' floating, it was the iron ax head that floated! Elisha then asked the servant to pick it up. I don't know about you, but to me, that's a miracle! What a retrieve! What a recovery! Wow! And this is definitely supernatural! Friend, do you believe your restoration and recovery is also at hand? Yes, expect the supernatural from your supernatural God! He is more than enough in any situation you face. Now, how did the iron ax head float? It floated when the 'stick' was thrown in! The word 'stick' here in Hebrew is 'ets', which literally means 'tree'! And again, because of what Jesus has done for you on the 'tree' (cross), you too are on the way to your full recovery! Debts cancelled! Losses restored! Wealth recovered! And all these for His glory! Take it. Believe & receive it. In Jesus' name. Amen!

Curse began at a tree, and curse had to end at another tree!

2011-08-09T23:29:00.000+08:00

Galatians 3:13 says, "Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, "Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree")."

Have you ever wondered why was it necessary for Jesus to die on a 'tree' (i.e. cross)? Was it needful for Him to die on the cross? It seemed the capital punishment (i.e. punishment by death) then was more 'popularly' by 'stoning' (for example, the stoning of Stephen consented by Saul). So, why didn't Jesus just get 'stoned' instead? His blood would have been shed, and His body would have been broken anyway.

Here's the answer: Curse began at a tree (in Adam's time in Genesis 3), and therefore curse had to end at (another) tree (at the cross in Calvary).

Jesus had to die on a tree because it was at a tree (see Genesis 3) that the curse began! He went back to where 'it' all started, so that you and I can be redeemed! Let's now look at Deuteronomy 21:22-23. One of the laws given to Moses sounds like this: "If a man has committed a sin deserving of death, and he is put to death, and you hang him on a tree, his body shall not remain overnight on a tree, but you shall surely bury him that day, so that you do not defile the land which the Lord your God is giving you as an inheritance; for he who is hanged is accursed of God." See? Dying on the tree - they were not just criminals, they were accursed! And Jesus became exactly that for you!

Note: The law also stated that the dead body 'shall not remain overnight on a tree'. That's why Jesus' body at Mount Calvary had to be taken down right after He 'gave up His spirit' (see John 19:30-31).

After 6 hours on the cross, He 'gathered' all that He had left, and gave a final shout, "It is finished!" (see John 19:30 & cross-references in Matthew 27:50-54, Mark 15:37-39, Luke 23:46-47), With this, He fulfilled the law once for all (see Hebrews 10:10-14). The curse was broken, and liberty was proclaimed! (refer Luke 4:18-19). The Bible also says in 2 Corinthians 5:21, "He who knew no sin became sin for us, so that we might become the righteousness of God (in right standing with God) through Him (Christ)."

And at that very stroke of time, the veil of the temple was torn, the earth quaked, the rocks split (Matthew 27:51), the graves were opened, & the captives were set free! (Matthew 27:52) Hallelujah! And you know what? Right then, in the ninth hour (i.e. 3pm), it also happened that the ram's horn (trumpet) was blown from the temple! Because it was supposedly the hour of prayer (see Acts 3:1), i.e. the evening sacrifice! Any Hebrew scholar would tell you the ram's horn would be blown at the beginning of the evening sacrifice!

So, in short, Jesus was 'taken up' the cross in the third hour (i.e. 9 am), the morning sacrifice & 'taken down' the cross in the ninth hour (i.e. 3pm), the evening sacrifice. Jesus has become the fullness of sacrifice for you!

Did all these happen by coincidence? No, all these happened because you were on His mind!

So, what does the blowing of ram's horn (trumpet or shofar) mean here? It signifies a new beginning! It's a proclamation of liberty! (see Leviticus 25:9-10) It's a forgetting of the past and beginning of the new! Paul also wrote, "stand fast therefore in this liberty that Christ has set you free!" (Galatians 5:1)

And finally, John 19:30 says Jesus' head bowed as He gave up His spirit. 'Bowing the head' here is a picture of 'rest'. Jesus has already done it all for you at the cross. The victory has already been won for you, and so He rested. As believers in the New Covenant, the Bible says we are also to enter His rest (Hebrews 4:9-10).

People of God, Christ without the cross is really no Christ at all! Most unbelievers do not reject Jesus Christ as a good man, a good prophet, a good teacher, etc, but they reject (or deny) His work at the cross. But you see, Christ's work at the cross is the 'centerpoint' of humankind's redemption! Without the cross, there's no redemption!

The devil (who's already been defeated at the cross) is very afraid of what had happened at the cross. So, he'd try to negate, undermine, or downplay Jesus' work at the cross. He'd also try to divert people's attention away from the cross. And that's when as God's beloved, we 'stand fast' & keep looking to the cross! Never lose sight of the cross! And whenever you preach (or teach) the Word, preach (or teach) messages full of the cross! Because that's where your victory was won! That's where you were set free from curse! And this is what the 'good news' is about! This is the gospel of Jesus Christ! And everyone's got to hear it, for it is the power of God to salvation (Romans 1:16), and there's no other name by which one can be saved, except by the name of Jesus (Acts 4:12). Amen!

No 'plague' shall be on you to destroy you!

2011-07-31T18:30:00.001+08:00

Exodus 12:13 (NKJV) says, "...when I (the Lord) see the blood, I will pass over you, and the plague shall not be on you to destroy you..."

This blood is a 'picture' of Jesus' blood shed for you on the cross, and the word 'plague' here in Hebrew is 'negeph', which means 'infliction (of disease), hurt, strike, hit, beat, put to worse.'

It seems there's really no safe place on earth anymore nowadays (even in some of the safest of nations to live in), and with the increase in natural disasters, uncertain weather conditions, political turmoils, economic woes, terrorism, new viruses, etc, the only safe place is to come under the covering of the blood of Jesus.

The blood of Jesus not only saves, but protects you.

When the Lord spoke to Moses to take a census of the children of Israel, He told him that 'every man shall give a ransom for himself to the Lord', so that there may be no plague among them. See Exodus 30:11-16. The word 'ransom' here in Hebrew is 'kopher', which means 'cover, redemption price, atonement, reconciliation'. The Israelites still celebrate Yom Kippur (means 'Day of At-one-ment') even till today, and this word 'kippur' comes from the same word 'kopher' here. It is 'the money or price paid for the redemption of a prisoner/slave' (for their release from bondage/captivity).

The Bible says Jesus came to give His life a ransom for many (Matthew 20:28, Mark 10:45).

In Moses' days, it was also an obligation for everyone (20 years old and upwards) to give half a shekel as offering to the Lord. Whether rich or poor, they were to give the same amount, no more and no less, i.e. a fixed sum (see Exodus 30:14-15). This offering was binding on all those who were numbered (i.e. counted as part of God's people). You only 'count' what you 'own'. For example, when you own a business, only then will you have the right to do the counting of your business' assets (or tell your accountant to do the counting for you). Likewise, today, as a believer in the New Covenant, you too are 'counted' as His own, His redeemed people, righteously forgiven, i.e. not only you are forgiven, you are also made righteous through Christ (see 2 Corinthians 5:21).

This half a shekel, the fixed sum, actually speaks of Jesus' blood. Whatever your background or past, He paid the same price for you on the cross. And He paid it in full, with His own life. Money (i.e. the ransom money) here speaks of 'buying and selling'. For God demonstrated His love for you, that while you were still sinners, He died for you (Romans 5:8). He paid it with a price, His own life. That's how precious you are to Him, and that's how much He loves you. He gave up all in order to 'buy' you back! Yes, with His blood! The Bible says you have been 'purchased' with His blood! (Acts 20:28)

In 2 Samuel 24, David's own mistake (of calling for a census for his nation) led to the death of 70,000 of his men (see 2 Samuel 24:14-15). This was an example of a 'plague' that came by one's own doing, and David was very sorry for his people, and a shepherd's heart David was, he did sincerely try to mediate for his people (2 Samuel 24:17). One would wonder why David in such a matured and advanced age by then (and having seen so many battles won by the Lord) still made a mistake that affected so many lives. Well, just as David, we are all human, and who has never made a mistake before? But God in all His mercy saw his heart, and that's when He spoke to him through the seer, Gad, to 'erect an altar to the Lord on the threshing floor of Araunah'.

What is a 'threshing floor'? That is where the 'beating of sheaves (with the rod)' takes place. This speaks of Jesus as well. Some 2,000 years ago, He was 'beaten' at the Mount of Calvary for you and me, and He paid it all in full, so that the 'beatings' on you would stop (and in this case, for David and the nation of Israel). Jesus also became the 'burnt offering' and the 'peace offering' (see 2 Samuel 24:25), so that all the anger of the Lord against sin was fully satisfied through Him (Jesus). And by the way, 'Araunah' in Hebrew means 'strength'. The Bible says Jesus is your strength and shield (Psalm 28:7). In times of plague ('beatings'), David came to Araunah. Today, Jesus is also inviting you to come to Him as well, no matter what happened, because He is your strength and song, and in Him (Yeshua) you'll trust and not be afraid (Isaiah 12:2).

And just as in David's situation, the 'beating' stops when you begin to look to Jesus, your burnt offering and your peace offering. The Bible says He will not leave His righteous forsaken (or deserted). He calls you His own, He has paid the price in full for you on the cross, and He has given His life a ransom for you. So, take heart, and because He calls you His beloved, He will also surely recover you. Amen!

You & I are the 'church'!

2011-07-24T22:00:00.001+08:00

Matthew 16:18 says, "And I (Jesus) also say to you that you are Peter (petros), and on this rock (petra), I will build My church, and the gates of hades (hell) shall not prevail against it."

In Greek, the word 'petros' here speaks of 'a piece of rock', whereas the word 'petra' speaks of 'the mass of rock' (like the one at the core of the earth). This 'mass of rock' is the 'chief cornerstone' (i.e. the uttermost of all rocks), i.e. Jesus Christ Himself. So, when Jesus said this to Peter, He meant "on this confession and revelation that Jesus Christ is the Lord, He will build His church." And you know what? This is the first time the word 'church' is mentioned in the Bible!

So, what exactly is a 'church'?

The words 'church' or 'churches' are mentioned about 115 times in the King James Version, and interestingly, all these 115 times point towards 'church' being a 'people', not a building (or an area or land). And as a matter of fact, not even once does the Bible speak of 'church' as a 'building'! Check the Bible for yourself.

In Greek, the word 'church' is 'ekklesia'. The word 'ek' means 'of/from'. The word 'klesia' comes from the word 'kaleo', which means 'a call'. So, 'ekklesia' simply means 'a gathering of the called ones (i.e. God's people)'. 1 Peter 2:9-10 says as believers, you are 'a people', called out from the darkness into God's marvelous light.

So, as believers, and as a 'people of God', you and I are the 'church'!

1 Peter 2:5 says you (believers) are 'living stones' (not 'dead stones'). It also says you (believers) are being built up a 'spiritual house' (not stone buildings). And the person who wrote this is none other than Peter himself (whom the Lord has first introduced the word 'church' in Matthew 16:18).

I've also checked and read all 115 mentions of the words 'church' or 'churches' in the Bible, and I found out nowhere in these 115 times did anyone (whether Paul, Luke, John, or of course, Peter) speak of church as a 'building'. Everyone pointed to 'church' as 'a people'!

These are some examples:

The book of Acts written by Luke (a physician who's very specific in his usage of words in all his writings):

(a) Acts 8:1 - great persecution arose against the church (i.e. people), and they (the people) were scattered.

(b) Acts 11:26 - Barnabas & Paul assembled with the church (i.e. people), not in the church (building).

(d) Acts 20:28 - church (i.e. people) purchased with Jesus' blood. A 'building' cannot be purchased this way!

The 'church' is Christ's body (i.e. the body of Christ). Christ is the head of the 'body' (i.e. people), and the 'body' is the fullness of Him who fills all in all. See Ephesians 1:22-23.

The 'church' is built on the spiritual foundation of apostles and prophets (not a natural building built on the foundation of physical, earthly stones). See Ephesians 2:20-22.

Paul also illustrated the relationship between 'Christ' and the 'church' (i.e. God's people) with that of a husband and wife. See Ephesians 5:23-32.

In Matthew 18:20, Jesus also said, "where two (the smallest plurality) or three are gathered in My name, I AM there in the midst of them!" Yes, anywhere, and everywhere in the world, He IS there! A gathering of the 'called ones'! This, my friend, is also an 'ekklesia'! And of course on Sundays (and in a bigger 'scale'), as you come together to worship, to feed on His Word, to pray, to have communion, and to fellowship as brothers and sisters in Christ, you are gathered as 'a people', each of you a 'living stone', and together, you are built up a 'spiritual house'! That, my friend, is 'church'! So, it doesn't really matter where you meet! I even know of someone whose 'church' meets under a tree! When God asked Pastor Sharon (my wife) and I to start 'Triumph in Christ (TiC)', one of the very first words He gave us was, "Build My church, not the building!"

And I believe that's why Jesus said in Matthew 16:18 that 'the gates of hell cannot prevail against His church'. Because 'church' is never meant to be a 'building'. 'Church' is 'a people'. The 'enemy' may be able to destroy or burn a 'building', but they can never destroy the 'church'. Because the 'church' is a 'people of God' gathered in His name. So, when Saul persecuted the 'church' (see Acts 8:1), they (i.e. the 'church') were scattered everywhere, and you know what? The 'church' grew all the more (see Acts 8:4), wherever the people were scattered! And the best thing was the persecutor (Saul) himself was later touched and changed by the Lord to be a preacher of Christ! Hallelujah!

Jesus IS your 'door'!

2011-07-17T18:49:00.000+08:00

John 10:7 (NKJV): ..."I (Jesus) am the door of the sheep."

The I AM WHO I AM is the door of the sheep! You see, the Bible never says He is 'like a door'. The Bible says He IS the door!

The word 'door' here is 'thura' in Greek, which means 'opening, entrance way, gate, portal'. If you look at Exodus 12:23, the lamb's (a 'picture' of Jesus) blood was sprinkled on the door during the first Passover, covering and protecting God's people from harm. Today, this 'door' of yours is also a 'blood-sprinkled door'! Remember, He IS the door, and He paid it with His life! His blood was shed for you on the cross!

Jesus is not just your Shepherd (John 10:11, Psalm 23), but He is also your 'door'! In Jesus' days, there were actually no physical 'doors' at the entrance to the sheepfold. So, a shepherd would normally BE the 'door' instead, holding his shepherd's stick at the 'entrance', guarding and protecting the sheep from whatever harm or predators. So, as His beloved 'sheep' today, you can now freely enjoy all the goodness of His 'green pastures', knowing that your Good Shepherd IS always 'the' door!

Whatever 'door' you've been trusting God for, whether in finding life-partner, in ministry, in preaching the gospel, in business, in career, in job-openings, even in investments, look to Jesus, your 'door'! In fact, He is the 'open door'! When Jesus died for you at the cross, His arms were stretched out and opened. Yes, He is more than willing to open His arms for you today! HE IS the 'OPEN DOOR'! And He has already overcome the power of darkness (that steals, kills, & destroys) for you at the cross! And the best thing is 'the door He has opened, no man can shut' (Revelation 3:8). Paul himself in 2 Corinthians 2:12 acknowledged that the 'door' he walked through was 'opened by the Lord'.

You may ask, "Pastor, I've been waiting for my 'door'! How much longer should I wait?"

If your 'open door' hasn't come yet, or being delayed, don't lose heart. Keep looking to Jesus your 'door', even in the most impossible of situations. He will neither leave you forsaken nor forgotten. This is His promise and assurance for you (Hebrews 13:5). Acts 16:26 is an example. Paul and Silas were facing a 'dead-end' road at that time. Destiny seemed to be shut on them. They ended up in a prison instead of their 'destiny'. Read Acts 16:16-40 for the whole story. But God did somehow open a way. Suddenly, there was an earthquake, and the prison 'doors' were opened, miraculously! By the way, this word 'door' in Acts 16:26 is the same word 'thura' as in John 10:7 and Revelation 3:8.

Instead of looking to man, organization, or institution, look to Jesus, your true 'door'. He will put you in the 'rightful place', and even if you thought you have reached a 'dead-end' road, He will still open a new way for you!

Now, the 'door' from Him may not be what you thought it should be. But God's ways are always higher than your ways (Isaiah 55:8-9). God's 'door' is always the best. He knows and has the real 'door' for you. And of course, His timing is also the best! What seems best to man may not be God's best for you. He doesn't see the way human sees. As a beloved of God, know that He has reserved the 'best' for you! He will even (pleasantly) surprise you in ways you've never thought of! I've experienced this myself time and again! Keep beholding Him!

In fact, you don't have to strive hard or struggle hard for your 'doors' (or try to 'prise' hard, or make things happen by your own human strength). When God opens a 'door', it's restful and easy. Because it's not you, but God who opens the 'door'. All you need is to 'walk through it'!

Continue to rest and trust in Him, your 'door'. Amen!

A 'discerning' heart

2011-07-10T18:29:00.001+08:00

Ecclesiastes 8:5b (NKJV): "And a wise man's heart discerns both time and judgment."

The word 'discern' here is 'yada' in Hebrew, which means 'to separate/distinguish thoroughly'. Just as God gave Solomon a discerning heart (see 1 Kings 3:5-9), He wants you to have a discerning heart as well! This verse says you discern with your heart. Just as you serve God with your heart (Romans 1:9), you also hear God and discern with your heart! So, it's your heart that discerns, not your mind or emotions. And God can cause you to discern both time and judgment. 'Time' here means 'the timing and season for something', and 'judgment' here means 'a verdict, i.e. is it favorable or not favorable; what to do and what not to do; is this from the Lord or is this not from the Lord'.

In life, we are faced with so many 'choices' and 'options', e.g who to partner in business, who to associate with, which job to take, what investment decisions to make, which property to buy, and the list goes on. That's when a discerning heart comes in. Many Christians are wondering if a particular 'open-door' is from the Lord or not from the Lord. They may ask, "Will I end up being conned? Will I end up short-changed?" Many are in such real 'dilemma' of what to do and what not. What more we are living in a world where fraud cases are common, and 'conmen' are lurking everywhere! You definitely wouldn't want to fall into any pits or traps of the cheats! That's why a discerning heart is crucial in this end-time!

And the good news is the Holy Spirit is readily working in you and through you! Not only that, He is also working for you! Praise God for the Holy Spirit! He always leads you and guides you, never leaving you nor forsaking you! In fact, one of the gifts of the Holy Spirit is 'discerning of spirits' (1 Corinthians 12:7-10). Allow the Holy Spirit (who is all-knowing) to impress upon you, prompt you, and even caution you. Be open to His promptings and leading always. Some may move in this gift of 'discerning of spirits' more frequently than others, but this doesn't change the fact that He can move in every believer! And as a believer, you are definitely in!

The word 'discerning' in 1 Corinthians 12:10 also means 'to separate/distinguish thoroughly', similar to the one in Ecclesiastes 8:5b. Notice also the word 'spirits', 's' in small letter. It means any 'spirit'. Holy Spirit helps you to discern, i.e. 'to separate/distinguish thoroughly' what is from the Holy Spirit, and what is not, i.e. from other 'spirits' (e.g. demonic spirit, fleshly spirit, etc). In fact, the Holy Spirit can even help you to discern a 'lying spirit'! (see Acts 5:3)

By the way, this gift of 'discerning of spirits' is not meant for you to judge or condemn others, but to profit others (1 Corinthians 12:7).

Hebrews 5:14 speaks of your spiritual senses being exercised (trained) to 'discern'. The word 'discern' here is the same ('diakrisis' in Greek) as the one in 1 Corinthians 12:10. You know what? The Holy Spirit is in the midst of training you. So, if in the past, you have discerned wrongly before or have made mistakes (even major ones) before, condemn yourself no more. Take heart. He will cause you to recover. He will cause you to rise again. Even the foremost prophets who are greatly used by the Lord have made mistakes before! This is part of His training for His people. But His promises remain. He will surely nurture you. He will surely raise you up. He will surely train you. Your part is to allow Him!

Recently, I heard these words while praying and singing in the spirit during a prayer gathering:

"For I, the Lord, am in the midst of nurturing, raising, and training My people to be My 'spiritual sharpshooters' in this end-time!"

Hallelujah! Receive these words for your new season. Now thanks be to God who always leads you in triumph in Christ, and through you diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place (2 Corinthians 2:14). Amen!

A 'hearing' heart

2011-07-03T16:43:00.002+08:00

1 Samuel 3:10 (NKJV): Now the Lord came and stood and called as at other times, "Samuel! Samuel!" And Samuel answered, "Speak, for Your servant hears (shema)."

The word 'hear' in this verse is 'shema' in Hebrew, which means 'to hear attentively, to hear carefully, to hear in view of obeying'. 'Hearing in view of obeying' means 'hearing in view of acting on it'. James 1:22 says, 'be not just hearers, but doers', i.e. 'acting on the words you've heard in the Spirit'. Jesus in his own town Nazareth (where He grew up) couldn't perform many great miracles because the people did not 'shema' Him (see Luke 4:28-29). They saw Jesus as merely a man in the neighborhood. "Hey, isn't he the one we used to play with at the playground those days?" But, in other towns, e.g Capernaum, Jesus could perform many great miracles because the people 'shema' Him (see Luke 4:36-37). They saw Jesus as who He was! See the big difference?

A hearing heart (a 'shema' heart) is the key to your victory in this end-time. Word and Spirit. Spirit and Word. They go together, hand-in-hand, as you 'shema'. And just as God has trained Samuel to 'shema', allow Him to train you also. In 1 Samuel 3, you'd see Samuel was still learning to 'hear in the Spirit' (with his spirit). It was then that he learned to differentiate between the voice of man (Eli) and the voice of God. And from thereon, he continued to grow from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord (see 2 Corinthians 3:18), even in the area of 'hearing with his spirit'! Praise God! 'Grow' he did! And by 1 Samuel 16, the day arrived when his 'hearing' was about to either make or break a nation! The Lord saw him as a ready 'vessel'! He was called by the Lord to 'shema' who was to be made the next king, among the sons of Jesse! And because Samuel had learned to 'shema', he heard correctly and accurately when it mattered most. That's how David was anointed, and later, Israel became so blessed because of this king! You see? A 'hearing heart' leads to many blessings for Israel!

Say (from your heart) as Samuel had said, "Speak, for Your son/daughter hears (shema)". This will lead to many blessings, victories, and breakthroughs in your 'Israel' (i.e. your 'ground', your business, your ministry, your family, your career, your investments, etc). In 'seeing the way God sees', Samuel chose the right king (Note: God told Samuel 'not to look at outward appearance, but look at the heart'). People of God, this is crucial in this end-time.

By the way, every believer can and should hear ('shema') from the Lord, not just certain anointed prophets, apostles, pastors, etc. This is the New Covenant. In the Old, only selected and anointed people can, but in the New, everyone (who's purchased by the blood of Jesus) can. Jesus has already done it for you on the cross! He has opened the way for you! The 'veil' has been torn! The Bible says as a believer, you are now called 'royal priesthood' (1 Peter 2:9). You know what? He has made you king and priest! Royal priesthood! (Revelation1:5-6) So, you don't have to be like a high priest in the Old Covenant who enters the Holy of Holies once a year to 'hear', or specially anointed prophet like Samuel to 'hear'!

As Paul said in Romans 1:9, 'he serves God with his spirit'. As you serve Him with your spirit, it's also essential to hear ('shema') Him with your spirit. Accurate 'hearing' leads to accurate 'serving', whatever vocation God has called you for! 'The Holy Spirit bearing witness in your spirit' is the foundation to every other forms of hearing with your spirit, e.g. in dreams, visions, word of knowledge, word of wisdom, discerning of spirits, etc.

By the way, hearing with accuracy is not for you to 'pull down' your brothers and sisters in Christ (for they are God's beloved), but to edify (build up) one another. It's also for you to 'triumph in Christ', pulling down the work of darkness, and walking in victory everyday, and in every area of your life!

Beloved of God, be open to hear ('shema'). Quiet yourself down. There's sometimes just too much 'noise' around (e.g. tv, people talking everywhere, etc). It's time to have a 'hearing heart' like Samuel, for He will surely speak to you. Receive in Jesus' name. Amen!

Forgiveness & healing

2011-06-20T06:14:00.004+08:00

Psalm 103:3 (NKJV): Who forgives all your iniquities, who heals all your diseases.

The word 'forgives' here in Hebrew is 'calach' (pronounced 'saw-lakh'), which means 'to spare (from any judgment), to pardon', and the word 'heals' here in Hebrew is 'rapha', which means 'to mend (by stitching), to cure, to repair, to make whole, to make complete'.

Forgiveness and healing go hand in hand. They are inseparable. Jesus Himself went about preaching the forgiveness of sins and healing all who were oppressed (see Acts 10:38). He also taught His disciples to do likewise and sent them forth (see Luke 9:2, Luke 10:9). Forgiveness leads to healing and wholeness. When Jesus ministered to a paralytic lying on a bed, He said, "Your sins are forgiven you... Arise, take up your bed." (see Matthew 9:2-7).

Let's now look at Exodus 12:7-9. The Lord said to Moses and Aaron, "And they (Israelites) shall take some of the blood (of the lamb) and put it on the two doorposts and on the lintel of the houses where they eat it. Then they shall eat the flesh on that night; roasted in fire,... Do not eat it raw, nor boiled at all with water, but roasted in fire - its head with its legs and its entrails." The lamb here speaks of Jesus Christ Himself, your Passover Lamb, your sin offering & your burnt offering (i.e. roasted in fire) when He died on the cross for you some 2,000 years ago.

Notice the words 'blood' and 'flesh' here.

The blood was meant to protect God's people from judgment on that night (Exodus 12:12-13). As a believer in the New Covenant, Jesus' blood protects and covers you from the judgment of sin. All your sins have been punished when Jesus died for you on the cross. This speaks of forgiveness.

The flesh was meant to be eaten to give strength and sustenance through the Israelites' journey. In fact, Psalm 105:37 says 'there was none feeble among His tribes' after the Lord's Passover! As a believer in the New Covenant, Jesus' body was broken so that yours can be made whole. By His stripes, you were healed. This speaks of healing.

The sacrificial lamb in Exodus 12:7-9 therefore served 2 purposes:
(a) The blood protected God's people from the judgment.
(b) The flesh provided God's people with health, strength, and sustenance for their journey ahead.

Likewise, as a believer in the New Covenant, the communion you partake serves these 2 purposes as well:
(a) The 'juice' you partake (representing Jesus' blood) is to remind you that your sins have been forgiven.
(b) The 'bread' you partake (representing Jesus' body) is to remind you that your body has been made whole.

Believe for both every time you partake the communion, because you are meant to walk in His forgiveness, health and wholeness every day! Amen.

He can turn your 'ashes' into 'beauty'!

2011-06-13T23:55:00.001+08:00

Isaiah 61:1a, 3 (NKJV) says, 'The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me (Jesus), because the Lord has anointed Me... to console those who mourn in Zion, to give them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning..."

I was fascinated by the words 'beauty for ashes' here. And wow, you know what? The Bible says God can turn your 'ashes' into something of a 'beauty'!

What does the word 'ashes' mean to you? In the Old Covenant, 'ashes' normally speaks of 'mourning'. People put 'ashes' on themselves in times of fasting or mourning. The Oxford Dictionary defines 'ashes' as 'powder that remains after something has been destroyed by burning.' And there's definitely no more beauty in 'ashes'! To me, 'ashes' are the only thing left when one's 'dream' goes up in smoke! 'Ashes' are as good as 'useless'. Hopeless! Gone! Blown away by the wind! That's the impression I have about 'ashes'. And that's why I was fascinated with Isaiah 61:3, when God says He can give 'beauty' for 'ashes'!

Have there been any 'dream' turned into 'ashes' in your life? Maybe you've been wishing for a blissful marriage, but it turned out the opposite. Or maybe it's a dream friendship, a dream health, a dream business, or a dream career. Whatever it may be, I believe God can turn things for you, and He'll do it in His ways (because His ways are always higher than ours). And that's when we can hope. One thing I know for sure is God has turned 'ashes' into 'beauty' many times in my life, and I've learned to hope. And this hope is in God (see Psalm 71:5, Psalm 42:11, Psalm 43:5), not in flesh. When you put your hope in certain human, organization, institution, etc, you are bound to be disappointed. But when you put your hope in God, the Bible says in Romans 5:5, 'hope does not disappoint'.

In Hebrew, the word 'hope' is 'tiqvah', which actually means 'cord, attachment'. Can you imagine a foetus' umbilical cord attached (from the navel) to the mother's placenta? That's the only means of supply from the mother to the baby while in the womb. And that's how God taught me to 'picture' what 'hope' is! In the same way, God always wants to 'supply' you with His kindness and goodness, because He so loves you.

By the way, hoping in God is not a 'self-infused' presumption. When you hope in Him, you are letting Him be Him, doing it His way, not your way. One example is in Joseph's life (see Genesis 37). His 'dream' turned into 'ashes' when he tried to 'achieve' it in his own way, and before God's timing. His situation then went from bad to worse - being thrown into the pit, being sold as slave, and even ended up in prison. But when he came to 'nothing', letting go of his own ways and letting God be God, that's when God took over! And in His way, God eventually led Joseph in realizing the dream given to him.

Another example of how God gave 'beauty' for 'ashes' is in the life of Naomi. Read all the four chapters of the book of Ruth, and you'll know. A 'dream' start for Naomi went up in smoke when her husband died, followed by her two sons, and all these happened in a foreign land (see Ruth 1:1-5). In the culture she lived in, that was a blow! You see, in those days, people honored women with children; but hers were all dead. Also, in those days, women were dependent on their husbands; but she became a widow. And if that's not bad enough, she's an 'outsider' with no inheritance in a foreign land! No wonder when she finally returned to her homeland 'empty-handed', she even told the people not to call her 'Naomi' anymore (see Ruth 1:19-21). By the way, 'Naomi' in Hebrew means 'beauty', and she thought there's no more 'beauty' whatsoever in her life anymore, nothing but hopeless & 'ashes'!

Or so she thought.

But God did turn things around for her, and by His divine appointment, her 'foreigner' daughter-in-law, Ruth happened to meet up with Boaz, a man of great wealth, and a relative of Naomi's husband. The rest, of course, was history. One divine 'chance' happening led to another, and to cut a long story short, Boaz eventually became the kinsman-redeemer, also taking Ruth as his wife, and a son was born (see Ruth 4:13-16). Indeed, God has never forgotten Naomi.

When Jesus died on the cross for you some 2,000 years ago, He has also become your 'kinsman-redeemer', just as Boaz was to Naomi! Know that you have been redeemed from every form of curse and shame as well. 'Boaz' here in the Old Testament is a 'picture' of Jesus Christ Himself. Interestingly, 'Boaz' means 'pillar' in Hebrew. Indeed, Jesus IS your 'pillar of hope' today, and so, no matter what situation you may be facing at the moment, know that He can turn your 'ashes' into 'beauty' again.

Hope in Him.

He teaches you to profit!

2011-06-06T07:49:00.002+08:00

Isaiah 48:17 (NKJV): Thus says the Lord, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: "I am the Lord your God, who teaches you to profit, who leads you by the way you should go."

Notice the word 'profit' here. It is 'yaal' in Hebrew, which means 'to ascend, to be valuable, to be useful, to be benefited, set forward, have profit, be profitable'. Wow! And because you've been redeemed, God wants you to 'yaal' as well!

You know what it means here? He wants to teach you to 'ascend' in your career, business, ministry, etc. He wants to teach you to 'be valuable' in what you do or who you are in your organization! As the redeemed of the Lord, you are meant to 'yaal'! So, if you are working in an organization, He teaches you to 'go up' (ascend) the 'success ladder'. And if you are a team player in your organization, He teaches you to be the MVP (Most Valuable Player)! And He'll lead you by the way you should go!

And today, this is for you to receive as a believer! And as He teaches and leads you to 'yaal', others will somehow take notice or ask the secret of your success, and that's when the name of the Lord is glorified! Because "Jesus has redeemed me!", and because "Jesus taught me and led me so!" Amen!

The way to 'ascend' is to 'profit' others. In Matthew 10:8, notice the phrase 'freely you have received, freely you give'. Here, Jesus was talking to His disciples in the context of His enabling & spiritual gifts (i.e. "and as you go, preach...", "heal the sick", "cleanse the lepers", "raise the dead", "cast out demons"). The disciples were asked to use freely all that He has imparted and given them! Not withholding, but freely give! When I was a schoolboy, a teacher used to say this: "The secret of happiness is to bring happiness to others". Later on, I learned the acronym of the word 'JOY', 'Jesus, others, yourself', in that sequence. To have real joy is to be Jesus-conscious, fixing your eyes on Him and all that He's done for you on the cross, and as you behold Him more and more (& knowing how much He loves you), this will in turn flow out to others.

One example of 'selflessness' I read was about one of Kathryn Kuhlman's healing meetings. Prompted by the Holy Spirit, she began asking the 'less sick' to start praying for the 'more sick', and when the crowd began 'looking away from their own needs' and start praying for others' needs, healings and miracles began taking place all over! Even those who prayed for others got healed themselves! Praise the Lord!

Paul put it aptly when he wrote about spiritual gifts, "But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all" (1 Corinthians 12:7 NKJV). 'For the profit of all' here is even clearer in KJV version, i.e. 'to profit all', and this word 'to profit' in Greek is 'sumphero', which means 'to contribute, to bring advantage to others, to bring profit to others'. Notice it's never meant 'to judge or condemn' others! Notice also it is 'to bring advantage to others', not 'taking advantage of others'!

People of God, you 'profit' (yaal) by 'profiting' others. The Lord will definitely know how to promote you in due season, for 'promotion doesn't come from the east, west, or south' (Psalm 75:6), but it comes from the Lord. Leave this part to Him.

So, whatever spiritual gift, talent, etc you have received freely from the Lord, let it flow out to bless others. 1 Corinthians 12:8-10 is a list of spiritual gifts given by the Holy Spirit. Certain gifts may be expressed more frequently through you, but it is He who distributes to each one individual as He wills (1 Corinthians 12:11). You may even have operated some of these without realizing it in the past! Your blessing others can also be in the area of your acquired knowledge, wisdom, skills, talents, finance, or any other resources you have. All in all, the Lord will definitely teach you to 'yaal'! Amen!

Jesus' agony at garden of Gethsemane, the beginning of your restoration

2011-05-29T21:42:00.002+08:00

Luke 22:44 (NKJV): And being in agony, Jesus prayed more earnestly. Then His sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground.

This verse recorded the physical condition of Jesus just before He was arrested, written by Luke, a physician (medical doctor). Recently, I was reading 'laterally' (side-ways) the records of all four gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John) about what happened at the garden of Gethsemane, and it seemed only Luke wrote about such physical condition (sweat mixed with blood). And if you know Luke's writings enough, you'd know he's rather detailed in his many descriptions, especially on one's physical condition. That's definitely a trait of a good doctor! And I believe he certainly knew what he was writing in Luke 22:44. I checked with a practising medical doctor, and asked if such condition in this verse is possible, and she described it this way: "If this was to happen, there's got to be such intense pressure and agony on Jesus, so much so His blood capillaries burst!"

And that was only the beginning of Jesus' suffering. His agony continued all the way until He died on the cross days later. And through those days, He was 'beaten' in every possible way; spirit, soul, and body. He was insulted, ridiculed, mocked, humiliated, stripped, whipped, wounded, pierced; you name it, and He'd gone through it! People of God, there's definitely no suffering of yours that He can't identify with. He has carried them all, and that's the very reason why He came on earth, just for you!

'Gethsemane' in Hebrew comes from two words, 'Geth' which means 'wine-press/tread the grapes, a vat/container for holding the grapes in pressing them', and 'Shemen' which means 'oil, especially liquid (as from olive)'. Like a fresh olive fruit, Jesus was 'squeezed out' of all His 'oil' till He got 'dried up' at the cross, so you can be 'full' again! And all these began at the garden of Gethsemane. This 'oil' is a 'picture' of His joy and anointing that are meant for you to receive.

Let's now go right back to Genesis 2:1-2, a 'picture' of what God has originally meant for mankind. After six days of creation, God said, "Thus the heavens and the earth, and all the host of them, were finished. And on the seventh day, God ended His work which He had done, and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had done." And then, Genesis 2:15 says, "Then the Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to tend and keep it." You know what that means? Adam and Eve was supposed to enjoy their God-given 'garden'! The Bible says they were to 'tend and keep it', not strive and toil in it! And they were supposed to be filled with joy and blessings in the 'garden'! That's the real thing, the original thing, the perfect, complete, finished work of God for them! In fact, the word 'Eden' in Hebrew means 'delight, pleasure, goodness'.

Beloved, it has always been God's delight & pleasure to see you enjoy the 'garden' He's given you! This 'garden' speaks of His destiny or calling for your life!

However, things went all wrong the moment Adam and Eve began 'coveting' for more. And the serpent ('picture' of satan) was there to imply that God's 'perfect' work for Adam and Eve was not 'perfect' enough! They soon fell into those lies, and eventually got 'cast out' of their Eden (Genesis 3:23). As a consequence, instead of enjoying their God-given 'garden', Adam & Eve finally saw themselves 'toiling & tilling' (outside the 'garden'), and there's also much striving then on, even in their off-spring.

That's why Jesus came.

And His agony marked the beginning of God's restoration for you and me, to a place you are originally meant to be, a place of His blessings and joy. Know that He has already done it for you some 2,000 years ago, beginning from Gethsemane till the moment He said, "It is finished!", and when His head was bowed (a 'picture' of resting) on the cross (John 19:30). The 'door' has indeed been opened again, and in this 'garden' is all His goodness and blessings for you to receive again! Amen.

Count it all joy!

2011-05-22T21:02:00.002+08:00

Count it all joy when you face various trials! That's what James 1:2 says. In fact, in Greek, the meaning of 'trials' in this verse here is 'adversity'. So, I can read it this way: "Count it all joy when you face various adversities!" People of God, let me say this: Adversities don't come from God! The origin of 'adversities' is the 'adversary', and he's none other than the devil!

I hear the Lord assuring you that 'He will never leave you nor forsake you' (Hebrews 13:5), no matter what you've been facing recently. In fact, He wants you to know that He has always been with you, and if He is with you, who can be against you? (Romans 8:31)

Let's now go to Daniel chapter 3. Here, you'd see how Daniel's three friends, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego stood firm on God and not bow down to the gold image as commanded by King Nebuchadnezzar. Yes, even if they knew the risk of being thrown into the fiery furnace (Daniel 3:15-18). The king later became so furious with them he commanded for the furnace to be seven times hotter! And the fire was so hot it even killed the men who took up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego! (Daniel 3:22) Not only that, he ordered for them to be bound with their own clothings before being thrown into the furnace. Now, all these would have caused some to retract and give in. But that's not the case for Daniel's friends! Indeed they have the revelation of Jesus, and they knew what they were doing!

And that's when God showed up! In Daniel 3:24-25, the king was astonished with what he saw, and he said, "Did we not cast three men bound into the midst of the fire?" He then said further, "Look! Now I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire; and they are not hurt, and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God." And this fourth person was none other than Jesus Himself!

Maybe you are in the midst of a challenge, a trial, an adversity at the moment (even though you know you've been walking in what God has spoken to you). It can be in any area of your life, maybe in your working place, or even in your ministry. But take heart, my friend. As a believer, know that He is still with you right now. In fact, He has always been (and will always be) with you, never leaving you nor forsaking you. And though you may be 'bound' in a 'difficult' situation at the moment, He'll lead you to walk 'loose' again, just as Daniel's three friends were! Will you take Him at His Word? Believing, you'll receive. And will you keep looking to Him in such a time?

And you know what? In the end, the king finally acknowledged the YHWH whom Daniel's three friends served, and they were eventually promoted (Daniel 3:30). People of God, He'll also lead you through every 'adversity' of yours (no matter how/what the devil may have 'thrown' at you recently), and that's why James said, "Count it all joy", because your 'promotion' is also on the way! Praise God!

Finally, let's now go to Mark 4:35-41. Here, Jesus was in a boat (with His disciples) crossing over to 'the other side' when a big storm came, and the boat was about to sink. Notice Jesus was still asleep even when the storm came! You know what? He, the Prince of Peace, was never at all 'affected' by the storm! See? He wasn't even awoken by the storm! Guess what awoke Him then? No, not because the storm got from bad to worse! He was awoken when He heard the 'cry' of His own (disciples). Today, He's the same to you (for He is the same yesterday, today, and forever). He hears your 'cry' too, because He calls you His own!

See? He has never been 'affected' by whatever 'storm' (big or small) the devil may have come up with! That's never a problem to Him at all!

Is there any 'storm' He cannot calm in your life today?

Beloved, like a loving parent to a child, He also 'awakes' when you start looking to Him & calling out to Him! And you know what, the storm calmed down (Mark 4:39) at His words ("Peace, be still!"), and just as the disciples, you'll also reach your 'the other side' (your 'destiny') as well, safe and sound. Amen!

Coming to 'nothingness' of self

2011-05-15T19:12:00.005+08:00

Hebrew 11:6 (NKJV): But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for He who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

What does the word 'faith' means here? As I was doing my study, the Lord began to show me what it means, i.e. 'coming to nothingness of self/flesh'. It's about being in total reliance on Him (& not on our flesh or self-effort). It means when we 'come to nothingness of self/flesh', we allow ourselves to die to our own ability to 'achieve' our desires/goals. Instead, we look to His ability working in us (& through us). Paul put it aptly in Galatians 2:20 when he said, 'I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.'

How about the words 'please Him' here? It is 'euaresteo' in Greek, from the word 'euarestos' which means 'fully agreeable'. So, Hebrews 11:6a can be understood this way: "But without coming to nothingness of self/flesh, it is impossible to be fully agreeable with Him." Being 'fully agreeable with Him' is to be 'in harmony with Him', or 'flowing with His will' for you, thus, allowing Him to bear fruit through you (in His way).

Let's look at the life of Moses now. For the first 40 years in his life, the Bible says he was 'learned in all the wisdom of the Egyptians ('picture' of the world), and was mighty in words (eloquence in speech) and deeds'. But when he tried to 'deliver' the Israelites by his own hand (own way & effort), things went awry, and he had to flee to the land of Midian. Nothing significant seemed to happen after that, and it seemed like he has lost everything, including his God-given destiny!

And by the time God appeared to him 40 years on, he had nothing but a rod in his hand (Exodus 4:2), and even then, God asked him to cast it down on the ground! (Exodus 4:3) He had come to 'nothingness' of himself by then, and he even lost his eloquence of speech (Exodus 4:10), and just before that, he also said, "Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh, and that I should bring the children of Israel out of Egypt?" (Exodus 3:11) You see, when he thought he had 'nothing left in him' anymore, that's when God thinks he's ready! God then said, "I AM WHO I AM"! He wanted Moses to know that 'HE IS', and He is able if he would let Him be!

When you come to a realization that 'you cannot by your own strength', that's when He can!

Beloved, maybe things have not seemed good for you recently, but because He is in you (& will never leave you nor forsake you), all things will work for good to you! (Romans 8:28) And of course you don't have to go through the 40 years Moses went through. But will you let go of your way & let Him have His way? Will you also let your 'seed' die & be buried? (like Moses cast his rod on the ground) And when the Lord begins to 'water' your seed, that's when it'll germinate, sprout, and bear fruit! Notice the 'rod' was never the same again when Moses was asked to pick it up. This 'seed' (or 'rod' in Moses' case) is a 'picture' of your calling & destiny in life. And the rest, of course, was history! Moses went on to fulfill his God-given destiny, by His leading & grace. Praise the Lord! And God can do likewise for yours too! Amen.

The 'new' has replaced the 'old'

2011-05-04T10:19:00.004+08:00

1 Samuel 1:24-25 (NKJV): 'Now when Hannah had weaned Samuel, she took him up with her, with three bulls, one ephah of flour, and a skin of wine, and brought him to the house of the Lord in Shiloh. And the child was young. Then they slaughtered a bull, and brought the child to Eli (the priest).'

Samuel's ministry began with a sacrifice. It's a ministry full of the cross. The slaughtered bull is a 'picture' of Jesus being sacrificed on the cross, while the flour (to make bread) and the wine are 'pictures' of Jesus' body broken and blood shed on the cross. So, his ministry then was a 'picture' of the New Covenant that was to come!

If you read 1 Samuel chapters 1, 2 & 3, you'll see 'pictures' of how the New Covenant replaces the Old Covenant. Samuel represents the 'new' while Eli's sons (Hophni and Phinehas) represent the 'old'.

Let's look at the difference between Samuel and Eli's sons first. 'Samuel' means 'heard of God' in Hebrew, and he was born of Hannah, which means 'find grace/favor'. Today, as a believer in the New Covenant, you have also 'found grace/favor' because you are in Christ. And while Samuel continued to grow in stature, and in favor of God and men (1 Samuel 2:26), and while he continued ministering before the Lord (1 Samuel 2:18), Eli's sons continued to live in their corrupted ways (1 Samuel 2:12). By the way, 'Hophni' (Chophniy) comes from the word ‘fist’ in Hebrew, while 'Phinehas' comes from two Hebrew words, i.e. ‘peh’ meaning ‘mouth’; and ‘nachash’ meaning ‘serpent'. So, ‘Phinehas’ means ‘mouth of serpent' or 'mouth of judgment'. Theirs was a ministry of condemnation and punishment. But the good news is in the New Covenant (which is also called covenant of grace), Jesus has already carried all your judgment (or condemnation) on the cross, and there's therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ (Romans 8:1).

1 Samuel 2:34-35 then says, 'Now this shall be a sign to you (Eli) that will come upon your two sons, on Hophni and Phinehas, in one day they shall die, both of them. Then I will raise up for Myself a faithful priest who shall do according to what is in My heart and in My mind. I will build him a sure house, and He shall walk before My anointed (Messiah) forever.' People of God, the 'new' has replaced the 'old', and the Bible says this 'new' has made the 'old' obsolete (Hebrews 8:13).

Let's now look at the contrast between the nature of these two ministries. An Old Covenant ministry is a ministry that 'hits', 'whacks', 'judges', and 'condemns' the 'sheep', whereas a New Covenant ministry is a ministry that keeps feeding and unveiling Jesus in all His loveliness and perfection of His work on the cross. In fact, when Jesus restored Simon Peter back to ministry, He said to him, "Feed My sheep." (see John 21:17) He never said, "Hit My sheep." In short, a New Covenant ministry is a ministry full of the revelation of Jesus at the cross. Never get yourself 'mixed up' between the two.

This change of covenant has already happened on the cross some 2,000 years ago. The cross has indeed made all the difference! So friends, it's important to know & understand which covenant (or ministry) you are in as a believer today.

Those who are in Christ have also His Life!

2011-04-25T23:01:00.002+08:00

Luke 24:1-3 (NKJV): Now on the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they (the women who came from Galilee) and certain other women with them, came to the tomb bringing the spices which they had prepared. But they found the stone rolled away from the tomb. Then they went in and did not find the body of the Lord Jesus.

And as the women were still greatly perplexed, two men stood by them in shining garments and said to them, “Why do you seek the living among the dead?” (see Luke 24:4-5)

JESUS IS ALIVE!

People of God, know that He can 'resurrect' any ‘dead’ area of your life as well! Maybe it's a ‘lost’ dream, or a ‘dead’ dream, a dream you 'used to believe' (or have received). Or maybe it's something you have long given up hope of, even though you knew it was God who has begun it, given it, or spoken to you about it.

Take heart, my friend. In Christ, there's always hope! Because He is alive, everything 'dead’ in your life can be made 'alive' again through Him. You see, He is not just the way, and the truth, but He is also the LIFE! (see John 14:6) In John 11:25-26, Jesus Himself said, “I AM the resurrection and the life”, and He went on to say, “Whoever lives and believes in Me (i.e. in Christ) shall never die.” Will you take Him at His Word? The Bible says heaven and earth will pass away, but His Word will still remain (Matthew 24:35). In John 11:25-26, Jesus was actually responding to Martha, Lazarus' sister. Lazarus was already dead 4 days by then, his body rotting, and there was already a stench. But even in the most impossible situation, and just as everyone has already 'given up hope' of seeing Lazarus alive again, Jesus did the 'unthinkable' and called out, “Lazarus, come forth!”

And then in 1 Samuel chapters 1 & 2, Hannah’s ‘dead’ womb was ‘resurrected’ & ‘made alive’ again when she cried out to the Lord. The Lord did hear her cry, 'touched' her womb, and later on, Samuel was born! In fact, the name ‘Samuel’ means ‘Heard by God'. Hannah has indeed found grace in God! The name ‘Hannah’ in Hebrew actually means ‘find grace’ or ‘find favor’. The Bible then says Hannah 'rejoiced in God’s salvation’ (1 Samuel 2:1) because her 'dead' (womb) has become 'alive' and borne 'fruit'! The word ‘salvation’ here is translated in Hebrew as ‘Yeshuwah’, which means ‘Jesus’. Praise the Lord! Everything Jesus touched became 'alive' again, because HE IS the LIFE! And not only that, Hannah went on to give birth to 5 more children after that! Glory be to God! Jesus truly is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think of (Ephesians 3:20). Amen!

Friends, do you see it now? Everything Jesus touched became ‘alive’ again! In the Old and in the New Testament alike. And those who are in Christ have also HIS LIFE! It's the same for you today! He is indeed the same yesterday, today, and forever (Hebrews 13:8). Believing, you'll receive.

Stay rested in the 'ark'!

2011-04-19T10:06:00.001+08:00

Genesis 6:18 says, "...go into the ark..." That's what God spoke to Noah before the 'great flood'. And then in Genesis 7:1, the Lord also said this, "Come into the ark, you and all your household, because I have seen that you are righteous before Me in this generation."

Today, as the righteousness of God in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:21), the Lord is calling you to get in & remain in His 'ark' as well!

Let's look at the name Noah first. It's called 'Nuwach' in Hebrew, which means 'to rest, being quiet, settled down, comforted'. In short, 'Noah' means 'to rest'. In fact, his name 'Noah' was given prophetically by his father Lamech after he was born, saying, "This one will comfort us concerning our work and the toil of our hands, because of the ground which the Lord has cursed." (see Genesis 5:29)

How about the word 'ark'? 'Ark' is 'tebah' in Hebrew which means 'box', and the Lord asked Noah to build it with 'gopherwood' (like cypress wood) that's normally used to build house. So, this is a 'picture' of 'God's house', and we also know that the 'ark of the covenant' in the Old Testament is also a 'picture' of Jesus Himself, the King of Glory.

'Noah' is a 'picture' of you, and the 'ark' is a 'picture' of Christ.

So, when the Lord asked Noah to get into the 'ark', it's like today, God is calling you to 'find rest' in Christ, your 'ark'. And when you are in Christ, you are safe, even if the world around you is full of 'storms'! This happened to Noah too during his time! He just needed to 'rest' or get settled down in the 'ark', no matter what happened outside (i.e. the 'tsunamis', 'torrential rain', 'earthquakes', 'thunderstorms', 'troubles' or 'judgments' outside the 'ark').

"Pastor, you ask me to 'live in a box'? That's too small and narrow a thing!" My friend, this 'one' is no ordinary 'box'! This 'box' is in fact larger than 'heaven and earth put together'! Genesis 14:19 says He is the Possessor of heaven and earth, the Most High God! That's who Christ is! He is also omnipotent, omnipresent, and omniscient! So, if you end up in Mars, He's there! If you go to Jupiter, He's also there! And if there's a technology that flies you to the sun, He's there as well! That's how great He is!

People of God, like Noah in his time, remain rested in the 'ark' (i.e. in Christ), no matter what happens in this end-time. The Bible says Noah 'found grace in the eyes of the Lord' (Genesis 6:8). Today, you have also found grace (because of what Christ has already done for you on the cross). And when you are in Him, whatever 'waves' or 'storms' cannot 'touch' you! And even if you 'fall down' (due to the 'raging seas' outside you), you fall down inside the 'ark'! Praise God, you can stand up again because you are still in Him! Know also that He will not get you 'thrown out'! (unless you choose to 'throw yourself out') I've checked the Scripture, and there was no mention of Noah suffering any 'lack' or 'trouble' whilst 'in the ark'! In fact, Genesis 7:23 says 'only Noah and those in the ark' remained 'alive'! People of God, ONLY IN CHRIST, you are truly 'safe' and 'alive'! There's nowhere else! (John 14:6)

Beloved, as a believer, always know and remind yourself that 'you are in the ark'. Bring every aspect of your life (i.e. marriage, health, finance, business, ministry, career, etc) into this 'ark' as well! And the moment you know you are in the 'ark' (i.e. in Christ), know that there's no more 'pain', no more 'sorrow', and no more 'death'. Know that old things have passed away and all things have become new (2 Corinthians 5:17, Revelation 21:4-6), and don't wait till heaven! You can experience His goodness and blessing even right now on earth! Yes, you can, because you are already in Christ!

I end with this: If anyone IS (present tense) in Christ, he IS (now) a new creation. Old things have passed away, and all things have become new (2 Corinthians 5:17).

And by the time the door of the 'ark' was opened, what Noah saw was a (beautiful) 'rainbow' (Genesis 9:13). Beloved of God, stay in the 'ark' too, till you see your 'rainbow', and that's when you meet Him at His throne (Revelation 4:3).

Washing of water by the Word

2011-04-11T13:43:00.005+08:00

John 13:5 (NKJV): After that, Jesus poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and wipe them with the towel with which He was girded.

This verse speaks of Jesus washing your 'feet' (i.e. your daily walk) with the ‘water’ of His Word. The word ‘water’ here represents ‘His Word that sanctifies & washes you clean’. In cross reference, Ephesians 5:26 says, ‘that He might sanctify and cleanse her (i.e. His people/church) with the washing of water by the Word'.

The word ‘towel’ here is ‘lention’ in Greek, which means ‘linen cloth’, and ‘linen’ represents ‘righteousness’ (see Revelation 19:8). Isaiah 61:10 says ‘you are clothed with the robe of righteousness’. So, as Jesus wiped the disciples' feet with this ‘linen cloth’, it is a ‘picture’ of Jesus’ righteousness 'rubbing' on them.

‘Feet’ here speaks of your 'daily walk', and often, our feet can get ‘dusty’ or dirty as we walk in the 'streets'. This applies to your ‘spiritual walk’ as well. ‘Dust’ speaks of ‘stains’ or 'sins' in your daily walk, and the Bible says 'dust' attracts the ‘serpent’ (see Genesis 3:14). And as the ‘stains’ gather on your ‘feet’, the devil (represented by the 'serpent') would find every opportunity to ‘bite you’ & ‘knock you off’ (i.e. accusing, condemning, and heaping all kinds of guilt in you). And you know what? The devil wants you down & out, and he wants you to know how 'rotten' a Christian you are, and at the end of the day, he wants you defeated, 'stolen, killed, destroyed' of your God-given destiny!

People of God, never let the devil 'wreak havoc' in your life any longer!

Now is your time to keep feeding on His Word, and let Him wash you with the ‘water of His Word’ every day. You are never too 'filthy' for Him to wash you again. Keep holding on to His Word. Listen to preachings that are full of Jesus & His perfect work on the cross! Let His Word continue to speak to you every day! Remind yourself always of who you are in Christ! And if the Word says in Christ, you are already forgiven & made righteous, blessed, healed, prosperous, and redeemed from every curse, then take Him at His Word, believe and receive! And that's how the devil is defeated right before your eyes, and victory has become yours again!

No wonder In John 13:8, Jesus said this, “If I do not wash you, you have no part with Me.” In other words, He's saying this: “If you want to walk with Me victoriously as My disciple & partner (& have a part in My kingdom plan), let me ‘wash your feet’ first.” Amen!

"In righteousness, you shall be established!"

2011-04-08T19:13:00.009+08:00

Isaiah 54:14: In righteousness you shall be established; you shall be far from oppression, for you shall not fear; and you shall be far from terror, for it shall not come near you.

This was prophesied by the prophet Isaiah some 700 years before Christ died on the cross. Today, as a believer in the New Covenant, you can say, "In righteousness I am now (already) established!", because He has already done it for you on the cross some 2,000 years ago! In cross-reference, 2 Corinthians 5:21 says, "For He made Him (Christ) who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him (Christ)."

What does 'righteousness of God in Christ' mean? It means 'in Christ, you are now in right standing with God'. In other words, there's no more animosity between God and you, because of what Christ has done for you on the cross. It also means 'God is not angry with you anymore' (see Isaiah 54:9) because all the wrath (anger) of God against your sins have been satisfied & punished on the body of Jesus at the cross!

Isaiah 54:17d also says 'your righteousness is from God'. It means you cannot become 'righteous' by your own deeds and efforts, but you can only be 'righteous' through Christ. It's a gift from God (Romans 5:17), and only to be received by faith.

I love to read Isaiah 53, 54, and 55 together as one. It always reminds me of Jesus' perfect work on the cross (Isaiah 53) so that I am now made 'righteous' through Him (Isaiah 54), and in turn, let it 'flow to others' so they are 'filled' as well (Isaiah 55)! In short, Isaiah 53 leads to Isaiah 54, and then in turn leads to Isaiah 55. It's a continuation.

Isaiah 55:1 then says, "Everyone who thirsts; come to the waters; and you who have no money; come, buy and eat. Yes, come, buy 'wine' and 'milk' without money and price." Here, Isaiah was talking about God's free gift of His salvation & righteousness, because Somebody has paid the full price for it (at the cross)! Your thirst for God's righteousness has already been 'satisfied' through Christ! Not only that, in Him, you also receive the fullness of His joy ('wine' in this verse is a 'picture' of His joy) and His love ('milk' here is a 'picture' of His love/affection). For a record, Jesus 'turned water into wine' on a 'joyous' wedding occasion (John 2:9), and 'bosom'/'breast' in the Scripture speaks of God's love (John 13:23).

And you know what? There was actually an 'exchange' done on the cross between Jesus and you. Your 'thirst' for righteousness was 'quenched' when Jesus forsook His, as He said, "I thirst!" on the cross (John 19:28). His righteousness has been 'imputed' on you, and so, instead of you 'thirst', He 'thirst'! He did it so you can now be 'clothed with the robe of righteousness' (Isaiah 61:10). It means His righteousness was forsaken, so you can now be made righteous through Him!

And as He 'thirst', the Roman soldiers dealt Him a last cruel blow by giving Him sour wine (vinegar/a form of 'acid') to drink, thinking that He was 'thirsty for water'. This was in fact a form of cruelty (and sarcasm) instead of showing genuine concern (note: you don't give someone vinegar/acid to drink when he/she is thirsty for water!). So, not only Jesus suffered 'indescribable' wounds (Isaiah 53:2) on His outer body, imagine those 'acid' burning through His wounded lips, dry esophagus, stomach, and intestine in His inner body! And this was in addition to some six hours of being nailed on the cross (with non-stop bleeding)! He then finally said, "It is finished!" His work was finally done (John 19:30, Revelation 21:6), and He did it just for you (for He knows you by name), because He loves you so dear.

Entering a phase of 'enlarging'

2011-04-07T11:28:00.000+08:00

Isaiah 54:2(NKJV): "Enlarge the place of your tent, and let them stretch out the curtains of your dwellings; Do not spare; Lengthen your cords, and strengthen your stakes."

As you enter a new phase in your life, the Lord is also bringing you to a place of 'enlarging'. He is not a 'diminishing' God. He is a God who 'expands' and 'enlarges' you, till you see all your God-given destinies fulfilled. In Isaiah 54:4, the Lord also says, "Do not fear, for you will not be ashamed; neither be disgraced, for you will not be put to shame; For you will forget the shame of your youth (younger days), and will not remember the reproach of your 'widowhood' anymore." These are His words of assurance as He leads you into a new phase. It's a fresh one. It's a new one. And it's definitely a better one! People of God, old things have passed away, and behold, all things have become new (2 Corinthians 5:17).

I was ministering to someone recently, and I saw a vision of 'a beautiful young, fresh, green shoot (of plant) sprouting out from the soil'. I asked the Lord what it means, and He simply said these words, "Fresh. Young. Green". Amen! And yes, a new start is taking place! It's your time to let go of those 'shames' in the past. It's your time to let go of those 'reproaches' in the past. The days of the 'swarming locusts' (that may have eaten up your God-given zeal, courage, and destiny) are over! The Lord is resurrecting those areas of your life, and take heart, He surely hasn't forgotten you. Give these areas to the Lord again! There's a fresh touch, and there's a new start. I see Him 'touching' some of these areas now. To some of you, it may be your family relationships (parent-children, husband-wife, etc), and to some, it's your health that He's 'touching'. I also see the Lord reviving some careers, businesses and ministries, and He's 'touching' your finances afresh as well. Praise the Lord! Allow Him and receive in your spirit.

The Lord also brought my attention to these three words in Isaiah 54:2: Curtains, cords, and stakes.

Curtains: When there's a larger space, there'll be a larger stretch of curtains. There's an 'enlarging' in your spirit, and when your 'inside' is enlarged, your 'outside' will follow suit.

Cords: This speaks of your capacity to 'contain'. When there's a greater capacity to 'contain', it means the cords need to be lengthened as well. There's an 'enlarging' in your 'green pastures', and when your 'green pastures' is enlarged, more 'sheep' can come grazing and be fed. This applies to your business and ministries as well.

Stakes: This is like a 'nail', a 'picture' of God's Word (see Ecclesiastes 12:11) being strengthened in you. There's also an 'enlarging' in your understanding of His Word and in His things, and just as the 'stake' is being strengthened, there's also a strengthening (deepening) of your understanding of His Word and His things.

Amen!

Revived in His glory!

2011-03-28T22:22:00.005+08:00

Exodus 33:18 (NIV): Then Moses said, "Now show me Your glory."

Have you ever wondered why did Moses ask God to show him His glory (Exodus 33:18) at that juncture of his life? I did, and one day, God answered me with two words: 'down' & 'out'. As I was studying Exodus chapters 32, 33 & 34 again, I found it to be very true. Indeed, Moses was 'down' at that time, and his people was 'out'!

Let's go straight to Exodus 32 now. When Moses came down from Mount Sinai with the two tablets of God's writing (Exodus 32:16), his heart 'broke' and 'was shattered' when he saw how his own people bowed down and worshiped the gold calf they've recently made. He was also angered that these people had forgotten their very God (who miraculously brought them out of Egypt with great signs not long ago). Obviously he couldn't control his emotion, and he broke the tablets (Exodus 32:19-20). And that's not it yet! He then had to see how three thousand of his own people die by the sword, brothers killing brothers (Exodus 32:27-28). For a man with a shepherd's heart as he was, that was indeed a real big blow! He must have felt terrible, and he must have felt how much a failure he was (in leading God's people). It was definitely a time of 'spiritual low' in his life. Imagine just not too long ago, these dead were some of those who shouted and praised God with songs of victory after the incredible Red Sea crossing! In short, morale was at a low, the leader was 'down', and the people 'out'.

The Bible says at that juncture, Moses just wanted to be alone (Exodus 33:7-9) and away from his people.

Maybe you are now in a similar situation when 'nothing seems to be happening' in your life. Worse still, you have so far been disappointed, and your dreams never seem to come true. Or maybe you are feeling like a failure, thinking that you amount to nothing good. Or you are going through a 'spiritual low' and 'stagnancy' when nothing seems to be 'moving'.

Beloved, take heart. He has not forgotten you. In fact, if you would believe, He's going to 'show up' like you've never seen before.

Let's get back to Moses now. Exodus 33:12-16 says he was already at the 'end' of himself, not knowing what to do anymore. And if God would still not 'go with him', he'd rather not continue! That was indeed the turning point, and it was then that God said Moses had found favor (grace) in His sight. When you've reached a point when you can't by your own, that's when He can! It was then that God assured him: "My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest" (Exodus 33:14). He wanted Moses to know He hasn't forgotten him, and in fact, He was going to do something unprecedented for him. When Moses asked God to show him His glory, that was indeed a difficult request (as no man, sinful man as he is, can see God and still live; for in Him there's no sin, and the wages of sin is death). However, God in all His love and grace never said 'no' to Moses. He did open a 'way'. Today, you have this 'way' too! (see John 14:6) He then asked Moses to stand on the 'rock' (a 'picture' of Jesus), and as His glory ('kabowd' in Hebrew, meaning 'splendor, weight in a good sense, richness, His very presence') passed by, He'd put him in the cleft ('naqar' in Hebrew, meaning 'crack, pierce, thrust') of the rock and cover him (Exodus 33:21). This is a 'picture' of Jesus' body being broken & pierced on the cross, just for you. Moses saw ('raah' in Hebrew, meaning 'behold, enjoy, have experience of) God's glory! And you know what? Everything changed after that for him! Hallelujah!

Because of Jesus & what He's done for you on the cross, you'll always have hope!

He's reviving you now. He's resurrecting your lost dreams. He's breaking your 'stagnancy'. He's lifting you up from your 'doldrums'. He's breaking every curse that hinders you. And yes, He's bringing you 'life' again! Will you allow Him, the King of Glory (see Psalm 24) in? In spite of whatever wrong you've done in the past, and no matter how you've failed, you can still find grace (like Moses did), and yes, only in Christ your 'rock'. Will you look to Him again? He's a God of 'second chance' & He's opening a way for you again!

Now, as I end this writing, let's see what happened to Moses after that. After the 'glory encounter' at the 'rock', God did ask Moses to go up to Mount Sinai again, and with new tablets in his hands (Exodus 34:4). This time, as he came down from the mountain, things were completely different! Praise the Lord! The Bible says the skin of his face shone (Exodus 34:29-30), radiant & glorious. Nobody's bowing down to gold calf this time, nobody's lost in ungodly revelry, and of course, no anger and no breaking of tablets! A big change indeed, the people were ready, and God's words were released successfully!

Today, as a believer in the New Covenant, the glory of the Lord (& Jesus is the King of Glory) shall be released (& manifested) through you again, touching many more lives, just as in the Old Covenant, the law (which Jesus has already fulfilled perfectly some 2,000 years ago) was released through Moses in his day (Exodus 34:31-32).

Take one day at a time!

2011-03-22T12:53:00.001+08:00

Exodus 16:4a,b: Then the Lord said to Moses, "Behold, I will rain bread from heaven for you. And the people shall go out and gather every day..."

I recently heard these words, and then ministered to someone dear whom I know: "Just because your 'promised land' is not in sight yet, does not mean your 'promised land' never existed!" I believe this is also an assurance for you who are reading this. What is your 'promised land'? It may be a prophecy (that 'you know that you know' is from the Lord), a dream, or a vision that has yet to come to pass.

I then said this to that someone: "Take one day at a time first. Don't worry about your tomorrows. Enjoy your daily manna first, and keep walking."

You may have been asking this same question too: "Will I ever see the fulfillment of that prophecy/dream/vision in my life?" Beloved, never make the same mistakes that Moses' people made! Just because they didn't see any 'promised land' in sight yet, they began to doubt, murmur and complain (Exodus 16:2), when the fact and the truth was 'their promised land has already existed!"

"So, pastor, what should I do now while waiting?"

Exodus 16 brings us to this situation when Moses' people were in the 'wilderness', already out of their Egypt ('picture' of past bondage/hurts), but yet to see their 'promised land'. That was when the Lord spoke to Moses, "Behold, I will rain bread from heaven for you. And the people shall go out and gather a certain quota every day..." (Exodus 16:4). The Lord has promised to provide daily for the people, and then on the sixth day, the providence would be twice the normal amount (Exodus 16:5), so the people could rest from 'collecting' manna on the seventh day. Notice God was the One giving them their rest (Sabbath) on the seventh day (Exodus 16:26-30). The number '7' in Hebrew is a number for 'rest, completed work'. For example, God completed His creation work on the seventh day (see Genesis 2:1-2).

So, apart from taking one day at a time and not worry about your 'tomorrows' (Matthew 6:33-34), God has also given you rest on the seventh day, i.e. Sabbath (Exodus 16:29). Will you receive His rest? The secret to 'run and keep on running' (towards your 'promised land') without losing 'steam' is to take a day to rest (to receive refreshing from the Lord) every week. Put aside every form of 'busy-ness', and rest in Him & drink from Him. He is your 'spiritual R&R'. This is God's 'blueprint' for you. You'll then be refreshed and renewed for the week ahead!

And as you enjoy your 'daily manna' (i.e. receiving all the 'daily fresh' goodness of God in your every day life), know that His everyday blessing for you 'contains no worms in it and will not stink'! (Exodus 16:19-20) You know what? It's fresh! It's good! And it's new! The Bible says 'His mercy is new every morning', and no wonder the psalmist sang, 'This is the day the Lord has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it' (Psalm 118:24). Note that today's 'manna' is NOT for your tomorrow, lest it 'breeds worms and stinks'! (Exodus 16:19-20) Today's blessing is for you to enjoy and cherish today! The blessing can be good health, ideas, favor, wisdom, open doors, and the list goes on. (Note: having said all these, I'm not saying you don't plan for your tomorrows; but I'm saying you don't worry about your tomorrows)

So, people of God, in times when you haven't seen the manifestation of your 'promised land' yet, take heart. It doesn't mean God has forgotten you. In fact, He will never leave you nor forsake you. Complain not. Doubt not. Murmur not. Keep looking to Him. Let's learn from Moses' time. May you be the 'Joshuas' and the 'Calebs' of this end-time! Amen.

Be still, and know that He is God

2011-03-13T19:48:00.002+08:00

Psalm 46:10a: Be still, and know that I am God.

We are living in a time with many 'suddenlies', the end-time. With natural disasters one after another on one side, and political unrests in other parts of the world, we can only look to YHWH, the possessor of heaven and earth, and nowhere else.

Psalm 46:1-3 says, 'God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore, we will not fear, even though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; though it's waters roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with its swelling'.

But in spite of all the troubles we see in this end-time, Psalm 46 continues by giving us a real hope and answer. It says in Psalm 46:4: 'There is a river whose streams shall make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacle of the Most High'. This is a 'picture' of our 'Yeru-shalayim', which means 'a place founded in shalom peace, and flowing with river of waters' in Hebrew. See also Psalm 91:1-2. The one who dwells in the 'secret place' of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. Yeshua (YHWH saves) is your Prince of Peace, your refuge & your fortress; and 'the river of waters' here is always a 'picture' of His Spirit. Psalm 46 then ends with this assurance: 'Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth! The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge' (Psalm 46:10-11).

People of God, there's great hope in spite of what you hear in the media. The time has also come when 'the gospel (good news) of Jesus Christ is preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations' (Matthew 24:14), because only in Him is 'the way, the truth, and the life' (John 14:6), and only in Him can one find true rest and peace (Matthew 11:28-30).

And in a world of many 'suddenlies' nowadays, one tends to be anxious and uncertain with too many cares, worries, and concerns. But as a believer, Matthew 6:33-34 says it aptly, 'But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Therefore, do not worry...'

As you cast your cares (worries & concerns) to the Lord (see 1 Peter 5:7), you are like a soccer player passing the 'ball' to your team mate, your 'big brother' Jesus. Every player knows he is not to keep the 'ball' at his feet too long (even if he may have the best of skills), lest he'll be 'swarmed', 'cornered', and 'surrounded' by more and more opponent players! Pass it to Jesus! The opponent players here are an 'illustration' of the 'devil' who'll find every chance to 'devour' you (when the 'ball' is still at your feet). The devil will 'press you' & 'stress you'. But when the 'ball' is passed to Jesus, the devil cannot stand against Him. And that's how you become 'un-devour-able' (1 Peter 5:8) & 'un-drown-able' in this end-time. Hallelujah!

Beloved, in times like this, cast your every 'worry', 'care', 'anxiety', and 'concern' to Jesus, and be still (be at rest), knowing that He is still God. In Him, you find refuge & strength, and in Him, you receive your rest & peace (Matthew 11:28-30).

And finally, rest assured that He, the Lord of hosts, IS (present tense) always with you (Psalm 46:11). Amen!

Casting all your care upon Him

2011-03-07T19:29:00.001+08:00

1 Peter 5:7: Casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.

According to Webster's dictionary, 'to cast' means 'to throw'. So, whatever 'care' you face now, or whatever the devil 'throws' at you, 'cast all these upon Jesus', for He loves you and cares for you.

You may ask, "Just how much does God care for me?"

Matthew 10:30 says 'but the very hairs of your head are all numbered'. You know what? God cares for you so much and in such great detail, even the very number of your hair is counted! And as much as I love & care for my daughter Sophia (& hugging her, kissing her, smelling her hair, playing with her hair, etc), I've never thought of 'counting' the number of her hair! But God makes it a point to do so! In fact, He knows every 'minute' detail of every strand of her hair, precisely! That's how much He cares. And what more with any other areas of your life?

In Luke 10:30-35, Jesus shared a story of a good Samaritan on how much God cares. Here was a man who came down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and 'fell among the thieves'. He was robbed, stripped, wounded, and left half-dead (Luke 10:30). No one was willing to help; not even a priest or a Levite who passed by. But a certain Samaritan man then saw him and had compassion (Luke 10:33). So, he bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine; set him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him (Luke 10:34). Then, on the next day, he gave two denarii (two days' wages) and gave them to the innkeeper, and told him to take care of him till he's back (Luke 10:35).

Let me explain the meaning of all these.

The 'Samaritan' here is a 'picture' of Jesus Himself. Just as a Samaritan was despised and rejected by the Jews, Jesus was rejected by His own too! And 'Jerusalem' here is a 'picture' of 'a mountain' (in fact, in Hebrew, 'Yeru-sha-la-yim' means 'a city founded peaceful, flowing as waters', on a mountain, i.e. Mount Zion), while 'Jericho' is a 'picture' of 'a valley' (in fact, Jericho is near Dead Sea, the lowest point anywhere on earth at 1,300 feet below sea level). Whether you are at the 'mountain' or at the 'valley' of your life, God still cares for you (Psalm 23:4).

And even when you are 'down' (spiritually, emotionally, physically, etc) in your 'valley', He cares to 'bandage your wounds', pour His Spirit (i.e. 'oil'), and His joy (i.e. 'wine') on you. 'Oil' here is a 'picture' of the Holy Spirit, and 'wine' has to do with 'joy or celebration'. The Bible says He turns your mourning into dancing, sorrows into joy! Also, instead of you suffering, He suffered on the cross for you (Isaiah 53:3-6). That's what 'he set him on his own animal' means. Not only that, He brings you into a place of 'safety' (Psalm 91:1-2). Notice 'inn' here is a 'picture' of safety (thieves those days only 'attack' at the streets, but not in an 'inn'), and 'innkeeper' here is a 'picture' of angels. He gives His angels charge over you to keep you in all your ways (Psalm 91:10-12), so no evil shall befall you!

Because He cares for you so much, He’s willing to take all your cares upon Himself, big or small. There's really nothing too big or nothing too small (or trivial) for Him to handle.

Will you allow Him to ‘take over’ all those 'cares' of yours? Maybe you are facing a 'challenging' time at the moment. Or maybe it's an 'anxiety' or 'worry' over a business, career, or ministry decision. Whatever it may be, cast this care upon Jesus. 'To cast your care upon Him' is not 'being irresponsible', or 'running away from responsibilities'. After you've done 'your part', leave the rest to Him and let Him do His part. Cast it to Him & see His 'hand' take over. He'll always be, because the Bible says He is your 'ever present help' (Psalm 46:1). Amen!

Receive His shalom peace!

2011-02-28T19:33:00.000+08:00

John 14:27(NKJV): “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”.

Notice the words ‘leave’ and ‘give’ here. Just as a good parent leaves inheritance for his/her children, Jesus says this to you, “Peace I leave with you”, and “My peace I give to you”. And when there’s this word ‘give’, there’ll be someone who would ‘receive’. People of God, receive His peace. And this peace is not as the world gives, but the ‘shalom’ peace that only Jesus can give.

So, no matter what ‘storm’ you may be facing at the moment, know that the “I AM WHO I AM”, the ever-present God (YHWH) is in you, and everything’s going to be alright! Receive His peace (that surpasses all understanding) for your family, your ministry, your business, your career, or in any other area of your life. Remember Mark 4:37-39? There was a great storm surrounding the boat, but when Jesus, the Prince of Peace, arose and said “Peace, be still!”, the storm ceased, and all was calm again. Today, as a believer, this same Prince of Peace is in you right now, and when He is in you, again I say, "Everything's going to be alright!" He is the same yesterday, today, and forever (Hebrews 13:8).

Now let’s look at King Solomon in 1 Kings 5:3-5.

1 Kings 5:3: “You know how my father David could not build a house for the name of the Lord his God because of the wars which were fought against him on every side, until the Lord put his foes under the soles of his feet”.

1 Kings 5:4: “But now the Lord my God has given me rest on every side; there is neither adversary nor evil occurrence”.

1 Kings 5:5a: “And behold, I propose to build a house for the name of the Lord my God, as the Lord spoke to my father David”.

The Bible says Solomon had ‘peace’ on every side all around him (1 Kings 4:24). You see, David can’t ‘build’ God's house because he was a man of war, and was always fighting against the foes. But in peace and rest, Solomon could! 'Building a house for the name of the Lord' was definitely one of Solomon’s calling in his life, and the Bible says God gave him great wisdom to accomplish this ‘project’! (1 Kings 5:12)

In fact, the name ‘Solomon’ is ‘shlomoh’ in Hebrew, which means ‘peaceful’. And this word ‘shlomoh’ comes from the root word ‘shalom’, which means ‘peace, prosperity, health, rest, safe, wellness, wholeness’. In 1 Kings 5:3, notice that what David has done for Solomon is a ‘picture’ of what Jesus has done for you on the cross some 2,000 years ago! And just as David has fought all the battles so Solomon could 'build' God’s house in rest & peace, Jesus has also ‘fought all the battles’ for you on the cross, so now you have rest & peace to ‘build’ what God has called you to 'build'!

Let me reiterate this again: Because of what Jesus has done for you on the cross (His blood was shed for you, and His body was wounded for you), you can now receive His peace & you can now have rest in Him. The cross has made all the difference, and therefore, you’ll also be able to ‘build’ what God wants you to ‘build’ in your life! Hallelujah!

So, people of God, despite whatever 'storm' around you at the moment, or whatever 'bad news' you may have heard in recent days, this is the time to receive His shalom peace! Jesus says, "Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you". Let not your heart be troubled, nor let it be afraid. The devil may try to get you out of this place of 'peace & rest' so that you can’t ‘build’ what God wants you to 'build', but never allow him! Continue to stay in this place of ‘rest’! Continue to stay in this place of ‘shalom’ peace! And this can only be found in Christ Jesus, not as the world gives. Stop your striving, stop your worrying, and be at rest, be still and know that He is God, the Prince of Peace who is in you!

Not just 'believe', but also 'receive'!

2011-02-21T16:15:00.001+08:00

Mark 5:28: For she said, “If only I may touch His clothes, I shall be made well”.

Mark 5:34: And He (Jesus) said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace, and be healed of your affliction”.

Here’s a record in the Bible about a certain woman who had a flow of blood for twelve years. Not only did she suffer much, she also had spent all she had to be healed, yet to no avail. And to add to that, her condition went from bad to worse!

In short, she had come to the 'end' of what to do. Someone once said, “It’s when you know you cannot, that’s when He can”. That’s exactly what happened to this woman, and that’s also when she heard about Jesus. In Mark 5:28, she said, “If only I may touch His clothes, I shall be made well”. You know what? She knew Jesus wouldn’t 'resist' her. She knew Jesus in all His grace would heal her. So, she scrambled through the crowd of people, and touched Him. All she wanted was to receive her healing! And Mark 5:29 says ‘immediately the fountain of her blood dried up’, and she was healed!

Now, what is ‘grace’? It’s ‘charis’ in Greek, which means ‘gift, favor (though unmerited), or God's ability to do for you what you can't do for yourself’. The Bible says Jesus is grace (and truth) personified (see John 1:17), and this woman knew Jesus in all His grace would surely heal her! Isaiah 53:4-5 says ‘surely He (Jesus) has borne our griefs (including disease) and carried our sorrows (including pain or anguish)’ on the cross! And then, Jesus said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well."

See the relation between 'faith' & 'grace'?

When the woman looked to Jesus in all His grace, He looked at the woman with all her faith!

So, if ‘faith’ is about ‘believing’, then ‘grace’ is about ‘receiving’! People of God, never just stop at ‘believing’, because He also wants you to ‘receive’ (His grace, goodness, healing, & every other 'good thing'!).

Christianity is never just about ‘believing, but it’s also about ‘receiving’! God’s ‘charis’ is meant for you to ‘receive’! The woman in Mark 5:25 understood this truth, and as a result, she got her breakthrough! You see, ‘faith’ and ‘grace’ are like twin-partners, just as ‘believing’ and ‘receiving’ are too! You can’t have one without the other. You can’t receive if you don’t believe, and you can't just say you believe, but never receive!

In the past, I was often confronted with this question: “Do you have enough faith for... (this or that)?” The ‘onus’ seemed to be always on me ‘to exercise faith’ (i.e. to ‘muster’ or ‘gather’ enough faith to see a healing or a breakthrough, for myself or for others). Let me explain what ‘onus’ is. It’s a legal term which means ‘burden of responsibility, or duty’. Those days, the ‘onus’ was always on me to ‘perform’. And many times, I ended up feeling so bad when I saw no breakthrough, and worse still, started blaming myself for ‘not exercising faith enough’!

This happened until one day when I heard Him say, “Kenneth, why do you take the ‘yoke’ upon yourself? Don’t you know I am the One who should carry the burden?” And that's how my ministry changed! Every time there’s a need for someone to be healed, I’d point them to Jesus first, and what He’s done on the cross. The battle has become the Lord’s! The ‘onus’ is His (Matthew 11:28-30), and surely, He is willing! Since then, breakthrough (in ministry) came one after another, and I saw how tumor gone, cancer healed, diabetes vanished, and many more, in the course of ministry. All glory to God!

Teach people first to look to Jesus & His perfect work on the cross before you pray for them (instead of praying for the person straight away, unless of course if God overrules, or specifically says to pray right on, straight away). It's when you look to Jesus in all His grace, He'll look at you with all your faith! And that’s how ‘faith’ relates to ‘grace’! The woman in Mark 5:25 focused 100% on Jesus in all His grace, and as a result, she was healed! She knew she would receive because she knew 'Jesus is all-together good' to her! You see, the ‘onus’ was on Jesus, and not on herself anymore (after having tried various ways to get healed). If you need healing or any breakthrough, look to what Jesus has done for you on the cross right now. By His stripes, you were healed (1 Peter 2:24). Believe & receive! And if you minister healing to others, teach them to look to the cross first; and not just teach them to 'believe', but teach them also to 'receive'! And you'll be well on your way to see your breakthrough! Hallelujah!

Ministering from the 'platform' of love & grace

2011-02-14T15:43:00.000+08:00

1 Corinthians 13:1-3 (NKJV):

Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal.

And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.

And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing.

1 Corinthians 13:1-3 is a continuation of 1 Corinthians 12 which talks about operating spiritual gifts. One day, the Lord spoke this: “Jesus is the platform, and Holy Spirit is the factor”. The Bible says the Holy Spirit is the source of all spiritual gifts (read 1 Corinthians 12:3-11), and in TiC, we encourage & teach each one in the operation of his/her spiritual gifts. No problem with that. However, this operating of spiritual gifts should first be founded on the ‘platform’, i.e. on Jesus. Every ministry of a believer is in effect Jesus’ ministry. It’s His ‘platform’, not men’s, no matter how ‘anointed’ he or she may be.

This is exactly what 1 Corinthians 13:1-3 means. Jesus is always your ‘rock’, the ‘platform’ on which your ministry is founded on. In other words, your ‘feet’ should be firmly on this ‘platform’ as you move and serve in the Spirit. When you are founded on Him, your ministry will flow out with love and grace in abundance! Why? Because Jesus Himself is love & grace personified. In other words, as you behold and receive more of Him, His love & grace will flow out as you minister with spiritual gifts!

You see, spiritual gifts are not for us to ‘parade ourselves’, or telling others how ‘anointed’ we are. Spiritual gifts are definitely not meant for us to ‘show off’ how accurate we are in ministering (though it’s important to minister with accuracy) compared to others. It’s never meant for us to feel ‘mean’ when we are ‘better’ in the operation of certain spiritual gifts than other ministers, or ‘miserable’ when we are not. It’s also not for us to abuse it and use it to judge or condemn others.

Notice Paul wrote about ‘love’ (1 Corinthians 13) right after he wrote about ‘spiritual gifts’ (1 Corinthians 12), and he wrote it very aptly ‘have not love’ (where the word ‘love’ is a noun), instead of ‘do not love’ (where ‘love’ becomes an ‘act’ you do). “What is the difference, pastor?” One is about ‘having’ or ‘beholding’ love, the other is about ‘doing the act of love’. In short, one is ‘beholding’, the other is ‘doing’. I believe there’s no mistake in God’s Word. So, when it is written ‘have not love’, Paul really meant ‘have not love’, not ‘do not love’. The whole context of 1 Corinthians 13 is actually about the word ‘love’ being a noun, i.e. having or beholding love.

Back to the question: “Who then is this noun ‘love’ in 1 Corinthians 13?” He is the Person of Jesus. As I’ve said, Jesus is love & grace personified. You see, JESUS IS LOVE (1 John 4:8), not just ‘loving in action’. By the way, what does it mean by ‘beholding Jesus’? To ‘behold Jesus’ is to receive the fullness of Him, to let Him embrace you in all His loveliness (like the father embracing the prodigal son in Luke 15:20), or being conscious of His love, grace, and goodness always. So, ‘love’ here is never a ‘task’ of trying to love, or forcing yourself to love. Now, let me ‘qualify’ what I’ve just written. I’m not saying I don’t believe in ‘love in action’, but I’m saying ‘love in action’ comes supernaturally as you first behold the Person of ‘love’, i.e. Jesus!

And as you behold Jesus in all His loveliness and His perfect work on the cross, love flows out through you as you minister to other lives! As 2 Corinthians 3:18 says, you (or your ministry) are being transformed from glory to glory as you behold Jesus more, and many lives will be touched, restored, healed, and set free as ‘love’ flows out through you. Hallelujah!

If you read further in 1 Corinthians 13:4-8, you’ll see Jesus (who is the noun ‘love’ Himself) fits so perfectly here:

Jesus suffers long and is kind; Jesus does not envy; Jesus does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Jesus never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away.

Amen!

Wherever you dig your 'wells', there'll be 'water'!

2011-02-07T15:25:00.000+08:00

Genesis 26:13 (KJV): The man Isaac waxed great, and went forward, and grew until he became very great.

It means Isaac grew and continued growing until he became very prosperous and influential. In New King James Version (NKJV), it’s written this way: “The man began to prosper, and continued prospering until he became very prosperous”. Wow! That’s triple prosperity! And ‘three’ is a number of ‘completion, perfect testimony, invincibility’. In other words, Isaac had ‘complete, perfect testimony, invincible’ prosperity! ‘To be invincible’ is ‘to be too strong to be overcome or defeated’. In fact, this happened in a time when there was famine in the land! (Genesis 26:1)

It all started when the Lord told Isaac ‘not to go down to Egypt’ (Genesis 26:2), but instead continue to dwell in the land which He had promised Abraham. The Lord even said, “I will perform the oath which I swore to Abraham your father” (Genesis 26:3). God backed up what He said with an oath! ‘Egypt’ here represents ‘the worldly way of getting wealth’, and the Lord told Isaac to look away from that and stand on His promises and His way instead. The word ‘oath’ in Hebrew is from the root word ‘shaba’, which means ‘seven, perfect’. An ‘oath’ by the Lord is also to say “it’s impossible for Him to lie”. When He said He will perform, HE WILL PERFORM! And the good news is as a believer in the New Covenant, this very same ‘oath’ has already been ‘performed’ perfectly when Jesus died for you on the cross! It’s already been done for you. And now you can stand blessed like Isaac was!

What is the similarity between Isaac and you (a believer)? The blessings of Abraham! You both are sons of Abraham! And in Genesis 25:5, notice that Abraham gave all that he had to Isaac, and God truly blessed Isaac! That’s why when Isaac sowed in the land, he reaped in the same year a hundredfold (Genesis 26:12). And the man Isaac began to prosper, and continued prospering until he became very prosperous, so much so until the Philistines envied him (Genesis 26:14). And wherever Isaac dug wells, there was water! Not only did he re-dig the wells of his father, he also found new wells of running water! That’s favor, my friend! Will you believe this for yourself? Believing, you’ll receive too! Claim it! Give thanks for it! And step into your blessings! The truth is this is your ‘birthright’ as a son (or daughter) of Abraham!

And you know what? Those who envy you will eventually acknowledge ‘the Lord is with you, and has blessed you’ (Genesis 26:28-29). The blessings in your life are evident for all to see, and yes, even your adversaries will make peace with you (Genesis 26:31).

All these happened to Isaac, and because of the ‘oath’ that has been performed through Jesus Christ on the cross, this can happen to you too! Hallelujah!

Receive His love & embrace

2011-01-31T08:19:00.002+08:00

Luke 15:20 (NKJV): And he (the lost son) arose and came to his father. But when he was still a great way off, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him.

These are also the 5 things God does to you in all His love & grace. No matter how you have ‘blown it’ in your life, or what your sins or mistakes may be, just as in this parable (Luke 15:11-24), God wants to embrace you and pour (lavish) His love on you! (Romans 5:5)

When the lost son ‘came to himself’ (Luke 15:17), hungry, broke and with nowhere else to go, he decided to come back to his father and be his hired servant. But when the father saw him from a distance, he was so filled with compassion that he ran towards the lost son. Now, that was never supposed to be in their family tradition! The son should be the one running towards the father, not the other way round! But all that didn’t matter to the father anymore! What mattered was “my son is back!” It also didn’t matter how filthy, dirty, or unkempt the son was at that time, he went on to embrace and kiss him. That’s how God (in all His love and grace) is to you too!

Not only that, the father then made sure the best robe is put on the son, a ring on his hand, and sandals on his feet (Luke 15:22). The robe means ‘God’s righteousness’ (Isaiah 61:10), the ring means ‘God’s authority’ (Genesis 41:42), and the sandal means ‘being God’s beloved son’ (Exodus 12:11). In His loving embrace, He wants you to know you have all these too, and that’s exactly how lavish God’s love and grace is for you. Know that He doesn’t look at your sins anymore when you look to Him. All your sins have already been punished on Jesus’ body when He died for you on the cross. In fact, there’s no more condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:1). Will you allow Him to embrace you again? There’s really no one too filthy for Him to embrace. In fact, He specializes in the sinners, the lepers, ‘the lost, the last, and the least’ during His ministry on earth.

I’m not saying “you try to embrace Him”, but I’m saying “allow Him to embrace you”. There’s a big difference here, and it’s when you receive His love and embrace, your life will change!

His love for you is also always sure. Human, organizations, or even your best of friends may fail you, but His love for you never fails (1 Corinthians 13:8). Look unto Jesus & all that He’s done for you on the cross. In Him, you are complete (Colossians 2:10), and in Him is all your sufficiency (2 Corinthians 12:9). His love for you is perfect, and in fact, 1 John 4:18 says, ‘His perfect love (for you) casts out (any) fear’.

Indeed, there’s no fear in His love & embrace!

'Triumphal Procession' in Christ

2010-12-31T10:39:00.005+08:00

2 Corinthians 2:14 says, "Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place" (see New King James Version).

The word ‘triumph’ (in Greek, ‘thriambeuo’) here means ‘to conquer, to be victorious, to rise above, or to shout aloud joyfully in a triumphal procession, with songs of celebration and jubilation.’ Thanks be to God who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ, and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of Him (New International Version).

This triumphal procession is likened to the procession celebrating the triumphant Roman generals in Paul’s days, where they would parade the spoils of the war that have been won, to loud cheers, applause, and shouts of triumph from everyone in the streets.

The procession of the ‘ark of the covenant’ has already started again, & you are now in the midst of this great end-time procession! This is your time, God's people! The ‘ark of the covenant’ always means the glory of the Lord, Jesus Christ Himself! He is coming to His church and to our land in ways we have never seen before in history. We are now in such time & season of God's calendar, a time when you'll see more of His manifestation all over the world. Therefore, let us position ourselves for His glory! The fullness of the Lord is at hand!

Jesus’ triumphal entry to Jerusalem (Matthew 21:1-11) was an entrance of the glory of God, just as in the days of David when the ‘ark of the covenant’ was brought to Jerusalem (1 Chronicles 15:1-29).

He is always the One leading you in triumph! It’s not by your own strength or self-effort, but it’s in Christ. As a believer, know that Christ has already done it for you on the cross some 2,000 years ago. On the third day after He died for you, He rose again. Life has therefore conquered death. Mercy has triumphed over judgment. Health has triumphed over illness. Prosperity has triumphed over lack. The enemy has been defeated, and our Lord has already triumphed! This is your time to shout to the Lord with the voice of triumph & victory (Psalm 47:1)! And yes, believe it in every area of your life!

As you triumph in Christ, let the fragrance of this knowledge of Christ (& what He has done on the cross) spread everywhere through you, wherever you go and whoever you meet, because the time for the knowledge of the glory of the Lord filling the earth, as the waters covering the sea (Habakkuk 2:14) has come! Hallelujah!

Inner change leads to outer change

2010-12-19T16:24:00.001+08:00

It’s time to allow Him to change you in the area He wants you to change! And I’m talking about ‘inner’ change, i.e. a change in the ‘inside’ of you. Change in the ‘inside’ will lead to change in the ‘outside’! In other words, an ‘inner’ change will eventually lead to an ‘outer’ change! (be it in your career, ministry, family relationships, finance, or in any other area of your life)

2 Corinthians 3:18 says, “With unveiled face (i.e. transparent, honest, putting away ‘mask’, uncovered before Him), beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, we are being transformed (i.e. changed) into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.” So, the Bible says a true ‘inner’ change comes by consciously & continuously beholding Jesus (feeding from His Word) & by the works of the Holy Spirit.

Let’s look at Genesis 37 now. This man Joseph had a destiny, a big one. In fact, his name ‘Yowceph’ means ‘let him add, or increase more and more’ in Hebrew. To the Israelites, a name means everything to them, and more often than not, a name also carries each one’s character & destiny! So, as you can see, Joseph was meant to “increase more & more”! However, before he could be who God wanted him to be, an ‘inner change’ must take place in his life first! And unless this happens, his outward ‘expansion’ (i.e. promotion) would still remain a distant ‘dream’!

Here in Genesis 37, instead of ‘let him add’ or ‘more to more’, Joseph’s life actually went from ‘minus to minus’, from bad (Genesis 37:2-4) to worse (Genesis 37:18-20), and then worst (Genesis 37:27-28). Not enough by being a guy despised by his own brothers (& notorious for pulling down others with his words & bad reports), he was also thrown into a pit, and then sold as slave! And if that’s still not bad enough, Genesis 39:19-20 says he was also thrown into prison for a wrong he never committed! So, as you can see, his life went ‘down & down’ all the way, from his father’s ‘blue-eyed boy’ to a lonely, ‘stripped of everything’ prisoner in a land far away from home!

As some people say, “When you are down at its lowest, the only way now is up!” It was then that Joseph had a change of heart, an ‘inner’ change of character.

In Genesis 40, by the time Pharaoh’s butler and baker were thrown into the same prison as he was, Joseph was already a changed man. And now, instead of being indifferent & insensitive (the way he used to be with his brothers earlier), he showed genuine concern and care (Genesis 40:7) for the fellow prisoners! Not only that, he even helped them by taking time to explain their dreams! And you know what? The rest was history! Later on, this very same butler (whom he had helped) remembered him, when no one else could interpret Pharaoh’s dreams (Genesis 41:8), and the very next moment, Joseph was elevated to be Egypt’s next prime minister! His ‘expansion’ has finally come! And guess what? He did ‘increase more and more’ since that day, & God’s destiny in his life eventually came to total fulfillment! (see Genesis 50) And all these began with a simple change of heart on his part!

Beloved, maybe you know you too have a God-given destiny, or a ‘dream’ that has yet to come to pass. But you have also been discouraged, and left wondering if those ‘dreams’ will ever come to pass in your lifetime. You may even wonder if God has already forgotten about it altogether! May you receive His divine encouragement now, because I believe all’s not lost yet, and it’s never too late for a change! If God can do it in Joseph’s life, he can do it for you too! I really believe so! In fact, all it takes now is your allowing it. Of course you don’t have to end up in prison (like Joseph did) to have a change of heart! But will you allow Him to change you? Will you allow Him to lovingly search your heart? How about those ‘hidden’ areas in your life that have been ‘clouded’ with ‘cobweb’? How about a certain weakness in your character? Will you allow His light to ‘pierce’ through? Will you also allow Him to bring you back to His original plan for your life? Will you allow those ‘dark clouds’ to be cast away by His light? When the ‘dark clouds’ are gone, what you have is ‘clarity’, even in your vision & destiny!

My sincere prayer for you is that you'll walk in all of God's destiny for you, and the good work that He has begun in you, by His grace, He shall bring it to full, flourishing completion! Be blessed!

Delight yourself in the Lord!

2010-12-12T20:31:00.000+08:00

Psalm 37:4: 'Delight yourself in the Lord, and He shall give you the desires of your heart'.

'To delight' is like the 'radiance' in a baby's face upon seeing her beloved mommy & daddy approaching! I remember seeing this in my daughter Sophia's face when she was a toddler then. Pastor Sharon and I were so busy at work then that we had to arrange a babysitter for her, and at times, we could only come and fetch her every few days. Can you imagine the delight in her face upon seeing us at the doorstep? We could literally feel her heart leaping with excitement & joy! Why? Simply because she knew her mommy & daddy love her dearly & she missed us much (just as we missed her much too!). Also because she knew her mommy & daddy are good to her, & can't wait to embrace her and give her good things! She also had complete trust that her mommy & daddy would never harm her, and have only good thoughts for her!

Beloved, that's exactly how your Father in heaven sees you (His beloved son/daughter) too! He has never meant harm to you, and is (& will always be) good to you! Jeremiah 29:11-12 says it very aptly, 'for I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. You will call upon Me, and I will (& am here to) listen'.

Delighting yourself in Him is to know (& being assured) that He is good to you, all the time!

In Luke 1:41, the baby in Elizabeth's womb was also 'leaping' at the coming of Mary who would be giving birth to Jesus! You know why the babe started leaping? Because his soul was delighted at the presence of Jesus! Hallelujah! The presence of Jesus brings much delight! So, you can say 'to delight in the Lord' is 'to have pleasure in, or taking pleasure in being with Him or worshiping Him'.

The deeper meaning of 'delighting in the Lord' is found in the Hebrew word 'anag' in Psalm 37:4. This may surprise some of you, but it actually means 'to be soft or pliable before the Lord'. It also means 'to be easily shaped and flexible before the Lord', or 'the willingness or humility to be shaped by the Lord'. In other words, 'to delight in Him' is to allow yourself to be shaped by Him, to be soft or pliable before Him, and to be willing to be led by Him. Romans 8:14 says 'as many as are led by Him, these are called sons (or daughters) of God'!

It's also not wrong for people to say 'delighting in Him' is 'to sit at the feet of Jesus and enjoy His presence', by feeding on His Word, praying in the spirit, or in praise and worship. It's in His presence that you'll receive wisdom, revelation, and guidance in life, and that's how you can be 'at the right place, at the right time, doing the right thing' always!

As you delight in Him, you'll also never miss all the goodness God has for your life! You'll even be blessed beyond what your mind can think of. His ways are always higher than yours (Isaiah 55:8-9), even in giving you every 'good thing'!

So, go ahead, continue to delight yourself in Him, and just as the psalmist David has written, 'God will even give you the desires of your heart', in His ways and in His time!

Let go of the past 'baggage'!

2010-12-06T20:20:00.004+08:00

"Let go of the 'baggage' of your past & be set free to start anew this new season!" I heard these words recently, and it has everything to do with your destiny!

The 'baggage' can be a certain person (or a group of persons), work, memory, backlog, etc of your past. Some of you may even need to be set free to enter into a new 'environment'. There'll be new friendships. There'll be new 'doors'. There'll be new 'opportunities'. Be open and flexible before the Lord. This is His time of re-positioning. This is His time of bringing you into a new season. And His ways are always higher than yours! (Isaiah 55:8-9) Have a 'hearing' & 'listening' heart. My prayer for you is you'll not miss your timing & season.

The 'baggage' may even be something good that you've had in the past season. Some may say, "But pastor, you don't understand, I can't let go!", or "But pastor, it's easier said than done!" But do you know there are people who may be in a new season, but not set free (from the past 'baggage') yet? This may hinder God's destiny for you to come to pass in the new season! The decision is yours. No doubt 'letting go' can be painful at times, and may not be easy. But if God says 'let go', you'd better 'let go'! There may even be some 'soul-ties' or 'emotional ties' that you need to 'let go of' as you enter a new season.

Let's learn a little from Abraham in the Bible. In Genesis 12:1, God clearly asked Abram (his name then) to 'let go' of certain things in order to step into His blessings & His destiny for him (see Genesis 12:2-3). What was it that he had to 'let go'? God said, "Get out of your country, from your family, and from your father's house, to a land that I will show you". But Genesis 12:4 shows he didn't fully heed what God has said. Instead, he brought Lot (his nephew) along. This eventually caused lots of problems to Abraham (see Genesis 13:7, see Genesis 19:37-38 with 2 Chronicles 20:1), and you see, all those loads of problems could have been averted in the first place! He should only have brought along his wife (Sarai), and none other! "But, pastor, doesn't that sound cruel? Look, wasn't Abram doing the right thing by bringing along his nephew (Lot) whose father was already dead? He's just being a nice 'uncle'. After all, Abram's wife was barren and they were childless!". Sounds noble isn't it? But the big question is: "Did God say so?"

By the way, interestingly, the word 'Lot' actually means 'veil, or something that hinders', i.e. something that hinders/delays God's destiny/vision for your life. Someone with 'veiled eyes' is someone 'who can't see what God sees'. Look now at Genesis 13. There was a strife between Abram & Lot (over the issue of land & possession). A fatherly heart as Abram was, he even allowed Lot to choose the better place (a well-watered place) in order to end the strife (Genesis 13:7-12). And right after Abram had separated from Lot, God broke His silence and began speaking to Abram further about His destiny for him (Genesis 13:14-17). The 'veil' was 'lifted', the 'hindrance' was gone, and he was now 'set free' to walk in God's destiny/vision for him again. You know what? Not until Abram separated from Lot (let go of Lot) did God speak His destiny/vision to him again!

People of God, this is your time to 'let go' of your 'Lot' too (whatever that 'Lot' may be) if you want to hear further (or clearly) from Him & walk in His destiny again!

After you have entered a new season, don't look back! Move on as the Lord leads you. Don't be like Lot's wife. She looked back to her 'Sodom & Gomorrah', and as a consequence, became a pillar of salt (Genesis 19:26). A 'pillar of salt' is like a 'statue'. It is 'stagnant'. It has no more 'movement'. It is 'not moving anymore'. Beloved, you've got to start looking forward & keep on moving! Leave the 'Sodom & Gomorrah' of your past behind. The word 'Sodom' actually means 'burnt/scorched, or volcanic (or some other turbulent) activities' in Hebrew, while the word 'Gomorrah' means 'a ruined heap'. In other words, don't look back to your past ruins, shame, 'volcanic activities', turbulence, etc. Look to Jesus. The 'veil' has already been 'torn' when Jesus died on the cross for you.

For every 'inch' of your 'Sodom & Gomorrah' that you let go, is every 'inch' of God's newness (& goodness) added to you!

Step into His blessings!

Receiving God's 'marching order'

2010-11-07T16:30:00.002+08:00

Joshua 5:14: "... but as Commander of the army of the Lord, I have now come." And Joshua fell on his face to the earth and worshiped, and said to Him, "What does my Lord say to His servant?"

This is your time to 'possess your inheritance'! Joshua chapters 6, 7, 8 are keys. It's a crucial time for 'your spirit to supersede your mind' (i.e. your spirit having the 'upperhand' over your mind), in order for you to hear with 'precision' from the Spirit. One way is by 'tithing' your everyday time to the Lord, especially in praying in the spirit and in the Word. This is also your time to receive your Commander's (Jesus') 'marching order' for your next move (Joshua 5:14).

Many of you may ask this question, "After 'crossing over' my 'River Jordan', then what now?" Just as in Joshua's time, you will receive new strategies from the Lord. You will receive 'new things' (& 'substances'). It's an important time to be in the 'house of prayer', and there's no other safer place than this! This 'house of prayer' can be just you and the Holy Spirit in your prayer closet! This way, you are being 'positioned' to receive His 'marching order' (i.e. specific instructions) as you 'march forth' to gain 'possession of your inheritance' in the new season! God did exactly this to Joshua. He gave His 'marching order' on how to possess Jericho (read Joshua 6) in an unprecedented way, and the whole Israel succeeded in gaining 'possession of their inheritance'! I pray you will too!

People of God, go forward only with the Lord's 'marching order'! Watch out against the 'pitfalls' of moving before His 'marching order'! Learn from Joshua's mistake (read Joshua 7). Right after a great victory at Jericho, Israel fell into humiliation, defeat and discouragement against a lesser enemy, Ai. This happened when Joshua moved forward without gaining the Commander's 'marching order' first. A lot of people preach that Israel's defeat at Ai was due to Achan's sin (of keeping accursed things). That is a valid point, but God showed me that's not the main point here. The main point was the leader, Joshua. As a leader, Joshua was supposed to be responsible for the success or failure of Israel. Why? He's the number 1! The question here is "Did he receive God's 'marching order' first before proceeding to battle Ai?" The answer is "No!" In fact, he acted upon men's opinions and suggestions (Joshua 7:2-3), and these 'ideas' were seemingly good ideas!

How many of you know that "men's good ideas may not be God's ideas for you (or for your church/ministry)"? As a consequence, Israel suffered a humiliating defeat at the hands of the enemy who seemed to be weaker than Jericho! Not just that, Joshua used the same old method by 'sending spies' (Joshua 7:2). Does that sound familiar? Just because you've been successful in your past 'move', it doesn't automatically mean you can use past revelations/instructions for your next move! In fact, every 'move' of yours should be led by the Spirit, as you hear anew, and not merely by men's suggestions (though these may be well-meaning, or with good intention) or out of sheer excitement! And once you've received your 'marching orders' from the Lord, even if you may be accused of being unreasonable or foolish (or whatever unkind words people may speak against you), stay with those 'marching orders'! And there are times you don't even need to explain and give reasons for your actions. The Lord will be your Defense and Vindicator!

We are in a time of acceleration in the spirit realm. It means even yesterday's methods or ideas can become redundant today! To be at the 'cutting edge' in the spirit, you've got to hear in the spirit anew, in every move and step. And that's exactly what Joshua did in chapter 8. The Commander of the Lord's army (Jesus) began speaking to Joshua again (Joshua 8:1-2), and a new strategy was given to battle against the very same Ai. Joshua followed the Commander's 'marching order' again, and this time, Israel 'gained further possession of their inheritance' in their Promised Land!

Beloved, if you have made a mistake (or made a wrong decision) before in past season, God is saying this to you right now, just as He did to Joshua, "Do not be afraid, nor be dismayed" (Joshua 8:1). It's time to start anew and get up again! (Joshua 7:10) You will receive a new strategy! You will receive a new 'marching order'! And you know what? This time, your 'Ai' will be soundly defeated! 'Ai' in Hebrew means 'overturned', and just as Joshua moved from being 'overturned' (in chapter 7) to 'overturning' (in chapter 8), you will be too! Look away from your past season's discouragement, defeat, or shame, and start looking to your Commander all over again! Your inheritance is waiting for you to possess!

Hearing in the Spirit

2010-11-01T18:02:00.009+08:00

Amos 3:7-8: Surely the Lord God does nothing, unless He reveals His secret to His servants the prophets. A lion has roared! Who will not fear? The Lord God has spoken! Who can but prophesy?

God always wants to speak to you, but on your part, you need to have a listening ear. And the good news is He doesn't just speak to the prophets or those serving in full-time ministry. He speaks to anyone who's willing to hear! Amos in the Old Testament was just a farmer, a 'common' man in the eyes of others, and there wasn't any record of him going to any prophets' school. So, unlike the 'Elishas' who have their 'Elijahs', Amos actually had none. But one thing he had: He had words from the Lord! And as he heard from the Lord, he spoke them out! That simple! And that's how he became God's 'mouthpiece' in his time, and as a matter of fact, God did use him to speak against many 'injustices' in his time. In fact, the word 'Amos' means 'burden bearer' in Hebrew. You know what that means? Amos allowed God to use him to speak out 'His burden' for the nations.

Once, the Lord spoke these to me: "Like an earthworm to the earth movement, your spirit should likewise be to the spiritual realm, or the Holy Spirit's movement!". He then prompted me to do some studies on 'earthworms'. I remember asking, "What? Earthworms? Out of so many creatures, earthworms?" But anyway, I just obeyed, and that's how I found out that earthworms are not only essential to soil quality, but they also have one unique feature, i.e. they are very sensitive to 'touch'. Studies have shown that they have very sensitive 'skin cells' that can sense whatever little 'vibration' in the soil! So, whenever there's any little soil movement, or any impending earthquake, they'll be the first to know! And that's when I heard God says "My people in this end-time should be just as sensitive to any movement in the spiritual realm!"

To hear in the Spirit, you need to be connected to the Holy Spirit first! Of course, even before that, you need to receive the Holy Spirit first (i.e. be baptized in the Holy Spirit). When you are in the Spirit, you'll hear in the Spirit (see Galatians 5:16-18), just as when you are in the 'flesh', you'll hear in the flesh (i.e. 'fleshly' things)! As you begin, it's always good to enter into a time of worship first, praying in the spirit (praying in tongues), or reading the Word. What you hear in the Spirit should be spontaneous (i.e. not premeditated beforehand), and bears the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23). It should also never contradict the Word of God. The Word of God is and will always be the foundation when you hear with your spirit.

Recently, I was led to ask the Lord for deeper spiritual understanding and discernment, and I did the same for all the people under my daily prayer covering in the church. You can ask for it too! He is definitely in the midst of preparing His people to be at the 'cutting edge' in the spiritual realm! He wants His people to know His end-time strategy on how to advance & triumph over the enemy! I was in a prayer gathering recently when someone saw a vision of white waves (like those of the sea) flowing from the worship leader to the rest in our midst, and right then, that person heard me declaring into the spiritual realm that His people is being raised up to 'ride on the wave of the Holy Spirit', like the expert 'surfers' at the sea! She only told me about it after the prayer gathering has ended.

People of God, this is your time to hear strategies. This is your time to hear His 'game plan'. The Bible says 'without revelation, the people perish' (see Proverbs 29:18). This is His time to raise up a people of revelation who would hear His 'marching orders' with such great precision and accuracy! Are you game for this? Are you willing to be part of His whole 'game plan'? Will you be like Amos in his days? Amos spoke and declared without fear whenever he heard in the Spirit, and the Bible says those words roared like lion! Lions are kings of the jungle, and when they roar, the whole 'citizen' in the jungle 'trembles'! Jesus Himself is called the Lion of Judah, and He lives in you and speaks through you!

There are many ways God can speak to you, and these are some examples:
1. Through the Word of God released/read/preached (Acts 2:37).
2. Through inner witness, i.e. Holy Spirit speaking in your conscience (Romans 8:16, Romans 9:1).
3. Through stirrings (or provoking) in your spirit (Acts 17:16).
4. Through a drop of thought or vision/dream (Acts 16:6-10).
5. Through perceiving (or discerning) with your spirit (Hebrews 5:14).