Words from the Lord: "Your life will never be the same again!"

I had a dream the other night about three persons whom I know, all of whom are God's beloved. 

One is a leader, and in the dream, one after another follower or disciple of his seemed to desert him or walk out on him. He was of course downcast and discouraged. The next person I saw in the dream was someone who seemed to have lost direction and purpose in life, not knowing what to do in life anymore. And the third person was someone who seemed to have some kind of marriage problem or relationship problem. 

When I woke up from this dream, I prayed for each of them. I know this kind of dream is given so that I will pray. I will pray for the good of these people. So I prayed for God to heal and restore whatever area that needs to be healed or restored in these lives. 

That's also when the Lord spoke these words: 

"Tell My beloved, whatever your hurt, pain, regret, or even trauma may be, this is the time for you to be set free! Surrender all these areas of your life to Me, for I am extending My hand to heal you and restore you. Receive by faith. My grace is sufficient for you. My power to heal and restore is at hand. I will make all things new for you. I will cut rivers in the desert for you." 

The Lord is saying to you that He is sending miraculous supplies of water to 'water' you. You see, 'water' can speak of 'refreshing, healing, restoration'. The Lord is also saying to you that He can make whatever that is barren or deserted in your life to turn into fruitfulness and wholeness again. Not just that. He also makes all things new in your life! 

Revelation 21:5 (NKJV) says, 'He who sat on the throne said, "Behold, I make all things new." And He said to me, "Write, for these words are true and faithful."' 

Indeed, the Lord is faithful to His words. This is His assurance of His renewal work in your life. Not just in His eternal plan for your life, but also currently, at present, in your life! 

The word 'new' here is 'kainos' in Greek. It speaks of 'freshness' or 'refreshing'. It speaks of 'renewal' or 'being made new again'. So, if it's a relationship trouble that you are facing at the moment, the Lord is refreshing it again! And the Lord is making all things new again! 

This word 'kainos' can also speak of 'being new in the inward, in the spirit, and in substance, not just in the outward'. In fact, it also speaks of 'being made entirely new again, as if the past has been erased away'. 

This word 'kainos' can also be found in 2 Corinthians 5:17 (NKJV) that says, 'Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new ('kainos').' 

You see, only God can do this work of renewal in us and to set us free, that humans by themselves cannot. It is not just about a regeneration in your spirit, or your salvation. It is also about God doing a change in your life to the better. Not just physically, but also in your spirit and your soul. It is also about 'turning over a new leaf' in your life in ways that only God can do. 

One example in the Gospel about a substantial and real change, both in the inside and outside of a person, can be found in Luke chapter 5 about this paralyzed person being brought to Jesus. 

Luke 5:17 (NIV) says, 'One day Jesus was teaching, and Pharisees and teachers of the law were sitting there. They had come from every village of Galilee and from Judea and Jerusalem. And the power of the Lord was with Jesus to heal the sick.' 

That's also when some men came carrying a paralyzed man on the mat and tried to take him into the house to lay him before Jesus. When these men could not find a way to do this because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and lowered him on his mat through the tiles into the middle of the crowd, right in front of Jesus. 

When Jesus saw their faith, He said, "Friend, your sins are forgiven." 

You see, beloved, whatever your situation may be, Jesus will always have time for you, even in the midst of His "busy-ness", or in the midst of the multitudes of people looking for Him. In other words, He is never too busy for you, no matter how big or small your problem may be. 

The Pharisees and the teachers of the law began thinking to themselves, "Who is this fellow who speaks blasphemy? Who can forgive sins but God alone?" Jesus knew what they were thinking and asked, "Why are you thinking these things in your hearts? Which is easier: to say, 'Your sins are forgiven', or to say, 'Get up and walk'?" 

Now, the background here is that some of Jesus' audience were the Pharisees and the teachers of the law. These were the religious leaders at that time. In fact, some had come from afar. These Pharisees were zealous in their religious laws. But you know what? Many of them were only focused on outward obedience to the law. It means obedience for people to see, but not so much in the inside of them. Also, they believed God only loved them and those who did exactly what they did. So, they began to judge others who were not like them. 

So, here they were, sitting there with critical eyes and hearts against Jesus, waiting to twist and pounce on some words that Jesus said. And so, here Jesus was, looking at the men bringing the paralyzed man down from the rooftop. He saw their faith. He saw their determination to help their paralyzed friend. He also said that this man's sin has been forgiven.

And you know what? That's when the Pharisees pounced. They were trying to catch Jesus with His words. They began to accuse Jesus of blasphemy. They may be correct in believing that God can forgive sins, but they failed to see that Jesus is indeed the Son of God who has the authority to forgive sins. Their hearts were hardened. 

The Scripture says, 'The entrance of God's words brings light...' (Psalm 119:130). The Scripture also says, 'Jesus is the Word, and the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen His glory...' (John 1:14). But these Pharisees' hearts were not enlightened to see all this. 

Jesus then said, "But I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins." So Jesus said to the paralyzed man, "Get up, take your mat, and go home." Immediately the paralyzed man stood up in front of them, and went home praising God. His life was changed - in the inside and in the outside, spiritually and physically. Everyone was filled with amazement and gave praise to God.

You see, Jesus did both - to forgive sins; and to heal, restore, and renew a person physically. To man, both real forgiveness and the power to heal are impossible. To man, the physical part in fact seems harder because it has to do with something visible, and you have to show proof to the physical eyes; whereas forgiveness is invisible. But to God, both are easy. Jesus was showing that if He had the power to restore that paralyzed man, He also had the authority to forgive his sins. It's like one is the confirmation of the other. 

Beloved of God, today is the same. Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever. He is the same God those days in Luke chapter 5, and He is the same God in your life right now, today! Maybe your situation or problem is physical, or maybe it is not physical. Whatever you have been "paralyzed" by recently, be it a certain lingering sin in your life that seems so hard to be set free from; or a hurt, a regret, or a trauma in your soul that seems so hard to be set free from, the Lord is here to meet you right now. Not just that. He's also here to forgive you and heal you, just as what you have seen in the Scripture here. 

This paralyzed man's life in Luke chapter 5 was never the same again! Not only did he receive forgiveness and renewal in his spirit, he also began to walk free physically. His life was never the same again! I declare the same it is with you, beloved. Your life will never be the same again! 

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Persevere, you are not alone!

The Lord says for this time: 

"Persevere in what I've called you or spoken for you to do in this season of your life. Look unto Me, and not your surroundings. Keep your focus on Me, and not those challenges you may be facing. Don't give up and don't give in, no matter what. Keep running this race that has been set for you. For I am giving you the strength that you need. You will soon see yourself reaping with joy!" 

Psalm 126:5-6 (NKJV) says, 'Those who sow in tears shall reap in joy. He who continually goes forth weeping, bearing seed for sowing, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.' 

Beloved, this is what God is saying to you right now. Your waiting time will not be wasted. Your many hours of sowing unto what the Lord has spoken for you to do, and even your tears will not go unnoticed. 

The Lord sees all these, and He will know how to reward you in due time. So, be patient with His timing. Keep looking unto Him, and do not doubt. You will surely reap with songs of joy. This applies in any area of your life, be it in the ministry, in your career, in your business, or in any area of your life. 

Galatians 6:9-10 (NKJV) says, 'And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap, if we do not lose heart. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith.' 

Well, sometimes in our walk of faith, it's easy to lose heart and feel like giving up. But the Scripture again exhorts us not to grow weary while doing good. The good that God has spoken for you to do in this season of your life. You see, season comes and season goes. When one season ends, we walk into a new season. But in each season of your life, there is a reason. Flow with God's season for your life. Don't look back. Keep looking ahead. Keep building what God is building in your life right now, and in this season of your life. Again, there will come a time you will reap with songs of joy!

Why do I share this? Because the Lord has spoken, and I just want to be faithful to release what God has spoken for this time. The Lord also knows there are people out there who are actually on the verge of giving up doing good, doing the good that the Lord has spoken for them to do, or on the verge of giving up running the race that God has set before them. If you are one of them, you are not alone! The Lord sees it, and the Lord knows exactly what you are going through. 

And right now, He is releasing His fresh new strength upon you, even refreshing upon you. Receive all this by faith. For some of you, even your walk of faith may have been challenged recently. Maybe some things have happened around you that cause you to doubt God, or to have 'question marks' as to why certain things happened. Maybe it's a passing of someone you know or someone you hold dear. Maybe it's an unexpected event that has happened in your life. Whatever that causes you to doubt or to have 'question marks', the Lord is saying to you right now: "I am still here for you. I will walk with you. I will see you through all this." 

Hebrews 12:1-2 (NKJV) says, 'Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us; looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.' 

The word 'cloud' here in ancient Greek was a figure of speech which indicates 'a large group'. This can imply 'all the men and women of God in the history of mankind' or 'all the angels in the spiritual realm'. The writer of Hebrews here pictured that you are surrounded by all of them, as if you are running your race in a stadium full of spectators surrounding you and cheering you all the way till the finishing line.

You see, you are not alone here. So, ignore all those detractors. Cast out all those doubts. Because those who are cheering you are many more than those detractors. What are these 'cloud of witnesses' cheering you on? They are cheering you to continue in your faith, and to run your race with endurance!

This brings us to the word 'endurance'. The word 'endurance' here is 'hupomone' in ancient Greek. It literally means 'going steadily on with focus and determination, and without getting deflected'. By the way, 'to get deflected' means 'to cause something to change direction, or to turn aside from the straight course'. So, 'hupomone' can be interpreted as 'not changing direction or not turning aside from the straight course, but instead, running with focus and determination towards the finishing line'. 

In Acts 20:24 (NKJV), the Apostle Paul said, "But none of these things move me... so that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus." 

None of those challenges moved him. None of those detractors moved him. He stayed focused on Jesus. Again here, just like in Hebrews 12, the Apostle Paul pictured himself as a runner, running a race to the finishing line, and that nothing could keep him from finishing the race that has been set before him. 

You see here, Paul specifically said 'finishing his race'. And he's going to finish his race with joy. That's what he said here. Now, the same it is for each of us. Each of us has a specific race to finish. It is not so much about competing in a race with others. It is our own race that God has specifically catered and set for us. In other words, our own unique race. Not to compare with others. 

The expression 'looking unto Jesus' here implies 'looking away from other things and having our eyes fixed on Jesus'. The Greek word for 'looking' here is 'aphorao'. It is more than what we usually understand about this word 'looking' in English. This word 'aphorao' is a much fuller word. It actually means 'looking attentively and single-mindedly, and looking away from everything else'. And it is not just looking unto Jesus and what He has done for us on the cross per se, but also looking unto Him for His guidance, His encouragement, His strength, His wisdom, His revelation, and so on. 

You see, He is everything to us. He is the all-encompassing God to us. A God who is more than enough for us. Amen! 

And of course, He is the author and finisher of our faith. That is to say, He is not just the author of our faith, but He is also the finisher of our faith. In other words, He is with you at the starting line of your race and He is with you at the finishing line of your race, and all along the race, everything in between, every step of the way! 

So, take heart, beloved. Indeed, the good work that He has begun in you, He will bring it to full completion. Philippians 1:6. I like this version in Amplified Bible, Classic Edition. 'And I am convinced and sure of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will continue until the day of Jesus Christ [right up to the time of His return], developing [that good work] and perfecting and bringing it to full completion in you.' 

So, what's your part now? Stay the course! Keep receiving His love and assurance along the way! Keep receiving His joy and strength along the way! When you receive His joy, you will also have the strength to carry on and finish your race. The Scripture says 'the joy of the Lord is your strength'. 

The power of God is here right now. The strength of God is here right now. The anointing of God is here right now. Receive all this by faith. In Jesus' name. Amen!

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When slander strikes: Letting go and letting God

The Lord says for this time: 

"Whatever injustice that you've gone through recently, know that My grace is sufficient for you. I have seen all the injustices and wrongs that some have committed against you, and I will know how to repay for you. For I am a God of justice. Forgive and let go. Have a big heart. Be merciful, for I am merciful. Look to Me and trust in Me, for I will know how to take over from here, just as I've done for David." 

David's life was a rather eventful and dramatic one. It's epic. Full of twists and turns. No one can deny that. But for today, we shall go straight to 2 Samuel 16. 

2 Samuel 16:5-6 says, 'Now when David came to Bahurim, there was a man from the family of the house of Saul whose name was Shimei the son of Gera, coming from there. Shimei came out cursing continuously as David came. Shimei threw stones at David and at all the servants of David.' 

2 Samuel 16:7-8 says, 'Shimei said thus when he cursed, "Come out! Come out! You bloodthirsty man, you rogue! The Lord has brought upon you all the blood of the house of Saul, in whose place you have reigned; and the Lord has delivered the kingdom into the hand of Absalom your son. So now you are caught in your own evil, because you are a bloodthirsty man!"'

Now, that was a false accusation against David! As a matter of fact, David had no intention to kill Saul in the first place. It was the other way round. It was Saul who had wanted to kill David. And here Shimei was, when David was down and out because he had just lost his throne to Absalom at that time, Shimei had this audacity to throw stones at David and accuse David of all kinds of things! 

2 Samuel 16:9-10 says, 'Then Abishai (one of the commanders of David's army) said to David, "Why should this dead dog curse my lord the king? Please, let me go over and take off his head!" But David said, "Let him curse..."'

As you can see here, David just allowed Shimei to curse him and say whatever he wanted to say against him. In other words, David did not react or strike back. 

2 Samuel 16:13 says, 'As David and his men went along the road, Shimei went along the hillside opposite him and cursed him (David) as he went. Shimei threw stones at David and kicked up dust against David.' 

Still, David did not react or strike back. He let it be. Now, the background at that time was that David's own son Absalom had just declared himself king, taking over from David. It was a full-scale rebellion and coup against David. Driven by his ambition for power, Absalom had by then positioned himself to win the hearts of the people towards himself and away from David. Having seized power from David, he then pursued David, forcing David to flee Jerusalem. 

And here Shimei was, taking advantage of the situation to add further misery to David. But as you can see in 2 Samuel 16 here, David did not react negatively or take matters into his own hands. In other words, he let God be God. He let God take over. 

What can we learn from here? Whatever injustice committed against you, or whatever slander spoken against you, know that God is watching. God is not dead. He is very much alive. He sees everything from the beginning to the end. 

And what's your part? Your part is to let God take over. Let God be God. Now, of course, different people different situation. Whatever your situation may be, this same principle applies. 

Eventually, in due time, the tide began to turn in David's favor. Somehow, someway! You see, God has eyes. God is a God of justice. God saw what David had gone through and the injustices that David had experienced. One day, Absalom went into a battle with David's army again. But this time, while he was riding his mule through the thick forest, his head got stuck in the branches of a large tree, and he was left hanging there. He was then killed by Joab and Joab's armor bearers. By the way, Joab was one of the commanders of David's army at that time. 

Now that David had regained his throne as king from Absalom, David returned to Jerusalem. So, earlier you saw what Shimei said to David as David fled Jerusalem. Now David's coming back to Jerusalem. What was Shimei's response this time? You can see that in 2 Samuel 19:18-20. Shimei fell down before David and said, "Do not let my lord impute iniquity to me, or remember what wrong your servant did on the day that my lord the king left Jerusalem, that the king should take it to heart. For I, your servant, know that I have sinned. Therefore, here I am, the first to come today of all the house of Joseph to go down to meet my lord the king." 

What a change of tone! Far from those abusive words being hurled against David when David was down and out! 

Abishai then said, "Shall not Shimei be put to death? Because he cursed the Lord's anointed?" But David said to Shimei, "You shall not die." You see, to Abishai at that time, and even to many who read this part of the Scripture, it probably doesn't make sense why David said what he said here. In fact, some would even say, "Why was David so foolish to forgive just like that?" I mean, how magnanimous was David! 

Most importantly, God saw David's heart. 

Now, do you think Shimei really had changed after that? Let me give you the answer. The answer is no, if you refer to the Scripture. Shimei continued to be 'a pain in the neck', so to speak. And later on, he continued to do so even to Solomon, David's son who became king after David. You can see that in 1 Kings 2. 

So, let's go all the way to 1 Kings 2 now. 

1 Kings 2:36-37 says, 'Then the king (Solomon) sent and called for Shimei (yes, the same Shimei), and said to him, "Build yourself a house in Jerusalem and dwell there, and do not go out from there anywhere. For it shall be, on the day you go out and cross the Brook Kidron, know for certain you shall surely die. Your blood shall be on your own head."'

1 Kings 2:38 says, 'And Shimei said to the king (Solomon), "The saying is good. As my lord the king has said, so your servant will do."'

You see, some things die hard. Shimei had proven again and again that he cannot be trusted. He eventually paid the price. So, it happened later, that the king (Solomon) was told that Shimei had gone out of Jerusalem. It was a blatant defiance against the king's order. In other words, Shimei broke his promise. He ate his own words, and therefore he had to pay for it with his own life. It's a checkmate for him. The king (Solomon) then commanded for Shimei to be executed. Well, the king had every right to do so. That's how Shimei died. And that's the end for Shimei. 

What can we learn from the Scripture here? 

Never seek revenge. Let God be God, and let God take over your situation, whatever situation you are facing at the moment. God who sees everything will know how to do His part, at the right time. And you see again and again how God did it for David. 

Beloved of God, the same it is for you. The people who try to hurt you, slander you, or throw false accusations against you will eventually pay the price. You don't even need to lift a finger, if God is on your side. So, yield your heart to God. Submit to God. Humble yourself under the mighty hands of God. Let God wash you clean, white as snow. A pure heart, and that's what God is looking for. And God will honor you for sure, and you will see your reward eventually. Amen! 

Like David, whether in the face of King Saul or Absalom, or even the less talked about Shimei that we looked at today, justice has been served in the end. And like David, whose name means 'Beloved', so are you today. You too are a beloved of God. Keep trusting in the Lord and His goodness in your life. Be patient. Persevere in the time of trial or persecution. The time will come when you shall see justice being served!

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