Words from the Lord: "New ideas and strategies will flow this month!"

The Lord says: 

"This month is a month of breath of fresh air in the spirit for many of My people. There's a fresh revelation. There's a brand new purpose. There will be new ideas and new strategies that I am giving to you. A new chapter has begun. A new door has been opened. Walk in it. Receive it. Never mind if you have missed out in the past, but this is the time to begin to look forward to the new opening that I have for you."  

Joshua 1:1-2 (NKJV) says, 'After the death of Moses the servant of the Lord, it came to pass that the Lord spoke to Joshua the son of Nun, Moses' assistant, saying: "Moses My servant is dead. Now therefore, arise, go over this Jordan, you and all this people, to the land I am giving to them..."'

In Joshua 1:9, the Lord said further, "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; Do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you..." 

That's what the Lord spoke to Joshua. And the Lord is saying the same to you right now!

At this point of time in Joshua chapter 1, there was a significant and pivotal change in Joshua's life. What was that pivot? God gave him new strategies. God gave him new mission. God gave him new purposes. As God has spoken to Joshua, God is speaking the same to you too! Not just that. God released His revelation to Joshua on how to go about, as he looked forward. That time has come for Joshua, both spiritually and physically. 

By the way, what is 'pivotal'? It is defined as 'of crucial importance in relation to the development and success of something'. In other words, the time is coming when you shall see something of greater significance happening in your life. That is the prophetic word for you at the moment. And it will be good!

So, Joshua chapter 1 is the key here. It is happening both spiritually and physically. In the spiritual realm and in the physical realm. It means not just in the spirit, but something you can see with your physical eyes. 

The Lord is saying this to you right now: "Be strong and be of good courage. Do not be afraid. Do not be dismayed. Get yourself ready to face a greater future!" 

Will you by faith receive these words? And whatever happens in the spirit shall be manifested in the natural, in the physical realm, in ways that you can see. Do not let the devil rob that from you! Also, receive a renewed strength from the Lord. Not just that. Receive new ideas, revelation, and even strategies from the Lord, as God opens new doors and new horizons for you! 

And the Lord is saying: "A major shift is coming! From the old to the new! It has begun!" 

Very interestingly, do you know Joshua actually had a name change prior to that? Many people actually don't know about this. So, it's not just people like Jacob or Abram who had name change. You know that, from Jacob to Israel, from Abram to Abraham. Each of these name change brought with it a change of character, and in turn, a change of fortune as well. Now, I'm not saying we all should go to the registration office and change our name. But what I'm saying is there will be a change of character and change of fortune in the spirit for you. And this change is to the better!

You see, throughout the Scripture, a name change is very significant and pivotal. One major example that we all know is from Jacob to Israel. That change led to something greater. So, it's not just about character change. It's more than that. 

How about Joshua? Let me show you in the Scripture. Numbers 13:8 (NKJV) says, '...from the tribe of Ephraim, Hoshea the son of Nun...' Notice this name 'Hoshea'. And then, Numbers 13:16 (NKJV) says, 'These are the names of the men whom Moses sent to spy out the land (the Promised Land, the land flowing with milk and honey). And Moses called Hoshea, the son of Nun, Joshua.' 

See? From Hoshea to Joshua! And it was Moses himself who called Hoshea a new name, Joshua. Now, that was a preparation point for something of greater significance to happen in Joshua's life. For the record, Moses at that time was getting his people to spy out the land of Canaan, the land which the Lord was about to give them. But you see, everyone who went to spy came back with negative report. They were afraid to take the land. There were two exceptions: Joshua and Caleb. They had a different mindset. They came back with good report. They saw new horizons and new opportunities, instead of difficulties. And you know what? The rest is history for Joshua and Caleb. They went into the Promised Land and conquered the land. 

Have you ever wondered what is the meaning of the old name 'Hoshea' and the new name 'Joshua'? 'Hoshea', the old name, simply means 'salvation' or 'deliverance'. How about 'Joshua'? 'Joshua', the new name, or rather, 'Yehoshua' as written in the Hebrew Bible, means 'YHWH saves' or 'YHWH delivers'. Some people may not notice this. But you see, something greater has been added! Where is the difference between the old and the new, 'Hoshea' and 'Yehoshua'? That difference is the name of the Lord God Almighty, YHWH, has been added to his name! 

To a stranger, that may not mean anything much. Nothing to shout about. But God! To God, and in the spiritual realm, it was like a major shift! It was like a major earthquake in the spirit that was about to shake and change history. And change it did! It was pivotal. It was of great significance. A change that marked the beginning of a new destiny and new journey for Joshua. And beginning at that point, God was assuring him that He is with Joshua. God's with him. God's backing him up in this new destiny and new journey. Joshua is not alone in this. God paved the way for him. And most importantly, God's with him in all the battles going forward! 

Now, the same it is with you, like Joshua, whatever 'opening' that God has for you, going forward! 

In Greek, this name 'Yehoshua' ('Joshua' in our English Bible) is translated 'Iesous'. This is actually the same form as Jesus' name in the New Testament. So, as you can see here, 'Yehoshua' (or 'Joshua') is a typology or a 'type' of 'Yeshua' (or 'Jesus'). 

For Yeshua (or Jesus), it was also at Jordan River that was pivotal. What happened there? He was baptized by John the Baptist there. You know what happened then and there? Heaven opened! The Spirit of God descended upon Jesus like a dove. Now, mark this word 'descended', because I'm going to explain it to you later. Not only the Spirit of God descended upon Jesus, a voice from heaven declared, "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." 

You know what's the pivot there? That marked the beginning of something new in Yeshua's time on earth. And now you see the same for Yehoshua (or Joshua) in Joshua chapter 1. The Lord was preparing him to lead the people to cross that same Jordan River into the Promised Land. And the Lord said to Joshua: "Be strong and be of good courage. Do not be afraid, for I, YHWH, am with you." 

What is the significance of this Jordan River? There's a similarity here both to Jesus and Joshua. This Jordan River was pivotal to both of them. The name 'Jordan' is 'Yarden' in Hebrew, which is derived from the word 'yarad', meaning 'to descend' or 'to flow down'. 

In other words, like river of water flowing down from the mountain. Like a waterfall falling upon you. The spiritual significance of this is just as the river of water flows down from top to bottom, God's revelation, God's power, and God's Spirit flows down from heaven to earth upon you! You know what this means? All the good that God has for you from above is now beginning to fall on you! Receive this by faith! This is the revelation today. And this includes new ideas from above, new strategies from above, and even new strength from above! 

No wonder Joshua never looked back ever since. Now, the same it is for you, beloved. Amen! 

Click here to watch the video in TiC YouTube Channel

Breaking free!

The Lord says: 

"If you've been bound in a cycle of sin and sorrow, it's time to break free now! If you've been bound in a cycle of sickness and disease, be set free now! Whatever you've been bound and trapped in, I am releasing My anointing for you to walk free now!" 

The Lord says further: 

"For the time has come for you to walk into a brand new future and My promises for your future! Declare the yoke has been broken! Declare the bondage has been broken! Declare the 'cycle' has been broken! Curse-free! Sickness-free! Sorrow-free! My power is at hand!" 

Beloved of God, if you feel like "history is repeating itself" in your life, whether it is another round or 'cycle' of sorrow, failure, disappointment, or whatever bad memory from the past is "sticking out its ugly head" and repeating again in your life, this is your time to receive God's power to break free! 

Also, if you see like "history is repeating itself" in the areas of sin in that area or sickness, receive God's anointing to set you free right now! 

Or you simply have this feeling of "so near yet so far", God's power is at hand to break and destroy whatever the enemy is trying to hinder you from progressing in your life! 

The Scripture has the answer for you. 

In Isaiah 61:1-3 (NKJV), the Lord says: "The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me, because the Lord has anointed Me to preach good tidings to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound; To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, and the day of vengeance of our God; To comfort all who mourn... To give them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness." 

See the exchange taking place here? When you receive this power, this anointing of the Lord, your "ashes" is being exchanged with His beauty, your mourning is being exchanged with joy, and your heaviness, or whatever that burdens you, is being exchanged with praises of the Lord! Hallelujah! 

By the way, 'ashes' speaks of 'hopelessness'. When something turns into ashes, there's no way to restore it again or to make it whole again. That's how the world sees it and how the world thinks. But here, to God, even ashes can be restored into something beautiful again! Not only that, He is turning your mourning into joy! This joy doesn't come from anyone on earth. This joy comes directly from the Lord! And then your heaviness is being exchanged with garment of praise! You can begin to sing praises of the Lord like never before!

In Isaiah 61:4 (NKJV), the Lord says further: "And they shall rebuild the old ruins... and they shall repair the ruined cities..." 

The word 'repair' here is 'chadash' in Hebrew. It can simply mean 'to make new' or 'to be new'. In other words, everything has become new again! A brand new future! A brand new start! Looking forward to all of God's promises for you in a fresh new way! Looking forward with a new hope! Why? Because you have been set free from whatever that holds you back or entangles you in your past! 

A few verses later in Isaiah 61:7 (NKJV), the Lord says: "Instead of shame you shall have double honor, and instead of confusion they shall rejoice in their portion. Therefore in their land they shall possess double." 

Beloved of God, whatever you have gone through in your life recently or so far, receive this promise of God for you! Past is past, be it your shame, your sorrow, your despair, or whatever that's undesirable that you've been bound in. All these have been carried by Jesus on the cross! And you know what? Now! Now is your time to walk in double honor! Now is your time to possess double! Now is your time to receive the joy of the Lord, and rejoice! Rejoice in all that God has promised you and shown you!

Let's look at the book of Jeremiah now, specifically Jeremiah 31:3-4. You see, Jeremiah was known as a heartbroken prophet with a heartbreaking message. He was lamenting about what's happening to God's people at that time. But in spite of all that, he still had a wonderful message of hope for those who believe. In Jeremiah 31:3-4, this is what he quoted the Lord saying: "Yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love. Therefore with lovingkindness I have drawn you. Again I will build you, and you shall be rebuilt... You shall again be adorned with your tambourines, and shall go forth in the dances of those who rejoice." 

Even though Jeremiah 31:3-4 here is speaking specifically for the people of Israel, this can apply right now in your life too. The Lord is telling you, beloved, that there's hope for restoration and renewal in your life, whatever your past may be! 

Maybe you have gone through a time of mourning or sorrow recently. Maybe you have encountered a very sticky situation in your life recently. Or maybe you seem to be like at a dead-end road right now. Whatever you've been facing, take heart, beloved. Because the Lord has a good news for you! He wants you to know that He has loved you with an everlasting love. He wants you to know that He has begun His work of restoring you and making all things new in your life. Amen! 

You know what? These are reasons enough for you to rejoice. The joy of knowing that God remembers you! The joy of knowing that God hasn't forgotten you! The joy of knowing that God loves you with His unfailing and everlasting love! The joy of knowing that God has a new hope and purpose for you, going forward! The joy of knowing that your time of restoration and renewal has come! Amen! Somebody shout Hallelujah! 

Prayer: 

"O Lord God, we thank You for Your message of hope and renewal today. We thank You for Your power and anointing to set us free! Free from curse! Free from bondage! Free from whatever that traps or ensnares us! We receive Your anointing right now by faith! We receive Your oil of joy right now! We receive Your crown of beauty right now in exchange of our ashes! Hope is rising! Joy has been released upon us! We receive it by faith. We give You praises, O Lord! We rejoice with this joy that comes directly from You! We walk free now! Free to be who and what You've always wanted us to be. In Jesus' name. Amen!"

Click here to watch the video in TiC YouTube Channel

Sensing and hearing from God

The Lord says:

"This is a crucial time for My people to hear My voice. In fact, there are many secrets that I want to reveal to you in this time and season. Continue to live a life of holiness. Continue to live a life of submission. Continue to live a life of humility. Wash your hands. Wash your hearts. Let it be clean. Continue to stir up your spirit man. Don't let your spirit to slumber. Keep your spirit alert and ready for what's coming ahead and the glory days ahead!" 

Colossians 2:8 (NKJV) says, 'Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ.'

Colossians 2:8 (Expanded) says, 'Be sure [Be careful; Watch; See] that no one leads you away [takes you captive] with false [deceptive] and empty [worthless] teaching that is only human [according to human traditions], which comes from the ruling spirits of this world, and not from Christ.'

It's for this reason in Colossians 2:8 that it's so important to be able to sense and hear correctly from the right spirit (i.e. the Holy Spirit), and not from other spirit or spirits of this world. 

In fact, some of these human philosophies or human traditions have even sometimes crept into the church, and contaminated or adulterated the church and what Christ has meant the church to be. 

Also, nowadays, there are so many 'predictions' or 'prophecies' being spoken around, that even some Christians are taking it without checking and sensing if these are really from the Holy Spirit, or if these are merely from the minds of men. So, that's why Paul wrote in Colossians 2:8 to be careful. Every prediction or every prophecy has to be tested. The Scripture says so. 

What are the keys to sensing and hearing in the spirit correctly? 

1. A life of humility, submission and surrender

There's no other way around it. Without humility, submission and surrender to God and God's Spirit, we cannot be effective in sensing and hearing from Him. 

2. A life of holiness

It is like a radio antenna that receives reception. If you clean it, the antenna can receive better and function better. If you remove any dirt, dust, or other contaminants that might interfere with the reception, the antenna can receive better and function better. It is the same with your spirit, if you want to receive more clearly from the Holy Spirit. Therefore, allow the Holy Spirit to clear anything that hinders your walk with God. 

3. A life of worship

This simply means a life of surrender to God. Because to worship God is to surrender to God. Worship is not just in songs and singing. 

In Hebrew, the very word 'worship' is translated as 'shachah', which literally means 'to bow down, to kneel, to prostrate oneself (before God)'. So, worship, in the truest sense of the word, is about the heart. It is about a heart and a life of surrender and submission to God. It is about lowering ourselves and humbling ourselves before God. It is not so much about the outward performance or outward show, but 'shachah' or 'worship' is essentially lowering ourselves in our hearts before the Lord. 

One example of this word 'shachah' or 'worship' in the Scripture is found in Genesis 22:5. That's when Abraham told his servants that he and Isaac (his son) will 'shachah' on the mountain, which is translated as 'worship' on the mountain.

Let's move on to 1 Corinthians 2:12 (NKJV) that says, 'Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God.'

What are the things that have been freely given to us by God? One is His wisdom. Another is His revelation as to what you should do or what you should avoid, and even what's to come in the future!

Just a few verses before that, 1 Corinthians 2:9-10 (NKJV) says, 'But as it is written: "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. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God.' In The Expanded Bible, it is translated as 'the deep secrets of God'. 

That leaves us with the next question. In what way does God reveal His deep things through His Spirit? The answer can be found in 1 Corinthians 2:13 (NASB) that says, 'We also speak these things, not in words taught by human wisdom, but in those taught by the Spirit, combining spiritual thoughts with spiritual words.' 

See the words 'spiritual thoughts' and 'spiritual words' here? In other words, one way God can speak to you is by placing intelligible thoughts and words in your spirit. It means thoughts and words that can be readily understood by you. These thoughts and words are deeply imparted by the Holy Spirit inside of you, and these are not the product of one's own mind or one's own logic. Some Bible teachers call this 'the voice of the Holy Spirit'. It means the voice of the Holy Spirit spoken into your spirit. 

What are the general characteristics of the voice of the Holy Spirit? 

1. It comes as a spontaneous impartation, not premeditated by the hearer (Matthew 10:19-20)

2. It comes with specific commands or instructions (Acts 13:2)

3. It is distinctly divine, and the hearer knows it comes at the right timing when he/she needs it (Acts 10:19-20)

4. It is always aligned with the Word of God and the will of God, and not contradict it (Isaiah 55:8-11)

Click here for the full teaching in TiC YouTube Channel