Isaiah 40:31: But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.
Those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength! The word ‘wait’ here is ‘qavah’ in Hebrew. It carries the meaning ‘to expect, to gather together, to look patiently on’. So, as we take time to wait on Him, we shall be renewed and refreshed in our strength.
There are times we get spiritually tired, especially after ‘doing the running’ in spiritual ministry, in serving at church, in looking after our family, or in business and career. But there’s good news for you. God is your spiritual ‘rest and refresh’. Isaiah 40:29 says, ‘He gives power to the weak’. The word ‘power’ here also means ‘vigor, strength, might’. So, as we wait on the Lord, we’ll receive God’s vigor, strength, and might again. He replenishes your spiritual energy that has been drained.
In Isaiah 40:31, there seems to be a cycle illustrating how we can be diminished in strength, and how God can replenish our strength. It says, ‘they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run, and then they shall walk’. The first is ‘to mount up’, or in other words, ‘to launch up into the sky’. Anyone who studies science knows this 'mounting up' takes a whole lot of energy. Then comes the second, which is ‘to run’, and finally, ‘to walk’. So, you'll see in life there’s a continuous cycle of ‘mount up, run, and walk’.
Now, how do we get ourselves replenished in the Lord again? The answer is when you take time to rest in Him, in Word and in Spirit. When you know you are drained, or when you start to feel a little 'edgy', then it's time to leave your 'busyness' aside, and begin to feed on the Word, confessing and meditating on the Word, and to pray in the Spirit. Have a 'time-out' just to be with the Lord. You’ll be renewed and refreshed again by the Word and Spirit, and as you do that, you’ll ‘mount up with wings like eagles’ again. Even when the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall (Isaiah 40:30), but you who wait on the Lord shall be renewed in strength, and shall never be weary and shall never faint!
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
There's rest for God's people
Hebrews 4:9: There remains therefore a rest for the people of God.
The word ‘rest’ in this verse is ‘sabbatismos’ in Greek. It comes from the word ‘sabbath'. The word ‘rest’ here is also a ‘typology’ of heaven. When you rest in God, you are actually ‘living in the heavenly realm, or operating from the heavenly realm.’ So, this verse says ‘there remains therefore ‘a living in the heavenly realm’ for God’s people.
In heaven, there’s rest, and there's no toiling or striving. You see, heaven is not a cursed place. Heaven is overflowing with blessings. It is a supernatural realm, and when we say we work from our rest in God, we are actually living and operating from this heavenly realm. Jesus says, ‘Your kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven’ (Matthew 6:10). You can have ‘heaven’ while living on earth. Before Adam and Eve disobeyed God, they were also living in this realm of resting in the Lord, living in the heavenly realm where there was no striving or toiling. Tending the garden of Eden was a pleasure and it was easy because they were living from their ‘rest’ in God. They were blessed with good things in the garden of Eden (Genesis 2:9). But, all these came to an end after they disobeyed God, and they had to toil and till the ground with much effort, as the ground has become cursed (Genesis 3:17). They had to ‘sweat it out’ for their living (Genesis 3:19). But friends, you don’t have to live like that anymore. I have good news for you today. God has redeemed you from every curse. When Jesus Christ died on the cross for you, He said, ‘It is finished!’ (John 19:30). He has done His part. He has taken away your curse on the cross, and so now you are blessed. His body has already been broken, and His blood has already been shed to take away your curse and sins. What you need to do is believe and receive. Notice after Jesus has finished His works on the cross, He sat down (Ephesians 2:6). To ‘sit down’ is a resting position, and the bible says you are sitting together with Him in the heavenly places (Ephesians 2:6).
Beloved, you can rest in Jesus’ finished works today. You can now work from your rest in Him. When you work from your rest in His finished works, you don’t have to toil and strive anymore, hitting nowhere. Work becomes a joy, just like Adam tending the garden before his fall. You are now working and doing God's will from a state of being blessed. You are now working in God’s heavenly and supernatural realm. From this realm, there’ll be joy and peace, there'll be rest, and there'll be heavenly flow, resources, wisdom, revelation, ideas, open doors, and everything you ever need in life. Hallelujah!
The word ‘rest’ in this verse is ‘sabbatismos’ in Greek. It comes from the word ‘sabbath'. The word ‘rest’ here is also a ‘typology’ of heaven. When you rest in God, you are actually ‘living in the heavenly realm, or operating from the heavenly realm.’ So, this verse says ‘there remains therefore ‘a living in the heavenly realm’ for God’s people.
In heaven, there’s rest, and there's no toiling or striving. You see, heaven is not a cursed place. Heaven is overflowing with blessings. It is a supernatural realm, and when we say we work from our rest in God, we are actually living and operating from this heavenly realm. Jesus says, ‘Your kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven’ (Matthew 6:10). You can have ‘heaven’ while living on earth. Before Adam and Eve disobeyed God, they were also living in this realm of resting in the Lord, living in the heavenly realm where there was no striving or toiling. Tending the garden of Eden was a pleasure and it was easy because they were living from their ‘rest’ in God. They were blessed with good things in the garden of Eden (Genesis 2:9). But, all these came to an end after they disobeyed God, and they had to toil and till the ground with much effort, as the ground has become cursed (Genesis 3:17). They had to ‘sweat it out’ for their living (Genesis 3:19). But friends, you don’t have to live like that anymore. I have good news for you today. God has redeemed you from every curse. When Jesus Christ died on the cross for you, He said, ‘It is finished!’ (John 19:30). He has done His part. He has taken away your curse on the cross, and so now you are blessed. His body has already been broken, and His blood has already been shed to take away your curse and sins. What you need to do is believe and receive. Notice after Jesus has finished His works on the cross, He sat down (Ephesians 2:6). To ‘sit down’ is a resting position, and the bible says you are sitting together with Him in the heavenly places (Ephesians 2:6).
Beloved, you can rest in Jesus’ finished works today. You can now work from your rest in Him. When you work from your rest in His finished works, you don’t have to toil and strive anymore, hitting nowhere. Work becomes a joy, just like Adam tending the garden before his fall. You are now working and doing God's will from a state of being blessed. You are now working in God’s heavenly and supernatural realm. From this realm, there’ll be joy and peace, there'll be rest, and there'll be heavenly flow, resources, wisdom, revelation, ideas, open doors, and everything you ever need in life. Hallelujah!
Sunday, July 19, 2009
God's love has been poured out in your heart!
Romans 5:5b: God's love has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.
God's love in Greek is ‘agape’. It is His constant and unconditional love for us. In Romans 5:5, Paul wrote that God’s love has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit. Notice how generous God is to us! God doesn't just sprinkle His love in our hearts, but Romans 5:5 says God pours out His love in our hearts!
The bible also says God is love (1 John 4:16). In fact, if you see Galatians 5:22-23, the first fruit of the Spirit of God is ‘love’. Love is the very foundation in our Christian living, and on this love (loving God and loving others), hangs all the Law and the Prophets (Matthew 22:40).
You may say, “Pastor, it’s easier said than done. I find it so hard to love that ‘so and so’. Even the sight of him/her or his/her voice can irritate me!” My friend, stop trying too hard to love someone with your own self-effort and strength. Stop trying to love someone using your mind, willpower or emotions. These are all in your soul level. The bible says the love of God is being poured out in your heart (Romans 5:5). Here, Paul's talking about your spirit level, your inner man. Love (agape) never fails, even when everything else fails (1 Corinthians 13:8). Your friends, colleagues, superiors, or even your family and loved ones may fail or hurt you at times, but take heart, His love never fails. What you need to do now is simply ‘receive His love’ first. "Pastor, you mean it's that easy, and nothing else?" Yes, it's that easy, and nothing else. Just receive. As easy as that. Christian life is a life resting in Jesus' finished works, and so, we love, we work, and we minister out of our rest in Him. When you have been so filled with His love, loving others will not be hard to you anymore, especially those whom you get easily irritated with. God's love will just flow out easily from your heart, because you have first received and experienced His love.
Beloved, His love is for you to receive freely (Romans 8:32). When you have experienced His love being poured out in you, something in your heart changes, and you just can’t help but to love others freely too. Love will just flow out like rivers of living water (John 7:38) from you to others.
God's love in Greek is ‘agape’. It is His constant and unconditional love for us. In Romans 5:5, Paul wrote that God’s love has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit. Notice how generous God is to us! God doesn't just sprinkle His love in our hearts, but Romans 5:5 says God pours out His love in our hearts!
The bible also says God is love (1 John 4:16). In fact, if you see Galatians 5:22-23, the first fruit of the Spirit of God is ‘love’. Love is the very foundation in our Christian living, and on this love (loving God and loving others), hangs all the Law and the Prophets (Matthew 22:40).
You may say, “Pastor, it’s easier said than done. I find it so hard to love that ‘so and so’. Even the sight of him/her or his/her voice can irritate me!” My friend, stop trying too hard to love someone with your own self-effort and strength. Stop trying to love someone using your mind, willpower or emotions. These are all in your soul level. The bible says the love of God is being poured out in your heart (Romans 5:5). Here, Paul's talking about your spirit level, your inner man. Love (agape) never fails, even when everything else fails (1 Corinthians 13:8). Your friends, colleagues, superiors, or even your family and loved ones may fail or hurt you at times, but take heart, His love never fails. What you need to do now is simply ‘receive His love’ first. "Pastor, you mean it's that easy, and nothing else?" Yes, it's that easy, and nothing else. Just receive. As easy as that. Christian life is a life resting in Jesus' finished works, and so, we love, we work, and we minister out of our rest in Him. When you have been so filled with His love, loving others will not be hard to you anymore, especially those whom you get easily irritated with. God's love will just flow out easily from your heart, because you have first received and experienced His love.
Beloved, His love is for you to receive freely (Romans 8:32). When you have experienced His love being poured out in you, something in your heart changes, and you just can’t help but to love others freely too. Love will just flow out like rivers of living water (John 7:38) from you to others.
Sunday, July 12, 2009
It's time to realign with God!
Matthew 5:8: Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
The word ‘blessed’ in this verse is ‘makarios’ in Greek. It means ‘fortunate, happy, well-off.’ The word ‘pure’ in Greek is ‘katharos’ which means ‘clean, clear, pure.’ Jesus says blessed are the ‘clean, clear, pure’ in heart, for they shall see God.
The word ‘see’ here has deeper meaning than just the verb ‘see’ that we know. In Greek, this word is ‘optanomai’. It means ‘to gaze (with wide open eyes at something remarkable), the appearance, showing self.’ So it carries the meaning that those who are pure in heart shall experience God showing Himself. It is an experience of His revelation.
In Psalm 51:10, King David prayed this, “create in me a clean heart.” He wasn’t just repenting from his sins. He was also aligning himself back to the very heart, desire, and intention of God in his life. Deep down in David's heart, he knew he had gone 'off-track', and he knew without God's leading and revelation, he could never continue as God's anointed king!
Beloved, like David, this is a time to realign yourself with God. God wants to separate His desires from your own selfish ones. He wants you to follow His desires and ways, so that His plans for your life will be accomplished. Rest assured His plans for you are always plans to prosper you, and not to harm you, to give you a future and hope (Jeremiah 29:11). You may have started out correctly according to God's will, but maybe down the road, things may have gone 'off-track', and God's desires in your life may have been 'contaminated' with your own self-seeking, impure intention or desires. So, instead of glorifying God, you may have sought your own.
If you are in a situation where you don't see an answer no matter how you try, or your breakthrough tarries even after you have done everything you knew how, it's time to look honestly again at your intentions and desires. It's time to let go of your own fleshly desires, and let God's desires be yours. I like how Paul put it, "I die daily" (1 Corinthians 15:31). He had no more of his own selfish desires or ways. It's all God's.
Beloved, it's time to move where He moves, and move how He moves. His revelation will start flowing again in your life, and your breakthrough will come, even in ways you have never imagined before!
The word ‘blessed’ in this verse is ‘makarios’ in Greek. It means ‘fortunate, happy, well-off.’ The word ‘pure’ in Greek is ‘katharos’ which means ‘clean, clear, pure.’ Jesus says blessed are the ‘clean, clear, pure’ in heart, for they shall see God.
The word ‘see’ here has deeper meaning than just the verb ‘see’ that we know. In Greek, this word is ‘optanomai’. It means ‘to gaze (with wide open eyes at something remarkable), the appearance, showing self.’ So it carries the meaning that those who are pure in heart shall experience God showing Himself. It is an experience of His revelation.
In Psalm 51:10, King David prayed this, “create in me a clean heart.” He wasn’t just repenting from his sins. He was also aligning himself back to the very heart, desire, and intention of God in his life. Deep down in David's heart, he knew he had gone 'off-track', and he knew without God's leading and revelation, he could never continue as God's anointed king!
Beloved, like David, this is a time to realign yourself with God. God wants to separate His desires from your own selfish ones. He wants you to follow His desires and ways, so that His plans for your life will be accomplished. Rest assured His plans for you are always plans to prosper you, and not to harm you, to give you a future and hope (Jeremiah 29:11). You may have started out correctly according to God's will, but maybe down the road, things may have gone 'off-track', and God's desires in your life may have been 'contaminated' with your own self-seeking, impure intention or desires. So, instead of glorifying God, you may have sought your own.
If you are in a situation where you don't see an answer no matter how you try, or your breakthrough tarries even after you have done everything you knew how, it's time to look honestly again at your intentions and desires. It's time to let go of your own fleshly desires, and let God's desires be yours. I like how Paul put it, "I die daily" (1 Corinthians 15:31). He had no more of his own selfish desires or ways. It's all God's.
Beloved, it's time to move where He moves, and move how He moves. His revelation will start flowing again in your life, and your breakthrough will come, even in ways you have never imagined before!
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
All things work for good to those who love God
Romans 8:28: And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.
The Word of God says ‘all things work together for good’ to those who love God. Is God the love of your life? The answer for me is a definite yes! I believe the same is for you too! Then rest assured that ‘all things work together for good’ in your life! Notice in ‘all things work together for good’, the word ‘for good’ here in Greek is ‘agathos’. It really means ‘for your benefit.’ So, in other words, ‘all things work together for your benefit.’
Friends, if you are wondering why certain things happened in your life, even after you have done everything you knew how, then begin to rest in God, and know that He is still here with you. The bible says ‘He will never leave you nor forsake you’ (Hebrews 13:5). Rest assured God knows what He is doing. God has a purpose for everything in your life. In fact, you have been called according to His purpose. His destiny and purpose for you is sure, and His plan for your life is always good. The bible says ‘His thought for you is always thought of peace and not evil, that gives you a future and a hope’ (Jeremiah 29:11).
Now imagine this. God is like a ‘portrait artist’, and you are like a ‘white canvas’. At the moment, He is in the midst of painting a wonderful portrait of you. At first, you may not understand or figure out what the artist is trying to draw. He may start off by drawing your nose, or maybe your eye brow first, or maybe even your cheek first. But the fact is a good artist knows what he’s doing. The same is true with God. He is the great ‘artist’ of your life, and He is definitely in the midst of drawing a ‘wonderful portrait’ of you now. Now tell me this, which good artist does not give his very best for his own works? The same is true with God, and you are definitely His masterpiece in the making!
So beloved, rest in Him, and trust Him, His wisdom, and His timing for your life. Ephesians 1:11 says ‘in Him, we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to His purpose, who works all things according to the counsel of His will.’ The words ‘according to the counsel of His will’ here actually means ‘according to His wisdom.’ His wisdom, His timing is perfect.
Friends, look to Jesus now, trust in His goodness and His plan for your life, and in everything, give thanks (1 Thessalonians 5:18), for He is in the midst of ‘drawing a masterpiece in you!’
The Word of God says ‘all things work together for good’ to those who love God. Is God the love of your life? The answer for me is a definite yes! I believe the same is for you too! Then rest assured that ‘all things work together for good’ in your life! Notice in ‘all things work together for good’, the word ‘for good’ here in Greek is ‘agathos’. It really means ‘for your benefit.’ So, in other words, ‘all things work together for your benefit.’
Friends, if you are wondering why certain things happened in your life, even after you have done everything you knew how, then begin to rest in God, and know that He is still here with you. The bible says ‘He will never leave you nor forsake you’ (Hebrews 13:5). Rest assured God knows what He is doing. God has a purpose for everything in your life. In fact, you have been called according to His purpose. His destiny and purpose for you is sure, and His plan for your life is always good. The bible says ‘His thought for you is always thought of peace and not evil, that gives you a future and a hope’ (Jeremiah 29:11).
Now imagine this. God is like a ‘portrait artist’, and you are like a ‘white canvas’. At the moment, He is in the midst of painting a wonderful portrait of you. At first, you may not understand or figure out what the artist is trying to draw. He may start off by drawing your nose, or maybe your eye brow first, or maybe even your cheek first. But the fact is a good artist knows what he’s doing. The same is true with God. He is the great ‘artist’ of your life, and He is definitely in the midst of drawing a ‘wonderful portrait’ of you now. Now tell me this, which good artist does not give his very best for his own works? The same is true with God, and you are definitely His masterpiece in the making!
So beloved, rest in Him, and trust Him, His wisdom, and His timing for your life. Ephesians 1:11 says ‘in Him, we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to His purpose, who works all things according to the counsel of His will.’ The words ‘according to the counsel of His will’ here actually means ‘according to His wisdom.’ His wisdom, His timing is perfect.
Friends, look to Jesus now, trust in His goodness and His plan for your life, and in everything, give thanks (1 Thessalonians 5:18), for He is in the midst of ‘drawing a masterpiece in you!’
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