Be strong and of good courage!

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!

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!

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

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

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!

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!

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!

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"

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

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

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!