A time to declare heaven to open above your heads!

John 1:51 (NKJV): And He (Jesus) said to him (Nathanael) "Most assured, I say to you, thereafter you shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man."

As I was ministering prophetically to the congregation the other day, I suddenly heard these words, and therefore spoke them out by faith: "Declare heaven to open above your heads!" It immediately reminded me of Psalm 24:7-8 that says, 'Lift up your heads, O you gates! And be lifted up, you everlasting doors! And the King of glory shall come in. Who is this King of glory? The Lord strong and mighty. The Lord mighty in battle'.

Indeed, people of God, as you begin to declare heaven to open above your heads, this same King of glory will begin to come into every situation of yours today! Like the light that shines (from open heaven) and dispels every darkness! Jesus is the light, and in Him there is no darkness at all (1 John 1:5). And when this light comes, every darkness has to flee!

And you know what? The very next moment after Jesus had spoken in John 1:51, He began to perform His very first miracle by turning water to wine! John 2:11 says, 'This beginning of signs Jesus did in Cana of Galilee, and manifested His glory; and His disciples believed in Him'.

John 2:1-5 says, 'On the third day, there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. Now both Jesus and His disciples were invited to the wedding. And when they ran out of wine, the mother of Jesus said to Him, "They have no wine." Jesus said to her, "Woman, what does your concern have to do with Me? My hour (timing) has not yet come." His mother said to the servants. "Whatever He says to you, do it."'

This account written by John is very prophetic of our days and time as believers in the New Covenant.

'On the third day' here is symbolic of 'the resurrection of Jesus', and the fact that He is very much alive today!

Jesus being invited to this wedding banquet speaks of 'Jesus being invited into your life'. Just as there are 'highlights' in each wedding banquet (feast), there are also 'highlights' in each of our lives. Personally, the greatest 'highlights' in my life so far have always involved Jesus manifesting Himself and showing Himself so real, especially in times of need. In Revelation 3:20, Jesus says, "Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me."

'Wine' speaks of 'joy and celebration in life'. In the English Standard Version (ESV), Nehemiah 8:10 says, 'And he (Nehemiah) said to them, "Go your way. Eat the fat and drink sweet wine and send portions to anyone who has nothing ready, for this day is holy to our Lord. And do not be grieved, for the joy of the Lord is your strength."' It is interesting to see that the first miracle of Jesus has to do with turning your sorrow into joy, and mourning into dancing! In other words, He came to set you free from every sorrow! And of course, if He is invited into your life (or any situation you face in your life), you'll be sure that He'll always have a way or solution for you! The Bible says He is the way, the truth, and the life! (John 14:6)

The word 'hour' here in Greek is 'hora', which can be translated as '(high) time'. In other words, He holds the (right) timing as to when exactly He will perform it, and how He's going to do it! Simply because He knows better. Isaiah 55:8-9 says, '"For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways," says the Lord. "For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts."'

"What's my part then?"

Your part is simply to invite Him into your life (and of course, the situation you are facing at the moment), and as Mary had said, "Whatever He says to you, do it." People of God, these are keys to His miracle and manifestation in your life (and the situation you are facing now)!

In John 2:6-8, you'd see the very specific instructions of Jesus for that very specific situation. It says, 'Now there were set there six waterpots of stone... Jesus said to them (the servants), "Fill the waterpots with water." And they filled them up to the brim. And He said to them,"Draw some out now, and take it to the master of the feast." And they took it.'

Then, John 2:9-10 says, 'When the master of the feast had tasted the water that was made wine, and did not know where it came from (but the servants who had drawn the water knew), the master of the feast called the bridegroom. And he said to him, "Every man at the beginning sets out the good wine, and when the guests have well drunk, then the inferior. You have kept the good wine until now!"'

In John 14:21, Jesus says, "He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him."

The word 'commandments' here is 'entole' (pronounced 'en-tol-ay') in Greek, which can mean 'an authoritative prescription or instruction', from the word 'entellomai' meaning 'to (give) a charge, to (give) a command'. See the word 'authoritative' here? As you can see, His words carry authority and power! And the word 'keeps' here is 'tereo' in Greek, which means 'to hold fast (to a command), to fulfill a command, to act on a command'.

To put it simply, "Whatever He says to you, do it." And of course, take time to listen for that command (or commands). Do not be wise in your own eyes, but in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths. Read the Word, and let it never depart from your eyes (Proverbs 4:21), and pray in the Spirit often (Ephesians 6:18).

And you'll be sure to see Him manifest Himself in your situation as well. Amen!

Receive the power to overcome!

John 16:33 (NKJV): These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.

The word 'overcome' here is 'nikao' in Greek, meaning 'to subdue, to conquer, to prevail, or to get the victory', from the word 'nike' (pronounced 'nee-kay') which means 'conquest, victory'. Here in this verse, Jesus says that He has overcome the world. The word 'world' here is translated in Greek as 'kosmos' which means 'the patterns (or the ways) of this world'. 

If you look around you, you'd see that 'the patterns (or the ways) of this world' is full of tribulation. That's why Jesus says 'In the world ('kosmos') you will have tribulation'. And what does the word 'tribulation' mean here? It is the word 'thlipsis' in Greek, which can mean 'pressure, stress, anguish, burden, persecution, or trouble'. 

But the good news here is Jesus says in Him you may have peace. This word 'peace' is 'eirene' (pronounced 'i-ray-nay') in Greek, which means 'being at rest, having quietness, being at one (with God)', and as a matter of fact, the peace of God in you will always lead to prosperity (in your soul, in your health, and in every other area of your life).

As I was praying for someone recently, this word 'overcome' kept coming to mind, and later on, I decided to check this word in the Oxford Dictionary. Here's what I found out: 'to succeed in a struggle against (something), to defeat, to be victorious, to triumph, to find a way of dealing with or solving (a problem, etc)'. Indeed, Jesus is the solution to any tribulation in this world, simply because He is the way, the truth, and the life! (John 14:6) 

Therefore, people of God, whatever 'tribulation' you may be facing at the moment, I want to declare by faith that He has a way out for you! Let not your heart doubt, but believe and receive! To men, it may be impossible, but to God, all things are possible (Luke 18:27). Look to Him and receive the power to overcome! Like the light that overcomes the darkness, so will His light overcome every darkness that the 'enemy' throws at you!

I have received a number of testimonies recently on how God's people have overcome, and I would like to share some here:

"I joined youth fellowship since the age of 13, and was baptized in my early twenties. I have not been a victorious Christian until recently attending Triumph in Christ (TiC) listening and following your teaching. I am not glorifying you, but I have been greatly blessed. You are truly God-driven and you adhere to God's ways, and you have been conveying it effectively to the congregation. I thank God for sending you to us. Otherwise I would still be struggling in life and against the power of darkness. Praise God! I have finally conquered my fear..."

"I was representing my company in an exhibition the other day, and was unable to close any sales for our equipment. I sent my prayer request to you, and truly, not long after you have prayed, eight professors from different universities came and made inquiries about our company's equipment. Three confirmed buying. It was an arm's length transaction. By the way, no other booths in the exhibition had much traffic except ours on that day. Praise the Lord!" 

"I have been having spinal problems due to a cycling incident, and had to take medication and go for physiotherapy. Just one day after you prayed for me, I woke up in the morning to realize that the pain has gone and I am now totally healed! Your prayer of faith works! Thanks be to God!"

Beloved and friends, wherever you may be at the moment, and whatever situation you may be facing at the moment, know that His grace (His supply, His ability) is enough in your time of need (Hebrews 4:16).

When the light comes, the darkness has no choice but to flee. Jesus is the light that shines (1 John 1:5), and I pray likewise that this light shines right into your situation (name the situation..............) and causes every 'darkness' to flee as well. I pray this by faith (Mark 11:22-24, James 1:5-6, James 5:13-15), in Jesus' mighty name. Amen.

A time of renewal and refreshing

2 Kings 23:4 (NKJV): And the king (Josiah) commanded Hilkiah the high priest, the priests of the second order, and the doorkeepers, to bring out of the temple of the Lord all the articles that were made for Baal, for Asherah, and for all the host of heaven (the gods of the Assyrians); and he burned them outside Jerusalem...

Anything on earth can be your 'idol'. An 'idol' doesn't necessarily have to be statues or carved images that one bows down to worship. An 'idol' can be something that you've been indulging in, or something that holds you back from walking in the perfect will of God (or receiving from the Lord).

So, what exactly is an 'idol'? An 'idol' is anything (or anyone) that takes the place of God in your life, and it can even be a certain emotional attachment with something (or somebody) that you are not supposed to be attached with. It can also be a certain past that you are not supposed to hang on to anymore. These, if not cleared, will hinder God's perfect will and God's grace from flowing freely in your life.

Just as in King Josiah's days, this is also a time of 'spring-cleaning' (even spiritual 'spring-cleaning') for many of God's people today!

I heard these words from the Lord recently:
"Clear the clutter! This is a time to clear whatever that has been holding you back! Even the past that has been holding you back!"

And then, I heard further:
"I am preparing My people for a time of renewal and refreshing. There will be a new outlook! There will be a new vigor! Many of My people have become entangled in this complicated world. Many of My people have become entangled in the many issues of life. This is a time to return to My rest. This is a time to clear what needs to clear, and I will help you if you would allow Me."

By the way, a 'clutter' is defined as 'disorderliness, mess; unnecessary (or unwanted) things lying about untidily'.

I am attracted to the words 'new outlook' here. You know what it means? Future prospects! In other words, as you clear the 'clutter' in any particular area of your life, you will begin to see 'future prospects' in that particular area of your life! Believe that the Lord will show you, and He will help you. His grace (ability, supply) is enough for you. This is a time to declare that your future is bright, and your prospect is bright!

I also heard these words for this time and season of the Lord:
"Allow Me to turn your 'disorderliness' into 'orderliness'. By your own strength, it may be impossible; but with Me, all things are possible. My grace is enough for you."

Let's look at the life of King Josiah now. 2 Kings 22:1-2 says, 'Josiah was eight years old when he became king,... And he did what was right in the sight of the Lord, and walked in all the ways of his (fore)father David; he did not turn aside to the right hand or to the left'. And then, 2 Kings 22:3 says, 'Now it came to pass, in the eighteenth year of King Josiah, that the king sent Shaphan the scribe... to the house of the Lord...' Josiah meant it for the purpose of repairing the house of God which has been neglected for years.

Interestingly, the name 'Josiah' in Hebrew is 'YoshiYah', which means 'founded of Yah, or founded Yah'. In other words, he found the Lord, even in the midst of widespread idolatry in the land of Judah during his earlier years, and even though his grandfather (Manasseh) and father (Amon) had long forsaken the Lord (and entangled themselves with the 'idols' of the world). As a matter of fact, you are never too young or too old to find the Lord, and see Him using you (the way He used Josiah) to bring renewal and refreshing in the land you live in. Amen!

May a heart like Josiah be raised up in God's people today.

2 Kings 22:8-11 then says, 'Then Hilkiah the high priest said to Shaphan the scribe, "I have found the Book of the Law in the house of the Lord." And Hilkiah gave the book to Shaphan, and he read it... Now it happened, when the king (Josiah) heard the words of the Book of the Law, that he tore his clothes'.

With the Word of the Lord that he had heard, and with the conviction that the Lord had put in his heart, he began a great work of the Lord to clear the 'clutter' that had accumulated for generations before him.

And do you know what was the first and foremost thing written in the Bible that Josiah restored, renewed and refreshed? 2 Kings 23:21-23 says, 'Then the king (Josiah) commanded all the people, saying, "Keep the Passover to the Lord your God, as it is written in the Book of the Covenant." Such a Passover surely had never been held since the days of the judges who judged Israel, nor in all the days of the kings of Israel and the kings of Judah. But in the eighteenth year of King Josiah this Passover was held before the Lord in Jerusalem'.

'Passover' here speaks of 'the renewal and refreshing of the covenant (that the Lord had first made with His people)'. In cross-reference, let's look at Exodus 12:1-2 that says, 'Now the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt, saying, "This month shall be your beginning of months; it shall be the first month of the year to you."' Therefore, 'Passover' also signifies 'returning to the very beginning, your first love (the Lord), and reminding yourself of how the Lord had first saved you'.

In Exodus 12:5-13, the Lord then said, 'Your lamb shall be without blemish, a male of the first year... Now you shall keep it until the fourteenth day of the same month. Then the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall kill it at twilight. And they shall take some of the blood and put it on the two doorposts and on the lintel of the houses... They shall eat the flesh on that night, roasted in fire... It is the Lord's Passover. For I will pass through the land of Egypt on that night, and will strike all the firstborn in the land of Egypt... Now the blood shall be a sign for you on the houses where you are. And when I see the blood, I will pass over you; and the plague shall not be on you to destroy you when I strike the land of Egypt'.

As a believer in the New Covenant, know that Jesus has become your Passover Lamb when He died for you and His blood was shed for you on the cross some 2,000 years ago. It's a covenant made with His own blood (see also Isaiah 53:4-7, Romans 5:8-9).

I was praying the other day when I saw a vision of many new bottles of olive oil (never being used before, tightly-capped, not opened yet). Then, I saw the cap (caps) being opened by a pair of shining hands, and fresh olive oil being poured upon God's people's heads. I asked the Lord what all these meant, and then I began to understand. This is a time to receive renewal and refreshing from the Lord, like the fresh olive oil being poured upon God's people's heads! This is also a time for you to renew and refresh your covenant with the Lord again!

People of God, are there areas in your life that have become stale, dull or wearied, and you know you need a renewing and refreshing touch of the Lord all over again?

Isaiah 40:31 says, '...those who wait ('qavah' in Hebrew, meaning 'hope, collect, gather') 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'. The word 'renew' here is 'chalaph' in Hebrew, which means 'to spring up'. Just imagine a dying plant being watered (and nourished), and then it springs up again.

Therefore, return to His rest, receive from Him, and let Him water (and nourish) you all over again. You'll be sure to 'spring up' with a new outlook and a new vigor, as you look forward to many more good days ahead. Amen!

The Lord is your refuge, your hiding place

Psalm 59:16 (NKJV): But I will sing of Your power; Yes, I will sing aloud of Your mercy in the morning; For You have been my defense, and refuge in the day of my trouble.

This psalm was written by David when Saul sent men to watch his house in order to kill him (see 1 Samuel 19:11). The word 'refuge' here is 'manowce' in Hebrew, which can mean 'a retreat, an escape, a fleeing place', from the word 'nuwce' (pronounced 'noos') meaning 'to escape, to flee, to hide, to vanish away'. Indeed, the Lord is your hiding place, and in Him, you are 'invisible' to the enemy, where the enemy cannot find you and touch you!

In cross-reference, Psalm 91:1-2 says, 'He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, "He is my refuge and my fortress; my God, in Him I will trust."'

The name 'David' simply means 'beloved', from the word 'dowd' which means 'to love'. Today, because you are a beloved of God, you too can find refuge from the enemy (whether spiritual or physical), or from anyone who has evil intention (or malice) against you, or from anyone who tries to hurt you (whether in words or deeds). If the Lord has called you to do (or put in your heart to do) something significant, there is a likelihood that someone isn't happy. This is especially so when you are doing something apostolic (breaking new grounds), unprecedented, or never been done before. Maybe what you are doing has become a subject of jealousy, or even a threat to another. Now, that was exactly what happened to David those days.

It all began when David's 'promotion' came (1 Samuel 17). He has been prepared and trained by the Lord through the years as a shepherd boy, and the moment came when he 'happened' to be there because he was asked by his father Jesse to bring breakfast for his brothers (1 Samuel 17:17-24). When all the men of Israel were dreadfully afraid of Goliath and fled from him, David said to King Saul, "Let no man's heart fail because of him; your servant will go and fight with this Philistine." (1 Samuel 17:32), and he prevailed over Goliath (1 Samuel 17:49-51). Saul then took him into his ranks, and set him over the men of war (1 Samuel 18:2, 1 Samuel 18:5). Now, what could go wrong? It should have been a time of great rejoicing for David! In fact, he behaved wisely and prospered in all his ways, and was accepted in the sight of all the people and also in the sight of Saul's servants.

But alas! 1 Samuel 18:6-9 says, 'Now it had happened as they (the men of war) were coming home, when David was returning from the slaughter of the Philistine, that the women had come out of all the cities of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet King Saul, with tambourines, with joy, and with musical instruments. So the women sang as they danced, and said: "Saul has slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands." Then Saul was very angry, and the saying displeased him; and he said, "They have ascribed to David ten thousands, and to me they have ascribed only thousands. Now what more can he have but the kingdom?" So Saul eyed David from that day forward'.
Note: The word 'eyed' here means 'to watch (with jealousy)'.

It was then that Saul began seeking to kill David (1 Samuel 18:11-29), and this also marked the turning point to the worse for Saul. You see, it was his own insecurity and jealousy against David that eventually led to his own downfall! Instead of focusing on the Lord and His 'blueprint' for his own life, he became too engrossed in wanting to kill David whom he saw as his enemy. But as for David, the Lord was with him and he behaved more wisely than all the other servants of Saul, so that his name became highly esteemed (1 Samuel 18:30).

The lesson we can learn here: Stay focused on the Lord and His 'blueprint' for your life. Never compare with others, because there will always be people doing better than you in different ways/areas of life. Saul's mistake was he began to focus away from God, and instead began to focus on wanting to kill David whom he saw as a threat to his throne (or even his popularity). He became so obsessed in trying to kill David that he forgot to look to God and walk in God's calling for his own life.

1 Samuel 19:10-12 says, 'Then Saul sought to pin David to the wall with the spear, but he slipped away from Saul's presence; and he drove the spear into the wall. So David fled and escaped that night. Saul also sent messengers to David's house to watch him and to kill him in the morning... So Michal (David's wife) let David down through a window. And he went and fled and escaped'.

You see, the Lord will always send the right people to open a way of escape for you, even when you think there's no way. Just look to Him and cry out to Him. In David's case, the Lord even used Saul's very own son (Jonathan) and daughter (Michal) to make a way of escape for him! (1 Samuel 19:1-2, 1 Samuel 19:12-17)

Also, an interesting point to note here is even though Saul saw David as enemy (1 Samuel 18:29), David did not see Saul likewise. In fact, his loyalty and commitment towards Saul was second to none. Later on, when Saul died in a battle (1 Samuel 31:1-6), David did not rejoice over his death, but he wept and mourned for him instead (2 Samuel 1:11-12).

Back to 1 Samuel 19 now. And guess where David fled and escaped to? 1 Samuel 19:18 says, 'So David fled and escaped, and went to Samuel at Ramah, and told him all that Saul had done to him. And he and Samuel went and stayed in Naioth'.

Every name and place in the Bible has its meaning and significance. The name 'Samuel' here is 'Shemuw-El' in Hebrew, which means 'heard of God', from the word 'shama' meaning 'to hear attentively, to hear carefully', and of course, 'El' meaning 'God, Almighty'. Beloved of God, whatever your situation may be at the moment, the Lord is here to hear you as you pour out to Him, just as Samuel heard all that David had to pour out to him.

How about the name of the place 'Ramah' here? Interestingly, 'Ramah' means 'height, high place' in Hebrew, from the word 'ruwm' which means 'to rise above, to raise'. Indeed, the Lord is your Most High God, and He will arise for you! Hallelujah!

And the place 'Naioth' in this context is 'residence of God (dwelling place of God)', from the word 'navah' meaning 'to rest (as at home)'. Today, the Lord is also inviting you to come and stay in His residence (His dwelling place), and rest in His very presence, because it is here that the enemy cannot find you and touch you. Amen.

Being changed from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord

2 Corinthians 3:18 (NKJV): But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.

The word 'transformed' ('changed' in King James Version) here is 'metamorphoo' in Greek, which means 'being shaped, being fashioned'.

Notice also the words 'just as by the Spirit of the Lord' in this verse? As you can see here, it is the Spirit of the Lord that transforms you from glory to glory (i.e. to be more and more like Jesus), even as you behold (look to) Him!

I heard these words from the Lord the other day:
"My wind is blowing, and it is blowing stronger and stronger! Prepare yourself for the many things that I will do in you and speak to you. I will even show you things that eye has not seen nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things that I have prepared for those who love Me. This is the time to let go of your sorrows, and drink of My new wine! And you shall be changed! You shall be changed! You shall be changed! Don't resist Me, but receive a fresh new joy from Me. This joy from Me will be your strength!"

'Wine' here speaks of 'joy, celebration, liberty'. The Bible says 'where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty' (2 Corinthians 3:17). The Bible also says we are not to be drunk with wine made by man, in which is dissipation or a waste of time (Ephesians 5:18), but instead be filled with the Spirit of the Lord, i.e. to drink of this 'wine' that comes from heaven.

Nehemiah 8:10 says, 'Do not sorrow, for the joy of the Lord is your strength'. Therefore, people of God, no matter what has been troubling you recently, let this wind of the Spirit blow away every sorrow of your past, and let Him release to you a fresh new joy! By the way, the word 'strength' here is 'maowz' in Hebrew, which can also be defined as 'force, fortress'. In other words, this joy of the Lord will be the 'force' that the enemy (the devil) cannot stand, and will not be able to stand!

In Mark 2:22, Jesus says, "And no one puts new wine into old wineskins; or else the new wine bursts the wineskins, the wine is spilled, and the wineskins are ruined. But new wine must be put into new wineskins." This is also a time to prepare yourself and allow the Holy Spirit to change you, i.e. to change your heart and change your mindset, so that He can begin to do new things in your life.

Romans 12:2 says, 'And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed (same word 'changed', or 'metamorphoo') by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God'. The word 'prove' here is 'dokimazo' in Greek, which can mean 'to allow, to walk in'. You see, it's only when you are willing to be changed ('metamorphoo') by the Lord that you will begin walking in what is good and acceptable and perfect will of God in your life!

Look at Moses. Look at Joseph. Look at the apostle Paul. All of them had to be changed by the Lord first before God could fulfill their respective callings.

Many people want to be used by the Lord, but they are not willing to be changed by the Lord, especially from the inside out. As a matter of fact, a change in the inside (spiritual) leads to a change in the outside (physical).

A willingness to be used by the Lord is one thing, but a willingness to be changed by the Lord is even more important! Because it is when you are changed by the Lord (2 Corinthians 3:18, Romans 12:2) that you'll also be entrusted with the deeper things (and even secrets) of the Lord, such that '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' (1 Corinthians 2:9-10).

There's an Old Testament parallel here. In Numbers 4:1-4, the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying: "Take a census of the sons of Kohath from among the children of Levi... from thirty years old and above... all who enter the service to do the work in the tabernacle of meeting, This is the service of the sons of Kohath in the tabernacle of meeting, relating to the most holy things."

'The most holy things' here speaks of 'the innermost, deepestmost of God's things', and 'Kohath' in this context means 'to be allied, to be joined (to the Lord)'. Interestingly, the name 'Levi' in Hebrew means 'attached (to the Lord)', from the word 'lavah' meaning 'to remain, to unite, to join oneself'.

The Bible says the Levites belong to the Lord (Numbers 3:45). Today, because of what Jesus has done for you on the cross some 2,000 years ago, know that you too belong to the Lord, and should also therefore be joined to the Lord (1 Corinthians 6:17). There should never be a 'distance' between you and the Lord. Ask the Lord to change you in any area of your life that may have hindered your joining with the Lord, and that's when the Lord will also begin to entrust you with His things, His deeper things. Amen.

Outpouring of the Holy Spirit in the midst of the woes

Habakkuk 2:14 (NKJV): For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea.

I heard these words during a time of prayer recently:
"Outpouring! Outpouring! Outpouring of the Holy Spirit be upon My people these seven years! In the midst of the woes, the knowledge of My glory will fill the earth as the waters cover the sea, just as I have spoken to Habakkuk."

The word 'knowledge' here in Hebrew is 'yada', which can mean 'to know by seeing, to know by recognizing, to know by comprehending, or to know by discovering'. In other words, you are entering a time when you'll know His glory, you'll see His glory, you'll recognize His glory, you'll comprehend His glory, and you'll discover His glory!

By the way, the name 'Habakkuk' in Hebrew comes from the root word 'chabaq' ('khaw-bak') meaning 'to embrace, to cling to'. Therefore, the key in these seven years is to continue embracing Him and clinging to Him no matter what, just as Habakkuk did. As you embrace Him, He will embrace you. As you cling to Him, He will cling to you. And as you draw near to Him, He will draw near to you (James 4:8). There will be safety and a hedge of protection round about you, even in the midst of the woes (i.e. griefs, troubles) that you see on earth.

The Lord works in a seven-year cycle, just as He works in a seven-day cycle that makes up a week. In fact, scientists have recently discovered cells in our human bodies also renew and replenish themselves every seven years! So, people of God, as you prepare yourselves for your next seven years (2016-2022), receive the fresh new wind from the Lord that blows away every sorrow of your past, and receive also the fresh new wine that brings renewal and joy in your life. This joy that comes from heaven will in turn be your strength (Nehemiah 8:10) for this coming new season of yours.

In Romans 12:1-2, the apostle Paul wrote, 'I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God'.

Here, the Word of God says to present your bodies (i.e. yourselves) to the Lord a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God. The word 'present' here in Greek is 'paristemi', and in this verse's context, means 'to bring before (the Lord), to yield to (the Lord), or to dedicate to (the Lord)'. And the apostle Paul wrote that you are not to be conformed to this world (or in other words, be patterned after this world), but instead be transformed by the renewing of your mind.

These two to three months, you may want to enter a time of reading the Word of God and praying in the spirit often, and reduce on the things of this world. So, instead of shopping often, read the Word of God often. And instead of watching movies often, pray in the spirit often. I call it Word-fast and Spirit-fast. As you read the Word of God and pray in the spirit much, the Holy Spirit will begin enlightening your spiritual eyes and opening your spiritual ears. You will begin to know what is from God and what is not from God. The grace and anointing will be present. As people of God, you don't just rely on your five physical senses (or even the sixth sense) like the people in the world do. As a matter of fact, what you see physically on this earth may not be what it really is, and what you hear physically on this earth may not be the whole truth. You need the Holy Spirit, who will guide you and lead you into all truth (John 16:13, 1 John 2:27).

As you dedicate yourselves to the Lord, ask God that your 'first step' will be the 'right step'. From thereon, step by step, one step at a time. Isaiah 28:9-10 says, 'For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept. Line upon line, line upon line, here a little, there a little'. Don't worry about what's at the end. Take one step at a time. Every step of the way, listen and obey. The Lord will speak further. Remember 'the steps of a good man are ordered (established) by the Lord, and He delights in his way' (Psalm 37:23).

Let the Lord speak, and write it down. Habakkuk 2:2-3 says, 'Then the Lord answered me and said: "Write down the vision and make it plain on tablets, that he may run who reads it. For the vision is yet for an appointed time; but at the end it will speak, and it will not lie. Though it tarries, wait for it; because it will surely come..."'

The word 'vision' here is 'chazown' ('khaw-zone') in Hebrew, which means 'a sight, a dream, a revelation, an oracle (i.e. a prophetic word or insight)', from the word 'chazah' ('khaw-zaw') meaning 'to gaze at, to see, to perceive, to have a vision of, to behold'. Indeed, 'where there is no vision (or revelation), God's people perish' (Proverbs 29:18).
Note: 'Insight' here is defined as 'understanding of a thing's true nature'.

People of God, this is also a time to ask the Lord to bring you to the next level of wisdom, grace and anointing in your life.

The Lord spoke these words as I was praying in the spirit the other day:
"These three months, I am preparing you for the next level of wisdom, grace and anointing. Ask of Me, so that you will not miss out on what I want to do in you, and you will not miss out on what I want you to be in this coming season of yours. You will find your rightful place in My kingdom."

Indeed, you and I are in for an exciting seven years ahead! These are years of God's great outpouring in ways that the world has never seen before (1 Corinthians 2:9-10), in spite of the woes on earth. You see, these are years of great contradiction, when the very best and the very worst are happening at the same time. But fear not. Those who have seen (experienced) the Lord will not be easily deceived by what they see with their naked eyes. Instead, they will see and discern with their spiritual eyes. The humble will begin to prosper (Proverbs 22:4), and the last will be the first (Mark 10:31). May you be counted as one of these.

In Habakkuk 3:17-19, the prophet Habakkuk wrote, 'Though the fig tree may not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines; though the labor of the olive may fail, and the fields yield no food; though the flock may be cut off from the fold and there be no herd in the stalls - yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation ('Yeshua'). The Lord God is my strength; He will make my feet like deer's feet, and He will make me walk on high hills'.

'Deer's feet' here speaks of 'strength and elasticity'. When the enemy tries to put sorrow in you, the joy of the Lord shall be your strength! And when the enemy tries to put you 'out of shape', the Lord will cause you to 'spring back to shape'! By the way, that's what 'elasticity' means - to 'spring back to shape'!

'High hills' here speaks of 'the heights, high above every form of woes (i.e. griefs, troubles) on earth'. And that's where you and I shall walk in this coming time and season - on 'high hills'!

Therefore, people of God, choose to look to Him, embrace Him, and cling to Him no matter what you see or hear on earth; and you'll be sure that He will make your feet like deer's feet, and He will make you walk on high hills, just as the prophet Habakkuk had written some 2,600 years ago regarding our time. Hallelujah!

A time to receive forgiveness and a time to release forgiveness

Mark 11:23-25 (NKJV): For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, "Be removed and be cast into the sea," and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says. Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them. And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him...

The word 'forgive' here is 'aphiemi' in Greek, which can mean 'to leave (the matter) and let alone, to leave (the matter) and let go, to lay aside (a hurt or a fault), to pardon and send away, to release and send away'.

I heard and released these words to the congregation recently:
"Forgive! The grace to forgive is here. This is a time to receive forgiveness and this is a time to release forgiveness, so that your prayers will not be hindered!"

And then I heard further:
"This is a time to release and send away those 'prisoners' you have been keeping in the 'prison' of your heart!"

Indeed, to 'bottle up' hurts, faults, anger or resentment (against anyone who may have hurt or offended you) is like keeping that person (or persons) in the 'prison' of your heart. It is burdensome. It is taxing. It is cumbersome. It kills off joy in life! In fact, some of these 'prisoners' might not even know they have hurt or offended you in any way, but you've been keeping them in your 'prison' all these years!

Some might ask, "But what does forgiveness have to do with prayers being answered?" Friends, it has everything to do with your prayers being answered! The Word of God says so. Otherwise, Jesus (for He is the Word of God) wouldn't have mentioned about forgiveness when He spoke to His disciples about prayers being answered!

As our cross-reference, let's look at Matthew 18:18-20 now. Here, Jesus said, "Assuredly I say to you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them."

And watch what comes right after the verses above! Matthew 18:21-22 then says, '...Peter came to Him and said, "Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?" Then Jesus said to him, "I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven."'

Do you see again how 'forgiveness' is connected to your prayers being answered?

Not only that, forgiveness leads to healing as well! David wrote in Psalm 103:1-3, 'Bless the Lord, O my soul; and all that is within me, bless His holy name! Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits; who forgives all your iniquities, who heals all your diseases...' Notice forgiveness comes first, and then healing follows? In other words, every healing (whether it's for an individual, a family, a land, or even a nation) begins with forgiveness.

"But what does it mean by 'up to seven times' and 'up to seventy times seven'?"

A lot of people don't understand what Jesus meant here, and different Bible commentaries may interpret it differently. But when you look at the meaning of 'seven' and 'seventy' in Hebrew numeric, you will understand. Let me explain. If the number 'seven' means 'perfect, or perfection', then 'to forgive up to seven times' simply means we are 'to forgive perfectly'!

"But I find it hard, even impossible to forgive perfectly!"

And that's when the number 'seventy' comes in! Interestingly, do you know what the number 'seventy' means in Hebrew? It means 'God's Spirit'! Therefore, 'to forgive up to seventy times seven' actually means 'to forgive perfectly with the help of God's Spirit (i.e. the Holy Spirit)'! In other words, of course you may find it hard, even impossible to forgive perfectly by your own human effort, but with the help of God's Spirit (i.e. the Holy Spirit), it's so much easier!

In short, here's the difference between 'up to seven times' and 'up to seventy times seven':
'To forgive up to seven times' = depending on your own self (own human effort) to forgive perfectly.
'To forgive up to seventy times seven' = depending on the Holy Spirit to work in you to forgive perfectly.

As you can see above, it does take the Holy Spirit to work in us to forgive perfectly! Simply because the Holy Spirit is perfect, whereas you and I (by ourselves) aren't! Also, the Holy Spirit is first and foremost the Spirit of love (see Galatians 5:22-23), and this love never fails. 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 says, 'Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy, love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails...' 1 Corinthians 13:10 then says, '...when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away'. See the word 'perfect' here?

Indeed, Jesus is the personification of God's perfect love that never fails (see 1 John 4:16), and it is out of this perfect love that forgiveness flows. Luke 23:32-34 says, 'There were also two others, criminals, led with Jesus to be put to death. And when they had come to the place called Calvary, there they crucified Him, and the criminals, one on the right hand and the other on the left. Then Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do." And they divided His garments and cast lots'.

And you know what? Philippians 2:8-11 shows us just what happened to Jesus soon after! The Scripture says, 'And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father'.

When you learn to forgive, God's name is glorified!

By the way, do you know on what occasion was the word 'forgive' first mentioned in the Bible? It's in Genesis 50:17, about Joseph forgiving his brothers after their father (Jacob) had died. Here's what Genesis 50:15-21 say, 'When Joseph's brothers saw that their father (Jacob) was dead, they said, "Perhaps Joseph will hate us, and may repay us for all the evil we did to him." So they sent messengers to Joseph, saying, "Before your father died, he commanded, saying, 'Thus you shall say to Joseph: "I beg you, please forgive the trespass of your brothers and their sin; for they did evil to you."' Now, please forgive the trespass of the servants of the God of your father." And Joseph wept when they spoke to him. Then his brothers also went and fell down before his face, and they said, "Behold, we are your servants." Joseph said to them, "Do not be afraid, for am I in the place of God? But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive. Now therefore, do not be afraid; I will provide for you and your little ones." And he comforted them and spoke kindly to them'.

As a result, there was a wholesome reconciliation and unity among the sons of Jacob (Israel), and indeed, God's name is glorified! Simply because Joseph had learned to forgive - a far cry from those days when he brought bad reports against his brothers (see Genesis 37:2). He has certainly been changed by the Lord through the years, to the glory of God the Father.

Beloved of God, may the Lord also grant you peace and a heart to forgive. In Jesus' name. Amen.

This is a key time to praise!

Psalm 22:3 (NKJV): But You are holy, enthroned in the praises of Israel.

The word 'praises' here in Hebrew is 'tehillah', which means 'laudation (or giving high praise) to God', from the word 'haw-lal' meaning ‘to clear the way, to shine (in the midst of darkness), to boast, to make a show, to celebrate (with a loud voice)’. 

There are other Hebrew words for ‘praise’, but we shall concentrate on this word ‘haw-lal’ today. This word 'haw-lal' is also where the word Hallelujah (meaning 'Praise the Lord') comes from.

Some might say, "Looking at my situation now, I have no reason to praise God." But the truth is you have all the more reason to praise God! From the Scriptures, you can see the likes of David and Jehoshaphat praising the Lord even when they were in 'difficult' and 'troubled' times! 

In good times, you praise, and of course in breakthrough times, you praise! But how about in troubled times? You praise also! In fact, keep praising till you see your breakthrough comes! Now that's exactly what David did! In Psalm 34:1-4, he wrote, 'I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise ('tehillah') shall continually be in my mouth. My soul shall make its boast in the Lord; The humble shall hear of it and be glad. Oh, magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt His name together. I sought the Lord, and He heard me, and delivered me from all my fears'.

"You mean I should praise God for the problem I am facing now?" No, I'm not saying you are to praise God for the problem. But I'm saying you praise God in spite of the problem you are facing now.

Let's go back to Psalm 22 where we started. I want you to see something here. I want you to see how 'praises' makes all the difference!

In Psalm 22:1-5, David wrote, 

'My God, My God, why have You forsaken me? Why are You so far from helping me, and from the words of my groaning? Oh my God, I cry in the daytime, but You do not hear; and in the night season, and am not silent.

But You are holy, enthroned in the praises of Israel.

Our fathers trusted in You; They trusted, and You delivered them. They cried to You, and were delivered; They trusted in You, and were not ashamed.'

Before David mentioned 'praises' here, he wrote 'I cry in the daytime, but You do not hear'. But after he had mentioned 'praises', he wrote 'They cried to You, and were delivered'! One was 'unanswered', and the other was 'answered'! And look now what separates between these two? Praises!

Last Sunday, I heard and released these words to the congregation:

"This is a key time to praise! Praise, My people, praise! Do not give up praising! Keep praising in spite of your problems! Keep praising even in the midst of your troubles! Keep praising, and you will begin to see your breakthroughs!"

As you praise ('tehillah'), know that the Lord is enthroned! To put it simply, He is now made king! And as the king (for He is the King of kings, the Lord of lords), He now takes over, takes the lead, and takes full responsibility over that particular situation (or circumstance) of yours! And that's exactly what happened when Jehoshaphat (and the people of Judah) began to praise! 2 Chronicles 20:22-23 says, 'Now when they began to sing and to praise ('tehillah'), the Lord set ambushes against the people of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir, who had come against Judah; and they were defeated. For the people of Ammon and Moab stood up against the inhabitants of Mount Seir to utterly kill and destroy them. And when they had made an end of the inhabitants of Seir, they helped to destroy one another'.

Why are 'praises' so important in a time of trouble or uncertainty? 

You can find the answer by studying the Hebrew letters for this same word ‘haw-lal’, i.e. 

"Hey-Lamed-Lamed".

'Hey' (the fifth letter in Hebrew alephbet chart) symbolizes 'man with raised arms', which speaks of 'Jesus, and all that He has done for you on the cross', whereas

'Lamed' (the twelfth letter in Hebrew alephbet chart) symbolizes 'the shepherd's rod and staff', which speaks of 'the Shepherd’s authority'.

The interpretation: When you 'praise', Jesus (your Shepherd) takes over your situation with His rod and staff!

Interestingly, Psalm 22 (about ‘the praises of the Lord’ in the midst of trouble and suffering) leads to Psalm 23 (about the Shepherd taking over)!

Your 'praises' activates the Shepherd to take over!

In Psalm 23:1-4, David wrote,

'The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want (lack). He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me'.

See 'He makes', 'He leads', 'He restores', and then 'He leads' here? All these are verbs, indicating 'actions' of the Shepherd!

By the way, here's the difference between a 'rod' and a 'staff':

A 'rod' is used by the shepherd to drive away the enemy. For example, the shepherd chases a wolf away with a good, hard whack. On the other hand, a 'staff' is used by the shepherd to guide the sheep in the right paths, to direct (or lead) the sheep from straying away, or to rescue the sheep when they fall into cracks (or crevices).

So, people of God, PRAISE! Praise the Lord over and above that particular situation of yours now, be it a health problem or a financial challenge, or any other situation you may be facing right now. And you'll be sure that your Shepherd will come and take over with His rod and His staff - the 'rod' to chase away the works of the enemy, and the 'staff' to guide, direct (or lead) and rescue you!

When you praise, your 'dead-end' shall be turned into a 'new road'! 

Just the other day, I saw a vision while praying for somebody. I saw the person in a car that had reached a 'dead-end', and the place was surrounded by thick, dark jungle, with no further road in sight. Then I heard the Lord say, "Switch on the head lights!" The lights of the car then beamed through the 'dead-end', miraculously clearing the 'dead-end' and opening up a 'new road'. A road not made by man, but by the works of the Lord! Now, that’s the power of ‘praise’! Remember ‘haw-lal’ means 'to clear the way, to shine (in the midst of darkness)'?

So, go ahead, 'switch on your head lights!' Praise Him, and keep praising Him continually! And you too shall see your 'dead-end' be turned into a 'new road'. Hallelujah!

How do you 'judge' your current situation and circumstance?

Judges 2:18 (NKJV): And when the Lord raised up judges for them, the Lord was with the judge and delivered them out of the hand of their enemies all the days of the judge...

The word 'judge' here in Hebrew is 'shaphat', which means 'to govern, to rule, to sentence (for or against) like a judge'. See the word 'sentence' here? In the context of our bible-study today, 'to judge' here is 'to pronounce a sentence (or verdict) over your current situation and circumstance by your words'.

Indeed, in Christ, you too are the 'shaphat' of today! Proverbs 18:21 says, 'Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit'. In other words, if you love to speak 'life' (into your current situation and circumstance), you will have the 'fruit' of life! But the opposite is also true! If you love to speak 'death' (into your current situation and circumstance), you will have the 'fruit' of death!

By the way, the word 'life' here is 'khah-ee' in Hebrew, from the root word 'khaw-yaw' which can mean 'to live, to revive, to make alive, to restore to life, to spring up, to recover, to become strong, to become fresh, to become whole'. Wow! That's what your words can bring forth when you speak life into whatever you may be facing at the moment!

Let's go back to the book of Judges now. Here, you can see how the Lord raised up judges to pronounce a sentence (or verdict) over every situation and circumstance the children of Israel were facing those days. We shall look at the first two in the list.

Othniel:

Judges 3:7-10 (NKJV) says, 'So the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the Lord. They forgot the Lord their God, and served the Baals and Asherahs. Therefore the anger of the Lord was hot against Israel, and He sold them into the hand of Cushan-Rishathaim king of Mesopotamia; and the children of Israel served Cushan-Rishathaim eight years. When the children of Israel cried out to the Lord, the Lord raised up a deliverer for the children of Israel, who delivered them: Othniel the son of Kenaz, Caleb's younger brother. The Spirit of the Lord came upon him, and he judged Israel. He went out to war, and the Lord delivered Cushan-Rishathaim king of Mesopotamia into his hand; and his hand prevailed over Cushan-Rishathaim'.

This name 'Othniel' is 'Othniy El' in Hebrew, meaning 'the force of God, or the power of God'. The 'Old Testament' is the 'shadow', and the 'New Testament' is the 'substance'. So, let's now go to the New Testament for our cross-reference. Here, the apostle Paul wrote, 'For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation...' (Romans 1:16). See the expression 'the power of God' here? And the word 'salvation' here is 'soteria' in Greek, which can also mean 'deliverance, or rescue'. 

So, what is this 'force' or 'power' that brings 'deliverance'? The gospel (or good news) of Christ, which is the Word of God!

Interestingly, the name 'Cushan-Rishathaim' means 'the curse of double-wickedness', from two words, namely 'Cush', a descendant of Ham who was cursed (see Genesis 9:22-25, Genesis 10:6), and 'Rishathaim', meaning 'double wickedness', which speaks of the enemy's direct reaction to the double portion that God has meant for you this year!

Ehud:

Judges 3:12-23 (NKJV) says, 'And the children of Israel again did evil in the sight of the Lord… So the children of Israel served Eglon king of Moab eighteen years. But when the children of Israel cried out to the Lord, the Lord raised up a deliverer for them: Ehud the son of Gera, the Benjamite, a left-handed man. By him the children of Israel sent tribute to Eglon king of Moab. Now Ehud made himself a dagger (it was double-edged and a cubit in length) and fastened it under his clothes on his right thigh. So he brought the tribute to Eglon king of Moab. (Now Eglon was a very fat man.) And when he had finished presenting the tribute, he sent away the people who had carried the tribute. But he himself turned back... So Ehud came to him (Eglon) and said, "I have a message from God for you". So he (Eglon) arose from his seat. Then Ehud reached with his left, took the dagger from his right thigh, and thrust it into his belly'. 

This name 'Ehud' (Echuwd) is from the word 'achad' in Hebrew, meaning 'to collect (one’s thought) together, to go one way'. Now, that was exactly what Ehud did against Eglon! With a dagger only the length of a cubit (Note: A cubit is a linear unit of measure from the elbow to the tip of the middle finger), he 'collected (his thought) together and went one way' with his double-edged dagger, and right into the 'thick, heavy' belly of Eglon! The 'Old Testament' is the 'shadow', and the 'New Testament' is the substance. So, let's go again to the New Testament for our cross-reference. The key word here is 'double-edged', and the writer of the book of Hebrews wrote, 'For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword...' (Hebrews 4:12). 

Again, it's the Word of God that brings deliverance! And it's the Word of God that judges the work of the enemy!

By the way, the name 'Eglon' in Hebrew means 'a heavy, big, round bull', which speaks of 'the heaviness of the problem you may be facing currently'. So, even if you have been surrounded by a seemingly 'heavy, big, round bull' kind of problem, fear not, because the Lord has already given you a 'weapon' in the form of the Word of God! 2 Corinthians 10:4 says, 'For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal (of the flesh) but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds'. Amen! 

People of God, this is a high time to speak and declare the Word of God over every situation and circumstance in your life (and even in your nation)! Never underestimate how important you and your words can be!

I heard these words from the Lord recently: 
“Many of My people shall break new ground! Many of My people shall walk in a fresh new anointing! This is a season for new things! This is a time to declare it open! This is a time to speak the language of the Word, not the language of the world!” 

Note: ‘Language’ is defined in Oxford Dictionary as 'system of sounds, words, patterns, etc used by humans to communicate thoughts and feelings, or manner of expressing oneself'.

And how do you 'declare it open'? You use your mouth! Use your mouth therefore to speak what God speaks, not what the world speaks! The Word works! And mind you, the Word of God is BIG! Really BIG! Bigger than many in this world may have thought! Because by it, the heavens and the earth were created! (see Genesis 1:1, John 1:1-3) And even when 'heaven and earth will pass away', the Word of God will still remain, and will by no means pass away! (Luke 21:33) That's how BIG the Word of God is!

So, speak and declare the Word of God into the spiritual realm around you! Speak and declare the Word of God over your current situation and circumstance, no matter how bad or 'heavy' it may look like at the moment! And that's exactly how you are going to pronounce a sentence (verdict) over those current situation and circumstance of yours - by the words that you speak! And that's how new ground (even new grounds) shall be opened for you (and your nation) as well! In Jesus' name. Amen!

A heart that is right before the Lord

Psalm 51:10 (KJV): Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.

The word 'heart' here in Hebrew is 'leb', which simply means 'the centre of everything'. The Bible says each of us is "a spirit being that lives in a body and has a soul" (see 1 Thessalonians 5:23). In other words, you are made up of "spirit, soul, body", but 'the centre of everything is the spirit (or the heart)', and out of it springs forth every issue of life (Proverbs 4:23). 

As a matter of fact, everything that happens (in and around you) more often than not begins from the heart. When the heart is right, everything will be alright. On the other hand, when the heart is not right, everything (in and around you) will start to deteriorate. And that's exactly why it is so important to keep a heart that is right before the Lord!

People of God, this is a month to make your heart right before the Lord, and allow Him to turn your heart the way He turns a river. Proverbs 21:1-2 says, 'The king's heart is in the hand of the Lord, like the rivers of water; He turns it wherever He wishes. Every way of a man is right in his own eyes, but the Lord weighs the hearts'. 

I heard and released these words from the Lord last Sunday:

"This is a time to make right your heart, for I am looking into the heart and every intention of the heart. Allow Me to clear every issue of your heart and create in you a clean heart. What it takes is a heart that is willing. For I am preparing you for My manifestations."

You see, the Lord has in mind to manifest Himself in very real and practical ways. I believe this second half of the year 2015 is as such - a time when God's people shall see the manifestations of God's Spirit and power in very real and practical ways! There is a time for His visitations (and He will still be), but there is also a time for His manifestations. 

Let's go all the way to Genesis 14:18-23 now. Here, you see how Abram's heart was aligned to God, and not to man's hands. The Scripture reads, 'Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine; he was the priest of God Most High. And he blessed him (Abram) and said: "Blessed be Abram of God Most High, Possessor of heaven and earth; and blessed be God Most High, who has delivered your enemies into your hand." And he (Abram) gave him a tithe of all'.

The name 'Melchizedek' comes from two Hebrew words, namely 'malkiy' (which means 'king') and 'tsedeq' (which means 'right, righteous, clear, clean'). So, 'Melchizedek' means 'the King who is right, righteous, clear and clean', a 'picture' of Jesus Christ our Lord, whose body was broken and whose blood was shed for us on the cross! 'Bread' here in Genesis 14:18 speaks of 'His body', whereas 'wine' here speaks of 'His blood'. 

And watch now Abram's response: 'And he (Abram) gave a tithe of all'. 

Some of you may be asking, "But what does 'giving of tithe' have to do with a right heart?" 

It has everything to do with the heart! Because 'giving of tithe' is a form of worship and alignment to God! Jesus Himself said, "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also" (Matthew 6:21). In other words, to give tithe to the Lord is to proclaim that He is your Treasure, your unending Source, and your unlimited Supply! And every time you give a tithe to the Lord, you are reminding yourself that He is alive, and that He is the Possessor of heaven and earth, the 'Blessor' of your life! And it is He whom you are aligning to! 

Have you noticed what comes right after Abram's heart was aligned to God? In Genesis 15:1, the word of the Lord came to him in a vision, saying, "Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your exceedingly great reward." The word 'shield' here speaks of 'the Lord being your protector and defense', whereas the word 'reward' here symbolizes 'the Lord who is your (exceedingly great) supply and salary'. 

You see, when your heart is right (before the Lord), you need not fear! In fact, there's absolutely no reason to fear, no matter what happens around you in this world! Simply because you have  'aligned' yourself to the Lord God who is very much alive today, the Possessor of heaven and earth, and not to any dead 'god' (as what is dead cannot give anything good to you or bless you). Genesis 15:6 later says, 'And he (Abram) believed in the Lord, and He accounted it to him for righteousness'.

Back to Psalm 51:10 where we first started in this article. David penned this whole Psalm 51 with a heart of returning and repentance, after the Lord sent Nathan the prophet to rebuke and correct him (read the background in 2 Samuel chapters 11 & 12). Indeed, whom the Lord loves, He will also rebuke and chasten (Hebrews 12:6, Revelation 3:19). 'To chasten' here in Greek is the word 'paideuo', which means 'to train up (or discipline) a child by educating them'. Therefore, never despise such 'chastening' of your Father in heaven, nor be discouraged when you are rebuked by Him (Hebrews 12:5), because when He does this, it is because He loves you, and He has greater things in mind for you.

What is 'a heart that is right before the Lord'?

- A heart that is humble (willing to admit mistakes) before the Lord;

- A heart that fears (trembles before) the Lord;

- A heart that is yielded (surrendered) to the Lord;

- A heart that takes rebuke (and correction) from the Lord;

- A heart that is willing to be trained (and taught) by the Lord.

Beloved of God, know the heart of God for you, that He loves you. Whatever mistake (or mistakes) you have made in your life, surrender all these to the Lord and learn to forgive yourself. His grace is sufficient for you to start anew, and He will help you. He is also here to restore you the way He did for David, if your heart is turned to Him today. Amen.

You are a masterpiece, not a mistake!

Ephesians 2:10 (NKJV): For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.

In New Living Translation (NLT), this verse reads, 'For we are God's masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things He planned for us long ago'. Wow! Just the other day, I heard these words from the Lord:
"Tell My people they are My workmanship! Tell My people I have a plan for them! Tell My people they have a part in me! Tell My people they are not a mistake, even if they think they are!"

There are some of you out there who are on the verge. You may be on the verge of giving up on life, on your faith, on God's promises that seem to be unfulfilled, on God's covenant with you, or even on the verge of ending your life! If you are one of those, these words above are for you. Hang on right there, because God says you are not a mistake, even if you think you are!

"I've had enough of those feel-good message stuff!"

No, friend. I'm not here to write a feel-good message that's too good to be true. Far from it! I've had my share of ups and downs in life too, and I understand how it's like when nothing seems to work in life! But take heart, because the Lord hasn't forgotten you, even if you are now down in the doldrums.

I want to point you back to the Word of God now, because His words are spirit and life (John 6:63). In Ephesians 2:10, the Word of God says 'you are God's workmanship', and if you don't like this version in NKJV, how about in NLT that says 'you are God's masterpiece'?

This word 'workmanship' (or 'masterpiece') is the word 'poiema' in Greek, which means 'a product or a fabric, like a beautiful cloth that is woven (put together)'. This word comes from the verb 'poieo', meaning 'to appoint, to ordain for God's work (like a priest being ordained for God's work)'. Indeed, you (the beloved of God) are a royal priesthood, i.e. king and priest (1 Peter 2:9) of today! In other words, you are God's appointment for such a time as this! Hallelujah!

Ephesians 2:19-22 says, 'Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone, in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit'.

See the words 'having been built', 'being fitted together', 'a holy temple', and 'a dwelling place of God' here? That's who you are in Christ! 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 confirms it, 'Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God's'. Yes, someone has paid a very high price for you, and He's none other than Jesus Christ who paid it with His own life!

The word 'temple' here is 'naos' in Greek, which simply means 'a dwelling place', from the word 'naio' meaning 'to dwell'. And I'm going to show you how God is very particular and meticulous in creating you, just as He was very particular and meticulous in building His dwelling place those days!

Let's go all the way back to the book of Exodus for our Old Testament parallel. In Exodus 31:1-7, The Lord spoke to Moses, saying, "See, I have called by name Bezalel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah. And I have filled him with the Spirit of God, in wisdom, in understanding, in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship, to design artistic works, to work in gold, in silver, in bronze, in cutting jewels for setting, in carving wood, and to work in all manner of workmanship. And I, indeed I have appointed with him Aholiab the son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan; and I have put wisdom in the hearts of all the gifted artisans, that they may make all that I have commanded you; the tabernacle of meeting, the ark of the Testimony and the mercy seat that is on it, and all the furniture of the tabernacle...'

For the record, both Bezalel and Aholiab were the best craftsmen those days, and were supernaturally gifted and called to build the interior and exterior of God's dwelling place. Today, as a believer in the New Covenant (and of course, as 'a dwelling place of God'), you too can expect to receive the best from the Lord!

Very interestingly, the name 'Bezalel' is 'Betsal-El' in Hebrew, meaning 'in the shadow of God (El)', whereas the name 'Aholiab' is 'Oholiy-Ab' in Hebrew, meaning 'in the tent of the Father (Ab)'. 'Shadow' speaks of 'the glory and the presence of God'; whereas
'Tent' speaks of 'the covering and the protection of your Abba Father in heaven'.

You know what this means? You are created in the glory and the presence of God, and under the covering and the protection of your Abba Father! Therefore, today, you are also meant to have the glory and the presence of God, and live under the covering and the protection of your Abba Father in your life now! The Word of God says, 'in Him, we live, we move, and we have our being'! (Acts 17:28)

And no wonder King David (who knew his God well) had this to say, "For You formed my inward parts; You covered (wove, put me together) me in my mother's womb. I will praise You, for I am fearfully (reverently) and wonderfully made; Marvellous are Your works, and that my soul knows very well." (Psalm 139:13-14)

He then continued, "How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God! How great is the sum of them! If I should count them, they would be more in number than the sand; when I awake, I am still with You." (Psalm 139:17-18)

Yes, God's thoughts for you are precious thoughts! He sees you precious like the gemstones on the breastplate of the high priest, so close to the high priest's bosom (and his heart). And you too are like the disciple whom Jesus loved, who rested on His bosom (John 13:23). Today, know that Jesus has become your High Priest, and Hebrews 4:15 says, 'For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses (infirmities), but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin'. In other words, He is a God who can identify with all your pains and disappointments, and in every season of your life.
Note: And most importantly, we can all learn to humble ourselves under His mighty hand, learn our lessons in every season, and then move on in life!

So, friend, there's every reason to hope. With men, it may be impossible, but with God all things are possible (Matthew 19:26) if you do not give up believing. In fact, you have every reason to believe that God is with you, because His name is also called Immanuel, the God (who is) with you. And if God is with you, who can be against you?

I therefore declare 'the door to be opened for you' right now, no matter how impossible it may seem to be! I declare 'the light to appear, and the darkness to flee' in every situation (of your life) right now! Believing, you will receive. In Jesus' name. Amen!

'Forgetting those things which are behind' - A call to walk in the holiness of God

Philippians 3:13-14 (NKJV): Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

The word 'apprehended' here is 'katalambano' in Greek, which means 'to get hold of, to attain, to comprehend, to understand why'. Here, the apostle Paul wrote that there may be things we cannot understand why (or why certain things happened in our past), but one thing we can do now is 'forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead'. 

I released these words to the congregation last Sunday:

"Look not to the past, or how things used to be done or have been done in your past! In this changing of season, I will teach you a new way, and I will show you how. Look to Me! This is also a time to let go of your Sodom and Gomorrah, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead!"

The word ‘Sodom’ in Hebrew means 'to scorch, to burn (like volcanic activities)', which speaks of 'the sins that burn you', whereas the word ‘Gomorrah’ in Hebrew means 'a ruined heap', from the word ‘aw-mar’, i.e. 'to heap up (ruins), to pile up (misery), to keep on chastising oneself'. 

As you can see from the definition of the words 'Sodom' and 'Gomorrah' above, the context of our Bible-study today is not so much about 'leaving a place, a city, or a country', but instead 'leaving your sins. ruins, or misery behind'! 

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

Indeed, let go of your 'Sodom' and 'Gomorrah', and look to the beauty and holiness of Jesus instead! Just as 'you are what you eat', it is also true that 'you become what you behold'. Therefore, as you keep looking to Jesus (and His Word), that's when you can be changed (transformed and renewed) to be more and more like Him! In other words, the more you look at the beauty and holiness of Jesus, the more beautiful and holy your life will be! 

2 Corinthians 3:18 says, 'But we all, with unveiled face (i.e. putting away our facade, putting away our masks), beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord'. 

Let's go all the way back to the book of Genesis now, where the words 'Sodom' and 'Gomorrah' were first mentioned. Genesis 19:15-17 says, 'When the morning dawned, the angels urged Lot to hurry, saying, "Arise, take your wife and your two daughters who are here, lest you be consumed in the punishment of the city." And while he lingered, the men took hold of his hand, his wife’s hand, and the hands of his two daughters, the Lord being merciful to him, and they brought him out and set him outside the city (of Sodom). So it came to pass, when they had brought them outside, that he said, "Escape for your life! Do not look behind you nor stay anywhere in the plain. Escape to the mountains, lest you be destroyed."'

By the way, the name 'Lot' in Hebrew simply means 'covering'. This speaks of 'the Lord's mercy and covering over you in spite of your weaknesses as a human'. 

Notice these statements:

'Do not look behind you nor stay anywhere in the plain'.

The word 'plain' here is 'kikkar' in Hebrew, which means 'a circle'. 

This speaks of 'going round and round in the circle of sins'.

'Escape to the mountains, lest you be destroyed'.

The word 'mountains' here is 'harar' in Hebrew, which means 'exaltation'. 

This speaks of 'the Lord God who is highly exalted above all else'.

People of God, will you respond to His call to run away from the 'plain', and run to the 'mountains' today? The apostle Paul wrote, 'Flee youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart' (2 Timothy 2:22).

Well, it pays to live a life of holiness (i.e. to walk in the holiness of God), because everything becomes so much clearer in your life, and you will also be able to make clearer decisions in life. As a matter of fact, a person who is bound in a circle of sin, bondage, or addiction cannot make clear decisions in life!

The apostle Paul also wrote, 'If indeed you have heard Him and have been taught by Him, as the truth is in Jesus, that you put off concerning your former conduct, the old man, which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness' (Ephesians 4:21-24).

Genesis 19:24-26 then says, 'Then the Lord rained brimstone and fire on Sodom and Gomorrah (speaks of 'the judgement on sins'), from the Lord out of the heavens. So He overthrew those cities, all the plain, all the inhabitants of the cities, and what grew on the ground. But his (Lot's) wife looked back behind him, and she became a pillar of salt'.

Notice here the 'fire of judgement' fell on 'Sodom' and 'Gomorrah' (i.e. your 'sins', your 'ruined heap'), not you (who are His sons and daughters). Today, let this same 'fire' burn away the 'sins' that have been ensnaring (besetting) you, and the 'misery' that have been heaping up against you!

And of course, never look back!

Lot's wife looked back, and she became a pillar of salt! Why 'pillar of salt'? The answer can be found from the word ‘salt’ in Hebrew itself, which is 'melach', meaning 'something easily dissolved, like powder'. This is the nature of salt. Once you add water, it’s gone! You see it no more! True enough, Lot’s wife also ‘melach’, so much so the Bible never even bothered to mention her name, but calls her "Lot's wife", even though she actually has a name! That’s what happens when a person keeps lingering in the past and dwelling in the past (i.e. holding on to those 'sins' and 'ruined heaps' of the past), instead of looking forward to what God has in the present or future!

Therefore, people of God, never look back! And never allow the devil or anyone to bring you back to those past (or the ruined past) of yours! Instead, as the apostle Paul put it aptly, 'I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus' (Philippians 3:14). Behold, He makes all things new (Revelation 21:5) even for your life! 

May the light of God enlighten your eyes of understanding, that you may know what is the hope of His calling, and what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in your life, His saints, who are the redeemed of the Lord (Ephesians 1:17-18). In Jesus' name. Amen.