I heard these words from the Lord recently:
"Look to Me, and keep looking to Me! Dwell in Me and My land. For My land is My Word. My land is where you receive your feeding. My land is where you have your spiritual food. And I will begin to show you the keys to your blessings in a time of famine."
Genesis 26 is the key chapter here. There was a famine those days (in Isaac's time), and in Genesis 26:2-3, the Lord appeared to Isaac and said, "Do not go down to Egypt; live in the land of which I shall tell you. Dwell in this land, and I will be with you and bless you..."
What does 'Egypt' mean in this context? It is 'mitsrayim' in Hebrew, from the word 'matsowr', which means '(to put a) limit, bondage, besieged, or distress'. 'Egypt' here therefore means 'the way of the world (that has a limit)'.
How about the meaning of 'dwell in this land'? The word 'dwell' here is 'shakan' in Hebrew, which means 'to continue, to abide, to remain, to stay on, to rest in', and the word 'land' here is symbolic of 'the Word of God'. As a matter of fact, you generally eat of the produce of the land you are in! For example, if your land (or country) grows lots of rice, you probably would be taking in more rice in your diet. And if your land (or country) grows lots of barley, you probably would be taking in more barley in your diet. In other words, the land you are in is where you receive your feeding. The same it is with spiritual food! Your land is the Word of God! Eat therefore of the 'produce' of your 'land'!
Therefore, to 'dwell in this land' is a 'picture' of you continuing, abiding, remaining, staying on, and resting in the Word of God!
In short, the way of the world may suffer, but the way of the Word will prosper! Therefore, never put a limit on God (and what He can do for you) this year! As much as you are willing (for Him to use you), He is willing!
Genesis 26:12-14 then says, '... Isaac then sowed in that land, and reaped in the same year a hundredfold; and the Lord blessed him. The man (Isaac) began to prosper, and continued prospering until he became very prosperous; for he had possessions of flocks and possessions of herds and a great number of servants. So the Philistines envied him'.
The word 'sowed' here is 'zara' in Hebrew, which means 'to plant, to disseminate, to spread, to scatter'. Proverbs 11:24-25 confirms the above verses, saying, 'There is one who scatters, yet increases more, and there is one who withholds more than is right, but it leads to poverty. The generous soul will be made rich, and he who waters will also be watered himself'.
Indeed, this is a time to dedicate yourselves to the Lord for Him to use, in every way that He wants to use you. Keep 'planting', keep 'disseminating', keep 'spreading', and keep 'scattering'!
As you sow your 'seed', be it financially (to ministries that the Lord has put in your heart to sow), or your energy, talent, spiritual gifts, or time (into what the Lord has put in your heart to do), watch how He's going to multiply it, even in miraculous ways. Just look at Simon Peter in Luke 5:1-7. As he allowed Jesus to use his boat, that very same boat that caught nothing became something! Simon Peter was so blessed with the bumper harvest of fish that he had to call out for other boats to come and help out! Believe the same it is going to be with you! As you give your 'boat' to the Lord for Him to use, watch how He's going to bless that 'boat'!
Note: Your 'boat' here speaks of 'what you have in your hands'.
Let's continue with Genesis 26:16-18 now. Here, Isaac was so blessed of the Lord that the Philistines envied him and even felt threatened by him! Abimelech (king of the Philistines) then said to Isaac, "Go away from us, for you are much mightier than we." Isaac did, but because he was so blessed of the Lord, wherever he went, blessings also followed him! Genesis 26:19 says, 'Also Isaac's servants dug in the valley, and found a well of running water there'.
Note: In the context of an agricultural society those days, finding a well of running water was indeed a great blessing!
People of God, whatever 'famine' you may be going through at the moment (whether in your career, business, or in ministry), keep looking to Him and keep dwelling in His 'land'! Know that He wants to bless you and He wants to visit you this year! If God did it for Isaac that year, He can also do the same for you this year! Believe and receive by faith!
One important key to remember this year is 'to stay away from quarrels and contention', and 'don't get distracted by any enmity, opposition, or accusation'. Focus instead on where God wants you to be, and what God wants you to do. Keep on looking to Him and His well of running water (i.e. His blessings) for you. Know that He will surely have a place for you.
Here's what Genesis 26:20-22 say, 'But the herdsmen of Gerar quarreled with Isaac's herdsmen, saying, "The water is ours." So he (Isaac) called the name of the well Esek (meaning 'quarrel, contention') because they quarreled with him. Then they dug another well, and they quarreled over that one also. So he (Isaac) called its name Sitnah (meaning 'enmity, opposition, accusation'). And he moved from there and dug another well, and they did not quarrel over it. So he (Isaac) called its name Rehoboth (meaning 'spacious, lots of room, broad place'), because he said, "For now the Lord has made room for us, and we shall be fruitful in the land."'
The Lord then appeared to Isaac and said, "I am the God of your father Abraham; do not fear, for I am with you. I will bless you and multiply your descendants for My servant Abraham's sake." (Genesis 26:24)
Indeed, He is your I AM God, a very present help in time of your need. In Revelation 1:8, He says, "I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty." Notice 'who is' comes first here, and then only 'who was' and 'who is to come'? The Lord wants to show you that He is first and foremost the 'who is' God, the very present God to you! Not past, not future, but present and now here for you!
Last but not least, the one thing about being blessed of the Lord is that people will start to notice it! Why? Because the blessing of the Lord is tangible and is so real!
Here's what Genesis 26:26-29 say, 'Then Abimelech (king of the Philistines) came to Isaac from Gerar with Ahuzzath, one of his friends, and Phichol the commander of his army. And Isaac said to them, "Why have you come to me, since you hate me and have sent me away from you?" But they said, "We have certainly seen that the Lord is with you. So we said, 'Let there now be an oath between us; and let us make a covenant with you, that you will do us no harm, since we have not touched you, and since we have done nothing to you but good and have sent you away in peace. You are now the blessed of the Lord'."'
In summary, here are the keys to prospering in a time of famine:
1. Be where God wants you to be.
2. Dwell where God wants you to dwell.
3. Sow 'seeds', be it financially or in other ways.
4. Believe blessings will follow you wherever you go.
5. Stay away from quarrels and contention.
6. Focus not on the enemy, but on what God wants you to do.
7. Know that the Lord will surely have a place for you.
8. Fear not, because He is present and He is here with you.
My prayer for you this year is wherever you 'dig', there will be wells of water (i.e. blessings), and people will see that you too are the blessed of the Lord, to the glory of God, just as Isaac was those days. In Jesus' name. Amen.
Friday, January 29, 2016
Thursday, January 14, 2016
He will never leave you nor forsake you
Deuteronomy 31:6 (NKJV): Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the Lord your God, He is the One who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you.
Moses was already one hundred and twenty years old when the Lord spoke these words through him to all of Israel. He was about to 'leave' the people and the earth by then, and he was not to cross over Jordan into the Promised Land. Joshua was the one chosen.
In Deuteronomy 31:7-8, Moses then called Joshua and said these words to him in the sight of all Israel, "Be strong and of good courage, for you must go with this people to the land which the Lord has sworn to their fathers to give them, and you shall cause them to inherit it. And the Lord, He is the One who goes before you. He will be with you, He will not leave you nor forsake you; do not fear nor be dismayed."
While praying in the spirit the other day, I heard these words from the Lord:
"I AM the Lord who never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid therefore, for I AM present and I AM here with you, whatever you are going through right now."
I then heard:
"Wherever I have called you to be, there I AM with you. And whatever I have called you to do, there I AM with you also."
Indeed, He is the Great I AM, the 'present tense' God, and not an absent God, whatever you may be going through at the moment. Your part is simply to call out to Him, for He is your very present help in time of trouble (Psalm 46:1).
In cross-reference, Hebrews 13:5-6 says, '...For He himself has said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you." So we may boldly say: "The Lord is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?"'
In Greek, this statement "I will never leave you nor forsake you" here is a 'double negative', which is designed to strengthen (put strong emphasis to) a particular statement, and in effect, it actually means, "I will never, ever leave you nor forsake you, no matter what, and in whatever circumstance you may be in." By the way, 'to forsake' is 'to give up (on something, or someone), or to abandon'.
The Amplified Bible puts it this way: "I will never [under any circumstances] desert you [nor give you up nor leave you without support, nor will I in any degree leave you helpless], nor will I forsake or let you down or relax My hold on you [assuredly not]!"
Just as the Lord had spoken to all of Israel and to Joshua those days, know that He is NOW right here, speaking the same to you. And because He is present, know also that His hand is present, strong enough to ward off every work of darkness that the enemy may have thrown against you. Romans 8:31 says it so aptly, 'What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?'
Not only that, His hand opens the way for you, where there seems to be no way. In Isaiah 43:10-13, the Lord says, "And understand that I AM He. Before Me there was no God formed, nor shall there be after Me. I, even I, AM the Lord, and besides Me there is no Savior. I have declared and saved, I have proclaimed... Indeed before the day was, I AM He; and there is no one who can deliver out of My hand; I work, and who will reverse it?" In Isaiah 43:19, the Lord then says, "Behold, I will do a new thing. Now it shall spring forth; shall you not know it? I will even make a road in the wilderness and rivers in the desert."
As I was praying further, the Lord then spoke:
"This is a time to ask of Me, and call down heaven on earth! Be bold to ask, and you will receive! For I AM to you the Lord who is there, the YHWH Shammah, when you call upon Me!"
The name YHWH Shammah is found in Ezekiel 48:35, which is translated as 'The Lord is there, or the Lord is present', and it speaks of the city of God (see Revelation 21:9-12, Revelation 22:3-5). And where He is, there will be life, and life in great abundance. Whatever is dead will be turned into life, simply because there is no death in heaven. Revelation 21:4-5 says, 'And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away. Then He who sat on the throne said, "Behold, I make all things new."'
"But that's what happens in heaven, and not here on earth!" You might say.
People of God, the good news is you don't have to wait till you leave this earth to taste heaven! The truth is you can have a portion of heaven even now, right here on earth! In other words, you can partake of heaven even now! Otherwise Jesus wouldn't have taught us to pray this way: "Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven." (Matthew 6:9-10)
Now watch what Revelation 21:2-3 (NKJV) says to confirm the above, 'Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from heaven, saying, "Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people, God Himself will be with them and be their God."'
See the words "coming down out of heaven from God" here? On earth as it is in heaven!
Let's do a little cross-reference on the name YHWH Shammah now.
The word 'Shammah' comes from the Hebrew word 'sham', and this word 'sham' can be found in Isaiah 48:16 that says, "Come near to Me, hear this... From the time that it was, I was there ('sham'), and now the Lord God and His Spirit have sent Me (Jesus) to you..." This verse speaks of the Lord who is and who was and who is to come. In Revelation 1:8, the Lord Himself says, "I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty."
Notice 'who is' comes first here? The Lord wants you to know that He is first and foremost 'who is', the very present God!
And this same word 'sham' (where 'Shammah' comes from) can also be found in Psalm 133:3 that says, "It is like the dew of Hermon, descending upon the mountains of Zion; for there ('sham') the Lord commanded blessing - life forevermore."
'Hermon' here is a 'picture' of 'being exclusive', i.e. 'not found elsewhere, or can't find it anywhere else (but only from the Lord)', and 'dew' here speaks of 'the refreshing that the Lord brings'. Indeed, there is no other name given among men by which one can be saved, except by the name of the Lord Jesus Christ (Acts 4:12), and only in Him flows times of refreshing (Acts 3:19).
Lamentations 3:22-24 says, 'Through the Lord's mercies, we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning (like the dew), and great is Your faithfulness. "The Lord is my portion", says my soul, "Therefore I hope in Him!"'
The phrase "The Lord is my portion" here can mean "I can partake of Him (the Lord)" or "I have a part in Him (and His heavenly plans)".
Moses was already one hundred and twenty years old when the Lord spoke these words through him to all of Israel. He was about to 'leave' the people and the earth by then, and he was not to cross over Jordan into the Promised Land. Joshua was the one chosen.
In Deuteronomy 31:7-8, Moses then called Joshua and said these words to him in the sight of all Israel, "Be strong and of good courage, for you must go with this people to the land which the Lord has sworn to their fathers to give them, and you shall cause them to inherit it. And the Lord, He is the One who goes before you. He will be with you, He will not leave you nor forsake you; do not fear nor be dismayed."
While praying in the spirit the other day, I heard these words from the Lord:
"I AM the Lord who never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid therefore, for I AM present and I AM here with you, whatever you are going through right now."
I then heard:
"Wherever I have called you to be, there I AM with you. And whatever I have called you to do, there I AM with you also."
Indeed, He is the Great I AM, the 'present tense' God, and not an absent God, whatever you may be going through at the moment. Your part is simply to call out to Him, for He is your very present help in time of trouble (Psalm 46:1).
In cross-reference, Hebrews 13:5-6 says, '...For He himself has said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you." So we may boldly say: "The Lord is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?"'
In Greek, this statement "I will never leave you nor forsake you" here is a 'double negative', which is designed to strengthen (put strong emphasis to) a particular statement, and in effect, it actually means, "I will never, ever leave you nor forsake you, no matter what, and in whatever circumstance you may be in." By the way, 'to forsake' is 'to give up (on something, or someone), or to abandon'.
The Amplified Bible puts it this way: "I will never [under any circumstances] desert you [nor give you up nor leave you without support, nor will I in any degree leave you helpless], nor will I forsake or let you down or relax My hold on you [assuredly not]!"
Just as the Lord had spoken to all of Israel and to Joshua those days, know that He is NOW right here, speaking the same to you. And because He is present, know also that His hand is present, strong enough to ward off every work of darkness that the enemy may have thrown against you. Romans 8:31 says it so aptly, 'What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?'
Not only that, His hand opens the way for you, where there seems to be no way. In Isaiah 43:10-13, the Lord says, "And understand that I AM He. Before Me there was no God formed, nor shall there be after Me. I, even I, AM the Lord, and besides Me there is no Savior. I have declared and saved, I have proclaimed... Indeed before the day was, I AM He; and there is no one who can deliver out of My hand; I work, and who will reverse it?" In Isaiah 43:19, the Lord then says, "Behold, I will do a new thing. Now it shall spring forth; shall you not know it? I will even make a road in the wilderness and rivers in the desert."
As I was praying further, the Lord then spoke:
"This is a time to ask of Me, and call down heaven on earth! Be bold to ask, and you will receive! For I AM to you the Lord who is there, the YHWH Shammah, when you call upon Me!"
The name YHWH Shammah is found in Ezekiel 48:35, which is translated as 'The Lord is there, or the Lord is present', and it speaks of the city of God (see Revelation 21:9-12, Revelation 22:3-5). And where He is, there will be life, and life in great abundance. Whatever is dead will be turned into life, simply because there is no death in heaven. Revelation 21:4-5 says, 'And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away. Then He who sat on the throne said, "Behold, I make all things new."'
"But that's what happens in heaven, and not here on earth!" You might say.
People of God, the good news is you don't have to wait till you leave this earth to taste heaven! The truth is you can have a portion of heaven even now, right here on earth! In other words, you can partake of heaven even now! Otherwise Jesus wouldn't have taught us to pray this way: "Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven." (Matthew 6:9-10)
Now watch what Revelation 21:2-3 (NKJV) says to confirm the above, 'Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from heaven, saying, "Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people, God Himself will be with them and be their God."'
See the words "coming down out of heaven from God" here? On earth as it is in heaven!
Let's do a little cross-reference on the name YHWH Shammah now.
The word 'Shammah' comes from the Hebrew word 'sham', and this word 'sham' can be found in Isaiah 48:16 that says, "Come near to Me, hear this... From the time that it was, I was there ('sham'), and now the Lord God and His Spirit have sent Me (Jesus) to you..." This verse speaks of the Lord who is and who was and who is to come. In Revelation 1:8, the Lord Himself says, "I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty."
Notice 'who is' comes first here? The Lord wants you to know that He is first and foremost 'who is', the very present God!
And this same word 'sham' (where 'Shammah' comes from) can also be found in Psalm 133:3 that says, "It is like the dew of Hermon, descending upon the mountains of Zion; for there ('sham') the Lord commanded blessing - life forevermore."
'Hermon' here is a 'picture' of 'being exclusive', i.e. 'not found elsewhere, or can't find it anywhere else (but only from the Lord)', and 'dew' here speaks of 'the refreshing that the Lord brings'. Indeed, there is no other name given among men by which one can be saved, except by the name of the Lord Jesus Christ (Acts 4:12), and only in Him flows times of refreshing (Acts 3:19).
Lamentations 3:22-24 says, 'Through the Lord's mercies, we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning (like the dew), and great is Your faithfulness. "The Lord is my portion", says my soul, "Therefore I hope in Him!"'
The phrase "The Lord is my portion" here can mean "I can partake of Him (the Lord)" or "I have a part in Him (and His heavenly plans)".
Therefore, people of God, no matter what you see or what happens on earth at the moment, and no matter how perilous this world has become, there's still every reason to hope! And as the Lord had spoken to all of Israel and to Joshua, fear not; knowing that the Lord is now here with you, and He is to you the YHWH Shammah, the Lord who is present.
Allow heaven and all the goodness of heaven to descend upon you today!
Thursday, January 7, 2016
Begin the year with a right heart
As I was praying in the spirit the other day, I heard the Lord speak:
"A heart that's yielded, a heart that worships, a heart that's totally surrendered to Me. That's what I am looking for. A heart for My Word, and a heart for My Spirit. A heart to walk in My will, and a heart to walk in My way! And I will begin to deliver you, and I will begin to set you free, the way I have delivered Daniel's three friends. For this is a year of setting free from your past disappointments!"
Then, I heard further:
"For I am calling you to return to the very simplicity of your heart, the very basics of your heart. A heart that is pure, and a heart that is sincere before Me. A heart of worship, not a heart that keeps eyeing fame and gain. For I cannot be deceived, and I cannot be mocked. Keep your heart right before Me, and watch how I am going to anoint you like you have never seen Me do it before!"
Indeed, it is so important to keep our hearts right before the Lord, and of course, a pure motivation before Him (especially the motivation in ministry). The Lord looks at your sincerity. In fact, in everything the Lord has called us to be (or to do), the heart is everything. When there's a heart, everything will be well, by the grace of God. On the other hand, when a heart is departed, everything will fall apart. Christianity is about the heart - heart for God, and heart for the people; and you can see this in Jesus' very ministry on earth.
In Romans 1:9, the apostle Paul wrote, 'For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit (heart) in the gospel of His Son, that without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers'.
The word 'serve' here is 'latreuo' in Greek, from the word 'latris' which can mean 'to minister (unto God), to worship, to do service'.
In Colossians 3:23-24, the apostle Paul wrote, 'And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ'.
The word 'heartily' here can also mean 'with one's very heart, with an abounding heart, with a true heart, or with a right heart'.
So, what exactly is the meaning of 'heart' that we talk about here? In Hebrew, this word 'heart' is 'leb', which literally means 'the centre of everything, or the deepestmost of you'.
Let's now continue with what the wisest man (Solomon) had to say about the heart.
Proverbs 3:1-2 (NKJV) says, 'My son, do not forget my law, but let your heart keep my commands; for length of days and long life and peace they will add to you'.
The word 'law' here is 'towrah' in Hebrew, from the word 'yarah', and interestingly, according to Strong's Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible, it means 'flow (as water), teaching, instructions, directions'. In other words, let your heart flow with His heart, and that's when 'length of days and long life and peace' will be added to you!
And how about Daniel in the Bible?
Daniel 1:8 (NKJV) says, 'Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king's delicacies...'
The word 'purposed' here is 'suwm' in Hebrew, and in this context means 'to fill up (before the Lord)'. In other words, Daniel was so filled up with the Lord (i.e. being filled with all the fullness of God) that he would not yield to the temptations (lure) of the world's way (i.e. the portion of the king's delicacies). And you know what's the outcome? He (and his three friends) were then found to be ten times better (in all matters of wisdom and understanding) about which the king examined them, and none was found like them! (Daniel 1:19-20)
Let's go to Daniel chapter 3 now. Here, you can see Daniel's three friends (Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego) were so yielded to the Lord in their hearts (in worship and surrender) that they would not yield to the command by the king (Nebuchadnezzar) to bow down and worship the gold image (Daniel 3:14-18). As a consequence, they were then bound and thrown into the burning fiery furnace (which was heated up seven times more than usual), but the Scripture says, 'And the satraps (captains), administrators, governors, and the king's counselors gathered together, and they saw these men on whose bodies the fire had no power; the hair of their head were not singed (burnt, scorched) nor were their garment affected, and the smell of fire was not on them' (Daniel 3:27).
Daniel 3:28 then says, 'Nebuchadnezzar spoke, saying, "Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, who sent His Angel and delivered His servants who trusted in Him, and they have frustrated the king's word, and yielded their bodies, that they should not serve nor worship any god except their on God!"
A heart of worship is a heart that yields and surrenders to Him (and Him alone). The word 'worship' in this verse is 'saw-gad' in Hebrew, which means 'to prostrate oneself, to fall down (before Him, who is the Almighty and all-powerful One)'.
I would also like to recap what the Lord had spoken for the year 2016:
"The year 2016 is the year of the Word! Stay strong therefore in My Word. Take My Word and keep My Word! Be a good ground for My Word! For My Word is the 'seed' that grows in your ground, that yields and brings forth a great harvest and many new opportunities for you!"
The heart is like a good ground (Matthew 13:8, Matthew 13:23), and the Word of God is like the 'seed' that grows in that ground, yielding and bringing forth a great harvest and many new opportunities for God's people.
Therefore, last but not least, let your heart retain His Word, as Proverbs 4:4 (NKJV) says, 'He also taught me, and said to me, "Let your heart retain my words; keep my commands, and live."' And as Proverbs 4:20-23 (NKJV) says, 'My son, give attention to my words; incline your ear to my sayings. Do not let them depart from your eyes; keep them in the midst of your heart; for they are life to those who find them, and health to all their flesh. Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it spring the issues of life'. Amen.
"A heart that's yielded, a heart that worships, a heart that's totally surrendered to Me. That's what I am looking for. A heart for My Word, and a heart for My Spirit. A heart to walk in My will, and a heart to walk in My way! And I will begin to deliver you, and I will begin to set you free, the way I have delivered Daniel's three friends. For this is a year of setting free from your past disappointments!"
Then, I heard further:
"For I am calling you to return to the very simplicity of your heart, the very basics of your heart. A heart that is pure, and a heart that is sincere before Me. A heart of worship, not a heart that keeps eyeing fame and gain. For I cannot be deceived, and I cannot be mocked. Keep your heart right before Me, and watch how I am going to anoint you like you have never seen Me do it before!"
Indeed, it is so important to keep our hearts right before the Lord, and of course, a pure motivation before Him (especially the motivation in ministry). The Lord looks at your sincerity. In fact, in everything the Lord has called us to be (or to do), the heart is everything. When there's a heart, everything will be well, by the grace of God. On the other hand, when a heart is departed, everything will fall apart. Christianity is about the heart - heart for God, and heart for the people; and you can see this in Jesus' very ministry on earth.
In Romans 1:9, the apostle Paul wrote, 'For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit (heart) in the gospel of His Son, that without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers'.
The word 'serve' here is 'latreuo' in Greek, from the word 'latris' which can mean 'to minister (unto God), to worship, to do service'.
In Colossians 3:23-24, the apostle Paul wrote, 'And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ'.
The word 'heartily' here can also mean 'with one's very heart, with an abounding heart, with a true heart, or with a right heart'.
So, what exactly is the meaning of 'heart' that we talk about here? In Hebrew, this word 'heart' is 'leb', which literally means 'the centre of everything, or the deepestmost of you'.
Let's now continue with what the wisest man (Solomon) had to say about the heart.
Proverbs 3:1-2 (NKJV) says, 'My son, do not forget my law, but let your heart keep my commands; for length of days and long life and peace they will add to you'.
The word 'law' here is 'towrah' in Hebrew, from the word 'yarah', and interestingly, according to Strong's Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible, it means 'flow (as water), teaching, instructions, directions'. In other words, let your heart flow with His heart, and that's when 'length of days and long life and peace' will be added to you!
And how about Daniel in the Bible?
Daniel 1:8 (NKJV) says, 'Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king's delicacies...'
The word 'purposed' here is 'suwm' in Hebrew, and in this context means 'to fill up (before the Lord)'. In other words, Daniel was so filled up with the Lord (i.e. being filled with all the fullness of God) that he would not yield to the temptations (lure) of the world's way (i.e. the portion of the king's delicacies). And you know what's the outcome? He (and his three friends) were then found to be ten times better (in all matters of wisdom and understanding) about which the king examined them, and none was found like them! (Daniel 1:19-20)
Let's go to Daniel chapter 3 now. Here, you can see Daniel's three friends (Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego) were so yielded to the Lord in their hearts (in worship and surrender) that they would not yield to the command by the king (Nebuchadnezzar) to bow down and worship the gold image (Daniel 3:14-18). As a consequence, they were then bound and thrown into the burning fiery furnace (which was heated up seven times more than usual), but the Scripture says, 'And the satraps (captains), administrators, governors, and the king's counselors gathered together, and they saw these men on whose bodies the fire had no power; the hair of their head were not singed (burnt, scorched) nor were their garment affected, and the smell of fire was not on them' (Daniel 3:27).
Daniel 3:28 then says, 'Nebuchadnezzar spoke, saying, "Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, who sent His Angel and delivered His servants who trusted in Him, and they have frustrated the king's word, and yielded their bodies, that they should not serve nor worship any god except their on God!"
A heart of worship is a heart that yields and surrenders to Him (and Him alone). The word 'worship' in this verse is 'saw-gad' in Hebrew, which means 'to prostrate oneself, to fall down (before Him, who is the Almighty and all-powerful One)'.
I would also like to recap what the Lord had spoken for the year 2016:
"The year 2016 is the year of the Word! Stay strong therefore in My Word. Take My Word and keep My Word! Be a good ground for My Word! For My Word is the 'seed' that grows in your ground, that yields and brings forth a great harvest and many new opportunities for you!"
The heart is like a good ground (Matthew 13:8, Matthew 13:23), and the Word of God is like the 'seed' that grows in that ground, yielding and bringing forth a great harvest and many new opportunities for God's people.
Therefore, last but not least, let your heart retain His Word, as Proverbs 4:4 (NKJV) says, 'He also taught me, and said to me, "Let your heart retain my words; keep my commands, and live."' And as Proverbs 4:20-23 (NKJV) says, 'My son, give attention to my words; incline your ear to my sayings. Do not let them depart from your eyes; keep them in the midst of your heart; for they are life to those who find them, and health to all their flesh. Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it spring the issues of life'. Amen.
Friday, January 1, 2016
Prophetic outlook for the year 2016 - The year of the Word and a year of many new opportunities for God's people
As I was seeking the Lord for the prophetic words for the year 2016, I heard these words:
"The year 2016 is the year of the Word! Stay strong therefore in My Word. Take My Word and keep My Word! Be a good ground for My Word! For My Word is the 'seed' that grows in your ground, that yields and brings forth a great harvest and many new opportunities for you!"
Then, I heard further:
"It is a year that I will catapult many of My people into newer, greater heights. It is a year of setting free from your past disappointments. For those who have gone through trials and testing in the past year, watch Me open many new opportunities for you this year! For you will be like Daniel, and you will be like his three friends."
Note: The definition of 'opportunities' here is 'favorable time, or favorable occasion', and the definition of 'catapult' here is 'to shoot or launch something' (in this context, with the 'force' that comes from God).
The key Bible chapters as you begin the year 2016 are Daniel chapters 1, 2, and 3.
Daniel initially went through the disappointments of seeing his city Jerusalem besieged and his people being taken captive by Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon. However, he was later promoted over the whole province of Babylon and became chief administrator over all the wise men of Babylon. Here's an account of what happened that led to his promotion (new opportunities).
Daniel 1:8-13 (NKJV) says, 'But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king's delicacies, nor with the wine which he drank; therefore he requested of the chief of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself. Now God had brought Daniel into the favor and goodwill of the chief of the eunuchs. And the chief of the eunuchs said to Daniel, "I fear my lord the king, who has appointed your food and drink. For why should he see your faces looking worse than the young men who are your age? Then you would endanger my head before the king." So Daniel said to the steward whom the chief of the eunuchs had set over Daniel and his three friends (Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah), "Please test your servants for ten days, and let them give us vegetables to eat and water to drink. Then let our appearance be examined before you, and the appearance of the young men who eat the portion of the king's delicacies; and as you see fit, so deal with your servants."'
'The portion of the king's delicacies' here speaks of 'the ways of the world, or the ways of Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon'. By the way, the word 'Babylon' here comes from the word 'Babel', meaning 'confusion (of the world's ways)'. But Daniel purposed in his heart not to defile himself with the 'food' of the world (or the 'ways' of the world), and chose 'vegetables to eat and water to drink'. In King James Version, this word 'vegetables' is translated 'pulse', and in Hebrew, it is 'zeroa', meaning 'something sown, or seed', from the root word 'zara', which means 'to sow, to plant, to conceive'. Therefore, the word 'zeroa' here is symbolic of the Word of God planted in God's people that yields and brings forth a great harvest and many new opportunities (see Matthew 13:8, Matthew 13:23).
You see? Not the way of the world, but the way of the Word!
Daniel 1:15 then says, 'And at the end of ten days their features appeared better and fatter in flesh than all the young men who ate the portion of the king's delicacies'. Daniel 1:17-20 continues, 'As for these four young men (Daniel and his three friends), God gave them knowledge and skill in all literature and wisdom; and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams... Then the king interviewed them, and among them all none was found like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah; therefore they served before the king. And in all matters of wisdom and understanding about which the king examined them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and astrologers who were in all his realm'.
Daniel later went on to reveal the dream that the king had and then interpreted it, when no one else in the land could (see Daniel chapter 2), and he was promoted by the king (Daniel 2:46-49).
People of God, as you are being planted with the 'seed' of the Word of God this year, like Daniel, you will also begin to 'see' and 'understand' many things that the world cannot 'see' and 'understand' (see 1 Corinthians 2:4-5, 1 Corinthians 2:9-10). This applies in all that you put your hands on, whether in ministry, in business, or in your vocation.
Proverbs 4:20-22 says, 'My son, give attention to my words; Incline your ear to my sayings. Do not let them depart from your eyes; keep them in the midst of your heart; for they are life to those who find them, and health to all their flesh'.
People of God, whatever happened in the past year, and if the past year has been a time of 'trials' and 'testing' for you, there's every reason for you to look forward to this year! You'll begin to see many new opportunities unfold for you, just as Daniel did. And if you've been merely 'surviving' in the past year, see yourself 'thriving' this year, as you allow the 'seed' of the Word to grow in your 'good grounds'.
The name 'Daniel' is prophetic of our times, looking at the many uncertainties and danger around the world at the moment. In Hebrew, it is 'Dani El', literally meaning 'judge of God', from the word 'Dan' and 'El' (the Almighty God, the Lord God).
The Hebrew word 'Dan' here is 'diyn', which means 'to rule, to execute (judgement), to minister (judgement), or to judge a situation (or circumstance) from God's point of view'. And 'to judge' in this context here is not 'against one another', but instead to judge (or pronounce a sentence) on a situation (or circumstance) around you with the Word of God. People of God, this is a year to look to what the Word says, and not what the world says.
Note: From king Nebuchadnezzar's dream in Daniel chapter 2 (seen and interpreted by Daniel), there are four kingdoms, namely Babylon, Persian, Greek and Roman, and after that comes the kingdom of God that knows no end (Isaiah 9:6-7). You (the believers) belong to this kingdom, ruling and reigning in Him (Romans 5:17, Ephesians 2:4-7, 2 Timothy 2:12-13, Revelation 20:6), and 'no weapon formed against you shall prosper, and every tongue which rises against you in judgement you shall condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and your righteousness is from Him' (Isaiah 54:17).
My prayer for you today is you'll continue to grow from faith to faith, grace to grace, and glory to glory in the Lord, even as He begins to launch you into newer and greater heights this year. Amen! Have a blessed year 2016!
"The year 2016 is the year of the Word! Stay strong therefore in My Word. Take My Word and keep My Word! Be a good ground for My Word! For My Word is the 'seed' that grows in your ground, that yields and brings forth a great harvest and many new opportunities for you!"
Then, I heard further:
"It is a year that I will catapult many of My people into newer, greater heights. It is a year of setting free from your past disappointments. For those who have gone through trials and testing in the past year, watch Me open many new opportunities for you this year! For you will be like Daniel, and you will be like his three friends."
Note: The definition of 'opportunities' here is 'favorable time, or favorable occasion', and the definition of 'catapult' here is 'to shoot or launch something' (in this context, with the 'force' that comes from God).
The key Bible chapters as you begin the year 2016 are Daniel chapters 1, 2, and 3.
Daniel initially went through the disappointments of seeing his city Jerusalem besieged and his people being taken captive by Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon. However, he was later promoted over the whole province of Babylon and became chief administrator over all the wise men of Babylon. Here's an account of what happened that led to his promotion (new opportunities).
Daniel 1:8-13 (NKJV) says, 'But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king's delicacies, nor with the wine which he drank; therefore he requested of the chief of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself. Now God had brought Daniel into the favor and goodwill of the chief of the eunuchs. And the chief of the eunuchs said to Daniel, "I fear my lord the king, who has appointed your food and drink. For why should he see your faces looking worse than the young men who are your age? Then you would endanger my head before the king." So Daniel said to the steward whom the chief of the eunuchs had set over Daniel and his three friends (Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah), "Please test your servants for ten days, and let them give us vegetables to eat and water to drink. Then let our appearance be examined before you, and the appearance of the young men who eat the portion of the king's delicacies; and as you see fit, so deal with your servants."'
'The portion of the king's delicacies' here speaks of 'the ways of the world, or the ways of Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon'. By the way, the word 'Babylon' here comes from the word 'Babel', meaning 'confusion (of the world's ways)'. But Daniel purposed in his heart not to defile himself with the 'food' of the world (or the 'ways' of the world), and chose 'vegetables to eat and water to drink'. In King James Version, this word 'vegetables' is translated 'pulse', and in Hebrew, it is 'zeroa', meaning 'something sown, or seed', from the root word 'zara', which means 'to sow, to plant, to conceive'. Therefore, the word 'zeroa' here is symbolic of the Word of God planted in God's people that yields and brings forth a great harvest and many new opportunities (see Matthew 13:8, Matthew 13:23).
You see? Not the way of the world, but the way of the Word!
Daniel 1:15 then says, 'And at the end of ten days their features appeared better and fatter in flesh than all the young men who ate the portion of the king's delicacies'. Daniel 1:17-20 continues, 'As for these four young men (Daniel and his three friends), God gave them knowledge and skill in all literature and wisdom; and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams... Then the king interviewed them, and among them all none was found like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah; therefore they served before the king. And in all matters of wisdom and understanding about which the king examined them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and astrologers who were in all his realm'.
Daniel later went on to reveal the dream that the king had and then interpreted it, when no one else in the land could (see Daniel chapter 2), and he was promoted by the king (Daniel 2:46-49).
People of God, as you are being planted with the 'seed' of the Word of God this year, like Daniel, you will also begin to 'see' and 'understand' many things that the world cannot 'see' and 'understand' (see 1 Corinthians 2:4-5, 1 Corinthians 2:9-10). This applies in all that you put your hands on, whether in ministry, in business, or in your vocation.
Proverbs 4:20-22 says, 'My son, give attention to my words; Incline your ear to my sayings. Do not let them depart from your eyes; keep them in the midst of your heart; for they are life to those who find them, and health to all their flesh'.
People of God, whatever happened in the past year, and if the past year has been a time of 'trials' and 'testing' for you, there's every reason for you to look forward to this year! You'll begin to see many new opportunities unfold for you, just as Daniel did. And if you've been merely 'surviving' in the past year, see yourself 'thriving' this year, as you allow the 'seed' of the Word to grow in your 'good grounds'.
The name 'Daniel' is prophetic of our times, looking at the many uncertainties and danger around the world at the moment. In Hebrew, it is 'Dani El', literally meaning 'judge of God', from the word 'Dan' and 'El' (the Almighty God, the Lord God).
The Hebrew word 'Dan' here is 'diyn', which means 'to rule, to execute (judgement), to minister (judgement), or to judge a situation (or circumstance) from God's point of view'. And 'to judge' in this context here is not 'against one another', but instead to judge (or pronounce a sentence) on a situation (or circumstance) around you with the Word of God. People of God, this is a year to look to what the Word says, and not what the world says.
Note: From king Nebuchadnezzar's dream in Daniel chapter 2 (seen and interpreted by Daniel), there are four kingdoms, namely Babylon, Persian, Greek and Roman, and after that comes the kingdom of God that knows no end (Isaiah 9:6-7). You (the believers) belong to this kingdom, ruling and reigning in Him (Romans 5:17, Ephesians 2:4-7, 2 Timothy 2:12-13, Revelation 20:6), and 'no weapon formed against you shall prosper, and every tongue which rises against you in judgement you shall condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and your righteousness is from Him' (Isaiah 54:17).
My prayer for you today is you'll continue to grow from faith to faith, grace to grace, and glory to glory in the Lord, even as He begins to launch you into newer and greater heights this year. Amen! Have a blessed year 2016!
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