I released these words from the Lord during a time of ministry recently:
"I am the Lord of mercy and compassion. I am the same yesterday, today, and forever. Look to Me, and let Me show you My mercy and My compassion. The time of My visitation is at hand! Open your gates to Me, and open your doors to Me! Sorrow not and weep not! For I am visiting you and I am turning your situation around!"
Let's go to Luke 7:11-13 now, and see what happens when Jesus comes by, 'Now it happened... He (Jesus) went into a city called Nain; and many of His disciples went with Him, and a large crowd. And when He came near the gate of the city, behold, a dead man was being carried out, the only son of his mother; and she was a widow. And a large crowd from the city was with her. When the Lord saw her, He had compassion on her and said to her, "Do not weep."'
It was a double blow for this woman, who had already lost her husband, and now her only son. It was a great tragedy for her, especially in the cultural context she was living in those days. And here she was, left with no more hope or future in sight!
And yet the word 'Nain' (or 'Naah' in Hebrew) means 'a pleasant place, a pleasant pasture, or a pleasant habitation'. You see, it was supposed to be 'a pleasant place', but it became 'a place of sorrow and weeping' for her!
And that's when Jesus came by.
Let's go to Luke 7:14-16 now, 'Then He (Jesus) came and touched the open coffin, and those who carried him stood still. And He said, "Young man, I say to you, arise!" So he who was dead sat up and began to speak. And He presented him to his mother. Then fear came upon all, and they glorified God, saying, "A great prophet has risen up among us"; and, "God has visited His people."'
It was a good ending to this passage, and the name of the Lord was greatly glorified!
People of God, Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever (Hebrews 13:8). Whatever 'dead end' or 'hopelessness' you are facing at the moment, the same Jesus who walked on earth some 2,000 years ago is the same Jesus walking right into your life now. And just as He had turned the woman's situation around, He is now here to turn your situation around!
Let's keep trusting and keep looking to Him, no matter how the enemy tries to sow doubt and unbelief in you. I was praying the other day when I suddenly saw a vision of thick, dark clouds swarming over many of God's people. I immediately knew what it was. It's the spirit of discouragement that's trying to 'blanket' God's people, and with the aim of causing them to give up on their Lord God. I quickly took authority in Jesus' name, and commanded those clouds to disperse!
So, if for no reason you've been feeling 'down and out' or discouraged recently, Jesus is saying to you, "Arise!", just as He had spoken to that young man in Nain! Receive the supernatural strength from heaven right now, and begin to speak as Jesus (the Word of God) speaks!
Let's go to Mark 1:40-42 now, 'Now a leper came to Him (Jesus), imploring Him, kneeling down to Him and saying to Him, "If You are willing, You can make me clean." Then Jesus, moved with compassion, stretched out His hand and touched Him, and said to Him, "I am willing; be cleansed." As soon as He had spoken, immediately the leprosy left him, and he was cleansed'.
Leprosy was a greatly feared disease those days, because it greatly disfigured and destroyed human bodies. Lepers were practically 'outcasts' of the society, and in biblical times, it was believed that no man could heal this disease. Only God could.
And here was Jesus again, coming by, and the leper came to Him, imploring Him and kneeling down to Him, saying, "If You are willing, You can make me clean." Jesus was moved with compassion upon seeing him, and He stretched out His hand and healed him then and there!
People of God, He is saying the same to you today, "I am willing", no matter how 'disfigured' or 'destroyed' your situation may be at the moment. So, take heart. Nothing is too difficult for Him. To man, it may seem impossible; but to God, all things are possible. As He had done for the leper those days, let Him also stretch out His hand and heal your situation right now (be it your health, your finance, or any other area of your life). Believing, you'll receive. In Jesus' name. Amen.
