You and I have been given the ministry of reconciliation

I heard and released these words from the Lord recently:
"Like a dove, let My Spirit fall upon you and receive My peace. I am the Prince of Peace, and I have given you the ministry of reconciliation, for the lives around you, even for your nation."

'Dove' in the Bible speaks of 'peace, gentleness, harmlessness'. John 1:32 says, 'John bore witness, saying, "I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and He remained upon Him (Jesus)."' And in Matthew 10:16, Jesus Himself says, "Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents and harmless as doves."

2 Corinthians 5:17-18 says, 'Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation'.

The word 'reconcile' here brings the meaning of 'to restore relations, to bring into agreement, to bring into harmony', and in this context, between God and people. In Matthew 5:9, Jesus says, "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God." The word 'peacemakers' here is 'eirenopoios', from two words, 'eirene' meaning 'peace', and 'poieo' meaning 'to make, to bring (forth)'. Many people thought this verse is talking about making peace between two human beings who quarrel. But it's not just that. More essentially, this verse is talking about you and I making peace between God and people! Indeed, as God's people, we are all called to be salt and light here on earth! 'Salt' to 'stop the rot' in people's lives, and 'light' to 'shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven'! (Matthew 5:13-16).

The word 'ministry' here is 'diakonia' in Greek, and it simply means 'to serve, to aid, to attend to', and 2 Corinthians 5:18 says God Himself has given us the ministry of reconciliation. Notice the word 'us' here? In this context, it means 'all of us who are in Christ'! Notice the Bible never says 'some of us', but the Bible says 'all of us'! You and I included! A lot of Christians 'wait to be given a ministry, and only then they would do ministry'. They'd say, "No one give me ministry work to do, and I'm still waiting to be given one." But the truth is you and I have ALREADY been given a ministry! And it's called the ministry of reconciliation! To reconcile men to God! By preaching the gospel of His salvation wherever He puts us! And by 'standing in the gap' and praying for them!

Let Scripture interpret Scripture. Do you know whose name is also called 'dove' in the Bible? It's Jonah! Jonah 1:1-3 says, 'Now the word of the Lord came to Jonah the son of Amittai, saying, "Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry out against it; for their wickedness has come up before Me." But Jonah arose to flee to Tarshish from the presence of the Lord. He went down to Joppa, and found a ship going to Tarshish; so he paid the fare, and went down into it, to go with them to Tarshish from the presence of the Lord'.

The name 'Jonah' is 'yownah' in Hebrew, meaning 'dove'! And God's divine assignment for him? To bring the wicked people of Nineveh back to God! In other words, to reconcile them to God! But as you can see here, Jonah ran away instead! 

Why? Maybe because he felt the people of Nineveh didn't deserve it! After all, they had severely oppressed Israel those days, and Jonah thought they shouldn't be given a chance to repent!

Long story short, after a great storm on the way to Tarshish, being thrown into the sea, and ended up in a fish's belly, Jonah finally answered God's call to go to Nineveh and preach to them. The people of Nineveh believed, turned away from their evil ways, and the Lord God relented from the disaster that He said He would bring upon them! Seeing this, Jonah was so angry he wanted to die!

It was then that the Lord God prepared a plant and made it come up over Jonah, that it might be shade for his head. But as morning dawned the next day, God prepared a worm, and it so damaged the plant that it withered. Then God said to Jonah, "Is it right for you to be angry about the plant?" And Jonah answered, "It is right for me to be angry, even to death!" But the Lord God then said, "You have had pity on the plant for which you have not labored, nor made it grow, which came up in a night and perished in a night. And should I not pity Nineveh, that great city, in which are more than one hundred and twenty thousand persons who cannot discern between their right hand and their left - and much livestock?" (Jonah 4:6-11)

What we see may not be what God sees, and what we think may not be what God thinks! Jonah might have thought it's impossible for the people of Nineveh to change and repent, but God saw it differently! Jonah might have thought the people of Nineveh didn't deserve to be given a second chance, but God saw it differently! In fact, God's willingness to forgive the repentant people of Nineveh illustrates the greatness of His love and compassion towards mankind, and exposed the narrowness of Jonah's heart. Indeed, God's will is that none should perish, but all should come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9).

Knowing this is the heart of God towards mankind, we all have great hope. And as God's people, He can use you too as His vessels to bring hope and reconciliation to mankind. Amen!

Receive the dunamis power to break the 'shell'!

I heard these words from the Lord recently:
"There's an anointing being released right now! There's dunamis power being released right now to break the shell that hinders My people from advancing!"

And I heard further:
"There is a newness in the spiritual realm! For I am setting My people free from their shells, because the time has come for My greater works in their lives! Take it! Receive it! New territories! New expansions! New outreaches! Greater authority! Greater influence! Get ready to enlarge your tents!"

In Isaiah 54:2-4, the Lord says, "Enlarge the place of your tent, and let them stretch out the curtains of your dwellings; Do not spare; Lengthen your cords, and strengthen your stakes. For you shall expand to the right and to the left, and your descendants will inherit the nations, and make desolate cities inhabited. Do not fear, for you will not be ashamed; Neither be disgraced, for you will not be put to shame; For you will forget the shame of your youth, and will not remember the reproach of your widowhood anymore."

Yes, indeed, this is a time to advance! Whatever 'shell' or 'limitation' that the world (or the enemy) has put over you, this is a time to receive the dunamis power of God to set you free! For many of God's people, you've 'outlived' your 'shells'! The Lord gave me a funny impression the other day. It's a picture of a 'hermit crab'. And He said, "Tell My people don't be like a hermit crab, always hiding inside, and staying 'small' inside the shell!"

Admittedly, it isn't easy to break away (or break free) from something you are so used to. But break away you must! Because the time has come for His greater works in your life! Proclaim this loud and clear: "The time has come for God's greater works in my life!" And fear not, because you will not be put to shame! This is His promise for you, as you let Him set you free! Free from the bondage and the limitation that has kept you 'small'!

Let's look at an example in the Scripture now. In Paul's third missionary journey, there was a time he was speaking, reasoning and persuading concerning the kingdom of God in the synagogue at Ephesus. But when some were hardened and did not believe, and even spoke evil of the Way, he departed from them, reasoning daily in the school of Tyrannus instead. This was a private school run by someone named Tyrannus, and Paul rented (or was granted) a classroom in the afternoon hours (the hours when the school was unused), and he did this faithfully for two years (see Acts 19:8-10).

But there came a time God wanted to do a greater work through Paul! And He was about to expand His influence and outreaches in the whole city of Ephesus beyond the classroom that Paul used! A time of 'greater expansion' and 'enlarging the tent' was at hand! Notice what Acts 19:11-12 say, 'Now God worked unusual miracles by the hands of Paul, so that even handkerchiefs or aprons were brought from his body to the sick, and the diseases left them and the evil spirits went out of them'. The very word 'unusual' here implies Paul had not been accustomed to work such miracles before! In other words, it was unprecedented to Paul!

Now, what if Paul didn't believe the 'dunamis' power of God could flow through those handkerchiefs or aprons? And what if he refused to let God do beyond what he knew to do at that time, thus confining himself to just teaching and reasoning inside the classroom? The advancement of God's kingdom and the breakthrough in the city of Ephesus wouldn't have happened, such that the Word of the Lord grew mightily and prevailed! (Acts 19:20)

People of God, will you also allow the Lord to break the 'shells' that limit and confine you? This is your time to be set free! This is your time to begin walking in your God-given destiny! This is your time to begin fulfilling your God-given potentials! Take it! Receive it! The anointing is here for you to receive! And proclaim this loud and clear again: "The time has come for God's greater works in my life!" To God be all the glory!

A call to get 'connected' to the Lord and receive His heavenly rain!

I heard these words from the Lord recently:
"The key to walking in your God-given destiny is how connected you are to Me. Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me!"

In John 15:4-5, Jesus says, 'Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing'. The word 'abide' here is 'meno' in Greek, and it can mean 'to dwell, to stay, to remain, to continue, to be connected to'.

I had a dream the other day that pointed to the importance of looking to the Lord and being connected to the Lord. There were three scenes in the dream. In the first scene, I was in a situation when man-made water supply ran dry in hot weather. No water supply meant no water to drink, bathe, or do any washing. In the second scene, I was among the many people who went into a lake. We were all floating in the lake. The lake was congested with many people, and it became contaminated with human activities. Finally, the Lord brought me to the third scene, the final scene. I saw myself coming out of the lake, and rain started falling from the sky. It was refreshing, and I saw myself drinking fresh water from the sky, and being washed with clean water from the sky! It was definitely a good change, after having endured the man-made tap running dry and the contaminated lake!

I asked the Lord what this dream meant. And that's when I heard these words:
"Many of My people have been looking to the wrong sources and relying on the wrong sources for the advancements in their lives! They seek man, but not Me! They seek man's ideas, but not My ideas! They seek man's comfort, but not My comfort! They seek man's solace, but not My solace!"

By the way, the 'man-made tap running dry' speaks of 'man-made systems or structures', whereas the 'congested, contaminated lake' speaks of 'man-made ideas'. But the 'rain' comes directly from the Lord!

I then heard further:
"Seek Me while I am found, and call upon Me while I am near! Return to Me, and I will show you My way, My heavenly rain!"

The words above brought to my remembrance Isaiah 55, which I believe is the key chapter in this time and season. In Isaiah 55:1-2, to begin with, the Lord says, "Ho! Everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; And you who have no money, come, buy and eat. Yes, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. Why do you spend money for what is not bread, and your wages for what does not satisfy? Listen carefully to Me, and eat what is good. And let your soul delight itself in abundance."

'Without money and without price' because Jesus has paid the price when He died for you on the cross! As for wine and milk, 'wine' here speaks of 'joy', and 'milk' here speaks of 'peace'. Unfortunately, many in the world these days go around looking for joy and peace in all the wrong places and through the wrong sources. For instance, going around 'connecting' to the wrong man, wrong woman, fortune-tellers, horoscopes, idols, or whatever they can buy in this world using their money! Yet, true (lasting) joy and peace still seem elusive to them!

For the church as a whole, let us keep looking to God and keep seeking God for His ways, instead of looking to man and man-made systems (i.e. Babylonian systems) for the advancements in our godly entities! As a matter of fact, good ideas (of man) may not necessarily translate to God's ideas!

Now, look at what the Word of God say in Isaiah 55. Isaiah 55:6-7 says, "Seek the Lord while He may be found; Call upon Him while He is near. Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; Let him return to the Lord, and He will have mercy on him; And to our God, for He will abundantly pardon."

And in Isaiah 55:8-9, the Lord says, "For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways, for as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts."

In Isaiah 55:10-11, the Lord says further, "For as the rain comes down, and the snow from heaven, and do not return there, but water the earth, and make it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me void, but it shall accomplish what I please, and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it."

Notice the word 'rain' here? And the words 'water the earth'? This speaks of His word that falls on the 'earth'! And 'who' are the 'earth' here? The Bible says you and I are the 'earthen vessels'! (see 2 Corinthians 4:7) People of God, will you let this heavenly rain of the Lord fall on you right now? Blessed are you if you do, because this water from the Lord will cause you to 'bring forth' and 'bud'!

And that's how true (lasting) joy and peace comes, because you never run out of His spoken word in your life! In Isaiah 55:12-13, the Lord then concludes, "For you shall go out with joy, and be led out with peace; The mountains and the hills shall break forth into singing before you, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands. Instead of the thorn shall come up the cypress tree, and instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle tree; and it shall be to the Lord for a name (for the Lord's renown), for an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off."

Amen!