The Lord spoke these words:
"This is the time to let go of your baggage! Let go of those ungodly things! Let go of those issues that encumber you! Let go of those burdens and weights that bog you down! Cast all these to Me, for I am the Lord who cares for you! Look to Me, and I will show you the many new things that you know not of yet!"
The definition of 'baggage' in this context here is 'an issue, a matter, a burden, a weight, or a hindrance regarding your past that adversely affect your current life'. Hebrews 12:1-2a says, 'Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, 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...' Here, the word 'weight' is 'ogkos' in Greek, and it can mean 'a burden, a hindrance, or a heavy load'.
What are the 'baggages' that you still hang on to?
- Spiritual baggage (whatever sin, idolatry, uncleanness)
- Emotional baggage (bitterness, hurt, emotional wound)
- Mental baggage (thoughts/memories/mindsets that aren't useful)
- Physical baggage (clutter/junks in your house/room)
- Relational baggage (toxic relations)
- Habitual baggage (bad habits/addictions)
- Debt baggage
- Sickness baggage
Some people become miserable or self-centered, and they would blame it on the past (or some people of the past), saying, "I am this way because of how that person abused/mistreated/did so and so to me." But beloved of God, whatever your past may be, let it go, and do not hold on to it. The Lord loves you and He wants to do a new thing in your life. For you readers, I want to declare that you are not 'over the hill', but there are greater things that He wants to show you, moving forward. The best is still to come! Isaiah 43:18-19 says, 'Do not remember the former things, nor consider the things of old. 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'. Indeed, to Him, nothing is impossible, and He will make rivers in the desert for you!
There are times we will never be able to understand why some things happen in our lives, or why we have to go through some 'valleys' in life. But there's one thing that we can always believe, in that 'all things will work together for good to those who love Him, to those who are the called according to His purpose' (Romans 8:28). In Philippians 3:12-14, the apostle Paul wrote, 'Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. 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'.
God can make you forget your toil!
In Genesis 41:51, the Scripture says, 'Joseph called the name of the firstborn Manasseh: "For God has made me forget all my toil."' We all know that Joseph had gone through much and had suffered much. He was thrown into the pit, sold as a slave by his brothers, falsely accused of having an affair with Potiphar's wife, and was eventually thrown into the prison. But the Lord was still with him, and instead of getting bitter, he got better. Through those years, the Lord worked in his life, changed his life from the inside out, and the time for God's greater works in his life finally came. Having successfully interpreted Pharaoh's dreams, Joseph rose to power in Egypt, and that's when to him was born his first son, and he fittingly called the firstborn 'Manasseh'. This name 'Manasseh' in Hebrew simply means 'causing to forget', from the word 'nashah', meaning 'to forget, to let go'. Notice in this verse also, it's God who had made him forget all his toil. The word 'toil' here is 'awmawl' in Hebrew, and it can mean 'grievances, misery, pain, sorrows, trouble, weariness, labor'. Beloved of God, He can cause you to forget all your 'toil' too, and He will know how to turn things around for you, if you look to Him and put your trust in Him. Amen!
Monday, July 22, 2019
Saturday, July 13, 2019
A shifting is taking place!
The Lord speaks these words for this time and season:
"A shifting is taking place! A shifting of mindsets and a shifting of how My people see things! You will begin to see your 'ruins' be rebuilt and fortified, and you will begin to see your 'desolation' be turned into garden! This is your time to walk out of your 'ruins', and walk into My greater glory!"
The word 'shift' in this context here can mean:
- a change of direction
- a change of perspective
- a change of responsibility
- a change of gear
In Ezekiel 36:25-27 (NKJV), the Lord says, "I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean; I will cleanse you from all your filthiness and from all your idols. I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgments and do them."
Even though the above is meant as God's promises and blessings for Israel, it does apply for God's people as a whole in this time and season. Interestingly, the word 'statutes' here is 'choq' (pronounced 'khoke') in Hebrew, and it can mean 'appointments, instructions, decrees, commands'. In other words, as God's people begin to receive a new heart and a new spirit within them, not only will they begin to walk in His instructions, decrees and commands, but they will also begin to walk in His appointments set up for them as well!
In Ezekiel 36:33-36 (NKJV), the Lord then says, "...and the ruins shall be rebuilt. The desolate land shall be tilled instead of lying desolate in the sight of all who pass by. So they will say, 'This land that was desolate has become like the garden of Eden; and the wasted, desolate, ruined cities are now fortified and inhabited'. Then the nations which are left all around you shall know that I, the Lord, have rebuilt the ruined places and planted what was desolate. I, the Lord, have spoken it, and I will do it."
Indeed, people of God, this is your time to walk out of your 'ruins' and 'desolation', and walk into His greater glory! As you begin to take this step of faith, you will also receive a new strength as He shifts you! For some of you, it may be a change of direction in life; for others, it may be a change of perspective (or point of view); and still for some others, it may even be a change of responsibility or a change of gear, i.e. you receive a new strength to 'step up a gear'! Whatever it may be, do not be afraid to walk into the new, because the Lord has meant for you to see your 'ruins' be rebuilt, and your 'desolation' be turned into garden, just as Ezekiel had prophesied!
How do you know God is 'shifting' you into a time of His greater glory?
1. He begins to prepare you for the things ahead (Genesis 18:9-10, Matthew 1:20-21)
2. He begins to change your desires/perspective/passions (Luke 5:1-11)
3. He begins to change your friendship/relationship/aligning (Acts 9:26-28)
4. He begins to send something/someone to confirm what He has spoken (Acts 10:1-46)
"A shifting is taking place! A shifting of mindsets and a shifting of how My people see things! You will begin to see your 'ruins' be rebuilt and fortified, and you will begin to see your 'desolation' be turned into garden! This is your time to walk out of your 'ruins', and walk into My greater glory!"
The word 'shift' in this context here can mean:
- a change of direction
- a change of perspective
- a change of responsibility
- a change of gear
In Ezekiel 36:25-27 (NKJV), the Lord says, "I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean; I will cleanse you from all your filthiness and from all your idols. I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgments and do them."
Even though the above is meant as God's promises and blessings for Israel, it does apply for God's people as a whole in this time and season. Interestingly, the word 'statutes' here is 'choq' (pronounced 'khoke') in Hebrew, and it can mean 'appointments, instructions, decrees, commands'. In other words, as God's people begin to receive a new heart and a new spirit within them, not only will they begin to walk in His instructions, decrees and commands, but they will also begin to walk in His appointments set up for them as well!
In Ezekiel 36:33-36 (NKJV), the Lord then says, "...and the ruins shall be rebuilt. The desolate land shall be tilled instead of lying desolate in the sight of all who pass by. So they will say, 'This land that was desolate has become like the garden of Eden; and the wasted, desolate, ruined cities are now fortified and inhabited'. Then the nations which are left all around you shall know that I, the Lord, have rebuilt the ruined places and planted what was desolate. I, the Lord, have spoken it, and I will do it."
Indeed, people of God, this is your time to walk out of your 'ruins' and 'desolation', and walk into His greater glory! As you begin to take this step of faith, you will also receive a new strength as He shifts you! For some of you, it may be a change of direction in life; for others, it may be a change of perspective (or point of view); and still for some others, it may even be a change of responsibility or a change of gear, i.e. you receive a new strength to 'step up a gear'! Whatever it may be, do not be afraid to walk into the new, because the Lord has meant for you to see your 'ruins' be rebuilt, and your 'desolation' be turned into garden, just as Ezekiel had prophesied!
How do you know God is 'shifting' you into a time of His greater glory?
1. He begins to prepare you for the things ahead (Genesis 18:9-10, Matthew 1:20-21)
2. He begins to change your desires/perspective/passions (Luke 5:1-11)
3. He begins to change your friendship/relationship/aligning (Acts 9:26-28)
4. He begins to send something/someone to confirm what He has spoken (Acts 10:1-46)
Thursday, July 11, 2019
What does it mean by being blessed of the Lord?
Psalm 1:1-3 (NKJV) says, 'Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the path of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful; But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law he meditates day and night. He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf also shall not wither; and whatever he does shall prosper'.
The word 'blessed' here in Hebrew is 'esher', literally meaning 'happiness'. It comes from the word 'ashar', and in the context of the Scripture here, it can mean 'to be happy, to be right, to go forward, to be guided (by the Lord), to be led (by the Lord)'. That is to say 'Happy, right, going forward, guided by the Lord, led by the Lord' is the man who chooses not to walk in the counsel of the ungodly, but rather, his delight is in the Word of God!
Notice the words 'walks', 'stands', and 'sits' in Psalm 1:1? These are verbs, i.e. 'words used to describe an action'. You see? The above verbs speak of the choices you need to make, for example, to walk in the counsel of the ungodly, or not to walk in the counsel of the ungodly.
People of God, choose not the way of the ungodly, but choose to delight in the Word of God instead! And that's how you shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf shall not wither, and whatever you do shall prosper!
The Lord spoke these words recently:
"Do not look at the 'parched and dry lands', but look to Me and trust in Me, for I am the Source of the rivers of water in your lives."
What does 'parched and dry lands' mean here? The Scripture says in 2 Peter 3:6-7 (New Life Version), 'Long ago the earth was covered with water and it was destroyed. But the heaven we see now and the earth we live on now have been kept by His word. They will be kept until they are to be destroyed by fire. They will be kept until the day men stand before God and sinners will be destroyed'. Going by the verses here, the world we live in isn't going to get any better, and we all know it. But in spite of this, there is hope, and this hope only comes when we look to God and trust in God!
Indeed, this is an even more crucial time to keep looking to the Lord and keep trusting in His Word, no matter what happens to this earth, and no matter how 'parched and dry' this world has become, both spiritually and physically. Those who keep looking to Him and keep trusting in His Word are blessed ('esher') people!
There is another Hebrew word for 'blessed', and this word is 'barak'. You can find this word in Jeremiah 17:7-8 (NKJV) that says, 'Blessed ('barak') is the man who trusts in the Lord, and whose hope is the Lord. For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters, which spreads out its roots by the river, and will not fear when heat comes; but its leaf will be green, and will not be anxious (worried) in the year of drought, nor will cease from yielding fruit'.
The word 'blessed' (or 'barak' in Hebrew) here can mean 'benefit, abundance, honor'. The word 'honor' here is very interesting, and you can say that 'to be blessed is to see God honoring you and God honoring whatever you put your hands to do'! So, not only do you have the 'benefits' and 'abundance' of every good thing that He wants to give you, the Lord also knows how to honor you, and that is, when you put your trust and hope in Him!
The expression 'will not fear when heat comes' (or 'will not see when heat comes' in KJV) means you who put your trust and hope in the Lord will not be affected by the heat ('parched and dry times' on earth), and you will still be yielding fruit (and your leaf will still be green), no matter what happens around you. That, my friend, is the state of being blessed of the Lord!
I end this article with Psalm 34:8-10 (NKJV) that says, 'Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good; Blessed is the man who trusts in Him! Oh, fear the Lord, you His saints! There is no want (lack) to those who fear Him. The young lions lack and suffer hunger; But those who seek the Lord shall not lack any good thing'.
The word 'blessed' here in Hebrew is 'esher', literally meaning 'happiness'. It comes from the word 'ashar', and in the context of the Scripture here, it can mean 'to be happy, to be right, to go forward, to be guided (by the Lord), to be led (by the Lord)'. That is to say 'Happy, right, going forward, guided by the Lord, led by the Lord' is the man who chooses not to walk in the counsel of the ungodly, but rather, his delight is in the Word of God!
Notice the words 'walks', 'stands', and 'sits' in Psalm 1:1? These are verbs, i.e. 'words used to describe an action'. You see? The above verbs speak of the choices you need to make, for example, to walk in the counsel of the ungodly, or not to walk in the counsel of the ungodly.
People of God, choose not the way of the ungodly, but choose to delight in the Word of God instead! And that's how you shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf shall not wither, and whatever you do shall prosper!
The Lord spoke these words recently:
"Do not look at the 'parched and dry lands', but look to Me and trust in Me, for I am the Source of the rivers of water in your lives."
What does 'parched and dry lands' mean here? The Scripture says in 2 Peter 3:6-7 (New Life Version), 'Long ago the earth was covered with water and it was destroyed. But the heaven we see now and the earth we live on now have been kept by His word. They will be kept until they are to be destroyed by fire. They will be kept until the day men stand before God and sinners will be destroyed'. Going by the verses here, the world we live in isn't going to get any better, and we all know it. But in spite of this, there is hope, and this hope only comes when we look to God and trust in God!
Indeed, this is an even more crucial time to keep looking to the Lord and keep trusting in His Word, no matter what happens to this earth, and no matter how 'parched and dry' this world has become, both spiritually and physically. Those who keep looking to Him and keep trusting in His Word are blessed ('esher') people!
There is another Hebrew word for 'blessed', and this word is 'barak'. You can find this word in Jeremiah 17:7-8 (NKJV) that says, 'Blessed ('barak') is the man who trusts in the Lord, and whose hope is the Lord. For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters, which spreads out its roots by the river, and will not fear when heat comes; but its leaf will be green, and will not be anxious (worried) in the year of drought, nor will cease from yielding fruit'.
The word 'blessed' (or 'barak' in Hebrew) here can mean 'benefit, abundance, honor'. The word 'honor' here is very interesting, and you can say that 'to be blessed is to see God honoring you and God honoring whatever you put your hands to do'! So, not only do you have the 'benefits' and 'abundance' of every good thing that He wants to give you, the Lord also knows how to honor you, and that is, when you put your trust and hope in Him!
The expression 'will not fear when heat comes' (or 'will not see when heat comes' in KJV) means you who put your trust and hope in the Lord will not be affected by the heat ('parched and dry times' on earth), and you will still be yielding fruit (and your leaf will still be green), no matter what happens around you. That, my friend, is the state of being blessed of the Lord!
I end this article with Psalm 34:8-10 (NKJV) that says, 'Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good; Blessed is the man who trusts in Him! Oh, fear the Lord, you His saints! There is no want (lack) to those who fear Him. The young lions lack and suffer hunger; But those who seek the Lord shall not lack any good thing'.
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