The Lord says:
"Beloved, let My light shine in your heart, and you'll begin to 'see'! Seeing the many good that I want to do in your life this season! Seeing you aren't too late yet, even if the enemy wants you to think so! Seeing that I understand and care for that 'tricky situation' you are in right now! And seeing your answer is right on the way!"
The Lord says further:
"My love for you fails not. Let go of your guilt, condemnation and regret, whatever it may be. Old things have passed away, and all things have become new. Do not lose heart, and do not be discouraged, for I AM with you."
Indeed, God's love for you fails not, and no matter what your past failure or mistake may be, He hasn't forgotten you. And if you think you are too late or too old for a new lease of life, the good news is you are not!
In the book of Exodus chapter 3, when the Lord met Moses at the burning bush, He said to him, "I am the God of your father - the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. I have surely seen the oppression of My people who are in Egypt, and have heard their cry because of their taskmasters, for I know their sorrows. So I have come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians..." (Exodus 3:6-8a)
The Lord then said to him, "Come now, therefore, and I will send you to Pharaoh that you may bring My people, the children of Israel, out of Egypt." (Exodus 3:10) But Moses answered, "Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh, and that I should bring the children of Israel out of Egypt?" (Exodus 3:11)
For the record, some forty years ago, Moses had tried, and he failed miserably. Those days, having looked at the burdens of his fellow Hebrew brethren, and seeing an Egyptian beating one of them, he took matters into his own hands and killed the Egyptian (Exodus 2:11-12). This act was found out by Pharaoh who then sought to kill him, and Moses had no choice but to flee from Egypt. So here he was, forty years on, from being a prince in Egypt to an old, forgotten nobody in the desert!
Beloved, have you felt like time is not on your side anymore? You are running late, and for some of you, you have even felt like you have 'missed the bus' altogether! That was what Moses felt too when he said, "Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh, and that I should bring the children of Israel out of Egypt?" After all, he was already eighty years old, and was no more the mighty, eloquent man he used to be!
But God! At the point when Moses had nothing in himself to boast about anymore, and at the time most unexpected to him, the Lord saw him ready for a great work that He was about to do. As you'd already have known, Moses did not look back ever since, and with the rod of God that's in his hand, he eventually led his people out of the bondage of the Egyptians successfully.
The Lord is still the same yesterday, today, and forever (Hebrews 13:8). There is nothing too difficult for Him, no matter how you think you blew it, or how useless you think you are right now. Just as the Lord asked Moses, "What is that in your hand?", and Moses answered, "A rod". The Lord asked him to cast the rod on the ground, and then pick it up again. This same rod was with Moses as the Lord did great signs and wonders, and even opened the Red Sea through him (Exodus 4:17, Exodus 14:16).
Today, the Lord is also asking you the same, "What is that in your hand?" There must be something in you (it may be a talent, a skill, or anything else) that He can use, no matter how insignificant you think it is. Let the Lord use it, and He will know how to turn things around for you!
This is the time to declare that your miracle and deliverance is coming your way! The Lord has spoken, and He is a God who keeps His promises. Your part is to believe and receive! Indeed, old things have passed away, and all things have become new. This is also the time to declare there will be a restoration of your calling in life, and there will be a new authority coming in your life! And like Moses at that juncture of his life, the best is yet to come in your life too. Amen!
Wednesday, August 28, 2019
Tuesday, August 20, 2019
Spiritual eyes being opened to see
The Lord spoke these words:
"For I am in the midst of clearing the spiritual blindness in many! Many who could not 'see' shall begin to 'see'! Seeing what I've been doing in their midst! Because their eyes of understanding has been enlightened!"
In Ephesians 1:17-19, Paul wrote, 'That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power'. The word 'enlightened' here is 'photizo' in Greek, literally meaning 'to be made to see'.
In the physical realm, in order to see, there's got to be light. Imagine you are in a pitch-black enclosed room with a thick curtain. No matter how good the physical condition of your eyes may be, it's useless when there's no light. You can't see a thing! It is the same with the spiritual realm and your spiritual eyes. That's why David wrote in Psalm 36:9, 'In Your light we see light'. There's got to be His light for you to see with your spiritual eyes! That's why many unbelievers whose hearts are not open to Him may read the Bible, but they just can't 'see' what God is saying! In John 8:12, Jesus said, "I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in the darkness, but have the light of life."
People of God, the key chapters to read at the moment are John chapters 8 and 9. Interestingly, John chapter 8 is about the Pharisees who couldn't 'see', and after John chapter 8, is John chapter 9 that talks about how Jesus opened the eyes of the blind man. I believe there's no coincidence in the Bible, and there's no coincidence why Jesus said what He said, and why Jesus was at where He was. Everything happened for a reason in the dispensation of His time on earth. Jesus was always at the right time and right place, all the time. You see, when His time wasn't up yet to be crucified, no matter how people tried to kill Him, they just couldn't!
"For I am in the midst of clearing the spiritual blindness in many! Many who could not 'see' shall begin to 'see'! Seeing what I've been doing in their midst! Because their eyes of understanding has been enlightened!"
In Ephesians 1:17-19, Paul wrote, 'That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power'. The word 'enlightened' here is 'photizo' in Greek, literally meaning 'to be made to see'.
In the physical realm, in order to see, there's got to be light. Imagine you are in a pitch-black enclosed room with a thick curtain. No matter how good the physical condition of your eyes may be, it's useless when there's no light. You can't see a thing! It is the same with the spiritual realm and your spiritual eyes. That's why David wrote in Psalm 36:9, 'In Your light we see light'. There's got to be His light for you to see with your spiritual eyes! That's why many unbelievers whose hearts are not open to Him may read the Bible, but they just can't 'see' what God is saying! In John 8:12, Jesus said, "I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in the darkness, but have the light of life."
People of God, the key chapters to read at the moment are John chapters 8 and 9. Interestingly, John chapter 8 is about the Pharisees who couldn't 'see', and after John chapter 8, is John chapter 9 that talks about how Jesus opened the eyes of the blind man. I believe there's no coincidence in the Bible, and there's no coincidence why Jesus said what He said, and why Jesus was at where He was. Everything happened for a reason in the dispensation of His time on earth. Jesus was always at the right time and right place, all the time. You see, when His time wasn't up yet to be crucified, no matter how people tried to kill Him, they just couldn't!
Now, who then were the Pharisees those days? They were an influential religious sect within Judaism, mostly made up of leaders of synagogues and affluent laymen, holding important positions with decision-making powers. They emphasized men's tradition in addition to the written Law, and taught that all Jews should observe all 600-plus laws in the Torah. Men's traditions were added to God's laws, and given equal emphasis as God's laws. Jesus called them hypocrites, because they taught man-made rules/traditions that they themselves could not follow (see Mark 7:6-7).
And when the 'light' came, they just couldn't 'see'! That is the gist of what John chapter 8 is all about! In fact, John chapter 8 ends with verse 59 that says, 'Then they took up stones to throw at Him; but Jesus hid Himself and went out of the temple, going through the midst of them, and so passed by'.
The very next verse is John 9:1-2 that says, 'Now as Jesus passed by, He saw a man who was blind from birth, and His disciples asked Him, saying, "Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?"' In John 9:3-5, Jesus answered, "Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but that the works of God should be revealed in him. I must work the works of Him who sent Me while it is day; the night is coming when no one can work. As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world."
John 9:6-7 then says, 'When He had said these things, He spat on the ground and made clay with the saliva; and He anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay. And He said to him, "Go, wash in the pool of Siloam" (which is translated, Sent). So he went and washed, and came back seeing'.
Reading John chapter 9 in the context of the previous chapter (John chapter 8), it is clear that Jesus wasn't just opening the man's physical eyes, but He was also giving a message that blindness in spiritual eyes can only be opened when we are open to His light! 'Saliva' here speaks of 'Word and Spirit from the mouth of God', whereas 'clay' speaks of 'we humans'. And the statement "Go, wash in the pool of Siloam" speaks of 'we being open and look to the Sent One, i.e. Jesus'!
People of God, the good news is your time to 'see' has also come! Be open to His light, and let His light shine in your heart and soul right now. Let us not be like the Pharisees those days who 'rejected' this light. I pray that you'll 'see' what He's been doing in your life - Seeing the many good that He wants to do in your life! Seeing that you aren't too late yet, even if the enemy wants you to think so! Seeing that He understands and cares for that 'tricky' situation you are in right now! And seeing that your answer is on the way! In Jesus' name. Amen!
Wednesday, August 14, 2019
Having a clear conscience
The Lord spoke these words:
"As long as you allow the wind of My Spirit to blow through you, and be open to My Spirit, not to close the door on My Spirit, you will be safe in Me! Nothing will break down in your life, and nothing will be damaged!"
The Lord spoke further:
"For I am in the midst of washing and cleansing! I am in the midst of sending My wind to clear My people's conscience! To clear whatever that hinders My people's spirit and soul!"
People of God, never resist Him when He sends His wind! Be open and do not close the door! This is a crucial time for God's people to allow the wind of His Spirit to blow through them, even clearing whatever that hinders in the spirit and soul!
Ezekiel 37:9-10 says, 'He said to me (Ezekiel), "Prophesy to the breath, prophesy, son of man, and say to the breath, 'Thus says the Lord God: "Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe on these slain, that they may live."'" So I prophesied as He commanded me, and breath came into them, and they lived, and stood upon their feet, an exceedingly great army'.
The word 'winds' here is 'ruwach' in Hebrew, which can also mean 'God's Spirit':
- God's Spirit that brings the power to set free;
- God's Spirit that quickens the understanding of God's things;
- God's Spirit that brings life and revival.
And what does 'four winds' mean here? It describes 'all directions (north, south, east, west)', and it speaks of 'the wholeness and fullness of the work of His Spirit', where all hindrances will be cleared.
One area the Lord wants to deal with His people at the moment is conscience. Is our conscience dead? Is our conscience seared? To the world, this word 'conscience' simply means 'a sense of what is right and what is wrong', and it usually speaks of what is morally right or morally wrong. But for us who are born of the Spirit (John 3:8), it is more than that. It isn't just about having a moral sense of what's right or wrong, but with the help of the Holy Spirit, an inner sense of what's God and what's not.
Let me give you an illustration here. Just like an airplane has its internal systems to 'warn' the pilot when the plane is 'off the intended path', too low, or in danger of stalling, God has placed in each of us a spiritual warning systems called 'conscience', and when we veer off His intended path for our lives, we will know.
The apostle Paul had a clear conscience in his life and ministry. The Lord had dealt with him before, and he had a life-changing experience on his way to Damascus when a light shone around him from heaven (see Acts 9:3-5). By the time he wrote Romans 9:1, he had this to say, 'I tell the truth in Christ, I am not lying, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Spirit'.
In Acts 23:1, Luke wrote, 'Paul, looking earnestly at the council (of the chief priests who accused him of sedition and swaying the Jews), said, "Men and brethren, I have lived in all good conscience before God until this day."'
In 1 Timothy 4:1-2, the apostle Paul wrote, 'The Spirit clearly says that in later times, some will abandon the faith and follow the deceiving spirits and things taught by demons. Such teachings come through hypocritical liars, whose consciences have been seared as with a hot iron'.
Now, what happens when one's skin is seared with a hot iron? It becomes numb, rendering the skin insensitive to whatever that touches it. The same it is with one's spirit. When one's spirit is numb, there is no more sense of what's God and what's not. And that's what happens to many in these last days.
As people of God, let us not fall into such. But instead, let us remain clear in our conscience, and let His Spirit clear whatever that hinders us from having a clear conscience. In 1 Timothy 1:18-19, the apostle Paul wrote, 'Fight the good fight, keeping the faith and a good conscience, which some have rejected and suffered shipwreck in regard to their faith'.
Indeed, nothing will break down in your life, and nothing will be damaged, when your conscience is clear before Him in who you are (and what you do). Amen!
"As long as you allow the wind of My Spirit to blow through you, and be open to My Spirit, not to close the door on My Spirit, you will be safe in Me! Nothing will break down in your life, and nothing will be damaged!"
The Lord spoke further:
"For I am in the midst of washing and cleansing! I am in the midst of sending My wind to clear My people's conscience! To clear whatever that hinders My people's spirit and soul!"
People of God, never resist Him when He sends His wind! Be open and do not close the door! This is a crucial time for God's people to allow the wind of His Spirit to blow through them, even clearing whatever that hinders in the spirit and soul!
Ezekiel 37:9-10 says, 'He said to me (Ezekiel), "Prophesy to the breath, prophesy, son of man, and say to the breath, 'Thus says the Lord God: "Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe on these slain, that they may live."'" So I prophesied as He commanded me, and breath came into them, and they lived, and stood upon their feet, an exceedingly great army'.
The word 'winds' here is 'ruwach' in Hebrew, which can also mean 'God's Spirit':
- God's Spirit that brings the power to set free;
- God's Spirit that quickens the understanding of God's things;
- God's Spirit that brings life and revival.
And what does 'four winds' mean here? It describes 'all directions (north, south, east, west)', and it speaks of 'the wholeness and fullness of the work of His Spirit', where all hindrances will be cleared.
One area the Lord wants to deal with His people at the moment is conscience. Is our conscience dead? Is our conscience seared? To the world, this word 'conscience' simply means 'a sense of what is right and what is wrong', and it usually speaks of what is morally right or morally wrong. But for us who are born of the Spirit (John 3:8), it is more than that. It isn't just about having a moral sense of what's right or wrong, but with the help of the Holy Spirit, an inner sense of what's God and what's not.
Let me give you an illustration here. Just like an airplane has its internal systems to 'warn' the pilot when the plane is 'off the intended path', too low, or in danger of stalling, God has placed in each of us a spiritual warning systems called 'conscience', and when we veer off His intended path for our lives, we will know.
The apostle Paul had a clear conscience in his life and ministry. The Lord had dealt with him before, and he had a life-changing experience on his way to Damascus when a light shone around him from heaven (see Acts 9:3-5). By the time he wrote Romans 9:1, he had this to say, 'I tell the truth in Christ, I am not lying, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Spirit'.
In Acts 23:1, Luke wrote, 'Paul, looking earnestly at the council (of the chief priests who accused him of sedition and swaying the Jews), said, "Men and brethren, I have lived in all good conscience before God until this day."'
In 1 Timothy 4:1-2, the apostle Paul wrote, 'The Spirit clearly says that in later times, some will abandon the faith and follow the deceiving spirits and things taught by demons. Such teachings come through hypocritical liars, whose consciences have been seared as with a hot iron'.
Now, what happens when one's skin is seared with a hot iron? It becomes numb, rendering the skin insensitive to whatever that touches it. The same it is with one's spirit. When one's spirit is numb, there is no more sense of what's God and what's not. And that's what happens to many in these last days.
As people of God, let us not fall into such. But instead, let us remain clear in our conscience, and let His Spirit clear whatever that hinders us from having a clear conscience. In 1 Timothy 1:18-19, the apostle Paul wrote, 'Fight the good fight, keeping the faith and a good conscience, which some have rejected and suffered shipwreck in regard to their faith'.
Indeed, nothing will break down in your life, and nothing will be damaged, when your conscience is clear before Him in who you are (and what you do). Amen!
Friday, August 2, 2019
Pure intention, pure heart, pure motive
Psalm 139:23-24 (NKJV): Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me, and know my anxieties; And see if there is any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.
The word 'search' here is 'chaqar' (pronounced 'khawkar') in Hebrew, and it can mean:
- to find me out; to search me out; to seek me out;
- to penetrate/examine my deepest intention/motive/desire.
The writer of this psalm, David was a man after God's heart, not after own glory or fame, and it showed. Indeed, for David to ask the Lord to 'chaqar' him shows his humility, sincerity, transparency, and yieldedness before the Lord. David realized that nothing is hidden from Him, and nothing can be hidden from Him. And if that is so, why even try to 'escape' from Him or 'hide anything' from Him?
In Psalm 139:7-12, David wrote it aptly, 'Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence? If I ascend into heaven, You are there; If I make my bed in hell, behold You are there. If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, even there Your hand shall lead me, and Your right hand shall uphold me. If I say, "Surely the darkness shall fall on me," even the night shall be light about me; Indeed the darkness shall not hide from You, but the night shines as the day; the darkness and the light are both alike to You'.
All in all, this psalm (Psalm 139) describes the Lord God's perfect knowledge of each of us, inside-out and outside-in. In Psalm 139:1-4, David wrote, 'O Lord, You have searched me and known me. You know my sitting down and my rising up. You understand my thought afar off. You comprehend my path and my lying down, and are acquainted with all my ways. For there is not a word on my tongue, but behold, O Lord, You know it altogether'.
And then in Psalm 139:13-16, David wrote further, 'For You formed my inward parts; You covered me in my mother's womb. I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Marvelous are Your works, and that my soul knows very well. My frame was not hidden from You, when I was made in secret, and skillfully wrought (caused it to happen)... Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed. And in Your book they all were written, the days fashioned for me, when as yet there were none of them'.
Beloved of God, as you prepare yourself for a time of greater works of the Lord in your life, this is the time to ask the Lord to 'find you out' and 'search you out', and let Him show you if there's any area (in your life) that has been 'polluted' by the world. How about some hidden intentions or motives in your life that you know the Lord isn't too happy with?
The Lord spoke these words recently:
"I am purifying! Let Me do the work of purifying! I am cleansing! Let Me do the work of cleansing! For I am purifying and cleansing even the hidden intentions and motives of My people, so that they will begin to walk like David walked!"
The Lord then spoke further:
"There is power to break every yoke! Let Me clear the hidden intentions and motives of My people, and let Me clear the conscience of My people, so that they will begin to see My promises for them happening and coming to pass!"
Indeed, nothing in this world can take the place of a clear conscience and a pure heart. Jesus Himself said in Matthew 5:8, "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God." The word 'pure' here in Greek is 'katharos', meaning 'clean, clear'; whereas the word 'see' here in Greek is 'optanomai', and it can mean 'to gaze (with wide-open eyes, at something remarkable), to watch in awe (right before one's eyes)'. In other words, for those whose hearts are clean and clear before the Lord, they are blessed, because they shall see God's glory and God's great works manifesting so real right before their eyes!
Our Abba Father in heaven wants the very best for each of us, simply because He loves us. David knew this very well, and he gave Him the full right to 'search him out', and to examine his every hidden intention, motive, and even desire in his life. No wonder the Lord calls him 'a man after His heart' (1 Samuel 13:14, Acts 13:22), and no wonder His will can be fully done in his life. Let it be so for you too, because like David, you too are God's beloved. Amen!
The word 'search' here is 'chaqar' (pronounced 'khawkar') in Hebrew, and it can mean:
- to find me out; to search me out; to seek me out;
- to penetrate/examine my deepest intention/motive/desire.
The writer of this psalm, David was a man after God's heart, not after own glory or fame, and it showed. Indeed, for David to ask the Lord to 'chaqar' him shows his humility, sincerity, transparency, and yieldedness before the Lord. David realized that nothing is hidden from Him, and nothing can be hidden from Him. And if that is so, why even try to 'escape' from Him or 'hide anything' from Him?
In Psalm 139:7-12, David wrote it aptly, 'Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence? If I ascend into heaven, You are there; If I make my bed in hell, behold You are there. If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, even there Your hand shall lead me, and Your right hand shall uphold me. If I say, "Surely the darkness shall fall on me," even the night shall be light about me; Indeed the darkness shall not hide from You, but the night shines as the day; the darkness and the light are both alike to You'.
All in all, this psalm (Psalm 139) describes the Lord God's perfect knowledge of each of us, inside-out and outside-in. In Psalm 139:1-4, David wrote, 'O Lord, You have searched me and known me. You know my sitting down and my rising up. You understand my thought afar off. You comprehend my path and my lying down, and are acquainted with all my ways. For there is not a word on my tongue, but behold, O Lord, You know it altogether'.
And then in Psalm 139:13-16, David wrote further, 'For You formed my inward parts; You covered me in my mother's womb. I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Marvelous are Your works, and that my soul knows very well. My frame was not hidden from You, when I was made in secret, and skillfully wrought (caused it to happen)... Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed. And in Your book they all were written, the days fashioned for me, when as yet there were none of them'.
Beloved of God, as you prepare yourself for a time of greater works of the Lord in your life, this is the time to ask the Lord to 'find you out' and 'search you out', and let Him show you if there's any area (in your life) that has been 'polluted' by the world. How about some hidden intentions or motives in your life that you know the Lord isn't too happy with?
The Lord spoke these words recently:
"I am purifying! Let Me do the work of purifying! I am cleansing! Let Me do the work of cleansing! For I am purifying and cleansing even the hidden intentions and motives of My people, so that they will begin to walk like David walked!"
The Lord then spoke further:
"There is power to break every yoke! Let Me clear the hidden intentions and motives of My people, and let Me clear the conscience of My people, so that they will begin to see My promises for them happening and coming to pass!"
Indeed, nothing in this world can take the place of a clear conscience and a pure heart. Jesus Himself said in Matthew 5:8, "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God." The word 'pure' here in Greek is 'katharos', meaning 'clean, clear'; whereas the word 'see' here in Greek is 'optanomai', and it can mean 'to gaze (with wide-open eyes, at something remarkable), to watch in awe (right before one's eyes)'. In other words, for those whose hearts are clean and clear before the Lord, they are blessed, because they shall see God's glory and God's great works manifesting so real right before their eyes!
Our Abba Father in heaven wants the very best for each of us, simply because He loves us. David knew this very well, and he gave Him the full right to 'search him out', and to examine his every hidden intention, motive, and even desire in his life. No wonder the Lord calls him 'a man after His heart' (1 Samuel 13:14, Acts 13:22), and no wonder His will can be fully done in his life. Let it be so for you too, because like David, you too are God's beloved. Amen!
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