Be encouraged and do not lose heart!

The Lord says,

"My people, My people, My people, be encouraged and do not lose heart. For I am standing with you and I am now strengthening you, no matter what happens in the world. Do not let your guard down. Be steadfast and be sober. Guard your hearts and guard your minds. Guard your eyes and guard your ears. Do not give in to the lies of the enemy that tries to cause you to doubt. I am your faithful God, and I am able to deliver you from every evil."

People of God, in trying times like these, know that the Lord is standing with you and He is now strengthening you! He is a faithful God, and He will know how to deliver you from every evil in this world! So, take heart!

In 2 Timothy 4:17-18, the apostle Paul wrote, 'But the Lord stood with me and strengthened me, so that the message might be preached fully through me, and that all the Gentiles might hear. Also I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion. And the Lord will deliver me from every evil work and preserve me for His heavenly kingdom. To Him be glory forever and ever. Amen!'

The word 'stood' here is 'paristemi' in Greek, and interestingly, it can mean 'to be present, to be ready to aid'; and the word 'strengthened' here is 'endunamoo' in Greek, and it can mean 'to make strong, to cause to increase in strength'.

Here, the apostle Paul wrote that the Lord was there for him, present with him, and ready to aid him even in the face of persecution and trials during his days! Not only that, he also wrote that the Lord was making him strong and causing him to increase in strength!

People of God, fear not therefore, because no matter what happens around you in this world, the Lord is here for you, present with you, and ready to aid you! He is your ever-present God, and He will not leave you nor forsake you!

Not only that, the Lord is also causing you to increase in strength! Keep receiving this strength that comes from Him! And no matter what situation you may be facing at the moment, you will come forth stronger! Yes, stronger than ever before!

So, be encouraged and do not lose heart! The Lord has spoken and the Lord will see to it that He will accomplish it!

What's your part then? Your part is to stay focused on Him and His Word! Your part is to stay focused on all these promises that He has spoken to you! Your part is to stay focused on all that He has called you to be (and to do)!

Never give in to the lies of the enemy that tries to cause you to doubt! Be steadfast and resist him! Guard your heart and guard your mind! Guard your eyes and guard your ears! And you'll be sure to see your victory and breakthrough coming your way! Hallelujah!

For the preaching video, click to watch

A double portion is coming your way!

The Lord says:

"A double portion is coming your way! Your double portion blessing is coming your way! Your double portion anointing is coming your way! Your double portion wisdom is coming your way! In times like these, prepare yourselves and receive from Me! Fear not, even when it seems like a dead-end road. I am the Shepherd who knows how to lead the way for you!"

After this time of trial and trouble, many of God's people are going to see a double portion! Yes, a double portion of blessing, a double portion of anointing, and a double portion of wisdom! Prepare yourself therefore, and receive by faith!

There's too much fear going around even among God's people nowadays. People are talking about the new world order, the one world religion, and the mark on the right hand or forehead, but people of God, fear not and worry not! The Lord your God isn't dead, and He will know how to lead you and guide you, no matter what happens in this world! After all, He is your Shepherd and you are His sheep, and as long as you stay close to the Shepherd, you will fear no evil! (Psalm 23:1-6)

Indeed, He will know how to deliver you and make a way for you! Yes, even if there seems to be no way to human minds!

In Zechariah 9:11-12 (NKJV), the Lord says, "As for you also, because of the blood of your covenant, I will set your prisoners free from the waterless pit. Return to the stronghold, you prisoners of hope. Even today I declare that I will restore double to you."

The word 'stronghold' here is 'bitstsarown' in Hebrew, and it means 'fortress'. Here, the Lord was calling His people (who have been taken captive in Babylon at that time) to return to their fortress, and to look to the Lord who is their 'strong tower'! Even if they were 'trapped' in Babylon as 'prisoners', there was still hope, as long as they put their trust in Him! Nothing is too difficult for the Lord!

Even though Zechariah 9:11-12 is in the context of the Lord remembering His covenant with His people those days, the Lord is speaking to you all the same, whatever your current situation may be! He remembers His covenant with you, and therefore, whatever your 'captivity' or 'bondage' is at the moment, He's going to deliver you and make a way for you!

In fact, you're going to receive a double portion in 'compensation' for all the 'trials' and 'troubles' that you may be going through right now! So, take heart, and keep hanging on to Him who is your hope, even if it looks like a 'dead-end road' for you at the moment!

And just as the Lord has delivered His people those days, the Lord will do the same for you too! He is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Your breakthrough is coming! Your victory is coming! Get ready for your double portion, people of God! Don't let anyone or the enemy talk you out of it! Believe and receive all that the Lord has promised you this day! Hallelujah!

For the full preaching video, click to watch

How to shine in a time of trouble?

The Lord says,

"Many of My people have forgotten to PRAISE! PRAISE! PRAISE! PRAISE! PRAISE seven times! PRAISE at all times! PRAISE even when you see no reason to PRAISE in the natural realm! For I am strengthening My people through their PRAISES! I will be enthroned in the PRAISES of My people! I am releasing a fresh anointing to My people through your PRAISES! And I am releasing a new sound against the enemy through your PRAISES!"

As you walk into this time and season to 'arise and shine' (Isaiah 60:1-5), and prepare yourself for the greater glory of the Lord in your life, one important key never to be missed out is PRAISE! Yes, PRAISE THE LORD! Don't forget to PRAISE!

In Isaiah 60:1-5, the Lord says, "Arise, shine; For your light has come! And the glory of the Lord is risen upon you. For behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and deep darkness the people; But the Lord will arise over you, and His glory will be seen upon you. The Gentiles shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising. Lift up your eyes all around, and see: They all gather together, they come to you... Then you shall see and become radiant, and your heart shall swell with joy; Because the abundance of the sea shall be turned to you, the wealth of the Gentiles shall come to you."

The word 'light' here is 'owr' in Hebrew, and it can mean 'brightness (in every sense), clear, happiness'; whereas the word 'darkness' here is 'khoshek' in Hebrew, meaning 'gloom, misery, destruction, sorrow, wickedness, trouble'. We can't deny that the world is getting 'darker' and 'darker', i.e. 'khoshek', because the Scripture says so. BUT for you and I, i.e. the people of God, our 'light' is also shining 'brighter' and 'brighter'!

So, PRAISE THE LORD! No, not praising the Lord for the 'darkness' (i.e. gloom, misery, destruction, sorrow, wickedness, trouble) in this world, but praising the Lord in spite of all these 'khoshek'! You may be living in an unprecedented world events, but the good news is you are also living in an unprecedented glory of the Lord being seen upon you! Hallelujah!

Here are the five keys on how to shine in a time of trouble:

1. PRAISE! (Psalm 119:164, Psalm 22:3-4, Psalm 150:6, Isaiah 60:18)
If you have been praising the Lord, keep on praising! You are on the right track! But if you have not been praising, start praising the Lord now! 'Praise' is like the 'switch'. Now, how do you switch on the light when you enter a dark room? You press the switch! In the spiritual realm, this 'switch' is PRAISE! Psalm 119:164 says, 'Seven times a day I praise You'. Number 'seven' here in Hebrew speaks of 'perfection', and therefore it means 'praise the Lord perfectly, i.e. unceasingly, at all times, no matter what!' Isaiah 60:18 says, 'Violence shall no longer be heard in your land, neither wasting nor destruction within your borders; But you shall call your walls Salvation, and your gates Praise'. See here? You shall call your gates Praise! Why gates? Gates open and close! Gates are where people enter and exit their houses! So, what is your 'gate'? Your mouth! You use your mouth to PRAISE! PRAISE opens the way for breakthrough! PRAISE goes forth first, and everything else (good things) will follow suit!

2. BLOOD OF JESUS! (Exodus 12:5-7, Exodus 12:12-13)
As the Lord prepared His people to be delivered from Pharaoh those days, they were told to put the blood of the lamb on the doorposts and on the lintel of their houses, so that when He strike all the firstborn in the land of Egypt and execute judgment against all the gods of Egypt, 'He will pass over them (His people), and the plague shall not destroy them (His people).' This 'blood of the lamb' here is a 'picture' of 'the blood of Jesus shed for you on the cross'. As you 'arise and shine', fear not, because the blood of Jesus has got you covered!

3. ANOINTING OIL! (Psalm 104:15, Psalm 92:10, Isaiah 10:27)
Every yoke and burden that the enemy tries to put against you will be destroyed because of the anointing oil. That's what Isaiah 10:27 says! Not only that, your strength will be exalted like a wild ox when you are being anointed with fresh oil, i.e. the anointing of the Holy Spirit! That's what Psalm 92:10 says! When you are 'in the oil', you will shine brighter! Don't believe? Pour some olive oil on the palm of your hand, and compare now between the part with oil and the part without oil. Which part is shinier? The part with oil, of course! People of God, you are 'in the oil'!

4. THE WORD OF GOD! (Hebrews 4:12, Colossians 2:7, Ephesians 6:17, Revelation 12:11)
The Word of God is the sword of the Spirit. Ephesians 6:17 says so! When you have this 'sword', you can slay the 'giants', whatever these are in the world! No 'darkness' ('khoshek') can defeat you when you stand on the Word and take Him at His Word! Therefore, it is so important to be rooted and built up in the Word! Not just that, abounding in the Word too! Jesus is the Word! (John 1:1-5)

5. SEEK THE LORD! (Psalm 34:10, Jeremiah 29:13, Matthew 7:7, Isaiah 55:6)
Psalm 34:10 says, 'The young lions may lack and suffer hunger, but those who seek the Lord shall not lack any good thing'! In other words, in a time of widespread lack, recession, unemployment, or loss of income, those who seek the Lord shall not lack any good thing! The Lord will know how to show you a way where there seems to be no way. The Lord will know how to release His wisdom to you on what to do and how to go about, even in such 'khoshek' times; and the world will see it and know that His light has come upon your life. Amen!

For the full preaching video, click to watch

How to respond in this time of shaking?

The Lord says,

"You are in this time when whatever can be shaken will be shaken! But My people, if you look to Me and return to My ways, you need not be afraid in this time of 'shaking'. I allowed it for a reason, so that My people, My church, My body, will come forth without wrinkle and without spot, holy and unblemished! Focus not on the enemy, but focus on Me!"

Someone asked me why does the Lord allow this time of 'shaking'? Isn't He more than powerful to zap the 'coronavirus' within just a second? Of course, He is more than powerful to do so! But why doesn't He at this point of time?

Because we are entering a time when 'whatever can be shaken will be shaken'! Be it in His church, or in the world!

For His church as a whole, Ephesians 5:26-27 (NKJV) says, 'that He might sanctify and cleanse her (i.e. His church) with the washing of water by the word, that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish'. 

The word 'sanctify' here in Greek is 'hagiazo', and it can mean 'to set apart, to make holy, to purify'. You see? The Lord is setting us apart, making us holy, and purifying us! Why? Because He is getting us ready for His coming, and so that He might present us to Himself a glorious church!

For the world as a whole, Hebrews 12:25-29 (NKJV) says, 'See that you do not refuse Him who speaks. For if they did not escape who refused Him who spoke on earth, much more shall we not escape if we turn away from Him who speaks from heaven, whose voice then shook the earth; but now He has promised, saying, "Yet once more I shake not only the earth, but also heaven." Now this, "Yet once more," indicates the removal of those things that are being shaken, as of those things that are made (i.e. man-made), that the things which cannot be shaken (i.e. of God, from God) may remain. Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace (i.e. rely on His ability), by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear. For our God is a consuming fire'.

In a time like this, remember what Jesus had spoken in John 14:27 and John 16:33. Receive the peace that comes from Him, whatever happens in this world. Find your peace and rest in Him. In John 14:27, Jesus says, "Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid." In John 16:33, Jesus says, "These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world."

The word 'peace' in both these verses is 'eirene' in Greek, and it can mean 'be at one (with God), quietness, rest, prosperity'. Notice the expression 'be at one' here. That is to say, when you are 'enjoined' with Him, or when you are 'at one' with Him, nothing's going to be able to shake you! When you are 'at one' with Him, the Lord is your Jehovah Shalom, the Lord of peace, and in Him is perfect peace, Shalom Shalom. And because He is your Jehovah Shalom, no matter what 'chaos' you see in this world, you cannot be shaken!

Let's look at an example in the Scripture, and he's none other than Noah. In a time of chaos those days, Noah found peace and rest in the 'ark'! I know those days, it was a time of huge flood and high waves. But you know what, huge flood and high waves can come in the form of many different ways. For us, we are now faced with a very different kind of 'huge flood' and 'high waves', something so invisible to our naked eyes called the 'coronavirus'. But in the midst of all these, like Noah, you too can find peace and rest! (Genesis 6:18, Genesis 6:21-22) The 'ark', by the way, is a 'picture' of Jesus Himself!

Therefore, people of God, fear not! Look not to the left and look not to the right, but look to Him! Focus not on the virus, but focus on the Lord! Look unto Him who is the author and finisher of your faith (Hebrews 12:2), the One who begins your faith and the One who completes your faith! As He is, so are you in this world. And because He has overcome (John 16:33), so will you be. In Jesus' name. Amen!

For the full preaching video, click to watch

For more information about this ministry, visit https://www.triumphinchrist.today/

His thoughts and His ways are higher!

The Lord says,

"This is a time of reflecting and returning. This is a time of introspection and realignment. This is a time of restoration and renewal. Yes, I am in the midst of renewing you, even in the way you understand things and see things. Be still, and know that I am the Lord. Seek Me, and you will find My higher plans and purposes for your life like you've never seen before. For My thoughts are not your thoughts, and My ways are not your ways."

People of God, this is the best time for us to self-reflect and return back to be still and know that He is the Lord. Our minds can be restless in this busy, busy world; but in a time of 'lock down' in many parts of the world like this, this is your best time to be in the mode of receiving, restoring, and renewal.

In a time like this, the Lord is going to reveal to you His thoughts and His ways which are infinitely higher than yours. Take heed. 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."

The word 'thoughts' here is 'machashabah' in Hebrew, and it means 'purpose, plan, imagination'. See this? Not only His purposes and plans are higher than yours, but His imagination for your life is also higher than yours! In other words, His imagination for you is higher than all that you could imagine yourself to be! He knows you from the end, and He knows you from the very beginning!

How about the word 'ways' here? It is 'derek' in Hebrew, from the word 'darak' meaning 'the road ahead, the journey ahead'. You know what? He sees the road ahead of you, and He sees the journey ahead of you! So, if you take time to receive from Him, to heed Him and His ways for you, there's no way that you'll fail or get lost along the way!

Your part now is to nestle before you begin to soar like an eagle again! Yes, even higher than ever before! For some of you, this is also the time to sharpen yourself, sharpen your spiritual skills, and even your natural skills! Don't miss this time and season! There will be a new beginning for many of God's people! There will be many new ventures and new ideas coming your way! When many in the world are badly affected by the coming economic storms and recession, you will be like the eagle that soars higher than all these storms. Amen!

For the full preaching video, click to watch

A heart that is soft before God

The Lord says,

"In times of trouble and trials, do not allow your heart to be hardened. For I am still your God, and I am still the same yesterday, today, and forever. I will know how to work all things together for your good, even in ways you cannot understand yet. Hang on to Me, and look to Me, for I will know how to deliver you from even the deepest of troubles."

Indeed, in this time of troubles and trials, do not allow your heart to be hardened. Keep looking to the Lord, and keep hanging on to Him! Though chaos, recession, virus, and disease may happen, the Lord wants to encourage you, people of God, that in a time like this, as the world gets darker and darker, the glory of the Lord will also shine brighter and brighter through you! (Isaiah 60:1-3)

So, no matter what happens around you, this is your time to receive a fresh anointing, and you will 'arise and shine'! Hallelujah! In fact, many of you are going to experience the greater glory of the Lord like never before!

But what is the key here?

Do not allow your heart to be hardened! In other words, no matter what happens in this world, and no matter what question you may have at the moment, for example, "Why does this happen to me?", or "Why does the Lord allow this to happen?", never allow your heart to be hardened! There is a reason why the Lord allows certain things to happen. In the end, the 'jigsaw puzzle' is going to be solved. Take heart, because the Lord will work all things together for your good.

From the Scripture, you can see there is a huge contrast between Pharaoh and King David. Pharaoh's heart was hardened further when the Lord dealt with him, whereas David's heart was softened when the Lord dealt with him!

For Pharaoh, the Lord used Moses and Aaron to tell him to 'let the people of Israel go'. But Pharaoh refused. Instead, his heart was hardened even more! (see Exodus 7:3, Exodus 7:14, Exodus 9:35) So, what does the word 'harden' mean here? In Hebrew, it is 'qashah', meaning 'to be tough, to be sore, to be stiff, to be fierce, to react negatively, to be defensive'. And the more the Lord told him to 'let the people of Israel go', the more his heart was hardened. It's clear here that Pharaoh refused to acknowledge the words of the Lord, and not until the tenth plague (when his firstborn died) that he gave in. You know what? Pharaoh stood to lose so much more in the end. Not only he lost his firstborn, he lost his entire mighty army (and chariots) who got drowned in the Red Sea!

In contrast, let's look at David now. Here, the Lord used a prophet named Nathan to deal with him, or rather, rebuke him for his sins. Prior to that, David had committed adultery with Bathsheba, and he even cunningly had Bathsheba's husband (Uriah) killed! That's when the Lord spoke to prophet Nathan to rebuke David (2 Samuel 12:1-12). Yes, a sin is a sin, and it's wrong of David to do such thing! But when Nathan came to rebuke him, David didn't 'qashah', or react negatively! I mean, he could have done so! After all, he's king! Instead of hardening his heart, David said, "I have sinned against the Lord..." (2 Samuel 12:13). Though he did suffer the consequence (the firstborn that he had with Bathsheba died), the next son born to him and Bathsheba was none other than Solomon! And Solomon means 'peace'! Another name for Solomon is 'Jedidiah', meaning 'beloved of God' or 'friend of God'! What a beautiful name!

See the contrast above? People of God, choose to be like David, a man after God's heart! David was a man whose heart is soft before the Lord! Yes, he may be imperfect in many ways (the same it is with anyone of us), but the 'shining light' is he was willing to allow the Lord to deal with him! This is what touches the Lord's heart the most! David didn't look back ever since, and he went on to become arguably the greatest king ever in Israel!

And herein lies the key to moving forward with greater anointing! Are you going to be like Pharaoh when the Lord deals with you? Or are you going to be like David when the Lord deals with you? People of God, choose to be like a David, not a Pharaoh! And you'll be sure to see greater days and greater glory of the Lord ahead of you. Amen!

For preaching video, click to watch

You and I are 'church'! Being 'church' wherever we are!

It is time to rethink what 'church' really is. What are the essentials? And what are the non-essentials?

And of course, what exactly is 'church'?

What does the Bible say about 'church'?

Have we in the modern days gone astray from what God has originally intended His church to be?

Is church about "going to a church building" like people going to watch theater, concert, or 'live' performance during weekends?

Is church about "going to a church building" to be entertained and being served, and then we pay money for it?

And say, if the 'live' performance isn't good enough, then 'churchgoers' would go and look for another 'live' performance elsewhere in another place (church building)? 

Let's go to the New Testament now.

For the record, the word 'church' (or 'churches') was mentioned about 115 times in the King James Version, and interestingly, all these 115 times point towards 'church' being a 'people', rather than a building, an area, a land, an exclusive clubhouse, or a man-made organization!

In Greek, the word 'church' is 'ekklesia'. The word 'ek' means 'of/from'. The word 'klesia' comes from the word 'kaleo', which means 'a call'. So, 'ekklesia' simply means 'a gathering of the called ones (i.e. God's people)'. 1 Peter 2:9-10 says as believers, we are 'a people', called out from the darkness into God's marvelous light!

In short, as believers, and as a 'people of God', you and I are 'church'!

I've also checked and read all 115 mentions of the words 'church' or 'churches' in the Bible, and I found out nowhere in these 115 times did anyone (whether Paul, Luke, John, and of course, Peter) spoke of 'church' as a building, an area, a land, an exclusive clubhouse, or a man-made organization! Everyone in the early church referred to 'church' as 'a people'!

These are some examples:

The book of Acts written by Luke (a physician who's very specific in his usage of words in all his writings):

(a) Acts 8:1 - great persecution arose against the church (i.e. people), and they (people) were scattered.

(b) Acts 11:26 - Barnabas and Paul assembled with the church (i.e. people), not in the church (building).

(c) Acts 16:5 - church (i.e. people) being strengthened in faith. A 'building' cannot be strengthened in faith!

(d) Acts 20:28 - church (i.e. people) purchased with Jesus' blood. A 'building' cannot be purchased this way!

So, what exactly is a 'church'?

'Church' is 'a people'!

Wherever we are, we are the 'church'! And because we are the 'church', wherever we are, we are also the 'church activities'!

In other words, being church wherever we are, and let the Lord shine through us wherever we are!

So, the conclusion is church isn't a building! Neither is church about a 'man-made event', or a 'man-made program'!

Think about it.

In these perilous and dangerous end-time, persecution can come in many ways, be it through terrorism by religious extremists, burning of church buildings, tearing down of church buildings, or even a pandemic!

But you see, the 'enemy' may be able to burn (or destroy) a 'building', or stop God's people from mass gathering, but they can never destroy the 'church'.

Why?

Because the 'church' is a 'people of God' gathered in His name! Anywhere, and everywhere! Not necessarily in a so-called "church building"!

You can see this when Saul persecuted the 'church' (Acts 8:1), they (the 'church') were scattered everywhere, and you know what? The 'church' grew all the more (Acts 8:4), wherever the people were scattered!

For the record, during the first three hundred over years of the early church, no one could own church buildings! So, how did the church meet? Church met in the house those days, and the equipping of the saints by the early apostles was done in rented halls/classrooms (Acts 19:9-10).

So let us rethink church today. Has the church in the modern days gone astray from God's original purposes for her?

Indeed, we have entered a time of shaking, and whatever can be shaken, will be shaken; both in the body of Christ, and in the world at large (Hebrews 12:25-29). Whatever that is 'man-made' will indeed be shaken, be it in the body of Christ or in the world at large.

Is the church ready for these last days? Is the church prepared for these last days? Or are we still very much like the church in Laodicea as written in Revelation 3:14-22?

I believe it isn't too late yet. This is a time for reflection and introspection. This is a time to let Him purify and sanctify us. This is a time to prepare and get ready for the One who is to come. This is a time to let go of the worldly ways (or worldly systems) that have infiltrated the church of the Lord Jesus Christ, and return to the original plan that He has meant for His church to be.

In Jesus' name. Amen.

For more info about this ministry, visit https://www.triumphinchrist.today/