Stay faithful till the very end!

The Lord says, "My people, stay faithful till the very end. Stay faithful no matter what you see around you in this world. For many in the world, their hearts will grow cold and their hearts will turn away from Me. But as for you and your house, stay faithful and look to Me in times like these. I will know how to save you and I will know how to deliver you. Your future is in My hands and I will know how to secure your future." 

Indeed, the Lord knows how to secure your future, and only in Him (and Him alone) do you find true security in turbulent times like these.

Therefore, let's not give up looking to Him and trusting in Him, even when you see many around you are giving up hope for the future. Stay focused on Him no matter what! Keep your eyes set on the Word of God and pray in the spirit often. WORD and SPIRIT. These are your spiritual food and spiritual drink to sustain you, whatever happens in the future! Till Jesus returns! 

Matthew 24:3 (NKJV) says, 'Now as He (Jesus) sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, "Tell us, when will these things be? And what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?"'

Question 1: "Tell us, when will these things be?" (i.e. the destruction of the temple in Jerusalem)

This has already come to pass in AD 70, when the Roman soldiers destroyed the temple in Jerusalem - just as Jesus said would happen.                  

Question 2: "And what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?" (i.e. the second coming of Jesus)

This, of course, has not fully come to pass (as of now), as we await for His coming again. But the sign of His coming has been spoken of by Jesus, as written in Matthew 24:4 onwards. You see, the literal fulfillment of Jesus' prophecy about the destruction of the temple in Jerusalem in turn sets the tone for the rest of Jesus' prophecies in Matthew 24 to be fulfilled, before His coming again.

Let's continue with Matthew 24:4 onwards, and see what Jesus said, as He answered the disciples' Question 2.

Matthew 24:4-5 (Expanded Bible) says, 'Jesus answered, "Be careful [Watch out] that no one fools [misleads; deceives] you. Many will come in My name, saying, 'I am the Christ [Messiah],' and they will fool [mislead; deceive] many people."'

Jesus warned that many would be deceived as they anticipated His return. There have been many times in the history of the church when rash predictions were made regarding when the world will end (and when this or that will happen), but many of these predictions never came to pass - causing great disappointment, disillusionment, and falling way. Jesus warned us to be careful. No matter how human predictions failed, never allow yourself to be affected. Look To Him, and Him only.

In Matthew 24:6-7 (Expanded Bible), Jesus said, "You will hear about wars and stories of wars that are coming [rumors/reports of wars], but don’t be afraid [alarmed]. These things must happen before the end comes. Nations will fight [rise up] against other nations, and kingdoms against other kingdoms. There will be times when there is no food for people to eat [famines], and there will be earthquakes in different [various] places."

In the midst of any great war, great famine or great earthquake, it is natural to believe that the world is coming to an end. But Jesus said there are far more specific signs that would indicate His return, and He would describe these further in the coming verses.

In Matthew 24:9-11 (Expanded Bible), Jesus said further, "Then people will arrest you, hand you over to be hurt [persecuted; tortured], and kill you. They [The world; all nations] will hate you because you believe in Me [you follow Me; My name]. At that time, many will lose their faith [turn/fall away], and they will turn against [betray] each other and hate each other. Many false prophets will come [appear; arise] and cause many people to believe lies [deceive many]."

Jesus has said that before His coming again, there will be persecutions against God's people, and many will fall away. And not just that, many will also fall into the deceptions of false prophets. 

People of God, prepare yourselves therefore. Stay strong in WORD and SPIRIT, as mentioned earlier. Let no one deceive you, and let no one pull you down into the 'mud'. That is why it is so important to meditate on the Word of God and to be filled with the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit in you will lead you, teach you, guide you, and even make a way for you in times like these. So, fear not!

In Matthew 24:12-14 (Expanded Bible), Jesus continued, "There will be more and more evil [sin; lawlessness] in the world, so most people will stop showing their love for each other [the love of many/most will grow cold]. But those people who keep their faith [endure; stand firm; persevere] until the end will be saved. The Good News [This Gospel] about God’s kingdom will be preached in all the world, [as a testimony] to every nation. Then the end will come."

In spite of more and more evil in the world, and the hearts of many growing cold, Jesus promised that before the end comes, the gospel of His kingdom will be preached in all the world - to every nation. Let us also do our part to spread His love and spread the gospel of His kingdom in times like these. In times of darkness, we are the light. In times of hopelessness, we bring hope. Persecutions (of all kinds), false prophets, or even deterioration of the society would not be able to stop the spread of the Gospel of His kingdom.

Prayer for today: "O Lord God, teach me and show me Your way in a turbulent time like this. Help me and guide me as I stay faithful to You till the very end. I look to You and put my trust in You, because You are my only hope in a time like this. You are my Savior and my Deliverer, and no one else is. I hide under the shadow of Your wings and I take refuge in You. I surrender my life and my future into Your hands, knowing that only You can give me true security in my life and in my future. In Jesus' name. Amen."

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Be set free from your past, and embrace your future!

The Lord impressed upon me to tell His people in this time and season: "Don't look back. Don't linger or live in the past. Be set free from your past, and learn to embrace your future!"

You know, things that could have been, or things that should have been. Good memories, or not-so-good memories. Achievements, or failures. This is the time to let go and be set free!

Don't get me wrong. There's nothing wrong in learning from past mistakes (or failures). There's nothing wrong in cherishing good memories from the past, or even keeping old photo albums! But what the Lord wants His people to know in this time and season is don't linger in the past!

By the way, the definition of this word 'linger' is 'to stay in something longer than necessary because of reluctance to leave', or 'to take longer than necessary to leave and move on'.

My observation is that some countries that still 'bask' in past glory and not look ahead, these countries tend to be left behind. But countries that tend to advance fast are those that put their past behind them, and keep learning and innovating. The same it is with a community of people, or individuals!

I’ve seen some greatly talented people kill their careers or future by lingering in the past - and they didn’t even know they were doing it! Are you (unconsciously) clinging to some past glory or failure? The good news today is the Lord is helping you to let go! 

Let us not be like Lot's wife who was hesitant to let go, and she kept looking back. In that moment of hesitation, destruction caught up with her and she became a pillar of salt (Genesis 19:26). By lingering and looking back, Lot’s wife was doused with salt, just as those people in Sodom and Gomorrah suffered brimstone and fire. In other words, when you look back, you are pulled back!

Don't get me wrong. I’m not talking about denying your past. But I’m talking about not letting the past hold you down, hold you back, or even hold you hostage!

In Philippians 3:12-14 (NKJV), 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'.

You see, the antidote for 'lingering in the past' is to stay focused on what's ahead! 

Don't be afraid to face the future, but instead, embrace your future! Yes, even if at the moment, you have no inkling what lies ahead in your future! But the good news is the Lord knows, and He has amazing things for you in the future! 

This is the time to declare that your future is going to be greater, in spite of whatever that happens in the world around you at the moment. In Jesus' name. Amen!

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Why does God allow delay?

The Lord impressed upon my heart to share about dealing with delay, and why does God sometimes allow delay. 

As a matter of fact, nobody likes delay. We all wish that when we want something, we want it now! Just like when we wait for the bus, the train, or the plane! How many of you have experienced waiting for hours and hours for the plane to arrive?

Many things are being delayed in a time of pandemic this year. It's a rather disruptive year for many. For some, it is a delay in the area of your career path. For some others, in the area of your personal plans, or personal dreams (or visions). 

But you know what? Delay sometimes isn't a bad thing at all! 

So today, we are going to explore this topic: Why does God allow delay?

1. He is protecting you from certain harm or danger 

He knows your future better than anyone else on earth. He knows what is ahead more than you'll ever know. And because He loves you, He wants to ensure that you'll avoid a certain 'pitfall' in your life. He knows certain things that come too soon will 'crush' you (e.g. an honor or title that comes too soon). You may not be ready now, but God is working to ensure that you are ready when the right time comes!

Psalm 57:1 (Expanded Bible) says, 'Be merciful [gracious] to me, God; be merciful [gracious] to me because I come to You for protection [seek refuge]. Let me hide [be protected; seek refuge] under the shadow of Your wings until the trouble [destruction] has passed'.

Psalm 25:20 (Expanded Bible) says, 'Protect me and save [rescue; deliver] me. I trust [find refuge in] You, so do not let me be disgraced [shamed]'.

2. He is delaying His answer because of His timing 

His timing is always perfect. He is in full control of all things, at all times, and in all places. Delay can happen because it isn't His timing for you yet. He has a time and season for everything. Rest assured it doesn't mean He isn't answering you, or He is denying you or forsaking you, but He knows what's best for you and when's best for you!

Isaiah 55:8 (NKJV) says, '"For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways," says the Lord'.

Ecclesiastes 3:1 (Expanded Bible) says, 'There is a time [season] for everything, and everything [every activity] on earth [under heaven] has its special season [time]'.

3. He is still in the midst of preparing you and growing you

A delay may be God's way to prepare you for bigger or greater things in the future. A delay may be God's way to grow your faith and character. A delay may be God's way to equip you to handle greater things in the future. A delay may be God's training for you to have a greater capacity for a time of expansion in the future. Your faith, character, and even understanding of how God works will grow more and more as you learn to trust Him in a time of delay.

James 1:2-3 (NKJV) says, 'My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience'.

1 Peter 1:13 (NCV) says, 'So prepare your minds for service and have self-control. All your hope should be for the gift of grace that will be yours when Jesus Christ is shown to you'.

2 Timothy 2:20-21 (NKJV) says, 'But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay, some for honor and some for dishonor. Therefore if anyone cleanses himself from the latter, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified and useful for the Master, prepared for every good work'.

4. He is delaying His answer in order to give you a new purpose/direction 

When delay happens, He may be in the midst of re-directing you. His delay may be a way to tell you to seek Him afresh and anew. His delay may be a way to tell you that you need to seek His will. It may be a call for you to undo and re-do certain areas in your life. You may be focused on one direction, but He wants you to focus on another direction. Or you may be 'leaning your ladder' against the wrong wall, when He wants you to 'lean your ladder' against another wall.

Colossians 1:9 (NKJV) says, 'For this reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding...'

Job 37:12 (Amplified Bible) says, 'Its direction is turned around by His guidance, that it may do whatever He commands it on the face of the inhabited earth'.

Prayer in a time of delay or waiting:

"O Lord God, I thank You for Your love for me, and that You want the best for me. Help me in this time of delay or waiting, so that I can move according to Your perfect timing. Help me to be patient, not give up, and trust You even in times like these. Help me not to take matters in my own hands. I choose to trust You, and I choose to be faithful to You. Deepen my understanding of how You work. Give me a greater knowledge of what You are doing in my life. I thank You that You have the perfect wisdom for my life, and You know exactly what's best for me. I therefore yield to You and Your perfect timing for my life. In Jesus’ name. Amen."

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Those who despised you will come running to you!

The Lord says, "This is the time I am anointing you to shine for Me! Arise and shine, for your light has come! And My glory is falling upon you! Receive My light and My glory by faith! Those who despised you in the past will come running to you! Those who shunned you in the past will begin to remember you and honor you! This is not the time to give up hope, no matter what the devil throw at you! This is the time to arise and shine, for your light has come!"

Isaiah 60:1-2 (NKJV) 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'.

Many of you would have learned from life experience that just before the light comes, it always seem like that's the most hopeless and darkest time. That's when the devil would also try to take advantage to discourage you and 'kill you off'! The devil always aim to steal, kill and destroy God's people!

Even in the Scripture, just before the beautiful promises of the Lord in Isaiah 60, you'd find Isaiah 59! Let's go to Isaiah 59:9-10 now. This part of the Scripture says, 'Therefore justice is far from us, nor does righteousness overtake us; We look for light, but there is darkness! For brightness, but we walk in blackness! We grope for the wall like the blind, and we grope as if we had no eyes; We stumble at noonday as at twilight; We are as dead men in desolate places'.

You see, just before the Lord declared "Arise, shine; For your light has come!" in Isaiah 60, there's a part in a chapter just before that says, "We look for light, but there is darkness! For brightness, but we walk in blackness!"

For the record, Jesus went through a time of darkness too, before His glorious rising! 

Mark 15:27-32 (NKJV) says, 'With Him they also crucified two robbers, one on His right and the other on His left. So the Scripture was fulfilled which says, "And He was numbered with the transgressors." And those who passed by blasphemed Him, wagging their heads and saying, "Aha! You who destroy the temple and build it in three days, save Yourself, and come down from the cross!" Likewise the chief priests also, mocking among themselves with the scribes, said, "He saved others; Himself He cannot save. Let the Christ, the King of Israel, descend now from the cross, that we may see and believe." Even those who were crucified with Him reviled Him'.

Luke 22:63-65 (NKJV) says, 'Now the men who held Jesus mocked Him and beat Him. And having blindfolded Him, they struck Him on the face and asked Him, saying, "Prophesy! Who is the one who struck You?" And many other things they blasphemously spoke against Him'.

People of God, know that your Jesus has gone through a time of darkness too, and He understands fully what you've been going through in times like these. 

No matter how 'dark' things have been, keep looking to Him, and He will know how to make a way for you. Remember, He knows your future (more than anyone else on earth), and He knows the end from the beginning!

And if you've been despised by others, snubbed by others, ignored by others, shunned by others, or bypassed by others in the past, be rest assured the Lord understands and sees all these as well. Why? He has gone through all these before!

But I have a good news for you. The time is coming when the Lord is going to cause many who used to despise, snub, ignore, shun or bypass you to begin to run to you! They'll begin to honor you, remember you, and appreciate you!

Let's go back to Isaiah 60 now. I know this chapter is specifically for Israel. But as people of God, you too can receive all these promises by faith, in the name of Jesus!

Isaiah 60:4-5 (NKJV) says, 'Lift up your eyes all around, and see: They all gather together, they come to you; Your sons shall come from afar, and your daughters shall be nursed at your side. 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'.

Isaiah 60:14-15 (NKJV) says, 'Also the sons of those who afflicted you shall come bowing to you, and all those who despised you shall fall prostrate at the soles of your feet; And they shall call you The City of the Lord, Zion of the Holy One of Israel. Whereas you have been forsaken and hated, so that no one went through you, I will make you an eternal excellence, a joy of many generations'.

Therefore, people of God, at this juncture of your life, it is so important to hang on to God! Hang on to your hope in God! Trust that He knows what He is doing and He knows exactly what to do in your life, going forward. Trust Him! Let Him lead. Don't fight with Him. Yield to Him. And you too will begin to see all the promises in Isaiah 60 coming to pass in your life! Hallelujah!

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