Be at rest and do not worry!

The Lord says to His people at the moment:

"Be at rest and do not worry, no matter what challenges or issues you may be facing at the moment. I am a God who is never late to come to your help, if you look to Me. I am a God who knows how to make all things work for good to those who love Me and who are called according to My purpose."

One evidence of being at rest in Him is you cease worrying. 

In Matthew 6:25-27, Jesus says, "Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature?"

In Matthew 6:28-33, Jesus says further, "So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? Therefore do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you."

What are the worries in your life at the moment? Let go all these worries to the Lord. There's nothing too hard for Him. With man, your situation may seem impossible to solve, but to Him, nothing is impossible. After all, He is the Creator of all the earth, the moon, the stars, the sun, and the whole galaxy, and He is still in control. He is a God who is never late to come to your help, and even if you have made a mistake in life, He will cause all things to work together for good to those who love Him (Romans 8:28).

Hebrews 4:9-11 (NKJV) says, 'There remains therefore a rest for the people of God. For he who has entered His rest has himself also ceased from his works as God did from His. Let us therefore be diligent to enter that rest...'

There are two words in Greek for 'rest' here. In 'There remains therefore a rest for the people of God', the word 'rest' here is 'sabbatismos' (from the word 'Sabbath') meaning 'rest, a type of heaven'. Indeed, to have this 'rest' ('sabbatismos') is to be in Him who is heavenly. In the heavenly realm, there is no violence, trouble, or 'unpeace'. 

And because He is the Lord of Sabbath (Matthew 12:8), if you are in Him, you are in His rest too. Remember the Bible passage about Jesus in the boat when there was a storm and the waves were beating the boat? When He awoke from His sleep, He said to the wind and the waves, "Peace, be still!", and even the wind and the waves obeyed Him (Mark 4:35-41).

The other word for 'rest' here is 'katapausis' in Greek, meaning 'rest, cease, settle down'. This is where the English word 'pause' comes from. To 'katapausis' is to cease, and this includes to cease from worrying. To 'katapausis' is also to 'settle down' (or 'be at rest'), because there's no problem, challenges, or issues in life that cannot be solved or 'settled', when you are in Him.

Even when you need to make an important decision in a new time and season, do not worry. Keep walking with Him and trusting in Him. When the time comes to make such decision, He will show you the way or what decision to make. Sometimes He would give the answer only at the very last minute or at the eleventh hour. Why? He is training you to put your trust in Him and look to Him all the way. Wait on the Lord till the answer comes. The answer will surely come. I know waiting is never easy, but waiting is just as important as doing. The Bible says, '...through faith and patience, you will inherit His promises' (Hebrews 6:12). You see, not only faith, but also patience.

The devil will always try to shake you out of your rest in the Lord. Sometimes the devil would even use people to cause you to be shaken out of your rest in the Lord. One easy way to lose your rest is when you start worrying. The devil would always try to put you in the place of worry, because when you worry, you lose your peace, your joy, and your rest. 

In John 10:10, Jesus says, "The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly." You see, the devil (depicted as 'thief' here) would do whatever in order to steal, kill and destroy you, and that includes your peace, your joy, and your rest. 

But when you know you are in the Lord (in His 'sabbatismos' and in His 'katapausis'), the devil cannot touch you. And whatever 'storms' or 'waves' that come against you in life will never be able to 'drown' you. Amen!

Click here for the full teaching in TiC's YouTube Channel

How to know your time and season in life?

8 keys to understand and know your time and season in life:

1. Through your inner witness

Romans 2:15 (NKJV) says, '...who show the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and between themselves their thoughts accusing or else excusing them.'

Romans 8:16 (NKJV) says, 'The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God...'

2. Through prayer and fasting

Isaiah 58:6 (NKJV) says, 'Is this not the fast that I have chosen: To loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, to let the oppressed go free, and that you break every yoke?'

Acts 13:1-3 (NKJV) says, 'Now in the church that was at Antioch there were certain prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. As they ministered to the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, "Now separate to Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them." Then, having fasted and prayed, and laid hands on them, they sent them away.'

3. Through circumstances around you

Romans 8:28 (NKJV) says, 'And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.'

Ecclesiastes 8:6 (ISV) says, 'Indeed, there is an appropriate time and a response for every circumstance...'

4. Through prophetic words that you receive

1 Thessalonians 5:20-21 (NKJV) says, 'Do not despise prophecies. Test all things; hold fast what is good.'

2 Peter 1:19 (NKJV) says, 'And so we have the prophetic word confirmed, which you do well to heed as a light that shines in a dark place...'

2 Peter 1:21 (NKJV) says, '... for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.'

5. Through dreams and visions that you receive

Acts 2:17 (GNT) says, 'This is what I will do in the last days, God says: I will pour out my Spirit on everyone. Your sons and daughters will proclaim my message; your young men will see visions, and your old men will have dreams.'

Job 33:15-16 (NKJV) says, 'In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falls upon men, while slumbering on their beds, then He opens the ears of men, and seals their instruction.'

6. Through watching your open doors

Revelation 3:8 (NKJV) says, 'I know your works. See, I have set before you an open door, and no one can shut it...'

Proverbs 3:5-6 (NKJV) says, 'Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.'

7. Through reading the Word of God

Psalm 119:105 (Expanded) says, 'Your word is like a lamp for my feet and a light for my path [it shows how life should be lived].'

Psalm 119:130 (NKJV) says, 'The entrance of Your words gives light; It gives understanding to the simple.'

8. Through thoughts dropped on you while praying in the spirit

1 Corinthians 2:9 (Expanded) says, 'But as it is written in the Scriptures: "No one [eye] has ever seen this, and no one [ear] has ever heard about it. No one [human heart] has ever imagined what God has prepared for those who love him."'

Habakkuk 2:2 (GNT) says, 'The Lord gave me this answer: "Write down clearly on tablets what I reveal to you, so that it can be read at a glance."'

Click here for details of this teaching in TiC YouTube Channel

Why is it so important to guard your thought life?

Words from the Lord at this time:

"There is a battle happening in the minds of many of My people! Choose to believe in the truth of My Word, and cast down every argument that is contrary to My Word! For My Word brings life, and My Word brings shalom peace! Set your mind on what My Word says about you, not what man says or what the devil says!"

The enemy the devil has been trying to hijack, oppress, or even torment many of God's people's minds. Therefore, this is a very important time to be on guard and to be vigilant. Choose to set your mind on God's Word, because God's Word is like the sword that slays every word (or thought) that is sent by the power of darkness.

2 Corinthians 10:4-5 (NKJV) says, 'For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ...'

By the way, the word 'thought' here is 'noema' in Greek, and it also means 'mind'. So, in the context of what we are learning today, the words 'thought' and 'mind' are interchangeably used.

Let's look at The Expanded Bible version for 2 Corinthians 10:4-5. This version puts it this way: 'We fight with weapons that are different from those the world uses [not merely human weapons; not of the flesh]. Our weapons have power from God that can destroy the enemy’s strong places [strongholds; fortresses]. We destroy people’s arguments [human reasoning; sophistries] and every proud thing [pretension; exalted opinion; high thing] that raises itself against the knowledge of God. We capture every thought and make it obey Christ.'  

As a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ, what is one of the most powerful 'weapons' that God has given you? The answer is the Word of God! 

Joshua 1:8 (NKJV) says, 'This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.'

The word 'meditate' here is 'hagah' in Hebrew, and it can mean 'to ponder, to study, to talk, to speak, to utter, to mutter (i.e. speak under your breath)'. As you can see here, this word 'hagah' has a broad meaning. So, in the context of meditating on God's Word here, it isn't just about pondering God's Word, reading God's Word silently, or studying God's Word, but it's more than that. Because the word 'hagah' can also mean 'to speak, to utter, or to mutter'.

There is something powerful about speaking out God's Word for yourself to hear. When you speak out God's Word, you are in effect using your eyes to read, your mouth to speak, and your ears to hear. The Bible says, 'Faith comes by hearing, and hearing comes by the Word of God' (Romans 10:17).

Let me show you how.

For example, Jeremiah 29:11 (NKJV) says, 'For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope'.

So, how do you personalize this verse for yourself? You can speak it out to yourself this way:

"God's thoughts toward me are thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give me a future and a hope."

Now, look at this word 'peace' here. It is 'shalom' in Hebrew, which can also mean 'wholeness, wellness, health, wealth, safety, prosperity, favor'. In other words, God sees you whole, well, healthy, wealthy, safe, prospering, favored! When the enemy tries to speak to you otherwise or makes you think otherwise, you can speak Jeremiah 29:11 over yourself again and again: "God's thoughts toward me are thoughts of peace (wholeness, wellness, health, wealth, safety, prosperity, favor) and not of evil, to give me a future and a hope."

John 8:31-32 (ESV) says, 'Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, "If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free."

You see, God's Word doesn't just bring life! God's Word is also truth! And this truth shall set you free! Free from what? Free from whatever lie, deception, oppression, or even torment by the enemy the devil! Now, what does 'abide in My word' mean here? It means to stay in God's Word, to dwell in God's Word, or to keep your mind set on God's Word!

So, go ahead and meditate on God's Word today! What are the Bible verses that God has spoken to you recently? Meditate on those verses! Speak these verses to yourself over and over again! And believe for it! Believing, you shall receive! Never underestimate the power of God's Word! 

As a matter of fact, it is much better to meditate on God's Word than to waste your time 'meditating' on all those bad news that you hear in the world at the moment!

Click here for the full teaching on how to meditate on God's Word