Words from the Lord: "There is more!"

The Lord says:

"If you think you are 'over the hill', there is more! If you think you are finished, there is more! If you think you are done, there is more! If you think it's over, there is more! There is more that I want to show you going forward! There is more that I want to do in your life going forward! So, take heart and be encouraged!" 

What is the definition of 'over the hill'? It means 'past a person's prime', like a climber of mountain who has reached the mountaintop, and is now descending. This term is used for people who think they are going downhill in their lives. 

I'm going to cite two examples: Elijah and Moses. Both of them went through this. Both of them thought they were going downhill in their lives. But God! The Lord instead told them: "It's not over yet. There is more coming in your life!" 

Let's go all the way to Elijah now. In 1 Kings 19, after the great exploits, signs and wonders done by the Lord through Elijah, King Ahab told his wife Jezebel all that Elijah had done, and how Elijah had executed all the prophets of Baal. Jezebel then sent a messenger to Elijah, saying, "So let the gods do to me, and more also, if I do not make your life as the life of one of them (the prophets of Baal) by tomorrow about this time." Jezebel gave this threat against Elijah and wanted to kill Elijah. That's when Elijah arose and ran for his life. 

Elijah then prayed that he might die, and said, "It is enough! Now, Lord, take my life, for I am no better than my fathers!" 

You see, Elijah wanted to give up. He thought that's all the Lord had for him. He thought he's finished. He thought he's done. He thought it's over. But God! That's when the Lord showed up to Elijah through an angel. This angel touched him and said to him, "Arise and eat." Then he looked, and there by his head was a cake baked on coals, and a jar of water. So he ate and drank. But he laid down again.

The angel then came back another time, touched him again, and said to him, "Arise and eat, because the journey is too great for you." So he ate and drank again, and this time, he went in the strength of that food forty days and forty nights as far as Horeb, the mountain of God. There, he went into a cave, and spent the night in that place. The Lord then said to Elijah, and He meant, "Why are you lying down there? I have more things in store for you. There is more!" 

You know what? The rest is history. Elijah was reinvigorated, and he never looked back ever since. The Lord gave him further instructions from then on, and he continued to walk in the calling the Lord had for him, and he moved on to do many more great exploits!

Beloved of God, if you are in the same situation like Elijah those days, and you want to give up, or you think you are finished, the Lord your God has these words for you: "There is more! There is more coming in your life! There is more good things coming in your life!" 

Let's move on to Moses now. In Exodus 3, after he had run away from the land of Egypt into the wilderness, from being a 'somebody' in Egypt to being a 'nobody' in the desert, and while he was tending the flock of his father-in-law (Jethro), the Angel of the Lord appeared to him in a flame of fire from the midst of a bush. When Moses turned aside to look, the Lord then called to him, "Moses, Moses!" The Lord also said, "Come now, therefore, and I will send you to Pharaoh, that you may bring My people, the children of Israel, out of Egypt." 

But Moses said to the Lord, "Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh, and that I should bring the children of Israel out of Egypt?" 

Fast forward to Exodus 4, Moses also said, "But suppose they (the Israelites) will not believe me or listen to my voice. Suppose they say, 'The Lord has not appeared to you.'" 

The Lord said to him, "What is that in your hand?" In other words, the Lord was asking him, "What is it that you are holding now?" Moses answered, "Oh, just an old shepherd's rod."

The Lord then said, "Cast it on the ground." So Moses cast it on the ground, and it became a serpent, and Moses fled from it. The Lord said further, "Reach out your hand and take it by the tail" (and he reached out his hand and caught it, and it became a rod in his hand), "that they may believe that the Lord God of their fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has appeared to you." 

You see, over here, Moses wasn't convinced if his own people, the Israelites, would even listen to him! But the Lord was there to assure him. 

And again, the rest is history. Moses didn't look back ever since. Moses went on to be greatly used by the Lord to set the Israelites free!

You see, both Elijah and Moses had gone through a time when they thought they're finished. They thought it's over. They thought the Lord's done with them. They thought the Lord had bypassed them. 

But God! The Lord had another idea. The Lord had a new purpose for them. The Lord even had greater things in store for them. They didn't look back ever since!

One similarity between the two of them (Elijah and Moses) is that they were on the verge of giving up their calling in their lives, but only for the Lord to say, "There is more!" 

Beloved of God, whatever situation you may be facing now, I believe this is what the Lord is saying to you as well: "There is more! There is more that I want to show you! There is more that I want to do in your life! Hang on there! Hang on strong! Look to Me, and I will show you many more things that you know not of yet!"

Receive these words by faith in your life.

Hallelujah!

Click here for the full message in TiC YouTube Channel

Vision from the Lord: I saw 4 shields at 4 corners!

While praying, I saw a vision of four shields at four corners protecting God's people from any form of curse words or attacks of the enemy. Each of these shields has words on it. One shield has the words YHWH Rapha. One shield has YHWH Yireh. One shield has YHWH Tsidkenu. One shield has YHWH Shalom. These four shields surrounded God's people, protecting them from all kinds of fiery darts and arrows shot from the enemy's domain. 

Indeed, this is a deep assurance for God's people who look to Him, especially in a time of chaos and turmoil like this. 

YHWH Rapha (The Lord your Healer): In spite of all the diseases or pestilences that you see in this world, even new strains of diseases, you need not fear, because you have this assurance of His divine health and healing. 

YHWH Yireh (The Lord your Provider): In spite of all the economic shakings and uncertainties that you see in this world, you need not fear, because you have this assurance of His provision in your life. He will still know how to provide for you, if you look to Him and walk in His ways and instructions for your life. 

YHWH Tsidkenu (The Lord your Righteousness): Whatever curse or ill words spoken against you, whatever attack, whatever witchcraft, and whatever work of darkness that comes against you, the Lord your Righteousness is your shield. His righteousness reigns. Your part is to stay innocent like a lamb, and your Good Shepherd, the Lord Jesus Christ, will know how to shield you and protect you. 

YHWH Shalom (The Lord your Peace): Last but not least, He is your peace. In spite of all the chaos or turmoil, on the macro level (on the world level), or on the micro level (in and around your life), the Lord is assuring you that He is your shalom peace.

The Lord then says: "Be still and know that I am God. I am your shield and your refuge. Whatever chaotic situation or toxic environment that's surrounding you at the moment, receive My shalom peace. Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you. Nothing can take away this peace that I have given you. Therefore, let not your heart be troubled, and let not your heart be afraid." 

Beloved of God, if you are in the midst of a toxic environment around you, or you've been on the receiving end of some verbal abuse or curse words against you (and you don't even know what wrong you've done, and it's so unfair to you), this message is for you. This message will assure you. This message will comfort you. This message will set you free.

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." 

Psalm 46:10-11 says, 'Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth! The Lord of hosts is with us, the God of Jacob is our refuge.'

The word 'still' here is 'raphah' in Hebrew. It can mean 'to cease (from anxiety or worry), to find rest (in the midst of chaos or turmoil), to let go and let God'. In other words, let God be God. Your part is to be at rest and be blessed. 

Why you can be at rest and let God take over? Here's the reason. Because Psalm 46:1-3 says, 'God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, even though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea, though its waters roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with its swelling.' 

This may be literally, but this can also be symbolically in any area of your life. He is present right now in your life. He is not absent. He is for you. He is covering you. He is shielding you in the midst of all the chaos around you. So, whatever you may be facing right now, be it in the ministry, be it in your career, be it in the business, be it in your neighborhood, or be it in your community, the Lord is saying He is your refuge and strength, a very present help. 

Let's go all the way to 1 Kings 19:11-12. 'The Lord said (to Elijah), "Go out, and stand on the mountain before the Lord." And behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind tore into the mountains and broke the rocks in pieces before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake; but the Lord was not in the earthquake; and after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire; and after the fire, a still small voice.' 

The word 'still' here is from the Hebrew root word 'damam', meaning 'in calmness, in quietness, in stillness (in spite of the noises all around you)'. The same it is for you right now. There is a still small voice inside you, speaking to you and assuring you. The Lord is saying He wants you to be at rest and receive His shalom peace, in spite of the chaos, stress, and tensions of this world. Because Jesus, the Prince of Peace, the Lord who is your shalom peace, lives in you.

When the windstorm came, Jesus said, "Peace, be still!" Mark 4:37-40 says, 'And a great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that it was already filling. But He was in the stern, asleep on a pillow. And they awoke Him and said to Him, "Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?" Then He arose and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, "Peace, be still!" And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. But He said to them, "Why are you so fearful? How is it that you have no faith?"' 

In other words, He was saying, "How is it that you do not believe that I am the Prince of Peace, I am in control, I am Sovereign?" 

What are the areas in your life that you are going through a 'windstorm' right now? Surrender that situation to the Lord. Let go and let God. Let God take over. He reigns over that situation. Even if it seems impossible for you to find a solution right now, the Lord is saying He knows how to make a way for you, and He knows how to clear the way for you. 

No one on this earth may be able to fully understand what you are going through. But the Lord is saying right in your still small voice now, "I saw all these. I know exactly what you are going through. Surrender that situation to Me. Surrender that mess to Me. Surrender that problem to Me. Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you, not as the world gives do I give to you. Therefore, let not your heart be anxious, and let not your heart be afraid." 

Back to Elijah's still small voice now. This still small voice inside him eventually produced in him a renewed strength and a renewed vigor. His courage was revived. His depression was gone. His calling was restored. He heeded and answered God's call again. And that's how He was able to rise up again. 

Beloved of God, like Elijah, it is the same for you today. This same still small voice is also speaking to you and assuring you right now. There's nothing in this world that He cannot solve for you. There's no burden in this world that He cannot carry for you. There's no mess in this world that He cannot clear for you. Because His peace, this YHWH Shalom, now lives in you, inside of you. Amen!

Click here for the full message in TiC YouTube Channel

Words from the Lord: The lid is broken!

The Lord says: 

"The lid is broken! The lid is not just lifted. But the lid is broken! The lid that has limited your life is now broken in My anointing. The lid that has hindered your life is now broken in My anointing. Curse is broken. Bondage is broken. You are now set free. Free to be who I want you to be this year!" 

Something is broken in the spirit! While I was ministering the other day, I saw a dark figure, somewhat like a monster, a demon with very sharp claws trying to hold the people back. But as I guided the people to forgive, to let go of the past, and to not hold grudges, I saw those clutches of this demon weakening. Eventually, this demon had to let go. 

Yes, this claw of the enemy has no more hold on you! Because there's an anointing being released to you right now! This claw of the enemy is actually powerless when you start to forgive and let go. So, the key to receiving this anointing today is to forgive, let go, and not hold grudges. 

The Lord says further: 

"If you would believe, I am turning a new page in your life. There is a fresh start for you. There's no limit what I can do for you and in your life this year."

Yes, receive this for the year 2024. Receive this for your family. Receive this for your loved ones. Receive this for your vocation. Receive this for your business. Receive this for your ministry. Receive this for your church. 

Indeed, the Lord is turning a new page in your life! Maybe the past many pages in your life have been full of scratches and ugly sketches. Maybe the past few years in your life have been filled with much disappointment, hurt, or bitterness. For some of you, maybe it's a bad incidence that has happened, or even a tragedy. But today the Lord wants you to forgive and let go of all those. Forgive those who cause harm to you. Forgive yourself too. If you have made a bad mistake in life, don't condemn yourself anymore. Learn from it. But don't condemn yourself anymore. There is forgiveness. The Lord is here to forgive you and embrace you again.

Always remember Jeremiah 29:11. This verse 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.' This is what the Lord is saying to you right now. 

Many people don't know the background of this verse. This verse was given through prophet Jeremiah to God's people during their time in Babylonian captivity. And against this backdrop, the Lord spoke these words to His people. 

In other words, in a time that seemed to be hopeless, the Lord gave this assurance in Jeremiah 29:11. The Lord was saying to His people to make full use of their time in Babylon. He was asking them to persevere. He was asking them not to give up hope. Because there will be restoration and deliverance. There will be a setting free! 

Today, the Lord is saying the same to you too. Don't give up your life. Don't lose hope. Don't just lie down in hopelessness as if the Lord has forgotten you. 

During their time in captivity, the Lord said to His people to make full use of their time there while they're in Babylon. Keep multiplying. Keep learning new things. Keep building their lives. Yes, even keep building houses. That's what the Lord said to them! 

As for you, continue to increase in the knowledge of Him, and in the knowledge of His Word and in the Spirit. Increasing. Not diminishing. There's more to come in your life. The Lord is not done with you yet. He still wants to do many great things in your life. He hasn't forgotten you. He remembers you and He loves you. 

So, I want to encourage you that better days are ahead of you, in spite of the doom and gloom that's happening in the world, and in spite of whatever people say or the news say about this world. But as for you, the Lord is saying the best is yet to come for you! This is not a cliche. This is not a lip service. But this is what the Lord is saying to you right now in this time and season. Receive this by faith! And you are going to see it happening in your life. Amen! 

The Lord has promised to set you free from whatever captivity right now. Your part is to believe and receive. Set free from your bondage. Set free from any curse. Set free from every form of witchcraft. Set free from every form of generational curse. Set free from every form of work of darkness that tries to have a claw on you. Set free from your past. Set free from all those failures and hurts.

One thing you must remember is to forgive and let go. Let go of those people who hurt you. Open the door of your prison. Don't keep them in the prison of your heart. Let them go. Release them. Pardon them. Let go of those grudges. Do not hold grudges. And that's how you are set free! You'll be so light and easy. And that's when the anointing is being released upon you. With this anointing, whatever you touch, you shall see the favor of God and you shall prosper. Let it be so for you in this year 2024. Amen!

Click here for the full message in TiC YouTube Channel

How to respond in a time of chaos and upheavals?

The Lord says: 

"In a time of many chaos and upheavals that are coming in this world, keep your focus on Me and My Word. When many are having a sense of hopelessness, set your eyes on My ultimate victory for you. Stay true to Me and My Word. Stay pure and innocent in Me. Do not allow yourself to be conformed to the ways of this world. Do not allow yourself to be swallowed up and contaminated by the ways of this fallen world." 

For many things in this world nowadays, the right has become wrong, and the wrong has become right. The world has indeed gone upside down. Many people are in a state of confusion. They cannot differentiate and discern what is right and what is wrong, what is of God and what is not of God.

The word 'chaos' means 'disorder, disarray, confusion, mayhem'. Many societies in this world are in a disorderly and confused state nowadays. They do not know who to trust anymore. They cannot trust politicians. They cannot trust policy-makers. And many people in this world are in a state of disarray and disorientation. They get tossed easily to and fro by many different opinions and worldviews.

The word 'upheavals' means 'violent, sudden change, disruption in something'. This can happen in the spiritual realm or in the physical realm, whether geographically, politically, economically, or geopolitically. There will be many chaos, both in the spiritual realm and physical realm this year. Geographically speaking, there will be shakings and earthquakes in various places. Politically speaking, there will be widespread unrest in many parts of the world. What more, with many key elections coming in different parts of the world this year. It will be a dog fight. Wars and rumors of war will also increase as well. 

But as for you, beloved, fear not! Because the Lord has promised you a year of resounding victory, if you walk with Him and look to Him! Your part is to stay pure and innocent before the Lord. Stay true to Him and His Word. And of course, always set your mind on the ultimate victory of our Lord Jesus Christ. 

I'm going to share with you what is this ultimate victory, as written in the book of Isaiah chapter 66. The book of Isaiah is like a mini-Bible. There are 66 chapters in Isaiah, just as there are 66 books in the Bible. So, Isaiah chapter 66 is the last chapter in Isaiah. Why is this so important? Because it gives us a clear picture of what will happen at the very end of this age. In other words, the ultimate victory that is coming!

Therefore beloved of God, in a world when many people have a sense of hopelessness, you are different! Because you have this ultimate hope and assured victory, as promised in the Word of God!

Before we go to Isaiah chapter 66, let's begin with Romans 12:2 (NKJV) first. This verse says, 'And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.' 

The word 'conform' here is 'suschematizo' in Greek. It means 'to pattern oneself to something'. Here, Paul wrote that we are not to pattern after the ways of this fallen world or the systems of this fallen world. In other words, we are not to agree and be contaminated by the ways of this fallen world. Instead, we allow God to transform how we see things, according to how He sees. Not how man sees, but how God sees. How? By allowing the Holy Spirit to renew our minds. This is what it means here in this verse.

Another interesting word in this verse is 'prove'. It is 'dokimazo' in Greek. It can mean 'to allow something to happen'. It means as the Holy Spirit renews your mind, you are in effect allowing (or 'dokimazo') what is good, acceptable, and perfect will of God to happen in your life! 

The next question is, how can you be transformed and renewed? The answer is in one verse before that. In Romans 12:1 (NKJV), Paul wrote, 'I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.' 

See the word 'holy' here? It means as you surrender your life to the Lord in worship, let the fire of the Holy Spirit burn away all your impurities and sins. That's how you stay pure and holy before the Lord. And that's how you present yourself to the Lord afresh and anew, as you start off this year 2024! 

We can now go straight to Isaiah 66:1-2. Thus says the Lord: "Heaven is My throne, and earth is My footstool. Where is the house that you will build Me? And where is the place of My rest? For all those things My hand has made, and all those things exist," Says the Lord. "But on this one will I look: On him who is poor and of a contrite spirit, and who trembles at My word." 

Here, the Lord puts things back into proper perspective for His people. He is telling us that He is enthroned in heaven. He is the King of heaven, and the earth is His footstool. You know what that means? He is in full command and He is sovereign over the earth. That's what it means by 'the earth is His footstool.' 

Many of us want to serve God. Nothing wrong with that. In fact, every believer should serve God in one way or another, wherever they are, and whatever their vocation may be. But many of us also want to only serve Him in our way. We want to build something for God. We want to build, build, and build. But is that what God really wants? Does He really need us to build something for Him? Did the Lord say so? Of course, if the Lord says so, do it. Be obedient to His instruction. But if the Lord doesn't say so, and if the Lord doesn't give you a blueprint, and if you try to build by your own strength and ability, the Lord is not impressed. So, He is bringing us back to the right perspective. What He actually wants from us is simple: A poor and a contrite spirit, and to tremble at His word. As simple as that. 

Let's go to the definitions of these words 'poor', 'contrite', and 'tremble'. 

The word 'poor' here is 'awni' in Hebrew. It can mean 'lowly, humble, in need'. Humble yourself under the mighty hand of God, because God gives grace to the humble, and He resists the proud. When we are so full of ourselves, when we see there's no need for God, God will then leave us on our own. But when you acknowledge that you need Him, and in fact, you need Him all the more in this time of chaos, He will be right here for you. He will lead you. He will guide you. He will bring you through all these. He will cover you. He will protect you. He will defend you. 

The word 'contrite' here is 'nakeh' in Hebrew. It can mean 'broken, smitten, afflicted'. There is a spiritual meaning to this word 'contrite' here. He is a good God. He definitely doesn't want us to suffer, be smitten, and be afflicted. Instead, this word 'contrite' in the context here means He wants us to be aware that we are by nature sinners, and there's no way we can stand upright (righteous) before God with our own ability. In other words, we need Him. We are not to be like Job who's self-righteous. Not until he repented from his self-righteousness did God restore him and bless him. 

The word 'tremble' here is 'karad' in Hebrew. It simply means 'reverential fear, or reverence'. Simply put, a deep respect for the Word of God, honoring the Word of God, and heeding the Word of God.

For those who are humble and contrite, and for those who tremble at God's words, He has promised us Isaiah 66:12-13. For thus says the Lord: "Behold, I will extend peace to her like a river, and the glory of the Gentiles like a flowing stream. Then you shall feed; On her sides shall you be carried, and be dandled on her knees. As one whom his mother comforts, so I will comfort you; And you shall be comforted in Jerusalem." 

When Jesus the Messiah returns in glory and triumph, this is going to happen. There will be peace upon Jerusalem. There will be a gentle, powerful, yet refreshing river flowing from the throne of God. There will be no more chaos and commotion. Right now, you know it, you definitely don't see this yet. In fact, there's war. But there will come a time this prophecy will come to pass in Jerusalem. Not just in Jerusalem, but this river of God also flows to every other part of the world!

Further, this is how God describes it: 'As one whom his mother comforts, so I will comfort you.' What does this statement mean? It means even though God is all-powerful and mighty in power, He is also showing to us how tenderhearted and loving He is to us. You see, no one can comfort a child the way a mother does. A mother knows a child best. Because the child comes out from her womb. 

So beloved of God, no matter what situation you may be in at the moment, the Lord is here and the Lord is promising you He is here to comfort you. He is here to restore you, if there's any area in your life that has been broken. He is here to heal you, if there's any area in your life that has been unwell. Receive this assurance from the Lord by faith. 

In John 15:4-5, Jesus says: "Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. I am the Vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing." 

The word 'abide' here is 'meno' in Greek. It can mean 'attach, remain, stay, continue, dwell, endure, be present, wait on'. 

As you wait on the Lord, as you hope in the Lord, as you abide in Him, and as you attach yourself to Him like a branch to the vine, there's an open heaven above you right now. Receive His glory and anointing by faith. Receive His supernatural strength by faith. Receive His supernatural provision by faith. Receive His supernatural health and protection by faith. Receive His grace and favor by faith. Receive His love, joy and peace that comes from heaven. Receive all that you ever need right here on earth. Yes, heaven on earth! Receive all the above for the year 2024! And whatever happens around you this year, as for you and your house, you'll be sure to walk in triumph and victory. Amen!

Happy New Year!

Click here for the full message in TiC YouTube Channel