Words from the Lord: The padlock has already been broken!

I have a dream the other day about a beloved of God whom I know. In real life, this person has already retired from his career. At first, in the dream, he seemed worried and miserable, not knowing about his future and what comes next. 

Then, in the dream, suddenly I saw this person being given a sickle in the field. It was a huge field. Then I saw how God gave him extraordinary strength to begin harvesting in the huge field, way beyond his usual physical strength. It was supernatural. As he began using the sickle faithfully, I then saw continuous blessings and provisions being released upon him. 

It's like a new lease of life for him. It's like there's a fresh hope for him. It's like there's a fresh new purpose being given to him.

Even though this dream is specifically about that person, and I've prayed for that person, the Lord is saying this is also for you who are reading here. You may or may not be at the retirement age, but whatever your age or situation may be right now, the Lord is saying to let go of your anxieties and worries to Him. Trust Him that any time you need extraordinary strength and provision, He is here for you. And you will not be lacking any good thing in this new season of yours. 

Psalm 34:9-10 (NKJV) says, 'Oh, fear the Lord, you His saints! There is no want (lack) to those who fear Him. The young lions lack and suffer hunger; but those who seek the Lord shall not lack any good thing.' 

You see 'good thing' here? This doesn't have to be a material thing. This can be God's favor, God's wisdom, God's revelation, God's anointing, God's empowering, God's enabling, and the list goes on. 

The word 'seek' here is 'dawrash' in Hebrew. It can mean 'to look to, to inquire, to ask, to follow after'. In other words, to seek the Lord is to follow after the Lord closely, without having any shadow of doubt of His goodness, His leading, and His direction for your life. 

The Lord says: 

"Keep moving on in your new season. Don't allow yourself to get stuck in your past. Leave your past behind you, and look forward to Me and the many good things that I am going to show you. Be at rest with your new season. Embrace your new season. Walk in your new season. Make full use of your new season. There will be new windows of opportunity for you. There will be new doors being opened for you. Yes, even in unprecedented ways. Look to Me and ask, and I will show you." 

The enemy will try to make you think that you are stuck in your life or in your career. But today, God is saying this is a lie. Take authority and rebuke the notion that you are stuck in your life!

As I was praying and ministering to another person recently, I saw a cage that the enemy has locked that person up. Then I saw God's hand breaking the padlock of the cage. This person was then able to get out of the cage and be set free. I then declared upon him that the 'padlock' of his life has already been broken by the Lord's hand. He's a free man now. A heavy burden and a heavy weight has been lifted away from him. Hallelujah!

Beloved, the Lord is saying the same to you right now, that whatever 'cage' that you are trapped in, God's hand is now breaking the padlock, and you are now set free! You are set free to be who God wants you to be in this new season!

The Lord says: 

"This is the time to get out of the cage that the enemy has locked you up in your past season. My hand has broken the padlock of that cage. It is a time for you to be set free. It is a time for you to progress and begin to fulfill your potential and talents that I have given you."

The grace for you to move on is very rich in this time and season. This can be a moving on to another job opportunity. This can be a moving on to a new location. This can be a moving on to a new frontier. This can be a moving on to a new job description. This can be a moving on to a new way of doing ministry that God has for you this season.

This is also the time to clear away whatever you need to clear, so that you'll be ready to embrace your new season. Even if you have to let go of certain toxic relationships, let these go. Even if you have to let go of certain practices that don't work in the new season anymore, let these go. Even if you have to let go of certain relationships that have bogged you down, let these go. Yes, let go of all the burdens and weights that you've been carrying unnecessarily all these while. Let all these go to the Lord, so that you can get hold of the new things that the Lord has for you, going forward. Amen!

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You are not fighting a losing battle!

The Lord says: 

"In a time like this, stand strong on what I've spoken for you to be and to do. Walk according to what I've spoken for you to be and to do. You may be alone at times, and you may be surrounded by the spiritual forces of darkness all around you, but I am saying that you are not fighting a losing battle. In fact, the battle isn't yours. The battle is Mine. This is the time to receive a new strength from Me. As I've spoken to Elijah, I am saying that your journey ahead is great. I will be with you. I will make a way for you. I will give you the victory." 

If you read 1 Kings chapters 17, 18, and 19, you can see that God's people at that time were under the stranglehold of evil forces through King Ahab and his wife Jezebel. 

As a prelude, let's read 1 Kings 16:29-33 (NKJV) first. 'In the thirty-eighth year of Asa king of Judah, Ahab the son of Omri became king over Israel; and Ahab the son of Omri reigned over Israel in Samaria twenty-two years. Now Ahab the son of Omri did evil in the sight of the Lord more than all who were before him. And it came to pass, as though it had been a trivial thing for Ahab to walk in the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, that he took as wife Jezebel the daughter of Ethbaal, king of the Sidonians; and he went and served Baal and worshiped him. Then he set up an altar for Baal in the temple of Baal, which he had built in Samaria. And Ahab made a wooden image. Ahab did more to provoke the Lord God of Israel to anger than all the kings of Israel who were before him.' 

'Baal' here speaks of 'the gods (or masters) of this world, or the ways of this world (this fallen world)'. 

But God! It was also during this time that Elijah came into the picture. Elijah was one of those few who stood for God and who stood for God's righteousness, even in the midst of the prevailing forces of darkness at that time. Elijah was a man who's obedient to whatever the Lord had spoken. As the Lord said so, he said so. As the Lord said no, he said no. 

1 Kings 17:1 (NKJV) says, 'And Elijah the Tishbite, of the inhabitants of Gilead, said to Ahab, "As the Lord God of Israel lives, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years, except at my word."' 

With this declaration that Elijah made, Elijah was then falsely accused by Jezebel and Ahab for bringing curse (in the form of drought) to Israel. But you know what? Elijah was actually just saying what God said, that the Lord God of Israel would turn away from Israel if they turn to the false god of Baal. To put it in modern terms, Elijah was the target of a 'smear campaign' against him. Why? Because Elijah didn't bow down to Baal, the false god at that time. In other words, he was against the norm and the status quo at that time. 

So beloved, if you know that you know the Lord has spoken to you, whether through dreams, or visions, or the Word of God, or through any other way, stand strong in the Lord. Stand strong in what the Lord has spoken. Fear not. The Lord will be with you, as you can see in Elijah's life. In spite of such evil campaign against him, and even being misunderstood by some people in Israel who listened to the lies of Ahab and Jezebel, Elijah continued to stand firm on God's words and continued to do according to what God had said. The Scripture shows us that the Lord was with him. In fact, there was always provision coming his way, even during the drought. Yes, provision even in miraculous ways. Even from the ravens (1 Kings 17:5-6), and then, through the widow (1 Kings 17:8-16). 

In life, you can't please everybody. There will be people who are unhappy with you, who don't agree with you, who don't understand you, or who are against you. Don't be bothered. Fear not. As long as you know the Lord is with you, and the Lord is the One who has spoken to you, keep your focus on what He has spoken. Be who He wants you to be, and do what He wants you to do. And that's how you are going to see your victory. And that's how you know that the Lord is with you and will lead you. 

Fast forward, about three years into the drought, the Lord then spoke to Elijah to present himself before Ahab. Now, this same Ahab wanted to destroy Elijah all these years. But when the Lord said to Elijah, "Go and present yourself to Ahab", Elijah obeyed. 

1 Kings 18:17-18 (NKJV) says, 'Then it happened, when Ahab saw Elijah, that Ahab said to him, "Is that you, O troubler of Israel?" And he answered, "I have not troubled Israel, but you and your father's house have, in that you have forsaken the commandments of the Lord and have followed the Baals."' 

During that encounter with Ahab, Elijah then threw a challenge to Ahab to test who is the true God. 1 Kings 18:19-21 (NKJV) says, '"Now therefore, send and gather all Israel to me on Mount Carmel, the 450 prophets of Baal, and the 400 prophets of Asherah, who eat at Jezebel's table." So Ahab sent for all the children of Israel, and gathered the prophets together on Mount Carmel. And Elijah came to all the people, and Elijah said, "How long will you falter between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow Him; but if Baal, follow him."' 

In short, Elijah was throwing this challenge to the people: "Who are you going to follow? The Lord God? Or Baal?" 

To cut the story short, the fire of the Lord then consumed the offering that Elijah had prepared, but nothing happened to the offering of the prophets of Baal. These prophets of Baal were then executed, and the drought eventually ended. 

But even after that, Ahab and Jezebel did not turn to the Lord God of Israel. 1 Kings 19:1-2 (NKJV) says, '...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 (i.e. the life of the prophets of Baal) by tomorrow about this time."' 

It means Jezebel gave Elijah a "death threat". When Elijah heard this, he ran for his life, and he prayed that he might die, and said, "It is enough! Now, Lord, take my life, for I am no better than my fathers!" 

In his discouragement and exhaustion, Elijah felt all that he had done for the Lord was in vain. He was drained and worn out after that great victory. He ran for his life, and he prayed that he might die.

Beloved, have you been falsely accused, misunderstood, and discouraged recently? Take heart. Because the Lord is saying this to you right now: "Arise, and receive a new strength from Me! Do not lose heart! Eat of My Bread, and drink of My Drink, for great is your journey ahead!" 

Indeed, the Lord God of Elijah is the same Lord God of your life today. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Now, I want you to notice this. He is not just the Giver of strength to you. But the Scripture says He is the strength that lives in you! Where is the Bible proof? Psalm 73:26 (NKJV) says, 'My flesh and my heart fail; but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.' 

Notice here: "God is the strength..." You see, God isn't just the Giver of strength to you. But He is the strength who lives in you! This is what the Scripture says here. 

By the way, the word 'strength' here is 'tsur' in Hebrew. It can simply be translated, literally, as 'strong rock'. In other words, God is the Strong Rock! Yes, He is the Strong Rock in your life! 

What does the word 'portion' mean here? It is 'cheleq' in Hebrew. It means 'inheritance'. It means He is your inheritance. In other words, you can inherit all the goodness of God, all the victory that He has won, and you can receive His power, His strength, and His glory. Hallelujah! 

Back to Elijah now. Elijah then arose, ate of the bread and drank of the drink brought by the angel, and he went in this new strength of the Lord - for forty days and forty nights - as far as Horeb, the mountain of God. And there standing on the mountain of God, Elijah received further instructions and further words about his God-given destiny. The Lord spoke to him to anoint Hazael as king over Syria, Jehu as king over Israel, and Elijah as a prophet. 

You see, the Lord's not done with Elijah yet, even though Elijah initially thought so. The same it is with you, beloved. The Lord is not done with you yet. The Lord has greater things ahead for you. Like Elijah, continue to stand firm on God's Word and God's ways. Stay true to what He has called you to be, no matter what others may think of you, or how they misunderstand you. Hang on there. Know that you are not alone in this. Because the Lord your God is with you, and He will know how to lead you, going forward. Amen! 

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A time to reclaim your rightful place!

The Lord says: 

"In a time like this, stay focused on what I've spoken for you to be and to do. Stay faithful in Me and My covenant with you. Keep your eyes and your ears on Me and My Word. The enemy will try to do anything to upset My purposes and plans for your life. Do not allow yourself to get out of focus. Do not allow yourself to get distracted. Shut your ears from those who try to distract you and upset you. Shut your ears from those who don't understand what I am currently doing in your life in this time and season." 

How does the enemy 'upset' God's works or plans for your life? 

1. By sowing the seed of discouragement against you. 

2. By sowing the seed of accusations against you. 

3. By using people to gossip or character-assassinate against you. 

4. By attacking your health and your well-being. 

Let's go straight to the book of Haggai. At that time, God's people had forgotten their priority and purposes. They gave up building what God had spoken for them to build. 

But through this prophet Haggai, the Lord conveyed these messages to the people: 

1. A call to remain faithful and remember His plans. 

2. A call to not get distracted from building what God is building. 

3. A call for His people to rise up from the humiliation of their 'Babylonian exile'. 

4. A call for His people to reclaim their rightful place and shine for Him. 

To apply this in your situation, whatever the enemy tries to 'upset' you or discourage you, don't give in. Don't buy what the enemy is trying to say to you. The enemy is the father of lies. Instead, focus on the Lord. Stay faithful in the Lord. Don't get distracted. Keep remembering your covenant with the Lord. Claim back your inheritance. Claim back your rightful place in the Lord. Yes, that's how you are going to shine for the Lord in this time and season! 

Prophet Haggai's prophecy came at a time when God's people were extremely vulnerable and discouraged. They had been humbled by their seventy-year exile in Babylon. They were also so discouraged by the opposition against them in rebuilding God's temple, that they quit. 

But God! You know what? God used Haggai to encourage them to complete what the Lord had started. Beloved, this is the Lord's message for you too. The good work that the Lord has begun in you, He is going to bring it to full completion. Amen!

In Haggai 2:2-5, the Lord spoke through Haggai: "Say this to Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Jeshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and to the remnant of God's people there in the land: 'Does anyone remember this house - this Temple - in its former splendor? How, in comparison, does it look to you now? It must seem like nothing at all! But now the Lord says: Be strong, Zerubbabel. Be strong, Jeshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest. Be strong, all you people still left in the land. And now get to work, for I am with you, says the Lord of Heaven's Armies. My Spirit remains among you, just as I promised when you came out of Egypt. So do not be afraid.'" 

See? Three times the Lord said: "Be strong. Be strong. Be strong." The Lord is saying the same to you right now. Be strong. Do not be discouraged. Do not be afraid. Do not get distracted. Stay focused on your God-given calling and purposes in life. Each of us has a specific God-given calling or 'blueprint' in life. No two persons are exactly the same. Each of us has been endowed with spiritual gifts and talents for us to use for His glory. Don't compare with others. Walk the path that God has for you, and keep your focus on that path. 

Here in the book of Haggai, the message to rebuild God's temple was simple and straightforward. Of course, your current purpose or calling may not be building a physical temple like in those days. But whatever the Lord has spoken for you to be and to do, stay focused on what He has spoken, and He will know how to honor you! 

In Haggai 2:21-23, the Lord spoke: "Tell Zerubbabel, the governor of Judah, that I am about to shake the heavens and the earth. I will overthrow royal thrones and destroy the power of foreign kingdoms. I will overturn their chariots and riders. The horses will fall, and their riders will kill each other. But when this happens, says the Lord of Heaven's Armies, I will honor you. I will make you like a signet ring on My finger, says the Lord, for I have chosen you. I, the Lord of Heaven's Armies, have spoken!"

By the way, 'signet ring' here is 'khothawm' in Hebrew, and it can mean 'signature', which speaks of you having the authority in the Lord to 'sign' something, and whatever you 'sign' in the Spirit becomes a decree! 

What is a 'decree' then? In the context of our study today, an authority! It is an authority (from the Lord) given to you, or an order (from the Lord) to cause things to happen. 

Beloved, your time for such has come too! This is that time! Greater things are coming your way! A new start! A new strength! A new passion! A new mandate! A new outlook! Yes, a new authority has been given to you! And no power of darkness can overturn it! Believe and receive by faith!

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How to make the right decisions in life?

The Lord says: 

"Many of My people are entering a time of decisions, decisions, decisions. Many are in such junctures and crossroads. In a time like this, I will teach My people to make important decisions according to My revelation. I will teach My people to discern and differentiate what is of Me and what is not of Me." 

Decisions, decisions, decisions! How to make the right decisions in your life? This is what we are going to tackle today. You see, in every season of our lives, we need to make decisions. Big decisions. Small decisions. And some decisions are so crucial, this would either lead us to greater things or cause us to stagnate in life. This is that time! 

To begin with, let's look at Paul and his team at Troas. They were at the crossroads in their ministry. Acts 16:6-10 (NKJV) says, 'Now when they had gone through Phrygia and the region of Galatia, they were forbidden by the Holy Spirit to preach the word in Asia. After they had come to Mysia, they tried to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit did not permit them. So passing by Mysia, they came down to Troas. And a vision appeared to Paul in the night. A man of Macedonia stood and pleaded with him, saying, "Come over to Macedonia and help us." Now after he had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go to Macedonia, concluding that the Lord had called us to preach the gospel to them.' 

At that juncture of Paul's missionary journey, the Holy Spirit did not permit Paul and his team when they tried to go to certain places or certain direction. As he was wondering what to do next, the Lord gave him a vision. Obedient as Paul was, he heeded this vision and they proceeded to go to Macedonia. It turned out to be a good decision, and many more people heard and received the Gospel of Jesus Christ during that journey. 

And then, Acts 18:9-11 (NKJV) says, 'Now the Lord spoke to Paul in the night by a vision, "Do not be afraid, but speak, and do not keep silent; for I am with you, and no one will attack you to hurt you; for I have many people in this city." And he continued there a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them.' 

As Paul continued his missionary journey and was in the city of Corinth, the Lord spoke to him in a vision once again. This time, the Lord encouraged him to keep speaking and teaching the Word of God and not to be afraid, even in the face of opposition and resistance. Heeding these words from the Lord, Paul continued there a year and six months, teaching the Word of God among them. 

From the two examples here, you can see that Paul was a man who had learned to make decisions based on revelations and instructions of the Lord. No wonder in 2 Corinthians 12:1, he wrote, 'It is doubtless not profitable for me to boast. I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord.' 

Paul went on to complete all that the Lord had called him to do while on earth, and the Lord also used him to write about half of the entire New Testament! 

But you may say, "This is regarding ministry." But no! It can also apply in every aspect of your life. In your career path. In your business path. Or in any area of your life. 

What was it in Paul that we can learn from today? You see, everybody wants to make the right decisions in life. But what can we learn from Paul today? I believe the answer can be found in Proverbs 22:4 that says, 'By humility and the fear of the Lord are riches and honor and life.' 

In other words, by humility and the fear of the Lord, you will make decisions that will lead you to fulfill your God-given destiny in your life. When you have these two keys, 'humility' and 'the fear of the Lord', the Lord will surely honor you and help you in your decision making. I believe that was the secret of Paul. 

By the way, what does 'By humility and the fear of the Lord' mean? To humble before Him is to submit and yield to Him. Yes, yielding to His words and His instructions in total surrender, instead of being smart in our own eyes, thinking that we know better. To fear Him is to have deep reverence and respect toward Him and what He says. You see, not just toward Him, but also what He says. When He says so, we say so. When He says no, we say no. When He says move, we move. When He says stop, we stop.

May the Lord give you the discernment to know what is of Him and what is not of Him; when to move and when to stop; when to go to the left and when to go to the right. 

Ecclesiastes 8:5 (NKJV) says, 'He who keeps his command will experience nothing harmful; and a wise man's heart discerns both time and judgment.' It means 'to discern what is the right timing', and 'the ability to make the right judgment in life'. You can also translate this as 'the ability to make the right decisions in life'. 

The word 'discern' here is 'yada' in Hebrew. It can mean 'to have understanding (of what is and what is not), or to recognize the difference (between what is and what is not)'. In our context today, what is of God and what is not of God. 

But what is the key to discern? As the saying goes, practice makes perfect. This is true even in training and exercising our spirit man and our spiritual senses to discern. How? Pray in the spirit. Pray in the spirit often. You know what? Every time you pray in the spirit, you are activating your spirit man, and you are exercising your spiritual senses to discern ('yada') and to recognize the difference between what is of God and what is not of God; what is of the Spirit and what is of the flesh (or what is of the devil). 

Hebrews 5:13-14 (NKJV) says, 'For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe. But solid food belongs to those who are of full age (i.e. 'spiritually mature'), that is, those who by reason of use (i.e. 'by reason of practice') have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil (i.e. 'what is of God and what is not').' 

See the word 'exercised' there? You see, you can have your senses exercised to discern (differentiate) what is good and what is evil; what is of God and what is not of God. And with that, you can make the right decisions in your life that will catapult you to greater things.

1 Thessalonians 5:19-22 (NKJV) says, 'Do not quench the Spirit (the Holy Spirit). Do not despise prophecies. Test all things; hold fast what is good. Abstain from every form of evil.' 

As you exercise your spirit to discern, test the spirit. Hold on to what is of God (what is good), and let go of what is not of God (what is bad). When it's written 'test' here, it means: 'Is it Holy Spirit or is it a false spirit (or a spirit of deception)? Is it from God or is it not from God? Is the idea from God or is the idea merely from man?' 

And then, you can test it with the fruit of the Holy Spirit. Does it have the fruit of the Spirit? Galatians 5:22-23 (NKJV) says, 'But the fruit of the Spirit (Holy Spirit) is love, joy, peace, longsuffering (or patience), kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.' 

Another important key in making the right decisions in life is whatever decision you make must pass through the Word of God. In other words, it must be screened through by the Word of God. Why? Because Hebrews 4:12-13 (NKJV) says, 'For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.' 

The word 'discerner' here is 'kritikos' in Greek, from the word 'krino' meaning 'to differentiate, to distinguish, to decide (mentally or judicially) like a judge'. In other words, the Word of God discovers the condition and the intents of the heart, and it is a foolproof way to help you to make the right decisions in life. Why? Because the Word of God is plain and clear. It's simple, leaving no opportunity for error. 

You see, Word and Spirit, Spirit and Word! Never leave any of this out. The Word of God. The Spirit of God. This helps you to discern and to differentiate what is of the Lord and what is not of the Lord, so that you can make the right decisions that will bring you to greater heights in your life, and fulfill your God-given destiny in your life!

Prayer:

"O Lord God, sensitize our spirit man to discern and to differentiate what is of You and what is not of You. We want to make important decisions according to Your revelations and instructions. As we enter into a time of decisions, as we walk into junctures and crossroads in life, yes, all the more we need You, O Lord. Teach us. Help us. Guide us. We receive Your Word. We receive Your Spirit. In Jesus' name. Amen." 

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