Thanking God for the breakthrough!

The Lord says for this time:

"Give thanks in everything, and do not cease giving thanks. Give thanks even in advance for your coming miracle or breakthrough, whatever the situation or problem you may be facing at the moment. As you give thanks and as you look to Me, watch how My hand is going to work things out for your good." 

Philippians 4:5-7 (NKJV) says, 'The Lord is at hand. Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God...' 

The word 'thanksgiving' here is 'eucaristia' in Greek. It can be defined as 'to show gratitude as an act of worship'. You see, giving thanks to the Lord is part of your worship to God! 

So, whatever your situation or circumstance may be at the moment, begin to give thanks to the Lord! Give thanks even in advance for your coming miracle or breakthrough that you need! 

1 Thessalonians 5:18 (NKJV) says, 'In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.' 

The Apostle Paul wasn't saying you are to accept your problem in life as "fated", and that nothing can be done to improve your situation or your life. But what he was saying is in spite of your current situation or problem that you may be facing, you can give thanks to God, knowing that victory, miracle, or breakthrough is at hand!

Notice the words 'this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you' here. Do you see that? In Christ Jesus! Now, that makes a whole lot of difference! You know why? On the cross, some 2,000 years ago, He made that difference! He has carried away all your curse and all your problems when He died for you! Because of that, you are now blessed with every blessing that comes from the Lord! 

And that's why Apostle Paul wrote, 'In everything give thanks.' Yes, even if it's a challenging situation in your life! Because in Christ Jesus, there's already a victory, there's already a breakthrough, and there's already a miracle! And there's already a way out for you, whatever your situation may be! 

1 Corinthians 15:57 (NKJV) says, 'But thanks be to God, who gives you victory through Christ Jesus our Lord.' 

The word 'gives' here in Greek is both in present tense and continuous tense. It actually means 'keeps on giving'. In other words, God keeps on giving you the victory and breakthrough that you need! That's why the Apostle Paul was saying to give thanks to God, for the very fact that God keeps on giving you the victory and breakthrough in your life!

2 Corinthians 2:14 (NKJV) says, 'Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place.' 

Do you see the word 'always' here? The word 'always' here really means 'always'. Not 'sometimes'. Not 'often times'. Not even 'almost always'. But 'always'. Period. 'Always' means 'always'. We give thanks to God because He always leads us in triumph in Christ! You see, to triumph is not just to have the victory, but also to celebrate the victory that He has given us! 

Are you facing a difficult situation in your life at the moment? Maybe it's a health issue. Maybe it's a mounting debt. Maybe it's a problem that seems to have no solution. Whatever your situation or problem may be, take heart in what the Lord has done for you on the cross. Look to Him and all that He has done for you on the cross. His finished work on the cross! 

And because He has done all that for you, you can begin to give thanks! Yes, even give thanks in advance for your coming victory, breakthrough, and even miracle!

Psalm 107:1-2 (NKJV) says, 'Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever. Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, whom He has redeemed from the hand of the enemy.' 

Do you see that? Let the redeemed of the Lord say so! As a believer in Christ, you are the redeemed of the Lord! And let you say so! Say what? Give thanks to the Lord! Let the redeemed of the Lord (that's you) give thanks to God! Why? Because He has set you free, and He has redeemed you from the hand of the enemy! 

The words 'give thanks' here is very interesting. It's 'yada' in Hebrew. It literally means 'to shoot out your adoration and gratitude (towards the Lord)'. In other words, as you praise the Lord and honor the Lord for His greatness and for all the good that He has done, you also express your thanksgiving to Him for His goodness! 

In my life, I know He has never failed to help me, and deliver me, even from the darkest of situation. He has always been there. And I believe He will not fail you too. He definitely has a way out for you! 

Click here for the full teaching in TiC YouTube Channel 

Embrace the 'new' and the good that God has for you!

The Lord says: 

"Taste and see My goodness in your life going forward. But you need to let go of the 'old' and what you have moved on from in your life, and embrace the 'new' that I have for you now. Let there be such a release in your spirit and your soul right now. For what I have in store ahead of you will be good!" 

The Lord says further: 

"Begin to cast down every word and every work sent by the enemy against you. Begin to cast down everything sent by the enemy to pull you back to the 'old' of your life. But this is your time to embrace all the good and the 'new' that I have for you ahead of you. This is your time to secure and receive all the good that I have for you, by faith." 

I heard the word 'embrace' two times here. I believe this is the key word for us now: 'Embrace'. To embrace what? To embrace all the 'new' and the good that God has for you!

This word 'embrace' can be traced back to two Latin words, 'in' and 'bracchium', literally meaning 'in the arms (of)'. 

This word 'embrace' can also mean 'to surround, to encircle, to hold closely (especially with great affection)'. 

This works both ways: You embracing the Lord, and the Lord embracing you! 

One way to describe the goodness of God in your life is to picture the Lord's arms wrapping around you, surrounding you, encircling you, and holding you closely and lovingly in His embrace! And in His embrace, you can rest secure!

Deuteronomy 33:12 (NIV) says, "Let the beloved of the Lord rest secure in Him, for He shields him all day long, and the one the Lord loves rests between His shoulders." 

This expression 'rests between His shoulders' can be understood as 'being in the embrace of God'. 

Deuteronomy 33:12 (The Message) puts it this way: "God's beloved; God's permanent residence. Encircled by God all day long, within whom God is at home." 

See the word 'encircled' here? Encircled by God all day long! Encircled by the goodness of God all day long! All the time! And the best news is whatever happens around you in the world, your God is always 'at home' in your life! Always present in your life! Always here for you! All the time! 

Psalm 34:8 (NKJV) says, 'Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good; Blessed is the man who trusts in Him!' 

Psalm 34:8 (Amplified) puts it this way: 'O taste and see that the Lord [our God] is good; How blessed [fortunate, prosperous, and favored by God] is the man who takes refuge in Him.' 

The word 'good' here is 'towb' in Hebrew. It can mean 'good (in the widest sense)'. In other words, 'good in every way'. This word 'towb' can also mean 'beautiful, bountiful, sweet, gracious'. 

So, taste and see that the Lord is beautiful to you, the Lord is bountiful to you, the Lord is sweet to you, and the Lord is gracious to you! And let this goodness of God be poured into your life right now! 

Psalm 23:6 (Amplified) says, 'Surely goodness and mercy and unfailing love shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell forever [throughout all my days] in the house and in the presence of the Lord.' 

Beloved of God, surely what's beautiful, what's bountiful, what's sweet, and what's gracious shall follow you all the days of your life! Make this declaration upon your life right now!

Psalm 31:19-20 (Amplified) says, 'How great is Your goodness, which You have stored up for those who [reverently] fear You, which You have prepared for those who take refuge in You, before the sons of man! In the secret place of Your presence You hide them from the plots and conspiracies of man; You keep them secretly in a shelter from the strife of tongues.' 

You see, the goodness of God in your life encompasses all aspects of your life. God even shows His goodness in your life by sheltering you from the plots and conspiracies of man, or even from the strife of tongues!

Psalm 107:8-9 (NKJV) says, 'Oh, that men would give thanks to the Lord for His goodness, and for His wonderful works to the children of men! For He satisfies the longing soul, and fills the hungry soul with goodness.' 

This is another aspect of the goodness of God. He satisfies whatever that is lacking in your life. He fills what is empty in your life. He fills you with hope. He fills you with joy. And of course, He fills you with His unfailing love. When everything else in the world fails, the Lord's love for you never fails. And that is the assurance of the Lord for your life right now. 

Declare that the Lord is altogether good in your life! 

He knows how to work things out for good for you! 

He knows how to turn your sorrow into joy! 

He knows how to turn whatever that's bad in your life into something good! 

And whatever the enemy throws at you, the Lord will know how to turn things around for you! 

Amen!

Click here for the full message in TiC YouTube Channel

You can count on the goodness and faithfulness of God!

The Lord says for this time:

"Count on My goodness and faithfulness in your life. Yes, even in the midst of the situation around you and the situation that you see in the world right now. Look to Me, for I am still your faithful God. My faithfulness towards you has never changed." 

The Lord wants you to know today that He is still your faithful God, and He will still be. So, trust Him that He will continue to show Himself faithful in your life and in every situation you face in your life. 

2 Thessalonians 3:3 (NKJV) says, 'But the Lord is faithful, who will establish you and guard you from the evil one.' 

The word 'faithful' here is 'pistos' in Greek, which can also mean 'trustworthy, sure, truthful'. As you can see here, the Lord isn't just your faithful God, but He is also your trustworthy, sure, and truthful God!

From this word 'pistos' here, notice that 'to be faithful' is 'to be truthful'. You see, He is a God who cannot lie. Hebrews 6:18 (NKJV) says, '...in which it is impossible for God to lie...' Like a relationship between husband and wife, one cannot say he or she is faithful unless he or she is truthful. The same it is with God, whom the Scripture says is the Bridegroom, and we His bride. 

The word 'establish' here is 'sterizo' in Greek. This word can mean 'to strengthen you, to steadily set you on the right path, to set you resolutely in the right direction'. So, to establish you is to strengthen you, to steadily set you on the right path, and to set you resolutely in the right direction. And of course, 'to guard you' is 'to watch over you, to preserve you, to be on guard for you'. And that's who God is to you, beloved, no matter what happens around you or what happens in the world around you. 

You can personalize this verse to yourself: "The Lord is faithful to me, and the Lord establishes me, and the Lord guards me from the evil one." You can say this again and again. Amen! 

You may have heard the teaching about your faithfulness to God, and there is definitely a place for such. But today, the Lord is talking about His faithfulness towards us. It's a two-way relationship between you and God, God and you. He is faithful to you, and you are faithful to God. In fact, He is still our steadfast and unchanging God, even if at times we may have been unfaithful to Him. Why? Because He is a God who is patient towards us, even in our weaknesses and unfaithfulness. We thank God for that. We thank God for His mercy and grace towards us. 

Beloved of God, if you may, read both 1 Thessalonians and 2 Thessalonians in a time like this. These two books are not just about you being faithful to Him and He is faithful to you, but these two books also speak of our time now, the end-time, and how we can prepare for the return and the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ. 

You see, we don't want to set date of the Rapture and the return of the Lord. Why? Because the Scripture says that 'of the exact hour and day, no one knows, except God the Father'. We don't want to overstep God's Word. But we can prepare our lives. We can prepare ourselves by living holy lives, ready for Him any time. Why? Because He can return at the hour we never expect. 

In Matthew 24:36, Jesus said, "But of that day and hour, no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only." And then, in Matthew 24:42-44, Jesus said further, "Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming... Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect." 

So, according to 1 Thessalonians and 2 Thessalonians, what can you do in a time like this? 

1. Continue to receive His love and be abound in His love

And may the Lord make you increase and abound in love to one another and to all, just as we do to you, so that He may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all His saints (1 Thessalonians 3:12-13).

2. Continue to receive His sanctification and walk in holiness

For God did not call us to uncleanness, but in holiness. Therefore he who rejects this does not reject man, but God, who has also given us His Holy Spirit (1 Thessalonians 4:7-8).

3. Focus on your God-given calling and God's vision for your life

For we hear that there are some who walk among you in a disorderly manner; not working at all, but are busybodies. Now those who are such we command and exhort through our Lord Jesus Christ that they work in quietness and eat their own bread. But as for you, brethren, do not grow weary in doing good (2 Thessalonians 3:11-13).

4. Be sober, watchful, and vigilant 

You are all sons of light and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of darkness. Therefore let us not sleep (i.e. 'slumber in our spirit'), as others do, but let us watch and be sober. For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk are drunk at night. But let us who are of the day be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet the hope of salvation (1 Thessalonians 5:5-8).

5. Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, and give thanks in everything

Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18).

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Words from the Lord: "Discern, not be deceived!"

The Lord says for this time: 

"Discern, not be deceived! In this perilous and deceiving world that you are living in right now, I have given you the wisdom and discernment that you need to walk tall above all these deceptions. Be it sensational news, fake news, false prophecies, false predictions, persuasive words, manipulation, or trickeries conjured up by those who are of the spirit of this world, you will have the sure protection when you walk with Me. I am sensitizing your spiritual ears right now. I am enlightening your spiritual eyes right now. I am filling you with My Spirit right now." 

Colossians 2:3 (NKJV) says, 'In whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.' 

The word 'all' here in Greek is 'pas', and it can mean 'all, every, any, the whole, whatsoever, thoroughly'. It means you can be sure that as you seek Him, you will have all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge that you need to walk tall above all the deceptions, trickeries, or manipulation conjured by people of this world. 

Do you know in what context Paul wrote this verse? Let's look at the next verse. In Colossians 2:4, Paul wrote, 'Now this I say lest anyone should deceive you with persuasive words.' 

In Colossians 2:8, Paul wrote further, 'Lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world...' In other words, from the spirit of this world, and not from the Spirit of God, or from Christ. 

Obviously, Paul was addressing this topic of being deceived or being cheated by whatever that is from the spirit of this world. And yet, if you look back at Colossians 2:3, 'In whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge', what Paul meant here is, do not fear, because in Christ, and when you walk closely with the Holy Spirit, you will have the flow of God's wisdom and knowledge! 

Anything can happen in this world nowadays. People would think of all kinds of ways to sensationalize stories, to gain attention, to gain followers, to get more subscribers or viewers, to manipulate, and even to deceive others. They can do it so convincingly that gullible people will somehow so easily fall for it. 

So, today, the Lord is saying to all of us, beloved of God, "Be careful." 

Indeed, this is a deceptive world that we live in today. In fact, what you see with your physical eyes may not be the truth, and what you hear with your physical ears may not be the truth. That's why God's people need to be enlightened in their spiritual eyes and be sensitized in their spiritual ears to be able to see and hear what many in the world fail to see or hear. 

That's why also, beloved of God, it's so important to walk closely and in intimacy with the Holy Spirit. Why? Because there's round about protection here. So, let heaven touch you right now. Let the Holy Spirit touch you right now. Wash your heart. Wash your ears. Wash your eyes. Wash your hands. Purify your life. Why? Because the Holy Spirit is speaking to you right now. Be in quietness and listen. 

Let His Spirit flow into your spirit. You can sense "peace" or "no peace" in your spirit regarding something. You can sense "green light" or "red light" in your spirit regarding something. To go ahead, or not to go ahead. To believe, or not to believe a certain news. You will be able to pick up any "red flag" in your spirit. You will be able to notice or recognize any warning sign or signal that will cause you to be alert and be careful when you hear of something that people say or something that the social media tells you. 

And with the Holy Spirit teaching you and prompting you, you'll even be able to discern what is a lie and what is not a lie, who is cheating and who is not cheating, who is speaking from their own mind and who is speaking from the Spirit of God. 

You'll be able to discern who is speaking from the mouth of God and who is overstepping God's Word. Your spirit can sense.  

Let's look at one example in the Scripture. Let's look at Peter now. One of the earliest situation that Peter had to face upon receiving the enabling of the Holy Spirit was he had to face deceitful people. In Acts 5:3, when a certain man named Ananias lied to him about the proceeds from the sale of a possession, Peter then said, "Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit?" Peter was discerning enough in his spirit to discern even a lie or a wrong intention. You know why? He allowed the Holy Spirit to work in him and to speak inside of him. In other words, he was open to the works of the Holy Spirit in him, even in this area of discernment. 

This wasn't the first time Peter walked in God's wisdom, knowledge, and discernment. Prior to that, the Scripture also mentions that the rulers and the religious leaders those days marveled at the wisdom and boldness of speech in Peter. In Acts 4:13, they were asking among themselves, "Isn't this Peter uneducated and untrained? How could he suddenly have such wisdom?" And that's when they realized Peter had been with Jesus! 

The wisdom of Jesus had rubbed on and been imparted on Peter. Beloved of God, the same it is with you right now. Let the wisdom from heaven be rubbed on you and be imparted on you. Amen! Receive this by faith right now. 

When you receive this wisdom from God, you need not fear, come what may, in this world. You see, Jesus is the Source of all wisdom and knowledge. He is all-knowing. He sees farther than anyone on earth can see. He knows better. And you are receiving from this Source. 

In this prophetic message today, let the wisdom from heaven be released upon you right now. Like a river, let His Spirit flow into you right now. Open your heart and open your mind. Anything that hinders your spiritual eyes from seeing correctly and your spiritual ears from hearing correctly, let all this be washed away by this river. 

Drink from this river of wisdom, knowledge, and discernment. Let this river lead you, guide you, and prompt you, every step of the way, in every situation and circumstance. In Jesus' name. Amen!

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Words from the Lord: "Your life will never be the same again!"

I had a dream the other night about three persons whom I know, all of whom are God's beloved. 

One is a leader, and in the dream, one after another follower or disciple of his seemed to desert him or walk out on him. He was of course downcast and discouraged. The next person I saw in the dream was someone who seemed to have lost direction and purpose in life, not knowing what to do in life anymore. And the third person was someone who seemed to have some kind of marriage problem or relationship problem. 

When I woke up from this dream, I prayed for each of them. I know this kind of dream is given so that I will pray. I will pray for the good of these people. So I prayed for God to heal and restore whatever area that needs to be healed or restored in these lives. 

That's also when the Lord spoke these words: 

"Tell My beloved, whatever your hurt, pain, regret, or even trauma may be, this is the time for you to be set free! Surrender all these areas of your life to Me, for I am extending My hand to heal you and restore you. Receive by faith. My grace is sufficient for you. My power to heal and restore is at hand. I will make all things new for you. I will cut rivers in the desert for you." 

The Lord is saying to you that He is sending miraculous supplies of water to 'water' you. You see, 'water' can speak of 'refreshing, healing, restoration'. The Lord is also saying to you that He can make whatever that is barren or deserted in your life to turn into fruitfulness and wholeness again. Not just that. He also makes all things new in your life! 

Revelation 21:5 (NKJV) says, 'He who sat on the throne said, "Behold, I make all things new." And He said to me, "Write, for these words are true and faithful."' 

Indeed, the Lord is faithful to His words. This is His assurance of His renewal work in your life. Not just in His eternal plan for your life, but also currently, at present, in your life! 

The word 'new' here is 'kainos' in Greek. It speaks of 'freshness' or 'refreshing'. It speaks of 'renewal' or 'being made new again'. So, if it's a relationship trouble that you are facing at the moment, the Lord is refreshing it again! And the Lord is making all things new again! 

This word 'kainos' can also speak of 'being new in the inward, in the spirit, and in substance, not just in the outward'. In fact, it also speaks of 'being made entirely new again, as if the past has been erased away'. 

This word 'kainos' can also be found in 2 Corinthians 5:17 (NKJV) that says, 'Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new ('kainos').' 

You see, only God can do this work of renewal in us and to set us free, that humans by themselves cannot. It is not just about a regeneration in your spirit, or your salvation. It is also about God doing a change in your life to the better. Not just physically, but also in your spirit and your soul. It is also about 'turning over a new leaf' in your life in ways that only God can do. 

One example in the Gospel about a substantial and real change, both in the inside and outside of a person, can be found in Luke chapter 5 about this paralyzed person being brought to Jesus. 

Luke 5:17 (NIV) says, 'One day Jesus was teaching, and Pharisees and teachers of the law were sitting there. They had come from every village of Galilee and from Judea and Jerusalem. And the power of the Lord was with Jesus to heal the sick.' 

That's also when some men came carrying a paralyzed man on the mat and tried to take him into the house to lay him before Jesus. When these men could not find a way to do this because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and lowered him on his mat through the tiles into the middle of the crowd, right in front of Jesus. 

When Jesus saw their faith, He said, "Friend, your sins are forgiven." 

You see, beloved, whatever your situation may be, Jesus will always have time for you, even in the midst of His "busy-ness", or in the midst of the multitudes of people looking for Him. In other words, He is never too busy for you, no matter how big or small your problem may be. 

The Pharisees and the teachers of the law began thinking to themselves, "Who is this fellow who speaks blasphemy? Who can forgive sins but God alone?" Jesus knew what they were thinking and asked, "Why are you thinking these things in your hearts? Which is easier: to say, 'Your sins are forgiven', or to say, 'Get up and walk'?" 

Now, the background here is that some of Jesus' audience were the Pharisees and the teachers of the law. These were the religious leaders at that time. In fact, some had come from afar. These Pharisees were zealous in their religious laws. But you know what? Many of them were only focused on outward obedience to the law. It means obedience for people to see, but not so much in the inside of them. Also, they believed God only loved them and those who did exactly what they did. So, they began to judge others who were not like them. 

So, here they were, sitting there with critical eyes and hearts against Jesus, waiting to twist and pounce on some words that Jesus said. And so, here Jesus was, looking at the men bringing the paralyzed man down from the rooftop. He saw their faith. He saw their determination to help their paralyzed friend. He also said that this man's sin has been forgiven.

And you know what? That's when the Pharisees pounced. They were trying to catch Jesus with His words. They began to accuse Jesus of blasphemy. They may be correct in believing that God can forgive sins, but they failed to see that Jesus is indeed the Son of God who has the authority to forgive sins. Their hearts were hardened. 

The Scripture says, 'The entrance of God's words brings light...' (Psalm 119:130). The Scripture also says, 'Jesus is the Word, and the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen His glory...' (John 1:14). But these Pharisees' hearts were not enlightened to see all this. 

Jesus then said, "But I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins." So Jesus said to the paralyzed man, "Get up, take your mat, and go home." Immediately the paralyzed man stood up in front of them, and went home praising God. His life was changed - in the inside and in the outside, spiritually and physically. Everyone was filled with amazement and gave praise to God.

You see, Jesus did both - to forgive sins; and to heal, restore, and renew a person physically. To man, both real forgiveness and the power to heal are impossible. To man, the physical part in fact seems harder because it has to do with something visible, and you have to show proof to the physical eyes; whereas forgiveness is invisible. But to God, both are easy. Jesus was showing that if He had the power to restore that paralyzed man, He also had the authority to forgive his sins. It's like one is the confirmation of the other. 

Beloved of God, today is the same. Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever. He is the same God those days in Luke chapter 5, and He is the same God in your life right now, today! Maybe your situation or problem is physical, or maybe it is not physical. Whatever you have been "paralyzed" by recently, be it a certain lingering sin in your life that seems so hard to be set free from; or a hurt, a regret, or a trauma in your soul that seems so hard to be set free from, the Lord is here to meet you right now. Not just that. He's also here to forgive you and heal you, just as what you have seen in the Scripture here. 

This paralyzed man's life in Luke chapter 5 was never the same again! Not only did he receive forgiveness and renewal in his spirit, he also began to walk free physically. His life was never the same again! I declare the same it is with you, beloved. Your life will never be the same again! 

Click here to watch the video in TiC YouTube Channel

Persevere, you are not alone!

The Lord says for this time: 

"Persevere in what I've called you or spoken for you to do in this season of your life. Look unto Me, and not your surroundings. Keep your focus on Me, and not those challenges you may be facing. Don't give up and don't give in, no matter what. Keep running this race that has been set for you. For I am giving you the strength that you need. You will soon see yourself reaping with joy!" 

Psalm 126:5-6 (NKJV) says, 'Those who sow in tears shall reap in joy. He who continually goes forth weeping, bearing seed for sowing, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.' 

Beloved, this is what God is saying to you right now. Your waiting time will not be wasted. Your many hours of sowing unto what the Lord has spoken for you to do, and even your tears will not go unnoticed. 

The Lord sees all these, and He will know how to reward you in due time. So, be patient with His timing. Keep looking unto Him, and do not doubt. You will surely reap with songs of joy. This applies in any area of your life, be it in the ministry, in your career, in your business, or in any area of your life. 

Galatians 6:9-10 (NKJV) says, 'And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap, if we do not lose heart. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith.' 

Well, sometimes in our walk of faith, it's easy to lose heart and feel like giving up. But the Scripture again exhorts us not to grow weary while doing good. The good that God has spoken for you to do in this season of your life. You see, season comes and season goes. When one season ends, we walk into a new season. But in each season of your life, there is a reason. Flow with God's season for your life. Don't look back. Keep looking ahead. Keep building what God is building in your life right now, and in this season of your life. Again, there will come a time you will reap with songs of joy!

Why do I share this? Because the Lord has spoken, and I just want to be faithful to release what God has spoken for this time. The Lord also knows there are people out there who are actually on the verge of giving up doing good, doing the good that the Lord has spoken for them to do, or on the verge of giving up running the race that God has set before them. If you are one of them, you are not alone! The Lord sees it, and the Lord knows exactly what you are going through. 

And right now, He is releasing His fresh new strength upon you, even refreshing upon you. Receive all this by faith. For some of you, even your walk of faith may have been challenged recently. Maybe some things have happened around you that cause you to doubt God, or to have 'question marks' as to why certain things happened. Maybe it's a passing of someone you know or someone you hold dear. Maybe it's an unexpected event that has happened in your life. Whatever that causes you to doubt or to have 'question marks', the Lord is saying to you right now: "I am still here for you. I will walk with you. I will see you through all this." 

Hebrews 12:1-2 (NKJV) says, 'Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us; looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.' 

The word 'cloud' here in ancient Greek was a figure of speech which indicates 'a large group'. This can imply 'all the men and women of God in the history of mankind' or 'all the angels in the spiritual realm'. The writer of Hebrews here pictured that you are surrounded by all of them, as if you are running your race in a stadium full of spectators surrounding you and cheering you all the way till the finishing line.

You see, you are not alone here. So, ignore all those detractors. Cast out all those doubts. Because those who are cheering you are many more than those detractors. What are these 'cloud of witnesses' cheering you on? They are cheering you to continue in your faith, and to run your race with endurance!

This brings us to the word 'endurance'. The word 'endurance' here is 'hupomone' in ancient Greek. It literally means 'going steadily on with focus and determination, and without getting deflected'. By the way, 'to get deflected' means 'to cause something to change direction, or to turn aside from the straight course'. So, 'hupomone' can be interpreted as 'not changing direction or not turning aside from the straight course, but instead, running with focus and determination towards the finishing line'. 

In Acts 20:24 (NKJV), the Apostle Paul said, "But none of these things move me... so that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus." 

None of those challenges moved him. None of those detractors moved him. He stayed focused on Jesus. Again here, just like in Hebrews 12, the Apostle Paul pictured himself as a runner, running a race to the finishing line, and that nothing could keep him from finishing the race that has been set before him. 

You see here, Paul specifically said 'finishing his race'. And he's going to finish his race with joy. That's what he said here. Now, the same it is for each of us. Each of us has a specific race to finish. It is not so much about competing in a race with others. It is our own race that God has specifically catered and set for us. In other words, our own unique race. Not to compare with others. 

The expression 'looking unto Jesus' here implies 'looking away from other things and having our eyes fixed on Jesus'. The Greek word for 'looking' here is 'aphorao'. It is more than what we usually understand about this word 'looking' in English. This word 'aphorao' is a much fuller word. It actually means 'looking attentively and single-mindedly, and looking away from everything else'. And it is not just looking unto Jesus and what He has done for us on the cross per se, but also looking unto Him for His guidance, His encouragement, His strength, His wisdom, His revelation, and so on. 

You see, He is everything to us. He is the all-encompassing God to us. A God who is more than enough for us. Amen! 

And of course, He is the author and finisher of our faith. That is to say, He is not just the author of our faith, but He is also the finisher of our faith. In other words, He is with you at the starting line of your race and He is with you at the finishing line of your race, and all along the race, everything in between, every step of the way! 

So, take heart, beloved. Indeed, the good work that He has begun in you, He will bring it to full completion. Philippians 1:6. I like this version in Amplified Bible, Classic Edition. 'And I am convinced and sure of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will continue until the day of Jesus Christ [right up to the time of His return], developing [that good work] and perfecting and bringing it to full completion in you.' 

So, what's your part now? Stay the course! Keep receiving His love and assurance along the way! Keep receiving His joy and strength along the way! When you receive His joy, you will also have the strength to carry on and finish your race. The Scripture says 'the joy of the Lord is your strength'. 

The power of God is here right now. The strength of God is here right now. The anointing of God is here right now. Receive all this by faith. In Jesus' name. Amen!

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When slander strikes: Letting go and letting God

The Lord says for this time: 

"Whatever injustice that you've gone through recently, know that My grace is sufficient for you. I have seen all the injustices and wrongs that some have committed against you, and I will know how to repay for you. For I am a God of justice. Forgive and let go. Have a big heart. Be merciful, for I am merciful. Look to Me and trust in Me, for I will know how to take over from here, just as I've done for David." 

David's life was a rather eventful and dramatic one. It's epic. Full of twists and turns. No one can deny that. But for today, we shall go straight to 2 Samuel 16. 

2 Samuel 16:5-6 says, 'Now when David came to Bahurim, there was a man from the family of the house of Saul whose name was Shimei the son of Gera, coming from there. Shimei came out cursing continuously as David came. Shimei threw stones at David and at all the servants of David.' 

2 Samuel 16:7-8 says, 'Shimei said thus when he cursed, "Come out! Come out! You bloodthirsty man, you rogue! The Lord has brought upon you all the blood of the house of Saul, in whose place you have reigned; and the Lord has delivered the kingdom into the hand of Absalom your son. So now you are caught in your own evil, because you are a bloodthirsty man!"'

Now, that was a false accusation against David! As a matter of fact, David had no intention to kill Saul in the first place. It was the other way round. It was Saul who had wanted to kill David. And here Shimei was, when David was down and out because he had just lost his throne to Absalom at that time, Shimei had this audacity to throw stones at David and accuse David of all kinds of things! 

2 Samuel 16:9-10 says, 'Then Abishai (one of the commanders of David's army) said to David, "Why should this dead dog curse my lord the king? Please, let me go over and take off his head!" But David said, "Let him curse..."'

As you can see here, David just allowed Shimei to curse him and say whatever he wanted to say against him. In other words, David did not react or strike back. 

2 Samuel 16:13 says, 'As David and his men went along the road, Shimei went along the hillside opposite him and cursed him (David) as he went. Shimei threw stones at David and kicked up dust against David.' 

Still, David did not react or strike back. He let it be. Now, the background at that time was that David's own son Absalom had just declared himself king, taking over from David. It was a full-scale rebellion and coup against David. Driven by his ambition for power, Absalom had by then positioned himself to win the hearts of the people towards himself and away from David. Having seized power from David, he then pursued David, forcing David to flee Jerusalem. 

And here Shimei was, taking advantage of the situation to add further misery to David. But as you can see in 2 Samuel 16 here, David did not react negatively or take matters into his own hands. In other words, he let God be God. He let God take over. 

What can we learn from here? Whatever injustice committed against you, or whatever slander spoken against you, know that God is watching. God is not dead. He is very much alive. He sees everything from the beginning to the end. 

And what's your part? Your part is to let God take over. Let God be God. Now, of course, different people different situation. Whatever your situation may be, this same principle applies. 

Eventually, in due time, the tide began to turn in David's favor. Somehow, someway! You see, God has eyes. God is a God of justice. God saw what David had gone through and the injustices that David had experienced. One day, Absalom went into a battle with David's army again. But this time, while he was riding his mule through the thick forest, his head got stuck in the branches of a large tree, and he was left hanging there. He was then killed by Joab and Joab's armor bearers. By the way, Joab was one of the commanders of David's army at that time. 

Now that David had regained his throne as king from Absalom, David returned to Jerusalem. So, earlier you saw what Shimei said to David as David fled Jerusalem. Now David's coming back to Jerusalem. What was Shimei's response this time? You can see that in 2 Samuel 19:18-20. Shimei fell down before David and said, "Do not let my lord impute iniquity to me, or remember what wrong your servant did on the day that my lord the king left Jerusalem, that the king should take it to heart. For I, your servant, know that I have sinned. Therefore, here I am, the first to come today of all the house of Joseph to go down to meet my lord the king." 

What a change of tone! Far from those abusive words being hurled against David when David was down and out! 

Abishai then said, "Shall not Shimei be put to death? Because he cursed the Lord's anointed?" But David said to Shimei, "You shall not die." You see, to Abishai at that time, and even to many who read this part of the Scripture, it probably doesn't make sense why David said what he said here. In fact, some would even say, "Why was David so foolish to forgive just like that?" I mean, how magnanimous was David! 

Most importantly, God saw David's heart. 

Now, do you think Shimei really had changed after that? Let me give you the answer. The answer is no, if you refer to the Scripture. Shimei continued to be 'a pain in the neck', so to speak. And later on, he continued to do so even to Solomon, David's son who became king after David. You can see that in 1 Kings 2. 

So, let's go all the way to 1 Kings 2 now. 

1 Kings 2:36-37 says, 'Then the king (Solomon) sent and called for Shimei (yes, the same Shimei), and said to him, "Build yourself a house in Jerusalem and dwell there, and do not go out from there anywhere. For it shall be, on the day you go out and cross the Brook Kidron, know for certain you shall surely die. Your blood shall be on your own head."'

1 Kings 2:38 says, 'And Shimei said to the king (Solomon), "The saying is good. As my lord the king has said, so your servant will do."'

You see, some things die hard. Shimei had proven again and again that he cannot be trusted. He eventually paid the price. So, it happened later, that the king (Solomon) was told that Shimei had gone out of Jerusalem. It was a blatant defiance against the king's order. In other words, Shimei broke his promise. He ate his own words, and therefore he had to pay for it with his own life. It's a checkmate for him. The king (Solomon) then commanded for Shimei to be executed. Well, the king had every right to do so. That's how Shimei died. And that's the end for Shimei. 

What can we learn from the Scripture here? 

Never seek revenge. Let God be God, and let God take over your situation, whatever situation you are facing at the moment. God who sees everything will know how to do His part, at the right time. And you see again and again how God did it for David. 

Beloved of God, the same it is for you. The people who try to hurt you, slander you, or throw false accusations against you will eventually pay the price. You don't even need to lift a finger, if God is on your side. So, yield your heart to God. Submit to God. Humble yourself under the mighty hands of God. Let God wash you clean, white as snow. A pure heart, and that's what God is looking for. And God will honor you for sure, and you will see your reward eventually. Amen! 

Like David, whether in the face of King Saul or Absalom, or even the less talked about Shimei that we looked at today, justice has been served in the end. And like David, whose name means 'Beloved', so are you today. You too are a beloved of God. Keep trusting in the Lord and His goodness in your life. Be patient. Persevere in the time of trial or persecution. The time will come when you shall see justice being served!

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Words from the Lord: "Exciting times are ahead for you!"

The Lord says:  

"The coming months are months of unprecedented victory and breakthrough for many of My people! Serendipity and divine appointments are coming your way, even in ways and places that are unexpected or unanticipated. Look to Me. Walk in it. Take hold of it by faith. Stay in shape spiritually and stay sharp spiritually. Don't miss what I am going to show you going forward, for exciting times are ahead for you!" 

The word 'serendipity' (to people of this world) can be defined as 'the occurrence and development of events by chance in a good and beneficial way'. But as a beloved of God, when you are walking with the Lord and when you allow your life to be led by the Holy Spirit, serendipity is more like 'being set up or appointed by the Lord', rather than 'by chance'. 

This is a good news for you, because the Lord is setting up divine appointments for you. Amen! 

Psalm 37:23 says, 'The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord, and He delights in his way.' The word 'ordered' here is 'kuwn' in Hebrew. It can be defined as 'be established, be properly set up, be set aright, be made ready, be provided, be prepared, be directed, be rendered prosperous, be fashioned, be ordained, be perfected'. 

The Lord can establish your steps, every step of the way. The Lord can set up good things for you. The Lord can make ready good things for you. The Lord can provide good things for you. The Lord can render you prosperous in this season of your life. Now, this can happen in any area of your life, be it in the ministry God has given you, in your career, in your business, or even in making new friends or entering into a relationship. 

This psalm was written by none other than David himself. He definitely knows what he's writing here. He has seen it all with his own eyes the goodness of God in his life, and how God delivered him from evil, danger, or trouble. From an unknown shepherd boy to be chosen to be anointed as a king by prophet Samuel. And then, he did great exploits for the Lord against Goliath and the Philistines, having great victory over them. After that, he survived attempts by King Saul who tried to kill him. And even after he had become king, he had to deal with an attempt to overthrow him as king by Absalom, one of his very own sons. Such an eventful life! Such a dramatic life! And at his old age, he wrote this psalm. 

And then, he wrote further in the same psalm. Psalm 37:25-29 says, 'I have been young, and now am old. Yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his descendants begging bread. He is ever merciful and lends; and his descendants are blessed. Depart from evil, and do good, and dwell forevermore. For the Lord loves justice, and does not forsake his saints. They are preserved forever, but the descendants of the wicked shall be cut off. The righteous shall inherit the land, and dwell in it forever.' 

Earlier in the same psalm, David also wrote in Psalm 37:4-5, 'Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He shall give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord. Trust also in Him, and He shall bring it to pass.' 

You see, David had gone through much in his life by the time he wrote this psalm, and he shared the keys to walking in the ways that are ordered and appointed by the Lord. This is a much better way to live your life than to strive or to try to make things happen by your own strength. 

Another example in the Scripture of 'being divinely appointed' is in the story of how Isaac and Rebekah met. 

Look here at Genesis 24:1-4. 'Now Abraham was old, well advanced in age; and the Lord had blessed Abraham in all things. So Abraham said to the oldest servant of his house, who ruled over all that he had, "Please put your hand under my thigh, and I will make you swear by the Lord... that you will not take a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites among whom I dwell. But you shall go to my country and to my family, and take a wife for my son Isaac."' 

Genesis 24:10-14 then says, 'Then the servant took ten of his master's camels and departed... And he arose and went to Mesopotamia, to the city of Nahor. And he made his camels kneel down outside the city by a well of water at evening time, the time when women go out to draw water. Then he said, "O Lord God of my master Abraham, please give me success this day, and show kindness to my master Abraham. Behold, here I stand by the well of water, and the daughters of the men of the city are coming out to draw water. Now let it be that the young woman to whom I say, 'Please let down your pitcher that I may drink', and she says, 'Drink, and I will also give your camels a drink' - let her be the one You have appointed for Your servant Isaac."' 

See the word 'appointed' here? And see the word 'success' here? The word 'success' here is 'qarah' in Hebrew. It can mean 'to chance upon, to light upon, to bring about, to cause upon, to be appointed, to be set up, to make it happen, to send (something good)'.

Let's continue and see what happened next. Genesis 24:15 says. 'And it happened, before he (the servant of Abraham) had finished speaking, that behold, Rebekah...'

And you know what? The rest is history. The story went this way. Rebekah was coming towards the well to draw water at that time, and when the servant of Abraham asked her to give him a little water to drink from her pitcher, she gave. Not only that. She also offered to draw water from the well for the camels to drink. Exactly as the servant of Abraham had prayed for! A divine appointment happened! 

So, that's for Isaac and Rebekah, and how they eventually got married! Now, this 'it happened' or 'being set up by the Lord' doesn't just apply in relationship or marriage, but this can happen in any other area of your life, be it in the ministry, in your career, in your business, or in every other area of your life. 

Like David, and like Isaac and Rebekah, all the above can happen to you as well! 

Prayer: 

"O Lord God, we receive by faith all that You have spoken for us today. We walk in it by faith. We want to be led by Your Spirit to be at the right place, and at the right time. Your Word says the steps of a good man are ordered and established by You. As David had experienced. As the servant of Abraham had experienced. As Isaac and Rebekah had experienced. And as many others in the Scripture that You have caused good things to happen to them. You are the same God to them in those days, and You are the same God to us today, in our lives. In the name of Jesus. Amen!"

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Words from the Lord: "New ideas and strategies will flow this month!"

The Lord says: 

"This month is a month of breath of fresh air in the spirit for many of My people. There's a fresh revelation. There's a brand new purpose. There will be new ideas and new strategies that I am giving to you. A new chapter has begun. A new door has been opened. Walk in it. Receive it. Never mind if you have missed out in the past, but this is the time to begin to look forward to the new opening that I have for you."  

Joshua 1:1-2 (NKJV) says, 'After the death of Moses the servant of the Lord, it came to pass that the Lord spoke to Joshua the son of Nun, Moses' assistant, saying: "Moses My servant is dead. Now therefore, arise, go over this Jordan, you and all this people, to the land I am giving to them..."'

In Joshua 1:9, the Lord said further, "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; Do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you..." 

That's what the Lord spoke to Joshua. And the Lord is saying the same to you right now!

At this point of time in Joshua chapter 1, there was a significant and pivotal change in Joshua's life. What was that pivot? God gave him new strategies. God gave him new mission. God gave him new purposes. As God has spoken to Joshua, God is speaking the same to you too! Not just that. God released His revelation to Joshua on how to go about, as he looked forward. That time has come for Joshua, both spiritually and physically. 

By the way, what is 'pivotal'? It is defined as 'of crucial importance in relation to the development and success of something'. In other words, the time is coming when you shall see something of greater significance happening in your life. That is the prophetic word for you at the moment. And it will be good!

So, Joshua chapter 1 is the key here. It is happening both spiritually and physically. In the spiritual realm and in the physical realm. It means not just in the spirit, but something you can see with your physical eyes. 

The Lord is saying this to you right now: "Be strong and be of good courage. Do not be afraid. Do not be dismayed. Get yourself ready to face a greater future!" 

Will you by faith receive these words? And whatever happens in the spirit shall be manifested in the natural, in the physical realm, in ways that you can see. Do not let the devil rob that from you! Also, receive a renewed strength from the Lord. Not just that. Receive new ideas, revelation, and even strategies from the Lord, as God opens new doors and new horizons for you! 

And the Lord is saying: "A major shift is coming! From the old to the new! It has begun!" 

Very interestingly, do you know Joshua actually had a name change prior to that? Many people actually don't know about this. So, it's not just people like Jacob or Abram who had name change. You know that, from Jacob to Israel, from Abram to Abraham. Each of these name change brought with it a change of character, and in turn, a change of fortune as well. Now, I'm not saying we all should go to the registration office and change our name. But what I'm saying is there will be a change of character and change of fortune in the spirit for you. And this change is to the better!

You see, throughout the Scripture, a name change is very significant and pivotal. One major example that we all know is from Jacob to Israel. That change led to something greater. So, it's not just about character change. It's more than that. 

How about Joshua? Let me show you in the Scripture. Numbers 13:8 (NKJV) says, '...from the tribe of Ephraim, Hoshea the son of Nun...' Notice this name 'Hoshea'. And then, Numbers 13:16 (NKJV) says, 'These are the names of the men whom Moses sent to spy out the land (the Promised Land, the land flowing with milk and honey). And Moses called Hoshea, the son of Nun, Joshua.' 

See? From Hoshea to Joshua! And it was Moses himself who called Hoshea a new name, Joshua. Now, that was a preparation point for something of greater significance to happen in Joshua's life. For the record, Moses at that time was getting his people to spy out the land of Canaan, the land which the Lord was about to give them. But you see, everyone who went to spy came back with negative report. They were afraid to take the land. There were two exceptions: Joshua and Caleb. They had a different mindset. They came back with good report. They saw new horizons and new opportunities, instead of difficulties. And you know what? The rest is history for Joshua and Caleb. They went into the Promised Land and conquered the land. 

Have you ever wondered what is the meaning of the old name 'Hoshea' and the new name 'Joshua'? 'Hoshea', the old name, simply means 'salvation' or 'deliverance'. How about 'Joshua'? 'Joshua', the new name, or rather, 'Yehoshua' as written in the Hebrew Bible, means 'YHWH saves' or 'YHWH delivers'. Some people may not notice this. But you see, something greater has been added! Where is the difference between the old and the new, 'Hoshea' and 'Yehoshua'? That difference is the name of the Lord God Almighty, YHWH, has been added to his name! 

To a stranger, that may not mean anything much. Nothing to shout about. But God! To God, and in the spiritual realm, it was like a major shift! It was like a major earthquake in the spirit that was about to shake and change history. And change it did! It was pivotal. It was of great significance. A change that marked the beginning of a new destiny and new journey for Joshua. And beginning at that point, God was assuring him that He is with Joshua. God's with him. God's backing him up in this new destiny and new journey. Joshua is not alone in this. God paved the way for him. And most importantly, God's with him in all the battles going forward! 

Now, the same it is with you, like Joshua, whatever 'opening' that God has for you, going forward! 

In Greek, this name 'Yehoshua' ('Joshua' in our English Bible) is translated 'Iesous'. This is actually the same form as Jesus' name in the New Testament. So, as you can see here, 'Yehoshua' (or 'Joshua') is a typology or a 'type' of 'Yeshua' (or 'Jesus'). 

For Yeshua (or Jesus), it was also at Jordan River that was pivotal. What happened there? He was baptized by John the Baptist there. You know what happened then and there? Heaven opened! The Spirit of God descended upon Jesus like a dove. Now, mark this word 'descended', because I'm going to explain it to you later. Not only the Spirit of God descended upon Jesus, a voice from heaven declared, "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." 

You know what's the pivot there? That marked the beginning of something new in Yeshua's time on earth. And now you see the same for Yehoshua (or Joshua) in Joshua chapter 1. The Lord was preparing him to lead the people to cross that same Jordan River into the Promised Land. And the Lord said to Joshua: "Be strong and be of good courage. Do not be afraid, for I, YHWH, am with you." 

What is the significance of this Jordan River? There's a similarity here both to Jesus and Joshua. This Jordan River was pivotal to both of them. The name 'Jordan' is 'Yarden' in Hebrew, which is derived from the word 'yarad', meaning 'to descend' or 'to flow down'. 

In other words, like river of water flowing down from the mountain. Like a waterfall falling upon you. The spiritual significance of this is just as the river of water flows down from top to bottom, God's revelation, God's power, and God's Spirit flows down from heaven to earth upon you! You know what this means? All the good that God has for you from above is now beginning to fall on you! Receive this by faith! This is the revelation today. And this includes new ideas from above, new strategies from above, and even new strength from above! 

No wonder Joshua never looked back ever since. Now, the same it is for you, beloved. Amen! 

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Breaking free!

The Lord says: 

"If you've been bound in a cycle of sin and sorrow, it's time to break free now! If you've been bound in a cycle of sickness and disease, be set free now! Whatever you've been bound and trapped in, I am releasing My anointing for you to walk free now!" 

The Lord says further: 

"For the time has come for you to walk into a brand new future and My promises for your future! Declare the yoke has been broken! Declare the bondage has been broken! Declare the 'cycle' has been broken! Curse-free! Sickness-free! Sorrow-free! My power is at hand!" 

Beloved of God, if you feel like "history is repeating itself" in your life, whether it is another round or 'cycle' of sorrow, failure, disappointment, or whatever bad memory from the past is "sticking out its ugly head" and repeating again in your life, this is your time to receive God's power to break free! 

Also, if you see like "history is repeating itself" in the areas of sin in that area or sickness, receive God's anointing to set you free right now! 

Or you simply have this feeling of "so near yet so far", God's power is at hand to break and destroy whatever the enemy is trying to hinder you from progressing in your life! 

The Scripture has the answer for you. 

In Isaiah 61:1-3 (NKJV), the Lord says: "The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me, because the Lord has anointed Me to preach good tidings to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound; To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, and the day of vengeance of our God; To comfort all who mourn... To give them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness." 

See the exchange taking place here? When you receive this power, this anointing of the Lord, your "ashes" is being exchanged with His beauty, your mourning is being exchanged with joy, and your heaviness, or whatever that burdens you, is being exchanged with praises of the Lord! Hallelujah! 

By the way, 'ashes' speaks of 'hopelessness'. When something turns into ashes, there's no way to restore it again or to make it whole again. That's how the world sees it and how the world thinks. But here, to God, even ashes can be restored into something beautiful again! Not only that, He is turning your mourning into joy! This joy doesn't come from anyone on earth. This joy comes directly from the Lord! And then your heaviness is being exchanged with garment of praise! You can begin to sing praises of the Lord like never before!

In Isaiah 61:4 (NKJV), the Lord says further: "And they shall rebuild the old ruins... and they shall repair the ruined cities..." 

The word 'repair' here is 'chadash' in Hebrew. It can simply mean 'to make new' or 'to be new'. In other words, everything has become new again! A brand new future! A brand new start! Looking forward to all of God's promises for you in a fresh new way! Looking forward with a new hope! Why? Because you have been set free from whatever that holds you back or entangles you in your past! 

A few verses later in Isaiah 61:7 (NKJV), the Lord says: "Instead of shame you shall have double honor, and instead of confusion they shall rejoice in their portion. Therefore in their land they shall possess double." 

Beloved of God, whatever you have gone through in your life recently or so far, receive this promise of God for you! Past is past, be it your shame, your sorrow, your despair, or whatever that's undesirable that you've been bound in. All these have been carried by Jesus on the cross! And you know what? Now! Now is your time to walk in double honor! Now is your time to possess double! Now is your time to receive the joy of the Lord, and rejoice! Rejoice in all that God has promised you and shown you!

Let's look at the book of Jeremiah now, specifically Jeremiah 31:3-4. You see, Jeremiah was known as a heartbroken prophet with a heartbreaking message. He was lamenting about what's happening to God's people at that time. But in spite of all that, he still had a wonderful message of hope for those who believe. In Jeremiah 31:3-4, this is what he quoted the Lord saying: "Yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love. Therefore with lovingkindness I have drawn you. Again I will build you, and you shall be rebuilt... You shall again be adorned with your tambourines, and shall go forth in the dances of those who rejoice." 

Even though Jeremiah 31:3-4 here is speaking specifically for the people of Israel, this can apply right now in your life too. The Lord is telling you, beloved, that there's hope for restoration and renewal in your life, whatever your past may be! 

Maybe you have gone through a time of mourning or sorrow recently. Maybe you have encountered a very sticky situation in your life recently. Or maybe you seem to be like at a dead-end road right now. Whatever you've been facing, take heart, beloved. Because the Lord has a good news for you! He wants you to know that He has loved you with an everlasting love. He wants you to know that He has begun His work of restoring you and making all things new in your life. Amen! 

You know what? These are reasons enough for you to rejoice. The joy of knowing that God remembers you! The joy of knowing that God hasn't forgotten you! The joy of knowing that God loves you with His unfailing and everlasting love! The joy of knowing that God has a new hope and purpose for you, going forward! The joy of knowing that your time of restoration and renewal has come! Amen! Somebody shout Hallelujah! 

Prayer: 

"O Lord God, we thank You for Your message of hope and renewal today. We thank You for Your power and anointing to set us free! Free from curse! Free from bondage! Free from whatever that traps or ensnares us! We receive Your anointing right now by faith! We receive Your oil of joy right now! We receive Your crown of beauty right now in exchange of our ashes! Hope is rising! Joy has been released upon us! We receive it by faith. We give You praises, O Lord! We rejoice with this joy that comes directly from You! We walk free now! Free to be who and what You've always wanted us to be. In Jesus' name. Amen!"

Click here to watch the video in TiC YouTube Channel

Sensing and hearing from God

The Lord says:

"This is a crucial time for My people to hear My voice. In fact, there are many secrets that I want to reveal to you in this time and season. Continue to live a life of holiness. Continue to live a life of submission. Continue to live a life of humility. Wash your hands. Wash your hearts. Let it be clean. Continue to stir up your spirit man. Don't let your spirit to slumber. Keep your spirit alert and ready for what's coming ahead and the glory days ahead!" 

Colossians 2:8 (NKJV) says, 'Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ.'

Colossians 2:8 (Expanded) says, 'Be sure [Be careful; Watch; See] that no one leads you away [takes you captive] with false [deceptive] and empty [worthless] teaching that is only human [according to human traditions], which comes from the ruling spirits of this world, and not from Christ.'

It's for this reason in Colossians 2:8 that it's so important to be able to sense and hear correctly from the right spirit (i.e. the Holy Spirit), and not from other spirit or spirits of this world. 

In fact, some of these human philosophies or human traditions have even sometimes crept into the church, and contaminated or adulterated the church and what Christ has meant the church to be. 

Also, nowadays, there are so many 'predictions' or 'prophecies' being spoken around, that even some Christians are taking it without checking and sensing if these are really from the Holy Spirit, or if these are merely from the minds of men. So, that's why Paul wrote in Colossians 2:8 to be careful. Every prediction or every prophecy has to be tested. The Scripture says so. 

What are the keys to sensing and hearing in the spirit correctly? 

1. A life of humility, submission and surrender

There's no other way around it. Without humility, submission and surrender to God and God's Spirit, we cannot be effective in sensing and hearing from Him. 

2. A life of holiness

It is like a radio antenna that receives reception. If you clean it, the antenna can receive better and function better. If you remove any dirt, dust, or other contaminants that might interfere with the reception, the antenna can receive better and function better. It is the same with your spirit, if you want to receive more clearly from the Holy Spirit. Therefore, allow the Holy Spirit to clear anything that hinders your walk with God. 

3. A life of worship

This simply means a life of surrender to God. Because to worship God is to surrender to God. Worship is not just in songs and singing. 

In Hebrew, the very word 'worship' is translated as 'shachah', which literally means 'to bow down, to kneel, to prostrate oneself (before God)'. So, worship, in the truest sense of the word, is about the heart. It is about a heart and a life of surrender and submission to God. It is about lowering ourselves and humbling ourselves before God. It is not so much about the outward performance or outward show, but 'shachah' or 'worship' is essentially lowering ourselves in our hearts before the Lord. 

One example of this word 'shachah' or 'worship' in the Scripture is found in Genesis 22:5. That's when Abraham told his servants that he and Isaac (his son) will 'shachah' on the mountain, which is translated as 'worship' on the mountain.

Let's move on to 1 Corinthians 2:12 (NKJV) that says, 'Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God.'

What are the things that have been freely given to us by God? One is His wisdom. Another is His revelation as to what you should do or what you should avoid, and even what's to come in the future!

Just a few verses before that, 1 Corinthians 2:9-10 (NKJV) says, 'But as it is written: "Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man, the things which God has prepared for those who love Him." But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God.' In The Expanded Bible, it is translated as 'the deep secrets of God'. 

That leaves us with the next question. In what way does God reveal His deep things through His Spirit? The answer can be found in 1 Corinthians 2:13 (NASB) that says, 'We also speak these things, not in words taught by human wisdom, but in those taught by the Spirit, combining spiritual thoughts with spiritual words.' 

See the words 'spiritual thoughts' and 'spiritual words' here? In other words, one way God can speak to you is by placing intelligible thoughts and words in your spirit. It means thoughts and words that can be readily understood by you. These thoughts and words are deeply imparted by the Holy Spirit inside of you, and these are not the product of one's own mind or one's own logic. Some Bible teachers call this 'the voice of the Holy Spirit'. It means the voice of the Holy Spirit spoken into your spirit. 

What are the general characteristics of the voice of the Holy Spirit? 

1. It comes as a spontaneous impartation, not premeditated by the hearer (Matthew 10:19-20)

2. It comes with specific commands or instructions (Acts 13:2)

3. It is distinctly divine, and the hearer knows it comes at the right timing when he/she needs it (Acts 10:19-20)

4. It is always aligned with the Word of God and the will of God, and not contradict it (Isaiah 55:8-11)

Click here for the full teaching in TiC YouTube Channel

A life of submission and surrender

The Lord says:

"Whatever situation you are facing at the moment, do not be wise in your own eyes and do not put your confidence in your own strength, but let Me take over. Let Me bring you from here. Let Me carry you through from here. For I am the Lord who cares for you. Do not allow yourself to hang on to the past, but let it go to Me. For I am beginning to do a new thing in your life. I will show you the necessary directions and instructions that you need. I will make the path straight for you. Humble yourself therefore, and live a life of submission and surrender."

Psalm 146:8 (NKJV) says, 'The Lord raises those who are bowed down.' 

The words 'bowed down' here is 'kaphaph' in Hebrew. In the context of this verse, it can mean 'to stoop (lower down) humbly in emptiness (before God)'. In other words, emptying ourselves from pride, emptying ourselves from wrongful thought, and emptying ourselves from thinking that we know better. And for those who 'kaphaph', the Lord raises them! 

Proverbs 22:4 (NKJV) says, 'By humility and the fear of the Lord are riches and honor and life.' 

The word 'humility' here is 'anavah' in Hebrew. In the context of this verse, it can mean 'lowering oneself in meekness (before God)'. Here, lowering oneself isn't just an outward show for people to see. Instead, more importantly, it is first and foremost done inside of you or in your heart. So, it is not so much about bowing down or lowering down one's head, but rather, bowing down or lowering down one's heart before the Lord. 

James 4:6-7 (NKJV) says, 'But He gives more grace. Therefore He says, "God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble." Therefore, submit to God...' 

The word 'submit' here is 'hupotasso' in Greek. In the context of our study today, it can mean 'to subordinate oneself (to God), to be obedient (to God), to be subjected (to God)'. 

Don't get God wrong. He is not like a taskmaster. He doesn't look at us like a slave being bound. But when we allow ourselves to be subordinated to Him, to be obedient to Him, or to be subjected to Him, many evil or danger can be prevented. Why? Because He sees farther than us. He knows what are our pitfalls. He knows what are the 'landmines' or 'traps' ahead of us. So, when we humble ourselves before Him, we are effectively allowing ourselves to be led and guided by the Holy Spirit. 

The devil will always want to try to influence us, whether through humans or through thoughts, or even through human ideologies or human philosophies. And that's how people get influenced and swayed away. But when you are subjected to God, you will not be subjected to any of these influences. You will not be deceived. You will not be so easily taken advantage of by the devil. You see, the devil can use humans to do that. You will not be lured by how the devil thinks or how the devil wants you to think. 

That's why the Scripture says, 'Resist the devil, and the devil will flee from you.' (James 4:7) That's why the Lord is calling us to live a life of submission to Him. It is not to enslave us. It is to make the way straight for our future. 

1 Peter 5:5-7 (NKJV) says, '"God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble." Therefore, humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.'

The word 'humble' here is 'tapeinoo' in Greek. It can mean 'to lower oneself', and in the context today, 'to lower oneself before God'. Again, you see 'to lower oneself before God' here, as we have explained earlier. It is a life of submission before God. It is a life of surrender before God. It is a life where you have the mindset of needing Him more than anything else or anyone else on earth. Now, that is the essence of what 'humility before God' is. It is about laying down your hearts before God, instead of being haughty and proud in your own eyes or in your own ways. 

And that's why 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.' In other words, 'make smooth or make straight your paths'. 

You see, all the Bible verses that we've read today tie up together. And that's what the Lord wants to tell us in this message today. 

Proverbs 11:2 (NKJV) says, 'When pride comes, then comes shame; But with the humble is wisdom.'

How do we receive wisdom from God? By humbling ourselves before God. How do we see our paths smooth and straight ahead of us? By humbling ourselves before God.

In 1 Peter 5:5-7 just now, notice that Peter didn't stop at saying, "God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble", but he continued by saying, "Casting all your care to Him, because He cares for you". 

To take things into your own hands instead of casting all your care to the Lord is like saying, "I can do it myself. I don't need God." But one aspect of humbling ourselves before God is to 'cast all our care to the Lord'. 

In life, there will always be things that we cannot fully comprehend or understand as to why certain things happened. But beloved of God, whatever has happened in and around you, or no matter what has happened, the Lord wants to assure you today that He knows what He is doing in your life, and He sees the end from the beginning. Your part is to let it go to the Lord, and live a life of submission and surrender before Him. There will come a day you will begin to understand the many things that you cannot understand now. So, the Lord is calling you to be patient. Yet, the Lord is saying to you He is still in control. The jigsaw puzzle will eventually be solved, so to speak. But one thing for sure is the Lord always and will always have your best interests in His mind. Amen! 

Click here for the full message in TiC YouTube Channel

Vision from the Lord: A wall of fire!

As I was seeking the Lord for the second half of this year 2025, the Lord gave Isaiah 41:17-20 that says: 

'The poor and needy seek water, but there is none, their tongues fail for thirst. I, the Lord, will hear them; I, the God of Israel, will not forsake them. I will open rivers in desolate heights, and fountains in the midst of the valleys; I will make the wilderness a pool of water, and the dry land springs of water. I will plant in the wilderness the cedar and the acacia tree, the myrtle and the oil tree; I will set in the desert the cypress tree and the pine and the box tree together, that they may see and know, and consider and understand together, that the hand of the Lord has done this, and the Holy One of Israel has created it.' 

Notice these underlined statements: "I will open rivers", "I will plant in the wilderness", and "The hand of the Lord has done this". These are God's assurances of His help for you in the second half of this year. Receive by faith!

What does "I will open rivers" mean? 

Here you see God sent His miraculous supply of water to those who are thirsty or those who need it. Now, this is an assurance that the Lord your God has never and will never run out of supply or resources for you! 

What are the supplies that you need from God at this point of your life? Is it divine health? Is it divine wisdom? Is it divine revelation? Is it divine guidance (as to what He wants you to do ahead of you)? You name it! 

You see, He opens rivers where there is no river! In other words, He opens doors where there seems to be no door for you! So, take heart, beloved, and keep looking to the Lord! The Lord your God will see to it that you will not run dry! 

Not just that. He also plants trees in the wilderness! What does this mean? It means He makes any barren places or barren aspects of your life to be fruitful again! You see, He can turn the most barren of places and turn it into a fertile ground! Full of trees that bear fruits! The same it is for your life! He can do that for you! And you shall see that the hand of the Lord is doing this for you in the second half of this year! 

So beloved of God, whatever you have gone through in the first half of the year 2025, be it disappointment, or pain, or victory, or success, let God take it from here. Believe and receive that the second half of the year will be better (or much better) than the first half of the year. 

What's your part? Your part now is to re-dedicate yourself and every aspect of your life afresh and anew to the Lord!

In Isaiah 41:10-11, the Lord says, "Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you. Yes, I will help you. I will uphold you with My righteous right hand. Behold, all those who were incensed against you shall be ashamed and disgraced; They shall be as nothing..." 

And then, in Isaiah 41:13, the Lord says, "For I, the Lord your God, will hold your right hand, saying to you, 'Fear not, I will help you'." 

The word 'help' here is 'azar' in Hebrew. It can mean  'to surround, to protect, to aid'. So, whatever you are going through at the moment or have gone through in the past months, fear not, because the Lord is here to 'azar' you. In other words, the Lord is here to surround you, to protect you, and to come to your aid! 

When you know that the Lord is the One who surrounds you, there's nothing, absolutely nothing, that the devil can do against you! You are assured of the Lord's roundabout protection and help!

This confirms a vision I saw the other day of 'a wall of fire' surrounding those whom I pray for. And that's when I also heard these words: "Roundabout protection". 

What does 'roundabout protection' mean? In our context, it simply means 'divine protection' over you in every aspect of your life, like 'a wall of fire' surrounding you, where no harm can touch you! 

In cross-reference to this 'roundabout protection', we shall see Psalm 34:7 (NKJV) that says, 'The angel of the Lord encamps all around those who fear Him, and delivers them'. It means 'delivers them from all the works of darkness, or danger, or trouble'. Notice the words 'encamps all around' here. 

Let's look at New Living Translation now. Psalm 34:7 (NLT) puts it this way, 'The angel of the Lord is a guard; he surrounds and defends all who fear Him'. You see the word 'surrounds' here? 

The word 'surround' here is interesting. It is 'chanah' in Hebrew. It can mean any of these: 'to incline to (you), to abide and dwell (with you), to give you rest (from all the troubles), to pitch a tent (over you), to camp (with you)'. 

You can see it this way. Imagine you are now in an army camp or a military camp, and no outsider or intruder can get near you. Why? There are guards to guard the camp. What do these guards do? They are responsible for the security of the camp that you are in. They also prevent unauthorized access or intruders into the camp. These guards act as a first line defense to protect you who are inside the camp. And that's what 'chanah' means! 

Another cross-reference to this 'roundabout protection', which is like 'a wall of fire' over you, can be found in Zechariah 2:5. Here, the Lord says: "For I will be a wall of fire all around her, and I will be the glory in her midst." 

Even though this verse specifically refers to Jerusalem, this can also apply to you in your context as God's beloved. 

So, as you enter the second half of the year 2025, watch these key words: "I will open rivers for you", "I will plant trees in the wilderness for you", "My hand is with you", and "My roundabout protection is with you". Receive all this by faith. In Jesus' name. Amen!

Click here to watch the video in TiC YouTube Channel