Words from the Lord: "I remember all the good that you've done!"

The Lord says: 

"I remember and appreciate all the good that you've done for Me. And I remember and appreciate all the good that you've done for others whom I extend My hand to. In the open. In the secret. Wherever you are. Anytime. Anywhere. Even if you've forgotten about it. And I will know how to reward you openly." 

The Lord is pointing us to the story of Elijah today. 

After a great exploit for the Lord at Mount Carmel, and after having defeated and executed the prophets of Baal, 1 Kings 19:1-2 (NLT) says, 'When Ahab (the king) got home, he told Jezebel (his wife) everything Elijah had done, including the way he had killed all the prophets of Baal. So Jezebel sent this message to Elijah: "May the gods strike me and even kill me if by this time tomorrow I have not killed you just as you killed them."'

Elijah was afraid and then fled for his life. As he was alone in the wilderness, he prayed that he might die. "I have had enough, Lord," he said. "Take my life, for I am no better than my ancestors who have already died." 

At that point of time, Elijah was burnt out. Not just that. He felt like a failure. In fact, he even felt angry. He felt like nothing has changed. It's back to the same old status quo. The people of God those days, after having seen a great spectacle and miracle from God, seemed to have forgotten the great things done by God. It's back to "business as usual" again. They didn't seem to have a great awakening. The evil king still remained the evil king. The evil queen Jezebel still remained the evil queen. It's like nothing has changed. In fact, the evil queen Jezebel even wanted to kill him! 

And here Elijah was - burnt out, discouraged, disoriented, and even feeling angry - so much so he wanted to die. But look here what happened. As he was sleeping, an angel of the Lord touched him and said, "Get up and eat!" Elijah looked around and there beside his head was some bread baked on hot stones and a jar of water. So he ate and drank, and then slept again. The angel then came again, touched him and said, "Get up and eat some more, or the journey ahead will be too much for you." So he got up, ate and drank, and the food gave him enough strength to travel forty days and forty nights to Mount Sinai, the mountain of God. 

Something interesting happened here. Instead of judging Elijah for his negativity and defeatism, God did the opposite. God showed care and appreciation towards Elijah. The angel sent food and drink to strengthen him. Obviously, God wasn't done with Elijah yet. God still has new things ahead for Elijah. God still has a plan for Elijah. God still has a future for Elijah. 

Right now, beloved of God, maybe you too are in somewhat the same situation as Elijah. You feel like your life's going nowhere. Or you feel so tired and exhausted with life, or in your career, or in the ministry. You feel like no one appreciates you for all the good that you've done. Or you feel like you have failed and wasted your life, and what you've done so far is in vain, yielding not much result. Whatever it may be, take heart. Even if all these happen, and even if no one seems to see the good in you and appreciate you, the Lord sees and the Lord appreciates you.

Today, He wants to give you the grace and the strength to rise again. Yes, even better than before!

So, let Him do His part. Let Him do a deep work in you. He is releasing His Spirit upon you right now. He is releasing His refreshing in your spirit right now. Let your spirit be refreshed and be renewed again. 

Back to Elijah now. With the strength that Elijah received from the bread and water, which speaks of the Word of God and the Spirit of God, he reached the mountain of God, where he was about to have a personal encounter with God. 

After the windstorm, the earthquake, and the fire, the Lord began to speak to him in a gentle whisper. The Lord began to speak new things to him. New direction. New instruction. New purpose. Beloved of God, at this juncture of your life, the Lord is doing the same for you right now. 

1 Kings 19:15-16 (NLT) says, 'Then the Lord told Elijah, "Go back the same way you came, and travel to the wilderness of Damascus. When you arrive there, anoint Hazael to be king of Aram. Then anoint Jehu grandson of Nimshi to be king of Israel, and anoint Elisha son of Shaphat from the town of Abel-meholah to replace you as my prophet."' 

There's a new role in a new season for Elijah. What is that role? His new role was to anoint and to mentor a new generation of kings and prophet! In other words, the Lord moved him on to become a spiritual father and a mentor now. It's not just a re-direction! It's a promotion! A new level! The next level! 

You see, God remembered and appreciated all that Elijah had done in the earlier season or seasons of his life. And now, at this juncture, a new season and a new stage of life had begun to spring forth! Today, the Lord is speaking the same to you too. 

You may say, "That's Elijah. That's a great man of God. How can I compare with him?" But the Lord is saying this doesn't just apply for those serving in the ministry. This also applies to every aspect of your life as a believer. In your career. In your vocation. In the business. In every area of your life. 

God is interested in every aspect, and even the minute detail of your life. God doesn't just care for your spiritual ministry. God doesn't just care for your calling and mission in your life. God cares for you in every other area of your life. Yes, in every way. God is interested in your well being. God is interested in giving you the peace that you need. God is interested in giving you the joy that you need. 

Because God loves you so much, He never forgets you. Even if everyone forgets you, He never forgets you. Even if everyone  bypasses you, He never bypasses you. So, come before the Lord just as you are. Let go of those past to the Lord. Let go of your insecurities to the Lord. Let go of your worries and concerns to the Lord. Come to His embrace right now. He is your Abba Father, your Heavenly Father, your Daddy Father in heaven. And you are His beloved son or beloved daughter. 

Let Him fill you again all in all. Let Him fill you with His love, His peace, and His joy again. Let Him fill you with a renewed hope again. Keep receiving His refreshing. Keep receiving His divine strength.

He wants to be in deep union with you. Just you and Him. Nothing coming between you and Him. Here, the Lord wants to meet you. Here, the Lord is giving you a new direction. Here, the Lord is giving you a new purpose. And here, the Lord is releasing a new strength and zeal upon you to look ahead in your life, like what happened to Elijah!

Click here for the full message in TiC YouTube Channel

Words from the Lord: "Strength is coming upon you!"

As I was praying and worshiping the Lord, I heard the Lord say, "Strength! Strength! Strength!" 

And then, I heard the Lord say: 

"A fresh release of My strength is coming upon you! Receive by faith right now. Do not lose heart. Do not be discouraged. For I am causing you to see your victory and breakthrough as you look to Me. Take heart therefore. You will be on time. You will not be too late. Do not allow yourself to be undermined by the circumstances or challenges that you are facing right now. For I've made you more than conquerors through Me who loves you!" 

Psalm 28:7-8 (NKJV) says, The Lord is my strength and my shield; My heart trusted in Him, and I am helped. Therefore my heart greatly rejoices, and with my song I will praise Him. The Lord is their strength, and He is the saving refuge of His anointed.' 

The word 'strength' here is 'oze' in Hebrew. It can mean 'power, might, boldness, force, security'. The Lord is the power who works in you. He is the might who works in you. He gives you the boldness that you need to rise above all your circumstances and challenges, and whatever the devil throws at you. He is the force who works in you and through you. And of course, He is your security and safety. Therefore, fear not!

Here in Psalm 28, David looked to the Lord in a time of challenges in his life. If you look at Psalm 28:1, he acknowledged that the Lord is his Rock. What does 'Rock' mean here? It speaks of security and stability. It cannot be shaken. You see, a solid rock is like a strong foundation. It is unshakable. Very interestingly, one fact in the whole of Old Testament is that 'rock' usually is symbolic of who God is, not about any human being! 

Maybe you are in a deep despair right now. Maybe you are in a certain crisis right now. Maybe you are facing a certain illness right now. Or maybe it's a difficult financial situation that you are facing right now. Whatever it may be, the Lord your God is saying to you right now that He is your Rock. And He will still be your Rock, now and forever. So, take heart, and be encouraged. 

Psalm 46:1-3 (NKJV) says, 'God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, even though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; Though its waters roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with its swelling.'

This is a psalm that speaks of our confidence and trust in the Lord's protection, power, and of course, strength. The expressions 'The earth be removed... the mountains be carried... the waters roar... the mountains shake...' here speak of some of the most devastating and frightening things that can happen on earth. Yet, the psalmist wrote that we are not to fear any of these. Why? Because the Lord your God is greater than all these. Now, what more, whatever situation that you are facing now. He is definitely and infinitely greater than all your problems and challenges combined together! Is there anything too hard for God? Is there anything that God cannot overcome? Nothing! 

Because He is your El Shaddai, the Almighty, The Great I Am, The I Am Who I Am, the Great and Mighty God, the miracle-working God. Amen! And He lives in you! 

Isaiah 40:29-31 (NKJV) says, 'He gives power to the weak, and to those who have no might He increases strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall, but those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.' 

The word 'strength' here is 'otsmah' in Hebrew. It means 'power, abundance, numerous (in strength)'. In other words, strength and power, great in number and great in volume! Abundance of God's strength and power! Numerous in strength! And the Scripture says all these are being added upon you! 

What are the areas in your life that you have been weary? What are the areas in your life that you are falling apart? What are the areas in your life that you feel so weak? The Lord wants to release His strength upon you right now! Strength upon strength shall be added upon you! Strength great in number and strength great in volume! That's what 'otsmah' means here.  

Let's go to the New Testament now. Romans 8:35-37 (NKJV) says, 'Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? ...Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.' 

Very interestingly, 'more than conquerors' here is 'hupernikao' in Greek. This word is from the word 'huper' meaning 'beyond, more than, exceeding, above', and 'nikao' meaning 'victory, conquer, prevail, subdue, overcome'. 

When you combine these two Greek words, 'huper' and 'nikao', 'hupernikao', it literally means 'more than a victory'. You know what? It is a decisive victory. What is a decisive victory? It is a military term. It is a military victory that effectively ends a war. It is a victory that is definitive and gives outright victory to you. That's what decisive victory is. In other words, it is done, and it is concluded. This victory has been concluded, and there's no way the enemy can rise up against you anymore in that situation! Wow! Now, that's powerful! And that's what Paul wrote here, 'you are made more than conquerors'. 

How do you walk in this realm of 'more than conquerors'? It's when you know how much God loves you and how much God is fighting for you! And that's also when you know you have no more fear, whatsoever, knowing that you have been made a 'hupernikao'. More than conquerors!

Click here to watch the video in TiC YouTube Channel