Receive this fire that helps you to advance in your life!

I saw this vision during a time of prayer. It's a vision of fire coming from above. This fire aglows. This fire lights up the room that's dark. It's a fire from God! I could literally feel the presence of God in the room where I was praying. I saw this fire burning away the hands that sabotage, the hands that disrupt, the hands that disturb, and the hands that cause danger or evil. 

Then, I heard the Lord say, "Whatever that sabotages, whatever that disrupts, whatever that disturbs, and whatever that causes danger or evil to you, this fire from heaven, the fire of God, the fire of the Holy Spirit, burns all these away." 

The Lord said further, "This fire is clearing away the hindrances that the forces of darkness have put against you. This fire is clearing your path. This fire is clearing your path in life, your career path, and whatever path that I have destined for you to walk in. This fire goes out in every direction, and it destroys every hand of evil or hidden hand that tries to come against you, whether in the spiritual realm or in the physical realm." 

The Lord also said, "This fire is holy. The fire of holiness and purity. This fire cleanses. This fire purifies. This fire burns away the chaff or whatever that's undesirable. This fire brings light to whatever that is darkness in your life. Keep receiving from Me. Keep this fire burning. Like the lamps burning on the lampstand in the Temple in the days of old. For this fire will never go out. This fire keeps on burning and touches many lives around you." 

In Leviticus 24:1-2 (Expanded Bible), the Lord said to Moses, "Command the people of Israel to bring you pure oil from crushed olives. That oil is for the lamps so that these lamps may never go out." 

Leviticus 24:3-4 says further, "Aaron (the priest) will keep the lamps burning in the Meeting Tent from evening until morning before the Lord... This law will continue from now on. Aaron must always keep the lamps burning on the lampstand of pure gold before the Lord." 

Beloved of God, like the Tabernacle or the Temple those days, you are the temple of the Holy Spirit under the New Covenant! (1 Corinthians 6:19)

Now, this fire is not an ordinary fire. This is the fire of God. This is the fire from heaven. This is the fire of the Holy Spirit. This fire clears the way for you to fulfill your God-given destiny. This fire accomplishes things for you. And when God accomplishes for you, no man can stop it! Why? Because this fire is greater! This fire is greater than any force of darkness that tries to come against you. 

The Lord then said, "This fire will not die. This fire cannot be defeated. This fire cannot be vanquished by the enemy. As you open your heart and continue to receive this fire inside of you afresh and anew from Me, I will see to it that no weapon that is formed against you shall prosper, and every word that comes against you in judgment, you shall condemn and overcome." 

As I was praying, I also kept hearing this word "haba" in Hebrew. This word can be found in Psalm 118:26. Let's read from the Expanded Bible. 'God bless [Blessed be] the one who comes in the name of the LORD. We bless all of you from the Temple [house] of the LORD.' 

See the words 'who comes' here. In Hebrew, the statement "Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the LORD" is read as "Baruch Haba B'shem Adonai". 'Baruch' means 'Blessed'. 'Haba' means 'He who comes'. 'B'shem' means 'In the name of'. 'Adonai' means 'The LORD'. 

"Baruch Haba B'shem Adonai". Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD! 

Let's zero in on 'who comes'. It is 'haba' in Hebrew. Specifically, the word 'comes' is 'ba' in Hebrew. It can also mean 'befall (like the light or fire that falls on you), embrace, abide, enter'. 

Who is this that 'haba'? Who is this that brings light? Who is this that comes with fire? Who is this that enters? 

Psalm 119:130 says, 'The entrance and unfolding of Your words give light; their unfolding gives understanding (discernment and comprehension) to the simple.' 

Now, that's the key: A simple heart and a childlike heart. A life that clears oneself of the complication that's in this fallen world. And that's how you're going to receive and be enlightened. Welcome Him. Welcome this light. Welcome this fire. 

Who is this 'Word of God', as in 'Your words give light' here in Psalm 119? None other but Jesus! He is the Word of God became flesh, and He dwelt among us (John 1:14). And He comes with the fire that burns away infirmities and sins. This same fire has been released upon you! He is igniting in you this fire that keeps burning! Like in the Tabernacle or the Temple of God in the days of old!

As you receive this fire, and as you continue to pray in the spirit, let God show you many things. Let God illuminate you. Let God enlighten you. Let God cause you to see the many things that you couldn't see in the past. Let God show you His secrets! 

Interestingly, one verse after Psalm 118:26 that we've read just now, Psalm 118:27 (Expanded Bible) says, 'The Lord is God, and He has shown kindness to us...' This can also be understood as 'has illuminated us' or 'has given light to us'. Amen!

Today, the Lord is calling you and inviting you to join Him and embrace Him! Embrace His light. Embrace His fire. Because He is in the midst of illuminating you. He is enlightening your spiritual eyes of understanding. Many things that you couldn't see in the past, you shall begin to see. Many things that you couldn't understand in the past, you shall begin to understand. Things will be made so much clearer for you!

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Prophetic words: A time to advance and flourish!

Words from the Lord: 

"This new spiritual year is a year of moving, advancing and possessing! This is the year of moving from the old and advancing to the new. This is the year to possess your inheritance in Me and move into a new assignment that I have prepared for you!"

Further words from the Lord: 

"Like Joshua when he left the wilderness and moved into the Promised Land, a new strength and a new momentum is building for My people. Wisdom and revelation will be added upon My people. You will know the right direction to go, and the right way to do things. Fresh revelations will flow."

We have entered a brand new Hebrew year, a brand new spiritual year! 

The key for this new spiritual year is moving, advancing and possessing!

As I was praying in the spirit, the Lord gave me a vision. In the vision, I saw rows and rows of new palm trees growing right before my eyes. The trees are growing very fast, like even before someone finished planting a new palm tree, the tree before that has already grown to be a matured tree, bearing fruit. And I saw tree after tree, each one grew so fast and began to bear fruit.

I asked the Lord for the interpretation of this vision. And this is what the Lord said: "Like the palm trees, many things are going to accelerate in ways you cannot imagine possible. There's going to be a lot of movement and advancing in the spiritual realm, and it will be reflected in the physical realm. Like Joshua after crossing Jordan, the conquests happened so fast - in just that few years - as he led the people to possess their inheritance."

Some of you may ask, "What is the significance or symbolic meaning of palm tree according to the Scripture?"

Psalm 92:12 (NKJV) says, 'The righteous shall flourish like a palm tree. He shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon.'

'Palm tree' here is 'tawmawr' in Hebrew, from the original root word meaning 'to grow, to flourish, to shoot up, to go upright'.

For the record, palm tree is a fruit bearing tree. In fact, a palm tree bears fruit that is super nutritious. The fruit, or the dates of the palm tree, is considered one of the super foods even today. This fruit can sustain people's life for a long time even without them eating any other food. 

You see, not only palm dates are super nutritious, but palm dates can also sustain people's life for a long time. Therefore, 'palm tree' speaks of 'flourishing'. Beloved of God, you too are like the palm tree! You too will flourish! And this is what you're going to see happening in your life, as you look to the Lord and flow with the Lord!

Even as you begin this new spiritual year, the Hebrew new year (and this includes a big portion of the Gregorian year 2023), receive this grace from the Lord to flourish, to advance, and to shoot up! Not just that. You are going to triumph! You are going to overcome! And like Joshua, you are going to possess the inheritance that the Lord has wanted to give to you this brand new spiritual year!

Prayer:

"O Lord God, we thank You for Your prophetic words today. We thank You that as we look to You and follow Your leading the way Joshua followed You, we shall advance and possess our inheritance that You have promised us. We want to be like the palm trees that flourish and bear much fruit, as we look forward and look ahead in our lives. We want to walk in the fullness of what You have prepared for us in this brand new spiritual year. In the name of Jesus. Amen."

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Your time to advance has come!

The Lord says these words in this time and season:
"Many of My people have let go of their past. Many of My people have been determined to stand their ground in the face of the enemy. But NOW is My people's time to advance!"

The Lord says further:
"Your time to advance has come! Like Joshua who chose to let go of the past, and began to move forward! There will be new ways of doing things. There will be new ways of seeing things. Behold, I will do a new thing!"

People of God, as you let go of the past and begin to look forward, this is a key time to declare Isaiah 43:19 unto your life: 'Behold, I will do a new thing. Now it shall spring forth; Shall you not know it? I will even make a road in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert'! Notice it is the Lord who will do a new thing, and not us. Our part is to heed and move with Him!

One example of transitioning from the old to the new is found in the book of Joshua. Joshua 1:1-2 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, and go over this Jordan, you and all this people, to the land which I am giving them..."'

Moses had paved the way for the people of the Lord, and through him, they were delivered from the stranglehold of the Pharaoh. But now was Joshua's time. And the Lord spoke to him to arise, and go over to take the Promised Land!

As we all know, change is never 'comfortable', because it involves re-adjustments (in the way we see or do things). But change is necessary, so that we can enter the new that God has prepared for us, just as He had prepared for Joshua!

A time of change is also a time of allowing God to bring renewal (in the way things are done, even in unprecedented ways). Change, of course, takes willingness and great courage. That's why the Lord spoke these words to Joshua as an assurance to him, "No man shall be able to stand before you... as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you nor forsake you... Only be strong and very courageous..." (Joshua 1:5-7)

Now, don't get me wrong. We don't change for the sake of changing. But we change when the Lord tells us so. As Joshua embraced change, the Lord assured him that He would not leave him nor forsake him. Joshua was to be strong and very courageous, because the Lord would show him many things he had not been taught before in Moses' days. Joshua in turn went on his three major military campaigns (central, south, and north) with great success (see Joshua chapters 6-11).

You see, the key to Joshua's great success was his willingness to embrace changes in strategies whenever the Lord instructed him to do so. And as Joshua heeded the Lord's instructions every step of the way, advancing as He advanced, there was no looking back, and the people of the Lord began to enter a time of greater blessings!

People of God, know that your Joshua time has come too! Don't miss this time and season! Let go of those past (whatever it may be), and declare that you too are entering a time of greater blessings!

Receive the dunamis power to break the 'shell'!

I heard these words from the Lord recently:
"There's an anointing being released right now! There's dunamis power being released right now to break the shell that hinders My people from advancing!"

And I heard further:
"There is a newness in the spiritual realm! For I am setting My people free from their shells, because the time has come for My greater works in their lives! Take it! Receive it! New territories! New expansions! New outreaches! Greater authority! Greater influence! Get ready to enlarge your tents!"

In Isaiah 54:2-4, the Lord says, "Enlarge the place of your tent, and let them stretch out the curtains of your dwellings; Do not spare; Lengthen your cords, and strengthen your stakes. For you shall expand to the right and to the left, and your descendants will inherit the nations, and make desolate cities inhabited. Do not fear, for you will not be ashamed; Neither be disgraced, for you will not be put to shame; For you will forget the shame of your youth, and will not remember the reproach of your widowhood anymore."

Yes, indeed, this is a time to advance! Whatever 'shell' or 'limitation' that the world (or the enemy) has put over you, this is a time to receive the dunamis power of God to set you free! For many of God's people, you've 'outlived' your 'shells'! The Lord gave me a funny impression the other day. It's a picture of a 'hermit crab'. And He said, "Tell My people don't be like a hermit crab, always hiding inside, and staying 'small' inside the shell!"

Admittedly, it isn't easy to break away (or break free) from something you are so used to. But break away you must! Because the time has come for His greater works in your life! Proclaim this loud and clear: "The time has come for God's greater works in my life!" And fear not, because you will not be put to shame! This is His promise for you, as you let Him set you free! Free from the bondage and the limitation that has kept you 'small'!

Let's look at an example in the Scripture now. In Paul's third missionary journey, there was a time he was speaking, reasoning and persuading concerning the kingdom of God in the synagogue at Ephesus. But when some were hardened and did not believe, and even spoke evil of the Way, he departed from them, reasoning daily in the school of Tyrannus instead. This was a private school run by someone named Tyrannus, and Paul rented (or was granted) a classroom in the afternoon hours (the hours when the school was unused), and he did this faithfully for two years (see Acts 19:8-10).

But there came a time God wanted to do a greater work through Paul! And He was about to expand His influence and outreaches in the whole city of Ephesus beyond the classroom that Paul used! A time of 'greater expansion' and 'enlarging the tent' was at hand! Notice what Acts 19:11-12 say, 'Now God worked unusual miracles by the hands of Paul, so that even handkerchiefs or aprons were brought from his body to the sick, and the diseases left them and the evil spirits went out of them'. The very word 'unusual' here implies Paul had not been accustomed to work such miracles before! In other words, it was unprecedented to Paul!

Now, what if Paul didn't believe the 'dunamis' power of God could flow through those handkerchiefs or aprons? And what if he refused to let God do beyond what he knew to do at that time, thus confining himself to just teaching and reasoning inside the classroom? The advancement of God's kingdom and the breakthrough in the city of Ephesus wouldn't have happened, such that the Word of the Lord grew mightily and prevailed! (Acts 19:20)

People of God, will you also allow the Lord to break the 'shells' that limit and confine you? This is your time to be set free! This is your time to begin walking in your God-given destiny! This is your time to begin fulfilling your God-given potentials! Take it! Receive it! The anointing is here for you to receive! And proclaim this loud and clear again: "The time has come for God's greater works in my life!" To God be all the glory!

This is a key time to advance!

I heard these words from the Lord recently:
"I am enlightening the spiritual eyes of many in this new time and season! Many things you couldn't see, you'll begin to see! Many things you couldn't understand, you'll begin to understand! Many things you didn't realize, you'll begin to realize!"

The word 'enlighten' in the context here means 'to receive deeper insight and understanding of who the Lord is, and what the Lord is currently doing (in each of our lives)'. In Ephesians 1:17-19a, the apostle Paul wrote, 'that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe...'

I then heard further:
"This is a key time to advance! As you receive the enlightening of your spiritual eyes, I will cause you to advance, both in My kingdom and in your lives! I am the Potter, and you are the clay! I will put My Spirit in you, and you will be My vessels! I will do miracles and wonders through you, and I will cause many to be enlightened because of you!"

People of God, this is the time and season for the Lord to enlighten your spiritual eyes to 'see' and understand many things that you couldn't 'see' and understand in the past! As you allow Him to do so, He will show you many keys to advance from where you are at the moment. Some of you have been 'stagnant' in your life for a season (and even seasons), but take heart, because if you are reading this, your time to advance has come!

Your part is to humble yourself under the mighty hand of God (1 Peter 5:6), just as the clay is being shaped (and re-shaped) by the potter. Isaiah 64:8 (NIV) says, 'Yet you, Lord, are our Father. We are the clay, You are the Potter; we are all the work of your hand', and Jeremiah 18:1-4 (ERV) says, 'This is the message that came from the Lord: "Jeremiah, go down to the potter's house. I will give you my message there." So I went down to the potter's house and saw him working with clay at the wheel. He was making a pot from clay. But there was something wrong with the pot. So the potter used that clay to make another pot. With his hands he shaped the pot the way he wanted it to be'.

Indeed, He is the Potter, and you are the clay. Allow Him to shape (and even re-shape) you the way He wants it to be.

As you are being enlightened, and as you advance in all that He has purposed for you to be, the Lord will also begin to use you as 'vessels' through whom many others will be 'enlightened'!

In John 9, the Scripture tells us that Jesus passed by and He saw a man born blind, and His disciples asked Him who had sinned - the blind man or his parents - that he was born blind. Jesus answered them, "Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but that the works of God should be revealed in him. I must work the works of Him who sent Me while it is day; the night is coming when no one can work. As long as I am in this world, I am the light of the world." (John 9:3-5).

John 9:6-7 then says, 'When He had said these things, He spat on the ground and made clay with the saliva; and He anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay. Then He said to him, "Go, wash in the pool of Siloam" (which is translated, Sent). So he went and washed, and came back seeing'.

This passage is prophetic of our time and season now, and 'blindness' being written about here is symbolic of 'blindness in the spiritual eyes' of many in this world.

The 'ground' here speaks of 'you and I', as the 'ground' consists of 'dust and soil'. The Bible says '...for dust you are, and to dust you shall return' (Genesis 3:19). The 'saliva' here speaks of 'water of the Word and the Spirit'. You see, Jesus could have put the saliva straight on the blind man's eyes, but He chose to use the clay instead! And who is that 'clay' here? You and I, the 'clay' that is being wet by the 'water of the Word and the Spirit'! (Ephesians 5:26, John 7:37-39)

What then is the symbolic meaning of 'Siloam' here? Why did Jesus point that blind man to 'Siloam'? This word is 'Shiloach' in Hebrew, which means 'sent, sword, a shoot (from the plant), a branch (from the tree)'. Notice all these meanings point to none other but Jesus Himself - the Sent One, the Word of God, the Shoot, and the Branch of Righteousness! (John 6:29, Ephesians 6:17, Isaiah 11:1, Jeremiah 23:5-6)

People of God, just as Jesus pointed the blind man to 'Siloam', and the wonders of God manifested, so will you see the same as you begin to point others to the Sent One, the Word of God, the Shoot, and the Branch of Righteousness! Because He has put His Spirit in you; and as He is, so are you in this world! (1 John 4:17) Amen!

Not a time to retreat or give up!

I released these words as I was ministering last Sunday:
"This is not a time to retreat or give up! Eat of My food all the more, and drink of My drink all the more! Like I have spoken to Elijah those days! There's so much more that I have in store for you, and there's so much more that I want to show you! Receive My strength and be healed in your situation!"

The word 'retreat' is defined in the Oxford Dictionary as '(especially of an army, etc) withdraw when faced with danger or difficulty'.

We are going to do a little study today on the life and ministry of Elijah.

So, who is Elijah? Let's go right into 1 Kings 17:1 when the name Elijah was first mentioned in the Bible. This verse says, 'And Elijah the Tishbite, of the inhabitants of Gilead, said to (king) Ahab, "As the Lord God of Israel lives, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years, except at my word."'

Not much is known about Elijah's background, and Bible scholars have differing views on which tribe he's from. This simply goes to show that it doesn't matter what your background is (or who your forefathers are), but as long as you walk with the Lord and fear the Lord, He will be with you and use you for His glory!

'Elijah' is 'EliYah' in Hebrew, from two words, 'El' (meaning 'God') and 'Yah' (meaning 'the Lord God Almighty who is Self-Existent and Eternal'), and this name is a 'picture' of 'God's people today who represent the Lord and being used by the Lord'. The Word of God says in Malachi 4:5-6, 'Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord. And he will turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers...'

Indeed, we are living in these end of days, and these are the days of Elijah! The life and ministry of Elijah (written in 1 Kings and 2 Kings) therefore 'foreshadows' what is happening in these last days when the Lord our God confronts the god (i.e. Baal, or master) of this world!

Interestingly, the word 'Tishbite' ('tishbiy' in Hebrew) means 'the source of help', and the word 'Gilead' ('gilad' in Hebrew) can mean 'caring, or affection (like a brother)'. People of God, you too are born and raised for such a time to be 'the source of help' to this world, 'the light and the salt' (Matthew 5:13-16) to this world! And as brothers and sisters in the Body of Christ in this whole wide world, you and I belong to a community ('inhabitants') that's supposed to be 'caring and affectionate'!

And if 'Elijah' speaks of 'the people of the Lord today', then 'Ahab' speaks of 'those who follow the god (or gods) of this world'. The Bible describes Ahab as a king who did evil in the sight of the Lord more than all who were before him (1 Kings 16:30), and he did more to provoke the Lord God of Israel to anger more than all the kings of Israel who were before him (1 Kings 16:33). He also took Jezebel as his wife, and served and worshiped Baal, i.e. 'the god (or master) of this world' (1 Kings 16:31-32).

Let's move on. 1 Kings 17:2-4 then says, 'Then the word of the Lord came to him (Elijah), saying, "Get away from here and turn eastward, and hide by the Brook Cherith, which flows into the Jordan. And it will be that you shall drink from the brook, and I have commanded the ravens to feed you there."

Here, the Lord wanted Elijah to go to the Brook Cherith and be fed supernaturally. This is a 'picture' of God's people drinking from the Living Waters, i.e. the Holy Spirit, and eating from the Word of God. The word 'Cherith' ('keriyth' in Hebrew) in this verse comes from this word 'karath', meaning 'to cut off'.

In the midst of the 'hustle and bustle' of this world and the distractions of human voices, the Lord is calling His people to learn to 'sit still' and 'receive' from Him, instead of 'running everywhere' in search of answers to their situation (or situations). The truth is we all need to take some time to be alone with the Lord, and to 'cut off' from the world (and its noises)!
Note: Jesus did it too with His Abba Father while on earth, and He literally set an example for all of us today! In Luke 6:12-13, He spent the whole night alone with His Abba Father before making a major decision (of choosing His twelve disciples)!

It is then that the Lord will lead you and guide you, from season to season, and from place to place! And that's exactly what happened to Elijah. In 1 Kings 17:8-9, the Lord said to Elijah, "Arise, go to Zarephath, which belongs to Sidon, and dwell there. See, I have commanded a widow there to provide for you."

See the words 'Arise' and 'go' here?

After that, in 1 Kings 18:1, the Bible says, 'And it came to pass after many days that the word of the Lord came to Elijah, in the third year (of the drought), saying, "Go, present yourself to Ahab, and I will send rain on the earth."'

King Ahab had been searching high and low for Elijah all these years in order to kill him for 'cursing Israel' with drought! And when Ahab saw him, he said, "Is that you, O troubler of Israel?" (1 Kings 18:17) But Elijah answered, "I have not troubled Israel, but you and your father's house have, in that you have forsaken the commandments of the Lord and have followed the Baals." (1 Kings 18:18)

And there was Elijah, 'presenting himself' before the powerful king, and completely outnumbered! He was to face the four hundred and fifty prophets of Baal, and the four hundred prophets of Asherah at Mount Carmel (1 Kings 18:19), and what he did to 'challenge' the 'king' seemed like a 'lost cause', foolish in the eyes of the world! As a matter of fact, it wasn't so much about 'Elijah' versus 'Ahab' here (as Ahab had made it out to be), but rather 'the Lord God' versus 'the god (gods) of this world'!

What mattered most was Elijah knew the Lord was with him, and he knew the Lord had spoken! And true to God's words, victory came, and the rain returned! (1 Kings 18:20-46)

People of God, at times when it looks like you are 'losing it', keep looking to the Lord your God, and keep trusting in what He has spoken to you, no matter what you see happening in this world. He is a God who is very much alive today, and He will see you through! The Lord God whom Elijah worshiped is the same God who lives in you today! (Hebrews 13:8)

Let's go a little further before we end. Now, when Jezebel (Ahab's wife) heard about those great exploits of Elijah, and how he had executed all those prophets of Baal, she sent a messenger to him, saying, "So let the gods do to me, and more also, if I do not make your life as the life of one of them tomorrow about this time."

Elijah then ran for his life, rather discouraged, and prayed that he might die, saying, "It is enough! Now, Lord, take my life, for I am no better than my fathers!" (1 Kings 19:1-4)

But the Lord had other ideas! Here's what 1 Kings 19:5-8 say, 'Then as he (Elijah) lay and slept under a broom tree, an angel touched him, and said, "Arise and eat." Then he looked, and there by his head was a cake baked on coals, and a jar of water. So he ate and drank, and lay down again. And the angel came back the second time, and touched him, and said, "Arise and eat, because the journey is too great for you." So he arose, and ate and drank; and he went in the strength of that food forty days and forty nights as far as Horeb, the mountain of God'.

People of God, today, the Lord also want you to know there's so much more that He has in store for you, and there's so much more that He wants to show you! Good things! Greater things! I therefore declare these words to you, wherever you are right now and whatever situation you are in right now! Take these words, and receive by faith! And never allow the 'enemy' to cause you to 'waver' and to 'doubt' the goodness of God!

This is a day to declare that you are set free from any discouragement! And like Elijah, eat of His food all the more, and drink of His drink all the more, and you too will be on your way to many more greater things to come in your life! Amen!

Enforcing your victory through vehement praises!

Matthew 11:12 (NKJV): And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force.

In New International Version, Matthew 11:12 puts it this way: From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has been forcefully advancing, and forceful men lay hold of it.

Recently, the Lord spoke to me, "Tell the people to 'praise vehemently'!" Yes, 'praise vehemently'! That's how you become 'violent' in the spiritual realm! That's how you are 'forcefully advancing'! Your vehement praises overcome every obstacle! Now, I'm not telling you to be violent in the flesh. We are not fighting flesh and blood (Ephesians 6:12). So, how do you become 'violent' in the spirit? Or in other words, how do you 'forcefully advance' in the spirit? The answer is in your praises! To praise Him is to declare His name into the spiritual realm. Praise the Lord! He is your everything! He is your El Elyon (The Most High God), He is your El Shaddai (God Almighty, God all-sufficient), He is your YHWH Nissi (The Lord your banner), He is your YHWH Rapha (The Lord that heals), He is your YHWH Jireh (The Lord provides), and the list goes on!

To praise Him is therefore to proclaim His name, His power, His redemption, and His blessings into every situation of yours! By praising Him, you are actually 'bringing Him down to your atmosphere', and as He is enthroned in your praises (Psalm 22:3), you are allowing Him to become King over your every situation (instead of you trying to be 'in charge' over your current situation). By praising Him, you also can't help but to give thanks, because you are declaring how great and how good He is to you!

Note: Of course, your praises begin from your heart, not just an outward show.

People of God, we are living in violent times. No one can deny this. Our health gets 'violated'. Our providence gets 'violated'. At other times, even our inheritance in Him gets 'violated'! This is none other but the work of the 'enemy'. He tries hard to 'violate' you, i.e. to steal, kill, and destroy all the good things God has given you (or meant for you). Some of you may even have reached the boiling point of saying, "Enough is enough of me (or family) getting violated!"

But praise God! God has His 'antidote' for you! Your 'antidote' against the works of the 'enemy' is praise (& keep praising Him), and yes, violently! Let's 'take the bull by the horns'! Psalm 149:6 says, 'Let the high praises ('tehillah') of God be in your mouth, and a two-edged sword (symbolizing the 'Word of God') in your hand'. You destroy the enemy's works (& plans) by your praises and the Word being proclaimed (& released)!

The Oxford Dictionary says 'to be vehement' means 'being passionate, violent, forceful, showing (or caused by) strong feeling, having intense emotion, or great intensity'. That's what your praises should be! Praise and keep praising! It's like keep knocking the door! It's like using the hammer to hit (& keep hitting) the wall, and finally the wall crumbles! That's vehement praise! Keep praising until you see His glory and power! It means 'until you see a breakthrough right before your eyes'! That's violent praise! The Lord is calling His triumphant people for such!

By the way, the word 'violent' in Matthew 11:12 (NKJV) is 'seize, forcefulness' in Greek. So, despite or in spite of, say, whatever health condition you are facing at the moment, keep praising the Lord! You may not see a complete manifestation of your healing yet, but just keep praising! Even if in anytime you don't feel like praising, just open your mouth and praise, by faith! And shout aloud! Sing your praises out loud! Get hold of a good praise cd if you need to! Praise until the spiritual atmosphere changes! Praise until you know you are above (rise above), and not under (a circumstance)! And there, you have your victory! And that's how you praise your way to your breakthrough! Victory has already been won for you at the cross! But you need to 'enforce' it! 'To enforce' is 'to allow it to happen, or to cause it to happen'. You need to 'declare' it! You need to 'sign' your land title deed! Praise is not a self-effort thing of 'trying to earn your victory'. No! As a believer in the New Covenant, you praise because you know your victory has already been won at the cross! In other words, in the spiritual realm, your breakthrough and victory has already happened! Now, 'enforce' it! Your praises enforce your victory! Your praises declare your victory! It's like when someone gives you a gift (say, a land title), it's already given to you (and meant for you). But unless and until you 'sign' the land title deed (i.e. in agreement), you'll still not have it physically! So now, 'enforce' it! 'Sign' the deed! 'To sign the deed' here is 'to praise', and you'll just be one step away from your victory and breakthrough! Hallelujah! This is the power of praise! Glory be to God!

People of God, this is your time to advance! This is your time to walk into your full inheritance! Enough is enough of the devil's violation! Do you want to see yourself advancing from where you are now? Or do you want to see a breakthrough after being stagnant for so long? If you've done all that you've been taught, say, taken holy communion, beheld Jesus and His finished work, etc, then it's time to 'praise' now! Your praises is like your last piece of the 'jigsaw puzzle'. Your 'praises' will break down the 'wall' that has been hindering you all these while. That's when your breakthrough comes! Your 'praises' will break the 'chains' that has been stifling you all these while! That's also when your breakthrough comes! People of God, there's a clarion call to 'praise' right now!

Look now at Joshua 6:5 and Joshua 6:20. Here's an example of 'the violent takes it by force'. As Joshua led the people to 'praise vehemently', and as they gave a 'great shout' ('teruwah' in Hebrew, which means 'jubilation, shout of praise and celebration, acclamation of joy'), the wall of Jericho fell down flat, and the people of God 'utterly destroyed' all that was in the city with the edge of the sword (a 'picture' of the Word of God). See? Praises and proclaiming the Word!

In New Testament, look now at Paul and Silas in Acts 16:25-26. At midnight (a 'picture' of 'being in the darkest hour'), chained and locked in the prison, and as they prayed and sang praises unto God (see King James Version), God sent an earthquake that shook the foundations of the prison, and that's how all the prison doors were opened, and everyone's chains loosed! You see, it didn't matter to Paul and Silas even if the other prisoners get offended by their loud voices of praise in the middle of the night! They continued to praise vehemently! They did not exactly know what to expect, but they just kept praising! In other words, they kept praising unashamedly! Triumphant people, don't be ashamed of your violent praises to Him! And that's when your breakthrough comes, just as it was for Paul and Silas.

Praises lead to your 'wall' crumbling down! Praises lead to your 'chains' breaking off and your 'doors' being opened! Praises lead to 'the captives being set free'! After an intense time of 'violent praise', there'll surely be peace and rest following suit. Wow! Let me back this up in the Bible. Not long after Matthew 11:12 (i.e. 'the violent take it by force') is Matthew 11:28 (when Jesus said, "I will give you rest"). By the way, the word 'rest' here is translated as 'Sabbath'. And after that, Matthew 12 continues with Jesus being the Lord of Sabbath. Do you see it? Say, for example, upon being awaken by a terrible (or scary) nightmare in the middle of the night, what would you do? Allow the spirit of fear to envelope you? No! Begin praying in tongues and begin praising the Lord violently! And as you praise, you can't help but also release the Word of God into the spiritual realm! And that's how you'll receive your peace and rest soon after.

You see, there's a difference between 'being passive' (i.e. being laid back, even escapism) and 'being restful' in the victory that the Lord has won for you. Choose to praise! Choose God's way of victory! And that's how you'll be triumphant in Christ, every day and in every area of your life. Amen!