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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You are never too late!

Words from the Lord: 

"You are never too late! Whatever your past may be, and even if you have messed up or missed out, do not worry. I make all things new. Keep looking to Me. Keep walking with Me. Keep praising. Keep worshiping. Keep receiving My Word. For I have not forgotten you. I will know how to redeem your lost time. I will know how to restore your lost opportunity. I will even set up many new divine appointments for you, going forward. Just do not limit how I am going to do it."

Ecclesiastes 9:11 (NKJV) says, 'The race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, nor bread to the wise, nor riches to men of understanding, nor favor to men of skill; but time and chance happen to them all.' 

Before I explain this verse, let's go to the words 'time' and 'chance' here. The word 'time' here is 'eth' in Hebrew. In the context of this verse, it can mean 'the time that is appointed by the Lord'. The word 'chance' here is 'pega' in Hebrew. In the context of this verse, it can mean 'the Lord's divine appointment for you, the Lord's opportune time for you, or the Lord's right timing for you'. 

There's time and season in everything. But one thing that you don't have to worry is the Lord knows exactly what is the best for you. He sees farther than you. In fact, He sees farther than anyone on this earth can. And in His time, He makes all things beautiful for you. Your part is to keep looking to Him and receiving from Him.

How to explain 'the swift', 'the strong', and 'the wise' in this verse? These speak of 'the swift, the strong, and the wise' in the worldly way, using merely human strength or human intelligence. You see, there are people in this world who do all these things without the Lord, or without acknowledging that the Lord is first and foremost in their lives. 

The author of this Book of Ecclesiastes, i.e. King Solomon, had seen life enough to make a conclusion that it doesn't mean 'the swift, the strong, and the wise' will always translate into success, riches, or favor in life. 

Now, don't get me wrong here. I am not teaching people to be lazy. If you are a student, do it the best you know how. If you have a career, do it the best you know how. If you are in ministry, give it your best, serving as unto the Lord. But in all our diligence and effort, know that the Lord has to be in the first place, and be the first and foremost in our lives. Why? Because it is the Lord who sets good things up for us in ways humans cannot. 

In a more contemporary version of the Bible, say, The New Living Translation (NLT), the translators put it this way: 'The fastest runner doesn’t always win the race, and the strongest warrior doesn’t always win the battle. The wise sometimes go hungry, and the skillful are not necessarily wealthy. And those who are educated don’t always lead successful lives. It is all decided by chance, by being in the right place at the right time.'

Do you believe the Lord's 'eth' and 'pega' can happen to you too? Will you allow Him to cause good things to happen to you, and set up divine appointments for you, going forward? Yes, even this year! 

As for me, I thank the Lord for the many 'eth' and 'pega', i.e. 'time' and 'chance', that He had already given to me, e.g. how I was saved, how I was healed, how I met my wife, how I answered His call to ministry, how He intervened in crucial junctures of my life, how He led me from one season to another, and the list goes on. And I know there will be more to come. Why? Because I believe that He is a good God. 

Beloved, I want to believe the same for you too, be it in your relationship, in your career, in your business, in the ministry, or in every other area of your life. Amen!

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Secrets to walking in divine appointments and lasting fruits

The Lord says: 

"I am setting up divine appointments for My people. For those who have been stagnant and couldn't see any headway, this is a time to watch how I am going to set up divine appointments that lead to breakthrough and lasting fruit." 

Jesus says in John 15:16, "You didn't choose Me. I chose you. I appointed you to go and produce lasting fruit, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask for, using My name." 

See the words "I appointed you" and "lasting fruit" here? Who appointed you to produce lasting fruit? The Lord Jesus Christ Himself! So, it's not by your own striving or struggling, but by His appointment and His hand that opens the door for you to produce lasting fruit! 

The word 'appointed' here is 'tithemi' in Greek (according to Strong's Concordance), and it can mean any of these: 'placed, laid down, set up, established, purposed, destined'. In other words, He has placed you to be at the right time at the right place to produce lasting fruit, He has laid it down for you, He has set it up for you, He has established it for you, He has purposed it for you, and of course, He has destined it for you! 

But how can you walk in His divine appointment and produce lasting fruits? 

There are many examples in the Scripture on walking in divine appointments and having lasting fruits. But for today, let's go to Acts 10:1-2, 'In Caesarea there lived a Roman army officer named Cornelius, a captain of the Italian Regiment. He was a devout, God-fearing man, as was everyone in his household. He gave generously to the poor and prayed regularly to God.' 

As you can see here, Cornelius was someone who feared God and loved God. 

Acts 10:3-6 says, 'One afternoon about three o'clock, Cornelius had a vision in which he saw an angel of God coming toward him. "Cornelius!" the angel said. Cornelius stared at him in terror. "What is it, sir?" Cornelius asked the angel. And the angel replied, "Your prayers and gifts to the poor have been received by God as an offering! Now send some men to Joppa, and summon a man named Simon Peter. He is staying with Simon, a tanner who lives near the seashore." 

Acts 10:7-8 says, 'As soon as the angel was gone, Cornelius called two of his household servants and a devout soldier, one of his personal attendants. He told them what had happened and sent them off to Joppa.' 

Here, Cornelius had a visitation from an angel, and he obeyed all that the angel had spoken to him. So he sent these men to Joppa to look for Simon Peter, the apostle. 

Acts 10:9-16 says, 'The next day as Cornelius' messengers were nearing the town, Peter went up on the flat roof to pray. It was about noon, and he was hungry. But while a meal was being prepared, he fell into a trance. He saw the sky open, and something like a large sheet was let down by its four corners. In the sheet were all sorts of animals, reptiles, and birds. Then a voice said to him, "Get up, Peter; kill and eat them." "No, Lord," Peter declared. "I have never eaten anything that our Jewish laws have declared impure and unclean." But the voice spoke again, "Do not call something unclean if God has made it clean." Now the same vision was repeated three times. Then the sheet was suddenly pulled up to heaven.' 

Peter was of course perplexed. He wondered what could that vision mean? Just then, the men sent by Cornelius found Simon's house, and standing outside the gate, they asked if a man named Simon Peter was staying there. Meanwhile, as Peter was still puzzling over the vision, the Holy Spirit said to him, "Three men have come looking for you. Get up, go downstairs, and go with them without hesitation. Don't worry, for I have sent them."

You see? The angel spoke to Cornelius regarding Peter; and now, this voice from heaven spoke to Peter regarding someone he was about to meet, i.e. Cornelius! It matched! The divine appointment was about to take place! 

Acts 10:23-24 says, 'So Peter invited the men to stay for the night (even though they were strangers to him). The next day he went with them, accompanied by some of the brothers from Joppa. They arrived in Caesarea the following day. Cornelius was already waiting for them, and had called together his relatives and close friends.' 

And that was how Peter and Cornelius eventually met each other in person, and yes, by divine appointment! This appointment in turn led to lasting fruit and a major breakthrough for the Gentiles (the non-Jews), because it was also the beginning of the Gentiles receiving the Holy Spirit and be water baptized. 

What can we learn here? 

If the door is from the Lord, or is opened by the Lord, there will be lasting fruit! We don't have to artificially try to prise open the door or force open the door by means of persuasion, by striving, or by struggling for an open door. The Lord will know how to make things happen, and in His perfect timing.

Some may say, "Pastor, but this is regarding ministry." No, it's not just regarding ministry. Divine appointments can happen in every aspect of your life. There can also be divine appointments in your career, in your business, or in any area of your life as well. Indeed, this is the time to look to God and watch how He can set up divine appointments for you! 

Back to Acts chapter 10. When Peter came in to the house where Cornelius, his relatives and his close friends were, Peter told them, "You know it is against our laws for a Jewish man to enter a Gentile home like this or to associate with you. But God has shown me that I should no longer think of anyone as impure or unclean." Now, Peter had this revelation, because the Lord had spoken to him personally. In other words, he came to Cornelius' house by revelation. As for Cornelius, he invited Peter according to what the angel had instructed him to do. Both did their part. And "Bang!" Something wonderful happened!

What can we learn from both Peter and Cornelius here?

They were responsive to what the Lord has spoken to them. They didn't hesitate. They obeyed what the Lord said (through the Holy Spirit or through an angel). And that's how they met. As a result, a major breakthrough happened! 

You see? One divine appointment led to one major breakthrough that changed the course of history. That was the beginning of the Gentiles receiving the Holy Spirit. As Peter was preaching to them, the Holy Spirit fell upon all of them who were listening. In fact, the Jewish believers who came with Peter were amazed that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles, too! They even heard them praying in tongues! Peter then concluded that since these Gentiles have received the Holy Spirit, why shouldn't these Gentiles also be water baptized in the name of Jesus? And that's how Cornelius and those with him were also water baptized in the name of Jesus Christ on that day. The rest is history. It opened a new horizon for the Gentiles, and many more received Jesus Christ and were filled with the Holy Spirit since then! 

This is just one example of divine appointment that leads to lasting fruit. And you too can walk in this same pattern, i.e. walk in God's divine appointments that lead to lasting fruits in your life. 

So, what are the secrets? Actually these are open secrets. You can see the traits here, i.e. what caused this divine appointment to happen between Peter and Cornelius. 

Number One: Prayer and communing with God. 

Do not stop praying and communing with the Lord. Set aside your time for the Lord. Spend time with the Lord. Spend time in praise and worship before the Lord, read the Word of God, and pray in the spirit. The Lord will know how to speak to you, even as you yield to Him and surrender to Him. 

Number Two: Abiding in God. 

As you can see in John chapter 15, Jesus is the vine, and you are the branch. Without Him, you cannot bear fruits that last.

Number Three: Obeying God's instruction. 

Peter obeyed God's instruction without hesitation. The same it was with Cornelius. When the angel appeared to him, he obeyed the instruction of the angel to summon Peter from Joppa to his house in Caesarea. We can play our part by having a listening ear and obeying His every instruction for us.

Whether it's in ministry, in business, in career, or in any area of life, it's the same. So, pray and ask for divine appointment beginning this month. And watch how the Lord is going to open the way and open the horizon for you. Don't be shy to ask of God. Remember, you are His beloved. Ask, and you shall receive. If God your Father did not spare His only begotten Son to die for you, is there anything that He cannot do for you? So, ask and you shall receive!

Indeed, this is the season to 'place your order' and ask for divine appointment for your life. And you are going to see in the coming months, things will begin to advance in your life, especially if you have been stagnant in recent months, or you have not been seeing much headway in your life in recent months.

New doors are going to be opened for you. New horizons are going to be opened for you. You will never have to look back anymore, because God has greater things in store for you, going forward! Believe for it, and you shall receive. In Jesus' name. Amen!

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Your opportune time will come!

The Lord says: "For many of My people, your opportune time will come! Keep looking to Me and hang on strong in your faith, and watch how I will set up divine appointments for you, even in ways you have never expected it is possible!" 

Hallelujah! 

So today, I want to declare that your opportune time will come! Your 'kairos' time will come! The opportunity will strike for you, as you look to Him and seek Him! 

Ecclesiastes 9:11 (Expanded) says, 'I also saw something else here on earth: The fastest runner does not always win the race, the strongest soldier does not always win the battle, the wisest does not always have food, the smartest does not always become wealthy, and the talented [intelligent] one does not always receive praise [favor]. Time and chance happen to everyone.' 

Now you've got to understand the gist of what King Solomon was trying to write here. He's not talking about fatalism. He's not talking about being negative. But time and chance can happen to anyone.

So beloved of God, if you think your IQ is not as high as somebody else, if you think you do not have a good family background, if you think your past is not good, or if you think you are not the smartest in your class or in school, I have a good news for you. There is hope for you! Because the Lord can cause opportunity to be opened up for you, even if you think you are not the wisest or the smartest on earth in human eyes! In other words, the Lord can set up divine opportunities for you and cause you to walk in favor and breakthrough!

No matter what you have gone through in your past, no matter how much a failure you have been in the past, the Lord God is refreshing and renewing you this year. He is opening up a new horizon for you this year, and He is setting up divine appointment for you this year!

Ecclesiastes 9:11 (NLT) puts it this way, 'I have observed something else under the sun. The fastest runner doesn't always win the race, and the strongest warrior doesn't always win the battle. The wise sometimes go hungry, and the skillful are not necessarily wealthy. And those who are educated don't always lead successful lives. It is all decided by chance, by being in the right place at the right time.'

See 'by being in the right place at the right time' here?

King Solomon was the wisest man on earth. At the time of writing Ecclesiastes, he had seen life enough and had observed life enough. Of course he also concluded the whole of Ecclesiastes with "Fear the Lord, and obey His commands. For this is man's all." But over here in Ecclesiastes 9:11, he meant 'opportunities can happen to you if you are in the right place at the right time'! 

So beloved of God, I pray that you will be led by the Spirit of God to be in the right place at the right time this year! And the Lord your God will know how to open the doors of opportunity for you, and the doors for your breakthrough! And He knows how to make it happen!

Ecclesiastes 3:1 (Expanded) says, 'There is a time [season] for everything, and everything [every activity] on earth [under heaven] has its special season [time].'

I want to declare that your special season has arrived! Your special season has come! Your 'kairos' time has come! Your special season to walk in the favor of the Lord has come! Receive this by faith, be it in your ministry, in your career, in your business, or in any area of your life, and yes, even in finding life partner, if you are looking for a life partner!

What is this 'opportune time'? It is your 'kairos' time! The word 'kairos' here actually is a Greek word that refers to 'an opportune time' or 'when opportunity strikes', or 'a special moment' or 'a special season' for you to position yourself and to act on what the Lord has spoken. And that's when you are going to see your breakthrough, open doors, and good success!

Never mind if you have been a failure in your past. Never mind if you have been short changed or taken advantage of by some people in your past. Never mind if people looked down on you in your past. Never mind if you have failed in certain things that you do in the past. All these are past. Today, the Lord wants you to turn a new leaf in your life. He is drawing something very fresh and new in your life.

And He will know how to release His favor upon you, because you are entering a time and season of great opportunities in your life. There will be some pleasant surprises for you. There will be new opportunities being opened up, even in ways that you've never imagined can happen to you. 

Just do not allow yourself to doubt. But stay firm and hang on strong in Him. Keep looking to Jesus your King. He loves you. He knows how to make things happen for you. He knows how to set up divine appointments for you - for your breakthrough, and for that big break that you need!

Now, I want to bring you to one example found in Genesis chapter 24. The background here is Abraham (the father of Isaac) was old by then. And he asked his eldest servant to look for a bride for Isaac, his son. But there's one condition: Not to take for Isaac a wife from among the Canaanites, but instead go to Abraham's own country to look for a bride for Isaac. So this servant took the master's camels and departed for Mesopotamia, and he positioned himself at the time when women would go out to draw water from the wells.

Genesis 24:12-13 (NKJV) says, 'Then he (the servant of Abraham) 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 (so he was positioning himself there), and the daughters of the men of the city are coming out to draw water."'

As you can see here, this servant of Abraham was positioning himself there, and he was asking and praying for good success. This word 'success' here is 'good speed' in King James Version. In Hebrew, it is 'qarah', which can mean 'to light upon, to bring about, to be (divinely) appointed for something'.

This servant was doing what his master Abraham told him to do, i.e. to find a bride for Isaac. And he was praying, "Lord God, give me 'qarah' this day." In other words, "Light upon this situation, bring about success in this situation, bring about divine appointment for this mission that my master Abraham has asked me to do."

Genesis 24:14 (NKJV) says, "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. And by this I will know that You have shown kindness to my master."

And you know what? To cut the whole story short, the rest is history. Rebekah showed up! And Rebekah eventually became Isaac's bride.

Notice this passage in Genesis 24 isn't just about finding a bride for Isaac, or how Isaac and Rebekah met. It's more than that. The Lord showed me it's also about the servant whom Abraham had entrusted. So, if 'Abraham' is a 'picture' of our 'Abba Father in heaven', then you and I are that 'servant', who are entrusted to do what He says on earth! Our mandate on earth, our mission on earth, our God-given task on earth - be it in ministry, in career, in business, or in anything that He has called us to be and to do on earth!

So beloved of God, whatever your mandate on earth, whatever your mission on earth, whatever that God has called you to be and to do, my prayer is may the Lord grant you good success, may the Lord grant you 'qarah', may the Lord give you the breakthrough that you need, may the Lord open the door for you, and may the Lord set up divine appointment for you - just as what happened to this servant of Abraham. Amen!

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Get ready for divine appointments!

As I was seeking the Lord for His words for this coming month, even in the coming months, the Lord said this, "Tell My people to get ready for many divine appointments! There'll be many divine appointments for My people! This is the season for many divine appointments!" 

Hallelujah!

So, people of God, receive these words by faith! And you are going to see your divine appointments as well! Be it in your career, business, ministry, or any area of your life! Even in new friendships that are going to be forged, that will bring great blessings to your life! But of course, be discerning! I pray for you to discern in your spirit, that you will know what is of God, and what is not!

Now, you don't have to look too far back to the Old Testament to see examples of divine appointments. After the coming of the Holy Spirit in Acts chapter 2, there're so many examples of divine appointments happening even in the first few chapters of the Book of Acts! Whether someone was being led by the Holy Spirit to be at the right place and the right time for such divine appointments, or through angelic guidance, or visions and dreams, divine appointments that are set up by the Lord will always lead to breakthroughs and greater things in one's life!

Examples of divine appointments:

1. Peter and Cornelius (Acts 10:1-48)

Here, a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion (an officer of the Roman army), had an angelic visitation. The angel then instructed him to summon Simon Peter to his house and to hear what Simon Peter had to say. The next day, the day after Cornelius received the angelic guidance, Simon Peter saw a vision while he was praying at a housetop in Joppa! Now, while he was wondering what this vision meant, the men who had been sent from Cornelius, three of them, stood before the gate where Simon Peter was lodging! See? A divine appointment was set up by the Lord! So Simon Peter and Cornelius would meet up! You know what? That meeting eventually became the first occasion in the early church when a Gentile (non-Jew) household have also received the gift of salvation in the Lord Jesus Christ and baptism of the Holy Spirit!

2. Peter and Aeneas (Acts 9:32-35)

Let's rewind back to Acts chapter 9 now, just before the divine appointment that God had set up for Simon Peter and Cornelius. Here, there was no angelic guidance or vision from the Lord, but it was just Simon Peter positioning himself at a certain place and a certain time! See, divine appointments can also happen when you position yourself at a certain place and a certain time, as led by the Holy Spirit! And that was how Aeneas, who had been bed-ridden eight years and was paralyzed, got his miracle and he was able to stand up again! Because of this healing and miracle that took place, many in Lydda turned to the Lord!

3. Peter and Dorcas (Acts 9:36-43)

After that, some disciples in Joppa heard that Peter was in a nearby town, Lydda. And they implored Simon Peter to come over to Joppa, because there was a certain woman, a disciple named Tabitha (Dorcas), a woman full of good works and charitable deeds, had died due to sickness. Simon Peter then arose and went over to Joppa to pray for Dorcas. Dorcas then came back to life, and this news became known throughout all Joppa! As a result, many in Joppa believed on the Lord Jesus Christ! See? All these wouldn't have happened if Simon Peter did not position himself in the first place!

These are just three examples of divine appointments that you can see throughout the Book of Acts! Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever! He is the same today, just as He was those days in the early church! And the Lord knows how to set up divine appointments for you too! Amen!

For the full preaching of this message, click https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CNi5bwc5GZ0

Fulfilling your God-given destiny

The Lord spoke these words:
"Rejoice! Again I say rejoice! If I have given you a destiny, no one can take it away from you! But you've got to look to Me, not to man! Choose to look to My wisdom, instead of the wisdom of man. Choose to walk in My ways and timing, instead of the ways of this world."

The word 'destiny' in English is derived from the Latin word 'destinare', which can mean 'to establish, to appoint, to make firm, to put in place'. 1 Thessalonians 5:9 (Amplified Bible) says, 'For God has not destined us to (incur His) wrath (that is, He did not select us to condemn us), but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ'. This verse speaks of our general destiny as believers in the Lord Jesus Christ. 

But how about our specific God-given destiny for each of us? The Scripture has many verses to show us that the Lord has indeed established us, appointed us, and put in place a specific destiny for each one of us. No two persons are exactly the same. Each one of us is unique and special in our own God-given ways. Ecclesiastes 6:10 (NLT) says, 'Everything has already been decided. It was known long ago what each person would be. So there's no use arguing with God about your destiny'.

The good news is His destiny for each one of us is always the best-suited one, simply because He knows each one of us inside-out, more than we know ourselves. Jeremiah 29:11 (NLT) says, 'For I know the plans I have for you. They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope'. Our part is simply to heed Him and follow His ways (and timing)!

Let's look at David's life now, and we shall see as long as he heeded the Lord and followed His ways (and timing), no one could take away the destiny God had given him! Proverbs 16:20 (NIV) says, 'Whoever gives heed to instruction prospers, and blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord'.

It all began when the Lord spoke to prophet Samuel to anoint someone from among the sons of Jesse as king of Israel. 1 Samuel 16:1 (NLT) says, 'Now the Lord said to Samuel, "You have mourned long enough for Saul. I have rejected him as king of Israel, so fill your flask with olive oil and go to Bethlehem. Find a man named Jesse who lives there, for I have selected one of his sons to be my king."' Soon, Samuel found David as the one he was to anoint, the youngest of the eight sons of Jesse. And David was only fifteen years old at that time.

However, if you look at the Scripture, it took many more years before David eventually became king. After Saul died a tragic death (1 Samuel 31:1-10), David was installed as king not long after, but only as the king of Judah (2 Samuel 2:1-4). He was thirty years old at that time, about fifteen years after prophet Samuel anointed him. Through those years, it was a time of preparation for David, and even a test of faith and patience for David.

Even then, this wasn't exactly the fulfillment of his God-given destiny, because he only became king of Judah, but not yet king of Israel. And the reason why David was not yet installed as king of Israel was Abner (commander of Saul's army, who was also a cousin of Saul). Abner knew God had designated David as the next king of Israel, and so did the people of Israel those days. But out of his own self-interest, he installed Ishbosheth (a son of Saul) as king of Israel instead! (2 Samuel 2:8-11) With that, Abner became the 'brain' behind Ishbosheth, who was merely a puppet-king. Abner then challenged the servants of David to a fight; and a long, exhausting war between the house of Israel and the house of Judah ensued (2 Samuel 2:12-17). But as years went by, the house of Judah (under David) grew stronger and stronger, whereas the house of Israel (under Ishbosheth, who was a 'puppet' of Abner) grew weaker and weaker (2 Samuel 3:1).

Very interestingly, through those years (when Abner stopped David from becoming king of Israel), David did not oppose and react against Abner who installed Ishbosheth as king of Israel. Why? Because he understood it is the Lord who holds one's destiny, not man. If it wasn't his time yet, then so be it! Furthermore, David had made a promise never to cut off Saul's descendants. Therefore, he would not (by any means) remove Ishbosheth as king of Israel, whether through subtle ways or by force.

As you can see here, David learned to wait on the Lord, and he chose to walk in God's ways (and timing), not man's ways (and timing). Some seven years later, things turned around when Abner was killed, and Ishbosheth too was killed (2 Samuel 3:27, 2 Samuel 4:5-7). David's time eventually came, and he reigned over all of Israel and Judah from then on (2 Samuel 5:1-5), ushering in what historians call as 'the golden age' of the united kingdom of Israel and Judah.

As David reminisced in his old age, he wrote Psalm 37. In verse 4 of that psalm, he wrote, 'Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He shall give you the desires of your heart'; and in verse 23, he wrote, 'The steps of a good man are ordered (appointed, directed, established) by the Lord, and He delights in his way'. 

The word 'delight' in verse 4 is 'awnag' in Hebrew, and in this context, it means 'to be soft (before the Lord), to be pliable (before the Lord), to be easily bended (before the Lord)'. The opposite of this word 'delight', by the way, is 'blame, a hardened heart'. Now, here's the secret to David fulfilling his God-given destiny: David had learned to be soft, pliable, and easily bended before the Lord! 

Not only that, David had learned to be patient, instead of blaming and complaining! He chose to believe there's still justice on earth, because his God's not dead! He knew God would eventually turn the tables on the wicked, and true enough, God did! The truth is God had never forgotten what He had spoken about him through the prophet Samuel!

People of God, like David (whose name means 'beloved'), you too are God's beloved. Do not lose heart therefore if what God had spoken to you (about your destiny) seems so far-fetched at the moment. The truth is He hasn't forgotten you, and He hasn't forgotten His destiny and 'appointments' for you on earth. Never mind if things look impossible at the moment. Never mind if you think you have recently missed your opportunity. Look to Him, and return to His ways. Trust in His perfect wisdom and timing for your life! And just as happened to David, God will know how to turn things around for you too, even in ways you cannot imagine yet. Your waiting time will soon be over. In His time, He will make all things beautiful. Amen!

Those who sow in tears shall reap in joy!

Psalm 126:5-6 (NKJV): 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.

While I was praying for someone the other day, I saw a vision of a hand pulling a piece of tissue out of a golden tissue box, wiping the tears from that someone's eyes. And then I heard these words, 'Those who sow in tears shall reap in joy'.

I would interpret the 'gold' color in the 'golden tissue box' as 'the divine touch of God', coming from the very throne of God directly to those who need it.

Let's go back to Psalm 126:5-6 now. The background of these two verses is about 'being set free' from bondage and captivity, as God's people began to see their weeping being turned into rejoicing. Here's what Psalm 126:1-4 (the verses prior to Psalm 126:5-6) says, 'When the Lord brought back the captives to Zion, we were like men who dreamed (i.e. dream came true). Our mouths were filled with laughter, our tongues with songs of joy. Then it was said among the nations (Gentiles), "The Lord has done great things for them." The Lord has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy. Restore our fortunes, O Lord, like streams in the South (Negev)'.

Indeed, this is a time of reaping and rejoicing for many of you who have been 'sowing in tears'!

Last Sunday morning, I heard and released these prophetic words to the congregation regarding the current time and season they are in:

"There's a new strategy that I am releasing to My people in this time and season! A strategy for My people's breakthrough and victory! And I am releasing a new way, a new approach, even a new formation! The wind from heaven is blowing to bring forth such in the physical realm. The old is gone, and the new has come! This is a day to declare your reaping time has come! For those who sow in tears shall reap in joy!"

And then I heard and released further:

"And I am releasing a new sound, a new rhythm into your life and spirit today. A new sound, a new rhythm for a new season! Allow Me, and watch how I am going to bring you into the next level you have been asking for!"

The word 'reap' in Psalm 126:5 is 'qatsar' in Hebrew, meaning 'to harvest (grains)', from the same Hebrew root as 'qatsats', meaning 'to cut off, to chop off'. As a matter of fact, when you use the sickle to 'cut' ('qatsar') in the harvest field, you are effectively separating the 'useful' from the 'useless'. The grains (i.e. the useful parts) would then be used to make bread (i.e. food) to feed (bless) many, while the useless parts would be burned. So, 'separating' here is a 'picture' of your 'consecration before the Lord', or 'being set apart for His works'. In other words, a harvest time (or reaping time) would always come together with a time of consecration before the Lord, or being separated (set apart) unto God!

People of God, if you ask me what is the time and season at the moment in the spiritual realm, I would say we are in the time and season of crossing the 'threshold'. A 'threshold' is 'a piece of wood or stone forming the bottom of a doorway', and is defined in the Oxford Dictionary as 'point of entering or beginning something'.

Get ready therefore! And get yourself consecrated before the Lord! For the Lord will begin to do great things for you too, just as it is written in Psalm 126:1-4!

In this new season of the Lord, there's also a new sound and a new rhythm that the Lord is breathing into you. Receive by faith! Flow with this new sound and new rhythm from Him, and you will see there's no struggle in everything you do. Why? Because it is the Lord who sets it! Interestingly, right after Psalm 126:5-6 comes this verse in Psalm 127:1 that says, 'Unless the Lord builds the house, they labor in vain who build it...' The word 'build' here is 'banah' in Hebrew, meaning 'to appoint, to set (things) up'. In other words, 'unless the Lord is the One who appoints (it), or sets (things) up, God's people will labor in vain'!

Your part is to flow with His plan and in His direction, and you will begin to see your breakthrough and victory!

Some old 'set up' and old 'strategies' that used to work in the old season may not work anymore. In this season of 'change' and 'crossing the threshold', there's going to be a new way, a new approach, even a new formation being released from heaven. In fact, for some of you, there's even going to be some re-positioning. Be willing to adjust, and allow Him to change you. To put it simply, be willing to embrace the change He has for you!

Bear in mind the Lord doesn't change things for no reason. He changes things for you (at certain junctures of your life) so that you will always be at the cutting edge, effective in all that He has called you to be (or do)!

This is also a time He is releasing many new strategies for His people! Take time to listen for His voice as you read the Word and pray in the spirit. By the way, 'a strategy' can be defined as 'a plan and direction in a war, a battle, or an operation'.

For some of you who have been feeling 'overwhelmed' by the 'tasks' that you have in your hands, take heart, because the battle in this end-time is not yours, but the Lord's, just as in the days of Jehoshaphat (read 2 Chronicles 20:15). Meditate on 2 Chronicles chapter 20:1-30, and allow the Lord to re-assure and encourage you.

Last but not least, I would like to bring to your attention Isaiah 6:1-8, a key and crucial 'threshold' for Isaiah's life and ministry. These verses describe how the Lord brought Isaiah into his new season, and from that time on, he (Isaiah) never looked back, and went on to become a great prophet of the Lord. Again, it all began with a time of consecration before the Lord!

Isaiah 6:4-7 says, 'So I (Isaiah) said: "Woe is me, for I am undone! Because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts." Then one of the seraphim flew to me, having in his hand a live coal... And he touched my mouth with it, and said, "Behold, this has touched your lips; your iniquity is taken away, and your sin purged."'

People of God, likewise, allow the Lord to burn away the 'useless' as you prepare yourself for His new appointments in your life!

Isaiah 6:8 then says, 'Also I (Isaiah) heard the voice of the Lord, saying: "Whom shall I send, and who will go for Us?" Then I (Isaiah) said, "Here am I! Send me."' Interestingly, the word 'send' here is 'shalach' in Hebrew, which actually means 'to appoint, to use, to bring (on the way), to shoot forth'.

May you also say the same to the Lord today: "Here am I, appoint me, use me, bring me (on the way), and shoot me forth (to where you want me to be, and what you want me to do)!" In Jesus' name. Amen.

Walking in God's divine appointment

Ecclesiastes 9:11 (NKJV): ... The race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, nor bread to the wise, nor riches to men of understanding, nor favor to men of skill; but time and chance happen to them all.

The word 'time' here in Hebrew is 'eth', which can mean one's 'now time', one's due season, one's appointed time, or one's due time. The word 'chance' here in Hebrew is 'pega', from the word 'paga', and in the context of this verse, means (His) opportune time for you, (His) intercession/intervening for you, (His) light upon you, (His) causing to happen for you, or (His) divine appointment/meeting for you.

How about the 'swift', the 'strong', the 'wise', the 'understanding', and the 'skill' here in this verse? These speak of the swift, the strong, the wise, the understanding, and the skill in the worldly way, using human strength, self-effort, or own intelligence. Notice the author of this book (Ecclesiastes) had probably seen life enough to make a conclusion that all the above human 'qualities' do not necessarily translate into success, satisfaction, riches or favor in life.

People of God, do you believe God's 'eth' and 'pega' can happen to you too? Will you believe and allow Him to cause His light to come upon you? Will you believe and allow Him to cause good things to happen to you and set up divine appointments for you even this year? Well, as for me, I really do! In fact, I thank God for the many 'eth' and 'pega' that had already happened in my life thus far (how I was saved, how I was healed, how I met my wife, how I answered God's call into full-time ministry, how ministry began, how God intervened in crucial junctures of my life, how God led me from one season to another, and the list goes on). As I look back, I can only stand in amazement and with much thanksgiving for all He has done. I know there'll be more to come, because I believe He is a good God and I trust in His goodness. I believe this for you too, in whichever area of your life. Amen!

There are many great examples of God's divine appointment in the Bible, but one of the most fascinating is found in Genesis chapter 24. Indeed, God plans the best for His beloved!

Genesis 24:1-4 (NKJV) says, '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, the God of heaven and earth, that you will not take a wife for my son from the daughters of Canaanites, among whom I dwell; but you shall go to my country and to my family, and take a wife for my son Isaac."'

'Abraham' here is a 'picture' of God the Father, whereas 'Isaac' speaks of you and I today. Just as Abraham wanted the best for his son Isaac, know that your Father in heaven also wants the best for you in your life! Not only that, He can even send His angels (or the right people at the right time) to cause things to happen to you too!

Genesis 24:9-13 (NKJV) then says, 'So the servant put his hand under the thigh of Abraham his master, and swore to him concerning this matter... Then the servant 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 ('eth') when the women go out to draw water. Then the servant said, "O Lord God of my master Abraham, please give me success this day."'

The expression 'give me success' is translated as 'send me good speed' in King James Version (KJV), and 'good speed' here is 'qarah' in Hebrew, which means 'light upon, happen (unto)'. As a matter of fact, the servant was actually asking the Lord for a divine appointment! In other words, he came to that place (i.e. by a well of water) at that time (i.e. evening time) as led by the Lord by faith, and then be positioned for God to do the rest!

Genesis 24:14-15 (NKJV) continues, '"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." And it happened, before he had finished speaking, that behold, Rebekah came out with her pitcher on her shoulder'.

See the words 'appointed' and 'happened' here? Interestingly, the word 'appointed' here is 'yakach' in Hebrew, which actually means 'the right one, or the correct one'!

Genesis 24:22-27 (NKJV) then says, 'So it was, when the camels had finished drinking, that the man (servant) took a golden nose ring... and two bracelets for her wrists... and said, "Whose daughter are you? Tell me, please, is there room in your father's house for us to lodge?" So she said to him, "I am the daughter of Bethuel, Milcah's son, whom she bore to Nahor." Then the man bowed down his head and worshiped the Lord. And he said, "Blessed be the Lord God of my master Abraham, who has not forsaken His mercy and truth... As for me, the Lord led me to the house of my master's brethren."'

And it turned out that Rebekah was from the family of Nahor, Abraham's brother! (see also Genesis 11:26) Was it a mere coincidence or 'good luck' that this servant found Rebekah (out of so many ladies)? I don't think so. The Bible says it was the Lord who led him to this divine appointment!

Also, when there's a divine appointment set up by the Lord for you, there'll also be confirmation. You see, Rebekah's family could have rejected this servant and said 'no' to him. But look at what Genesis 24:50-51 says: Then Laban (Rebekah's brother) and Bethuel (Rebekah's dad) answered and said, "The thing comes from the Lord; we cannot speak to you either bad or good. Here is Rebekah before you; take her and go, and let her be your master's son's wife, as the Lord has spoken."

And how about Rebekah herself? Did she relish this divine appointment? Was she all for it when the servant wanted to bring her back to his master's son the next day? Genesis 24:58-60 says, 'Then they called Rebekah and said to her, "Will you go with this man?" And she said, "I will go." ... And they (Rebekah's family) blessed Rebekah...'

Wow! Speak about double confirmation!

Let me now end with Genesis 24:67. It says, 'Then Isaac brought her (Rebekah) into his mother Sarah's tent, and he took Rebekah and she became his wife, and he loved her'.

Wow again! A wonderful match made in heaven! This has to be God's doing!

Beloved and friends, this is also your God today. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever (Hebrews 13:8), and He can cause wonderful things to happen to you too! It doesn't matter how 'dark' your past may be, because the truth is He loves you so very much (like Abraham loved his son Isaac), and therefore His plan for your life is also going to be good till the very end. Believe, and you'll receive. Amen!