How to prepare for the year 2026?

The Lord says: 

"There will be peace for a time, but then chaos will erupt again, both in the east and the west. Pray. Pray for peace and understanding between nations. The selfless prayers of the righteous are key and crucial in this coming year 2026. Never underestimate your prayers. For I will intervene. I will grant you wisdom and revelation as you pray."

"Stock market and financial market shaking is imminent, and the repercussions will be widespread in many sectors. However, for those who seek Me, I will be found by them. For those who count on Me for My wisdom and revelation, I will grant them and prosper them. They shall prosper in My way, in spite of shaking in the worldly ways."

"Earthquakes, drought, and floods will be more and more frequent in the coming year. The key is to grow in your spiritual walk with Me, and ask of My guidance and leading in your life, and that you will be led by My Spirit to be at the right place and at the right time. Learn to be led by My Spirit more and more. Pray in the spirit often. That is the key. Always return to My Word. Dwell even deeper in My Word, even if you've read it many times. For there's so much more I want to speak to you as you read My Word. For there are many more layers of wisdom, revelation, and treasure in My Word, more than you have thought."

"At the same time, there will be great awakening and revival in many nations. North, south, east, and west. No stone will be left unturned. They will be awakened to My righteousness. They will be awakened to My holiness. They will be awakened to the need for the Higher One. This is the era of the best and the worst happening at the same time. But the flood of My Spirit will be widespread, even in places you've previously thought to be the hardest of all places. The last shall be the first. Repent therefore from all kinds of sin. Repent on behalf of your nation. Let your nation be not filled with stupor, but with My Spirit."

By the way, 'stupor' basically means 'being in a state of spiritual dullness, numbness, or insensitivity'. This is due to a hardened heart, unbelief, or a lack of repentance. When a person is in such state, he or she cannot hear, cannot see, or cannot understand the spiritual things and spiritual truths clearly. There will be no clarity in the spirit. There is also a sense of spiritual lethargy, spiritual apathy, and even ingratitude. This can apply to an individual, or even a nation as a whole. 

This is a message from God for all of us. It's high time for God's people to spend time in deeper communion and fellowship with the Lord. He will surely tell you deeper secrets, whether in your life, or for your city, or for your nation. So, this month, the Lord is cleansing, so that there will be clarity in the spirit for God's people! 

The Lord says: 

"Return to the basics! 'Empty' yourself from all the intricacies and entanglements in your life, or whatever that distracts you from a deeper spiritual walk with Me. Clear the clutter. Clear what needs to clear. Clear whatever that entangles you or complicates your life. Clear your sins. Simplify your life. That's how you can prepare for the year 2026. You'll be glad you did."

"Forgive those who have offended you or wronged you. Do not keep an account of all those. Let go and let Me take over, no matter how much loss has been incurred on you or how difficult it is to forgive. I will help you if you look to Me. Clear yourself from hatred and anger. Clear yourself from any form of bitterness against anyone who has wronged you. For My blessings will begin to flow to you like a river." 

In Matthew 5:3-10, Jesus says (in The Beatitudes): 

"Blessed are the poor (or humble) in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled. Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." 

So, people of God, stop being greedy for power and fame. But return to the basics. Return to what Jesus says. Return to the purity and humility in the Lord. This can apply whether as an individual, or as a church, or as a city, or as a nation. 

The word 'Beatitude' here comes from the Latin word 'Beatus', and it simply means 'Happy' or 'Blessed'. These blessings offer each of us (His people) a pathway to true and lasting peace and joy. The peace and joy that is rooted in a deep relationship and personal walk with God. 

The world may not agree with this, or they may even laugh at us. But the truth is God has spoken this Beatitudes as the keys to lasting peace and joy in our lives. For those who believe and walk in it, blessed or happy are they! True blessedness! True happiness! Not a facade. Not something that is conjured up by humans. But the happiness and the blessedness that comes from above! From the Lord!

Click here for the full message in TiC YouTube Channel

Why you shouldn't be worried in a time like this

Every week we seek the Lord for the timely revelation in the Word to be released to you. 

This is what the Lord says for this time: 

"No one knows the day or the hour of My coming, not even the angels. So, do not worry as you wait for My coming, but keep looking to Me, keep walking in My plans for you, and make full use of your life on earth. Keep holding on to My Word, because My Word will always lead you to all truth. Do not allow yourself to compromise, even when many around you compromise. Let Me continue to sanctify and purify you by My Word, by My Spirit, and by My blood."

We are living in a very exciting time, the end time. But just do not fear, because in Christ you have the final victory. There's a paradox of what is happening right now in the world. In some parts of the world, people are compromising in their faith, and some even fall away. The Bible calls it apostasy. Yet in some other places on earth, at the same time, great outpouring of the Holy Spirit is happening as well. Indeed, the gospel of the kingdom is being preached to all the world like never before! (Matthew 24:14)

At the time of this writing, the Great Tribulation is not yet, and the Antichrist has not yet been revealed. But the time is near. Of course people would ask this question, "How near is near?" You know what, God's answer is this: "Don't worry." 

So the message is clear today. Don't be worried and don't be engrossed with when the Great Tribulation will happen, who will be the Antichrist, or when will the Antichrist be revealed. Just continue to walk in God's plans and God's calling in your life faithfully. Continue to make full use of all that God has given to you (His giftings and His talents for you), so that you can continue to be a blessing in this world. You know why? Because even many centuries ago, people have already asked this question: "When is the Great Tribulation?", "Who is the Antichrist?", "When will the Antichrist be revealed?", or "When will the world end?" And even many centuries ago, people have already said, "The end is near!" 

But of course remember this: Live your life as if Jesus is returning tonight. It means be ready even if He returns tonight! Cleanse your heart and cleanse your hands. Let the Word and the Spirit continue to wash you and cleanse you. But yet keep walking in God's calling every day and keep planning ahead for your life. Yes, still have savings and still invest wisely. Because you'd never know when the end will actually come. Because Jesus Himself said no one knows the hour or the day. It can be anytime now, but it can also be many years from now. So don't worry when people say, "The end is near!" Your part is just to be prepared, to continue to live a life that is pure before the Lord, and continue to allow the Word of God, the Spirit of God, and the Blood of the Lamb to wash you. You know why? Because you gain nothing by being worried or being engrossed with when the Great Tribulation will be, who the Antichrist is, when will the Antichrist be revealed, and how near is near! No one can claim they know exactly. But of course I want to tell you this. The signs are there already, especially since Israel became nation again in 1948. And you know it, if you have lived long enough, many things have accelerated since then. You can see this with your own eyes. 

Jesus says in Matthew 24:36, "But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only."  You see, if anyone claims to know the date, they are directly contradicting this verse. And also, God's way of seeing time is very different from our human way or human logic of seeing time and calendar. 2 Peter 3:8 says, 'But, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.' In other words, what humans can achieve in one thousand years, God can accomplish it in just one day! 

I continue with 2 Peter 3:9, 'The Lord is not slack concerning His promise (i.e. His promise of His coming for you, the Bride of Christ, the church), as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.' And this is the heart of God. He tarries, He hasn't come. Why? Because He wants to see more lives on this earth be saved. His will is that none should perish! Therefore this is a very important time to continue to be the 'light' to the world, to keep preaching the gospel, to share the Word of God to as many people as you can.  

2 Peter 3:17-18 then says, 'You therefore, beloved, since you know this beforehand (you know of this promise of God), beware lest you also fall from your own steadfastness, being led away with the error of the wicked; but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and forever. Amen.' 

No matter what happens in the world, no matter how the spirit of deception wreak havoc in this world, as a believer, you have the blessed hope of His coming for you. But Peter has also reminded us to keep our watch, lest we fall from our own steadfastness in the faith. 

Paul wrote this in 1 Timothy 4:1-2, 'Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith (and that's the falling away or apostasy), giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons, speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron.' Here, Paul wrote that in the latter days (i.e. in the end time which we are living in right now), many people's conscience become numb (no more feeling). It's like hot iron touching the skin, and there's no more feeling on the skin. So it is the same with one's spirit. There's no more sense of right and wrong anymore for some people. In other words, wrong becomes right, right becomes wrong. In fact, some people call the Bible outdated or primitive. They only want to hear what they want to hear. They don't want to hear what they don't want to hear, even though that is the word of truth which will bring blessings to them! 

But as far as you are concerned, beloved, keep looking to Jesus, keep looking to all that He has done for you on the cross, and keep pointing people to Jesus, till He returns for you, the Bride of Christ, the church! 

Keep putting your trust in Him, and as long as you keep walking in the Word and in the Spirit, He will know how to establish you and guard you. And that is the assurance God gives to all of us today. 2 Thessalonians 3:1-3 says, 'Brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may run swiftly and be glorified, just as it is with you (i.e. the word of the Lord will continue to spread quickly, and people will honor it), and that we may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men; for not all have faith. But the Lord is faithful, who will establish you and guard you from the evil one.' 

The word 'establish' here is 'sterizo' in Greek. In this context, it can mean 'the Lord strengthens you', 'the Lord steadies you (i.e. make you 'steady' in a volatile time)', or 'the Lord sets you in the right direction'. When the spirit of the world keeps luring the people (even the people of faith) into the wrong direction (or 'pitfalls'), the Lord will know how to 'set you in the right direction'! That is a great assurance for those who keep looking to Him and keep trusting in Him!  

The word 'guard' here is 'phulasso' in Greek. In this context, it can mean 'the Lord keeps you', 'the Lord watches over you', 'the Lord preserves you (till the day of His coming)', 'the Lord saves you', or 'the Lord rescues you'. In other words, the Lord will know how to make a way of escape for you, and the Lord will know how to shield you from the evil one! 

And this is wonderful. 2 Thessalonians 3:16-18 says, 'Now may the Lord of peace Himself give you peace always in every way. The Lord be with you all. The salutation of Paul with my own hand, which is a sign in every epistle; so I write. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.' See the words 'always in every way' here? Not sometimes, but always! Not only in some ways, but in every way! Remember Jesus said in John 16:33, "In Me you will have peace, even though in the world you will have tribulation. Therefore, be of good cheer, because I have overcome the world." 

The word 'peace' here in Greek is 'eirene'. It can mean 'peace, quietness, rest'. In other words, the Lord gives you peace always in every way, the Lord gives you quietness (even in the midst of the storms or troubles in this world), and the Lord gives you rest (in spite of all that happens in the world). And in this context, 'eirene' can also mean 'being at one with Him'. It means 'you in Him, and He in you' always in every way. Blessed are you! 

So no matter what happens in the world, know this: Jesus has already carried your judgement when He died for you on the cross! So now you are blessed! And you have the shalom peace in you. Shalom peace can literally mean 'nothing broken, nothing missing' in your life! So, fear not and worry not! As long as you keep walking in His grace and in His plans (and purposes) for your life, you will have this 'peace always in every way' - till you see the Lord Himself descending from heaven with a shout, with the voice of archangel, and with the sound of His trumpet! And that's when you shall be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air! (1 Thessalonians 4:16-18) 

What a glorious time that will be! This is the blessed hope that we have in Him. So, let's not give up, but keep hanging on to the Word of God, keep hanging on to the promise of God, and comfort one another, knowing that all that God has spoken in His Word, He will bring them to pass! Hallelujah! 

Click here for the full teaching in TiC YouTube Channel

How to walk in God's perfect love?

The Lord spoke these words to His people:

"My people, My people, My people, don’t be carried away by hatred and unforgiveness in this world. Don’t be carried away by envy and bitterness in this world. Receive My love instead, and learn to love with compassion and pity."

And the Lord spoke further:

"Let there be a flow of My love like a river in you and through you! For My love has been poured out upon you through the Holy Spirit. When everything else in this world fails, My love for you never fails. So, receive My love from heaven and let it flow, and yes, you’ll even be able to love your enemies, just as I have spoken to you before in the Word!"

Romans 5:5 (NKJV) says, 'Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us'.

Romans 5:5 (Expanded Bible) puts it this way, 'And this hope will never disappoint us [let us down; or put us to shame; dishonor us], because God has poured out His love to fill our hearts [or flooded our hearts with His love]. He gave us His love through the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to us'.

There is too much hatred, unforgiveness, envy and bitterness happening in the world right now. As the beloved of God, it is important that we do not get distracted and get carried away by all these. Instead, the Lord wants you to look to Him and receive His love, just as Romans 5:5 says. 

This love doesn't come like a trickle, but this love has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us. As you receive His love and choose to love, this love is going to flow like a river in you and through you.

1 John 4:7-9 (NKJV) says, 'Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. He who does not love does not know God, for God is love. In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him'.

The word 'love' here is 'agape' in Greek, and it means 'love, or benevolence (i.e. an act of kindness or the inclination to be kind)'. 

You see, not only do we love in word or in tongue, but we also love in deed and in truth (1 John 3:16-19), because 'agape' can also mean 'an act of kindness or the inclination to be kind'.

In fact, here's what the Lord Jesus Himself said in Matthew 5:43-47, "You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet your brethren only, what do you do more than others? Do not even the tax collectors do so?"

So, who are your enemies?

Generally speaking, enemies are those who are against you or oppose you because you are doing what God says for you to do. Yet Jesus Himself says 'love your enemies'. It means you are to forgive and not return evil with evil. Instead, return evil with good (Romans 12:21). Jesus Himself prayed this when He was crucified, "Father, forgive them for they do not know what they do." (Luke 23:34)

Sometimes an enemy is an enemy only for a time. God is great, and He can change an enemy in His perfect timing and perfect way. Therefore, don't hate them. Instead, pray for them. Ask God to give you the patience in times of persecution against you. And ask God to give you the grace to see these enemies from the eyes of God's love and compassion.

But... Who are your real enemies?

Matthew 5:43-47 must be read together with Ephesians 6:12 that says, 'For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places'.

Reading the Bible verses above, you can therefore deduce there are actually 2 types of enemies:

1. Invisible (demonic forces) - these are the real enemies.

2. Visible (human beings) - these are not real enemies.

The real enemies are the demonic forces (Ephesians 6:12) that work against God and against you (for doing what God says).

Therefore, Jesus' command to 'love your enemies' (Matthew 5:43-47) only applies to the 2nd group, i.e. fellow human beings (flesh and blood). For this 2nd group, don't hate them, but pray for them and have compassion and pity for them. God will know how to turn things around for you, in due time.

Principles in 'dealing with enemies':

1. Your real enemies are in the spirit, and not flesh and blood.

2. Your real battles are in the spirit, and not against flesh and blood.

3. You can take authority and bind these demonic forces, in Jesus' name.

4. In the end, all these enemies will die off because God has the ultimate victory (over satan and his cohorts).

5. As long as you see 'flesh and blood' as the enemies, you will not be able to have compassion or pity for them. That is why Jesus commanded to 'love your enemies'.

6. These 'flesh and blood' are only being used by the devil to fulfill his purposes, and their eyes have been blinded or darkened by the devil (or the spirits of this world).

7. But you can pray, "In Jesus' name, I command you devil (or foul spirit) to stop your work behind this person."

Click here for the full teaching in TiC YouTube Channel

God sees you BLESSED!

Today, I want to write about how God sees you. 

God wants you to see how God sees! God sees you BLESSED!

God is saying this to you: "I see you differently from how man sees! Man may see you cursed, defeated and good for nothing, BUT I see you BLESSED, victorious and expecting greater things to happen in your life!"

Many people do not have a good outlook for this coming year. Many people see doom and gloom. That may be what (and how) it looks like in the world, BUT as for you, you are different! Because you belong to CHRIST! If you see how God sees regarding yourself, you are going to see greater things coming in your life this new year!

The adversary or even man (who are jealous against you, who don't want you to succeed in life, or who think they know better than you) may want to see you cursed, defeated, down and out! But I have a good news for you. God sees you differently! God sees you BLESSED, victorious, and expecting greater things to happen in your life!

And that's exactly how God saw Israel! By faith, you too are the Israel, the spiritual Israel! And God sees you the same too! Because you have been grafted in through your faith in the Lord Jesus Christ!

Numbers 24:3-9 (NKJV) says: Then he (Balaam) took up his oracle and said: "The utterance of Balaam the son of Beor, the utterance of the man whose eyes are opened, the utterance of him who hears the words of God, who sees the vision of the Almighty, who falls down, with eyes wide open: "How lovely are your tents, O Jacob! Your dwellings, O Israel! Like valleys that stretch out, like gardens by the riverside, like aloes planted by the Lord, like cedars beside the waters. He shall pour water from his buckets, and his seed shall be in many waters. His king shall be higher than Agag, and his kingdom shall be exalted. God brings him out of Egypt; he has strength like a wild ox; he shall consume the nations, his enemies; he shall break their bones and pierce them with his arrows. He bows down, he lies down as a lion; and as a lion, who shall rouse him? Blessed is he who blesses you, and cursed is he who curses you.""

Wow! Awesome prophetic declarations regarding Israel! That's how God saw Israel! And these prophetic declarations are for you too, the spiritual Israel, through your faith in the Lord Jesus Christ! 

When Jesus died for you on the cross, He has carried all your curse on the cross! And if the devil or anyone on earth tries to curse you or wants you to fall, to be defeated, or 'down and out', they can't! Because what matters is not how they see you. What matters is how God sees you! God sees you BLESSED! Always remember this as you head into a brand new year!

Just as in Numbers 22, 23 and 24 regarding Israel those days. There was a king called Balak, the king of Moab at that time. He was feeling threatened by the presence of the Israelites who were passing by on their journey from Egypt to the Promised Land. Balak felt that the Israelites were too near for comfort. But the fact of the matter was the Israelites were just journeying past on the way to the Promised Land. They didn't mean harm. They were just doing what God told them! But you know what Balak did? He wanted to curse, annihilate and destroy them! So he engaged a diviner named Balaam to curse Israel. Long story short, Balaam somehow didn't. Not only did he not curse Israel, God used his mouth to pronounce blessings to Israel and curse Moab instead! You see? What man tries to do to destroy or curse you, God will know how to turn it around for your good! That's how BLESSED you are!

So, fear not! If you have God, you have everything! Let Him lead you into a brand new year, and let Him do even greater works through your life this new year. Hallelujah! Amen!

Click here to watch the full video

Walking in heavenly economy

The Lord says,

"It is time to teach My people to walk in heavenly economy! For I am decreeing that My people will never lack any good thing, even in times like these! My people, do not be enslaved by what the world has taught you! You are in the world, but you are not of the world! This is your time to be set free from your bondages, whatever these may be, even the bondages of the Babylonian system!"

- What if I say God can give you supernatural wisdom to walk in heavenly economy on earth?
- What if I say God can supernaturally open doors for you, such that no one can shut?

Sounds 'out-of-the-world', right? But this is possible. After all, the Word of God is supernatural! And we as believers in the Word of God should be likewise! Because we may be in the world, but we are not of the world! (John 17:14-15)

All these can begin to happen when you have a renewed mind (i.e. change of mindset) to see how God sees, not how man sees!

In Matthew 6:9-11 (NKJV), Jesus taught us, "In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread..." In Romans 12:2 (NKJV), apostle Paul wrote, 'And do not be conformed to (the pattern of) this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God'.

Now, the word 'will' here (same Greek word for the verses above) is 'thelema' in Greek, and it can mean 'purpose, desire, mandate, determine, decree (i.e. order or command)'. Watch the word 'decree' here! You see? It isn't just His desire be done 'on earth as it is in heaven', but His decree, order, command be done! Wow, these are very strong words! That's to say He is determined to make it happen! Make what happen? His kingdom come on earth! And mind you, His kingdom is supernatural!

But you've got to allow Him to renew your mind! That's what Romans 12:2 says! In other words, your mindset cannot be bound by what the world (this fallen world) tells you!

This is your time to receive the anointing to be set free from such! Free from the Babylonian system that has permeated this world!

What does 'Babylonian system' mean here? It simply means 'the ways/systems of this fallen world'. The word 'Babylon', by the way, comes from the word 'Babel', meaning 'confusion, mixed up'. Remember the story of Tower of Babel? (Genesis 11:1-9) And remember how these people tried to make a name for themselves, but the Lord scattered them? You see, the way of this fallen world has always been driven by pride, greed, and lust. And these ways of men may look like a good idea to them, but never God's idea!

One example of someone who walked in heavenly providence and heavenly economy was none other than Elijah (1 Kings 17:1-16). In a time of drought, the word of the Lord came to him to get away from where he was, and hide by the Brook Cherith. There, the Lord supernaturally commanded the ravens to feed him, morning and evening! (1 Kings 17:2-6)

And then, the word of the Lord came to him again, because it was time to move to Zarephath. There, the Lord prepared a widow to provide for him! (1 Kings 17:8-16) Out of all people, a widow? The worldly ways would see this as absurd and illogical! Why not go to a rich man, or a businessman instead? But a widow? Not only that, Elijah came at a time when the widow was about to prepare her last meal!

But Elijah did according to all that the Lord had spoken! And miracles happened again! And here in Zarephath, he (and the widow and her son) had a never-ending supply of flour and oil till the Lord sent rain on earth again!

So, what was the key to Elijah seeing such supernatural providence and heavenly economy, even in a time of drought? Obedience to whatever the Lord says! Even if what the Lord had spoken didn't make sense to the worldly mind!

People of God, will you allow the Lord to renew you and set you free from the worldly ways of men? If yes, I declare in Jesus' name, that you too are on the way to experience a greater manifestation of His supernatural wisdom and providence, even in ways you cannot imagine yet. Amen!

For the preaching video, click to watch

Get ready to move into the next level!

The Lord says:
"What I have spoken to you, and what I have given to you, this is the time to surrender it back wholly to Me! Like Abraham, this is the time to surrender your 'Isaac' to Me, and I will see to it that there will be providence and there will be a solution! Do not retract, and do not hold back! For I am getting you ready to walk into the realm of greater blessing, and I am bringing you to the next level!"

As happened to Abraham, there's going to be a time when the Lord will ask you to surrender to Him all that He has given to you. And for many of God's people, that time is now! No, the context here isn't about 'the Lord gives, and the Lord takes away', but rather, He is asking you to surrender, so that He can bring you into a time of greater blessing, and to the next level!

Let me show you from the Scripture. Genesis 22:1-2 (NKJV) says, 'Now it came to pass after these things that God tested Abraham, and said to him, "Abraham!" And he said, "Here I am." Then He said, "Take now your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you."'

The word 'Moriah' ('Mowri Yah' in Hebrew) here can mean 'The Lord will see to it, or the Lord will provide', from two words, 'Raah' (to see, to look on, to provide) and 'Yah' (the name of the Lord our God). Therefore, this name speaks of the Lord who will see to it that there's going to be providence (or solution) when you surrender to Him whatever/whoever you hold dear. In Abraham's context at that time, it was also a place of worship. Indeed, to worship is to surrender all of ourselves before the Lord!

Genesis 22:4-8 (NKJV) says, 'Then on the third day Abraham lifted his eyes and saw the place afar off. And Abraham said to his young men, "Stay here with the donkey; the lad and I will go yonder and worship, and we will come back to you." So Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering and laid it on Isaac his son; and he took the fire in his hand, and a knife, and the two of them went together. But Isaac spoke to Abraham his father and said, "My father!" Then he said, "Look, the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?" And Abraham said, "My son, God will provide for Himself the lamb for a burnt offering."'

People of God, what are the 'Isaacs' in your life at the moment?
These can be whatever/whoever you hold dear.
Examples:
- your vocation, career, or business;
- your spiritual gifts, or talents;
- your God-given ministry;
- someone you hold dear (but you don't know what to do with him/her anymore).

Genesis 22:9-14 (NKJV) says, 'Then they came to the place of which God had told him. And Abraham built an altar there and placed the wood in order; and he bound Isaac his son and laid him on the altar, upon the wood. And Abraham stretched out his hand and took the knife to slay his son. But the Angel of the Lord called to him from heaven and said, "Abraham, Abraham!" So he said, "Here I am." And He said, "Do not lay your hand on the lad, or do anything to him; for now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son, from Me. Then Abraham lifted his eyes and looked, and there behind him was a ram caught in a thicket by its horns. So Abraham went and took the ram, and offered it up for a burnt offering instead of his son. And Abraham called the name of the place, The-Lord-Will-Provide...'

'Burnt offering' here speaks of 'your unreserved worship and surrender before the Lord', whereas 'ram' here speaks of 'the providence, the solution, or the answer that's coming your way'. In fact, 'a ram caught in a thicket by its horns' is actually a 'picture' of 'Jesus with the crown of thorns'! On the cross some two thousand years ago, He wore the crown of thorns, so that you can now wear the crown of blessings and the crown of God's glory!

Now, let's put a little imagination into the verses above. Imagine now Abraham on the way to that place of worship and surrender, and he suddenly changed his mind and decided to retract (or hold back) his son, Isaac. Can you imagine what would have happened? The ram wouldn't have appeared! Because the ram (i.e. the solution) that was to be provided by the Lord would also be somehow retracted (or held back)!

Look now how the Lord was getting Abraham ready for a time of greater blessing and the next level, after he had 'passed' the test of faith! Genesis 22:15-17 (NKJV) says, 'Then the Angel of the Lord called to Abraham a second time out of heaven, and said: "By Myself I have sworn, says the Lord, because you have done this thing, and have not withheld your son, your only son - blessing I will bless you, and multiplying I will multiply your descendants as the stars of the heaven and as the sand which is on the seashore; and your descendants shall possess the gate of their enemies."'

Very interestingly, The Complete Jewish Bible (CJB), which was written from a biblically Jewish perspective, translates this expression 'blessing I will bless you' as 'I will most certainly bless you'. You know what that means? The Lord was in effect promising Abraham that He will most certainly bless him, even in all circumstances, and no matter what circumstance he's in!

By the way, 'in all circumstances' here includes even the not-so-good times in the eyes of the world! And even in times like these, there's still no stopping you from walking in the realm of greater blessing!

Indeed, as descendants of Abraham by faith, you can now receive this same promise in your life too - that the Lord will most certainly bless you, even in all circumstances, and no matter what circumstance you're in! Hallelujah!

What does it mean by being blessed of the Lord?

Psalm 1:1-3 (NKJV) says, 'Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the path of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful; But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law he meditates day and night. He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf also shall not wither; and whatever he does shall prosper'.

The word 'blessed' here in Hebrew is 'esher', literally meaning 'happiness'. It comes from the word 'ashar', and in the context of the Scripture here, it can mean 'to be happy, to be right, to go forward, to be guided (by the Lord), to be led (by the Lord)'. That is to say 'Happy, right, going forward, guided by the Lord, led by the Lord' is the man who chooses not to walk in the counsel of the ungodly, but rather, his delight is in the Word of God!

Notice the words 'walks', 'stands', and 'sits' in Psalm 1:1? These are verbs, i.e. 'words used to describe an action'. You see? The above verbs speak of the choices you need to make, for example, to walk in the counsel of the ungodly, or not to walk in the counsel of the ungodly.

People of God, choose not the way of the ungodly, but choose to delight in the Word of God instead! And that's how you shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf shall not wither, and whatever you do shall prosper!

The Lord spoke these words recently:
"Do not look at the 'parched and dry lands', but look to Me and trust in Me, for I am the Source of the rivers of water in your lives."

What does 'parched and dry lands' mean here? The Scripture says in 2 Peter 3:6-7 (New Life Version), 'Long ago the earth was covered with water and it was destroyed. But the heaven we see now and the earth we live on now have been kept by His word. They will be kept until they are to be destroyed by fire. They will be kept until the day men stand before God and sinners will be destroyed'. Going by the verses here, the world we live in isn't going to get any better, and we all know it. But in spite of this, there is hope, and this hope only comes when we look to God and trust in God!

Indeed, this is an even more crucial time to keep looking to the Lord and keep trusting in His Word, no matter what happens to this earth, and no matter how 'parched and dry' this world has become, both spiritually and physically. Those who keep looking to Him and keep trusting in His Word are blessed ('esher') people!

There is another Hebrew word for 'blessed', and this word is 'barak'. You can find this word in Jeremiah 17:7-8 (NKJV) that says, 'Blessed ('barak') is the man who trusts in the Lord, and whose hope is the Lord. For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters, which spreads out its roots by the river, and will not fear when heat comes; but its leaf will be green, and will not be anxious (worried) in the year of drought, nor will cease from yielding fruit'.

The word 'blessed' (or 'barak' in Hebrew) here can mean 'benefit, abundance, honor'. The word 'honor' here is very interesting, and you can say that 'to be blessed is to see God honoring you and God honoring whatever you put your hands to do'! So, not only do you have the 'benefits' and 'abundance' of every good thing that He wants to give you, the Lord also knows how to honor you, and that is, when you put your trust and hope in Him!

The expression 'will not fear when heat comes' (or 'will not see when heat comes' in KJV) means you who put your trust and hope in the Lord will not be affected by the heat ('parched and dry times' on earth), and you will still be yielding fruit (and your leaf will still be green), no matter what happens around you. That, my friend, is the state of being blessed of the Lord!

I end this article with Psalm 34:8-10 (NKJV) that says, 'Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good; Blessed is the man who trusts in Him! Oh, fear the Lord, you His saints! There is no want (lack) to those who fear Him. The young lions lack and suffer hunger; But those who seek the Lord shall not lack any good thing'.

Being entrusted with His glory and greater things

I released these words to a congregation I ministered to recently:
"Get ready for Me to entrust you with My glory, and the greater things that you have not imagined yet! For you are entering a time of greater blessing and greater victory! Many will see My blessings so real in your lives, just as many have seen My blessings so real in Obed-Edom's life! Look to Me and follow Me, and I will bring it to pass!"

We are crossing the threshold to enter into the Hebrew year 5779! Shanah Tovah! Have a good year! And as you cross over into a new year of the Lord for you, get ready for His greater glory and for greater things to happen to you!

Never mind if in the past season, you have been obscured, sidelined, or even misunderstood by others, because the Lord says things are going to start changing around you! In fact, the year ahead is a year He is entrusting many things to you, even things you have not imagined yet!

Note: The word 'entrust' can be defined as 'put (something) into someone's care/stewardship'. 

The past weeks have been a time the Lord was calling His people to humble themselves under His mighty hand. I have written about this last week. Pride is very subtle, and we often do not even know there's an element of pride in our lives. Even if we do, we may not want to admit it! That's when we need the Holy Spirit more than ever. We need Him to speak to us and work in us. We need Him to correct us and guide us. Greater blessing comes when we allow Him to do His work in us. Jesus says, "Blessed are the humble, for they shall inherit the earth." (Matthew 5:5)

Let's go to 2 Samuel chapter 6 now, and we shall look at someone named Obed-Edom. In 2 Samuel 6:9-10, the Scripture says, 'David was afraid of the Lord that day; and he said, "How can the ark of the Lord come to me?" So David would not move the ark of the Lord with him into the City of David; but David took it aside into the house of Obed-Edom the Gittite'.

Here's the background. Soon after becoming king over all Israel and Judah, David wanted to bring the ark of the Lord to Jerusalem. In our context, the ark of the Lord here is a 'picture' of 'the glory of the Lord, the presence of the Lord, i.e. Jesus Himself'. It was a good intention, but it was not done correctly (in the way the Lord had commanded it). Instead of sanctifying themselves first and having the Levites carry the ark on their shoulders by its poles, they set the ark on a wheel cart; and that's how they brought it out of the house of Abinadab (2 Samuel 6:3). Uzzah and Ahio, the sons of Abinadab, were tasked with guiding the cart - Ahio in front, and Uzzah behind. As they came to the threshing floor of Nakon, the oxen stumbled, and Uzzah reached out and took hold of the ark. God's anger was aroused because of Uzzah's irreverent act, and He struck him. Uzzah died then and there (2 Samuel 6:3-7).

David was terrified, and the plans to bring the ark into Jerusalem had to be aborted. David decided he would not move the ark to Jerusalem for the time being, and it was then that he entrusted the care of the ark to Obed-Edom. Interestingly, this name Obed-Edom was never mentioned anywhere in the Scripture prior to this ark incident, and little was known about him. But you do get a clue from his name. 'Obed' here is from the word 'abad' in Hebrew, meaning 'to serve humbly, or to worship', whereas 'Edom' is a nickname of Esau, the older twin brother of Jacob. 'Obed-Edom' therefore speaks of 'a person who has been concealed, unknown, and unrecognized by others; but one who has been humbly serving and worshiping the Lord faithfully all these while'. In short, he was a man of humility and faithfulness. And now, his time out of obscurity had finally arrived!

2 Samuel 6:11-12a says, 'The ark of the Lord remained in the house of Obed-Edom the Gittite three months. And the Lord blessed Obed-Edom and all his household. Now it was told King David, saying, "The Lord has blessed the house of Obed-Edom and all that belongs to him, because of the ark of the Lord."' Indeed, blessings follow wherever the 'ark' goes! Obed-Edom 'housed' the 'glory of the Lord', and greater things began to happen in (and around) his life! You see, the blessings in one's life will never go unnoticed! Others will see it so real, and they will know the Lord is with him/her! And so it was with Obed-Edom! And when David heard of it, he came and brought up the ark of the Lord from the house of Obed-Edom to Jerusalem with gladness! (2 Samuel 6:12b)

One may ask, why was the 'blessing' not evident when the ark was kept in Abinadab's house, but was so evident when the ark was kept in Obed-Edom's house? The answer is simple. I believe it was because Obed-Edom treasured the ark! It is the same today for all of us. How much do we treasure the glory of the Lord and the presence of the Lord in our lives?

In fact, Obed-Edom treasured the ark so much that when the time came to move the ark from his house to Jerusalem, Obed-Edom chose to follow the ark! He actually had a choice. He could have stayed where he was, but he chose to move with the ark! You see, his desire for the Lord caused him to do whatever it took to be close to the Lord! The Scripture tells us that he later became a doorkeeper for the ark, as he continued to be a worshiper of the Lord! (1 Chronicles 15:24, 1 Chronicles 16:1-5)

And finally, 1 Chronicles 26:4-6 says, 'The sons of Obed-Edom were Shemaiah the firstborn, Jehozabad, Joah, Sacah, Nethanel, Ammiel, Issachar, Peulthai: for God blessed him. Also to Shemaiah his son, were sons born who governed their fathers' houses, men of great ability'. Not only Obed-Edom was greatly blessed, his whole family (even the generation to come) was greatly blessed too! Let it be so for your life, your household, and all that you put your hands on, as you look ahead to a new year! Hallelujah!

The keys to prospering in a time of famine

I heard these words from the Lord recently:
"Look to Me, and keep looking to Me! Dwell in Me and My land. For My land is My Word. My land is where you receive your feeding. My land is where you have your spiritual food. And I will begin to show you the keys to your blessings in a time of famine."

Genesis 26 is the key chapter here. There was a famine those days (in Isaac's time), and in Genesis 26:2-3, the Lord appeared to Isaac and said, "Do not go down to Egypt; live in the land of which I shall tell you. Dwell in this land, and I will be with you and bless you..."

What does 'Egypt' mean in this context? It is 'mitsrayim' in Hebrew, from the word 'matsowr', which means '(to put a) limit, bondage, besieged, or distress'. 'Egypt' here therefore means 'the way of the world (that has a limit)'.

How about the meaning of 'dwell in this land'? The word 'dwell' here is 'shakan' in Hebrew, which means 'to continue, to abide, to remain, to stay on, to rest in', and the word 'land' here is symbolic of 'the Word of God'. As a matter of fact, you generally eat of the produce of the land you are in! For example, if your land (or country) grows lots of rice, you probably would be taking in more rice in your diet. And if your land (or country) grows lots of barley, you probably would be taking in more barley in your diet. In other words, the land you are in is where you receive your feeding. The same it is with spiritual food! Your land is the Word of God! Eat therefore of the 'produce' of your 'land'!

Therefore, to 'dwell in this land' is a 'picture' of you continuing, abiding, remaining, staying on, and resting in the Word of God!

In short, the way of the world may suffer, but the way of the Word will prosper! Therefore, never put a limit on God (and what He can do for you) this year! As much as you are willing (for Him to use you), He is willing!

Genesis 26:12-14 then says, '... Isaac then sowed in that land, and reaped in the same year a hundredfold; and the Lord blessed him. The man (Isaac) began to prosper, and continued prospering until he became very prosperous; for he had possessions of flocks and possessions of herds and a great number of servants. So the Philistines envied him'.

The word 'sowed' here is 'zara' in Hebrew, which means 'to plant, to disseminate, to spread, to scatter'. Proverbs 11:24-25 confirms the above verses, saying, 'There is one who scatters, yet increases more, and there is one who withholds more than is right, but it leads to poverty. The generous soul will be made rich, and he who waters will also be watered himself'.

Indeed, this is a time to dedicate yourselves to the Lord for Him to use, in every way that He wants to use you. Keep 'planting', keep 'disseminating', keep 'spreading', and keep 'scattering'!

As you sow your 'seed', be it financially (to ministries that the Lord has put in your heart to sow), or your energy, talent, spiritual gifts, or time (into what the Lord has put in your heart to do), watch how He's going to multiply it, even in miraculous ways. Just look at Simon Peter in Luke 5:1-7. As he allowed Jesus to use his boat, that very same boat that caught nothing became something! Simon Peter was so blessed with the bumper harvest of fish that he had to call out for other boats to come and help out! Believe the same it is going to be with you! As you give your 'boat' to the Lord for Him to use, watch how He's going to bless that 'boat'!
Note: Your 'boat' here speaks of 'what you have in your hands'.

Let's continue with Genesis 26:16-18 now. Here, Isaac was so blessed of the Lord that the Philistines envied him and even felt threatened by him! Abimelech (king of the Philistines) then said to Isaac, "Go away from us, for you are much mightier than we." Isaac did, but because he was so blessed of the Lord, wherever he went, blessings also followed him! Genesis 26:19 says, 'Also Isaac's servants dug in the valley, and found a well of running water there'.
Note: In the context of an agricultural society those days, finding a well of running water was indeed a great blessing!

People of God, whatever 'famine' you may be going through at the moment (whether in your career, business, or in ministry), keep looking to Him and keep dwelling in His 'land'! Know that He wants to bless you and He wants to visit you this year! If God did it for Isaac that year, He can also do the same for you this year! Believe and receive by faith!

One important key to remember this year is 'to stay away from quarrels and contention', and 'don't get distracted by any enmity, opposition, or accusation'. Focus instead on where God wants you to be, and what God wants you to do. Keep on looking to Him and His well of running water (i.e. His blessings) for you. Know that He will surely have a place for you.

Here's what Genesis 26:20-22 say, 'But the herdsmen of Gerar quarreled with Isaac's herdsmen, saying, "The water is ours." So he (Isaac) called the name of the well Esek (meaning 'quarrel, contention') because they quarreled with him. Then they dug another well, and they quarreled over that one also. So he (Isaac) called its name Sitnah (meaning 'enmity, opposition, accusation'). And he moved from there and dug another well, and they did not quarrel over it. So he (Isaac) called its name Rehoboth (meaning 'spacious, lots of room, broad place'), because he said, "For now the Lord has made room for us, and we shall be fruitful in the land."'

The Lord then appeared to Isaac and said, "I am the God of your father Abraham; do not fear, for I am with you. I will bless you and multiply your descendants for My servant Abraham's sake." (Genesis 26:24)

Indeed, He is your I AM God, a very present help in time of your need. In Revelation 1:8, He says, "I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty." Notice 'who is' comes first here, and then only 'who was' and 'who is to come'? The Lord wants to show you that He is first and foremost the 'who is' God, the very present God to you! Not past, not future, but present and now here for you!

Last but not least, the one thing about being blessed of the Lord is that people will start to notice it! Why? Because the blessing of the Lord is tangible and is so real!

Here's what Genesis 26:26-29 say, 'Then Abimelech (king of the Philistines) came to Isaac from Gerar with Ahuzzath, one of his friends, and Phichol the commander of his army. And Isaac said to them, "Why have you come to me, since you hate me and have sent me away from you?" But they said, "We have certainly seen that the Lord is with you. So we said, 'Let there now be an oath between us; and let us make a covenant with you, that you will do us no harm, since we have not touched you, and since we have done nothing to you but good and have sent you away in peace. You are now the blessed of the Lord'."'

In summary, here are the keys to prospering in a time of famine:
1. Be where God wants you to be.
2. Dwell where God wants you to dwell.
3. Sow 'seeds', be it financially or in other ways.
4. Believe blessings will follow you wherever you go.
5. Stay away from quarrels and contention.
6. Focus not on the enemy, but on what God wants you to do.
7. Know that the Lord will surely have a place for you.
8. Fear not, because He is present and He is here with you.

My prayer for you this year is wherever you 'dig', there will be wells of water (i.e. blessings), and people will see that you too are the blessed of the Lord, to the glory of God, just as Isaac was those days. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Wherever you dig your 'wells', there'll be 'water'!

Genesis 26:13 (KJV): The man Isaac waxed great, and went forward, and grew until he became very great.

It means Isaac grew and continued growing until he became very prosperous and influential. In New King James Version (NKJV), it’s written this way: “The man began to prosper, and continued prospering until he became very prosperous”. Wow! That’s triple prosperity! And ‘three’ is a number of ‘completion, perfect testimony, invincibility’. In other words, Isaac had ‘complete, perfect testimony, invincible’ prosperity! ‘To be invincible’ is ‘to be too strong to be overcome or defeated’. In fact, this happened in a time when there was famine in the land! (Genesis 26:1)

It all started when the Lord told Isaac ‘not to go down to Egypt’ (Genesis 26:2), but instead continue to dwell in the land which He had promised Abraham. The Lord even said, “I will perform the oath which I swore to Abraham your father” (Genesis 26:3). God backed up what He said with an oath! ‘Egypt’ here represents ‘the worldly way of getting wealth’, and the Lord told Isaac to look away from that and stand on His promises and His way instead. The word ‘oath’ in Hebrew is from the root word ‘shaba’, which means ‘seven, perfect’. An ‘oath’ by the Lord is also to say “it’s impossible for Him to lie”. When He said He will perform, HE WILL PERFORM! And the good news is as a believer in the New Covenant, this very same ‘oath’ has already been ‘performed’ perfectly when Jesus died for you on the cross! It’s already been done for you. And now you can stand blessed like Isaac was!

What is the similarity between Isaac and you (a believer)? The blessings of Abraham! You both are sons of Abraham! And in Genesis 25:5, notice that Abraham gave all that he had to Isaac, and God truly blessed Isaac! That’s why when Isaac sowed in the land, he reaped in the same year a hundredfold (Genesis 26:12). And the man Isaac began to prosper, and continued prospering until he became very prosperous, so much so until the Philistines envied him (Genesis 26:14). And wherever Isaac dug wells, there was water! Not only did he re-dig the wells of his father, he also found new wells of running water! That’s favor, my friend! Will you believe this for yourself? Believing, you’ll receive too! Claim it! Give thanks for it! And step into your blessings! The truth is this is your ‘birthright’ as a son (or daughter) of Abraham!

And you know what? Those who envy you will eventually acknowledge ‘the Lord is with you, and has blessed you’ (Genesis 26:28-29). The blessings in your life are evident for all to see, and yes, even your adversaries will make peace with you (Genesis 26:31).

All these happened to Isaac, and because of the ‘oath’ that has been performed through Jesus Christ on the cross, this can happen to you too! Hallelujah!

You are blessed of the Most High God!

Genesis 14:19: Blessed be Abram of God Most High, the possessor of heaven and earth.

As a believer, and because you are a descendant of Abraham by faith, you are also blessed of the Most High God! Who is this Most High God? The Bible says He is the possessor of heaven and earth! In the New Testament, Ephesians 1:3 says 'in Christ, you are blessed with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places'.

To start with, let's look at the word 'bless'. It is ‘barak’ in Hebrew, which means ‘to kneel before God (an act of adoration)’. In Greek, it is ‘eulogeo’ which comes from ‘eu’ (means ‘well, good’) and ‘logeo’ (means ‘speak, say’). So, ‘eulogeo’ means ‘to speak well of’. It can also mean ‘to invoke a benediction (blessings) upon’. To 'invoke' is to 'call on God (for help)'. So when you say “God bless you” to someone, you are actually ‘calling on God to bless that person, i.e for him/her to be blessed with blessings of the Most High God’.

The word ‘blessings’ in Hebrew is ‘barakah’ which means 'having all the goodness/benefit from Him’. The word 'blessed’ therefore means ‘all the goodness/benefit of the Lord be on the person’. So when Genesis 14:19 says 'Abraham is blessed of the Most High God', he was indeed 'blessed with all the goodness/benefit of the Most High God'! Beloved, the good news is you are too!

Let's now look at the word ‘barakah’ again. As mentioned, it means ‘blessings’, but interestingly, it can also mean ‘a place at which camels kneel as a resting place, a pool’ (refer Strong's Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible). This ‘resting place (pool)’ is a 'picture' of ‘we resting in Christ’s finished work on the cross'. He has carried all your curse (Isaiah 53:3-5) and what you have now is only 'blessings' ('barakah'). Note the opposite of 'curse' is 'blessings'. In fact, Jesus has also carried all your sorrows, pains, and sicknesses on the cross, so now you can have joy, comfort, and good health. The Bible also says, 'the chastisement (punishment) for our peace was upon Him'. He even suffered violence, so now you can have shalom peace. Jesus' finished work on the cross some 2,000 years ago made all the difference!

But why are there still so many Christians living in defeat today? They simply do not believe (& receive) this simple truth! Beloved, never miss His every blessing (Ephesians 1:3) for your life. Start seeing yourself 'blessed of the Most High God' today. It's yours, and it's meant to be yours! Believe & receive.