Words from the Lord: "Time to clean up!"

I have a dream from the Lord the other day. In the dream, I saw many believers of God and ministers of God, including myself, being brought into a huge mansion. The mansion has many rooms. The mansion is huge and with a huge compound surrounding it. Each individual is assigned into each of the rooms. These are all Christians, both believers and ministers alike. I saw myself being assigned with one room too. However, each of these rooms in the mansion were full of dirt and dust, and needed some cleanup before it could be inhabited. It seems like everyone with no exception has to do some cleanup for the respective room given to each of them. 

When I woke up from the dream, I initially thought it's the mansion in heaven that God talks about in the Scripture. But then I realized it's not. I mean, how can the mansion in heaven be full of dirt and needs cleanup? So, this is not talking about heaven. This is talking about what's happening here on earth. 

The dream was so real. As I woke up from the dream, I prayed and I asked the Lord, "What do all these mean?" 

That's when I heard the Lord saying, "Tell My people: It's time for a cleanup!"

The Lord said further: "Spiritually and physically! Individually and corporately! The church and the ministry on earth needs a cleanup! In every level and in every area! Not just as a body, as a church, or any form of ministry, but on a personal level!" 

Here's the interpretation to the dream, and I know there's an urgency to it. The huge mansion here is the house of the Lord on earth as a whole. It means there's no exception. The many rooms and compartments are the different expressions and branches of Christianity on earth. But right now, there seems to be a lot of dirt, dust, and uncleanness all over. God is speaking metaphorically. And God says it's time for a cleanup before it can be inhabited. It's time to clean up whatever that has contaminated the rooms and the house as a whole.

Definitions of 'cleanup': 

1. The removal of dirt, untidiness, or corruption from a place or a situation. 

2. The sanitizing, washing, and purifying of something. 

3. The purging, reforming, rectifying, and straightening up of something. 

Before the greater glory of the Lord comes, the Lord says, "Now is the time for a cleanup!" 

As I prayed further, the Lord showed me Jeremiah 17. Jeremiah 17 begins with the Lord God talking about the uncleanness among God's people. This includes idolatry in any form. It doesn't just mean a physical idol, per se. Idolatry may even be elevating man in the place of God. It may be hero worshiping. It may be pursuing man's fallen ways instead of God's ways. In other words, not putting the Lord God as the first and highest place, or in the rightful place, in how we do things. Of course, this is very subtle. In the outward or on stage, everything may look good. But the Lord is looking in the inside. 

Jeremiah 17:5-6 (NKJV) says, 'Thus says the Lord: "Cursed is the man who trusts in man and makes flesh his strength, whose heart departs from the Lord. For he shall be like a shrub in the desert, and shall not see when good comes, but shall inhabit the parched places in the wilderness, in a salt land which is not inhabited."'

In the context of what God is saying today, these verses can apply both spiritually and physically, inward and outward, inside of us and outside of us. 

Prophet Jeremiah pictured this 'shrub in the desert' as weak and dry that's about to die from drought. From the outside, this shrub may look good and fine. But in the inside, it's actually dead and futile. This is a 'picture' of those who trust in man (or man-made ways) instead of the Lord (and the Lord's ways). This 'shrub in the desert' is a 'picture' of what's dying, drying, and unsustainable. 

So, this is a call to clean up! Let the Lord search our hearts and show us what to clean up. Let the Lord wash our hearts and wash our hands. Inside of us and outside of us. Or whatever that we put our hands to do. When I say this, I say this with the fear and the reverence of the Lord. I'm saying this to myself too. No one on earth is exempted, and no one on earth is an exception, no matter what position we hold on earth. 

The Lord has spoken. He desires cleanliness and holiness. He desires a pure heart whom He will not turn away. He is indeed preparing for His coming glory! 

This is not a message of condemnation. But this is a message of restoration and hope. This is a message of preparation for what's coming. The coming glory of the Lord! 

Let's get back to Jeremiah chapter 17. Look at the contrast here in Jeremiah 17, if God's people begin to turn away from their uncleanness and man-made ways, and turn to God (and God's ways). 

In Jeremiah 17:7-8 (NKJV), the Lord says, "Blessed 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 in the year of drought, nor will cease from yielding fruit." 

Here, prophet Jeremiah referred the man who trusts in the Lord to be like a tree planted by the waters, whose leaf is green, and will not cease yielding fruit. This is exactly what God wants you to walk in, in this season, and going forward. 

In Jeremiah 17:14 (NKJV), prophet Jeremiah said, "Heal me, O Lord, and I shall be healed; Save me, and I shall be saved. For You are my praise." 

The word 'heal' here is 'rapha' in Hebrew. It can mean 'mend, cure, repair, make well, make whole'. The word 'save' here is 'yasha' in Hebrew. It can mean 'help, rescue, deliver, preserve, defend, set free'. 

As you surrender your life to the Lord and submit to Him, you receive both 'rapha' and 'yasha'. Yes, in every sense of these words. This is the promise of God for those who look to Him and submit to Him. 

From the Scripture here, God's heart is always about restoration, renewal, healing, and hope for His people. That's what Jeremiah 17 is pointing to us. So right now, beloved of God, let restoration and healing take place. If we are willing, God will be more than willing. This is His assurance for us.

And if we are willing and we heed God's message for us, blessed are we, because God's light is going to shine so bright in each of us, and we shall arise and shine, for the glory of the Lord is coming upon us! Hallelujah! 

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The final victory is already assured!

Psalm 31:19 (NKJV): Oh, how great is Your goodness which You have laid up for those who fear You, which You have prepared for those who trust in You in the presence of the sons of men!

The word 'goodness' here in Hebrew is 'tuwb', which means 'beauty, gladness, welfare (toward us)', from the word 'towb', that is 'to make well, to make good'. In other words, the psalmist David was declaring the greatness of God's welfare toward His beloved! And yes, He does make good His promises for you too! 

The word 'fear' here is 'yawraw' in Hebrew, which simply means 'revere'. 'To revere Him' is to humble ourselves under His mighty hand (1 Peter 5:6) and to continue learning from Him (John 15:1-7). The truth is what we all know on earth (even collectively) is just a mere 'bucket' of water in the midst of His vast ocean. That's how great He is, even in His infinite wisdom. And the Bible says 'the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom' (Proverbs 9:10).

Psalm 31:20 then says, 'You (the Lord) shall hide them (the goodness of the Lord) in the secret place of Your presence from the plots of man ('pride of man' in KJV). You shall keep them secretly in a pavilion (shelter) from the strife of tongues'.

The word 'plots' here is translated in Hebrew as 'snares, traps, trickeries, plans, or conspiracies', from the word 'rawkas' which means 'to tie up', which is the opposite of 'to be set free'. Indeed, the plots of man 'ties us up', so that we will not be set free 'to be what God wants us to be', or 'to do what God wants us to do'. 

The word 'strife' here is translated in Hebrew as 'contest, adversary, chiding, or contention', from the word 'ruwb' which means 'to strive against, to hold a controversy, or to lay wait'. The Bible says 'the adversary walks about like a roaring lion, (laying wait) seeking whom he may devour' (1 Peter 5:8). 

But God! Psalm 31:20 says the Lord shall keep and preserve all His goodness for you (including His plans, His dreams, and His visions He has put in your heart) from such works of the enemy!

Let's look now at the life and ministry of Nehemiah as a good example of the above verses. The name 'Nehemiah' literally means 'the comfort or consolation of the Lord'. In fact, what God did through Nehemiah was actually prophetic of our 'church age' in the dispensation of God's times.

In Nehemiah's days, the Lord put in his heart to build the wall of Jerusalem. 'Wall' here speaks of 'salvation' (see Isaiah 60:18), whereas 'Jerusalem' speaks of 'God's city, or God's people'. And with the comfort of the Lord, and with much perseverance on Nehemiah's part, the 'job' was eventually completed. 

The Old Testament is the 'shadow', and the New Testament is the 'substance'. Today, in the New Testament (the 'church age'), our main call on earth (whatever your vocation or ministry may be) is likewise to build the 'wall' too, that is to 'proclaim the good news of His salvation from day to day, declare His glory among the nations, and His wonders among the people' (see Psalm 96:2-3).

Notice that before the successful completion of the wall, Nehemiah had to go through several rounds of 'persecutions'. Here's the chronology of what happened:

1. Ridicule & despise (see Nehemiah 2:19)

2. Mockery & reproach (see Nehemiah 4:1-3)

3. Conspiracy & confusion (see Nehemiah 4:7-8)

4. Threats & fear tactics (see Nehemiah 6:6-9)

Likewise in the 'church age', since the days of the early apostles in the Book of Acts till now, the 'church' (as a whole) has also gone through the above rounds of 'persecutions'. I believe we are currently in the last 'epoch' of 'persecutions' (i.e. 'threats & fear tactics' of the enemy) before the full completion, and culminating in the celebration of Feast of Tabernacles (see Nehemiah 8:14-17, Zechariah 14:16), the end-time assembling and in-gathering of the 'called ones' (i.e. the believers).

Indeed, we are a generation living in the end-time! Take heart, God's people, and ‘keep running the race’ and let's not give up (or grow weary) while doing good (Galatians 6:9). As you build what God is building, and do what God is doing, He will be with you till the end (Matthew 28:18-20). Whatever spiritual gift (or gifts) He has given you (Ephesians 4:11-13, 1 Corinthians 12:4-10), use it (or use them) for the glory of the Lord! And the comfort of Yahweh is with you, just as in the days of Nehemiah! You will see 'the good work that God has begun in you, He will also bring it to full completion' (Philippians 1:6). Amen!

As you can see above, the book of Nehemiah actually speaks of the leading up (building up) towards Jesus' coming again! If chapters 1 to 6 speaks of 'the church age', then chapters 7 and 8 speaks of 'His coming again'!

Watch now what happened upon the completion of the wall of Jerusalem in Nehemiah's days. Nehemiah 6:15-16 says, 'So the wall was completed on the twenty-fifth day of Elul, in fifty-two days. And it happened, when all our enemies heard of it, and all the nations around us saw these things, that they were very disheartened in their own eyes; for they perceived that this work was done by our God'. 

Nehemiah 8:1-2 then says, 'Now all the people gathered together as one man in the open square that was in front of the Water Gate; and they told Ezra the scribe to bring the Book of the Law of Moses, which the Lord had commanded Israel. So Ezra the priest brought the Law before the assembly of men and women and all who could hear with understanding on the first day of the seventh month'.

See the words 'one man' here? This speaks of the one Body of Christ (Ephesians 2:15-16). If 'Nehemiah' speaks of 'you and I (i.e. the believers)', 'Ezra' (from the word 'Ezer' meaning 'aid, help') the priest speaks of 'our great High Priest, Jesus, who has fulfilled the Law perfectly (Matthew 5:17)'. Notice Ezra took over there on, and in turn declared to the people 'not to weep nor mourn, but to rejoice' (Nehemiah 8:9-12).

I don't know about you, but it's very comforting to know and be assured of what comes in the end, in spite of the present persecutions suffered by some of our brethren in Christ in some parts of the world, and even in the midst of 'threats and fear tactics' being plotted by the 'adversary'.

In 1 Thessalonians 4:16-18, the apostle Paul wrote, 'For the Lord (Jesus Christ) Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words'. 

The word ‘comfort’ here is ‘parakaleo’ in Greek, which means ‘to call near’. By the way, this word ‘parakaleo’ comes from two words - ‘para’ (meaning ‘near’) and ‘kaleo’ (meaning ‘calling, or call a name’). Indeed, you have a God who always calls you near to Him, and a God who knows you by name. Interestingly, this word ‘kaleo’ is the root word where the word ‘ekklesia’ (the Greek word for ‘church’, meaning ‘a calling out, or a gathering of the called ones’) comes from.

I heard these words from the Lord the other day as I was praying:

“No matter what happens, and even in the midst of chaos on earth, look to Me, lean on Me, and learn from Me. This is a time to comfort one another, not to condemn one another, put down one another, or put fear in one another.”

To ‘comfort one another’ is therefore to ‘call near to one another’, i.e. accepting one another, considering one another, encouraging one another, and exhorting one another, so much the more as you see the Day approaching (Hebrews 10:23-25).

People of God, wherever you are, together as one man, we’ll get the ‘job’ done, and see the ‘wall’ completed! The final victory is already assured. In Jesus’ name. Amen!