How to live in an increasingly chaotic and uncertain world?

The Lord says: 

"Major shifts and major changes are coming this year! Even to the core and to the very foundation of things. This will happen more and more in the coming months. Whatever that can be shaken will be shaken. A sifting is taking place. A purifying is taking place. Even to the churches. Not just in the nations. But as for you, look to Me. Do not be afraid and do not be shaken, for I am with you, if you look to Me. Stay aligned with Me and My Word. Flow with My Spirit. Be led by My Spirit. There is safety in My presence. For where I am, there you shall be." 

The Lord says further: 

"Guard against any discouragement. Guard against any distraction. Guard against any immorality, sin, or temptation in life. Guard against any kind of pitfall set up by the enemy. I will expose the trickeries of the enemy, and I will show you My wisdom to rise above all these." 

Regarding God's plans for you: 

"Guard your calling in life. Guard what has been entrusted to you in this time and season. Continue to be faithful in what I have prepared and called you to be and to do in this season of your life. I will know how to order and establish your steps." 

Psalm 37:23 (NKJV) 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 mean 'properly erected, properly established, properly set up, properly prepared'. The Lord is doing exactly this for you this year! Yes, for you who submit to the Lord! He knows how to take it from here. He knows how to guide you step by step. He knows how to order or 'kuwn' your steps. 

Looking at the world nowadays, you can see there are a lot of uncertainties. The world has become increasingly chaotic. Many people are uncertain about their future. Many people live in anxiety and worry about what's to come. Many people are struggling. 

But as for you, beloved of God, the Lord has spoken. As long as you stay aligned with Him, you need not be afraid or need not be anxious. Take this into your heart that the Lord is ordering your steps. Step by step, every step of the way. Now, and the future. Amen! 

What's your part? Your part is to guard your heart! Guard your heart with all diligence. Guard your heart above all else. 

Proverbs 4:23 (NIV) says, 'Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.' 

Proverbs 4:23 (NLT) says, 'Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life.' 

The word 'guard' here is interesting. It is 'natsar' in Hebrew. This word can mean 'to protect, to maintain, to preserve (from discouragement, disorientation, condemnation, or evil)'. 

So, beloved of God, 'natsar' your heart. Protect your heart. Maintain your heart. Preserve your heart. Guard your heart at all costs. Bind all those discouragement! Bind all those condemnation sent by the enemy! Bind all those disorientation! 

What does 'guard your heart' actually mean? To answer this, we've got to look at the Hebrew word for 'heart' here first. The word 'heart' here is 'leb' in Hebrew, literally meaning 'the center of everything'. According to Strong's Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible, it not only speaks of your spirit, but also your soul. It means your mind, your will, and your emotion. Back to Proverbs 4:23 here, guard your spirit and soul. Guard your mind, will, and emotions.

Everything that happens in and around you depends on what's in your heart. Remember the word 'leb' here in Hebrew. If your heart is right, everything will start to fall into place for you. But when your heart is departed from the Lord, everything will also fall apart. Now, that's what Proverbs 4:23 actually means here.

The Lord says: 

"Do not let the enemy sow seeds of discouragement, disorientation, or condemnation in you. The enemy wants to keep you small. The enemy wants to keep you miserable. The enemy wants to keep you thinking that you are good for nothing. The enemy wants to stop you before your breakthrough comes. But this is when you choose to guard your heart above all else."

As you guard your heart, also be careful who you choose to align with (or associate with). In other words, guard against aligning or associating with the wrong people who may intentionally or unintentionally pull you down. 

Temptation (or the lure of this world) is everywhere, and many have fallen into it. But if you flow with the Holy Spirit, and are led by the Holy Spirit, and you are founded firmly in God's Word, there's nothing all these temptations can do to you. That's why it's so important to stay strong in the Word and in the Spirit. God's Word and God's Spirit! These are the two pillars that you need as you walk in this chaotic world!

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I have a disturbing dream. Urgent message from the Lord!

I had a dream the other night. This may not be comfortable to some of you, but it is necessary for me to share this. Why? Because the Lord tells me to do so. I just want to obey God's instructions. 

In the dream, I saw a group of believers of Christ in a building. A commotion then broke out. Some gunmen broke into the building and kept shooting at the believers to kill them. It was not a good sight. Like everyone else in the building, I ran to look for cover. While I was doing that, the gunmen kept shooting and killing the believers of Christ. 

It's actually a long dream, but for this prophetic message today, it suffices to only share this part of the dream. Upon waking up, I asked the Lord why this dream. This dream isn't necessarily literal, but this dream can be symbolic in nature. As I woke up from the dream, I prayed in the spirit. I prayed in the spirit for some time. 

The Lord then said: 

"Tell My people... Be alert and be vigilant. For the enemy has begun coming out in full force against My people. It may even be done in a very subtle way. The aim is to destroy My people's faith and trust in Me. The aim is to confuse and to cause losses to My people. The enemy is like a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour. This is not the Lion of Judah. This is a counterfeit. This is the enemy of the Lion of Judah. And he is on a 'mission' to destroy My people who have been caught unaware spiritually. The intention is to assassinate My people's faith and My people's walk with Me." 

Speaking of 'roaring lion' here, 1 Peter 5:8 says, 'Be sober, be vigilant (i.e. be watchful and alert in your spirit), because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.' 

The expression 'seeking whom he may devour' here shows that the enemy actually cannot 'touch' you or devour you, if you don't allow him to do so. The enemy is just seeking whom he may devour. You see, the Scripture never says the enemy will surely devour you. But the Scripture says 'seeking whom he may devour'. This means you can take the necessary steps to prevent the evil and to overcome the evil. And if God is with you, and with God's Spirit with you, you shall triumph over whatever that's being conjured up by the enemy against you. The truth is your God is infinitely greater and wiser than any plan, conspiracy, or strategy conjured up by the enemy. 

And then, one verse later, 1 Peter 5:9 says, 'Resist him, steadfast in the faith...' This is the solution that the Scripture gives us. Resist the devil. Turn away from the devil. And stay strong and steady in your faith and in your trust in the Lord. How? Keep receiving from God. Keep hearing God's Word. Keep receiving from the Holy Spirit. Remember, Word and Spirit, Spirit and Word. Keep worshiping the Lord. Worship Him in spirit and in truth. Keep praying in the spirit. Never underestimate the power of prayer. And as you pray, heaven comes down. God's kingdom come, God's will be done. 

The Lord then said further: 

"This is the time to deepen your walk with Me, and walk ever closer with Me. Wash your heart. Wash your hands. Clear away what is unholy in your life, and begin walking in purity and holiness. Because the enemy cannot 'touch' what is holy. Keep receiving from My Spirit, for My Spirit is the Spirit of holiness. Let it flow into your life, and let Me cleanse what needs to be cleansed in your life. Present your life to Me all over again. And fear not. Because I am with you to help you. See My blood covering you. See Me covering you with My blood that has been shed for you on the cross." 

So beloved of God, fear not! God has a solution for you! 

How to triumph over the evil plans of the enemy? How to prevent those evil? How to overcome those conspiracies of the enemy? 

1. See yourself coming under the covering of God! 

Jesus has become your covering! Psalm 91:1-4 says, 'He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, "He is my refuge and my fortress; my God, in Him I will trust." Surely He shall deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the perilous pestilence. He shall cover you with His feathers, and under His wings you shall take refuge.'

The word 'cover' here is interesting. It is 'sawkak' in Hebrew. It can mean 'to shut up (the enemy), to defend (you), or to hedge (you)'. Like the parent eagle that spreads the wings to protect the eaglets. It can also mean 'to join together (with you) in the face of the enemy'. And that's what 'sawkak' means here. He is your covering. He is your defender. He is your hedge. He joins together with you against the enemy. He shuts up the enemy, and shuts out the enemy! 

And then, Psalm 91:5-6 says, 'You shall not be afraid of the terror by night, nor of the arrow that flies by day, nor of the pestilence that walks in darkness, nor of the destruction that lays waste at noonday.' 

So, fear not, people of God! If you look to the Lord, the Lord will know how to fight for you. The Lord will know how to shield you. The Lord will know how to lead you and guide you to be at the right place at the right time. Amen!

2. Walk in purity and holiness! 

Why? Because the enemy cannot 'touch' you if you walk in purity and holiness of the Lord. 

1 Peter 1:15-16 says, 'But as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct. Because it is written, "Be holy, for I am holy."' 

So, be holy in all your conduct. It means inwardly and outwardly. Not just a facade and for show in the outward to impress others. But holiness in the inward and also holiness in the outward. It means what is in the inside of a person is what is on the outside of that person. It means being consistent when the person is in the private and when the person is in the public. That's what God means here when He says, 'in all your conduct'.

So, right now, beloved of God, allow the Holy Spirit to wash you clean. Allow the Holy Spirit to clear what needs to be cleared in your life. Now, that takes humility on our part. That takes laying down our pride on our part. Present yourself to the Lord again. Re-dedicate yourself to the Lord again - spirit, soul, body; mind, will, emotions. 

Let your eyes be cleansed. Yes, spiritual eyes and even physical eyes. There is power in walking in purity and holiness. And you know what? Everything is going to be so clear in your spirit. You will begin to see and understand many things in the spirit. There will be clarity. You will begin to make right decisions in your life. Why? Because there is clarity in your spirit.

3. Walk ever closer with the Holy Spirit! 

You know why? As you walk closer and closer with the Holy Spirit, you become so in tune with the Holy Spirit, and you can 'catch' what the Holy Spirit wants to tell you or even warn you. Yes, the Holy Spirit can warn us. Why? In order to prevent evil, dangers, or pitfalls in our lives. 

The Holy Spirit can give you promptings. The Holy Spirit can give you dreams to tell you in advance what to go ahead and what to avoid, who to associate with and who to dissociate with, and when to move on and when to let go. In other words, when to go ahead and when to stop.  

In my personal walk with God, I thank God that He has helped me so many times in every season of my life through dreams He gives to me to show me my direction in life. At times, I do say this to Him: "What? Time to let go and move on again?" And then I would seek the Lord for further confirmation, and the Lord would show me further confirmation till I am convinced. Till I say: "Okay. Yes, Sir! I will obey, even though I don't fully understand yet why You do so." 

But as I look back in my life, I'm glad I obeyed Him all these while. And by the grace of God and by the help of God, I want to continue to obey Him every step of the way, going forward. 

That's why it's so important to deepen our relationship with the Holy Spirit. Walk closer and closer with the Holy Spirit. And that's when you'll be led by the Holy Spirit. That's when you'll be guided by the Holy Spirit. Not led and guided by your flesh, or by your own mind. 

And sometimes, when you follow the leading of the Holy Spirit, it may even be illogical to your mind. But you know what? The Holy Spirit will not go wrong. He is all-knowing and all-wise. He sees farther than any one of us can. And He can lead you to be at the right place at the right time, every season of your life. You will not end up at the wrong place at the wrong time. 

Romans 8:14 says, 'Those who are led by the Spirit of the Lord, these are sons of God.' 

You see, true sons and true daughters of God are those who are led by the Holy Spirit in every area of their lives. It means they allow the Holy Spirit to lead them in every area of their lives. Not just one area. Not just two areas. But in every area of their lives. These are the people who would bare their souls to the Lord. They will not keep anything from the Lord. They will not hide certain compartments of their lives from the Lord. They bare it all to the Lord. They worship the Lord in total surrender.  

In cross-reference, Ezekiel 36:27 says, "I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgments and do them." 

This is prophetic of our times now as believers in Christ. The word 'cause' here is 'awsaw' in Hebrew. It can mean 'to bestow upon (you), do a work in (you), bring (you) forth, or lead (you)'. So, the Holy Spirit can do a work in you and can lead you to walk in God's ways. That's what 'awsaw' means here. The Holy Spirit does all this inside of you, so that you will begin to walk in all that the Lord has spoken, instructed, and commanded you. That's what 'cause you to walk in His statutes' mean here. When He says so, you say so; when He says no, you say no. When He says go ahead, you go ahead. When He says let go and move on, you let go and move on. Yes, even at times you don't fully understand yet why He does so and so, or why He says so and so. But one day you will understand. He knows better. He sees further. Because He is God, and we are not. 

And you will also keep His judgments, as you can see in Ezekiel 36:27 here, "You will keep My judgments and do them." This can also mean you discern what is of God and what is not. You judge what is of God and what is not. You know how to differentiate and separate between what is of God and what is not. Amen! 

Prayer:

"O Lord God, sensitize our spirit to be so in tune with Your Spirit. Show us any area in our lives that hinders us from receiving and hearing from You. Let there be no hindrance anymore. Purify us. Sanctify us. Wash us white as snow. We want to be a people who are walking so close with You. We thank You for Your words today. In a time like this, lead us to be at the right place and right time. Teach us to be watchful and alert to our surroundings, both in the spiritual realm and physical realm. We want to be a people who are overcomers. We want to be a people who triumph over whatever plan, conspiracy, or work of the enemy. In Jesus' name. Amen."

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Words from the Lord: "I will make things clear for you!"

The Lord says: 

"If you are in a state of confusion or chaos at the moment, seek Me and you will find Me. For I am not a God of confusion or chaos. I will show you the way forward. I will show you the clear path ahead. Things will become clearer and clearer, as you seek Me and look to Me. Let go of whatever past that holds you back, and get hold of Me. You will begin to see clearer and clearer along the way. You will begin to see and understand how I see and what I see for your life and your future." 

This applies whether in your career, in the ministry, in your business, or in any area of your life. So, take heart, beloved, if you have many "questions" about your life that are unanswered at the moment, or if you don't know what to do or how to go about in your life, at this juncture of your life. 

Just look at David when he ended up in the cave of Adullam. It was a chaotic situation prior to that. And he even had to pretend madness. 

Look here at 1 Samuel 21:10-12. That was the time when David was being "hunted" or pursued relentlessly by King Saul who was jealous of him. 'Then David arose and fled that day from before Saul, and went to Achish the king of Gath. And the servants of Achish said to him, "Is this not David the king of the land? Did they not sing of him to one another in dances, saying: 'Saul has slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands'?" Now David took these words to heart, and was very much afraid of Achish the king of Gath.' 

So, what did David do? 1 Samuel 21:13-14 says, 'So David changed his behavior before them, pretended madness in their hands, scratched on the doors of the gate, and let his saliva fall down on his beard. Then Achish said to his servants, "Look, you see that man is insane. Why have you brought him to me?"' 

King Achish obviously didn't think that was the David the servants were talking about. Now, you might say, "What happened?" That was a far cry from the time when he slain the ten thousands! 

Or maybe in your situation, you too may be asking, "What happened to the dreams and prophecies regarding myself and my future?" 

Maybe you are struggling with life at the moment. Maybe you are in a state of confusion at the moment. Maybe you do not know what to do anymore, going forward. Now, that was probably how David felt at that time as well. You see, you are not alone.  

If you rewind back to 1 Samuel 16, just about five chapters back, David was at that time anointed to be king by prophet Samuel, and supposedly having a great destiny and future. He was the rising star in his land, so to speak. But what happened now? Has God forgotten His promises and words to David? This was likely in David's mind at that time when he pretended madness. He must be wondering how did he reach such a low point in his life? Wasn't his destiny supposed to be great? Wasn't his destiny was to be king, as spoken by prophet Samuel? It's like the whole world came crashing down on David. He was running for his life. He was escaping from King Saul. He even had to pretend madness, just to conceal his identity! 

See what happened next. 1 Samuel 22:1 says, 'David therefore departed from there and escaped to the cave of Adullam. So when his brothers and all his father's house heard it, they went down there to him.' Now, 'cave' here speaks of 'darkness, fear, out in the cold'. Indeed, it was a 'cave' experience for David at that time. He was fleeing from King Saul, and he had nowhere to go. So he hid in the cave. 

Maybe you too are feeling the same at the moment regarding your career, your ministry, or in any area of your life. Maybe you don't know what to do and how to go about at this juncture anymore. Maybe you are at a 'crossroad' and you don't know which way to go. Maybe you don't see much hope in your future.

1 Samuel 22:2 says, 'And everyone who was in distress, everyone who was in debt, and everyone who was discontented gathered to David.' In other words, the outcasts, the overlooked, and the misfits in the society at that time. And some of them were there with David. These were the people bitter in their souls. The broken people. 

Instead of being surrounded by dignitaries or the powerful people in the palace, David at that time saw himself surrounded by these broken people. And the Scripture says, 'So David became captain over them. And there were about four hundred men with him.' Yes, in the cave. Having the same 'cave' experience. And even at the time when David himself was broken, God could still use him to touch the other broken people in the cave and raise them up.

To cut the whole story short, these broken people eventually became some of David's most faithful and powerful men (when David became king later in his life). In the darkness of the cave of Adullam, David became like a 'light' to these people. As time went by, these same people were renewed. Their hope rekindled. They were changed. They were transformed. Hallelujah!

You see, of all places, it was in that cave that God began to make clear David's path, the path that eventually led to him becoming the king in Israel. 

I believe one thing David had inside of him that made the difference is he's a worshiper of the Lord. Deep inside him, he has this deep relationship with the Lord. He has this deep faith and assurance in the Lord that the Lord isn't dead, and the Lord hasn't forgotten him. Deep inside him, he trusted in the Lord, and knew it's not over yet for him. He knew the Lord still remembers His promises and destiny for him. 

This 'cave' experience became like a base where David rose up again. In fact, stronger than ever before. You see, at that time, David could have crumbled and given up everything. He could have regressed into a lonely man, or turned into a miserable man. But, no. He didn't. With the Lord in him and with him; and by the grace of God, he rose up. And it was here that he became the leader of this group of seemingly 'useless' people in the eyes of the society. Not just that. They even turned into mighty warriors of the Lord! 

In 2 Samuel 23, the time nearing the end of David's life, you can see the summary of the great things done by some of these mighty men who served with David. And some of them were actually among the four hundred in the cave of Adullam! 

Cross-reference to Psalm 142:3. David prayed this when he was in the cave of Adullam. 'When my spirit was overwhelmed within me, then You knew my path...' Yes, the Lord knew his path. And beloved, the Lord knows your path too. Now, the word 'overwhelmed' here is 'ataph' in Hebrew. Interestingly, this word can mean 'in darkness, in chaos, in confusion'. Exactly like what the Lord has spoken today!

You see, the Lord will know how to show you the path forward, if you look to Him and seek Him. He always sees the 'big picture'. He always sees the end from the beginning, even when you can't. Your part is to be patient. Keep focusing on the Lord, not on your own situation or your own doubts. Everything will become clearer and clearer when you look to the Lord. 

So beloved, whatever 'cave' experience that you are going through at the moment, take heart. Keep looking to the Lord and trusting in the Lord. Do you know that God does great things in the cave? Let me show you the proof. Elijah was in the cave when God spoke to him further about the details of what's to come, and about what he should be doing, going forward. In fact, Jesus Himself was in the cave where His tomb was (yes, that was a kind of cave), before He resurrected! 

You see? Your 'cave' experience; seemingly in the dark, and seemingly not knowing what comes next; can be where God begins a new dawn in your life, where God begins a new work in your life, and where God prepares you for something great in the future! 

Like David in the cave! 

Like Elijah in the cave! 

Like Jesus Himself in the cave! 

Let us remember Proverbs 3:5-6 that says, 'Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.' 

Indeed, things are going to become clearer and clearer, as you seek the Lord, as you surrender yourself before the Lord, and as you continue to put your trust in the Lord. 

He will know how to direct your paths. He will know how to show you the way. He will know how to lead you into His destiny for your life. Amen! 

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A time for new direction and new strategies!

Words of the Lord for this time and season:

"There’s a time of re-direction for many of My people. There’s a time of re-strategizing for many of My people. For those who humble themselves and are yielded to Me, I will show My direction and guidance. I will know how to show you a way, even a way to prosper in times like these. You will not be lost if you look to Me and put your trust in Me. Just as I remember My covenant with you, remember your covenant with Me."

These are the prophetic words for this second half of 2021:

"Further changes are coming in the spiritual realm. Get ready! Many things are going to happen suddenly in the spirit. For those who are yielded to Me and humble themselves before Me, suddenly you are going to prosper! Suddenly you are going to experience an increase, be it in favor, in wisdom, or in anointing! Suddenly you are going to experience supernatural healing, if you need any! As long as you are yielded to Me and remain humble before Me, there will be a new authority in your life. The enemy that has tried to distract you from your calling and destiny in life will not be able to touch you, because I have sent a fire wall of protection over you. Be sensitive to My Spirit. As I move, you move; as I stop, you stop; like the tabernacle those days in Moses' time, following the glory cloud."

People of God, as you cross into the second half of this year, fear not about what is to come in your future. Keep looking to the Lord and keep putting your trust in the Lord, and you'll see all that the Lord has spoken today come to pass in your life.

If you have gone through a 'blip' in your life recently, don't look back. Learn from the past, correct what you need to correct in your life, and move forward. Like Joshua who was destined to see great conquests and victory as he entered the promised land (Joshua 1:1-3), so will you be. Only be strong and be very courageous! (Joshua 1:7)

Even while in the promised land, Joshua and the people of Israel did have a 'blip' when they were defeated by the people of Ai (Joshua 7:1-5). But the Lord then said to Joshua, "Get up! Why do you lie thus on your face?" (Joshua 7:10) 

After sanctifying themselves (Joshua 7:13), the Lord then said to Joshua, "Do not be afraid, nor be dismayed; take all the people of war with you, and arise, go up to Ai. See, I have given into your hand the king of Ai, his people, his city, and his land." (Joshua 8:1) 

And that was when the Lord gave Joshua a new direction and a new strategy to conquer Ai (Joshua 8:4-8). And conquer they did this time!

You see, God is a God of covenant. Just as He remembered what He had spoken to Joshua and what He had promised Joshua, He remembers what He has spoken to you and what He has promised you! Even though there was a 'blip', as long as Joshua and the people of Israel turned to the Lord and 'clear what needs to be cleared', the Lord will see to it that He will be with them in their conquests!

So, be encouraged even if you've had a 'blip' in your life recently. The Lord hasn't forgotten you or forsaken you. 

People of God, this is an important time to remember your covenant with God. Because when everything else on earth falls apart, His covenant with you will not fall apart. This covenant is the very foundation of who you are in Him, and as long as you remember and hold on to this covenant He has made with you (through the blood of Jesus shed for you on the cross), nothing in this world will be able to shake you!

Why is your covenant with God so important?

Let me explain in the simplest form. In Abraham's days, when two families (or two tribes) made a covenant together, they gave to one another all that they had and all that they represented. It means these two families were no longer two, but one. The two families bound themselves together in blood agreements to be a strength when the other is weak. It means if family A is weak, family B will be a strength. And if family B is weak, family A will be a strength. That's how together, they were both strong! 

But in this covenant between you and God, it's even better! Why? Because God has no weaknesses. Only you have. So, when you have this blood covenant with God (through the blood of Jesus shed for you on the cross), it means He will always be a strength to you! He will always be a strength to you in your time of weaknesses or in your time of trouble! 

And if He is with you, who can be against you?

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Lost your way and direction in life? There's hope for you!

I was praying the other day and the Lord released these words:

"For many of My people, the enemy has been trying to cause them to lose their way and lose their direction in life. But I am telling you this is a lie of the enemy. I am still your Good Shepherd and I am still your Guiding Light in times of need. I hold the keys to your doors and I hold the keys to your breakthroughs. Look to Me, hear My voice and follow Me, and I will show you the way to your open doors and breakthroughs."

This is going to be a very pastoral message, a message that's going to minister to some of you, especially if you have lost your way in life, lost your purpose in life, or even lost your direction in life during this prolonged time of pandemic. 

Luke 15:1-4 (NKJV) says, 'Then all the tax collectors and the sinners drew near to Him to hear Him. And the Pharisees and scribes complained, saying, "This Man receives sinners and eats with them." So He spoke this parable to them, saying: "What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he loses one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after the one which is lost until he finds it?"'

Here, Jesus was explaining to the Pharisees and scribes why He chose to associate with "sinners and tax collectors". So, He told them this parable of the lost sheep where He identified Himself as a 'shepherd', and the people as 'a flock of sheep'. The 'ninety-nine sheep' here represent 'the righteous', whereas the single 'lost sheep' (in the context here, a lost sheep of Israel) represents 'the secularized and godless among the people' those days. 

Even though the main context of Luke 15:1-4 is about the 'lost sheep of Israel', this parable can apply to all of us too. Maybe you aren't lost in sins, but you feel lost in life, in your purpose in life, or even in your direction in life. In fact for some of you, you don't even know who you are anymore! I know of some people, especially during this time of prolonged pandemic (or prolonged lockdown in some places) who are actually feeling this way. 

Beloved, if you are one of these, take heart and be encouraged. The Lord your God hasn't forgotten you nor forsaken you. He is still the same yesterday, today, and forever. And He is still your Good Shepherd (John 10:14) and your Guiding Light (John 8:12).

In John 10:11-14 (NKJV), Jesus says, "I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep. But a hireling, he who is not the shepherd, one who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees; and the wolf catches the sheep and scatters them. The hireling flees because he is a hireling and does not care about the sheep. I am the Good Shepherd; and I know My sheep, and am known by My own."

Before that, in John 10:1-4 (NKJV), Jesus says, "Most assuredly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door, but climbs up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber. But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. To him the doorkeeper opens, and the sheep hear his voice; and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. And when he brings out his own sheep, he goes before them; and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice."

Do you see that? He calls you by name! The truth is He is a personal God, and in every situation (or any unique situation) you are going through, He cares for you. No one may fully understand what you are going through at the moment, but He understands. 

You see, the world may dump you or sideline you when you are deemed to be useless. Your employer may retrench you when you are not as useful anymore. Your customers may dump you when they find another better source. This is unfortunate, but this is a fact we all face in this fallen world. 

But Jesus your Good Shepherd will never dump you or sideline you. Why? Because He loves you and cares for you like none other, like no one else on earth. He is not a hireling. When danger comes, the hireling will flee and run away. But He the Good Shepherd will never flee or run away. He is still with you and He is still for you, even in times like these. And know this: He doesn't treat you like an impersonal robot or machine to be dumped when you become useless or incapable. No way!

Not only is He your Good Shepherd, He is also your Guiding Light. 

In John 8:12 (NKJV). Jesus says, "I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life."

His light expresses His great love for you. His light, "the light of the world", guides you from the gloom of sin, and makes a way out for you. And whatever the gloominess may be in this world at the moment, be assured He knows how to make a way out for you. 

Therefore, look to Him and walk in His light no matter what happens around you, and you'll be sure to find the bright path to your open doors and breakthroughs. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Click here for the full message in TiC YouTube Channel

How to make the right decisions in life?

The Lord spoke, "This month is a crucial month of making decisions for many of My people." So, let me give you some tips that had proven effective in my own life. I learned this by the revelation of the Holy Spirit and by my own personal experience in decision-making. 

Put it simply, these are the 5 keys that the Lord has taught me:

1. Purify your heart

- 2 Chronicles 29:5 (NLT): He (Hezekiah) said to them, "Listen to me, you Levites! Purify yourselves, and purify the Temple of the Lord, the God of your ancestors. Remove all the defiled things from the sanctuary."

- Matthew 5:8 (NKJV): Blessed are the pure in heart, For they shall see God.

2. Shut off from the 'noises' of this world

- Matthew 9:23-26 (NLT): When Jesus arrived at the official’s home, he saw the noisy crowd and heard the funeral music. "Get out!" he told them. "The girl isn’t dead; she's only asleep." But the crowd laughed at him. After the crowd was put outside, however, Jesus went in and took the girl by the hand, and she stood up! The report of this miracle swept through the entire countryside. 

- Isaiah 30:15 (NLT): This is what the Sovereign Lord, the Holy One of Israel, says: "Only in returning to me and resting in me will you be saved. In quietness and confidence is your strength."

3. Spend time in the Word

- Psalm 119:130 (NKJV): The entrance of Your words gives light; It gives understanding to the simple.

- Psalm 119:105 (NKJV): Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.

- Acts 4:13 (NKJV): Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated and untrained men, they marveled. And they realized that they had been with Jesus.

4. Worship/Pray in the spirit

- Isaiah 25:1 (NLT): O Lord, I will honor and praise your name, for you are my God. You do such wonderful things! You planned them long ago, and now you have accomplished them.

- Romans 8:26-27 (NKJV): Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God.

5. Let go your worries to Him

- Psalm 55:22 (NLT): Give your burdens to the Lord, and he will take care of you. He will not permit the godly to slip and fall.

- Philippians 4:6-7 (NLT): Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.

For details of this message and explanation to all the Bible verses above, click here to listen.

A lifestyle of seeking the Lord

Jeremiah 29:11-14a (NKJV): For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. THEN you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart. I will be found by you, says the Lord, and I will bring you back from your captivity...

From the verses above, do you realize God already has your future in His mind? And your future has to be of peace, and not of evil. No question about that. By the way, the word 'peace' here is 'shalowm' in Hebrew, and it can mean any of these: safe, happy, favorable, (good) health, prosperity, restful, whole, well. Awesome! But do you know that's just the first part?

Now, notice the word 'THEN' in this passage. It means the Lord wants to say further! To put it simply, He's saying, "Now that you know your future is assured, how do you begin walking in it?" The answer of course is found right after the first part, that is when you begin calling upon Him and seeking Him! You see, many people read only the first part (Jeremiah 29:11), but they forget to read the later parts of this whole passage!

The Lord spoke these words recently:

"Seek Me, and I will be found by you! Call upon Me, and I will clear the way for you! Do not look to the left or right, for all your answers this year are found in Me!"

What does it mean by 'seeking the Lord'? It is to look to Him, draw near to Him, and consult Him. In fact, it is an ongoing lifestyle of those who know Him, love Him, and desire to follow Him.

Yes, you read it correctly. It should be ongoing, and not just when one is in trouble or have a pressing need. One example of such person who walked in this lifestyle is David, whom the Bible calls 'a man after God's own heart' (1 Samuel 13:14, Acts 13:22). Here's a man who had learned to know God's heart, walk with God, and talk with God as his lifestyle! By the way, what is a 'lifestyle'? It simply means 'the way in which a person lives'.

David has always been a seeker of God, and this has been his lifestyle since the days of his youth. Some people see a 'seeker of God' as someone 'who do not know God, but is open to know God'. But that's not what we are talking about here. In Jeremiah 29:13, this word 'seek' is 'baqash' in Hebrew, and it actually means 'to pursue (God)'. It is like when you are hotly 'pursuing' someone, you (already) know who that someone is, and you won't want to lose sight of that someone! In fact, you'll do whatever it takes to follow (or chase after) that someone! And that was exactly how David pursued God!

And because this has been David's lifestyle all along, when challenges came, he knew who to turn to. He did not turn to the left or to the right. He did not seek a fortune teller or a medium, which king Saul actually did upon seeing the army of the Philistines coming against him (1 Samuel 28:7). In contrast, when David was faced with one of the toughest times in his life (when his town Ziklag was invaded and burned, his wives being taken captives, and his own people wanting to stone him), he did not turn to the left or to the right. He turned to God and sought God (1 Samuel 30:8). The Lord God then gave him instruction to attack the enemy, and in turn, he recovered all that the enemy had taken away! (1 Samuel 30:18-19)

Not long after that, when king Saul had died, and after a period of mourning, again David sought the Lord his God, and this time, as to where to go (2 Samuel 2:1). The Lord said to go to Hebron, and there, at the right place and right time, he was anointed king over Judah! (2 Samuel 2:4) After a long war between Israel and Judah (yet the house of David grew stronger and stronger), the elders of Israel finally came to David to meet him at Hebron, and David made a covenant with them, and there he was anointed king over all Israel (2 Samuel 5:1-3) And that's how he eventually became king over all Israel and Judah. See? God's plans for David were unfolding more and more, every step of the way!

So, what was the secret of David walking into greater and greater things? The answer is easy. Because David lived a lifestyle of seeking God. You see, not only did he find God's heart, he also found all of God's answers for him, as to 'what to do', 'where to go', and 'how to go about', every step of the way. The Scripture says 'David went on and became great, and the Lord God of hosts was with him' (2 Samuel 5:10). Hallelujah!

People of God, may you also see God's plans for your life unfolding more and more this year, and greater works shall you do for His glory, as you begin living a lifestyle of seeking God. Amen!

Let Him lead you into the 'pleasant places'!

Psalm 16:5-6 (NKJV): O Lord, You are the portion of my inheritance and my cup; You maintain my lot. The lines have fallen to me in pleasant places; Yes, I have a good inheritance.

I believe one of the great secrets to David's rise and success is found in his own 'miktam' (engraving of words from the heart) written in Psalm 16. The word 'portion' in Psalm 16:5 here is pronounced 'maw-naw' in Hebrew, which means 'allotment'. David believed God has given him an allotment (portion), i.e. His inheritance for him, and his cup 'runs over' (see also Psalm 23:5). Not only that, he also believed God has always been maintaining (upholding) his portion (including his destiny in life)!

In Psalm 16:6, David wrote, 'The lines have fallen to me in pleasant places; Yes, I have a good inheritance'. The word 'lines' here is 'kheh-bel' in Hebrew, which actually means 'God's measured inheritance (or portion) for him'. Yes, in fact, each of us as God's beloved has also been given a measure of His inheritance. And this 'measured inheritance' has fallen to you in pleasant places! What is the word 'pleasant' here in Hebrew? It is 'naw-eem', which can mean 'delightful, sweet, agreeable'. I like the word 'agreeable' here. It means God always wants to lead you to places where there are people who are 'agreeable to you' and 'agreeable to God's vision/calling for your life'! In other words, people who are sons and daughters of peace toward you!

Recently, I heard these words during a time of worship and prayer:
"The new wind from the Lord has begun blowing. This wind is getting stronger and stronger, and it's blowing on you too! Many of you thought you have lost your time or opportunity, but the Lord says you have not lost your time or opportunity yet. Tap into this new wind that is getting stronger and stronger! Like an eagle, you'll soar with this wind. Don't let anyone or the devil make you think you have lost your time or opportunity. You are still on time. You are still on the right track. And your best opportunity has yet to arrive, and is coming!"

People of God, if you are reading this, these words are for you too. Let this new wind of the Spirit blow and lead you on.

Psalm 16:7 then says, 'I will bless the Lord who has given me counsel'. This word 'counsel' is 'yaw-ats' in Hebrew, which can also mean 'guide, advice, purpose'. Yes, begin to bless the name of the Lord who has given you new purpose. New wind brings new purpose!

Psalm 16:11 confirms this purpose. It says, 'You will show me the path of life', i.e. 'the path that leads to life, and not death or trouble'! See? The path that leads to life! This is His purpose for you in this new season! And as you continue to remain in His presence, there's also the fullness of His joy.

And finally, David wrapped up this 'miktam' (Psalm 16) with 'At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore'. Now, who is at God's right hand today? You (who are in Christ)! Because Christ is at God's right hand (see Ephesians 1:20), as He is, so are you! (1 John 4:17) The word 'pleasures' here is again 'naw-eem' (same as in Psalm 16:6), which can mean 'delightful, sweet, agreeable'.

So, we can now conclude that it is God's pleasure to always lead you to 'pleasant places' or 'agreeable places' while you are still on earth! Let His wind blow and lead you this new season!

What is the definition of 'pleasant places' or 'agreeable places' in God's eyes? 

It is 'a place of favor where there are many sons and daughters of peace toward you'! However, let me qualify my words here - What the world sees may not be what God sees in regard to 'pleasant places'. For example, to most people in Joseph's days, Egypt wasn't a 'pleasant place' at all (with all the oppression from Pharaoh, etc), but to Joseph, it was a 'pleasant place' (where he prospered and received great favor from Pharaoh himself!). To most people in David's days, the Cave of Adullam wasn't a 'pleasant place' at all (where only those in distress, in debt, and discontented were), but to David, it was indeed a 'pleasant place' (where he found favor and started to build an army from scratch!).

You may be going to one of the more 'liveable' cities on earth, but you may still get robbed! You see, as a matter of fact, there's really no completely safe place in this world, because we are all living in a fallen world. The only real safe place is found when you are in His presence (see Psalm 91:1-2). On the other hand, you may be in one of the more 'notorious' cities on earth, but because God has called you there (and to fulfil His purpose there), you'll still be safe and surrounded by sons and daughters of peace! (where no evil can succeed to touch you) No doubt, there may still be some challenges wherever you are, but because His grace is strong enough for you, you will triumph! Some people may still gossip about you or speak against you, but if God is with you, you need not fear.

So, it's not about how nice a place is from the worldly point of view, but where God wants to lead you to. In short, it doesn't mean a 'pleasant place' in God's eyes has to be pleasant in worldly eyes.

And wherever God leads you and orders you to go, He'll also see to it that He'll back you up! That's exactly what happened to David himself!

Here are some of David's 'pleasant places' in his walk with God on earth:

(a) The Valley of Elah (see 1 Samuel 17:17-51) - he happened to be at the right place and at the right time, positioned to defeat Goliath (who represented the Philistines). Here, David pulled down the 'stronghold' of the Philistines. By the way, 'Elah' can also mean 'stronghold' in Hebrew.

(b) The Cave of Adullam (see 1 Samuel 22:1-2) - he escaped to this cave where the people (those in distress, in debt, and discontented) gathered to him. God was with him, and he became captain over them and started to build an army from scratch (i.e. from nothing).

(c) The City of Hebron (see 2 Samuel 2:1-7) - he was anointed king of Judah here. 'Hebron' means 'a place of joining together, or a place of associating together'. When the Lord raises you up or promotes you, He'll also cause people to gather to you. This happened to David when he obeyed God's instruction to go to Hebron.

(d) The City of Jerusalem (see 2 Samuel 5:1-10) - 'the wind of the Spirit' then swept him to Jerusalem, where he reigned as king over all of Israel and Judah.

2 Samuel 5:10 then put it aptly, 'So David went on and became great, and the Lord God of hosts was with him'.

The secret we can learn from David this day? He believed and lived by all that he has written in Psalm 16, and therefore, he went on to become one of the great kings (if not the greatest) in all of Israel and Judah. He has indeed walked into God's very inheritance for his life.

People of God, you too are the 'Davids' (i.e. God's beloved) of this day. Will you also allow God's Spirit to blow and lead you to the 'pleasant places' meant for you? Indeed, at His right hand are 'pleasant places' forevermore (Psalm 16:11). This, my friend, is your good inheritance (Psalm 16:6) that is meant for you. Amen!

God can set you up for good things!

Psalm 37:23 (NKJV): 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, which means 'erected, established, set up, directed, appointed'. See the words 'set up' here? The devil may set up traps/snares for you to fall into (like an innocent animal falling into a trap), but on the other hand, God (who is altogether good) wants to set you up for good things! The Bible says, 'His thoughts for you are thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope' (see Jeremiah 29:11).

"But, pastor, I don't think I qualify as a good man (or woman)!"

In Christ, you are! As a believer in the New Covenant, you are good because He is good! As He is, so are you in this world! (1 John 4:17) In other words, you are made good (made righteous) because the Bible says 'He became sin for you, so that you might become the righteousness of God in Him'! (see 2 Corinthians 5:21)

"Is there any example how God can set a person up for good things?"

Definitely! Let's go to the Book of Ruth now.

Have you ever wondered what is the one quality that made Ruth outstanding among many women in her days? And the fact that though she's a foreigner (from the country of Moab) and a mere ordinary citizen in her own country, but of all women, God made her the great grandmother of King David?

I believe she wasn't just a woman of faithfulness (in a time of national faithlessness), but she's also a woman who had the fear of God (i.e. the willingness to submit to Him and allow Him to take the lead every step of the way, instead of twisting/turning His arms and His words according to one's own creative way). That, my friend, is the key to her steps being 'ordered' (established) by the Lord.

Let me explain.

Proverbs 3:5-6 says, 'Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding (human mind). In all your ways acknowledge Him'. Proverbs 3:7-8 then follows, 'Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and depart from evil. It will be health to your flesh, and strength to your bones'. The Bible also says, 'the fear of the Lord prolongs days' (Proverbs 10:27), and 'the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom' (Proverbs 9:10).

And very often, the wisdom of God may initially seem foolishness to men.

By the way, the name 'Ruth' ('Ruwth' in Hebrew) means 'friend'. A 'friend' is also someone who can talk (whether with God, or with another person) as it is, instead of twisting/turning according to his/her own whim and fancy (or creativity).

Even though Ruth's step (i.e. decision/direction) of following her mother-in-law, Naomi (who had nothing left for her) seemed to be a disadvantaged step to human mind/understanding (see Ruth 1:8-17), this step eventually opened the way for greater things to come for her!

As a matter of fact, I'm sure there were people questioning Ruth's decision (of following her mother-in-law) at that time. Some might even have said, "Why don't you be like Orpah your sister-in-law?" or "Isn't it a better idea to stay back and re-marry?"

A good idea may not be God's idea, and a creative idea may not be the Creator's idea!

Ruth 1:22 then reads, 'So Naomi returned, and Ruth the Moabitess her daughter-in-law with her, who returned from the country of Moab. Now they came to Bethlehem (House of Bread) at the beginning of barley harvest'. Ruth 2:1-3 follows, 'There was a relative of Naomi's husband, a man of great wealth, of the family of Elimelech (Naomi's late husband). His name is Boaz (means 'pillar' in Hebrew). So Ruth the Moabitess said to Naomi, "Please let me go to the field, and glean (pick up) heads of grain after him in whose sight I may find favor." And she said to her, "Go, my daughter." Then she left, and went and gleaned in the field after the reapers. And she happened to come to the part of the field belonging to Boaz, who was of the family of Elimelech'.

People of God, nothing happens by accident, and everything happens for a reason. See how God began to order Ruth's steps here? Speaking of being in the right place, at the right time, and with the right person! Some people call it 'an appointed time', or 'a divine appointment'.

And as things happened, Ruth later found favor in Boaz's eyes (Ruth 2:8-10). Ruth 2:15-16 then reads, 'And when Ruth rose up to glean, Boaz commanded his young men, saying, "Let her glean even among the sheaves, and do not reproach her. Also let grain from the bundles fall purposely for her; leave it that she may glean, and do not rebuke her."' In other words, that was a set up! 'Boaz' is a typology of 'Jesus, your Redeemer'. Today, just as Boaz was to Ruth those days, Jesus wants to do the same to you too! He wants to set you up for many more good things to come! Are you willing?

Here's another instance of Ruth being 'set up' again. Ruth 3:1-4 says, 'Then Naomi her mother-in-law said to her, "My daughter, shall I not seek security for you, that it may be well with you? Now Boaz, ... is he not our relative? In fact, he is winnowing (tossing) barley tonight at the threshing floor. Therefore wash yourself and anoint yourself, put on your best garment and go down to the threshing floor; but do not make yourself known to the man until he has finished eating and drinking. Then it shall be, when he lies down, that you shall notice the place where he lies; and you shall go in, uncover his feet, and lie down; and he will tell you what you should do."' How prophetic! And all these did come to pass just as Naomi had said! (see Ruth 3:8-13)

By the way, the name 'Naomi' means 'pleasant' (from the Hebrew word "no'am", meaning 'delight'). Indeed, Naomi had delight in Ruth (and in her ways). So, if 'Boaz' speaks of 'Jesus', then 'Naomi' represents 'the Holy Spirit'! The Spirit of God is a Spirit of prophecy, and He is definitely a pleasant Spirit as well! The Spirit of God also always leads us (and points us) to Jesus, our Bread!

So, how did Ruth respond to Naomi's words and instructions? Ruth 3:5 says, 'And she (Ruth) said to her (Naomi), "All that you say to me I will do."' And the rest, my friend, was history! You may also wish to read the rest of Ruth's story in the Book of Ruth today.

People of God, as you prepare yourself to be 'ordered' (guided, established, set up) by the Lord in this coming new season of yours, I pray Psalm 37:23 to be with you, wherever He leads you to go, and in every step of the way. In Jesus' name. Amen!