Vision from the Lord: A wall of fire!

As I was seeking the Lord for the second half of this year 2025, the Lord gave Isaiah 41:17-20 that says: 

'The poor and needy seek water, but there is none, their tongues fail for thirst. I, the Lord, will hear them; I, the God of Israel, will not forsake them. I will open rivers in desolate heights, and fountains in the midst of the valleys; I will make the wilderness a pool of water, and the dry land springs of water. I will plant in the wilderness the cedar and the acacia tree, the myrtle and the oil tree; I will set in the desert the cypress tree and the pine and the box tree together, that they may see and know, and consider and understand together, that the hand of the Lord has done this, and the Holy One of Israel has created it.' 

Notice these underlined statements: "I will open rivers", "I will plant in the wilderness", and "The hand of the Lord has done this". These are God's assurances of His help for you in the second half of this year. Receive by faith!

What does "I will open rivers" mean? 

Here you see God sent His miraculous supply of water to those who are thirsty or those who need it. Now, this is an assurance that the Lord your God has never and will never run out of supply or resources for you! 

What are the supplies that you need from God at this point of your life? Is it divine health? Is it divine wisdom? Is it divine revelation? Is it divine guidance (as to what He wants you to do ahead of you)? You name it! 

You see, He opens rivers where there is no river! In other words, He opens doors where there seems to be no door for you! So, take heart, beloved, and keep looking to the Lord! The Lord your God will see to it that you will not run dry! 

Not just that. He also plants trees in the wilderness! What does this mean? It means He makes any barren places or barren aspects of your life to be fruitful again! You see, He can turn the most barren of places and turn it into a fertile ground! Full of trees that bear fruits! The same it is for your life! He can do that for you! And you shall see that the hand of the Lord is doing this for you in the second half of this year! 

So beloved of God, whatever you have gone through in the first half of the year 2025, be it disappointment, or pain, or victory, or success, let God take it from here. Believe and receive that the second half of the year will be better (or much better) than the first half of the year. 

What's your part? Your part now is to re-dedicate yourself and every aspect of your life afresh and anew to the Lord!

In Isaiah 41:10-11, the Lord says, "Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you. Yes, I will help you. I will uphold you with My righteous right hand. Behold, all those who were incensed against you shall be ashamed and disgraced; They shall be as nothing..." 

And then, in Isaiah 41:13, the Lord says, "For I, the Lord your God, will hold your right hand, saying to you, 'Fear not, I will help you'." 

The word 'help' here is 'azar' in Hebrew. It can mean  'to surround, to protect, to aid'. So, whatever you are going through at the moment or have gone through in the past months, fear not, because the Lord is here to 'azar' you. In other words, the Lord is here to surround you, to protect you, and to come to your aid! 

When you know that the Lord is the One who surrounds you, there's nothing, absolutely nothing, that the devil can do against you! You are assured of the Lord's roundabout protection and help!

This confirms a vision I saw the other day of 'a wall of fire' surrounding those whom I pray for. And that's when I also heard these words: "Roundabout protection". 

What does 'roundabout protection' mean? In our context, it simply means 'divine protection' over you in every aspect of your life, like 'a wall of fire' surrounding you, where no harm can touch you! 

In cross-reference to this 'roundabout protection', we shall see Psalm 34:7 (NKJV) that says, 'The angel of the Lord encamps all around those who fear Him, and delivers them'. It means 'delivers them from all the works of darkness, or danger, or trouble'. Notice the words 'encamps all around' here. 

Let's look at New Living Translation now. Psalm 34:7 (NLT) puts it this way, 'The angel of the Lord is a guard; he surrounds and defends all who fear Him'. You see the word 'surrounds' here? 

The word 'surround' here is interesting. It is 'chanah' in Hebrew. It can mean any of these: 'to incline to (you), to abide and dwell (with you), to give you rest (from all the troubles), to pitch a tent (over you), to camp (with you)'. 

You can see it this way. Imagine you are now in an army camp or a military camp, and no outsider or intruder can get near you. Why? There are guards to guard the camp. What do these guards do? They are responsible for the security of the camp that you are in. They also prevent unauthorized access or intruders into the camp. These guards act as a first line defense to protect you who are inside the camp. And that's what 'chanah' means! 

Another cross-reference to this 'roundabout protection', which is like 'a wall of fire' over you, can be found in Zechariah 2:5. Here, the Lord says: "For I will be a wall of fire all around her, and I will be the glory in her midst." 

Even though this verse specifically refers to Jerusalem, this can also apply to you in your context as God's beloved. 

So, as you enter the second half of the year 2025, watch these key words: "I will open rivers for you", "I will plant trees in the wilderness for you", "My hand is with you", and "My roundabout protection is with you". Receive all this by faith. In Jesus' name. Amen!

Click here to watch the video in TiC YouTube Channel 

God can turn your mistakes and failures around!

The Lord says: 

"As you keep doing what I've called you to do and keep building what I've called you to build, do not lose heart and do not allow anyone or anything to discourage you. For I am in the midst of giving you new strategies and new wisdom to accomplish all these. Receive all these from Me in this time and season. I am even going to turn your mistakes and failures around, however big or small, and turn them into something good for you. So, take heart. Look beyond all those mistakes and failures. Look to Me. All things are eventually going to work together for good for you." 

We all make mistakes in life. We all have experienced some kind of failures before in life. Given a choice, no one would want to make mistakes or see failures in whatever he or she does. 

So, if you think you blew it, and you are now suffering the consequences of it, the Lord is saying to you, "Take heart. Do not be discouraged. There is hope for you." 

Of course, you can learn from all those mistakes or failures of yours. But don't linger or dwell in there. You know why? Because the Lord has something new for you! 

Romans 8:28 says that 'God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and who are the called according to His purpose for them.' 

Yes, according to His purpose for you, beloved! 

So, in spite of your past mistakes or failures, or even humiliation or shame, the Lord is saying He will work things together for your good! He can even use those mistakes and turn them around to be something good! What's your part? Your part is to look to the Lord and keep putting all your trust in the Lord! 

Proverbs 3:5-6 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.' 

One example in the Scripture about God turning things around can be found in 2 Kings chapter 6. 

2 Kings 6:1-3. And the sons of the prophets said to Elisha, "See now, the place where we dwell with you is too small for us. Please, let us go to the Jordan, and let every man take a beam from there, and let us make there a place where we may dwell." So Elisha answered, "Go." Then one said, "Please consent to go with your servants." And Elisha answered, "I will go." 

2 Kings 6:4-5. So Elisha went with them. And when they came to the Jordan, they cut down trees. But as one was cutting down a tree, the iron ax head fell into the river, and he cried out and said, "Alas, master! For it was borrowed." 

Have you been in a situation when you are like saying "Alas!"? This may be an old expression. But this is an expression for disappointment, regret, or sadness; especially when there seems to have no more hope that the situation can be changed. 

Let's see the symbolic meaning of 2 Kings chapter 6 here. To begin with, what is the purpose of the ax? Ax is used to cut trees. It is for the purpose of building something. For example, furniture, house, etc. In other words, ax is meant 'to build something'. 

In the context of what God is saying to us today, this speaks of 'building what God has called you or spoken for you to build in your life'. It can be in the ministry, in your vocation, or in your profession. But in this passage, the ax head fell into the river! You know what? Once fallen, it's not easy to retrieve it! Why? Because it's heavy. It's made of iron. So, that's why the man cried out "Alas!" Not only that. The ax was a borrowed ax. It wasn't his. It means if he loses it, he's going to need to pay it back to the owner. But God! God always has a way to turn things around for His beloved. And it is the same with you too! 

See what's next. 

2 Kings 6:6-7. So the man of God (Elisha) said, "Where did it fall?" And that man showed him the place. So Elisha cut off a stick, and threw it in there; and he made the iron float. Therefore Elisha said, "Pick it up for yourself." So that man reached out his hand and took it. 

Now, that was some kind of a miracle! That really defies logic. I say it defies logic because the iron ax is supposed to be heavy! I mean, how can the ax head float just by throwing a much lighter stick into the river? Again, but God! You see, nothing is impossible to God! He will know how to make a way for you, where there seems to be no way. He will know how to turn your mistakes around. Yes, He can turn even your oversight around. What is 'oversight'? Any unintentional mistake or failure to do something. 

By the way, the name 'Elisha' in Hebrew is 'El' meaning 'God', and 'Shuwa' meaning 'supplies, help, hope'. Even though Elisha himself was just a human, this name 'Elisha' is symbolic. It is symbolic of who your God is. And here, you can see that He is a God who knows how to supply you. He is a God of help and hope, even when you feel helpless or hopeless in your situation or in your life at the moment.  

So, take heart. Just as Elisha was there to give a solution to that man who dropped the iron ax head, God is also here to give you a solution to whatever you are going through in your life right now. Yes, even for the mistakes, failures, or oversights in your life!

How about the stick that Elisha used to cause the heavy iron ax head to float? In this passage here, it really does look like it's just another stick that Elisha cut from a tree nearby. But, what is the symbolic meaning of this stick here? It speaks of what Jesus has done for you on the cross! Yes, on the wooden cross! In other words, on the tree! 

Just as the stick caused the iron ax head to float (and that's a miracle indeed), what Jesus has done on the cross for you can reverse things around for your good! Just don't limit how God is going to do it!

Prayer: 

"O Lord God, we thank You for Your words of encouragement for us today. There's nothing that You cannot turn around in our lives, no matter what mistake we've made in life, however big or small. No mistake, no failure, no oversight, and in fact, no work of the enemy can hold You back from turning things around in our lives. Because You are a great God. You are great, and greatly to be praised. You are strong and mighty in all Your ways. You are all-wise, all-knowing, all-present, and all-powerful. You are unlimited in who You are and what You can do. And nothing on earth can stop You from accomplishing Your plans and purposes for each of our lives. In the name of Jesus. Amen."

Click here for the full message in TiC YouTube Channel

Shaken by what's happening in the world right now? Fear not!

The Lord says: 

"This isn't the time to look at your left or at your right. This isn't the time to pattern after this or that in the world. But be patterned after Me. My ways are higher. My ways will not fail. When no one else in this world can help you, look to Me. When the system and structure of this world fails you, look to Me." 

We are living in a very precarious world at the moment. Anytime, the world financial systems or the world economic systems can fail. You have seen some banks have even failed. You have seen how the cost of living keeps rising in many places.

But I tell you what, do not allow yourself to be shaken. There is help for you. God has a way out for you. He will give you the strategies to ride out these times; not just to survive, but to thrive as well. So, fear not! Because He knows how to help you and show you a way!

Let's go straight to the Scripture now. 

In a time like this, remember Psalm 121 written by David.

Psalm 121:1-2 says, 'I will lift up my eyes to the hills, from whence (where) comes my help? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.' 

Where does our help come from? Our help comes from the Lord, the Creator of heaven and earth! The word 'help' here is 'ezer' in Hebrew. It comes from the word 'azar', which means 'to surround, to protect, to aid'. Therefore, the Lord is saying He is the Lord who surrounds you, protects you, and aids you. He will surround you in the midst of the turbulence, He will protect you, and He will come to your aid in a time like this! 

This same word 'ezer' can also be found in Psalm 46:1-3, 'God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, even though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea, though its waters roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with its swelling.' 

These verses isn't just literal, i.e. geologically; but it can also be symbolic of say, the financial systems or the economic systems of this world, or whatever system that is man-made that has infiltrated into this world! 

Notice it's written in Psalm 121, 'I will lift up my eyes to the hills'. I used to think the psalmist was referring to any hill or any mountain on earth. But no! He was referring to 'the holy hills of Jerusalem'. 

What do these 'holy hills' symbolize? These 'holy hills' symbolize 'where the presence of the Lord is'. For the record, there are seven hills that surround Jerusalem, i.e. Moriah, Bethsaida, Scopus, Olives, Opel, Zion, and Calvary. 

Let's look at one of those holy hills, Moriah. What is the significance of Moriah? It was here that King Solomon built the first temple. It was also here that Abraham went to sacrifice his son Isaac as burnt offering, and the Lord provided him a ram, instead of him having to sacrifice his own son Isaac! 

To deepen our understanding, let's go to Genesis 22:13, '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.'

Notice the words 'lifted his eyes' here? This is very interesting, because David (in Psalm 121) 'lifted his eyes' too! So, both David and Abraham 'lifted their eyes', and in the context here, 'lifted their eyes' to the Lord and to what the Lord's doing!  

In Genesis 22:13, notice also there's this ram caught in a thorny bush. Who does this 'ram' speak of? Jesus! When He was about to be crucified, the soldiers put a crown of thorns on his head. So, if the 'ram' here speaks of 'Jesus', then the 'thicket' ('thorny bush') speaks of 'the crown of thorns'! In other words, Jesus wore the crown of thorns, so that you don't have to wear it! It means He has carried away all your pains, whatever these may be, not just in your spirit, soul, or body; but even financial or economic pains!

Here in Genesis 22:13, the Lord has shown a way for Abraham. It is the same for you as well. The Lord will know how to show you a way in a time like this! Your part is to look to Him!

Genesis 22:14 then says, 'And Abraham called the name of the place The-Lord-Will-Provide (YHWH Yireh)...' 

So, take heart. The Lord will know how to provide for you. If you need wisdom, ask and you shall receive. The Lord will know how to provide for you His divine wisdom. You will know what to do and how to go about in a time like this. If you need revelation from the Lord, ask and you shall receive. The Lord will know how to provide for you His divine revelation. You will know where you should be heading to in a time like this.  

So, lift your eyes to the Lord! Just as David lifted his eyes to the holy hills of Jerusalem! Or just as Abraham lifted his eyes, and there was a ram caught in a thicket!

So far, we have looked at the Old Testament. How about the New Testament? In the New Covenant, the Lord has also promised you 'help'! Who is this 'help'? The Holy Spirit! That's why it is so important to have a deeper and deeper relationship with the Holy Spirit, communing with the Holy Spirit, and receiving from the Holy Spirit. 

In John 14:16-17, Jesus said, "And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever - the Spirit of truth whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you." 

You see, this Holy Spirit dwells with you and lives in you! He is 24/7, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, all the time, now and forever; as long as you do not reject Him!

The word 'Helper' here (or 'Comforter' in King James Version) is 'Parakletos' in Greek. It can mean 'Advocate'. In other words, 'the One who is for you'. That's what Advocate is. He is for you. He is not against you. Why? Because you have been made righteous through Christ. You have received this gift of righteousness through what Jesus has done for you on the cross. It can also mean 'Consoler'. He is your Consoler or Comforter in a time of crisis, in a time of need, in a time of turbulence, or in a time of trouble. You can count on Him! It can also mean 'Intercessor'. The Holy Spirit will know how to intercede in your situation, take over your situation, and turn things around for you! 

In John 14:26, Jesus said further, "But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you." 

Not only the Holy Spirit is your Helper, He is also your Teacher! And He reminds you of all things that the Lord has spoken to you. 

The next verse is John 14:27, and Jesus said, "Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you; let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid."

John 14:27 should be read in the context of John 14:26. In other words, because the Holy Spirit has been sent to you, and because He is your Helper, He is your Teacher, He is your Advocate, He is your Consoler, and He is your Intercessor, therefore let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid!

This Holy Spirit is also the Spirit of shalom peace. This is the peace that the world cannot give to you. This peace can only come from the Lord! 

Let's go to the book of Romans now.

Romans 8:26-27 says, 'Likewise the Spirit (i.e. the Holy 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.' 

There can be times we don't know what to pray, or we don't know how to pray correctly. Or maybe we sense certain danger or 'un-peace', and we don't know what to do. I tell you what, just pray in the spirit. Because praying in the spirit is praying in the perfect will of God. As you pray in the spirit, the Holy Spirit will intercede, will take over the situation, and will prevent certain evil (or danger) from happening.  

Notice 'the Holy Spirit helps in our weaknesses'. It means whenever you feel weak, whenever you do not know what to pray, or whenever you do not know what to do, the Holy Spirit can help you!

The word 'help' here is 'sunantilambano' in Greek. This word 'sunantilambano' carries the meaning of 'two persons working together in partnership to get the job done'. It means the Holy Spirit (the Person of the Holy Spirit) and you as a person, both of you in partnership to get the job done (or to get a situation settled)! 

Very interestingly, this word 'sunantilambano' can be divided into three parts:

- 'sun' = 'in partnership with, in cooperation with'. 

- 'anti' = 'to come against (in this context, the enemy)'.

- 'lambano' = 'to take hold of, to claim, to receive'.

So, these three words, joined together, becomes 'sunantilambano'. In other words, 'sunantilambano' means 'in partnership and cooperation with the Holy Spirit, combining together with the Holy Spirit to push away the enemy, so that you can take hold of your inheritance that God has meant for you or promised you.' Wow!

Let us pray. "O Lord God, we thank You for the insight to what the Holy Spirit can do in our lives. Indeed, the Holy Spirit is our Helper. With the Holy Spirit dwelling with us, there's nothing to be afraid of in this world. We receive now the shalom peace. Just as Jesus has said, let not our hearts be troubled, and let not our hearts be afraid. So, whatever happens in the world, even when the systems or the structures of this world may fail, You O Lord will not fail. We look to You. We pattern after Your way. Because Your way will not fail. In Jesus' name. Amen."

Click here for the full teaching in TiC YouTube Channel

The hand of the Lord will uphold you!

The Lord says: "Fear not, for I am with you. Be not dismayed, for I am your God. Whatever you are going through at the moment, look to Me and put your trust in Me. For I will know how to strengthen you, help you, and uphold you with My righteous right hand." 

The Lord says further: "If My hand is with you, you have nothing to fear. For I will know how to clear the way for you and make a way for you."

In Isaiah 41:10 (NKJV), the Lord says, "Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand." 

The words 'right hand' here in Hebrew is 'yamiyn'. In the context here, this is 'the right hand of the Lord', and it indicates His strength, or He being stronger than the situation or circumstance around you. 

In Isaiah 41:13 (NKJV), the Lord says, "For I, the Lord your God, will hold your right hand, saying to you, 'Fear not, I will help you.'" 

I know Isaiah 41 is talking about the assurance of God's help for Israel. But to apply this verse for you today, it can also speak of the assurance of God's help in your life who is in effect the spiritual Israel!

In Isaiah 41:18-19 (NKJV), the Lord says, "I will open rivers in desolate heights, and fountains in the midst of the valleys; I will make the wilderness a pool of water, and the dry land springs of water. I will plant in the wilderness the cedar and the acacia tree, the myrtle and the oil tree; I will set in the desert the cypress tree and the pine and the box tree together..." 

This, of course, can be literal, and can be symbolic. 

The expression "I will open rivers in desolate heights" here speaks of the Lord your God sends miraculous supplies of water from His heavenly resources, even in barren places. In your context, He knows how to miraculously supply all that you need to complete all that God has spoken for you to do on this earth! 

The expression "I will plant in the wilderness the cedar and acacia trees" here speaks of the Lord your God can make barren places fruitful and full of beautiful forests. It means He can take the most 'barren' or 'wilderness' situation or circumstance of yours, and turn it into 'beautiful forests'! In other words, He will know how to plant 'forests' even in the most 'barren' or 'wilderness' land of yours! He will know how to plant good things in your life, even in the most 'barren' or 'wilderness' situation or circumstance of yours!

In Isaiah 41:20 (NKJV), the Lord then says "...that they may see and know, and consider and understand together, that the hand of the Lord has done this, and the Holy One of Israel has created it." 

Hallelujah! 

Is there anything too difficult for God? No! 

Is there anything hard for God? No! 

Is His hand so short that He cannot help you and make a way for you? No, of course! 

And if the hand of the Lord is with you, nothing is impossible, and there's nothing that cannot be done!

Now, this word 'hand' here in Isaiah 41:20 is 'yad' in Hebrew, and it speaks of 'the open hand of God, indicating the power of God and the direction of God'. 

You see? The power of God, and the direction of God!

So, whatever your situation or circumstance may be at the moment, even if it is a very difficult or seemingly impossible situation, let the powerful hand of the Lord destroy all those burdens, bondages, and hindrances in your life! And let the directing hand of the Lord lead the way and give you the direction that you need, going forward!

Let's go to Nehemiah 2:18 now, in cross-reference to Isaiah 41:20.

Nehemiah 2:18 (NKJV) says, 'And I (Nehemiah) told them of the hand of my God which had been good upon me, and also of the king's words that he had spoken to me. So the people said, "Let us rise up and build." Then they set their hands to this good work.' 

By that time, Nehemiah and the people of Israel had already returned to the city of Jerusalem. They saw the shattered walls of Jerusalem. They saw rubbish and ruins everywhere. And they saw the terrible state of the situation in the city of Jerusalem.

But God! The hand of the Lord was upon Nehemiah. So he spoke all the above to the people of Israel, and he spoke how the hand of the Lord was good upon him. The people then responded by saying, "Let us rise up and build." And that's how they began to set their hands to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem. 

However, after that, Nehemiah 2:19-20 (NKJV) says, 'But when Sanballat the Horonite, Tobiah the Ammonite official, and Geshem the Arab heard of it (i.e. hearing of Nehemiah and the people of Israel planning to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem), they laughed at us and despised us, and said, "What is this thing that you are doing? Will you rebel against the king?" So I (Nehemiah) answered them, "The God of heaven Himself will prosper us; therefore we His servants will arise and build, but you have no heritage or right or memorial in Jerusalem."' 

Now, we can learn a lot from Nehemiah. If God has put in your heart to do something, focus not on the mockers, but focus on what God says! And that's what Nehemiah did! 

See what happened not long after that. Nehemiah 4:7-8 (NKJV) says, 'Now it happened, when Sanballat, Tobiah, the Arabs, the Ammonites, and the Ashdodites heard that the walls of Jerusalem were being restored and the gaps were beginning to be closed, that they became very angry, and all of them conspired together to come and attack Jerusalem and create confusion.' 

You see, sometimes when you are doing the right things, and you are doing what God has put in your heart to do, there may be people who are angry with you and offended by you. They may conspire against you, attack you, or create confusion against you. They may stir up bad gossips against you and try to pull your name down. I tell you what, learn again from Nehemiah. Your part is to stay focused on what God has spoken for you to do, till the very end!

Let's continue with Nehemiah 6:15-16 (NKJV), 'So the wall was finished 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.' 

For the record, the whole rebuilding of the walls of Jerusalem was completed in just 52 days! Now, this was a feat even the enemies of God's people must have attributed it must be God, it must be God's hand, and it must be God's enabling! 

So, be comforted, my friends, if you have been going through a difficult time at the moment. Keep looking to the Lord. Keep putting all your trust in the Lord. Keep trusting that His hand will be with you to clear the way for you and guide you. 

No matter what, stay true to His calling, plans and purposes for your life. Follow His instructions faithfully. Follow His blueprints that He has given to you faithfully. And the Lord will be with you till the very end. Just like Nehemiah! 

After all, the name 'Nehemiah' ('Nekhem Yah' in Hebrew) means 'Comfort of YAH' or 'Consolation of YAH'. And YAH (short form for the name of the Lord, YHWH) will see to it that He will help you, strengthen you, and  uphold you with His righteous right hand! Hallelujah!

Click here for the full teaching in TiC YouTube Channel

When times are tough, what do you do?

When times are tough, what do you do? This is a question many people ask, especially in times like these. But the answer from the Lord may surprise many.

Here's the answer, and here's what the Lord says, "Keep loving. Keep sowing seeds of love and care. Help anyone who needs genuine help. Look out for one another and look after one another."

There's no denying the fact that the world (I mean, the people of the world) has become 'colder' and 'colder', even though the earth is getting warmer and warmer (due to climate change). People are getting more and more selfish (lovers of their own selves without considering others or to the detriment of others), and more and more inward-looking.

2 Timothy 3:1-4 (NKJV) says, 'But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God'.

But how about you who are the disciples of Jesus?

In Matthew 5:15-16, Jesus says, "Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven."

In tough times like these, the Lord's answer for us is all the more let our light shine brighter and brighter, even as the world gets darker and darker! 

But how do you shine your light? 

Through acts of love and kindness from a genuine and sincere heart!

1 John 3:18 (NKJV) says, 'My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth'.

1 John 4:8 (NKJV) says, 'He who does not love does not know God, for God is love'.

1 John 4:12 (NKJV) says, 'No one has seen God at any time. If we love one another, God abides in us, and His love has been perfected in us'.

In Matthew 25:34-40, Jesus says, "Then the King will say to those on His right hand, 'Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.' "Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, 'Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink? When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You? Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?' And the King will answer and say to them, 'Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.'"

You see, as you scatter seeds of love and kindness wherever you are, as you help those who are helpless, and care for those who are uncared for, the Lord will know how to reward you and honor you, even in ways that no man can! The Lord sees it even when man never sees or recognizes it!

Galatians 6:9 (NKJV) says, 'And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart'.

In Luke 6:38, Jesus says, "Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you."

It doesn't necessarily have to be giving in the form of money. It can be using your spiritual gifts, your talents, your time, your energy, or in any way that you can be a blessing others! It goes a long way in bringing hope to many, and you'd never know how much this means to some who are in dire situations at the moment!

So, beloved of God, go ahead and love others! Make a difference in this world! Not just in words, but also in deeds! Your 'light' will shine ever brighter in the spiritual realm! And you will reap the good that you sow! Amen!

For details of this message, click here to watch

"I will lift up my eyes to the hills"

Psalm 121:1-2 (NKJV): I will lift up my eyes to the hills. From whence comes my help? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.

The word 'help' here is 'ezer' in Hebrew, from the word 'azar', meaning 'to surround, to protect, to aid us (against the enemy)'. This psalm was written by David, and many bible scholars believe it was written in a time of battle, when he crucially needed the Lord's help.

The 'hills' here refers to 'the hills in Jerusalem', specifically the hill in which God's temple was built, also known as Mount Moriah. It was here that the Lord provided Abraham a ram as burnt offering, instead of him having to sacrifice his own son Isaac! In Genesis 22:13-14, the Scripture says, 'Then Abraham lifted his eyes and looked, and there behind him was a ram caught in a thicket by its horns. So Abraham 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'.

See the words 'lifted his eyes' here? Very interesting! Both David and Abraham lifted their eyes! Where to? For David, he lifted his eyes to Mount Moriah, where The-Lord-Will-Provide! For Abraham, he lifted his eyes and saw a ram caught in a thicket by its horns, a 'picture' of Jesus Christ Himself! A thicket plant, by the way, is a thorny plant, and the root word for 'thicket' in Hebrew is 'sawbak', literally meaning 'to entwine'. In John 19:2, the Scripture says, 'And the soldiers twisted a crown of thorns and put it on Jesus' head'! Indeed, Jesus wore the crown of thorns, so that you can now wear the crown of glory!

I heard and released these words from the Lord recently:
"I am the Lord your help, when you cry out to Me! Look not at your past mistakes or regrets, but look to Me! Look not at your surroundings, but look to Me! Look not at what's happening in your battlefield, but look to Me! For I am a God who hears and answers your cries. Look to My holy hills, from where comes your help, and watch how I will provide!"

People of God, whatever 'battle' you may be facing at the moment (be it in your health, in your finance, or in any other area of your life), look not at those past mistakes or regrets of yours (the 'I could have', 'I should have', or 'I would have'), and look not at all those troubles around you, but instead, lift up your eyes and look to Him - The Lord who is your Help and Provider! The Lord who crowns you with His glory!

Fear not! He will strengthen you and help you!

I heard these words from the Lord for this time and season:
"Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, yes, I will help you. I will uphold you with My righteous right hand. Cry out to Me and look to Me, for I am your Answer. I will hear from heaven, and I will help you."

Let's go to Isaiah 41 now. This is a key chapter to read in this time and season, and it is about God's assurance of help. In Isaiah 41:10, the Lord says, "Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, yes, I will help you. I will uphold you with My righteous right hand."

In Isaiah 41:11-13, the Lord says further, "Behold, all those who were incensed against you shall be ashamed and disgraced; They shall be as nothing. And those who strive with you shall perish. You shall seek them and not find them. Those who contended with you, those who war against you shall be as nothing, as a nonexistent thing. For I, the Lord your God will hold your right hand, saying to you, 'Fear not, I will help you'."

What a promise and assurance from the Lord!

The word 'help' here is 'azar' in Hebrew, and it can mean 'to aid, to protect, to surround you (with goodness)'. Notice one meaning of 'azar' is 'to surround you (with goodness)'.

So, people of God, no matter what issue, problem, or challenge you may be facing at the moment, take heart and take courage in what the Lord is saying to you right now, "Fear not, I will surround you (with My goodness)"!

The word 'incensed' here speaks of 'any work of darkness that comes against you', and it includes 'plans of evil against you', 'conspiracy/plot against you at workplace', or even any disease that has been plaguing you. Whatever it may be, this is a time to BELIEVE and DECLARE that all these 'shall be as nothing, as a nonexistent thing'!

Some of you might ask, "Will the Lord ever help me? After all those sinful things and stupid things I've done in my life?"

Yes! He is here to help you, if you turn to Him and look to Him. And because of what Jesus has done for you on the cross, your Father in heaven is not looking at those sins and those past of yours anymore! Instead, He sees you forgiven, cleansed, accepted, and righteous through Christ! The Bible says so! (see Romans 8:1, 2 Corinthians 5:21, Ephesians 1:6-7) In fact, not only does He want to help you, it brings pleasure to Him that you 'taste and see that He is good'! (Psalm 34:8)

You might ask further, "But why are so many Christians not tasting and seeing it?"

Because deep inside them, they still feel they have not been forgiven yet! In other words, they still have a 'guilt conscience' in them, and they still think God is 'punishing' them!

But that's not what God says for those who are in Christ!

Hebrews 10:21-23 says, '... having a High Priest (i.e. Jesus) over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water, let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful'.

The word 'sprinkled' here can be translated as 'washed, showered, cleansed'. And what does the phrase 'evil conscience' mean here? This word 'evil' is 'poneros' in Greek, and it can mean 'guilt, condemnation'. It means to say you (who have Christ Jesus in your life) have been cleansed from any guilt conscience. Therefore, you can now draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith.

And what is that promise written in Hebrews 10:23? It is found in Hebrews 10:12-18 that says, 'But this Man (Jesus), after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God... For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified... "This is the covenant (promise) that I will make with them after those days, says the Lord: I will put My laws into their hearts, and in their minds I will write them," then He adds, "Their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more."'

People of God, your part is to believe and receive all that He has promised you, and that's how you'll begin walking according to what He says you are - forgiven, cleansed, accepted, and righteous through Christ!

In Revelation 3:20, Jesus says, "Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me." You see? He is always here 'standing at the door and knock', ready to help you! And His grace (i.e. His supply of His goodness, and His ability to help you) is more than enough for you in a time of need (Hebrews 4:16). But you've got to open the door for Him to come in!

Let me give you a simple illustration, so you can understand better the correlation between 'His grace' and 'your faith':
His grace is like the sunshine. It exists, whether you want it or not. And just as sunshine is always available for you while it is day, His grace is always available for you who are in Christ Jesus.
Your faith (i.e. a believing heart) is like the door. If you open the door, the sunshine will enter your room (to light up, brighten, and give warmth to your room), and when this happens, every form of darkness and dampness in your room will have to disappear - and 'shall be as nothing, as a nonexistent thing'! Hallelujah!

The Lord is your help

Psalm 121:1-2 (NKJV): I will lift up my eyes to the hills, from whence (where) comes my help? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.

The word 'help' here is 'ezer' in Hebrew, from the word 'azar', which means 'to surround, to protect, to aid'. Indeed, He is the Lord who surrounds you, protects you, and aids you. In cross-reference, this word 'help' is also found in Psalm 46:1-3 that says, 'God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, even though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; though its waters roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with its swelling (bursting, increasing in volume)'. 

Recently, I heard and released these words to the congregation I was ministering to: 

"This is not the time to look at your left or your right, or pattern after this or that. This is the time to look to Me for help. When no one else can help you, I am your very present help."

People of God, in a time like this, 'look to the Lord, not to the world' for help. Look above the strength or power of this earth, and look at the hills (of Jerusalem), from whence (where) comes your help. 

I used to think the psalmist (of Psalm 121) was referring to any hill (or mount) on earth, but soon my eyes were opened to see that he was referring to the holy hills of Jerusalem. These (holy hills) symbolize 'where the presence of the Lord is', and 'where the ark of the covenant is', which speaks of Jesus Himself. Moriah, one of the holy hills of Jerusalem, was where Solomon built the first temple (see 2 Chronicles 3:1), and it was also here that Abraham went to 'sacrifice' his son Isaac as 'burnt offering' (see Genesis 22:2).

Note that there are seven hills (or mountains) that surround Jerusalem, namely Moriah, Bethsaida, Scopus, Olives, Opel, Zion, and Calvary. Psalm 125:1-2 says, 'Those who trust in the Lord are like Mount Zion, which cannot be moved, but abides forever. As the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the Lord surrounds His people, from this time forth and forever'. 

Let's continue with Psalm 121 now. Psalm 121:5-8 then says, 'The Lord is your keeper; the Lord is your shade at your right hand. The sun shall not strike you by day, nor the moon by night. The Lord shall preserve (keep) you from all evil; He shall preserve your soul. The Lord shall preserve (keep) your going out and your coming in, from this time forth, and even forevermore.'

The word 'shade' here means 'shadow, defense, or hovering over' in Hebrew, and 'your right hand' speaks of 'whatever you put your hands on'. In the Hebrew context, 'the right hand' always means 'the working hand'. By the way, do you know how the English word 'umbrella' is derived from? This word 'umbrella' comes from the Latin word umbra, which also means 'shade, or shadow'. In other words, the Lord is like the 'umbrella' over all that you put your hands to do. Amen!

In the New Covenant, the Lord has also promised you 'help' - the Holy Spirit. In John 14:16-17, Jesus Himself said, "And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever - the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you."

This word 'Helper' (or 'Comforter' in King James Version) is 'parakletos' in Greek, which means 'advocate (i.e. 'one who is for you'), consoler, or intercessor'. In John 14:26, Jesus said further, "But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you." In John 14:27, Jesus then continued, "(Therefore) Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid." You see, John 14:27 is spoken in the context of John 14:26. 

And then in Romans 8:26-28, the apostle Paul wrote, "Likewise the Spirit (Helper) also helps in our weaknesses (or infirmities). For we do not know what we should pray..., but the Spirit (Helper) 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 (you and I who are in Christ) according to the will of God. And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose." Amen!