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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Definitions of 'cleanup': 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

In Jeremiah 17:7-8 (NKJV), the Lord says, "Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, and whose hope is the Lord. For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters, which spreads out its roots by the river, and will not fear when heat comes; But its leaf will be green, and will not be anxious in the year of drought, nor will cease from yielding fruit." 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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You are a carrier of His glory!

The Lord says: 

"Prepare yourselves to be filled with My glory like never before! For I am raising up a people who will be carriers of My glory in a time like this! Just as in the days of Solomon when the temple was prepared, so are you who are the temple of My Spirit! I will show you the many things that the world cannot see. I will even show you what is to come. You shall walk in My Spirit and My revelation in deeper ways. Nothing of the flesh matters anymore!" 

1 Kings 8:10-11 (NKJV) says, 'And it came to pass, when the priests came out of the holy place, that the cloud filled the house of the Lord, so that the priests could not continue ministering because of the cloud; for the glory of the Lord filled the house of the Lord.'

This happened in King Solomon's days. The word 'glory' here is 'kabowd' in Hebrew, and it can mean 'splendor, magnificence, honor, weight'. That is to say, the glory of the Lord is real, is present, and is tangible. It is the very presence of the Lord. For those who have experienced it, or even experienced a glimpse of it, you will know what I mean. It's so real, and words cannot fully describe it. 

As a beloved of God, you can experience this glory of the Lord and be filled with this glory of the Lord. In fact, people around you can actually sense it, and see the glory of the Lord in your life. 

Isaiah 60:1-2 (NKJV) says, 'Arise, shine; For your light has come! And the glory of the Lord is risen upon you. For behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and deep darkness the people; But the Lord will arise over you, and His glory will be seen upon you.'

Back to King Solomon's days. When the glory of the Lord filled the temple that Solomon built, nothing of the flesh mattered anymore. All that's of the world has become like a shadow. It's all about the Lord now. Not about the works of man or the achievements of man. Even the priest could not continue ministering, as you can see in 1 Kings 8:10-11 just now. 

With such awesome presence of the Lord, all Solomon could do was to turn around and release the blessings of the Lord upon the people at that time! You see, with the glory of the Lord so heavy upon you, blessings flow. 

Today, as believers of the Lord in the New Covenant, you and I are now the temple of the Holy Spirit. Not made with stones. Not made with bricks. 

1 Corinthians 6:19-20 (NKJV) says, 'Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; Therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God's.' 

At this juncture of our lives, let us dedicate ourselves anew to the Lord. Ask the Lord to wash us and cleanse us.

What are the keys to God's glory manifesting in your life? 

1. Holiness and purity

1 Corinthians 6:18 (NKJV) says, 'Flee sexual immorality. Every sin that a man does is outside the body, but he who commits sexual immorality sins against his own body.'

2 Corinthians 7:1 (NKJV) says, 'Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.' 

Let the Holy Spirit fill you right now. The Holy Spirit is the HOLY SPIRIT. The Spirit of holiness. Let the fire of His holiness cleanse and wash us.

2. Worship and surrender

Romans 12:1 (NLT) says, 'And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all He has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice - the kind He will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship Him.'

We worship Him not just with songs and music, but we worship Him with our bodies, presenting ourselves to Him as a living and holy sacrifice unto Him. 

3. Praise and thanksgiving

Psalm 50:14-15 (NKJV) says, 'Offer to God thanksgiving... Call upon Me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify Me.'

Psalm 50:23 (NKJV) says, 'Whoever offers praise glorifies Me; And to him who orders his conduct aright I will show the salvation ('Yeshuwah') of God.'

As you live a life of praising Him and giving thanks to Him; not just in good times, but at all times; He will know how to show you His glory and His goodness. You will begin to walk in the realm of greater blessings and miracles.

Not just that. The power of darkness cannot have a hold on you or 'touch' you. You will have divine protection of the Lord. No matter how the enemies try to pull you down, they cannot succeed. Because you have the covering of the blood of Jesus Christ, and you have the glory of the Lord enveloping you and surrounding you. Amen!

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Prophetic words: A time to clear the clutter!

The Lord says: 

"Prepare, prepare, prepare! Sanctify, sanctify, sanctify! Clear the clutter! Clear what needs to clear! Put your house in order! Because I am about to do great things and great exploits in your life and through your life! No matter how the world changes, My Word is still the same. Look to Me, and keep soaking in My Word and in My Spirit. And I will show you greater things ahead of you." 

Indeed the world has been changing very fast. Everything is accelerating. But one thing that never changes is the Word of God! The Word of God is still the Word of God! In Matthew 24:35, Jesus Himself said: "Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away." 

The Lord is also saying to you, beloved, that no matter what past you may have, or no matter how broken your past may be, He still remembers you and He still has a purpose for you. He still wants to do something great in your life and through your life!

Joshua 1:1-3 (NKJV) says, 'After the death of Moses the servant of the Lord, it came to pass that the Lord spoke to Joshua the son of Nun, Moses' assistant, saying: "Moses My servant is dead. Now therefore, arise, go over this Jordan, you and all this people, to the land which I am giving to them - the children of Israel. Every place that the sole of your foot will tread upon I have given you, as I said to Moses."' 

In this time and season, this applies to you too. Let your past be past. Let the bygone be bygone. The Lord is in the midst of healing you. The Lord is in the midst of restoring you. The Lord is in the midst of renewing you. Yes indeed, your "Moses" is dead, and this is your Joshua's time! This is the time to receive fresh anointing from the Lord! This is the time to receive new strength from the Lord! 

We go all the way to Joshua 3 now. Joshua 3:5-6 (NKJV) says, 'And Joshua said to the people, "Sanctify yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do wonders among you." Then Joshua spoke to the priests, saying, "Take up the ark of the covenant and cross over before the people." So they took up the ark of the covenant and went before the people.' 

The word 'sanctify' here is 'kawdash' in Hebrew. It can mean 'to make clean, to consecrate, to prepare, to purify, to dedicate, to be separate, to be set apart.' In the context of our study today, the Lord wants us to be separated or set apart from the unwholesome things that are happening in this world. You may be in the world, but you are not of the world. You are of God. You are born of God. That's what the Scripture says about you. You are born again the moment you have received Jesus Christ as your personal Savior and Lord. So, let the Holy Spirit fill you right now. Let the Holy Spirit wash you clean, cleanse you, and purify you right now. Let the Holy Spirit teach you how to be set apart from whatever that is unwholesome in this world. 

I would like to bring you to another version for Joshua 3:5-6. This time, I read from New American Standard Bible (NASB). 'Then Joshua said to the people, "Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do miracles among you." And Joshua spoke to the priests, saying, "Take up the ark of the covenant and cross over ahead of the people." So they took up the ark of the covenant and went ahead of the people.' 

Now, 'the ark of the covenant' here symbolizes 'the glory of the Lord.' Jesus is your glory! Jesus is the glory of the Lord who goes ahead of you. You part is to follow Him. Wherever the glory cloud goes, you follow. And you are going to see with your own eyes (both spiritual eyes and physical eyes) miracles, signs and wonders happening in your life and through your life. You are entering this time and season of your life! Believe for it! 

How did the translators of New Living Translation (NLT) translate Joshua 3:5-6? Let's read here. 'Then Joshua told the people, "Purify yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do great wonders among you." In the morning Joshua said to the priests, "Lift up the Ark of the Covenant and lead the people across the river." And so they started out and went ahead of the people.' 

Indeed beloved, this is a new dawn for you! See the words 'In the morning' here. Yes, weeping may last for a night, but joy comes in the morning. It's a new day for you. The sun has begun to shine brighter and brighter upon you. Receive this by faith, even as you look to the Lord and keep trusting in the Lord your God. Amen! 

Let's look at one more version, and let's go to The Amplified Bible now. 'Then Joshua said to the people, "Sanctify yourselves [for His purpose], for tomorrow the Lord will do wonders (miracles) among you." Joshua said to the priests, "Take up the ark of the covenant and cross over [the river] ahead of the people." So they took up the ark of the covenant and went on ahead of the people.' 

Notice the words 'sanctify yourselves [for His purpose]' here? So, if you think you are purposeless and hopeless, the Lord is releasing a new purpose and a new hope to you right now! Your part is to embrace all that He wants to give to you. Amen!  

I want to pray for you right now. Let there be open heaven right now. Let there be a release of fresh anointing upon you right now. Let there be a release of new strength upon you right now. Let the glory of the Lord be upon you. And wherever you go, darkness has to flee. Because when the glory and the light comes, darkness has to flee. I also want to pray for you that wherever you go, there will be shalom peace, and the favor of the Lord is with you, just as what Joshua had experienced those days, in that time and season!

It's not too late yet for you to prepare yourself. Clear the clutter of your life. Clear whatever that needs to clear in your life. Clear whatever unwholesome things in your life. Let the blood of Jesus Christ wash you and cleanse you white as snow. And that's how you are being readied and prepared for the greater things that are coming your way!

Joshua 3:8 (NKJV) says, 'You shall command the priests who bear the ark of the covenant, saying, "When you have come to the edge of the water of the Jordan, you shall stand in the Jordan."' 

Yes, many of God's people are at the crossroads in their lives right now. They are about to cross a certain threshold in their lives. And if that person is you, this is what you can do now: Continue to stand strong in the Word of God. Do not be swayed by the enemy or by all kinds of temptations of this world. But you stand! 

The word 'stand' here is 'aw-mad' in Hebrew. It can mean 'to continue, to abide, to remain, to be firm.' Yes, to be firm in all that the Lord has spoken to you in this new season of your life! And yes, to stand strong and to continue to abide in Him and in His Word! 

There will be some of you who are going to see your promotion in spite of the odds. There will be some of you who are going to see new open doors, when many others in the world are having 'closed doors'. There will be some of you who are going to see some pleasant surprises. And there will be some of you who are going to see restoration in certain relationships that have been broken, especially family relationships. Just keep looking to the Lord, and keep standing strong in His Word. Keep eating from the Word of God and drinking from the Spirit of God. Word and Spirit. Spirit and Word. Amen!

Joshua 3:9-10 (NKJV) says, 'So Joshua said to the children of Israel, "Come here, and hear the words of the Lord your God." And Joshua said, "By this you shall know that the living God is among you, and that He will without fail drive out from before you the Canaanites and the Hittites and the Hivites and the Perizzites and the Girgashites and the Amorites and the Jebusites."' 

In other words, the Lord your God is clearing the way for you! As you clear the clutter in your life, and as you clear what you need to clear in your life, the Lord will clear the way for you! The Lord will ward off every work of the enemy - north, south, east, west. The Lord will make the way clear for you. The Lord is going to even send His angels to prepare the way for you! 

As you take this step of faith, and as you heed what the Lord has spoken, Joshua 3:13 (NKJV) says: "And it shall come to pass, as soon as the soles of the feet of the priests who bear the ark of the Lord, the Lord of all the earth, shall rest in the waters of the Jordan, that the waters of the Jordan shall be cut off, the waters that come down from upstream, and they shall stand as a heap." 

You see? The way had been made clear for Joshua and the people to cross over. They saw their first miracle, sign and wonder in the new season of their lives. And that's how they crossed over! And you know what? The rest is history. They saw many victories and breakthroughs that moment onwards. I want to believe the same for you. Yes, you too are going to see many victories and breakthroughs in your life, going forward! The best is yet to come! Amen!

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Words from the Lord: "Let the fire fall!"

The other day, I saw a vision of fire being released from the throne of God as I was ministering to someone who had problems with lots of pain in the body, and this fire even set that person free from idolatry, bondage, and residues from that person's ancestral worship. 

I then heard the Lord say: "Let the fire fall!"

Fire doesn't necessarily mean it's a bad thing. It doesn't necessarily mean it has to be like fire from hell, or hell fire. From the Scripture, I'm going to show you the fire that comes from the throne of God is meant for our own good. It isn't a bad thing. That's why it's so important not to resist or fight against this fire, because it is meant for our own good. It is the fire of holiness. It is the fire that purifies and purges us. It is the purifying fire of God!

In fact, the Word of God and the Spirit of God can also be symbolized by fire. Let me prove to you from the Scripture. 

In Jeremiah 23:29, the Lord says: "Does not My Word burn like fire? Is it not like a mighty hammer that smashes a rock to pieces?" 

The Word of God can be symbolized by fire. The Word of God burns, cleanses, washes, and purges all that is contrary to God's ways and God's standards. 

How about the Holy Spirit?

In Matthew 3:11, John the Baptist said: "I baptize with water those who repent of their sins and turn to God. But Someone is coming soon who is greater than I am - so much greater that I'm not worthy even to be His slave and carry His sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire." 

The Holy Spirit can be symbolized by fire too. This fire is the fire of holiness of the Lord that purifies, purges, and cleanses. And not just that. This fire also enables, empowers, and even enlivens us with a new zeal for the Lord! 

In Acts 2:1-4, this was what happened to the early disciples of Jesus: 'When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. Then there appeared to them divided tongues as of fire. And one sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit of God gave them utterance.' 

You see, there was an enabling, there was an empowering, there was this anointing, there was this fire! 

Indeed, the Lord wants you to receive this fire that comes from His throne today! And you shall be refreshed, renewed, and revived to walk in His calling and plan for your life, going forward!

The Word of God says in Isaiah 4:4-5: 'When the Lord has washed away the filth of the daughters of Zion, and purged the blood of Jerusalem from her midst, by the spirit of judgment and by the spirit of burning (it means the Lord is judging all the works of darkness, and the Lord is burning all these away). Then the Lord will create above every dwelling place of Mount Zion, and above her assemblies, a cloud and smoke by day, and the shining of a flaming fire by night. For over all the glory there will be a covering.' 

This fire is like a 'firewall' over you. In other words, the glory of the Lord is like a 'firewall' over you. And this 'firewall', this glory of the Lord, is also your covering! That's what the Word of God says here! Therefore, no work of darkness (or word of darkness) can touch you! All these will have to leave, because this fire will be too 'hot' for the work of darkness (or word of darkness) to touch you! 

The Word of God also says in Exodus 19:18-20: 'Now Mount Sinai was completely in smoke, because the Lord descended upon it in fire. Its smoke ascended like the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mountain quaked greatly. And when the blast of the trumpet sounded long, and became louder and louder, Moses spoke, and God answered him by voice. Then the Lord came down upon Mount Sinai on the top of the mountain. And the Lord called Moses to the top of the mountain, and Moses went up.'

This speaks of the greatness and the awesomeness of the Lord our God! Indeed, He is great and there's no other! 

You see, one of the ways the Lord can appear before us is with fire! 

But beloved of God, this fire will not burn you! Why? Because you are His righteous and His beloved! This fire will instead burn away every pain in your life (be it in your spirit, soul, or body), burn away every disease or infirmity in your life, and of course, burn away every form of impurity or un-holiness that hinders your life! Hallelujah!

And that's how you will come forth pure, holy, and unblemished before the Lord, ready for the even greater things that He wants to do in your life and through your life! Amen!

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Being carriers of God's glory

1 Kings 8:10-11 (NKJV): And it came to pass, when the priests came out of the holy place, that the cloud filled the house of the Lord, so that the priests could not continue ministering because of the cloud; for the glory of the Lord filled the house of the Lord.

The word 'glory' here is 'kabowd' in Hebrew, and it can mean 'splendor, magnificence, honor, or weight'. That is to say the glory of the Lord is real, is present, and is tangible. You can experience it, and you can be filled (and saturated) with it. It is the very presence of the Lord and people can actually sense and see the glory of the Lord in you! (Isaiah 60:1-3)

When this glory of the Lord filled the temple that Solomon built, even the priests could not continue ministering. Nothing of the flesh mattered anymore. The Lord took over entirely, and from then on, it's all about Him (and none about the works of man). What Solomon could do at that time was simply saying, "The Lord said that He would dwell in the thick cloud. I have surely built You an exalted house, and a place for You to dwell in forever".

Solomon then turned around and released blessing to the whole assembly of Israel, saying, "Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, who spoke with His mouth to my father David, and with His hand has fulfilled it..."

Today, as believers in the New Covenant, you and I have become this temple (not made of stones). 1 Corinthians 6:19 says, 'Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own'.

The Lord spoke these words recently: "Prepare yourselves, for My glory is coming, even in ways you have not imagined possible! I have begun raising up a people who will be carriers of My glory, and the world will see it! Just as in the days of Solomon when the temple was prepared, get ready My people, for My glory is coming, and My Spirit is taking over! Nothing of the flesh matters anymore!"

People of God, when the glory of the Lord is with you, two things happen.

First, you will begin walking in greater blessings. You will know, and the world will also see this in you. Jesus is the prime example of being the carrier of God's glory. After all, He is the glory of God manifested!
When evening came, and the people were hungry, His disciples had wanted to send the multitudes away. But Jesus said, "They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat." But they said to Him, "We only have five loaves and two fish." Jesus then took the five loaves and two fish, looked up to heaven, blessed and broke and gave the loaves to the disciples, and the disciples gave to the multitudes. They were all filled, and had even twelve baskets full of leftover. Now those who had eaten were about five thousand men, besides women and children (see Matthew 14:15-21).

Second, the evil one cannot have a hold on you, or 'touch' you. You will have divine protection, and no matter how the 'enemies' try to pull you down, they will not succeed. Let's look at Jesus again, because He is the prime example of being the carrier of God's glory.
When those in the synagogue jumped up, mobbed Him and tried to push Him off a cliff, Jesus somehow passed right through the crowd and went on His way (see Luke 4:28-30). And right before His arrest, when Judas the betrayer (accompanied by the Roman soldiers and temple guards) came over, Jesus stood up and asked, "Who are you looking for?" They replied, "Jesus the Nazarene." Jesus then said, "I AM HE." And as He said, "I AM HE", they all drew back and fell to the ground! (see John 18:1-6) Speaking of God's power at play! You see, no one could 'touch' Him unless He willingly give Himself up!

The keys to being a carrier of God's glory:
1. Full of the Word
For the Word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart (Hebrews 4:12 NKJV)

2. Full of the Spirit
And when they (the disciples of Christ) had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the Word of God with boldness (Acts 4:31 NKJV)

3. Worship & surrender
And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all He has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind He will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship Him (Romans 12:1 NLT)

4. Truthfulness, honesty & integrity
Behold, You desire truth in the inward parts, and in the hidden part You will make me to know wisdom (Psalm 51:6 NKJV)

5. Holiness & purity
Therefore, having these promises (being a temple of Holy Spirit), beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God (2 Corinthians 7:1 NKJV)

Holiness is a strength

I heard these words from the Lord recently:
"A fresh wind is blowing, and a fresh wave is coming upon My people! It is a wind and wave of My holiness! Tap into it and receive it! Because holiness is your strength, and holiness is your power! And I will cause My people to move ahead with the strength and the power that they've never seen before!"

I then heard further:
"This is the time I am imparting My holiness upon My people, and they shall be holy, just as I am holy! And this holiness shall be a strength to them, and it shall be a power to them!"

In Ezekiel 36:23, the Lord says, "I will show the holiness of My great name, which has been profaned among the nations... Then the nations will know that I am the Lord, declares the Sovereign Lord, when I am proved holy through you before their eyes." In Ezekiel 36:25-27, the Lord says further, "I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your impurities and from all your idols. I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put My Spirit in you and move you to follow My decrees..."

The Holy Spirit is a HOLY Spirit. As you can see in the Scripture above, the Holy Spirit imparts holiness upon God's people! See? Holiness isn't just your work. Holiness is by the ability of the Lord working in you! The Lord says, 'I will put My Spirit in you and move you to follow My decrees...' Who moves who? The Lord is the One who moves you! Your part, people of God, is to let Him and do not resist Him.

Living in this world full of sinful (fleshly) pleasures and compromising lifestyles, it sounds 'un-cool' to walk in holiness of the Lord. But the truth is holiness is a strength!

As you receive His Spirit of holiness afresh and anew this new season, the Lord says you'll be moving ahead with the strength and the power that you've never seen before!

Look at Samson in the Scripture. As long as he kept himself 'holy' before the Lord, he had strength and power! That's where His true strength lies - 'keeping himself holy'!

What then is to be 'holy'? Contrary to what many people think, to be 'holy' doesn't just mean 'not sinning'. To be 'holy' is about 'being set apart, consecrated' for the Lord to work through you! Samson was a Nazirite (Judges 13:5). This word 'Nazirite' is from the word 'nazar' in Hebrew, simply meaning 'set apart'. As a Nazirite, he was not to touch a dead body, and was not to have a haircut! (see Numbers 6:1-8)

'Not touching dead body' is a 'picture' of 'not touching (or doing) unclean things', whereas 'no haircut' is a 'picture' of 'staying true to what God has started or given to us'. In other words, not letting ourselves be influenced (or adulterated) by the things (or the ways) of this world!

People of God, as believers in the Lord Jesus Christ, we are all in actual fact called to be 'set apart', i.e. to stay true to what God has started or given to us! We are not to let the world influence (or adulterate) us with its ways (or ideas)! It should be the other way round! Because we are made the 'head', and not the 'tail'! (Deuteronomy 28:13) By the way, to 'adulterate' means 'anything foreign added to the original, and causes the original to lose its quality'.

You see? As long as Samson stayed true to who God had wanted him to be, there's strength and power! In truth, his true strength lies in him staying true to his God-given calling! As long as he continued to do so, he would do great exploits for the Lord! But the moment he 'compromised', he lost it! (Judges 16:4-5, Judges 16:15-17)

People of God, as you look ahead to this next half of year 2018, the key to your great exploits for the Lord is also likewise - staying true to all that God has spoken to you! We can learn not just from the victories (and success) of those who have gone before us, but also from their mistakes. But the good news is it isn't too late yet. You can start now. Samson's hair re-grew (Judges 16:22). This speaks of a 'second chance' God had given him!

So, even if you think you 'blew it' in the first half of this year, will you believe the Lord can do a greater work in you for the second half of this year? This is your time to receive a new strength from the Lord, not look back, and begin walking in a greater manifestation of His Spirit and His power, going forward. In Jesus' name. Amen!

The key to crossing over from 'beating' to 'breakthrough': Sanctification

Joshua 3:1 (NKJV): Then Joshua rose early in the morning; and they set out from Acacia Grove and came to the Jordan, he and all the children of Israel, and lodged there before they crossed over.

The place 'Acacia Grove' (also called 'Shittim' in Hebrew) simply means 'a group of Acacia trees'. But what is the significance of 'Acacia trees' here? These trees are known to have sharp, scourging thorns. In fact, the word 'Shittim' comes from this word 'shotet' in Hebrew, which means 'to scourge, to flog, to cause suffering, to beat severely'.

So here was Joshua, and on that day, he (and all the children of Israel) set out from Acacia Grove ('Shittim') and came to the Jordan, and lodged there before crossing over to the land promised to them - the land flowing with milk and honey. By the way, the word 'Jordan' is derived from this word 'yarad' in Hebrew, meaning 'to overcome, to subdue'. 

People of God, have you been 'taking a beating' or 'going through a time of scourging (or suffering)' in life recently? It may be in your health, finance, career, or even ministry. But the good news is no matter how 'difficult' it has been for you, linger in it no longer, because this is a time the Lord is giving you a new authority and anointing to overcome and subdue! In fact, the Lord even gave these words during a time of prayer recently: "Tell My people this is a time to cross over from 'beating' to 'breakthrough'!" Believe for it (in any area of your life), and receive by faith!

Let's continue with Joshua chapter 3 now. Joshua 3:3 says, '...When you see the ark of the covenant of the Lord your God, and the priests, the Levites, bearing it, then you shall set out from your place and go after it'. 'The ark of the covenant' here speaks of 'Jesus Himself, who is the very presence of God'. Notice the command for the people of God at that time was to 'go after it'! Indeed, this is a time to go after Jesus who is your righteousness and sanctification (1 Corinthians 1:30), and let Him lead you into a new realm of breakthrough and victory in your life!

The Lord spoke further, and I duly released these words to the congregation last Sunday: 
"This is a time to sanctify yourselves, as I prepare you to cross over into the realm of breakthrough and victory! Just as Joshua was told to do so before he crossed over the Jordan into the Promised Land!"

In Joshua 3:5, Joshua said to the people, "Sanctify yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do wonders among you." The word 'sanctify' here is 'qadash' in Hebrew, and it means 'to be clean, to be cleansed, to be consecrated, to be set apart (for God's work in your life), to be holy'.

"Holiness is the work of the Holy Spirit!" These words dropped on my mind spontaneously the other day. Many people have a mistaken idea that holiness is the work of human beings, and that what we need is to have a program or method to achieve holiness and perfection on earth. But the truth is this 'task' (of 'sanctification') is beyond our own power or self-effort! What we need is the power of the Holy Spirit!

Here in the Scripture, one can see that 'sanctification' comes before a breakthrough, victory, or even an increase. In Joshua 3:7, the Lord said this to him, "This day I will begin to exalt you (i.e. 'increase you', or 'make you great') in the sight of all Israel, that they may know as I was with Moses, so I will be with you." Let Scripture interpret Scripture now. In 2 Timothy 2:20-21, the apostle Paul wrote, 'But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay, some for honor and some for dishonor. Therefore if anyone cleanses himself from the latter, he will be a vessel of honor, sanctified and useful for the Master, prepared for every good work'.

Holy Spirit is all-knowing, and He will also show you the potential pitfalls in your life, the unique weaknesses in your life, and the specific changes that you need to make in your life (or lifestyle). Let Him begin to teach you and prompt you this day. Different people are different. So, let's not compare with one another. What it takes is your yieldedness to the Holy Spirit and His work in your life.

Take youthful lusts as an example. This has been one of the main 'killers' of ministry through the centuries. So, how do you deal with it? The apostle Paul did write about it to tackle this issue. In fact, he taught his spiritual son Timothy to never have confidence in his own flesh, and the way to fight youthful lusts is to flee! (i.e. to run away from it, or to avoid it at all costs). In other words, you trust the Holy Spirit, but never your own flesh! In 2 Timothy 2:22, the apostle Paul wrote, 'Flee also youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart'. Notice this verse comes right after 2 Timothy 2:20-21 that I mentioned above, and was written in the context of being 'a vessel of honor, sanctified and useful for the Master, prepared for every good work'!

This message of holiness may not be the most popular topic to write, but it's necessary and important if you want to see radical breakthroughs in your life! (just as in Joshua's time) Why? Because sin hurts! Because sin destroys! (not just your life, but your loved ones will suffer too!) Because sin blocks God's blessings from free-flowing in you and through you!

Therefore, people of God, let the fire of the Holy Spirit fall upon you and cleanse you this day! The Holy Spirit is the HOLY Spirit! Receive this impartation of the fire of God's holiness in your life right now! Not by might, nor by power (of men), but by the Spirit of the Lord! And you too will begin to 'cross over' into a new realm of breakthrough and victory in life! In Jesus' name. Amen!

"My Church is to be full of My Spirit!"

I woke up the other day hearing these words from the Lord:
"My Church is to be full of My Spirit!"

Then, I heard further:
"My Church is to be full of My Spirit! Tell My people My Church cannot be crippled, and My Church cannot be weakened! Learn from the mistakes of Samson!"

Why Samson? And what does Samson have to do with the Church?
Here's a little background on Samson. Judges 13:1-5 says, 'Again the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the Lord, and the Lord delivered them into the hand of the Philistines for forty years. Now there was a certain man from Zorah, of the family of the Danites, whose name was Manoah; and his wife was barren and had no children. And the Angel of the Lord appeared to the woman and said to her, "Indeed now, you are barren and have borne no children, but you shall conceive and bear a son. Now therefore, please be careful not to drink wine or similar drink, and not to eat anything unclean. For behold, you shall conceive and bear a son. And no razor shall come upon his head, for the child shall be a Nazirite to God from the womb; and he shall begin to deliver Israel out of the hand of the Philistines."'

The name 'Samson' is 'Shimshown' in Hebrew, literally meaning 'sunlight', from the word 'shemesh' which means 'sun, light (or ray) of the sun', and the word 'Nazirite' is 'Naziyr' in Hebrew, meaning 'consecrated, set apart', from the word 'nazar', which means 'to separate (from impurities)'.

And here's the prophetic meaning of 'Samson' and 'Nazirite' relating to the Church in this end-time: 'Samson' and 'Nazirite' speak of 'the Church today', called as 'the light to the world' (Matthew 5:14-16), and 'consecrated, set apart' from the ways of this world! (1 Peter 2:9-10)

The Church (i.e. the people of God) doing great exploits!
Regarding the Church, Jesus says, "And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock (i.e. the confession and revelation of who Jesus is), I will build My Church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven." (Matthew 16:18-19)

Now, you can see the similarities with Samson, who moved with great power and strength of the Lord, and did great exploits for the Lord as well. Judges 14:6 says, 'And the Spirit of the Lord came mightily upon him, and he tore the lion apart as one would have torn apart a young goat...', and Judges 15:14-15 says, 'Then the Spirit of the Lord came mightily upon him; and the ropes that were on his arms became like flax that is burned with fire, and his bonds broke loose from his hands. He found a fresh jawbone of a donkey, reached out his hand and took it, and killed a thousand men with it'.
Note: Of course in the New Covenant today, we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, powers, the rulers of darkness of this age, and the spiritual hosts of wickedness (Ephesians 6:12).

See the words 'the Spirit of the Lord came mightily upon him' here? Similarly, the Church in the New Covenant have also been endued with the power from on high to do great exploits for the Lord! Acts 1:8 says, 'But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth'.

Learning from the mistakes of Samson
Judges 16:1 says, 'Now Samson went to Gaza and saw a harlot there, and went in to her'.
Judges 16:4-5 says, 'Afterward it happened that he loved a woman in the Valley of Sorek, whose name was Delilah. And the lords of the Philistines came up to her and said to her, "Entice him, and find out where his great strength lies, and by what means we may overpower him, that we may bind him to afflict him; and every one of us will give you eleven hundred pieces of silver."'
Judges 16:16-17 says, 'And it came to pass, when she (Delilah) pestered him daily with her words and pressed him, so that his soul was drained (distressed, vexed) to death, that he told her all his heart, and said to her, "No razor has ever come upon my head, for I have been a Nazirite to God from my mother's womb. If I am shaven, then my strength will leave me, and I shall become weak, and be like any other man."'
And Judges 16:19 says, 'Then she (Delilah) lulled him to sleep on her knees, and called for a man and had him shave off the seven locks of his head. Then she began to torment him, and his strength left him'.

In Bible-study, we can learn both from the victories and mistakes of those who have gone before us. Here are the lessons that the Church in the end time should learn from, so that we will not be crippled and weakened like Samson:
1. The importance of walking in the holiness of the Lord (see 1 Corinthians 6:15-20)
2. Never give in to the pestering or pressures of the people (or things) of this world!

What do the seven locks represent?
Have you ever wondered why there were seven locks on Samson's head? I mean, why not a pony tail, two locks, three locks, six locks, or nine locks? Why seven locks? There is no insignificant details in the Bible. Before I answer this question, let's read Numbers 6:5, 'All the days of the vow of a Nazirite's separation, no razor shall come upon his head... Then he shall let the locks of the hair of his head grow'.

The Old Testament is the 'shadow', and the New Testament is the 'substance'. Let Scripture interpret Scripture now. Revelation 4:5 says, 'And from the throne (of God) proceeded lightnings, thunderings, and voices. Seven lamps of fire were burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God'.

These 'seven locks' are therefore 'symbolic' and a 'picture' of the 'seven Spirits (or seven fold Spirits) of the Lord' mentioned in Revelation 4:5!

In other words, if these 'seven' are being 'cut away' from the Body of Christ (i.e. the Church), the Church is crippled and weakened, just as happened to Samson!

What are these 'seven Spirits'?
Let Scripture interpret Scripture again. These seven Spirits can be found in Isaiah 11:1-2 that spoke about Jesus Himself, 'There shall come forth a Rod from the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots. The Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon Him, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord'.

By the way, 'seven' is the number in Hebrew for 'perfection, purification, consecration, and sovereignty (i.e. supreme power)', and it is also the number for 'the Holy Spirit'.

Seven aspects of the One Spirit (according to Isaiah 11:2):
1. The Spirit of the Lord (YHWH, Self-Existent, Eternal)
2. The Spirit of wisdom ('chokmah' = wisdom)
3. The Spirit of understanding ('biynah' = discerning)
4. The Spirit of counsel ('etsah' = advice, purpose)
5. The Spirit of might ('gibbor' = power, strength)
6. The Spirit of knowledge ('dahath' = knowledge)
7. The Spirit of the fear of the Lord ('yirah' = reverence)

People of God, receive all these in your life and in your church today! And that explains why the Lord has spoken so vividly the other day: "My Church is to be full of My Spirit!" Let it be so! Amen!

'Forgetting those things which are behind' - A call to walk in the holiness of God

Philippians 3:13-14 (NKJV): Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

The word 'apprehended' here is 'katalambano' in Greek, which means 'to get hold of, to attain, to comprehend, to understand why'. Here, the apostle Paul wrote that there may be things we cannot understand why (or why certain things happened in our past), but one thing we can do now is 'forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead'. 

I released these words to the congregation last Sunday:

"Look not to the past, or how things used to be done or have been done in your past! In this changing of season, I will teach you a new way, and I will show you how. Look to Me! This is also a time to let go of your Sodom and Gomorrah, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead!"

The word ‘Sodom’ in Hebrew means 'to scorch, to burn (like volcanic activities)', which speaks of 'the sins that burn you', whereas the word ‘Gomorrah’ in Hebrew means 'a ruined heap', from the word ‘aw-mar’, i.e. 'to heap up (ruins), to pile up (misery), to keep on chastising oneself'. 

As you can see from the definition of the words 'Sodom' and 'Gomorrah' above, the context of our Bible-study today is not so much about 'leaving a place, a city, or a country', but instead 'leaving your sins. ruins, or misery behind'! 

In cross-reference, Hebrews 12:1-2 says, 'Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight (burden), and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has (now) sat down at the right hand of the throne of God'. 

Indeed, let go of your 'Sodom' and 'Gomorrah', and look to the beauty and holiness of Jesus instead! Just as 'you are what you eat', it is also true that 'you become what you behold'. Therefore, as you keep looking to Jesus (and His Word), that's when you can be changed (transformed and renewed) to be more and more like Him! In other words, the more you look at the beauty and holiness of Jesus, the more beautiful and holy your life will be! 

2 Corinthians 3:18 says, 'But we all, with unveiled face (i.e. putting away our facade, putting away our masks), beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord'. 

Let's go all the way back to the book of Genesis now, where the words 'Sodom' and 'Gomorrah' were first mentioned. Genesis 19:15-17 says, 'When the morning dawned, the angels urged Lot to hurry, saying, "Arise, take your wife and your two daughters who are here, lest you be consumed in the punishment of the city." And while he lingered, the men took hold of his hand, his wife’s hand, and the hands of his two daughters, the Lord being merciful to him, and they brought him out and set him outside the city (of Sodom). So it came to pass, when they had brought them outside, that he said, "Escape for your life! Do not look behind you nor stay anywhere in the plain. Escape to the mountains, lest you be destroyed."'

By the way, the name 'Lot' in Hebrew simply means 'covering'. This speaks of 'the Lord's mercy and covering over you in spite of your weaknesses as a human'. 

Notice these statements:

'Do not look behind you nor stay anywhere in the plain'.

The word 'plain' here is 'kikkar' in Hebrew, which means 'a circle'. 

This speaks of 'going round and round in the circle of sins'.

'Escape to the mountains, lest you be destroyed'.

The word 'mountains' here is 'harar' in Hebrew, which means 'exaltation'. 

This speaks of 'the Lord God who is highly exalted above all else'.

People of God, will you respond to His call to run away from the 'plain', and run to the 'mountains' today? The apostle Paul wrote, 'Flee youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart' (2 Timothy 2:22).

Well, it pays to live a life of holiness (i.e. to walk in the holiness of God), because everything becomes so much clearer in your life, and you will also be able to make clearer decisions in life. As a matter of fact, a person who is bound in a circle of sin, bondage, or addiction cannot make clear decisions in life!

The apostle Paul also wrote, 'If indeed you have heard Him and have been taught by Him, as the truth is in Jesus, that you put off concerning your former conduct, the old man, which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness' (Ephesians 4:21-24).

Genesis 19:24-26 then says, 'Then the Lord rained brimstone and fire on Sodom and Gomorrah (speaks of 'the judgement on sins'), from the Lord out of the heavens. So He overthrew those cities, all the plain, all the inhabitants of the cities, and what grew on the ground. But his (Lot's) wife looked back behind him, and she became a pillar of salt'.

Notice here the 'fire of judgement' fell on 'Sodom' and 'Gomorrah' (i.e. your 'sins', your 'ruined heap'), not you (who are His sons and daughters). Today, let this same 'fire' burn away the 'sins' that have been ensnaring (besetting) you, and the 'misery' that have been heaping up against you!

And of course, never look back!

Lot's wife looked back, and she became a pillar of salt! Why 'pillar of salt'? The answer can be found from the word ‘salt’ in Hebrew itself, which is 'melach', meaning 'something easily dissolved, like powder'. This is the nature of salt. Once you add water, it’s gone! You see it no more! True enough, Lot’s wife also ‘melach’, so much so the Bible never even bothered to mention her name, but calls her "Lot's wife", even though she actually has a name! That’s what happens when a person keeps lingering in the past and dwelling in the past (i.e. holding on to those 'sins' and 'ruined heaps' of the past), instead of looking forward to what God has in the present or future!

Therefore, people of God, never look back! And never allow the devil or anyone to bring you back to those past (or the ruined past) of yours! Instead, as the apostle Paul put it aptly, 'I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus' (Philippians 3:14). Behold, He makes all things new (Revelation 21:5) even for your life! 

May the light of God enlighten your eyes of understanding, that you may know what is the hope of His calling, and what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in your life, His saints, who are the redeemed of the Lord (Ephesians 1:17-18). In Jesus' name. Amen.