Words from the Lord: "See your future with a new lens!"

During a time of prayer, I saw a vision of the Lord's hand taking away His people's old lens and giving them a new lens. That's when I heard the Lord saying, "My people are going to see their lives and their future with this new lens." 

I also heard the Lord saying to His people:

"You are entering a new season of new perspectives, new vision, and new strength. This is a time of rejoicing and fresh new hope. My presence brings joy and fresh new hope. See Me taking away all your sorrows and tears of the yesteryears. See Me taking away all those troubles and pains of the yesteryears. Begin to see Me in a new light. Begin to see Me with this new lens. This lens that I'm giving to you will cause you to see that 'all the lines have fallen to you in pleasant places', and that I've given you a good inheritance, going forward." 

This brings us to Psalm 16:6-8 (NKJV) that says, 'The lines have fallen to me in pleasant places; Yes, I have a good inheritance. I bless the Lord who has given me counsel... I have set the Lord always before me; Because He is at my right hand I shall not be moved.' 

In Psalm 16:9-11 (NKJV), David wrote, 'Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoices... You will show me the path of life; In your presence is fullness of joy; At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.' Notice the word 'therefore' here.

What does 'the lines have fallen to me in pleasant places' mean? 

This refers to 'using the measuring lines or ropes those days to divide the land among the tribes (in the Promised Land)'. This represents God giving and assigning each person a specific portion and inheritance. Here, God says that He has the pleasure of choosing a good and favorable place (or situation) for you, and that you have a good inheritance! 

Today, the Lord is saying the same to you that 'the lines have fallen to you in pleasant places'! He has chosen a good and favorable place (or situation) for you, and He has given you a good inheritance!

Another Psalm of David. Psalm 28:6-7 (NKJV) says, 'Blessed be the Lord, because He has heard the voice of my supplications! The Lord is my strength and my shield; My heart trusted in Him and I am helped; Therefore my heart greatly rejoices, and with my song I will praise Him.' Notice the word 'therefore' again.

So, why rejoice and be glad in the Lord? Because the Lord has given you a good inheritance! Because the Lord has promised to surround you and help you! Because the Lord has promised nothing can hurt you or shake you! Because the Lord has shown you the path of life and hope! Because the Lord has given you new perspective, vision, and strength! 

You see, you have so many reasons to rejoice and be glad! In fact, there are many more reasons! 

Whatever your past may be, or whatever your background may be, choose to see God in a new light and with this new lens! In fact, see your future with this new lens! I declare things are going to be so much better for you, going forward. Amen! 

Prayer:

"O Lord God, we thank You for Your words today. We thank You because 'the lines have fallen to us in pleasant places' and we have a good inheritance from You. We thank You for surrounding us with Your presence, Your protection, and Your help. We thank You for showing us the path of life and hope. We thank You for leading and guiding us every step of the way. We thank You for Your good counsel and plans for us. Your plans for us are always good. There are so many reasons to give You thanks and to rejoice for what You've spoken and done for us. We declare aloud that You are altogether good, and You are our Mighty God, and there is no other. In Jesus' name. Amen!"

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Keys to living a happy and radiant life everyday

The Lord is saying to you today: 

"There's a fresh release of My power to destroy and break every yoke of sorrow right now. Receive the joy that comes from Me. Sorrow is being destroyed. Joy is taking over. For I am giving you a new lease of life. I am turning a brand new chapter in your life." 

The Lord says further: 

"As you receive this power to break free and walk in the new freedom that I've given you, do not look back. Let go of those past. Let go of those regrets. Let go of those disappointments. Let go of those bitterness. Let them all go. And look to Me. For I have new things that you have not known yet, as you look ahead of you." 

Psalm 30:11 (NLT) says, 'You have turned my mourning into joyful dancing. You have taken away my clothes of mourning and clothed me with joy.' 

You may have gone through a time of mourning or sorrow (whatever it is, and different people may be in different situation), or you may have been trapped in your past, but God has a good news for you today. The power of sorrow is being broken! Declare that you are now set free! 

You can receive the joy of the Lord right now. The joy of knowing the Lord is greater than all your sorrows on earth. The joy of knowing the Lord is here to restore and heal you. The joy of knowing there is new hope and purpose ahead of you. Amen! 

Nehemiah 8:10 (NKJV) says, 'Do not sorrow, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.' 

When you have the joy of the Lord in your life, you will have the strength to look ahead and to carry on in your life. You will have a new vigor. You will look forward to what's ahead of you!

Nehemiah wasn't just giving the people a mere suggestion. He didn't mean to say, "Hey, it's up to you whether you choose to stay in your sorrow, or you choose to receive the joy from the Lord." Instead, it was actually a command from the Lord. You see, God places great importance to your joy. He wants you to keep your joy, stay in your joy, and not lose your joy. 

If you look at the fruit of the Spirit in Galatians 5:22-23 that says, 'But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control', you will see how important joy is. It comes second only after God's love that never fails. 

The word 'joy' here is 'chara' in Greek. It can mean 'great delight'. In the context here, it means 'delighting greatly in the Lord'. Another meaning of 'chara' is 'exceeding joy and gladness'. In other words, you have the exceeding joy and gladness inside of you. It is genuine. It is not a facade. It is not fake. And this exceeding joy and gladness inside of you is reflected in the cheerfulness outside of you, i.e. your countenance. 

That's why Philippians 4:4 says, 'Rejoice in the Lord always. Again, I will say rejoice.' Notice the word 'rejoice' here is mentioned not just once, but twice. It shows the emphasis. 

The word 'rejoice' here is 'chairo' in Greek, from the same word 'chara' that you saw just now. 

What's the difference between 'chairo' and 'chara'? 'Chairo' is the verb, while 'chara' is the noun. It means 'to rejoice' is the verb, and 'joy' is the noun. Both these words 'chara' and 'chairo' come from the same ancient Greek root word 'char'. Interestingly, this word 'char' is also the root for the word 'charis' meaning 'grace' and 'favor'. 

As you can see here, all these words are inter-connected. In the context of what God is saying to you today, to rejoice is the result of having the joy of the Lord inside of you, knowing that God's face is shining upon you, and you are now living in the richness of God's grace and favor. It's from the inside-out. 

In short, when you know that God's grace and favor is with you, that He is for you and not against you, that His love for you never fails, joy begins to arise inside of you. And it shall be reflected outside of you!

You may ask, "So how do I keep this joy?" 

Let's go back to Philippians 4:4. It says, 'Rejoice in the Lord always. Again, I will say rejoice.' 

This word 'always' is so important in Philippians 4:4. What's the meaning of this word 'always'? It is 'aei' in Greek. It means 'always', of course. It also means 'a continued duration' or 'a regular practice'. Let's focus on the third meaning here. What is 'a regular practice'? There's an adage that says "practice makes perfect". There's a truth in it. It means the more you practice on something, the more you'll be good at it. In the context here, the more you practice joy, the more you'll be good at it! 

You may ask, "But how do I practice joy?" 

The answer lies in the word 'practice' itself. What is 'to practice'? 'To practice' simply means 'to do something again and again'. And that's exactly what apostle Paul meant when he wrote Philippians 4:4. To do something again and again! Rejoice in the Lord as your regular practice! Rejoice in the Lord again and again! 

Beloved of God, you can change your life today. Take joy in knowing who you are in Christ. Take joy in knowing that God has loved you with an everlasting love. Take joy in knowing that God's grace and favor is super abundant in your life. Take joy in knowing that God has not forgotten you, and has good thoughts and plans for you, no matter what you've gone through in your past. Amen! 

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Be renewed and refreshed, and receive the fullness of His joy!

The Lord says for this time: 

"Rejoice and be glad, for I am your God and I have loved you with an everlasting love! This is your time to receive the joy that comes from Me! Be set free from all your griefs and sorrows, and look to Me! I am now breaking every yoke and burden in your life! I am now destroying every curse and unwholesome word that has been spoken against you! I am setting you free right now! I am renewing and refreshing you, as you return to Me and receive from Me!" 

The Israelites are observing Feast of Tabernacles (or Sukkot) at this time of my writing. 

What is 'Sukkot'? What is the significance to the believers of Christ under the New Covenant? 

Before that, let's look at the word 'Sukkot'. The Hebrew word 'sukkot' is the plural of 'sukkah', which means 'booth' or 'tabernacle'. That's why this festival is also called 'Feast of Booths'. 

What does this Feast commemorate? It commemorates the forty years the Israelites wandered in the desert after escaping slavery in Egypt. They were living in temporary shelters, i.e. 'sukkot'. It also commemorates God's miraculous provision for them all those years. 

The word 'sukkah' in turn is derived from the word 'sakak' in Hebrew. This speaks of 'to be covered (by the Lord)' or 'to join together (with the Lord)', as the Israelites dwell in booths or 'sukkot'. 

Deuteronomy 16:15 (NKJV) says, 'Seven days you shall keep a sacred feast to the Lord your God in the place which the Lord chooses, because the Lord your God will bless you in all your produce and in all the work of your hands, so that you surely rejoice.' 

See the words 'you surely rejoice' here? Surely rejoice! In New International Version (NIV), this is translated as 'your joy will be complete'. 

Flowing with this season of the Lord, as believers under the New Covenant, this is also a time for you to rejoice and receive the fullness of joy that comes from the Lord, and your joy shall be made complete! 

This is also a time of renewing your fellowship with the Lord, and coming and returning into His presence. Maybe earthly things have made you dry. Maybe many matters of this world have encumbered and burdened you, and you need a renewal and refreshing in your spirit and your soul. This is your time to receive such renewal and refreshing from the Lord!

In fact, this is also a time for you to give thanks to the Lord, and celebrate His goodness, His provision, and His blessing in your life. Yes, even in advance, for what is ahead of you! 

You see, where His presence is, there's fullness of joy! The joy that money cannot buy, and that the world cannot give. Because this joy comes directly from the Lord! Now, as a believer under the New Covenant, you can look to Jesus who is the Source of joy! 

Jesus is in the Old Testament concealed, and in the New Testament revealed. It means the Jesus whom you know in the New Testament was present all throughout the Old Testament through prophecies, typology, and as a foreshadow of what is to come in the New Testament time that we are living in today. 

Isaiah 53:4 (NKJV) says, 'Surely He (Jesus) has borne your griefs and carried your sorrows...' So that you can have His joy! This happened when He died for you on the cross some 2,000 years ago. 

Beloved of God, whatever grief or sorrow, bitterness or pain, hurt or brokenness that you may have suffered recently, let go all these to the Lord. In exchange, open your heart to the Lord again, and receive the outpouring of His joy from heaven into your life! Yes, let it flow right now! Heaven is open right now. Let the joy of the Lord flow unto you. Yes, you! 

God's Spirit is also the Spirit of joy! And when His joy comes, sorrow has to flee! 

Maybe recently you have suffered a loss. Maybe a loss of a loved one. Maybe you have suffered a certain heartbreak or betrayal. Maybe a loss of certain opportunity or job. Or maybe some people have said something about your life that has greatly disturbed you or affected you. 

Whatever it is that had happened, the Lord understands your situation. The Lord understands all those griefs and sorrows of yours. Today, the Lord says to look to Him and look ahead of you. The Lord wants to refresh you today with the refreshing that comes from Him, like a waterfall! The Lord wants to set you free from your griefs and sorrows, and release the joy that comes directly from Him. Receive all this by faith! 

Isaiah 61:3 (NKJV) says, 'To console those who mourn in Zion, to give them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness...' 

Receive this oil of joy! This oil of joy destroys every grief, sorrow, yoke, burden, or bondage in your life! Be set free from your heaviness and captivity, and receive the fullness of His joy! And this joy of the Lord shall be your strength to carry on and look ahead in your life. Amen! 

Prayer: 

"O Lord God, we thank You for Your presence and for Your covering over our lives. We surrender to You all our griefs, sorrows, burdens, and heaviness, and in exchange, we receive Your oil of joy. Let Your Spirit of joy overflow in our lives right now. Let Your refreshing fall upon us like the waterfall, renewing and reviving us right now. We acknowledge there have been times the earthly things and earthly matters have made us dry, and even diverted us from You. But we now return to You and receive from You. We return to our first love that is You. We return to our fellowship with You. And let our spirit be filled with the fullness of Your joy right now. Right here! Today! In Jesus' name. Amen!" 

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The reward of practicing joy!

The Lord says: 

"For many of My people, I am releasing My Spirit and My power for you to break free from the spirit of depression! Let the 'dark clouds' in your life be blown away by My Spirit and My power! I am releasing also the supernatural joy that comes from Me! Receive the fullness of My joy, and rejoice!" 

Yes, now is the time to not just rejoice, but to receive the joy that comes from the Lord! 

Psalm 16:10-11 (NKJV) says, 'For You will not leave my soul in Sheol, nor will You allow Your Holy One to see corruption. You will show me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy. At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.' 

'Sheol' here can speak of 'deadness, lifelessness, torment, depression'. But what is the antidote against any 'Sheol' while you are on earth? The answer is to come into the presence of the Lord. Why? Because in His presence is fullness of joy. That's what the Scripture says here. Full of joy. Not a little joy here and there. But full of joy. 

The word 'joy' in Greek is 'chara'. It comes from the word 'chairo'. In the context of your relationship with the Lord, it can mean 'having a deep assurance inside you that the Lord delights in you, and the Lord is taking care of you and providing you well.' In other words, it is an assurance inside of you that the Lord loves you and the Lord delights in you, and that He is with you and He is for you. You see, if the Lord is for you, who (or what) can be against you? (Romans 8:31) Now, that is reason enough for you to choose to rejoice. Not just in this season of celebration, but also in every season of your life!

In Philippians 4:4, the apostle Paul wrote: 'Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!' 

The word 'rejoice' here is the same word 'chairo' in Greek that we've read just now. In this verse, it can mean 'be joyful, be glad, be happy'. Notice this word 'rejoice' is mentioned not just once, but twice. It shows an emphasis here. The apostle Paul who wrote this verse certainly knows the power of rejoicing in the Lord. Yes, rejoicing in the Lord in all circumstances! 

Beloved, as you keep receiving the joy from heaven and keep rejoicing in your life, choosing to rejoice, great things are going to happen in your life! 

Do you notice the word 'always' in Philippians 4:4? It is 'aei' in Greek. It can mean 'always, a continued duration, a regular practice'. In other words, rejoicing in the Lord should be a regular practice in our lives!

As believers of the Lord Jesus Christ, and because you have hope when you have Him, and you know that He has carried away all your sins, curse, shame, infirmities, diseases, and every form of grief and sorrow, you should be the happiest and shiniest of all people on earth! Yes, happy shiny people!  

By the way, 'to practice' means 'to do something again and again'. As simple as that. Now, that's exactly what apostle Paul meant when he wrote Philippians 4:4. 

Let's look at Philippians 4:4 again. 'Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!' You can therefore read it as: 'Be joyful, be glad, be happy in the Lord always (as a regular practice). Again I will say, rejoice! (be joyful, be glad, be happy!)' 

So, what do you practice every day?

If you practice joy, you'll surely reap the reward of joy! That's how it works. We reap what we sow. On the other hand, if you practice sorrow, you'll reap even more sorrow! If you practice worry, everything in life will worry you! Because we reap what we sow. If you practice anxiety, everything you do will be filled with anxiety! If you practice anger, everything you see in life will anger you! Because we reap what we sow. 

As you receive the joy of the Lord, sow joy. Be a gift to the people around you. It isn't just about you giving gifts to people around you. But you being a gift to them, especially your family and loved ones!

As a matter of fact, whatever we practice (i.e. whatever we do over and over again), we'll be 'good' at it! It's just like if you keep practicing your tennis strokes, you'll be good in your tennis strokes! So today, begin to choose to rejoice as your regular practice. It is a decision that only you can make. 

Today, the Lord has spoken that He is releasing His supernatural joy upon you. Yes, inside of you. Your part is to let your heart be open. And as you keep receiving this joy from heaven, you are also releasing joy. Yes, releasing joy to others around you. That's how you can change the 'atmosphere' around you. 

Today, the Lord has also shown you that no matter what you have been going through, you can still choose to rejoice. Remember, Nehemiah 8:10 says, 'The joy of the Lord is your strength'. It means when you have the joy of the Lord inside of you, you'll also have the strength to carry on and to look forward to many more good things in your life! 

So, let this joy of the Lord fill your heart right now. Let this joy of the Lord overflow even into your mind and your emotions right now. This is your time to receive. And yes, this is also the time for you to give and to release the joy of the Lord to the people around you! 

What is the reward of practicing joy in your life?  

1. You'll have a cheerful countenance! 

People are generally drawn to you like a magnet when you are happy and shiny. So, be that happy, shiny people, beloved! Where is the proof? Proverbs 15:13 says, 'A merry (joyful, glad, happy) heart makes a cheerful countenance...' 

2. You'll have good health! 

What's in the inside of you will affect what's in your physical body. If you are full of joy inside, if you are happy inside, if you are contented inside, your physical body will respond accordingly. Happy people are healthy people! Where is the proof? Proverbs 17:22 says, 'A merry (joyful, glad, happy) heart does good like medicine...' 

3. You'll have the goodness of God surrounding you! 

Wherever you are, the goodness of God seems to follow you. Where is the proof? Proverbs 15:15 says, 'All the days of the afflicted (depressed, disputing people) are evil, but he who is of a merry (joyful, glad, happy) heart has a continual feast.' This speaks of celebration. This speaks of the goodness of God. This speaks of enjoying the goodness of God. 

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5 keys to a happier you!

The Lord says:

"There's a release! There's a release from your past, whatever your past may be! Released from your past bondage! Released from your past hurts! Released from your past bitterness! Released from your past curse! Released from your past cycle! Released from your past trauma! My anointing has been released to you to set you free! Walk in this new cycle! Walk in this new season! This is the time to walk in the new freedom that I've given you!" 

What is the definition of this word 'release'? It can mean 'allow (or enable) to escape from bondage, allow (or enable) to be set free, allow (or enable) someone to move and flow freely'.

Isaiah 61:1-2a (NKJV) says, "The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me, because the Lord has anointed Me to preach good tidings to the poor; He has sent me to heal the brokenhearted; to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound, to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord." 

In cross-reference, Jesus quoted this in Luke 4:18-19, "The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He has anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed; to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord."

This word 'anoint' here is 'maschiah' in Hebrew. Literally, this word 'maschiah' can mean 'to rub oil on'. As the oil is being rubbed on you, you are being empowered and enabled. So, 'to anoint' is 'to empower', and 'to anoint' is 'to enable'. Not just that. 'To anoint' is 'to consecrate, to set apart, to make holy'. 

2 Corinthians 3:17 (The Expanded Bible) says, 'The Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.' That is to say, 'where the Spirit of the the Lord is, there is this anointing, there is this power of God that sets you free from your bondage'. Therefore, right now, there's freedom for you! You can now walk in this freedom! 

Beloved of God, let this anointing be released upon you right now! This anointing destroys every yoke and bondage in your life. This anointing destroys all those past in your life, so you can now walk in a new phase, a new season, and a new cycle in your life!

John 8:36 (The Expanded Bible) says, 'So if the Son (Jesus) makes you free, you will be truly free [free indeed].' Free to be what? Free to be who God wants you to be, and free to do what God wants you to do in this new time and season!

Galatians 5:1 (The Expanded Bible) says, 'Christ set us free so that we could live in freedom [to a place of freedom, or by means of freedom].' Indeed, it's for this freedom that Christ has set you free! Free to walk in God's destiny for your life! Free to walk in God's plans and purposes for your life! Free to walk in God's perfect will for your life! 

Psalm 119:45 (The Expanded Bible) says, 'So I will live in freedom [liberty], because I want to follow [seek] your orders [precepts].' If you choose to follow the Holy Spirit, and if you choose to follow the instructions of the Lord for your life every step of the way, you are indeed walking in the freedom and liberty that God has for you! So, we are not talking about anarchy here. But we are talking about freedom in the Holy Spirit. Freedom to walk in the ways of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit will always lead you and guide you. The Holy Spirit will never lead you into trouble. 

So, whatever your situation may be in your past, you are now set free! By faith, receive this anointing and be set free! As you flow with the Holy Spirit, you are walking in God's perfect will for your life. That's how easy it is to live a life that's in communion and in communication with the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit lives in you. And the Holy Spirit will know how to lead you and guide you in the right direction! 

Now, with this freedom that you have, knowing that you have been set free and released for this new season ahead of you, here are the five keys to walk in a happier you, and to enjoy your new season to the fullest! 

Number One: Live in the present moment

Take one day at a time. You can plan ahead. You can plan for your future. But never forget to live in the present moment. Never forget to live in the now. Live today. You can't control your past and your future. But you can make full use of your present moment. So, live in the now. Enjoy your present moment. Learn to appreciate all the good things and the good people around you at present. 

Number Two: Forgive and let go

Let the past be past. Let the bygone be bygone. You have a fresh new start today. And you have wonderful things ahead of you. So, look forward to it. Just do not hold grudges against anyone, whoever that person may be. It's so refreshing and liberating to live a 'let go' life. So, right now, receive God's unending and unfailing love for you. Let His love fill you. And He will know how to help you let go and forgive. 

Number Three: Be thankful and grateful

Be thankful and grateful for what the Lord has given you. Do not compare with others. Each person's path in life is unique and special. The fact is no one else is like you. You are unique and special in God's eyes. So, thank the Lord because He sees you as His beloved, and you are the apple of His eye. Psalm 17:8 says, 'Keep me as the apple of Your eye; Hide me under the shadow of Your wings.' The Lord wants to keep you as the apple of His eye. In other words, He sees you dear. He sees you precious. He sees you not how the world sees you. He sees you as His beloved. You are the apple of His eye. Today, the Lord wants to assure you that you are indeed the apple of His eye. Learn to live a life of contentment. You become happier if you are living a contented life. So, be thankful and be grateful for all that the Lord has given to you. And yes, be thankful and grateful in advance for all the good that the Lord is going to give to you!

Number Four: Flow with the Holy Spirit

I cannot emphasize enough how important this key is. Flow with the Holy Spirit. Not against the Holy Spirit. Why? Because the Holy Spirit is the Spirit of joy. One of the fruit of the Holy Spirit is joy. Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. You can see that in Galatians 5:22-23. So, receive this joy of the Lord. How? By flowing with the Holy Spirit. Not against the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit's nature is like that of a river. When you flow with the Holy Spirit, like a canoe flows with the river, life becomes easier and life becomes more fruitful. You are flowing with the current of the Holy Spirit. You are not coming against the current of the Holy Spirit. That's the key. Now, when the Holy Spirit gives you peace regarding something or a certain decision you are about to make, you follow the peace. If the Holy Spirit never gives you the peace regarding something, you avoid it. That's how you can walk guided and led by the Holy Spirit. That's how you can avoid certain pitfalls and traps in life. 

Number Five: Start each day with the right focus

What do you think of the first thing you wake up in the morning? If you have the right focus as you wake up in the morning, you already have a head start. Start the day right, and many things will be right. Start the day with your personal time of praise and worship, reading and receiving the Word of God, and praying in the spirit. As you pray in the spirit, the Holy Spirit may even give you ideas and revelations on what to do and how to go about each and every new day. So, the first thing you do when you wake up is remember God and think about Him. Start by focusing on Him. Don't pick up the phone to check news or social media yet. But start with God. Start with personal time of praise and worship. Sing a song from your heart to the Lord. Sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, making melodies in your heart. Sing to the Lord, exalt Him, worship Him, and bless His holy name. Read and receive the Word of God. Eat of His fresh daily bread, the Word of God. Pray in the spirit. Let the Holy Spirit fill you all in all. Let the Holy Spirit fill you with joy. Let the Holy Spirit fill you with love and peace. And that's how you start each day with the right focus. You will surely see the difference! 

Let us pray:

"O Lord God, we thank You that You have released us from our past. We thank You for setting us free from our past bondage, past hurts, past bitterness, past curse, and even past cycle. Right now, we receive Your fresh anointing that sets us free. We begin to walk in this new cycle. We begin to walk in this new season. We begin to walk in this new freedom that You have given us. We can now look forward to many more great and wonderful things ahead of us. In Jesus' name. Amen."

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How to break the yoke of sorrow and receive joy?

During a prayer meeting the other day, the Lord showed me a vision. In the vision, I saw the power of darkness putting some kind of blanket over certain people and homes, even certain cities, towns, and countries. This power of darkness caused the sunlight to be hindered, and as a consequence, the spiritual atmosphere over that place or that home became stale, dull, and damp. Then, I saw joy, the joy of the Lord, being squeezed out from that place. I saw that blanket sent by the forces of darkness covered the people with sorrow. There's like a yoke and heavy burden of sorrows being wrapped over that place, or that family, or that person. 

The Lord then spoke to me to take authority and bind those yoke of sorrow. 

He spoke further: 

"There's a fresh release of My anointing to break and destroy every yoke of sorrow right now. Sorrow is being dissipated and dispersed. When the sorrow is gone, the joy that comes from Me, that comes from heaven, is going to take over. Receive this joy from heaven! Receive a fresh new lease of life from heaven!" 

Beloved of God, if you have been going through a situation when suddenly you are overwhelmed with sorrow for no reason, or suddenly you are overwhelmed with hopelessness and purposelessness in your life, this message is for you. 

Yes, right now, receive this anointing to break and destroy every sorrow in your life, and receive the joy of the Lord which is your strength!

Maybe recently some of you have heard of certain news that caused your heart to feel like your heart is dropping, or your heart feels like being crushed. Or you may have heard of something from someone or received news from someone that breaks your heart. Or maybe someone has told you certain matters that caused your heart to be sad. It may be a hurtful news. It may be a hurtful thing said and done by someone whom you care for, or whom you love, or someone who matters to you. Whatever it may be, whatever that causes you to be sorrowful, the Lord has a good news for you today. The Lord knows it, and the Lord knows how to put a stop to those sorrows in your life. 

Let's go to the Scripture now. 

Psalm 30:11-12 (NLT) says, 'You have turned my mourning into joyful dancing. You have taken away my clothes of mourning and clothed me with joy, that I might sing praises to you and not be silent. O Lord my God, I will give you thanks forever!' 

The word 'joy' here is 'simkhaw' in Hebrew, which can mean 'gladness, rejoicing, celebration'. Yes beloved, always find reasons to celebrate in your life, no matter how small the reason may be. The Lord wants you to celebrate all of His goodness in your life. And of course, the Lord wants you to live a life of thanksgiving and gratefulness. Give thanks to Him in everything, yes, even in advance for the good things that are to come in your life! 

Jeremiah 31:13 (NLT) says, 'The young women will dance for joy - and the men old and young - will join in the celebration. I will turn their mourning into joy. I will comfort them and exchange their sorrow for rejoicing.' 

Even though this verse is specifically for the people of Israel and the Lord's promise of restoration for Israel, but this can apply to you (God's beloved) too. The Lord is telling you there's hope for restoration in your life as well! 

This word 'joy' here is 'sawsone' in Hebrew, which can mean 'cheerful, welcoming, rejoicing'. Let me explain. Why the word 'welcoming' here? The joy of knowing you are always welcome into God's presence as you draw near to Him in worship, and the joy of knowing you are always welcome to partake in all the goodness that the Lord wants you to have and experience! Now, knowing this, your sorrow will be lifted away, and joy comes in your life! You see, weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning!

You may have gone through a time of mourning and sorrow, or you are under certain bondage of sorrow, but the good news for you today is God has promised to turn all this into joy! The joy of knowing you are loved with an everlasting love of the Lord. The joy of knowing that God is here to restore you and repair you. The joy of knowing that there is hope and purpose in your life, no matter what had happened in your past. The joy of knowing that the Lord your God is greater than any form of sorrow that is being sent against you. Amen! That's what Jeremiah 31:13 mean here!

You see, you are living in the spiritual realm, the heavenly realm, even though you are on earth. Now, in the heavenly realm, there's no sorrow. In His presence is fullness of joy. So, walk in this presence. Walk in this heavenly realm. Walk in this joy of the Lord. Amen! 

Isaiah 61:1-3 (NLT) says, 'The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is upon me, for the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to comfort the brokenhearted and to proclaim that captives will be released and prisoners will be freed. He has sent me to tell those who mourn that the time of the Lord's favor has come, and with it, the day of God's anger against their enemies. To all who mourn in Israel, he will give a crown of beauty for ashes, a joyous blessing instead of mourning, festive praise instead of despair...' 

You see here? The Lord wants to bless you with this joy, the joy that comes only from Him, the joy that comes from heaven. Not only that! Look here. 'Festive praise instead of despair'. Wow! That's celebration! Festive praise! And not just that! He is also turning your ashes into beauty. Now, what does 'ashes' symbolize here? 'Ashes' speaks of 'hopelessness'. 'Ashes' speaks of 'mourning'. When things turn into ashes, there's no way to restore it again and to make it whole. But that's how the world sees it and how the world thinks. But to God, even ashes can be restored into something beautiful again!

Indeed, this is the time for your vindication. This is the time for a turn around in your life. Yes, this is the time the Lord is turning things around for you! So, rejoice and be glad therefore! Give thanks to Him, for He is good and His mercy endures forever! Hallelujah! 

Isaiah 61:7 (NLT) says, 'Instead of shame and dishonor, you will enjoy a double share of honor. You will possess a double portion of prosperity in your land, and everlasting joy will be yours.' 

Whatever trouble, shame, or dishonor sent by the enemy against you in your life, you are now receiving double share of honor. That's what the Scripture say! And look here. 'Everlasting joy will be yours'. Not a temporary joy that the world gives, but everlasting joy directly from heaven to you! Now, this joy cannot be destroyed by anything or anyone in this world. Because this joy is from God. Amen! 

Let's continue with Nehemiah 8:9-10 (NLT). "Don't mourn or weep on such a day as this! For today is a sacred day before the Lord your God." And Nehemiah continued, "Go and celebrate with a feast of rich foods and sweet drinks, and share gifts of food with people who have nothing prepared. This is a sacred day before our Lord. Don't be dejected and sad, for the joy of the Lord is your strength!" 

You see the words 'the joy of the Lord is your strength' here? It means the joy of the Lord is your strength to carry on and to look forward in life! Without this strength, it is not easy to carry on in life and to look forward. So you see, this joy from the Lord is the key. This joy of the Lord is the key to your strength, and with this strength, you can carry on, and you can move forward in your life. Hallelujah! 

Nehemiah 8:12 (NLT) says, 'So the people went away to eat and drink at a festive meal, to share gifts of food, and to celebrate with great joy because they had heard God's words and understood them.' 

In that context, they were eating rich foods and drinking sweet drinks, literally. But it can also symbolize receiving spiritual food and spiritual drink. The Word of God. The Spirit of God. Word and Spirit. Spirit and Word. So, keep eating the rich from the Lord and drinking the sweet from the Lord! 

Last but not least, to take authority and to bind every stray thought. Now, this is a very important principle to kill off whatever sorrow and to receive joy. Never entertain even for a few seconds those thoughts that are sent by the enemy. Never let those thoughts grow and fester. Don't let what's in your past to linger in your mind. Because if you don't let go of your past, you cannot move ahead. Now, anything that is a joy-killer and joy-stealer, take authority against it! It means whatever that kills or steals your joy, you take authority! No one and nothing in this world can or should be able to take away and rob away God's joy in your life! 

So, take authority and bind all those stray thoughts and negative thoughts! Cast those down! Set your mind free! Receive this anointing from the Lord to set you free! And that's how you are free and you are free indeed! Set free from every bondage of sorrow, and walking in the joy of the Lord. Amen!

Prayer: 

"O Lord God, we receive this joy that comes directly from You. We receive a fresh release of Your anointing that breaks and destroys every yoke of sorrow in our lives right now. Yes, we see all these sorrows dissipated and dispersed. You have turned things around for our lives. You have turned our sorrows into joy, our mourning into dancing. We therefore now take authority and bind every stray thought or negative thought that's been sent by the enemy against us. In You, O Lord, we triumph! In You, O Lord, we receive Your joy which is our strength! In You, O Lord, we see our hope and restoration! In You, O Lord, we have our victory! In Jesus' name. Amen!"

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How to receive and keep the joy of the Lord?

The joy of the Lord is your strength! 

When I say this joy of the Lord, it is the joy that comes directly from heaven. Unspeakable joy! It is not something that humans can conjure up in this world, or no matter how many hours people spend in the entertainment outlets, singing their blues away, and trying to find joy and happiness in this world. No, I'm not teaching you about the worldly way. But I'm teaching you about the joy that comes directly from heaven, that you can receive and walk in it. Hallelujah! 

Nehemiah 8:9-10 (NKJV) says, 'And Nehemiah, who was the governor, Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who taught the people said to all the people, "This day is holy to the Lord your God; Do not mourn nor weep." For all the people wept when they heard the words of the Law. Then he said to them, "Go your way, eat the fat, drink the sweet, and send portions to those for whom nothing is prepared. For this day is holy to our Lord. Do not sorrow, for the joy of the Lord is your strength!"' 

Why is it so important to have this joy of the Lord? Because without this joy of the Lord, one will not have the strength to carry on in life. But when you have this joy of the Lord, you will also have the strength and vigor to carry on in life and to fulfill all that God has purposed for you to be (and to do). And that's what it means by 'the joy of the Lord is your strength'! 

The word 'joy' here is 'khedvaw' in Hebrew. It comes from this word 'khawdaw', meaning 'to rejoice, to make glad, to be glad', and this is interesting, 'to be joined (in this context, to be joined with the Lord)'. 

I don't have to elaborate on the words 'rejoice', 'make glad', or 'be glad'; but I want to pinpoint today on 'be joined with the Lord'. That's 'khawdaw'! When your spirit and soul are joined with the Lord, you will be filled with unspeakable joy. And this joy stays with you and dwells in you.

You see, He is the Lord who is the Source of true joy. You can receive this joy from heaven when you align with Him, when you do what He says, and be who He wants you to be in each time and season of your life. You know what? This joy money cannot buy. And this joy cannot be conjured up by any human being in this world. This joy comes from the Lord. And that's why it's so important for you to be joined with the Lord. Because as I've written just now, without this joy, it's not easy to have the strength to carry on in this life, especially in this world when everything is being shaken and is in turbulence. 

Some people may say they can find joy and happiness the worldly way, in all kinds of places, at the entertainment outlets, trying to make friends, and singing their hearts out all night long. All these will not last. But the Lord is telling you what will last. It's by receiving and enjoining ourselves with Him in our spirit and our soul. It is from the inside out. Not from the outside in. It will then emanate from your spirit and soul, and flow out to others. People around you can sense and feel this joy that you have! 

One way to keep this joy is not always be self-seeking, but to look out for others, and to share good things with others. Not just good food and good things, but how about spiritual food? Yes, that's the Word of God! So, whenever you have the opportunity, be a blessing to others, encourage others, pray for others, minister to others, and share the good news of Jesus Christ to others. Yes, it doesn't have to be done formally. It can be done anytime, anywhere, wherever you are. So, do something to surprise others. Do something to bring joy to others. Those who bring joy to others will themselves receive the joy. So, listen to the Holy Spirit what are the things that you can do, and how to do it? How can you be a blessing to others? How can the river of the Holy Spirit in you flow out through you? You see, there's something wonderful about letting the river of the Holy Spirit flow, not just only in you, but also through you to others.

Back to the book of Nehemiah now. In Nehemiah's time, the people of the Lord were told they should be rejoicing. You can read through the whole book of Nehemiah. They have overcome the opposition, i.e. from Sanballat, Tobiah, etc. They have overcome with the help of the Lord. Therefore, they have every reason to rejoice! So it is the same with you! Because Jesus who is in you is greater than he that is in this world! You have overcome, because Jesus in you have overcome! Therefore you have every reason to rejoice as well! 

Another reason for the people in Nehemiah's time to rejoice was because the Lord has shown to them that He has been with them, He is still with them, and He will still be with them. This assurance that the Lord is with them is one reason for them to rejoice. So it is the same with you! In Christ, you know that the Lord is with you, and the Lord will not leave you nor forsake you. So, even for this one reason, you can rejoice too! 

Beloved of God, you don't have to wait till you are in heaven to have this joy of the Lord. Heaven on earth! His kingdom come, His will be done on earth as it is in heaven! One aspect of His kingdom is this joy that comes from heaven. You can walk in this joy while you are on earth. So, go ahead and celebrate today, rejoice and be glad, for the joy of the Lord is your strength! Hallelujah! 

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Be filled with the fullness of His joy!

The Lord says, "For many of My people, I am releasing My Spirit and My power for you to break free from the spirit of depression! This is your time to receive My authority to rise above those 'dark clouds' sent by the enemy to hinder you from walking in My vision and My plans for you! Be set free from those 'dark clouds' and receive your breakthrough by faith!"

This is the time to rise above the spirit of depression that is sent by the enemy against you! Receive the authority from on high to destroy those 'dark clouds' sent by the enemy to hinder you!

If you've been feeling depressed or even suicidal in recent weeks, you are not alone. The enemy has been trying very hard to get you, God's people! Don't fall into his traps! Don't entertain his mind play! The enemy has been trying hard to 'hijack' your mind! Because he knows when he's got your mind, he's got you! Take authority and bind it in Jesus' name!

The Lord says further, "As you are being set free, NOW is your time to be filled with the fullness of My joy! NOW is your time to receive My Spirit of joy! The enemy wants to kill off your joy, but I am releasing supernatural joy into you right now! Receive by faith!"

In the past weeks, we have been in the series of teaching about being filled with the fullness of God (of His Spirit). One aspect of being filled with the fullness of His Spirit is being filled with the Spirit of joy! His Spirit is the Spirit of joy! Do you know there's joy and rejoicing all around in heaven, and in the heavenly realm?

Psalm 16:10-11 (NKJV) says, 'For You will not leave my soul in Sheol (i.e. the place of the dead), nor will You allow Your Holy One to see corruption. You will show me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore'. 

By the way, 'Sheol' while on earth can speak of 'depression, self-torment, self-punishing'. The antidote against any 'Sheol' while you are on earth is to come into His presence, because in His presence is fullness of joy!

Now, let's see how important 'joy' is! Galatians 5:22-23 (NKJV) says, 'But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering (i.e. patience), kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control...'

See? Love, joy, peace... Joy! Joy is ranked 2nd! 2nd only after 'love'! There's no 'accident' in the Bible. Everything is put in place for a purpose!

The word 'joy' here is 'chara', from the word 'chairo' (khah-eero) in Greek. It can mean 'to be well off (i.e. the assurance inside you that you are 'well provided, well taken care of, no lack')'. You see? True joy is an assurance inside you that 'in Him, you are well provided, well taken care of, and have no lack'! Wow! It is an assurance that the Lord is always now here with you, He is for you, and He is always taking care of you!

The word 'joy' or 'chairo' here in Greek can also mean 'to have great delight, to be glad, to prosper in the soul'. 3 John 2 says you are to prosper in health and in every aspect of life, just as you prosper in your soul! You see? True joy has everything to do with prospering in your soul! 

By the way, this joy is not man-made or conjured up by humans. This is supernatural joy, and only in Him will you receive such joy!

Nehemiah 8:10 says 'the joy of the Lord is your strength'! It means when you have the joy of the Lord, you will also have the strength to carry on in life, and to look forward in life! That's why the devil is so desperate to rob you of your joy! Because he knows if you lose your joy, you'd also lose your strength to carry on! 

So, people of God, open your heart and open your mind to receive His joy that comes straight from heaven! Make a joyful shout to the Lord! Sing to the Lord and praise Him continually! (Psalm 100:1-4) Give thanks, for His joy has been released to you! And that's when you are well on your way into the realm of breakthrough and miracles you have never imagined can happen to you!

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Rejoice in the Lord always!

Philippians 4:4 (NKJV): Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!

The word 'rejoice' here is 'chairo' (pronounced 'khah-ee-ro') in Greek, and it means 'be joyful, be glad, be happy'. Notice this word 'rejoice' is mentioned not just once, but twice in this verse itself! And the apostle Paul who wrote this verse certainly understood the power of rejoicing in the Lord!

Do you also see the word 'always' here? It is 'aei' (pronounced 'ah-eye') in Greek, and it can mean 'always, a continued duration, a regular practice'. In other words, rejoicing in the Lord should be a regular practice in our lives!

In fact, as believers in the Lord Jesus Christ, we should be the shiniest, happiest people on earth! Why? Because Jesus has carried all our sins, cross, shame, curse, and even sorrows when He died for us on the cross! (Isaiah 53:4-5)

Nehemiah 8:10 says, '...Do not sorrow, for the joy of the Lord is your strength'. If you study that part of the Bible thoroughly, you'd know that Nehemiah wasn't just giving a mere suggestion to the people of God, but he was saying it as a command from the Lord!

So, why is it so important to 'rejoice in the Lord as a regular practice'? Because if you lose this joy, you would also lose the strength to carry on!

Some people say, 'Practice makes perfect'. Indeed, the more you practice on something, the more you'll be good at it! For example, if you practice your tennis strokes regularly every day (with the right coaching), you'll definitely be good at it! In fact, you'll even have no problem sparring with some of the household names in tennis! Now, that's the power of practice!

By the way, 'to practice' simply means 'to do something again and again'. And that's exactly what the apostle Paul meant when he wrote Philippians 4:4! I can therefore translate this verse to sound like this: 'Rejoice (be joyful, be glad, be happy) in the Lord as a regular practice. Again I will say, rejoice (be joyful, be glad, be happy)!'

So, people of God, what do you practice every day?
If you practice joy, you'll surely be reaping the reward of joy!
If you practice worry, everything in life will worry you!
If you practice anxiety, everything you do will be filled with anxiety!
If you practice anger, everything you see in life will anger you!
And the list goes on (and on)...
In short, you'll be good at whatever you practice every day!

Choose therefore to practice the joy of the Lord moment by moment, day by day!
You might ask, "How do I begin?" 
It's easy. You don't have to struggle for it. In fact, it's effortless.
1. As a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ, know that He is the Giver of joy, the Source of joy, and He lives in you! You see? This joy lives in you! And no one (not even the devil!) can take it away from you, unless you allow it!
2. Receive this joy that comes from heaven, like a waterfall! Let this joy fill your heart and mind now. The Spirit of the Lord is also the Spirit of joy!
3. Take joy in what (and who) you are now.
4. Take joy in whatever you are doing now.

Notice the word 'now'. Some people might say,
"If only I become like so and so, then I'll be happy!", or
"If only I have that much money in the bank, then I'll be happy!", or
"If I move to that new country, then I'll be happy!"
Really? Is that really so? Why not choose to be happy even now, and watch how the Lord can do wonders for your future?

What is the reward of practicing joy in life?
1. You'll have a cheerful countenance! People are generally drawn to a shiny, happy countenance!
Proverbs 15:13 says, 'A merry (i.e. joyful, glad, happy) heart makes a cheerful countenance. But by sorrow of the heart, the spirit is broken'.
2. You'll have good health! Happy people are healthy people!
Proverbs 17:22 says, 'A merry (i.e. joyful, glad, happy) heart does good like medicine, but a broken spirit dries the bones'.
3. You'll have the goodness of God surrounding you! Wherever you are, the goodness of God seems to be attracted to you and follows after you!
Proverbs 15:15 says, 'All the days of the afflicted (i.e. depressed, disputing people) are evil, but he who is of a merry (i.e. joyful, glad, happy) heart has a continual feast'.

Count it all joy!

James 1:2-4 (NKJV): My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect (mature) and complete, lacking nothing.

The word 'joy' here in Greek is 'chara' (pronounced 'khar-ah'), which can be defined as 'calm delight, cheerfulness, or gladness'. No, you don't delight, cheer, or be glad at those trials of yours. No one with a sound mind would ever do that! What the Bible means here is in spite of your trials, you can still delight in the Lord, be cheerful in the Lord, and be glad in the Lord!

In John 16:33, Jesus says, "These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world."

The expression 'be of good cheer' here can be translated as 'be of good courage, or be comforted', and the word 'tribulation' in this verse is 'thlipsis' in Greek, which can mean 'pressure, affliction, anguish, burden, trouble, trials, persecution'.

I heard and released these words from the Lord the other day:
"Count it all joy when you fall into various trials. This is a time to receive My joy and remain in My joy. My grace is sufficient for you, and I will know how to reward you in due time, if you do not lose heart. I have not forgotten you, for I am the Lord who remembers. I am looking at your faithfulness and I am looking at your heart. A time of promotion is at hand for many of My people in these coming months!"

Indeed, this is a key time to receive the joy that comes from heaven, and remain in that joy, no matter what! Nehemiah 8:10 says 'the joy of the Lord is your strength'. It means to say this joy of the Lord (in you) will give you the strength to carry on and look forward in life!

Notice that 'joy' is placed very high in the 'list' of the fruit of the Spirit in Galatians 5:22-23, coming in second right after 'love' (that never fails!), and is placed even higher than 'peace'! I believe there's no insignificant details in the Word of God! This shows how important 'joy' is for each of us, simply because if we lose this joy, we will also lose the strength to carry on!

Let's look at a prime example in the New Testament now.

In 2 Corinthians 12:7-10, the apostle Paul wrote, '... a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of satan to buffet (beat, attack) me... Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. And He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness."... Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ's sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong'.

The expression 'I take pleasure' here, similar to 'count it all joy' in James 1:2-4, doesn't mean the apostle Paul welcomed and took pleasure in all those trials he faced, but in spite of those trials, he could still 'delight in the Lord, be cheerful in the Lord, and be glad in the Lord', knowing that he could count on God's grace (i.e. ability, supply) which is sufficient for him!

By the way, what exactly is 'a thorn in the flesh' here? Let Scripture interpret Scripture. In the Old Testament, the Lord spoke these words to the children of Israel (as an instruction for the conquest of Canaan), "When you have crossed the Jordan into the land of Canaan, then you shall drive out all the inhabitants of the land from before you, destroy all their engraved stones, destroy all their molded images, and demolish all their high places (places for pagan worship)... But if you do not drive out the inhabitants of the land from before you, then it shall be that those whom you let remain shall be irritants in your eyes and thorns in your sides, and they shall harass you in the land where you dwell." (Numbers 33:50-55) See the words 'irritants', 'thorns', and 'harass' here?

'A thorn in the flesh' can therefore mean 'someone/something sent to irritate, torment, disturb, disrupt, or harass you'. In the case of the apostle Paul, he was fulfilling the Lord's mandate and 'calling' for him as an apostle and teacher of the New Covenant, but satan sent people to harass him! As you can see here, 'a thorn in the flesh' doesn't necessarily mean 'bodily ailments or sickness'. In fact, the word 'infirmities' mentioned by the apostle Paul in 2 Corinthians 12:10 is 'astheneia' in Greek, which simply means 'weakness, strengthless', and it doesn't necessarily mean 'bodily ailments or sickness'. I personally believe the apostle Paul was walking in wholeness and wellness in his physical body. Otherwise, how would he be able to travel so extensively in his many missionary journeys?

People of God, like the apostle Paul, stay faithful in all that the Lord has spoken (and called you) to be and to do, in spite of the opposition (or harassment) sent by the enemy (or satan) against you. Stand firm in all that the Lord has spoken to you, and keep looking unto Him, the author ('beginner') and finisher ('completor') of your faith! (Hebrews 12:2)

In Philippians 1:6, the apostle Paul himself wrote these very reassuring words, '... being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ'.

Man may forget you, but the Lord never forgets you. He is the Lord who remembers. What He has begun in you, He will see to it that He will complete it, as long as you do not lose heart (or give up). Zechariah 4:9 (NKJV) says, '... the Word of the Lord came to me (Zechariah), saying, "The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this temple; His hands shall also finish (complete) it. Then you will know that the Lord of hosts has sent Me to you."'

Zechariah 4:10 (The Message) says, 'Zerubbabel started rebuilding this temple and he will complete it. That will be your confirmation that God-of-the-Angel-Armies sent me (the angel of the Lord) to you. Does anyone dare despise this day of small (humble) beginnings? They'll change their tune when they see Zerubbabel setting the last stone in place! ... the seven lamps are the eyes of God (the perfect eyes of the Lord) probing the dark corners of the world like searchlights'.

Interestingly, the name 'Zechariah' ('Zekar-Yah' in Hebrew) means 'Yah (the Lord) remembers', and this word 'zekar' in Hebrew means 'to remember, to record, to recognize, to make mention of, to be mindful'. And what does 'Zerubbabel' represent here? For the record, he was the governor of Judah those days, and the leader of the tribe of Judah. He was also the person who laid the foundation for the rebuilding of the temple in Jerusalem. As believers in the New Covenant, 1 Corinthians 6:19 says 'we are the temple of the Holy Spirit'. 'Zerubbabel' therefore is a 'picture' of 'the Lord Himself, the Master-Builder in each of our lives', and He is also 'the Lion of the tribe of Judah' (Revelation 5:5).

Praise the Lord!

So, people of God, keep running the race (Hebrews 12:1) and keep putting in your heart in all that the Lord has entrusted you to be and to do, knowing that the Lord remembers you, and He will know how to reward you in due time. In Galatians 6:9, the apostle Paul wrote it so very aptly, '... let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart', and in Colossians 3:23-24, he wrote, 'And whatever you do, do it heartily (with an abounding heart, putting in your heart) as to the Lord and not to men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward... for you serve the Lord Christ'.

Those who sow in tears shall reap in joy! (Psalm 126:5) For those who have been faithfully serving the Lord (in spite of the many 'harassment' from the enemy) in the previous season, rejoice! Because your promotion is at hand in this coming new season! Psalm 75:6-7 says, 'For exaltation (promotion) comes neither from the east nor from the west nor from the south. But God is judge; He puts down one, and exalts another'. Not from men, but from God! And when He promotes you, He PROMOTES you! No one, and no evil can stand in His way! Hallelujah! Believe and receive by faith! Blessed be the name of the Lord!

A time to declare heaven to open above your heads!

John 1:51 (NKJV): And He (Jesus) said to him (Nathanael) "Most assured, I say to you, thereafter you shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man."

As I was ministering prophetically to the congregation the other day, I suddenly heard these words, and therefore spoke them out by faith: "Declare heaven to open above your heads!" It immediately reminded me of Psalm 24:7-8 that says, 'Lift up your heads, O you gates! And be lifted up, you everlasting doors! And the King of glory shall come in. Who is this King of glory? The Lord strong and mighty. The Lord mighty in battle'.

Indeed, people of God, as you begin to declare heaven to open above your heads, this same King of glory will begin to come into every situation of yours today! Like the light that shines (from open heaven) and dispels every darkness! Jesus is the light, and in Him there is no darkness at all (1 John 1:5). And when this light comes, every darkness has to flee!

And you know what? The very next moment after Jesus had spoken in John 1:51, He began to perform His very first miracle by turning water to wine! John 2:11 says, 'This beginning of signs Jesus did in Cana of Galilee, and manifested His glory; and His disciples believed in Him'.

John 2:1-5 says, 'On the third day, there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. Now both Jesus and His disciples were invited to the wedding. And when they ran out of wine, the mother of Jesus said to Him, "They have no wine." Jesus said to her, "Woman, what does your concern have to do with Me? My hour (timing) has not yet come." His mother said to the servants. "Whatever He says to you, do it."'

This account written by John is very prophetic of our days and time as believers in the New Covenant.

'On the third day' here is symbolic of 'the resurrection of Jesus', and the fact that He is very much alive today!

Jesus being invited to this wedding banquet speaks of 'Jesus being invited into your life'. Just as there are 'highlights' in each wedding banquet (feast), there are also 'highlights' in each of our lives. Personally, the greatest 'highlights' in my life so far have always involved Jesus manifesting Himself and showing Himself so real, especially in times of need. 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."

'Wine' speaks of 'joy and celebration in life'. In the English Standard Version (ESV), Nehemiah 8:10 says, 'And he (Nehemiah) said to them, "Go your way. Eat the fat and drink sweet wine and send portions to anyone who has nothing ready, for this day is holy to our Lord. And do not be grieved, for the joy of the Lord is your strength."' It is interesting to see that the first miracle of Jesus has to do with turning your sorrow into joy, and mourning into dancing! In other words, He came to set you free from every sorrow! And of course, if He is invited into your life (or any situation you face in your life), you'll be sure that He'll always have a way or solution for you! The Bible says He is the way, the truth, and the life! (John 14:6)

The word 'hour' here in Greek is 'hora', which can be translated as '(high) time'. In other words, He holds the (right) timing as to when exactly He will perform it, and how He's going to do it! Simply because He knows better. Isaiah 55:8-9 says, '"For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways," says the Lord. "For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts."'

"What's my part then?"

Your part is simply to invite Him into your life (and of course, the situation you are facing at the moment), and as Mary had said, "Whatever He says to you, do it." People of God, these are keys to His miracle and manifestation in your life (and the situation you are facing now)!

In John 2:6-8, you'd see the very specific instructions of Jesus for that very specific situation. It says, 'Now there were set there six waterpots of stone... Jesus said to them (the servants), "Fill the waterpots with water." And they filled them up to the brim. And He said to them,"Draw some out now, and take it to the master of the feast." And they took it.'

Then, John 2:9-10 says, 'When the master of the feast had tasted the water that was made wine, and did not know where it came from (but the servants who had drawn the water knew), the master of the feast called the bridegroom. And he said to him, "Every man at the beginning sets out the good wine, and when the guests have well drunk, then the inferior. You have kept the good wine until now!"'

In John 14:21, Jesus says, "He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him."

The word 'commandments' here is 'entole' (pronounced 'en-tol-ay') in Greek, which can mean 'an authoritative prescription or instruction', from the word 'entellomai' meaning 'to (give) a charge, to (give) a command'. See the word 'authoritative' here? As you can see, His words carry authority and power! And the word 'keeps' here is 'tereo' in Greek, which means 'to hold fast (to a command), to fulfill a command, to act on a command'.

To put it simply, "Whatever He says to you, do it." And of course, take time to listen for that command (or commands). Do not be wise in your own eyes, but in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths. Read the Word, and let it never depart from your eyes (Proverbs 4:21), and pray in the Spirit often (Ephesians 6:18).

And you'll be sure to see Him manifest Himself in your situation as well. Amen!

Receive the joy of the Lord which is your strength!

Nehemiah 8:10 (NKJV): Then he said to them, “Go your way, eat the fat, drink the sweet, and send portions to those whom nothing is prepared; for this day is holy to our Lord. Do not sorrow, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”

What does 'eat the fat, drink the sweet' mean here? As a matter of fact, there's just something about 'eating the fat, drinking the sweet' that makes people happy, literally! For some, just imagining a platter of hot, sizzling steak, and the fat that melts in their mouth is enough to put a smile on their face, and of course, make them salivate!

So, does this statement 'eat the fat, drink the sweet' literally mean what it is? 

I believe there are also spiritual meanings to 'eating the fat, drinking the sweet' here.

1. 'Eat the fat' = Taking in God's portion
Leviticus 3:16 says, 'And the priest shall burn the offering on the altar as food, an offering made by fire for a sweet aroma; all the fat is the Lord's, i.e. the Lord's portion'.
So, 'eating the fat' here speaks of 'taking in God's portion', i.e. receiving God's heavenly resources (and inheritance) for you as a believer.
2. 'Drink the sweet' = Taking in God's Word & Spirit
Proverbs 16:24 says, 'Pleasant words (a 'picture' of God's Word & Spirit) are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the bones (a 'picture' of one's physical body)'. This speaks of 'taking in God's Word & Spirit'. Sweetness to the soul (inside) in turn leads to health to the body (outside).

And while you feed yourself with the 'fat' and the 'sweet', Nehemiah 8:10 also says, 'send portions to those whom nothing is prepared'. It means 'to remember those who don't have, and send portions (i.e. give some) to them, so that they have reasons to rejoice too!'

To 'eat the fat, drink the sweet' here also means 'to eat and drink the best that you have', and the truth is 'taking in God's portion' and 'taking in God's Word & Spirit' are the best ‘food’ and ‘drink’ that a believer can ever have! Yes, better than anything else on earth! As you eat and drink the best, you’ll then also acquire the fervour in your soul (i.e. mind, will, and emotions), and the strength in your body to do God’s will effectively, and cheerfully!

A rejoicing heart is also a continuous medicine for you! Proverbs 17:22 says, 'A merry heart does good like medicine, but a broken spirit dries the bones'. The word ‘merry’ here is ‘sameach' in Hebrew, which can mean ‘joyful, rejoicing, gladness, cheerful, gleeful’. You see, a rejoicing heart does not necessarily arise from a life that exists without problems (i.e. free from problems), but even if one is faced with problems (or challenges, or persecution) in life, he/she can still receive His joy, and grow in His joy! This happened in the early church days, and in the lives of the early apostles, like Peter and Paul (see 1 Peter 1:6-8 and 1 Peter 4:12-14). In Nehemiah's case, persecution came from people who tried to shake his faith and his vision (in rebuilding the wall of Jerusalem) that God had put in his heart to fulfil.

People of God, this is your time to receive the joy of the Lord anew and afresh again! And this joy that comes from heaven (from Him) will also be your strength, regardless of the circumstances in and around you at the moment.
Note: Heaven is always full of joy and celebration! So, never for a second think that heaven is a dull, monotonous place! How do I know? Jesus Himself says so in the 'Parable of the Lost Coin' (see Luke 15:8-10), that when one soul repents (or returns to the Lord), the whole heaven rejoices and celebrates. And there are currently at least 6 billion people on earth and counting! So, just imagine how busy heaven is in celebration every day! Do you also know that when you were saved (or when you return to Him), all of heaven celebrates and rejoices with you? That’s how precious you are to Him! So, never mind if not many people on earth celebrate you (say, your birthday), because you have the whole heaven celebrating you!

Jesus has indeed borne all your griefs (‘choliy' in Hebrew, 'including all your sicknesses or diseases'), and carried all your sorrows (‘makowb’ in Hebrew, 'including all your pains or afflictions') on the cross for you, so now you can have joy! Isaiah 53:4 says so. As a believer, there's therefore now every reason to rejoice! So, never allow anything (or anyone) to rob away the joy of the Lord in your life!

As you receive this joy that comes from Him, the Bible says you’ll also have the strength (or power) to overcome, abounding in hope as you move on and carry on whatever God has for you in life. Romans 15:13 says, 'He fills you with all joy and peace, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit'.

Notice also when one loses the joy of the Lord in life, everything deteriorates (and that includes health). Say, when a chef loses the joy of serving his trademark cuisine, the quality of his cooking will inevitably (cannot be avoided, sure to happen) deteriorate! Or when someone who serves in ministry loses the joy of serving and blessing others, his (or her) ministry will also inevitably deteriorate. That’s how important receiving (and keep receiving) His joy afresh and anew is! So, when things begin to get a bit 'routine' and monotonous in any area of your life, 'eat the fat, drink the sweet' again (maybe not literally!), and receive His joy afresh and anew again!

Back to Nehemiah 8:10 now. This verse ends with 'for the joy of the Lord is your strength'. The word ‘strength’ here actually has military connotations in Hebrew. In fact, all in all, the book of Nehemiah is effectively a 'defence' manual for God's people today. This word 'strength' is “ma’owz” in Hebrew, which means ‘a fortified place (citadel), a place of defence, a place of safety, a fortress, rock, stronghold’. It is a place of safety (stronghold) where the enemy’s 'fiery darts' cannot touch us! In other words, 'the joy of the Lord' in you is your 'safety place, stronghold, fortress' against any problem, challenge, or persecution you face on earth!

By the way, what are those ‘fiery darts’ in Nehemiah’s days (which we believers today can also identify with)? 
(a) Ridicule and sarcasm (Nehemiah 2:18-19)
(b) Mockery and insults (Nehemiah 4:1-3)
(c)  Conspiracy and confusion (Nehemiah 4:7-8)
(d) Threats and fear tactics (Nehemiah 6:6-9)
All these are also 'joy-robbers' of God's people in our days.

People of God, as you build (and keep building) what God has for you this year (like Nehemiah building the wall of Jerusalem), keep looking to Him and keep receiving the joy that comes from Him (not from the world), so that you can run with His strength this whole year!

As you build (and keep building), also keep meditating and confessing God’s Word (i.e. agreeing with His Word, and not what the world says). Nehemiah 4:18 says, 'Every one of the builders had his sword girded at his side as he built'. The ‘sword’ here speaks of 'the Word of God'.

Finally, with Nehemiah 8:10 in your heart and in your mind, I believe you'll also be well on your way to completing all that God has for you this year, just as happened to Nehemiah and the people of God in his days. Amen!

In Christ, your joy is made complete!

Deuteronomy 16:15 (NKJV): "Seven days you shall keep a sacred feast to the Lord your God in the place which the Lord chooses, because the Lord your God will bless you in all your produce and in all the work of your hands, so that you surely rejoice (in NIV: your joy will be complete)."

This verse speaks of the celebration of 'Sukkot' (i.e. The Feast of Tabernacles) among the Israelites. Deuteronomy 16:13-14 says, "You shall observe the Feast of Tabernacles seven days, when you have gathered from your threshing floor and from your winepress. And you shall rejoice in your feast, you and your son and your daughter, your male servant and your female servant and the Levite, the stranger and the fatherless and the widow, who are within your gates."

People of God, this is a time to rejoice and to receive the fullness of His joy! This is also a time for renewed fellowship with the Lord, and being conscious of His Presence; enjoying Him and celebrating His blessings and goodness in your life!

Leviticus 23:40-43 says, 'And you shall take for yourselves on the first day the fruit of beautiful trees, branches of palm trees, the boughs of leafy trees, and willows of the brook; and you shall rejoice before the Lord your God for seven days. You shall keep it as a feast to the Lord for seven days in the year. It shall be a statute forever in your generations. You shall celebrate it in the seventh month. You shall dwell in booths ('sukkah') for seven days. All who are native Israelites shall dwell in booths ('sukkah'), that your generations may know that I made the children of Israel dwell in booths ('sukkah') when I brought them out of the land of Egypt; I am the Lord your God.'

This Hebrew word 'sukkah' (where the word 'Sukkot' comes from) simply means 'tabernacle, tent, or hut', i.e. 'a shelter made of tree branches'. This word 'sukkah' is in turn derived from the word 'sakak', which speaks of 'to be covered (by the Lord), to join together (with the Lord), and to shut out (from the world), as God's people dwell in booths'.

This reminded me of when Moses took his tent and pitched it outside the camp, far away from the camp, and called it the tabernacle of meeting (Exodus 33:7), just to be alone with God. It was here that the pillar of cloud descended, and the Lord talked with Moses (Exodus 33:9) face to face, as a man speaks to his friend (Exodus 33:11). Moses later experienced God's glory in the cleft of the rock (Exodus 33:12-23), and he came out totally refreshed and renewed for the things ahead of him! (Exodus 34:1-2)

What do all these mean to you as a believer in the New Covenant?

Like Moses, we all need such time at one time or another, away from the people, and even the materialism or worldliness around us, just to be alone with God, enjoying His Presence, and communing (i.e. communicating and being in union) with Him. His wisdom and revelation would also flow when one connects with Him!

And where His Presence is, there is also His joy! Jesus is indeed the Source of your joy, and this joy is one that money can't buy, or the world can't give! It is also eternal and not short-lived (unlike the one that the world gives). Isaiah 53:4 says, "Surely He (Jesus) has borne your griefs and carried your sorrows ..." So that in exchange, you can have His joy! This happened when He died for you on the cross some 2,000 years ago!

His Spirit is also the Spirit of joy, and when His joy comes, sorrow has to leave; just as when the light comes, darkness has to flee! The Bible also says, 'this joy of the Lord shall be your strength' (Nehemiah 8:10). In Him, you are also anointed with the oil of joy that breaks every sorrow and heaviness (Isaiah 61:1-3), setting you free from every yoke, burden, or captivity. As a result, your life is now filled with the fullness of joy. Hallelujah! By faith, receive this oil of joy wherever you are right now, and be refreshed and renewed for the things ahead of you! In Jesus' name. Amen.

No reason to fear!

John 14:27 (NKJV): "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 is to be understood in the context of reading John 14:26 first. As a believer, the Holy Spirit in you teaches you in all things (i.e. in all areas of your life) and brings to your remembrance what He has spoken to you (or promised you). This is His assurance for you today. He hasn't forgotten what He has spoken to you (or promised you), and He will also continue to teach (and guide) you in all things. So, take heart. Aren't you glad you have a God who teaches (and guides) you continuously in all things, and a God who keeps His promises?

John 14:27 then follows. The word 'peace' here is 'eirene' in Greek, which means 'peace, quietness, rest, in one again, i.e. in harmony again'.  When you receive this peace that comes only from Him, you have no reason to be troubled or to be afraid! The word 'afraid' in this verse means 'being intimidated, or losing faith/trust', while the word 'troubled' here can mean 'being disturbed, panic, or anxious'.

Not only that, the Bible also says 'His perfect love casts out fear' (1 John 4:18). Just as a light never fails to light up a dark room (i.e. chases the darkness away), His love (for you) never fails to cast out fear (in you)! 1 John 4:18 also says, 'But he who fears has not been made perfect in love'. Just as peace is opposite to fear, love is also opposite to fear. You are made perfect in love not by 'trying hard to achieve love by your own strength', but simply by receiving His love! Romans 5:5 says, 'because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us'. When He pours out, you receive! And as you receive, this love is going to flow out from you to touch any situation (or love others).

Let's now look at Jesus, your great Lover in the book of Song of Songs. It is a beautiful book of romance (i.e. love of a man and a woman) written by Solomon. It also pictures God's love for you, His beloved. There are three main entities in this book: 
The king (speaks of God Himself);
The bride, i.e. the Shulamite woman (speaks of you); and 
The chorus, i.e. the daughters of Jerusalem (speaks of the whole citizen of heaven).
Note: 'Chorus' means 'things sung, applauded, or shouted by many people together'.

The Shulamite woman said, "For your love is better than wine" (Song of Songs 1:2). 'Wine' speaks of 'the enjoyable things on earth, or the pleasures of this world', but the Word of God says God's love is even better than all these.

Jesus is also your rose of Sharon and lily of the valleys (Song of Songs 2:1).

Rose of Sharon
'Rose' speaks of 'sweetness, or sweet-smelling', and 'Sharon' (pronounced 'Shaw-rone' in Hebrew) is condensed from the Hebrew word 'yashar', which means 'to make straight, to make a way, to make right/pleasant/prosperous'. Jesus is the Sweetness that makes straight your way.
Note: 'Sharon' is a place of blossoming, fruitfulness, bountiful, and prosperity, and the inhabitants of Sharon those days (i.e. the Sharonites) were warriors/worshipers to 'make straight the way'.

Lily of the valleys
'Lily' is 'Shuwshan' (pronounced 'Shoo-shan') in Hebrew, which means 'flower, to be bright, cheerful, joyful', and 'valleys' (notice it's plural, i.e. more than one 'valley') speaks of 'depression, or deep trouble'. Jesus brings joy in times of sorrow, and He turns your sorrow into joy.

And this is how sweet a Lover He is to you (His 'bride'). He is the 'rose of Sharon' and the 'lily of the valleys' to you! The Shulamite woman later responded, "His mouth is most sweet. Yes, he is altogether lovely. This is my beloved, and this is my friend..." (Song of Songs 5:16). Proverbs 16:24 says, 'Pleasant words are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul, and health to the bones'. His Word is sweet, not flatteringly sweet, but sweet to the soul, which leads to health to your body. 'Honeycomb' is 'the wax structure holding bee's honey (speaks of 'sweetness and strength') and eggs (speaks of 'new life')'. So, His Word brings you sweetness, strength, and life. Receive!

So, have no worry, not allowing yourself to fear, whether you are in the midst of a job application, family trouble, or in any form of pressure. His love for you fails not (1 Corinthians 13:8). This is not the time to allow your heart to faint, but this is the time to keep receiving His love, joy, and peace. Yes, like a river! He is your Source of love, joy, and peace. In fact, these are also the first three 'fruit' of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22).

Receive His love (Romans 5:5) which is being poured out in you.
Receive His peace (John 14:27) which He leaves with you and gives to you.
Receive His joy (Nehemiah 8:10) as you 'eat the fat and drink the sweet' (i.e. take in His portion).
Note: 'Fat' is God's portion. Leviticus 3:16 says, "all the fat is the Lord's". So, eating the 'fat' and drinking the 'sweet' speaks of receiving/taking in God's portion! Indeed, there's something about eating the 'fat' and drinking the 'sweet' that makes one happy!

Notice all the words above point towards you receiving, taking in, being 'poured on', and when Someone gives, someone is going to receive, and that person is you!

Isaiah 55:1 (NKJV) says, "Ho! Everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come buy and eat. Yes, come, buy wine (speaks of 'joy') and milk (speaks of 'love' and 'peace') without money and without price."

Jesus has already paid the full price when He died for you on the cross some 2,000 years ago! So, come freely to Him, and receive His love, joy, and peace! True love, joy, and peace are not something you strive to get (or strive to achieve), or even try to buy with money, but it's for you to receive directly from Him! And as you receive, the Bible says, 'you shall then go out with joy, and be led out with peace' (Isaiah 55:12). 
Note: Just like the infilling of the Holy Spirit happens first, then only you'll bear the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22).

People of God, I declare that the worst is over! In Jesus' name. Things shall begin to look brighter and brighter for you from now on! Believe, and you'll receive. The joy of the Lord is your strength (Nehemiah 8:10). Just as in Nehemiah's days, the worst was over in his project of rebuilding the wall of Jerusalem (in the face of opposition, mockery, and threats from Sanballat, Tobiah, and Geshem, etc), and that's when God ordered His people to 'eat the fat and drink the sweet'. Hallelujah & Amen!