Embrace the 'new' and the good that God has for you!

The Lord says: 

"Taste and see My goodness in your life going forward. But you need to let go of the 'old' and what you have moved on from in your life, and embrace the 'new' that I have for you now. Let there be such a release in your spirit and your soul right now. For what I have in store ahead of you will be good!" 

The Lord says further: 

"Begin to cast down every word and every work sent by the enemy against you. Begin to cast down everything sent by the enemy to pull you back to the 'old' of your life. But this is your time to embrace all the good and the 'new' that I have for you ahead of you. This is your time to secure and receive all the good that I have for you, by faith." 

I heard the word 'embrace' two times here. I believe this is the key word for us now: 'Embrace'. To embrace what? To embrace all the 'new' and the good that God has for you!

This word 'embrace' can be traced back to two Latin words, 'in' and 'bracchium', literally meaning 'in the arms (of)'. 

This word 'embrace' can also mean 'to surround, to encircle, to hold closely (especially with great affection)'. 

This works both ways: You embracing the Lord, and the Lord embracing you! 

One way to describe the goodness of God in your life is to picture the Lord's arms wrapping around you, surrounding you, encircling you, and holding you closely and lovingly in His embrace! And in His embrace, you can rest secure!

Deuteronomy 33:12 (NIV) says, "Let the beloved of the Lord rest secure in Him, for He shields him all day long, and the one the Lord loves rests between His shoulders." 

This expression 'rests between His shoulders' can be understood as 'being in the embrace of God'. 

Deuteronomy 33:12 (The Message) puts it this way: "God's beloved; God's permanent residence. Encircled by God all day long, within whom God is at home." 

See the word 'encircled' here? Encircled by God all day long! Encircled by the goodness of God all day long! All the time! And the best news is whatever happens around you in the world, your God is always 'at home' in your life! Always present in your life! Always here for you! All the time! 

Psalm 34:8 (NKJV) says, 'Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good; Blessed is the man who trusts in Him!' 

Psalm 34:8 (Amplified) puts it this way: 'O taste and see that the Lord [our God] is good; How blessed [fortunate, prosperous, and favored by God] is the man who takes refuge in Him.' 

The word 'good' here is 'towb' in Hebrew. It can mean 'good (in the widest sense)'. In other words, 'good in every way'. This word 'towb' can also mean 'beautiful, bountiful, sweet, gracious'. 

So, taste and see that the Lord is beautiful to you, the Lord is bountiful to you, the Lord is sweet to you, and the Lord is gracious to you! And let this goodness of God be poured into your life right now! 

Psalm 23:6 (Amplified) says, 'Surely goodness and mercy and unfailing love shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell forever [throughout all my days] in the house and in the presence of the Lord.' 

Beloved of God, surely what's beautiful, what's bountiful, what's sweet, and what's gracious shall follow you all the days of your life! Make this declaration upon your life right now!

Psalm 31:19-20 (Amplified) says, 'How great is Your goodness, which You have stored up for those who [reverently] fear You, which You have prepared for those who take refuge in You, before the sons of man! In the secret place of Your presence You hide them from the plots and conspiracies of man; You keep them secretly in a shelter from the strife of tongues.' 

You see, the goodness of God in your life encompasses all aspects of your life. God even shows His goodness in your life by sheltering you from the plots and conspiracies of man, or even from the strife of tongues!

Psalm 107:8-9 (NKJV) says, 'Oh, that men would give thanks to the Lord for His goodness, and for His wonderful works to the children of men! For He satisfies the longing soul, and fills the hungry soul with goodness.' 

This is another aspect of the goodness of God. He satisfies whatever that is lacking in your life. He fills what is empty in your life. He fills you with hope. He fills you with joy. And of course, He fills you with His unfailing love. When everything else in the world fails, the Lord's love for you never fails. And that is the assurance of the Lord for your life right now. 

Declare that the Lord is altogether good in your life! 

He knows how to work things out for good for you! 

He knows how to turn your sorrow into joy! 

He knows how to turn whatever that's bad in your life into something good! 

And whatever the enemy throws at you, the Lord will know how to turn things around for you! 

Amen!

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Words from the Lord: "Your life will never be the same again!"

I had a dream the other night about three persons whom I know, all of whom are God's beloved. 

One is a leader, and in the dream, one after another follower or disciple of his seemed to desert him or walk out on him. He was of course downcast and discouraged. The next person I saw in the dream was someone who seemed to have lost direction and purpose in life, not knowing what to do in life anymore. And the third person was someone who seemed to have some kind of marriage problem or relationship problem. 

When I woke up from this dream, I prayed for each of them. I know this kind of dream is given so that I will pray. I will pray for the good of these people. So I prayed for God to heal and restore whatever area that needs to be healed or restored in these lives. 

That's also when the Lord spoke these words: 

"Tell My beloved, whatever your hurt, pain, regret, or even trauma may be, this is the time for you to be set free! Surrender all these areas of your life to Me, for I am extending My hand to heal you and restore you. Receive by faith. My grace is sufficient for you. My power to heal and restore is at hand. I will make all things new for you. I will cut rivers in the desert for you." 

The Lord is saying to you that He is sending miraculous supplies of water to 'water' you. You see, 'water' can speak of 'refreshing, healing, restoration'. The Lord is also saying to you that He can make whatever that is barren or deserted in your life to turn into fruitfulness and wholeness again. Not just that. He also makes all things new in your life! 

Revelation 21:5 (NKJV) says, 'He who sat on the throne said, "Behold, I make all things new." And He said to me, "Write, for these words are true and faithful."' 

Indeed, the Lord is faithful to His words. This is His assurance of His renewal work in your life. Not just in His eternal plan for your life, but also currently, at present, in your life! 

The word 'new' here is 'kainos' in Greek. It speaks of 'freshness' or 'refreshing'. It speaks of 'renewal' or 'being made new again'. So, if it's a relationship trouble that you are facing at the moment, the Lord is refreshing it again! And the Lord is making all things new again! 

This word 'kainos' can also speak of 'being new in the inward, in the spirit, and in substance, not just in the outward'. In fact, it also speaks of 'being made entirely new again, as if the past has been erased away'. 

This word 'kainos' can also be found in 2 Corinthians 5:17 (NKJV) that says, 'Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new ('kainos').' 

You see, only God can do this work of renewal in us and to set us free, that humans by themselves cannot. It is not just about a regeneration in your spirit, or your salvation. It is also about God doing a change in your life to the better. Not just physically, but also in your spirit and your soul. It is also about 'turning over a new leaf' in your life in ways that only God can do. 

One example in the Gospel about a substantial and real change, both in the inside and outside of a person, can be found in Luke chapter 5 about this paralyzed person being brought to Jesus. 

Luke 5:17 (NIV) says, 'One day Jesus was teaching, and Pharisees and teachers of the law were sitting there. They had come from every village of Galilee and from Judea and Jerusalem. And the power of the Lord was with Jesus to heal the sick.' 

That's also when some men came carrying a paralyzed man on the mat and tried to take him into the house to lay him before Jesus. When these men could not find a way to do this because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and lowered him on his mat through the tiles into the middle of the crowd, right in front of Jesus. 

When Jesus saw their faith, He said, "Friend, your sins are forgiven." 

You see, beloved, whatever your situation may be, Jesus will always have time for you, even in the midst of His "busy-ness", or in the midst of the multitudes of people looking for Him. In other words, He is never too busy for you, no matter how big or small your problem may be. 

The Pharisees and the teachers of the law began thinking to themselves, "Who is this fellow who speaks blasphemy? Who can forgive sins but God alone?" Jesus knew what they were thinking and asked, "Why are you thinking these things in your hearts? Which is easier: to say, 'Your sins are forgiven', or to say, 'Get up and walk'?" 

Now, the background here is that some of Jesus' audience were the Pharisees and the teachers of the law. These were the religious leaders at that time. In fact, some had come from afar. These Pharisees were zealous in their religious laws. But you know what? Many of them were only focused on outward obedience to the law. It means obedience for people to see, but not so much in the inside of them. Also, they believed God only loved them and those who did exactly what they did. So, they began to judge others who were not like them. 

So, here they were, sitting there with critical eyes and hearts against Jesus, waiting to twist and pounce on some words that Jesus said. And so, here Jesus was, looking at the men bringing the paralyzed man down from the rooftop. He saw their faith. He saw their determination to help their paralyzed friend. He also said that this man's sin has been forgiven.

And you know what? That's when the Pharisees pounced. They were trying to catch Jesus with His words. They began to accuse Jesus of blasphemy. They may be correct in believing that God can forgive sins, but they failed to see that Jesus is indeed the Son of God who has the authority to forgive sins. Their hearts were hardened. 

The Scripture says, 'The entrance of God's words brings light...' (Psalm 119:130). The Scripture also says, 'Jesus is the Word, and the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen His glory...' (John 1:14). But these Pharisees' hearts were not enlightened to see all this. 

Jesus then said, "But I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins." So Jesus said to the paralyzed man, "Get up, take your mat, and go home." Immediately the paralyzed man stood up in front of them, and went home praising God. His life was changed - in the inside and in the outside, spiritually and physically. Everyone was filled with amazement and gave praise to God.

You see, Jesus did both - to forgive sins; and to heal, restore, and renew a person physically. To man, both real forgiveness and the power to heal are impossible. To man, the physical part in fact seems harder because it has to do with something visible, and you have to show proof to the physical eyes; whereas forgiveness is invisible. But to God, both are easy. Jesus was showing that if He had the power to restore that paralyzed man, He also had the authority to forgive his sins. It's like one is the confirmation of the other. 

Beloved of God, today is the same. Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever. He is the same God those days in Luke chapter 5, and He is the same God in your life right now, today! Maybe your situation or problem is physical, or maybe it is not physical. Whatever you have been "paralyzed" by recently, be it a certain lingering sin in your life that seems so hard to be set free from; or a hurt, a regret, or a trauma in your soul that seems so hard to be set free from, the Lord is here to meet you right now. Not just that. He's also here to forgive you and heal you, just as what you have seen in the Scripture here. 

This paralyzed man's life in Luke chapter 5 was never the same again! Not only did he receive forgiveness and renewal in his spirit, he also began to walk free physically. His life was never the same again! I declare the same it is with you, beloved. Your life will never be the same again! 

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Words from the Lord: "New ideas and strategies will flow this month!"

The Lord says: 

"This month is a month of breath of fresh air in the spirit for many of My people. There's a fresh revelation. There's a brand new purpose. There will be new ideas and new strategies that I am giving to you. A new chapter has begun. A new door has been opened. Walk in it. Receive it. Never mind if you have missed out in the past, but this is the time to begin to look forward to the new opening that I have for you."  

Joshua 1:1-2 (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 I am giving to them..."'

In Joshua 1:9, the Lord said further, "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; Do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you..." 

That's what the Lord spoke to Joshua. And the Lord is saying the same to you right now!

At this point of time in Joshua chapter 1, there was a significant and pivotal change in Joshua's life. What was that pivot? God gave him new strategies. God gave him new mission. God gave him new purposes. As God has spoken to Joshua, God is speaking the same to you too! Not just that. God released His revelation to Joshua on how to go about, as he looked forward. That time has come for Joshua, both spiritually and physically. 

By the way, what is 'pivotal'? It is defined as 'of crucial importance in relation to the development and success of something'. In other words, the time is coming when you shall see something of greater significance happening in your life. That is the prophetic word for you at the moment. And it will be good!

So, Joshua chapter 1 is the key here. It is happening both spiritually and physically. In the spiritual realm and in the physical realm. It means not just in the spirit, but something you can see with your physical eyes. 

The Lord is saying this to you right now: "Be strong and be of good courage. Do not be afraid. Do not be dismayed. Get yourself ready to face a greater future!" 

Will you by faith receive these words? And whatever happens in the spirit shall be manifested in the natural, in the physical realm, in ways that you can see. Do not let the devil rob that from you! Also, receive a renewed strength from the Lord. Not just that. Receive new ideas, revelation, and even strategies from the Lord, as God opens new doors and new horizons for you! 

And the Lord is saying: "A major shift is coming! From the old to the new! It has begun!" 

Very interestingly, do you know Joshua actually had a name change prior to that? Many people actually don't know about this. So, it's not just people like Jacob or Abram who had name change. You know that, from Jacob to Israel, from Abram to Abraham. Each of these name change brought with it a change of character, and in turn, a change of fortune as well. Now, I'm not saying we all should go to the registration office and change our name. But what I'm saying is there will be a change of character and change of fortune in the spirit for you. And this change is to the better!

You see, throughout the Scripture, a name change is very significant and pivotal. One major example that we all know is from Jacob to Israel. That change led to something greater. So, it's not just about character change. It's more than that. 

How about Joshua? Let me show you in the Scripture. Numbers 13:8 (NKJV) says, '...from the tribe of Ephraim, Hoshea the son of Nun...' Notice this name 'Hoshea'. And then, Numbers 13:16 (NKJV) says, 'These are the names of the men whom Moses sent to spy out the land (the Promised Land, the land flowing with milk and honey). And Moses called Hoshea, the son of Nun, Joshua.' 

See? From Hoshea to Joshua! And it was Moses himself who called Hoshea a new name, Joshua. Now, that was a preparation point for something of greater significance to happen in Joshua's life. For the record, Moses at that time was getting his people to spy out the land of Canaan, the land which the Lord was about to give them. But you see, everyone who went to spy came back with negative report. They were afraid to take the land. There were two exceptions: Joshua and Caleb. They had a different mindset. They came back with good report. They saw new horizons and new opportunities, instead of difficulties. And you know what? The rest is history for Joshua and Caleb. They went into the Promised Land and conquered the land. 

Have you ever wondered what is the meaning of the old name 'Hoshea' and the new name 'Joshua'? 'Hoshea', the old name, simply means 'salvation' or 'deliverance'. How about 'Joshua'? 'Joshua', the new name, or rather, 'Yehoshua' as written in the Hebrew Bible, means 'YHWH saves' or 'YHWH delivers'. Some people may not notice this. But you see, something greater has been added! Where is the difference between the old and the new, 'Hoshea' and 'Yehoshua'? That difference is the name of the Lord God Almighty, YHWH, has been added to his name! 

To a stranger, that may not mean anything much. Nothing to shout about. But God! To God, and in the spiritual realm, it was like a major shift! It was like a major earthquake in the spirit that was about to shake and change history. And change it did! It was pivotal. It was of great significance. A change that marked the beginning of a new destiny and new journey for Joshua. And beginning at that point, God was assuring him that He is with Joshua. God's with him. God's backing him up in this new destiny and new journey. Joshua is not alone in this. God paved the way for him. And most importantly, God's with him in all the battles going forward! 

Now, the same it is with you, like Joshua, whatever 'opening' that God has for you, going forward! 

In Greek, this name 'Yehoshua' ('Joshua' in our English Bible) is translated 'Iesous'. This is actually the same form as Jesus' name in the New Testament. So, as you can see here, 'Yehoshua' (or 'Joshua') is a typology or a 'type' of 'Yeshua' (or 'Jesus'). 

For Yeshua (or Jesus), it was also at Jordan River that was pivotal. What happened there? He was baptized by John the Baptist there. You know what happened then and there? Heaven opened! The Spirit of God descended upon Jesus like a dove. Now, mark this word 'descended', because I'm going to explain it to you later. Not only the Spirit of God descended upon Jesus, a voice from heaven declared, "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." 

You know what's the pivot there? That marked the beginning of something new in Yeshua's time on earth. And now you see the same for Yehoshua (or Joshua) in Joshua chapter 1. The Lord was preparing him to lead the people to cross that same Jordan River into the Promised Land. And the Lord said to Joshua: "Be strong and be of good courage. Do not be afraid, for I, YHWH, am with you." 

What is the significance of this Jordan River? There's a similarity here both to Jesus and Joshua. This Jordan River was pivotal to both of them. The name 'Jordan' is 'Yarden' in Hebrew, which is derived from the word 'yarad', meaning 'to descend' or 'to flow down'. 

In other words, like river of water flowing down from the mountain. Like a waterfall falling upon you. The spiritual significance of this is just as the river of water flows down from top to bottom, God's revelation, God's power, and God's Spirit flows down from heaven to earth upon you! You know what this means? All the good that God has for you from above is now beginning to fall on you! Receive this by faith! This is the revelation today. And this includes new ideas from above, new strategies from above, and even new strength from above! 

No wonder Joshua never looked back ever since. Now, the same it is for you, beloved. Amen! 

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Words from the Lord: "A time for reset and new beginning!"

The Lord says: 

"There's a refreshing in the spirit and a fresh outpouring being released upon you right now. Whatever that has been stale and stagnant, I am releasing a freshness from My Spirit right now. Do not look back. Do not linger in all those regrets and disappointments that you've had. For I am saying to you there will be many new beginnings as you walk into this new month." 

The Lord says:

"The enemy has tried to break you, and there have been times you are on the verge of giving up, but I have been there with you all along. You may not see it, but I have been there. I am now releasing a new strength and fresh anointing upon you. The anointing that breaks every yoke and bondage. You will have a new authority in the spirit. You will have the authority to overcome what you've not been able to overcome in the recent months. Receive this authority by faith." 

The Lord says for this month: 

"This month, I am resetting many things that have gone wrong in your life. Look to Me and receive from Me. For I have a rescue plan for you. I will know how to draw you out from the miry clay and set you upon the rock. I will know how to pull you out of the pit and the dungeon that the enemy has tried to throw you into. For I have given you the anointing and authority to overcome. I have given you the victory!" 

The term 'miry clay' here is used in the Bible to describe a thick, sticky, and muddy substance that can trap and ensnare you. Therefore, 'miry clay' speaks of a difficult, unstable, or perilous situation that you are facing, and evokes a sense of getting stuck, bogged down, or unable to move on or progress in your life. 

So beloved of God, if you have been stuck, or bogged down, or cannot progress in your life, this message is for you! 

Psalm 40:2 (NKJV) says, 'He also brought me up out of the horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my steps.' 

Psalm 60:4-5 (NKJV) says, 'You have given a banner to those who fear You, that it may be displayed because of the truth. That Your beloved may be delivered. Save with Your right hand, and hear me.' 

The word 'banner' here is 'nes' in Hebrew. It literally means 'flag'. What does this speak of? It speaks of God's victory for His beloved. And that's you and I! That's why, no matter what you have been going through in your life recently, this is your time to claim your victory! 

In cross-reference, Exodus 17:13-16 (NKJV) says, 'So Joshua defeated Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword. Then the Lord said to Moses, "Write this for a memorial in the book and recount it in the hearing of Joshua, that I will utterly blot out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven." And Moses built an altar and called its name, THE-LORD-IS-MY-BANNER; for he said, "Because the Lord has sworn: the Lord will have war with Amalek from generation to generation."' 

THE-LORD-IS-MY-BANNER here is 'YHWH Nissi' in Hebrew. This word 'Nissi' is from the word 'nes' in Hebrew, which we saw just now, and it speaks of God's victory for His beloved. 

What does 'Amalek' signify here? This name 'Amaleq' in Hebrew speaks of 'unprovoked attack or habitual attack against God's beloved'. In other words, constantly finding any chance or opportunity to attack God's beloved. 

In response to this attack, Moses told Joshua's army to fight a military battle against the Amalekites. If you look at the Scripture, Joshua's army relied on the Lord as they fought this battle. With the Lord's help, and with the Lord's guidance, they eventually won! It was an outright victory. It was a resounding victory. Why? Because the Lord was with them! The Lord is their Banner! YHWH Nissi! 

Back to David now in Psalm 60:4-5. Here, David was also going through a time when he faced attack from the enemy. And what did David do? If you look at Psalm 60, he looked to the Lord! He looked to the Lord who would raise a banner against the attack of the enemy. You see again? A banner! YHWH Nissi! The Lord our Banner! The Lord our victory! 

So beloved of God, whatever the attack of the enemy may be; be it in your health, in your family, in your career, in the ministry, or in any area of your life; look to the Lord who is your YHWH Nissi! He will know how to rescue you! He will know how to give you the victory! 

We've read Psalm 60:4-5 in New King James Version (NKJV). Now let's read from New Living Translation (NLT). This is interesting. This is how the translators put it: 'But You have raised a banner for those who fear You - a rallying point in the face of attack. Now rescue Your beloved people. Answer and save us by Your power.' 

You see, not by the power of man, but by the power of God! 

By the way, what is 'a rallying point'? It is defined as 'someone or something that unites the people in the face of an attack'. In our context here, the Lord is uniting and joining together with us in the face of an attack by the enemy. And if God is joined together with you, if God is with you, if God is for you, who can be against you? (Romans 8:31)

The word 'rescue' here in Psalm 60 is 'khawlats' in Hebrew. It can mean 'to draw you out (from trouble)', or 'to pull you out (from danger)'. That's exactly what God is doing in your life right now! 

Not just that. The Lord is also resetting many things that have gone wrong in your life! Now, different people different. For some of you, it may be in the area of health. For some of you, it may be in the area of finance. For some of you, it may be in your career. And for some of you, it may be in the ministry. Whatever it may be, the Lord is saying to you today that He is resetting many things that have gone wrong in your life! 

The word 'reset' can be defined as 'to set things (afresh and anew) again'. So, today, allow the Lord to reset you! It is like you resetting your password. Why do people reset their password? There are a few reasons. One reason can be to enhance security against any hacker or any cyber attack. Another reason may be they have forgotten their old password. Yet another reason may be simply because they just want to start afresh. 

Whatever your situation may be, the Lord wants to reset your life and your situation. Why? So that the enemy cannot 'touch' you, 'attack' you, or 'compromise' you anymore! That's why the Lord is resetting you! Yes, resetting your situation! Turning things right side up! Turning things for your good! Reversing whatever the enemy has done against you! Rolling it back against the enemy! So that you will come forth even stronger than before! Amen! Hallelujah!

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Words from the Lord: New doors are being opened for you!

The Lord says: 

"Many of My people are going to walk through open doors in the coming months. Never mind about the doors that have been closed in the recent months. Do not look back and rue over those doors that have been closed. Look to Me. Look forward. Look to the new. For I am beginning to cut rivers in the desert for you. I am beginning to open the doors for you that no man can shut." 

In Isaiah 43:18-19 (NKJV), the Lord says, "Do not remember the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I will do a new thing. Now it shall spring forth. Shall you not know it? I will even make a road in the wilderness and rivers in the desert." 

The expression 'Now it shall spring forth' which I've underlined here is interesting. You see, it is not in the future. It is now! See the word 'now' here? Now it shall spring forth! 

What is 'spring forth' here? In Hebrew, it is 'tsamach'. It can mean 'to grow again (after being left dormant or seemingly dead)'. It can mean 'to bring forth new sprout or bud'. It can also mean 'to bring forth new life and new hope'. 

The Lord is turning a new page in your life. It is a brand new chapter. It is a fresh new start. Prepare yourself for such a time. 

This word 'tsamach' can also be found in Isaiah 44. In Isaiah 44:3-4 (NKJV), the Lord says, "For I will pour water on him who is thirsty, and floods on the dry ground. I will pour My Spirit on your descendants, and My blessing on your offspring. They will spring up among the grass, like willows by the watercourses." 

The words 'spring up' here is 'tsamach' in Hebrew.

Let's look at New Living Translation (NLT) for the same verses: "For I will pour out water to quench your thirst and to irrigate your parched fields. I will pour out My Spirit on your descendants, and My blessing on your children. They will thrive like watered grass, like willows on a riverbank." 

See the word 'thrive' here? For the new year ahead, I want to declare that you will thrive, no matter what happens in the world. You will not just be surviving, but you'll be thriving! 

What is the significance of 'willows' or 'willow trees' in the Scripture? What does it speak of? There can be different ways of seeing it. But if you look at it positively, and in the context of our Bible-study today, 'willow' can symbolize 'vitality'. 

Where is the proof? Where is the cross-reference? Ezekiel 17:5-6 (NLT) says, 'He also took a seedling from the land and planted it in fertile soil. He placed it beside a broad river, where it could grow like a willow tree. It took root there and grew... Its branches turned up toward the eagle, and its roots grew down into the ground. It produced strong branches and put out shoots.'

Here, the prophet Ezekiel said the eagle planted a seed and it grew into a strong tree, producing strong branches and putting out new shoots. By the way, 'eagle' in the Scripture usually symbolizes 'a conqueror'. Indeed, the Scripture says you are more than a conqueror through God who loves you! (Romans 8:37)

Let's go back to Isaiah now. In Isaiah 43:13 (NKJV), the Lord says, "Indeed before the day was, I am He; And there is no one who can deliver out of My hand; I work, and who will reverse it?" 

It means if the Lord is with you, and His hand is with you, no one can push it back and no one can stop it. And when He works in your life, no one can reverse it! 

In cross-reference, let's look at Revelation 3:8, which is God's message for the church in Philadelphia. "I know all the things you do, and I have opened a door for you that no one can close. You have little strength, yet you obeyed My word and did not deny Me." 

Beloved, this is also God's message for you at this point of your life. He has seen what you've gone through, and He knows exactly what you've gone through. Even though at times you feel so helpless and you have too little strength to carry on, the Lord sees right into your heart. He sees all the things, the good things, that you have done in secret, that nobody recognizes. But the Lord recognizes all this. And the Lord says He will know how to reward you openly, especially in the year ahead. 

Because He sees that you have not denied Him. You may have a lot of questions. But you did not deny Him. He sees that you have not given up looking to Him. When some others fall away or give up, you hung on. You continued to abide in the Lord. And therefore, beloved, He will begin to open the doors for you that no one can shut. He will open the doors for new things in your life! And it will be good!

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Break free from your past!

I had a dream the other day. In the dream, I saw someone I know who is God's beloved, and he is being constantly "haunted" by a certain idol of his past. The idol would just appear wherever he went, even though he had wanted to move on and forget those past. So, in the dream, I saw him struggling. He was struggling to ward off the idol. But the dream ended well. Eventually, with the help of other godly people, they all caught hold of the idol and broke it into pieces. That beloved of God was then set free. There's a breaking free. There's a new found joy for him. There's a fresh new start for him. 

The Lord then spoke: 

"Whatever from the past that has been 'haunting' you, there's now a breaking free! This is the time for breaking free! Because I want you to embrace the new. The new and exciting things ahead of you. Receive the anointing to break free from the past that holds you back and ties you up. Receive the anointing to break free from whatever curse that has bound you all these while. This is the time to receive such anointing. No more shall you be bound. There's a release right now. Receive also the joy that comes from heaven!" 

What is the meaning of 'to break free'? This can mean 'to escape from someone's hold'. In this case, someone you want to 'escape' from. This can mean 'to escape from the control of a person, group, or practice.' So, 'to break free' is 'to escape or to be released from such control.' 'To break free' can also mean 'to escape from whatever that bounds or imprisons you.' 

For you, beloved, it may not be like that person in the dream. It may not be a certain idol. It may be a certain person in the past. Of course, that person may not even know it. But in your memory, that person has been 'haunting' you. Or it may be an incident in the past that keeps 'haunting' you. Whatever it may be, there's one thing in common that you have with that person in the dream. What is that? You just want to move on. You don't want to be bound and tied up anymore by those memories of the past. Now, it may even be someone you fell in love with in the past or in your younger days, but things didn't work out. And you want to move on from there. 

So, different people different. Different people has different experience in life. Each of us has our own story in life. Today is the day of breaking free from those unpleasant memories. Receive the anointing by faith. I want to declare upon you, by faith, that you can now look ahead to the many new things, good things, ahead of you! Also, receive a new found joy and even new purpose in your life! The power of God is at hand right now to set you free, to cause you to break free, from whatever that has bound you! 

Isaiah 61:1-2 (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, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn.' 

Here, the prophet Isaiah spoke about Jesus, the Messiah. This has been fulfilled when Jesus came on earth. When He was in the synagogue in His hometown in Nazareth, He opened the scroll and read it, and said this has been fulfilled. That's in Luke chapter 4. 

So, this anointing has come. And in Christ Jesus, you can receive too. Yes, the anointing to set you free! The anointing for you to break free from whatever that ties you up! 

The word 'anoint' here is 'mashach' in Hebrew. It literally means 'to rub or sprinkle on with oil'. It can also mean 'to consecrate (or set apart) for the good works, for what's ahead of you'. 

For example, the priests in the Old Testament were anointed with oil before they began to serve the Lord. The oil that was rubbed on the head of those priests were an outward representation of the real spiritual work that's going on inside of them. That's for the priests in the Old Testament. But for you in the New Covenant, it works the same. It is a sign of the Holy Spirit upon your life, that the power of God is at hand to set you free and to empower you for what's ahead of you! 

If you look at Isaiah 61:1-2 just now, you'd see the word 'liberty'. The word 'liberty' here is 'deror' in Hebrew. It can mean 'to be free (from what bounds you), to move on (from the past), to clear away (from the past), to have a fresh new start'. 

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; that they may be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified.' 

You see here? Exchanging ashes with beauty. Exchanging mourning with joy of the Lord. Exchanging spirit of heaviness with praise. Instead of ashes, you have beauty. Instead of mourning, you have the joy of the Lord. Yes, your mourning turned into dancing. Dance of joy! And instead of spirit of heaviness, whatever that burdens you, you begin to praise the Lord! Praising the Lord with the liberty in your spirit and soul! And the Lord is right now releasing the oil of joy from heaven upon you! 

Those days, when people were in mourning, ashes would be put on the head. But now, the joy of the Lord is upon you! The oil of the Lord is put on your head instead! 

Now, why 'ashes'? When something gets burned and turned into ashes, it cannot be physically restored anymore. It's hopeless. It's gone. It cannot be turned back to the original shape before it's being burned. But you know what? Here, the Lord is doing a miracle. The ashes turned into something of a beauty again! That's what He is doing in your life right now. Receive this by faith! 

Isaiah 61:4 (NKJV) says, 'And they shall rebuild the old ruins, they shall raise up the former desolations, and they shall repair the ruined cities, the desolation of many generations.' 

Even though this chapter is specifically referring to Israel, but this applies to you too who is God's beloved. You can receive all these promises in Isaiah 61 as well. 

God loves you, and He wants to restore and rebuild whatever in your life that has been ruined and broken down. So, this is your time for restoration and repair. No matter how deep the hurts may be, nothing is impossible for the Lord to repair and restore. Yes, repairing and restoring your life. 

So right now, beloved, surrender your situation to the Lord. Surrender all those past that have been pulling you back and holding you back. Maybe you feel that you have been tied up. Maybe you feel that you cannot move ahead to embrace the new that the Lord has for you. The Lord is saying to you right now that there's hope for you. Today, you can be set free. Today, the anointing has been rubbed on you. You can break free to embrace the new that the Lord has for you! Hallelujah!

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Words from the Lord: "A shifting is taking place!"

The Lord says: 

"This is the time for a shift to the new! There is a shifting taking place in the spiritual realm. Move and flow with My time and season. There is even a shifting of mindsets and a shifting of how My people begin to see and understand things. This is the time to walk away from the past that has bound you, and walk into the many new and greater things that I have prepared for you!" 

The word 'shift' in our context here can mean 'a change of direction in life, a change of perspective in life, or a change of priority in life'. It can also mean 'the start of a new season in life, or the start of a new chapter in life'. 

Indeed, there is a shifting taking place right now. A shifting to the better in your life! 

A new chapter is unfolding for your life! A new page is unfolding for your life! 

This is the time to walk into it! 

In Ezekiel 36:25-27, the Lord says: "I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean; I will cleanse you from all your filthiness and from all your idols. I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgments and do them." 

Even though these verses are meant as God's promises and blessings for Israel, but in our context today, these verses can also apply to you and I. Why? Because we are God's people and God's beloved too!

This is the time and season that the Lord is putting new things into your life! Today, the Lord has spoken clearly, that something has started to change in your life! Change to the better, of course! Receive this by faith!

Interestingly, the word 'statutes' here in Ezekiel 36:27 is 'choq' in Hebrew, and this word can mean 'appointments, instructions, decrees, commands'. As you begin to receive the newness from the Lord and the refreshing in your spirit, and as you begin to walk according to His instructions and blueprints for your life, you will also begin to walk into new appointments that are being set up by the Lord for you. Yes, new appointments, divine appointments, that will open up new opportunities and new things for you! Even new friendships and new open doors! 

In Ezekiel 36:34-36, the Lord says: "The desolate land shall be tilled instead of lying desolate in the sight of all who pass by. So they will say, 'This land that was desolate has become like the garden of Eden; and the wasted, desolate, and ruined cities are now fortified and inhabited.' Then the nations which are left all around you shall know that I, the Lord, have rebuilt the ruined places and planted what was desolate. I, the Lord have spoken it, and I will do it." 

Even though these verses are, again, meant for Israel, but these verses can also apply to you too.

Whatever 'desolation', 'barrenness', or 'ruins' that you have experienced in your past, that's past. Let all these go. Let go of whatever mistake and sin in your past. Let go of whatever that has held you back from moving forward to the new. Let go of those hurts. Let go of those unforgiveness. Let go of those regrets. Let go of those bitterness. Yes, even let go of the envy or jealousy that you may have regarding somebody else. Open that prison doors, and let them go. 

Yes, even let go of all your burdens to the Lord. 

Today, the Lord is planting new seeds in your life! You shall begin to see new things. You shall begin to see better things. You shall begin to see all these coming forth in your life. You shall shift even from barrenness to fruitfulness. Remember the word 'shift' today. The shift that the Lord is doing right now in your life! Yes, a shift to the better! 

So, beloved, don't miss out what God is doing in your life right now. This is your time to walk out of your 'ruins' and 'desolations'! This is your time to walk into the many new things that God has in store for you! Don't look back. Don't linger in that past, whatever that past may be. There is a whole new world waiting for you. There is a whole new world of new things ahead of you. Take this step of faith to the new, just as what prophet Ezekiel had prophesied in Ezekiel 36! 

Indeed, the best is still to come for you! 

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Words for 2024: A Year of Resounding Victory!

The Lord says: 

"In spite of the odds, and in spite of all the chaos and shakings in the spiritual realm and physical realm on earth this year, for those who look to Me and put their hope in Me, they will see a year of resounding victory!"

The Lord says:

"There will be many shocks and surprises that the world cannot imagine yet for this year, both in the spiritual realm and physical realm, but fear not! For those who keep looking to Me, I will know how to be their hiding place, and I will know how to lead them to be at the right place at the right time!"

Indeed, this is a year of many surprises. There will be good ones. But there will also be bad ones. But for you who look to the Lord, He has promised you that He will be your refuge and your hiding place. So, fear not!

The Lord says further:

"This is the year of many new ventures and opportunities for you. This is a year you are going to see the unveiling of the new you! You are going to see a new you surfacing. You are going to see your hidden talents and giftings surfacing. You are going to see new opportunities in life that you have never imagined you can walk into. You are going to spring a surprise when no one expects it."

On a personal front, and as an individual, the Lord says this is a year of many pleasant surprises for you. Yes, even in ways that you've never expected it. Just do not limit the Lord. Your part is to keep looking to the Lord. And never let your eyes depart from His Word.

I therefore declare by faith that this is going to be a year of resounding victory for you! This is a year you're going to see the unveiling of the new you! This is a year you're going to see new opportunities and open doors like you've never thought possible! Receive by faith!

To back up this 'resounding victory' that the Lord has spoken, let's go all the way to Psalm 118. This psalm speaks of a very great victory and success for those who look to the Lord. This psalm teaches us that we can trust the Lord more than anyone else on earth. Only the Lord, and no one else, can bring deliverance and resounding victory to us, even against all odds, or despite success being very unlikely. To man, it may be impossible. But to God, all things are possible!

Psalm 118:14-17 (NKJV) says, 'The Lord is my strength and song, and He has become my salvation. The voice of rejoicing and salvation is in the tents of the righteous. The right hand of the Lord does valiantly. The right hand of the Lord is exalted. The right hand of the Lord does valiantly. I shall not die, but live, and declare the works of the Lord.'   

Right now, the Lord is releasing such anointing and strength upon you. There's a release of fresh anointing upon you to subdue and to walk in a greater victory. There's a release of fresh anointing upon you to walk into the many new things and new ventures in your life. The talents and giftings that you never knew you have, many of these shall begin to surface and be unveiled this year. If you think there's only so much you are good at so far in your life, you are going to be in for a surprise. Or if you think you are good at nothing, or you have been a 'flop' or failure before, you will also be in for a surprise. You will begin to see how much the Lord loves you and how much more He wants to do in your life. In short, it's not over yet! There's more to come in your life! So, take heart!

How do I prepare myself for year 2024? 

Solidify your relationship with the Lord! The word 'solidify' simply means 'to make stronger, to make solid'. In other words, go deeper, closer, and more intimate than ever before with the Lord. Deeper in the Word. Deeper in the Spirit. Deeper in worship. Deeper in prayer. Because there's more that the Lord wants to show you and reveal to you this year. 

I see 'scales' are dropping from the eyes of many people, and the Lord is enlightening the spiritual eyes of understanding of many of His people this year. The things that they couldn't see in the past, they will begin to see, and they will begin to see clearer and clearer. It's like the Lord is clearing the 'dark clouds' around His people this year.

Many people in the world may be busy coming up with resolutions. But you ask the Lord: "O Lord God, let Your Spirit of wisdom and revelation flow in me. Open my spiritual eyes and enlighten my spiritual eyes, so that I will begin to see more and more, deeper and deeper in Your realm. I will begin to see how You see. I will begin to see what You see. Amen." 

Prayer for this year 2024:

"O Lord God, we thank You for the words that You have spoken for the year 2024. We receive our deliverance by faith. We receive our victory by faith. We declare a resounding victory for us, even against all odds, and in spite of the odds that are stacked against us. We declare the unveiling of the many new things in our lives. We declare the unveiling of the many new opportunities and doors being opened for us. In Jesus' name. Amen."

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New Spiritual Year 5784. What does God say?

The Lord says: 

"The world may tell you it's going to be a difficult year. The world may tell you it's going to be a year of 'hard landings'. Even though it's going to be a year full of 'suddenlies', shocks and astonishment in the world, but if you are walking in My spiritual realm and My supernatural realm, it's going to be a new year and season when doors are going to be flung open for you! Whatever 'bondage' or 'prison' you may be in right now, this is your time to walk through the 'prison' door and be set free! Keep looking to Me! Keep looking to My Word! Keep praising! Keep rejoicing! And you're going to see My hand opening the door for you!" 

We've read of this expression 'hard landings' just now. The term 'hard landing', by the way, is an aviation term, which refers to the kind of high-speed landing that, while not really an actual crash, it is a source of stress and anxiety, and may even cause physical damage and injury. 

But as for you, people of God, even though 'hard landings' may happen in many parts of the world, you are different! If you keep looking to the Lord your God, all these 'hard landings' in the world will not have any effect on you! You know why? Because you are walking in God's supernatural, heavenly economy! As for me and my house, we truly believe in this. And we want to believe this for you too! I'm not just talking about financial provisions, but I'm talking about provisions in all other ways, and that includes 'open doors', guidance from the Lord, and direction from the Lord, in every aspect of our lives. I'm saying this with humility in my heart. I give all the glory to the Lord. He is great, and He is greatly to be praised. He is a supernatural God. He is above this natural world. And you belong to His realm. You belong to Him. Amen! 

So, this is your time and your season to walk through open doors, doors that are opened by the Lord. Do not miss this time and season. Yes, doors are going to be suddenly flung open for you, in spite of all the odds and impossibilities. Indeed, this is the season of many 'suddenlies'. Many things are going to happen suddenly. You'll be hearing a lot of shocking things and a lot of astonishments. Nations rising against nations. Wars and rumors of war will be heard louder and louder. Nations will be aligning in ways that may catch many by surprise. There will be a number of 'changing of the guards' in many nations. Earthquakes and more earthquakes. Natural calamities will increase in many parts of the world. 

But fear not, when you see all these things happen. Your part is to keep looking to the Lord your God. Return to your first love in the Lord. And all is going to be well with you. I declare this upon you and your family. The hand of the Lord will protect you and your family. You will be led by the Spirit of God to be at the right place and at the right time. 

Let's go all the way to Acts chapter 16 right now. Here, you can see that Paul and Silas were walking through doors that have been flung open for them. They were in prison and in chains at that time. But the Lord supernaturally opened the door for them. 

Acts 16:25-26 (NKJV) says, 'But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone's chains were loosed.' 

Now, that was a miracle! The impossible happened! You see, to man it's impossible. But to God, all things are possible! 

People of God, even in the most impossible situation of yours, the Lord can make things possible for you. Look to the Lord. Keep praising the Lord. For some of you, you may be in your 'midnight hour' at the moment. You may be in a time that seems to be the darkest in your life. But take heart. The Lord is with you. Keep looking to the Lord. Keep putting all your trust in the Lord. The Lord will know how to do His part. Whatever your 'chains' or 'bondage' may be at the moment, this is your time to receive the anointing to walk through your 'prison' doors and be set free! Let all your 'chains' be loosened! Indeed, your breakthrough and 'open doors' will happen suddenly! 

In a time of shaking, in a time of shock, in a time of astonishment, and in a time of anxiety, many will start to look to the Lord. They will have nowhere else to turn to, but they will turn to the Lord God Almighty. There will be opportunities for you to share the Good News of our Lord Jesus Christ. You know why? Because many people will be so confused and anxious by what they see or hear in the coming year. They do not know where to look to anymore. Your part is to point them to Jesus who is the Savior and Redeemer of this world, and there's no other. Pray for the Lord to visit your nation, or whichever nation (or nations) that He has put in your heart to pray for. Pray for the Lord to intervene and prevent certain evil from happening to your nation, or the nation (or nations) that you are praying for. Never underestimate the power of your prayer.

Prayer:

"O Lord God, we thank You that this is the year doors are being flung open for us. The world may say it's going to be a difficult year. The world may say it's going to be a year of 'hard landings'. But not us! Because we are walking in Your supernatural realm! It's going to be a new year and season of open doors for us! Whatever 'bondage' or 'prison' we may be in right now, we are now set free! A greater breakthrough and victory is at hand! The power of God is at hand! So, we keep looking to You and Your Word! We keep praising You! We keep rejoicing in You! In the name of Jesus. Amen!" 

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Prophetic words: A time to receive fresh anointing and new strength!

The Lord says: 

"The door that I've opened for you, no man can shut. The calling, vision and purpose that I've shown to you, no power of the enemy can take it away. So, fear not! Keep receiving My strength to run with My calling in your life! Keep looking to Me for My goodness and My victory in your life! Keep trusting in My name and My guidance for your life! The best is yet to come! You are entering a new season of breakthrough in your life! What I've spoken, no man or work of the enemy can reverse it!" 

The Lord says further: 

"This is the season I am releasing a fresh anointing and authority to you! There will be new assignments for you. There will be new surprises for you. There will be new doors of opportunity for you. Your part is to look to Me and receive by faith." 

Indeed, beloved of God, look not behind you, but look ahead of you. Look to the Lord. Because the Lord is about to show you His glory, His goodness, and His victory! This is your season for your breakthrough! Receive these words by faith!

Isaiah 43:18-19 (NKJV) says, 'Do not remember the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I will do a new thing. Now it shall spring forth. Shall you not know it? I will even make a road in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.' 

You may have read these verses many times in your life. But this is that time and season! This is the time and season that He is doing a new thing in your life! Don't miss this time and season! And when He opens the door for you, no man can shut! But you've got to do one thing. You've got to not look behind you. You've got to look ahead and look forward in your life. Yes, look forward to the many new things that He has in store for your life!

Isaiah 43:18-19 (NLT) says, 'But forget all that - it is nothing compared to what I am going to do. For I am about to do something new. See, I have already begun! Do you not see it? I will make a pathway through the wilderness. I will create rivers in the dry wasteland.' 

Forget about those "trophies" or those "acclaims" of your past. You can cherish them of course, but do not just remain there. Instead, keep looking forward and keep running with the Lord's new assignments for your life. Why? Because greater things are in store for you. The best is yet to come! 

This is also the time to receive new strength from the Lord! Yes, this is the time to rise up and run with this new strength that the Lord is giving you!

Exodus 23:25-27 (NKJV) says, 'So you shall serve the Lord your God, and He will bless your bread and your water. And I will take sickness away from the midst of you. No one shall suffer miscarriage or be barren in your land. I will fulfill the number of your days. I will send My fear before you, I will cause confusion among all the people to whom you come, and I will make all your enemies turn their backs to you.'  

The Lord will ensure that you will not be barren. Your 'land' will be fertile and fruitful. You will be well provided for, and you will be well protected. Not only that, the Lord will give you long, full, and abundant life. That's what the Scripture says here. Believe for it! 

In fact, the enemy will be terrified, because the Lord is with you. They will flee from you, wherever the Lord leads you, and wherever the Lord puts you! As you walk hand in hand with the Lord, and as you obey His instructions every step of the way, the work of darkness will have to hands off you! This is the Lord's promise for you!

Exodus 23:28-30 (NKJV) says, 'And I will send hornets before you, which shall drive out the Hivite, the Canaanite, and the Hittite from before you... Little by little I will drive them out from before you, until you have increased, and you inherit the land.' 

Indeed, the 'land' and the 'ground' that the Lord has given to you, the Lord also says you shall see your increase! Whatever the Lord has given to you, no one can take it away! You will triumph! You will see your victory! So, in spite of the current situation that you may be facing, whatever 'doom' or 'gloom' that you may be facing at the moment, or if you are surrounded by the power of the enemy against you, fear not! Because the Lord has promised that you shall see your increase, and your path is going to shine brighter and brighter! 

As He leads, you follow. You will not go wrong if you follow Him. But one thing that you need to do is to continue to humble yourself under the mighty hand of God. Humility is always the precondition before great things happen. This is consistent in the whole Scripture. Humility always comes first, and then honor comes. The opposite is also true. With pride is downfall. 

Proverbs 18:12 (NKJV) says, 'Before destruction the heart of a man is haughty, and before honor is humility.' 

The word 'humility' here is 'anawvaw' in Hebrew. It can mean 'a heart that is lowly and down-to-earth'. It can mean 'a heart that is not lifted up'. In the context of our lives before the Lord, 'a heart that is in full submission to the Lord'. It means when He says so, you say so; and when He says no, you say no. It means you walk in full obedience and submission to the Lord. This is humility before the Lord. And when there is humility, there will be honor.

Proverbs 29:23 (NKJV) says, 'A man's pride will bring him low, but the humble in spirit will retain honor.' 

Interestingly, this English word 'humble' comes from the Latin word 'humilis', which means 'lowly'. This word 'humilis' in turn comes from the word 'humus', which means 'ground'. In other words, 'to be humble' is 'to stay down-to-earth', or 'to stay grounded', no matter what. You may have heard the saying that goes 'honesty is the best policy'. Now of course, being honest is a good virtue. Keep it up. But I tell you what, in the spiritual world, in the spiritual realm, staying humble is an essential key to receiving honor. This is where Lucifer failed. So, it's not just 'honesty is the best policy', but 'humility is also the best policy', especially in the spiritual sense. Because with pride comes downfall. But with humility comes honor.

Let's get back to our prophetic words today. We go all the way to Joshua 1:1-3 now. These are familiar verses for many of us. But this is that time, this is that season for you to receive all that the Lord has spoken in Joshua 1! We've looked at what the Lord has spoken to Moses. But now, we shall look at what the Lord has spoken to Joshua. Indeed, after Moses, it's Joshua's time! And yes, your Joshua's time has come! It's a new beginning! I heard from the Lord that indeed many of God's people at this juncture of their lives, they are in this transition right now. They are in this transition from Moses' time to Joshua's time! 

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."' 

Joshua 1:5-7 (NKJV) says, 'No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life; as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you nor forsake you. Be strong and of good courage, for to this people you shall divide as an inheritance the land which I swore to their fathers to give them. Only be strong and very courageous, that you may observe to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may prosper wherever you go.' 

Indeed, do not turn to the left or to the right, but turn to the Lord! The Lord is giving you a new vision. The Lord is giving you a new purpose. The Lord is giving you a new assignment that's going to catapult you and propel you to greater heights and greater victories, both in the spiritual realm and also in the physical realm. Receive this by faith! 

So, what is the time and season for you right now? It's your 'Joshua' time! Just don't look back, but look ahead of you. Receive a fresh anointing from the Lord right now! Receive a new strength from the Lord right now! Receive the victory and breakthrough for your life right now! And begin to experience the goodness of God in your life like never before. Amen!

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Your 'winter time' is coming to an end!

The Lord says: 

"My child, your 'winter time' is coming to an end. Your darkest time is coming to an end. The 'rain cloud' is gone and it's now time for rejoicing and a new hope. Whatever you have gone through during your darkest time, I see it and I understand it. It's time to wipe your tears away and look to Me. There is a new hope for you." 

Indeed, your 'winter time' is coming to an end! It's a time for rejoicing! It's a time for a fresh new hope! No matter what you've been going through in recent times, even in your darkest of times, the light from the throne of God has started to shine on you! These are His words for you right now.

I believe the Lord isn't talking about the Northern Hemisphere or Southern Hemisphere geographically, i.e. the winter season in this physical world. But rather, He is talking about the 'spiritual winter' that many of His beloved have been going through in recent times. 

What is a 'spiritual winter'? It can mean in a particular season, many things may seem to be dormant and inactive in one's life, or nothing significant seems to be happening in one's life. We all go through such a time at different seasons or stages in our lives. But take heart, beloved, because the Lord has spoken today that your 'winter time' is coming to an end! It's a time for you to rejoice! It's a time for you to look ahead with a fresh new hope! 

In Isaiah 41:10, the Lord says: "Don't be afraid, for I am with you. Don't be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with My victorious right hand."

In Isaiah 41:13, the Lord says: "For I hold you by your right hand. I, the Lord your God. And I say to you, 'Don't be afraid. I am here to help you.''' 

What does 'right hand' signify here? It's a hand of blessing. It's a hand of strength. It's a hand of authority. In the Scripture, 'right hand' therefore signifies blessing, strength, and authority. All these have been released to you in this time and season. Receive by faith!

In Isaiah 41:17-18, the Lord says: "When the poor and needy search for water and there is none, and their tongues are parched from thirst, then I, the Lord will answer them. I, the God of Israel, will never abandon them. I will open up rivers for them on the high plateaus. I will give them fountains of water in the valleys. I will fill the desert with pools of water. Rivers fed by springs will flow across the parched ground."

In Isaiah 41:19-20, the Lord says further: "I will plant trees in the barren desert - cedar, acacia, myrtle, olive, cypress, fir, and pine. I am doing this so all who see this miracle will understand what it means - that it is the Lord who has done this, the Holy One of Israel who created it."

Maybe you have been crying out to the Lord recently. Maybe you have been going through the darkest of nights recently. Maybe you have been going through some very difficult challenges in life recently. But I tell you what. Your cry has been heard by the Lord.

In Psalm 56:8-9, David wrote: 'You have kept count of my tossings; put my tears in Your bottle. Are they not in Your book? Then my enemies will turn back in the day when I call. This I know, that God is for me.' 

The word 'tossings' here is 'node' in Hebrew. It can mean 'troubles' or 'aimless wanderings'. Here, David wrote that the Lord saw all that he has gone through. The Lord saw all his tears, and even kept it in His bottle! The Lord's bottle! Whether this is literally or symbolically, it speaks of the Lord remembering all of David's tears. 

Now, it is the same with you, because you too are the beloved of God. The Lord remembers all your tears, and He is keeping all your tears in His bottle! In other words, He remembers all that you have gone through, and He understands all that you have gone through. 

Indeed, nothing escapes the eyes of the Lord. Maybe you have been disadvantaged, you have been cheated, or you have been betrayed by some people in this world. But rest assured the Lord will know how to turn things around for you and reward you, even in ways unimaginable to you.

Now, this psalm, particularly these two verses, are beautiful words written by David. And he knew what he's writing. Why? Because he has gone through a lot in his life, and yet, he has also tasted and seen the faithfulness of God through it all. You name it: Distress. Discouragement. Lost hope. Humiliation. Betrayal. Slander from people. Jealousy from people. Conspiracy against him. He has gone through all that. 

Yet the Lord actually gave him this assurance that He knows all that, He sees all that, and most importantly, the Lord's with him. 

So beloved, if you are like David, and you think no one on this earth understands you, the Lord understands you. He has not forgotten all your pains, your griefs, and your disappointments in your life. He remembers every single tear that you've shed in secret, and even in your darkest of nights. 

You can trust Him in this assurance, because He is (and will always be) a faithful God to you. And you can be assured that He will also know how to set you free from whatever the problem or situation that you may be facing recently. Amen!

Click here for the full message in TiC YouTube Channel

Watch this if you are feeling worthless or defeated!

What does the Lord say for this time?

The Lord has not forgotten you! The Lord has a destiny for you! And He wants you to fulfill that destiny, no matter what has happened in your past, or no matter how terrible your past may be!

We are going to look at the life and ministry of someone called Jephthah in the Book of Judges. Here, we'll see that the Lord remembered him and has a destiny for him, despite his broken past or upbringing.

Judges 11:1-2 (NKJV) says, 'Now Jephthah the Gileadite was a mighty man of valor, but he was the son of a harlot; and Gilead begot Jephthah. Gilead's wife bore sons; and when his wife's sons grew up, they drove Jephthah out and said to Jephthah, "You shall have no inheritance in our father's house, for you are the son of another woman."'

You see over here that Jephthah was being driven out from his own household. Why? Simply because his half-brothers didn't accept him due to him being a son of a harlot. In other words, he was considered by his half-brothers as illegitimate child. They were judging Jephthah based on his background, even though this wasn't even his fault! 

But I tell you what, beloved, the Lord your God doesn't judge you based on all these! The Lord your God understands everything that you have gone through. He understands your background. He understands whatever trauma, trouble, or shame that you may have gone through in your past. And He is here to deliver you and set you free! 

So today is a day of deliverance for you! Today is a day you are being set free! 

By the way, interestingly, the name 'Jephthah', which is 'Yif-tawkh' in Hebrew, means 'He will open, or He will release.' This shows that the Lord your God can open a way for you in spite of your broken past, whatever your past may be. Maybe it's a broken family. Maybe it's a broken childhood. Maybe rejection from people. Maybe it's a past mistake or mistakes that you have made. Maybe it's a past regret. Whatever it may be, none of these will be able to hinder the Lord from opening a way for your life, and to show you His kindness and goodness! 

So, will you surrender your situation before the Lord? Whatever your situation may be! Nothing is impossible to Him. He can turn things around for you. Remember this today: The Lord has not forgotten you! The Lord remembers you! And the Lord is here to deliver you, set you free, and open a way for you! Now, that's what 'Jephthah' means! 

Back to the meaning of 'Jephthah' here. Not only will the Lord open a way for you, the Lord will also release you and set you free! This name 'Jephthah' also shows that the Lord your God can release you from your past bondage, past shame, or even past trauma in your life! He can give you a new lease of life! And He can give you the victory and breakthrough in your life! Your part is to look to Him and trust in Him. 

There's nothing that is accidental in the Bible. Everything that's written in the Bible, there's a reason that God puts it there. And over here, you see that 'Jephthah' means 'He will open, or He will release.' Now it is the same with you. He will open a way for you. He will release you and set you free from your past, whatever your past may be. And this is your God! This is a God who is kind and who is good to you. You've got to remember this always. You've got to believe, and you shall receive, that the Lord is kind, and the Lord is good to you. Amen! 

And you can see here in Judges 11:3 (NKJV) that says, 'Then Jephthah fled from his brothers and dwelt in the land of Tob.' Now, interestingly, the word 'Tob' means 'Good'. It means the Lord wanted to show a way for Jephthah, and the Lord wanted to show goodness and kindness to him. In other words, the Lord was in the process of preparing something good for him! Now, of course geographically speaking, Tob was actually a real place at the east side of the Jordan River. But 'Tob' means 'Good' too!

So you see, the Lord will know how to lead you into something good, even though you may not initially understand why certain things happened in your life, especially those not-so-good things. 

I continue with Judges 11:3 (NKJV), 'And worthless men banded together with Jephthah and went out raiding with him.' Now, a lot of people interpret this part as Jephthah mixing with gangsters and doing all those gangsters' work. I don't think so. So, who were these 'worthless men'? If you study the original word for this word 'worthless' here, you would see that these men were not necessarily criminals, bandits, or robbers. They were simply a group of outcast and worthless people in the eyes of the world. But to God, Jephthah and these people were not worthless. They might be poor or without much possessions; but they were not necessarily criminals. In fact, they were probably fighting against invaders into that land, or protecting some families in that land. 

Judges 11:4-5 (NKJV) then says, 'It came to pass after a time that the people of Ammon made war against Israel. And so it was, when the people of Ammon made war against Israel, that the elders of Gilead went to get Jephthah from the land of Tob.' 

In other words, when the people were in trouble those days, only then they thought of Jephthah and looked for Jephthah. Remember, these were the very people who rejected Jephthah in the past. 

For some of you, maybe you too have been rejected, shunned, or despised before in the past. Take heart. Surrender your situation to the Lord. Forgive yourself. Forgive those who have rejected you, shunned you, or despised you. Look to the Lord. The Lord has a plan for you. The Lord has a destiny for you. And the Lord remembers you. He is going to cause everything to turn out for good to you.

And that's exactly what happened for Jephthah. 

Judges 11:6 (NKJV) says, 'Then they said to Jephthah, "Come and be our commander, that we may fight against the people of Ammon."' What a turnaround! They even invited Jephthah to be their leader! Maybe because they were desperate, and they knew no one could help them and deliver them the way Jephthah could. 

Let's look at Jephthah's answer. Judges 11:7 (NKJV) says, 'So Jephthah said to the elders of Gilead, "Did you not hate me and expel me from my father's house? Why have you come to me now when you are in distress?"' Here, Jephthah was just saying the fact. 

Did Jephthah forgive them and accept this offer? 

Let's read further. 

Judges 11:11 (NKJV) says, 'Then Jephthah went with the elders of Gilead, and the people made him head and commander over them...' 

So the answer is Yes. Jephthah forgave them, and he went on to be their leader. I mean he could have continued in his bitterness and this was a chance for him to exact revenge against the very people who rejected him earlier. But you see here, Jephthah has a big heart, and he has a heart for God. He wanted to see his people being delivered from the enemies. 

You see here that there was actually a proper closure. There was a forgiveness. There was a release. And the Lord gave Jephthah a new lease of life. This was also a time when Jephthah was about to be raised up by the Lord to be a deliverer for the whole nation. He was rejected by his own people, but now the Lord raised him up to be the deliverer of the very people who rejected him in the past! 

And you know what? The rest is history. The Spirit of the Lord was with Jephthah, and he (and the people of the Lord those days) went on to defeat the people of Ammon!

Hallelujah!

People of God, in the name of Jesus, there's a release of anointing right now to set you free from whatever that has caused you to be in a bondage, or whatever that has oppressed you or suppressed you. Be set free! Be released to walk in your God-given destiny, going forward!

And this year, you are going to walk in His destiny for your life! This is a year of a fresh new start in your life! This is a year you are going to advance and move forward in your life! I declare this upon you, in the name of Jesus!

Let us pray: 

"O Lord God, we do not want to be bound by the past brokenness and bitterness. We receive Your anointing right now to advance and to move forward in life. We receive Your anointing right now to have a fresh new start. Like Jephthah in the Scripture, we can forgive and we can let go, whatever happened in our past. This year is a year of destiny for us. This year is a year to advance and to move forward. And of course this year is a year of victory and breakthrough for us. In the name of Jesus. Amen."

Click here for the full teaching in TiC YouTube Channel

A time to uproot and be set free!

The Lord says,

"This is a time to uproot and be set free from your past, and even from bondage, curse, or soul ties from your past! Do not miss this time and season! There's a window of opportunity in every time and season. This is your time to be set free from the old, and from whatever that has 'tied you up' all these years! For I am giving you a new heart and a new mind! And I am giving you a new strength and a new wisdom for what's ahead of you!"

Indeed, people of God, this is a time to uproot and be set free from whatever that has bound you in the past! The Lord is in the midst of coming right into those areas of your past, pulling up those 'roots', and setting you free! Let Him! And like a bird being released from the cage, so will you be! Don't miss this time and season! In fact, this is your window of opportunity for a reset! Be it in the spirit realm, soul realm, or even physical realm!

If you've been seeking the Lord for what's ahead, don't be surprised if the Lord will even give you dreams (or revelations) to bring you back to a certain time in your past (e.g. childhood years, teenage years, college years, early adulthood, past relationships, past working places, etc). But fear not! It is meant to set you free and to set you up for a new future! He is in the midst of completely uprooting you from any negative soul ties (or emotional ties) that had bound you all these years! Yeah, even from any controlling (or manipulative) people in your life! Or even from any residue of generation curse!

So, I would like to congratulate you for a new future ahead of you! I declare that every bondage, curse, or negative soul ties in your life is broken right now, in Jesus' name! Hallelujah! Your mourning is turning into dancing, and your ashes is turning into beauty! It sounds impossible to men, but nothing is impossible to the Lord your God! He can cut rivers in the desert, and turn the desert (or wilderness) of your life into a garden (or orchard)!

What's in your past, or what's been done by your ancestors in the past WILL NOT RUB ON YOU! Ezekiel 18:1-3 says, 'The word of the LORD came to me again, saying, "What do you mean when you use this proverb concerning the land of Israel, saying: 'The fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the children's teeth are set on edge'? "As I live," says the Lord God, "you shall no longer use this proverb in Israel"'. The expression 'teeth are set on edge' here means 'to be greatly irritated, to be greatly annoyed, to have great discomfort, or to be greatly affected'.

For the record, the Israelites those days used a lot of proverbs to convey their messages. And this proverb was actually a proverb of complaint! They were complaining that the present generation was being unjustly punished for what their forefathers did (for example, idolatry)! Instead of the forefathers (who ate sour grapes) being the ones tasting the sour taste, it was them (the descendants) who have the sour taste now! And the LORD meant, "NO WAY! NO WAY that what's past will rub on you!"

Now, that's good news! Indeed, we give thanks to the LORD, for He is good, and His mercy endures forever! (Psalm 136:1) Thank God for what Jesus has done for us on the cross! (Isaiah 53:3-5) Every curse (or generation curse) is broken, and you are now set free! And you can have a new start today!

"Cast away from you all the transgressions which you have committed, and get yourselves a new heart and a new spirit. For why should you die, O house of Israel? For I have no pleasure in the death of one who dies," says the Lord God. "Therefore turn and live!" (Ezekiel 18:31-32)

"I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgments and do them. Then you shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers; you shall be My people, and I will be your God." (Ezekiel 36:26-28)

Prayer to uproot and be set free:
"O LORD, I give thanks to You and I turn to You, because You are good, and Your mercy endures forever. I present before You all these bondage, curse, or negative soul ties .......... I declare all these are broken when JESUS died for me on the cross. I am now set free, and I am now released for the new works that You are doing in my life. In Jesus' name. Amen!"

After this prayer, forgive and let go of that past situation/incident. Look ahead, and look to Him for His divine wisdom and guidance. The LORD will be with you. Amen.

For the preaching video, click to watch

A time to let go of your baggage!

The Lord spoke these words:
"This is the time to let go of your baggage! Let go of those ungodly things! Let go of those issues that encumber you! Let go of those burdens and weights that bog you down! Cast all these to Me, for I am the Lord who cares for you! Look to Me, and I will show you the many new things that you know not of yet!"

The definition of 'baggage' in this context here is 'an issue, a matter, a burden, a weight, or a hindrance regarding your past that adversely affect your current life'. Hebrews 12:1-2a says, 'Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, 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...' Here, the word 'weight' is 'ogkos' in Greek, and it can mean 'a burden, a hindrance, or a heavy load'.

What are the 'baggages' that you still hang on to?
- Spiritual baggage (whatever sin, idolatry, uncleanness)
- Emotional baggage (bitterness, hurt, emotional wound)
- Mental baggage (thoughts/memories/mindsets that aren't useful)
- Physical baggage (clutter/junks in your house/room)
- Relational baggage (toxic relations)
- Habitual baggage (bad habits/addictions)
- Debt baggage
- Sickness baggage

Some people become miserable or self-centered, and they would blame it on the past (or some people of the past), saying, "I am this way because of how that person abused/mistreated/did so and so to me." But beloved of God, whatever your past may be, let it go, and do not hold on to it. The Lord loves you and He wants to do a new thing in your life. For you readers, I want to declare that you are not 'over the hill', but there are greater things that He wants to show you, moving forward. The best is still to come! Isaiah 43:18-19 says, 'Do not remember the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I will do a new thing, now it shall spring forth; Shall you not know it? I will even make a road in the wilderness and rivers in the desert'. Indeed, to Him, nothing is impossible, and He will make rivers in the desert for you!

There are times we will never be able to understand why some things happen in our lives, or why we have to go through some 'valleys' in life. But there's one thing that we can always believe, in that 'all things will work together for good to those who love Him, to those who are the called according to His purpose' (Romans 8:28). In Philippians 3:12-14, the apostle Paul wrote, 'Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. 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'.

God can make you forget your toil!
In Genesis 41:51, the Scripture says, 'Joseph called the name of the firstborn Manasseh: "For God has made me forget all my toil."' We all know that Joseph had gone through much and had suffered much. He was thrown into the pit, sold as a slave by his brothers, falsely accused of having an affair with Potiphar's wife, and was eventually thrown into the prison. But the Lord was still with him, and instead of getting bitter, he got better. Through those years, the Lord worked in his life, changed his life from the inside out, and the time for God's greater works in his life finally came. Having successfully interpreted Pharaoh's dreams, Joseph rose to power in Egypt, and that's when to him was born his first son, and he fittingly called the firstborn 'Manasseh'. This name 'Manasseh' in Hebrew simply means 'causing to forget', from the word 'nashah', meaning 'to forget, to let go'. Notice in this verse also, it's God who had made him forget all his toil. The word 'toil' here is 'awmawl' in Hebrew, and it can mean 'grievances, misery, pain, sorrows, trouble, weariness, labor'. Beloved of God, He can cause you to forget all your 'toil' too, and He will know how to turn things around for you, if you look to Him and put your trust in Him. Amen!