Prophetic words: A time to advance and flourish!

Words from the Lord: 

"This new spiritual year is a year of moving, advancing and possessing! This is the year of moving from the old and advancing to the new. This is the year to possess your inheritance in Me and move into a new assignment that I have prepared for you!"

Further words from the Lord: 

"Like Joshua when he left the wilderness and moved into the Promised Land, a new strength and a new momentum is building for My people. Wisdom and revelation will be added upon My people. You will know the right direction to go, and the right way to do things. Fresh revelations will flow."

We have entered a brand new Hebrew year, a brand new spiritual year! 

The key for this new spiritual year is moving, advancing and possessing!

As I was praying in the spirit, the Lord gave me a vision. In the vision, I saw rows and rows of new palm trees growing right before my eyes. The trees are growing very fast, like even before someone finished planting a new palm tree, the tree before that has already grown to be a matured tree, bearing fruit. And I saw tree after tree, each one grew so fast and began to bear fruit.

I asked the Lord for the interpretation of this vision. And this is what the Lord said: "Like the palm trees, many things are going to accelerate in ways you cannot imagine possible. There's going to be a lot of movement and advancing in the spiritual realm, and it will be reflected in the physical realm. Like Joshua after crossing Jordan, the conquests happened so fast - in just that few years - as he led the people to possess their inheritance."

Some of you may ask, "What is the significance or symbolic meaning of palm tree according to the Scripture?"

Psalm 92:12 (NKJV) says, 'The righteous shall flourish like a palm tree. He shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon.'

'Palm tree' here is 'tawmawr' in Hebrew, from the original root word meaning 'to grow, to flourish, to shoot up, to go upright'.

For the record, palm tree is a fruit bearing tree. In fact, a palm tree bears fruit that is super nutritious. The fruit, or the dates of the palm tree, is considered one of the super foods even today. This fruit can sustain people's life for a long time even without them eating any other food. 

You see, not only palm dates are super nutritious, but palm dates can also sustain people's life for a long time. Therefore, 'palm tree' speaks of 'flourishing'. Beloved of God, you too are like the palm tree! You too will flourish! And this is what you're going to see happening in your life, as you look to the Lord and flow with the Lord!

Even as you begin this new spiritual year, the Hebrew new year (and this includes a big portion of the Gregorian year 2023), receive this grace from the Lord to flourish, to advance, and to shoot up! Not just that. You are going to triumph! You are going to overcome! And like Joshua, you are going to possess the inheritance that the Lord has wanted to give to you this brand new spiritual year!

Prayer:

"O Lord God, we thank You for Your prophetic words today. We thank You that as we look to You and follow Your leading the way Joshua followed You, we shall advance and possess our inheritance that You have promised us. We want to be like the palm trees that flourish and bear much fruit, as we look forward and look ahead in our lives. We want to walk in the fullness of what You have prepared for us in this brand new spiritual year. In the name of Jesus. Amen."

Click here for the full message in TiC's YouTube Channel

7 steps how to take possession of your 'Promised Land'

Words from the Lord:

"Take possession of what I have given you and entrusted to you. Guard it, and command the enemy to hands off. Hang on strong. Your patience and perseverance will pay off. I will give you the wisdom that you need, step by step, every step of the way."

To the Israelites and their journey to Canaan those days, their Promised Land was already waiting for them to take possession of - the land flowing with milk and honey, where there is provision, protection, and blessing!

How about you? What is your 'Promised Land'? For different people, it may be different. For some, it may be to start a business. For some, it may be to see a specific healing happening. For some, it may be to live a debt-free life. Yet for some others, it may be freedom from a certain addiction. 

Whatever your 'Promised Land' may be, here are the 7 steps on how to take possession of it!

1. Remember God's covenant and vision for you!

Genesis 17:1-4 (NKJV) says, 'When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the LORD appeared to Abram and said to him, "I am Almighty God; walk before Me and be blameless. And I will make My covenant between Me and you, and will multiply you exceedingly." Then Abram fell on his face, and God talked with him, saying: "As for Me, behold, My covenant is with you, and you shall be a father to many nations."'

Never forget God has made a covenant with you the moment you are born again. Never forget God has good plans and purposes for you all the days of your life. Never forget all the promises God has made in order to bless you. Because you are the heir of Abraham by faith. Keep meditating on what God has spoken to you, and do not let it depart from your eyes!

2. Allow God to change you for the new season!

Genesis 17:5-8 (NKJV) says, "No longer shall your name be called Abram, but your name shall be Abraham; for I have made you a father of many nations. I will make you exceedingly fruitful; and I will make nations of you, and kings shall come to you. And I will establish My covenant between Me and you and your descendants after you in their generations, for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and your descendants after you. Also I give to you and your descendants after you the land in which you are a stranger, all the land of Canaan, as an everlasting possession; and I will be their God."

From Abram ('exalted father') to Abraham ('father of multitude of nations'), there was a name change for Abraham. A change of name speaks of a change of identity, or even a change in character. From being just a father to his family clan, the Lord expanded his vision and horizon to being a father of multitude of nations!

Of course, for you, it doesn't necessarily mean you need to change your name. But you can ask the Lord what are the areas in your life that need change. Allow Him to change you in those areas. That's how you'll be well positioned and well prepared for the many new things that God has in store for you!

3. Obey God's instructions and commands!

Genesis 22:16-18 (NKJV) says, '(Then the Angel of the Lord called to Abraham)... and said, "By Myself I have sworn, says the Lord, because you have done this thing, and have not withheld your son, your only son - blessing I will bless you, and multiplying I will multiply your descendants as the stars of the heaven and as the sand which is on the seashore; and your descendants shall possess the gate of their enemies. In your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed, because you have obeyed My voice."'

What was this thing that Abraham had done? He obeyed God's command to bring his son Isaac to Moriah and offer him as burnt offering! Of course God later provided a ram to be offered instead.

Indeed, obedience determines the outcome. Not just the major ones (like in Abraham's case here), but even the little steps of obedience that you take, all these can go a long way to determine the outcome that is favorable to you!

4. Get rid of complaints and negativity!

Numbers 13:31-33 (NKJV) says, 'But the men who had gone up with him (Caleb) said, "We are not able to go up against the people, for they are stronger than we." And they gave the children of Israel a bad report of the land which they had spied out, saying, "The land through which we have gone as spies and all the people whom we saw in it are men of great stature. There we saw giants (the descendants of Anak); and we were like grasshoppers in our own sight, and so we were in their sight."'

The background here is that Moses sent twelve spies to spy out the Promised Land, and one of them, Caleb, actually came back and said, "Let us go up to the land at once and take possession, for we are well able to overcome it." But alas, the men who had gone up with him didn't think so. And with this bad report, the Israelites began to complain against Moses and Aaron, saying, "Why did God bring us to this land to die?" So, all these people were complaining and complaining, and they were dwelling in negativity. As a consequence, that generation died without entering the Promised Land.

So, you need to be careful if you want to possess your 'Promised Land'. Watch what you say. Watch what you think. See your 'Promised Land' with the eyes of faith!

5. Step out of your comfort zone!

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 I am giving them... Every place that the sole of your foot will tread upon I have given you..."'

In other words, the Lord was telling Joshua, "Your senior is already gone. This is the time for you to come out of the shadow, rise up, and lead My people into the Promised Land!" 

Joshua had to come out from the shadow of Moses, and from his own comfort zone, no matter how inexperienced he may be, or unprecedented it may be at that time. But the Lord also said, "Be strong and be courageous!"

Is there any area in your life that you know you've got to step out of your comfort zone in order to possess your 'Promised Land'? If yes, take that step of faith, and fear not! Just as God has spoken to Joshua, God is speaking to you too, "Be strong and be courageous! I will be with you!" 

6. Stop procrastinating and start taking action!

Joshua 3:13 (NKJV) says, 'And it shall come to pass, as soon as the soles of the feet of the priests who bear the ark of the Lord, the Lord of all the earth, shall rest in the waters of the Jordan, that the waters of the Jordan shall be cut off...'

In order to cross the River Jordan into the Promised Land, the Israelites needed to make that first move, i.e. to step on the water! And that's when the water miraculously parted for them to cross over!

What step of faith do you need to take in this new season? If God has spoken for you to do it, don't procrastinate. Take action now. If you can do it today, don't wait till tomorrow. Don't get stuck in procrastination!

7. Persevere through it all the way!

Hebrews 6:11-12 (NKJV) says, 'And we desire that each one of you show the same diligence to the full assurance of hope until the end, that you do not become sluggish, but imitate those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.'

See the words 'until the end' here? It means to persevere! To hang on strong! There may be naysayers along the way, or there may be those who mock or ridicule you for what you do. But keep your focus on what God has spoken for you to do, never get sidetracked, and you will eventually 'reach' that 'Promised Land' of yours. Hallelujah!

Click here for the full teaching in TiC YouTube Channel

A time to take back what you have lost!

The Lord spoke these prophetic words as I was ministering last Sunday:
"This is a month to gain back what you have lost, and that includes even your calling in life! Turn your heart back to Me, and you will receive a new zeal and a fresh new perspective in your life! You will see yourself a 'giant', not an 'ant'! You will step on the mountain, and not succumb under the mountain!"

By the way, the word 'perspective' here means 'seeing correctly into the distance', and 'mountain' here speaks of 'challenges or problems in life'.

Then, the Lord spoke further:

"This is a key time to praise! Praise and keep praising this month, and I will show you how to take back what's meant to be yours, the way I have shown Caleb and Joshua in their days!"

The name 'Caleb' ('Kaleb' in Hebrew) means 'force', coming from the word 'keleb' meaning 'to attack (like a dog)', whereas the name 'Joshua' ('Yehowshuwa' in Hebrew) means 'The Lord (YHWH) saved', from the word 'yasha' meaning 'to save, to rescue, to deliver, to set free, to get victory'.

People of God, no matter what 'mountain' you may be facing at the moment, praise and keep praising the Lord! And watch how the Lord will lead you into a time of 'attacking' and 'getting your victory', just as He had shown Caleb and Joshua those days!

Let's look at Caleb now. The Bible says Caleb has a 'different spirit'. In Numbers 14:24, the Lord says, "But My servant Caleb, because he has a different spirit in him and has followed Me fully, I will bring into the land where he went, and his descendants shall inherit it."

Have you ever wondered what made Caleb different? What's the secret of Caleb that caused him to enter the Promised Land and receive his inheritance?

The answer is found in the very tribe he represented, the tribe of Judah! Numbers 13:1-2 says, 'And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, "Send men to spy out the land of Canaan, which I am giving to the children of Israel; from each tribe of their fathers you shall send a man, everyone a leader among them."' 

The name 'Judah' ('Yehuwdah' in Hebrew) here comes from the word 'yadah', meaning 'to praise, to revere/worship with outstretched hands, to shoot forth'. See the word 'leader' in Numbers 13:2? Caleb was a leader of 'yadah'! In other words, Caleb was a leader of 'praise'! When others in Israel 'lifted up their voices in complaints' (Numbers 14:1-4) because of the 'giants' they saw (Numbers 13:27-33), Caleb 'lifted up his voice in praise'! The truth is something is broken in the enemy's camp when you 'shoot forth' your voices in the praises of the Lord!

You see? Caleb saw differently! He had a different perspective from others in Israel! He saw with the eyes of God!

And that's how he (together with Joshua) led a whole new generation of the children of Israel to take back what was meant to be theirs! For the record, the Lord had already shown their forefather Abraham long time ago that the land was meant for them (Genesis 15:18-21). In fact, Abraham dwelt in that land those days, but somehow through the generations after that, the land was lost! Now, they were there to take it back!

Someone confided in me the other day, "Pastor, I am just an 'ant' among the 'big players' in this industry I am in." But it was then that I was prompted by the Spirit to declare these words to him, saying, "When God is in you, you'll be turned from an 'ant' into a 'giant' in this industry!"

People of God, if you think you are an 'ant' (that is easily stepped upon by the enemy), think again! Because when you invite God into your life and your vocation, you too will be turned from an 'ant' into a 'giant'! 

See the word 'ANT' here? Now see the word 'GIANT'! What's the difference here? The alphabets 'G' and 'I'! Let's play some acronyms here. If 'G' represents 'God', and 'I' represents 'in', there you have it! When GOD is IN you, you'll be turned into a 'GIANT' in the spiritual realm! It will be reflected in the physical realm! And just like Caleb and Joshua, nothing's going to stop you from taking possession of the 'land' that God had promised you!

The 'land' here speaks of 'His promises and His vision' for your life! In other words, what He has spoken to you!

Let's go to Numbers 14:6-9 now. Here, Caleb and Joshua spoke to all the congregation of the children of Israel, saying: "The land we passed through to spy out is an exceedingly good land. If the Lord delights in us, then He will bring us into this land and give it to us, a land which flows with milk and honey. Only do not rebel against the Lord, nor fear the people of the land, for they are our bread; their protection has departed from them, and the Lord is with us. Do not fear them."

Numbers 14:10 then says, 'And all the congregation said to stone them with stones. Now the glory of the Lord appeared in the tabernacle of meeting before all the children of Israel'.

The glory of the Lord appeared then and there as a 'sign' and confirmation (that the Lord is with Caleb and Joshua), and by the Lord's divine intervention, they were prevented from being stoned! 

And you know what this means? When you follow the Lord and walk according to His promises for you, He will also back you up!

Caleb and Joshua are 'pictures' of the apostolic people today, raised up by the Lord in this end time to do great exploits and to take back what was lost!

The word 'apostle' by the way comes from the Greek word 'apostello', meaning 'to set apart, to send out, to send forth, to set at liberty'. And that was exactly what Caleb and Joshua were called for those days! They were to lead a new generation of God's people into the land flowing with milk and honey! They were to set at liberty the old mindset that had bound many in their generation!

Someone asked, "Where are we now in the time-table of God?"

The answer is obvious. We are living in an apostolic era, 'where many run (go) to and fro, and knowledge shall increase' (see Daniel's end time prophecy in Daniel 12:1-4). People are traveling and moving around nowadays like never before in history, and transportation industry (particularly aviation industry) is definitely at its prime time.

God's people are being sent forth (out of their comfort zones) like never before, and this sending forth is not just about sending for missions (or to a country far away), but also a sending forth into the marketplaces, and into every industry (and every facet/aspect of society).

Indeed, God is sending many in this end time!

Let me clarify the difference between 'apostle' and 'apostolic' here. Some are called to be 'apostles' (see Ephesians 4:11-13), but ALL in the Body of Christ today are called to be 'apostolic'. Simply because the very word 'apostolic' ('apostolos' in Greek) means 'he that is sent, he that is commissioned'.

People of God, there is a place for each of you in this end time. No one is left out. Jesus Himself spoke, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." (Matthew 28:18-20)

May the Lord cause you to 'see' His calling in your life with a new zeal and a fresh new perspective, and may you also be counted as the 'Calebs' and 'Joshuas' of today. Amen!

Receiving God's 'marching order'

Joshua 5:14: "... but as Commander of the army of the Lord, I have now come." And Joshua fell on his face to the earth and worshiped, and said to Him, "What does my Lord say to His servant?"

This is your time to 'possess your inheritance'! Joshua chapters 6, 7, 8 are keys. It's a crucial time for 'your spirit to supersede your mind' (i.e. your spirit having the 'upperhand' over your mind), in order for you to hear with 'precision' from the Spirit. One way is by 'tithing' your everyday time to the Lord, especially in praying in the spirit and in the Word. This is also your time to receive your Commander's (Jesus') 'marching order' for your next move (Joshua 5:14).

Many of you may ask this question, "After 'crossing over' my 'River Jordan', then what now?" Just as in Joshua's time, you will receive new strategies from the Lord. You will receive 'new things' (& 'substances'). It's an important time to be in the 'house of prayer', and there's no other safer place than this! This 'house of prayer' can be just you and the Holy Spirit in your prayer closet! This way, you are being 'positioned' to receive His 'marching order' (i.e. specific instructions) as you 'march forth' to gain 'possession of your inheritance' in the new season! God did exactly this to Joshua. He gave His 'marching order' on how to possess Jericho (read Joshua 6) in an unprecedented way, and the whole Israel succeeded in gaining 'possession of their inheritance'! I pray you will too!

People of God, go forward only with the Lord's 'marching order'! Watch out against the 'pitfalls' of moving before His 'marching order'! Learn from Joshua's mistake (read Joshua 7). Right after a great victory at Jericho, Israel fell into humiliation, defeat and discouragement against a lesser enemy, Ai. This happened when Joshua moved forward without gaining the Commander's 'marching order' first. A lot of people preach that Israel's defeat at Ai was due to Achan's sin (of keeping accursed things). That is a valid point, but God showed me that's not the main point here. The main point was the leader, Joshua. As a leader, Joshua was supposed to be responsible for the success or failure of Israel. Why? He's the number 1! The question here is "Did he receive God's 'marching order' first before proceeding to battle Ai?" The answer is "No!" In fact, he acted upon men's opinions and suggestions (Joshua 7:2-3), and these 'ideas' were seemingly good ideas!

How many of you know that "men's good ideas may not be God's ideas for you (or for your church/ministry)"? As a consequence, Israel suffered a humiliating defeat at the hands of the enemy who seemed to be weaker than Jericho! Not just that, Joshua used the same old method by 'sending spies' (Joshua 7:2). Does that sound familiar? Just because you've been successful in your past 'move', it doesn't automatically mean you can use past revelations/instructions for your next move! In fact, every 'move' of yours should be led by the Spirit, as you hear anew, and not merely by men's suggestions (though these may be well-meaning, or with good intention) or out of sheer excitement! And once you've received your 'marching orders' from the Lord, even if you may be accused of being unreasonable or foolish (or whatever unkind words people may speak against you), stay with those 'marching orders'! And there are times you don't even need to explain and give reasons for your actions. The Lord will be your Defense and Vindicator!

We are in a time of acceleration in the spirit realm. It means even yesterday's methods or ideas can become redundant today! To be at the 'cutting edge' in the spirit, you've got to hear in the spirit anew, in every move and step. And that's exactly what Joshua did in chapter 8. The Commander of the Lord's army (Jesus) began speaking to Joshua again (Joshua 8:1-2), and a new strategy was given to battle against the very same Ai. Joshua followed the Commander's 'marching order' again, and this time, Israel 'gained further possession of their inheritance' in their Promised Land!

Beloved, if you have made a mistake (or made a wrong decision) before in past season, God is saying this to you right now, just as He did to Joshua, "Do not be afraid, nor be dismayed" (Joshua 8:1). It's time to start anew and get up again! (Joshua 7:10) You will receive a new strategy! You will receive a new 'marching order'! And you know what? This time, your 'Ai' will be soundly defeated! 'Ai' in Hebrew means 'overturned', and just as Joshua moved from being 'overturned' (in chapter 7) to 'overturning' (in chapter 8), you will be too! Look away from your past season's discouragement, defeat, or shame, and start looking to your Commander all over again! Your inheritance is waiting for you to possess!