Don't buy the lies of the devil!

Words from the Lord: 

"Just as in the natural realm, the biological father is connected (or tied) to the biological son by blood, your Heavenly Father is connected (or tied) to you His son or daughter by the Holy Spirit." 

The Lord has been speaking this statement during the week.

So today, we are going to talk about the Holy Spirit and how the Holy Spirit in you bears witness that you are a son or daughter of your Abba Father. We are going to talk about your sonship and your relationship with your Abba Father. 

The Lord also wants you to go deeper in your relationship with the Holy Spirit. Your relationship with Him is what matters the most. Not any position on earth. Not any material thing on earth. These are not as important as your relationship with the Holy Spirit. Why? Because when you have Him, you have everything. Yes, everything you ever need in this life! He is your lifeline and your only real hope, especially in this perilous time. 

Many believers or even ministers of God have this fear that God will give up on them, abandon them, or 'disown' them whenever they've made a mistake or didn't fulfill what God had told them to do. 

But today, the Lord is giving you this assurance that He is a Good Father. He doesn't get disappointed with you that easily (the way humans in this world do), simply because He already knew your weaknesses and inadequacies even before you knew Him or you knew His calling for your life. 

The enemy will try to make your relationship sour with the Lord. The enemy will try to throw accusations about Him, and throw condemnation at you. But be rest assured that your Heavenly Father, your Abba Father, will always have your best interests in His mind.

Let's go to the Scripture to back up what we are saying today. 

Romans 8:14 (NKJV) says, 'For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.'

Romans 8:15-16 (NKJV) says, 'For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, "Abba, Father." The Spirit (the Holy Spirit) Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God.' 

Ephesians 1:5-6 (NKJV) says, 'Having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved.' 

The expression 'adoption as sons' here in Greek is 'uihothesia'. This is a legal term referring to the full legal standing of an adopted heir. 

Galatians 4:6-7 (NKJV) says, 'And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, "Abba, Father!" Therefore you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.' 

The word 'heir' here is 'kleronomos' in Greek. It simply means 'a sharer of an inheritance' or 'inheritor'. In other words, you can have a rightful share in all of His inheritance. Why? Because you are a son or daughter of your Abba Father in heaven. 

1 John 3:1 (NLT) says, 'See how very much our Father loves us, for He calls us His children, and that is what we are! But the people who belong to this world don't recognize that we are God's children because they don't know Him.' 

This love of your Abba Father for you never fails. When everything else in this world fails, this love never fails. So, beloved, whatever you may be facing at the moment, or you feel as if God has given up on you or abandoned you, the Lord is saying to you right now that He loves you. He is your Abba Father, your Daddy in heaven who loves you. Let Him embrace you right now. Let Him assure you right now.

Reject every form of accusation or condemnation against you. Don't buy the lies of the devil. Don't buy the lies of those who do not know who God is. 

2 Corinthians 1:21-22 (NKJV) says, 'Now He who established us with you in Christ and has anointed us is God, who also has sealed us and given us the Spirit (the Holy Spirit) in our hearts as a guarantee.' 

See the word 'guarantee' here? A guarantee! What is a guarantee? A formal assurance that a promise is fulfilled and kept!

What is 'sealed' then? It means putting His very own signature, His name, on you! That you are His! That you belong to Him! That you are His son or daughter! And He is your Abba Father who loves you! 

Let's look at another version now. The Contemporary English Version. 2 Corinthians 1:21-22 (CEV) says, 'And so God makes it possible for you and us to stand firmly together with Christ. God is also the One who chose us and put His Spirit in our hearts (in our spirit) to show that we belong only to Him.' 

I like this version. To show that we belong only to Him! And this, beloved, is the work of the Holy Spirit who works in you, and who bears witness inside of you. Bears witness of what? That you belong to Him, and you are His son or daughter! That He is your good Daddy in heaven! 

With all these promises in the Scripture, there is no reason for you to be afraid of anything, knowing that if God is with you and you are His beloved child, who and what can come against you? 

Know and remember always, that no matter what you may be facing at the moment, your good Daddy in heaven is here for you and with you. And the Holy Spirit is here living in you and bearing witness in you, that you are so deeply loved, and you are God's very own child!

Let us pray:

"O Lord God, we thank You for Your assurance in the Scripture today. We look to You, because You are our Abba Father and we are Your sons and daughters. Because of the Holy Spirit living in us, we have this assurance that we are deeply loved by You. We have this assurance that we are not alone and we will never be abandoned by You. We can also be assured that You will always know how to lead us and guide us in every season of our lives. This is the assurance of our Abba Father for us today. In this, we are grateful. In Jesus' name. Amen." 

Click here for the full message in TiC YouTube Channel

Taking a fresh new step forward!

The Lord says this is the time to take a fresh new step forward! Yes, decide to consciously step forward in your life, and walk in all the blessings that the Lord has meant for you this year! 

Indeed, this is a year to walk in your God-given destiny! This is a year for a fresh new start in your life! This is a year to advance and move forward in your life! You see, each of us has a specific and unique God-given destiny and a God-given path in life. Walk in it! Focus on it! 

Today, we are going to talk about the blessings of the Lord; that comes from the Lord, and not from man. 

In 2 Corinthians 1:19-20, Paul wrote, 'For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by us - by me, Silvanus and Timothy - was not yes and no, but in Him was yes. For all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us.' 

The word 'promises' here is 'epaggelia' in Greek. It means 'a divine assurance of good'. In other words, an assurance that the Lord will know how to bring His promises to pass. And one of His promises for your life is you walking in the blessings of the Lord! 

Numbers 23:19 says, 'God is not a man, that He should lie, nor a son of man, that He should repent. Has He said, and will He not do? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good?' 

See the words here: 'Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good?' Remember just now, we were talking about 'a divine assurance of good'. It means a divine assurance that the Lord is good to you and the Lord will keep all His promises for your life! But you've got to believe in it! Believing, you shall receive. Amen! 

Here in Numbers chapter 23, the background is that there was this person called Balak (the king of Moab at that time), and Balak wanted to hire a prophet (or rather, a diviner) to curse Israel, so that they (the Israelites) could be defeated in a battle. So, Balak asked Balaam to curse Israel. Yet Balaam (or in fact, any other diviner) could not curse Israel. You know why? Because God had not cursed them! You see, no one could 'bribe' God to curse Israel! 

Now, it is the same for you today. You are the spiritual Israel! No one (and no work of darkness) can put a curse on you, if the Lord has spoken that you are blessed! That's how powerful your God is! And that's why it is so important today to consciously decide to walk in all of God's blessings. You are blessed! And that's what the Lord is saying to you right now: You are blessed! 

So, how to walk in such blessings? Keep your focus on the Lord, and not focus on anyone (or the enemy) that tries to discourage you! Be led and be taught by the Holy Spirit who knows you better than anyone else on earth! Listen to His guidance, heed His guidance, and even heed His correction along the way! And you'll be sure to walk in the fullness of what the Lord has in store for you on this earth! 

Some people may say, "Don't talk about blessings too much!" But you see, your Abba Father in heaven is like a good parent! Will a good parent on earth not want to see their children being blessed? No way! Every good parent will want to see their children doing well in their life, walking in the blessings, and not walking into trouble, sorrows, lack, or damnation! Now, the same it is with how your Abba Father in heaven sees you! He is a good Father! He is a good God! He wants to see you blessed! I say it one more time: He wants to see you blessed! Make no mistake about this, and let no one talk you out of this!

Therefore, beloved, I declare that in His time, He will make all things beautiful for you! You are going to see with your own eyes the promises of God coming to pass in your life! If God has spoken, God will see to it that it shall come to pass, as long as you keep your focus on Him, yield to Him, and obey His instructions! 

At this point of time, we want to declare the blessings of the Lord that you can receive from Deuteronomy chapter 28. 

Deuteronomy 28:1 says, 'Now it shall come to pass, if you diligently obey the voice of the Lord your God, to observe carefully all His commandments which I command you today, that the Lord your God will set you high above all nations of the earth.' 

How do you apply this into your context? How do you apply this into your personal life? It simply means no matter what 'shaking', 'storm' or 'turbulence' that may happen around you in this world, you are high above all these! You are like an eagle soaring above all these! And this is one of the blessings that the Lord wants you to believe and receive!

Deuteronomy 28:2 says, 'And all these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you, because you obey the voice of the Lord your God...' 

The word 'blessings' here in Hebrew is 'berawkaw', and it can mean 'presents, gifts, liberty, peace, prosperity, and every form of good that comes from the Lord'. So, let us be ready to receive all these blessings this year! We are going to declare these, and we are going to receive these. Amen!

Deuteronomy 28:3-6 says, 'Blessed shall you be in the city, and blessed shall you be in the country. Blessed shall be the fruit of your body, the produce of your ground, and the increase of your herds, the increase of your cattle, and the offspring of your flocks. Blessed shall be your basket and your kneading bowl. Blessed shall you be when you come in, and blessed shall you be when you go out.' 

Whether you are living in a city, or whether you are living at the countryside; and whether you are at home, or whether you are outside your home; the Lord is with you! And of course, these blessings bring together peace and favor of the Lord as well; wherever the Lord leads you, and whatever the Lord puts in your heart to do! 

Deuteronomy 28:7 says, 'The Lord will cause your enemies who rise against you to be defeated before your face. They shall come out against you one way, and flee before you seven ways.' 

The number 'seven' in Hebrew can mean 'perfect, perfectly'. In other words, the enemies have got to flee from you, and there's no other choice for them! 

Deuteronomy 28:8 says, 'The Lord will command the blessing on you in your storehouses and in all to which you set your hand. And He will bless you in the land which the Lord your God is giving you.' 

How do you apply this in your context? Wherever the Lord puts you, or whichever land the Lord puts you in each time and season, the Lord will know how to command His blessings on you! 

The word 'command' here is 'tsawvaw' in Hebrew, and it can mean 'to appoint, to ordain, to set in order, to put things into place, or to send a messenger to cause it to happen'. You see, the Lord can even send an angel to cause things to happen for you! And of course the Lord can also use human beings - at the right time, at the right place - even in ways that you have never expected! 

Deuteronomy 28:9-10 says, 'The Lord will establish you as a holy people to Himself, just as He has sworn to you, if you keep the commandments of the Lord your God and walk in His ways. Then all peoples of the earth shall see that you are called by the name of the Lord (YHWH), and they shall be afraid of you.' 

It means they will not want to play a fool with you, and they will not dare to play a fool with you! They know if they 'touch' you, they are 'touching' the Lord! Why? Because the presence of the Lord is with you, and the fear of the Lord (i.e. the reverence of the Lord) surrounds you! 

Deuteronomy 28:11-12 says, 'The Lord will grant you plenty of goods, the fruit of your body, in the increase of your livestock and in the produce of your ground, in the land of which the Lord swore to your fathers to give you. The Lord will open to you His good treasure, the heavens, to give the rain to your land in this season. The Lord will bless all the works of your hand. You shall lend to many nations, but you shall not borrow.' 

This is in the context of an agricultural society those days. But this can apply in your context too, whatever the Lord puts in your heart to do on earth! The Lord your God is more than enough for you, and He will know how to provide well for you! He will know how to open the right doors for you, and He will know how to set up divine appointments for you! In fact, you are so blessed that you shall lend, but you shall not borrow!

Deuteronomy 28:13-14 says, 'The Lord will make you the head and not the tail; you shall be above only and not be beneath; if you heed the commandments of the Lord your God which I command you today, and are careful to observe them. So you shall not turn aside from any of the words which I command you this day, to the right or to the left, to go after other gods to serve them.'

Indeed, the Lord your God is more than enough for you! He is your El Shaddai, the Mighty God! And you do not need to look to the right or to the left, or to go after other gods to serve them!

As an apostolic people, we break new grounds. We open the way. We may be in the world, but we are not of the world. We walk in the heavenly ways. We walk in the heavenly resources. And that's how we can set an example to the people around us in this world. And they will say, "Hey, this person is so different! This person is so different from the worldly ways!" 

So, with all these declarations, and with all these verses from the Scripture that we have declared today, believe it, receive it, and consciously decide to walk in it this year! You shall see it coming to pass! You shall see it coming to reality in your life! 

As for me and my family, we truly believe in all that we have declared today! And we believe that we are going to walk into more and more of the goodness and the blessings of the Lord! We want to believe the same for you. Amen! 

Let us pray: "O Lord God, You have spoken today that this is the time to step forward and walk in all the blessings that You want to give to us. We want to heed Your words today. We do not want to look to the left or to the right, but we want to focus on You. Because You are the Source of true blessings, real blessings, heavenly blessings, that no one else on this earth can give to us. As a Good Father in heaven, it is Your will that we walk in all these blessings! Because You want the very best for each and every one of us on this earth. In the name of Jesus. Amen." 

Click here for the full teaching in TiC 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

What does the Word of God say?

1 Peter 1:23-25 (NKJV): Having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the Word of God which lives and abide forever, because "All flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of the grass. The grass withers, and its flower falls away, but the Word of the Lord endures forever." 

The word 'endures' here is 'meno' in Greek, meaning 'continues, being present, remains, stands, stays, abides, dwells'. And what do the above verses mean? All the excitement and the glory of man in this world will not last, as these will come and go, and these will eventually fade away; but what 'endures, continues, is present, remains, stands, stays, abides, dwells' in every season of your life is and will always be the Word of God!

What does the Word of God say about staying positive?
Philippians 4:8-9 (NKJV) says, 'Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy - meditate on these things. The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you'.
The word 'meditate' here is 'logizomai' in Greek, meaning 'to speak, to talk, to think'. Therefore, 'speak, talk, think' of the 'good reports', instead of what happens around you, or what happens in the world!

What does the Word of God say about God's promises for you?
2 Corinthians 1:18-20 (NKJV) says, 'But as God is faithful, our word to you was not Yes and No. For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by us - by me (Paul), Silvanus, and Timothy - was not Yes and No, but in Him was Yes. For all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us'.
The word 'amen' comes from three Hebrew letters, namely 'Aleph', 'Mem' and 'Nun'. 
'Aleph' (picture of 'sacrifice') speaks of 'God the Father, our Source and Creator'.
'Mem' (picture of 'water') speaks of 'accepting and flowing with the Divine'.
'Nun' (picture of 'seed') speaks of 'receiving your inheritance as heirs'.
This word 'amen' ('aw-mane'), by the way, interestingly, shares the same root word as 'emunah' in Hebrew, meaning 'faith' or 'believing heart'.
So, when you say 'AMEN', you are in effect agreeing by faith and receiving by faith all the promises of your Father in heaven, and all your inheritance from your Father in heaven!

What does the Word of God say about 'no turning back'?
Exodus 14:13-14 (NKJV) says, 'And Moses said to the people, "Do not be afraid. Stand still, and see the salvation (deliverance) of the Lord, which He will accomplish for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall see again no more forever. The Lord will fight for you, and you shall hold your peace (watch and stay silent)."'
Moses spoke these words as the Israelites were about to cross the Red Sea in order to escape from the Pharaoh's army. The word 'Egyptians' here is 'mitsrayim' in Hebrew, and it speaks of 'bondage, besieged, limited'. Believe and declare the Word of God that you too are set free from the 'bondage' or 'chains' that have enslaved you all these while! The expression 'For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall see again no more forever' speaks of 'the assurance that you will never have to return to your 'bondage' or 'chains' from now on'. Indeed, as a believer in the New Covenant, know that Jesus has already broken all the bondage and curse in your life when He died for you on the cross! 

What does the Word of God say about receiving God's wisdom?
James 1:5-6 (NKJV) says, 'If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind'.
The word 'wisdom' here comes from the Greek word 'sophos', meaning 'to be clear'. In other words, 'knowing what to do, and how to go about in your life'. The Word of God says He loves to give you such wisdom, and He gives liberally and without disapproving! Your part is to ask in faith, and you shall receive!

People of God, choose to stand on what God says in the Word, instead of what man says in the world; and you'll still be standing strong (and not be shaken) no matter what happens around you, or what happens in the world (see Matthew 7:24-27). Amen!

Receive God's promises of rest and protection

Hebrews 4:9-11 (NKJV): There remains therefore a rest for the people of God. For he who has entered His rest has himself also ceased from his works as God did from His. Let us therefore be diligent to enter that rest...

The word 'rest' in this statement 'Let us therefore be diligent to enter that rest' is 'katapausis' in Greek, and it literally means 'to settle down'. This 'rest' speaks of your heart 'being settled down' even in the midst of all the chaos in the world. Also, you don't have to get so hard up trying to work things out, because the Lord has done it for you!

Let Scripture interpret Scripture now. In Exodus 33:14, the Scripture says, 'The Lord said to Moses, "My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest."' At that point of his life, Moses found himself in a rather challenging time of having to lead 'a stiff-necked people', and he wanted to know what was he to do next. The word 'rest' in this passage is 'nuwach' in Hebrew, meaning 'being made to rest, being quiet, being comforted, to settle down'. Interestingly, the name 'Noah' comes from this same word 'nuwach', and you can imagine Noah 'being settled down' in the ark during the stormy Great Flood!

From all the above explanations, you'd see that 'true rest' is possible even in the midst of stress, tension, turmoil, turbulence, conflict, or storms in this world. And we are not talking about resting "from" activities here, but rather, resting "in the midst" of activities. So, this 'rest' has nothing to do with being lazy or running away from responsibility. Instead, it is an inner peace that comes from the Lord, and for those who put their trust in the Lord!

Notice Jesus was never 'panicky' when faced with even the fiercest resistance and opposition on earth. He was never 'ruffled' or anxious, no matter what. And He was never caught off-guard even when the trickiest questions were thrown at Him by the Pharisees. Indeed, He had successfully handled all these with such calm and composure! Why? Because He is the Yahweh Shalom, the Lord who is Peace.

In Matthew 8:23-26, the Scripture says, 'Then Jesus got into the boat and started across the lake with His disciples. Suddenly, a fierce storm struck the lake, with waves breaking into the boat. But Jesus was sleeping. The disciples went and woke Him up, shouting, "Lord, save us! We’re going to drown!"... Then He got up and rebuked the wind and waves, and suddenly there was a great calm'. See? He is shalom peace manifested. The shalom peace and rest inside Him was then released into the earthly (physical) realm, and even the storm, the wind, and the waves had to obey!

People of God, do you want the same inner peace and rest in your life? It is not impossible, because as Jesus is, so should you be in this world! Your part is to allow Him to fill you with His shalom peace, even now. 

And it is in this shalom peace of the Lord that the enemy cannot touch you! 1 John 5:18 (NLT) says, 'We know that God’s children do not make a practice of sinning, for God’s Son holds them securely, and the evil one cannot touch them'. What a promise! Notice the statement 'God's Son (that's Jesus, of course) holds them securely'. In other words, you are deeply and firmly secured in Christ, the One who covers you and protects you! (Psalm 91:1-4)

By the way, the word 'touch' here is 'haptomai' in Greek, and it can mean:
- to set fire (i.e. to deliberately cause something to burn);
- to drive a wedge (i.e. to cause a fight or trouble).

Indeed, nothing on earth can 'burn' you, or 'drive a wedge' in your life, because the Lord who is in you is greater than he that is in this world! (1 John 4:4) Believe and receive all these promises of God for you, and declare that nothing shall by any means hurt you (Luke 10:19). In Jesus' name. Amen!

Do not grow weary in waiting

The Lord spoke these words:
"Do not grow weary in waiting. Do not give up while waiting. Keep your focus on Me, and remain in My peace. Having given thanks for your answer, wait on Me and receive a fresh outpouring from Me. Never limit how I am going to make it happen for you!"

People of God, have you recently been discouraged or tired of waiting for your breakthrough or answer? For some of you, it even feels like you are losing it (or losing the battle), and you are on the verge of giving it all up - be it in waiting for your complete healing, a financial breakthrough, an answer to your problem, or a God-given prophecy/dream/vision to come to pass.

Admittedly, waiting time is never easy. But take heart, because Isaiah 40:29-31 says, 'He gives power to the weak, and to those who have no might He increases strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall, but those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint'.

The words 'wait on' here is 'qavah' in Hebrew, which can mean 'to collect from, to gather from, to look patiently, to wait expectantly'. In other words, it is a confident expectation (or a divine hope) that God will do what He has promised; yet He knows best how it will happen, and when it will happen. This word 'qavah' also implies while you are waiting, He is also in the midst of building you, preparing you, and works all things together for your good.

You may have heard people say 'waiting time is never wasted time'. There is a truth in this saying, provided you allow yourself to see your 'waiting time' as God sees it. In Isaiah 40:29-31, it is clear that God doesn't see 'qavah' as a dormant or passive time, but He sees it as a time of building and preparing you for the greater things to come.

On your part, it is a time of actively receiving, collecting and gathering from Him - be it His strength, His refreshing, His renewal, His wisdom, His anointing, and even His substance (or His character), so that when your breakthrough finally comes, you'll be ready for that next level!

But be vigilant and sober, because at a time of your waiting, the enemy will not sit still. In fact, he will do just the opposite from what God does for you. After all, he is called the adversary (1 Peter 5:8). The enemy will try to do anything to discourage you, or make you think your trust in God is in vain - that God doesn't remember you anymore, and God doesn't keep His promises! The enemy's final aim is that you'll give up on all that God has spoken to you. And when that happens, he wins! And I believe that is why Isaiah 40:29 says so emphatically (for those who are in a time of waiting): 'He gives power to the weak, and to those who have no might He increases strength'! Indeed, people of God, this is a crucial time to keep your focus on Him, and remain in His peace. This is your time to receive a new strength from Him!

Let us not be like King Saul who grew restless and anxious when the nation of Israel were besieged by the Philistines; so much so he began to take matters into his own hands (1 Samuel 13:1-14), instead of waiting for the arrival of prophet Samuel who had spoken earlier that he would SURELY come and show the way (1 Samuel 10:8). Interestingly, the name 'Samuel' in Hebrew represents 'The Lord has heard'. In other words, King Saul failed to see that 'The Lord has heard' is a God who keeps promises, and 'The Lord has heard' will SURELY come! In the end, King Saul's impatience cost him dearly.

But let us be like King David who in a time of waiting (for his victory and breakthrough), continued looking to the Lord and trusting in the Lord, as written in Psalm 121:1-4, 'I will lift up my eyes to the hills — From whence comes my help? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth. He will not allow your foot to slip; He who keeps you will not slumber. Behold, He who keeps Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep'.

Indeed, the Lord your God shall neither slumber nor sleep, but He is very much awake and alive, whatever your situation may be at the moment. This is your time to give thanks in advance because your victory and breakthrough will SURELY come! This is your time to declare that 'The Lord has heard'! And never limit how He is going to make it happen for you, because His ways are always higher than the ways of men (Isaiah 55:8-9). In Jesus' name. Amen!

But the Word of God says!

Deuteronomy 7:1-2 (NKJV): "When the Lord your God brings you into the land which you go to possess, and has cast out many nations before you, the Hittites and the Girgashites and the Amorites and the Canaanites and the Perizzites and the Hivites and the Jebusites, seven nations greater and mightier than you, and when the Lord your God delivers them over to you, you shall conquer them and utterly destroy them. You shall make no covenant with them nor show mercy to them."

The Hebrew title for the book of Deuteronomy is 'Haddebharim'; 'ha' meaning 'the', and 'dabar' meaning 'Word', taken from the opening phrase in Deuteronomy 1:1 that says, 'These are the words...', addressed to the new generation destined to possess the Promised Land (i.e. those who survived the forty years of wandering in the wilderness). This book is therefore God's words ('dabar') for the new generation of people, a 'picture' of you and I in the New Covenant today!

The 'land' (i.e. the Promised Land) mentioned in Deuteronomy 7:1-2 speaks of 'God's inheritance and promises for your life'. Notice it is the Lord your God who 'brings you into the land' and 'has cast out many nations before you'.

The 'seven nations' mentioned here are 'symbolic' of 'the enemies illegally occupying your 'land' (i.e. your life, family, ministry, or vocation)', just like sicknesses (and viruses) illegally occupying your body! You see, these 'nations' were not supposed to be there in the Promised Land! They are the 'illegal occupants', and they have not been given the permission from the Lord to occupy the land!

Genesis 15:18-21 says, '...the Lord made a covenant with Abram, saying: "To your descendants I have given this land, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the River Euphrates - the Kenites, the Kenezzites, the Kadmonites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Rephaim, the Amorites, the Canaanites, the Girgashites, and the Jebusites."'

Notice the word 'covenant' here? It means an agreement or a promise that cannot be broken! Notice 'To your descendants' here? Abraham's descendants! Are you Abraham's descendants? Yes! Galatians 3:29 says, 'And if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's seed (i.e. offspring, descendants), and heirs according to the promise'!

Let's study some Hebrew words now to find out the symbolic meanings of each of these 'seven nations', and how 'you shall conquer them and utterly destroy them' (see Deuteronomy 7:2 again) - by the Word of God!

Hittites
'Khittee' in Hebrew, from the word 'khayth', meaning 'fear, terror, dread'.
The first weapon the enemy usually comes against you is by causing fear, terror or dread.
But the Word of God says:
'You shall not be afraid of the terror by night, nor of the arrow that flies by day, nor of the pestilence that walks in darkness, nor of the destruction that lays waste at noonday. A thousand may fall at your side, and ten thousand at your right hand; but it shall not come near you. Only with your eyes shall you look, and see the reward of the wicked' (Psalm 91:5-8)
'For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind' (2 Timothy 1:7)

Girgashites
'Girgashiy' in Hebrew, from the word 'garah', meaning 'strive, contention'.
The enemy likes it when you strive and struggle, instead of relying on God's grace (ability, supply) and being at rest in the Lord.
But the Word of God says:
'Do not be afraid nor dismayed because of this great multitude, for the battle is not yours, but God's. You will not need to fight in this battle. Position yourselves, stand still and see the salvation of the Lord, who is with you' (2 Chronicles 20:15, 2 Chronicles 20:17)
'Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth! The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge' (Psalm 46:10-11)

Amorites

'Emoriy' in Hebrew, from the word 'amar', meaning 'challenge, boasting'.

The enemy likes to boast against you, and taunt you into giving up, like what Goliath did to Israel.

But the Word of God says:

'You come to me with a sword, with a spear, and with a javelin. But I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied' (1 Samuel 17:45)

'Then all this assembly shall know that the Lord does not save with sword and spear, for the battle is the Lord's, and He will give you into our hands' (1 Samuel 17:47)

Canaanites

'Kenaaniy' in Hebrew, from the word 'kenaan', meaning 'humiliation, shame'.

The enemy likes to humiliate you and shame you, reminding you of those dark past, sins and mistakes of yours.

But the Word of God says:

'Do not fear, for you will not be ashamed; neither be disgraced, for you will not be put to shame; for you will forget the shame of your youth, and will not remember the reproach of your widowhood anymore. For your Maker is your husband, the Lord of hosts is His name; and your Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel; He is called the God of the whole earth' (Isaiah 54:4-5)

'There is therefore now no (never, not at all, not even one) condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit' (Romans 8:1)

Perrizites

'Perizziy' in Hebrew, from the word 'paraz', meaning 'separation, nakedness'.

The enemy wants to separate you from God, just as he did to Adam and Eve (they saw their own nakedness and began to hide from God).

But the Word of God says:

'Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us' (Romans 8:35, Romans 8:37)

'For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord' (Romans 8:38-39)

Hivites

'Khivvee' in Hebrew, from the word 'khavvaw', meaning 'smallness, self-pity'.

The enemy wants to make you feel 'small', miserable and discouraged, like a snake (a python that 'constricts the victim') squeezes life and energy out of you.

But the Word of God says:

'What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? Who shall bring a charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies' (Romans 8:31-33)

'You are of God, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world (1 John 4:4)

Jebusites

'Yebuwciy' in Hebrew, from the word 'yebuwc', meaning 'trample, oppression'.

The enemy wants to trample you (put you down), making you oppressed and depressed, so you will not fulfill all that the Lord wants you to fulfill.

But the Word of God says:

'Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you' (Luke 10:19)

'All (any, every, the whole, whatsoever) 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. Amen' (Matthew 28:18-20)

People of God, whatever the 'illegal occupants' may be in your life at the moment, speak and declare the Word of God aloud, so that your ears will hear! Romans 10:17 says, 'So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God'! You may even want to 'personalize' these words of the Lord for yourself! Go ahead! And this is how you overcome! By the Word of God that you speak and declare aloud! 1 John 5:4 says, 'For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world - our faith'!

Hallelujah! Amen!

Resting at your 'terebinth' tree

Genesis 18:1: Then the Lord appeared to Abraham by the terebinth trees of Mamre, as he was sitting in the tent door in the heat of the day.

The word 'terebinth tree' in Hebrew literally means 'a strong tree, like an oak tree; or strength', and the word 'Mamre' here means 'vigor'. This 'tree' is actually a 'picture' of the cross, where Jesus finished His work some 2,000 years ago. Galatians 3:13 says, 'cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree'. The Bible says Jesus has become a curse for us, so that we are set free (from the curse of sin), redeemed, and now receiving the blessings of Abraham (Galatians 3:13-14). The Bible also says Jesus who knew no sin has become sin for us, so that we are now made righteous (in right standing) through Christ (2 Corinthians 5:21).

As you lean & rest on this 'tree', you'll find perfect rest. Jesus has become your 'strength'. The psalmist wrote 'He is your strength, and your one sure foundation' (see Psalm 46)! In Him, you are now therefore 'invigorated', 'revitalized', and 'refreshed' again! Hallelujah!

Friends, what has been burdening you lately? Is it a concern for someone in your family, or your spouse, or your children? Or maybe it's a business/career concern or direction, or a financial burden. Or maybe your health. Cast all these burden to Jesus. He has carried them all on the cross (Isaiah 53:4-5). Or maybe you aren't exactly sure what's the next step in life. Cast these also to Jesus. He is the One who cares for you (1 Peter 5:7).

Someone asked me this question: "Have I done enough lately?" My answer was: "Even if you have been working 23 hours every day, you may still ask the same question!" Well, we are living in such a world now, where everything seems to be at an accelerating speed, and 'time' never seems to be enough! The next thing you know, a new week has 'come and gone' again, and that's while you are still catching up on your breath!

Beloved, there's only one place that's truly 'enough', and it's only found in Jesus. The Bible says 'His grace is enough (sufficient) for you' (2 Corinthians 12:9). If earthly things have recently left you 'dry' and 'unsatisfied', come to Jesus. Take a deep breath (in fact, another word for 'rest' in Hebrew means 'taking a deep breath'). He is where you find perfect 'rest & refresh'. Rest in Him. And imagine you are in the middle of a desert and you find an 'oasis' of drinking water! He is indeed your 'oasis'. So, come & drink freely from Him. Jesus also says, 'Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest' (Matthew 11:28), 'for My yoke is easy and My burden is light' (Matthew 11:30).

So, what exactly is your 'terebinth' tree?

A 'terebinth' tree is where you lay all your burden to Him, and in return, you receive His (which is light and easy). Genesis 18:4 says, 'let a little water be brought, and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the (terebinth) tree'. Jesus has indeed carried all your heavy yoke and burden on the cross. Therefore, yours is now light and easy. Not only that, at the 'tree', you'll also come to a place of 'washing of the water', being refreshed by the water of His Word and His Spirit.

It's also at this 'tree' that God appeared to Abraham and Sarah, and He spoke to them. There, they received the promise of a son. So, you can also say it's a place of 'meeting with God', and a place of 'promise'. And last but not least, it's also a place where they found comfort & assurance, when God said, 'is anything too hard for God?' (Genesis 18:14)