Words from the Lord: "The rain has begun falling! Your drought is coming to an end!"

The Lord says: 

"Your drought time is coming to an end! There's a renewal happening in My people! There's a fresh release of My Spirit and My living waters on those who have been going through a time of barrenness. My rain has begun falling! Heaven is open! I am pouring My Spirit on those who need refreshing! I am causing life to return again! Your land will be filled again! Your rivers will flow again!"

Before we go further, what is the definition of this word 'drought'? In geographical or physical terms, it can be defined as 'a prolonged period of abnormally low rainfall, leading to a shortage of water'. In an agricultural society, this is a big thing, people! Because it affects the very livelihood of the people in the land. In short, no water means no life! 

In your context, your situation may not be a geographical or physical drought, but it may be spiritual drought, financial drought, drought in your career, drought in your business, drought in the ministry, or any kind of drought in any area of your life. 

Even if at the moment, there seems to be no sign of the 'drought' ending in your physical eyes or in the physical realm around you, and there seems to be no sign of any 'rain cloud' coming, keep trusting in the Lord and keep looking to the Lord! Just like in Elijah's days when he asked to look at the sky for any sign of rain coming!

In an agricultural society like in Israel those days, the coming of rain is synonymous with drought coming to an end. Beloved of God, this can apply to you spiritually or in any area of your life that has been going through a time of drought. 

I declare that the rain from heaven is coming upon your life! There will be a new life! There will be refreshing! There will be renewal!

After a great victory at Mount Carmel, let's look at 1 Kings 18:41 onwards now. 'Then Elijah said to Ahab (the king), "Go up, eat and drink, for there is the sound of abundance of rain."' At that time, the land had been experiencing a long drought and severe famine for several years (about three and a half years). Maybe you too have been experiencing some kind of 'drought' recently. Take heart. Rain is coming! There will be refreshing and renewal again! 

Let's read further. 1 Kings 18:42-43 says, 'So Ahab went up to eat and drink. And Elijah went up to the top of Carmel; then he bowed down on the ground, and put his face between his knees, and said to his servant, "Go up now, look toward the sea." So he went up and looked, and said, "There is nothing." And seven times he said, "Go again."' 

Elijah knew once the false prophets of Baal were defeated and the worship of the false god of Baal stopped, the drought in the land would also stop. It means rain was about to come. That's why he told his servant to check it out for any sign of rain. In the meantime, what did Elijah do? He went to the Lord in prayer, and he worshiped the Lord. 

1 Kings 18:44 says, 'Then it came to pass the seventh time, that he (the servant) said, "There is a cloud, as small as a man's hand, rising out of the sea!" So he (Elijah) said, "Go up, and say to Ahab, 'Prepare your chariot, and go down before the rain stops you.'"'

Elijah was a man of faith. He would not take no for an answer, even if the servant couldn't see any sign of rain yet. Elijah just knew the rain's coming. He had this deep confidence in the Lord that the time for rain is coming! 

The same it is in your situation. Never give up on the Lord doing His part. Keep looking to the Lord. Keep praying. Keep declaring God's purposes in your life to come to pass. Keep waiting on the Lord, and keep hoping in Him that He will make good His promises in your life.  

So, even with the little sign of cloud, as small as a man's hand, and based on this sighting, Elijah knew an outpouring of rain was about to come. That's why he told Ahab to prepare the chariot. And true enough. See what happened next. 1 Kings 18:45-46 says, 'Now it happened in the meantime that the sky became black with clouds and wind, and there was a heavy rain. So Ahab rode away and went to Jezreel. Then the hand of the Lord came upon Elijah; and he girded up his loins and ran ahead of Ahab to the entrance of Jezreel.' 

God's promise of rain came to pass. The long drought was finally over. The rain has come. Hallelujah! And look here. There was a supernatural empowering on Elijah, so much so he even ran ahead of Ahab's chariot!  

Beloved of God, there's also supernatural empowering from heaven being released upon you right now. There will be a renewed strength in your life. There will be a new vigor coming in your life. You shall begin to see a new purpose in your life. You will look ahead with great hope and anticipation. Amen! 

The Lord says further:

"Watch My hand making things happen in your life! Watch My hand making things happen even in the nation or the nations of the world. My rain is coming! For I am calling you to declare what you see and hear from Me! For I am raising up many watchmen and watchwomen in this time and season, who see how I see, and to declare it!" 

Yes, declare what you see and what you hear from the Lord! Declare it into being by faith!

Isaiah 21:6 says, 'For thus has the Lord said to me: "Go, set a watchman; Let him declare what he sees."' 

See the word 'watchman' here? What is the purpose of a 'watchman' (or 'watchwoman')? The answer is here: To declare what he sees (or what she sees) in the spiritual realm. It means, as the Lord says, you say. And as the Lord puts in your heart to declare, even in your prayer time, declare it into being. Be faithful in this, and God will show you even more and amazing things to come! 

Looking back at Isaiah 21 here, what is the definition of 'watchman'? The word 'watchman' here is 'tsaphah' in Hebrew, from the word that means 'to lean forward, to look into the distance, to watch, to observe'. 

So, you lean forward to hear from the Lord. The heartbeat of the Lord. What the Lord is doing in each time and season. What the Lord is doing right now. And you walk accordingly. And if He asks you to declare it, you declare it faithfully. 

It can also mean 'to look into the distance'. Yes, to look into the future. The Lord is going to show you, as you open your heart to the Lord, surrender to the Lord, and yield to the Lord. Yes, as you commune with the Lord. As you worship the Lord. As you pray in the spirit. And you'll be able to watch, and you'll be able to observe what the Lord is doing. You will cause many people to avoid their pitfalls. You will prevent evil through your prayers. You will declare things into being. Even in the nation or nations that the Lord has put in your heart to pray for. And this anointing of the watchman is being released upon you right now!

Click here to watch the video in TiC YouTube Channel

A call to get 'connected' to the Lord and receive His heavenly rain!

I heard these words from the Lord recently:
"The key to walking in your God-given destiny is how connected you are to Me. Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me!"

In John 15:4-5, Jesus says, 'Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing'. The word 'abide' here is 'meno' in Greek, and it can mean 'to dwell, to stay, to remain, to continue, to be connected to'.

I had a dream the other day that pointed to the importance of looking to the Lord and being connected to the Lord. There were three scenes in the dream. In the first scene, I was in a situation when man-made water supply ran dry in hot weather. No water supply meant no water to drink, bathe, or do any washing. In the second scene, I was among the many people who went into a lake. We were all floating in the lake. The lake was congested with many people, and it became contaminated with human activities. Finally, the Lord brought me to the third scene, the final scene. I saw myself coming out of the lake, and rain started falling from the sky. It was refreshing, and I saw myself drinking fresh water from the sky, and being washed with clean water from the sky! It was definitely a good change, after having endured the man-made tap running dry and the contaminated lake!

I asked the Lord what this dream meant. And that's when I heard these words:
"Many of My people have been looking to the wrong sources and relying on the wrong sources for the advancements in their lives! They seek man, but not Me! They seek man's ideas, but not My ideas! They seek man's comfort, but not My comfort! They seek man's solace, but not My solace!"

By the way, the 'man-made tap running dry' speaks of 'man-made systems or structures', whereas the 'congested, contaminated lake' speaks of 'man-made ideas'. But the 'rain' comes directly from the Lord!

I then heard further:
"Seek Me while I am found, and call upon Me while I am near! Return to Me, and I will show you My way, My heavenly rain!"

The words above brought to my remembrance Isaiah 55, which I believe is the key chapter in this time and season. In Isaiah 55:1-2, to begin with, the Lord says, "Ho! Everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; And you who have no money, come, buy and eat. Yes, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. Why do you spend money for what is not bread, and your wages for what does not satisfy? Listen carefully to Me, and eat what is good. And let your soul delight itself in abundance."

'Without money and without price' because Jesus has paid the price when He died for you on the cross! As for wine and milk, 'wine' here speaks of 'joy', and 'milk' here speaks of 'peace'. Unfortunately, many in the world these days go around looking for joy and peace in all the wrong places and through the wrong sources. For instance, going around 'connecting' to the wrong man, wrong woman, fortune-tellers, horoscopes, idols, or whatever they can buy in this world using their money! Yet, true (lasting) joy and peace still seem elusive to them!

For the church as a whole, let us keep looking to God and keep seeking God for His ways, instead of looking to man and man-made systems (i.e. Babylonian systems) for the advancements in our godly entities! As a matter of fact, good ideas (of man) may not necessarily translate to God's ideas!

Now, look at what the Word of God say in Isaiah 55. Isaiah 55:6-7 says, "Seek the Lord while He may be found; Call upon Him while He is near. Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; Let him return to the Lord, and He will have mercy on him; And to our God, for He will abundantly pardon."

And in Isaiah 55:8-9, the Lord says, "For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways, for as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts."

In Isaiah 55:10-11, the Lord says further, "For as the rain comes down, and the snow from heaven, and do not return there, but water the earth, and make it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me void, but it shall accomplish what I please, and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it."

Notice the word 'rain' here? And the words 'water the earth'? This speaks of His word that falls on the 'earth'! And 'who' are the 'earth' here? The Bible says you and I are the 'earthen vessels'! (see 2 Corinthians 4:7) People of God, will you let this heavenly rain of the Lord fall on you right now? Blessed are you if you do, because this water from the Lord will cause you to 'bring forth' and 'bud'!

And that's how true (lasting) joy and peace comes, because you never run out of His spoken word in your life! In Isaiah 55:12-13, the Lord then concludes, "For you shall go out with joy, and be led out with peace; The mountains and the hills shall break forth into singing before you, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands. Instead of the thorn shall come up the cypress tree, and instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle tree; and it shall be to the Lord for a name (for the Lord's renown), for an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off."

Amen!

Revelation is like rainfall

Proverbs 29:18a (KJV): Where there is no vision, the people perish.

The word 'vision' here is 'chazown' (pronounced 'khaw-zone') in Hebrew, which can mean 'revelation' or 'prophetic vision'. This word comes from the root word 'chazah' (pronounced 'khaw-zaw'), meaning 'to gaze at, to see, to have a vision of, to prophesy'. 

Why is revelation so important? 

As a matter of fact, revelation is like rainfall. Without revelation, God's people perish. Without rainfall, the land perish (i.e. becomes parched), and therefore new crops cannot grow. 

The same it is with prophetic vision (or prophetic words). Either one receives it or resists it. If one receives, he'll see the vision (or words) coming to pass, as he takes heed of it and acts on it. If one resists, the rain cannot fall (not doesn't want to fall), and thus will not grow new crops.

In Israel, every new year (in Hebrew calendar) marks the beginning of rainfall in the land. That's when the farmers would start plowing, and then planting seeds. Hard ground gets wet by the rain beginning this time, and therefore plowing also begins (i.e. preparing the ground for new seeds to be planted). Generally, rainfall in Israel begins around this time (September/October), and increases by winter time (November/December). Even though some say there are four seasons in Israel (i.e. spring, summer, autumn, and winter), there are (in actual fact) two main seasons each year - summer (i.e. dry season) and winter (i.e. wet season).

"But I'm not a Hebrew, and I don't need to know all these!"

As God's people, you are blessed every time you learn to flow in God's divine timing and season.

We have just crossed into the Hebrew new year 5775, and many people asked me what this year 5775 brings (and of course, what the year 2015 in the secular calendar is going to be like). Have you noticed that God's calendar (say, 5775) usually begins about three months ahead of the secular calendar (say, 2015)? Spiritual first, and then physical (natural). Things happen in the spiritual realm first before it happens in the physical (natural) realm. For example, before God spoke "Let there be light" (Genesis 1:3), this 'light' has already been conceived in God's mind first, before He spoke it into being. That's how 'light' came about in the physical (natural) realm!

These are the prophetic words for the Hebrew year 5775 (which includes a major part of year 2015 in the secular calendar) I received from the Lord during Rosh Hashanah (Head of the Year) 5775 recently:

"This is a year the fountain of revelation is being opened for those who receive. Like the rain that falls on you, so will My revelation fall on you. New rain brings new things and fresh new revelation. For those who receive, you'll never run out or run short of revelation this coming year. Many in the world will come to the point when they do not know what to do or how to go about any more, but you will know, because this fountain of revelation is being opened for you."

People of God, this is also a time to declare that your drought season is over, and that God's presence, God's grace and God's revelation has begun falling on you like the rainfall - whether in finding job, finding new home, seeing divine health, or seeing any breakthrough in your life.

On Sunday, I released these words to the congregation of Triumph in Christ (TiC) as well:
"Prepare your ground. This is a time to till it and plow it. Get yourselves ready for His rainfall. He will give you seeds to plant this year. And you'll never run out of seeds. This is also a time to prepare to start planting! Seeds of love! Seeds of forgiveness! Any kind of seeds that He ever gives you!"

As I declared 'drought is over' a few days ago, immediately good reports came flooding in my email and phone from then on, and even by today, good reports are still coming in! Someone got a job after so long, someone's husband got a job contract after many months of waiting, someone got a breakthrough in his search for a new property, someone's brother was miraculously healed of stomach paralysis (and even his doctor acknowledged this as God's miracle!), someone's baby somehow got miraculously healed from a life-threatening disease... one by one just came in! I believe the list will grow from now on as I declare it to you! Just the other day, a lady whom I know called up, asking me to pray for her good friend's ten-year-old daughter who was kidnapped. As I prayed, I heard these words from the Lord and by faith, declared: 'This little girl is still alive and well, and the police already have clue where the kidnappers are, though they wouldn't tell'. You know what? Praise God! Just about three hours later, this same lady was so excited when she told me that the girl has been found alive and well, and the kidnappers have been caught by the police! Glory be to God! God is alive, and God is great!

As you walk into this new year, remember also the one key to getting out of your drought and receiving this fountain of rainfall (revelation) is forgiveness. Walk in forgiveness throughout this coming year. The fountain opens and rain falls on you as you decide to receive forgiveness and to forgive.

The power of forgiveness and the power of healing (and breakthrough) are connected. Forgiveness leads to your healing (and breakthrough). David wrote this very aptly in Psalm 103:1-3: 'Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless His holy name! Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits; who forgives all your iniquities, who heals all your diseases’. You see, forgiveness comes first, and then healing.

In fact, one of your important calling on this earth (like Jesus) is to forgive. Jesus did it in Luke 23:34. When He was crucified at Calvary, He said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.” In Mark 11:25, Jesus said, “And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him…” If there’s going to be healing in any area of your life, the one thing to do is to forgive.

Matthew 9:1-8 shows that Jesus has the power to forgive. In Him, and as His beloved, you too have the power (i.e. ability) to forgive, because as He is, so are you in this world! (1 John 4:17) In other words, you have the power to declare what Jesus declares, in His name, of course. Matthew 9:8 confirms it by saying, ‘Now when the multitude saw it (forgiveness and healing of a paralytic), they marvelled and glorified God who had given such power (to forgive and to heal) to men’. Notice the word ‘men’ here? It’s plural! It means you and me too! Therefore, choose to forgive, and you’ll see heaven opens and the fountain of rain falling on you! It’s not like “If I feel like forgiving, I’ll forgive. But if I don’t feel like forgiving, I won’t forgive.” The truth is forgiveness is not an option, but is the key that opens heaven.

Psalm 32 written by David is a psalm of forgiveness. Verses 1-2 say, 'Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. Blessed is the man to whom the Lord does not impute iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no deceit'. In the same psalm, and in verses 4-5, David wrote, 'My vitality was turned into the drought of summer (because of sin). I acknowledged my sin to You, and my iniquity I have not hidden'. Again, watch how forgiveness opens the fountain of rainfall (revelation) to fall! In verse 8, God responded to David, "I will (therefore) instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will guide you with My eye." By the way, the word 'eye' here is 'ayin' in Hebrew, and 'eye' speaks of 'vision' (or 'revelation'). In other words, God told David He would guide him with His vision (revelation)!

People of God, in the spiritual realm, God is most attracted to genuine and sincere acts of love and forgiveness from one’s heart, and He will surely bless you and help you. Love and forgiveness are connected. You can’t have one without another. You can’t love without forgiving, and you can’t forgive without love.

As His dearly beloved, know that God’s Spirit dwells in you (Romans 8:9). That makes all the difference, and that’s what make you a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17). He will surely teach you and help you this coming year. Amen. Let us therefore humble ourselves under His mighty hand, and continue learning from Him. Have a blessed new year 5775!

Your drought is ending, and your rain is coming!

1 Kings 18:1 (NKJV): And it came to pass after many days that the word of the Lord came to Elijah, in the third year, saying, "Go, present yourself to Ahab, and I will send rain on the earth."

'Elijah' here speaks of 'God coming down and presenting Himself to humankind'. Some 2,000 years ago, God came down (John 1:11-14) and presented Himself to humankind, and with Him also came grace and truth (John 1:17). Not only that, victory had also been won for us (those who believe) when He died on the cross!

On the other hand, 'Ahab' here speaks of 'humankind', yet susceptible to influences, whether good or bad. In Ahab's case, he was very much influenced by his wife, Jezebel, worshipping and serving Baal, and provoking the Lord God of Israel (YHWH) to anger more than all other kings of Israel who were before him (1 Kings 16:31-33). This led to God proclaiming a drought in the land (1 Kings 17:1).
Note: 'Baal' speaks of 'other gods'.

Let's now go to the background leading to the rain coming. Elijah then said to Ahab in 1 Kings 18:19, "Now therefore, send and gather all Israel to me on Mount Carmel, the four hundred and fifty prophets of Baal, and the four hundred prophets of Asherah, who eat at Jezebel's table." Interestingly, the word 'Carmel' literally means 'orchard, fullness of blessing, fruitful field, or a plentiful place', derived from the Hebrew word 'kerem', meaning 'vine, vineyard'.

In other words, Elijah called on the people to gather at Carmel, a place of 'fullness of blessing', where they would witness who the real 'Vine' is! (see also John 15:1, John 15:4-5) Today, God is also calling the people to return to the 'Vine', the very source, where the 'orchard, fullness of blessing, fruitful field, or a plentiful place' is! It's a call to stay connected with Him, just like a 'branch' to the 'vine', no matter what happens in this end-time.

That's why Elijah threw a challenge to all the people those days, saying, "How long will you falter (waver) between two opinions? If the Lord (YHWH) is God, follow Him; but if Baal, follow him." (1 Kings 18:21) People of God, this is an important time to continue to fix your eyes on Jesus and not waver or doubt, no matter how the 'Baals' of today may try to 'side-track' you.

Elijah then said to the people, "Therefore let them (the prophets of Baal) give us two bulls; and let them choose one bull for themselves, cut it in pieces, and lay it on the wood, but put no fire under it; and I will prepare the other bull, and lay it on the wood, but put no fire under it." (1 Kings 18:23) And to the prophets of Baal, Elijah said, "Then you call on the name of your gods, and I will call on the name of the Lord (YHWH); and the God who answers by fire, He is God." (1 Kings 18:24)

The prophets of Baal soon tried to call down fire, but in vain. They even cried aloud and cut themselves with knives until blood gushed out on them! (1 Kings 18:28) Yet, there was still no fire! This speaks of men's 'self-effort' to try to earn the favor of their 'gods'.

When it came to Elijah's turn, he then said to all the people, "Come near to me." So all the people came near to him. And he repaired the altar of the Lord that was broken down (1 Kings 18:30). He then put the wood in order, cut the bull in pieces, and laid it on the wood, and said, "Fill four water pots with water, and pour it on the burnt sacrifice and on the wood." (1 Kings 18:33) This indeed is a beautiful 'picture' of the sacrifice of Jesus on the (wooden) cross! At the cross, blood and water also came out from the body of Jesus, as He was being nailed and pierced.

And it came to pass, at the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, that Elijah said, "Lord God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, let it be known this day that You are God in Israel and I am Your servant, and I have done all these things at Your word." (1 Kings 18:36) Then the fire of the Lord fell and consumed the burnt sacrifice, and the wood and the stones and the dust, and it licked up the water that was in the trench (1 Kings 18:38). This is a 'picture' of Jesus becoming the burnt offering for you on the cross. And just as fire consumed the burnt sacrifice in Elijah's time, God is also well-pleased with the perfect sacrifice of Jesus on the cross! And when the work was completed, Jesus said, "It is finished!" (John 19:30) This happened in the ninth hour, at the same time of the evening sacrifice!

Now when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces; and they said, "The Lord (YHWH), He is God! The Lord (YHWH), He is God!" (1 Kings 18:39)

This also marked the ending of drought, and the beginning of rain (speaks of 'blessing') again for Israel (see 1 Kings 18:41-46). It is the same today. As a believer, know that He is here for you too, even if you've failed Him time and time again (just like the people in Elijah's days). Look to Him, draw near to Him, and call on the name of the Lord again, no matter what you are faced with right now. With men, it may be impossible, but with God, all things are possible (Mark 10:27), just as happened in 1 Kings 18. He can turn things around for you, just as He did through Elijah.

People of God, 'drought' is a curse. It's never meant to be when God created man (and woman) and the Garden of Eden! Today, it's also never meant for you too. Indeed, He has never changed. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever (Hebrews 13:8). So, whatever your 'drought' may be at the moment, know that Jesus has already become a 'drought' ('curse') for you on the cross (Galatians 3:13), and in exchange, you now have your 'rain' ('blessing'). Believing this, and you'll receive. In Jesus' name. Amen!