Look to the steadfast God!

Lamentations 3:22-23 (ESV) says, 'The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; His mercies never come to an end; They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness.'

Indeed, the Lord our God is a steadfast God, and His mercies never come to an end. 

And because He is steadfast, you too can be steadfast while on earth, no matter what challenges, predicament, crisis, or trials you may be going through at the moment.

When the world around you may fail you, or people around you may fail you, God's love for you never fails and never ceases.

The definition of this word 'steadfast' can be 'being steady, unshakable, unshaking, unwavering, unchanging, faithful, firm, stays the same'. 

So, when everything else in this world is shaken or is shaking, we have this assurance that the Lord remains the same - yesterday, today, and forever. 

In an unstable, unpredictable, and volatile time like this, let us therefore look to the Lord who is steadfast. He is our Rock, our Refuge, our Firm Foundation, and our Sure Foundation. Amen!

Everyone has his or her own unique challenges on earth, at different times and different seasons. No two persons are exactly the same. But the Lord is saying to you that He understands you from the inside-out, and He understands exactly what you are going through at the moment, even if no one else on earth understands. 

For some of you beloved who are going through challenges in life at the moment (whatever these may be), be rest assured that His strong arms will carry you through, and His strong hands will shield you and protect you. And through all these storms, be rest assured that He has not forsaken you nor forgotten you. 

Psalm 55:22 (NKJV) says, 'Cast your burden on the Lord, and He shall sustain you; He shall never permit the righteous to be moved (or to be shaken)'.

In Christ, you are made righteous because of what He has done for you on the cross. The Scripture says 'you are the righteousness of God through Christ' (2 Corinthians 5:21). Therefore, whatever happens around you, the Lord knows how to take care of you and sustain you, as long as you continue to look to Him.

So, take heart, and be encouraged. The Lord has spoken, and He will make it good (Numbers 23:19). He is your Stronghold and your Defense, and therefore nothing in this world will be able to shake you (Psalm 62:1-2). 

Stay steadfast in the Lord and stay steadfast in your faith (1 Peter 5:8-9, Colossians 2:5-7), and you'll be sure you'll triumph and come forth victorious. In Jesus' name. Amen!

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How to be sure and secure in times of uncertainty?

The Lord says,

"In a time of 'rough and choppy seas', I AM your Anchor! In a time of 'uncertainty and instability', I AM your Sure Foundation! Look to Me! Do not look at the rough seas around you! Let your eyes stayed on Me! I will pull you through, and I will be with you till the very end!"

Before we go to the Bible verses, let's find out a little about 'anchor' first. 

Why does the ship need an anchor? 

Basically, anchor is used to keep the ship securely and firmly in place. It is a heavy object (usually metal object) attached to a rope (or chain), dropped over the side of the ship to keep it in one place. It therefore provides stability and safety to the ship, preventing it from being drifted away by the currents of the sea. 

What does an 'anchor' symbolize in the Bible?

'Anchor' speaks of 'sure foundation and security', especially in turbulent times. 'Anchor' keeps you steadfast and gives you hope, especially during trials (or storms). 'Anchor' is therefore a 'picture' of who God is, because He is steadfast and sure, no matter how 'rough or choppy' your problem in this world may be!

Hebrews 6:18-19 (NLT) says, 'So God has given both his promise and his oath. These two things are unchangeable because it is impossible for God to lie. Therefore, we who have fled to him for refuge can have great confidence as we hold to the hope that lies before us. This hope is a strong and trustworthy anchor for our souls...'

The word 'anchor' here is 'agkura' (pronounced 'ang-koo-rah') in Greek, same as 'agkale' (pronounced 'ang-kal-ay), from the word 'agkos', which means 'an arm, a curved arm'. You know what? In Greek, anchor's root word is 'an arm, a curved arm'! This speaks of 'the arm of God' that is strong, sure, secure, and mighty - holding you strong in uncertain, unstable, and turbulent times!

So, whatever happens around you, or whatever 'tricky' situation you may be facing at the moment, the Lord is here for you, and He will be that 'agkos' to you!

Psalm 89:13 (NKJV) says, 'You have a mighty arm; Strong is Your hand, and high is Your right hand'. Psalm 136:10-14 (NKJV) says, 'To Him who struck Egypt in their firstborn, for His mercy endures forever; And brought out Israel from among them, for His mercy endures forever; With a strong hand, and with an outstretched arm, for His mercy endures forever; To Him who divided the Red Sea in two, for His mercy endures forever; And made Israel pass through the midst of it, for His mercy endures forever'.

The word 'arm' in the above verses is 'zerowa' in Hebrew, literally meaning 'the arm (as stretched out)', which speaks of 'help, mighty strength, mighty power'. Indeed, with His strong hand, and with an outstretched arm, the Lord is here to keep you safe and secure in uncertain times like this! And He is here to deliver you and rescue you, just as in those days when He delivered His people from the bondage of Egypt! He is the same yesterday, today, and forever; and nothing is impossible to Him!

Therefore, do not be afraid and do not let your heart be shaken, no matter what 'rough seas' you may be facing at the moment. The Lord knows exactly what you are going through at the moment, be it in your family, your career, your business, in ministry, your health, your finance, etc. Instead, let your heart be steadfast, and let your heart be established! (Psalm 112:6-8) 

He will know how to pull you through this difficult time, and He will be with you all the way! Your part is to keep hanging on to His promise for you today, and don't let the devil or anyone talk you out of it! 

Put all your trust in Him, and hold on to the hope that only He can give! And you too shall see your 'Red Sea' being opened up! Hallelujah!

Prayer for you today:

The hand of the Lord (and the outstretched arm of the Lord) be with you to ward off every evil, danger, and trouble; and the hand of the Lord (and the outstretched arm of the Lord) be with you to shield you, protect you, bless you, and make a way for you. In Jesus' mighty name. Amen!

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Don't buy the lies of the enemy!

1 Corinthians 15:58 (NKJV): Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.

The word 'steadfast' here comes from the Greek word 'hezomai', meaning 'to be resolutely firm and unwavering, no matter what'. Notice this verse comes right after 1 Corinthians 15:57 that says, 'But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ'. In other words, it is on the very foundation of Christ's victory that you can now be 'steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord', no matter what the devil throws at you!

I heard and released these words from the Lord recently:

"This is a time to stay steadfast and immovable on the Rock. For I am the Lord, your Rock. Do not be shaken, whatever the enemy throws at you, for he is the father of lies. Keep looking to Me, and you'll see your victory for sure!"

Your enemy, the devil, is the father of lies (John 8:44), and just as a serpent spits poison at the prey, the devil spews lies about you all the same! At every opportune time, he would spew lies after lies about you - that your God doesn't care, that you will never be forgiven of your past sins, that you will succumb to ill-health, that you will suffer financial lack, that you have reached your 'ceiling' in life, that you cannot advance any further, and whole load more! But these are all lies! Because the truth is God's will is that 'you should prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers'! (3 John 2) 

Your enemy, the devil, is an 'opportunist', 'walking about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour' (1 Peter 5:8). And if the devil cannot get you to sin, then he'll try to make you feel down and discouraged. And his modus operandi? To spread lies about you!

For some of you, the devil wants you to believe that you are living on borrowed time. That's a lie! Because the truth is, as a beloved of God, you are on time! You are now living in the victory that Christ has already given you! (1 Corinthians 15:57) In other words, it's your victory time! Not borrowed time! It is the devil who is living on borrowed time! Why do I say so? Because he has already been long defeated some 2,000 years ago!

For some others, the devil wants you to believe that you are too weak for him, and you are at his mercy. That's a lie too! Because the truth is you have already been given 'the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and to overcome all the power of the enemy; and nothing shall be able to harm you'! (Luke 10:19) It is the devil who is too weak for you, and it is him who is at your mercy!

Do you see now how the 'father of lies' works? A truth is being twisted into a lie, and a lie is being twisted into a truth. And his aim has always been the same - to steal, kill, and destroy your life! (John 10:10) Don't buy his lies!

Your part, as God's people, is to wield 'the sword of the Spirit' (Ephesians 6:17), i.e. to say what God says in the Word! Because the Word of God is truth, and this truth shall set you free! (John 8:32) Yes, free indeed from even the lies that the enemy wants you to believe! Amen!

A time to stay steadfast and immovable in the Lord!

While praying in the spirit the other day, I saw a vision of a man standing on a big rock and in another vision, a sword piercing upwards from the earth through dark clouds, dispersing those dark clouds. 

I asked the Lord what these visions meant, and that's when the Lord said:
"This is a time to stay steadfast and stand on the Rock that I have given you! Fear not, for I am your Rock, and in Me, you cannot be shaken and will not be shaken, even in this time of shifting sands that's happening in the world at the moment!"

'Shifting sands' = situations/things that change frequently and unpredictably, like the surface and appearance of the desert being changed every time there is a sandstorm.

And the Lord said further:

"For I have also given you My sword! Use it! Wield it! Don't be afraid to use it and wield it, for this sword will break through even the darkest clouds that the enemy has cast against you!"

'Sword' here is symbolic of 'the Word of God' (see Hebrews 4:12, Ephesians 6:17, Revelation 1:16).

Stand on the Rock!

In Matthew 7:24-25, Jesus says, "Therefore, whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock; and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock." In Matthew 7:26-27, Jesus then says the contrast, "But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand; and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall."

Who is this 'Rock' that Jesus has mentioned? 

Let Scripture interpret Scripture. In cross-reference, 1 Corinthians 10:4 says, '...For they drank of that Spiritual Rock... and that Rock was Christ'. 

Note: The word 'rock' here in both Matthew 7:24-25 and 1 Corinthians 10:4 is 'petra' in Greek, meaning 'the mass of rock', a 'picture' of Jesus Christ our Lord.

Stay steadfast and immovable in the Lord!

In 1 Corinthians 15:57-58, the apostle Paul wrote, 'But thanks be to God, who gives us victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. THEREFORE, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord'.

Notice just before 1 Corinthians 15:58 is 1 Corinthians 15:57 that says, 'But thanks be to God, who gives us victory through our Lord Jesus Christ'! You know what this means? Because you already have the victory through the Lord Jesus Christ (and what He has done for you on the cross), THEREFORE you can now be steadfast and immovable in Him, no matter what happens in the world around you! See the word 'THEREFORE' here?

By the way, the word 'steadfast' here is from the word 'hezomai' in Greek, meaning 'settled, steady, solid, unwavering', and the word 'immovable' here can mean 'refuse to be moved when the rest of the crowd is running away'.

Is there anywhere in the Bible that proves the above?

The answer is yes! Let's go to the Old Testament now, and look at 2 Samuel 23:11-12 (NKJV). These verses say, '...The Philistines had gathered into a troop where there was a piece of ground full of lentils. So the people fled from the Philistines. BUT SHAMMAH STATIONED HIMSELF in the middle of the field, defended it, and killed the Philistines. So the Lord brought about a great victory'. 

The word 'stationed' (or 'stood' in KJV) here is 'yatsab' in Hebrew, literally meaning 'stand firm, stand your ground, remain unwavered'. And because of what he did (when every one else ran for their lives), Shammah (one of David's mighty men) saw the manifestation of the Lord's great victory!

How to wield the Sword of the Lord?

Revelation 1:12-18 (NKJV) says, 'Then I (John) turned to see the voice that spoke with me. And having turned, I saw seven golden lampstands, and in the midst of the seven lampstands One like the Son of Man, clothed with a garment down to the feet and girded about the chest with a golden band, His head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow, and His eyes like a flame of fire; His feet were like fine brass, as if refined in a furnace, and His voice as the sound of many waters; He had in His right hand seven stars, out of His mouth went a sharp two-edged sword, and His countenance was like the sun shining in its strength. And when I saw Him, I fell at His feet as dead. But He laid His right hand on me, saying to me, "Do not be afraid; I AM the First and the Last. I AM He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen. And I have the keys of Hades and of Death."'

Who the apostle John described here is none other but our Lord Jesus Christ Himself! He is the I AM, He was dead, but now He lives forevermore! And because He lives forevermore, 'death' (and every 'dead situation' in your life) has been swallowed up in His victory! (1 Corinthians 15:54-55)

Notice 'out of His mouth went a sharp two-edged sword'? Hebrews 4:12 says, 'For the Word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart', and Ephesians 6:17 says, 'And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God'.

We do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, powers, the rulers of darkness of this age, and the spiritual hosts of wickedness in the spiritual realm (Ephesians 6:12). The one offensive weapon that the Lord has taught us to use and wield is that two-edged sword (i.e. the Word of God)! As He uses His mouth to speak forth the Word, so should you be today! (1 John 4:17)

Use your mouth to declare these words: 

"I declare this 'dead situation' of mine .....(mention that situation, whatever it may be)..... has been swallowed up in Christ's victory! I believe and receive my breakthrough and victory today! In the name of Jesus Christ my Lord! Hallelujah!"

Therefore, beloved of God, stay steadfast and immovable in the Lord your God! Speak what the Word of God says, not what man says! And you'll be on your way to see your manifested victory too! Amen!