Get ready for divine appointments!

As I was seeking the Lord for His words for this coming month, even in the coming months, the Lord said this, "Tell My people to get ready for many divine appointments! There'll be many divine appointments for My people! This is the season for many divine appointments!" 

Hallelujah!

So, people of God, receive these words by faith! And you are going to see your divine appointments as well! Be it in your career, business, ministry, or any area of your life! Even in new friendships that are going to be forged, that will bring great blessings to your life! But of course, be discerning! I pray for you to discern in your spirit, that you will know what is of God, and what is not!

Now, you don't have to look too far back to the Old Testament to see examples of divine appointments. After the coming of the Holy Spirit in Acts chapter 2, there're so many examples of divine appointments happening even in the first few chapters of the Book of Acts! Whether someone was being led by the Holy Spirit to be at the right place and the right time for such divine appointments, or through angelic guidance, or visions and dreams, divine appointments that are set up by the Lord will always lead to breakthroughs and greater things in one's life!

Examples of divine appointments:

1. Peter and Cornelius (Acts 10:1-48)

Here, a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion (an officer of the Roman army), had an angelic visitation. The angel then instructed him to summon Simon Peter to his house and to hear what Simon Peter had to say. The next day, the day after Cornelius received the angelic guidance, Simon Peter saw a vision while he was praying at a housetop in Joppa! Now, while he was wondering what this vision meant, the men who had been sent from Cornelius, three of them, stood before the gate where Simon Peter was lodging! See? A divine appointment was set up by the Lord! So Simon Peter and Cornelius would meet up! You know what? That meeting eventually became the first occasion in the early church when a Gentile (non-Jew) household have also received the gift of salvation in the Lord Jesus Christ and baptism of the Holy Spirit!

2. Peter and Aeneas (Acts 9:32-35)

Let's rewind back to Acts chapter 9 now, just before the divine appointment that God had set up for Simon Peter and Cornelius. Here, there was no angelic guidance or vision from the Lord, but it was just Simon Peter positioning himself at a certain place and a certain time! See, divine appointments can also happen when you position yourself at a certain place and a certain time, as led by the Holy Spirit! And that was how Aeneas, who had been bed-ridden eight years and was paralyzed, got his miracle and he was able to stand up again! Because of this healing and miracle that took place, many in Lydda turned to the Lord!

3. Peter and Dorcas (Acts 9:36-43)

After that, some disciples in Joppa heard that Peter was in a nearby town, Lydda. And they implored Simon Peter to come over to Joppa, because there was a certain woman, a disciple named Tabitha (Dorcas), a woman full of good works and charitable deeds, had died due to sickness. Simon Peter then arose and went over to Joppa to pray for Dorcas. Dorcas then came back to life, and this news became known throughout all Joppa! As a result, many in Joppa believed on the Lord Jesus Christ! See? All these wouldn't have happened if Simon Peter did not position himself in the first place!

These are just three examples of divine appointments that you can see throughout the Book of Acts! Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever! He is the same today, just as He was those days in the early church! And the Lord knows how to set up divine appointments for you too! Amen!

For the full preaching of this message, click https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CNi5bwc5GZ0

Let the Lord guide you with His eye

Psalm 32:8 (NKJV): I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will guide you with My eye.

The word 'eye' here is 'ayin' in Hebrew, literally meaning 'eye (to see)', or in picture form, 'like a fountain in a landscape'. A fountain is usually the 'centerpiece' of a garden, and it is where you see water gushing out. This very word 'ayin' interestingly speaks of 'the living water gushing out to water the surrounding area, effectively turning desert into garden'.

And with this 'eye' of the Lord, you will see what He sees, and what He wants you to see! This is therefore a crucial time to let His eyes be upon your eyes, and let the Spirit of the Lord enlighten your spiritual eyes of understanding, so that you may know what is the hope of His calling in your life, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in your life, and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward you who believe (Ephesians 1:18-19).

The Hebrew number attached to 'ayin' is the number seventy (70), and this number speaks of 'God's Spirit, God's insight'. To have 'insight', by the way, is to have 'a clear, deep understanding of things'. In other words, you will suddenly 'see' the many things (of God) that you couldn't 'see' in the past.

I heard these words from the Lord recently:

"This is a season of visions and dreams! Watch how I will guide you, teach you, and speak to you in visions and dreams! Take heed, and you will see good success! For this is the season I am opening your eyes, and you shall see!"

When I heard these words, I knew the Lord wasn't just saying this is a season of visions and dreams in the general sense for the entire end-time, but He was saying God's people are entering a crucial season of seeing visions and dreams, a 'kairos' time, when the window of heaven is opened wide, and His light is shining right into God's people's eyes of understanding in very special ways. There will be new visions birthed. There will be new dreams birthed. There will be new hope birthed. There will be new horizons to be crossed. And when God's people take heed what they 'see', they will begin walking into new authority and fresh anointing given them.

The key psalm to read in this time and season is Psalm 32. This psalm written by David begins with acknowledging one's sins, and knowing that one is forgiven. See Psalm 32:1-5. We can hide our darkest sin from our loved ones, our family, or our friends. But we cannot hide it from Him. Since we cannot hide it from Him, might as well we acknowledge it. David wrote about the joy when one knows he has been forgiven. It begins with you acknowledging your sins. Friends, here holds the key to turn your life from drought to rain, from disappointments into new appointments.

In Psalm 32:9, David wrote further, 'Do not be like the horse or like the mule, which have no understanding, which must be harnessed with bit and bridle, else they will not come near you'. A 'harness' is put on the horse to drive it (and control it), a 'bit' is placed on the horse's mouth to assist the rider in communicating with the animal, and a 'bridle' is a piece of headgear used to direct the horse. This verse can be interpreted as 'we should take counsel and advice from the Lord, and be ready to obey and heed (hear and do) whatever His wisdom says, instead of waiting till we get 'chastened' the way the rider does to the horse!

David wrapped this psalm up beautifully in Psalm 32:10-11, 'Many sorrows shall be to the wicked, but he who trusts in the Lord, mercy shall surround him. Be glad in the Lord and rejoice, you righteous; and shout for joy, all you upright in heart!' 

Indeed, let His light visit you now, and let Him shine right into the darkest parts of your life and set you free! Set free to see Him giving you new visions and new dreams! Set free to see yourself walking in new authority and fresh anointing! Set free to walk into good success, and to see many good days ahead of you! In Jesus' name. Amen!

Seeing visions

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

The word 'vision' here is pronounced 'khaw-zone' in Hebrew, which comes from the word 'khaw-zaw', meaning 'to gaze at, to perceive (mentally), to see, to behold, to have a vision of'.

In 2 Corinthians 12:1, Paul wrote, "It is doubtless not profitable for me to boast, (but) I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord." In Acts 2:17, Peter quoted Joel 2:28, saying "And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God, that I will pour out of My Spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your young men shall see visions, your old men shall dream dreams." Praise God, in our days (i.e. in the New Covenant), God's Spirit is being poured out on everyone who believes, and not just a selected few! It also means every believer can have dreams and see visions from the Lord! What you need is just to be open to such!

There are many ways God can communicate with you (e.g. through inner witness, still small voice, prophecy, dreams, visions, etc), and He still is in the 'business' of communicating with His beloved today. Of course, one very common way in these 'last days' is through 'seeing visions'. Like dreams, visions from the Lord are never pre-meditated beforehand, and definitely not as a result of watching too much television! Instead, it is a sovereign overtaking from the Lord. When one sees a vision from the Lord, it (be it a 'picture' or 'word/words') supersedes (i.e. take the place of) whatever one sees in the physical realm with his naked eye.

"What are the differences between 'dreams' and 'visions'?"

Basically, 'dreams' are given when one is sleeping, whereas 'visions' are given when one is not sleeping. Another difference is 'dreams' are like a 'drama show', whereas 'visions' are like a 'slide (or static) show'.

Unlike 'dreams', 'visions' generally concern one's calling, ministry, or plans of God. In other words, 'visions' normally concern God's kingdom, whereas 'dreams' may cover a much wider scope, including one's personal situation or circumstances.

'Visions' are also more likely a 'command' from the Lord, while 'dreams' are about a 'solution' from the Lord. However, both 'visions' and 'dreams' need one's spiritual understanding in interpreting it.

'Visions' serve to tell us more about 'what to do' (i.e. the knowledge on what to do), while 'dreams' seem to tell us more about 'how to do' (i.e. the wisdom on how to go about doing it).

This probably explains why the Bible says 'young men see visions', and 'old men dream dreams'. It is a known fact that younger men tend to seek God more on 'what to do' in life (or what they are called for in life, i.e their identity/purpose in life), but as they grow older, and as they grow in wisdom, they would then tend to seek God more on 'how to go about doing it'!

Note: Of course, it also doesn't mean young men can't dream 'dreams', and old men can't see 'visions'! Let's understand Joel 2:28 in the right context, i.e. according to its functions.

However, having written all the differences above, I would also conclude that 'visions' and 'dreams' may sometimes overlap each other in functions as well. One cannot distinctly separate these two like one separates night and day.

Types of vision found in the Bible:
1. Open visions (or 'visions in the heavenly realm'), e.g. Genesis 15:1, Ezekiel 1:1-3, Isaiah 6:1.
2. Trance visions (when one is in semi-conscious state), e.g. Acts 10:9-11.
3. Prophetic visions (can sometimes be symbolic pictures to be interpreted), e.g. Isaiah 2:1.

Purposes of vision found in the Bible:
1. Revealing God's plan, e.g. Isaiah 2:1-4.
2. Calling into ministry/vocation, e.g. Isaiah 6:1-8.
3. God making covenant with His people, e.g. Genesis 15:1-18.
4. Confirming a ministry calling, e.g. Acts 9:10-18.
5. Confirming an open door from the Lord, e.g. Acts 10:9-48, Acts 16:6-10.

How to handle visions?
1. Record it down, act on it, and make it known (if the Lord says so), e.g. Habakkuk 2:2-3.
2. Conceal it until the time is right to release/declare it, e.g. Matthew 17:1-9.

Revelation, not resolution!

Proverbs 29:18 (KJV): Without vision (revelation), My people perish.

The word 'vision' here is pronounced as 'khawzaw' in Hebrew, which also means 'to perceive, to have a vision of, prophetic vision/revelation, see, sight, spiritual insight'.

"Pastor, what then is the difference between revelation and resolution?"

'Revelation' is about "He will..., He will..., He will...", whereas 'resolution' is about "I will..., I will..., I will..."

How many of us have made new year resolutions like these before?
"I will go to gym in the morning 4 times a week without fail this year!"
"I will wake up at 5am every morning to read Bible & pray this year!"
"I will spend 3 hours with God in the morning everyday this year!"
Notice the words "I will..." here.
And then, lo and behold, one or two weeks later (or for some, one or two days later), especially on a nice cold rainy morning, and as your alarm clock began to ring, all you wanted to do then was just to snuggle up under your warm, cosy blanket in bed instead, and you gave in!

We are a people of revelation, not resolution! When I say 'resolution' here, I'm talking about self-made resolution by one's own human strength or effort. Now, don't get me wrong. I'm not against people making new year resolutions. But today, I choose to speak about God's vision/revelation.

See, it's one thing to strive to achieve your self-imposed resolution, but it's another thing when God is the one speaking to you what you are to do. One is about "I will...", but the other is about "He will do it through me..." One is about self-effort and self-imposed pressure, but the other is effortless and easy. Another difference is God's 'khawzaw' for you will last and remain till the end, but 'self-created' resolutions may not.

People of God, this is the time to receive God's vision/revelation. God is still in the 'business' of releasing His specific instructions for specific situations to His people. What it takes is a heart that hears! He is still (and will always be) the Lord who speaks, and that's exactly how He's going to lead you to your victories and breakthroughs this year! Make no mistake about it. In other words, without God's specific instruction (or revelation), we cannot go far.

So, we are here not trying to create resolutions (like the people in the world do), but we are here to receive His revelation for our year ahead! This is what makes you different from the world. As a believer, you are indeed a peculiar people (KJV), His own special people, set apart as a holy nation, a chosen generation, and a royal priesthood, who once were not, but are now the people of God (see 1 Peter 2:9-10).

Just as the sons of Issachar who had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do, and what ought not to do (see 1 Chronicles 12:32), so should God's people today!

As King David consulted the Lord and the captains of the army (see 1 Chronicles 13:2), there's every likelihood that the sons of Issachar were also some of those whom he consulted. I believe that's also how King David received God's timely revelation (& confirmation) on what Israel ought to do then. You see, there could be 101 things for King David to do then, but what he did next was to call for the ark of the covenant (representing God's glory and God's leadership) to be brought back!

Note that in their first attempt to bring back the ark, they failed (1 Chronicles 13:9-10). But as they followed God's specific instructions and specific patterns (1 Chronicles 15:2) in their second attempt, the ark finally was successfully placed where it should be (1 Chronicles 16:1). From then on, the Lord made a covenant with David (1 Chronicles 17), and began to lead Israel to many more great victories and breakthroughs (1 Chronicles 18).

See how one specific revelation led to so many other blessings?

Thank God for a hearing heart in King David! He has indeed caught in the spirit what Israel ought to do then, instead of trying to figure out what they ought to do by his own human wisdom, intelligence, or strength. Without revelation, God's people perish! But thank God where King Saul had failed, King David made it right (see 1 Chronicles 13:3). Israel would definitely not be who they were, if not for God's timely revelation! And that's how important 'khawzaw' is to God's people!

People of God, it's one thing to try (or strive) hard to make things happen by your own self-effort, but it's another thing to let Him make things happen through you, a ready vessel who's humble enough and who's willing to hear and act on His specific instructions (or revelation).

"Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man, the things which God has prepared for those who love Him." But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit... (1 Corinthians 2:9-10).

May you also see many more great victories and breakthroughs this year. Amen!