Time to walk free!

The Lord says: 

"Your chains are broken! Time to walk free now! For My hand has set you free! Free from suppression. Free from oppression. Free from depression. Free to be who I want you to be. Free to walk in My purposes and plans for your life in this time and season." 

Yes indeed, it's time for you to be set free and to walk free! 

Let's look at Peter and how God set him free. 

Acts 12:1-3 (NKJV) says, 'Now about that time Herod the king stretched out his hand to harass some from the church... And because he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to seize Peter...' 

Acts 12:4-5 (NKJV) says, 'So when Herod had arrested Peter, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four squads of soldiers to keep him, intending to bring him before the people after Passover. Peter was therefore kept in prison, but constant prayer was offered to God for him by the church.' 

Acts 12:6-7 (NKJV) says, 'And when Herod was about to bring Peter out, that night Peter was sleeping, bound with two chains between two soldiers, and the guards before the door were keeping the prison. Now behold, an angel of the Lord stood by him, and a light shone into the prison; and he struck Peter on the side and raised him up, saying, "Arise quickly!" And his chains fell off his hands.' 

The angel then said to Peter, "Gird yourself and tie on your sandals". So Peter did. The angel also said to Peter, "Put on your garment and follow me." So Peter went out and followed the angel. 

You see, Peter didn't know what was done by the angel was real. Peter thought he was seeing a vision. Because this seemed surreal to him. It's like a dream. But mind you, it's real. Nothing is impossible to God! 

Beloved of God, God can do the same for you too, whatever your predicament may be at the moment. Just don't limit how God's going to do it.  

Let's get back to Peter now. Acts 12:10 (NKJV) says, 'When they were past the first and the second guard posts, they came to the iron gate that leads to the city, which opened to them of its own accord...' Hallelujah! Somehow the gate flung open! Of course, nothing is too hard for God. And thanks to the constant prayer of the people who prayed for Peter as well.

You see, when a 'door' is shut and locked on you, what do you do? You pray! Pray like the people prayed those days. Because when you pray, even though the door is shut by men, God's heaven's door will be opened! And when heaven's door is open, His light will shine into your situation! 

The words 'constant prayer' in Acts 12:5 is very interesting. The word 'constant' here is 'ektenos' in Greek. It can mean 'without ceasing'. It can also mean 'earnest'. In other words, 'sincere, intense, from the heart'. So, it's not just a 'lip service'. It's not just 'on the surface' kind of prayer. It's not 'just for show' kind of prayer. 

This word 'ektenos' is related to the word 'ektenes'. What is 'ektenes' in Greek? It literally means 'stretching out a muscle to its limits'. It can also be defined as 'stretching out all you can for something'. So, when you pray, you stretch out all you can to the Lord. Amen! 

Let's move on to Acts 12:11. When Peter had come to himself, he said, "Now I know for certain that the Lord has sent His angel, and has delivered me from the hand of Herod." And you know what? Peter then went to see the people who were praying for him. He met the people there. Of course, all these people were astonished when they saw him. They couldn't believe their eyes. But after Peter told them what happened and how he was set free from the prison, they believed.

Beloved of God, just as for Peter, the Lord knows how to turn things around for you too. So, fear not! Keep walking in obedience to the Lord. Keep living a life of worshiping the Lord. Keep drawing near to the Lord. 

Even though Acts 12 here is talking about Peter's unique situation, this can apply in whatever situation you may be facing at the moment. Your God is still the same yesterday, today, and forever. He is still your miracle-working God. He can and He will do a miracle for you too! Yes, even in ways you've never imagined possible. Amen!

Click here for the full message in TiC YouTube Channel

A time to consecrate yourself for the new things ahead!

Exodus 28:1-3 (NKJV): "Now take Aaron your brother, and his sons with him, from among the children of Israel, that he may minister to Me as priest... And you shall make holy garments for Aaron your brother, for glory and for beauty. So you shall speak to all who are gifted artisans, whom I have filled with the spirit of wisdom, that they may make Aaron's garments, to consecrate him, that he may minister to Me as priest."

The word 'consecrate' here is 'qadash' in Hebrew, which can mean 'to be made clean, to be made holy, to be purified (sanctified), to be set apart, to be prepared for the Lord to use'.

The above was the instruction from the Lord to Moses, as Aaron (his brother) was being prepared for something new those days, that is 'to minister to the Lord as priest'.

The 'holy garments' ('priestly garments' or 'garments of the temple') here speaks of 'God's holiness and righteousness imputed upon you' (Isaiah 61:10, 2 Corinthians 5:21). The Talmud (a collection of Jewish civil and ceremonial laws and traditions) actually has a part that is translated this way: 'While they are clothed in the priestly garments, they are clothed in priesthood; but when they are not wearing the garments, the priesthood is not upon them'. It means no priest (neither the priest nor the high priest himself) is fit to serve in the temple unless he is wearing the holy garments.

Now, how do you relate the 'priestly garments' to a believer in the New Covenant? 1 Peter 2:9-10 says, 'But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy'. See the words 'now' here?

Indeed, you and I are the 'royal priesthood' of today! In other words, you and I are being 'set apart, prepared for the Lord to use' in the specific calling or vocation that God has called each of us to fulfil on this earth!

During a time of worship and prayer recently, I heard and released these words:
"Consecrate your walk with Me again. Train up your walk with Me again, like Enoch walked with Me. For this is the time I am preparing you for the many new things in the days ahead."

From the prophetic words above, 'to consecrate' can also be defined as 'to dedicate yourself for God to begin working (in you and through you)'.

Indeed, He is preparing to do many new things in you (and through you) in the days ahead! New creativity and ideas are being released to God's people like never before! New ways of doing things are also being released like you have never imagined before! Indeed, He is a God who always does new things! And He is not done with it yet! In fact, scientists have acknowledged that new stars and new galaxies are still being created even now in the physical realm! (Source: Institute for Creation Research)

People of God, watch how He is going to do new things for you as well! It is therefore a high time for you to refresh and renew your walk with Him again, whatever your calling or vocation may be on this earth!

By the way, 'walking with God' means 'walking alongside Him, traveling with Him (hand in hand), and following Him continually'.

In Genesis 5:24, the Bible says, '... Enoch walked with God; and he was not, for God took him'. Very interestingly, this name 'Enoch' ('khanoke' in Hebrew) means 'dedicated', from the word 'khawnak', which can mean 'to dedicate, to consecrate, to train up (i.e. to prepare for something)'. As you can see here, Enoch was a good example of someone who had dedicated himself to walk with God all through his life on earth (until the day God 'took him up'). In short, his walk was a dedicated walk.

Hebrews 11:5 says, 'By faith Enoch was taken away so that he did not see death, "and was not found, because God had taken him" ; for before he was taken he had this testimony, that he pleased God'. 

The word 'pleased God' here has been misunderstood by many. It is 'euarestos' in Greek, which actually means 'to be fully agreeable with God (and His ways)'. Indeed, His ways and His thoughts are higher than ours (Isaiah 55:8-9). As you can see here, the writer of Hebrews 11:5 meant 'Enoch was fully agreeable with God (and His ways)'. This, my friend, is the essence of a genuine and fulfilling walk with God. 

'Enoch' here is also a 'typology' of 'God's people (you and I) awaiting for the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ' (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17). We are the 'bride', and He is the 'bridegroom' (Revelation 21:9-11, Revelation 22:16-17). And as we await for that glorious day of His coming, let us all also 'continue to walk with Him' (Galatians 5:16-18) and 'keep (wearing) His (holy and righteous) garments' (Revelation 16:15), bringing glory to God till the very end. Amen!