You will not be put to shame!

Isaiah 54:4 (NKJV): "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."

Recently, I heard the Lord say, "Do not fear, for you will not be ashamed; neither be disgraced, for you will not be put to shame. The enemy may try to bring shame to you and cause your name to be smeared, but fear not for I have given you an assurance in Isaiah 54:4. Never let the enemy shake you no matter what, and because My light has come, I am also visiting you in a very special way this year, and put My anointing and enabling on you."

This word 'widowhood' in Isaiah 54:4 comes from the Hebrew word 'al-maw-naw', which also means 'a desolate place, or a desolate house'. 'To be desolate' is 'to be deserted, miserable, lonely, sad, or incomplete'. So, this word 'widowhood' here figuratively speaks of being 'deserted, miserable, lonely, sad, or incomplete'.

Never mind if you have been a 'widow' in the past. Because Isaiah 54:5 then says, "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." In other words, your Maker is your 'husband' who completes you, or makes you complete in Him! No more will you be alone in facing the fiery darts of the enemy, and no more will you be put to shame, because your Redeemer, Jesus Christ has already carried all your shame when He was nailed on the cross! In fact, His face was even 'smeared', 'disfigured', and 'disgraced', so that you will not be disgraced anymore! Isaiah 52:14 says, "So His visage (appearance) was marred more than any man, and His form (was marred) more than the sons of men." Isaiah 53:2 then says, "He has no form or comeliness; and when we see Him, there is no beauty that we should desire Him."

And you know what? He suffered all these so that you will have Isaiah 54:4!

This year, because His light has come (Isaiah 60:1-2), know that He is also visiting you, the way Jesus came on Simon Peter's boat (Luke 5:1-6). The Bible says Jesus is the Light (John 1:7-9).

'Boat' here speaks of one's vehicle, livelihood, vocation, or even life itself. Simon Peter was a downcast figure then, a picture of dejection, and in rather low spirits. He had toiled all night but caught no fish. And if there's not going to be any fish in his net, it means there'd also be no food on his family's dining table!

But God! And He came! And out of the many boats by the Lake of Gennesaret, Jesus (Yeshua, meaning 'salvation, rescue, aid, deliverer, restorer') chose to come on his boat!

Today, He wants to come onto your 'boat' as well! Will you allow Him? Blessed are you if you do. 

You see, Simon Peter could really have said, "Sorry, but I'm about to finish washing my net, and I'm too exhausted to entertain anyone today. Maybe next time? Or you can choose another boat to use instead?" But he did not, and it marked the beginning of a great and tremendous blessing in his (Simon Peter's) life!

When Jesus comes on board, He also brings with Him great and tremendous blessing to you! 

Religious people may turn Him into an obligation, or a duty to fulfil. Some others may turn Him into a religion of many steps in order to (hopefully) reach Him. But that's not what the Word of God says! In the New Covenant, what you need to do is simply just let Him come in, just as Simon Peter did!

When Jesus visited Simon Peter, it wasn't an obligation for him, but instead a blessing to him! In other words, God is not an obligation (or burdensome), but a blessing to you! (see also Matthew 11:28-30)

Jesus then said to Simon Peter, "Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a catch." And indeed, blessing did come, even 'exceedingly abundantly above all that he could ask or think' (Ephesians 3:20). In fact, his life was also about to change forever! (see Luke 5:6-11)

People of God, the Lord is also calling you to 'launch out into the deep' this year, where the abundance of fishes are! 'Fishes' here speaks of 'His great blessing and providence'. May your spirit be sensitized to listen to the leading and instructions of the Holy Spirit as He tells you to launch out. Amen.

This is also the time to receive and meditate on Isaiah 54.

Isaiah 54:1 says, "Sing, O barren, you who have not borne! Break forth into singing, and cry aloud, you who have not labored with child! For more are the children of the desolate than the children of the married woman."

Isaiah 54:2-3 follows, "Enlarge the place of your tent, and let them stretch out the curtains of your dwellings; do not spare; lengthen your cords, and strengthen your stakes, for you shall expand to the right and to the left, and your descendants will inherit the nations, and make the desolate cities inhabited."

And as you 'launch out into the deep' or 'enlarge the place of your tent', Isaiah 54:4 then 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."

In cross-reference to 'widowhood' here, a widow's life was greatly blessed and tremendously changed when Elijah came into her life! (see 1 Kings 17:8-24) Similarly, another widow's life was also greatly blessed and tremendously changed when this time, Elisha came! (see 2 Kings 4:1-7) By the way, 'Elijah' means 'God of Yahweh, or God your Redeemer', and 'Elisha' means 'God of salvation, God of supplication, or God who is rich toward you'. Praise God!

People of God, no matter what may have happened in your past, or what shame you have had to endure in the past, will you give and entrust every area of your life to Him again? When Simon Peter allowed Jesus onto his boat, something great happened because it was given and entrusted to Jesus.

Psalm 34:8-10 says, "Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the man who trusts in Him! Oh, fear the Lord, you His saints! There is no want to those who fear Him. The young lions lack and suffer hunger; but those who seek the Lord shall not lack any good thing."

'To trust Him' is to give and entrust your entire life and future to Him, like a child throwing himself/herself into the arms of his/her loving daddy. Today, know that your Abba Father loves you and is always (and will always be) here for you, and He is also assuring you that His arms are big and strong enough to carry you through, no matter what the enemy may try to conjure up against you (see Isaiah 54:14-15, Isaiah 54:17). Amen.

Starting the year with love

1 Corinthians 13:1-3 (NKJV): Though I speak with the tongues of men or of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing.

This word 'love' is also translated 'charity' in King James Version. To love is to give (and to give the best you know how), hence the word 'charity' here. This word 'love' (in NKJV) or 'charity' (in KJV) is 'agape' in Greek, from the verb 'agapao', meaning 'to love'. Interestingly, the word 'agapao' is in turn derived from the word 'agan' in Greek, which simply means 'much, i.e. to give much'.

You see, you can't say you love, but do not give. God the Father Himself set the example by giving us the best of heaven, His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ to die for us, so that we have life everlasting! (John 3:16)

This same word 'agape' is also found in the book of 1 John that describes God as the light, God is love, and God gives eternal life.

What is the relationship between His light and His love then?

1 John 2:5 says, 'But whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is made perfect (i.e. made complete, accomplished, fulfilled) in him. By this we know that we are in Him (i.e. in the light)'. 1 John 2:8 then says, 'Again, a new commandment I write to you, which thing is true in Him (i.e. in the light) and in you, because the darkness is passing away, and the true light is already shining'.

In His light, there is love, the fullness of His love! To put it simply, you can't say you are in the light, but have not love. That just doesn't tally.

Romans 5:5 says, 'Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us'. See the word 'given' here? When He gives, we are the ones who receive!

But what is this love for? Or rather, what is the reason we receive this love from Him?

So that we can love one another!

1 John 4:7-9 says, 'Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. He who does not love does not know God, for God is love. In this the love of God was manifested (shown, revealed) toward us, that God sent (gave) His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him'.

1 John 4:12-14 then says, '... If we love one another, God abides (stays, dwells, remains, continues, is present) in us, and His love has been made perfect in us. By this we know that we abide in Him, and He in us...'

You may say, "You don't understand, pastor, but to love one another is difficult!' Of course, different people may have their own imperfections, weaknesses, flaws, or even the 'ugly side' of them. But this is the time to look beyond all that, and instead, look at how much God loves each of them.

And the Bible says to love one another is not something that's burdensome! 1 John 5:1-3 says, 'Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves Him who begot also loves him who is begotten of Him. By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and keep His commandment. For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments (to love one another). And His commandments are not burdensome'.

Just the other day, I had a dream, and in the dream, I saw how a number of relatives (this speaks of 'brothers and sisters in Christ') having an outing and staying together in a villa, but on the last day, each of them began to pack their own bags, dispersed, and went their own separate ways. I asked the Lord what this dream meant, and He said, "Such is the condition that the devil wants to see happening in the Body of Christ these last days, but fear not, for I will be your linking point. I will pull strings together. I will gather and bring you back together by My love. Allow Me and look to Me. Keep receiving My love to love one another. It is Me, and not your own strength."

1 John 4:18 says, 'There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love'.

Just as light dispels darkness, perfect love casts out fear. Maybe you've been so badly hurt before, or felt so betrayed (from a certain relationship in the past) that you actually made up your mind not to love again. But beloved, know that He is here to help you today.

Surrender all those hurts (and fears) to Jesus at the cross, and in exchange, receive His love anew right now, the love that never fails (1 Corinthians 13:8). Love does not keep hurts. So, let go of all those people you may have kept 'prisoners' in your heart or mind for so long, and begin to release blessings on them one by one. Just like some kings on earth who have the power to release and let go of prisoners, you too are a king ('you are royal priesthood' in 1 Peter 2:9), and therefore you have the power to release and let go of your 'prisoners' as well. This is your time to set free and be set free! And that's how you can love again. In Jesus' name. Amen.

God's Light brings authority, wisdom and revelation

Isaiah 60:1-2 (NKJV): Arise, shine; for your light has come! And the glory of the Lord is risen upon you. For behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and deep darkness the people; but the Lord will arise over you, and His glory will be seen upon you.

People of God, this is the year of the Light! And Jesus is that Light (read John 1:1-18). John 1:4 says, 'In Him (Jesus Christ) is life, and this life is the light of men'. To be in Him is to be in the Light. In other words, when you have Him, you have the light (and of course, eternal life).

The word 'arise' here in Isaiah 60:1-2 is 'zarach' in Hebrew, which means 'to shoot forth beams of light, to appear on you like sunrise'. I can therefore paraphrase the verse this way: 'Even though darkness may cover the earth and its people, but as for you (the believers), the Lord will shoot beams of light on you and appear on you like the sunrise!'

With the Light comes authority. This Light brings with Him authority, i.e. the authority over darkness and all the power of darkness. Revelation 18:1-2a says, 'After these things, I (John) saw another angel coming down from heaven, having great authority, and the earth was illuminated with his glory. And he cried mightily with a loud voice, saying, "Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen..."

The word 'authority' here is 'exousia' in Greek, which can mean 'power, ability, privilege, force, freedom, competency, jurisdiction, superhuman'. You can find this same word 'exousia' in Luke 10:19: 'Behold, I (Jesus) give you the authority ('exousia') to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you'.
Note: 'Serpents and scorpions' here are pictures of 'the devil, or the work of darkness'.

'Babylon' comes from the word 'Babel', meaning 'confusion'. This speaks of 'the systems of the world, or the man-made structures/systems of this world'. The end-time is a time when God's way clashes with the worldly way, but in the end, God's way will triumph and exult over the 'Babylonian' way (see Revelation chapters 18 and 19).

With the Light also comes wisdom and revelation. The word 'illuminate' in the above verse is 'photizo' in Greek, which means 'to shed rays, to shine, to brighten up, to enlighten, to bring to light, made to see'. This word 'photizo' is derived from the word 'phos', which simply means 'light'. 'Light' is the source of 'enlightening'. I can therefore say 'with the light comes enlightening, but without the light, there's no enlightening'.

In cross reference, this word 'photizo' is also found in Ephesians 1:17-18: '...that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, the eyes of your understanding being enlightened ('photizo'), that you may know what is the hope of His calling...'

The word 'wisdom' here in Greek is 'sophia', from the word 'sophos' which means 'to be clear (and not blur), to have clarity in what one is to do'. When the eyes of your understanding is enlightened, you'll be so clear as to what to do and what not to do in your life and vocation (calling)!

Not only that, the thing that has been 'veiled' (i.e. 'in the dark') now becomes 'unveiled' when the light brings with it enlightening. The word 'revelation' here in Greek is 'apokalupsis', meaning 'unveiled, disclosed, uncovered, brought to light'.

As you can see, light will always triumph over darkness. When the light comes, darkness will have to flee (1 John 2:8). There's no other way around it.

So, if there's any one word you can remember throughout this year, it is the word 'Light'. Be conscious always of the Light who is in you. Know also that you are in the Light (no matter what happens around you), and you'll rise above every darkness that covers the earth and its people, be it in health, in finance, in economy, or in any other area of life. Amen.