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!

Being filled with all the fullness of God

Ephesians 3:18-19 (NKJV): ... that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith, that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height - to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

The word 'passes' here is 'huperballo' in Greek, which means 'to throw beyond the usual mark, to surpass, to exceed'. See the word 'all' here? God wants you to be filled with all the fullness of Him, not 'some' or 'part'.

'Fullness' here is 'pleroma' in Greek, which means 'completion, filled up (to the full)', from the word 'pleroo' meaning 'to satisfy, to complete, to supply, to fulfil'. In other words, to be filled with all the fullness of God is to be satisfied, completed, supplied, and fulfilled with all the fullness of God!

God has satisfied every 'thirst' (or 'lack') of yours at the cross some 2,000 years ago, and therefore as a believer, your 'cup' runs over (Psalm 23:5). David understood this fullness of God very well, and that's why he wrote "I shall not be in want" (Psalm 23:1). This fullness of God is the fullness of heaven - where there's no lack, no sickness, and no pain. In Matthew 6:10, Jesus taught us to pray, "Your kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven." You see, heaven on earth! And the good news is you don't have to reach heaven (yet) to live in heaven! You can have heaven even right now on earth!

"Sounds too good to be true!"

But this is what the Word of God says!

Let me explain further. John 19:28-31 says, 'After this, Jesus, knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the Scripture might be fulfilled, said, "I thirst!" Now a vessel full of sour wine was sitting there; and they filled a sponge with sour wine, put it on hyssop (a kind of bitter herb), and put it to His mouth. So when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, "It is finished!" And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit'.

By the way, 'sour wine' here is like acid, and imagine this acid 'burning' through Jesus' dry lips, tongue, throat, esophagus, lung, and through all the internal organs of His body! As you can see, it wasn't just outwardly that He was disfigured and wounded, but also inwardly! It was a whole, complete sacrifice! This acid 'burning' through is like fire burning through, a 'picture' of God's holy anger against sin being fully satisfied on Jesus' body at the cross.

And that's how Jesus became the 'burnt offering' for you. God's holy judgement and punishment against your sins consumed like fire on (and in) Jesus' body at the cross! Let Scripture interpret Scripture. In cross-reference, Exodus 12:7-9 says, 'And they shall take some of the blood (of the lamb) and put it on the two doorposts and on the lintel of the houses where they eat. Then they shall eat the flesh on that night (of Passover); roasted in fire, with unleavened bread and with bitter herbs they shall eat it. Do not eat it raw, nor boiled at all with water, but roasted in fire - its head with its leg and its entrails (i.e. internal organs)'. See the word 'entrails' here? The lamb was to be roasted in fire not just outwardly, but also inwardly!

Today, as a believer in the New Covenant, see all your sins, diseases, or problems 'burnt' with this fire on Jesus' body as well! He got 'dried up' so you'll never 'thirst' or lack any good thing from heaven!

Ephesians 2:18-22 says, 'For through Him (Christ) we have access by One Spirit to the Father. Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone, in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit'. See the word 'access' here? Through Him, you have access to the Father who gives you every good thing! (see Matthew 7:11)

Let's go to the Old Testament now for cross-reference. Genesis 28:11-12 says, 'So he (Jacob) came to a certain place and stayed there all night, because the sun had set. And he took one of the stones of that place and put it at his head, and he lay down in that place to sleep. Then he dreamed, and behold, a ladder was set up on the earth, and its top reached to heaven; and there the angels of God ascending and descending on it'. 

Genesis 28:16-17 then says, 'Then Jacob awoke from his sleep and said, "Surely the Lord is in this place, and I did not know it." And he was afraid and said, "How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven!"'

'House of God' here is 'Beyth El' or 'Bethel', which also means 'habitation of God, dwelling place of God'. The word 'gate' here is 'sha ar' in Hebrew, meaning 'an opening, access'. Therefore, the term 'gate of heaven' here means 'access to and from heaven'! See the word 'access' again?

As a believer, know that you too are the 'house of God' (where He dwells), and the 'gate of heaven' (where you have access to every good thing that heaven supplies)! 

And because there's no lack, no sickness, no pain, no work of darkness in heaven, so should you be on earth!

Genesis 28:18-19 says further, 'Then Jacob rose early in the morning, and took stone that he had put at his head, set it up as a pillar, and poured oil on top of it. And he (Jacob) called the name of that place Bethel; but the name of that city had been Luz previously'. 

Notice 'stone' here is actually a 'picture' of you and I, the living stones (see 1 Peter 2:5), and 'oil' here speaks of the Holy Spirit. In the New Covenant, you and I are that living stones filled with the Holy Spirit!

Interestingly, one meaning of 'Luz' in Hebrew is 'be perverse, be turned aside from the truth'. As you behold Him as in a mirror (see 2 Corinthians 3:18), allow Him to transform you from 'Luz' to 'Bethel', and of course, from glory to glory!

Romans 12:2 says, 'And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God'. By the way, the word 'prove' here is 'dokimazo' in Greek, which can be translated as 'to allow it to happen'. 

People of God, this is the time to allow God to renew and transform your mind, so that 'His kingdom come, His will be done (in your life) on earth as it is in heaven'. Start seeing yourself as the 'house of God' and the 'gate of heaven' from now on, where angels are ascending and descending - ministering for you (Hebrews 1:14) and bringing all the 'goodies' of heaven on earth to you and through you. Amen!

The power of God is now present to heal you!

Luke 5:17 (NKJV): Now it happened on a certain day, as Jesus was teaching, that there were Pharisees and teachers of the law sitting by, who had come out of every town of Galilee, Judea, and Jerusalem. And the power of the Lord was present to heal them.

The word 'power' here is 'dunamis' in Greek, which means 'miraculous power, or mighty work', from the word 'dunamai', meaning 'to be able or possible'. Yes, indeed, He is the Lord who is able, and all things are possible to Him!

In a time of worship and prayer, I heard these words from the Lord for this time and season:

"These coming four months are months of recovery. Many of you have been asking for more of Me and the manifestation of My power, and I have heard it. Know that My power is present, not absent. There's an anointing flowing and coming very strongly beginning this month, especially in the areas of restoration and healing. Take it with you and be blessed. I will bless your hands. Yes, I will put My hand upon your hands. I will put My anointing upon your hands. There's power for healing. There's power for miracles. There's power to prosper. And there's so much more that I want to put upon your hands. Receive it with your hands."

Acts 10:38 says, '... how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power ('dunamis'), who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him'. 

And this same power is now here to break every yoke in your life! By the way, a 'yoke' is anything that oppresses or hinders you from living (or moving) effectively in life. For example, 'sickness' is a form of 'yoke', because 'sickness' oppresses and hinders you from living (or moving) effectively in life! You can't do many things, or enjoy God's blessings to the fullest when you are sick!

In Luke 4:18-19, Jesus said, "The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me because He has anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord."

As a Spirit-filled believer, this very same power has already come upon you, because Acts 1:8 says, 'But you shall receive power ('dunamis') when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth'.

"How do I activate this power that's in me?"

By believing and agreeing with Him!

Hebrews 11:6 says, 'But without faith (i.e. believing) it is impossible to please Him, for He who comes to Him must believe that He is (i.e. present now), and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him'. 

Notice the word 'please' here is 'euaresteo' in Greek, from the word 'euarestos', which means 'to be fully agreeable with'. Therefore, 'to please Him' here is 'to be fully agreeable with Him'! 

The Bible says Jesus is the Word! (John 1:1-2, John 1:14). 'To be fully agreeable with Him' is 'to obey and to act on His Word'! 

When Peter believed that He is and agreed with Jesus' one word for him "Come", he began walking on water! (see Matthew 14:28-29) 'Walking on water' here speaks of you triumphing over your natural condition, situation, or circumstance. 

When the group of men believed and agreed that the power of the Lord was present to heal (make whole) their paralyzed friend, they did not allow the crowd (or even the roof!) to stop them from bringing this man into the midst before Jesus. They eventually saw their reward! (see Luke 5:17-26)

When the woman who had a flow of blood for twelve years believed and agreed that if she could touch Jesus' garment in the midst of the crowd, she would be healed of her affliction. And of course, she too saw her reward! (see Mark 5:25-34)

Indeed, He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. 'To diligently seek Him' is 'to keep and keep on looking to Him, no matter what'.

Declare upon any area of your body (or your situation) that needs healing or miracle right now:

"The power of God is now present in my .............. , and is now working mightily to heal me. In Jesus' name. Amen."

People of God, keep believing, keep agreeing with what God says (not what the 'crowd' says), and you'll be on your way to your complete healing and wholeness. Amen!