Micah 7:7 (NKJV): Therefore I will look to the Lord; I will wait for the God of my salvation; My God will hear me.
The book of Micah is a book about God's justice. It is interesting to note that God has allocated a book in the Holy Bible just to talk about justice! In fact, the very name 'Micah' ('Miyka Yah' in Hebrew) means 'Who is like Yah (the Lord)'. You see, there's only so much man can do to bring justice, but the Lord our God is THE JUSTICE, and there is no one like Him!
Having been raised in his rugged home, and from among the country (rural) people, Micah was burdened by the unfair treatment of the weak (and poor) by those who abuse their power (authority). And the Lord called him out as a prophet to proclaim justice, mercy, and deliverance for those who are victims of injustice.
Micah 1:3 says, 'For behold, the Lord is coming out of His place; He will come down and tread on the high places (i.e. the proud things) of the earth'.
Micah 2:1-2 says, 'Woe to those who devise iniquity, and work out evil on their beds! At morning light they practice it, because it is in the power of their hand. They covet fields and take them by violence, also houses, and seize them. So they oppress a man and his house, a man and his inheritance'.
Micah 3:1-2 says, '...Is it not for you to know justice? You who hate good and love evil; Who strip the skin from My people, and the flesh from their bones'.
People of God, the Lord our God is (and will always be) a God of justice to those who are victims of injustice. Take heart and be encouraged. Just as in the days of prophet Micah, God has never changed His stance for those who humble themselves and look to Him. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever. For some of you out there who have been victims of injustice (whether in the workplace, in the family circle, or in the society), the Lord wants you to know that He remembers you, and He will redeem you!
I heard these words from the Lord recently:
"Tell My people who are victims of injustice: 'Look to Me! For your deliverance and restoration is at hand! Look to Me! For your vindication and freedom is at hand! For I remember you, and I will redeem you!'"
Indeed, He is not dead, but He is still very much active and alive in your situation, no matter how great the odds are stacked against you at the moment. So, all is not lost yet. There is a new hope for you. There is a new horizon awaiting you. This is your time to look to Him and cry out to Him! He will hear you, and He will plead your cause. He will never allow His divine plans (and purposes) for His people to be hindered and taken away. Amen!
Monday, April 30, 2018
Monday, April 23, 2018
No longer forsaken, nor shall your land be desolate!
Isaiah 62:4 (NKJV): You shall no longer be termed Forsaken, nor shall your land any more be termed Desolate; But you shall be called Hephzibah, and your land Beulah; For the Lord delights in you, and your land shall be married.
The word 'Hephzibah' in Hebrew means 'My delight is in her', whereas 'Beulah' in Hebrew means 'Married', which speaks of all of us (the bride of Christ), married to the Bridegroom, the Lord Jesus Christ Himself!
Isaiah 62 is a chapter on the Lord's assurance for 'Jerusalem' (the city, literally). But 'Jerusalem' here can also be a 'picture' of you and I (the people of the Lord). In Isaiah 62:1, the Scripture says, 'For Zion's sake I will not hold My peace (keep silent), and for Jerusalem's sake I will not rest, until her righteousness goes forth as brightness, and her salvation as a lamp that burns'.
I heard these words from the Lord recently:
"Tell My people I will not give up on them, even if they feel like giving up! Tell My people I will not cease until I see My light and brightness fall upon them! Tell My people I will not rest until I see them established according to My purposes in their lives! For I am a God who never leaves them nor forsakes them!"
The word 'Jerusalem' ('Yeruw-shalayim' in Hebrew) has two parts in it, namely 'Yeruw', meaning 'founded on a flow of (living) water', and 'shalayim', meaning 'founded peaceful'. In other words, 'Jerusalem' is a city founded on a flow of (living) water, and a city founded with peace! This is what the Lord had intended for this city to be! The flow of (living) water (i.e. 'a river') here represents 'the Holy Spirit flowing', as this city awaits for the coming of the Bridegroom (the Lord Jesus Christ Himself), who is the Prince of Peace!
Your life, by the way, is like a city! Each city has a unique personality and identity. So are you! Each city has unique features and characteristics. So are you! And there are twin cities or sister cities too, just like some of you who have twins or sisters!
People of the Lord, what 'city' are you? The Scripture tells us that you are meant to be like 'Yeruw-shalayim', a city 'founded on a flow of (living) water', and a city 'founded peaceful'! This is what the Lord had intended for your life to be! So, no matter what problem (or issue) you may be facing in your 'city' at the moment, and no matter how troubled your 'city' has become, there is hope for your 'city'! Indeed, this is your time to boldly ask and receive all the promises of the Lord in Isaiah 62!
In Isaiah 62:8-9, the Scripture says, 'The Lord has sworn by His right hand, and by the arm of His strength; "Surely I will no longer give your grain as food for your enemies; And the sons of the foreigner shall not drink your new wine, for which you have labored. But those who have gathered it shall eat it, and praise the Lord; Those who have brought it together shall drink it in My holy courts."'
And in Isaiah 62:10, the Scripture says, 'Go through, go through the gates! Prepare the way for the people; Build up, build up the highway! Take out (remove) the stones; Lift up a banner for the peoples!'
People of the Lord, this is your time to 'go through the gates', and walk into greater things in life! This is your time to 'take the highway route', because a time for acceleration is at hand! This is your time to 'lift up a banner', because a time for victory has come! Receive all these for your time and season right now! In Jesus' name. Amen!
The word 'Hephzibah' in Hebrew means 'My delight is in her', whereas 'Beulah' in Hebrew means 'Married', which speaks of all of us (the bride of Christ), married to the Bridegroom, the Lord Jesus Christ Himself!
Isaiah 62 is a chapter on the Lord's assurance for 'Jerusalem' (the city, literally). But 'Jerusalem' here can also be a 'picture' of you and I (the people of the Lord). In Isaiah 62:1, the Scripture says, 'For Zion's sake I will not hold My peace (keep silent), and for Jerusalem's sake I will not rest, until her righteousness goes forth as brightness, and her salvation as a lamp that burns'.
I heard these words from the Lord recently:
"Tell My people I will not give up on them, even if they feel like giving up! Tell My people I will not cease until I see My light and brightness fall upon them! Tell My people I will not rest until I see them established according to My purposes in their lives! For I am a God who never leaves them nor forsakes them!"
The word 'Jerusalem' ('Yeruw-shalayim' in Hebrew) has two parts in it, namely 'Yeruw', meaning 'founded on a flow of (living) water', and 'shalayim', meaning 'founded peaceful'. In other words, 'Jerusalem' is a city founded on a flow of (living) water, and a city founded with peace! This is what the Lord had intended for this city to be! The flow of (living) water (i.e. 'a river') here represents 'the Holy Spirit flowing', as this city awaits for the coming of the Bridegroom (the Lord Jesus Christ Himself), who is the Prince of Peace!
Your life, by the way, is like a city! Each city has a unique personality and identity. So are you! Each city has unique features and characteristics. So are you! And there are twin cities or sister cities too, just like some of you who have twins or sisters!
People of the Lord, what 'city' are you? The Scripture tells us that you are meant to be like 'Yeruw-shalayim', a city 'founded on a flow of (living) water', and a city 'founded peaceful'! This is what the Lord had intended for your life to be! So, no matter what problem (or issue) you may be facing in your 'city' at the moment, and no matter how troubled your 'city' has become, there is hope for your 'city'! Indeed, this is your time to boldly ask and receive all the promises of the Lord in Isaiah 62!
In Isaiah 62:8-9, the Scripture says, 'The Lord has sworn by His right hand, and by the arm of His strength; "Surely I will no longer give your grain as food for your enemies; And the sons of the foreigner shall not drink your new wine, for which you have labored. But those who have gathered it shall eat it, and praise the Lord; Those who have brought it together shall drink it in My holy courts."'
And in Isaiah 62:10, the Scripture says, 'Go through, go through the gates! Prepare the way for the people; Build up, build up the highway! Take out (remove) the stones; Lift up a banner for the peoples!'
People of the Lord, this is your time to 'go through the gates', and walk into greater things in life! This is your time to 'take the highway route', because a time for acceleration is at hand! This is your time to 'lift up a banner', because a time for victory has come! Receive all these for your time and season right now! In Jesus' name. Amen!
Tuesday, April 17, 2018
A time to stay glued to the Lord
Psalm 63:8 (KJV): My soul followeth hard after Thee; Thy right hand upholdeth me.
The expression 'followeth hard' here is 'dabaq' in Hebrew, and it can mean 'to cling to, to cleave (join together), to adhere firmly, to stick to (like glue)'. Very interestingly, the Septuagint (the early Greek translation of Old Testament) renders this verse as 'My soul has been glued to You'. In other words, 'My soul sticks to You like glue'!
This same word 'dabaq' can be found in Genesis 2:24, a verse we often quote for marriage between husband and wife, 'Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave ('dabaq') unto his wife; and they shall be one flesh'.
People of God, what do you do if you feel 'dry', discouraged, or lonely (with no one to turn to)? What do you do if you are hard-pressed in life, and nothing seems to be encouraging around you? Well, that was exactly what David experienced when he was in the wilderness (or desert) of Judah, fleeing from those who sought to destroy his life!
Despite all that, David did the right thing by turning away from his loneliness, discouragement, and 'desert' situation around him, and instead, he turned to the Lord. In other words, he chose to stay glued to the Lord in such a time. In Psalm 63:1-2, he wrote, 'O God, You are my God; Early will I seek You; My soul thirsts for You; My flesh longs for You, in a dry and thirsty land where there is no water. So I have looked for You in the sanctuary, to see Your power and Your glory'.
The word 'sanctuary' here is 'qodesh' in Hebrew, and it can mean 'a place that is whole, a place of refuge'. While praying the other day, I saw a vision of a bird sanctuary, where migratory birds (or even endangered species of bird) would gather for food and water. A sanctuary is a place of refuge. A sanctuary is a place of safety and protection. You see, a sanctuary is no sanctuary at all when there is no water. But in the same vision, I saw rivers of water flowing through the sanctuary.
People of God, whatever 'desert' you may be facing right now, come and drink from His rivers in the sanctuary. Let Him refresh you, and let Him fill you with His living waters once again. This is a time of refreshing. This is a time of receiving. And like David, you too will eventually see your deliverance from whatever 'wilderness' (or 'desert') in your life. Amen!
The expression 'followeth hard' here is 'dabaq' in Hebrew, and it can mean 'to cling to, to cleave (join together), to adhere firmly, to stick to (like glue)'. Very interestingly, the Septuagint (the early Greek translation of Old Testament) renders this verse as 'My soul has been glued to You'. In other words, 'My soul sticks to You like glue'!
This same word 'dabaq' can be found in Genesis 2:24, a verse we often quote for marriage between husband and wife, 'Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave ('dabaq') unto his wife; and they shall be one flesh'.
People of God, what do you do if you feel 'dry', discouraged, or lonely (with no one to turn to)? What do you do if you are hard-pressed in life, and nothing seems to be encouraging around you? Well, that was exactly what David experienced when he was in the wilderness (or desert) of Judah, fleeing from those who sought to destroy his life!
Despite all that, David did the right thing by turning away from his loneliness, discouragement, and 'desert' situation around him, and instead, he turned to the Lord. In other words, he chose to stay glued to the Lord in such a time. In Psalm 63:1-2, he wrote, 'O God, You are my God; Early will I seek You; My soul thirsts for You; My flesh longs for You, in a dry and thirsty land where there is no water. So I have looked for You in the sanctuary, to see Your power and Your glory'.
The word 'sanctuary' here is 'qodesh' in Hebrew, and it can mean 'a place that is whole, a place of refuge'. While praying the other day, I saw a vision of a bird sanctuary, where migratory birds (or even endangered species of bird) would gather for food and water. A sanctuary is a place of refuge. A sanctuary is a place of safety and protection. You see, a sanctuary is no sanctuary at all when there is no water. But in the same vision, I saw rivers of water flowing through the sanctuary.
People of God, whatever 'desert' you may be facing right now, come and drink from His rivers in the sanctuary. Let Him refresh you, and let Him fill you with His living waters once again. This is a time of refreshing. This is a time of receiving. And like David, you too will eventually see your deliverance from whatever 'wilderness' (or 'desert') in your life. Amen!
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