The sovereignty of the Lord

Isaiah 46:10 (NKJV): Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times things that are not yet done, saying, 'My counsel shall stand, and I will do all My pleasure.'

Isaiah 48:12-13 (NKJV): "Listen to Me, O Jacob, and Israel, My called: I am He, I am the First, I am also the Last. Indeed My hand has laid the foundation of the earth, and My right hand has stretched out the heavens; When I call to them, they stand up together."

These verses above show us that the Lord is sovereign in all His ways, and He knows exactly what He is doing. Man may plan, but it is He who has full say and final say. Indeed, He sees further and farther than anyone of us can ever see.

So, what does this word 'sovereign' mean? In Oxford Dictionary, the definition of 'sovereign' is 'having complete power or the greatest power'.

In the context of the Lord's sovereignty, this word can therefore be defined as 'having complete power to govern, i.e. governing His kingdom, which is above all the kingdoms (or ways) of man in this world'.

In short, the Lord's sovereignty simply means 'He is in control', even if many in this world think He isn't.

In 1 Timothy 6:12-15 (NKJV), the apostle Paul exhorted his spiritual son Timothy, "Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also called and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses. I urge you in the sight of God who gives life to all things... that you keep this commandment without spot, blameless until our Lord Jesus Christ’s appearing, which He will manifest in His own time, He who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings and Lord of lords."

Let's look at the same verses in English Standard Version (ESV): "Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called and about which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses. I charge you in the presence of God, who gives life to all things... to keep the commandment unstained and free from reproach until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, which He will display at the proper time - He who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords."

See the word 'Sovereign' here? It is written as 'Potentate' in NKJV. This word is 'dunastes' in Greek, from the word 'dunamai' meaning 'be able, be possible'. In other words, the Lord is the only One who is able, and who makes all things possible when no other 'king', 'kingdom', 'lord', or 'lordship' can on earth. 

People of God, maybe you are going through a difficult time in your life at the moment, and you've been asking questions like, "Where were you Lord?", or "Why did you allow certain things to happen?" 

Admittedly, there can be times in life you just cannot understand why the Lord does what He does, or why the Lord allow something to happen. But this doesn't mean the Lord is not in control. Your part is to be patient and endure, and keep looking to Him and trusting in His wisdom. Yes, look to Him, and not to man. Because He always see further and farther than us, and He knows exactly what He is doing. Indeed, He knows how to work things out for good in your life, according to His sovereign plan and timing.

In His sovereignty and His redemption plans, Jesus had to endure humiliation, pain, betrayal, rejection, and be crucified on the cross. Seemingly a defeat in the world's physical eyes (and the devil thought he had defeated Jesus), the Lord eventually had the ultimate victory, even in the most unexpected or unimaginable ways. Darkness says, "It's impossible!" because darkness thought he has won. But the Lord is higher, greater, and smarter!

The same it is in whatever difficult situation you may be going through at the moment, and you are still waiting for that breakthrough to come. Take heart, because the Lord your God knows how to manifest it in His own time and display it at the proper time! Because He is the King of (all) kings, and the Lord of (all) lords!

Continue to submit to Him and draw near to Him (James 4:5-8). In His (perfect) time, He will make all things beautiful (Ecclesiastes 3:11). Indeed, He is still your faithful God who is at the throne. In Jesus' name. Amen!

Abiding in Him and His anointing

The Lord says:
"Continue to receive My anointing in this time and season! My anointing not only empowers you, but My anointing enables you! I am enabling you to make the right moves, and into the right decisions and directions. I am enabling you to know what you should do and what you should avoid. Look to Me and receive by faith!"

In this time and season when the Lord is releasing His anointing to His people in ways never before seen, one major aspect that He wants you to receive is His enabling for you to make the right moves, and into the right decisions and directions. This is a crucial time to look to Him and receive this enabling by faith! With His enabling, you will know what you should do and what you should avoid, moving forward. By the way, the word 'enable' is defined in Cambridge dictionary as 'to make someone able to do something, or to make something possible'.

1 John 2:20 (NKJV) says, '...you have an anointing from the Holy One, and you know all things'. The word 'know' here is 'eido' in Greek, and it can mean 'be sure of, be aware of, be able to perceive, be able to understand'. In other words, with this anointing in you, you'll be so sure of, aware of, able to perceive, and able to understand what the Lord is doing in your life (every area of your life), or what the Lord is doing in your nation, and even in this world!

The word 'anointing' (or 'unction' in KJV) here is 'chrisma' in Greek, and it means:
- smearing (to spread a liquid or a thick substance over a surface);
- endowment (the action of endowing something or someone);
- a quality or ability given to you (by the Lord).

1 John 2:27 (NKJV) says, '...the anointing which you have received from Him abides in you, and you do not need that anyone teach you; but as the same anointing teaches you concerning all things, and is true, and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you will abide in Him'.

See? The anointing which you have received from Him abides in you! The word 'abide' here is 'meno' in Greek, meaning 'continue, dwell, endure, remain, be present'. And with this anointing abiding in you, you will not be so easily deceived by whatever the devil or the world has to offer (or portray to you)! Because this anointing will teach you concerning all things, and is true, and is not a lie. Therefore, you do not need that anyone teach you otherwise (or rather, you do not need that anyone teach you whatever that's opposite to what the anointing has taught you)!

Now, where else in the Bible do you find the word 'abide' ('meno' in Greek) being mentioned? None other than the Gospel of John! Jesus Himself said in John 15:4-5, "Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing."

You see, He is the vine and you are the branches! Unless you abide in the vine, you cannot bear fruit of yourselves. But how do you abide in Him? As the 'branches', your part is to empty yourselves before Him (instead of being so full of yourselves), so that the 'essential substances' (i.e. minerals and water) will flow from the root, the vine, and right into you, the branches! Only then will you bear fruit! Now, these 'essential substances' are like the anointing! With this anointing from the Holy One flowing and abiding, you will have what it takes to bear much fruit! And you will make the right moves in life, knowing what you should do and what you should avoid. Hallelujah!

The power of His blood and His oil

The Lord spoke these words recently:
"Continue to receive the overcoming and overthrowing anointing! Fear not, and continue to declare Psalm 91! Believing, you shall receive! But now is also the time to teach My people about My blood and My anointing oil. These are My protective measures in a time of trouble and pestilence."

In times of trouble and pestilence like these, as you claim the promises of God in Psalm 91, it is also important to remember the blood of Jesus! Romans 5:9 (NKJV) says, 'Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him'. Ephesians 1:7 (NKJV) says, 'In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace'.

Notice Romans 5:9 says 'we shall be saved from wrath through Him'. The word 'wrath' here is 'orge' in Greek, and it can mean 'violence, punishment, vengeance, abomination, disgrace, torment'. You see, the blood of Jesus doesn't just save us, but the blood of Jesus also protects us from all these 'orge'!

In addition to justification (i.e. made right in God's sight) and redemption (i.e. being saved and forgiven from sin), here are three other reasons to remember the blood of Jesus:
1. We can access God's presence by the blood of Jesus
Hebrews 10:19 (NKJV) says, 'Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus...'
2. We can experience victory over every evil by the blood of Jesus
Revelation 12:11 (NKJV) says, 'And they overcame him (the accuser) by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony...'
3. We obtain eternal glory by the blood of Jesus
Revelation 7:14 (NKJV) says, 'These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation, and washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb'.

Let's talk about the oil of His anointing now. Remember: 'Blood' and 'Oil'! These are the Lord's protective measures for you. Exodus 40:9 (NKJV) says, 'And you shall take the anointing oil, and anoint the tabernacle and all that is in it; and you shall hallow it and all its utensils, and it shall be holy'. Exodus 40:9 (NLT) says, 'Take the anointing oil and anoint the tabernacle and all its furnishings to consecrate them and make them holy'. This word 'tabernacle' is 'mishkan' in Hebrew, and it simply means 'residence, a dwelling place (of God)'. Today, as believers in the New Covenant, you are that 'living tabernacle', the dwelling place of God who lives in you! (1 Corinthians 3:16)

And in Isaiah 10:27 (NKJV), the Scripture says, 'It shall come to pass in that day that his (the oppressor's) burden will be taken away from your shoulder, and his (the oppressor's) yoke from your neck, and the yoke will be destroyed because of the anointing oil'. 

What is the similarity between the two verses above (Exodus 40:9 and Isaiah 10:27)? 

'Anointing oil'! In Exodus 40:9, the anointing oil is to anoint the 'tabernacle' (that's you!). Why? To consecrate it and make it holy! You see, the enemy cannot touch what's holy! In Isaiah 10:27, the anointing oil is to destroy the yoke. What does 'yoke' mean here? This word 'yoke' (as imposed on the neck) is from the Hebrew word 'awlal', meaning 'pain imposed, burden imposed, abuse imposed, defilement imposed, maltreatment imposed, cruelty imposed'. And because of the anointing oil, you are now set free from such yoke! 

Not only that, THE ANOINTING OIL CAUSES YOU TO SHINE! Not convinced? Why not pour some anointing oil on the palm of your hand right now. Done it? Now compare the part with oil and the part without oil. Look now, which part is shinier? You see, not only the anointing oil destroys every yoke, the anointing oil causes you to shine! Interestingly, the word 'anointing' in Isaiah 10:27 is from the Hebrew word 'sheh-men', and it can mean 'to rub with oil, so that you will shine and prosper'. Hallelujah!

Therefore, in times like these, anoint yourself with the oil of His anointing! No, not doing it as a religious 'thingy' or a religious ritual; but in doing so, you are believing that you are anointed, established, empowered, and enabled by the Spirit of the Lord! And you too will arise and shine in the midst of 'the darkness that covers the earth', just as prophesied in Isaiah 60:1-2: "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." Amen!