Rise above oppressive and depressive spirits!

The Lord says: 

"Be on guard against the oppressive and depressive spirits that are sent by the enemy. Hold the Blood of Jesus against all these. Rise above and not go under. Take authority and bind whatever that tries to pull you down and make you feel useless. Never let the enemy sow any negativity into your life. Cast it down!" 

Yeah, people of God, this is the time the Lord is releasing His fresh vision, fresh mission, and fresh purpose for His people. But be on guard. Because the enemy will try to come in and mess it up. Or maybe you are on the road to recovery and restoration in your life. The enemy can also try to come in and pull you down. When such things happen, what do you do? The Lord has the answer for you. You rise up. You take authority over all these nuisances sent by the enemy. You meditate on God's Word. And if the enemy tries to send sorrow or tries to remind you of your past sorrow, turn it around with the sword of the Spirit, that is the Word of God! 

Let's look at the definitions of 'oppressive' and 'depressive' first. Remember, we are not fighting flesh and blood. We are not against anybody. But we are against the spirits of oppression and depression. This word 'oppressive' can be defined as 'causing feelings of being pressed upon with heavy burden in one's spirit and soul'. The soul of course includes your mind, or your thought. The word 'depressive' can be defined as 'causing feelings of severe despondency (i.e. loss of hope and courage in life) and dejection'. It can also be defined as 'causing a reduction in strength, effectiveness, or value in one's life'. 

And the Lord is saying to us today: "Be on guard against all these!" 

Let's go to the Scripture now. Ephesians 6:10-11 (NKJV) says, 'Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.' 

By the way, 'wiles' here can mean 'the scheming of the devil, or the trickeries of the devil'. So, how do you overcome the oppressive and depressive spirits that come against you? You put on the whole armor of God! I'm going to share with you what does it mean by 'putting on the whole armor of God'. 

But before that, let's go to the definition of 'put on'. In Greek, it is 'enduo'. It can be defined as 'endue with, clothe with, fill your thoughts with'. So, one way to 'put on the whole armor of God' is by filling your thoughts with Jesus, i.e. with the Word of God! 

Who is this 'whole armor of God'? His name is Jesus! Now, you know that this ministry always points you to Jesus. I'm going to explain to you why putting on the whole armor of God is not so much about your own self-effort, or relying on your own strength, but putting on the whole armor of God is to look to Jesus! Because this 'whole armor of God' is no other but Jesus!

Jesus is your 'whole armor of God'! You see, you become strong in the Lord by putting on this whole armor of God. And to put on this whole armor of God is to put on Christ! He is your victory, He is your wholeness, He is your wellness, He is your everything!

What are some of those 'wiles and wickedness' of the enemy that come against you right now? 

It may be a troubling thought, a worry, an anxiety, a feeling that you are condemned, or a guilt that you have, and the enemy is very good at rubbing salt in your wound (i.e. making an unpleasant situation even worse). It may also be a heavy burden or a heavy yoke that is imposed by the enemy against you. The enemy uses any of these to try to pull down your spirit, to destroy you, and of course, to destroy God's vision, God's mission, and God's purpose for you. That's why the Lord is saying today: "Be on guard!" 

Ephesians 6:13 (NKJV) says, 'Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.' 

Very interestingly, Apostle Paul never said to fight, to strive, or to toil in the battle. But he said to stand. So, what exactly is the word 'stand' here? It is 'histemi' in Greek. It can mean 'be established, be firm.' It means to stand on the 'solid rock'. Jesus is your 'solid rock'! When you are established in Christ, when you are firm in Christ (in His Word), the enemy has no choice but to flee. You know why? Because the enemy can't stand Him and His Word! 

So, what do you do, beloved? You stand firm on God and God's Word in your life. You keep meditating on His Word. You keep building yourself in the spirit by praying in the spirit. Word and Spirit. Spirit and Word.

Let's continue with Ephesians 6:14-17. Here, you can see the details of the whole armor of God, which I'm going to explain one by one. 'Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God...' Ephesians 6:18 then says, 'praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit...' 

Do you see the word 'sword' here? The sword of the Spirit is the Word of God! Wield it. Use it. Overcome all those works of darkness, and all those oppressive and depressive spirits that come against you with the Word of God! Declare it. Speak it out aloud. Victory is yours for the taking. Hallelujah! 

Now, let's go to the details of the whole armor of God. Remember this: Putting on the whole armor of God is putting on Christ. In other words, be conscious of who Christ is in your life. And of course, be conscious of what God says you are, not what the world says you are, or what the devil says you are, or what all kinds of spirits in the world say you are. 

The first item is 'belt'. You gird your waist with the truth. What is this truth? The Word of God is truth! And this truth shall set you free! As you are fastened with this truth, i.e. the Word of God, no lie can deceive you. You are always standing in the truth. You are not standing on the lies of the enemy. And who is this truth? Jesus! Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life! Do you see that? Jesus is the whole armor of God! He has become your 'belt'! Because He is the truth! And this truth shall set you free! You will not be deceived by all those lies, or wiles and wickedness, or the scheming of the enemy against you. Amen! 

The second item is 'breastplate'. Now, all these items are actually symbolic of who Jesus is in your life. When you put on this breastplate, you are protected from condemnation of the devil. This is the breastplate of righteousness. When you put on this breastplate of righteousness, you are reminding yourself always that you are already made right in Christ. You are already made righteous through Christ. And therefore, no weapon that is formed against you shall prosper, and every word that rises against you in judgement, you shall condemn. This is your heritage, your inheritance, as a servant of the Lord. And your righteousness comes from who? Your righteousness comes from the Lord! (Isaiah 54:17)

The third item is 'shoe'. Now, 'shoe' here symbolizes 'you are led by the Spirit of God'. You are led by Him every step of the way. Believe this, that wherever the Lord leads you, there will be shalom peace. And wherever you are, you are the light to the world. As Jesus is the light, you are the extension of this light. You can touch many lives. You are a blessing to others. You can share the good news of Jesus Christ, His kingdom, to many more lives around you. You can look to the Lord. You can look outward on how you can be a blessing to others, instead of looking inward, throwing a pity party, or dwelling in negativity. Don't give the enemy any say in your life. God has all the say. Jesus has all the say. The Holy Spirit has all the say. But not the enemy. 

The fourth item is 'shield'. Apostle Paul put it as 'shield of faith'. When you put on Christ in your life, you are also filled with this faith of God. There's no fear, anxiety, or worry anymore. You have overcome all these by the faith of God. And nothing whatsoever thrown by the enemy can affect you! Hallelujah!

The fifth item is 'helmet'. Now, this can symbolize you are saved from eternal death, and no one can knock that off from you. You know why? Because Jesus, your Salvation, lives in you. Nothing in this world can take Him away from you, if you do not allow it. So, be conscious of who Christ is in your life. Know who Christ is in your life. And no oppressive or depressive spirit can affect you. You have overcome!

The sixth item is 'sword'. This is 'the sword of the Spirit', that is the Word of God. It means you are established in His Word. Jesus is the Word. And this Word of God is sharper than any other double-edged sword, and it overcomes any work or word of darkness that comes against you. So, wield this sword. Slay all those works or words of darkness!

And of course Apostle Paul also wrote to pray in the spirit, which is to build yourself in the spirit man. When you are strong in your spirit, i.e. you are strong in the inside of you, you are going to see yourself strong in the outside of you. Because what happens in the spirit happens first, and it will be reflected in the physical. 

You see, beloved of God, this is the good news. God has given you this whole armor of God. Put it on! Put on Christ! And that's how you are going to triumph in Christ! 

Click here for the full teaching in TiC YouTube Channel

New Spiritual Year. What does God say further?

The Lord recently put a deep burden in my heart to pray for the nations, especially certain nations in the world. Some of us may not be politicians, decision makers in the nation, or policy makers in the nation, but we can pray. In fact, this is a crucial time to pray for your nation, and for the nations that the Lord has put in your heart to pray for. Never underestimate the power of your prayer. God can do mighty things through your prayers. God can do miracles through your prayers. 

This is what the Lord say for this time and season: 

"Many nations are entering a time of crucial crossroads. There is a great battle happening in the spiritual realm over the nations in the world. This is a crucial time to pray. This is a crucial time to stand in the gap. Pray for your nation. Pray for the nation or nations that I have put in your heart to pray for. Pray for healing. Pray for forgiveness. Pray for wisdom. Pray for these nations to stand for the truth." 

People of God, don't give up hope for some of these nations. Pray for the Lord to intervene and prevent certain evil from happening to your nation, or to the nation (or nations) that you are praying for. Never underestimate the power of your prayer. 

James 5:16 (NKJV) says, 'Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.' 

James 5:16 (NLT) puts it this way: 'Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results.' 

The words 'earnest prayer' here can mean 'praying from the heart, praying with all your heart, or praying persistently.' In other words, 'keep knocking at the door'. Yes, keep knocking at the door through your prayers! 

So, if you know that the Lord has called you to pray for your nation, or for certain nations in the world, just obey Him. Just pray according to what He has put in your heart to pray. 

Ezekiel 22:30 (NKJV) says, 'So I sought for a man among them who would make a wall, and stand in the gap before Me on behalf of the land, that I should not destroy it; but I found no one.' 

At that time, there was no one willing to 'stand in the gap'. But may you be one of those who would 'stand in the gap'. How do you 'stand in the gap'? You 'stand in the gap' through your prayers. In other words, you can uphold in your prayers the nations that God has put in your heart to pray for. 

The Book of Ezekiel here shares about Prophet Ezekiel's visions that he had received from the Lord. At that time, certain nations have begun to rely on themselves and have turned away from the Lord. Instead of putting God first, they began to depend on their own wisdom and own human ways (or own desires). That happened in Prophet Ezekiel's days. And you know what? It also happens now. 

So people of God, pray for the nation (or the nations) that God has put in your heart to pray for. Of course, let us not pray with a judgmental attitude. We are not judge. It is God who is Judge. It is the Lord who raises up, and it is the Lord who pulls down. That is His part. But as for you and I, we pray with a good heart. Because God loves every tribe and every tongue in this world. 

Apostle Paul wrote this in 1 Timothy 2:1-3 (NKJV): 'Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior.' 

The expression 'praying for kings and all who are in authority' here means 'praying for the leaders of the nation (or the nations) that the Lord has put in your heart to pray for'. 

We can lift up our holy hands and pray for the nation that we are living in, or our adopted nation, or the nation (or the nations) that the Lord has put in our hearts to pray for. 

Right now, the Lord is releasing His anointing upon you to pray, and for you to pray the right prayers. And even if you do not know what to pray, just pray in the spirit, because praying in the spirit is praying in the perfect will of God. Let God's perfect will be done, and let God's perfect way be done upon the nation (or the nations) that you are praying for. Amen! 

2 Chronicles 7:14 (NKJV) says, 'If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.' 

No nation in this world is perfect. Every nation has its flaws. But you can pray. Pray for forgiveness for whatever wrong that has been done in that particular nation. Pray for healing for the nation (or the nations) that the Lord has put in your heart to pray for. And leave it to the Lord to do His part. Your part is to obey His call to pray. Pray in the spirit. Pray according to the words that the Lord has put in your heart to declare and to speak out. Amen! 

Psalm 2:10-11 (NKJV) says, 'Now therefore, be wise, O kings; Be instructed, you judges of the earth. Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice with trembling.' 

You can pray for the fear of the Lord (the reverence of the Lord) to be upon the leaders of the nation (or the nations) that you are praying for. 

Proverbs 21:1-3 (NKJV) says, 'The king's heart is in the hand of the Lord, like the rivers of water; He turns it wherever He wishes. Every way of a man is right in his own eyes, but the Lord weighs the hearts. To do righteousness and justice is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice.' 

May the Lord raise up the right people for your nation, or for the nation (or the nations) that the Lord has put in your heart to pray for. 

Last but not least, Isaiah 60:2-3 (NKJV) says, '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. The Gentiles shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising.' 

May the nation (or the nations) that the Lord has put in your heart to pray for walk in this light. Amen! 

Let us pray: 

"O Lord God, You have spoken that this is a crucial time to pray and stand in the gap for the nation or the nations that You have put in our hearts to pray for. We pray for healing. We pray for forgiveness. We pray for wisdom. We pray for these nations to stand for the truth. In the name of Jesus. Amen."

Click here for the full message in TiC YouTube Channel 

New Spiritual Year 5784. What does God say?

The Lord says: 

"The world may tell you it's going to be a difficult year. The world may tell you it's going to be a year of 'hard landings'. Even though it's going to be a year full of 'suddenlies', shocks and astonishment in the world, but if you are walking in My spiritual realm and My supernatural realm, it's going to be a new year and season when doors are going to be flung open for you! Whatever 'bondage' or 'prison' you may be in right now, this is your time to walk through the 'prison' door and be set free! Keep looking to Me! Keep looking to My Word! Keep praising! Keep rejoicing! And you're going to see My hand opening the door for you!" 

We've read of this expression 'hard landings' just now. The term 'hard landing', by the way, is an aviation term, which refers to the kind of high-speed landing that, while not really an actual crash, it is a source of stress and anxiety, and may even cause physical damage and injury. 

But as for you, people of God, even though 'hard landings' may happen in many parts of the world, you are different! If you keep looking to the Lord your God, all these 'hard landings' in the world will not have any effect on you! You know why? Because you are walking in God's supernatural, heavenly economy! As for me and my house, we truly believe in this. And we want to believe this for you too! I'm not just talking about financial provisions, but I'm talking about provisions in all other ways, and that includes 'open doors', guidance from the Lord, and direction from the Lord, in every aspect of our lives. I'm saying this with humility in my heart. I give all the glory to the Lord. He is great, and He is greatly to be praised. He is a supernatural God. He is above this natural world. And you belong to His realm. You belong to Him. Amen! 

So, this is your time and your season to walk through open doors, doors that are opened by the Lord. Do not miss this time and season. Yes, doors are going to be suddenly flung open for you, in spite of all the odds and impossibilities. Indeed, this is the season of many 'suddenlies'. Many things are going to happen suddenly. You'll be hearing a lot of shocking things and a lot of astonishments. Nations rising against nations. Wars and rumors of war will be heard louder and louder. Nations will be aligning in ways that may catch many by surprise. There will be a number of 'changing of the guards' in many nations. Earthquakes and more earthquakes. Natural calamities will increase in many parts of the world. 

But fear not, when you see all these things happen. Your part is to keep looking to the Lord your God. Return to your first love in the Lord. And all is going to be well with you. I declare this upon you and your family. The hand of the Lord will protect you and your family. You will be led by the Spirit of God to be at the right place and at the right time. 

Let's go all the way to Acts chapter 16 right now. Here, you can see that Paul and Silas were walking through doors that have been flung open for them. They were in prison and in chains at that time. But the Lord supernaturally opened the door for them. 

Acts 16:25-26 (NKJV) says, 'But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone's chains were loosed.' 

Now, that was a miracle! The impossible happened! You see, to man it's impossible. But to God, all things are possible! 

People of God, even in the most impossible situation of yours, the Lord can make things possible for you. Look to the Lord. Keep praising the Lord. For some of you, you may be in your 'midnight hour' at the moment. You may be in a time that seems to be the darkest in your life. But take heart. The Lord is with you. Keep looking to the Lord. Keep putting all your trust in the Lord. The Lord will know how to do His part. Whatever your 'chains' or 'bondage' may be at the moment, this is your time to receive the anointing to walk through your 'prison' doors and be set free! Let all your 'chains' be loosened! Indeed, your breakthrough and 'open doors' will happen suddenly! 

In a time of shaking, in a time of shock, in a time of astonishment, and in a time of anxiety, many will start to look to the Lord. They will have nowhere else to turn to, but they will turn to the Lord God Almighty. There will be opportunities for you to share the Good News of our Lord Jesus Christ. You know why? Because many people will be so confused and anxious by what they see or hear in the coming year. They do not know where to look to anymore. Your part is to point them to Jesus who is the Savior and Redeemer of this world, and there's no other. Pray for the Lord to visit your nation, or whichever nation (or nations) that He has put in your heart to pray for. Pray for the Lord to intervene and prevent certain evil from happening to your nation, or the nation (or nations) that you are praying for. Never underestimate the power of your prayer.

Prayer:

"O Lord God, we thank You that this is the year doors are being flung open for us. The world may say it's going to be a difficult year. The world may say it's going to be a year of 'hard landings'. But not us! Because we are walking in Your supernatural realm! It's going to be a new year and season of open doors for us! Whatever 'bondage' or 'prison' we may be in right now, we are now set free! A greater breakthrough and victory is at hand! The power of God is at hand! So, we keep looking to You and Your Word! We keep praising You! We keep rejoicing in You! In the name of Jesus. Amen!" 

Click here for the full message in TiC YouTube Channel