prophetic insights :: bring back his glory

Change of Garments for the New Season

2012-02-02T15:59:00.005+08:00

What does it mean to be in a New Season?
There are times when we fail to fully appreciate the meaning of so-called prophetic jargons. A very important prophetic phrase that we have been hearing is the dawn of "a new season". Undoubtedly, an excitement rises within us each time we hear that we are in a new season. However, to fully appreciate the significance of this prophetic declaration, we should ask ourselves, "What does it mean for me to be in a New Season?"

For different individuals, the New Season is being understood and perceived differently. Essentially, the prophetic thrust is that a change is taking place. In this post, we are going to look at one significant change that must first take place which in turn will help us appreciate the full impact of the prophetic declaration of a New Season over our lives.

New Season, New Garments. New Wineskins for New Wine.
In the natural world, we change garments with the change of seasons. To illustrate, we cannot be wearing winter clothings during spring and vice versa. Just as in the natural realm, the same is applicable in the spiritual realm. Hence, it is imperative that we catch this truth for us to fully appropriate what God is doing in our lives, families, ministries and nations. We are to put away the garments of the past season and to be ready to put on the appropriate garments for the New Season.

The parable of the wineskins aptly paints the picture of preparing for the New Season (new wine): -

Neither do people pour new wine into old wineskins. If they do, the skins will burst; the wine will run out and the wineskins will be ruined. No, they pour new wine into new wineskins, and both are preserved (Matthew 9:17)

And no one pours new wine into old wineskins. Otherwise, the wine will burst the skins, and both the wine and the wineskins will be ruined. No, they pour new wine into new wineskins (Mark 2:22)

And no one pours new wine into old wineskins. Otherwise, the new wine will burst the skins; the wine will run out and the wineskins will be ruined. No, new wine must be poured into new wineskins. (Luke 5:37-38)

Just as it is necessary to pour new wine into new wineskins, it is vital for us to remove the old garments and to put on new garments as we step into the New Season that God has ordained for us.

Joseph's Life, Our Story
This truth is beautifully exemplified in the journey of Joseph rising to his God-given destiny. In Joseph's younger days, when he was given the multicolored coat, it marked a new phase (season) in his life where he was looked upon as one who received special favor and attention of his earthly father. The next season of his life unfolded as this first garment was forcefully removed by his brothers. Against his will, Joseph was sold as a slave to Potiphar and we can see that after the multicolored coat was removed, he was then dressed in only a slave's garments.

Subsequently, we witness the next transition in his life as his Heavenly Father's favor upon his life quickly promoted him to be the overseer of Potiphar's house - obviously, now in a new set of garments fit for his newly promoted position. It did not take long for him to enter into the next divinely ordained phase of his life. Yes, it has to do with his garments again. With a little unexpected twist in his lifestory this time around, he inadvertently left his garments in the hands of Potiphar's wife when being pursued by the temptress. And a new set of garments await him - the prisoner's garments!

Joseph entered into different seasons in his life each time he changed his garments, whether willingly or against his choice. Finally, he entered into his divine destiny when Pharoah clothed him with the garments of fine linen along with a signet ring and golden chain.

The Word of the Lord tested Joseph
We read in Psalm 105:19 which says that "Until the time that his word came to pass, the word of the Lord tested him." The whole journey of going through different phases and seasons in his life was described as "the word of the Lord tested him." Each time he passed the test, a new garment awaits him. Unlike how our natural minds would understand, it was not just promotions all the way - it included both promotions and demotions - from a natural perspective. But from a spiritual viewpoint, he was nearest to his destiny, especially when he was at the lowest point from a human perspective - confined in a prison and his only lifeline, the Pharoah's chief butler forgotten about him altogether.

From a spiritual perspective, we are now in God's ordained New Season, both individually and corporately. Circumstances are taking shape in the natural realm as this New Season materializes in our lives and the world around us. Some of us may have experienced a forceful removal of our garments (against our will) perhaps in the recent months or years. Take heart, it is a necessary transition for us to be rightly positioned so that we can be clothed with the new garments for the New Season. On the other hand, there may be others who have been looking forward to a promotion but somewhat experienced a demotion. The Spirit of the Lord is saying to you to be strong and take courage. You are on your way to your God-given destiny. There is also another group of people who have been longing to step into their God-given destinies for their lives and had in one way or another been tested by the word of the Lord - the word of the Lord for you is to get ready to step into the Kairos moment when you will be summoned to take your position and be clothed with the garments reserved for you.

"Garments"
Having seen the importance of the change of garments for the New Season, let us take a brief look at the spiritual meanings of "garments" in the context of this post. Firstly, "garments" speaks about our mindsets. We are exhorted to renew our minds. Each time we put off the old garments and replace them with new ones, we put away wrong mindsets and allow kingdom truths to be established in our minds. The Bible also teaches us that the spiritual battlefield is in our minds. Therefore, we are led into different phases in our lives as God's word tests us, refines us and renews our minds. Secondly, "garments" also speak about divine enablement. We are to be clothed with the power of the Holy Spirit for each new assignment in lives and also for daily living. This speaks about receiving the mantles that have been assigned for us. We can be receiving different mantles for different assignments in our lives or specific mantles for the divine calling and destinies in our lives.

A third understanding of the word "garments" includes a fresh revelation of Jesus. The Scriptures talk about the saints being clothed in garments of salvation and righteousness and we know that Christ is indeed our righteousness and our salvation. Each time we receive a fresh revelation and a fresh understanding of Jesus, His attributes and His nature, we receive new garments in our walk with God. Fourthly, "garments" also speaks of position and identity. It is imperative for us to step into the spiritual position and identity that God has prepared for us for each phase of our lives.

Joseph's Secret
Joseph's secret of triumphing in each season of his life leading to the day he stepped into his God-given destiny was the recurrent theme that "the Lord was with Joseph..." Let's get into the place where God is pleased to be with us all the time. This is called practising the Manifest Presence of God. This is the key to us entering to the season God has divinely ordained for us.

Prophetic Insights for 2012

2012-01-03T14:40:00.000+08:00

Indeed, much has been said about the New Year 2012 which we have just crossed over and entered into. With the passing of each year, we are to remember and prepare for our Lord Jesus Christ's second coming. Yes, He will come again and He will come again soon.

In this post, I will briefly share some of the things that I believe the Lord has shown me concerning the year 2012. I pray that the Holy Spirit will quicken His Word and speak His rhema Word to us personally that we may align and rightly position ourselves before God this year and to see its fulfillment in our lives.

1. Authority
I saw in a vision, a pair of hands holding something that looks like a necklace with a key hanging on the necklace. "Key" speaks of authority and I believe the Lord is bestowing an increase of His authority for His bride this year. When the necklace is held by the pair of hands, a heart-shape is formed. The use and release of His authority is linked to the divine revelation of His love and our walking in His love - love for God and our neighbours. This also involves a life of obedience (and repentance) on our part.

2. Blessings
This is a year where God will pour out His tremendous blessings upon His bride. We will see the fulfillment of the promises of His blessings that He has given us in the past. Expect great measures of His blessings - blessings that will not add sorrow to our lives but divine blessings to empower us to do what He has called us to do.

3. Revival
This year, may will be a part of God's move amongst His people. Just as on the day of Pentecost, there will be an outpouring of God's Spirit and love [suddenly] in the midst of His hungry and seeking bride. It is a time to re-dig the wells of intimacy and renewal in our personal lives and ministries. How much do we treasure the Lord above all else?

4. Divine re-connection
Relationships that have been disrupted in the past through misunderstandings [or any other reasons] will experience reconciliation and reconnection this year. The key is not to rely on our own understanding (what we know based on our past experiences or our own abilities) or man's limited advice. As we step into God's calling for our lives (what He has called us to do and seeing who we are in Him), broken relationships will be mended through the work of the Holy Spirit.

5. No more bread of sorrow
There will be no more eating the bread of sorrow. There is fresh manna every day for us - fresh supply of His provision and fresh supply of revelation. The old is gone, the new has come. It's not a time to dwell in the past but to arise and partake of God's richest provisions - His righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Ghost!

6. Expansion
Many will also experience an expansion (larger boundaries) in their lives and ministries. Our part is to remove the old boundaries (and limitations) and we will see God's grace at work in our lives extending our boundaries. Get ready to expand the capacity of our hearts and our role is to maintain purity of hearts.

7. Abundance
John 10:10 - The thief comes only to steal. kill and destroy but Jesus comes to give life and life abundantly. This verse is quickened to me on New Year's day. I believe that this is a season of abundance and restoration for His bride. What the enemy has stolen, we declare 7-fold return this year. This divine work of restoration is connected to the theme of "Jubilee" from the Scriptures. We declare "Jubilee" over every area of our lives!

Prayer: -

Father, words are not adequate to express our gratitude for Your love and faithfulness to us in the year 2011. You were with us all through the ups and downs. May we love You and know You more each day of 2012. May Your glory be revealed more and more through Your bride. Your Kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. All glory and praise to you forever and ever. Amen.

“Oh that in 2012, you would bless me and enlarge my border, and that your hand might be with me, and that you would keep me from harm so that it might not bring me pain!”

Christmas Greetings

2011-12-25T08:38:00.001+08:00

What a joy,
To know that,
Whatever is true,

Whatever is noble,

Whatever is right,

Whatever is pure,

Whatever is lovely,

Whatever is admirable,

All these are ours and more,

When Christ rules and reigns

In our hearts!

A Blessed Christmas to you,

From our home to yours.

Aligning Ourselves to the Prophetic Word

2011-11-22T14:53:00.005+08:00

Oftentimes, when we have received an encouraging personal prophecy or perhaps God has spoken to us personally in our quiet time with Him, we are filled with joy and excitement. The Lord Jesus said that His words are spirit and life. Hence, when we receive a prophetic “rhema” word from the Lord through the Holy Spirit whether through a messenger or directly, life is imparted to our spirits. However, after the initial excitement has subsided, we are left clueless as to what we should do with the "rhema" prophetic words we received.

I was once taught that for each prophecy that you receive, keep it in the shelf and wait for the fulfillment of the word. If the word does not come to pass, it is more likely than not that the word given was not inspired by God. Such an erroneous teaching would appear to be the safest and most conservative approach to be taken by Christians as we tend to shift all responsibility to God, i.e. do nothing about the word and if indeed God has spoken, He will fulfill His word. However, this teaching does not sit comfortably with the accounts of men and women who have accomplished great exploits for God whether mentioned in the Bible or in the biographies written of such giants of faith.

When we first receive a prophetic word, it is likened to a divine seed that is sown into our hearts. We have a part to play to nurture the seed and to see the seed growing to its full potential. Of course, when we say that we have a part to play, immediately we think of the misadventure of Sarah who compelled Abraham to have a child through her maidservant, Hagar in hopes of fulfilling the prophecy given by God to Abraham. The two extremes we are to avoid are (1) helping God to fulfill His Word by our own fleshly efforts; and (2) having a passive attitude where we do not do anything and just be contented to sing “que sera sera”. In this post, we will briefly examine a few principles that we can do to align ourselves with prophetic words given by God to us. There is a need to align our lives to His Word before we can see the fulfillment of His Word in our lives.

The Right Heart
Firstly, as in the parable of the sower, the right soil is of utmost importance to determine the life of the seed. The condition of our hearts is the key to seeing God’s word fulfilled in our lives. When we talk about the condition of our hearts, it is both the “internal” and the “external” conditions. We will first discuss the internal conditions of the heart i.e. this speaks about what we have kept in our heart, i.e. the attitudes of our hearts. Many at times, when God released a word to His people, His foremost desire is that the Word would accomplish a change in the lives of the hearer first before the Word brings a change to the outward circumstances. How do we ensure that the “internal” conditions of our hearts are properly aligned? Praise the Lord, for we have the Holy Spirit to help us. We have to actively ask the Holy Spirit to examine our hearts and to respond to Him accordingly. He will bring us through the process of cleansing and conditioning until our hearts are after the heart of God. Healings from past hurts, bitterness, anger, etc. are but a few of the things the Holy Spirit will do as we open our hearts to Him. The Lord will be also purifying our motives and our vision.

Focus vs Distraction
The second aspect is related to the first point above, i.e. the “external ” factors of the soil. After we have received a prophetic word and if the word has not come to pass after months or even years, we begin to question the “validity” of the word received. And at this juncture, we are prone to be distracted by many external factors. Sometimes, these external factors may be good things but may turn out to be distractions. There is a need for concentrated focus on what God has spoken over our lives before we can see it coming to pass. External factors may also come in the form of temptations, cares of the world or to be lulled by the spirit of the age. It is therefore, important to ask the Holy Spirit to always keep our eyes on Jesus, running the race with patience, knowing that He who has given the Word is faithful to fulfill it.

Seeing and Declaring
Having determined that our hearts are rightly aligned with the Word by the help of the Holy Spirit, the Lord also desires that we take an active part in seeing the Word coming to pass. How do we do that? This would involve the use of our spiritual organs. Briefly, this is when we are to allow the Holy Spirit to use our sanctified imagination as a canvass to paint the glorious picture of the fulfillment of God's vision. It is an avenue for us to see the fulfillment of the Word through the eyes of the spirit. God painted the stars in the sky and the sand on the earth on Abraham's sanctified imagination and he saw with his spiritual eyes the fulfillment of God’s promise to him. Not only do we see, but we also take part in the process by speaking and declaring, calling for those things that be not as though they were. Our tongues hold the power of life and death to the vision and Word God has implanted in our spirits.

His Grace is Sufficient
Each time a rhema Word is released, there is an impartation of grace and life to the hearer of the Word. This grace and this life is the strength imparted to birth the Word into existence in the natural realm. The measure of grace imparted is sufficient but usually we are unable to maintain the grace level in our lives when we go about with our daily tasks in life. Therefore, God in His mercies had opened the new and living way for us that we can always draw near to the Throne of Grace to receive fresh supply of grace anytime we need it. This speaks about the maintenance of our spiritual walk with God. There is a need for a consistent waiting upon God to have the divine exchange in the secret place for our lives to be aligned with His Word. A consistent walk with God will always keep the Word strong in our lives and keep us nearer to the fulfillment of His Word. Each time we think of His Word, we can draw near to God and the Lord will renew our faith and vision.

Warfare
An unavoidable fact is that there will be opposing forces against the fulfillment of His Word in our lives. Sometimes, in the natural, everything seems to be the opposite of what God has said. What should we do then? It is a time for us to arise and fight the good fight of faith. My wife received two prophecies before our second daughter was born and one of the words was that this child will bring joy to us. Towards the end of the pregnancy term (at about the ninth month) the gynecologist told us that the fetus had stopped growing since a few weeks back as there was no increase in the measurement taken via ultrasound scanning. Furthermore, just a week before the estimated due date, we were also told that my wife was not ready to give birth at all. We were a little dejected after hearing such news from the doctor. However, this was not a time to be passive and have a pity party. My wife began to storm the heavens by praying and declaring the prophetic words given. We refused to accept the medical advice and we chose to believe His Word instead. My wife began to call forth our daughter and she began to declare that the Word is done now. In less than two days after receiving the negative reports of the doctor, my wife gave birth naturally to a healthy, normal and beautiful daughter! All glory to God! Indeed, there is a part we can play and sometimes it would mean warfare on our part.

From the above discussion, we can see that as we align ourselves with the Word, we become more like the Word of Life, Jesus Himself. The Lord desires that we are full of faith when we receive His prophetic Word and that our faith is not dead but are filled with Spirit-inspired works that we do as we align our lives to His Word. This is a season where we are going to see the fulfillment of God’s promises and prophecies in our lives. It is a time to declare, believe and appropriate His promises. Let’s not be discouraged and let’s not give up. Let us cry out to the Lord, arise in my life and let the enemies be scattered in Jesus’Name! Hallelujah! Amen. What a Mighty and Loving God we have.

How do we prepare for hard times?

2011-11-10T17:23:00.003+08:00

Given a choice, everybody would like to have a life that is like a bed of roses. However, it does not take us long to begin feeling the prickling pain of the thorns that accompany the roses. We are told in the Bible that, "Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the LORD delivers him out of them all." Therefore it is wise for us to acknowledge from the outset that Christianity is not a form of escapism. We face trials, difficulties and challenges throughout our lives but in Christ Jesus, we emerge from such circumstances triumphant and as the Apostle Paul reminded us, "we are more than conquerors" for we know that our Lord and Saviour has overcome the world! What we would like to know is how do we appropriate such truths and promises in our lives so that our feet are firmly planted on solid ground and not on sinking sand when trials and crises hit our lives.

A very common scenario for most of us is that we are usually "pumped up" after listening to inspiring messages on Sunday mornings but when we are faced with difficult situations between the Sundays, we are somewhat lost and do not know what to do. In times of uncertainties that we live in today, many are living in fear and finding themselves under a cloud of confusion, depression and helplessness. When our physical senses are constantly bombarded with negative news and predictions, we begin to focus on the giants and mountains that seem to stand in our way. Just like the Israelites, when they heard of the giants in the land, they began to see themselves as mere grasshoppers and feared for their lives.

What do we see?
Firstly, it is important to know what do our eyes see? Not just our physical eyes but our imagination and inner eyes. Our vision determines our destiny.

Do we see the storm around us or our eyes are fixed on Jesus?
Do we see just giants or the rewards for slaying the giants?
Do we see the enemy troops or the heavenly host around us?
Do we see through the eyes of Lot or the eyes of God?
Do we see abundance or just 5 loaves and 2 fish?

All through the Scriptures, we read of examples after examples of how men and women stepped into the supernatural and lived their lives fulfilling God's destinies when their vision was corrected and brought to alignment with God's vision for them. Jesus Himself did what He saw the Father doing in His earthly mission. As long as He did that, no one could harm Him until the fullness of time when He was subjected to the sufferings and cruelty of death on the cross. Similarly, we can live our lives in the supernatural realm notwithstanding the raging storms around us if our vision is correctly aligned to His vision.

It is time to re-examine our vision. We are living in an age where God's children are re-discovering their inheritance of spiritual sight. We can be in the Father's perfect will when we see in the spirit and do what we see the Father is doing right now. Intellectual knowledge is not sufficient to equip us for the coming days but the army bride of God has to be armed with the constant flow of divine revelations and insights. When the eyes of the flesh are switched off, the eyes of the spirit are then open to access the heavenly realities.

A different spirit
Joshua and Caleb possessed a "different spirit" when everybody around them was gripped by fear of conquering the promised land. Daniel and his three friends displayed a "different spirit" from the day they were taken in to the king's courts and all through their lives in Babylon. These lives show us that when one makes a choice to live differently in obedience to God, no gates of hell shall prevail over them. God is raising a company of people in these last days who posseses a "different spirit" to live for Him and fulfill God's destinies in their lives.

Loren Cunningham in his book, "Winning God's Way" described such a different spirit as living in the opposite spirit, i.e. to act in generosity where greed abounds, fighting evil with good, etc. In fact, if we were to examine closely the central theme of Jesus' teachings which is fondly known as the Sermon on the Mount - it contains principles and values that are contrary to social norms. Such principles and realities have a heavenly origin and are the building blocks of kingdom living on this earth.

Another expression of such a "different spirit" is as described by Rev Susan Tang - to live lives that will be the antithesis to all that is happening.

"Can we hear God calling men and women to live lives that are the antithesis to the horrible system of greed, materialism and compromise that has defiled the church and the land? To live a life that is the antithesis to all that is around us is like a fish swimming against the tide."

Now is the time to heed the call to live lives that are the antithesis to all that is happening around us. To possess a different spirit, living in the opposite spirit or living the antithesis are all but different expressions of living the Jesus' way of life. No compromise. This way of living is likened to building our lives on the rock and when the storm comes, we are secure in Him.

God's grace is sufficient
The Apostle Paul could boast and glory in his weakness because he has discovered the secret of strength. He said that when he was weak then he was strong. He received a divine revelation of God's grace when he heard the Lord speaking to him, "My grace is sufficient for you." God is our strength when we are weak. The way to access such spiritual strength is by coming to the throne of grace. There are many who have been Christians for a long time but have never learnt to come to the throne of grace. God promised that we will find grace and help in time of need.

God's grace has been misrepresented by many as the license to sin. This is but one of the deception that the enemy has sown in the mind of many Christians. God's grace is a real, tangible spiritual substance that will enable its recipient to be overcomer in whatever trying situation. We can always access such spiritual strength as and when we approach the throne of grace. God's grace leads us to righteous living and enables us to be and to do all that God wants us to be and to do.

If we have never learnt to approach the throne of grace, it is a good time to draw near to Him today before His throne. It is a new and living way that is open to all blood-bought children of God. Once we have learnt to access the throne of grace, let us also spur one another to do the same. Come what may, once we have experienced the reality of receiving grace from the throne of grace, we will know where to find grace and help in time of need.

Always there
Living under an open heaven simply means, living in the manifest Presence of God. As much as we want to dwell in His Presence, God wants us to know that He is always there with us even when we fail to recognize His Presence. He was with us through our ups and downs and He will be with us all the time as He promised never to leave us nor forsake us. These are not just nice words and greetings to say to one another. This is a reality and a consciousness that must become a part of us.

One of the ways God has always shown Himself faithful in my walk with Him, especially when I am weak or when I stumble and fall is His constant reminder that He is always there with me. Each time God reveals this truth afresh in my heart, there is an infusion of divine life within me and I know that I can carry on and He will never fail me.

It is of utmost importance that we receive fresh revelations of Him being there with us all the time continually. Such revelations impart divine life into our spirits and empower us to walk victoriously on this earth. When you are weak or when you are weary, hear Him whisper to you, "My Child, I am always here for you." Let the consciousness of His Presence be a constant reality in our daily living.

A Closing Note
God is our strength when we are weak. The Lord allows us to experience the ups and downs in life for us to discover how helpless we are in ourselves and to seek our true strength and help in Him alone who lives within us. As we learn to live a life of dependance on God, we are also equipping ourselves for tough times. Genuine faith is one that can withstand testings and trials.

In the Bible, we read that God instructed Noah to build an ark before the Flood. God in His great mercies, spoke to Noah of what was to come and the task that He has prepared for him. Noah needed to take heed of what God had told him and obeyed each detailed instruction given by God. Noah was known as one who was righteous and walked with God. Do we know our God? The One Who is our Refuge, Redeemer and our Strong Tower in times of trouble. Do we walk with God?

There is an ark (a secret place) where we can find our safety and refuge when the storms are raging - this secret place is in Him. (Psalm 91:1 - He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.) As we draw near to God He will give us specific instructions to prepare ourselves for what is coming to the face of the earth. Let us examine our lives in the light of the above discussion and ask the Lord to speak to us that we will find ourselves in the secret place of the Most High and abiding under the shadow of the Almighty at all times.

Season of the Lord : Time to Enter In

2011-11-01T16:26:00.005+08:00

Whilst I was in the midst of perusing some office documents yesterday, I heard the whisper of God's voice in my heart, "Season of the Lord, time to enter in." It came as a little surprise to me because the word of the Lord came to me not during my usual devotional time or not when I was waiting for Him to speak. Indeed, this is the beauty of walking with our awesome God. As the hymn writer aptly described our relationship with the Living God, "He walks with me and He talks with me..."

Shortly after the above 'divine incident', I checked my email and saw the title of Melissa Flores' post which caught my attention: "A Clash of Seasons". It was like I received an immediate confirmation of what I have just heard!

A Strategic NOW Word
I believe God is releasing a very strategic word to His body right now. We are in a time and season of divine acceleration in God's calendar. Sometimes, perhaps due to the long wait for God's answers to many of our prayers and His fulfillment of His promises, we are accustomed to thinking that we will see the fulfillment of His words "some time in the future". Yes, we may be excited when we first received the vision but as years dragged by and when we seem to be "wiser" after the days of trials and wilderness, we've lost the child-like faith of believing God for the PRESENT and for the NOW. In the past weeks, I have personally experienced two amazing accounts of God's divine acceleration at work which completely caught me by surprise! Hallelujah! All glory to God!

What time is it?
It is important to know the times and seasons we are in according to God's calendar, especially God's kairos time for His people in this hour. The consequence of missing God's timing could be disastrous as we can see from the example of King David's life. When it was a time for kings to be out involved in battles, he was up on the roof relaxing! Let's take heed and move according to God's timing instead of ours. Now is the time to enter into God's season. It's time to believe, declare and to be focussed on Him. It's time not to be distracted but to move forward and step in to His season. Do you know what time is it now? Its' the Season of the Lord and it is Time to Enter in.

A side note
We have been receiving a number of personal prophecy requests lately and some of you may have waited for a while to receive any feedback from us. Please be rest assured that every request will be attended to. We appreciate your patience and we covet your prayers too! We believe that the Lord is also leading us to begin a free online prophetic school soon as it is the inheritance of God's children to hear the voice of the Shepherd. So, please pray with us and check back regularly for updates on the free online prophetic school (if you're interested!). Bless you!

Aligned for the New Season - Part II

2011-10-18T17:47:00.002+08:00

This is a continuation from the post entitled "Aligned for the New Season" regarding a dream I had in June this year. Strange as it seems, this morning I woke up with a very strong feeling in my spirit. For the past few days, I have woken up with dreams in which some contain messages that I have yet to fully understand. However, this morning, I could not remember any particular dream or vision in the night but it was just a strong feeling within me. And it's a feeling that "we (my family) are getting ready to travel". It's like we are all ready to embark on a travelling journey. This definitely is linked to my earlier dream in June.

If you have also been receiving the message about "aligning for the new season", I believe this is also a message for you - the time is come for the New Season. We are now getting ready to step into the New Season. We are getting ready to travel, so to speak.

Upon reflection, there have been a couple of things in the past few months that the Holy Spirit has been doing where we can learn as we yield and cooperate with Him in the "alignment process": -

1. Aligned with the right company of people
Sometimes, to be aligned with God's purposes and desires, God will lead us to be connected to the right people. This may involve leaving behind certain familiar relationships that we have established but we must be led by His Spirit at all times and obey Him even though we may not fully understand what He is doing.

2. Aligned with His heart
It also involves the putting away of the old wineskin before we can have the new wineskin. God will have to deal with our hearts in relation to "idols" that we may have brought in from the past seasons. A fresh circumcision of the heart may be necessary but on a different level altogether where a deeper level of consecration is required. The "one thing" becomes more defined as we allow God to examine our desires, motives and intents.

3. Aligned with His nature (holiness)
God can bring us to different levels of repentance and the deeper the repentance, the hideousness of sin and our sinful nature is revealed to us. He is imparting the spirit of the fear of the Lord into us that we may usher in the greater things that He wants to do through our lives yet we will not rob His glory nor stand in the way of what He desires to do.

The above are just a few of the highlights of the work of the Holy Spirit in bringing us to alignment with God and His purposes. What we have to realize and understand is that it is crucial not to miss the timing of stepping into the new season that He has set before us. At the same time, it is crucial that we are ready for the next season. This would mean that we are ready to leave behind the past and to move into the new. We need the wisdom of the Holy Spirit to know what we are to leave behind and what He wants us to carry into the new. Let His desires be our desires and let us walk in step with His timing.

John the Baptist was the voice in the wilderness declaring prepare ye the way of the Lord more than two thousand years ago. Many prophetic voices have released timely words for the bride of Christ to prepare the way of the Lord and may we take heed to what the Spirit of the Lord is saying. Let us listen to what He is saying right now to us as we read in Isaiah 40:3-5,

A voice cries: “In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord; make straight in the desert a highway for our God. Every valley shall be lifted up, and every mountain and hill be made low; the uneven ground shall become level, and the rough places a plain. And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together, for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.”

This season of alignment is also a season of His expression of love. We may somewhat find ourselves in difficult and trying circumstances at this hour be it through our own fault or others and we are asking ourselves, am I a candidate for the New Season too? Yes, seek the Lord while He may be found. He is a gracious God and He is our strength when we are weak. The Lord is speaking comfort to those who find themselves in the pits. God has not left us nor forsaken us.

It is certainly a time to get right with Him and do not be deceived by the enemy's whisperings that it's too late or it's of no use because the Father in Heaven is waiting for each one of us, to embrace us, to give us a change of clothing and to throw a feast for our return! We have a God with a superabundant supply of grace and mercy. Let's approach Him with boldness and faith for ultimately it is His grace that qualifies us and nothing of our own works or righteousness. Yes, we are all getting ready to step into the New Season!! A season of the fulfillment of His promises for us and a season of the outpouring of the Spirit of God! A season of blessings and a season of breakthroughs! Amen and amen!!

School of the Prophets in the North 2011

2011-10-14T11:43:00.002+08:00

Many have been blessed by the ministry of Prophetess Lydia Chee and Prophet Joseph Lam. I am posting some brief information (as extracted from the flyer) on their next School of the Prophets in the North herebelow. To find out more about the School of the Prophets in the North or to join the School, you may click to download the flyer at the end of this short post.

Introduction
This is an exciting apostolic and prophetic training school with an emphasis to EQUIP, TRAIN AND RELEASE THROUGH TEACHING, IMPARTATION AND ACTIVATION!

When: November 28 to December 4, 2011

Where: Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia

Founder
The prophetic school is run by the founder, Prophetess Lydia Chee who is known for her uncompromising stand in ministry and life, through very unique and strong working of God. Her ministry carries a cutting edge to lift up God’s standard in nations, ministers and believers where many have been released to serve the living God. Known to speak and teach the Word of the Lord that carries the fire of God that burns from her heart. Her ministry has been classified as “Experiencing God’s tangible presence and fire.” She ministers in conferences, Pastors & Leaders conferences, church camps, Bible schools,churches conducting seminars and meetings in Malaysia as well as in U.K., Australia, Philippines, Indonesia, Finland and many others as the Lord opens the doors.

Vision
To raise giants in nations where ministers, leaders and individuals will carry God’s heart and passion to impact and change lives. The School of the Prophets in the North uniquely carries strong manifestation of God where participants in time past experienced the move of His spirit that
triggers the catalytic work of God in them. Powerful demonstration of His presence has taken place with impartation as He is allowed to move anytime including during the teaching and worship.

Teachings with Impartation

The Prophetic and Apostolic Ministry – Establishing and Demonstrating the call.
Developing accuracy in hearing His voice and Prophetic Intercession & Warfare over nations.
Developing and flowing in the Five - fold ministry and thrust. Sharpening the gifts of the Holy Spirit.
How to move in deep worship that ushers His presence and the move of God.
Understanding and Identifying Religious Spirits/Witchcraft/Controlling spirits – Spirit of Jezebel / Absalom spirit / Anti-Christ spirits.
Your life & Ministry – The making of His man or woman.
The Power of the Cross and Deliverance.
Divine Health, Healing & Miracles.

For more information: click here

Do you get distracted easily?

2011-09-30T15:40:00.000+08:00

Trying to keep an infant distracted is an art mastered by most fathers. This is especially true when trying to soothe a crying baby or trying to calm her whilst mum is busy with other chores. I read somewhere which mentioned that the Greek word for distraction means to draw away. It is literally drawing away the attention from an original purpose, goal, direction, position, interest, or association.

Distraction is a powerful tool employed by the enemy of our souls in attempts to steer our focus and vision away from their rightful direction. It is powerful because all it takes is a small, minor distraction and before long, we can be miles away from pursuing the right goal in the right direction. Distractions come in a variety of shapes and forms and they usually 'visit' us unannounced through the subtle engineering of circumstances that do not appear to be anything out of the norm.

We are told in the Scriptures that the eye is the lamp of the body (Matthew 6:22). Proverbs 29:18 also tells us that without revelation or vision, we perish. The picture of Samson's eyes being gouged out by the Philistines speaks a thousand words to the discerning soul. He lost his anointing and physical vision because of his inability to deal with 'distractions'. His Nazirite calling and vocation appear to be perishing but in God's great mercies, we read of his penitent soul and an unexpected ending to his story. Perhaps, not as graphic as Samson's account, many today are also in the danger of being distracted without realizing that they have fallen prey to the crafty tool of distraction employed by the adversary. I just read from an email that I received a few days ago which highlighted the danger of distraction: -

We are living in the last days of God’s timetable for the world. We have no time to waste on any distractions. We can’t afford to be delayed, detoured or distracted from fulfilling our destinies. Even a short delay can be fatal to those following us, as well as to the generations at risk that will be impacted by us.

A few examples of how distractions can come in a very subtle manner are as follows: -

(a) an out-of-balance prosperity gospel teaching. If all we care about is prosperity and blessings (motivated by selfish greed), perhaps a fine tuning of our vision and focus at this juncture of our lives would be necessary to keep us re-aligned to God's purpose and calling for our lives.

(b) the popular, yet twisted teaching of grace. If grace is only 'viewed' as a means of enriching and pampering our self at the expense of God's holiness and righteousnes, such a lopsided emphasis of grace has become another form of distraction to many honest but gullible minds.

(c) an obsession of social and political concerns to the point of neglecting the weightier matters of the kingdom. We can fall into the danger of making light of the love of our God, as demonstrated in the sufferings and death of His Son.

(d) an obsession of physical manifestations including signs and wonders at the expense of the pre-eminence of Christ and glorifying God in righteous and holy living.

We are not denying that God desires to prosper His people and shower His extravagant grace on His people. In fact, each child of God has an important prophetic part to play in the earthly place and boundary God has placed him or her. Further, there is no doubt that there is going to be a mighty move of God in the last days that will increase the frequency and magnitude of God's awesome power through signs, wonders and miracles. But, keeping first things first is of utmost importance and when we put all our attention and energy on what seems to be "the good" in our eyes, we may miss out on "the best" of what God has prepared for us since "the good is always the enemy of the best." And "the good" becomes a distraction to us from having "the best."

Perhaps the more common form of distractions would be the day-to-day busyness of our routine lives. Sometimes, we allow the happenings in a day to edge out times set apart for God. We have somehow allowed circumstances to dictate our lives and little by little, we just drift along in life, being swayed by which ever wind that blows our way, having no sense of divine direction and purpose in life.

A time of shaking is coming to the nations and if we are constantly swayed by the various winds of distractions and our relationship with God is not firmly established in Him, we may not find ourselves in perfect peace when the perfect storm hits our shores. The Lord our God promised us that He will keep us in perfect peace whose eye (mind) is stayed on Him (Isaiah 26:3). We are also exhorted in Hebrews 12 to lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and run with endurance the race that is set before us. And we can only be on this path when we fix our eyes, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Christ Himself has set the example for us to follow. He could have been distracted by the deceptive snares of the devil in the wilderness. Or He could have easily been swayed by the attempts of His disciples to establish an earthly kingdom and overthrow the then ruling kingdom. But, we read that He kept His eyes on His Father and the mission His Father entrusted Him with.

It is not difficult to return to the place of undistracted stillness in our walk with God. Make time and space for us to bare our souls before God in sincerity and humility. Like a longing father waiting to embrace his wayward child, our Heavenly Father longs to embrace us and keep us in His embrace. In times of communion with Him, He will whisper in our ears the areas that require alignment and adjustment so that by implementing His instructions, we may once again be walking in the path He has prepared for us. Are you distracted? Draw near to God and you will not be drawn away.

Rosh Hashanah 5772

2011-09-29T19:17:00.002+08:00

This year, Rosh Hashana (literally, "head of the year") marks the Jewish year 5772, which began at sunset Wednesday and ends at nightfall Friday. Interestingly, it is both a celebration of the Jewish New Year as well as a time of reflection and repentance. Unlike our Gregorion calendar, the New Year is actually not the first month in the Hebrew calendar, rather the first two days in the seventh month, known as Tishrei. Rosh Hashanah takes place 10 days before Day of Atonement (or Yom Kippur), and many use this time to ponder, reflect and meditate, especially throughout whas is known as the 10 days of reflection. During the 10-day period, many will seek forgiveness from those they have wronged in preparation of Day of Atonement.

Little did I know that God has prepared a couple of divine appointments with Him during this time of the year. Firstly, a day before Rosh Hashanah, I attended a meeting where an evangelist from Pakistan was scheduled to minister. I have not heard him speak before but as he began to share from the Word, you just know that you are listening to a humble, servant of the Most High God. It was a simple yet penetrating message that spoke to my heart indeed. But the icing on the cake was when he ministered prophetically to everyone personally. I whispered in my heart, asking the Lord to speak a timely word that I needed to hear and not what I wanted to hear. Then, beyond my expectation, the evangelist released a word of knowledge about something very personal that touches my heart deeply. Somehow, knowing that God speaks something so personal to you through a total stranger brings a fresh revelation of God's love for you. And together with the word of knowledge, he released a timely word of encouragement from the throne room of God. Amen and hallelujah!! What a great God we serve.

On the next day, I received an sms in the morning from a dear pastor that his church was hosting the last meeting of a series of meetings with a couple from South America whom my wife and myself have last met about five years ago. Cutting a long story short, armed with the Lord's divine confirmation, favour and arrangement, I drove about 144km to attend the meeting with my wife and children in the evening. It was a joyous ocassion to be re-united with the dear pastor and family as well as the South American pastors. My wife and myself were tremendously blessed by the ministry of the Holy Spirit through His servants and again, God spoke to us in an intimate manner. All glory to God!

If you are reading this post now, believe that God has also arranged His little surprises to bless you as you seek Him today, especially during this period of time. It is a time that God will bring to your remembrance, the great and precious inheritance you have in Christ Jesus in your life. There may be dreams, aspirations and visions that God has planted within you in the past but they have been buried deep in the valley of disappointments, disillusionments and discouragements. Fret not, for this is the time, dry bones shall live again! It is the Lord's desire to visit our valley of dry bones today even as He will open the doors for us to enter into the next phase or the next season that He has prepared for us.

Yes, undoubtedly, we are living in the midst of shakings all around us. Tremendous change is taking place at every level of life that we know. And things are happening at a frightening pace. In the midst of this increasing deep darkness, there are also a lot of spiritual activities amongst the remnant of His people, His bride. Now is the time for us to be equipped and be prepared as we allow the Lord to work in us as He builds His ark within us. Now is the time to seek Him while He may be found. Let's set aside the next couple of days to seek Him with all our hearts and also a time of reflection and repentance. As we ask, seek and knock before the throne of God, certainly doors that have been shut in the past will be opened to us for there is no denying that now is also the appointed time to know the goodness of the Lord and that His love endures forever.

Holy Spirit or Power Spirit?

2011-09-22T17:41:00.001+08:00

"But you shall receive power 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 (Acts 1:8)" Apart from John 3:16, this is another oft-quoted verse, especially amongst Pentecostal or Charismatic Christians. We cannot deny that Christendom has lost somewhat the dunamis (dynamite) power of God in our every day living and ministry. We'd like to make reference to the demonstration of God's power during the times of the apostles in the book of Acts. Our hearts would often skip a beat when we listen to testimonies of the demonstration of God's power in far-away lands.

Surely, we are living in a kairos time where we are going to witness the greatest outpouring of the glory of God in the history of mankind as we enter the last days. Mighty signs, wonders and outrageous miracles will no longer be a domain for the select few but just as prophesied by Joel, it shall come to pass a day when the Holy Spirit shall be poured out upon ALL flesh.

However, in our pressing in into the Kingdom of God and praying and believing for breakthroughs and revivals, have we somewhat lost the understanding of the true identity of our God and inherited a mixed identity of the Spirit of God instead? Have we been guilty of reducing the Holy Spirt to just a Power Spirit? Does the end justify the means? Just because a person could display an array of the gifts of the Spirit, can we then justify his or her less-than-exemplary character or lifestyle? Surely, we are not in a position to judge another but how do we then reconcile such incompatibility in the light of the nature of Christ? These are valid questions that we should confront and honestly ask ourselves.

We have to be aware of the two pronged strategy of the adversary towards believers today. The enemy of our soul is the father of lies and would attempt at every opportunity to corrupt the intended work and purpose of God among His people. Firstly, the spirit of this age has lulled many Christians to sleep and to be complacent with their spiritual lives. The indifference of the younger generation and the complacency of the older generation are signs that the spirit of the age have penetrated believers worldwide. Will it be too late for us to realize that we are after all seeking a curse camouflaging as a blessing? Would it grieve our souls to realize how much of the world is inside us compared to the degree of Christ possessing our lives?

On the other hand, the influx of half-truth doctrines in churches today is alarming and errors have been spreading like wildfire. The passage in 2 Timothy 4:3-4 is taking place right before our eyes today, i.e. "For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables." Undoubtedly, we are living in times when God is pouring out His revelation and mysteries of the Kingdom of God are being unfolded to us but we would be naive to be thinking that the adversary of our souls would merely sit still to watch what God is doing.

We serve and worship a holy God. Nothing can subtract the holiness of God. We may be more interested in power and prosperity but God is interested in His pure and spotless bride. His bride will be gloriously beautiful indeed for God will not withold any good thing from His bride. But we should not lose sight of our holy God. The Spirit of God is FIRST, the HOLY SPIRIT of God. As much as we desire the power of God manifested in our midst, we must come to the realization that holiness is His nature. It is His desire that His bride be holy, just as He is holy. The priority of the workings and dealings of our God in our lives is the fruit of the Spirit. Yes, He is more interested in our character, our walk with Him, our relationship with Him. Our "being" precedes our "doing". There is a call to a deeper consecration for the body of Christ in this hour. It is a call to welcome the Holy Spirit to cleanse us and purge us from everything that is not of Him. Oh yes, we may have surrendered our lives to Him but He is calling us deeper and His demands of love are knocking at the doors of our hearts.

Christ Himself could say that "the ruler of this world has found nothing in Me" (John 14:30). As we allow His grace to work in our hearts to purify our motives and intents and search into the depths of our hearts - perhaps we could also echo the words of Jesus that our adversary has nothing in us. When the Word (Jesus, the word manifested) and the Spirit (alighting in the likeness of a dove) were in union during the baptism of Jesus, there was an open heaven and the commissioning of the public ministry of Jesus, signalling a new page in the history of mankind. We are also at the verge of entering a new chapter in this time and season we are living in. Let us consecrate ourselves to God and allow Him to work in us towards Christ-likeness. Allow Him to bring forth a revolution of His holiness among His people in preparation of the great outpouring of His glory. And the bride of Christ shall indeed arise and shine in purity and power. Come Holy Spirit!

My kingdom is not of this world

2011-09-19T14:14:00.001+08:00

Jesus made a remarkable statement in John 18:36 when He told Pilate, "My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would fight, so that I should not be delivered to the Jews; but now My kingdom is not from here." Indeed, how relevant is this statement for us to ponder and reflect upon today! If Jesus were to walk on our lands today, He would have resisted numerous attempts from well-meaning Christians to install him as the leader of a political party to overthrow other wicked governments around us.

Many Christians today are both distracted and peer-pressured by the political happenings around them. As much as we are called to be salt and light of the earth and to pray for all that are in authority (1 Timothy 2:1-2), we are not to be sucked into the conforming pressure of worldly political demands. In Daniel 2, we read and understand that it is God who sets up kings and removes kings. We also read throughout the history of God's people in the Scriptures that earthly kings and governments are but the vessels He used to fulfill His eternal plan and purpose.

My heart has been recently troubled by the overzealousness of some Christian leaders and Christians who have shifted their devotion from God and from what He has called them to do in pursuit of a change of worldly political government and at the same time elevating political affiliations and inclinations in the name of upholding justice and righteousness. As people of God, we are those who should know better that true righteousness and justice are only to be found in Christ alone. Let us not be deceived into thinking that the answer to a nation's problems lies in the natural political realm. I am so delighted to read Wade Taylor's recent short message that he sent out which aptly describes our condition today (italics mine):-

We are living in the time of transition from the rule of Gentile world powers, into the Millennial Kingdom of God. These Gentile world powers are in a process of decreasing, and the Millennial Kingdom is beginning to increase. Most of the Lord's people have their eyes set on the Gentile world governments, and are praying and seeking ways to bring correction. But instead, we should consecrate our prayers and attention on the developing government of the Kingdom of God, as the Gentile world governments are in the process of being brought to an end.

Yes, we have a part to play as His prophetic people on this earth but we are to be aware of the danger of us falling into the trap of being distracted from our supernatural and spiritual calling and destiny in Him and not to be overwhelmed by a natural cause propagated by this world. When we are distracted and begin to also be conformed to the wordly demands and priorities around us, we are in danger of the warning in Jeremiah 17:5, i.e. "Cursed is the man who trusts in man and makes flesh his strength, whose heart departs from the LORD."

A few weeks ago, whilst browsing a church's webpage on the Internet, I was attracted to one particular sermon title that reads something like this: "The Holy Spirit is the hope of [name of nation]" How simplistic yet true! The title is indeed true for every nation in this world. Romans 8:19 tells us that, "the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God (Romans 8:19)." We are living in a time and season where we cannot afford to be distracted and fall short to heed what the Spirit of the Lord is saying to His people today. Lest we forget, the very prophetic words of Christ uttered two thousand years ago should ring loud and clear in our hearts today, i.e. to "Seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness(Matthew 6:33a)." Let us return to seek Him with all our hearts.

Aligned for the New Season

2011-06-28T15:24:00.000+08:00

Recently, the Lord spoke to me through a prophetic dream which I believe is also a timely word for many in the Body of Christ. I pray that the Spirit of the Lord will speak to you and minister to you through this posting even as you read and ponder over its meaning to your life personally. You are welcome to share this word as the Holy Spirit leads you. (We welcome you to subscribe to our blog by entering your email address under "Subscribe via Email" at the right hand column of the blog or you may want to Follow the blog by Google Friend Connect)

In this short dream I find myself inside my car in a car servicing centre. I knew that the car was there for its wheel alignment to be checked. The unusual detail of this dream is the timing of this car maintenance exercise. It was dark and I was shown a clock which tells me it was 5.00 in the morning. Instinctively, I understand that together with my family members who were with me in the car (in the dream), we were going for a travelling journey (somewhat like a trip to some destination). And then, I woke up from my sleep.

Firstly, let's take a look at some of the symbols in the dream and what do they represent: -

Car
From the journal where I record all the dreams given by God, I have come to understand that God always uses "car" as a symbol to speak about:
(i) our lives;
(ii) our ministries; or
(iii) the means to accomplish a purpose.

Wheel alignment
As extracted from wikipedia,

wheel alignment sometimes referred to as tracking, is part of standard automobile maintenance that consists of adjusting the angles of the wheels so that they are set to the car maker's specification. The purpose of these adjustments is to reduce tire wear, and to ensure that vehicle travel is straight and true (without "pulling" to one side). Alignment angles can also be altered beyond the maker's specifications to obtain a specific handling characteristic.

Alignment
The verb "align" is defined in dictionary.com as: -
1. to arrange in a straight line; adjust according to a line.
2. to bring into a line or alignment.
3. to bring into cooperation or agreement with a particular group, party, cause, etc.

5 o'clock in the morning
The number "5" speaks of grace. And 5am is a time just before the break of dawn.

A journey
This speaks about entering into a new season or a new period where God is going to bring us to fulfill His purpose and destiny for us in that season.

What is the Lord saying through this dream?

Many today are waiting for the fulfillment of His promises and prophetic words, whether on a personal or corporate basis. There is an increased sense of anticipation in the hearts of many and in the spirit realm, to witness God performing His words in a new and mighty way. Through this dream, God is saying that we are now "parked" at His workshop whereby a divine alignment is taking place before the break of dawn. Every part of our lives and ministries are being examined and being brought into alignment with His nature, plans and purposes. This is to ensure that we are on the straight and narrow path and do not deviate from His calling and purposes for our lives and ministries. Oftentimes, we may lose our focus or perspective in life as we go through trials, delays and disappointments. But, God in His divine mercies, is bringing divine adjustment that our lives may be in agreement with His heart's desire. The Lord is setting a plumbline through His written words and the cross of Jesus Christ.

This is not an hour of condemnation but an hour of grace. He is extending His windows of grace. Therefore, harden not our hearts against His Spirit's workings in our hearts. In this alignment and realignment exercise, there may be pain and time seems to be wasted as things seem to be not moving. It is a time to open our hearts for His correction. It may involve tightening and loosening of some bolts here and there. But He promises us that His grace is sufficient for us. It is a time of complete dependence on His grace and not our flesh and frail efforts.

We will soon enter into a season where the realities of Isaiah 60:1-3 shall soon be manifested: -

Arise, shine, for your light has come,
and the glory of the LORD has risen upon you.
For behold, darkness shall cover the earth,
and thick darkness the peoples;
but the LORD will arise upon you,
and his glory will be seen upon you.
And nations shall come to your light,
and kings to the brightness of your rising

The Lord also quickened the verse in 2 Peter 1:19: -

And we have something more sure, the prophetic word, to which you will do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts...

I have also been hearing the Lord whispering this in my heart lately: -
"A change of heart is required for a change of season."

Are you in a place where you do not know what you should do? Look to the Lord. Look upon the cross where our Savior bled and died. At the same time, open your heart and yield to the Spirit of God, allowing Him to do a work in us. When He has brought us into alignment with the desires of the Father, we are then ready to step into His purposes which He has ordained for us. Hallelujah! Keep looking to Him!

Continue the Climb

2011-05-25T14:04:00.000+08:00

The melody of this song kept ringing inside my heart and spirit when I woke up one morning last week. Recognizing this as one of the ways God use to speak to me from past experiences, I quickly went to take a look at the lyrics of the song. Indeed, these words were like a message directly from the throne room of God! I'm reproducing the lyrics of the song below, praying that they will also speak to each one of you who reads this post. Continue the climb!

The rose climbs the highest wall
It's trying to touch the light
that keeps calling,
"Press on and look up"
There're thorns on the path ahead
where many have tried
But you will succeed
if you continue the climb

Continue the journey
Continue the climb
You will find living wells
Many never find
There is a secret place
For those who press on
Fear loses all it's power
When you stand on the wall

The rose gives its sweetest smell
When its petals are crushed
It's breaking that's calling
"Press on and keep trust"
There's testing along the path
where many have tried
But you will succeed
if you continue the climb

I'll sing hallelujah
I'll drink His new wine
Nothing can stop
the flow of God in my life
There is a secret place
For those who press on
Fear loses all it's power
When you stand on the wall

(This is a song written by Mona Johnian from her CD entitled "The Great Tea House")

When God is silent

2011-05-20T14:53:00.005+08:00

What do we do when God seems to be silent? Firstly, before we ponder on the subject, we are in agreement that we believe in a God who speaks. In fact, the Scriptures are full of references to a God who speaks and communicates with His people. The Good Shepherd speaks and we as His sheep do hear His voice. Well, some may debate that God is not a chatterbox (as there are people who are always hearing God speaking to them every moment) whereas some may hold the notion that God is interested in every minute detail of our lives and that He does indeed speak to us on any issue that we communicate with Him. Debates aside, I sincerely believe that God speaks to us as much as we would like to hear from Him. The level of hunger and intimacy of our relationship with Christ are crucial whilst not forgetting, the Sovereignty of God. Very often, the modern Christians have failed to have a healthy perspective of the Sovereign God we serve. The Almighty God of heavens and the earth has been reduced to a year-round "santa claus" with a dispensing machine feature. The "God has to do what I asked Him to do" and "He must speak when I asked HIm to" attitudes are prevalent amongst the modern believers today.

Coming back to the subject of this post, like it or not, there are times and seasons when God seems to be silent. There may be a season where we experience the abundance of His still small voice, visions, dreams and perhaps, divine encounters. And there are times when we need very much to hear from the Lord but all that we hear is just a divine silence. It is true that divine silence can be a way that God speaks to His people. Is it not amazing that even in silence, God is "speaking" to us? Just like in a relationship between a husband and wife or a parent and a child. Before entering into an argument or in the midst of an argument, there might be a "cold war session" where a party speaks and the other party refuses to respond - just pure silence. More often than not, such silence is usually a sign of disapproval or disagreement that is being communicated by the silent party. Having said that, we do not usually experience a prolonged silence in the communication between a husband and wife or a parent and child. It would be an unhealthy sign to have a prolonged silence, which could signify a break-down in the relationship.

Therefore, in God's silence, we are also to learn what is He communicating with us and how do we respond to Him in such times. We would not want to have a prolonged silence in our relationship with our Loving Savior. Let's take a look at a couple of probable reasons that would cause God to be silent (these are certainly not exhaustive). First of all is the obvious factor of sin. Even though many would like to avoid this issue of sin but the truth is when we have sinned and failed to repent, we inevitably close the door of divine communication in our lives. God, in His great mercies, convicts us through His Holy Spirit and continues to "speak" to us in different manner to lead us back to Him. No, He doesn't condemn us for He has already provided the solution for sin through His Son but His desire is for our hearts to return to Him in true repentance. God is restoring the revelation of His holiness amongst His people in the last days and if we respond to Him, we will all catch the revelation of the splendour and majesty of the Great Jehovah God in the beauty of His holiness. If sin is the issue, let us draw near to His throne of grace in brokenness and sincerity that we may enjoy unbroken communion and fellowship with our Bridegroom again.

However, if we continue in our rebellion and refuse to repent, we are in a danger of falling into a state of deafness. In Luke 10:13, Jesus described such terrible state when He declared, "Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty works done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago, sitting in sackcloth and ashes." Bethsaida is a place where God fed the five thousand people and performed other mighty wonders and miracles and yet despite such display of God's power, the hearts of the people refused to return and repent. Such wicked and ungrateful hearts would inevitably lead them to the folly of their sins and a place where the voice of God is no longer heard. May this verse be a constant reminder to us all not to fall into such state of rebellion leading to deafness in the spirit.

Disobedience also leads to the sad state of not hearing from God. The Bible tells us of an account when the heavens become brass and God seemed to be silent in the life of King Saul in 1 Samuel 28:6 - "And when Saul inquired of the LORD, the LORD did not answer him, either by dreams or by Urim or by the prophets." This is an account where God deliberately refused to answer King Saul. God chose to remain silent. Why? At this point in King Saul's life, we have read that God has rejected him due to his continued disobedience. Hence, it is a tragic place to end up in for King Saul. It is always good to ask the Holy Spirit to search our hearts, especially when we feel that God is silent in our lives. As the Lord shows us our sins or disobedience, let us run to the Mercy Seat and seek His forgiveness, cleansing and restoration. Perhaps, God has given us clear instructions or commandments and we did not obey them. We will not receive another set of fresh instructions until we start obeying what we have been instructed by Him. This may also be true for many people who are asking for directions from God, i.e. we will not receive new directives until we have obeyed what we know God has asked us to do.

It must also be rightly pointed out that not all divine silence has to do with our sin, rebellion or disobedience. It could well be God's purposeful withdrawal of Himself for a season. In our walk and journey with God, there will be times when He withdraws Himself from us in love. This is a time when God desires to lead us into a new level of walk, a deeper degree of intimacy or a new season with Him. For the careful and watchful seekers and lovers of God, such silence would spur them to a renewed passion for the Lord. It is a good time to be awakened from our complacency and not to rest on our laurels. For some, the mundane has led them to a rut and such divine withdrawals are actually God's intentional drawing and wooing of His bride. With a renewed hunger and passion, we seek after Him knowing that He will not disappoint us. It can also be a season of pruning and letting go of unnecessary entanglements in our lives, which would be preparatory for us to be propelled into the next season with the Lord. Oh, how amazing and wondrous are the ways of our God!

Lastly, such times of divine silence should provoke within us a holy awe towards our God. We are to recognize the awesome sovereignty of God. Even if He chooses not to speak, we will still follow Him and love Him. When God is silent, I choose to worship Him and acknowledge Him as my Master, Lord and King. He has the prerogative not to speak when He chooses not to. My response is a loving abandonment to Him wholly. This is a time where true worship and adoration rises up within us and be poured out at His feet. We love Him not just for what He has done but for who He is.

On a practical note, whether we are in a season of God's silence or the abundance of His voice in our lives, we are to attune ourselves to the frequencies of Heaven at all times. We should never forsake the reading of His word and the private times of personal prayer and worship. These are avenues for His people to be aligned to their spiritual identity and heritage whilst living in this world. Sadly, the modern Christians today have forsaken the treasures of His Word, prayer and worship in their lives leading them to a destitute state of living. Substitutes like social networking, modern gadgets, good music, entertaining messages and social blogs fall short of nourishing our spiritual lives. Many are in deception whilst some are in ignorance or just being indifferent. It is high time to be awake and our prayer is that many hearts will be opened for the Holy Spirit to work in so that the lives of every Christian be ignited with the passion and love for His Word and to spend much time praying, fellowshipping, worshipping and communing with the Lord in greater intensity. Amen.

Rejecting God

2011-05-20T12:03:00.002+08:00

When the people of God in 1 Samuel 8 demanded for a king to judge them and to go out before them to fight their battles like all the nations, God told prophet Samuel that, "they have rejected Me." These must have been words uttered from a grieved heart. The people whom I have delivered from the hands of the Egyptian opressors and whom I have shown My love through mighty signs and wonders are now forsaking Me and demanding for a king to rule over them. For a child of God who has experienced and tasted the goodness of the Most High God it would not be probable for him or her to wake up one morning and decide to reject God. Let us consider the early chapters in 1 Samuel and trace the decline of the spiritual state of God's people leading to their demand for a human king.

The birth of a new generation and judgement upon the priesthood
The first three chapters of Samuel introduce us to the background circumstances leading to the birth of Samuel and God's purpose for the hour. It was a time in the history of Israel where God was ushering in a new season of His prophetic voice and judgment through His chosen vessel. And the birth of His chosen vessel would not happen until God has first found a willing mother who was desperate enough to have a son to the extent she would offer the son back to the Lord. In the mysterious inter-weavings of circumstances through personal and family crises and the triumph of God's faithfulness, Samuel was born. At the same time, the birth of Samuel marked the beginning of God's judgment upon the priesthood of Eli and his wicked sons.

In the times and seasons we are living today, we are also witnessing that the Lord is raising up a new generation of faithful priesthood who shall do according to what is in His heart and in His mind. But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light (1 Peter 2:9). Through trying and difficult circumstances, the eyes of the Lord are seeking mothers (His bride) who are both desperate for a son and yet willing to offer the son back to the Lord as His channel of His glorious purpose and destiny. True to His words, judgment is also beginning in His house where the beginning of the end has come upon His servants who have brought abomination to His Name.

The Ark of God captured and the departure of His Glory
The capture of the ark of God (the symbol of the Presence of God) by the Philistines marked the dawn of the dark ages of His people. In fact, His people had lost the Presence of God before the ark was captured. Many today are not aware that the churches have lost the Presence of God and yet the show must go on week after week. When they have first lost their battle in 1 Samuel 4, they thought that by having the ark of God in their camp would work like a lucky charm that would ensure them victory and success. To them, God was "used" in hope for victory in their battle.

There was loud shouting until the earth shook but this was not a sign of God's Presence in their midst. What a sad state of deception to be in believing that God can be "used" by us at our whims and fancies to achieve our selfish purposes. The Presence of God has left and we know it not. There can still be a lot of shouting in churches today but it may not necessarily mean God is in the shouting. Sadly, many churches today have become entertainment centres instead of a place to worship a holy and awesome God. How can one places his attention and focus on God when the large screens are capturing video feeds of the singers and musicians? Praise and worship have become semblence of secular music concerts?! As much as God has blessed churches with audio-visual technologies and talents, are they drawing people nearer to God or away from God? Phinehas' wife (Eli's daughter in law) gave birth to Ichabod whilst Hannah gave birth to Samuel. Samuel's name depicts the testimony of a God who has heard the cry of Hannah whilst Ichabod speaks of the departure of God's glory from Israel. Tragically, Phinehas' wife died after giving birth to Ichabod just as she also learnt of Eli and Phinenas' deaths.

Rejecting God
After the ark had travelled through a few destinations, we read in 1 Samuel 7:2, "So it was that the ark remained in Kirjath Jearim a long time; it was there twenty years. And all the house of Israel lamented after the LORD". Yes, the house of Israel longed for the Presence of God but they did nothing to bring back the Glory of God to their midst. Despite Samuel leading the people into a mini-revival in 1 Samuel 7, it had not brought a lasting change in their hearts. When they were again faced with Samuel's sons who did not walk in the ways of the Lord, their hearts were not turned towards God and to bring back His glory to their midst but instead, they demanded for a king just like every one else. (It would take a man after God's heart - Israel's second and finest king to bring back the ark of God)

Where do we stand today? Are we also guilty of rejecting God in our lives? Perhaps some of us are aware of the declining state of the churches around us. There may be even those who realized that the Presence of God is not in some of the churches anymore. What is our response today? The truth must be stated - the answer does not lie in political parties or governments. God is the answer. There is no denying that as salt and light, we uphold the principles of truth, righteousness and justice and be responsible citizens in every manner possible wherever God has placed us. However, we are not to forget that we are also citizens of heaven. Rather than being conveniently caught in the ways of the world like the Israelites did - demanding for a king - let us seek the Lord and Him alone. Many today are caught up in the danger of being too distracted by socio-economic and socio-political concerns around them. But, do we take time to be still and listen to what God would say to us in these precarious times? Is this also not the kairos time and season for the kingdom of God? Will you join me to cry out to God to bring back His Glory and Presence to our midst again? Will you not revive us again that your people may rejoice in You?

Last words of David Wilkerson

2011-04-28T11:52:00.003+08:00

I have just learned about the passing of a great man of God - David Wilkerson - who was killed in a car accident on 27 April 2011.

Not only is he known by his best-selling book, "The Cross and the Switchblade" but many including myself have been greatly blessed by his sermons and other books written by him. Also known as a prophet to America (though not considered as one by himself), his hard-hitting messages of repentance and the love of God have been instrumental in leading many to the Kingdom of God. The urgent message that he has given on an earth-shattering calamity in 2009 is still fresh in our minds.

(Click here to read the urgent message)

Apparently, he has left his last words in his last post of the Daily Devotions and may all of us who are still on this side be encouraged to hold fast to the great God whom David faithfully served. What a loving and mighty God we serve: -

“To those going through the valley and shadow of death, hear this word: Weeping will last through some dark, awful nights, and in that darkness you will soon hear the Father whisper, “I am with you,’” Wilkerson wrote. “Beloved, God has never failed to act but in goodness and love. When all means fail-his love prevails. Hold fast to your faith. Stand fast in his Word. There is no other hope in this world.”

(Click here for the full post)

Be still and know...

2011-04-11T18:12:00.004+08:00

How much do we need to come to a place of stillness - for true prayers are born from a place of rest. When our minds and our hearts are filled with cares and worries that weigh us down, we do not find ourselves soaring in prayer. Before entering into true communion with the Lord or a time of prayer, our aim is to find ourselves in a place of rest. We can only bring our petitions before His throne and nowhere else. For it is before the throne of our God that we find the unending supply of grace, mercy, provision and help in time of need. And His throne is a place of perfect peace and harmony. We draw near by tuning ourselves to the frequency of His throne by entering the place of rest - when our spirit, soul and body are are tuned to the harmony of stillness.

Firstly, "be still" is a call to our souls to be real. Come with all the burdens, cares and perplexing thoughts that trouble us. Come with our hearts in sincerity and release the burdens at the feet of Jesus. We are exhorted to cast our cares upon Him for He cares for us. If we are laden with a load of care and we do not know what to do, the first step we take is to bring our cares and leave them before His feet. We unload our burdens and the things that weigh us down before His feet. Strange as it sounds, we detest departing with the things that weigh us down even though we cry out to be released from their clutches. We learn to "be still" when we choose to un-load and detach ourselves from these worries, anxieties and fears of the unknown that occupy our hearts.

Not only do distress and anxieties cloud our hearts and minds, but when we approach His throne, we may also be overwhelmed by a sense of guilt, inadequacy and sinfulness. After traversing upon the paths of the world throughout the day, we feel the effects of the dirt of the earth clinging to our feet and hands and at the same time, haunting our conscience as we draw near before the Most Holy God. Again, we hear the Spirit's clarion call beckoning us to draw near with all boldness, in full reliance of Christ's finished work at the cross despite our guilt or sense of sinfulness. Secondly, "be still" is also a call to acknowledge and see our weakness in the light of His love and holiness and yet not to cower away in fear. We overcome another hurdle into the place of stillness and rest when we cling on the redemptive work of Christ on the cross with all our heart and mind and find the strength to speak to our tainted souls - be still for you are washed and cleansed by the Divine blood of the Son of God.

We are now inching closer to the place of rest and stillness. The place of His glorious Presence - the place of revelation, power and glory. It must not be too far away now. We now encounter an enemy so familiar in its appearance that we are not aware of its schemes and strategies. This enemy comes in many shapes and forms. Spiritual apathy, sloth and distraction are just to name a few examples of its manifestations. We are so close to the promised rest yet it seems so far when we find ourselves indifferent to His wooing and bidding. Just when we are hard pressed at every side and we know that the answer lies in coming before Him but it seems that there are so many things to do than to be still before Him. The works of the flesh begin to rear its ugly head and we give in uncompromisingly each time to its demands. This is when we keep postponing coming before His Presence in stillness and wait upon the King of Kings or find ourselves too lazy to draw near or carried away by distractions in our minds or engrossed with too many external activities. The Psalmist cried out in Psalm 27:8, when You said, “Seek My face,” My heart said to You, “Your face, LORD, I will seek” There is such swiftness to respond to the Spirit's wooing and bidding. Thirdly, we learn to "be still" when we choose to crucify the flesh and its demands and yield to the higher life of Christ within us. The Apostle Paul revealed in Galatians 2:20, "I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me."

We are confronted with different hurdles each time when we choose to enter into the place of rest. There are times when we encounter one of the three hurdles mentioned above and there are times when all three become so apparent standing in the way to God's promised rest. Praise be to our God for we despair not - with the call comes the divine enablement. When we are desirous to draw near to our Savior and Friend, the one called alongside, our Divine Counsellor will prod us along with encouragement and strenghten us along the way. The key to accessing His help is in dying to ourselves and yielding to Him - a choice we make each moment.

When we are ushered into the place of His rest, indeed what joy it brings to our souls. A place of enlightenment, a place of revelation and a place of divine exchange. It is a place where we exchange our weakness for His strength and we receive His power to accomplish that which we are shown to do. Even in this place, oftentimes many are tempted to just bask in the wonderful feelings and the wonderful ambience of the place but the complete verse of the title of this post goes on to tell us, "Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!" This is a place where we know our God as He is. When we have come to the place of rest and stillness, we receive His divine revelation and just like Jesus, we can begin to do the things we see the Father doing. This is a place where divine strategies are released and the Father's secrets are shared with His bride. And this is the place of prophetic intercession - the most effectual form of prayer that we can embark, that is when we pray in accordance with the heartbeat of God.

Let's take time to be still each day and enter into the place of divine rest for true prayers are indeed born from a place of rest. On a practical note, it is imperative for us to set a time and place each day - to be still before Him and to draw near before His throne. There are "accessories" that can help us when we begin to embark on this journey. Soft, worship (or soaking) music in the background helps to tune our souls to be still. The scriptural exhortation of entering His gates with thanksgiving and praise is another key that will bring us to His throne. Similarly, the grace of reading and meditating upon His word can be used to set our soul and spirit in tune with the frequency of His throne (not discounting the importance of reading, meditating and studying the Word of God as a separate exercise in our walk with the Lord). Do you hear the Spirit of the Lord whispering in your ears, "Seek My Face..." Let us come and be still before the Lord and tell Him, "Your face, Lord I will seek."

A call to prayer

2011-04-07T11:24:00.004+08:00

I believe the Spirit of the Lord is sounding a trumpet call to prayer to His people all over the world. This is not a call relevant to Malaysia only but a call to nations across the globe. If you're reading this now, God is speaking to you in the place and country you're from. This is not just a call to prayer for a specific agenda initiated by man, be it in the political or socio-economic sphere. This is a time where God is birthing His plans and purposes in this kairos season through His praying bride. Oftentimes, we are motivated to pray for certain pressing situations, for e.g. an impending elections or the happening of a certain event around our lives, etc. - in which all these are valid reasons to pray and are not wrong in themselves. But there are times when our short-sightedness blurs our spiritual vision of God's plan and purposes in this hour. Putting all the events of what our natural eyes see aside, we should be still and enquire of the Lord of His plans and purposes for this hour in our lands - be it in Africa, America, Europe, Asia or any nations throughout all the continents of the world.

The Lord seeks for a company of His people who would wait before His Presence for His directives and be the vessels whom He can birth His Kingdom on earth - through prayer. Yes, through prayer. We would like to think of a thousand and one thing which we can do to bring forth His Kingdom on this earth but not prayer. When God desires to accomplish His work He will seek for a company of praying people. And now is the time where His eyes are seeking whom He can share and release His heart's desires, i.e. His heartbeat so that His desires shall be birthed into reality through the prayer of the saints. I am reminded of the account of a man named Simeon in Luke 2. Here was a man waiting, praying and believing that he would live to see the birth of the Father's desire - the promised Messiah in his lifetime and true enough, he lived not just to see but also to hold in his hands the Messiah and released a dynamic prophecy to Mary. Just like in the account of the creation of this world, when the Spirit of the Lord was hovering over the waters, once again the Spirit of the Lord is hovering over His people. There are many who have heard this call and responded in the secret place whilst there are some who have grown weary and the vision has become blurred. He is blowing a fresh wind to awaken His desires within His people now. Strength is being released for His vessels to align themselves for the birthing of kingdom purposes even in this hour. This is an initiative from His throne and He who has begun a work in us will bring the same unto completion in Christ Jesus.

The enemies of God's kingdom and His plans are tirelessly forming hindrances and oppositions in the form of distractions amongst the people of God. And distractions are what they truly are - distracting and steering our vision, our strength, our focus and our being away from that which is important - that which God desires to accomplish through our lives. Have we been distracted? How are we spending our time? Are we rightly dividing our time prioritizing kingdom business ahead of the rest? Are we being swayed by what the media tells us as the "breaking news of the hour"? Are we guilty of aimelessly jumping into the bandwagon of the latest spiritual fad in town? How we need to read and meditate afresh the familiar verse in Matthew 6:33 - But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

How do we respond to this call to prayer? It is a time to set apart time and place to pray. As led by the Spirit of God, gather with like-minded saints to pray and wait before the Lord. It's not business as usual. Perhaps, we should also discard our ritualistic forms of prayer when we approach God if there is no life in them. Just gather with the believers or come before His throne by yourself and be still. Ask for His light to shine in our hearts and begin to open our hearts and pour out our hearts before the our Merciful God and Father. A time to humble ourselves and call upon the Lord. A time to repent of our prayerlessness and other wicked ways as the Spirit of the Lord shines His light in our hearts. This is indeed the first step we can take as we choose to respond to the Spirit's wooing. We will look into other aspects of prayer in the coming days but for now, let's not delay responding to His divine call to prayer.

Gilgal before Jericho

2011-03-09T17:42:00.002+08:00

In God's divine wisdom, we will inevitably visit Gilgal in our journey with Him. This is a place where we will learn precious truths that will propel us to a deeper walk with Him and stepping into our destinies as it is the Spirit of the Lord who leads us to this sacred place called Gilgal. It is recorded in Joshua 5:3-9, the following account: -

3 So Joshua made flint knives for himself, and circumcised the sons of Israel at the hill of the foreskins.
4 And this is the reason why Joshua circumcised them: All the people who came out of Egypt who were males, all the men of war, had died in the wilderness on the way, after they had come out of Egypt.
5 For all the people who came out had been circumcised, but all the people born in the wilderness, on the way as they came out of Egypt, had not been circumcised.
6 For the children of Israel walked forty years in the wilderness, till all the people who were men of war, who came out of Egypt, were consumed, because they did not obey the voice of the Lord--to whom the Lord swore that He would not show them the land which the Lord had sworn to their fathers that He would give us, "a land flowing with milk and honey."
7 Then Joshua circumcised their sons whom He raised up in their place; for they were uncircumcised, because they had not been circumcised on the way.
8 So it was, when they had finished circumcising all the people, that they stayed in their places in the camp till they were healed.
9 Then the Lord said to Joshua, "This day I have rolled away the reproach of Egypt from you." Therefore the name of the place is called Gilgal to this day.

To understand the significance of this place, we have to look at the context and the background of this account when the Israelites were led to Gilgal. Just before this stop, this new generation of Israelites have witnessed a marvellous miracle of the parting of the Jordan river and they have crossed the river onto dry ground. They have witnessed a powerful manifestation of God's power which was at the same time, a terrifying news to their enemies who were occupying the Promised Land. In verse 1 of Joshua 5, we read that "Now when all the Amorite kings west of the Jordan and all the Canaanite kings along the coast heard how the LORD had dried up the Jordan before the Israelites until they had crossed over, their hearts melted in fear and they no longer had the courage to face the Israelites." Aha! To the logical minds of the Israelites, this must be an opportune time for them to take advantage of their enemies who were resigned to their fears and discouragement. It would be perfect plan to execute a battleplan to conquer the Promised Land, after all God had seemed to help us by opening up the Jordan river.

However, on this last stop before the Israelites stepped into the Promised Land and conquer that which was promised to them and their forefathers, God had other plans. The Lord's instruction to Joshua: CIRCUMCISION first. Period.
"What?"
"Now?"
"Shouldn't we just proceed to conquer Jericho?"
"Lord, did I hear you correctly - circumcision now?"
"Are you sure, Lord?"
"Oh, we're all ready to conquer the land and march onto victory for your glory!"
Joshua had been with Moses in his ups and downs and he knew better to obey God than anyone else in the Israelites' camp. How much we have to learn and re-learn time and again that His ways are not our ways. What may appear to be foolishness to us is the wisdom of God. And our part is just to obey Him. On this auspicious occasion, the Israelites obeyed Joshua.

Yes, these are the times when we feel we are so ready to move on and progress with the Lord. We are brimming with confidence and enthusiasm. After undergoing a long arduous waiting period for His promises to come to pass in our lives - we relish the opportunity to conquer the world which is just right before our eyes! We may be thinking to ourselves that we have undergone many of the tests that the Lord has sent our way and we are keen to now see the fulfillment of His promises. We somehow feel that we have now 'qualified'..., but then, here comes the Lord saying, "Wait a minute, My child..."

The Lord desires to birth forth something so precious and beautiful in our lives, i.e. it is His desire to raise sons of God (with the likeness of His precious son, Christ Jesus) in this hour that He will work in us and through us and arrange circumstances in our lives so that we will understand the meaning of circumcision at Gilgal. We know today that in the New Testament, when we speak of circumcision, it is one of the heart and not a physical circumcision in which the Old Testament account was only a shadow of that which was to come. God has a goal in mind, He desires to roll away the reproach of Egypt away from us. We may be in the world but we are not of the world. To progress in our journey with the Lord and to fulfill the destinies that He has ordained for us, God wants to be sure that every element of the world is removed from our lives for indeed our citizenship is not of this world.

In 1 John, we are told that if the love of the world is in us, the love of the Father is not in our hearts. What then, is the love of the world but the lust of the flesh, lust of the eyes and pride of life. These are to be removed and cut-off from our lives. Just as Christ had undergone the three-fold temptations in the wilderness before stepping into his public ministry, what more, as His children are we to be led by His Spirit to be on such similar footsteps. God has to get rid of every influence, every taint and every trace of the world's system from our lives. Only then, can He say He has rolled away the reproach of the world from us. The circumcision of the heart is painful as it may also include a time of separation in order for the Egypt in us to be completely erased. In other words, it is a time of being set apart to be ready for His purposes to be birthed in our lives. Jesus was alone when He went through the wilderness. Today, many of His saints are also trodding along the path of loneliness. It is a season when the flint knive is used upon our hearts. And in such times, we are driven to our knees to spend much time with the Lord. When we have no one to talk to and no-one (including ourselves) could not understand what is going on in our lives, we have the Lord waiting to commune with us in sweet fellowship in the garden of prayer. Together with the painful process of separation, it is also a time of cleansing and purification where our vision and purpose is revived and clarified. As we travel through the wilderness, perhaps the vision that God has first birthed in our lives may have been contaminated by the dusts and dirt. And now is a good time for God to work in us to re-focus our vision, to cleanse us and to remove every bit of Egypt from our lives.

Secondly, this process of circumcision of the heart at Gilgal also marks the beginning of a process of healing within us. When the Lord literally removes the shame from our lives, He is also performing a healing work within us. With the shame, there is also the pain, the bitterness and the discouragement of yester-years. It is a time of confronting our past as we reflect on our journey to the day we reach Gilgal. God is assuring us that the past is gone and He is releasing the announcement of the dawn of a new season. In fact, in Joshua 4, the Israelites were commanded to take 12 stones and to erect a memorial at Gilgal after crossing Jordan. It is a reflection and remembrance of God's faithfulness and the sign of the end of a long, tiring season for the desert travellers. If we do not experience healing from the past, we are not able to enter into a new chapter with the Lord, just as Jesus said in the Gospels that we cannot put new wine into old wineskins. Take time to rest in His love and receive His healing as we pause at Gilgal.

And finally, it also means a time of vulnerability and death. The Israelites had to remain in their camps for the time being while the healing process takes place. If the enemies were to know the state of the these Israelites at that time and chose to war against the Israelites whilst they were recuperating in their camps, we would not have the opportunity to witness the fulfillment of God's promise to His people. Instead, the Lord God of Israel wanted His people to know that the God who watched over them neither sleeps nor slumber. It is the Lord's desire to bring them to a place of such dependence upon Him and knowing that it's all about Him and not their strengths or abilities. It is God who works in us to will and to do His perfect will and purposes in our lives. What a terrible to thing to fall into pride and the trap of robbing God's glory for we are told clearly in the Scriptures that pride comes before destruction. Therefore, God in His divine love and wisdom allow us to pause at Gilgal and know our true frames. We are but earthen vessels containing the precious eternal treasure of light within us. It speaks of crucifixion of self and our flesh so that His life may flow through us. God has to reveal to us our weaknesses first before He could show us His ability and discover the secret of doing all things through Him who strengthens us. The Apostle Paul discovered the secret when he spoke of not Paul who lived but Christ who lived in him. These are precious truths and yet painful at times as it is not a nice process to be left vulnerable, recuperating at our camps whilst waiting for God to complete His work. Our flesh does not revel in the revelation of its true state.

When we have submitted ourselves to God's circumcision at Gilgal, then we are ready to have our encounter with Him that will define the purpose and destiny of our lives. Moses encountered the God of fire which would be the distinguishing mark in his life as he led the Israelites out of Egypt. And now, after fulfilling God's instruction, the Lord met Joshua as the Commander of the army of the Lord. Joshua will be the one who will lead Israel into the land flowing with milk and honey. Fret not, for when we have co-operated with the Lord as He leads us to a season of circumcision of the heart at Gilgal, we will also be candidates for an encounter with the God of our destiny.

Are you in Gilgal today? Do not be discouraged nor dismayed. Reflect upon the goodness of God. Remember all His faithful deeds that He has performed in your life. Know that the Lord our God is such a Faithful Friend. Immerse yourself in His rivers of love and continue to wait upon Him for a new day has come.

Removing the stones from the well within us

2011-03-08T10:56:00.001+08:00

Jesus made a stunning declaration concerning His mission of coming to the world in the form of flesh and blood, (that is impossible to be mimicked by any other person in this world - whether living or dead,) when He declared in John 10:10, "I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly." Or we read another version of the Bible which gives us a clearer understanding of the meaning of abundant life, i.e. "that they may have it in full". Who can give life but the Source of LIFE Himself? And not just life - but in full, abundant measures - both in quality and quantity. It is a wonderful reminder for each one of us that we are recipients of this abundant life. This abundant life is Christ Himself and when we have Christ in us, this divine, abundant life is residing within us. "And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life" (1 John 5:11-12). Christ in us - the hope of glory! In another instance, Jesus declared that, "He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water” which speaks of the source of life residing and flowing from the inside of us and through us.

We must ask ourselves today, "Are we living in the reality of this flow of abundant life within us?" We are not just talking about a certain lopsided aspects of Christianity that are missing within our Christian circles today. To some, they may say, where are the miracles, whilst the other group will claim, we have lost some teachings of the truth and yet still others will raise other missing aspects of the authentic Christian living and ministry. But, putting all these aside, what we should be asking ourselves is whether - do we live in the reality of the fullness of Christ in our lives. Such fullness that will flow out through us in many varying expressions. Are the rivers of living and abundant water flowing out of the well within our hearts daily glorifying Christ - in holiness, in love, in power and so much more? If the answer to the many questions we ask, is "No", it's time to take an inventory and ask, "Why?" Many Christians and many churches today cannot testify of possessing the reality of the abundant life that Jesus talked about. Church programmes and charismatic personalities made up for the reality of the fullness of Christ. The "abundant life" message is reduced to some hopeful statements made by evangelists when persuading the unsaved to come to the saving knowledge of Christ Jesus. But, the question we should ask is, shouldn't all children of God be enjoying this fullness of Christ's life that will not only nourish their lives but also impact the lives around them?

There is an interesting account in the Old Testament that illustrates literally the stop of the flow of "life" in the days of a patriach named Isaac. This is an interesting story that leaves us with many precious lessons but we are going to ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to us from the perspective of allowing the life of Christ to once again flow like a mighty river in our lives and through our lives to reach out to the people around us. This is the account of Isaac digging the wells in Genesis 26:18-22. Water from the well is a symbol of the life of Christ within us and we read from the Scriptures that "the Philistines had stopped up all the wells which his father’s servants had dug in the days of Abraham his father, and they had filled them with earth." We are living in a time and age where the Philistines had stopped up the wells of many churches and Christians amongst us. Many churches and Christians are living on dry, empty rituals without realizing them. Before our Lord Jesus made the wonderful declaration of coming to give us life more abundantly, He also revealed the painful reality of the enemy or the adversary who was also present with an entirely opposite mission, "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy!"

The enemy's attack is three-fold: to steal, kill and destroy. We are also going to look at the three aspects of the fullness of Christ that the adversary is targetting in our lives. (Incidentally, we also learn that Isaac actually digged 3 wells.) We are not going to explore the names given to the well in this post but rather the significance of Isaac who ventured out to dig 3 wells. We read in Romans 14:17, "...for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit." The reality of the fullness of Christ is the reality of the expression of God's kingdom in our hearts as we read in Luke 17:21 which says that, "For indeed, the kingdom of God is within you." . As recipients of the abundant life of Christ, the three-fold manifestations of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit are evidences of the presence of His Kingdom within us. These are also the enemy's main targets in its three-pronged attack of stealing, killing and destroying the "abundant life".

At this juncture, you may want to stop and ponder how do the "Philistines" actually stop up the wells within us? The Bible mentioned that "they filled the wells with earth." If we could set our minds on 'imagination mode' for a moment, we would be able to picture the Philisties throwing stones into the well until the well is covered and the flow of water is stopped. One stone at a time until the well is completely covered up. The Apostle Paul tells us about the enemy firing fiery darts at us. A thought at a time, when left unchecked - begins to choke the flow of the living waters within us. And soon enough, we find ourselves empty, dry and void of the abundant life that Christ promised. This is what the enemy does - an unassumingly innocent thought is dropped into our minds - one after another. One lie at a time is all it takes. As we continue to entertain these thoughts and give in to the lies and lusts thereof, this is when the wells within us are beginning to be filled with earth and stones.

Let's take a look at some of the stones that may still be clogging up the wells: -
* Unconfessed sins and cycles of habitual sins.
* Minds that do not submit to the renewing work of the Holy Spirit.
* Cares of the world. Worry and anxiety.
* Deception, half-truths and false teachings.
* Anger, bitterness, hurts and pain inflicted by others in the past.
* Unforgiveness and unbelief.
* Love of the world - lust of the flesh, lust of the eyes and pride of life.
* Unyielded hearts to the Holy Spirit.
* Disobedience and rebelliousness.

Among the resulting symptoms that can be detected in our lives include the following descriptions: -
* Loss of vision and purpose of life.
* Indifferent towards God.
* False sense of security about relationship with God.
* Mind that is dulled towards the things of God.
* No love for God.
* No love for people around us.
* Full of murmuring and complaining.
* Critical and defensive.
* Discouraged and depressed.

As the wells are filled with these stones and more, not only are the waters stopped from flowing out, light is also cut off. There is only darkness inside the well as the stones have blocked the sunlight from outside. It is pertinent to ask ourselves from time to time, "Are the fruit of righteousness, peace and joy vibrant in my life?" or "are we living in wells of darkness?"

What do we do then? How do we remove these stones? We begin our journey of removing these stones by seeking the help of the Holy Spirit and by yielding to His work in our hearts and minds. Ask for the pure light of the Spirit of God to shine into our hearts and reveal to us these stones. We should echo the cries of David, the psalmist, "Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me, and know my anxieties; And see if there is any wicked way in me..." (Psalm 139:23-24) Only when the Holy Spirit shines His light upon our hearts, we are also endued with the strength and grace to cry out for mercy in repentance and be set free and delivered. We need Him to show us the true state of our hearts and lives. Do not be deceived for when He convicts, He also grants us the grace to repent and step into life anew. He is not out to condemn His children. Condemnation only leads to discouragement and hopelessness. However, the Lord in His mercies, desire to draw us to His loving arms and live in the place of His abundance.

We learn to pour out our hearts before Him by crying out to Him. In our personal times with the Lord, that is the place when we open our mouths and cry out to Him. As He begins to reveal these stones that have clogged our wells, we respond by confessing our sins and crying out for His mercy. There is a missing element in the modern Christian walk. We are taught to confess the Scriptures, promises, etc. but we are rarely shown the way of pouring our hearts before the Lord in sincerity. The Lord treasures the sincerity of our hearts. When we approach the Lord God Almighty, there is no need for us to hide behind the masks of religious appropriateness. It's ok to tell Him, "Lord, I do not love you... but please help me!" "Dear God, I love watching TVs than reading your Word, change my heart...!" "Oh, I am so proud, Lord!" The Lord listens to such humble pleas from a broken and contrite spirit. Yes, these stones are removed from our mouths! Begin to pour them out from our hearts. Confess them before the Presence of the Almighty God in truth and sincerity as the Holy Spirit begins to reveal the condition of the wells within us. And there will be instances when He will lead you to confess your faults among the people in the church or your family. As you obey His promptings, chains are broken and stones after stones are removed. Hallelujah!

In Isaac's account of digging the wells, he faced oppositions when he dug the first and second well. It is until he persisted, he found his breakthrough in the third well he dug. This is a picture of focus and persistence. Similarly, in our journey of returning to the fullness of Christ in our lives, it will be fraught with oppositions after oppositions. But even as we continue to obey and persevere, we shall soon experience abundant life in our lives. We will never be the same and as the people around us witness the transformation, Christ shall be exalted. As Christ is exalted and glorified in our midst, He will draw many to Himself. Hear the call of the Spirit of the Lord to His people in these perilous times, "Return to your First Love" Let the rivers of His love course through your heart and soul again. Allow Him to cleanse and wash you and baptize you with His strong torrents of love. And when the wells within you have been dugged, with all the stones removed, you will be His channel of blessing to the people around you. The rivers of living water shall flow out from you again and "...you shall be fruitful in the Land" in bringing the harvest unto the glory of the Most High God! Reach out to Him and call upon Him today.

Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results

2011-02-23T14:31:00.001+08:00

Einstein's definition of insanity is one that is worth pondering for our lives and walk with God.

Many of us are caught in a rut and many are crying out for breakthroughs in their lives but when things do not turn out as we wished them to be, we never seem to reflect and find the answers as to what could actually go wrong. And we continued in our circles (or cycles) of defeat, discouragement and depression.

Guyon described repentance as the highest form of worship and it would be worthwhile for us to let this precious truth sink deep into our spirits. There is an erroneous doctrine taught in churches today that there is no need for Christians to repent anymore. This is a lie that originates from the pit of hell! In fact, I heard that there are preachers who taught that the Holy Spirit's work of convicting souls only happens once, i.e. during conversion. After that, the Holy Spirit does not convict Christians anymore. How far is this from the truth!! Sadly, the Scriptures speaks of deception creeping into the household of God during the last days and we are beginning to witness this taking place.

Given the choice, every healthy soul would choose to listen to things that are sweet, nice and happy. However, as born-again Christians, we should be aware of the fine distinction of receiving positive input that builds up the spirit within us as opposed to listening to stuffs that only appeal to the flesh within us. For example, we (our flesh) take pleasure in the praises and admiration of men but we cringe at criticisms hurled against us. We would revel in teachings that pamper the flesh but reject teachings that promote the annihilation of the flesh. This is also very true in our journey with God.

Oftentimes, we will be praying and asking God for a thousand and one things. But, how often are we ever ready to expect and receive a "No" answer from Him? Perhaps, we would be labelled as "lacking in faith" if we actually harbour such an attitude. Therefore, today Christ seems to be a spiritual "Santa Claus" to many today. He is supposed to give us anything and everything we ask. We are never ready to receive a "No" from Him. Unknowingly, we shut our ears to His "No" and missed His leading and guidance along the way.

I believe a sign of maturity in walking with God is learning to receive a "No" answer from the Lord. In fact, it is healthy to expect a "No" from the Lord sometimes. The beautiful account of David pleading for the life of his child after he was confronted of his sin shows us that David is one who knew His God. He knew that God, being who He is, the Just and Righteous One - can deliver a "No" answer. The moment his child died, he rose up and went about life as usual. What a precious lesson to learn from David! And when we do not learn such a lesson we end up in the circle of insanity (as defined by Einstein). The way to end this cycle is to begin to know Him as He is. When we know Him as who He really is (and not the God we imagined Him to be or the God we wanted Him to be or the God we are taught to be), we will learn to honor and fear Him. We will learn to treasure even the "No" responses from Him and give Him the worship that is due to Him.

In our walk with God, there will be times when we are halted in our tracks by God Himself. This is because, in answer to our prayers (which we have probably forgotten) and in His loving mercies, He desires to reveal to us His path as opposed to our own paths. That is why repentance is our life-long act of worship. We always need the Spirit of God to halt us along our paths and to lead us and direct us back to His narrow path.

Far too often, the Christianity of today have lowered the value and preciousness of repentance and the forgiveness of sins. Undoubtedly, the nature of our Loving God is ever to receive us and forgive us. 1 John 1:9 clearly indicates that as we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our iniquities. However, what is the value of repentance and confession of sins when we trample such practice to just mere acts of freeing ourselves from a guilty conscience. We do not have the notion of grieving God when we sin but rather, oh well, God promises to forgive. So, I'll confess my sins and He'll forgive and I'll be fine. And we keep falling into the same sin time and again. What is repentance but a complete turning around of our path and our minds. How can we so easily cheapen the grace of repentance and confession of sins? The love of God and His grace and salvation is free but they are expensive. Pharoah and King Saul also parroted a shallow "I have sinned.." but their destinies were so different from David. Do not mis-read me, I strongly believe that it is even the grace of God that will birth true repentance in our hearts. Our works are only filthy rags before Him. But, the question is how much do we open our hearts for Him to work? Do we just repent out of a guilty conscience? Do we just repent for men to see? Do we live to please God or please men? The paths leading to the doors of repentance and forgiveness of sin were drenched with the blood of Christ. To walk in repentance and to receive forgiveness without passing through Golgotha is to cheapen the death and resurrection of Christ.

As we progress in our Christian walk and as the Lord leads us into a new level of walk with Him, there will be numerous "altars of repentance" which we will encounter along the way. I drive to work and I use the same route every day to reach my office. It would be foolish of me to expect reaching another destination if I use the same route that I have been using everyday. If I intend to reach another destination, common sense would tell me I should take a different route. (Well, this is paraphrasing Einstein) Hence, if we would like to soar with Him and be all that He wants us to be and walk in deeper intimacy with Him, we cannot be doing the same thing over and over again and expect a different result. It's time to open our hearts to the prompting of His Spirit to show us where we have gone wrong. It's time to treasure the grace of repentance. It's time to turn around and walk towards Him. Is there a "No" He's trying to communicate to us? Is the Spirit of God pointing His finger on certain areas of our lives where true repentance is expected? This is the antidote to spiritual insanity.

Kingdom Focus, Perseverance

2011-02-16T18:02:00.011+08:00

Another rare commodity among the followers of Jesus today is the F word, spelled F.O.C.U.S. Every one seems to be chasing the latest fad in town. We are more keen to run around seeking the so-called latest revelations than to be content and focussed in one's call and vocation. We need men and women who are focussed in their pursuit of God and the establishment of His Kingdom on this earth. Let your eyes look directly forward, and your gaze be straight before you -Proverbs 4:25(ESV). However, the culture of the day seems to encourage a diffusion of focus and intent. Billboards and all forms of entertainment and advertisement are intent upon grabbing every consumer's attention and we wonder why the children of this generation seems to have a short attention span.

The remarkable life of an African American named George Washington Carver would help us to appreciate how valuable possessing "focus" and "perseverance" is to one's life and the surrounding communities. Most of us would agree that "peanuts" are rather insignificant and would pay little attention to the same. It would be unthinkable to be imagining someone spending hours and days to research and discover the possibilities of something as insignificant as peanut. But, here's George Washington Carver, who discovered 300 uses for the peanut and the vine and skin when he worked in the laboratory for 6 days and 6 nights (which he claimed that God was with him in the laboratory) amongst his many findings. This is a classic example of "focus" in action. An African American, who defied the negative social circumstances of his day and putting in effort and focus into his pursuit for the betterment of mankind.

We have crossed the halfway mark of the first quarter of this new year 2011. Perhaps, many have written down new year resolutions early this year and it is sad to note that very few ever see the fulfilment of what they have written each year. Somewhere along the way, we tend to lose the focus and enthusiasm we possessed during the early part of the year. It would not be incorrect to state that the lack of focus and perseverance seems to be a common disease that infects the entire human race.

Mark Virkler, the founder of Communion with God Ministries shared his secret of how he learned the art of hearing the voice of God. He decided to set aside an entire year - just to read and learn all he can about hearing the voice of God. Mark’s hunger and a focussed intent to hear God’s voice was rewarded when God gave him a breakthrough. The books "How to Hear God's Voice" and "Dialogue With God" are the fruit of the year-long pursuit. God has given him a commission to saturate the world with the message of communion with God and Mark has traveled worldwide since 1984 teaching the Communion With God weekend seminar. There's no doubt every Christian longs to hear God's voice but not many were focussed in their intent and only a few persevered in the journey of learning from the Master.

I recall another God's servant, Bill Johnson, who decided to spend an entire year to practice the art of thanksgiving. The Scriptures exhorts us to give thanks in all circumstances and Bill decided to do just that for the whole year. Whatever calamity or storms that he faced that year were greeted by thanksgiving. I believe at the end of the year, there was definitely a marked change in his spiritual life and a breakthrough secured. This is another example of a man who displayed focus and perseverance in his Christian journey. Perhaps, it would be a justified challenge to us to set aside this year for what God has laid in our hearts (with a focussed intent coupled with perseverance) and witness remarkable breakthroughs in our lives come December 2011.

One of the secrets of the life of a man after God's heart is his "one thing" in life. Psalm 27:4 - One thing I have desired of the LORD, That will I seek: That I may dwell in the house of the LORD All the days of my life, To behold the beauty of the LORD, And to inquire in His temple. The love and devotion of David towards the God he adored touched the heart of the Most High God. No, perhaps God is not too impressed with our shallow, weekly devotion we offer to him by church attendance. It's not even the prayers we offer to Him in our free time. For David, it was his "one thing". His focus in life was summarized in the aforesaid verse. It was not just a nice lip-service but that was what defined the heart of the man after God's heart!

There have been a couple of blog entries on Elisha recently. The condition given by Elijah for Elisha to inherit the double portion anointing was that if Elisha could see Elijah being taken up, he would receive it. Interestingly, we would imagine Elisha opening wide his eyes every day since then and never at any point strayed from looking unto Elijah - which may sound ludicrous to us. However, the spiritual significance we can glean from this account is that Elisha's pursuit was from then onwards marked by an enormous dose of focus and perseverance. In other words, it was a single-eyed and single-hearted pursuit and devotion. In order for Elisha to only keep his sight on Elijah, he had to turn his eyes away from every other thing. That is an important key for our lives too in our pursuit of God and His destiny for us. In fact, the many exploits of the Apostle Paul can also be traced to his single-eyed devotion in his walk and pursuit of God. We read that the Apostle Paul himself revealed one of his secrets when he said "...but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus" in Philippians 3:13-14. In these precarious times that we are living today, we are to keep our eyes away from each and every distraction and be focussed and persevere in our walk with the Lord. For us to be focussed in what the Lord lays in our heart, we have to lose focus on everything else. Wandering eyes and a wandering heart would cause us to stumble and fall.

A practical way to keep our focus is to learn from the prayers of the psalmist when he prayed, "Turn away my eyes from looking at worthless things..." (Psalms 119:37a)and in Psalms 86:11 - "Teach me Your way, O LORD; I will walk in Your truth; Unite my heart to fear Your name." As faced by the majority of Christians today, the psalmist was keenly aware that his heart seemed to be running in every direction but God and He needed divine help and inspiration to have a "united" heart to fear Jehovah God. Another version of the prayer is to ask God for "an undivided heart". These are the sincere prayers and cries that each believer should likewise cry unto the Lord. As it is the Holy Spirit who deposited a deep desire and hunger in our hearts to do great exploits in the Kingdom of God, our part is also to co-operate with the Holy Spirit to maintaining a focussed pursuit. But if we do not see our hearts as divided, we will not cry to Him in desperation. May the Spirit of truth so shine in our darkened hearts and minds that we may cry unto the Lord unceasingly for an undivided heart. Sadly, many in the last days will be deceived into thinking all is well with them.

May the Lord speak to our hearts and inspire us to greater heights and deeper depths with Him as we keep looking unto Him in the days to come. Oh God, unite our hearts to fear your Name!

Lopsided Christianity?

2011-02-11T12:20:00.003+08:00

Probably, the title of this post should be "Christianity - missing the mark?" but since I keep hearing the phrase "Lopsided Christianity" ringing in my mind, I have decided to settle with the present title. Actually, I did not plan to pen my thoughts on this subject today but they were dropped into my heart this morning. Admittedly, it's not easy to structure these thoughts - so, hopefully, stating them in the form of questions (with reference to Scripture verses and some personal thoughts) would be appropriate. This is going to be a short (but provocative) entry.

John 12:32 (NKJV) - And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all peoples to Myself
Are we lifting up human personalities or are we lifting up Christ? There seems to be a deluge of Christian programmes and personalities that are being heavily promoted today. In fact, the Christian personalities (or celebrities) today appear to be more popular than Christ Himself.

Acts 20:35b (NKJV) - ...And remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive
We do not seem to remember Jesus saying that. Did He? The popular teachings of the day is to grab, grab, grab, get, get, get or in a more subtle way: give to RECEIVE!!

2 Timothy 3:5a (NKJV) - having a form of godliness but denying its power...
A lot of lip service today but not seeing the raw power of God. We are living in times where Christian literature, teachings and seminars are in abundance on almost any Christian topics but not many Christian gatherings that witness the explosion of His Presence and Power. Why?

Ephesians 4:14 (NKJV) - that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting;
Acts 20:27 (NKJV) - For I have not shunned to declare to you the whole counsel of God.
With the abundance of Christian literature and teachings, all kinds of half-truth doctrines have also crept into the church. Have we been listening to the whole counsel of God? Are there more babes/children than matured adults in the church today? Every body seems to be putting extra emphasis on their pet doctrines to the exclusion of the rest.

Luke 4:43 (NKJV) - but He said to them, “I must preach the kingdom of God to the other cities also, because for this purpose I have been sent
Luke 9:2a (NKJV) - He sent them to preach the kingdom of God...
The mission of Jesus is to preach the KINGDOM OF GOD and so is ours. But, more and more people are getting more interested and excited about certain ministries being preached than the KINGDOM OF GOD. Are we heavily promoting a particular ministry or are we preaching the KINGDOM OF GOD? Do we seek to extend the KINGDOM OF GOD on this earth or to expand more (mega) ministries?

John 3:30 (NKJV) - He must increase, but I must decrease.
The modern gospel has taken out the necessity of death to self. The words of John the Baptist have probably been long kept in the museum. I must decrease? (You must be kidding)

The list goes on.

But, if our hearts desire to see the greater glory of God manifested in our days it is time to be honest with ourselves. There is a dire need for "balance" and "humility" in the Christian circle today. The question we should be asking ourselves is whether we know the heart of God? (It's no use assuming we know His heart just because we seem to be 'ok') May the Spirit of light and truth illuminate our eyes and our hearts to see the true condition we are in and to desperately cry out unto the Lord for His mercy and intervention.

Thus says the LORD:
“ Stand in the ways and see,
And ask for the old paths, where the good way is,
And walk in it;
Then you will find rest for your souls...
(Jeremiah 6:16 NKJV)

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.
(2 Chronicles 7:14 NKJV)

Christ tabernacled among us; Christ overshadowing us

2011-02-10T18:12:00.010+08:00

A very interesting rendering of John 1:14 goes like this, "And the Word became flesh and pitched His tent among us..." In other words, He "tabernacled" among us. We are familiar with the usual version of Christ dwelling among us but it opens up a new vista when we picture the verse in our mind of our Loving Saviour setting up a tabernacle in and around us. This is the beautiful mystery of our salvation. When we repent and receive Jesus Christ into our hearts as our Lord and Saviour, He literally comes into our hearts and makes our hearts His home. Christ in us - the hope of glory.

As His end-time priests and bride, we are called to be carriers of His Glory and His Presence. But, you may wonder, since Christ is in us what does it mean to be carrying His glory and His presence? This leads to the second part of the title of this post: Christ overshadowing us. There are varying degrees of "Christ in us" and there are different levels of carrying His presence in our lives. Yes, He's in us but "how much space" does He tabernacle in our hearts? This is a very exciting subject to me. Well, it's not a theological exposition but it's an exciting subject. Once again, we will take a look at different men and women who experienced the reality of Christ 'tabernacling' their lives to the extent He overshadowed them and literally "spilled over" to the people around them. There are higher and deeper realities of walking with God and carrying God's Glory and Presence that can be a reality to each one of us.

Peter's shadow or the Holy Spirit casting His shadow over Peter?
We read the amazing account in the book of Acts where people would be bringing the sick into the streets on beds and mats so that Peter's shadow might fall across some of them as he went by. We are talking about actual healing taking place by just having Peter's shadow falling across these people! This is just wild. Not a command. Not a word at all. Just his shadow. We are not told how often this occurred but it was recorded to open our eyes of faith to the unlimited possibilities of God's presence and power flowing through a vessel of clay.

Firstly, let's admit that a shadow is just a shadow. There's nothing special about Peter's shadow but I believe we can dig deeper and pick up some gems from this miraculous account. Firstly, it signifies that the "spirit man" of Peter is larger than his "physical man". I'm not going into any theological debate here. The Scripture clearly teaches us that we are made of spirit, soul and body. Just like our physical bodies, our spirits do grow. Our spirits can be under-nourished or suffering from mal-nutrition. But, I believe that in this account, it shows that Peter (in his spirit) seems to be bigger and larger than Peter (in his physical body). In this instance, the size of his spirit was not bound by the physical size of his body. Therefore, the experiential reality of his spirit which also housed the Spirit of God was felt beyond the perimeter of his physical body. How this should spur us to desire our spirits to grow and be enlarged through the Holy Spirit for His glory.

Secondly, I also believe it signifies that the essence of the prayer of John the Baptist becoming a reality in this account - let me decrease and You increase. Here, Peter became so "insignificant" that God could fill his entire being and manifest the reality of His Presence and Power through and around Peter. That is why I would say it is not Peter's shadow that accomplished the healing but the Holy Spirit's shadow through Peter. The tangible anointing and presence of the Most High God became manifested and felt through people who had Peter's shadow passing over them. Amazing indeed! May the degree of God's anointing flowing through us increase as the degree of yieldedness and death of self/flesh in us also be deeper.

Mary, who carried Jesus in her womb
This is the sacred mystery of Christ's birth through a virgin. And we read in the Scriptures where the angel foretold of this miracle of miracles in the following words - "...the power of the Most High will overshadow you..." Mary was overshadowed by the power of the Holy Spirit and she literally carried Jesus in her. What a wonderful picture! There's a beautiful account where we witness a manifestation of the "spillover" overshadowing of the Holy Spirit through Mary. It happened when Mary visited her cousin, Elizabeth. We read from the Scriptures that when Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the child leaped in her womb and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. As Mary was faithfully fulfilling her role as a carrier of God's Presence and Glory, when she spoke, the child in Elizabeth's womb leaped! Not only that, Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit there and then!! No laying of hands. No prayers. Just the mere voice of Mary's greetings. I believe this is not an isolated experience for Mary alone.

The 2 Biblical accounts above must have whetted our appetite to believe and hunger for a greater release of the glory of God in the body of Christ today. What amazing miracles will take place for the glory of God when we allow Him to tabernacle in us in greater degree and His power to completely overshadow us. If you were thinking these 2 New Testament accounts are isolated examples, let's take a look at a few wonderful testimonies of Christian giants of the past below.

John G Lake - Do you know that during the outbreak of deadly plagues in Africa, viruses and bacteria died on contact with his skin! He didn't need to rebuke or say a word. They just died. Now, this is awesome.

Kenneth Hagin - If you have read his testimony, this man of a great God was bedridden and actually died before he discovered the healing power of Jesus. Do you know that he had a "shadow" too? I read that the people who worked closely with him in the ministry had never fallen sick their entire time with him.

Charles Finney - When this great revivalist reached the town he was scheduled to preach, people in the town began to be convicted of their sins and repented. People in the factories just knelt down, weeping for their sins. The Holy Spirit had "His shadow" over Finney indeed. Imagine an Unseen Shadow encompassing the entire town through this vessel that God used mightily.

What about some Christian leaders who are still in ministry today?
Bill Johnson - I read of an account when Bill went to a shop to look at some mobile phones. And he said, "it leaked!" The Presence of God just "leaked" through him. A lady in the shop fell under the power without any warning or notice. She was so troubled that she asked Bill what was that and it opened a door for Bill Johnson to share the good news of Jesus Christ.

Heidi Baker I heard from Heidi in a meeting where she shared that she was having a breakfast in a (hotel) restaurant. And all of a sudden another person sitting next to her table just screamed in awe of the Presence of God.

There are many other such accounts where there are even demon-possessed people who manifested in the streets when Christians just walked by. I recall a personal discovery when I was in a conference many, many years ago in the US (during the recess time in between the conference sessions where people were walking and chatting). All of a sudden, I felt within me that the ambience of the sanctuary changed. There was a peace and an acute sense of God's Presence. I turned my head to look to the back of the hall and noticed that the man of God had just entered the hall.

Let me share with you another interesting account my wife had. She responded to the altar call in one special church meeting. As always, she was standing, with her eyes closed whilst waiting for the personal ministry of the speaker that day. All of a sudden, as the man of God was still a metre away (walking towards her), she began to weep in the Presence of God. I don't think there are that many such instances in churches today.

As I am penning down these thoughts, I am reminded of the awesome Argentine revival stories that I have heard in the past. During the revival crusades that took place in a big stadium, amazingly people who lived in apartments a few kilometers away from the stadium would fall under the power of God in their homes or be found weeping in repentance for their sins. There was one instance where there was a procession of idols by some idol worshippers near the stadium where there was an ongoing revival service. Guess what? At one point, all the idols just fell to the ground! This would be the power of corporate glory of God overshadowing the people in times of revival.

Your shadow or are you overshadowed by Him?
We are called to release the glory of God wherever we go. May our shadows be also reflections of His shadow wherever we are. As we walk into our homes, offices, shopping malls or anywhere, may there be an overflow of His Presence through us. Who is God? God is love. He is light. He is peace and so much more. Every place that our feet tread upon, may the attributes of God be manifested through us to the people around us. Not only do we expect His healing virtue to flow, when we step into a place of disharmony, we want to see the ambience of the place be displaced by His Peace. Would you and me be carriers of His Glory and Presence wherever we go? Let our light so shine before people around us. May we carry His light to places of darkness. May there be liberty to the captives, abundance to the poor, healing to the sick and much much more as we allow Him to cast His shadow over us and allow Him to increase in and through our lives.

These men had been with Jesus
I believe the key to a greater manifestation of His Glory and Presence in our lives lies in the comments made by the onlookers who witnessed the extraordinary boldness of Peter and John - "These men had been with Jesus." When you and I have been spending much time with Jesus in the secret place, the reality of God will leak out. (In today's language - people do not need to read the wikileaks to find out.) It will become an open secret. Are you excited now? Release His glory wherever you go.

Kingdom Tenacity

2011-02-09T13:02:00.012+08:00

Elisha demonstrated a different spirit than the rest of the trainee prophets of his day when he persistently refused to be separated from Elijah. Even when Elijah himself asked him to stay put and stop following him, he cried out to his master, I will not leave you! We understand from numerous Biblical accounts that such "a different spirit" indeed made a difference which ultimately determines the destiny of men and women throughout the ages. In fact, the term "a different spirit" was mentioned in tribute to Joshua and Caleb in contrast to the other 10 spies and the rest of the Israelites who chose to listen to the spies which resulted in their untimely deaths in the wilderness.

I am reminded of a few other characters in the Bible who displayed such a tenacious character, leaving behind an indelible impact for every Bible student. These are men and women from whom we can learn and imitate, especially in their tenacious pursuit of God and their destiny. There is a popular teaching amongst the Christian circles where we are trained to think that if God wants me to have something, I don't have to do anything but to just sit and wait for it to happen. If it doesn't happen, well probably, God didn't want me to have it in the first place. There is no arguing that our God is a sovereign God and He rules, overrules and even intervenes in circumstances that sometimes defy our so-called theological understanding of what He should or should not do. Having said that, it is just pure laziness to say that well if He wants me to have it, I don't have to do anything about it. By looking at the 5 characters below, may we be better armed with a stronger character and attitude in the times we are living in today.

Jabez, whose life contradicted his destiny
There is no necessity to have a long introduction to our famous Mr Jabez. In fact, his prayer has now been one the more popular prayers in the Christian world. But, let not the familiarity of his story robs us of the precious truth we can glean from his tenacious character. Here is a man born with a destiny written over his life from day one of his arrival on planet earth. He was a pain to himself and a pain cum sorrow to every body else. And despite that, it did not deter him from crying out a powerful prayer which God heard and answered. In fact, his life contradicted the destiny which was written over him (his name).

I believe the Spirit of God actually nudged the author of the Books of Chronicles in the Bible to include Jabez's account when he was writing on the descendants of Judah. We can say that nothing would stop this guy from inheriting a great blessing from God. Some may put their blame on genes, their upbringing, their families, etc. etc. but here arose a man who literally cried to God for a destiny of blessings. He did not just say a prayer. It was a tenacious request - I believe he exerted all his strength, emotions and focus in making his request to God. And today we read the glorious testimony that "God granted his request." Today, God is still in the business of granting our requests too. But, too often we are just too busy to let our requests be made known to him or perhaps, we are just happy to be "saying" our prayers or we would rather play the blame game.

Jacob and the wrestling match
A man in the Bible we may not want our children to choose as their role-model would probably be Jacob. Many know him as a schemer, a liar or an opportunist. God viewed him differently - "Jacob, I loved". There would be many reasons why God loved Jacob instead of Esau but the greatest wrestling match that ever took place on this earth unearthed a gem of a character in this man named Jacob.

Probably, that night must have been the most difficult night of his life to find some solace in sleeping. Fears and anxieties filled his mind and heart. He was troubled as the time has come for him to confront his past. How would you feel if you were to be in his shoes? You committed a crime many years ago and now you are going to meet the person whom you have committed the crime against. The death threats issued by Esau many years ago must have found their way back to haunt Jacob. And without any warning, an unexpected visitor got him into a wrestling match. Most would probably jumped at the opportunity of giving up and perhaps die in the hands of this visitor. It could have been a death full of dignity for Jacob. No, he persisted the whole night. And yes, he cried out with loud cries and tears, I will not let you go until you bless me!

Notwithstanding the fears, worries and uncertainties in his heart, he would not miss this opportunity of seeking blessing from this visitor. The mixed emotions within him did not overcrowd his appetite and hunger for the dew of heavens. This is a man who fully appreciated the value of spiritual things. Having heard the many stories about God and His mighty acts from his parents, the seed has been sown within him of the "one thing" in life that matters. At every difficult turn of his life, he cried out to Jehovah God and He has been with him through the ups and downs of life. You may fault Jacob for his many schemes but the tenacity in his pursuit after God must be etched deeply in our minds.

Hannah, who was accused of getting drunk in church
How depressing it must have felt for a wife to endure mockings and criticisms from the husband's other wife? Depression and suicide would have been the easy way out. Not for Hannah. Her very name which signifies "passion" describe the tenacious character she possessed. She was definitely hurt and sorrowful but those negative emotions merely drove her to petition for a miracle from God. The intensity of her request was further underlined by the fact that she vowed to offer the child unto God when the Lord God open her womb. Many people would have left church if they were in Hannah's shoes - imagine the pastor rubbing salt to her wounds when he claimed that Hannah was drunk in the church! What hurt! What shame! No, she did not resort to counselling sessions for healing of her wounded soul. She stated in clear terms what she was doing to the priest and received the priest's blessing in return. Most of the time, we wondered why the breakthrough that we are praying for has not been forthcoming. Perhaps, it is a good time to reflect and meditate on Hannah's tenacious character.

The woman, who talked to herself
She was more known by another nickname - the woman with the issue of blood. According to some teachings today on healing, perhaps a woman in her shoes today would come to the conclusion that healing is not for her, anyway. After suffering for 12 years and having consulted the doctors of her day - probably her friends would not be able to recognize her anymore. She would be a forlorn figure - weak, helpless and poor. What use is there to preach healing to this woman?

She was not invited for a healing meeting nor did Jesus single her out for prayer. Guess what. She went against the laws and customs of her day and pressed in to receive her healing after suffering for 12 long years. Her faith in the power of God to heal was strong and certain. We read from the Scriptures that, "she said to herself - if I only touch His cloak, I will be healed." I do not think there was any teaching on power of confession during her days but out of the abundance of her heart her mouth spoke forth her faith in Christ to heal her. Nothing was in her favour - the crowds, the customs and laws, her past experiences, etc. The tenacity of her faith made a way in the wilderness for her to reach out her hand and received the healing virtue of Jesus flowing through the edge of His cloak.

Jesus set His face like a flint
Last but not least, our Saviour intently set His face to go to Jerusalem despite knowing the type of death which awaited Him. This speaks volumes of the great love He has for each one of us. The tenacity that was exhibited by Jesus was motivated by His love for His father and us. There's no greater love than for Christ to lay down His life for us. He was not reluctant to take the path of the cross but He set His face like a flint (a variety of quartz - a figurative analogy of firmness and hardness of intent) to go to Jerusalem. We can love Him because He first loved us. Therefore, may our love for Him be reflected in our resoluteness to obey, follow and pursue Him all the days of our lives.

Final note
If we are placed in similar trying circumstances such as those surrounding the 5 outstanding characters above, would we have responded in the same manner? How would we respond to the trials that seem so impossible to overcome in our lives? Indeed, there are many other men and women in the Bible that deserve mention with regards to their courageous and tenacious walk with God. However, admittedly, spiritual tenacity is a rare commodity amongst Christians today yet a must-have for all Christians living in such times like these. May the Spirit of God birth such spiritual tenacity in our hearts, especially in our walk with God, pursuit of Him and His destiny for our lives.

Matthew 11:12 12 And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force.

Postcript: -
(From a sermon by the Prince of Preachers - Charles Spurgeon - entitled "The Dawn Of Revival, Or Prayer Speedily Answered" delivered February 10, 1867)

We never do anything in this world until we set our faces thoroughly to it. The warriors who win battles are those who are resolved to conquer or die. The heroes who emancipate nations art those who count no hazards and reckon no odds, but are resolved that the yoke shall be broken from the neck of their country. The merchants who prosper in this world are those who do their business with all their hearts, and watch for wealth with eagerness. The halfhearted man is nowhere in the race of life; he is usually contemptible in the sight of others, and a misery to himself. If a thing be worth doing, it is worth doing well; and if it be not worth doing thoroughly, wise men let it alone.

Especially is this a truth in the spiritual life. Wonders are not done for God and for the truth by men upon their back asleep, or out of their beds, but still asleep. Souls are not saved by men who scarcely know or care whether they are saved themselves. Errors are not dashed from their pedestals by those who are careless concerning truth and count it of little value. Reformations have not been wrought in this world by men of lukewarm spirit and temporizing policy. One fiery Luther is of more value than twenty like the half hearted Erasmus who knew infinitely more than he felt, and perhaps felt more than he dared to express.

A man if he would do anything for God, for the truth, for the cross of Christ, must set his face and with the whole force of his will resolve to serve his God. The soldier of Christ must set his face like a flint against all opposition, and at the same moment set his face towards the Lord with the attentive eye of the handmaiden looking towards her mistress. If called to suffer for the truth, we must set our face towards this conflict as Jesus set his face towards Jerusalem. He who would conquer in this glorious war, and overcome the Lord at the mercy-seat, must be resolved! resolved with his whole soul, resolved after matured thought - resolved for reasons which are too weighty for him to escape - resolved that from the throne of grace he will not depart without the blessing. Never, never shall a man be unsuccessful in prayer who sets his face to win the promised mercy.

Prophetic Insights 2011 - Part II

2011-02-08T12:04:00.007+08:00

The earlier post on the prophetic insight for 2011 was a short one and I hope to build upon that post and perhaps share more on what I believe the Lord is doing amongst His people in 2011 and beyond.

To many believers today, the season we are in is akin to the Biblical time when Elijah was to be taken away. It is a time of the revealing of the true sons of Elijah. Elisha wanted to be affirmed as the true son of Elijah when he asked for the "double portion of Elijah's spirit". There were many other trainee prophets from the school of prophets who were also aware of the impending departure of Elijah - the prophet who stood in the Presence of God, but only Elisha pursued after what Elijah himself described as "a hard thing". Elisha stands for an entire generation who would pursue after God even though it is perceived to be a difficult venture. It is the faceless and nameless generation that God has been preparing and raising as His end-time army. What are the lessons we can learn from Elisha's example?

Following hard after the Lord
It is recorded in the Scriptures that Elisha followed hard after Elijah. From Gilgal to Bethel and onward to Jericho and Jordan. Indeed, there is much to learn from the names of these places but we will look at the themes of what these places represent. What does it mean to follow hard after the Lord? Firstly, walking and following our Lord Jesus begins from a place of consecration (Gilgal). We may be in the world but not of the world. As a priesthood of believers, we are called to be set apart unto Him. A divorce from the world and its values must be evident in our lives without which we cannot enter into communion with the Lord. It is in Bethel, we learn to commune with Him. Leaning upon His breast, we listen to His heartbeat and enjoy the warmth of His embrace. From times of intimacy with the Lord, we are equipped to enforce His victory in the battles that we face in life (Jericho). When we experience His victories through enforcing His authority in our lives, the Lord our God would lead us to a transition into a new realm of possessing our inheritance (Jordan). A crossing-over takes place wherein we are ushered into a new dimension with the Lord. These summarized themes would sound familiar to many who have taken the path of walking and journeying with the Lord in obedience. Sometimes, we are led to re-visit these places in different order and in different degrees and sometimes we missed the way and stumble and fall. But, in weakness, we continued to cling on to Him and in His faithfulness, He has never left us nor forsaken us.

Secondly, if we were to look at the geographical layout of these places, it makes no sense to our logical minds for Elijah to be "leading" Elisha from one place to another to reach the ultimate destination of Jordan when he could have opted for a shorter and simpler route. This has been also a hallmark of our journey of following hard after the Lord. We do not seem to understand the long, tiresome and sometimes illogical paths we take. Sometimes we questioned whether we have heard correctly or like John the Baptist who sent his servants to ask Jesus whether He was the Messiah or not. These are unfruitful times for the flesh yet certainly we are making progress spiritually. Be it valleys or mountaintop experiences, Elisha held on closely to Elijah and never lost sight of his master.

The greatest blow for Elisha must be Elijah's apparent cold treatment towards him. When Elisha pursued after Elijah, it seemed the Elijah was not too pleased and kept asking Elisha to maintain a distance and to stop following Him. When we thought we have done something to please the Lord to deserve a special attention from Him and His response is the opposite - our faith may begin to crumble and our mouth begin to grumble. The greatest temptation is to give up and say, it's useless or it doesn't work or to be offended by Elijah. But, Elisha prevailed. He was persistent and his hunger and pursuit was not superficial. Do we likewise desire God beyond the superficial level to be able to overcome rejection, offense and adversity?

I remember a man of God who shared that he saw something about the relationship between Elijah and Elisha that he never saw before. Most of us when we think of the great event of Elijah being taken away - we have a mental picture of Elijah sitting on a chariot and bidding farewell to Elisha. But, upon closer look Elijah was actually taken up by a whirlwind instead of a chariot. But, you ask, what about the chariot? Well, God has to send a chariot to separate the close bonding between Elijah and Elisha! Yes, could you imagine that level of intimacy?

The passing of the mantle
Undoubtedly, this was the most awaited and exciting part. Elisha picked up the mantle and he began to walk in the office of the "true son". The rest, we would say, is history.

In the same way, the birth of the church was marked by the great release of the Holy Ghost at the upper room. The true church of God is going to walk as the true sons of the Most High God. Undoubtedly, we are entering into the finest times of the church despite the darkness around us. Even this year, we are stepping into a season of abundant grace, favour and breakthrough (mark this). Yes, I believe we are possessing our inheritance in a greater way than before and also it is a time of rest and liberty for us. God has taken our shame and has broken every curse of debt in our lives. I believe the season of debt-cancellation is manifesting in greater measure this year. Believe it and begin to proclaim and declare a season of jubilee over your lives, families, cities and nations. Isaiah 61 (NIV) sums up pretty well the description of the Lord's promise for His true sons for this season and this year. Read it and declare it aloud: -

1 The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me,
because the LORD has anointed me
to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
to proclaim freedom for the captives
and release from darkness for the prisoners,[a]
2 to proclaim the year of the LORD’s favor
and the day of vengeance of our God,
to comfort all who mourn,
3 and provide for those who grieve in Zion—
to bestow on them a crown of beauty
instead of ashes,
the oil of joy
instead of mourning,
and a garment of praise
instead of a spirit of despair.
They will be called oaks of righteousness,
a planting of the LORD
for the display of his splendor.
4 They will rebuild the ancient ruins
and restore the places long devastated;
they will renew the ruined cities
that have been devastated for generations.
5 Strangers will shepherd your flocks;
foreigners will work your fields and vineyards.
6 And you will be called priests of the LORD,
you will be named ministers of our God.
You will feed on the wealth of nations,
and in their riches you will boast.

7 Instead of your shame
you will receive a double portion,
and instead of disgrace
you will rejoice in your inheritance.
And so you will inherit a double portion in your land,
and everlasting joy will be yours.

8 “For I, the LORD, love justice;
I hate robbery and wrongdoing.
In my faithfulness I will reward my people
and make an everlasting covenant with them.
9 Their descendants will be known among the nations
and their offspring among the peoples.
All who see them will acknowledge
that they are a people the LORD has blessed.”

10 I delight greatly in the LORD;
my soul rejoices in my God.
For he has clothed me with garments of salvation
and arrayed me in a robe of his righteousness,
as a bridegroom adorns his head like a priest,
and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.
11 For as the soil makes the sprout come up
and a garden causes seeds to grow,
so the Sovereign LORD will make righteousness
and praise spring up before all nations.

How do we position ourselves?
Needless to say, the key lies in the intimacy between us and our Elijah, the Beautiful Saviour - Jesus Christ! Elijah said to Elisha, “You have asked a hard thing. Nevertheless, if you see me when I am taken from you, it shall be so for you; but if not, it shall not be so.” How did Elisha position himself to receive that which He asked for? What is the key to "seeing" Elijah when he was taken up? How do we begin to step into this marvellous year of revelation?

Elisha did not lay down a set of formulaes but his motto was "I will not leave you, Elijah!" This speaks volume of his commitment and bonding to Elijah. Likewise, may this be our motto each and every moment of the day - Lord, I will not leave you - the key of stepping into and possessing what God has prepared for us this year and the days to come.

Prophetic Insight 2011

2011-01-10T14:02:00.015+08:00

I received from the Lord last year that it was the dawn of a new season as we stepped into the new decade. I also shared about it being a season of increase. All praise and glory to God, 2010 was definitely a year of increase for me and my family. We had experienced increased in many ways and we were just awed by His goodness! Our God has revealed Himself as a good Father throughout the year and it can be best summed up in the verse in Psalm 84:11 - For the LORD God is a sun and shield; The LORD will give grace and glory; No good thing will He withhold from those who walk uprightly. It was not a smooth-sailing journey as we coursed through ups and downs throughout the year but God was faithful to see us through and our hearts are abounding with thanksgiving for all that He has done. Indeed, we trust and believe that it is only the beginning of what He desires to do amongst His children in the days to come.

As we look forward to walk with Him in this new year 2011, we believe it is a continuing of the season of increase. As noted in last year's post, God's plan and purposes cannot be limited to a one year-time frame. Having said that, there is always an emphasis of what He is doing and what He intends to bring forth in the body of Christ and the world for a particular year.

For 2011, I believe we have stepped into a year pregnant with marvellous promises. In fact, many prophetic words of hope and encouragement have been given. A year of breakthrough, double portion blessings, new births, crossing over, etc. etc. And I would say Yes and Amen to all these words! It is important for us to know that we have a good Heavenly Father and He is definitely up to something good for us this year. On a side note, sometimes, people dispute as to the inconsistencies of prophetic words given or the repetition of similar themes going round year after year. But, I believe that just as the Scriptures mentioned, we only prophesy in part and not everyone knows everything and can give an all-encompassing prophecy despite the sharpest prophets in town. Only our all-wise God knows everything and we know that He is the beginning and the end, the Alpha and the Omega. Therefore, He can see from every angle and perspective from the beginning to the end. As His servants wait upon Him, each will receive revelations from a particular angle and therefore, prophesy in part, the end purpose being the edification of His body.

The key word for 2011 is that it is a year of "REVELATION". It is a year of "SEEING". From the "SEEING" and the "REVELATIONS" received, we will step into the breakthroughs, double portion blessings, open doors, crossing over and new births that the Spirit of the Lord is bringing upon His people this year. It is the "intimacy" and the "close bonding" with the Lord that will lead to times of "revelation" and "supernatural seeing". Therefore, let's position ourselves by cultivating times of intimacy with the Lord and to keep our eye-gate positioned to receive divine revelations from Him. This is the key to receiving all that God has prepared for us this year. Be ready to soar high in the spiritual skies. Hallelujah!!

The way that God has been leading His people in the past may not have been clearly understood by His people. In this year 2011, many things will be made clear and we will begin to understand (to a certain degree) the reason God has led us through the paradoxical maze of life in the recent years. There will be greater clarity of His ways and with that, let us also expect to see a greater explosion of His Presence and Power in our midst.

It would be naive to expect a year free of conflicts, trials and opposition along the way. But the way forward is to keep the "VISION" clear before our eyes. The hindrances along the way are meant to be "distractions" leading to "discouragement". Beware, tread carefully, walk circumspectly and it is imperative to guard our hearts and minds at all times. Just as we must position ourselves to see, God sees into our hearts and as the Scriptures remind us in Matthew 5:8, "Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God". Let us therefore embrace 2011 with a heart rooted in love, faith and holiness!

Prophetic Insights 2011 - Part II

2011 Prophetic Words Compilation

Revamp of blog

2011-01-05T17:48:00.001+08:00

Yes, a revamp of this blog is ongoing. I have changed the look and feel of the blog by replacing the older template. The idea is to have a simpler presentation making the posts more readable so that the time spent on this blog would be more comfortable and enjoyable!

Well, it's not just about replacing template and changing the outlook of the blog. I believe it's a fresh time and season of birthing for this blog as well. Hence, a change of direction is necessary and the purpose of the blog becomes more specific but the underlying purpose shall always be for the glory of the Most High God! Hallelujah!!

More of what is to come through this blog will be posted in the near future and prayerfully, there will be a continuous flow of prophetic insights through the Holy Spirit on this platform. Hope that you are already sensing the freshness of the Holy Spirit at the start of this year and here's a blessed New Year 2011 greetings to all past, present and future readers and followers of this blog! Let's go after Jesus!!

Jezebel 2010

2010-08-05T13:18:00.007+08:00

This is an excellent and timely perspective written by Kerry W. Knorr. Whilst reading this write-up, I have found some answers to the questions I have been asking in my heart lately. I believe these words are of global application to all of us, whether we are from the US or otherwise. Read, meditate on them and together, let's prophesy to the four corners of the earth: Arise and shine, Elijah Generation! Be blessed.

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There are some extensive studies of Jezebel out there that are already written and are pretty good. John Paul Jackson and Francis Frangipane's works are among them. What I have to teach about Jezebel would mostly mirror those teachings. Rather than rehash the whole teaching here, I will offer perspective that don't often show up in other studies, and add a contemporary application.

An aspect of Jezebel that is often overlooked or under-emphasized, is simply the meaning and ramifications of the name. The name Jezebel means 'unchaste' or 'uncommitted.' The Hebraic pictographs that form the name depict an introversion or self centeredness. The name is actually a question: "How do I live? Jezebel represents all of the undecided questions: where, how, when, why, with whom and what am I going to do to live? These questions portray no clear identity, no work ethic, no authority and no relationship with the altar of the One who made all things. It is an unanswered question which reveals indecision and lack of commitment. It is the type of indecision and complacency that merely maintains comfort levels. When the question of identity remains unanswered, any surrogate fills the void: "I'm stupid," "I'm gay," "I am my occupation," etc. Uncommitted, indecisive, insecure and self centered people who don't know who they are describes a very large percentage of the individuals that comprise the Christian Church today. I'm telling you that this spirit is far bigger than any individual. In fact, most individuals are its victims. Jezebel was not overthrown because a war was waged against either her or her idolatries. She was overthrown as an incidental part of establishing righteous government that rightly honored God. You see, it is not merely an issue of tolerating unanswered questions, but also a failure to take a stand in the answers to those questions that flow from God.

One perspective of dealing with a Jezebel Spirit has been wrong since the Dark Ages. It is the mechanism of singling out an individual and attacking them as though they were the spirit. To label a person, slander, accuse, attack and remove from community is exactly the mechanism that Jezebel used to murder Naboth. Leaders unwittingly participate with the Spirit of Jezebel in destroying members of their own church. Both the leader and the problem children are afflicted with the same issues - a lack of commitment to one another and a lack of authentic authority from God at work in the atmosphere. The behavior of individuals is indeed a strong indicator that the Jezebel Spirit is attacking your community. You don't ignore the behaviors, but handle them in a Mt:18 redemptive way in the presence of witnesses. The individual is not the problem. It is much bigger than that. Jezebel comprises a complex of ruling spirits in high places. Components of that complex will leak through virtually any enabling or co-dependant insecurity. You can get rid of individuals, but that only fuels the fire that ultimately burns your house down. It is when men rendered impotent by unanswered questions take a stand, that the Spirit of Jezebel is overthrown.

Right now in June, 2010, the United States of America is being dominated by a Jezebel Spirit. It is an atmosphere where acknowledgment of The One True God is being removed from institutions while at the same time every idol and false god is being let in. Individuals are viewed as disposable. Homosexuality, abortion, sex trade, divination, idolatry and every evil practice abound, in prevalent lawlessness. It involves a whole complex of Phoenician and Canaanite societal structures and norms. It involves the continuance of Noah's curse against Canaan - that of the lowest forms of slavery. It will only be overthrown when once again the Republic as one nation stands under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

There can be no peace while the witchcraft of Jezebel abounds. That witchcraft boils down to a lack of commitment to God. It boils down to complacency that refuses to engage something uncomfortable.

The Laodician church has all the components of Jezebel's character but lacks political and religious ingredients. Jezebel is every bit as impoverished and deluded as the Laodician Church but operates manipulatively in political arenas and pseudo prophetically in religious ones.

In the early 1970's prophetic voices all over the globe began to speak of an Elijah Generation. Other voices have labeled them Generation X and a Nameless Faceless Generation. They were born between the mid 1970s' and late 1980's. In the fall of 2009, I observed an angel taking laps around the globe with a trumpet to his lips and heralding: "The Elijah Generation is coming of age, the Elijah Generation is coming of age!" For three days I observed this angel repeatedly trumpeting this message over the earth. A generation of people near 30 years of age are coming into their power. They are a people who stand before God with zeal in their hearts and the keys of the kingdom of God in their mouth so that they can truly say: "At my word the heavens will be open or shut."

The overthrow of Jezebel in America will not be the result of targeting and removing individual leaders. It will begin with an Elijah Generation openly demonstrating the signs, wonders and miraculous power of God. Strategies from heaven will emerge as true prophets carry assignments and appointments to new leadership in both America's government and abroad. The overthrow of Jezebel carries with it a component not overtly visible in the scriptures. That is: common men and women are simply tired of Jezebel. They are tired of dead religion. They have been reminded of the truth of God's power by Elijah. As a culture, and as a community, they hunger and thirst after the truth and purity of worshipping the Creator in whose image we are made. It is in that respect that the stage is set once again for common Americans to make powerful commitments to God. They will no longer waver between two opinions. (1Ki.18:21)

We can expect both increased passion for excellence in personal performance and decreased tolerance of mediocrity by consumers. We can expect decreased tolerance of systems that enable people to remain powerless and increased innovation that empowers people. We can expect legal reforms that provide justice and remove tolerance of wickedness.

The thing that scared Elijah silly was not that the queen would kill him, but that a lack of commitment would. 1Ki.19:4b "... prayed that he might die. 'I have had enough, Lord,' he said. 'Take my life ...' Elijah's name means 'strength of God.' He was basically telling God he was tired. Zeal was not enough to be effective against this enemy. What was required was for one man to stand in God's presence and 7000 faithful steadfast believers who refuse to bow to idolatry. God's response to Jezebel is not earth shattering wind, earthquake or fire. It is whispered revelation of his secret counsel to his servants the prophets. (Amos3:7) It is the whispered strategy of God that makes the enemies of God uncomfortable. It is when impotent men dump comfortability out the window that uncommitted is overthrown and forgotten.

(Posted with the kind permission of Kerry W. Knorr)

Prophecy by Stanley Frodsham - very relevant today!

2010-06-22T18:02:00.006+08:00

It is amazing to read a "last-days" prophecy given by a Pentecostal giant in 1965. I have reproduced the prophecy below (a must-read even though a little long). This prophecy was given at the Elim Bible Institute USA, in 1965 by the late Stanley Frodsham. He was a recognized prophet and teacher in the Body of Christ whose life and ministry spanned the Pentecostal Revival, the great Healing Revival and the early days of the Charismatic Movement. He also authored the well-known book, "Smith Wigglesworth: Apostle of Faith". I read from his short biographical outline from the Internet that his wedding ceremony was performed by his friend, Smith Wigglesworth :) Another awesome description about Stanley was his passion for God where it was recorded that out of a deep hunger for God he was moved more than ever to give his early mornings and all nights to God in prayer. He said, "I'm sure God has much for us who will get desperate and spend much time waiting on Him." Amen!

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With great judgments will I plead with the population of this country. Great darkness is coming upon the countries that have heard my gospel but no longer walk in it. My wrath shall come upon them. The darkness shall be so great, and the anguish so sore that men will cry out for death and shall not find it. There shall be a lingering death, famine, and great catastrophes.

My wrath shall be manifested against all ungodliness. It shall come with great intensity. You have known My love but have not known My wrath, My severity. My judgments are literal and not a thing to be lightly passed over. Realize the severity of My judgments and My intense anger against the sin in My household. My judgments shall begin in My house. For I will cleanse My house that it be not partaker of My wrath against the iniquities of the cities. Before I visit the nations in judgement I will begin at My house. When I do cause My wrath to come upon the cities of the world My people shall be separate. I desire a people without spot or wrinkle, and such shall be preserved by Me in the time of My wrath coming upon all iniquity and unrighteousness.

I am going to prepare you for the coming days by a hard path that will cause you to cry out continually unto Me. For when the going is easy, men do not seek Me, but rejoice in a temporary blessing. And when that blessing is removed they so often turn this way and that way but do not come to Me. I am showing you these things that you may seek Me continually and with great diligence. As you seek Me, I will open up truths to you that you have not seen before; and these very truths will be that which will enable you to stand in these last days. As you are persecuted, reviled and rejected by your brethren then you will turn unto Me with all your heart and seek Me for that spiritual life you have need of. And when tribulation comes you will have that which will enable you to stand. For many shall be tossed to and fro. Men's hearts shall fail them because of trouble on every hand. For these days shall be very terrible, the like of which has never been seen before.

When I visit My people in mighty revival power, it is to prepare them for the darkness ahead. With the glory shall come great darkness, for the glory is to prepare My people for the darkness. I will enable My people to go through because of the visitation of My Spirit. Take heed to yourselves lest you be puffed up and think that you have arrived. Many shall be puffed up as in the olden days, for many then received My message but they continued not in it. Did I not anoint Jehu? Yet the things I desired were not accomplished in his life. Listen to the messengers, but do not hold men's persons in admiration. For many whom I shall anoint mightily, with signs and miracles, shall become lifted up and shall fall by the wayside. I do not this willingly; I have made provision that they might stand. I call many into this ministry, and equip them; but remember that many shall fall. They shall be like bright lights, and the people shall delight in them. But they shall be taken over by deceiving spirits and shall lead many of My people astray.

Hearken diligently concerning these things, for in the last days shall come seducing spirits that shall turn many of My anointed ones away. Many shall fall through divers lusts, and because of sin abounding. But if you will seek Me diligently I will put My Spirit within you. When one shall turn to the right hand or to the left you shall not turn with them, but keep your eyes wholly on the Lord. The coming days are the most dangerous, difficult and dark, but there shall be a mighty outpouring of My Spirit upon many cities, and many shall be destroyed. My people must be diligently warned concerning the days that are ahead. Many shall turn after seducing spirits; many are already seducing My people. It is those who DO righteousness that are righteous. Many cover their sins by great theological words. But I warn you of seducing spirits who instruct My people in an evil way. Many of these I shall anoint, that they may purify and sift My people; for I would have a holy people.

Many shall come with seducing spirits and hold out lustful enticements. You will find that after I have visited My people again, the way shall become more and more narrow, and fewer shall walk there in. But be not deceived, the ways of righteousness are My ways. For though Satan come as an angel of light hearken not to him; for those who perform miracles and speak not righteousness are not of Me. I warn you with great intensity that I am going to judge My house and have a church without spot or wrinkle when I come. I desire to open your eyes and give you spiritual understanding, that you may not be deceived but may walk with uprightness of heart before Me, loving righteousness and hating every evil way. Look unto Me and I will make you to perceive with the eyes of the Spirit the things that lurk in darkness, that are not visible to the human eye. Let me lead you in this way that you may perceive the powers of darkness and battle against them. It is not a battle against flesh and blood; for if you battle in that way you accomplish nothing. But if you let Me take over and battle against the powers of darkness then they are defeated, and then liberation is brought to My people.

I warn you to search the Scriptures diligently these last days. For the things that are written shall indeed be made manifest. There shall come deceivers among My people in increasing numbers, who shall speak forth the truth and shall gain the favor of the people. For the people shall examine the Scriptures and say, "What these men say is true." Then when they have gained the hearts of the people, then and THEN ONLY shall they bring out these wrong doctrines. Therefore, I say that you should not give your hearts to men, nor hold people's persons in admiration. For by these very persons shall Satan enter into My people. WATCH FOR SEDUCERS. Do you think a seducer will brandish a new heresy and flaunt it before the people? He will speak the words of righteousness and truth, and will appear as a minister of light, declaring the Word. The people's hearts shall be won. Then, when the hearts are won, they will bring out their doctrines, and the people shall be deceived. The people shall say, "Did he not speak thus and thus? And did we not examine it from the Word? Therefore he is a minister of righteousness.

This that he has now spoken we do not see in the Word, but it must be right, for the other things he spoke were true."

Be not deceived. For the deceiver will first work to gain the hearts of many, and then shall bring forth his insidious doctrines. You cannot discern those who are of Me and those who are not of Me when they start to preach. But seek Me constantly, and then when these doctrines are brought out you shall have a witness in your heart that these are not of Me. Fear not, for I have warned you. Many will be deceived. But if you walk in holiness and uprightness before the Lord, your eyes shall be open and the Lord will protect you. If you will constantly look unto the Lord you will know when the doctrine changes, and will not be brought into it. If your heart is right I will keep you; and if you will look constantly to Me I will uphold you.

The minister of righteousness shall be on this wise -- his life shall agree with the Word, and his lips shall give forth that which is wholly true, and it will be no mixture. When the mixture appears then you will know he is not a minister of righteousness. The deceivers speak first the truth and then error, to cover their own sins which they love. Therefore I exhort and command you to study the Scriptures relative to seducing spirits, for this is one of the great dangers of these last days.

I desire you to be firmly established in My Word and not in the personalities of men, that you will not be moved as so many shall be moved. I would keep you in the paths of righteousness. Take heed to yourselves and follow not the seducing spirits that are already manifesting themselves. Diligently inquire of Me when you hear something that you have not seen in the Word, and do not hold people's persons in admiration, for it is by this very method that Satan will hold many of My people.

I have come that you might have life and have it more abundantly, that you may triumph where I triumphed. On the cross I triumphed over all the power of Satan; and I have called you to walk in the same path. It is when your life is on the cross that you shall know the victory I have experienced. As you are on the cross, and seated in Me, then you shall know the power of the resurrection. When I come in My glory, the principalities and powers in the heavenly places shall be utterly broken. Fear not, for I have given you power whereby you may tread down the powers of darkness, and come forth victorious through every trial. As you are on the cross then you are victorious. It was on the cross that I triumphed over all the powers of the enemy. My life shall flow through you as you enter into these precious truths. Look unto Me, and appropriate My life. As your eyes and desires are toward Me, and you know what it is to be crucified with Me, then you shall live, and your anointing shall increase. It was not in My life that I walked upon the earth, but it was in My life when I was upon the cross that I openly spoiled principalities and powers.

I am showing you truths that shall cause you to overcome, to have power over the wicked one, truth that will liberate you and those round about you. You shall know also the fellowship of My sufferings. There is no other way whereby you may partake of this heavenly glory and reign with Me. "If we suffer with Him we shall reign with Him." I desire to make those truths real within you. As you keep them before you, you will liberate many who are in bondage. You will have revelation of those who are in darkness and will have the keys to liberate the captives. Many seek to liberate, but they have not the keys. Upon the cross continually you will know the power of My resurrection that you may also partake of My glory. As you are willing to walk with Me and rejoice in your sufferings, you shall partake of My glory. Look unto Me for you have need of power to overcome the wicked one, and the bondages in other lives.

If you will indeed judge yourself you shall not be judged. As you seek My face and desire to be cleansed by Me in all truth and sincerity of heart I will judge you in the secret place, and the things that are in the secret place of your heart shall not be made manifest to others. I will do it in the secret place and no man shall know it. And the shame that shall be seen on many faces shall not be seen on your face. Therefore in love and mercy I am instructing you. And therefore I have said that if a man judge himself he shall not be judged. It is not My good pleasure that the shame of My people be seen by all. How can I judge the world if I judge not first My own house? Hearken unto these things I am telling you. If you will not hearken unto Me thy shame shall be evident to all.

I would have you consider My life on earth -- the anointing upon Me was great and yet the temptations were great on every side; in one form and then in another, offering Me first the glory of the kingdoms of the earth and then reviling and persecuting Me. There will be great glory given to My people, and yet the temptations shall be intensified from every side. Think not that with the glory there shall be no temptations or persecutions. The glory of My church shall be great, and so shall be the temptations from the enemy to turn My people from My paths. I am warning you that when the glory shall be manifested, the temptations shall be great, until very few that start shall finish. First there shall be offered them great worldly possessions, and then great revilings and unbelief.

Consider your Lord, that as He walked so it shall be for you. There shall be need of great intensity of purpose. At times everyone shall rise up against you, simply to turn you from the course that I would put you in. It is written of Me that I set My face as a flint to go to the direction My Father had prescribed for Me. If you will finish the course the Lord has laid down for you, you will have to set your face as a flint. With great determination you must walk in the course laid down for you. Many of your loved ones and those who follow with you shall persuade you and try to turn you from the course. With many words that seem right in the natural will they speak to you. Did not Christ rebuke Peter who would turn Him from the course God had prescribed?

Understand these two things and meditate upon them solemnly -- the persecution and the darkness shall be as great as the glory in order to try to turn the elect and the anointed ones from the path the Lord has laid down for them. Many shall start but few shall be able to finish because of the greatness of grace that shall be needed to be able to endure unto the end. The temptations and the persecution of your Lord was continuous. He was tempted by Satan in many forms throughout His entire life and even to the cross when the ungodly cried out, "If thou be the Christ come down from the cross." Think not that there shall be a time of no persecution, for it shall be from the time of your anointing until the end. Difficulties, and great persecution to the end. The Lord must prepare you to be an overcomer in all things, that you may be able to finish the course. The persecution shall increase even as the anointing shall increase.

In paths of judgement and righteousness shall the Lord God lead His people and bring them into that place which He has chosen for them. For the Lord has chosen a place for His people, a place of righteousness and holiness where He shall encamp round about them. And all who will be led of the Lord shall be brought into this holy place. For the Lord delights to dwell in His people and to manifest Himself through His people. The holiness of the Lord shall be manifested through His people. Let the Lord lead you and He will lead you in difficult places. He led His people of old through a place where no man dwelt, where no man had passed through, in a place of great danger and in the shadow of death. The Lord will indeed again lead His people through such places, and yet He will bring them out into a place of great glory. Understand that the way toward the glory is fraught with great danger and many shall fall to the right or to the left, many shall camp on lesser ground. But the Lord has a place of holiness and no unclean thing shall dwell among His people.

Put your trust in Him and He will bring you into a place of holiness. He desires to bring His people into great glory -- the like of which has never been seen for what the Lord will do for those who put their trust in Him. It is a place of darkness and great danger that separates His people into the place He would have them walk in. He will protect them from the voices that would turn them from His path. He will bring them through the dark places, and through the treacherous paths, out into the light of His glory. He will rejoice greatly over His beloved and cause you to be filled with joy unspeakable. He seeks to lead His people into a new place of grace and glory where He will indeed encamp among them. Put your trust in Him and He will surely bring you into this new place.

Fear not the days to come, but fear this only -- that you shall walk in a manner pleasing to the Lord. In this time I am ordering and setting up My church and it shall indeed be pure, without spot or wrinkle. I will do work in My beloved that has not been seen since the foundation of the world. I have shown you these things that you may seek the Lord diligently with all your heart, and that you may be a preserver of His people.

Run not to this one nor to that one, for the Lord has so ordained that salvation is in Him and in Him alone. You shall not turn to this shepherd or to that one, for there shall be a great scattering upon the earth. Therefore look unto Him for He will indeed make these things clear to you. You shall not look here nor there, for the wells that once had water shall be no more. But as you diligently seek Him He shall increase your strength and your faith, that He may be able to prepare you for this time that is coming.

The truths that I have revealed to you must become a part of you -- not just an experience, but a part of your very nature. Is it not written that I demand truth in the inward parts? It is the truth of the Lord expressed in your very being that shall hold you. Many shall experience the truth, but the truth must become a part of you, your very life. As men and women look upon you they will hear not only the voice but see the expression of the truth. Many shall be overcome because they are not constant in My ways, and because they have not permitted the truths to become part of them. I am showing you these things that you may be prepared, and having done all, to stand.

Casual Visits or Abiding

2010-03-15T10:31:00.001+08:00

by Neville Johnson

John 15:4 - Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.
5 - I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.
7 - If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.

Most Christians have walk with the Lord that is at its best casual. They come to the Lord maybe once or twice a day to pray or to ask Him for something, and that is about the extent of their walk with the lord. Most find it difficult to maintain an awareness of the Lord. The bible makes very clear the importance of abiding in the Lord.

Only when we are in the presence of the Lord can we truly understand. God looks at things very different to us; we look at things from the perspective of the natural mind which the bible tells us is an enemy of living and seeing as God sees.

Romans 8:7 - Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.

The word enmity in this verse means; echthra, ekh'-thrah; ; hostility; by impl. a reason for opposition:--enmity, hatred.

The natural mind is our enemy when it comes to walking with God

It is only when we are in the presence of the Lord that we see clearly. The manifest presence of the Lord overshadows the natural mind. Now we need to understand that when I use the phrase the “the manifest presence of the Lord” I mean a presence that can be discerned and felt. When we are in the manifest presence of the Lord there is a feel that witnesses to this.

The Lord is always with us

He said that He would never leave us, and never means never.

Psalms 139:8 - If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there.
9 - If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea;
10 - Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me.

The problem is not in getting the Lord to come to us, it is getting us to come to Him. We are distinctly told that we are to come to Him.

James 4:8 - Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you.
Hebrews 4:16 - Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

The Lord is always with us, however most of the time we are not aware of Him simply because we don’t draw near to Him. If we want to hear the voice of the Lord we have to be in His presence, we have to draw near to him. When Peter took his eyes of the Lord, he lost the reality of the Lords presence and began to sink. Most Christians take their eyes of the Lord for most of their day. To come to the Lord only when we need something is quite insulting. If you only spoke to your friend when you wanted something, that friendship is not going to last. The manifest presence of the Lord can become addictive however I learnt that when I tried to maintain the feeling of the presence I lost it. The reason was that I was seeking the feeling and not the reason for it which is the Lord Himself.

Living in His presence requires discipline

We must include the Lord in whatever we are doing, talk to Him about what you are doing, He is interested in everything we do. I love talking to the Lord about cars; I was in a shopping center recently where there was the latest Jaguar car on display and we had a great conversation about it, about the engineering and style etc. The Lord is interested in everything we get up to and loves to talk about those things with us. Include the Lord in your day; don’t shut Him out of your day. He is with you all day, so talk to Him.

The more you turn to the Lord the more real He will become to you

A Man by the name of brother Lawrence who lived in the middle ages wrote a book called. The Practice of the presence of God, if you have not read it you need to get the book. (Available from Amazon .com.)

Use the eyes of your heart

The Apostle Paul told us to look at things which are invisible.

2 Corinthians 4:18 - While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.
Colossians 3:1 - If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.
2 - Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.

We need to use the eyes of our heart to cross over to the realm in which the Lord dwells.

Ephesians 1:18 - The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,

The word eyes, in this verse, is the Greek word dianoia, which means; deep thought, the faculty of the mind in its exercise of imagination,

As we set our heart and mind upon the Lord we enter this invisible realm and the more we turn to the Lord in this way the more real He will become. If we start to live by what we see with the eyes of our heart, which are the windows into the realm where the Lord dwells, He will become more real to us and we can come to His throne of grace at any time. The more you come to the Lord the more real He will become. This discipline of not shutting the Lord out of your day is vital to your walk with Him. To abide in Him means you must turn to Him constantly, include Him in everything you do, talk to him as you would to a close friend. When your motive is to know the Lord, and to become like Him He promises this to you.

Matthew 7:9 - Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone?
10 - Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent?
11 - If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?

Learning to abide in the Lord must become a quest where we seek those things which are above where the Lord dwells learning to walk with Him in obedience and love

In Christ alone my hope is found

2010-01-26T15:54:00.004+08:00

God has often ministered to me through songs. There was a season more than a year ago which I could recall the Spirit spoke to me His words of guidance through the lyrics of songs and there was particularly a unique experience when He spoke to me through a secular song, "Wind of Change" by Scorpion :)

I stepped into a Christian bookstore not too long ago and not long after hanging around in the bookstore, the song "In Christ alone, my hope is found" was played. Instantly, my spirit somehow picked up that God was speaking to me even though it was the first time I heard the song. After searching for the lyrics from the Internet, it was interesting to note that the lyrics was penned by Newsboys, a Christian band I used to listen during my teen years.

In Christ alone my hope is found
He is my light, my strength, my song
This Cornerstone, this solid ground
Firm through the fiercest drought and storm
What heights of love, what depths of peace
When fears are stilled, when strivings cease
My Comforter, my All in All
Here in the love of Christ I stand

In Christ alone, who took on flesh
Fullness of God in helpless babe
This gift of love and righteousness
Scorned by the ones He came to save
'Till on that cross as Jesus died
The wrath of God was satisfied
For every sin on Him was laid
Here in the death of Christ I live

There in the ground His body lay
Light of the world by darkness slain
Then bursting forth in glorious Day
Up from the grave He rose again
And as He stands in victory
Sin's curse has lost it's grip on me
For I am His and He is mine
Brought with the precious blood of Christ

No guilt in life, no fear in death
This is the power of Christ in me
From life's first cry to final breath
Jesus commands my destiny
No power of hell, no scheme of man
Can ever pluck me from His hand
'Till He returns or calls me home
Here in the power of Christ I'll stand

Whilst pondering on the lyrics and allowing the Spirit of God to minister to me through this song, my mind was brought to remember another occasion when God ministered to me very strongly through a Vineyard song (lyrics below) in a church service many years ago and I noted the similar message of God being our only hope.

Faithful One, so unchanging
Ageless One, You're my Rock of Peace
Lord of all I depend on You
I call out to You, again and again
I call out to You, again and again

You are my Rock in times of trouble
You lift me up when I fall down
All through the storm
Your love is, the anchor
My hope is in You alone

Be blessed and encouraged by the lyrics of the songs above. Amen.

Scripture for meditation
The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD,
And He delights in his way.
Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down;
For the LORD upholds him with His hand.
(Psalm 37:23-24)

Dawn of a new season

2010-01-21T11:55:00.001+08:00

It has been over 20 days since we have stepped into a new decade (and could it be the last decade before the return of our Bridegroom?). Well, I believe it's not just a new decade in the natural sense but I believe a new season for all Christ's followers alike. In fact, at sundown on September 18, 2009 we have entered the New Year of 5770 on the Jewish calendar: a Season of AYIN (His eye will guide).

Just as Ecclesiastes 3 tells us there is a time for everything, there is a (kairos) time and season for the things of God in our lives and the world we live in. In Proverbs 25:2, we are told that, "It is the glory of God to conceal a matter, but the glory of kings is to search out a matter." It is a privilege to come before God at the end of every calendar year (or the Jewish calendar if the Lord leads you) and to seek His direction and purpose for the new year. It is a time of reflection, repentance and renewal before the Presence of the Almighty God. Recently, I heard an encouraging testimony of a servant of God who would empty his bank account (by giving to missions) every year (a practice for many years since entering ministry) and start the new year afresh with "nil" in the bank account, trusting in the goodness of the Lord to provide. How refreshing indeed!

What does this new season hold for us as His bride?
God has been kind to speak to me personal words of comfort, words of direction and words of rebuke as I enter this new season (not just the new year). I strongly believe that God's plan and purposes are not just limited to a period of one calendar year but a spiritual season which could extend to years beyond the initial calendar year.

I would like to share briefly on what I received from the quiet reflections before Him. I believe our God is speaking to His bride that we are entering into a season of increase. Yes, a season of INCREASE! An increase in every sense of the word. Firstly, there will be an increase of darkness in the world system we live in. And at the same time, there is also an increase of His light and glory. Many would hope that the economic climate would turn for the better in this coming year. And people everywhere are crying out for peace and more peace in this tumultuous world. In the parable of wheat and tares that Jesus spoke in Matthew 13:24-30 that the owner of the field declared, "Let both (the wheat and the tares) grow together until the harvest!". The increase of the works of darkness will increase in the coming days in all shapes and forms. And all glory to God! The Kingdom of our God shall also increase in our midst in the coming days!

How do I position myself in this new season?
On a personal level, we should rightly position ourselves to experience the increase of His glory in our lives. May our loving Saviour speak to our hearts as we meditate on the following quickened verses for this new season. Amen.

1. 2 Chronicles 16:9a - For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him.

Meditation: - God is weighing the hearts of His people for He looks into the heart of His people and He acts accordingly. In the days of Noah, it was recorded that "every intent of the thoughts of man's heart was only evil continually.." (Genesis 6:5) which led to the destruction of man and his surroundings. In this period of His grace, may we continue to allow His holy fire to cleanse and purge our hearts. Repentance and forsaking our former ways will allow the Holy Spirit to mold us into people after the heart of God.

2. John 15:5 - 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. (Read John 15:1-17)

Meditation: - Increase and fruitfulness comes only from our abiding in the Vine and He abiding in us. Unbroken communion and fellowship day and night will lead into divine encounters with God. May we cry out to our God that His bride would appropriate the inheritance of walking in intimacy with her Bridegroom daily.

3. Isaiah 40:31 - But those who wait on the LORD shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint.

Meditation: - This shall be the pattern of our lives for this new season. It will be cycles of waiting on God and receiving strength and direction for each successive phase. This will be the protection from stepping out from His perfect will and ending up in unnecessary hazards of disobedience, sin, rebellion and burnouts.

The LORD bless you and keep you;
The LORD make His face shine upon you,
And be gracious to you;
The LORD lift up His countenance upon you,
And give you peace in this new season.

Links to other Prophetic Words 2010: -
2010 Prophetic Words Compilation 1

2010 Prophetic Words Compilation 2

The Power of Thanksgiving

2009-11-20T15:39:00.002+08:00

I remember once being asked to share the word of God in a prayer meeting many years ago and I was led to the scriptures in Phil 4:6-7. As I was meditating upon the verses, understanding began to flow into my mind.

Philippians 4:6-7 (New King James Version)

6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; 7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

As flesh and blood (including God's righteous people), we always encounter different kinds of problems in this life. (Psalm 34:19 - Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the LORD delivers him out of them all.) The way we respond when we are faced with afflictions is the measuring yardstick of our spiritual growth from the spirit realm's perspective. Man may judge from the externals but God searches the depths of our hearts.

There are 2 opposing forces at work and we have a choice to align ourselves to either force: light or darkness. When we spend our time, effort and energy on things that produce anxiety, we become entangled and burdened with unnecessary "weight" as a result. Living and walking in the spirit - is "light" living. But, succumbing to the cares and pleasures of the world would cause us to be "weight-ened down". Hebrews 12:1 tells us to "lay aside every weight". Hence, we can choose to increase in our spiritual activities of prayer and supplication, etc. resulting in keeping ourselves in the flow of the Spirit or alternatively, we can choose to increase in the fleshly activities of worry, lust, complaints, backbiting, etc. resulting in being bogged down with guilt, shame, strife and loss of direction in life.

And the little powerful key that will unlock the breakthrough in times when we do not know what to do is the phrase "with thanksgiving". Thanksgiving will give the extra boost in our spiritual momentum as we seek to find our breakthrough in the Lord.

Many at times, we become blinded by the many circumstances that we fail to see the goodness of God. And we question what can we give thanks for? As we begin to give thanks for the "small" things in our lives, God will begin to work on behalf of us on the "bigger" things.

I came across the following short article which speaks powerfully on the power of thanksgiving. Be blessed.

THE KEY TO BREAKTHROUGH - by JONATHAN WELTON

Jesus said that "from the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks (Mt 12:34)." As I have been listening to believers all over the country, I have heard hearts overflowing with words of fear, stress, and anxiety. Many believers have been hit hard by the change in the American economy. I have been asking the Lord about it and He has been emphasizing one word to me, "thanksgiving." Not the holiday, but the attitude of the heart.

Much of the talk from believers contradicts our name. We are called "believers," not "complainers". Complaining fills the void of prayer. We do not complain about what we are praying about. For example, if I am praying for my spouse for an hour a day, when I step out of my prayer closet I am not going to begin to complain about my spouse. If you are complaining about something, chances are good that you are not praying about it.

I saw a vision of a Christian being squeezed by a vise and the Lord said, "When life squeezes us like a grape, Jesus should pour out of us because we are meant to abide in Him." God is calling us to release thanksgiving when we are squeezed!

Complaining is the exact opposite of thanksgiving. The Bible tells us to "Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." (1 Thess 5:18). Notice that it says, "in" not "for" all circumstances. We are not to give thanks "for" all circumstances because not everything is from God. If you are sick, don't give thanks for your sickness, because it is not from God, but thanksgiving in (or in spite of) your sickness. In Ephesians 5:20, God does instruct us to give thanks "for" all things, but the greek word Huper is the root of the word "for" in this passage, which means "above," "beyond" or "over." We are meant to give thanks above, beyond, and over our circumstances.

When Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead, (John 11:41) or multiplied the loaves (John 6:11), He didn't give thanks for His situation, He gave thanks in His situation. You don't have to be thankful for your situation, but you do need to be thankful in it. This will release the anointing of God to overcome your situation.

The prophet Daniel was known for giving thanks to the Lord three times a day

(Daniel 6:10). What we learn from his life is that when you operate in thanksgiving, the lions of the enemy don't have the right to chomp on you. Or who can forget Jonah? When he complained about his assignment to prophesy over Nineveh and ran from God, he was swallowed by a giant fish. If you look at what Jonah did inside of the fish, it says in Jonah 2:9 that he sang a song of thanksgiving. In the very next verse, the fish spit Jonah out on the dry land. The principle is this: if complaining got you into the situation, thanksgiving is the key to get you out.

We need to be a people of prayer so that when life squeezes us, a heart of thanksgiving will pour out. According to James 4:2, "we have not, because we ask not." If we need the Lord to move in our life, it is time to return to a heart of prayer with thanksgiving.

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus" (Phil 4:6-7).

If you desire to see spiritual breakthrough in your family, finances, physical body, relationships, or any other area, it is time to begin applying thanksgiving in your prayers. Thanksgiving is a powerful force in the spirit realm, and it is a season where God is emphasizing the release of this force in the earth.

What a friend we have in Jesus

2009-11-06T19:01:00.002+08:00

What precious and timeless truth the author expounded in this beautiful hymn. Indeed, it is a revelation of how we can experience heaven on earth - through the garden of prayer.

In the garden of prayer, where I can pour out my heart before the One who loves me like no other. A heart to heart talk with my Saviour. For there's no burden too heavy He cannot bear and there's no sin too great He cannot pardon.

He's the Almighty Creator who created all creation yet He comes to me with His undivided attention when I whisper a prayer to Him.

My Jesus, how could I be so slow to hear You? When the noise of this world subsides within me, I hear You beckoning me to the garden of prayer amidst a harsh surrounding of thorns and briers. Little did I realize these thorns and briers carry your sweet voice of love wooing me to my Saviour's arms of love.

Delay no more, O my soul,
Into His garden we will go,
Many secrets will He unfold,
As we commune on paths laden with gold.

What a friend we have in Jesus,
All our sins and griefs to bear!
What a privilege to carry
Everything to God in prayer!
Oh, what peace we often forfeit,
Oh, what needless pain we bear,
All because we do not carry
Everything to God in prayer!

Have we trials and temptations?
Is there trouble anywhere?
We should never be discouraged—
Take it to the Lord in prayer.
Can we find a friend so faithful,
Who will all our sorrows share?
Jesus knows our every weakness;
Take it to the Lord in prayer.

Are we weak and heavy-laden,
Cumbered with a load of care?
Precious Savior, still our refuge—
Take it to the Lord in prayer.
Do thy friends despise, forsake thee?
Take it to the Lord in prayer!
In His arms He’ll take and shield thee,
Thou wilt find a solace there.

Blessed Savior, Thou hast promised
Thou wilt all our burdens bear;
May we ever, Lord, be bringing
All to Thee in earnest prayer.
Soon in glory bright, unclouded,
There will be no need for prayer—
Rapture, praise, and endless worship
Will be our sweet portion there.

The parable of the five tropical fish

2009-10-26T14:38:00.002+08:00

A few weeks ago, I bought a small fish tank for my daughter together with five red-coloured tropical fish, as chosen by her from the shop.

We were all excited with the newfound activities of feeding the fish, replacing the water and cleaning the mini-aquarium. One fine day, my wife noticed one of the fish was floating motionless in the mini aquarium. Dead. Hmm, we guessed that the fish must have found it too great a challenge to adapt to the new environment.

A few days passed by, and my wife began to see a pattern. There seemed to be a "predator fish" inside the mini-aquarium. This "predator fish" would be going after the other fish in the mini-aquarium and attacked the fish. Soon, another fish was dead followed by the other remaining two fish until no other fish was left except for the "predator fish". We could all see that the "predator fish" would then be swimming around the mini-aquarium with much freedom and pride. However, unknown to the "predator fish", we were not pleased at all to see just a fish swimming in an empty aquarium. We began to lose interest in replacing the water and cleaning the aquarium. The aquarium was then taken out from the room where we placed it and we just left it at the drying area near the washing machine. The poor "predator fish" could still be seen swimming with much pleasure and pride in the empty aquarium not realizing that it has lost the owners' favour. Not long after that, the "predator fish" was dead.

Oftentimes, we would fall to the temptation of our flesh to disregard every other person's interest around us just to protect or promote our own interest. Along the journey of life, when we are too engulfed in our personal ambitions, selfish desires and all we could think and speak of is ourselves, we begin to act like the "predator fish" and trample on other people around us. And for a period of time, things may seem fine and perfect as we begin to see our dreams becoming reality and not knowing that we begin to lose the favour of our God. When we allow the enemy to use our mouths to backbite, gossip and speak evil of our own brethren instead of lifting, comforting and encouraging one another, we begin to act like the "predator fish".

Love is a powerful force for God is love. When we allow ourselves to be immersed in the unconditional love of God, our fleshly nature would lose its hold on our lives and we begin to take on the divine nature of God. We can love Him because He first loved us. We can love others because His love fills and overflows our heart. It is no coincidence that God's commandments were only summed up into two simple truths. Love God, love others. Period.

Ah, should we be tempted the next time, may the parable of the five tropical fish be quickened in our hearts :)

Engaging the Supernatural Realm of Heaven

2009-10-23T11:10:00.001+08:00

by Jeff Jansen

(source: Destiny Image Newsletter: click here)

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From the beginning of time man was born with the unquenchable desire to know God and to be known by God. This awareness is not learned or taught, but is an instinctive hunger deeply-seated by God within the heart of man. A veil has been placed over the hearts and minds of humanity and it is crucial that we wrestle past it by the blood of Jesus in order to encounter the living God.

It's not good enough for your pastor to have the word of the Lord. It's not good enough for God's prophets to partner with the angels. It's not good enough for only revivalists to live in the continual presence of God. It's absolutely essential that you personally get to know God, experientially, by whatever means possible including visions, dreams, angelic encounters, His still small voice, third-heaven experiences, and more. These are all ways God revealed Himself to His people in the Bible--these are all ways God is revealing Himself today.

Hearing, recognizing, and discerning God's voice is an everyday motion for a Spirit filled son of God. It may be awkward at first, sifting through voices and feelings, exercising the discerning organ of your spirit-man, but after a while it becomes natural, like breathing. Living and walking in the Spirit should be normal for any Christian; supernatural happenings should be common among the followers of Jesus (see the Gospels and Acts).

In the earth today there is a Rising Glory Generation, on whom the favor and hand of God rests, because--above all things--they have a heart to know Him and do great exploits. God is beckoning this royal priesthood to go up the mountain of the Lord to meet with Him face to face. Supernatural experiences with the living Christ expose His character and nature. This is one of the ways we get to know God and grow in intimacy with Him. Jesus taught us to pray, "...on earth as it is in heaven" (Matt. 6:10). It's our job to learn how to live and move in heavenly places so we can effectively bring the characteristics of the eternal realm into the realm of now. As we increase in manifesting the Kingdom of God, the earth will bear the image and characteristics of heaven. No more sickness, disease, depression, poverty, addiction, or demonic oppression of any type, but overwhelming joy, peace, and love, healing, wholeness, deliverance, and financial blessings! When you learn to partner with heaven's agenda, you have all of heaven's resources at your disposal. Your gifts will be activated--miracles will follow your spoken word--nations will come to the brightness of your rising!

We know that if we draw near to God, He will draw near to us (see James 4:17), but it is imperative that we seek Him with faith: "...without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him" (Heb. 11:6). How do we encounter God? "By faith Enoch was taken up..." (Heb. 11:5). Supernatural experiences are activated by faith. Hungering and thirsting is also essential: "For I will pour out water on the thirsty land and streams on the dry ground; I will pour out My Spirit on your offspring and My blessing on your descendants" (Isa. 44:3). The Kingdom heaven advances on the earth by those who are forceful, violent, and passionate about advancing it (see Matt. 11:12).

In summation: "As spiritual beings, we live our lives in a supernatural dimension on a stage before angels and demons and the Lord of the universe." It's time we cast off every restraint that holds us back, and live our lives to the fullest in God's Kingdom of Power and Glory.

A Sign of His Love

2009-10-23T10:58:00.005+08:00

by Mary Trask

(source: Destiny Image Newsletter: click here)

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I have always been drawn to the great beauty found in God's creation around us; however, I don't think I truly appreciated the stones of the earth until I began studying the gemstone wall of Revelation 21. My four-year odyssey began solely in discovering what the Word of God had to say through these stones. Two years into this investigation, my husband and I became occasional recipients of heavenly gemstones.

At first, it became an obsession to begin looking for gemstones everywhere I went and then the Holy Spirit cautioned me. Was I seeking more after these gifts than the Giver Himself? Though the beauty of His gifts was dazzling, my heart needed to return to my first love: the pursuit of the Lord and my knowledge of Him.

Only about a month ago, another gemstone appeared in front of a jeweler in the mall just as I had been ministering to him about the meaning of the Bible's gemstones described in my book, The 12 Gemstones of Revelation. He was shocked and I was thrilled. The Lord was obviously confirming the preaching of His word with an accompanying sign (Mark 16:20).The gemstone was simply a demonstration of His love.

So why are heavenly gemstones appearing in some places and not in others? Let me respond by asking why some people have the manifestation of "gold dust" all over them at times? Why do some see angels on a regular basis? Why gifts of healing? Why are some permitted to visit heaven prior to their death?

One solid answer is found in 1 Corinthians 12:6 where we are told "There are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all." It is God who decides how and when He moves, not us. Any manifestation of His love, whether it is a gemstone, or a rhema word spoken to our hearts, is designed specifically by a God who loves us deeply.

In examining a possible purpose of these gemstones, I found that in the Bible stones have been used as a reminder of an encounter between God and man (See Joshua 4:20-24). In noting an increase in the heavenly gemstone phenomenon, I believe the Father is reminding the church of an upcoming event that He desires us to prepare for...the wedding feast of the Lamb.

The gemstones found in Revelation 21 are adorning the bride, New Jerusalem, so in the same manner, the Lord is calling the church to begin adorning herself with true riches...His spiritual gifts that cause us to radiate with the glory of His Presence. The message of the stones is a call for the bride of Christ to grow up spiritually so she can truly become a transparent carrier of His glory to a lost world. It is my belief that the gemstones simply remind us to die daily so in maturity we reflect only the Father's love and truly become the glorious bride He desires.

Viewing opposition from the Throne Room perspective

2009-10-15T10:36:00.007+08:00

At different seasons of our lives, we experience opposition of varying forms and intensity. When our lives are smooth sailing we would be bubbling with confidence, "Come what may, with Christ in the vessel we can smile at the storm.." But, with the slightest feeling of some kind of opposition, we would be joining the loud choruses of the disciples on the boat, "Wake up, Jesus! Don't you care? Why are you sleeping?"

A deep conviction that the God we believe in is a big, great and wonderful God is of utmost value in our Christian walk. Knowing that He is in control despite the circumstances in our lives that are beyond our control is a sign of maturity in our relationship with God. Mere intellectual knowing is insufficient. It has to be the work of the Holy Spirit birthing such "spiritual confidence" in the One who is worthy of our trust through different experiences in our lives.

At the same time, our response is crucial when we experience storms or opposition in our lives. Our soulish response would not only aggravate the situation but sometimes it may result in injuring ourselves along the way. Sometimes, unknowingly we fell into the traps of the enemy and find ourselves in bondages of fear, pain and unforgiveness through our fleshly response during such times. The power to bless or to curse is ours for the choosing. And it is a whole world of difference in the way we choose to respond.

Recently, I came across a wonderful testimony by Graham Cooke on the youtube. In the short video clip below, Graham shared about how three guys tried to discredit his School of Prophecy in the UK. Then, in the manner which God always speak to Graham, he found himself in the Throne Room and he was shown what was really happening. It is a powerful revelation and would completely change the way we think and we view opposition in our lives.

Who is the God of fire?

2009-09-10T10:48:00.004+08:00

God uses signs and wonders and the manifestation of the supernatural realm to reveal Himself and His nature.

Many people do not understand the need nor the importance of the manifestation of the supernatural realm. Since the logic of man could not easily explain the supernatural or the manifestations of signs and wonders, it would be far easier to shove them aside or to discredit them.

Let me relate two examples of the manner God uses signs, wonders and miracles to reveal His nature.
(1) When miracles of “gold teeth” happened in France many years ago, a minister shared what was happening to an old Jewish lady. When she heard the account of how God would fill the mouths of the believers with “gold teeth”, tears began flowing down her cheeks. She said that when the Jews were tortured by the Germans in the past, they would be pulling out and removing the teeth of the Jews. This miracle of “gold teeth” is a sign that God knew what happened then and it was a sign of His restoration and His love.

(2) In the great revival of Argentina, there were abundant miracles of God filling the mouths of His people with teeth to the extent that there will be live telecast of preacher praying for a particular person and upon declaring the Name of Jesus, right before the video’s lenses, teeth would appear in the mouth of the person prayed for. There were accounts where the teeth would sometimes take the forms of a dove or a cross and when tested in laboratories, at times they could not determine what were these teeth made of and could only conclude that they must be heavenly substance. One may ask why did God do such denture miracles (or could even argue that there’s no biblical basis for God to perform such denture miracles)? He was actually revealing His love and care for the Argentines where most of them were poor and couldn’t afford dental care.

So, we can see from the above examples God shows His nature and attribute by manifestation of the supernatural, in miracles, signs and wonders.

Who is this God of Fire?
We have experienced the effects and manifestations of the fire of God in meetings where the fire anointing is strong. And the fire of God can bring deliverance, healing and accomplish numerous wonderful fruits in our lives if we open our hearts to embrace it.

At the same time, have we ever wondered who this God of Fire is? It is not enough for us to experience the fire of God. If our hearts are hungry for a closer walk with Him, we cannot be just satisfied with what God has done (not denying the fact that His works are to be greatly praised and treasured). We must press in to know the Person behind the works. We want to know Him. We desire to know this God of Fire in a more intimate way.

Abraham (Abram) had an encounter with the God of fire and may God also reveal Himself to us as we look at the account of this encounter in Genesis 15.

Background - The Promised Land
Genesis 15:7
7 Then He said to him, “I am the LORD, who brought you out of Ur of the Chaldeans, to give you this land to inherit it.”

Besides promising a son to Abram, Jehovah God also promised the patriarch a land as an inheritance. (A piece of land that remains so controversial to this day). We do not always remember this promise God gave to Abram but it was an important promise. It was initiated by God. Abram did not ask for a piece of land. He has obeyed the leading of God to leave his homeland and to go wherever God has directed him and here God confirmed His leading of Abram out of his own country to give him a land as an inheritance.

Our God has also given many promises to His children. Many personal prophecies, prophetic promises and rhema word of God have been released from the throne room of God. Some of us were given promises of conquering certain lands or countries as spiritual inheritance. More often than not, these promises were released at the initiative of God when we first obeyed His leading.

Abram’s Response - The Legitimate “How” and the “When” Questions
Genesis 15:8
8 And he said, “Lord GOD, how shall I know that I will inherit it?”

We can learn from Abraham in the way he responded to the Almighty God after receiving God’s promise. No, he did not immediately try to make things happen by trying to “help God” fulfill the word (like most of us are tempted to do most of the time).

Wisely, he asked how could he be sure of what he has just heard (paraphrased). God did not rebuke him for being doubtful or not having sufficient faith. It was a legitimate question. Many times, we asked God “When, Lord?” quietly within our hearts, fearing that people would think we did not have the faith to believe. Out of frustrations and impatience, our natural inclination is to ask God when will His Word come to pass in our lives. God looks at our hearts and He answers beyond the questions we asked.

God’s Reply
Genesis 15:9-11
9 So He said to him, “Bring Me a three-year-old heifer, a three-year-old female goat, a three-year-old ram, a turtledove, and a young pigeon.” 10 Then he brought all these to Him and cut them in two, down the middle, and placed each piece opposite the other; but he did not cut the birds in two. 11 And when the vultures came down on the carcasses, Abram drove them away.

Here, instead of giving Abram an answer that most of us would expect or prefer, God began to give instructions to Abram to enable Him to orchestrate a supernatural encounter that will reveal His nature to Him. God, looking into the heart of Abram, knew the perfect answer to Abram’s question where words would not suffice. This is why understanding the language God speaks is so important. The language of the spirit realm is beyond words.

Firstly, God asked Abram to bring five types of animals to Him. The number “five” speaks of the grace of God. In other words, God’s commandment and His instructions are not burdensome. He has first provided for what He would be asking. We can only give to Him what He has first provided to us or what He has first accomplished in us. Isn’t He wonderful? God’s grace is sufficient for us in all circumstances that He has led us to. Amen.

Secondly, these animals that were cut in two also speak of sacrifice and yielding to God. Often times, God’s requirement of us is only to yield ourselves fully to Him and surrender our all to Him. It was demonstrated in the life of Jesus (Philippians 2:5-11). This also involves the sacrificing of the “smaller animals” in our lives right up to the “bigger animals”. He may first ask for our time, our energy or our money. For certain people, He may ask us to let go of certain mindsets, certain way of thinking which we have been accustomed to. Certain likes and dislikes. The big “I” in our lives has to go. More of Him and less of Me.

The Wait
Genesis 15:12
12 Now when the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell upon Abram; and behold, horror and great darkness fell upon him.

We do not know how long did Abram wait but wait he did until the sun went down. Waiting is not a welcomed vocabulary amongst Christians today. The worldly culture and environment have caused us to have a distorted view about God’s timing. We want everything to be instant but time is not a concern in the spirit realm.

The Revelation
Genesis 15:17-20
17 And it came to pass, when the sun went down and it was dark, that behold, there appeared a smoking oven and a burning torch that passed between those pieces. 18 On the same day the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying:
“To your descendants I have given this land, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the River Euphrates— 19 the Kenites, the Kenezzites, the Kadmonites, 20 the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Rephaim, 21 the Amorites, the Canaanites, the Girgashites, and the Jebusites.”

It is imperative that we understand the background and the backdrop of this supernatural encounter to fully appreciate the revelation of God to Abram. As a start, we know that Abram was a Chaldean for seventy-five years prior to the time he entered the land of Canaan. The covenants of Abram's day, in that part of the civilized world (including Chaldea) were made by dividing an animal into two pieces and then the two parties making the covenant walked between the divided portions of the animal. In this way, each party to the covenant was saying to the other, "If you breach the contract (in today’s language), may this very thing happen to you", i.e. it would cost the failing party blood; the failing party would be cut in two just like the animals were.

Following the Chaldeans' practice, Abram cut the three animals in two and stood the two halves against the walls of a trench he had earlier dug. He did not cut the birds in two. The animals' blood flowing down the trench formed a blood-path the two parties would walk down to confirm the covenant.

Amazingly, the God of fire as signified by the fire pot and flaming torch, chose to be the parties responsible in the covenant. If Abram had to walk down the blood-path, it would have cost his descendants blood if they violated the covenant. But with God being both parties, it would cost His Son's blood (i.e., life) if Abram's descendants failed to keep the covenant. Thus God passed through the divided sacrifice by Himself and, in this way, it became a unilateral covenant so that the fulfilling of the promise made to Abram to inhabit the land was not made dependent on Abram fulfilling his responsibility to the covenant.

Oh, what a wonderful prophetic revelation! We asked, who is this God of fire? The God of fire is the covenant-keeping God. He is the King of Love. It was a revelation of the coming of Yeshua Hamashiach and His sacrificial death on the cross. The greatest sign and wonder He ever did was His death on the cross and His resurrection three days thereafter. And therein lies the power of God – the cross! The hope of mankind, lost in slavery of sin and death. Hallelujah! When we catch a glimpse of this revelation, we would echo the words, “Is there anything too hard for Him?” He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? (Romans 8:32). This is the guarantee of all the promises He has made to us. May God burn this revelation of Himself and His love deep into our hearts so that our hearts will never be moved come what may as we walk with Him and serve Him with all our hearts. Amen.

-------------------------------------------------------------
Note: The above is an expanded version of a message shared in a meeting on 6th September 2009.

Cleansing the house (part 2)

2009-09-08T10:07:00.004+08:00

Sometimes, when discussing issues like cleansing the house and stuffs like that, it can become very controversial. Not everyone will agree with throwing away items from the house that seem so harmless. One may end up being labelled as a "freak" or being an "extremist". I remember hearing an Indian minister addressing his congregation to throw away all the photos taken during their Hindu wedding ceremony and to give up many of the cultural practices which have been practiced by them for all their lives. It was a struggle for most of the Indian believers. In fact, persecutions await them once they decide to take a public stand for Christ, valuing Him above everything else.

Limited understanding due to imbalanced teachings, different doctrinal upbringing or insensitivity to the leading of the Holy Spirit may cause one not to understand certain spiritual principles. The natural realm is very different from the spirit realm. The Word of God teaches us the value of things unseen and the invisible dimension of life. If one is unsure about whether to remove some objects or items from their house - the main principle is to obey the leading of the Holy Spirit at whatever cost. We may not fully understand the prompting of the Spirit of God but once we obey, His revelation will come. The following references/examples would shed some light in understanding the principles behind the acts of removing items or objects that attract/allow the operation of the powers of darkness in our lives and homes: -

(1) Ridding Your Home of Spiritual Darkness by Chuck D. Pierce and Rebecca Wagner Sytsema is a good book to read to understand more about doing house cleansing.

(2) Sis Victoria's blog posting on Demonic realm can affect natural realm is an excellent example of how the demonic realm "uses" natural object or item.

(3) Bro Thomas shared with me that he was also led to get rid of all the Hello Kitty dolls from his home. He was reluctant to do so initially until his spiritual eyes were opened to see the "demonic face" of the dolls. And on another ocassion, it was quickened within him to remove the reflective stickers from his room when he woke up from his sleep. Again, his spiritual eyes were also opened to see the "demonic eyes" on those stickers.

Following from my earlier post on house cleansing, a timely word from Marsha Burns on Sept 4, 2009 confirmed the workings and leadings of God for my family: -

SMALL STRAWS IN A SOFT WIND by Marsha Burns -- Sept. 4, 2009:
In a dream I was preparing for a new job, which seemed like a promotion. As I was cleaning out my desk and going through my files I found that most of what I had saved or valued from the past was useless nonsense, and there was nothing worth taking with me to my new position. I believe that this dream represents an elevation in the realm of the Spirit where we can be positioned to establish ourselves in God's plan and purposes and to fulfill our destiny. But, we will have to leave the past behind complete with things that we once thought to be important to make room for things that constitute spiritual value in the kingdom.
Isaiah 55:9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts

Getting rid of things that do not please God is sometimes a way God uses to prepare us for new levels of spiritual dimensions in our relationship with Him. Even though on one hand, doing house cleansing can close all the gateways of the enemy into our homes and lives, it is also a preparatory work to allow the King of Glory to visit our homes and lives. In the Old Testament, we read of accounts where after a period of time when the people of God have gone astray and later when the books of law (revelation) were rediscovered and read before the people, the kings would summon for solemn assembly and ordered for the removal and destruction of every idolatory objects from the land and the people of God would experience a measure of revival and renewal in their midst.

It's amazing the manner God speaks and leads His people. Little did I know that God was not done with our initial co-operation with Him to get rid of spiritual darkness from our home. Last Friday morning (4th Sept), after praying for a while I took a nap as I was feeling a little sleepy. In the middle of my nap, my spirit somehow "came out" of my body and it was like my spirit stepped into the spirit realm where there is no limitation of time. During the brief period of time, my spirit saw a few scenes in my house that explained certain attacks of the enemy in my family. It was a little bizarre but after receiving the understanding, I shared with my wife and that led to a massive removal of items from our house, as led by the Spirit of God. All glory to God for what He has done and what He is doing. He is definitely preparing us for greater things ahead and greater intimacy with Him.

Lord, prepare me to be a sanctuary
Pure and holy, tried and true
With thanksgiving, I'll be a living
Sanctuary for You

It is you, Lord
Who came to save
The heart and soul
Of every man
It is you Lord
who knows my weakness
Who gives me strength,
With thine own hand.

Lord prepare me to be a sanctuary
Pure and Holy, tried and true
With thanksgiving I'll be a living
Sanctuary for you

Lead Me on Lord
From temptation
Purify me
From within
Fill my heart with
You holy spirit
Take away all my sin

Lord prepare me to ba sanctuary
Pure and holy, tried and ture
With thanksgiving, I'll be a living
Sanctuary for You

Cleansing the house (part 1)

2009-09-04T16:15:00.005+08:00

In the past, due to my limited understanding, I did not see the need to cleanse the house (or temple). By cleansing the house, I am generally referring to getting rid of things, items or objects that do not please God from the house that could be due to idolatary images or objects being an open door for the demonic realm to enter. Due to an incident two days ago (which will be elaborated below), I would like to share some experiences of cleansing the house that took place in the recent months (which I could still remember): -

(1) On one Sunday service meeting, a well-intentioned sister from the church my family used to attend brought a bag of toys for my daughter. They are mostly used toys but they were all in good condition. The variety of toys included soft toys and a Barbie doll. Shortly after, my wife informed me that she began to have unpleasant dreams. We prayed about it and repented of any sins but the dreams kept coming. Then, one night my wife received a revelation that most of the toys in the bag should be thrown away. We prayed and concurred that the source of the evil dreams are somewhat related to and can be traced to those toys. So, we rebuked and bound the demonic spirit and removed those toys and items from our house.

(2) On another ocassion, my wife was attacked by unclean dreams again in her sleep for a few nights. This really puzzled us as we prayed and repented should there be anything in our lives that caused the enemy to launch it's attack but the dreams continued. Then, out of the blue, God spoke to my wife, telling her to get rid of a set of clothings that was given to her by a sister (who has worn those clothings before) due to the presence of unclean spirits in the sister's life. After my wife obeyed, the unclean dreams stopped.

The incident that actually initiated further house cleansing activities two days ago was when my wife and myself overheard my daughter's (2 years 9 months) baby talk. She was playing with a new pair of sandals which we have just purchased for her. Out of the blue, she uttered "I don't want to follow Jesus. I want to follow me." We were shocked! My wife asked her, "Who said that?" She pointed to the "hello Kitty" character painted on the sandals. Immediately, we rebuked and bound the evil spirit to leave in Jesus' mighty Name and threw away the new pair of sandals together with two other hello Kitty dolls and a hello Kitty balloon.

We felt that God wanted us to continue some house cleansing activities. On the same day, we did the following, as led by the Spirit of God: -

(a) We tore and threw away some of our honeymoon photos, especially all of those taken in the famed Grand Palace, Bangkok as we found there were many figurines of idols in those photos. A few months ago, my wife said she was prompted to throw those photos but I said proudly, there's no such need (as I was unwilling to part with those photos taken during such memorable times). I repented and as we threw away those photos, we bound the demonic spirits in Jesus' Name and rebuked them to leave.

(b)Then, we were led to get rid of some books. Interestingly, all these books appeared harmless per se but with the leading of the Holy Spirit, we threw away (1) my daughter's storybook titled "Puss in the boots"; (2) a thick Christian book which contained a few pages of images of idols, etc. (3) a few cooking books (in Chinese) which contained a lot of images of Thai-inspired images.

In short, the 2 simple lessons learnt: -
(1) not to simply accept items from people (despite the good intentions of people); and
(2) not to simply purchase things without asking God.

Hallelujah! God is so kind to reveal these things to us. This is in line with His heart's desire to have a Bride that is pure, spotless and without wrinkle. Not only is cleansing the house a prophetic act, God is setting forth His standards of holiness amongst His people. Let's be sensitive to His leading and obey His promptings.

(to be continued)

The Supernatural caught on camera

2009-08-20T18:33:00.007+08:00

I was first introduced to the possibility of the supernatural being caught on camera many years ago when I heard about the many signs and wonders of the Ba Kelalan revival that were being captured in photos. I managed to get hold of the book on the account of Ba Kelalan revival where there were (black and white) photos of angelic lights, fire in the sky, etc. Undoubtedly, there's a growing interest in the supernatural in the recent years and with the advent of internet technology we can easily access photos of the supernatural realm caught in various Christian meetings.

Appearances of Angelic Orbs
More and more people are beginning to capture shots of (angelic) orbs in their cameras and there are all kinds of debates as to what these orbs are. I didn't pay much attention to these things until I was reminded of photos I took when I was in Singapore last year. I noticed a group photo taken in a church where there was an "orb" near me in the photo. But, what amazed me the most is that, there were many orbs captured in a series of photos taken when my family visited the Underwater World Singapore, especially at the section where the travelator is. In fact, there were a few orbs which appeared in each of the photos taken at the oceanarium. Could there be many spiritual activities there? Or that many of the visitors on that day were believers? It still remains a mystery to me.

There are two interesting articles concerning the appearances of these orbs which I found helpful to expand our understanding. Firstly, in Sis Victoria's post here , she explained how do angelic orbs find their way to the camera lenses as revealed by God to her. Another short article can be found here , i.e. the prophetic revelation of these orbs as explained by Rev Collin Gordon.

Amazing photos of the supernatural caught on camera
There are many photos where the supernatural realm was caught on cameras. But, when I stumbled on the two photos below, it's just so amazing! These are not orbs or angelic appearances but they show how humans (flesh and blood) were somewhat transported in the spirit realm and these events were captured by cameras! Wow, our God is great indeed!

Note: In this first unedited photo (taken from Still Waters International Ministries website) the photo captured the phenomenon when Dr Bruce Allen was praying in a meeting and was transported to another country.

Note: This second photo (taken from Son of Thunder website) was taken of a woman dancing with a gold flag in a meeting where Ian Clayton was ministering in South Africa. The woman herself has dissapeared and all that remains is what you can see.

More of the Supernatural?
I believe that the supernatural realm is the birth right of every disciple of Christ. The very basis of this statement is that we are all spirit beings and that the spirit (supernatural) realm is of greater reality than our natural, physical realm. By the grace of God, many scriptural teachings have gone forth in the body of Christ regarding the spirit realm.

There's a whole new generation of the army of God that will move in mighty signs and wonders. Why signs and wonders? Should we not pursue God? Yes, our pursuit is after God but at the same time, mighty signs and wonders will be following us. In fact, these signs and wonders point to the reality of our wonderful Lord and Saviour in this unbelieving world. And on the other hand, these signs and wonders will stir the hearts of the bride of Christ to greater intimacy with the Bridegroom. And with the knowledge of Him, downloaded from the supernatural realm, the bride of Christ shall do great exploits in these end-times.

Come to think of it, if the supernatural can be caught on camera, our (physical) lives should also be living and manifesting the supernatural. Amen!

What Does It Mean to Seek the Lord?

2009-08-20T09:56:00.004+08:00

(By John Piper. © Desiring God. Website: desiringGod.org )

Seeking the Lord means seeking his presence. “Presence” is a common translation of the Hebrew word “face.” Literally, we are to seek his “face.” But this is the Hebraic way of having access to God. To be before his face is to be in his presence.

But aren't his children always in his presence? Yes and no. Yes in two senses: First, in the sense that God is omnipresent and therefore always near everything and everyone. He holds everything in being. His power is ever-present in sustaining and governing all things.

And second, yes, he is always present with his children in the sense of his covenant commitment to always stand by us and work for us and turn everything for our good. “Behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:20).

But there is a sense in which God’s presence is not with us always. For this reason, the Bible repeatedly calls us to “seek the Lord...seek his presence continually.” God’s manifest, conscious, trusted presence is not our constant experience. There are seasons when we become neglectful of the Lord and give him no thought and do not put trust in him and we find him “unmanifested”—that is, unperceived as great and beautiful and valuable by the eyes of our hearts.

His face—the brightness of his personal character—is hidden behind the curtain of our carnal desires. This condition is always ready to overtake us. That is why we are told to “seek his presence continually.” God calls us to enjoy continual consciousness of his supreme greatness and beauty and worth.

This happens through “seeking.” Continual seeking. But what does that mean practically? Both the Old and New Testaments say it is a “setting of the mind and heart” on God. It is the conscious fixing or focusing of our mind’s attention and our heart’s affection on God.

“Now set your mind and heart to seek the Lord your God.” (1 Chronicles 22:19)

“If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.” (Colossians 3:1-2)

This setting of the mind is the opposite of mental coasting. It is a conscious choice to direct the heart toward God. This is what Paul prays for the church: “May the Lord direct your hearts to the love of God and to the steadfastness of Christ” (2 Thessalonians 3:5). It is a conscious effort on our part. But that effort to seek God is a gift from God.

We do not make this mental and emotional effort to seek God because he is lost. That’s why we would seek a coin or a sheep. But God is not lost. Nevertheless, there is always something through which or around which we must go to meet him consciously. This going through or around is what seeking is. He is often hidden. Veiled. We must go through mediators and around obstacles.

The heavens are telling the glory of God. So we can seek him through that. He reveals himself in his word. So we can seek him through that. He shows himself to us in the evidences of grace in other people. So we can seek him through that. The seeking is the conscious effort to get through the natural means to God himself—to constantly set our minds toward God in all our experiences, to direct our minds and hearts toward him through the means of his revelation. This is what seeking God means.

And there are endless obstacles that we must get around in order to see him clearly, and so that we can be in the light of his presence. We must flee every spiritually dulling activity. We must run from it and get around it. It is blocking our way.

We know what makes us vitally sensitive to God’s appearances in the world and in the word. And we know what dulls us and blinds us and makes us not even want to seek him. These things we must move away from and go around if we would see God. That is what seeking God involves.

And as we direct our minds and hearts Godward in all our experiences, we cry out to him. This too is what seeking him means.

“Seek the Lord while he may be found; call upon him while he is near.” (Isaiah 55:6)

“If you will seek God and plead with the Almighty for mercy...” (Job 8:5)

Seeking involves calling and pleading. O Lord, open my eyes. O Lord, pull back the curtain of my own blindness. Lord, have mercy and reveal yourself. I long to see your face.

The great obstacle to seeking the Lord is pride. “In the pride of his face the wicked does not seek him” (Psalm 10:4). Therefore, humility is essential to seeking the Lord.

The great promise to those who seek the Lord is that he will be found. “If you seek him, he will be found by you” (1 Chronicles 28:9). And when he is found, there is great reward. “Whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him” (Hebrews 11:6). God himself is our greatest reward. And when we have him, we have everything. Therefore, “Seek the Lord and his strength; seek his presence continually!”

You desire truth in the inward parts

2009-07-29T17:15:00.004+08:00

King David understood the heart of God when he penned the words, "You desire truth in the inward parts..." in his penitent Psalm 51. Often times, we literally "throw" up words from our mouths to God when praying without really weighing how much do we mean in our hearts what we say with our mouths. God in His great mercies do not answer all our prayers, albeit how eloquent they sound.

As a teen, I used to be and still is very touched and amazed by a particular prayer of saint Francis even though I did not know much about who saint Francis was.

Lord, make me an instrument of Thy peace;
where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
and where there is sadness, joy.

O Divine Master,
grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console;
to be understood, as to understand;
to be loved, as to love;
for it is in giving that we receive,
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
and it is in dying that we are born to Eternal Life.
Amen.

I would ponder in my heart, wondering who would have such pure hearts seeking to console than to be consoled, to understand thant to be understood, etc. It is definitely a prayer of one who clearly identifies with the death of Christ and could easily echo along with Paul, "It is no longer I that live but Christ that lives in me..."

When I go through circumstances which really reduce me to nothing, I would cringe and be upset. But, I hear the gentle whisper of the Spirit saying, "have you not prayed to decrease and Jesus to increase in your life?"

How funny, isn't it? Many at times, we were so sincere when consecrating ourselves before God and making prayers like "I decrease and You increase". How does God answer such prayers but to allow circumstances where our self and flesh would experience the crucifying pain of death? Sometimes, God answers our prayers by arranging circumstances that cause or seem to cause our reputation to be worthless or causing us to be unnoticed and ignored by people around us. Would we welcome such circumstances in our lives and say "Yes, Lord. I die this momoent. And I die daily. It's not about me, it's all about You."

He desires truth in the inward parts
Sometimes, we do not know our own hearts until God reveals it to us through trying circumstances in life. We would claim to be sincere and truthful but it would only be so until we have truly undergone His tests in this life.

It was not until Abrahim was in the act of nearly stabbing Isaac to death that God intervened and said that now it's clear that Abraham feared God and would obey Jehovah God to the point of sacrificing his one and only son.

Our God is a holy God. He is true and righteous. And He longs for His Bride and His children to share in His divine nature. No, He is not like the Liar who would take advantage of such circumstances in life to condemn us. Not only is our God holy, He is also a compassionate, loving High Priest who understands our nature. He reveals our hearts not to condemn us but to draw us to Himself. There is no need to despair when we come under the glorious Light of God. We can always run to the Strong Tower who is our Refuge and in Him, when we are weak then we are strong.

God is raising a new company of His end-time army. Doubtless to say, this army will be very powerful and equipped with His precious anointing, with signs and wonders following. However, these carriers of God's presence and power can qualify to be a part of this company when their lives are so transparent before Him that there is not even a tiny blot of darkness within. Rather, this company of God's army will allow the love, light and holiness of the Lord of Hosts to shine through their lives. Can you see the rising of this company? Can you see this glorious Bride of Christ? The golden light of God shine through them and dispell the powers of darkness wherever their feet would tread. Hallelujah! Come forth army of God!!

Prayer
Father God, as you are preparing and birthing forth this glorious Bride, this company of end-time warriors, let me yield myself to you and allow you to complete your works of grace in my life for I long to be a part of Your glorious destiny. Let my prayer still be "let me decrease and You increase". Amen.

I asked for more of Him...

2009-07-28T10:12:00.003+08:00

In the recent weeks, I have been asking for more of God in my prayers. This is not about complaining or doubting the all-sufficiency of Christ in our lives. Those who have tasted that the Lord is good would agree with the phrase coined by Wade Taylor as having a "dissatisfied satisfaction". Having tasted the goodness and the delight of our lovely Saviour, we just long for more of Him. Having drunk the sweet wine of the Spirit from the wells of salvation, we just come back for more...

Surrender
Two weeks ago, I began to sense the Spirit of God speaking in my heart.
"Surrender"
Then, I argued "Surrender? Lord, you have spoken to me about surrendering myself before and I have responded to your call to surrender. What else is there to surrender?"

"To have more, you have to give more"
Slowly, I began to understand what He meant. If I want more of Him, do I have the capacity to contain more of Him? Is there room for more of Him in my heart? Or is my heart full of other things that shut the Lord away? I felt ashamed of my earlier argument. Even though I have responded to His call to surrender to Him, there are still areas in my heart that are cluttered with things that somewhat shoved Him away and made Him unwelcome in my heart.

"Surrender your time and energy"
Now, it's getting more specific. How do I spend my time and energy? Are they spent in pursuing worthless things? Or are they surrendered to God in the pursuit of Him (in line with my prayer for more of Him). Could I sacrifice my sleeping hours to spend time basking in His glorious presence? Do I spend my energy during my waking hours doing things as a devotion of love to Him?

No, these were not condemning thoughts that entered my mind. Neither were they legalistic demands imposed by the Master. Deep within me, I know that this is an invitation from the King. In my prayer for more of Him, He has graciously extend His invitation to me, "Come up hither..." Hallelujah!

Prayer:
Father God, turn away my eyes from looking at worthless things,and revive me in Your way. (Psalm 119:37)

Be Thou my Vision, O Lord of my heart;
Naught be all else to me, save that Thou art.
Thou my best Thought, by day or by night,
Waking or sleeping, Thy presence my light.

Be Thou my Wisdom, and Thou my true Word;
I ever with Thee and Thou with me, Lord;
Thou my great Father, I Thy true son;
Thou in me dwelling, and I with Thee one.

Be Thou my battle Shield, Sword for the fight;
Be Thou my Dignity, Thou my Delight;
Thou my soul’s Shelter, Thou my high Tower:
Raise Thou me heavenward, O Power of my power.

Riches I heed not, nor man’s empty praise,
Thou mine Inheritance, now and always:
Thou and Thou only, first in my heart,
High King of Heaven, my Treasure Thou art.

High King of Heaven, my victory won,
May I reach Heaven’s joys, O bright Heaven’s Sun!
Heart of my own heart, whatever befall,
Still be my Vision, O Ruler of all.

(to be continued...)

A Call to Surrender

2009-07-01T15:36:00.003+08:00

I heard our loving God spoke to me about surrendering to Him in the past weeks. About two weeks ago, somehow my spirit received God's (rhema) Word when I heard a preacher mentioned, "to surrender to Him everything including His call and giftings for us since we are nothing without Him (paraphrased)".

This word "surrender" has caused an 'uneasiness' within me in the beginning because I have yet to grasp the full meaning and intent of the Spirit of God when He quickened this word to me. There's definitely a lot of chewing (pondering and meditating) to be done.

As the Holy Spirit begins to enlighten my understanding on what He's saying to me concerning surrendering to God, I begin to receive more of His life and love. There's just such a longing for Him.

Firstly, I begin to understand that a call to surrender is an echo of His love. For a call to surrender is the prelude to His manifest blessings in our lives. The key to the fulfillment of His promises in our lives is summed in one word: surrender. Oftentimes, we grow weary of waiting for the fulfillment of His word. But the period of waiting is so necessary in the divine plan and purpose of the Almighty Creator. It is through the waiting period, we learn to surrender. When Jesus lived on this earth, little was mentioned about the first thirty years of His life. His silent (surrendered) years culminated in the obedient act of baptism before the launch of his public ministry.

A surrendered life also means the death of our "self" lives. The apostle Paul shared his secret of powerful life and ministry in Galatians 2:20 (which shed more light into the understanding of living a surrendered life) - "I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me". When we yield and surrender our lives to Him, we tap on a higher surrendered life - His zoe life, the "Amen" life of Jesus. And what greater motivation for us to respond to this call to surrender than His love. As His love floods our souls and melts our hearts, we are just compelled by His love to yield our hopes, plans and ambitions for His good and perfect will.

Here's a song that aptly expresses a lovely response to God's call to surrender: -

Jesus, all for Jesus,
All I am and have and ever hope to be.
Jesus, all for Jesus,
All I am and have and ever hope to be.

All of my ambitions, hopes and plans
I surrender these into Your hands.
All of my ambitions, hopes and plans
I surrender these into Your hands.

For it's only in Your will that I am free,
For it's only in Your will that I am free,
Jesus, all for Jesus,
All I am and have and ever hope to be.

Scriptures for meditation:
1. I am dead and my life is hidden with Christ in God (Colossians 3:3)
2. He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again (2 Corinthians 5:15)

Three Questions

2009-05-28T13:49:00.008+08:00

Whilst in prayer this morning, I was meditating on the following 3 questions in my heart: -

1. Am I ready and willing to be made "not-ready" by my Bridegroom so that He can then begin to make me ready for Him and His purposes?

This will mark the end of all our strivings. Whether the intention is good or not, instead of propelling us further in His will, all our strivings will only lead to the ultimate entrapment in our small coccoons of self and flesh. Rather,it's about receiving and returning His love and communing with Him. Then, we will find ourselves in the divine flow of His plans and purposes concerning His Bride. Yes, we will let go and let God... for He is lovely.

2. Will I trust Him and allow Him to remove every other thing which I have relied, depended and put my trust upon (whether knowingly and unknowingly) so that I will only trust God and God alone for life and godliness?

To our own surprise, we depend on many things in this life. Most are legitimate sources of dependence and strength. Sometimes, the good gifts we receive from our Loving Father become avenues from where we switch our attention and devotion away from Him. Good and legitimate things can stand in the way of total dependence on our God. To fully trust in Him is a state of blessedness indeed, where our hope is the Lord Himself. To choose this path will definitely rock the boat of our lives a little. This explains the many shakings in our lives. But it matters not when He is in our boats for when all that can be shaken have been shaken and destroyed what is left is the Bridegroom with His Bride.

3. Am I willing to allow His light of love to continually search my heart to remove all hindrances that I may receive the full manifestation of Christ and His glory within me?

To have more of Him is to lose more of me. For Him to increase I must decrease. It is precious when the Holy Spirit shows us the shades of self and pride within us. It is our Daddy's gentle acts of love when His light shines in our hearts but when the enemy accuses, the cloud of darkness descends upon us. When He reveals the rival thrones in our hearts, it's time we bow down and worship the true and Living God in repentance.

This brings to mind the intimate worship song (written by Graham Kendrick):

To keep your lovely face
Ever before my eyes
This is my prayer
Make it my strong desire
That in my secret heart
No other love competes
No rival throne survives
And I love (serve) only You

The new day begins at 6.00pm

2009-05-19T10:26:00.010+08:00

If I remember correctly, the earliest I heard of this "global" prophecy was more than 5 years ago. It was during a series of special meetings by a man of God who have personally experienced many genuine moves of God. From hindsight, I could see the scripture (Amos 3:7) at work, i.e. "Surely the Lord GOD does nothing, unless He reveals His secret to His servants the prophets." I believe that even among His servants, there are those who are closer to Him than the rest. This is because after hearing the first time what God is going to do in the world through the mouth of His servant, I have been hearing more prophets declaring the same in recent years. It's amazing that those prophets who are closer to Him would receive the revelation of His secret years earlier in comparison to the rest.

The crux of the revelation is contained in Isaiah 43:19:

Behold, I will do a new thing,
Now it shall spring forth;
Shall you not know it?
I will even make a road in the wilderness
And rivers in the desert.

When I first heard this quickened verse whereby God is telling His people He is doing a new thing in the world, I was very excited. A new day is coming! But, as with many prophecies and promises of God, after a passage of time and when we still do not see the fulfilment of these words, we become weary of waiting and we've lost the initial excitement and enthusiasm we had when we first received the promise.

During the last weekend, a visiting speaker shed some light onto this subject. She mentioned that God told her "The new day begins at 6.00pm".

Wow! What a revelation indeed. The Jews observe Shabat from Friday(6.00pm) till the next day (6.00pm). 6.00pm is a time when little sunlight is left before darkness of the night creeps in. And we have the entire night season until the sun rises early next morning.

We are living in times and a season where God is doing a new thing. Perhaps some of us are in a night season. And we could not see how God is going to fulfil His Word or whether His Word is true after all. But, do not forget "The new day begins at 6.00pm" God allows us to go through a certain time of darkness. In fact, the world is going through 'a season of darknes' now. There is a purpose in every season of our lives. It could be a time of pruning. Or it could be a time of preparation and equipping. It is a time we die to our own abilities to fulfill God's dreams and purposes in our lives. And certainly, the time of the birthing forth of His purposes in our lives is at hand. Amen!

God builds on our RESPONSES

2009-05-14T10:22:00.006+08:00

Last night I was awokened by the sounds of thunders and heavy rain and in between the state of sleeping and consciously awake, there were many thoughts and impressions that went through my mind. Some of those thoughts/impressions relate to my own personal things and there's one particular subject that prompts me to share in this post.

A few months ago, I was sent a link to a series of meetings conducted in the US by a missionary couple whom my wife and myself got to know through one of the previous churches we were serving and worshipping in. With the so many 'flaky' ministries coming forth from the West, we can be rest assured that the messages that are spoken in this series of meetings are both prophetically timely and grounded in the Word of God. This is a ministry which was born in a genuine revival in the South America, been taught the ways of God and having the privilege to behold the mysteries of the heavenlies.

One of the main 'rhema' that I received after viewing the series of meetings is this: "God builds on our RESPONSES and NOT our REACTIONS". It's a powerful statement indeed.

What is the difference between our REACTIONS and our RESPONSES?
We react when we experience some sensations or feelings. For example, should our finger be caught in an electrical point and our whole body feels the effect of being 'electrocuted' we would react wildly by screaming and our bodies would be jerking or shaking violently. It would be very unlikely for us to remain silent, unmoved in our physical bodies and somewhat enjoy the feeling of being 'electrocuted'. Similarly, when the power of God or His Presence surges through our physical body, our physical bodies would either "fall under the power" or "jerk" or "shake" or exhibit different kinds of physical manifestations as a natural reaction to the power of God or His Presence. This is very normal indeed even though there are still people who are not accustomed to such manifestations in a church setting. But, that is for another day's posting :)

When God's power or His Presence is manifested and we experience the reality of it, our natural bodies react to it. Along with our reactions, many things take place as well. For example, bondages are broken, spiritual gifts are activated, spiritual senses are sharpened, deliverance takes place, healings, etc. and the list goes on. In other words, we can witness the fruits in our lives after encountering His Presence/Power in varying degrees. We can loosely say that the physical manifestations are our reactions (the side effects) and the fruits are the main effects.
However, we shouldn't stop there and wait for the next church meeting or another God encounter.

God builds on our RESPONSES
Each time we experience God's Presence/Power, a response from us is expected. How do we respond? As seen above, our reactions are the physical manifestations. But, we respond differently. We respond through our worship, our declarations of love, our obedience to certain specific instructions, etc. We may not be able to control our reactions but we can choose to respond to God. We can yield and surrender in greater degree to Him. Repentance can also be a response from our heart. Or sometimes, our faith declarations can be a response to Him.

And finally, the beautiful thing is God BUILDS on our responses. If we desire to go deeper and higher in God, each time we experience His Presence/Power we respond with our heart (in whatever way as the Spirit of God leads) to Him. Each time we respond, God visits us in greater measure and we experience deeper intimacy with Him. That is why we call our faith a "relationship", a "walk with God", a "communion". That is the reason Jesus came to die for our sins. So that we can be invited into the inner circle of union and communion with the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. It's a two-way communication. Let's allow God to build on our responses.

The Last Call

2009-05-04T11:18:00.009+08:00

This is a timely message which is worth reading and sharing. (source: Ron McGatlin, 30th April 2009, http://www.openheaven.com/) A call to return and realign ourselves with the heart of God so that we can be a part of what He is doing in this brand new 'kairos' season. Be blessed.

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A few days ago while in prayer, I received a strong word from the Lord that caused a great burden with underlying streams of precious hope. The most significant message of modern time is coming forth from God unto His people today. There has never been a more crucial moment for the people on Planet Earth than now. God is speaking to those to whom He has given a voice to speak out to make a final plea, a last call to all peoples now.

God is calling ONE MORE TIME for the people of America and every nation of the world to turn to Him with their whole hearts – to turn from the foolish pride and lofty ways of man – to turn from denying the God that made them and rejecting the Lord who loves them - the one who has paid the price for their return to the life of righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit.

This is NOT a last call before Jesus returns. It is NOT a last call before the end of the world. This is a season of last call to the people in spiritual Babylon. This is a last call to people of every faith and non-faith, a call to all who are NOT seeking first the real kingdom of God and His righteousness. Many of which may be making a token investment in acknowledging God but live their lives according to their flesh and not after the Spirit of God. This is the last call for masses of people worldwide to come to God and repent of rejecting their savior and King, the Lord Jesus in the practical reality of their lives.

Massive deception is consuming the people of the world. False god's of false religions are rising in power while many of God's people occupy themselves in pleasure-seeking and personal gain.

Many pleas and warnings have come forth. Many signs and works of God have been sent to catch the attention of mankind. Prophets for years have been receiving words of change. Again, I am not talking about the foolish soothsayers who have periodically predicted the end of the world. This is not about the end of the world; it is about the last call for multitudes to stop going the way they are going and turn around to face Jesus and connect with the work of the cross and the resurrection life in the Spirit. God is calling one more time for people to abandon their lives of self-provision and self-protection and to trust in God to fill them with real life, receiving His provision and His protection in His kingdom now.

This is a season of the last call to abandon religious hypocrisy and be filled with the Spirit of God. This is the last call for multitudes to fall upon their faces before God in repentance of their PRIDE and LOFTY ways of building their own kingdoms according to their own need, lust, greed, violence, and strife. The nations have strayed far from the paths of peaceful living in God and His kingdom ways of provision and protection.

The time of change is near. I do not know how long this last call will continue, but I am persuaded by the Spirit that it is the last opportunity for multitudes to avoid the natural results of their self-focused, pleasure-seeking ungodly living. Prior to 9-11 about ten years ago, I received a strong prophetic dream which has been and is now coming to pass. It is recorded in Basileia Letter Number 16. Here is a portion of that word.

The Loftiness of Man and the Kingdom of God

Have you ever experienced the serenity of walking in a beautiful forest of majestic tall trees on a warm sunny day? There is a feeling of security and comfort in the cool shade of the huge trees. One feels at ease and protected by the canopy of giant branches meshing together far overhead. You tend to feel small in the presence of the giant trees and may have a worshipful respect for the magnificent, stately, ancient trees.

This is how I felt as God spoke to me in a powerful prophetic dream about ten years ago. I walked about in the most beautiful oak forest I have ever seen. The trees were huge and over one hundred feet tall. They had magnificent limbs growing this way and that, forming unique patterns high in the trees. The tree trunks were very large and covered with distinctive rough oak bark. The trees were some distance apart, but they were so large that they all entwined together forming a beautiful green canopy high overhead.

Beneath the trees, the floor of the forest was open and free of brush. There were no pesky briars or thorny berry vines, no small growth to make walking difficult. I strolled about with ease admiring the awesomeness of the giant magnificent trees. I felt they must be hundreds of years old. There was a sense of strength and personal protection realizing they had stood against the elements with no apparent damage for centuries. Though I could catch small glimpses of bright sunlight through the canopy it was wonderfully shady and comfortably cool. There was no concern for heat or sunburn in such a protected environment. It seemed it would be a good place to remain forever and enjoy its comfort and protection.

I was well into the forest when I stopped short. The sound of a rushing strong wind came to my ears. Instantly I looked up toward the north from which the sound came. High above the earth one of the trees was being thrashed about by a strong wind from the north. Suddenly I heard great snapping sounds as the high limbs of the great tree began to break and started falling. Then the giant trunk snapped, and the whole tree was crashing toward the earth. I turned quickly to the east and started to run when I saw that the entwined trees were being broken by the first falling tree. The trees were crashing in the east, and I could not run in that direction. Instantly I turned to the south and started to run. But again the trees in that direction began to be broken by the others and were falling. By now the sound was horrendous as a great roar of snapping and crashing was everywhere. I turned to the west, and it was crumbling as well. As a cloud of thick dust began to rise and fill the air around me, I instinctively ran a few steps and dove to the trunk of one of the great trees. I wrapped myself up against it and nestled up against the huge trunk as the roar of crashing continued, and the dust boiled covering the entire scene.

I was unharmed and crawled out after the dust settled through the mass of tangled broken limbs to view a totally new scene. Not one tree, not even a very high trunk, or a very large piece of a tree was left. The entire magnificent forest was only a huge area of broken smashed pieces fit only for firewood. It was still a bright sunny day with only a few wispy white clouds in the sky but all the sense of protection and comfort no longer existed.

As I awoke from this dream I was very moved and somewhat afraid. I knew beyond any doubt that the dream was a prophetic word from God and could instantly think of many negative fearful possible interpretations. But I was not previously used as a prophet of disaster and was afraid to ask God the meaning. I really was not ready to know the full meaning of this dream and waited a day before asking God to reveal the interpretation of the dream to me.

I cautiously approached God with questions like, does this involve religion? I heard “yes,” but with a sense that there was more. I asked, does this involve the economy and political governments? Again the answer, “yes.” Knowing I was now ready, God spoke on and said, “It is the pride and loftiness of man.”

For many days since this dream I was consumed with it. Many questions arose as I went to the word and continued to seek Gods guidance in more fully understanding the meaning of this word. What exactly is the pride and loftiness of man that has stood majestically for centuries and is now coming down? Why were trees used to represent the loftiness of man as opposed to great cities or tall buildings etc.? How does this relate to the glorious revival and the establishment of Gods kingdom on earth now? When is this great crashing fall, which takes away the sense of security and comfort of many people?

Zec 11:1-2: Open your doors, O Lebanon, That fire may devour your cedars. Wail, O cypress, for the cedar has fallen, Because the mighty trees are ruined. Wail, O oaks of Bashan, For the thick forest has come down.

Isa 2:12-21: For the day of the LORD of hosts shall come upon everything proud and lofty, Upon everything lifted up; And it shall be brought low; Upon all the cedars of Lebanon that are high and lifted up, And upon all the oaks of Bashan; Upon all the high mountains, And upon all the hills that are lifted up; Upon every high tower, And upon every fortified wall; Upon all the ships of Tarshish, And upon all the beautiful sloops.

The loftiness of man shall be bowed down, And the haughtiness of men shall be brought low; The LORD alone will be exalted in that day, But the idols He shall utterly abolish.

They shall go into the holes of the rocks, And into the caves of the earth, From the terror of the LORD And the glory of His majesty, When He arises to shake the earth mightily.

In that day a man will cast away his idols of silver And his idols of gold, Which they made, each for himself to worship, To the moles and bats, To go into the clefts of the rocks, And into the crags of the rugged rocks, From the terror of the LORD And the glory of His majesty, When He arises to shake the earth mightily.

This is not doom and gloom! This is a removal of the past Babylonian ungodliness making room for the kingdom of God reality!

Yes, it is an awesome and terrible shaking! But only everything that lifts itself against God is coming down. God will be exalted above all else in the minds and hearts of man and in the entire earth. It is the manifest glory of the kingdom of God that is coming forth in the earth. It is the terror and the glory of God from which man is fleeing into the caves, and that causes him to cast away his idols.

Mat 3:2: …. "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!"

Mat 4:17: From that time Jesus began to preach and to say, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand."

Jer 18:7-8: "The instant I speak concerning a nation and concerning a kingdom, to pluck up, to pull down, and to destroy it, if that nation against whom I have spoken turns from its evil, I will relent of the disaster that I thought to bring upon it."

ONE MORE TIME the voice of God is calling for all people to turn to Him with their whole hearts and seek His kingdom and His righteousness above all else.

Let His voice be heard through His trumpets in every house and throughout all the land.

Let every media carry the message, Repent, for the kingdom of God is at hand!

Begin now to capture the mountains of worldwide culture.

Keep on pursuing love.
It never fails and His kingdom never ends.
Ron McGatlin
http://www.openheaven.com/

Letter from Jesus

2009-04-28T09:45:00.006+08:00

My Beloved Child,

How it pleases me to see Your desire to spend time with Me. My heart is pleased that you do not only want My gifts, what I can do for you, but that you desire Me. That You desire relationship with Me above the blessings and gifts that I give. I am even more pleased that you do not want to stay in shallow waters, but you want to venture deep, deep into the depths of My Spirit. You desire to seek My face. You desire close, face to face communion. How I long for that. Nothing gives Me greater pleasure than when My children come to Me, just because they love Me, and not just for what I can do for them.

I see Your frustrations, I see your battles, ask for My help and I will give you wisdom. I will show you how to overcome. Knowing Me has never been this important. Before it was a luxury, now it is essential for My children to know Me. You do not get to know Me, by working for Me. I don't reveal my intimate secrets to servants. I reveal My intimate secrets to my friends, those who love Me, those who care about My feelings, who share My heart and My burdens. How I long to have friends. I did not die to receive slaves who work for me, I died to open the way for intimate friendship. It satisfies My longing heart when you draw close to Me in intimacy, and in return I satisfy your heart. You have places in your heart that can only be satisfied by Me. Don't run from Me, but run to Me. My arms are wide open.

Seeking my face, will make you a holy habitation of My presence. You cannot spend time with the King of Kings and leave My presence without a deposit of My presence. How I desire a people who will not only walk in power, but who walk in holiness and integrity "...live in Me, and I will live in you."(John 15:4 LB) I will take you to that place where My desires will become more important to you than your own desires. I know the road is hard at times, it is not easy to die to self, but to be inhabited by God Most High, there is no greater glory, no greater satisfaction, but who would have thought that you attain that by coming close, sitting in My presence, beholding My beauty, seeking My face. It is not attainable by working hard for Me. My ways are not your ways. Col 1:27 "And this is the secret: that Christ in your hearts is your only hope of glory."

Love,
Your friend,
Jesus

P/s: Received this wonderful letter from a prophetic-class email subscription and posted with the permission of the sender.

God loves me unconditionally

2009-04-24T16:36:00.007+08:00

In my mind, I have 2 reflections which I wanted to post today. I started typing but I just felt that I could not continue so I left the draft. Somehow there's no flow when I tried typing even though it is clear in my mind what I wanted to share.

Now I guess I know why. The Holy Spirit brought to remembrance a revelation I received at the beginning of last week. When I was spending my quiet time with the Lord last Monday, I began to give thanks to Him and express my appreciation for what He has done in my life thus far. As I recounted how the Lord has led me and kept me, I began to reflect on how great is His love for me. And it felt good to know that God loves me. But then, at the same time I felt a check within me. When I meditated upon His love for me, there was a mixture of a sense of gratefulness and a sense of "self-worthiness". This seemed strange (at first).

As I continued to quieten myself, it became more apparent to me. This impure way of thinking in my mind has been residing inside me quite a while. Almost every instance when I reflect on His love for me in the past, at the back of my mind, unknowingly I would think that "God must have loved me because of some right things I've done" or "God must have loved me because He likes certain part of my character or nature". In short, it was like, something about me or what I've done that caused God to love me.

Then, in the most gentlest manner, the Holy Spirit impressed in my heart that God loves me unconditionally. It was repeated a few times in my heart, God loves me unconditionally, God loves me unconditionally...

It's the most simplest revelation but it is a powerful revelation. All these years as a Christian, I've heard more than thousands of time about God's agape love, i.e. that His love is without condition. In fact, I have even taught and shared about this subject in the past. Knowing it in my mind and mentally assenting to a truth does not mean that I have fully received the truth. Wow, it's such a liberating truth! God loves me UNCONDITIONALLY all the time.

There may be times when due to fatigue or laziness, I would have skipped my normal set times with the Lord. If I do not guard my heart, a little accusation of condemnation would creep in quietly. Though uninvited, this sense of condemnation would continue to build up if I entertain it and it would then turn to guilt. This would be damaging. It would then alter the basis of my relationship and communion with God. I draw near to Him for greater intimacy because of love. I long for Him and I hunger for Him because He first loved me. My basis of drawing near to Him and spending time in His presence is not to get rid of my guilt or condemnation. It is not and should never be on the basis of duty or some kind of legalistic requirement. That's why the revelation that God loves me unconditionally is so liberating!

When I feel weak or far from the Him, my sould need not fret. The source of Unconditional Love is not far. It's right inside me. I just need to locate the river of Love inside me and flow in the river of His love. The peace will return and worship will rise up within me again. Let us soak in His unconditional love each moment of every day because our Beautiful Saviour loves us unconditionally.

Keep my feet from slipping

2009-04-22T11:48:00.007+08:00

One of the many meanings of the verb "slip" is to slide suddenly or involuntarily; to lose one's foothold, as on a smooth surface.

Yesterday, I experienced an unusual way of hearing God speak. Some may argue that we can only hear God through a certain fixed ways but I believe that God can speak to us in many ways. Coming back to what happened yesterday. I actually "slipped" twice when I was walking to the restroom in the office. I looked at the floor when I slipped on each separate occasion and noticed that it was not wet. This is at the corridor outside the restroom, so it is very unlikely to be wet. But I did not pay much attention to it as I was very focused on my mission to do what I needed to do in the restroom :) Then, after work, when I walked towards my car in the car park, I accidentally slipped as I stepped onto something. This time, I really get the message. Well, I don't believe in coincidences. If this happens three times in a single day, God must be trying to get my attention.

I believe God must be gently warning me not to "slip" in my walk with Him. I went back and searched the Scriptures and found a list of promises of God's faithfulness to keep me from slipping. (verses listed below). In 1 Cor 10:12, the Apostle Paul warned that, "Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall."

Later, I found comfort after reading Psalm 73. Here, the psalmist confessed, "my feet had almost stumbled, my steps had nearly slipped." (v2) The reason was because he has lost his focus on God when he began to look at how the wicked prospered (vv3 - 12). He began to reason that there's no point for him to keep himself separated and holy before God (vv13 -16). But he received fresh understanding when he drew near to God and regretted his warped thinking (vv17 -22). His attitude began to change and he made beautiful declarations of dependance and trust in the Lord God (vv23-28).

It is a beautiful psalm which I do identify with the psalmist when I begin to look around and conclude that it is futile to seek Him and walk with Him. In my short-sightedness, I cannot see the fruit of my walk with God whereas those who do not seek Him continue to prosper in their wickedness. But, this is not true because God is a good God and a just God. He will make known His goodness to me if my heart is pure (v1). Oh, how important it is to have a pure heart (Matt 5:8).

I thank God for reminding me of His goodness and to maintain a pure heart that my feet will not slip. How great is the love of God to hold us and lift us up as the psalmist cried out in Psalm 94:18, "If I say, my foot slips, Your love O Lord will hold me up".

Further promises from God's Word
2 Samuel 22:37/Psalm 18:36 (NKJV)
You enlarged my path under me; So my feet did not slip.

Psalm 17:5 (NKJV)
Uphold my steps in Your paths,That my footsteps may not slip.

Psalm 26:1 (NKJV)
Vindicate me, O LORD,For I have walked in my integrity. I have also trusted in the LORD; I shall not slip.

Psalm 37:31 (NIV)
The law of his God is in his heart; his feet do not slip.

Psalm 66:9 (NIV)
He has preserved our lives and kept our feet from slipping.

Psalm 121:3 (NIV)
He will not let your foot slip— he who watches over you will not slumber.

Spiritual senses of hearing and smell

2009-04-21T14:09:00.007+08:00

Yesterday, my wife recounted that she was awokened by the beautiful sound of cascading waterfall on the piano. There's no piano in my rented house, actually. We only have a small keyboard and my daughter couldn't play the keyboard yet. And we have never heard any of our neighbours practicing piano. So, we concluded and believed that her spiritual ears were opened to hear the heavenly music.

Shortly after, she wanted to get up from the bed to look for the source of the music but she was too tired to do so and as she was still lying down on the bed, she began to smell a strong incense smell filling the room. She interpreted the phenomenon as an indication of God's presence in our house. This was not the first time she discerned the smell of incense. In fact, about 2 months ago, she told me that she could smell the smell of incense all over me on one Sunday in church. I do not know what does that mean but I believe that her spiritual sense of smell must have been quickened during such occurences.

Naturally speaking, my wife has a weak sense of smell. She would always 'consult' me, i.e. to smell certain food whether it's still fresh or not. On the other hand, I have a strong sense of smell (natural sense) - which actually explains my love for tasty food :) There was an occassion whereby when we have just arrived home from church and the moment she stepped into our house, she mentioned that there's such a sweet fragrance in the house! I tried using my physical sense of smell but all I could smell was the same old air inside the house :) Later in the afternoon, I began to smell a sweet smelling fragrance and concurred with my wife that indeed it is a "spiritual" smell.

The first time I actually paid attention to the spiritual sense of smell was when I attended Kathie Walters' meeting. I was sitting at the front row in her meeting (there's no distance in the spirit realm, though) and when she smelled honey, I seemed to smell the same thing and sometimes there was this fragrance of fresh apple. Kathie mentioned that different fragrance speaks of different things, i.e. refreshing, enlightenment, etc. In fact, I notice that in the Song of Songs, many kinds of fragrances were mentioned. For example, "..the smell of your breath scented like apples" (Song of Songs 7:9),etc.

Whether one's spiritual senses of hearing and/or smell are quickened or not does not elevate his or her spiritual position. In other words, by being able to tap into the spiritual senses of hearing and smell does not make anyone a more spiritual person than everybody else. At the same time, we are not to run here and there exerting ourselves in our attempt to hear or smell spiritual stuffs. But, I believe that if we are hungry for more of Him and we do not limit what God can do, He will meet us at the level of our hunger.

Jesus is altogether lovely indeed! Oh, there's so much more for us to explore in Him and His Kingdom that deserves our energy and time to seek out. Draw me after You, Lord and let us run together...

Spontaneous Songs of the Secret Place

2009-04-20T15:59:00.010+08:00

Different people term it differently. Some call it prophetic songs or prophetic worship while others call it singing in the spirit or spiritual songs (Ephesians 5:19-20). The first time which I was exposed to the understanding of spontaneous songs was about two years ago when I heard a pastor shared her experiences in this area. She said she would pray (in tongues) for hours and soak herself in the presence of God. At a certain juncture, she would begin to hear melodies in her heart and she would then hum with her mouth what she heard from the inside. Then, words would come and she will sing into a recorder and songs will be composed. In fact, if I remember correctly, she mentioned that she actually "composed" several songs from such experiences. When sharing about her experience, the pastor also sang one of the songs she received from the secret place and amazingly, my heart melted and I know there's a special touch of the Lord upon the song. The song carries an anointing from the secret place.

Since relocating from my hometown to another city, God has led my family to a church where worship is the primary focus and emphasis. We did not know what to expect when we attended the church the first few times but something different was noted during the praise and worship. At different points of the worship service, the worship leader will lead the congregation into singing in the spirit (tongues) and free-flow worship (i.e. not any particular songs). This may be quite a common feature in charismatic/pentecostal churches today which (unfortunately) have become just a form without power. As the volume of worship from the congregation quietens, one of the "back-up" singers would burst into "spontaneous (or prophetic) songs". This could be followed by another "back-up" singer singing prophetically along similar themes (sometimes different) with different melodies. And yes, the wonderful thing is that the anointing of the Lord would be present sometimes when these spontaneous songs were sung. When prophetic worship was bursting forth, the presence of God filled the room, at times.

I could recall that on 3rd March 2008, when I was praying, I began to hear a melody in my heart. I began to hum and put words into the melody, singing unto the Lord. I could remember that day because it was a day set for prayer and fasting (as directed by the pastor of the church we were attending then). It was a beautiful time. Unfortunately, I could not remember the melody nor the song now.

Last night, I was worshipping the Lord while my wife put my daughter to bed. Inside me, there was a hunger to press in into more of God. I began to sing "You deserve the glory" and "Jesus I love you". As I sang and repeated the songs over and over again, it seemed that I wanted to express my worship in a "deeper" way but I could not express it as I could not think of any song that would express my inner feelings then. Shortly after, I began to blurt out, "Jesus, I love you.." in a melody that I heard simultaneously in my heart. Wow, it was just beautiful! It was like I could pour out my heart to God in a simple and short melody. Experience has taught me a lesson. Therefore, when I was singing the short melody, I just grabbed my handphone to record it. I do not want to let this sweet melody slip my memory again :)

I believe that the Lord has graciously allowed me to tap just a little into this spontaneous song of the secret place. It's just so amazing that the Spirit of God helps us as we desire to worship Him. Apart from Him we can do nothing, indeed (John 15:5) There is still a whole depth of spontaneous songs to be tapped into. Spirit-breathed songs and heavenly melodies that touch lives and enrich our worship experience at the same time. O come let us adore Him, Christ the King!