The parable of the five tropical fish

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 :)

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Engaging the Supernatural Realm of Heaven

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.

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A Sign of His Love

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.

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Viewing opposition from the Throne Room perspective

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.

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