Happy New Year!

 

At the beginning of the month of December, the LORD spoke to me about 2014 using a passage from the book of Joel, the prophet:

Joe 2:2-11, “…There is... a great and powerful people; their like has never been before, nor will be again after them through the years of all generations. 3 Fire devours before them, and behind them a flame burns. The land is like the garden of Eden before them, but behind them a desolate wilderness, and nothing escapes them. 4 Their appearance is like the appearance of horses, and like war horses they run. 5 … like a powerful army drawn up for battle. 6 Before them peoples are in anguish; all faces grow pale. 7 Like warriors they charge; like soldiers they scale the wall. They march each on his way; they do not swerve from their paths. 8 They do not jostle one another; each marches in his path; they burst through the weapons and are not halted. 9 They leap upon the city, they run upon the walls, they climb up into the houses, they enter through the windows like a thief… 11 The LORD utters his voice before his army, for his camp is exceedingly great; he who executes his word is powerful…”

When the LORD used these verses to speak to me, He opened my eyes and I saw a great army of powerful Christians (vs. 2) charging at 2014 and assailing it like locusts. I saw an aggressive people laying hands on everything that 2014 had to offer. This army was focused on its objective, determined, disciplined and persevering (vs. 7 & 8). They were not deterred by any obstacle (vs. 9).

I am very convinced that 2014 will be an exceptionally rich and prosperous year for those who would have been ‘violent’ enough. Indeed, the kingdom of GOD suffers violence and it is only violent who take it by force (Mat 11:12). 2014 is pregnant with things which are not going to fall down on their own, like manna from heaven. One needs to be prepared to fight to get them (vs. 5). Forget what others are doing. If you want to ‘win’ 2014, be violent in spirit; focus on what you have seen and wish to obtain. Mind your own business, mission and projects. Do not look for excuses; on the contrary, do not let anything stop you: scale every obstacle (vs. 7 & 9). Those who want to prevent you from possessing 2014 are actually afraid of you (vs. 6); but you don’t know it. Dare to dream and do in 2014: the LORD is with you. He utters His voice before you and is ready to fully execute His Word.

I pray that GOD opens your eyes so that you may see all that He has in store for you in 2014. I pray that He makes you crave to get hold of 2014 and that He also gives you the strength to achieve this. It is He who works both to will and to do in us, for his good pleasure (Phil 2:13).

If you fear the LORD and apply yourself to all these things, come December 31, 2014, you will notice with joy and gladness that there was nothing to worry about, for the LORD would have done great things! The former areas of wilderness in your life would all be green. The trees would be bearing fruits; the fig tree and vine would give their full yield. Your barns (bank accounts) will be full. What you had previously lost would have been replaced and even multiplied (vs. 22-26). Then, you will know, and everybody will know around you, that the LORD is GOD and He walks in the midst of those who fear Him.

From the bottom of my heart, I sincerely pray that you will not to miss anything good and perfect that GOD wants to deliver into your hands in 2014.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Answering my own question…

 

Last week, I asked you what you thought was the worst possible tragedy that could befall somebody, a community or a nation? I imagine that with all that has been happening lately, one would easily be spoilt for choices. I mean: losing everything in a natural disaster as it was recently the case in the Philippines? A terrorist attack as on September 11? War? Cancer? A plane crash? A nuclear accident? An economic crisis which can lead a thriving country like Greece to bankruptcy? Losing a job or a house? Dying before having the chance to get married and have children?

All these things, and others, are indeed very tragic and the victims deserve our sympathy and prayers. However, I cannot vividly remember what I was recently thinking about when the thought suddenly crossed my mind that the worst tragedy possible is the lack of a prophetic voice. Huh??? Seriously??? I can easily imagine the facial expression on some of your faces. Let me explain.

It is written: "Believe in the LORD your God, and you will be established; believe his prophets, and you will succeed" (2Chr 20:20). So, our success greatly depends on our level of trust in the LORD’s messengers. Oh? But I thought that cursed was the man who trusts in man and makes flesh his strength and that, we were to put ALL our trust in the LORD (Jer 17:5; Pr 3:5)?

Don’t panic; there is no contradiction. Jesus said that those who really wanted to do GOD’s will (i.e. trust GOD) would know whether His teaching/message is from GOD or not (Jn 7:17). Indeed, when we fully trust GOD, we welcome those He sends to us with open arms; we believe what they say; we receive the reward of the prophet and thus, succeed.  

It is not often that GOD thunders His voice from heaven. When He wants to instruct or warn an individual, a people or a nation, He speaks through somebody: a prophet. Prophets are not just there to predict doom; they are also –mainly- there to provide us with solutions and a sense of direction - even though these are often quite disconcerting for GOD’s ways are not ours.

• A woman was about to die of hunger with her son, when she met a prophet (1Ki 17).
• The sons of a poor widow were going to be sold as slaves when a prophet told her what to do in order to pay her debts and prosper (2Ki 4).
• An army General would have been plagued with leprosy if not for a prophet (2Ki 5).
• Armies suddenly found themselves without water for the troops and horses, until a prophet gave them a solution to their situation (2Ki 3).
• Another army always knew what the enemy was about to do, thanks to a prophet (1Ki 20).
• Some men almost got into serious trouble after losing a borrowed axe in a river; but thank GOD, they had a prophet in their midst (2Ki 6).
• Some other men unfortunately ate some poisonous fruits or veggies and would have all died, if not for the intervention of a prophet (2Ki 4:39-41).
• A young man could not find his asses. Luckily, he had the reflex to go to the seer who lived in a different town. The prophet did not only tell him where to find the donkeys, he also told him that GOD has chosen him to be king! What a journey! (1Sam 9)
• What is your own problem?

If only we would pay attention to prophetic word, we would spare ourselves a lot of trouble. We would even deal with the suffering which is beyond our control like natural disasters better; and may even find unsuspected solutions, if we could just stop to ask: "Is there no prophet of the LORD here, through whom we may inquire of the LORD?" as well (2Ki 3:11, 1Ki 22:7).

After having said this, I am not advising you to entrust your life with just anybody: the fact that one bears the title ‘Prophet’ doesn’t mean that he/she is a genuine. Jeremiah said: “As for the prophet who prophesies peace (i.e. prosperity, success, health etc.), when the word of that prophet comes to pass, then it will be known that the LORD has truly sent the prophet» (vs 28.9). And warning against false prophets Jesus concluded: “You will recognize them by their fruits” (Mat 7:15-16). Don’t be fooled by prophecy-traders. When giftings are truly authentic, one doesn’t have to pay for them: they are freely given. You can decide, on your own accord, to give an offering to the man of GOD whom you are going to see: it is scriptural (1Sam 9:7-8); but it is not up to the prophet to tell you what you must give him in order to be blessed. He himself must believe GOD who knows his true needs and who will surely know how to touch the hearts of those coming to seek the LORD through him.

I said that the worst possible tragedy was the lack of prophetic voice. When there is no prophet, there is no compass. People are like sheep without shepherd. They don’t even realise that much of what they call ‘good’ is ‘abomination’ in GOD’s eyes. Unfortunately, one day or the other, GOD will have to intervene. It is to avoid this tragedy that the greatest Prophet of all times, the Word, GOD’s perfect mouthpiece, Jesus, was born and came on earth. He is the Beloved in whom GOD is well-pleased: Let’s listen to Him. The Bible is the greatest prophecy. Let us read it, believe what it says and put it into practice.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Just a question…

 

I was so busy yesterday that I forgot to post! Anyway, this week’s article is very short. It is just a question over which I would like you to ponder and eventually share your answers on the blog or my Facebook page. Let’s debate.

“What do you think is the biggest tragedy that can befall an individual, a community or a nation?”

‘See you’ next week with my own answer. Up until then, take care and GOD bless!

Living to influence the world

 

I had scheduled another article for this week; but I could not ignore the headline news, which is dominated by, the death of Nelson Mandela. I know that you have already read countless articles on him online; so, I won’t be writing another one.

Since the 20th century, there haven’t been many whose death has shaken the entire world. We can think of Gandhi, J.F. Kennedy, Lady Di, Michael Jackson and, to a lesser extent, Whitney Houston and Mother Teresa. However, Mandela’s death seems to have been at another level and had the biggest impact. Perhaps, it could be because we now live in such digital times that any information can quickly become a planetary event. What is certain, is that, like Gandhi and Diana, Mandela was loved by all – the few Afrikaners who could see nothing else than a terrorist when he was released from prison excluded of course. Everybody loved him and there are not many people in the world who have never heard of him – which cannot be said of some other illustrious individuals like Mother Teresa or Whitney Houston.

I do not know whether Mandela was a Christian or not; and, actually, I do not even think that it matters anymore. If he was one, praise GOD! But if he wasn’t, then we have to acknowledge the fact that his life has exemplified many Christian values.

Personally, I sincerely wish most Christians could display at least half of his humility, forbearance, magnanimity and sense of mission and sacrifice. I wish Christians would love their enemies and their oppressors as he did. Oh, yes, I do believe that if our churches were filled with such people, we would definitely change the world. We would definitely make disciples of all nations. After all, today South Africa is a pure product of the inheritance and philosophy of Nelson Mandela.

Test everything – and thus, every life -; hold fast what is good. Earnestly desire the higher gifts (1Th 5:21; 1Co 12:31). I would therefore like to exhort us to examine his life; hold fast to what has made it great; and be inspired to live lives that will deeply transform all our circles of influence.

I leave you with four of his quotes:*

• There is no passion to be found playing small - in settling for a life that is less than the one you are capable of living.
• It always seems impossible until it is done.
• I have retired, but if there's anything that would kill me it is to wake up in the morning not knowing what to do. Or very similar: There is nothing I fear more than waking up without a program that will help me bring a little happiness to those with no resources, those who are poor, illiterate, and ridden with terminal disease.
• If there are dreams about a beautiful South Africa, there are also roads that lead to their goal. Two of these roads could be named Goodness and Forgiveness.

Think about this and refocus your life.Have a great week and GOD bless you.

*Read more at: http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/n/nelson_mandela.html

He is under your feet…

 

I was at a prayer meeting on Saturday and a verse was read from the book of Joshua which caught my attention. Until that moment, I had never looked at it closely and had never linked it to another passage in the Gospels.

Before going any further, let me remind you that in hermeneutics*, when a fact is mentioned two times or more in the Bible, it carries a particular importance – “At the mouth (on the evidence) of two or three witnesses shall the matter be made sure” (Deut 19.15). And this is even more so when the fact is repeated in both the Old and the New Testament. In such a situation, it basically becomes a perpetual law.

After the fall of Adam and Eve, GOD cursed the serpent, saying: “I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her Seed; He will bruise your head, and you shall bruise His heel” (Gen 3:15).

Centuries later, by GOD’s grace, Joshua had just won a war against a coalition of five kings. He turned to his generals and told them: "Come near; put your feet on the necks of these kings… Do not be afraid or dismayed; be strong and courageous. For thus the LORD will do to all your enemies against whom you fight." The guys obeyed, put their feet on the kings’ necks and Joshua struck them to death. Then, he hanged them on trees; let their bodies hung until evening**; threw them into a cave and set large stones against the mouth thereof (Jos 10:24-27).

Joshua was so ruthless because he knew that this war was not just a natural one: it was essentially a spiritual warfare. Indeed, these kings were actually the physical representatives of certain spiritual entities: the princes of darkness (Eph 6:12). And death by hanging was a curse (Gal 3:13).

Finally, there is another witness in the New Testament. Jesus sent some disciples on an errand and they came back rejoicing that even the demons were subject to them in His name! Jesus replied saying: “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall hurt you” Lk. 10:17-19.

When do you think that Satan fell from heaven? It was definitely not while the disciples were fulfilling their mission; but way before, sometime in eternity. It is written indeed: “Now war arose in heaven, Michael and his angels fighting against the dragon. And the dragon and his angels fought back, but he was defeated, and there was no longer any place for them in heaven. And the great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world--he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him” Rev 12:7-9.

The demons are subject to us since eternity, GOD has long decided that their fate and that of their master is to be under our feet. The books of Genesis, Joshua and Luke remind us that all our combats are pre-recorded; they are not a live broadcast. GOD has already fought for us. Satan has already been thrown down. Demons have already been publicly put to shame on the Cross and we wage war from a position of victory. We are seated in Christ in heavenly places. We are in a position of domination and in the highest possible position. We war from above; and when we look down, we can see the enemy under our feet!

GOD bless you and strengthen your hands in the battle. Have a great week.

*Hermeneutics is the science of the interpretation of sacred books and ancient texts.

** Having stripped rulers and authorities, He made a show of them publicly, triumphing over them in it (Col 2:15).