The Time for New Strategies

9th February 2020

In the past few weeks, I have been hearing and seeing in the spirit the word ‘New Strategies’ for countless number of times. I sought the Lord and He said this:

“This is THE TIME for new strategies! You have abundance of knowledge in this world. But, only My insight and wisdom will lead you to safety, stability and prosperity. For I seek to profit you, not to harm you. Stay close to Me and I will guide you.”

The Lord spoke further through Isaiah 33:6 (NKJV) that says, ‘Wisdom and knowledge will be the stability of your times, and the strength of salvation; The fear of the Lord is His treasure’.

I believe this is a crucial time to stay close to the Lord and walk closely with the Lord as all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge that we need for our future can only be found in Him (see Colossians 2:3).

It is written in Proverbs 9:10 (ESV) that says, ‘The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight’.

Wisdom [chokmāh] in Hebrew is derived from the word [châkam]. It means ‘to be wise in mind, word and action’, and ‘to be able to deal wisely’. On the other hand, ‘to have an insight’ means you ‘have the capacity to gain an accurate and deep understanding of someone or something’.

Every one of us needs God’s wisdom and knowledge especially in a time of change.

In Genesis 13:8-9 (NKJV), Abraham was going through a time of change, and he had to make a firm decision. So Abram said to Lot, “Please let there be no strife between you and me, and between my herdsmen and your herdsmen; for we are brethren. Is not the whole land before you? Please separate from me. If you take the left, then I will go to the right; or, if you go to the right, then I will go to the left.”

Abraham treated Lot, his nephew, like his own son. But when the young man had grown up and become rich under the care of his uncle, their herdsmen started to fight with each other for green pastures for their herds, resulting in tension in the household. It was not easy for Abraham to let Lot go, but it was necessary and it was the right thing to do. Out of his love for Lot, and also with the faith of knowing that God will take care of him, Abraham gave Lot the privilege to choose the land he preferred.

Do you welcome change? Are you willing to change your way of thinking and doing things when it is necessary? Do you check with the Lord how to make changes before taking any action? 

...Because they do not change, therefore they do not fear God (Psalm 55:19b NKJV).

‘To fear God’ is ‘to revere Him and respect what He says’. So, when God tells you it is time to change your strategy, method, approach, way of doing thing, or even way of thinking, TAKE HEED! You will listen to His instruction to change if you fear Him and acknowledge that He knows better than you, and that He also knows better than any of your seniors or gurus.

But the Lord watches over those who fear Him, those who rely on His unfailing love.

He rescues them from death and keeps them alive in times of famine.

We put our hope in the Lord. He is our help and our shield.

(Psalm 33:18-20 NLT)

You see, those who fear God and have faith in Him will listen, agree and do as He says. Because they know that God will not lead them into trouble, but He will lead them with His protection and providence. True humility and fear of the Lord will always lead you to riches, honor, and long life (see Proverbs 22:4).

How do you know what God wants you to do now? Be like ‘Mary’ who sat at the feet of Jesus, listening to His word, and spending time with Him. You will then receive His wisdom and guidance. Just do according to what He has instructed you to do. Do not be like ‘Martha’, who was succumbed by worries and loads of cares. Human effort is limited. But with God’s wisdom and guidance, results can be achieved easily without striving hard with human effort (see Luke 10:38-42).

“Come near to Me, hear this:

I have not spoken in secret from the beginning;

From the time that it was, I was there.

And now the Lord God and His Spirit have sent Me.”

Thus says the Lord, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel:

“I am the Lord your God,

Who teaches you to profit,

Who leads you by the way you should go.

Oh, that you had heeded My commandments!

Then your peace would have been like a river,

And your righteousness like the waves of the sea.

Isaiah 48:16-18 (NKJV)

Know that God, your Heavenly Father is a good God. You are always in His heart and He cares for you. He will always guide you and teach you to profit. May the peace of the Lord that surpasses all understanding guide your heart and your mind as you put your trust in Him. Amen! 

God has given you the solutions

The Lord gave me a dream in which someone who favored me gave me a gift. When I opened the gift box, I found a bottle of saline solution and a bottle of contact solution for contact-lenses. The Lord then gave me the understanding that the bottle of saline solution (saltwater) represents the gospel of peace - Jesus. The bottle of contact solution that does the cleansing, soaking and dissolving unwanted protein/minerals represents the Holy Spirit.

Interpretation: 

The Lord has given His people His peace and solutions to dissolve their uncertainties and problems. But they have to open the gift and use the solutions!

Then the Lord led me to the book of Daniel in the Old Testament. If you haven’t known the story of Daniel with King Belshazzar, you might want to read the whole chapter 5 of the book of Daniel before proceeding to read the below.

Daniel 5:11 (NKJV)

“There is a man in your kingdom in whom is the Spirit of the Holy God. And in the days of your father, light and understanding and wisdom, like the wisdom of the gods, were found in him; and King Nebuchadnezzar your father - your father the king -- made him chief of the magicians, astrologers, Chaldeans and soothsayers.

Daniel who had the Spirit of God in him was said to have wisdom and understanding ‘like the wisdom of the gods’.

As believers of Christ, you can have the same Spirit of God dwelling in you today. Believers of Christ who are filled with the Holy Spirit will be able to receive guidance of the Lord through words of prophecy, anointed dreams, and spiritual visions. 

(See Joel 2:28-29; John 14:16-17; Acts 2: 1-4; Acts 2:16-21; Acts 2:38-39)  

Daniel 5:16 (NKJV)

“And I have heard of you, that you can give interpretations and explain enigmas (dissolve doubts - KJV). Now if you can read the writing and make known to me its interpretation, you shall be clothed with purple and have a chain of gold around your neck, and shall be the third ruler in the kingdom.”

Enigma = something that is mysterious, and seems impossible to understand completely

Dissolve [shᵉrê’] = to free, to separate

Doubts [qᵉṭar] = a knot, confusion

Daniel was able to interpret and explain mysteries that freed people (especially the king) from confusion.

As you wait and soak in the Holy Spirit, He will reveal His wisdom and understanding to you. He will give you the solutions to dissolve problems and to have a clear direction for your life. 

(See Isaiah 64:4; 1 Corinthians 2:7-12; 1 John 2:20 & 27)

Daniel 5:29-30 (NKJV)

Then Belshazzar gave the command, and they clothed Daniel with purple and put a chain of gold around your neck, and made a proclamation concerning him that he should be the third ruler in the kingdom.

That very night Belshazzar, king of the Chaldeans, was slain.

Clothed with purple = authority

Chain of gold = prosperity

Third ruler = chief counselor to the king and crown prince

Daniel’s prophetic interpretation of the mysterious handwriting on the wall came to pass. The kingdom of Babylon fell into the hands of the enemy that night but Daniel still received the benefits promised by the king.   

You see, God’s wisdom is above all man-made political and economic systems. He is not limited by the scarce resources of this world. Therefore, when you live with the guidance of God’s Spirit and His words, you too will reap the benefits endued to you, even in this fallen world!

(See Ephesians 1:9; Ephesians 1:17-21)

John 14:26-27 (NKJV)

“But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.

“Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”

Open the ‘gift’ God has given to you as a believer of Christ, and use the ‘solutions’. Learn God’s ways through His Spirit and His words. You will be able to live with the divine peace of God and His blessings in every season of of your life!

Emerge with humility

The Lord showed me a vision some 9 to 10 months ago – ‘I saw many big submarines equipped with torpedoes and missiles had been sent out into the sea. But they were to submerge in the sea until it is their due time to emerge.’ The word of prophecy for the people was that the Lord has submerged and hidden His people to be equipped for a time.

Recently, I have received emails from some prophetic people in other parts of the world saying, “It’s time to emerge!” Yes, indeed! This is the time to emerge! Just like a baby being conceived in the womb and it takes 9 to 10 months to be born, so it is with many of God’s people today! It’s your time to emerge! The Lord then said further, “Yes, many will start to emerge. But they shall emerge with humility before Me. They shall emerge in My terms. Then, they shall prosper in everything they do.”

Rise up with humility before God

“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. Now My eyes will be open and My ears attentive to prayer made in this place. For now I have chosen and sanctified this house, that My name may be there forever; and My eyes and My heart will be there perpetually.”  (2 Chronicles 7:14-16 NKJV)

The word ‘humble’ above is ‘kâna’ in Hebrew. It means ‘to bend the knee’. If you are humble before God, you will submit to Him as someone who is greater, liken to one submitting to a king or ruler. You will seek His face as your Creator, Savior, Redeemer, King and Lord. God makes those who are humble before Him the ‘temple’ of the Holy Spirit and His presence dwells with them. (See John 14:23; 1 Corinthians 6:19).

“Therefore, humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.” (1 Peter5:6-7)

The word ‘humble’ here is ‘tapĕinŏō’ in Greek. It means ‘abase or to bring low’. If you are humble before God, you will see yourself lower and weaker than Him. You will admit that He is smarter and stronger than you. In other words, you will surrender all your concerns and anxieties to Him. Stress and depression come when people try to do everything with their own effort and they are not willing to depend on God.

Hence, to humble before God is to choose to seek His face and cast all your cares upon Him, because you acknowledge that He is a mighty God, He cares for you, and He has the best solutions for you. If you truly understand this revelation, you will know how to do things in God’s terms.

Rise up in God’s terms

“For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways,” says the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts.” (Isaiah 55:8-9 NKJV)

People who really think that God is smarter than them will not just keep thinking or saying about it. They choose to seek Him for His wisdom so that they can do things in His terms.

You may ask, “I thought there’s no condition in God’s love?” Yes, God loves us unconditionally. He sent Jesus to die for us even when we were still sinners. But there are terms to your salvation and Christian walk. God’s terms for your salvation is ‘Just believe in My Son’s perfect work on the cross and receive your salvation without self-effort’ (see Romans 10:9-10). God’s terms for your Christian walk is ‘Just depend on Me, do what I say and don’t turn back to self-effort’ (see Galatians 3 & 4).

Below are the examples of some of the people in the Bible who did great things in God’s terms. God told:

•     Moses to lift up his rod, and the Red Sea was divided for God’s people to escape from Pharaoh’s army (see Exodus 14).

•       Joshua to lead God’s people to march around Jericho for 7 days, and the wall of the city collapsed (see Joshua 6).

•        David to go to battle only when he had heard the wind blew in the tops of the mulberry trees, and he defeated the Philistines (see 2 Samuel 5)

•      Jehoshaphat to send a worship team at the battlefield, and his enemies began killing among themselves (see 2 Chronicles 20)

•       Jesus to be crucified on the cross and be resurrected from death, so that whoever believes in Him shall be saved (see Romans 10:9-10)

Do you think any ‘sound-minded’ person with common sense would regard the above ideas from God as wise? No! They sound crazy and insane especially when one is facing pressure from followers or enemies. But, you see, the wisdom of God is foolishness to men except to those who have the mind of Christ (see 1 Corinthians 2:14-16). As the results showed, the people who held on to God’s terms eventually saw great victories!

Unfortunately, there were people in the Bible who undermined God’s terms for them. God told:

•       King Saul to wait 7 days for Samuel to come and offer the sacrifice, but he was desperate and he did it himself. His hastiness cost him his kingdom (see 1 Samuel 13).

•       A man of God not to stop to eat or drink but to return after prophesying to King Jeroboam. But he was persuaded by a senior prophet to drop by his place and he gave in. He was killed by a lion on the way back (see 1 King 13).

You see, God has His reasons behind every instruction that He gives to His beloved. Know that God loves you and He always has good things in store for you. Also, be convinced that He is wiser and He will not lead you to destruction. Stick to His terms for you so that you will not be ‘reactionary’ to pressing circumstances, manipulated by human persuasion, or lured by enticing worldly offers.

In conclusion, emerge and rise up with humility and in God’s terms today. For sure, you will succeed and prosper by doing things in His ways and His timing. Amen!

Being wise but harmless

When Jesus was sending out His twelve disciples to proclaim the kingdom of God, heal the sick and cast out demons, He said to them in Matthew 10:16, "Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents and harmless as doves." (See also Luke 10:3)

Today, each of you Christian, believer & beloved of Christ, child of God, is sent out to the world too. Whether you have a spiritual ministry or a career/profession, you are His witness to the world (see Matthews 28:18-20; Acts 1:8). 

As Jesus had said, you are indeed His sheep sent out amongst the wolves. The wolves here speak of people with fleshly wisdom and earthly values. These are people who may harm you for their own advantage and may not live by the principles of God (i.e. godly values) but by the principles of this fallen world. However, let’s also not start judging the unbelievers, or point finger at one another in the Body of Christ. We are not aiming at any person here, but at every believer’s ‘thought life’ (see 2 Corinthians 10:3-6). Know that one of Jesus’ anointing and ministry is ‘to proclaim liberty to the captives’ (see Luke 4:18). In other words, He came to bring ‘renewal of mind’ from the earthly values.

So, how to have the godly wisdom that triumph over the devil’s wisdom? 

God loves you so much He would not want to see you deceived the way Adam and Eve used to be deceived by the ‘serpent’ those days. That’s why the Word of God says, “Be wise as serpents”. So that you can now more than match the serpent’s tricks! If in time past, you were ‘no match’ to the serpent’s wisdom, I have good news for you today. When Christ walked on earth, He more than matched whatever the ‘serpent’ had to conjure up against Him! Today, as a believer, you are indeed after Christ’s seed (or ‘spiritual DNA’) as well. Colossians 2:3 says, “In Him, you have all the treasures of wisdom…”, and James 1:5 says, “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.”

The apostle Paul told the Ephesians to walk in wisdom in Ephesian 5:15-21, “See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, *redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be unwise, but *understand what the will of the Lord is. And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but *be filled with the Spirit, *speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, *singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, *giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, *submitting to one another in the fear of God.” (See also 1 Corinthians 14:20; Colossians 1:9; 4:5-6)

‘The serpent’ (see Genesis 3:1), or the devil loves it *when you lose your right timing and opportunity, or when you get cheated, conned, or being taken advantage of. He loves it *when you are ignorant of the will of God and therefore lose your direction in life. He also loves it *when you refuse to be filled in the Spirit or pray in the spirit, thus being weak in the spirit. *He will do anything to make you feel rejected and therefore refuse to join any church gathering, or *to entice you to neglect your time of worshiping God or reading the Word of God. He wants you to start feeling that God is far away from you or angry with you. *He also wants you to feel that you are always lacking and discontented. Not just that, *he will also always try to sow seed of discord among the believers, so that they’ll always strife against one another. The serpent will also do all he can to make sure you get ‘stranded’ in the status-quo, so that you are unable to move forward!

But when you choose to walk in the wisdom of God (His way), you rise above the way of the world, above all the influences of the ‘principalities, powers, the rulers of the darkness of this age, spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places’ (see Ephesians 6:12).

Therefore, fear not because you can choose to walk in the wisdom of God and thus be wiser than ‘the serpent’: 

* The Lord is your Redeemer and He is the God of second chance. If you have lost your prime time, opportunity in the past, or been cheated and taken advantage of before, ask Him and He can grant you even better opportunity doors from now on (see Titus 2:14). 

* Know that it’s the sure will of God for you to be saved, restored, renewed, healed, delivered and provided for at all times (see Luke 4:18). These are His general will for you. Choose also to seek His specific will for you and He would be glad to show you. 

* Choose to be baptized in the Holy Spirit and pray in the spirit often, and you will never be lacking wisdom and direction in life (see John 14:26). His Spirit is the Spirit of wisdom.

* Appreciate corporate worship and fellowship in church gatherings, so that you can exhort, encourage, and strengthen one another in Christ (see Acts 2:42). 

* No matter how busy you are, choose to find personal time and space to worship God. When you have close relationship with God, no temptation or trial can shake you. Also, during your personal worship, God can give you the wisdom and ability to succeed with less effort and time (see James 4:7-8, 10). 

* Choose to give thanks to God always for everything He has provided you and start giving thanks for His future blessings too. Know that God, your Abba Father loves to bless you with every good thing in life (see Matthew 7:11). 

* Choose to submit to the spiritual authority or leader God places over you. Also, esteem and accept one another in the Body of Christ (see Hebrews 13:17; Philippians 2:3)

You see, walking in godly wisdom cannot be achieved by enforced religious act or self-effort. You simply choose to walk in it because you know God loves you and wants you to experience His goodness. Just as when you chose to receive Christ and salvation by faith through the conviction of the Holy Spirit in your heart, you can only be made wiser by the working of the Holy Spirit in your life! For it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure (Philippians 2:13). When you choose to agree with God’s way and to honor Him in your daily walk, He’ll start His work of renewing your mind with His thoughts, values and wisdom (see Titus 3:5). 

Also, when you are wise and successful, choose to be ‘harmless as doves’. Apostle Paul told the Romans in Romans 16:17-20, “Now I urge you, brethren, note those who cause divisions and offenses, contrary to the doctrine which you learned, and avoid them. For those who are such do not serve our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly, and by smooth words and flattering speech deceive the hearts of the simple. For your obedience has become known to all. Therefore I am glad on your behalf; but I want you to be wise in what is good, and simple concerning evil. And the God of peace will crush Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.” In the world, you may have met people who would do all they can, and at all costs, to get what they want, even if it means causing misfortune to other people. But you don’t have to be the same to succeed in the world because you have your Abba Father who watches out for you and gives you wisdom to succeed. Not being aggressive, competitive, and repulsive does not make you a loser. 

Remember 1 Corinthians 1:26-31, “For you see your calling, brethren, that not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called. But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, that no flesh should glory in His presence. But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God --- and righteousness and sanctification and redemption --- that, as it is written, "He who glories, let him glory in the LORD."

People of God, you are the ‘sent out’ ones and you shine as light in the world (see Philippians 2:15). The preaching of gospel to your family members, relatives and friends will surely be effective when it is coupled with your life’s testimony that glorifies the Lord. Therefore, my friends, by His grace and His Spirit, as the Word says, be wise as serpents and be harmless as doves.

Seek wisdom for solution

After giving a session of counseling not long ago, I realized many believers are still stuck in their problems after much prayer. Mostly it’s because they don’t know they are to look for solution through prayer. In fact, many are yet to have the understanding that their prayer lives involve constant 2-way responsive conversation with the Lord.

Prayer is not giving God a long list of shopping list then end with amen. Prayer is not dumping your emotional garbage to God. You have the right as a child of God to express your emotion and feeling to Him. But just because you start and end with lots of tear doesn’t entitle you to have all wishes come true. You can’t twist God’s arm. Well, probably He did entertain a little when you were a spiritual babe in Christ. But as you grow spiritually, He expects you to relate to Him with increased spiritual maturity, disregarding your biological age.

What is spiritual maturity? You are maturing more in the spirit when you are in closer relationship with God and your spiritual understanding is increasing. Thus, you are maturing more in the spirit when you start thinking more like Him. There is no end to maturing in the spirit. It takes your whole life time on earth and eternity because you will never understand God enough. But you can grow spiritually more matured by spending time worshipping God, praying in the spirit and understanding, reading and meditating upon His Word.

If you haven't been spending time with God and His Word for some time, don't feel condemned. Just draw near to Him with a sincere heart. Your Heavenly Father's arms are always opened for you. If you can pray in the spirit with heavenly tongue, do that. If you can't, start with a time of worship. Sing some worship songs so that your heart will be opened to hear from Him. Seek the Lord and He will give you understanding (Proverbs 28:5b). It just takes your will to work the relationship.

Let’s get back to the topic. When you were a child and you wanted something badly, you wailed, you threw tantrum, and you got what you wanted from your parents. But if you still behave the same as a grown up, your parents will deem themselves a failure in parenting. Yet, that does not short change their love for you. They just want you to be a responsible grown up person. It’s merely God the Father’s reflection on them (Matthew 7:7-11). God still expects you to look unto Him with a childlike heart minus the childish way (Mark 10:15). As a grown up, you seek your parents’ advice and act accordingly. You approach your parents for their wisdom that they had gained through life-experience (Proverbs 1:8-9). What more should you seek the wisdom from the God of the whole universe, the Alpha and Omega, who sees and who is the Beginning and the End (Revelation 22:13)? If you don’t have the advantage of asking your parents’ advice due to different unfortunate reasons, you can always count on your Abba Father who is omniscience (all knowing).

The book of Proverbs teaches us to seek wisdom from God.

My son, if you receive my words, and treasure my commands within you, so that you incline your ear to wisdom, and apply your heart to understanding; Yes, if you cry out for discernment, and lift up your voice for understanding, if you seek her as silver, and search for her as for hidden treasures; Then you will understand the fear of the LORD, and find the knowledge of God. For the LORD gives wisdom; From His mouth come knowledge and understanding (Proverbs 2:1-6).

Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths (Proverbs 3:5-6).

The Lord is always in the search for someone who will seek His face and advice like King David did. And hey, He is never stingy with what He can give you (1 King 11:38).

However, be objective in getting prayer answered from God by acknowledging that His thoughts are higher (Isaiah 55:8-9). I assume you understand that you are seeking specific revelation from God here. So, whether the answer requires your immediate actions or requires you to simply wait patiently for His sovereign intervention, obedience is the key (Isaiah 1:19). If you aren’t sure you’re receiving correctly, ask for 1 or 2 more confirmations. God is a generous Father. Whatever reply you get from your Heavenly Father, you have got your solution. As long as you follow the guidance of His Spirit closely, breakthrough is at hand.

It is so easy to live in this chaotic world without having to strive and being stressed out if you know how to rest in God’s presence and seek His wisdom. Surely you will experience and enjoy the peace and joy of God because you live a God-guided life.