“When I was with you, I certainly gave you proof that I am an apostle. For I patiently did many signs and wonders and miracles among you.” (II Corinthians 12:12)

At first blush, all three proofs of Paul’s apostleship may appear to be synonyms. In reality, they come from three separate Greek words: semeiois, terasin and dunamesin.

Signs do not call attention to themselves, but point to something or someone else. The the turning of water into wine in Cana by Jesus is described as “the first of his signs” (John 2:11) that manifested God’s glory.

Wonders are those events which elicit wonder from the onlookers.

The root of the Greek word translated Miracles is the same one from which “dynamite” is derived. In other words, it is an explosion of power.

In 2 Corinthians 12, Paul implies that self-proclaimed “super-apostles” (v. 11) do not meet these three criteria which characterized his ministry.

While Paul seems to be playing defence, he insists that signs, wonders and miracles show up in the arena of ministry.

Are these three only limited to a special category of people known as “apostles?”

Let’s take a close look at the word itself. An “apostle” is simply “one who is sent.”

As a matter of fact, the title is applied to none other than Jesus himself: “Therefore, holy brothers and sisters, who share in the heavenly calling, fix your thoughts on Jesus, whom we acknowledge as our apostle and high priest.” (Hebrews 3:1)

Isn’t there a sense in which all of us who follow Jesus are indeed “the sent?” He says: “As the father has sent me, so I send you.” (John 20:21)

He makes this stupendous promise in John 14:12: “I tell you the truth, anyone who believes in me will do the same works I have done, and even greater works, because I am going to be with the Father.”

Everyone who believes in Jesus is sent to do signs, wonders and miracles, as we see in Hebrews 2:4:“God confirmed the message by giving signs and wonders and various miracles and gifts of the Holy Spirit whenever he chose.”

Why am I presenting such quotes in copious quantities today? Simply to stress that whether it is the earthly ministry of Jesus, the early church or you and me, we can expect all three to occur with regularity.

Darren Canning and I can certainly attest to this reality as we have recently seen Stage IV cancer healed, heart blockages open up, limbs grow out, bones come into alignment, tumours disappear, embolisms dissolve…and the list goes on and on.

• Signs? Check!
• Wonders? Check!
• Miracles? Check!

As a matter of fact, I personally experienced a great demonstration of God’s dunamis power in my body that elicited wonder even in a G.I specialist and turned out to be a sign that pointed to Jesus. (You can hear all about it in this short video clip).

All of this is to say that as we come to the close of the 12:12:12 fast, my dear brothers and sisters, expect Jesus to keep His promise with signs, wonders and miracles in your life as well…today!

For He is the same yesterday, today and forever. (Hebrews 13:8)

I look forward to hearing your testimonies–today and in the days to come.

When this had dawned on him, he went to the house of Mary the mother of John, also called Mark, where many people had gathered and were praying. Peter knocked at the outer entrance, and a servant named Rhoda came to answer the door. When she recognized Peter’s voice, she was so overjoyed she ran back without opening it and exclaimed, “Peter is at the door!” (Acts 12:12-14)

Would you please take a couple of minutes to read Acts 12:1-18 so you can see these verses in context?

Can’t you just visualize the disbelief of the prayer group at Mary’s house when Rhoda told them that Peter was at the door?

“That’s impossible! Peter is supposed to be in prison, not in our house. We, the Prayer Group, we’re here at Mary’s house. We’re praying for Peter, who is in prison. He can’t be at the door of our house where we are praying for him! It must be his angel!”

Earlier on in v. 5 we read that “the church was earnestly praying to God for him.” What were they praying for?

Since James had already been beheaded and Peter was to face trial the next day, did they assume that Peter would also meet the same fate? Did they pray that he would find peace? Or did they actually pray for his release?

We don’t know for sure. But, we do know that they were not prepared to see the answer to their prayer standing at the door of the house where they were praying.

I was reminded of two promises found in the Old Testament when I read these verses:

“The days are coming,” declares the Lord, “when the reaper will be overtaken by the plowman and the planter by the one treading grapes.” (Amos 9:13)

The Message Translation puts it this way: “Things are going to happen so fast your head will swim, one thing fast on the heels of the other. You won’t be able to keep up.”

In other words, expect answers to your prayer to come really, really fast…way faster than you are conditioned to expect.

And expect them to come in ways that you wouldn’t expect at all.

My hunch is that the church believed for Peter’s release following his trial. There was no way they could conceive of the trial being pre-empted by his release. Amen?

Here is the other promise: “Before they call I will answer; while they are still speaking I will hear.” (Isaiah 65:24)

When we started the 12:12:12 Fast 10 days ago, we stated that one of the purposes of the fast was “To press in for fulfilment of promises and prophetic words” that had not yet come to pass.

On Day 10, this incident in the life of the early church gives us reason to believe that our prayers can also be answered by God at an accelerated pace.

Could you expect this to happen before the end of this year?

Perhaps you have faith to believe that the answers would come even before we wind up the fast in two more days.

Does today’s passage inspire you to really stretch out your faith and “see” that the answer to your prayer is actually knocking at the door?

I am quite confident that right now God is orchestrating testimonies that will remind us of Acts 12:12 in the lives of those who subscribe to Destiny Word of the Day. Could it be you?

In Jesus’ name I declare to you that your breakthrough—in faith, health, missions, relationships, church issues, property matters, career, finances—is not being held up anymore. The angel of the Lord has broken off all limitations.

And the Answer to Your Prayer is at Your Door. Praise God!

“When you are brought before synagogues, rulers and authorities, do not worry about how you will defend yourselves or what you will say, for the Holy Spirit will teach you at that time what you should say.” (Luke 12:11-12)

I sat in disbelief when a woman told me that very few of her church friends had called her following a family tragedy.

When I questioned our faithful members why they had not reached out to her at this difficult time, almost without exception, the answer went something like: “Pastor, I would’ve called, except I kept thinking I wouldn’t know what to say…so rather than say something that was inappropriate, I didn’t call at all.”

Can you relate? Have there been times in your life when you have said nothing for the very same reason?

• Did you pass up on an opportunity for evangelism because you were not sure what to say?

• Did this fear hold you back from praying with someone who needed healing?

• Did you opt to keep quiet and fume in anger rather than confront someone in love simply because you heard that inner voice: “But I wouldn’t know what to say?”

My answer is a resounding YES to all three 🙁

Jesus anticipated these kinds of scenarios long before we would encounter them.

In this passage from Luke 11, he addresses the issue of persecution which was imminent and inevitable for his followers.

It was important for them to know how to respond.

He did not want them to be paralyzed by the fear of not knowing what to say.

Watch how Jesus prepares them.

He does not teach them appropriate responses or techniques to cover possible situations.

e.g. “If you’re taken before a Jewish authority, quote the prophet Jeremiah. If you’re before a Gentile magistrate, here are a few quotes from a Greco-Roman poet that I believe will come in handy!”

Instead, Jesus assures them: “Don’t worry. I’ve already made arrangements with the Holy Spirit to stream whatever you need to say at that particular moment. Just open up your mouth and start talking.”

He wants them to rely on a Person, not a program.

You will notice that Jesus makes two distinct promises:

#1. The HOLY SPIRIT will teach you. (Can you think of a better substitute teacher?)

#2. He will teach you AT THAT TIME.

Not a moment early…so you don’t have to worry about remembering what He said.

Not a moment late, so you won’t have any regrets about what you said or could’ve said.

The words will come right on time.

What more do we need, eh?

Persecution is indeed a reality for many followers of Jesus even today. It is likely to increase with time. So, Jesus’ promise is just as timely today as it was then.

But it is not limited to persecution only.

The next time you are tempted to freeze in fear when an opportunity comes along for evangelism, healing prayer, loving confrontation or an encouraging word, you may still hear a voice: “But, I wouldn’t know what to say!”

At that point, if you could stay still for a while, you will hear another voice: “Do not worry about how you will defend yourselves or what you will say, for the Holy Spirit will teach you at that time what you should say.” It is the voice of Jesus.

In the meantime, would you kindly take a minute or two to share how the Holy Spirit came through for you in such situations?

It would be a great blessing to me and to other subscribers who need this reassurance.

Thanks in advance for your prompt response.

P.S: For those of you who are on the 12:12:12 Fast with us, Congratulations! You’ve made it past the halfway point.  6 more days! You can do it, says the Holy Spirit!!

“People are worth much more than sheep, and so it is right to do good on the Sabbath.” (Matthew 12:12)

Would you kindly read Matthew 12:1-14 in preparation for this revelation?

You can almost hear the legal beagles of Jesus’ day barking at him, can’t you?

“Why are your disciples picking grain on the Sabbath? They are not supposed to do that!” (v. 5)

“Is it right to heal someone on the Sabbath?” (v. 10)

Notice how Jesus deftly turns the tables on them with his responses.

He begins with an appeal to a historical fact:

“Do you not realize that David, the most revered ruler in Jewish history, dared to disobey the Law by eating bread that was only reserved for priests?”

Then Jesus moves on to a religious irony:

“Based on your premise, priests technically disobey the Law every time they serve the Lord by working on the Sabbath!”

Finally, he hits the point home at the personal level:

“If you had a sheep that fell into a ditch on the Sabbath would you let it bleat to death for fear of landing on the wrong side of the Law when you lift it out? Wouldn’t your instinct for mercy to an animal in distress overrule your insistence on keeping the Law at any cost?”

Jesus lands the hammer with a thud by healing the man with a crippled hand and drives home his point that people are worth more than sheep.

Adopting the apostle Paul’s language in 2 Corinthians 3:6, we could see this as an instance where the letter of the Law kills, but the spirit gives life.

According to the letter of the Law, David and the priests are guilty and must be punished.

Yet, God does not respond with a heavy hand. He extends an understanding arm of forgiveness instead.

Thus Jesus reflects His Father when he responds in the spirit of the Law and asks the man to stretch forth his crippled hand.

Should one of the law-hawks dare to “work” on the Sabbath by rescuing their sheep, would they prefer God to punish them according to the letter of the Law or forgive them according to the spirit of the Law?

The answer is obvious, isn’t it?

Can you relate to these Pharisees at all? I can.

Are you ready for a true confession?

When someone speeds past me on the freeway and leaves me in the dust, I would dearly love an unmarked cop car to appear out of nowhere and nail the driver with the heaviest possible fine.

However, when I get stopped for speeding, I pray that the police officer will show mercy and let me get away with the least punitive option—a warning 🙂

We would like to believe that we deserve mercy when we mess up, but others deserve punishment for the same mess-up…hello?

In other words, we want others to respond to us in the spirit of the Law even while we respond to them in the letter of the Law.

So, may I suggest that you take some time and ask the Holy Spirit to show you where you may have operated according to the letter of the Law and not the spirit?

Will you ask him also to highlight times when you have been disappointed/angry because others have not treated you in the spirit of the Law?

I believe the Lord is calling us to repent of this double standard and seek His forgiveness.

Will you?

“God will bless everyone who patiently waits until 1335 days have gone by.” (Daniel 12:12)

Prophetic visions in the book of Daniel are not the easiest to decipher and interpret.

Fear not, dear subscriber, I ain’t about to get caught in that there trap today or make an attempt to draw you in with me. Nosiree!

Instead, I want to place before you The 45 Day Difference that the Lord highlighted for me in this chapter.

Would you please take 2 minutes to read the entire chapter first? Daniel 12.

The part of the vision that is relevant for this revelation is the answer to the question: “How long before these amazing things happen?” (v. 5)

Daniel is told that some rather undesirable things will happen over a period of 1290 days.

However, those who wait an additional 45 days and hit the 1335 mark will be blessed.

Would you agree that waiting is not easy for most of us?

If you disagree, just listen to your children on Christmas Eve. “Why do we have to wait till tomorrow? Why can’t I open mine now?” Sound familiar?

Such impatience is not limited to children either. My birth family had a tradition of opening up just ONE gift on Dec. 24, because, get this, my Dad, yes, my Dad, couldn’t wait 🙂

Scripture offers us many examples of those who could not wait long enough.

I Samuel 13:7-15 recounts the sad story of how King Saul deprived his descendants the privilege of occupying his throne because he acted in haste. Saul took matters into his own hands and offered a sacrifice before the prophet Samuel arrived. He was able to wait seven days, but not the few extra hours by which Samuel was delayed. The difference it made was everlasting.

According to I Corinthians 15:6, the risen Jesus appeared to over 500 people following his resurrection. In Acts 1:4 he tells them: “Don’t leave Jerusalem yet. Wait here for the Father to give you the Holy Spirit, just as I told you he has promised to do.” Yet, just a few days later, there were only 120 left in the Upper Room (Acts 1:15).

Let’s do the math. The other 380 or more simply could not wait an additional 10 days for the promise to be fulfilled. They robbed themselves of the experience of being there when the Holy Spirit came in wind and fire. What a shame!

In fact, many Scriptures remind us of the blessings of waiting. Here are some verses:

Psalm 37:34: Wait on the LORD…and He shall exalt you to inherit the land.

Psalm 40:1:I waited patiently for the LORD; and He heard my cry.     

Hebrews 6:15: Abraham waited patiently and received what was promised.

As you look back at your life, can you identify times when you have experienced the blessings of “waiting until 1335 days have gone by?” Praise God!

Do you have stories to share about how you could not get past the 1290 day mark and suffered the consequences?  Praise God, because now you know better!

Do the math again. Do you realize that after 1290 days you are already 96% of your way there? You just need to stick it out for the remaining 4% and you’re in the Blessing Zone!

Do you know anyone who is going through the pain of quitting too soon? Pray with empathy for their plight. Ask God to grant them the inner strength to keep going till they reach the 1335 day mark.

On this fifth day of the 12:12:12 Fast, my prayer for you is that you will indeed be one who recognizes and realizes the blessings of The 45 Day Difference.

“Whoever is wicked covets the spoil of evildoers, but the root of the righteous bears fruit.” (Proverbs 12:12)

The word “bears” is in the present tense, suggesting an ongoing, continual reality.

Other translations refer to the roots “enduring”, “going deep” and “standing firm.”

Jeremiah 17:8 says this about the righteous: “They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit.”

Clearly there is a correlation between the enduring quality of the root and the fruit-bearing fruit capacity of the tree.

Psalm 1:3 which resembles the verse from Jeremiah in many ways, refers to the tree bearing fruit “in season.”

Once again it reinforces the fact that a tree with deep, firm roots can be expected to produce fruit on a continual basis.

According to John 15:16, Jesus expects his followers not just to bear fruit, but “fruit that will last.”

A root that endures produces fruit that endures. Amen?

In the well-known parable of the sower and the seed, Jesus says: “Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root.”

No wonder that we see a repeated emphasis on the root in Scripture. Here are a couple of snippets from the writings of the apostle Paul:

“Be rooted and built up in him, be established in faith, and overflow with thanksgiving just as you were taught.” (Colossians 2:7)

“…you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.” (Ephesians 3:17-19)

As we examine our rootedness and resulting fruitfulness on this fourth day of the 12:12:12 fast, would the word “enduring” be an apt description of both?

Would you characterize the fruit of the spirit that your life is producing right now as being “enduring?”

Or is it marked by sporadic outbursts of fruitfulness followed by bouts of barrenness?

Would you ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you the true nature of your root today?

If it is anything less than enduring, would you ask him to show you what you need to do to produce fruit that endures?

I pray that your life may be marked by Enduring Root that produces Enduring Fruit.

“And you shall rejoice before the Lord your God, you and your sons and your daughters, your male servants and your female servants, and the Levite that is within your towns, since he has no portion or inheritance with you.” (Deuteronomy 12:12)

The book of Deuteronomy contains words that Moses gave to the people of Israel as they were poised to enter the Promised Land.

He paints beautiful pictures of how prosperous life would be in the Promised Land. He also rings alarm bells of the dangers that await them.

He points out the blessings of living in obedience to God’s commands. He also minces no words about the disastrous consequences of disobedience.

The passage from which today’s 12:12 verse is taken is no exception. Would you please take two minutes to read Deuteronomy 12:1-14?

Now do you see what I mean?

If you were to read verse 12 in isolation, all you would see is a group of happy people joining together in a celebration dance.

But before they can cut loose with happiness, they need to take care of some serious business.

The chapter begins with a stern command:

“You shall surely destroy all the places where the nations whom you shall dispossess served their gods, on the high mountains and on the hills and under every green tree.  You shall tear down their altars and dash in pieces their pillars and burn their Asherim with fire. You shall chop down the carved images of their gods and destroy their name out of that place.” (v. 2, 3)

God calls for a ruthless elimination of every object of worship that could conspire to turn their hearts away from Him.

He emphasizes this exclusive attention to Him with a demand:

“Then, to the place that the Lord your God will choose, to make his name dwell there, there you shall bring all that I command you: your burnt offerings and your sacrifices,  your tithes and the contribution that you present, and all your finest vow offerings that you vow to the  Lord.” (v. 11)

He insists that they worship only at the location designated for that express purpose and nowhere else.

Can you see how God establishes WORSHIP as the highest priority for His people when they are in the Promised Land and enjoy rest from all their enemies?

Has anything changed for us today?

Granted we do not have to go to one particular central shrine as the people of Israel did. Jesus made that very clear in his conversation with the Samaritan woman, didn’t he?

“Woman, believe me, the hour is coming when neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem will you worship the Father…But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him.” (John 4:21, 23)

Regardless, as we enter Day 2 of the 12:12:12 Fast, I believe that we too are called to ensure that we establish WORSHIP as the highest priority in our lives.

This means that we too must rid ourselves of everything that will compete for our attention and prevent us from making our Father the ONLY focus of our worship.

Would you ask the Holy Spirit to reveal what needs to be on your chopping block?

It calls us to gather with others who are also worshipers of the One True God, followers of Jesus, in a place where we can worship in spirit and in truth.

Are you doing this faithfully?

God asks that we come with our tithes, our sacrifices and our finest offerings.

Would these words describe what you bring to the altar?

When we do all three, then the joyous scene of celebration portrayed in Deuteronomy 12:12 will become reality now, as it was then, in our “Promised Land” as well. Amen?