This is a great read, full of wisdom and personal stories from Cornelius Quek of Redding, CA.
As I read through, I found myself taken on a journey of stepping out in faith, doing "what I know to do" as I watch faith meet with God's appointed time of Promise.
As you read through this...remember that God IS your Promise Keeper...and He is faithful! (To Subscribe to the Elijah List subscribe here.)
"God Says, 'Keep Painting the Lines!' He is Faithful in His Appointed Times and Promises"
Painting the Lines of God's Promises
At the foot of the hill from my house in Redding, California, there's been construction work done to widen the streets. They were laying down new asphalt and a new paint job on the roads, in what seemed like was taking them months to do. It's caused much frustration, inconvenience, and danger—as the new roads weren't painted—making it difficult to navigate the lanes.
One morning while driving to church, it struck me that they had finally finished widening the street and had done a phenomenal job painting the roads. What was interesting to me was that the night before, while driving home, it had looked like it was far from completion. Yet it turned into an overnight miracle—because by the morning, the roads looked completely brand new.
"There's an appointed time! Keep contending for His promises. Keep painting the lines!" |
While driving on the brand new roads, I appreciated the immaculate paint job, the meticulous attention in detail to the exact positioning of the shoulder, the bike lane, and the precise distance between every painted line. That's when the Holy Spirit whispered to me, "There is a spiritual alignment right before you. I have set the lines, the boundaries, and the perimeters of My promises before you. I have calibrated My plans and purposes concerning you. Just like what it says in Psalm 16:6, 'The lines have fallen before you in pleasant places...' But son, you do the painting. You paint the lines. Just like these brand new roads, you keep on painting what I have already lined up for you."
Immediately, I knew the Lord was speaking about "contending in faith" for the things that He's already promised.
The Missing Link: Persevering in Faith
It is often taught and preached in Spirit-filled churches about walking under an "open Heaven"—an exciting and faith-building notion that God is ready to "pour out" His promises, blessings, healings, and "fill your storehouses." Yet often at the same time, Believers aren't taught and equipped to exercise their faith muscles to contend for His promises when things and situations don't look anything like what God has promised. Many believe that God's promises are "yes and amen," yet struggle when their storehouses aren't being filled. Disappointment, discouragement, hopelessness, resentment, and disillusionment can easily set in and suffocate the life of the seed of God's promises.
The connecting but often missing link between an "open Heaven" and "filled-up storehouse" is the contending in faith, which without this many will give up on the promises of God prematurely. Many Believers aren't prepared to buckle down and dig their heels in with faith, diligence, patience, and endurance.
"Then you will not become spiritually dull and indifferent. Instead, you will follow the example of those who are going to inherit God's promises because of their faith and endurance." (Hebrews 6:12 NLT)
God has spoken to many of you about His promises and you've gotten all excited, but the waiting season has caused weariness, and the delay has caused disillusionment and discolored the goodness of God, and your seemingly dead situations has caused you despair and despondency. (Photo via Unsplash)
"Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything." (James 1:4 NIV)
He is the Faithful Promise Keeper
I am prophesying life to you today! While things may not turn out the way you've hoped, He is still faithful. You may think God's missed His timing, but He is still the promise keeper. You may think God's messed it up, but He is still the One who keeps His covenant to a thousand generations! He who began a good work in you is still the One who will be faithful to complete it! He knows your end from your beginning, and everything in between! He hasn't forgotten about His promises to you, and He surely hasn't forgotten about you! He watches over His Word to perform it!
Appointed Time
There is an appointed time attached to every single one of God's plans, purposes, and promises. If He said it, if He promised it, then it's going to happen. The Lord told Abraham, "Is anything too hard for the Lord? At the appointed time I will return to you, about this time next year, and Sarah shall have a son" (Genesis 18:14).
There's an appointed time! Keep contending for His promises. Keep painting the lines! The Lord knows all things. In His perfect timing, He will give and provide for you the very things that are attached to that timing. Even when we think He's late, He's still on time because He exists outside of time.
"You may think God's messed it up, but He is still the One who keeps His covenant to a thousand generations!" |
Let's look at Mary and Martha. They thought Jesus had messed up. He was four days late; Lazarus' body was already decomposing. Jesus went outside of time and raised His friend from the dead. God's power can reach into time and work a miracle out of it. Time does not define God and what He does. He defines it! Even when you think that your situation is all but dead and buried and that God has missed His time, He is orchestrating and setting things up on your behalf, even when you don't see it!
Steps to Contend for Your Promises
Perhaps, no narrative in the Bible is more fitting, relevant, reflective, and prophetic about contending and inheriting the promises of God, than the journey of the Israelites into the Promised Land in the book of Joshua. Israel had just endured 40 years of wandering aimlessly in the wilderness—perhaps that's reflective of the hard and dry season that some of you have had to go through—and now we arrive at the doorstep of Israel's entrance into Canaan.
The stage is set and the land is ripe for conquest. The children of God are primed to enter a new season, poised to set foot on and claim the land of promise, and geared up and ready to see, smell, feel, touch, and experience the fulfillment and manifestation of God's promises that had been so long in the waiting. We see a people who are on their way to something greater than they've ever known, a people whom God had said, "Now is your season to inherit the promises I have for you."
The lines have been drawn. The lines have fallen for you in pleasant places. And now God's about to show and teach us how to keep painting the lines and how to contend for His promises in Joshua 1.
1. "I am giving you the place of promise. Everywhere you walk will be yours" (see Joshua 1:2-4). Hang on to the promises of God. Read the prophetic words He's spoken to you over and over again.
2. "Your enemies will not be able to stand against you" (see Joshua 1:5). God's given you the authority and victory over the enemy's resistance and opposition. Be alert. Do not be ignorant of the enemy's tactics. Nip discouragement and disappointment in the bud. (Photo via Unsplash)
3. "As I was with Moses, so shall I be with you. I will never leave you nor forsake you" (Joshua 1:5). Keep the presence of God at the forefront of your life. Enjoy His presence in the waiting. Sense His nearness through worship and prayer.
4. "Be strong and courageous..." (Joshuah 1:6-7). Strengthen yourself in the Lord by building your faith. Don't give up. Keep believing even when it doesn't make sense. Surround yourself with like-minded friends who will encourage you and believe together with you.
5. "Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips..." (Joshuah 1:8). Mediate and stand on His Word and promises. Speak life and faith to your circumstances. Keep painting the lines! (To Subscribe to the Elijah List subscribe here.)
Dr. Cornelius Quek
Founding Director, 7K
Email: info@the7k.org
Website: www.the7k.org
Dr. Cornelius Quek, founder of 7K and Elisha's Room, is passionate about equipping and mentoring contemporary leaders and culture-makers who know their God and impact every sphere of society. He was powerfully delivered from a background of Buddhism and pagan idol worship in Singapore. He has traveled and ministered internationally and in the United States. Dr. Cornelius graduated from London School of Theology, United Kingdom, earned a Master of Divinity (Hons.) and Doctor of Ministry from the world-renowned Oral Roberts University, researching on increasing the supernatural in the marketplace. He is the author of Provided: The God Who Walks In The Middle Of Your Need. He and his beautiful wife Tiffany are commissioned by Bethel Church in Redding, California. Dr. Cornelius also teaches Bible at church as well as the Bethel School of Supernatural Ministry.
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