Victor Chen Ministries

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.
Isaiah 48:17 (NKJV)

The word “profit” in the Hebrew word is ya-wal’ which means to ‘ascend to’ or to create ‘value’ and benefits. It means to have something and be able to do good with it.

The bible tells us that it is the Lord who teaches us how to profit. To a modern day businessman or businesswoman, we have a notion that to profit is to just keep making as much money as we can. The Lord has greater plans for us than just adding more zeros onto our bank book balance.

We create value by adding to God's kingdom in our own ways- be it in service, time, prayers and of course finance. I have always believe whether in church, friendship. work, business, friendship or marriage - it is what we add to the system and not what we take from the system that counts. That way we will never feel short changed by anyone as our focus was to bless and not take.

I was blessed to have dinner with Ps.Christopher Kee of Grace With Community Church (Melbourne).

His preaching anointing was really powerful as I attended a service preached by him, and his word of knowledge was very accurate when he prayed for me. Praise God!

For a while I have been pondering on the origin of 39 stripes. The Bible says by His stripes we

1):were healed (1 Peter:2:24) --- past tense

2):and are healed (Isaiah 53:5). --- future tense.

It is almost like a pass-down knowledge in churches that the 39 stripes each represent a different major disease category. My pastor used to say that there are 39 disease categories and Jesus took 39 stripes and thus He can heal all the 39 major diseases that afflicts mankind. I searched the Bible and could not find much support for this, but then again some biblical knowledge are passed down rather than from the Bible, i.e Peter took the 39 stripes upside-down as he did not see himself worthy in dying like the Lord Jesus.

Insurance companies usually insure you for 36 major illnesses. So what 3 types of illnesses do they not insure you for? Yes, definitely "suicide" would be one, but what about the other 2 disease category?

Maybe I will research further into this but below is an article to share by Ps.Snyder.

Q: What is the Biblical origin of thirty-nine stripes?

A: The number has its origin with Deuteronomy 25:1-3, where the Lord commands, "If there is a dispute between men and they come into court and the judges decide between them, acquitting the innocent and condemning the guilty, then if the guilty man deserves to be beaten, the judge shall cause him to lie down and be beaten in his presence with a number of stripes in proportion to his offense. Forty stripes may be given him, but not more, lest, if one should go on to beat him with more stripes than these, your brother be degraded in your sight."

Saint Paul, an expert on receiving beatings, lashings, and stoning, wrote the Corinthian Christians, "Five times I received at the hands of the Jews the forty lashes less one. (2 Cor. 11:24)" Why the change from thirty-nine to forty? Before a full answer, let's see what Martin Luther said about the
Deuteronomy text: "First a law is established concerning the penalties for evildoers. Those who are not to be punished with death or fines but with stripes shall be flogged according to the measure of the crime; only the stripes are not to exceed forty in number. The purpose is added: 'That the brother may not be made contemptible and degraded in your presence.' Therefore he wants punishments to be inflicted, not because of our passion or desire for vengeance but by a rule of moderation and reason guided by uprightness. This befits an honorable commonwealth."

We note that the punishment was to be carried out in the presence of the sentencing judge. His job was to guarantee that the beating didn't exceed his command, whether forty lashes or less. We may think the forty lashes harsh, but evidently up to that point was not what God considered to be "cruel" or "unusual." With this in mind, it's easier to see why Paul (and others) would receive "the forty lashes less one." Those responsible for interpreting and carrying out the Law of God didn't want to exceed His command, so they built in a safeguard. If someone accidentally missed one count, the flogging would still stop before forty was exceeded.

Thirty-nine was also the closest multiple of three to forty without going over. Since lashings were often done with a treble-lash or set of rods, thirteen strokes would complete the punishment. Here, however, a miscount could raise the number to forty-two, so extra care would likely be taken. Through extra-biblical writings such as rabbinical commentaries, we read that thirty-nine lashes were standard by the time of the New Testament period.

By writing about this, Paul (who "boasts" in his weakness) also lets us know just how horrible the crime of preaching the Gospel was to his enemies. Nothing save death or extended imprisonment was a harsher punishment than the maximum number of lashes the Law allowed. Thus we see that few "crimes" or "sins" more vile existed than proclaiming Christ. Making the claim that Jesus was the true Son of God, preaching that He was the Way, the Truth, and the Life and that no one received salvation except through Him was considered shameful, horrible blasphemy.

Paul's boast also illustrates the strength he received from God to endure such treatment on multiple occasions and the joy he experienced in being allowed to suffer as did his Savior. Of course, Jesus wasn't flogged by the Jews but the Romans. Roman law had fewer qualms about either the pain or the shame, so and its beatings were often severe. Thus, we cannot know but that Christ received many more wounds on our behalf. Through the prophet, He made His "boast" even before His birth: "I gave my back to those who strike, and my cheeks to those who pull out the beard; I hid not my face from disgrace and spitting. (Isaiah 50:6)" Just as "with His stripes we are healed, (Isaiah 53:5)" so do we receive the strength and encouragement to faithfully proclaim and live His truth to a world that violently resists hearing and believing.

To Ask the Pastor, please write Ask the Pastor, PO Box 12, Emma, MO, 65327 or send email
to askthepastor@aol.com.

Walter Snyder is the pastor of Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Emma, Missouri and coauthor of the book "What Do Lutherans Believe."

Scripture quotes from ~The Holy Bible, English Standard Version~, © 2001 by Crossway Bibles.

Ask the Pastor, © 2002 by Walter P. Snyder. It may be reproduced in totality, including this disclaimer, by anyone, provided that no profit is generated by said republication and redistribution. Translations into other languages should similarly note the United States and any appropriate international copyrights, as well as God's Scriptural injunctions concerning the property of others.

David Guzik's Commentaries on the Bible
Deuteronomy 25 - More Laws on Various Subjects
A. Two laws to protect criminals and animals.

1. (1-3) A limit on corporal punishment.

a. They justify the righteous and condemn the guilty: This is the simple responsibility of all government and courts. As Paul describes the role of government in Romans 13:4: For he is God's minister to you for good. But if you do evil, be afraid; for he does not bear the sword in vain; for he is God's minister, an avenger to execute wrath on him who practices evil.

b. If the wicked man deserves to be beaten: Apparently, God considers that some criminals are wicked and deserve to be beaten. We seem to have a justice system today that considers itself more compassionate and kind than God Himself, yet we can't say that we live in a more just or safe society. Maybe God does know best!

"Among the Mohammedans there are very few law-suits, and the reason is given . . . because they that sue others without just cause are to be whipped publicly." (Trapp)

c. Yet, though sometimes a beating was the appropriate punishment, Forty blows may he give him and no more. God agrees with the idea that there is a such thing as excessive punishment, and this was intended to prevent excessive punishment. Additionally, the beating was to be administered in the presence of the judge (an be beaten in his presence), so he could make sure the punishment was not excessive.

In 2 Corinthians 11:24, Paul lists this among his "apostolic credentials": From the Jews five times I received forty stripes minus one. The forty stripes minus one means Paul was beaten by the Jewish authorities with thirty-nine blows on five different occasions. Why did they only beat him with thirty-nine blows if they could have used forty, according to Deuteronomy 25:3? Because as a common practice, the Jews would only allow thirty-nine blows to be administered, to both show mercy, and to scrupulously keep the law - one blow was left off to protect against a miscount.

January 01, 2008

This Word is the compilation of the prophetic words and consensus of the Apostolic Council of Prophetic Elders (ACPE). This year, the council met at the beginning of the Jewish calendar, September 12-13, rather than at the January time period, in order to have time to distill and hear the Word of the Lord before the turning of the Gregorian calendar. (Note this in light of several of the prophecies that have already come to pass since this word was given in September of 2007.)

While this is a prophecy for the year 2008, it is difficult at times to put a prophetic word in a certain chronological time structure as the lives of individuals and the choices they make can also have an affect on the timing of what God has shown to us. Some of these prophecies are more appropriately given for the “next season” of our lives rather than simply a one-year time frame.

2008: The Year to Possess the Gates

Blessing I will bless you, and multiplying I will multiply your descendants as the stars of the heaven and as the sand which is on the seashore; and your descendants shall possess the gate of their enemies. Genesis 22:17
The one who breaks open will come up before them; They will break out, Pass through the gate, And go out by it; Their king will pass before them, With the LORD at their head. Micah 2:13
This year the Holy Spirit keyed off of the number 8 to us. The number 8 represents new beginnings. God wants us to go through new doors (or gates) to go to a new level in everything we do. The Lord cautioned us that while many want to experience the new wine (i.e., new moves of God), there are some who want to “wear their old robes” or that which is comfortable to them into this new season of time. This will not work. It is critical that we all are willing to give up old practices, structures, the influence of relationships that tie us to the old if they refuse to allow us to move into the new things.
As we met as prophets, this was probably one of the most fertile times that we have had in the release of not only the word of the Lord, but spiritual instruction on how to get into the “new things” and “new gates”. This includes the shutting of old gates and doors, seeking the Lord for how to move into the new in a proper way, and asking God for wisdom for the move.

Biblical patterns for the number 8

Here are some significant aspects we were shown about the number eight for this next year from some biblical patterns:

1. David was the eighth son--new DYNASTY for Israel. (This includes the word legacy as a key word.)
2. Circumcision takes place on the eighth day--new life through covenant. A new holiness movement will require personal circumcision or the cutting away of sin issues in our lives, and then the church will see a national move of holiness.
3. Eight souls on the ark--new beginning of the earth, new revelation of God’s judgment and His grace.
4. Eighth note on the piano begins a new octave. Look to God for the release of new sounds and songs.
5. Seven colors in rainbow spectrum--eighth color begins the new spectrum.
6. Eighth day is the beginning of a new week.
7. Josiah began his reign at age 8 bringing a new reign in the midst of idolatrous predecessors. He began to seek the Lord for himself in the eighty years of his reign, which later resulted in his purging Israel of the altars of Baal. Look to a new reformation generation arising who will purge their lands of sin and bring biblical reformation. Solomon also began to purge the idols from Israel in the eighth year of his reign.
8. Jesus appeared to Thomas--the doubter--on the eighth day after His resurrection. Many doubters will convert and be visited by God in special and unique ways.

8 in new beginnings

Genesis is the book of beginnings in scripture. Here are several prophetic emphasis from it that are applicable for us today:

1. The anointing to create

Creative and innovative ideas. God is going to release upon His people many ideas that will lead them to prosper spirit, soul, and mind. This creativity will also help us to “work smarter, not harder”. The curse of toiling under heavy burdens with huge moments of frustration has caused delay and exhaustion. Seek the Lord for new ways to do things that will release the finances you need, and streamline your life without working to simply get by on a day-to-day basis.

2. The anointing for dominion

This is the anointing needed to fulfill the biblical mandate found in Genesis 1:28 to “be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion." Seek the Lord for a way to be fruitful in evangelism and fill your cities with the doctrine of Christ. (Acts 5:28) New evangelism outreaches will fill our cities along with visitations of God upon young revivalists. Young people will study the lives of Leonard Ravenhill and E.M. Bounds once again with the fire for winning souls burning in their hearts.
Each sector of society will begin to be touched by the power of God in new fresh ways from government, education, the medical fields, media, the arts, and other areas. No longer will the church bemoan what is going on around them in society but ask themselves the question, “What are we going to do about it?” and “What is my assignment in seeing this happen?”

3. The anointing for creative miracles

The frequency of the miraculous will increase--particularly unusual creative miracles. In this season we will see not only churches filled with miracles, but whole cities. “Cancer-free zones” will be the medical talk of the day as some churches and cities have such frequency of seeing cancer healed that it catches the attention of many, including the secular news.

Possessing the Gates

The Transfer of Wealth

While many have believed there is going to be a great transfer of wealth, there is a frustration on some that have “believed but not yet seen”. In seeking the Lord about this, one revelation came that there has been a demonic “spirit of delay” sent against the Body of Christ--particularly to those in the marketplace. Chronos under Strong’s definition #5550 also can mean delay.

Therefore, it is important to understand that while God means to release the wealth, Satan is releasing his strategies to keep the same wealth “locked” that we are working to “unlock”. God wants to open locked gates in ’08. In order to possess the gate of wealth, as an example, to develop plans to eradicate systemic poverty, we need to develop new structures of intercession to do the spiritual warfare necessary to transfer wealth.
Among other things, here are some forms that will take:

1. New prayer movements with a focus on marketplace intercession.
2. More business hiring intercessors to pray for their businesses.
3. Focused intercession and training for specific targeted sectors of wealth and business. Intercessors need to be trained to understand business so that they can pray intelligently.

New and greater emphasis on Intercession

God is going to pour out new wine upon the intercessors and new prayer structures across the face of the earth. Many 24/7 prayer movements will spring up in universities' campuses. Christians will ask for prayer rooms in their places of employment. It is time for us to “come out of the closet” and let our prayers and voices be heard in society. Teachings that were done in the 80’s and 90’s on prayer and intercession need to be revisited with a new eye and taught to the church.

Cyrus Anointing

God is going to anoint in a profound way some of His children with a Cyrus anointing to fulfill Psalm 107:16: For He has broken the gates of bronze and cut the bars of iron apart.

Spiritual Eldership

God is anointing leaders who will run for political office, become the presidents of corporations, the principals of schools and others who will sit in the gates of influence in society like Boaz did in biblical times.

Open the floodgates

Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. “Test me in this,” says the LORD almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it”.
It is time to possess the floodgates that will open the doors of favor and influence and finance. As long as we are obeying the mandate to tithe, God is going to flood us in several areas that will help us open these doors. Ask the Lord how to incorporate the word of the Lord for ’08 to open your personal floodgates of blessing and influence.

Here are some key words for you:

Revelation. God wants to pour out new revelation on how you are to function in this season of your life. Be flexible in your life at this moment for God’s changes and adjustments to occur in your schedule and way of doing things. Wisdom. God will give you wisdom not of this world, but His heavenly wisdom if you seek Him with all of your heart: wisdom for the shift, for new ways, for new assignments, and how to apply the revelation to go to new levels in your life.

Other Important Words of the Lord for ‘08

This is a season for things to come “full circle” in our lives. Things left unfinished in your life will get finished. Relationships that were broken will be restored. Broken dreams will be healed and come to life again. It is time to dream again! Go back and revisit the prophetic words that God gave you in the last season and past years that were not fulfilled and refuse to let go of them until you see them go into fruition. War over the words and believe them. (I Timothy 1:18, 2 Chronicles 20:20).

Admonition for Prayer Cover

God gave us a specific word that Satan will try to bring premature death to the Body of Christ. Please prayerfully cover yourself, your family, pastors, and those of influence specifically in your life.

Philanthropy

A new generation of philanthropists will arise out of the Body of Christ. A focus will be on the poor and needy. There will also be a major emphasis on using wealth to gain influence to be a voice in society for righteousness. This will lead to Christians and Christianity in general to be seen in a new light by those who thought that God and the church were unfeeling and uncaring.

New Emphasis on the Teaching Gift

The teaching gift will once again rise to the forefront as the Lord brings an emphasis on knowing the foundations of biblical truths. This will mitigate against the Body of Christ going off course and falling into error.

Holiness Movement

Holiness will come to the church again. With this will come a great exposing of sin in the pulpit. The Lord warned us that many would come under governmental scrutiny during the last half of ’07 and ’08 and that we need to examine ourselves so we are clean in every area of the ministry, finances, as well as spiritual examination.

New Civil Rights Movement

A new generation of civil rights leaders are going to emerge in the nation who will be a righteous voice. Their anointing will be so strong that they will supersede and be stronger and have more influence than those who are unrighteous and align with non-biblical stances. They will speak against the unholy influence of hip-hop and new prayer movements will also arise in the black community.

Kingdom Government of God

The government of God will become a new wineskin for the future move of God. (Matthew 6:10) Reformation back to the original design of Genesis will be a major focus and God’s creative anointing will be on those who move in this direction.

Specific Focus on Nations

There were five international areas that we specifically felt God’s spotlight on in the coming hour:

1. China
2. The “Ring of Fire” (Pacific Rim nations)
3. India
4. Israel and the Middle East
5. South America and Venezuela

We felt there was going to be an extreme battle between light and darkness for a season with increased persecution of believers. On the other hand, great harvest and advancement for the Kingdom of God will also take place. We all need to pray specifically for these regions of the world.

Pass through, pass through the gates!

Prepare the way for the people.

Build up, build up the highway!

Remove the stones.

Raise a banner for the nations.

Isaiah 62:10

In Hebrew, the number eight is rendered by the letter CHET, which is depicted in the form of a GATE.

The number eight is related to new starts and new life in the Scriptures eight is the number of the gate And I sensed the Holy Spirit saying this:

2008 is the year of the open gate. Prepare to pass through the gate. There are new beginnings ahead for those who have been waiting patiently for their moment to come. Obstacles are being removed. The Father is breaking his children out of a sense of captivity to past restrictions. The anointing for new beginnings is on many in this year. The time of frustration and exile is coming to an end. This is the Lord’s time for his people to rise up and follow him through the gates of opportunity. New starts are looming. Many are on the point of experiencing the new life that convergence brings. And the true church even though it will know many trials - is on the point of experiencing new life, a new season of vitality and creativity, a brand new Reformation. A highway is being built, stones are being removed, and a banner is being raised for the nations.

So get ready and do not be afraid. Do not be anxious. 2008 is the year of the gate and there is a BREAKER ANOINTING on those who are pushing up to the threshold of their opportunity:

One who breaks open the way will go up before them;

they will break through the gate and go out.

Their king will pass through before them,

the LORD at their head

Micah 2:13

Mark Stibbe.

St. Andrews, Chorleywood England UK

We all know there are spiritual laws, whereby if you obey them you will be blessed and if you disobey, you will be cursed.

Curses can be like ill-health, generational problems and ill fate. The worst curse of them all is "death". Adam was not created not to suffer death. "Sin came in and the curse was 'death".

With other religions, one does not know whether he or she is going to "heaven" or "hell". So they try to do good deeds and try to win their way into heaven in the sense that they hope in the balance they have done more good than bad to get their ticket to heaven. But yet they are not assured of their salvation.

The Jews has many sacrifices using animals as atonement for their sins. But how many more animals can you keep slaughtering? So Jesus came into the world to die once and for all for the sins of the world (John 3:16). It is that simple! He was the perfect sacrifice, once and for all. He died for your past, present and future sins. Even the Koran says Jesus lead a holy and perfect life. It is because God himself came to dwell amongst us, lived a perfect life, that even one drop of His precious price is an "overpayment" for all our sins. He took your curse(death) on His body (Galatians 3:13). That is why we don't need to Korban or earn our way to heaven. Our salvation is guaranteed once we have received Jesus as our Lord and Saviour. We don't have to work for it, and at our death bed still unsure whether we will go to heaven or not!

God’s desire has always been to make all things new. As Christians we should always live and walk in the reality of our new life in Christ Jesus and live in the reality of the verse below.

Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold all things are become new - 2 Corinthians 5:17

In view of this new life, I see next year as a year of new things.

2008 will be a year of new beginnings. Many people will experience new beginnings. If you believe you will experience a new beginning say - Amen.

In the year 2007, a lot of people experienced perfection. A lot of projects were completed.

In 2008, there will be new beginnings. New visions and dreams will take off.

In 2007, a lot of Christians toiled and sowed lots of seeds. In 2008, they will begin to reap that which they have sown. There will be a new beginning and open manifestation of that which they have laboured for.

In 2007, a lot of Christians poured out their hearts before God and asked God for certain requests that were not granted. In 2008, God will help them and wipe away their tears.

In 2008, lots of Christians would be rewarded. In 2007, they sowed, worked hard and grew weary yet they kept on moving. In 2008, they will be rewarded and honoured.

Are you believing God for a turn-around and a new beginning? If you are, this word is for you. Connect to it by faith and begin to pray for a new beginning in 2008 and surely, God will not disappoint you.

I saw the news on TV and heard that our Health Minister had resigned from all political and ministerial post after the video scandal.

There is always grace in the house of God, and we are not to condemn as if we have never done anything wrong in God's eyes.

I read in the papers that the previous Health Minister Dato.Chua Jui Meng had urged Dr.Chua to go through this difficult period. In God's house there is always grace and mercy. There is truly forgiveness for those who seek Him with their hearts. Man may condemn, but in Christ there is no more condemnation. We should pray for Dr.Chua in this particular time. That is the least we can do.