Almond Flowers -Awakening

When I came home on Sunday night, the Holy Spirit somehow directed my attention to the flowers painted on the tiles of one of my living room walls. I noticed it there before but somehow the Holy Spirit directed me to their significance. They were almond flowers. They have a special Biblical significance. I've already told some people that my moving house was itself significant. The flowers painted on the living room wall made it even more so.

One of the biblical references to the almond was in Jeremiah chapter 1 when God told Jeremiah that He was watching His word to perform it. (The Hebrew for "almond" sounds like the Hebrew for "watching") In Isaiah 55, it is written that God's word will not return to Him void but will accomplish the purpose for which He has sent it. So I believe that we're living in a day and age where we have to hold onto our faith. His promises to us (even through prophetic words) may perhaps be taking a very long time to be fulfilled but we should not be discouraged or lose our faith and hope but we always have to know that God is in the business of fulfilling His promises! :)

Another one of the biblical reference is when God chose a leader among the Levites and Aaron's staff budded, blossomed and produced almonds overnight when placed before God's presence. This talks about the power and the authority that God has placed in the hands of His chosen leaders. So leaders, we have to shift up, move on and have faith in Him to exercise the power and authority He has given to us. This power is the resurrection power that is mentioned in Ephesians 1 that raised Jesus from the dead and seated Him at God's right hand far above all rule and authority, power and dominion and every title that can be given. This is the power that enables us to take our place with Christ and to tread over our enemies to deal with everything that has kept us form God, that enables us to recover life from what was seemingly dead, that enables us to have a restoration of vision even after having been discouraged. As the dry, lifeless and dead piece of wood produced buds, blossoms and fruit overnight, so does God want to restore what has been stolen from us in such a short time. It's time for the power of God to judge our enemies and bring in His kingdom of righteousness peace and joy. Hallelujah!

Almonds also talk about fruitfulness. Nana said during the retreat that this is the year of fruitfulness! There is a shift from dryness to budding to blooming to fruitfulness and all this is happening very quickly (as Aaron's rod did so overnight)! It also talks about the leadership, the firstfruits of the ministry. This is because almonds are among the earliest to blossom. They blossom earlier than other plants. JK said during the Dec 15 Gatekeepers meeting that she saw flowers blooming. To me, this talks about the leadership, especially the 2nd liners blooming in their roles. Before the fruits appear, the flowers appear. So this means that before we hit the fulness of what God has in store for the ministry, there must first be a blossoming of leaders who are willing to bear fruit for Him. Like how I've said many times that we need the tent pegs deeply in place before people come in the tent so that the tent won't collapse. Let the firstfruits blossom, let them awake to serve the purpose that God has for them! :)

Amonds in Hebrew are derived from "shaqad" which also means "hasten." God will hasten His work in our midst as the leadership team comes to serve the purposes which He has for each one of us. Cos there is an acceleration in His plans and purposes. This is the year to move. This is the year to shift gears.

So let us all, especially the leadership team, be alert, sleepless, be on the lookout, wake, and watch for God's unfolding plans and purposes in our midst. It is no coincidence that at the beginning of this year we had the Prayer Retreat. The fact that we prayed in shifts overnight testify to the shifting of gears, the shifting of the ministry. The fact that it was overnight reflects the Lord's call for us to remain awake, watchful and prayerful, and to hold onto His promise as He hastens His plans and purposes in our midst. Thy Kingdom come and Thy will be done! :)

God bless you! :)