From the desk of one of His faithful servants Chief Apostle L.R.Gooden Jr., as we embark upon the new year of 2024/5784 the Lord spoke to me that it will be a year of Open Doors for Revelation, Re-Alignment and Renewal for Prophetic Fulfillment according to:
Revelation 3:8 NKJV…“I know your works. See, I have set before you an open door, and no one can shut it; for you have a little strength, have kept My word, and have not denied My name.
The Jewish Year 5784 began on Rosh Hashanah September 15th 2023 using the Hebrew Alphabet and Gematria system.
5 = Grace: (1000 years - Millennium)
7 = Completion, perfection: (100 years - Century)
8 = New beginnings: (10 years - Decade)
4 = Door, prophetic fulfillment: (1 year - Year)
Of all the prophetic numbers aligned with 5784, I feel led to focus primarily on the number 4. This Hebrew year, represented by 5784, holds tremendous significance for the number 4 and its corresponding letter Dalet. I believe this year will be a season of radical transformation, renewal and realignment, if we obey the Lord’s voice. We must be aware though that there will be a spiritual battle for the effectual door of promise to be opened. While the number 4 is called Dalet in Hebrew and it represents a picture of a tent door, or open door, I believe that the Lord is speaking to us even deeper about these spiritual doors.
The spiritual meaning of door is the entry point to a new space. Doors represent the transition from one place to another. They are also symbolic of change, especially when they are closed or locked. When a door opens, it opens up possibilities to new experiences. Doors can also be considered as exit points as well as entrances. The person who opens the door decides whether it will be an entrance or exit point.
Doors are also used to keep out unwanted visitors, but they can also be used as an invitation for others to come inside and enter into your life, mind and heart. A door often represents the opening of new possibilities and challenges in the future.
2024/5784 is going to be a year of the voice of the Doorkeeper. Doors will begin to appear for many, with heavenly encounters and signs showing the way. Borders will open between new partnering nations/regions/houses. Beware of any vulnerability in defenses that may be exploited, so it is necessary to prepare your defenses before the new year. It’s Time to chart a new path for prophetic fulfillment.
In the Hebrew calendar, the number 8 symbolizes new beginnings, and the open door represents a gateway to God's blessings and breakthroughs. Just as the Israelites crossed the Red Sea on dry land, leaving behind their bondage and entering into freedom, this year will mark a significant transition for God's people.
Additionally, the number 80 in Hebrew is represented by the letter "pey" (), which signifies a time of completion and fulfillment. Again, the number 4 in Hebrew is represented by the letter "dalet" (), which symbolizes a doorway or a path. It signifies stability, foundation, and the four corners of the earth. Therefore, as we step through the door of this new beginning, the number 4 reminds us to establish a solid foundation in our faith and embrace the divine path that lies ahead.
The open door signifies not only physical doors of opportunity but also spiritual portals unveiling fresh encounters with GOD. As we align our hearts with God's purposes, we will witness the fulfillment of His promises and experience a greater outpouring of His Spirit. It is a time to seek His face, listen intently to His voice, and step boldly through the doors that He opens before us.
Therefore we must stay in tune with what GOD is saying to His Church, and we know that Faith comes by Hearing and Hearing by the Word of GOD through His Prophets & Preachers.
So Now Under a strong Anointing of the Holy Spirit I RELEASE TO YOU THE THEME AND SCRIPTURE FOR KBCMI FOR 5784/2024:
5784 The Year of the Open Door for Revelation, Realignment and Renewal for Prophetic Fulfillment!
Revelation 3:8 NKJV…“I know your works. See, I have set before you an open door, and no one can shut it; for you have a little strength, have kept My word, and have not denied My name.
It’s time for the Remnant of GOD to put their complete trust in the WORD of GOD and receive everything that GOD has in store for us in the year of 5784/2024.
May the Lord continue to Bless you & keep you in Jesus Name.
Blessings,
Chief Apostle, L.R. Gooden Jr.
Enrich your spiritual life as you study inspirational messages gleaned from the Word of God! The Holy Bible is filled with wisdom that will strengthen your character and deepen your walk with the Lord. As you reflect on key Scripture passages, you will discover encouraging lessons and practical applications woven throughout the Word. Leon Gooden presents an in-depth study of key Bible passages to sharpen your faith and help you grow in your understanding of God. Each chapter explores a different Scripture passage to encourage you in your daily walk with Jesus Christ. In this book, you’ll learn: -How God calls you to be actively involved in His purposes and plans for the world -You are God’s child, accepted and highly favored—made holy and righteous by the blood of Jesus -How the Holy Spirit will empower you to bring life to others who desperately need it -How God wants to sanctify you and move you toward the future He has planned for you -How worship can overcome temptations to sin -When nothing makes sense, God has a perfect handle on things -Why the result of knowing God is an intimate relationship with the Creator of the universe This book is ideal to enhance your personal daily devotions, or as a Bible study tool in a small group setting. Short chapters with edifying messages are perfect for livening up your devotions! Start reading your copy of Walking in the Word today—and spark a flame in your heart for real growth as a child of God!
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Being a Christian does not guarantee that our lives will be trouble-free. But, it does guarantee us that we will never go through our problems alone. God says in His Word, “I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee,” (Hebrews 13:5). Despite our situation, winning over life’s hurdles is ours if we respond in the ways that God directs us. In the Old Testament book of 2 Chronicles 20:1-17, King Jehoshaphat gives us an example of what we need to do to have a victorious outcome:
Ask God for help. When facing a crisis, we must actively seek God’s help. This means that we must cry out to God in prayer for His help and commit ourselves completely to Him. This is what King Jehoshaphat and the people of Judah did in 2 Chronicles 20:1after the enemy nations declared war against them.
Let your fear drive you to God. The Bible says that King Jehoshaphat feared when he heard the news of impending disaster (vs.3). It is not unusual to be afraid when adverse circumstances come our way. Fear can be a positive force if it drives us to trust in God. Fear drove King Jehoshaphat directly to God. Rather than asking his priests to intercede on Judah’s behalf, King Jehoshaphat prayed to God himself.
Acknowledge God’s greatness. We must have the faith to believe that God is greater than whatever problem that we are facing. Therefore, He will be the one to save us because our problems cannot exist out of His presence. King Jehoshaphat and his people exalted God above the invading armies even though they knew they were facing total destruction (vs. 5-6).
Wait on God to respond because He has the solution to your problem. When King Jehoshaphat ended his prayer, the people of Judah stood before the Lord and waited on Him to speak to them. So many times, we take matters into our own hands because the pressure from our circumstances begin to mount and we feel we do not have time to wait on God. Unfortunately, we sometimes regret our actions. We can focus so much on the problem that we lose sight of who God really is. We limit Him and forget that He is limitless.
Act on what God says. Sometimes we question whether we heard God correctly when what He tells us to do is not what we want to do. Often, God tells us to simply praise Him and watch Him work on our behalf. This is where our trust in Him comes in because God takes the situation out of our hands. This is what happened with the people of Judah: “This is what the Lord says to you, ‘Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God’s…Go out to face them tomorrow, and the Lord will be with you,'” (vs. 15, 17,).
Begin to praise and thank God for His Word, then watch Him move. Praise releases God’s supernatural power into our situation. “King Jehoshaphat …appointed men to sing to the Lord and to praise Him for the splendor of His holiness as they went out at the head of the army, saying, ‘Give thanks to the Lord, for his love endures forever.’ As they began to sing and praise, the Lord set ambushes against the men of Ammon and Moab and Mount Seir who were invading Judah, and they were defeated,” (vs. 21-22,). Their praise opened the door for God to move in the midst of their distress. The Word declares that God inhabits the praises of His people. He was most surely there in their midst, and He will be in our midst when we praise Him as well.
When we encounter challenges in life, we must remember that we do not have to face them alone. Through His Son, Jesus Christ, God has given us the strength and ability to leap over life’s hurdles so that we will bring honor to Him and end up winners at the finish line, “Now thanks be unto God which always causeth us to triumph in Christ…,” (2 Corinthians 2:14).
No matter what happens or doesn’t happen in our lives, the joy of the Lord is the strength of every Believer. It is a deeper and abiding inner experience which goes beyond all outward circumstances. which goes beyond . Also, the joy of the Lord rests in the Believer’s knowledge that God is sovereign and in control of all things.
Where does the joy of the Lord come from?
God’s joy is a “Fruit of the Spirit.” It is a product of the Holy Spirit in the lives of maturing Believers (Galatians 5:22-23). And, The Holy Spirit’s ability to grow fruit in us isn’t dependent on life’s circumstances. Jesus says in John 15:4, “Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me.” So, we see here that the Fruit of the Spirit comes as a result of daily communion with God. And, obeying His Word through the guidance and power of His Spirit.
Joy in the midst of trials
The Apostle Paul experienced many trials and sufferings. If anyone knew about suffering, it was Paul. Yet, in 2 Corinthians 6:10 he wrote: “…sorrowful, yet always rejoicing…” And, in 2 Corinthians 7:4, Paul says, “I am overflowing with joy in all our affliction.” Even from his prison cell the Apostle Paul reminded Believers to be joyful (Philippians 4:4). Paul knew that God’s joy lasts even in the midst of our trials:
There are those who have it—and yet are continual sufferers. Everything that is supposed to be essential to earthly happiness, may be lacking—and yet their hearts may have joy that abides unbroken through all the pain and loss!.
Only God can give the inward joy, that is permanent, if you abide in Him. The world cannot give or take away this joy. The Apostle Paul firmly fixed his mind on Jesus. In fact, He knew that everything would turn out exactly as God had promised. And, because of Paul’s unwavering faith in God, he experienced this kind of joy.
The Bible says that the joy of the Lord, is our strength. Conversely, if we lack the joy of the Lord, we can not be victorious in adverse situations. And, without this spiritual joy to preserve us, we will find ourselves fearful and weak.
God’s joy strengthens us for struggle and burden-bearing. The Bible says that Jesus endured the cross for the joy which was set before Him. Although, He was not “happy” while being tortured and enduring a painful death, Jesus held on to His joy. This was because He knew He was accomplishing the will of His Father. And, through His blood sacrifice, the world would be reconciled to God.
How to keep the joy of the Lord
When Satan tries to rob us of our joy or when we go through tests and trials, we can still keep the joy of the Lord in our hearts. On the condition that, we continue to abide in our Heavenly Father and stand firm on His Word. There may not always be smiles on our faces, but on a deeper level, we will have strength to endure whatever situation comes our way. This is because our confidence is in God, and we know that He will work all things for our good (Romans 8:28).
King David knew from experience what it meant to wait on the Lord (Psalm 27:14). While David was waiting, he was chased through the wilderness by jealous King Saul. David had to wait on God for the fulfillment of His promise to reign as king. And, after becoming king, David was chased by his rebellious son Absalom. But, David did not give up, even though he was discouraged at times. The Bible says in 1 Samuel 30: 6 that when David was distressed, he “encouraged himself in the Lord his God.”
Waiting on God is not easy, and that is one of the reasons why depression comes. Often it seems God is not answering our prayers or doesn’t understand the urgency of our situation. That kind of thinking, however, implies that God is not in control or is not fair. But God is worth waiting for. Often God calls us to wait because He uses waiting to refresh, to renew, and to teach us. We should try to make good use of our waiting time by discovering what God may be trying to teach us while we wait.
There are several ways we can wait on God:
Focus directly on the Lord and not on our problem. Praise God for Who He is and read His Word on a regular basis. If we take our focus off of God, we are bound to fail and spiral even further into depression.
Continue in prayer until we receive our answers. God does not always answer our prayers immediately, sometimes it takes a while. What we may not realize is that while we are waiting, our faith and trust in God is becoming stronger.
Thank God for the renewed strength He has given you through your time of waiting on Him. Your renewed strength and your new perspective allows you to see God as greater than your problems. Therefore, the higher you climb spiritually, the smaller your problems will appear.
Since God has all strength, there is no reason for us to quit. Even the strongest people can get tired and become depressed, but God’s power and strength never diminish. He is never too tired, too depressed or too busy to listen to our prayers. God’s strength is our source of strength. So, when you feel life is weighing you down and you cannot go another step, admit that you cannot solve your problems and turn them over to God. Call upon God and ask for His help, then watch your hope return and receive a renewed strength.
When we become discouraged, we forget God’s mercies and blessings of the past and become fearful of about the future. The enemy will do everything in his power to get us to think that God has forgotten us.
But God says in His Word, “I will never leave you or forsake you” (Hebrews 12:5)
Psalm 27:14 says, “Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and He shall strengthen thine heart: Wait, I say, on the Lord!”
1). Increase happens when we continue with the word that God has spoken to us:
The word will lead us to our destination. A good example is the prophecy that we received this morning. We have the plane ticket with a particular date we will fly. We must be available to go on the journey. If the time has come and we are too busy, we will miss the flight. The ticket is not the place. If we are not on the plane, we will not reach the destination. The ticket is the entrance point.
God wants us to enter into the boat and the boat is God’s word. We must do what God wants us to do and practice what God wants us to practice. If we don’t go to the other side, there will be no increase. There is no increase without God’s word.
If we listen and don’t do the word, we will only be deceiving ourselves. If God is talking to us it is because God’s mercy is still upon us. Imagine going to a church when God is no longer talking but only the church people and the pastor talking. God is merciful and He is kind and that’s why He keeps talking to us. When God manifest, everything will be blessed.
Act 11:20 And some of them were men of Cyprus and Cyrene; who, when they had come to Antioch, spoke to the Hellenists, preaching the gospel of the Lord Jesus.
Act 11:21 And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number believed and turned to the Lord.
It is the some of them that makes the difference. They are not average people but people who can make a difference. Ordinary people are many but extraordinary people are few. There are ordinary church members and there are extraordinary church members. That goes the same for churches, restaurants, etc. Choose to become extraordinary.
2) Increase happens when we break people limitations:
Sometimes we can be afraid when we see people and people’s opinions. People can be our worse enemy. When certain person is there, we cannot do or operate. Our biggest problem is people. Sometimes the closet people to us can be our greatest enemy. Increase will not happen when we don’t break people limitation. We must not hide what we have. What we carry is important and we can change everything. Everywhere the river went can bring life. We may be surrounded by people who don’t like us but when we rise up, the God of increase will be upon us.
Stop complaining about other people. Let God love us when others don’t love us. Don’t use other people to stop ourselves. If we want the God of increase, then we must break people limitation. Speak what God has placed in our heart and not to be intimidated by people.
Act 11:22 And the Word was heard in the ears of the church in Jerusalem. And they sent out Barnabas, that he should go as far as Antioch;
Act 11:23 who was glad when he had come and had seen the grace of God. And he exhorted all with purpose of heart to remain near to the Lord.
Act 11:24 For he was a good man and full of the Holy Spirit and faith. And many people were added to the Lord.
Jesus said to them, "My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me, and to finish His work" (John 4:34).
Notice the two words "sent" and "finish." Jesus was sent by the Father, and His desire was to finish His mission. This verse connects being sent with finishing. This is why I call the apostolic anointing a "finishing anointing." It will take an apostolic Church to finish the Great Commission. To finish not only means to reach the end of a task or course, it means something that completes, concludes or perfects.
The Lord is preparing the Church to complete its task, and the apostolic ministry is absolutely essential to prepare the Church for this purpose. Without the ministry of the apostle, the Church will lack the necessary grace, power and authority to finish or complete its mission.
And see, now I go bound in the spirit to Jerusalem, not knowing the things that will happen to me there, except that the Holy Spirit testifies in every city, saying that chains and tribulations await me. But none of these things move me; nor do I count my life dear to myself, so that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God (Acts 20:22-24).
Notice Paul's attitude. He was determined to finish his course. Nothing could dissuade him from completing his ministry. There was a drive and a determination to finish. This must be the mindset of the Church today. We must have an apostolic mindset; we must be driven and determined to complete the Great Commission. This mindset overcomes all obstacles and hindrances that stand in the way of finishing.
Trials, tests and tribulations do not deter true apostolic ministry. There is a grace resident within this anointing that overcomes all opposition and breaks through every barrier. And it does not cease until the task is complete. NOW FINISH THE WORK!
"Warfare" in 2 Corinthians 10:4 is translated from the Greek word strateia, meaning apostolic, career, military service (as one of hardship and danger). It is related to the Greek word strateuomai, meaning to execute the apostolate (with its arduous duties and functions) and to contend with carnal thoughts. Paul was saying that the weapons of his apostolic ministry were mighty for the pulling down of strongholds.
I believe that there are certain strongholds that cannot be destroyed without the apostolic anointing. "Stronghold" is the Greek word ochuroma, meaning a fortress, a castle, a fortified place. Satan and his demons have fortified themselves from invasion. They have built strongholds and fortified themselves in every region of the world to resist the advancement of the Kingdom. These strongholds must be dealt with if we are to see the fulfillment of the Great Commission. Apostles have the ability to confront and pull down these strongholds.
The apostle Paul links these strongholds with "imaginations." This is the Greek word logismos, meaning reasoning, thought, computation or logic. It carries the idea of holding something safely. It is simply the way people think based on their way of life, tradition, experience or past teaching. Unfortunately, most thinking is against the knowledge of God.
The stronghold is also made up of demonic influence. There is a wisdom that is earthly, sensual and devilish (see Jas. 3:15). Logismos can also be translated as "arguments." Strongholds are the mindsets of people in a particular territory. These mindsets are fortified places that keep out truth and hold in lies. Unbelievers have mindsets that prevent them from receiving the truth of the gospel. Spiritual warfare involves demolishing these mindsets so that people can receive and walk in the truth.
A pioneer is a catalyst. Pioneers cause things to happen. They do not sit back and wait for things to happen. They initiate new movements. They penetrate new territories. They preach new truths and birth new churches and ministries. Jesus was a pioneer. The early apostles were pioneers.
The pioneering spirit is apostolic. God always desires to do a new thing, and He will use apostolic people to do it. Apostolic people have the ability to persevere in the face of opposition. They have the strength and mentality of a pioneer. The apostolic anointing will set the tone for your life and ministry. You will become a pioneering believer. You will invade and possess new territory— naturally and spiritually.
Pioneers have a breakthrough anointing. The word "breakthrough" is defined as an act or instance of breaking through an obstruction; an offensive thrust that penetrates and carries beyond a defensive line in warfare.
Pioneers have the ability to break through ignorance, fear and other obstacles that keep people from advancing. Apostolic ministry has the ability to penetrate the defenses set up by the powers of darkness. This is why God has set it to be first. Someone must break through first before any significant progress can be made. Someone must have the courage, ability and power to break through the obstacles set up by the enemy.
And God has appointed these in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, varieties of tongues.1 Corinthians 12:28.
Each and every believer has been gifted by God to fulfill his or her calling and purpose. For some, their gifts will place them in a visible ministry; others are gifted for "behind-the-scenes" ministries. No gift makes anyone more important than anyone else. We are all equal in Christ—equally loved by God and equally necessary to the Body of Christ. And yet, as we have seen, certain offices within the Church are designated by God as being higher in rank than others. The reason for this is that someone has to be first; someone has to be a pioneer.
What 1 Corinthians 12:28 tells us is that the Church should be first and foremost apostolic. This is the divine order of ministry given to the Church. There is a wisdom behind this order. It is not to elevate men or exalt the flesh. God has a purpose in everything He does.
A Divine Order: Each of the gifts has a certain function that operates best in divine order. When the Church neglects this order, it will not be able to progress toward the goal of fulfilling its commission. When things are out of order, the result is disorder and confusion. The anointing and power of God flow through order. The anointing flowed from Aaron's head, to his beard, to the skirts of his garments (see Ps. 133:2).
The head represents authority. Order is always based on authority. Again, the authority of the Church should be first apostolic, second prophetic, third teaching. The amount of authority we operate in is based on this order. The flow of the anointing is based on this order. Our ability to fulfill the Great Commission is based on this order.
The apostolic prepares and opens the way for the prophetic. The prophetic in turn prepares and opens the way for the teaching. Each one precedes and paves the way for the other. Each gift and ministry is designed by God in this way to open the way for the other to follow. Each territory needs all three to operate in order to establish God's purposes in that region.
Evangelism and pastoring are utilized as ways of reaching and overseeing the people. These gifts are important and necessary to perfect the saints and help fulfill the Great Commission. If the Church is apostolic, it will also be evangelistic in order to reach the lost; it will also be pastoral to protect and cover those who are saved. The apostolic cannot function without these two gifts and the others as well.
To restore means to bring back into existence or use; to reestablish, to bring back to an original condition. It means to put back, replace, reinstate, reinstall, revive, recall to life, return, to rebuild in a form supposed to be the original. This implies that there has been a departure from the original design. Things fall apart and deteriorate through neglect; decline is inevitable without constant upgrade and renovation. Restoration is then necessary to correct and change the situation.
This is why some people enjoy buying an older home and then going through the arduous process of restoring the home to its original condition. Although run-down and deteriorated, it is obvious to the perceptive eye that the house once had an elegance and charm that can be restored once again. These perceptive people relish both the process and the results of that restoration. In a sense, they exercise mercy on the old house and enter into the work of lovingly restoring it.
Restoration within the Church—and that includes each of us personally—will happen as a result of God's mercy. He will not allow us to languish in the deterioration of the past. Because of His great love, He restores to us what we need to fulfill His plans and purposes for the earth.
The Church is now crying out for the restoration of authentic apostolic ministry. We are praying for restoration and declaring it prophetically. God's people are coming out of the holes and prison houses. A new liberty is coming to the Church. A new freedom in ministry is being released through the restoration of apostolic ministry.
