I Shall Not Die, But Live, And Declare The Works Of The LORD

Having preached in North America, Asia, Europe, and Africa; for over the past 20 years; Steve Willoughby and his family have taken a group of 20 people and built them into a now thriving, multiple congregation work.  Their work is multiethnic and multilingual at the Tabernacle of Joy in Singapore. He and the people he pastors have built churches and several training facilities throughout Asia.  In a New Years message given at Christian Life Center in Stockton, CA in January 2009, Bishop Willoughby declared the year 2009 to be, “The Year of Elevation.”  For Bro. Willoughby and his wife Barbara, the year 2008 was one of battling terminal cancer.  Neither one was expected to see 2009.  

As the Holy Ghost poured out an anointing on that message, Bro Willoughby tore up the platform dancing in the spirit and praising Jesus.  Just two weeks before, it had taken two men just to stand him upright.  Reflecting on looking at his own naked image in the bathroom mirror, a tapestry of the battlefield of his cancer; a spirit of joy came over him as he looked the Devil in the eye and began to laugh at him saying, “You can’t kill me; you can’t killed me!  If you could, you would have!”  He then proclaimed Psalm 118:

“I shall not die, but live, and declare the works of the LORD” (Psalms 118:17).

Bro. Willoughby went on to encourage everyone to examine themselves; to ask God to break them and remake them into a new creation.  “We must claim the promises and expect God to finish the work that he began in us!”

“Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ” (Philippians 1:6).

As he danced around the platform, he commented that he was not fully recovered, but was claiming his healing and stepping out in faith.  Though he appeared to be well, he was in intense pain and each leg felt like it had twenty pound weighs around it.  He then quoted David in a very profound truth that rings in my ears nearly every day:

“I will not give the Lord that which cost me nothing!”

“And the king said unto Araunah, Nay; but I will surely buy it of thee at a price: neither will I offer burnt offerings unto the LORD my God of that which doth cost me nothing. So David bought the threshingfloor and the oxen for fifty shekels of silver” (2 Samuel 24:24).

God allows us to suffer, because it gives us the opportunity to turn it to praise and an acceptable offering to the Lord.  We are being purified in our character as gold is tried in the fire and comes out pure!  All to His glory!

“That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 1:7).

Bro. and Sis. Willoughby returned to Singapore in 2009 with a greater anointing and a more powerful testimony.  Their work continues to reach out around the world through ever expanding web based media.  Visit The Tabernacle of Joy online.  It will be worth it!  Check out www.tabjoy.org.  We belong to one Apostolic faith grounded in the Church that is promised the victory! 

“And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it” (Matthew 16:18).

Prayer:  Heavenly Father, you give me life so that I can give it back to you in praise, worship and the work of the Gospel.  Nothing can come against me.  I am the temple of the Holy Ghost!  Help me to realize that you live in me and that I am yours.  Give me your heart Lord that I might be like you in giving.  All praise, honor and glory belongs to you.  Lead me Lord; in Jesus’ name, Amen.