Shalom! Dear NCTC partners,

The good God desires to give us good things. However, did you know that the very God who wants to give us good things is Himself limited by us? Yes, even the Almighty God can be limited. The Bible shows that the people of Israel limited God.

(Psalm 78:41 NKJV) "Yes, again and again they tempted God, and limited the Holy One of Israel."

In this verse, "they" refers to the Israelites who perished in the wilderness, and it shows that as a result of testing God, they limited Him. Let’s take a closer look at how God was limited through them.

First, the good thing God wanted to give them was a land flowing with milk and honey.

(Deuteronomy 8:7-10, NKJV) "7 For the Lord your God is bringing you into a good land, a land of brooks of water, of fountains and springs, that flow out of valleys and hills; 8 a land of wheat and barley, of vines and fig trees and pomegranates, a land of olive oil and honey; 9 a land in which you will eat bread without scarcity, in which you will lack nothing; a land whose stones are iron and out of whose hills you can dig copper. 10 When you have eaten and are full, then you shall bless the Lord your God for the good land which He has given you."

An abundant land, where there is no scarcity and nothing lacking—this was God's good plan for them. (If the blessings of the old covenant were this good, how much greater is the inheritance God has given us under the new covenant?!!) However, in order to enter this land, there was one thing required of them: their FAITH.

(Hebrews 4:2 NKJV) "For indeed the gospel was preached to us as well as to them; but the word which they heard did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in those who heard it."

The "good news" (the gospel) that God would bring them into a land flowing with milk and honey was preached to them. However, the word was not mixed with faith, and as a result, it did not benefit them, and they perished in the wilderness.

(Hebrews 11:6 NKJV) "But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him."

So, the good God is pleased when we come to Him in faith! Why? Because only "faith" allows us to receive what God has given, and the good God earnestly desires to give us good things. But if we do not cooperate with God in faith, we limit ourselves, and God is also limited.

As we saw in Psalm 78:41, when they tested God, they limited Him. Let's take a closer look at how they limited God.

(Numbers 13:32-33, NKJV) ”32 And they gave the children of Israel a bad report of the land which they had spied out, saying, “The land through which we have gone as spies is a land that devours its inhabitants, and all the people whom we saw in it are men of great stature. 33 There we saw the giants (the descendants of Anak came from the giants); and we were like grasshoppers in our own sight, and so we were in their sight.”

Instead of choosing faith (trusting in God's ability to make the impossible possible in difficult situations), they chose to trust in what they saw in the natural realm (unbelief). This unbelief—focusing only on the environment and conditions without considering God's word and power—led them to limit God.

"We saw the giants, we were like grasshoppers in our own sight, and so we were in their sight"

They limited themselves by considering only the natural conditions, and as a result, they also limited God. Do you realize that we, too, unknowingly limit God by limiting ourselves? The good God wants to give us something EXTRAORDINARY, but our limited thinking, limited dreams, limited self-image, and limited mindset cause God to be limited! We may not think that limiting ourselves is a sin, but the Bible evaluates the Israelites like this:

(Psalm 78:8, NKJV) “And may not be like their fathers, A stubborn and rebellious generation, A generation that did not set its heart aright, And whose spirit was not faithful to God.”

A stubborn and rebellious generation! If we live with limited thoughts and fail to dream the great and vast dreams that God has given us, we are limiting God and rebelling against His will!

(Mark 9:23 NKJV) Jesus said to him, “If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes.”

(Matthew 17:20 NKJV) “So Jesus said to them, “Because of your unbelief; for assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you.”

Jesus said that all things are possible to those who believe. So, I ask you: Is your vision for 1, 5, or 10 years from now something that can be accomplished with your own strength, or are you dreaming of something impossible that requires God's intervention, something bold and great?

The Bible says, "Where there is no vision, the people perish." God has prepared a great and good life for you and me. It is not a life of just barely getting by, but a life of abundance, prosperity, success, victory, expanding God's kingdom, saving many souls, leading people to abundant life, and having righteous influence on society, nations, and the world.

When we look at our past or current circumstances, we may feel discouraged. But to feel discouraged is to see ourselves as grasshoppers, and that limits the greatness of God. Let us not be discouraged by our outward appearance or challenging circumstances, but rather, as new creations, believe that everything is possible with faith and dream big, bold dreams!

As we walk out of the prison of false mindset that has limited us, and look at ourselves, our lives, and our futures as they truly are according to God’s word, God will not be limited and will pour out His great and mighty power in our lives!

When I asked God about the direction and future of NCTC, the Lord repeatedly spoke to me: "Bring My People Into Inheritance!" And I saw countless believers around the world, suffering and wandering in pain, crying out to God, unaware of the inheritance of the gospel. The vision God gave me is to train millions of believers all over the world in the New Creation realities within the next five years, bring them into inheritances in Christ, and raise a powerful army of soul winners in the last days.

From my current circumstances and abilities, this seems impossible, but I decided long ago not to limit God by limiting myself. Even in times when I saw nothing ahead of me, I did not give up, but faithfully applied the principles of faith, sowing seeds and preparing for the future. And now, you all are partnering with me in this vision.

God loves souls so much and desires to help them. He is looking for people who will be His instruments. Let us not limit ourselves but believe in God, and become His powerful channels to be used. I bless you in the name of the Lord Jesus to be that vessel. May the seeds you sow into the NCTC ministry bear 30, 60, and 100-fold fruit in your life!

This is how Paula and I will pray for you.

Pastor John Kyusong Cho and Paula Kim

on November 9, 2024