Understanding the times and the seasons: A message for 2015

God ordained the times and the seasons and expects us to understand them in order to know what we are supposed to be doing in every season. If we do not know what God expects from us in a particular season, how do we end up knowing if we were successful or not?

We have just transitioned from 2014 to 2015 and whether we know it or not, this is a repositioning period for us to reaffirm our values and prepare ourselves for what lies ahead. It therefore goes without saying that whatever our vision was in 2014 and whatever we accomplished during that year, ends up serving as a kind of preparation time for what God expects to accomplish through us in 2015. So how successful we would be in 2015 depends in part to how much we allowed ourselves to learn from our mistakes in 2014. It also depends on how much we allowed our minds to be renewed by the Word of God in 2014 by daily reading and meditating on it. One very important fact of how 2015 would look like is how deep we allow the Holy Spirit to lead and direct our paths as the Bible says that ‘the steps of the righteous are ordered by the Lord’ and also that ‘they that are led by the Spirit of God these are the sons of God’.

In Acts 17:26, the Bible says: “And He has made from one blood every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth, and has determined their preappointed times and the boundaries of their dwellings”.

The Bible mentions that God determined our preappointed times for in Him we live and move and have our being. For us then to be successful in living, and moving according to the will and plan of God for our lives, we have to understand the God ordained times and seasons.

In Daniel 2:21 the Bible says that “God changes the times and the seasons…”

If God ordained the times and the seasons and changes them, then it befits us to find out from Him what season we are living in and what we ought to be doing in every season.

This has nothing to do with the natural seasons of summer, autumn, winter and spring but has everything to do with spiritual seasons in a God pre-determined calendar for every individual or group of individuals.

In 1 Chronicles 12:32 the Bible says that the sons of Issachar had understanding of the times to know what Israel ought to do.

This verse brings more light into the topic of understanding the times and the season. Here, amongst all the tribes in Israel, only one tribe was commended for understanding the times and seasons and knew what Israel ought to do. This tells me that without a deep understanding of the times and seasons, we cannot really determine if we were successful in a particular year or not in God’s eyes.

Furthermore, The Bible says in Ecclesiastes 3:1 That “To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven” If there is a time and a season for everything under the sun, then 2015 represents a particular time and season for you and for me in God’s spiritual calendar. It is therefore our responsibility to find out by praying and seeking His face, what He is saying for this New Year 2015 and rising up to do it.

In Luke 19:44 we hear the Lord say how disaster and great tribulation would come upon a nation because they did not know the season of their visitation.

What is your vision for 2015?

In Joel 2:28 the Bible says that “ And it shall come to pass afterward that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions”. So your vison is very important because it is your God given assignment placed in your heart in order for you to fulfil your own portion of the greater will and plan of God. Every God given vision is born by the Spirit of God because it is after God pours out His Spirit on all flesh that they begin to get visions and dreams and prophesies. So if you need a vision for 2015, you know now where to start asking.

Visions are so important in the plan of God because they are smaller assignments in fulfilling a greater plan of God. Nobody by Himself can evangelize the world, but smaller visions of people rising up by the will and plan of God to preach the Word of God from city to city end up reaching the world with the Good News of the gospel of Jesus Christ. In Proverbs 29:18, the Bible says that where there is no vision, the people perish. I like the word the Bible uses in some versions as it says where there is no ‘revelation’ the people cast of restraint. A vision therefore in this regard is a revelation from God of a particular task that He wants you to accomplish. This emphasizes the fact that everyone is supposed to be working under a vision whether the vision is yours or from some else.

Your vison is what makes you wake up in the morning with a smile on your face and excitement that you have some mission to accomplish. It is what energizes you on a cold winter morning to dress up and get going because you have an assignment to fulfill.

Who is responsible for your visions?

Visions, as great as they are do not realize themselves. Someone is responsible for rising up and doing something to contribute to the realization of a vision. They are not solely the responsibility of God but mostly a delegated portion of God’s will passed on to individuals to fulfill. So the visionary is responsible for accomplishing his vision. However, because the vision comes from God, He ensures there is provision and everything needed to accomplish it. Unless you step out of the boat, you will not know that you can walk on water. So I challenge you this year to step out of your comfort zone this see and taste and see that the Lord is good.

In the book of Habakkuk 2: 2-3 the Bible says “Then the Lord answered me and said “write the vision and make it plain on tablets. That he may run who reads it. For the vision is yet for an appointed time but at the end it will speak, and it will not lie. Though it tarries, wait for it; because it will surely come. It will not tarry”. I have noticed that it is when a visionary explains his vision that people begin to participate in the vision. I have also understood that people volunteer their services, submit themselves and give financially to a vision when it is ordained of God. People do not have a habit of giving to a person just because he looks a particular way or because they like him or her. Rather, people give to the vision of that person as their own part of saying we want to help you fulfil your vision because we believe that your vision is from God and it would encourage and transform many lives for good. The social media is one way in the modern world of making your vision known all over the world so that people who have a spiritual connection with you can be part of the vision through prayers and giving even if they are in the other side of the world.

In my own opinion, nobody needs to go around looking for a vision. Visions do not originate from man but from God. They are born when the Holy Spirit breaths upon our human spirit and a passion in born in the inside of us. It is this passion that gives us the energy to do what God wants us to do without giving up or getting discouraged in the midst of adversity. God and man work together in realizing any vision that would be a blessing on earth. A vision therefore generates passion and excitement in the life of the visionary that it becomes contagious. If you can accomplish your vision by yourself then that is your level for now. There are visions of various dimensions but as long as they come from God, they are worth accomplishing. As you are faithful in accomplishing smaller things for God, so He will trust you with more.  In my experience, visions are usually bigger than the visionary that they require courage to even voice them out. However, because they are as Jeremiah describes it “like fire in my bones” they push the visionary not to give up until they are accomplished. As you rise up to fulfil a vision you experience the supernatural God making provision for you and giving you all the help and support you need every step of the way.

How to understand the times and the seasons

There is a story that is told of a young man who heard a prophecy at the end of a particular season of how God was going to bless him and prosper him in the coming season. Several great things were said about what God was going to do that his expectation was very high. However, towards the end of that season he begin to ask God what happened during the year as he did not experience any major breakthrough as promised. He got the reply that God was waiting for him among those who invested in a business to bless his investment, but did not find him there and so passed him by. God was waiting for him among those who bought a piece of land and sowed seed, so He could multiply his seed and give him a great harvest but did not find him there and so passed him by.

From this illustration, we can understand that we need to have a proper perspective of what God means when He speaks to us in order to know how He expects us to obtain the blessings for every season. Let us consider for example that God tells you that 2015 would be for you a year of great harvest. Interpreting that word correctly would determine how and what you harvest in 2015. A year of great harvest then would mean that you have to sow great seed in 2015 because the only thing that leads to great harvest is great seed. It therefore goes without saying that if in 2015, you decide to reduce your giving and stop sowing seed, then you frustrate the plan of God for your life. Does it mean that God did not speak? The answer is No. God spoke, but man failed to interpret what God said correctly and as a result did not position themselves to benefit from God’s promise.

Let us take another example and consider that God tells you that 2015 would be for you a year of great victory. What does that mean? You do not have to be a genius to understand that it would be a year of great battles but as you pray and put your trust in God, you would see great victory in every battle. But if you decide to stop praying because God has said it is a year of great victory and you expect that the battle will fight itself then you are greatly mistaken. Though the Bible says the battle is the Lords, it also says that men ought always to pray and not loose heart. This means that if you do not pray during the battle, you may lose heart or give up and get depressed. Does it therefore mean that God did not speak to you? The answer is no. God spoke clearly, but man failed to understand his part and responsibility in what God said and therefore missed the pathway of victory in the midst of the battle.

A word of encouragement for 2015

In conclusion, I believe that all the promises of God for our lives are Yes and Amen for us for 2015 for the glory of God. We need to align our lives in the will and plan of God in order to be truly successful. God told Joshua in Joshua1:8 that:

“This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and you will have good success”.

As we plan to follow God’s will for our lives, we plan to succeed in God’s way. The Bible says in Jeremiah 29:11 that:

“For I know the thoughts that I think towards you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope”.

Everybody has gifts and talents and God expects us to use those gifts in 2015. God has good thoughts for you in 2015 to bring you great peace, a future and a hope. This does not mean that there would be the absence of challenges. In the contrary, when challenges come your way, God’s peace that passes all understanding will guard your heart and your mind through Christ Jesus.

I believe more than ever before that God wants you to trust in Him and surrender your will to his will. As you do that, God takes control and when He is in control, you do not need to worry anymore. The Bible says in Isaiah 41:10 that:

“Fear not, for I am with you. Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand”.

God wants you to succeed in 2015 and He has a plan for that to happen in your life. So draw closer to God and He will draw closer to you. Seek first the kingdom of God and all his righteousness and every other thing would be added to you. Know that the Lord is good and He wants the best for your life. No matter what plan you have for yourself for 2015, God has a better plan for you. The Bible says that God does exceedingly abundantly above all that we can ever ask or think (Eph.3:20).

May the Lord fight your battles in 2015, may he bless you abundantly and prosper you on every side. May the Lord surround you and your family with a hedge of protection that the enemy cannot be able to penetrate. May the Lord multiply your seed and increase the fruit of your labour. May you be in health and fulfil your days and see your children’s children to the third and fourth generation. May the Lord exceed your expectation for 2015 and may he increase your greatness and comfort you on every side. May your faith be strong and may you experience the supernatural in 2015. May favor be your portion and may goodness and mercy follow you and overtake you in Jesus’ name.

“Now to Him who is able to do EXCEEDININGLY ABUNDANTLY ABOVE all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen”(Eph.3:20-21).

May 2015 be your best year ever and may the Lord bless you and keep you; may the Lord make His face to shine upon you, and be gracious to you; may the Lord lift up His countenance upon you, and Give you peace in Jesus’ name. And as you say Amen, may that be your portion in 2015.

God bless you.