Transcription
This chapter 3 verse 1. He says there's a time for everything. A time, there is a season, a time appointed for everything, and a time for every delight and event or purpose under heaven. So everything that will play out on the surface of this earth has its own season. It has its own time. It has its own season.
Then we look at the Contemporary English Russian, Contemporary English Russian, Ecclesiastes chapter 3 verse 1. It says, "Everything has its time. Everything on earth has its own time. Has its own time and has its own season."
Then we will look at Ecclesiastes chapter 3 verse 6, easy-to-read fashion, easy-to-read fashion. It says, "There is a time to look for something, and there is also a time to consider it lost. There is a time to look for something, and there is a time to consider it lost. There is a time to keep things." And that talks of the old order, that talks of the old way. "There is a time to keep things, and then there is a time to throw things away."
This is what happens in the season of change. The things we held onto in the past because they were working excellently for us, a time will come when we will have to let go of those things, do away with such ways. Says, "It is a time to throw away, to throw things away."
[Applause]
I would like to put a word across on some words that are relevant to what we're sharing today. And first, I look at the word "dated." The word "dated" implies something that is old-fashioned and therefore is not as good or as fashionable as something modern. Because what we are talking about this morning has to do with old ways that have now become old-fashioned and outdated. So they have examples of dated weapons, outdated ideas, outdated techniques of getting things done. If something is outdated, it is no longer considered useful or effective because something more modern exists. In the season of change, when it has taken its full effect, something gives way, and something else is now clean. Our dated or our old-fashioned things has to do, for example, our dated teaching methods, outdated equipment, outdated information that is no longer relevant in current and present circumstances.
Another very similar word to "dated" that is also relevant to this study is the word "obsolete." And when we are talking of something becoming obsolete, it means it is not in use anymore, having been replaced. Haven't been replaced. Take note of that. Haven't been replaced. In the season of change, there is a replacement. That explains a replacement of the old way, a replacement of the old order. Something that is not in general use anymore, having been replaced by something newer and better or more fashionable. And there are quite a number of our examples and illustrations that we can give. Most of the time, we are also going to observe us when something is obsolete, it is no longer needed because something better has been invented. And every year, there is a new thing. Every year, there is a better thing. There is a better product. There is a better procedure. There is a better approach to getting the same things done. And so, with a little time, people are going to observe that truly, this is a better alternative, and the traffic will go in that direction. And that is a hallmark of the season of change.
Now, once upon a time, we have had certain products, certain techniques, and approaches standing out as the stars and champions of the era. But what normally happens is that in the season of change, the best of yesterday subsequently become old-fashioned. The best of yesterday's sought suddenly becomes outdated. The best of yesterday becomes obsolete. And I can give you a rundown quickly of many such instances. Once upon a time, the Encyclopedia was holding sway. It was the best option available for its purpose at the time. But there came a season of change, and through the season of change, Wikipedia replaced the Encyclopedia. At the time, we had a dictionary, especially in the hard copy form, virtually everywhere it was needed. But today, there are many people who still use the dictionary, who no longer use the hard copy of it because Google has provided a digital online alternative. So Google has replaced the dictionary. At a time when you want to do research, you want to study, you want to find out information on a certain topic, you go physically to the library. But today, the internet has taken away the traffic, human traffic that used to flood to the physical libraries, as people have found a more convenient way to still get the same thing done, just by sitting at home or in the office or somewhere and checking out that same information via the internet. We are seeing the P-card being replaced by the e-card. We are seeing the typewriter being replaced by the computer. We have seen fax messages be replaced by email messages. We have seen letter writing being replaced by the SMS. Seasons of change, seasons of change. We have seen the payphones being replaced by mobile phones. We have seen the yellow black taxis being replaced by ride-hailing apps, and today there are options of the Uber, options of the Bolt, and many more are springing up worldwide. Seasons of change. We have seen also the Windows Phone being replaced by the Android phone. We have seen gossips that held sway for such a long time be replaced eventually with CDs. We are seeing Bluetooth, in the season of change, be replaced by Zender. We have seen infrared, in the season of change, eventually been replaced by Bluetooth. We are seeing the DVD be replaced by YouTube. Seasons of change, seasons of change. We have seen the BBM being replaced by WhatsApp. We are seeing the analog TV be replaced by the digital TV. We have seen the print news [Music] print newspapers, hard copies of newspapers, be replaced by electronic news, and many who used to buy newspapers, hard copies of newspapers, now read such newspapers online. Seasons of change. We have seen in the banking halls and in currency transactions, human tellers be replaced by ATMs. We have seen physical trading be replaced by online trading. We have seen cables being used for different purposes be replaced by wireless alternatives and options. And these things will continue. These changes will continue because there are some fundamental forces that drive the changes that play out in all sectors of life, every new year, and every new season. And so, one of those is required of all of us, is that we must be men and women of foresight.
[Music]
Foresight is the art of deliberately putting things in order in place ahead of time. In Proverbs chapter 22 verse 3, the need to walk in foresight is emphasized. Put it out. Three very key points. First, foresight is the ability to see things of future value or potential opportunity and then take the right steps to position yourself ahead of time to benefit from them. To another insight on this subject, foresight is that foresight is about seeing an imminent future opportunity and taking position or taking possession of it long before the opportunity becomes obvious. And third, foresight is the ability to recognize the probability or certainty of something happening in the future and taking the right steps ahead of time to benefit from it.
There was an instance in scriptures in Genesis chapter 41 when Pharaoh had dreams. [Music] And Joseph eventually came on the scene by the grace of God. He was able to interpret the dream, and it remained that there were going to be 14 years of remarkable events in two major phases. First, they were going to be seven years of great harvest and national prosperity. However, these seven years will be immediately followed by another seven years of national famine, great recession that in fact was going to be global in scope. And Joseph, with the wisdom of God, which is one of those attributes, and foresight is one of those attributes that men of wisdom possess, just have been a man filled with the wisdom of God, was able to express this key of foresight by advising Pharaoh on the best thing to do on behalf of his nation to take advantage of these two major developments: seven years of great prosperity, seven years of serious famine and recession. And because they took to his counsel, a strategy implemented everything on time. At the time the nations of the earth were going through great recession, there was economic boom in Egypt.
Now, there are some blessings [Music] we should take out. Once again, that guide us whenever we go through our seasons of change. And seasons of change play out in virtually every realm of life. One instance in an organization. [Music] There can't be real change until enough people in that organization actually submit themselves to change. When there are more people resisting change, or when those in leadership are resisting change, the change that needs to play out or happen cannot happen within that platform or organization. You must have a positive mindset to change. You must have a positive mindset to change. The way you look at change should shift from losing something to gaining something. One of the reasons many are afraid of the season of change is that they are focused on what they are currently losing, or what they feel they stand to lose, or what they are actually going to lose as a result of that change that needs to take place. And they give less attention to what they stand to gain as a result of the change that needs to take place. Many times, you may not see the full picture of the potential of opportunities that is waiting for you in the direction of the change because you have not yet entered into the circumstance or arena of the change. So until you embrace the signs you are seeing and go all out in the direction of that change, you may not see the potential of gain and potential of opportunities that is waiting for you to come and invest. For those that are close to God, for those that God loves so much, the season of change, it's always a time. It's always a time of blessing. Most of the time, even when it begins as a trial, it begins with difficulties, it begins with losses, it begins with job loss, or different types of challenges. Have this in mind: God will always make all things work together for the good of those who love him. [Music]
So whatever is going to play out, yes, it will see ahead of time. And when it permits it, if only you are sensitive and courageous enough to go in the new direction that the Spirit of God may be leading, with the wisdom common sense may be telling you, then certainly you are going to ultimately discover that what was initially a big challenge, even a trial, would ultimately turn out to be a blessing in disguise. Perhaps as I'm speaking right now, you're one of those already being affected negatively by sudden changes that are taking place in your field, in your sector, in your line of business. I want to reassure you that you just need to turn your emotions, calm your sentiments, and walk in wisdom, walk with great courage, and go in the direction that you need to go.
The drive of the seasons of change. First of all, people always want to embrace and to use things that are very, very effective. A product that is effective, a solution that is effective. However, I won't use that for a while. There will be a hearing, there will be a desire, there will be a search for something that is even better. And so you discover that on a regular basis, people are consistently searching for a better way of getting that same thing done. So we, along the line, those who are searching will have a breakthrough, which they will eventually offer to the market.
Another factor is in the area of time. Most people want things to be done as quickly as possible, fast as possible, timely as possible. And so there is a consistent search for a new way, a new solution, a new process that would make that same thing that is achieved in 30 days to be achieved in 10 days. And that is why you discover that people will embrace a three-day program that gives the same level of transformation, even though they have to pay more, in place of a 10-day or 15-day program.
Another factor that drives change is that it has to do with finances. People want better returns for their investment. People want to make more profit. People also want to do what they are doing today at a lower cost. So they would always be searching for less expensive alternatives, starting from the raw materials to the finished product. And when they can find less expensive alternatives at the same price, then of course, the traffic is going to go in that direction. And these are many other factors that are factors that drive the seasons of change that play out on a regular basis.
In this current time, 2020, the world is experiencing a major shift in the way things will be done. We are in a major season of change. So in any field, you must be sensitive to begin to make observations. If you are not watching out for what the changes that have started taking place, that big change that will ultimately come may take you by surprise. You must begin to watch out for the opportunities that are playing out, so that when the real moment comes for you to position and benefit from the opportunity, you can be at the right place at the right time.
[Music]
We are indeed in a season of change. And I have a good word for you, and that is the Lord's will is that He would always give you the grace, the wisdom, and the foresight to excel at every point in time. A season of your life, but wisdom is essential. And one of those realms of life we will need the wisdom of God is in the season of change. And that is why this moment, I want to pray for you. Wherever you are, please lift up your hand. I want to pray. I want to pray that in this season of change, the Lord Almighty will fill you with great wisdom. The Lord Almighty will then fill you with a higher level of supernatural foresight. Then you would not only see what is coming, you will have the wisdom to do what is needful to benefit from what is coming. I pray that in this season of change, you will not be left behind. You will not become one of those who will be victims of the season of change. I declare to you this day that the hand of the Lord will move on your behalf and make you one of the major beneficiaries of the season of change.
[Music]
That every strategic move that would need to be made in this season of change, the Lord will position you as one of the first set of people to make that strategic change. By the end of this current season, I pray that the Lord will make you the head and not the tail. The Lord will raise you to be at the top and not beneath. May this season of change stand as a ladder upon which we climb to the top in every sphere, in every sector of your life, in the name of Jesus. Let the Most High God hear your amen, in the name of Jesus. And I pray that in the spirit realm as well, whatever would want to mislead you in the season of change, the Lord Almighty remove such powers and negative voices in the name of Jesus. Lord Almighty, we thank you. We give you praise. We give you glory. I speak to that the Lord bless you richly. And we pray that the Lord Almighty will continue to endow you with great wisdom and foresight to benefit from every season of change you will encounter for the rest of your life. God bless you.
[Music]