Transcription
So that today we're sharing on timely response to seasons of change. Now, begin by sharing with us from two scriptures. First, Isaiah chapter 43, verse 18 to 19. Isaiah chapter 43, verse 18 to 19. Look at good news translation, and it says, "But the Lord says, 'Do not cling to events of the past or dwell on what happened long ago. Do not cling to events of the past or dwell on what happened long ago. Watch for the new thing I am going to do. It is happening already. The change is already taking effect in different realms of life, in different sectors. It is happening already. Be sensitive to make timely observations. A great change is taking place across the surface of the heart, in every field of life.'"
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"You can see it now." And then he says, "I will make a road through the wilderness and give you streams of water there." Isaiah chapter 43, verse 18 to 19. The voice, fashioned of the Bible, he sees, "The eternal one, don't reveal only in the past, don't revel only in the past, or spend all your time recounting the victories of days gone by, or spend all your time recounting the victories of days gone by. Watch closely, I am preparing something new. It's happening now, even as I speak. The season of change has commenced."
And from past patterns of seasons of change, when it commences, only few people are observant. Eventually, now people begin to recognize what is happening. But more significantly, even when that change has come to stay, a lot of people still continue to hold on to the old order, old traditions, old pattern procedure, old approach of getting certain things done. Verse 19, "And you are about to see it, and preparing a way to the desert, what as we flew where they had be known."
And then in Ecclesiastes chapter 3, verse 1. Ecclesiastes chapter 3, verse 1. I read from two versions, amplified Bible and the contemporary English version. Amplified Bible, he says, "There is a season, it is a time appointed for everything. There is a season. So whatever was in fashion in the past, even until now, it has a season. Whatever was the best at the point in time, it has a season because we will always continue to evolve. In a reign of perfection, there is a yearning for further improvements, excellence, perfection in everything we do, the way we do things, the things we use to get results, to get things done. And a lot of these things have their own time. What was once the new innovation eventually becomes obsolete. Yes, after there is a season, there is a time appointed for everything, and a time for every delight and event or purpose on the heaven."
Contemporary English fashion, Ecclesiastes chapter 3, verse 1, it says, "Everything has its time. Everything has its time. Everything on earth has its own time." And in the seasons of change, there is a very subtle transition [Applause] taking place in different realms and sectors. Everything has its own time and its own season. So today, we are talking about timely response to seasons of change. Year 2020 is a major season of change that is going to affect so many things on the surface of the earth.
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And you must reposition yourself. You must re-strategize because this is the reality of the time. The seasons of change are often unprepared for. Most of the time, as it begins to happen, people just assume that it's just for a little while, it's just for the moment, because many things have happened that way and they lasted just for a moment. But however, time, history has shown to us that there are certain things when they come, they take over and they become the new normal. So the seasons of change are often unprepared for by majority of people. And one of the things you observe is that as a result, the new doors of opportunity that come in a season of change are not often embraced. They are not often explored. They are not often discovered by many. I wonder, is in one very interesting reason why this is so? Is that people are not always given to change? They are not open to change, as long as the current approach has given them good results, as long as the current approach makes them the best, makes them number one, they are not often desperate for better innovations to take whatever they are offering or doing to a much higher level and standard. So most of the time, people are indifferent to exploring new alternatives, as long as the old resistant approach is still giving good results.
Everything on the heaven has a time. 2020, a lot of things are fading away.
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The way it used to be done would no longer be [Music] feasible by the time the year is over. So we must always watch out for major changes. We must always watch out for new trends and take proactive steps to be in alignment with such new trends. Timely response to seasons of change. I pray you not be left behind. I pray that as the wind of change is moving across the earth, in every field, sector of life, I pray that it will move you in a favorable direction. You will not be one of those who were once up there, but we are displaced as a result of the ceasing of change. Always remember that those who are not yet at the top, those who do not yet have houses to some portion in the market, please would always want to discover something that would give them a portion of what is available today. And most of the time, when they begin to have a breakthrough and the traffic gradually begins to go in their direction, it is not always noticed by the big players. It is not always noticed by those who have long been holding forth at the very top. And you are going to observe that in many instances, a major displacement would have taken place, and a big brand, a mega institution that was once calling the shots in a particular field of life, and the entire market traffic of human patronage has gone in a new direction once again. I pray that this season of change will fit for you, and that is part of the purpose of this message.
So we must take timely and appropriate steps. Timely and appropriate steps to reposition ourselves in a season of change. We need to reposition ourselves. We need to re-strategize in virtually every realm of life, especially towards the rear areas where the changes are playing out. In John chapter 5, verse 1 to 7. John chapter 5, verse 1 to 7. Something interesting happened there. It was the story of a man who was in the midst of a multitude of people who had physical challenges, different types of afflictions, sicknesses, diseases. But by the mercy of God, by the mercy of God, by the mercy of God, the Lord deliberately singled out this man. The Lord Jesus singled him out and went up to him to minister to him, to heal him. And take note, that this was not the beginning of the manifestation of miracles in the ministry of our Lord Jesus. It had already started in John chapter 2, at the marriage at Cana. And so, yeah, in John chapter 5, so much had happened. The news of Jesus' ministry had gone far and wide. But when Jesus came to this man and asking whether he wanted to be healed, the man who was so focused on the old order, and he started giving Jesus a story reflecting that he was still focused on the pattern, the old channel of solution. I'm here to declare to someone here that God is about to give you a device solution, and He is going to do something for you differently from the way it has happened for others. Can the Lord hear your Amen at this moment?
So Jesus told him, "Do you want to be healed?" And the man was talking about how the challenges he had in contact with their old pattern, with the old order. Said, "I've been here all this while. Every time the angel comes down into the pool to stir the waters [Music] for a miracle to happen, for the first person I would wear in to the pool, the first set of people that would go into the pool." He said, "I had no man to push me in." And untrue, as a result of that, he had always missed the moment of miracle. Where was Jesus coming with a new pattern? Yeah, was Jesus coming with a new solution? Yeah, was Jesus coming with a new way? Remember Isaiah 43, verse 18. God is saying, "At times, your life, you will need to put aside the old order, the old pattern. Let your mind be focused on what needs to happen, not how it used to happen, not how it happened for all the people in the past. There will always be a different way at the point in time that God would do what needs to be done." And by the mercy of God, the Lord ministered to him, and that was how this man was subsequently healed. But were it not for the mercy of the Lord, he could have missed that opportunity.
And then another instance was in First Kings chapter 17, verse 1 to 40. Yeah, the Lord spoke to Elijah and told him, "The Lord spoke to Elijah and told him to go and hide at the brook of Cherith." And the Lord made it clear that He was going to feed him. He was going to feed him, sending the ravens to bring him food twice daily. Now, God had spoken, and what was the promise? Provision. [Music] True provision at the time of national famine. Provision at the time of national famine. And then the Lord, I've spoken to him. The Bible tells us that the brook dried up. The brook dried up. Let's be very observant. The brook dried up. Even though God has spoken, it shows you that the promises of God are constant, but the channels, the instruments, the approach that He uses can change. New channels, He uses a dynamic. The instruments, He uses a dynamic. He could change the instruments He used at different points in time, but His promise to do that thing is constant. And so, when the brook dried up, Elijah, Elijah looked up to the Lord, and the Lord gave him instruction. In verse 8, the word came to him, and the Lord said to him, "Go to Zarephath, for I have provided a widow there to feed thee."
And Elijah was sensitive to the dynamics of the workings of God. He was sensitive to the dynamics of the workings of God, and he knew that there are seasons of change. Their seasons of change. And so, when the Lord told him, "Go to Zarephath," he did not bother to waste time praying for God to restore the waters of the brook Cherith. He did not bother to pray that God should continue to send the ravens to brook Cherith. He was sensitive to what God was saying. Now, seasons of change, moments of change. God promised provision. What we can see that at a time, the provision was coming from brook Cherith and the ravens bringing him food twice daily at that initial location. But there was a change. Why? The promise was still intact. There was a change of location. There was a change of channel. Change of instrument. And the Lord said to him, and the Lord said to him, "Go to Zarephath." And that was how, that was how at Zarephath, God worked a miracle as Elijah stepped on the scenes.
Now, there are wrong things people do in the seasons of change. They keep on expressing their shock. I'm gonna run to them. Claims. Wrong things that people do in the seasons of change. Number one, they keep on expressing their shock over the new development without responding on time. [Music] There are wrong things people do in the season of change. One is that they keep on expressing their surprise. Right now, we are 2020. A lot of people are talking and talking and talking, chatting and chatting and chatting, while many have already started something new based on current realities. Many are still analyzing how their operations have come to a standstill, while others in the same industry have already adjusted and resumed operations using a different approach at the same time. So, one of the wrong things people do in the season of change is that they keep on expressing their shock over the new development without responding on time. And I hope I'm praying you will not make that mistake.
Number two, they make serious complaints and pass the blame. And that's exactly what you see going on. They focus on pinpointing the things that went wrong that brought about the change, the disturbances. You know, the world is faced with a health challenge, and a lot of people are spending on time talking about how it possibly started, possibly from a lab in Wuhan in China, or some other origin is being put forward as the root cause of what is playing out globally. But why this is going on, many people doing exactly what such people are doing have sat down, resized, and are back to work, back to operation. They are doing what they used to do before the lockdown, while others are still analyzing and pointing fingers as to the nation or the set of people that were responsible for the current challenge. This is a career, a consistent trend in seasons of change.
Another mistake that people make in the season of change is that some keep on hoping for a return of the past pattern. Some people keep on hoping for the return of the old way that such things used to be done. And history has shown us that when a lot of these changes, seasons of change played out, a lot of people initially thought that things will revert back to normal. But it never happened. We must learn from history. So some people keep on whipping that things will return back to the old way. And one greater error that some make in this light is that they work much harder and for longer hours using the outdated method. There are times where an approach or method becomes outdated, and even if you change your work hours from 8 to 10, from 10 to 12 hours in an attempt, you know, to still get the same quality and quantity of results you used to have in the past, in the seasons of change, extra hours would not make up for what has played out in a new season.
And number four, another mistake that people make in a season of change is that they find consolation in the greater loss of others. So find consolation in the bigger loss of other big players in the same field or sector. I pray you don't, you don't put yourself in this category of people who sit down and you begin to look at how much you have been affected, and instead of respecting, rising to take an appropriate action, you find consolation by, you know, reflecting on the greater loss of some other players in your field. And in fact, that, you know, gives you so much relief that you feel that since these bigger players have lost much more, then of course, there is no reason for you to be too bothered by the season of change.
Now, in rounding it off, there are some major lessons. Gaps of major lessons. One is, change is inevitable. Change is inevitable. Ecclesiastes chapter 3, verse 1 to 8. Ecclesiastes chapter 3, verse 1 to 8. For everything under heaven, there is a time and a season. A time to be born, a time to die. And one of those verses there specifically tells you that there is a time to throw away, there is a time to cast away the same things you embraced in the past. The same thing, the same pattern, the same product, the same occupation, the same line of business that you know gave you so much success in the past cannot take you beyond this new season. Change is inevitable. Everything has its own season. Innovations are coming up, even in this current times, with greater speed. So you must be ready to let go when the time for change comes. Are you recognize that one of the driving forces behind the season of change is that people are always looking, yearning, searching for somebody, for something, for an approach that will give them a more effective results, a more effective impact? People are looking at different factors, and they are looking for a new alternative that would give them that edge relative to what they are looking at for.
And then number two, don't hold on to the past. Don't hold on to the past. Isaiah 43, verse 18. He said, "Put aside the things of old. Put aside that old pattern." So you need to put aside the past channel. There are times you will need to just ignore the past channel, past patterns of getting things done. Some of you too could have three. Sometimes it could even be a relationship. It could be a relationship. It could be a partnership with someone. It could be a relationship, and the point becomes where reality, current realities, implies that there is no future, there is no way forward in that relationship or partnership, and you would need to sum up courage and put the past behind you. One of the errors people make is that in instances of change, they sometimes still want to hold on to the brand. A brand that was one time the best. And we forget that before that brand became the best, there were other brands. If you look through the time, a hundred years, you have discovered that different brands have come up as the best in that particular area with that kind of product over time. But when you get yourself involved sometimes in the realm of maybe distributorship or sales, you could get so emotionally attached to a particular brand that was once the best. But by the time maybe cheaper brands have come up of the same quality, you are still holding on to that good brand, but that presently is too expensive in the market. And you observe that people, the market has moved away from that brand to another brand of same quality, but of far, far better financial cost.
And number three, timely lesson is that God can always make a way. God can always make a way. Isaiah 43, verse 19. God will make a way. Always, always. And that is why it's so essential for you to be connected with the Lord, because with God on your side, there will always be a way forward in seasons of change. When one door closes, which is what happens during seasons of change, when one door closes and it affects you, God does not necessarily have to reopen that door. God does not have to, for your sake, keep that door open. There are times where the season of that particular theme is over. And so, if you are sensitive in the spirit, the Lord Almighty will show you the new way forward. For Isaiah, for Sarah, for the prophet Elijah in First Kings chapter 17, you could see that the old order for it, in short while, was a brook Cherith. But God Almighty moved on to a new location, and that was Zarephath. And when Elijah moved with God's direction to Zarephath, a miracle happened. God did not lead him to affect her land. He didn't lead him to a place where there was abundance. What is most important is to be sensitive to hear what God is saying and go in that direction. In women, a widow who had just one meal left for herself and her son was the person that God led Elijah to to keep running His divine promise of divine provision. So what happened? A miracle of provision happened there. So God can always create new opportunities. God can always create better replacements. Yes, better replacements. Sometimes, you know, something is so good, or someone is so good, and you assume that no, it can never be better. But there are times when things could go wrong, and God would decide to raise a replacement. God can always provide better replacements.
And number four, the promises of God are constant, but His approach and instruments can change. The promises of God are constant, but His approach and instruments can change. So what we learn from that, I made rare friends over Nova, with the experience of Elijah in First Kings chapter 17. God was committed to providing for him at a time of national famine. Initially, God used the ravens, used brook Cherith. But in that same time of national famine, God changed the approach. He changed the instruments. He changed the location. So the promises of God are constant, but His approach and instruments can change along the way. So always stay tuned to the Spirit of God for fresh direction. In First Kings chapter 17, verse 8, Elijah heard the word. The Bible says, "And the word of the Lord came to Elijah." I pray that when God's word will come to you in this season of change, you hear Him and you will obey Him.
And number five, this is very important. Divine restoration does not always involve a resurrection, revival, or return of the old normal. This is very important because so many people have found themselves stuck, stagnant, confused in seasons of change. Divine restoration does not always involve a resurrection of the old. Divine restoration does not always involve a revival of the former. Divine restoration does not always involve a return of the old order. For my God, most of the time, we will rather give you a new one. In Job chapter 42, we could see how God restored Job. He had lost ten children in his season of trials. And when God was going to restore him, God did not resurrect his children that died. He didn't raise them up, even though He could. And He did that many times in other instances before Job. God rather gave him 10 new children. So we need to recognize how the dynamics of the workings of God. So I want to plead with someone listening to me right now, stop expecting the thing to be revived or restored. God will give you a new one. Stop expecting a particular person that left you to return, to a particular person that died to be resurrected. God Almighty can always and will give you a new person. Expect something new from God. Expect a new person. Expect another one in place of the old one, as God gives you your restoration. Your restoration is coming.
And at number six, personal initiative is required. Personal initiative is required. In Proverbs chapter 18, verse 15. Proverbs chapter 18, verse 15. The Living Bible. Proverbs 18, verse 15. The Living Bible. Says, "The intelligent man." Can you see this? The intelligent. Seasons of change reveal sharp, intelligent people. He says, "The intelligent man is always open to new ideas. In fact, he looks for them. He looks for them. He looks for them." So there are times you need to take the initiative. There are times where you will need to power [Music] the way things are done in a particular area or field. And these are things that happen in the seasons of change. So your personal initiative is required. Even when God is leading you, look at what happened with the prophet Elijah in Zarephath. God simply told Elijah, "Go to Zarephath." And when he got to Zarephath, the Bible doesn't tell us that God spoke to him again on the exact thing to say or to do. He knew it was in the right location, the divinely directed location. And by flowing in the Spirit of God and this version of God, he knew that what was required now was the prophetic grace to connect with the fate of this woman, and then God would do a miracle. And that was exactly what happened. And I just said to her, "Give an instruction on what to do." And the moment she obeyed, God walked a miracle. The Lord shall walk a miracle for you this new season. The Lord shall walk a major breakthrough, a major victory for you this new season. God, Lord, hear your Amen.
And the last one, number seven, is that time is very crucial. Time is of essence. Time is very crucial. Ecclesiastes chapter 3, verse 1. Everything on the heaven has a time. Everything, including human vessels, has a time. And it went for that to say, a time to be born and a time to die. So everything on the surface of this earth has its own time. And take note of these alternatives. Alternatives that God will offer you in seasons of change, they have a time. That opportunity that is coming and will come your way now, would not be available for just you after a while if you delay too long in embracing it. It's going to go in another direction. An alternative that God is offering you may not be available forever. So act on time. Act on time. Act on time. So in seasons of change, we need to be very sensitive to the fact that time is of essence. Praise the Lord.
So, God is prompting every one of us to rise up and operate as men and women of foresight. Men and women of foresight. People of foresight are those who can see ahead. They can see something playing out, and they don't just see and do nothing with the observation. They don't just hear and do nothing with the information. They position themselves in order to benefit from what is about to play out. Where is something that is negative that is about to play out, people of foresight would take precautionary measures to either prevent it, avoid it, or minimize the negative effect of that thing that is going to happen. So I pray that God will find you at this time, a man, a woman of foresight, great wisdom, with clear divine direction that they will activate and walk with in specific areas of their lives, even in the season of change. Lord, we know that a new season of testimonies, of divine promotion, divine empowerment is about to unfold. I pray that by msel favor, let your son, let your daughter, let us families listening to your word right now, benefit from this wave of divine promotion and appeasement in the name of Jesus. Let the Lord hear your Amen. I pray also, Lord, that today, right now, you will touch each and every one at the point of need. Anyone listening to the sound of my voice that at this moment, this hour, needs an urgent divine intervention, Lord, intervene and surprise that person. Lord, I pray that anyone looking up to You for a great favor from on high, Lord, show Your favor unto that vessel and honor him more high with a new testimony. Thank You Heavenly Father. In Jesus name, we have prayed.
It's a season of change, and the season of change shall greatly favor you and your family in Jesus name. Thank you so much for your time together in the presence of the Lord. And I pray that every good word you hear today, God will honor them with testimonies from in your life in good time from now. Please watch out and be in touch with us as we bring God's word in this time and season. In Jesus name. Thank you.