THE TIME OF FAVOR HAS COME!

In my previous post we discussed how God has chosen to work within the precincts
 of time to carry out His purposes for us His people. He thus sets up seasons in our lives and its important to discern the season we are in. I announce today we are in a season of favor. The appointed time has come.

When the Appointed Time or season has Come, for God to raise His people, He Acts in Favor Towards them.

 In the appointed time He will hear and helps you in ways that will shock you and puzzle many. Those who had already put a conclusion on your story will be so shocked to see the new developments He will bring in your life. They will have to begin to rewrite your story again.  In His appointed time, God will hear and help us.

 He says in 2 Cor 6:2,  “in the time of my favor I heard you… I tell you now is the time of Gods favor…”

He offers to brings justice to you, and punish whatever people, problems and challenges impending your progress. When confirming his covenant with Abraham God told him in Gen 15:13-14,

 “know for certain that your descendants will be strangers in a country not their own, and they will be enslaved and ill treated four hundred years. But I will punish the nation they serve as slaves, and afterwards they will come out with great possessions.

According to Genesis Israel moved into Egypt at a time of great favor through Joseph and were saved from starvation. However after sometime there arose a Pharaoh who never knew Joseph. This king saw the prosperity of Gods people as a threat to the economy of his nation. He was afraid the people of God were poised to take over Egypt. So he structured violence against them to limit their potential and curtail their success.

Regardless of their suffering the people continued to increase in number. Their suffering was great and unbearable and their groaning rose up to heaven. They had been in Egypt for four hundred years. That was the time God intended but it had already lapsed. In fact they overstayed an additional thirty years. When they called upon the LORD, God dispatched Moses. A polished shaft that he had been prepared to midwife their release. The voice of God through Moses resonated throughout Egypt. He cried out to the Egyptian official; Let my people go! The time of Israel’s favor had come and Egypt could not contain them anymore. There was no turning back. Israel had to go free.

The most amazing thing is that God ensured that Israel would not leave Egypt empty handed. He made their tormentors favorably disposed towards Israel. They came out with articles of gold and silver. They had to be compensated for their hard work.  They plundered Egypt.

God said to Moses in Exo. 3:21 “and I will make the Egyptians favorably disposed towards this people, so that when you leave you will not go empty handed.”

The Appointed Time has Come, God acts with favor towards you.

Psalm 102 says, You will arise and have compassion on Zion, for it is time to show favor to her; the appointed time has come

There are three critical points to consider about favor:

·      We are assured to live and enjoy God favor when we walk in a covenant relationship with God

·      We appreciate Gods favor when we look at the condition and circumstances we have been through or that currently face us.

·      We appropriate God's favor for us by believing and acting on what God says.

The time of favor has come. Heaven smiles on you. Heaven backs you for recovery, renewal, restoration and establishment.

You are not a permanent resident of trouble land. Shame and reproach and disgrace are not part of your identity. You are marked for grace, favor, honor and for establishment.

May all circumstances, all people, whether friends or foes be favorably disposed towards you for recovery, restoration and establishment.

Look up to God this morning for this kind of favor, for yourself your family, your friends and your church.

The appointed time has come!!!

IT'S ABOUT TIME!

Time is of essence. God operates within the confines of time. Though not limited to time, it has pleased him to confine Himself to time for our sake. He has set aside times and seasons through which He fulfills His purposes for His people.

That is why I am persuaded that as the preacher said in Ecclesiastes 3:1

“There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven.”

This is a very comforting truth because it means that whatever circumstances, situations, problems and challenges I may be going through, they have an expiry date.

So from today I make it my habit to check the label of any problem that comes my way because I know it has an expiry date. I don’t want any expired problem in my life. If it’s expired, it must be shown the door. It has outlived its usefulness or its problematicfulness (if there is such a word in the dictionary). I don’t want any problems acting on me illegally. It’s harmful to allow problems to overstay in your life. They should be allowed in as guests; passersby who help us see the world in different perspective, catalysts that spur growth of character in us. Don’t allow the problem to overstay and affect your DNA (read Desires, Nature, Abilities).

Stop fretting about wasted opportunities. Though you may lack the power and wit to create an opportunity, but you can prepare for one. You may not dictate the seasons of your life, but you can prepare for them.

The Bible says in Galatians 4:4 that Jesus came at the appointed time.

When time had fully come God sent his son… (Gal 4:4)

Jesus acted within the confines of the times and seasons set before Him. When pressurized by interest groups, he expressed His reservation to act before the appointed time.

He told the mother in John 2:4 “Dear woman why do you involve me…my time has not yet come.” However out of compassion HE ACTED. Compassion produces combustion—power to deliver solutions and answers before their time. It’s amazing what people can do when motivated by love. Jesus still went ahead and did something fantastic. He changed water to wine and saved the day.

His brothers in John 7 convinced that Jesus had some political/leadership blood running through his veins had tried to pressurize him to create a greater constituency. “They said, No—one who wants to become a public figure acts in secret. Since you are doing these things show yourself to the world.”(John 7:4)

Jesus response to them reflects his understanding of leadership dynamics and timing, especially from a political perspective. He said, “the right time for me has not yet come; for you anytime is right.” (John 7:6)

I have noted that the best way to destroy a political opponent is to get them declare their intentions prematurely. Timing is a critical element for success in life. Indeed the secret of success is pegged on the ability to understand and act at the appropriate time. Benjamin Disraeli  asserted, “ the secret of success in life is for a man to be ready for his time when it comes.”

The wise teacher reiterates this principle. He says, “ I have seen something else under the sun: the race is not for the swift or the battle to the strong, nor does food come to the wise or wealth to the brilliant or favor to the learned; but time and chance happen to them all.” (Eccl 9:11)

Daniel understood by reading the Bible that their time in captivity had expired and acted accordingly by petitioning God in prayer.

Daniel 9:1-2 in the first year of his reign I Daniel understood from the scriptures, according to the word of the Lord given to Jeremiah the prophet, that the desolation of Jerusalem would last seventy years so I turned to the Lord God and pleaded with him in prayer and petition, in fasting and in sackcloth’s and ashes

The sons of Issachar on the other hand understood the times and knew the appropriate accompanying action for Israel as a nation. These were credible men, 200 indispensable chiefs who’s advise came in handy for an aspiring King (1 Chron 12:32).

Oh, how I pray that in our church and nation we may find such men!

So my dear readers don’t allow things to overwhelm you. If the tide of the problems that accosts you rises high, know that for sure it will soon die down. Calm will soon be restored. It’s a matter of time. Allowing the problem you face to fester and dictate your outlook to life is a misnomer. In the midst of the storm, remember that your DNA cannot be altered. You will outlast the storm. Remember the phrase, tough times don’t last but tough people do?

If you have been facing down moments and you think that your chapter has been closed forever, I urge you to check the label on your problems. They have an expiry date.  You are not a permanent resident in problem land. Shame and reproach and disgrace are not part of your DNA. You are marked for honor, for grace and for favor, for establishment. May your troubles expire today in Jesus name!

Why you may ask? Because Gods favor in your life makes a great difference. Read my next Blog