Men and brethren, we are all going through a season and all seasons have a purpose . Therefore, if we don ’ t fulfill the purpose of a season then we will cause problems for the other seasons . The scripture affirms and confirms the seasons of life in summary “ While the earth remaineth , seedtime and harvest , and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease . ” Gen 8 : 22 God gave his promise to Noah after the flood waters that covered the earth retreated ; the spoken word from the master and creator brought into implementation the pattern of seasons upon the earth for as long as it continues to exist . Seasons are phenomena that humanity has learned to live with ever since . Right where you are, we plant and harvest our crops according to the growing seasons ; no man plant and harvest at the same time . It is a pity generation that expects both to function all at the same time . We plan our activities and build our buildings according to the seasonal weather patterns. It makes sense , therefore, that we learn how to work with the seasons of the spirit in every endeavour of our life . Seasons are a fixed and definite time ; definite opportunities for occurrence of event , activity or pronouncement . Seasons emphasized and bring into manifestation broadly spoken accomplishment that expresses the duration of a period , and stresses it as marked by certain features . Moreover , no man prospers beyond the pronouncement of his seasons . Jesus was quoted in Acts 1 : 7 when Jesus said , “… It is not for you to know the times or the seasons , which the Father hath put in his own power . ” Another declaration of season in 2 Kings 4 : 16 “ And he said , About this season , according to the time of life , thou shalt embrace a son . . ” There are some events that only God knows the timing like the second coming of Jesus is one of those events. But on the other hand , there is a wealth of knowledge that can be acquired by studying what the Bible says about the times and the seasons of man ’ s life. Let us look at some of the seasons of life: Number One: The Appointed Season “ To every thing there is a season , and a time to every purpose under the heaven. ” Ecc 3 : 1 We must start by agreeing with King Solomon that everything in life has a proper time and season that yields the most favourable results. It is important to ask for permission from heaven to grant you a life of purpose ; a man without definite assignment only exists and life can toss you up and down with passion . The Berkeley translation says , “ For everything there is an appointed season , and there is a proper time for every project under heaven. ” The Basic English translation says , “ For everything there is a fixed time …” “ Timing ” is defined as the ability to perform movements and actions at the most effective moment . “ Timing” is also defined as the regulation of the occurrence , the pace, or the coordination of a matter that best achieves a desired effect. ” We can easily see the importance of timing in things like music, comedy , athletics and automobile mechanics; the synchronization of which determines the quality of results . Therefore, learning how to discern the proper timing for life’ s endeavours is very important . Ecclesiastes 8 : 5 says , “… a wise man’ s heart discerneth both time and judgment. Because to every purpose there is time and judgment …” The Amplified says , “… a wise man ’ s mind will know both when and what to do . For every purpose and matter has its right time and judgment …” It ’ s not enough to know what to do ; you also need to know “ when to do a thing ” and “ how to get it done. ” If you get any one of those three concepts wrong – the what , the when , and the how – you stand the risk of interfering with God’ s perfect plan for your life and living out of balance with the timings and the seasons of the Spirit. A wise man will not move with undue haste to complete a matter . First, he will seek to understand the right season and the proper timing that ensures the most favourable results. Number Two: Your Due Season - Psalms 1 : 3 tells us that a “ blessed ” man , “…shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water , that bringeth forth his fruit in his season ; his leaf also shall not wither ; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper. ” A “ blessed ” man prospers in everything that he does because he has learned to flow with the seasons that have been uniquely designed for his life, instead of working against them. What the Bible calls “ his ” season refers to the special timings of the Spirit that the Lord has designed to produce “ his” singularly designed fruit . Galatians 6 : 9 adds further revelation by saying , “ and let us not be weary in well doing; for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not . ” The Bible says that we will reap in our “ due ” season, which means pertaining to one ’ s self, what is one ’ s own as opposed to that which belongs to another. There are seasons of the Spirit that are uniquely designed to be “ your” due season. They have been fashioned to meet your distinctive needs and to fit your unique lifestyle. Learning to recognize one ’ s personal “ due ” season is an important threshold to cross to further our growth in the Spirit . It will open the door to all kinds of supernatural possibilities in your life . The timing of “ your” uniquely designed season might not coincide with the timing of “ my” season. And my harvest is not crafted to look like your harvest . Each persons “ due ” season has been conceived by the mind of the Spirit to meet each person’ s unique and distinctive needs . Therefore, it is of vital importance that each one of us recognizes that we all have “ due ” seasons in the Spirit ; and, if we act accordingly , we will reap a harvest of blessing . And everything we put our hand to will prosper. Galatians 6 : 9 also teaches that there are certain attitudes that must be implemented for you to be positioned to reap when your “ due ” season comes. First, the scripture admonishes you to not be weary in well doing. The word “ weary” means to be spiritless , worn out or exhausted . How many times has the Spirit urged you to enter a new season, but you were too worn out and exhausted to act . You must guard against wasting your energy in wrong pursuits . You must maintain a passion and zeal about doing good in life ; especially if your seasons seem to be protracted and drawn - out. A spiritless and lackadaisical attitude will always yield a diminished harvest . Secondly , the scripture says that we shall reap if we faint not. The word “ faint ” literally means to fall apart and to go to pieces . Brethren , part of the enemies plan is to throw so many difficulties at you at one time , that you experience a mental melt down and fall apart . The strife , the stress , and the struggles of life have a tendency to wear you down and to foster the idea that living a good life just isn ’ t worth it . You must resist this negative frame of mind and instead cling to the spiritual law that is outlined in this verse. If you don ’ t grow weary and fall apart , you will reap a harvest in your “ due ” season . The Amplified says , “… let us not lose heart and grow weary and faint in acting nobly and doing right , for in due time , and at the appointed season we shall reap…” Galatians 6 : 7 says , “ Be not deceived; God is not mocked ; for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. ” The quantity and the quality of your harvest depend directly on the seed that you have sown . Phillips translation says , “…a man’ s harvest in life will depend entirely on what he sows . ” Don’ t be deceived or misled, “ your” season of harvest is directly tied to what “ you ” do in “ your” season of sowing . Remember you will reap what you sow ; not what someone else sows . Therefore, if you don ’ t like your harvest, don ’ t blame anyone else (it ’ s not their fault ), just change what you are sowing . It does not matter the family you have come or the location of your seed , God is the one who waters and is able to allow your seed to germinate and bring forth harvest . The Amplified says , “ Don’ t be deceived, deluded and misled… . whatever a man sows , that and that only is what he will reap. ” Number Three : Missed Seasons and Blown Opportunities - The Bible also teaches that we can create our own seasons of failure if we focus our mind in the wrong direction. In the book of Genesis, Abraham was commanded by God to leave his home country and to travel to a new land of blessing . But Hebrews 11 : 15 says , “ And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out , they might have had opportunity to have returned . ” The Amplified says , “… they would have “ found ” opportunity to return. ” You can create your own season by allowing your mind to be filled with wrong pursuits . If you spend enough time thinking and pondering over a matter , your mind will justify and make a case for any action that you want to take; including disobeying God. Remember Lot ’ s wife . She missed her opportunity for deliverance because she turned around and looked back. The Bible says that Abraham and Sarah could have missed their season of blessing by being mindful of their past . An undisciplined and wandering mind will prevent you from flowing with the seasons of the Spirit and get you into a lot of trouble. Timing is everything when it comes to following the Lord . Another example is found in Luke chapter one where the angel Gabriel appeared to a man called Zacharias and told him that his wife would miraculously conceive a son who would eventually be known as John the Baptist . Instead of believing what the angel said , Zacharias opened his mind to doubt and unbelief and asked , what proof can you show me that what you say is true ? So , the angel gave him proof. In Luke 1 : 19 , 20 the angel answered , “… I am Gabriel , that stand in the presence of God… . and behold , thou shalt be dumb and not able to speak , until the day that these things shall be performed, because thou believest not my words, which shall be fulfilled in their season . ” Notice that the angel said that God’ s prophetic word is of a kind that will always be fulfilled in its season . And when Zacharias chose to resist the season of God’ s Word, he paid the price . He became dumb for a season before his destiny was seasoned with testimony. Every Word of God has a unique season tied to its fulfilment . And nothing can stop God’ s Word from coming to pass in its season . To fight against it is a futile and unprofitable enterprise that will always yield bad results for your life. You must learn to cooperate and become agreeable with the seasons of God even when you don ’ t understand them. Psalms 37 : 23 says , “ The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD …” We must seek to understand God’ s plan for our life and then order our steps accordingly . Psalms 31 : 15 says , “ My times are in thy hand …” The Hebrew word for “ times” is to be fit and proper time or opportunity . The opportunities of the Spirit (the Amplified says , “ my affairs, and the events of my life”) are in God’ s hand ; and once they are revealed, they must be followed and fully complied with . Number Four : Rescuing from loss or a bad season - What must we do when we discover that our lives are out of balance with the seasons of the Spirit? Ephesians 5 : 16 gives us the answer, “ Redeeming the time (season), because the days are evil . ” Coming to the realization that your life is out of balance with the seasons of God need not be a defeating or despairing experience . You can sometimes redeem or buy back a lost season by turning your life around and changing your affairs to comply with God’ s will. It is never too late to repent and to turn back to God. The preceding verse, Eph . 5 : 15 tell us how to turn our lives to God, “ See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise . ” The word “ circumspectly” means to live accurate , exact , and precise lives. The Amplified translation says , “… live purposefully and worthily and accurately, not as the unwise and witless , but as wise (as sensible, intelligent people ). ” As a child of God, you must live your life with a sense of purpose and with a true sense of direction that leads you into the seasons and timing of God; not away from them. Ephesians 5 : 17 adds, “… be ye not unwise (without reason , senseless , foolish , stupid ), but understanding what the will of the Lord is . ” It is senseless and foolish to not understand God’ s will for your life. The Bible makes it abundantly clear that it is the Father ’ s desire for you to live in accordance with His will. The Amplified says , “… therefore do not be vague and thoughtless and foolish , but understanding and firmly grasping what the will of the Lord is . ” Too many Christians are living unfruitful and unfulfilled lives simply because they have adopted a vague and thoughtless way of life. They are not sure where they are going or what their purpose in life really is ; and this lack of clarity is precisely the reason why their mind is filled with confusion and anxiety about the affairs of their life. But , if you will instead focus your attention and apply your energy to understanding and firmly grasping the will of the Lord , your ability to recognize the seasons and the timings of the Spirit will be greatly enhanced . One way to become intimately acquainted with God’ s will is through your fellowship with the Holy Spirit, Ephesians 5 : 18 in the Amplified says , “… ever be filled and stimulated with the Holy Spirit. ” If you actively cultivate a relationship with the Holy Spirit, He will continually stimulate and inspire you in the seasons of God. Ephesians 6 : 18 adds, “ Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit…” The literal means praying in every season . Whether you are in a good season or a bad season , whether the opportunity seems to be favourable or unfavourable, by continually praying in the Spirit you will create the opportunity for God to illuminate your inner man with the knowledge you need to live circumspectly in the seasons of God. Number Five : Seasons of refreshing - In Luke 19: 41 - 44 , the Bible says that Jesus wept over Jerusalem , “… because thou knewest not the time of thy visitation . ” The scriptures make it clear that Jerusalem’ s lack of spiritual perception was due to the religious leaders callous and stony heart . They did not recognize the Messiah when He was standing in their midst. Goodspeed says , “… you did not know when God visited you . ” We need to be aware , that at this present time , we do not know everything there is to know about the ways and purposes of God. We must always remain teachable and open to the seasons of new revelation that come from the Holy Spirit. Revelation that always agrees with the scriptures; but, will probably be in direct opposition to our religious indoctrination. Holding fast to the unscriptural doctrines of your religion will cause you to miss the seasons of visitation that come from the Lord . In Acts 3 : 19, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, the Apostle Peter preached , “ Repent (to change the way that you are thinking ) ye therefore , and be converted (to turn around and change directions ), that your sins may be blotted out, when the times” (the seasons ) of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord . ” There are seasons of refreshing and supernatural rejuvenation that continually flow from the presence of the Lord . But , they are only recognized after you have repented and changed your religious way of thinking . The bible says that you must repent ; change your way of thinking , “…so there may come seasons of refreshing…” Seasons of refreshing follow true repentance. A closed , religious mind cannot recognize the seasons of visitation when they come from the presence of the Lord . Therefore it is your season to be seasoned. Number Six: The seasons of God’ s Word - Jesus, in Luke 8 : 13 , also talked about the different seasons that follow the sowing of God’ s Word, “…when they hear, (they ) receive the Word with joy ; and these have no root, which for a while believe , and in time of temptation fall away. ” There are seasons of faith and there are seasons of temptation that always follow the sowing of God’ s Word . Learning to recognize the difference between these two seasons is crucial for your continued growth in the Lord . Every time you hear the Word of God preached under the anointing of the Holy Spirit, there will be a time of joyful and exuberant faith that will follow . But Jesus also taught that there is a specific time when the enemy comes to rob the word that was sown in your heart before it can take root and grow . This is called a season of temptation. The Christian that falls away during the season of temptation is the person that “ has no root” or is not grounded and settled in the things of God. Tay’ s translation says , “… but somehow the message never really gets through to them and doesn ’ t take root and grow …” The same teaching in Mark 4 : 17 says it this way, “ And have no root in themselves, and so endure but for a time … . ” Without becoming rooted and grounded in the things of God, you stand no chance of surviving the seasons of temptation that come from the enemy . The Amplified finishes out Mark 4 : 17 this way, “… then when trouble or persecution arises… . immediately (they ) are offended (become displeased , indignant, resentful ) and they stumble and fall away . ” Strife, offences and hurt feelings hinder your ability to recognize and flow with the seasons of the Spirit. A Christian that is holding on to hurt and wounded feelings will not have the energy to act in a positive way when the new seasons of the Spirit come their way . II Timothy 4 : 2 admonishes us to, “ Preach the word ; be instant in season , out of season…” The Amplified says , “…whether the opportunity seems to be favourable or unfavourable…” Literally, the Greek text says , whether it is a “ good” season or a “ bad ” season , we need to be instant . The word “ instant ” comes from the “ ephistemi ” which literally means to stand upon , in an active and upright position . To stand upon what? Stand upon the Word of God, whether things are going good or things are going bad . Learning to recognize that what is happening to you is merely a season (that will eventually pass ) is a big part of learning how to stay the course during difficult times. Everyone will face seasons of temptation; difficult times when the enemy is trying his best to get you to quit . But eventually, difficult times pass . And then, we enter a new season of faith . Luke 4 : 13 says , “ And when the devil had ended all the temptation, he departed from Him for a season ” I Peter 5 : 6 says , “ Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time . ” You will be exalted and you will find success in due time , at your appointed season . Prayer for the Season : Father God, I come before you to acknowledge my limited ability to live in season that will cause heaven to grant me a miracle. I agree that I have not been living a full life of faith by speaking wrongly outside the mandate of your ability . I also accept that I have sometimes giving up on my dreams , my commitment , and my love for you because of bitterness of heart and murmuring of my heart and spoken words from my mouth. You are such a great and mighty God yet I have made your word look so small . Lord , I shall not miss my appointed and due season . Grant me the head of Goliath in this season in Jesus name. Amen Prayer School (Hints )
Posted on: Sat, 12 Jul 2014 07:14:41 +0000
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