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| A New Season Begins in 2010 - Jane Hamon |
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| Written by Jane Hamon |
| Monday, 04 January 2010 14:33 |
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Out of Captivity I believe that the Church is poised on the brink of a brand new season. Just as 2010 begins a new decade, I believe that we are turning a corner and entering into a time of reformation and awakening that is in many ways similar to when the children of Israel came out of Bablylonian captivity. There are new battles ahead and new ground to be taken, however, it will all be towards the purpose of building and establishing God’s Kingdom in the earth in a whole new way. 2010 will be a year of the wind of the Lord blowing afresh and anew to prepare us for this new season of reformation and awakening. After Jesus was crucified at Passover and rose from the dead three days later, he was seen of men for 40 days walking on the earth. Then he ascended to heaven and told His disciples to go back to Jerusalem to wait for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit - the Promise of the Father. 10 days later, when the day of Pentecost was fully come the house where they were assembled was filled with the sound of a rushing mighty wind. This wind brought the empowerment of the Holy Spirit and the birth of the Church. This will be a season of outpouring and birthing of the Holy Spirit. I recently heard Apostle Gale Sheehan share what he was sensing for this New Year and new season and I really bore witness with it. He said this would be a year when God would send the second wind. The second wind is a term used by runners who after running a distance begin to become weak and exhausted and about to give up. Then they get their "second wind" and suddenly get a burst of energy and strength to go the distance. This is where the church has been. Many are weak and exhausted from the battles of the last season, but God is sending His wind of refreshing to give us strength, renewed energy and fresh vision for the new day. (Click Here to read Gale Sheehan's Word of the Lord.) A key verse for this time will be from John 10:10: The thief comes to steal, kill and destroy, but I have come that you might have life and life more abundantly. The word "theif" comes from the Greek word "klepto" as in kleptomaniac. He loves to steal us blind, rob from us and destroy everything that is good and purposeful in our lives. The Greek word that is translated "more abundantly" means "that which is superabundant in quantity and superior in quality, exceeding abundantly, above and beyond." We need to shake off the lack that has tried to stranglehold our vision in the last several years and believe for God's superabundance in every area of our lives in 2010. As our friend Chuck Pierce annually points out, the Jewish calendar year begins in the month of September. This is the year 5770 according to that record. This is the season of AYIN which is a time for the triumph of the church, a time to possess your land and dig new wells, a time to see in a new way. I believe this is significant as 70 is the number associated with the time of the end of God’s judgment on Judah, the end of Babylonian captivity and the beginning of a brand new season of building and restoring all that was lost during that time. Similarly, on our Gregorian calendar, this is the year 2010. In scripture the number 10 denotes judgment fulfilled and a new season beginning. How we enter this new season will largely depend on how we responded to the testing process of God in the last season. Some of the significant indicators of the number 10 in scripture are as follows. a) The 10 Commandments – these were the standard of moral requirements by while Israel was to be judged. b) The 10 plagues of Egypt – were God’s instruments of judgment against Egypt at the appointed time. I believe this is an appointed time of God’s judgment against His enemies. As was the case in Egypt when the pre-determined 400 years of bondage were concluded, things got worse for God’s people right before their deliverance came. I believe many have been in this season of the darkness before the dawn. Those who position themselves in faith for the new season will see God’s mighty hand of miracles to bring deliverance and pave the way to the promise. c) 10 is a number that represents the hands of God…..10 fingers – fingers that wrote the 10 commandments, fingers that wrote on the walls of the Babylonian palace, hands that destroyed His enemies. This will be a year that we will see the manifestation of God’s right hand on the righteous – a hand of blessing, power and favor. It will also be a year to see God’s left hand manifested against evil and those that oppose His cause – the hand of dishonor or cursing. A key verse for this year will be concerning the hand of God bringing people out of captivity: Ex 3:20-22 So I will stretch out My hand and strike Egypt with all My wonders which I will do in its midst; and after that he will let you go. 21 And I will give this people favor in the sight of the Egyptians; and it shall be, when you go, that you shall not go empty-handed. 22 But every woman shall ask of her neighbor, namely, of her who dwells near her house, articles of silver, articles of gold, and clothing; and you shall put them on your sons and on your daughters. So you shall plunder the Egyptians." Ex 15:6 "Your right hand, O Lord, has become glorious in power; Your right hand, O Lord, has dashed the enemy in pieces. God does not just release His hand against our enemies but will often ask us what He asked Moses when He said, “What is in your hand?” The hand represents power and authority as well as our ability put into action. God wants to place His hand over our hands and release new positions of authority and new resources of power to be utilized for our victory and deliverance. Again, this involves the right hand of blessing and favor and authority. The right hand is also the hand that holds the sword, the Word of the Lord. There is a new prophetic sharpness coming to those who will take the time to press in and listen on a new level. The left hand is the hand that holds the shield - the shield of faith. This will be a year of faith expansion as we wield the sword of the Word of the Lord. d) 10 is the prevailing number in measuring the tabernacle, the temple and New Jerusalem. This will be a year of measuring and aligning to proper structure and standards. e) 10 is the number used by Jesus as a standard of measuring our right response to God’s dealings: a. 10 virgins – 5 fell asleep and 5 entered into the celebration b. 10 talents – one invested poorly and was judged severely c. 10 cities – the reward given to those that invest their talents wisely d. 10 lepers – only one returned to give thanks after being healed. f) 10 is the primary number tied to financial matters as God emphasizes the covenant tithe (10%). Malachi 3 tells us of the reward and judgment according to how we respond to the tithe. The word tithe comes from the Hebrew word asar – to accumulate, the tithe from the root word ashar – to accumulate to the extent of the digits (fingers), specifically to grow and make rich. This will be a year of seeing God’s covenant promises fulfilled as we keep covenant with God through our tithe. g) 10 continues to denote judgment on His enemies: a. 10 toes on Nebuchadnezzar’s statue which are destroyed by a “kingdom of iron”. Dan 2:41-44 – Iron is a symbol of God’s judgment b. 10 horned beast in Revelations 7 (representing 10 kings, nations or kingdoms) the 11th arose from the midst and made war with the saints and prevailed against them until the Ancient of Days came and judgment was made in favor of the saints! Out of Captivity Judah was held in Babylonian captivity for 70 years. 70 is 10 times 7. 7 is the number of completion, perfection and covenant. God’s dealings with Judah were not because of His hatred towards them, but rather because of His great love. His dealings with His Church have been out of covenant, and the time of completion is now at hand. When the fullness of time came and it was time for captivity to end the following things occurred which I believe parallel what God has been doing in this last season and will do in this next season. 1) Release is preceeded by the intercession of the prophets who have discerned the times. In the 1980’s God restored the ministry office of the prophet. Shortly afterwards the prayer movement began which has continued the last 20 years. People began to pray believing that God could save not just individuals but cities and nations as well. Prior to Israel’s release from Egypt God raised up the prophet Moses who heard God say it was time for captivity to end. Before it was all over, Pharoah’s heart got even harder towards the people of Israel and made their lives even more miserable. But then they were released. Prior to the end of Babylonian captivity it was the prophet Daniel who read the words of Jeremiah and began to repent and pray regarding the freedom of Judah. (Jer 25:11; Dan 9:2) Then along came Belshazzar – the most arrogant of kings. It actually got worse before it got better. But then we see God’s hand- His fingers writing on the wall – and judgment came upon the enemies of God as favor was released on God’s people. Intercessors need to shake off the weariness of the last season and even the doubt that has arisen. Since many saw things get worse, a cynicism has arisen that has caused some to doubt that their prayers have an effect on the earth realm. Arise Intercessors. This is your greatest hour! 2) A Decree is Made by the Authority in the Land for Release This has been a season of apostles, prophets and even the saints realizing the power of spiritual legislation through releasing a decree. It has the power to shift everything. Pharoah made a decree of release for Israel and Cyrus made a decree of release for Judah. I believe that the Church is going to gain tremendous favor from some civil leaders that will advance the Kingdom cause. Just as Pharoah and Cyrus weren’t righteous men but worked with the purposes of God, they didn’t just release the people from captivity but also added that the people be given wealth and finances as they went. I believe there will be those who put their money where their mouth is and actually release finances for the Kingdom. I even feel that President Obama is going to end up making some decrees that unknown to him, will promote the cause of the Kingdom and even designate some finances towards the cause of reformation. 3) Fathers (Apostles) put in their proper place. One crucial element of bringing people out of captivity is the promotion and position of the fathers. In Moses’ day his leaders, Dathan, Korah and Abiram and the chief princes of Israel ended up fashioning the golden calf and leading Israel into idolatry against God and rebellion against Moses. It was largely because of the failed leadership of those serving under Moses that ended up resulting in Israel’s failure to enter in to their promised land and causing them to wander in the wilderness until they died. On the other hand, in the book of Ezra one of the first things to occur after Cyrus’s decree is that the fathers were put back in position. They led the people back to Jerusalem and immediately began re-laying the foundation of the temple. Zerubbabel was their leader. His name means “seed of Babylon, to flow away from confusion dispersion of confusion” The Zerubbabels are arising and breaking the yoke of confusion that has caused the cause of the Church to become watered down through religion, fear of man and being politically correct! 4) The Father’s (apostles) rebuilt the foundations and ushered in a sound of worship. In Ezra 3 we see the father’s (heads of the father’s houses) organizing the people for restoration and reformation. The last 30 years have been spent restoring prophets, apostles and saints to their place so they could be mobilized to build. It’s time to build. As in the days of Nehemiah, we will build with a sword in one hand and a building tool in the other. The sword will be the Word of the Lord and the building tool will be the apostolic strategy to advance. They also ushered in a new sound of worship in the midst of the city of God as they were in the restoration process. There will continue to be new sounds of worship released with an impact of breakthrough, miracles and the power of the presence of God like never before. 5) Contending with Unrighteous Decrees Just as release from captivity come through decrees so also, delay and disappointment comes through the decrees of the enemy as well. In Ezra 4 Ahasuerus issued some decrees that halted the building process of restoring the temple. According to Browns-Drivers-Briggs the name Ahasuerus means “I will be silent and poor”. I believe this is one of the spirits we are contending with during this season, one that will attempt to rob the voice of the Church as well as bring us back into an impoverished state of captivity. Remember, we have been released from the last season of captivity, but we must choose to hear the Word of the Lord through the prophets to reject the decrees of darkness that will attempt to hold us in our old state. 6) A New Release of Wealth! This will be one of the most important aspects of this new season. In both examples from scripture great wealth was released as the people of God came out of captivity. When Israel was released from Egypt, they didn’t come out empty-handed but took the wealth of their Egyptian neighbors and put it on their sons and daughters. This is our challenge to think generationally regarding the new wealth creation and wealth transfer season we are coming in to. Likewise, when Judah came out of captivity Cyrus decreed the release of wealth for them to rebuild as did the second Darius and Artaxerses. There was a continual release of wealth to accomplish the rebuilding of the temple. It might also be noted that this temple was twice the size as Solomon’s temple and was constructed primarily with Babylonian wealth. Look for opportunities that will release the wealth for this new season of advancing. Unfortunately, when Israel came out of Egypt they took all the Egyptian wealth and used it to build the golden calf of idolatry. We must be careful to realize that as God releases wealth in this new season it is for the purpose of building and advancing the Kingdom. Great strategy is needed to do the right thing with the wealth that comes in, lest we use it to erect monuments to ourselves or to fall into the hands of Mammon and begin being enslaved by the very wealth God has blessed us with. The number 70 is mentioned as the time not only of Babylonian captivity, but also 70 years of judgment against Tyre. Isa 23:17-18 At the end of seventy years, the Lord will deal with Tyre. She will return to her hire as a prostitute and will ply her trade with all the kingdoms on the face of the earth. 18 Yet her profit and her earnings will be set apart for the Lord; they will not be stored up or hoarded. Her profits will go to those who live before the Lord, for abundant food and fine clothes. This will truly be a time when the kingdoms of the world will begin to serve the kingdoms of God. In both the Babylonian and Tyre examples we see a depiction of the finances controlled by Satan. Both of these kingdoms are illustrations of the kingdom of darkness in the earth. Isaiah calls Lucifer the “king of Babylon” and Ezekiel 28 calls him the “prince of Tyre”. Both indicate a shift after 70 years, when the wealth of wickedness gets put into the hands of the righteous. 7) A Governmental Shift takes place This will be a surprising year of major governmental shifts. In Ezra 7, post-captivity government was restored to the land of Israel. The unrighteous were shifted out and the righteous were set in. Even the battle over the courts will see new life as it was commanded to set in righteous judges in the land. Ezra 7:25-28 25 And you, Ezra, in accordance with the wisdom of your God, which you possess, appoint magistrates and judges to administer justice to all the people of Trans-Euphrates — all who know the laws of your God. And you are to teach any who do not know them. 26 Whoever does not obey the law of your God and the law of the king must surely be punished by death, banishment, confiscation of property, or imprisonment. 27 Praise be to the Lord, the God of our fathers, who has put it into the king's heart to bring honor to the house of the Lord in Jerusalem in this way 28 and who has extended his good favor to me before the king and his advisers and all the king's powerful officials. Because the hand of the Lord my God was on me, I took courage and gathered leading men from Israel to go up with me. NIV In summary, this will be the beginning of a new era, a new season of advancement for the purposes of God. In America, we will continue to see shaking as the war over wealth, over worship and over power structures continues. However, we must battle from a position of personal and corporate freedom knowing that we have been set free from the captivity of the last season and released into new opportunities for today. We can choose to align with fear and idolatry as Israel did and end up wandering in the wilderness for 40 years or we can embrace God’s promise for a new day and see awakening, restoration and reformation that will last for generations as Judah did. It is our choice how we respond. Will we be one of the 5 wise virgins and enter all the blessings of God or one of the 5 foolish virgins and miss our day of appointment? The choice is ours.
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| Last Updated on Monday, 04 January 2010 14:43 |
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