The TURNAROUND is coming!
April 6, 2010 • By Dr. Kenneth R. Sesley
In my inaugural blog, I shared some things that the Holy Spirit said to me about the SHIFT that has begun. In today's blog I want to continue talking with you about this special time of instruction that the Holy Spirit gave me.
About five years before this recession began; the Holy Spirit began (and continued throughout those five years) speaking to my heart that a deep recession was coming. He referenced the time where Joseph interpreted Pharaoh's dream about the seven years of plenty and seven years of famine. We are only about two years into what I believe will be at least a five year process of recovery, especially in the housing market. That doesn't mean that these are necessarily bad times, if we understand the times and seasons. Actually this is the time to begin to buy and hold things that will produce a cash-flow, and eventually rise in value, while they are near or at rock bottom prices due to the depressed economy. But that is for another blog or another sermon.
The Holy Spirit told me that this is a time of TURNAROUND for God's people. He said that not much will change in the economy for the world in 2010; however, His people are going to experience something similar to what occurred in Goshen, during the time of Moses. If you recall, during the time that Moses was sent to deliver the children of Israel, the first three miraculous plagues that occurred affected the Israelites the same way that they affected the Egyptians. But after that, when there was darkness all through Egypt, so thick that you could have cut it with a knife, there was light in the part of Egypt where the Israelites lived. This area was known as Goshen. This was true of the remaining plagues that would hit Egypt. While devastating plagues hit the land of the Egyptians, Goshen was plague free territory! The body of Christ needs to proclaim that our homes, businesses and churches are recession free territory, glory to God.
Now for the believer to have a Goshen like experience during the remainder of this recession, there are several things that we must all do. In this week's blog, I will only address one thing: Listening to and Obeying the voice or instructions of the Holy Spirit.
In this hour, it is vital that we receive the instructions of the Lord. We have in the Bible the promises, principles and precepts of God that must govern our lives 24/7/365. But in the midst of famine or recession, it is important to be sensitive to the Holy Spirit and follow His specific intructions, in line with the Word of God, for us individually. There is an incident in the ministry of Elisha, where he prophesied that a seven year famine would be over in 24 hours. One of the King's staffers blurted out his unbelief. The prophet said, it will happen, God will let you live long enough to see it, but you will not partake of it before you die. Then that evening several lepers were sitting in their customary places outside of the city, when one of them got a thought. Because they were not born-again, or anointed with the Holy Spirit like the prophets, judges, priests and kings, God had to give them a thought from the outside. But this was a God ordained thought, that was actually an instruction. The thought was: "Why sit we here till we die". Let's go to the camp of the enemy. Maybe they will have mercy on us and feed us. But if they don't, maybe they will show mercy and give us a swift death. Then, as they headed toward the camp, God caused the enemy to hear the noise of a great army marching towards them rather than these few lepers. The lepers found the camp empty of soldiers, but replete with the soldiers' spoils from past victories. These spoils ultimately were enough to jump start Israels economy and fulfill the prophet's prediction. Also, the enemy who had been besieging their city had been frightened off, so the famine caused by the siege was over! Well the King's staffer was standing at the gate, when all of the people who returned with the spoil came running in. He saw the man of God's prediction come to pass, however he was trampled to death and never partook of the benefits of Elisha's prophecy (Cp. 2 Kings 7:12-20). Wow!
My brothers and sisters, it's time for us to hear what the Spirit of God is saying directly to us about our situation. I believe in the ministry of the prophet as a bonefide ministry in both the Old and New Testaments. But I also believe in the prophet's ministry today. I stand in that office and function in it from time to time, as the Spirit of God comes upon me to do so. However, as born again believers, we are not to be led by the ministry of the prophet. The New Testament prophets primarily brought confirmation to believers rather than guidance. Agabus did speak of things that were coming on the earth, such as the drought or famine in Jerusalem, but you don't see him giving specific instructions to any individual. Just confirmation. Why? Because every born-again believer has the Spirit of God within them, and can and should be led by the Holy Spirit, rather than waiting for a prophet to speak to them.
You may be anywhere, at any time, and receive an instruction from the Holy Spirit that is tied to your miracle or someone else's miracle. The Lord showed me a person whom He directed to speak with another person. Then after this, that other person reached in their pocket and gave this Holy Spirit led individual an undetermined amount of money. Then I heard the Lord say that these are the days of miraculous wealth transfer. The Lord went on to say to me: "But not as you have decided or predetermined for it to come. LET ME BE GOD and bring it however I choose to bring it. I may bring it from someone walking down a busy or crowded street. They'll just come up to somone and say: "You're the one", and hand them a bag or suitcase full of money. Or you may receive a phone call from someone you don't even know saying: "I want to be a blessing to you", or asking: "How can I be a blessing in your life". Don't be afraid to tell them exactly how they may be a blessing to you.
Now these kinds of things may be difficult for some of you to accept, but remember what happened with Elisha, the King's staffer, the lepers and the Syrian army. Don't be like the king's staffer. Don't be the person who spouts out unbelief, only to see God do miracles like this all around you and yet you never get to experience it because of your unbelief. God's turnaround is coming...for His obedient sons and daughters. You and I must pray, listen and obey, in order to experience this turnaround in every area of our lives!
Visitor Comments (0)
