Tuesday 3 May 2016

My time has not yet come: Waiting for your set appointed time


When it comes to fulfilling your God given purpose on earth, there is something called 'My time has not yet come'.
When Jesus had the opportunity to perform His first miracle, He made it clear to the mother that His time has not yet come.
Imagine being born with the mission to save the whole humam race but having to wait for 30 years before being able to carry out the plan.
Joseph spent 13 years in prison though he knew his brothers will one day bow to him. Moses spent 40 years in the wilderness though he knew one day he will lead the Israelites out of Egypt. David had to wait till age 30 to be king though he was anojnted at the age of 17.
Often we get too excited and burn with passion and zeal at our God given mission that we can't accept having to wait for a few more years before starting. We feel it is too long to wait, that time is passing us by and sometimes we rush and go ahead of God.

But going ahead of God is a recipe for disaster. Jesus knew He was going to be crowned King but He still turned down the offer from the five thousand people He fed to be their King.
There are some offers that you have to turn down no matter how attractive they are. Some opportunities are traps in disguise.
Remember how the devil tempted Jesus in the desert? The devil will always want to give us too good to be true offers; counterfeits of what God has in store for us. We might get enticed by them thinking that is God at work.
If God has not taken you through the necessary test of life and you have not paid the required price but the prize is being handed over to you, decline it.
Jesus knowing he could only be crowned King after he had died and resurrected said no to the devil and to the five thousand people.

Your success in the kingdom will be determined by your ability to hear God speak and your obedience to His Word.
Jesus told the disciples to go into all the world and preach the good news to everyone, everywhere. He also asked them to wait in Jerusalem until the Holy Spirit comes and fills them with power from heaven.
The problem with Christendom is that some only hear go while others only hear wait. Those who only heard go, go without the power of the Holy Spirit and crush. Those who only heard wait, receive the gifts of the Holy Spirit and bury them.
If you want to fulfill your God given purpose on earth, you need to know when to go and when to wait.
So now what did these people do while waiting for God to finally give them the go ahead? They didn't just sit idle. They did something.
At age 12 Jesus was already preaching in the temple. Luke gives account that he grew in wisdom, stature and in favour with God and man. Joseph was diligently managing the affairs of Potiphar's house, later on that of the prison and interpreting the dreams of his inmates. Moses was busily shepherding his father in law's flock. David was doing same with the father's sheep, then joined the army and later on spent 8 years of his life fleeing from Saul but was already leading a large group of people.
What are you also doing as you are waiting for God's signal?
These men spent their waiting years acquiring skills that would enable them to dsicharge effectively their God given duties.

Though God's calling on your life may be clear, you might have to sometimes do somethings that may not in any way seem related to the call. But believe me you all these experiences are shaping you and preparing you for that day.
Peter had to become an expert in fishing before Jesus called him to be a fisher of men. After his call, on two occassions,  Jesus had to give him some fishing instructions. After the second one Jesus now told him 'if you love me feed my sheep.' He ended up becoming the first apostle to preach the gospel in public and over three thousand people gave their lives to Christ. But first he had to wait in Jerusalem for the Spirit to descend.
Do not rush, to fulfill your purpose on earth you need both the skill and the spirit. Mostly acquiring the skill preceed the calling then afterwards the spirit as was the case with Moses, David, Jesus and Peter.
When finally the appointed time came for these men it was undeniable. Pharaoh had a dream that only Joseph could interpret. Moses had an encounter with the burning bush. Saul died and David had to be crowned King. Jesus was baptized amd during the baptism, the Holy Spiriy descended upon him and He was led into the desert for 40 days. Upon returning, Luke gives account in Acts 'how God anointed Jesus with the Holy Spirit and with power and He went about healing the sick and doing good.'

So be patient, humble yourself under the Lord and he will equip you fully and you will be unstoppable.
The whole creation is waiting for the manifestations of the sons of God, your manifestation. So relax and allow God to mould you into a sign and a wonder.

Finally to end, Habbakuk 2: 1-3
I will stand my watch and set myself on the rampart. And watch to see what He will say to me amd what I will answer when I am corrected.
The Lord answered me and said 'write the vision make it plain on tablets, that he may run who reads it. For the vision is yet for an appointed time; but at the end it will speak, and it will not lie.
Though it tarries, wait for it; Because it will surely come, It will not tarry.'
I don't want to comment on this verse if not I will not finish. But I believe it speaks for itself in light of everything I have said above.

God bless you for reading. Byeeee!

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