I’m grateful that God was willing to share what I can expect from this year. But rather than dive into that prophetic insight, I’d like to share what I believe He is currently saying, which is: “the time is NOW.”
This is important because it’s the first step. Prophetic words are exciting but knowing the requirements for their fulfillment is better.
I believe that God’s requirements for this year can be found in the book of Haggai. (It’s only two chapters long!) I like that this book doesn’t give you step-by-step instructions but instead forces you to seek God about His individual plan for you. I asked questions like:
– What is the work I am to do?
– Where do I begin? How do I begin? What is the mountain I should go up and what is my “wood”?
– Where have I erred and am in need of repentance?
This article may help as well: https://www.walkingtogetherministries.com/2018/04/19/haggai-18/
Lately, I’ve been noticing that addresses to churches in the New Testament are for the purpose of correcting conduct, character, and/or doctrine. (A bit embarrassing to admit that but let’s just say that I was focused on other things as I read). For the Corinthians, it was fornication, selfishness and doctrinal confusion, to name a few. For the Galatians, it was false teachers. In the book of 1 John, the disciple drilled into the futility of confessing to know God without obedience to His commandments, love for the brotherhood or abstinence from sin. The book of Haggai is no different. The prophet exposes defilement and subsequent hypocrisy within the priesthood as well as laziness, apathy and a focus on self and gain among the people.
As I’ve come to learn, God’s ultimate goal with correction and chastisement is to maintain unbroken fellowship with His people. God is obligated to speak on anything that may cause or is causing separation. As light is shone on an area of spiritual darkness or ignorance, a call to alignment and steadfastness is made and then, the people must keep vigilant watch over themselves. I believe this is why we are told not to despise His chastening or become weary of His correction—because it is so constant. It is not that God delights in wounding, but that we allow so many of Satan’s enterprises to flourish in and around us, knowingly or unknowingly. So He must continually sweep, wash, mend, repair and work the kind of brokenness that keeps us sober-minded, spotless and connected to Him. It is an aspect of His love.
Indeed, the time is now to do a work for the Lord, to build His temple and to take territory. But preparation is needed. The first step? Go up to the mountain and bring wood. What does that look like for you in 2023?