Fresh Start!

Fresh Start!

Fresh flowers, fresh food, fresh ideas; we like things fresh.  Of course we do, as its only natural to do so.  Our God is also One who loves to give us things fresh, whether it be fresh faith, fresh hope, fresh insight or fresh revelation.  Right now is yet another time where we all, as God’s people, are entering into a fresh and new “time” with God.

As the Father is “outside of time” we can’t fully comprehend His view of “timing” here on earth, but nevertheless He does work according to a divine timetable of sorts.  We know this because of how often we see in scripture the preciseness of God when it comes to things happening exacting to the day they were prophesied.  Daniels 70 weeks is a classic example that deals with Israel’s past and future.  God letting Abram know that His people would go into bondage in Egypt the precise number of years is another area where His timing is seen, and many more.

One of my favourite scriptures that deal with this is in Acts 17:26,

“And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation,”  (King James Version)

“And He made from one [common origin, one source, one blood] all nations of men to settle on the face of the earth, having definitely determined [their] allotted periods of time and the fixed boundaries of their habitation (their settlements, lands, and abodes),”

Many teach that this simply says God allowed certain nations etc to rule at certain times, as some popular bible translations use that language.  However a much closer look at the Greek here speaks of “predetermined times that have been set in place” from eternity past.  For example, the Word of God tells us that Jesus came “in the fullness of time.”  (Galatians 4:4)  It speaks to an exact moment.  God didn’t just casually “toss” Jesus into the earth, but rather had Him come exactly when He was supposed to come!  He came at the pre-determined time that the Father always knew about.

Think about Acts 1:7 from the Amplified Bible:

“He said to them, It is not for you to become acquainted with and know what time brings [the things and events of time and their definite periods] or fixed years and seasons (their critical niche in time), which the Father has appointed (fixed and reserved) by His own choice and authority and personal power.”

Notice again how it mentions “definite periods,” “fixed years” and “their critical niche in time.”    Our God IS working according to a divine timetable that only He knows.  Jesus Himself said even He didn’t know some exact timings, as they were reserved for the Father Himself to know.  Therefore who are we to think we can put an “exact” time on anything?  However, scripture DOES tell us we can know when seasons are changing, by virtue of earthly occurrences, and of course by listening carefully to His Spirit that is within our spirit.  He DOES want us to be led by our spirit, and not by our flesh.  Therefore we need to stay in His word, so that the Holy Spirit can prompt us to see something that may be happening around us, on planet earth, which He has already spoken of centuries ago.

Remember one of the definitions for “word” in scripture is “rhema”, which is defined in W.E. Vines like this:

“The significance of rhema (as distinct from logos) is exemplified in the injunction to take “the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God,” Eph. 6:17; here the reference is not to the whole Bible as such, but to the individual scripture which the Spirit brings to our remembrance for use in time of need, a prerequisite being the regular storing of the mind with Scripture.”

Notice it says that the way we receive a “Rhema” from God, is from “the regular storing of the mind with scripture!”  The Lord indeed wants us to see the fresh and the new, but the fresh and the new has “always been!”  In other words, again knowing that God lives outside of time, what WE see may appear new to us, but to the Lord God Almighty it has always been seen or known from His perspective.  This is part of the glory of being a follower of Jesus Christ, that we are filled with His Spirit, who will quicken “our” spirit, to the already understood and seen wisdom of heaven, so we can be prepared down here on earth!

So, what am I saying?  God is working according to a divine timetable.  Because of ages of the patriarchs that are given, and years of biblical events, a calendar can be seen in scripture.  From Adam to Abraham there is almost exactly 2000 years.  From Abraham to Jesus there is almost exactly another 2000 years.  From Jesus Christ to today, there is another almost exact 2000 years.   That’s 6000 years from Adam to today.  The bible teaches that after these 6000 years, the final 7 years of Israel’s history will be played out, (Daniels 70 weeks), and the then the final 1000 year millennial reign of Christ.  The bible only teaches what is called a 7000 year “economy” with God’s dealing with man.

Therefore one thing is sure, we’ve come some 6000 years from Adam, any way you want to look at it.  This is why all bible scholars know that “something cosmic” in proportion is about to take place.  God HAS appointed the times beforehand!  Remember Daniel prophecied that there would be exactly 173,880 days, or 476 years pass from the day of the commandment to rebuild Jerusalem and its walls (March 14, 445BC) to the coming of Messiah.   Well, on the 10th day of Nisan (Palm Sunday) 32AD, 476 years after Daniels statement, Jesus made His famous triumphal entry into Jerusalem, riding on a donkey!

Precision.  That’s the God that we serve.  Simply wonderful to mediate on.

Therefore we must do our utmost, to study to truly be Spirit-led right now, as the fresh and the new is on the horizon, or maybe already upon us.  We must not become too comfortable with the way things have always been, as He’s preparing a mighty SHIFT in our thinking. Now it will of course still line up with the spirit of His word, so we must also LIVE in His Word.  Many distractions will come, and many false gospels are already here that are NOT the Gospel.  How will we know the legitimate from the false, without being fully surrendered to His word?  We won’t know, unless we make the vital decision now to remain CLOSE to Him in prayer and devotion.

I’m excited about the fresh and the new!  Because it is coming from Him, we have nothing to fear, as His will for us is always beautiful, and always life giving.  Let’s remember to NOT fear what the world is saying right now, as that will always lead you into doubt and fear.  May we meditate on the Lord and goodness which will always cause us to be found safe under His wings.

Rod Anderson

 

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