A NEW MILLENNIUM

1.0 INTRODUCTION

January 1, 2000 marked the beginning of the journey into a new day, a new week, a new month, a new year, a new decade, a new century and a new millenium - all in one hour. Never before in this generation, and never after shall this seven fold phenomena be experienced. What does this journey portend for us as a Christians? I believe the key to understanding this is found in 2 Peter 3:8.... “that with the Lord, one day is as a thousand years (a millenium) and a thousand years as one day.” In other words, with the Lord, this third millenium is as the third day.

2.0 THE THIRD DAY

The biblical characteristics of the third day (third millenium) includes the following:

1. It shall be a resurrection millenium. Jesus rose from the dead on the third day (1 Cor. 15:4). Abraham received Isaac “back to life” on the third day of their journey (Gen. 22:4-14), just as Esther received favor unto life on the third day (Esther 5:1). We should expect a great manifestation of the resurrection power in this millenium as never before (Eph. 1:19-23).
2. It shall be a time to complete His works. In Luke 13:32, Christ declares the third day as the day of His perfection (“on the third day I will finish my work” GNB). Indications are that this millenium is most likely to be the last millenium in which the work of Christ will be completed by the church.
3. It shall be the rapture millenium, when the Lord will raise up the church to His presence. Hosea 6:2b declares “On the third day He will raise us up, that we may live in His sight.
4. It shall be a millenium for the new wine experience (Acts 2:13). On the third day Jesus provided the new wine John 2:1-10. As He kept the best wine for the end, so shall it be with this millenium. Unusual manifestations and conversions beyond those experienced in the books of Acts during the first millenium, shall characterize this “third day”. Once again with great power, the apostles shall give witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus (Acts 4:33, also 5:12, 6:8 etc.).

3.0 INSIGHT FROM THE GIBEONITES

If the third millenium is the resurrection millenium, the millenium to complete God Christ’s work, the rapture millenium and the millenium for a new wine experience how do we prepare and make ready for the journey ahead. We can garner insights from the deceptive preparations the Hivite ambassadors from Gibeon did for their three days journey from Gibeon to Gilgal (Joshua 9:1-17). From Joshua 9:4-5 and 11-13, five (5) items are needed for such journey:

1. New sacks (bags).
2. New wineskins.
3. New sandals.
4. New garments.
5. Fresh bread.

4.0 NEW SACKS (BAG)

A bag or sack is a necessary component of a traveller’s journey (see Matt 10:10, Luke 9:3). Bags or sacks are used to store provisions (bread/food) for the journey Joshua 9:4. In Gen. 42:25, the sacks of Joseph’s brothers were filled with grains in addition to restored money and other provisions for the journey. The bag or sack for keeping bread is also called a vessel in I Sam 9:7. In Luke 22:36, the Lord Jesus counseled his disciples to get supplies for the road, including a knapsack, for the impending confrontation with the host of darkness at his death. Our physical bodies are the earthen vessel; the bags/sacks to bear the power/supplies for the millenium journey (see 2 Cor. 4:7). In I King 19:7, the prophet Elijah was told to “arise and eat (feed his body) for the journey is too great”. Paul describes the wear and tear this human sack will face in 2 Cor. 4:8-10. We shall face similar pressures on our bodies in this millenium, some unto death. Like the prophet in 1 King 20:35-42, many will have mortally inflicted wounds to be able to minister effectively. As Christ broke his body to minister, so will broken vessels be needed to release his power and life (2 Cor. 4:11-12).

5.0 FRESH BREAD

According to Psalm 104:15c, bread is given to man to strengthen his heart. Fresh bread was one of the provisions offered by Abraham to the three visitors that they may receive “strength to continue (their) journey” (Gen 18:5 GNB), just as Elijah was told to get up and eat (bread) for his journey was long (1 King 19:5-8 see also 1 King 17:6). Matt 6:11 indicates to us the need to ask for fresh bread daily from God to sustain our life, i.e. we should not feed on stale bread. Jesus Christ, the Word of God, is the bread of life which we must feed on daily (John 1:1, 6:32-35, 48-58). Christ revealed the secret of spiritual life when he declared to Satan “Man shall not live by (physical) bread alone but by every word (spiritual bread) that proceeds out of the mouth of God (Matt 4:4, Deut. 8:3). Amidst the contentions of Satan in this rapture millenium, we receive strength, fortification and victory as we daily feed on the word of God (see Ps 119:28, 103, Jer. 15:16)

6.0 NEW WINESKIN

We have stated earlier that this millenium of the third day is for a new wine experience (John 2:1-10, Act 2:13). The Lord Jesus has given very clear instructions about handling new wine - new wine must be put in new wineskin (Mark 2:22, Luke 5:37-38)

We must keep an open heart to help us contain this new wine experience. As a new wine skin is strong and can be stretched, so should our heart be open and sensitive to receive new leading and expressions of the Holy Spirit’s move. We must not think like Elijah that we have seen it all or faint because of the pressures within and pressures without (1 King 19:4-14, 11 Cor. 4:7-18). We must be ready to be stretched to limits, that the grace of God working in our inner man, may abound beyond our human limitations (2 Cor. 12:9-10).

7.0 NEW SANDALS

Another essential item for a long journey is a pair of strong sandals. Even when Lord Jesus Christ commanded the twelve not to take anything for their first outreach on their own, he specifically told them to get good sandals (Mark 6:8-9). God divinely sustained the church in the wilderness by allowing their sandals not to wear out for forty years (Deut. 29:5). These were the same sandals he told them to put unto their feet on the Passover night Exo 12:11. Eph 6:15 tells us that a strategic provision for withstanding the onslaught of the devil in the evil day and stand is to have our feet shod (i.e. sandalled) with the preparation of the gospel of peace (Eph 6:10 -15). Romans 10:15 and Isaiah 52:7 underline out responsibilities to use beautiful feet to preach the gospel of peace. Like the early christians in Acts, we must be mobile christians, not building kingdoms and immovable structures on revelations, theology or miracles, but taking the gospel to the ends of the earth (see Acts 1:8).

If we must do exploits and have records in heaven, we need to look again at the pattern of Paul’s missionary journeys and model our strategies thereafter, instead of remaining in the cities, like Peter and the early apostles Acts 8:1. (It is instructive that nothing was said again of Peter after the earlier chapters of the Acts of the Apostles. Instead of tying sandals to preach the gospel, Peter received angelic visitation to tie his sandals to escape from prison, after which he like Elijah in 1 Kings 19, was “retired” by God Acts 12:1-17. May that not be your portion in Jesus name.)

8.0 NEW GARMENTS

A final component of the items into the journey ahead for the 3rd millenium is new garments. When God called Jacob back to Bethel, Jacob and his household had to put away all the foreign idols they had acquired, purify themselves and change their garments (Gen 35:1-4). In Zechariah 3:1-5, SATAN was opposing the High Priest Joshua (and the whole nation) because of the filthy Babylonic garments they had acquired due to their long exile in Babylon.

God needed to take away the filthy garment, remove their iniquities and clothe him with new garments. Joel 2:13 shows us that it is our heart not our physical garments that need to be changed. We must circumcise our hearts, get rid of the foreign idols in our heart, repent of the sins that have calloused our hearts and be clothed with new hearts and new spirits. We must keep our garments white (Eccl. 9:8) and be found worthy to be clothed in white garments (Rev 3:1-6), being diligent to be found by Him in peace, without spot and blameless (see I Peter 4:7-8, 2 Peter 3:9-14, 2 Cor. 5:9-11 and Rev 16:15).

9.0 CONCLUSION

The third millenium will be a period of the greatest spiritual confrontation ever witnessed in the universe, as we approach the day of the Lord. Knowing that his time is short, Satan will unleash all the fury of his wrath against Christ’s church (Rev 12:12). But God’s grace will contend with Satan through the church as He releases the rapture anointing, the resurrection power and the new wine experience to the church.

As individual members of the church, we need to present ourselves as new sacks and new wineskins, daily putting on new garments of righteousness, daily feeding on the bread of life, and wearing strong sandals that will make us mobile Christians carrying the gospel of peace to the ends of the earth.

We should not be like Jonah who had three days to journey through Nineveh with the gospel of peace but sat down under a shade after the first day (Jonah 3 and 4). Rather, like Jesus, we should go about the father’s business all through the 3 days (Luke 2:41-49, John 9:4). In His valedictory charge to His disciples, Jesus counseled them to take the necessary supplies for the road in view of the impending demonic onslaught on them -Luke 22:35-38. We likewise need to take heed to this counsel as we prepare for the journey ahead. Blessed is he that watches, and keeps his garments, lest he walk naked and they see his shame. Amen. Rev. 16:15.

10.0 LET US PRAY

1. Ask for the resurrection power, the rapture anointing, a new wine experience and a right heart for yourself and the church for the journey ahead.
2. Make a commitment to God to be a vessel of glory, flexible in His hand; living daily on the word, a mobile witnessing Christian, living in righteousness.

11.0 BENEDICTION

.....Let your waist be girded, and your lamps burning." Luke 12:35.

12.0 Appreciation and Acknowledgement

Christmas is a time of thanksgiving and appreciation. We wish to give thanks to the Lord and a number of persons who have been partners with us in fuelling this vision and keeping the light burning:

1. Financial supporters in 1999: Sis Ngozi (Abuja), Bro. Sina (Ibadan), Sis Nwando (Ibadan), Bro Allen (Ibadan), Sis Ayo (Ibadan), The Preacher (P-Harcourt) and Sister Foluke (Shaki).
2. The following ministers among others for moral and spiritual encouragement: Mrs Muazu (Kontagora), Rev Kure (Kafanchan), Pastor Ukachi (Lagos) Dr. Adeyeoluwa (Ibadan), Pastor Ezekiel (Ibadan) Rev Ezemadu (Ibadan), Rev. Aransiola (Ibadan), The Preacher (PH) and Bro Isehuwa (Ibadan).
3. Various brethren in Zaria, Maiduguri, Kaduna, Lokoja, Ankpa, Ibadan, Abeokuta, Lagos, Port-Harcourt, Ogbomosho, Arondizuogu etc. for their letters and encouragement.
4. Brethren in the Christian Missionary Foundation (CMF), Watchman Ministries, Gethsemane Prayer Ministry, Throneroom Trust Ministry, Intercessors for Nigeria and other ministries and individuals for being our audience and helping in circulation.
5. My family, brethren and other friends.

May grace, favor and mercy be yours. Amen.