A TIME TO DIE (A NEW BEGINNING) (Eccl. 3:2a)

1.    INTRODUCTION.

During my quiet time on the 3rd Sunday in October, the Lord led me through a series of scriptures in which the physical death of Terah, Abraham and Uzziah proceeded God’s new move in Abram, Isaac and Isaiah (Gen. 11:31, Gen. 25:11 and Isaiah 6: -8). Two days later, I was in Kafanchan, Kaduna State, Nigeria to attend a National Prophetic Prayer Retreat. As the Guest Speaker shared during the retreat, the Lord impressed upon my heart the theme of this month’s Lampstand Letter. It is a time to die (Eccl. 3:2a).

2. A NEW BEGINNING:

Death is a precursor of a new beginning. It is the cessation of the old life, the breaking of old covenants that a new covenant might be made (Romans 7:2, 1 Corinthians 7:39). A call to die therefore is a call for a new beginning. When God decided to end the world in Noah’s time he renewed the Adamic covenant with Noah who survived (Genesis 9:3 and Genesis 1:28-30). A new beginning is coming on the Church.

3. THE HOUR HAS COME

God is making a new beginning with the Church in preparation for the new millennium. The anointing of Moses, Elijah and Saul is passing away. God is manifesting the oil of the Joshua, the Elisha, and the David generation, to possess all of God’s promises, rule nations and kingdoms, and receive an everlasting dominion over Satan.

4. A LIVING SACRIFICE

The Joshua – David -Elisha anointing comes with the laying down of life. This is the anointing of the resurrected. Joshua led the people over Jordan when it was overflowing its banks. Elisha followed Elijah all the way across Jordan while the sons of the prophets watched afar off. David lived permanently in the shadow of death. This anointing is available only for those see their existence as living (burnt) sacrifice, men ready to lay their life on the altar of death (Genesis 22) It is only to such tried, tested and approved men that God can commit Himself. (John 2:24).

5. THE DEAD SHALL HEAR

Only the dead can receive life. Isaac “heard” from the altar of death, Daniel from the lion’s den, his three friends from the burning furnace, Lazarus and Jesus himself from the grave. Now is the time for the dead to hear the voice of God and live (John 5:25-29).

6. ESTHER’S DEATH

Esther led the Jews to “die” for three days and nights.  During those days there was a contention in the grave between the forces of evil (Haman) and of God (Mordecia). Even the king could not sleep until there was a resurrection of the dead.  Only those with the Esther heart will receive the king’s authority to reverse Satan’s schemes for the years to come (see the Book of Esther).

7. A MYSTERY ABOUT DEATH

Let it be known that death is its greatest enemy. For whenever death claims a victim, death itself is committing suicide. Since Christ through death destroyed the power of death, death has been sentenced to die; death has been swallowed in victory (See Isaiah 25:8, Hosea 13:14, 1 Corinthians. 15:26, 54-55 and Hebrew 2:14-15). This is the key to dealing with the fear of death.

8. THE FEARFUL AND UNBELIEVING

Revelation 20:14 talks of a second death. This is the death of death and of Hades, the world of the dead. To share this death with them are the fearful and unbelieving, along with those that did not put to death to works of the flesh (Rev. 21:8)

9. DAVID’S MEN

Contrasted to the above are David’s men (1 Chronicles 11:10-19). Men ready to crown Christ King, ready to cause God’s word to be fulfilled (verse 10), who has voluntarily given themselves over to death (verse 19).

10.  PUT TO DEATH

1 Corinthians 10:1-10, Colossians 3:1-10 and Rev. 21:8 list the things we voluntarily need to put to death to escape the second death of God’s displeasure. The paradox is that anyone that does not willingly and deliberately die to the old nature is digging his own grave (Rom. 8:13, Luke 9:24).

11. A NEW ORDER

Now is the time for the Uzziahs, the Vashtis and the Hamans of this world to pass away for a new move and order of God. The Terahs, the Nabals and the Sauls of this age have to be put away for the destiny of the Abrahams, the Abigails and the Davids to be fulfilled.

12. A WORD OF WISDOM

After voluntarily dying, let God’s people patiently wait for the resurrection. Let the contentions in the grave complete its course (Matt. 27:50-53). Thereafter shall God’s people begin to manifest in power, after the “third” day.

13.0 LET US PRAY

1. Pray that God remove from the scene, the Terahs delaying your moving forward and the Pharaohs stubbornly despising and resisting your manifestations.
2. Ask for a fresh revelation of yourself and of God like Isaiah had in the day king Uzziah died (Isaiah 6:1-8); that you might answer as Isaiah did “Here am I, send me”.
3. Ask for the manifestation of a new generation of Joshua - Elisha - David anointing for the Church today, to lead the Church unto next millennium.
4. Ask that the Sauls, the Vashtis and the Hamans be removed from Nigeria’s political scene that the Davids, the Esthers and the Mordecaihs may manifest.

“How many are your work o Lord! In wisdom you made them all; the earth is full of your creatures” Ps. 104:25.