Gentle Breeze of Transition Before the Storm of Change

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Change, Jesus, Moses, prophetic words, Ruth, Storm, Transition

If you have ever been in a place where you can feel in the atmosphere the precipitation changing, you know more often than not, there is a gentle breeze that precedes the storm. The air starts to smell different; the clouds start rolling in, the trees start swaying just a little bit more. It is like a symphony playing the first lines of their song, before they hit the crescendo. It’s like the song that builds up to the chorus which carries you through the rest of the song. Nature has a way of revealing to us what is coming and just like nature so does God, He reveals in the gentle breeze of transition that a storm of change is on the horizon. For those who are awake, they can see it all around them, they can smell it in the air. Transition is happening and many people are struggling with the gentle breeze of transition, not knowing this is nothing compared to the storm of change that is just around the corner.

I have listened to those around me, online, on television and on the radio the sounds of the gentle breeze of transition are everywhere. Circumstances are shifting and it is causing many to be drifting. Those who we thought would stand, are struggling. Many who have said all the right things are finding themselves to not be who they thought they were or who others thought they were. The gentle breeze is blowing and straw houses are shaking and some are even falling. Can you see the gentle breeze of transition blowing, can you hear the gentle breeze of transition happening around the world? To some this gentle breeze of transition is a big deal, but it is just a gentle breeze. The storm of change has not arrived yet, but it is coming and coming quickly. Jesus said, “If they do this when the tree is green, what will they do when it is brown?” (Luke 23:31)

Believers in Jesus Christ, now is the time to do what you say and say what you mean. Now more than ever, we must be in the word of God daily, in worship continually and praying in the spirit on all occasions. Not for the sake of anyone else, but you. You do not need to get a prepper kit of food and water; you need to prepare yourself spiritually for a storm is on the horizon. A storm that is going to change everything for the better, but a storm nonetheless. Believers must exercise their authority in order to stand during the storm. Remember Moses stood in the midst of the Red Sea as the people crossed over (Exodus 14). He exercised his authority over the storm that sought to keep God’s people out of the promised land. Remember Jesus walked on the stormy water that was buffeting the boat of the disciples, the storm could not control Jesus, Jesus took control over the storm, but not until after he tried to show Peter how to do the same (Matthew 14:22-33). We are being invited to exercise our authority while there is no storm, so when the storm comes, we are prepared.

Being under authority, doing what someone else tells you to do, is a great way to exercise your authority. Lawlessness is what takes away your authority, while obedience increases your authority. If you are one that does not let anyone tell you what to do, you will not be able to stand in the storm. If you are not in obedience with the word of God you will not have authority in the storm. Anger is not authority. Remember the Centurion, he was a man under authority and was a man in authority and Jesus was impressed with his faith (Matthew 8:5-13). Remember Ruth, she told Naomi, where you go, I go…(Ruth 1:16-17). Obedience is the greatest way to exercise your authority and only through exercise will you get strong and be able to stand in the storm. We are experiencing the gentle breeze of transition, but the storm of change is coming and is closer than you realize. We, the body of Christ need to exercise our authority so we don’t get lost in the storm.

What Days Are We Living In?

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Change, Houston, Patience, Seasons, Sons of Issachar, Texas, Transition

One of the hot topics in the church is that of the end times. We love the idea of the rapture, so we can escape this evil and corrupt world. Others like the idea of being pre-tribulation, so we do not have to go through any pain, when God “judges” the earth. Many believe we are living in the days of Noah, where Jesus says in Matthew 24:37, “As in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the son of Man, for in the days before the flood people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day that Noah entered the ark.” With what is happening in Houston, TX right now with record flooding hitting 52 inches and now with Hurricane Harvey landing in Louisiana for a stay before it considers coming back to Texas, some could say, lift up your eyes to the sky, for your redemption is here, Jesus is about to split the sky and come down in his second coming.

Others believe we are living in Matthew 24 with all the “signs” of the end of the world, but the Bible does not say that they are signs of the end of the world, but the end of the age, the end of an epoch, the end of a set amount of time. The signs are truly there, for the end of the age, but what age is ending and does that mean another age is beginning. I believe it does, I believe the church age has ended and the kingdom age has arrived, but I also believe there is a transition between these two ages, which can mean weeks, months, years. Remember Jesus prophesied the destruction of the temple in 30-33 CE, but it was not destroyed until 70 CE. Therefore, one age can end, the age of the Law and the Prophets, which included the temple and its animal sacrifices ended when Jesus said, repent for the kingdom of heaven is here, but we see a crossover or transition time with the arrival of the tongues of fire at Pentecost and the destruction of the temple.

What days are we living in then? Are these the days of Elijah, when fire came down from heaven and consumed the false idols of Baal and put an end to Ahab and Jezebel? Are we in the days of Ezekiel when dry bones are coming alive and being made into a great army? Are we living in the days of Ninevah, when an eclipse crossed over the land from west to east? Are we in the days of the Judges, when everyone is doing right in their own eyes? Are we in the days of Jesus, when people are leaving the temple to follow Him into the fields, mountains and beaches to hear what He has to say? I think the answer is yes to all of the above. These are days of transition, days of change, days of incredible awe and wonder. These are the days of the Bible!

This change we are in is not like any we have seen in our lifetime, with the darkness (ignorance of people) getting darker and the light (revelations of God) getting brighter, with despair seeming to sink lower and with hope seeming to rise higher. It is amazing to me how people are in distinct and different camps of thought whether they realize it or not. It was as though God drew a line in the sand and people made their choice, now we are seeing who is where. The name Christian is no longer representative of just one kind of people anymore, just like the name thief, when the two guys on the cross meant two different attitudes. One said, I am guilty, Jesus you are innocent, remember me when you come into your kingdom and the other said, if you are the Christ save yourself and us. Same cross, same title (thief), two distinct and different attitudes (Luke 23:39-43).

Now to answer the question, what days are we living in? We are living in days of opportunity like never before, but man-made plans are not going to stand. These days demand we slow down, get silent, and say, speak Lord, for your servant is listening. This is not the time to jockey for position, try to be the loudest, longest or most listened to voice, this is the time to pause, relax, trust, and wait for the call, the command. In days of extreme change, intense transition, it is critical, that we recognize we have hit a speed bump as a nation, as a church, as a globe and it is advantageous for those who know their God and want to do exploits, that they selah until they hear Him speak, then move as He says move, for He is positioning us purposefully for what is upon us. These are the days we are living in.