NEW SEASON, NEW DOORS

OVERVIEW

• Introduction
• CREATION - The first season change in the Bible
• NOAH – A season change into the New World
• ABRAHAM – A season change from unbeliever to the Father of Faith
• JOSEPH – A season change from imprisonment to Authority
• ISRAELITES – A season change from slavery to Freedom of Worship
• JOB – A season change from intense trials to Abundance
• PETER – A season change from fisherman to the Foundation of Church
• THE SAMARITAN WOMAN – A season change from sin to Powerful Impact
• PAUL – A season change from Pharisee to the Greatest Apostle
• Doors of Encounter with God
• The principle of “Greater Works” in the Bible
• Conclusion

INTRODUCTION

All of us like seasons and life would be monotonous with disastrous environmental consequences if there were no season changes. We embrace seasons and changes that make our lives lively and interesting, whether it is in our professional, ministerial, or personal life. However, God has to open new doors for a season change in our life.

Daniel 2:21, 22
21 And He changes the times and the seasons; He removes kings and raises up kings; He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding.
22 He reveals deep and secret things; He knows what is in the darkness, and light dwells with Him.

The Bible says, our God is a one who changes times and seasons. Keep going to a church even when we do not see any change in life as it will bring a definite transformation in us sooner or later. Learn to have the gift of contentment in life, being happy even with the smallest blessings from God. We are in the elevated plan of the Almighty God marked to serve His Kingdom even before we were formed in our mother’s womb. Listen when the Holy Spirit speaks to us. He is the Way-Maker, Miracle Worker, Promise Keeper even if we are far away from the Lord or not convinced to live a born-again life because He is a God is season change. It is the touch of the Holy Spirit that can bring many people to repentance who missed the seasons on life. It is only because of the flesh, carnal desires, and temptations of the evil world that we miss the God-orchestrated beautiful seasons destined for us. Nevertheless God can bring anyone back to His season as the Holy Spirit descends upon the unsaved with a deep desire of speaking in tongues. God heals the broken-hearted and grants peace to the ones who are depressed. God is faithful, as our future is so bright and wonderful when we walk into a new season. Repentance always gives easy access to new seasons.

CREATION - THE FIRST SEASON CHANGE IN THE BIBLE

Genesis 1:1 - 3
1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. 2 The earth was without form, and void; and darkness was on the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. 3 Then God said, “Let there be light”; and there was light.

Let us closely examine these verses in the scripture. This is not about the sun, the moon, and the stars that we see around us, which were created on day three; whereas the Bible describes a situation that was grave, as the earth we live in now had neither a shape nor an appearance with utter darkness in the deep and the spirit of God lingering over the waters. New Seasons always begin wherever there is a move of the Holy Spirit.It is only the presence and the move of the Holy Spirit that facilitates a new season change among the people attending a Church.

John 1:1
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

As we read the above verse combined together with that from Genesis 1: 1-3, it can be clearly understood that new seasons will begin in life when the Holy Spirit moves with respect to the word of God on anyone who has received that word with much interest, commitment, and passion. There is absolutely no life apart from the word of the Lord and no life apart from the Holy Spirit of God; both of which should work simultaneously in our life.

Luke 8:5 – 8
5 “A sower went out to sow his seed. And as he sowed, some fell by the wayside; and it was trampled down, and the birds of the air devoured it. 6 Some fell on rock; and as soon as it sprang up, it withered away because it lacked moisture. 7 And some fell among thorns, and the thorns sprang up with it and choked it. 8 But others fell on good ground, sprang up, and yielded a crop a hundredfold.” When He had said these things He cried, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear!”

This is why Jesus taught his disciples and the multitude the parable of the sower.

The various soils represent different types of hearts such as unreceptive, shallow which lacks depth, hindered or distracted and fruitful.

The sower represents God or anyone who proclaims the Gospel.

The seed represents the Gospel or God’s Holy Word.

The soil represents different types of responses of people to the Gospel

The path
The seed falls on the path and the birds eat it, representing people who hear the message but immediately ignore it.

Rocky ground
The seed sprouts but is burnt by the sun, representing people who respond with initial enthusiasm but give up when they encounter persecution or hard times in life.

Thorn bushes
The seed is heard but the thorn bushes choke it out, representing people who are concerned with riches and worries about life.

Good soil
The seed grows and yields a bumper crop, representing people who hear the word of the kingdom, understand it, and produce fruit for the harvest.

The devil is not behind the wealth or possessions but is always after the word that the Holy Spirit deposits in the hearts as a soil. We should always love the word of the Lord, which, along with the powerful move of the Holy Spirit over the soil of the word, certainly sprouts new seasons of change in life. Jesus categorically said, people will obey if they love Him. We should be ready to submit our life to obey, which is the only key to a season change. The Holy Spirit moves when we receive the word of the Lord in complete obedience, always accompanied by a season change.

The Bible says, “Let there be light”. What is this light in the scripture? As described in Daniel 2:22, the light is the Glory of the Almighty God when He changes the times and the seasons. The period and the flavour of our life will automatically change when the glory of the Lord comes in, whether we accept it or not. We can never control the change of seasons and everything about our life changes along with it. All we need to do is yield to the changes that the Lord does in our lives. This is exactly where the struggle is as we may not be able to enjoy the thrill, entertainment and indulgence of the world like before. The pleasures at the right hand of Jesus are more enjoyable than the pleasures of this world.

Psalms 16:11
11 You will show me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

We need to enjoy Jesus in life because we ought to be in a beautiful relationship with Him that will open doors to season changes in life.

NOAH – A SEASON CHANGE INTO THE NEW WORLD

Genesis 6
9 This is the genealogy of Noah. Noah was a just man, perfect in his generations. Noah walked with God.

As we read Genesis 6, we come across a person named Noah who encountered a season change in his life. Noah was lived in a world where mankind multiplied, however; during the season change there was absolutely no one else other than Noah and his family in the new world. Even in the new covenant the Bible describes how people who entered the arc were saved. In other words a season change will ensure salvation for many. How many of us value the salvation in our life? The change of season which God has prepared for each one of us in the salvation will come to pass in our life, if we value salvation.

2 Peter 2:5
5 and did not spare the ancient world, but saved Noah, one of eight people, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood on the world of the ungodly;

We are very special. The most blessed people in the world are the ones who have experienced salvation in their life and definitely not any celebrities, business tycoons, politicians or the other icons of the modern materialistic world. There is certainly no greater blessing than salvation. Coming to the altar and confessing Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour only to return back to do our own will is not salvation. The process by which people are saved to be the sons of Lord Jesus Christ is complete Salvation. We will be exactly the true image of Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ if we are truly His children. Our talk, our every movement, and character will resemble Jesus Christ. This transformation should represent the first season change in our life. There is surely a need for fervent prayers for a season change if we still continue to live with our old habits and nature. Our change in identity is the first change of season.

Even those who are born again and in salvation tend to commit sin out of compulsion and accountability in an atmosphere outside the church and its fellowship. We should be preachers of righteousness wherever we are and in all circumstances.

2 Peter 2:9
9 then the Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of temptations and to reserve the unjust under punishment for the day of judgment,

There is a promise when we allow the season change of salvation in us. The Bible states that the devil is a tempter who comes like a roaring lion to seek, kill, and destroy. The Lord Himself will deliver us out of all temptations when Satan attacks if we are really saved with the true experience of salvation. Jesus taught us in a prayer to deliver us from all temptations. Life of salvation is extremely beautiful and more exciting than anything else in this world.

ABRAHAM - A SEASON CHANGE FROM UNBELIEVER TO THE FATHER OF FAITH

Genesis 12:1 - 4
1 Now the Lord had said to Abram: “Get out of your country, From your family and from your father’s house, To a land that I will show you. 2 I will make you a great nation; I will bless you and make your name great; and you shall be a blessing. 3 I will bless those who bless you, and I will curse him who curses you; and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.” 4 So Abram departed as the Lord had spoken to him, and Lot went with him. And Abram was seventy-five years old when he departed from Haran.

Abram was lived in a place known as Ur of the Chaldeans (Chaldees), which is his birthplace that was well developed and very civilized. The city was home to the Chaldeans, who settled there around the ninth century and worshiped idols. Abram is neither a Jew nor a Christian who is a nonbeliever having no connection with God. Nevertheless, God spoke to Abram and asked him to come out of his own country, where he was comfortable and settled, to open a new season in his life that transformed his life to be known as “Father of the Nations.”

God wants us to come out of our comfort zone so that he can open new seasons. People want Jesus to bless them and at the same time want to continue with their old systems of convenience, pleasure, and culture. It will be glorious and beautiful if we allow God to work something new in our life.

Matthew 6:24
24 “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.

The phrase "having your feet in two boats" is a metaphor that describes the act of trying to serve two masters which in all likelihood will capsize.

Sometimes God calls us to come out of certain traditions, rituals, and belief systems to bless us beyond our human comprehension. Abraham never knew that he would become a father at the age of a hundred through a miracle, never realized he would be called the father of faith, never contemplated that he would be called the father of the nations, and never envisaged that his name would resound on this earth even after many thousands of years. The Lord said to Abraham that He will make his name great.

The Lord invites us to take a decision to completely come out of anything that holds us as a part of tradition, ritual, culture, systems and habits for a season change in life. The one decision of allowing a season change creates a great longstanding impact for the future in our life. The Holy Spirit never gives permission to do anything outside the will of God. We need to discard what is not within the plan of the Almighty Father for the Grace the God upon our life. A season change happens only if we take strong decisions according to the perfect will and plan of our Heavenly Father because it is the call of God. It is advisable not to embrace any culture, ritual, custom, practice, or tradition that is not represented in the Bible, which could stop a change of season in our life. We should have the courage to let go off our conventions and be in a relationship with Jesus. It is sure to affect our future and the prospects of many generations to come if we continue to walk far away from God.

2 Corinthians 5:7
7 For we walk by faith, not by sight. 8We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord.

Romans 1:17
17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “The just shall live by faith.”

The new season for Abraham was a season of faith. The Bible says that the righteous shall live faith and not by sight. One of the most dangerous sins in the new covenant is unbelief which leads to fear. The greatest promise which is repeated three hundred and sixty six times in the Bible is never to be afraid. Do not allow any kind of sin to dominate in the new season. Let alone the Holy Spirit help us to overcome all fear and unbelief.

Abraham, who was never a biological father, embraced fatherhood in the new season. It is a very special blessing to be a father, which Abraham never experienced in his life before. What was perceived to be the most impossible turned into a reality when God allowed a season change in the life of Abraham.

Impossible will become possible in a season change.

JOSEPH – A SEASON CHANGE FROM IMPRISONMENT TO AUTHORITY

Genesis 41:41
41 And Pharaoh said to Joseph, “See, I have set you over all the land of Egypt.”

Joseph who enjoyed doors of favour had a change of season in his life. Joseph, who is a true Israelite and a young Hebrew, rules over the land of Egypt. Everyone who went through a season change had a personal and an intimate relationship with God, if we examine their lives closely. Joseph refused to sin during his very young teenage years. Joseph does not utter a word against God even when he was in the prison, regardless of his calling as he waited patiently for a season change.

ISRAELITES – A SEASON CHANGE FROM SLAVERY TO FREEDOM OF WORSHIP

Exodus 12 from verse 31 to Exodus 14

There is a season change for the Israelites from slavery to freedom of worship. God brings us together in fellowship for true worship. Clean hearts and pure hearts bring forth true worship.

John 4:24
24 God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.”

God always looks at true worshippers.

Romans 12:1
1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.

True worship is offering our bodies as living sacrifices to the Almighty God. It is not only the wealth or the blessings, but God has entrusted us to take care of our body as the temple of the Holy Spirit, fully devoid of sins for the ensuing season change.

Moses had a season change in his life during the exodus from Egypt to the Promised Land.

JOB – A SEASON CHANGE OF INTENSE TRIALS TO ABUNDANCE

Job 42: 10-17
10 And the Lord restored Job’s losses when he prayed for his friends. Indeed the Lord gave Job twice as much as he had before. 11 Then all his brothers, all his sisters, and all those who had been his acquaintances before, came to him and ate food with him in his house; and they consoled him and comforted him for all the adversity that the Lord had brought upon him. Each one gave him a piece of silver and each a ring of gold. 12 Now the Lord blessed the latter days of Job more than his beginning; for he had fourteen thousand sheep, six thousand camels, one thousand yoke of oxen, and one thousand female donkeys. 13 He also had seven sons and three daughters. 14 And he called the name of the first Jemimah, the name of the second Keziah, and the name of the third Keren-Happuch. 15 In all the land were found no women so beautiful as the daughters of Job; and their father gave them an inheritance among their brothers.16 After this Job lived one hundred and forty years, and saw his children and grandchildren for four generations. 17 So Job died, old and full of days.

Job had to undergo fierce trials when he lost everything in life, including his own children, health, and all wealth. His reputation was at stake as everyone criticized and mocked him, including his wife, who asked him to “curse God and die.” Everyone spoke ill of him. Ultimately there was a season change in his life. Job was immensely blessed as he lived a life of great abundance and fullness for another one hundred and twenty post his untold sufferings in life. Job experienced double-fold blessings during the season change in his life. Never bother about the time frame or the period lost in our life as our God is mighty enough to restore double fold of what has been ruined. Job was a father to the three most beautiful daughters on the entire face of the earth. Season change adds beauty to our life. Glory of the Lord ensures season change that transpires into manifold blessings and restorations in our life.

We should believe for a season change.

PETER – A SEASON CHANGE FROM FISHERMAN TO THE FOUNDATION OF CHURCH

There was a drastic change in the life of a man who was a fisherman named Peter. He is an illiterate who cannot read or write. He is not used the basic etiquette in life. The Bible talks about his clothing on several occasions. Such was his nature that often he walked wearing only his underclothes. It is unimaginable that a man of such a low stature is made the first apostle of Jesus Christ. When Peter saw the catch, he fell at the knees of Jesus and screamed, “Leave me, Lord, for I'm a sinner!” Peter denied Jesus three times in the courtyard of the high priest, opposed Jesus at the last supper, scolded Jesus and used to eat with the gentiles. Peter was forgiven time and again by Lord Jesus Christ despite all these failures, later to become the cornerstone of the Church.

Jesus is mighty enough to transform the life of anyone. Peter was molded into an apostle by Lord Jesus. God will hand over higher responsibilities in the Kingdom of God during the season change of our life. A man with absolutely no wisdom of this world writes very powerful epistles because of a season change in his life. The Lord is willing to use us very powerfully in the five fold ministry. Many prophecies of the past and present will unfold in the new season of life.

As the end time nears the magnitude of the gifts of the Holy Spirit will start moving even more powerfully in our life.

THE SAMARITAN WOMAN – A SEASON CHANGE FROM SIN TO POWERFUL IMPACT

John 4

The scripture depicts a terribly broken Samaritan woman who was a victim to five broken marriages. Those days wives never divorce their husbands. She lived with a man pretending to be her husband in the pretext of not getting her stamped as a prostitute. Jesus waits for her near the well, initiates a conversation and asked about her husband. He was moved with compassion and never condemned her as she told him the truth. Jesus told her to drink more of the Holy Spirit who later became the sole reason for a revival in that village.

He is a God who heals and will us out of all the brokenness in life.

PAUL – A SEASON CHANGE FROM PHARISEE TO THE GREATEST APOSTLE

Acts 9

Paul was a staunch Pharisee who vehemently stood for the core values of the Jewish belief systems and traditions to which he belonged. He was a very orthodox traditional individual who could never encounter a new season change in his life. However, there was a change of season in the life of Paul when he had a direct encounter with the Glory of God. Pharisee Paul matured into Apostle Paul. Fervent prayers of a church ensure drastic changes in a society.

DOORS OF ENCOUNTER WITH GOD

There were doors for all the change of seasons from Genesis to the Acts and that common door is an Encounter with God. Let us all have a deep desire in our heart to experience a true personal encounter with God.

THE PRINCIPLE OF “GREATER WORKS” IN THE BIBLE

John 14:12, 13
12 “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father. 13 And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14If you ask anything in My name, I will do it.

Jesus said we will do greater things than He did. This clearly indicates that the church will do even greater things than what is written in the book of Acts as we near the second coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. This is only one of the main reasons why the devil tried to deceive the Church with the help of many theologians to explain that all great miracles happened only during the time of the Acts of the Apostles and are never applicable in this current modern world which is a false doctrine.

We need to get ready for a very powerful season of ministry.

CONCLUSION

People experience new levels of growth and increase in their lives during new seasons, which can be related to health, wealth, opportunities, and, most importantly, the move of the Holy Spirit. Believers should have an intimate association with God to usher in His purposes in life. Doors are portals that transition people to a higher realm that represents deeper spiritual realities. This is a season when God is about to open up doors of opportunity for His people to advance the Kingdom of God.

                   BE CARRIERS OF GOD’s GLORY