THE TIME OF THE PROMISE
“BUT WHEN THE TIME OF THE PROMISE DREW NEAR WHICH GOD HAD SWORN TO ABRAHAM, the people grew and multiplied in Egypt.”
Acts 7:17 (NKJV)
When it is time for the fulfilment of God’s promise in a believer’s life, God will cause things to work in his/her favour, and things will begin to happen in quick successions.
God will cause men to rally round in support of bringing His Word to fulfilment in the person's life.
When the LORD wanted to turn the captivity of Judah He stirred the heart of Cyrus to build the Temple in Jerusalem, and he made a proclamation about it:
22 NOW IN THE FIRST YEAR OF CYRUS KING OF PERSIA, THAT THE WORD OF THE LORD BY THE MOUTH OF JEREMIAH MIGHT BE FULFILLED, THE LORD STIRRED UP THE SPIRIT OF CYRUS KING OF PERSIA, so that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and also put it in writing, saying, 23 THUS SAYS CYRUS KING OF PERSIA: All the kingdoms of the earth the LORD God of heaven has given me. AND HE HAS COMMANDED ME TO BUILD HIM A HOUSE [Temple] AT JERUSALEM WHICH IS IN JUDAH . . . ” (2 Chronicles 36:22,23 NKJV).
It was foretold through the mouth of Prophet Jeremiah that they will spend seventy years in Babylonian captivity:
“FOR THUS SAYS THE LORD: AFTER SEVENTY YEARS ARE COMPLETED AT BABYLON, I WILL VISIT YOU AND PERFORM MY GOOD WORD TOWARDS YOU, AND CAUSE YOU TO RETURN TO THIS PLACE" (Jeremiah 29:10 NKJV).
Thus, at the time of the fulfilment of God’s promise He will cause things to work in your favour.
That being said, prior to the time of the fulfilment of God’s promise, you need to prepare yourself for where He is taking you.
There are two Greek words translated Time in English: ‘Chronos’ and ‘Kairos’.
Chronos means a space of time in general, while Kairos means a set time or proper time.
You use ‘chronos’ which is the general time, to prepare for ‘kairos’ which is the the set time or proper time.
Chronos, that is general time is not a time to laze about, it is a time to prepare for where you are going.
Note:
I. You prepare yourself for where God is taking you by feeding on the Word of God and walking in the light of the Word: “BUT HE WHO LOOKS INTO THE PERFECT LAW OF LIBERTY AND CONTINUES IN IT, AND IS NOT A FORGETFUL HEARER BUT A DOER OF THE WORK, THIS ONE WILL BE BLESSED IN WHAT HE DOES" (James 1:25 NKJV).
READ: Joshua 1:8; James 1:22-25
II. Also, you prepare yourself in prayer:
1 IN THE FIRST YEAR OF DARIUS THE SON OF AHASUERUS, OF THE LINEAGE OF THE MEDES, WHO WAS MADE KING OVER THE REALM OF THE CHALDEANS— 2 IN THE FIRST YEAR OF HIS REIGN I, DANIEL, UNDERSTOOD BY THE BOOKS THE NUMBER OF THE YEARS SPECIFIED BY THE WORD OF THE LORD THROUGH JEREMIAH THE PROPHET, THAT HE WOULD ACCOMPLISH SEVENTY YEARS IN THE DESOLATIONS OF JERUSALEM. 3 THEN I SET MY FACE TOWARDS THE LORD GOD TO MAKE REQUEST BY PRAYER AND SUPPLICATIONS, WITH FASTING, SACKCLOTH, AND ASHES" (Daniel 9:1-3 NKJV).
• In your prayers, you will ask God to fill you with wisdom and understanding and supernatural skill in your field of endeavour:
13 NOW KING SOLOMON SENT AND BROUGHT HURAM [Hiram] FROM TYRE.
14 . . . HE WAS FILLED WITH WISDOM AND UNDERSTANDING AND SKILL IN WORKING WITH ALL KINDS OF BRONZE WORK. SO HE CAME TO KING SOLOMON AND DID ALL HIS WORK.”
1 Kings 7:13,14 (NKJV)
READ: Exodus 31:3; 36:1; 2 Chronicles 2:14; 4:16
III. It not enough to pray, you should strive to develop your skill, that is, your ability in whatever you are doing.
You would need to have a training in skill development, in preparation for where God is taking you.
God’s favour is experienced at the set time but you have to do your part in preparation before it comes. Therefore, prepare for it!
“YOU [God]WILL ARISE AND HAVE MERCY ON ZION; FOR THE TIME TO FAVOUR HER, YES, THE SET TIME, HAS COME.”
Psalm 102:13 (NKJV)
You will not miss your set time in Jesus’ name. Peace!