Dear friends,
I hope things are well with you. 2012 was a very difficult year in many respects. Having begun a new year I am looking forward with great anticipation to what God will do this year. I haven't written in quite some time, though I have posted frequently on facebook. I hope to begin writing again regularly, desiring to be an encouragement to the body in some way. I'd like to share today a few thoughts concerning the season we are in or approaching.
Back in November while praying for this nation the Lord brought some things to mind that have stayed with me and I believe therein lies a word for this season. Let me back up about four years. At the peak of the recession, the Lord gave me word about sowing in the time of famine. When we are in difficult times financially, people tend to cut back on their giving and many ministries suffer. The Lord was saying not to sow according to the cicumstances, but according to His supply. The scripture God gave me was from Genesis 32 about Isaac sowing in the land during a time of severe famine and reaping one hundred fold. God can bless us in difficult times because His resources are unaffected by the world's economy. There is no recession in the kingdom of God. I believe this word is still good for this season.
Last year God spoke to me from the life of David. David had returned with his men to Ziklag only to find their goods had been stolen, their wives and children kidnapped, and the city burned to the ground. They wept until they could weep no more and in their grief and anger they spoke of stoning David. But David encouraged or strengthened himself in the Lord. How did he do that? I believe he might have done this by praising the Lord. Praise is often equated with strength. Out of the mouths of babes and sucklings thou has ordained praise (strength). He may have confessed the Lord's promises to him or maybe he remembered former victories and deliverances, the lion, the bear, Goliath and the Philistines, Saul, etc. He may have done one or all, but he got his thinking right. He then inquired of the Lord. Some times we have to quiet the voices of anger, fear, and grief before we can hear God. He inquired and the Lord told him to pursue and he would recover all. That was God's word to me. "Pursue and you wll recover all." It could be that is a word for some of you. What has the enemy stolen from you. I believe that some have had their dreams stolen and some have lost hope. God wants to restore hope to those who have lost it.
Now back to November, as I prayed for our nation, I had this thought that Joseph and Daniel were promoted to positions of leadership in pagan lands. I know many are concerned that America has turned its back on God and is set on a course of destruction. The impression I felt from the Lord was that even if America were a pagan land He could promote His people to positions of authority. You see the life of Joseph as a teenager with dreams from God. His journey took him from the pit to Potiphar's house to the prison to the palace. He became the number two man in Egypt and in his own words said that God had made him a father to pharaoh. Joseph's dreams were fulfilled over 20 years after they were given. Joseph was promoted through adversity.
Daniel was also a man promoted to the highest levels of authority in the governments of the Babylonians, the Medes, and the Persians. It was the other leaders who were jealous of Daniel who appealed to Darius' ego to make a decree which led to Daniel being thrown in the lion's den. Darius had been considering putting Daniel over the whole empire. Daniel prospered under pagan leaders. In Daniel 3 we see the story of Sharach, Meshach, and Abednego. They refused to bow to the golden image and were thrown in the fiery furnace where the Son of God was revealed as the fourth man in the fire. After Nebuchadnezzar made his declaration concerning their God. Daniel 3:30 Then the king promoted Sharach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego in the province of Babylon. Sometimes our promotion comes through the fire. Theirs did literally.
While praying on New Years' Eve the Lord reminded me of these things, but He also brought a passage in the 23rd Psalm to mind. "You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;" Psalms 23:5 I get this picture of safely sitting at a banqueting table while surrounded by enemies. This is a picture of peace and provision in the midst of our enemies. We are living in a time where many anti-christs are at work. There may be seasons of persecution. America as we know it could drasticaly change, but whatever comes God will fufill His purposes in His people. I am not a prophet of gloom and doom; I desire to encourage you that no situation is hopeless. You may be in the pit, you may be in the lion's den, or you may be in the fire, but it could be that you are being positioned for promotion.
Blessed is the man who endures trial; for whe he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him. James 1:12
As always if I can be a blessing to your church or ministry group send me an e-mail. I would be honored to pray for you if you have prayer needs. I covet your prayers as I seek God's direction in ministry. May God bless you and expand His kingdom in you and through you.
In His service,
Herb Dean
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