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"The bravest are surely those who have the clearest vision of what is before them, glory and danger alike, and notwithstanding go out to meet it." - Thucydides
INTRODUCTION
About this time every year, many 'prophets' come out, 'guns blazing,' with all kinds of forecasts for the coming year. Some are meaningful; some are sharp; some are nebulous and could apply to any season. God is a God of times and seasons (Ecc. 3), but I wonder if He conforms Himself to humanity's division of the progression He has set in motion in the universe that we call time. Millions around the world celebrate New Year's Eve with pyrotechnic displays worth millions of dollars, not at the same instant, but whenever midnight may fall in their particular time zone. One of the biggest nights of the year for man may be a source of amusement for God, "He who sits in the heavens shall laugh.... " (Psalm 2:4).
HEARING HIM HERE AND NOW
The foretelling aspect of prophecy is important but forth-telling is perhaps more important. I am persuaded that the Lord is more interested in talking to us about our current state, rather than wanting His prophets to be 'fortune tellers' and much of the predictive prophecy in the Bible is conditional anyway. In 2 Chronicles 7:14, God's healing of the land depends on us following His ways ("If My people..."). In the book of Jonah, the great calamity that the Lord had predicted for Nineveh could be averted if the people changed their ways. So, if we heed His voice for the here and now, then tomorrow will take care of itself.
IT'S UP TO US!
The 'fortunes' of the new year will depend largely on our ability to walk out 2 Chronicles 7:14. Whatever transpires may be waiting for our response before it is decreed from heaven to happen. There's little doubt that we are living in "perilous times" (2 Timothy 3:1), but that probably relates more to a world which does not have the hope that lies in Christ. However, all of us will experience some degree of triumph and tragedy this year, hopefully more of the former, but regardless of what happens, we must be prepared to handle both in a way that pleases the heart of God. Our heart's right response can give us victory in any situation, whether good or bad. The future of 2004 is ours for the making if our free will conforms with God's will.
HOW SHOULD WE LIVE?
I have determined that in this coming year, I will continue to do more to edify and build wider unity in the Body of Christ here in the Northeast of America, where the Lord has called me to deposit most of my energies, and wherever else He may lead. I will pursue covenantal relationships with other leaders so that we can stand with each other for any specific cause, but if one is absent, our friendship in Christ can be an end in itself. St. Augustine, one of the great early church fathers said, "All kinds of things rejoiced my soul in the company of my friends -- to talk and laugh and to do each other kindnesses; read pleasant books together, pass from lightest jesting to talk of the deepest things and back again; differ without rancor, as a man might differ with himself, and when most rarely dissension arose, find our normal agreement all the sweeter for it; teach each other or learn from each other; be impatient for the return of the absent, and welcome them with joy at their homecoming; these and such like things, proceeding from our hearts as we gave affection and received it back, and shown by face, by voice, by the eyes, and a thousand other pleasing ways, kindled a flame which infused our very souls and of many made us one. This is what men value in friends."
HEARING AND DECLARING
One prophetic utterance that has been made recently regarding this coming year that I bear witness to is that 2004 will be a year of release and increase. At the New Year's Eve service at our church, I felt led to make this declaration for 2004, "We declare that we will be a reproducing, enemy reducing, Holy Spirit inducing, devil terrifying, Jesus magnifying multitude on a mission of multiplication for Kingdom duplication and God’s glorification!" You are welcome to invest your life in this declaration too!
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