THE SET TIME
“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 promises in a believer’s life, God will cause things to work in his or her favour—things will begin to happen in quick succession.
God will cause men to rally in support of bringing His Word, what He had spoken about the person or the situation, to fulfilment.
When the Lord wanted to turn the captivity of Judah, the Israelites, He stirred the heart of Cyrus to build the Temple in Jerusalem—and he made a proclamation as regards to 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 would 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).
At the time of the fulfilment of God’s promises, He will cause things to work in your favour. However, prior to the time of the fulfilment of the particular 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.
• ‘Kairos’ means a set time or proper time.
You would have to use ‘chronos’, your general space of time to prepare for ‘kairos’, the set time or proper time. ‘Chronos’, general time, is not a time to laze about, it is a time to prepare for where you are going—where God is taking you.
Take note:
• You prepare yourself 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; Psalm 1:1-3; James 1:22-25
• You also 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).
We could see in this passage that one of the things that brought about the fulfilment of Jeremiah's prophecy concerning the return from the captivity of the Israelites was what Daniel did in the passage above—Daniel 9:1-3.
It was through the study of the Scripture, the Bible, that Daniel understood the number of years they were to spend in the captivity; when he got to know it, he started praying—interceding for the fulfillment of the prophecy (Daniel 9:2,3).
• Also, you prepare yourself by developing your skill, your ability; you need to have trainings in skill development, in a bid to prepare for where God is taking you.
• Apart from trainings, you also ask God to fill you with wisdom and understanding, and supernatural skill in your field of endeavour (Exodus 31:3; 36:1; 2 Chronicles 2:14; 4:16).
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)
You will experience God’s favour at the set time, time of visitation. Therefore, endeavour to prepare for it:
“YOU [God] WILL ARISE AND HAVE MERCY ON ZION; FOR THE TIME TO FAVOR HER, YES, THE SET TIME, HAS COME” (Psalm 102:13 NKJV).
If I may ask:
• What preparation have you made for the new year?
• What changes would it be necessary to make for the fulfillment of whatever God has in plan for you concerning the year ahead?
You will not miss your set time in Jesus’ name. Peace!