Year 2013: The year of Establishment and Prosperity
This is the year God will divinely make His people to be stable and firm.
2 Chronicles 20:1-30.
It happened after this that the people of Moab with the people of Ammon, and others with them besides the Ammonites,came to battle against Jehoshaphat. 2 Then some came and told Jehoshaphat, saying, “A great multitude is coming against you from beyond the sea, from Syria; and they are in Hazazon Tamar” (which is En Gedi). 3 And Jehoshaphat feared, and set himself to seek the Lord, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah. 4 So Judah gathered together to ask help from the Lord; and from all the cities of Judah they came to seek the Lord.
5 Then Jehoshaphat stood in the assembly of Judah and Jerusalem, in the house of the Lord, before the new court, 6 and said: “O Lord God of our fathers, are You not God in heaven, and do You not rule over all the kingdoms of the nations, and in Your hand is there not power and might, so that no one is able to withstand You? 7 Are You not our God,who drove out the inhabitants of this land before Your people Israel, and gave it to the descendants of Abraham Your friend forever? 8 And they dwell in it, and have built You a sanctuary in it for Your name, saying, 9 ‘If disaster comes upon us—sword, judgment, pestilence, or famine—we will stand before this temple and in Your presence (for Your name is in this temple), and cry out to You in our affliction, and You will hear and save.’ 10 And now, here are the people of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir—whom You would not let Israel invade when they came out of the land of Egypt, but they turned from them and did not destroy them— 11 here they are, rewarding us by coming to throw us out of Your possession which You have given us to inherit. 12 O our God, will You not judge them? For we have no power against this great multitude that is coming against us; nor do we know what to do, but our eyes are upon You.”
13 Now all Judah, with their little ones, their wives, and their children, stood before the Lord.
14 Then the Spirit of the Lord came upon Jahaziel the son of Zechariah, the son of Benaiah, the son of Jeiel, the son of Mattaniah, a Levite of the sons of Asaph, in the midst of the assembly. 15 And he said, “Listen, all you of Judah and you inhabitants of Jerusalem, and you, King Jehoshaphat! Thus says the Lord to you: ‘Do not be afraid nor dismayed because of this great multitude, for the battle is not yours, but God’s. 16 Tomorrow go down against them. They will surely come up by the Ascent of Ziz, and you will find them at the end of the brook before the Wilderness of Jeruel. 17 You will not need to fight in this battle. Position yourselves, stand still and see the salvation of the Lord, who is with you, O Judah and Jerusalem!’ Do not fear or be dismayed; tomorrow go out against them, for the Lord iswith you.”
18 And Jehoshaphat bowed his head with his face to the ground, and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem bowed before the Lord, worshiping the Lord. 19 Then the Levites of the children of the Kohathites and of the children of the Korahites stood up to praise the Lord God of Israel with voices loud and high.
20 So they rose early in the morning and went out into the Wilderness of Tekoa; and as they went out, Jehoshaphat stood and said, “Hear me, O Judah and you inhabitants of Jerusalem: Believe in the Lord your God, and you shall be established; believe His prophets, and you shall prosper.” 21 And when he had consulted with the people, he appointed those who should sing to the Lord, and who should praise the beauty of holiness, as they went out before the army and were saying:
“Praise the Lord,
For His mercy endures forever.”
22 Now when they began to sing and to praise, the Lord set ambushes against the people of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir, who had come against Judah; and they were defeated. 23 For the people of Ammon and Moab stood up against the inhabitants of Mount Seir to utterly kill and destroy them.And when they had made an end of the inhabitants of Seir, they helped to destroy one another. 24 So when Judah came to a place overlooking the wilderness, they looked toward the multitude; and therewere their dead bodies, fallen on the earth. No one had escaped.
Besides Paul, Job walked a tough journey but when time came for establishment, his latter days were greater than the beginning.
-- Pastor Mary Mugo.
(31/12/12 Sunday Service Sermon, Africa Transformation Mission. Pramukh Plaza, 6th Floor)
Pastor Mary Mugo is a Pastor at Africa Transformation Mission, a ministry under Christ Harvesters Ministries.
2 Chronicles 20:1-30.
It happened after this that the people of Moab with the people of Ammon, and others with them besides the Ammonites,came to battle against Jehoshaphat. 2 Then some came and told Jehoshaphat, saying, “A great multitude is coming against you from beyond the sea, from Syria; and they are in Hazazon Tamar” (which is En Gedi). 3 And Jehoshaphat feared, and set himself to seek the Lord, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah. 4 So Judah gathered together to ask help from the Lord; and from all the cities of Judah they came to seek the Lord.
5 Then Jehoshaphat stood in the assembly of Judah and Jerusalem, in the house of the Lord, before the new court, 6 and said: “O Lord God of our fathers, are You not God in heaven, and do You not rule over all the kingdoms of the nations, and in Your hand is there not power and might, so that no one is able to withstand You? 7 Are You not our God,who drove out the inhabitants of this land before Your people Israel, and gave it to the descendants of Abraham Your friend forever? 8 And they dwell in it, and have built You a sanctuary in it for Your name, saying, 9 ‘If disaster comes upon us—sword, judgment, pestilence, or famine—we will stand before this temple and in Your presence (for Your name is in this temple), and cry out to You in our affliction, and You will hear and save.’ 10 And now, here are the people of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir—whom You would not let Israel invade when they came out of the land of Egypt, but they turned from them and did not destroy them— 11 here they are, rewarding us by coming to throw us out of Your possession which You have given us to inherit. 12 O our God, will You not judge them? For we have no power against this great multitude that is coming against us; nor do we know what to do, but our eyes are upon You.”
13 Now all Judah, with their little ones, their wives, and their children, stood before the Lord.
14 Then the Spirit of the Lord came upon Jahaziel the son of Zechariah, the son of Benaiah, the son of Jeiel, the son of Mattaniah, a Levite of the sons of Asaph, in the midst of the assembly. 15 And he said, “Listen, all you of Judah and you inhabitants of Jerusalem, and you, King Jehoshaphat! Thus says the Lord to you: ‘Do not be afraid nor dismayed because of this great multitude, for the battle is not yours, but God’s. 16 Tomorrow go down against them. They will surely come up by the Ascent of Ziz, and you will find them at the end of the brook before the Wilderness of Jeruel. 17 You will not need to fight in this battle. Position yourselves, stand still and see the salvation of the Lord, who is with you, O Judah and Jerusalem!’ Do not fear or be dismayed; tomorrow go out against them, for the Lord iswith you.”
18 And Jehoshaphat bowed his head with his face to the ground, and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem bowed before the Lord, worshiping the Lord. 19 Then the Levites of the children of the Kohathites and of the children of the Korahites stood up to praise the Lord God of Israel with voices loud and high.
20 So they rose early in the morning and went out into the Wilderness of Tekoa; and as they went out, Jehoshaphat stood and said, “Hear me, O Judah and you inhabitants of Jerusalem: Believe in the Lord your God, and you shall be established; believe His prophets, and you shall prosper.” 21 And when he had consulted with the people, he appointed those who should sing to the Lord, and who should praise the beauty of holiness, as they went out before the army and were saying:
“Praise the Lord,
For His mercy endures forever.”
22 Now when they began to sing and to praise, the Lord set ambushes against the people of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir, who had come against Judah; and they were defeated. 23 For the people of Ammon and Moab stood up against the inhabitants of Mount Seir to utterly kill and destroy them.And when they had made an end of the inhabitants of Seir, they helped to destroy one another. 24 So when Judah came to a place overlooking the wilderness, they looked toward the multitude; and therewere their dead bodies, fallen on the earth. No one had escaped.
25 When Jehoshaphat and his people came to take away their spoil, they found among them an abundance of valuables on the dead bodies, and precious jewelry, which they stripped off for themselves, more than they could carry away; and they were three days gathering the spoil because there was so much. 26 And on the fourth day they assembled in the Valley of Berachah, for there they blessed the Lord; therefore the name of that place was called The Valley of Berachah until this day. 27 Then they returned, every man of Judah and Jerusalem, with Jehoshaphat in front of them, to go back to Jerusalem with joy, for the Lord had made them rejoice over their enemies. 28 So they came to Jerusalem, with stringed instruments and harps and trumpets, to the house of the Lord. 29 And the fear of God was on all the kingdoms of those countries when they heard that the Lord had fought against the enemies of Israel. 30 Then the realm of Jehoshaphat was quiet, for his God gave him rest all around.From this text, it is evident that at times one may feel sieged, caged and surrounded with very scary news. Jehoshaphat was in such a situation and it was a moment of distress. I want to submit to us that it is in the midst of great battles, feeling helpless and in distress that the power of God is made manifest. In that lowest point, you get to understand how powerful and timely God is.
We have just crossed over from 2012 which was our year of restoration and it is possible that while God has been restoring us, there have been times when we were in distress like Jehoshaphat. I wish to point out that Paul talked of times when the power of God is manifested in moments of our weakness:
We have just crossed over from 2012 which was our year of restoration and it is possible that while God has been restoring us, there have been times when we were in distress like Jehoshaphat. I wish to point out that Paul talked of times when the power of God is manifested in moments of our weakness:
2 Corinthians 12:7-10
And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure. 8 Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. 9 And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
As you may have read, Paul had a thorn which none of us knows. Do not forget that Paul had been restored in faith and so the thorn found him while he was in his year of restoration. I imagine the thorn helped Paul to remain humble and dependent on God. Your thorn of 2012 was helpful in developing a Christian character. It also made us remain humble and totally dependent on God’s strength. The grace was and is still sufficient.
Besides Paul, Job walked a tough journey but when time came for establishment, his latter days were greater than the beginning.
Job 42:12
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.
It may not be surprising that some people have had similar experiences to what Paul or Job went through and perhaps you wondered whether restoration and recompense was still on going in 2012. I assure you, there was so much behind the scene and even when the plane did not seem like it was moving, for sure it was still moving. The tough times were but preparatory classes for entering into God’s year of establishment and prosperity. Probably if God had allowed establishment without the encounters of 2012, you would have developed pride or self-exaltation. Thank God for the checks and measures because whenever great breakthroughs appear without adequate preparation of the heart, most people lose track and at times they gain the world and lose their own soul. After all the lessons you learnt in 2012, the year of establishment will be a time to praise God and sing Him a new song without any traces of pride or arrogance. Now your song will be "This is my story, this is my song, praising my saviour all the day long.. x 2 Perfect submission perfect divine I am my savour’s and He is mine, watching and waiting looking above..."
Let us get back to the text and what God said about 2013.
In 2013, we will see the deliverance of the Lord. The battles or challenges will no longer be yours but of the Lord. You need not be afraid or dismayed because it’s time for God to fight all your battles. The enemy will no longer mock you because the fighter is on your front line. To those who felt like the 2012 responsibilities and challenges were heavy on your shoulders, prepare to walk in a season of God’s rest. You will not need fight, just take up your position, stand still and see the deliverance of the Lord. If you felt unfairly treated and rejected in 2012, you are about to see your enemies dealt with squarely. All your allies who planned to attack you, are in trouble because the Maker is now about to show up and show off on our behalf and they will start fighting among themselves.
In 2013, your business will be to raise real worship to God. As you praise Him, He will be fighting for you. Time for entertaining people with the worship that is due to our God is over. A generation of those who will worship the Lord in truth and in the Spirit is arising in 2013 and true worship will be evident.
In 2013,we will have to believe in God.
Let us get back to the text and what God said about 2013.
In 2013, we will see the deliverance of the Lord. The battles or challenges will no longer be yours but of the Lord. You need not be afraid or dismayed because it’s time for God to fight all your battles. The enemy will no longer mock you because the fighter is on your front line. To those who felt like the 2012 responsibilities and challenges were heavy on your shoulders, prepare to walk in a season of God’s rest. You will not need fight, just take up your position, stand still and see the deliverance of the Lord. If you felt unfairly treated and rejected in 2012, you are about to see your enemies dealt with squarely. All your allies who planned to attack you, are in trouble because the Maker is now about to show up and show off on our behalf and they will start fighting among themselves.
In 2013, your business will be to raise real worship to God. As you praise Him, He will be fighting for you. Time for entertaining people with the worship that is due to our God is over. A generation of those who will worship the Lord in truth and in the Spirit is arising in 2013 and true worship will be evident.
In 2013,we will have to believe in God.
2 Chronicles 20:20b
“Hear me, O Judah and you inhabitants of Jerusalem: Believe in the Lord your God, and you shall be established; believe His prophets, and you shall prosper.”
Whatever God said, believe it and He will be in the business of establishing you. In this year, Christians will get more serious with God. Many will draw near to God and return to Him. Many will earnestly seek Him with prayer and fasting. It is a year which will be marked with divine happenings and miracles. As we seek God we shall have very significant encounters with God. We shall be careful not to lead ourselves in 2013. We will inquire of the Lord and He will direct our steps saying, this is the way walk in it.
In 2013, there will be a distinction between those who serve God and those who do not.
In 2013, there will be a distinction between those who serve God and those who do not.
Malachi 3:18.
Then you shall again discern between the righteous and the wicked, between one who serves God and one who does not serve Him.
God will separate you from relationships which have been dragging you from His perfect will. Some friendships will loosen as God reconnects you to friends who are of divine purpose. It is a year that we will totally depend on God.
In 2013, brethren will experience great favour and people will realise the extraordinary favour in our lives. God will cause our work to prosper. Whatever we will touch shall prosper and there will be fruitfulness and prosperity among Christians.
Church in Kenya will detest idols. Time for seeking God’s miracles using items is over. There will no more dependence on items like oils, leaves, brooms --- and anything else which have been used to provoke miracles. The church is being prepared to take back her position and the Government and private organisations will start to ask the church to take up their role.
A generation of fearless brethren will arise and take bold steps towards investments. There will be others who will arise to utilise their great talents and gifts for God’s glory. You are also about to witness a generation which will take up missionary work to further the kingdom of God.
As God fights for us, as He establishes us and as He prospers us, we will have to hate and detest sin. God is demanding of us to be holy because He is holy. Be warned that the compromising Christians will be exposed and failure to repent and return to God will result in spiritual disaster and great physical tribulations. The establishment is in readiness for the end time harvest.
Psalm 34:1-2
I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth. 2 My soul shall make its boast in the Lord; The humble shall hear of it and be glad.In 2013, brethren will experience great favour and people will realise the extraordinary favour in our lives. God will cause our work to prosper. Whatever we will touch shall prosper and there will be fruitfulness and prosperity among Christians.
Church in Kenya will detest idols. Time for seeking God’s miracles using items is over. There will no more dependence on items like oils, leaves, brooms --- and anything else which have been used to provoke miracles. The church is being prepared to take back her position and the Government and private organisations will start to ask the church to take up their role.
A generation of fearless brethren will arise and take bold steps towards investments. There will be others who will arise to utilise their great talents and gifts for God’s glory. You are also about to witness a generation which will take up missionary work to further the kingdom of God.
As God fights for us, as He establishes us and as He prospers us, we will have to hate and detest sin. God is demanding of us to be holy because He is holy. Be warned that the compromising Christians will be exposed and failure to repent and return to God will result in spiritual disaster and great physical tribulations. The establishment is in readiness for the end time harvest.
Psalm 34:1-2
God is committed to establish us.
Proverbs 24:3-4
Through wisdom a house is built, And by understanding it is established; 4 By knowledge the rooms are filled with all precious and pleasant riches.Proverbs 24:3-4
God demands that in this year we walk in wisdom, understanding and knowledge.
Proverbs 16:3
Commit your works to the Lord, and your thoughts will be established.Proverbs 16:3
Our thoughts will be established once we commit our works to him
Job 22:28
You will also declare a thing, and it will be established for you; So light will shine on your ways.Job 22:28
Keep declaring what God said about you and it shall surely come to pass.
Self-declaration for 2013
Declare this in your life:
This is the year of my establishment and prosperity. No more wavering in faith and wandering in life.
I speak to my hands that in 2013, they shall touch anything and at the start of doing, it shall prosper in all ways.
In 2013, I will enjoy great favour from all sides.
All battles in 2013 have been fought and won by the Lord. I will therefore not be afraid, I will be still and know you are God. In 2013, I will praise God than any other time before.
In 2013, I will always believe in God and be established, I will believe His prophets and so prosper. I will believe all what God said about me and will not doubt in my heart.
In 2013, I will seek your face even more.
I allow you Lord to separate me from anyone who will hinder your purpose in my life and connect me to relationships that are pleasing to you. I allow you Lord to order my steps in 2013. I will hate sin and keep off evil. I am ready for divine encounters with God for His glory. I will entirely depend on you God. I will love you God than the gifts and blessings you will establish me with. Amen.
I speak to my hands that in 2013, they shall touch anything and at the start of doing, it shall prosper in all ways.
In 2013, I will enjoy great favour from all sides.
All battles in 2013 have been fought and won by the Lord. I will therefore not be afraid, I will be still and know you are God. In 2013, I will praise God than any other time before.
In 2013, I will always believe in God and be established, I will believe His prophets and so prosper. I will believe all what God said about me and will not doubt in my heart.
In 2013, I will seek your face even more.
I allow you Lord to separate me from anyone who will hinder your purpose in my life and connect me to relationships that are pleasing to you. I allow you Lord to order my steps in 2013. I will hate sin and keep off evil. I am ready for divine encounters with God for His glory. I will entirely depend on you God. I will love you God than the gifts and blessings you will establish me with. Amen.
(31/12/12 Sunday Service Sermon, Africa Transformation Mission. Pramukh Plaza, 6th Floor)
Pastor Mary Mugo is a Pastor at Africa Transformation Mission, a ministry under Christ Harvesters Ministries.
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