Opening illustration: This is reputedly a true story of something that happened a few years ago at USC.
There was a professor of philosophy there who was a deeply committed atheist. His primary goal for one required class was to spend the entire semester attempting to prove that God could not exist. His students were always afraid to argue with him because of his impeccable logic.
For 20 years he had taught this class and no one had ever had the courage to go against him. Sure, some had argued in class at times, but no one had ever really gone "against him" (you’ll see what I mean later). No one would go against him because he had a reputation.
At the end of every semester, on the last day, he would say to his class of 300 students, "If there’s anyone here who still believes in Jesus, stand up!" In 20 years, no one had ever stood up. They knew what he was going to do next. He would say, "because anyone who does believe in God is a fool. If God existed, he could stop this piece of chalk from dropping to the ground and breaking.
Such a simple task to prove that he is God and yet he can’t do it." And every year, he would drop the chalk onto the tile floor of the class room and it would shatter into a hundred pieces. All of the students could do nothing but stop and stare. Most of the students were convinced that God couldn’t exist. Certainly, a number of Christians had slipped through, but for 20 years, they had been too afraid to stand up.
Well, a few years ago, there was a freshman who happened to get enrolled in the class. He was a Christian and had heard the stories about this professor. He had to take the class because it was one of the required classes for his major. And he was afraid but for 3 months that semester he prayed every morning that he would have the courage to stand up no matter what the professor said or what the class thought. Nothing they said or did could ever shatter his faith, he hoped.
Finally the day came. The professor said, "If there is anyone here who still believes in God, stand up." The professor and the class of 300 people looked at him, shocked, as he stood up at the back of classroom. The professor shouted, "You fool! If God existed he could keep this piece of chalk from breaking when it hit the ground!" He proceeded to drop the chalk, but as he did, it slipped out of his fingers, off his shirt cuff, onto the pleat of his pants, down his leg, and off his shoe. As it hit the ground, it simply rolled away unbroken. The professor’s jaw dropped as he stared at the chalk. He looked up at the young man then ran out of the lecture hall.
The young man who had stood up proceeded to walk to the front of the room and share his faith in Jesus for the next half hour. 300 students stayed and listened as he testified of God’s love for them and of His power through Jesus.
Yet to all who received HIM, to those who believed in HIS name, HE gave the right to become children of God-children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of GOD.’ ’But HE knows the way that I take. When HE has tested me, I will come forth as gold.’ (Job 23: 10)
Introduction: In Biblical numerology, numbers play a significant role, for example #6 is the number of man and #7 is used for God and completion. The #1 is associated for the only one God and #3 for the triune God. Likewise the #11 is associated with times of disorder and chaos. Those, who are walking with God, who are His children, have nothing to fear. God is in control and He will care for His children. Our God is a God of order and He will bring order in the midst of chaos. And where the Spirit of God is, there is no confusion. It is crucial; however, that you prepare yourself and begin listening to the direction and the instruction that God is giving you.
It is no longer OK to go with the flow and let life carry you where-ever the wind is blowing. God has filled you with the Holy Spirit and given you an anointing to know what is coming so that you can strategically prepare and plan for what is ahead.
It is time for the Body of Christ to wake up and start walking and moving in the Power of the Holy Spirit. There are 5 strategic keys that will help propel you into your future and the destiny God has for you this year. Ask Him for specific insight and direction for you and your life, and allow Him to manifest in these areas throughout 2011.
1. God is sounding a wake-up call
And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, "teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Amen. (Matthew 28: 18-20)
God is sounding a wake-up call to the body of Christ! There has been a lull and a spirit of slumber that has spread over much of the body in the last couple of years. We have become satisfied with "church as usual." Unfortunately, many people have settled into a place of comfort and complacency—but God is shaking and waking this sleeping giant once again!
I hear the Lord say, "Some of you keep trying to snuggle in and get comfortable. I will not allow you to get comfortable. I did not create you for comfort; I created you to be a weapon of warfare."
God has created you to be on the cutting edge. When it is time for eaglets to learn to fly, the mother eagle begins to remove the soft down feathers in her nest. As she does this, the nest becomes more uncomfortable, and soon the eaglets begin to feel the sting of the sharp briars beneath. In order to seek more comfortable living quarters, they are forced to fly. In this same fashion, God is removing your place of comfort because it is time for you to fly.
This will be a year of agitation for many of you. Expect to feel restless in many ways. Something in you will refuse to be comforted in your present condition this year. It might even become downright frustrating for a season—but know that God is making you uncomfortable so you will be motivated to move into something new.
2. God is releasing an anointing to leave your past behind
“Death and life are in the power of the tongue, And those who love it will eat its fruit.” (Proverbs 18: 21)
“But as it is written: "Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man The things which God has prepared for those who love Him." (1 Corinthians 2: 9)
There is a special anointing for inner healing this year. There is a release of grace in the body of Christ to finally put the pain of your past behind you. I see the Lord of Hosts raising a mighty sword of freedom and severing the hold of your past. Chains will be broken this year! No longer will the pain of the past have power over you.
Many of the wounds that God will heal this year are painful experiences from churches and Christians. Many soldiers in the body of Christ have been wounded by their fellow soldiers and leaders in the church. There will be a special anointing this year for healing these specific wounds.
As healing comes, God will change your words from confessions of hopelessness and despair to declarations of victory and freedom. Therefore, focus on your language this year. Watch what you say. As this grace for freedom is released, you must align your language with what the Word of God is saying over your life. Negative words falling from your lips will have the power to negate the release of freedom.
3. God is giving us a special anointing for breakthrough
“For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled.” (2 Corinthians 10: 3-6)
"The kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force." (Matthew 11: 21).
It is time to fight for your deliverance and freedom. If you have stopped trying to be free and have surrendered to the control of the enemy, learning to live in your present crippling condition, it’s time to pick up the sword and fight once again. God will give you grace to get off the sidelines this year, but you must take the first step toward the playing field.
God is releasing warring angels this year to defeat the powers of darkness that have come against you. The angelic army has never been in this exact position before. Now is the time to rise up and fight for your victory!
God is pouring out the power to break that thing that has held you back, kept you down and kept you out of your full victory! God is giving you power and authority to speak to that mountain in your path and see it crumble before you.
Your breakthrough is now. Keep fighting! Keep warring! The victory is in your mouth and in your hands!
4. God is opening up doors to fulfill your assignment
“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” (Hebrews 11: 1)
“For we walk by faith, not by sight.” (2 Corinthians 5: 7)
(Galatians 3 & Hebrews 11 ~ chapters on the faith of the stalwarts)
“…He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.” (1 John 4: 4)
This is the year when you will discover what you were created for. Some of you have been searching for your purpose, wondering where you fit, wondering why you were put here. Rejoice! This is your year.
Take advantage of learning opportunities this year. Make this a season of preparation. As you wake up (see Key No. 1 above), leave your past behind (Key No. 2) and experience breakthrough in areas where you have been bound (Key No. 3), this preparation will come more easily than ever before.
Pay special attention to opportunities that God puts before you this year. Attend conferences, schools and gatherings that center on releasing saints into their destinies and training you in the supernatural. These times of training will be important for you.
Create relationships and form alliances with people who can help you move into your destiny. It will become clearer as the year goes on how important these relationships will be to you in your journey. As God opens unexpected doors, do not delay. Step out in faith and anticipation as God positions you in significant situations in 2011.
5. God is releasing a fresh anointing for supernatural power and boldness
“And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease among the people. Then His fame went throughout all Syria; and they brought to Him all sick people who were afflicted with various diseases and torments, and those who were demon-possessed, epileptics, and paralytics; and He healed them.” (Matthew 4: 23-25)
“And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and signs among the people.” (Acts 6: 8)
“And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.” (1 Corinthians 2: 4 & 5)
“For the kingdom of God is not in word but in power.” (1 Corinthians 4: 20)
(i) Tri-prong Ministry ~ Teaching, Preaching and Healing (v. 23) ~ He was also preaching the gospel of the kingdom." Now this is a different word. Karusoand it means to proclaim and it concentrates not so much on the didactic method, the relating of truth, the content as it does on the very voice, the very style of proclamation and it simply means He heralded it out, He cried out. That’s preaching. Teaching is where there is the careful instructive relating of content. It’s kind of from the mind to the mind. Preaching is the crying out, the impassioned cry of Jesus Christ to the people. Jesus did both, preaching, making a public announcement.
(ii) Dealing with the spiritual realm; mental, physical and emotional state of people and their deliverance (v. 24) ~ When Christ cured them by a word, it was the clearest of all proofs that he was sent from heaven. This is one of the strong arguments for Christianity.
God is releasing a new level of power and authority to the body. There is a new anointing of the Holy Spirit for supernatural signs, wonders and miracles. What many people have been waiting for in this arena will finally begin to take shape. This is the year that God is going to use ordinary people to demonstrate extraordinary kingdom power. He is teaching us to be supernatural, naturally.
This release of power will become clear as you prepare for your assignment and find your place in the body of Christ. So besides training, be bold in stepping into ministry positions and taking advantage of ministry opportunities.
"Do not fear," says the Lord. "As you step out in faith, you will discover a level of boldness in this season along with the power."
Unbelievers will be drawn in greater measure to the true power of God that will be demonstrated in this new season. Be ready to build relationships with people for the purpose of making disciples of them. Use wisdom in forming relationships, however, as Satan will try to use some insincere people to absorb your time and energy.
Allow God to do His work in you this year as He prepares and positions you. Wait in expectation and anticipation of greater things.
Application: Our God is a God of order and He will bring order in the midst of chaos. And where the Spirit of God is, there is no confusion. It is crucial; however, that you prepare yourself and begin listening to the direction and the instruction that God is giving you. God has filled you with the Holy Spirit and given you an anointing to know what is coming so that you can strategically prepare and plan for what is ahead. It is time for the Body of Christ to wake up and start walking and moving in the Power of the Holy Spirit.
