PREACHING OF DECEMBER 29, 2024:

Pastor Antonio Russo

 

HOW TO GET INTO YOUR NEW SEASON

 

We have arrived at the final worship service of the year 2024, a special moment to reflect and prepare for what lies ahead. It is essential, however, to keep our hearts receptive to the Word, because God desires to guide and coordinate every aspect of our lives. Throughout the year, some of us may have lost our way, taking our eyes off the goal God has set before us. But we have this certainty: God wants to bring us back on track because He desires to realign us with the eternal purpose He has prepared for each of us, a unique and perfect purpose that gives meaning and direction to our lives. Now, we will delve into an important teaching on how to prepare and enter with awareness into the new season that awaits us, titled: "How to Enter Your New Season." At the end of the year, it’s common to take stock of what has happened and make resolutions for the future. While this can be positive, what we truly desire is to hear a voice from heaven because only our heavenly Father knows us deeply and knows exactly what we need. How many of us have expectations for the new season? If we don’t, or if they are low, let’s raise our expectations because we will always receive in accordance with what we believe. How many of us want to remain in the old season? None of us. We all desire to leave the old behind to step into the new because we know where God wants to take us, and we want to be wise in doing so. If what lies ahead is truly our new season, we must prepare to enter it. During the year, we experience four seasons, and when a new one arrives, we need to adapt with the right wardrobe. For instance, we would never wear a coat in summer. In the same way, if we truly believe that a new spiritual season has arrived, we must prepare ourselves to embrace it.

Ecclesiastes 3:1; 1 To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:

We must seek to understand the distinction between season and time, as many Christians confuse the two, but there is a significant difference. From a divine perspective, time is something generic, devoid of supernatural events, while a season is characterized by supernatural manifestations. Many live in time, unbalanced and without clear direction, because in it there is nothing special. However, when we enter the season, we experience divine favor firsthand, which takes hold of our lives and begins to chase us in a positive way. One of the hallmarks of divine favor is that doors that were once closed begin to open wide, granting us access to things, people, and strategic places that God has prepared for our journey. Meanwhile, everything our hands touch will be blessed. When we are under divine favor, everything accelerates, and we no longer need to push because, through supernatural acceleration, obstacles that once seemed insurmountable are removed. In contrast, when we live in time, we find ourselves stuck in routine, repeating the same things over and over. Are we ready for the new season? Are we ready to leave behind the time we have lived so far and step into the new season? When we are in our season, God's favor marks our lives in extraordinary ways. For example, if we have a business and there are five others offering the same, ours will prosper not because God doesn't desire prosperity for others, but because there is a special mark on us. If we are workers in a company with many employees, we will be promoted, not due to any extraordinary merit of our own, but because we are propelled by the divine favor of our season. We have done nothing extraordinary to deserve all this; it is simply the result of being in God's season. Recognizing when a season is ending is equally important, because as it comes to a close, the things that once flowed easily begin to slow down, signaling that God is closing one phase to open another. If things at work seem to be slowing down, we need to pray, depend on the Holy Spirit, and discern how to enter the new season God has prepared for us. Recognizing a new season means seeing the sign of divine favor, which allows us to ask and receive. The Bible teaches us that sometimes prayers go unanswered because it is neither the right time nor season. But when we are in our season, divine favor is upon us: we ask and receive quickly. Regarding this, Jesus said:

Matthew 7:7; 7 Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:

We must learn to ask and pray for our needs in accordance with God's will, knowing that the doors will open and new things will happen in our lives. When God's favor is upon us, even resources that seemed distant will be given to us, just as happened to Israel, who, after 400 years of slavery in Egypt, saw a new season open up, marked by earth-shattering events. God demonstrated His faithfulness by freeing His people and showing that the Egyptian idols were nothing compared to His power; indeed, each plague inflicted on the Egyptians struck at one of their idols, proving that God is the one true God. The transfer of wealth from the unjust to the just is another sign of divine favor, because God desires to bless His Church financially in order to fulfill His work. Reinhard Bonnke, a great man of God, when he saw that they were building sports structures, said, "Build, build, we are coming," and millions of people responded to the Gospel, surrendering their lives to Jesus. When our hearts are aligned with God's, He pours out wealth upon us to fulfill His will. Faithfulness to God is essential: those who walk with integrity in His presence become vessels of trust to fulfill His work. You know, returning to the liberation of the people of Israel, at the time of the tenth plague, God gave precise instructions to His people at that specific moment. It was the fourteenth day of Nissan, and from the thirteenth to the fourteenth, the Pesach, the Passover of the Lord, was celebrated. The Israelites were to place the blood on the doorposts and the lintels of their doors; the destroyer would pass by, but wherever he saw the blood, he would pass over. That night, cries were heard: the firstborn of the Egyptians died, including the firstborn of Pharaoh, considered an idol for Egypt. This shows us the power of the blood of Jesus, which, when applied, prevents the destroyer from stopping. Even we, every day before leaving the house, must apply the blood of Jesus to our lives, our children, our work, our homes, and everything God has given us because His power protects us from death, disease, and the destroyer. Back then, they applied it with hyssop; today, we apply it through the Word, declaring God's will. That night, in addition to the Passover, God gave instructions to Israel: in the morning, before departing, the Israelites were to knock on the doors of the Egyptians and ask them for gold, silver, and riches. In one night, God transferred the wealth of the unjust to the just because the Egyptians gave them everything they asked for. There are things that the enemy has stolen from us, such as health, work, and more, but in the name of Jesus, everything must be returned to us sevenfold. By declaring and claiming it, we will see the restoration.

Exodus 12:36; 36 And the Lord gave the people favour in the sight of the Egyptians, so that they lent unto them such things as they required. And they spoiled the Egyptians.

When God's favor is upon us, any circumstance can change, not by force, but because we are clothed with His grace. God is introducing us into a new season, but to enter it, we must understand that He does not give it superficially; rather, He looks at our hearts and the characteristics of our lives. The new season is tied to the divine purpose for us, and to fully live it, we must know why He created us and His plan for our lives. His plan is not simply about warming a seat in church for two hours a week, but about living every day according to His will. We must be faithful in the little things to receive more, because disobedience makes us lose time: an 11 day journey for Israel took 40 years, while God prefers obedience over sacrifice. If we listen and obey, He will introduce us to the new season. The number 40 in the Bible represents change, renewal, and transition: Noah was in the ark for 40 days, Israel walked in the desert for 40 years, Jesus spent 40 days in the desert, and after the resurrection, He spent 40 days with His disciples to pass the baton to them. To enter the new season, a change is necessary, and it is not only about others but also requires that we change.

Romans 12:2; 2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

This is an invitation to renew our minds, because pure Christianity requires continuous change, with transformation occurring from glory to glory. This is the moment to change our minds, hearts, and emotions, allowing God to transform us to prepare us for His glory. Each of us must know the purpose God has chosen for him, not what we like, but what is in His will. To enter the new season, it is essential to understand God’s purpose for our lives, because it is closely tied to what He has prepared for us; to discover it, we must pray and ask the Holy Spirit. You know, God tests our faithfulness in small things, which, in our eyes, may seem minimal but have great value in His sight. God may entrust us with a person to disciple, and if we do not take care of them, how can we think we will be given greater responsibilities? If we do not care for a single sheep He has entrusted to us, how can we say, “Lord, I want to be a pastor.” We must learn to recognize divine opportunities and actively seek His purpose, because today God is telling us: “I give you a new season, always in accordance with My purpose.”

Joshua 5:6; 6 For the children of Israel walked forty years in the wilderness, till all the people that were men of war, which came out of Egypt, were consumed, because they obeyed not the voice of the Lord: unto whom the Lord sware that he would not shew them the land, which the Lord sware unto their fathers that he would give us, a land that floweth with milk and honey.

This scripture reminds us that, because of their disobedience, the children of Israel walked for forty years in the desert, turning an eleven day journey into forty years. This teaches us that our disobedience turns days into years, while obedience turns years into days. God calls us to obedience, because it is through it that we enter the new season. Therefore, to enter the new season, we must change in our mindset, heart, emotions, and spirit. Change is urgent and necessary; even Jesus, though perfect, went through anointings and glories, showing that change is part of God's purpose. Let us enter our new season with a renewed heart, a transformed mind, and a life ready to follow obedience to His will. When things around us do not change, it is time for us to change, because, despite our efforts, we often see no results. God is telling us to stop pushing and focus on changing within ourselves. It is time to change our mindset: moving from poverty to wealth, from mediocrity to excellence, from small things to expansion towards great things. God is a God of excellence and wants us to see ourselves as He sees us: blessed and prosperous. When we decide to change, He will give us more. Remember that everything that does not change is destined to die: if our marriage is suffering, let us not wait for it to get worse, but let us change; if our children are spiritually dying, let us not remain still, but let us change, not pointing fingers at others but looking within ourselves and deciding to change. God will release His transforming grace when, sincerely, we say, "Lord, I need to change," admitting the truth that we should not ask God to change others, but recognize that we are the ones who need to change, and in that moment, a supernatural grace will flood us and transform us. Another thing to understand is that serving God is an honor we must live with joy and with all our hearts.

Jeremiah 48:10; 10 Cursed be he that doeth the work of the Lord deceitfully, and cursed be he that keepeth back his sword from blood.

Furthermore, Jesus teaches us that, in order to bear fruit, a seed must fall to the ground and die; therefore, if we do not die to ourselves, we will not bear fruit. God is calling us this year to preach the Gospel, to expand His Kingdom, and to speak the truth, not to please others. The sword represents the Word of God, and it is the truth that sets us free; Jesus said, "You shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free."

Proverbs 27:6; 6 Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.

We must appreciate those who tell us the truth, even if it may be difficult to accept. When someone speaks the truth to us out of love, we must recognize its value and ask for forgiveness if we have misunderstood or attacked them, because that truth opens our eyes and shows us our need to change.

Let us always remember that: "Faithful are the wounds of a friend, but deceitful are the kisses of an enemy."