Pastor Olowokere
From the Pastor’s Heart.
July, My Month of All Round Plenty
What difference six months could make! If anyone was ever unsure of this, all she needs do is look to what God has been doing with us. The City of Strong Tower Parish, by God’s grace and enablement, has made astounding progress within the first half of the year: 52-day fasting and prayer, a highly successful Special Holy Ghost Service, “the Hebron Move” and of course “Hebron” itself.
But as exhilarating and rewarding as all these have been, they fall short of what God has planned for us in the second half-a-dozen months of the year. How do I know? His word clearly states it in Job 42:12 “So the LORD blessed the latter end of Job more than his beginning: for he had fourteen thousand sheep, and six thousand camels, and a thousand yoke of oxen, and a thousand she asses.” And before the Enemy makes you think “Job? That sounds like a million years ago” Hebrew 13: 8 assures “Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.” Essentially, time has nothing on His ability!
This explains why I’m utterly joyous the prophecy for this month is “July, Our Month of All Round Plenty.” What better way exists to start the ‘latter end’ of the year?
Truth be told, prophecy is a needed gift in any church for many reasons. It comforts, shows God is with one, gives one a head start and makes one understand how faithful God is. For instance in 1Corinthians 14:1-4 Apostle Paul wrote about prophecy:
Follow after charity, and desire spiritual gifts, but rather that ye may prophesy. For he that speaketh in an unknown tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God: for no man understandeth him; howbeit in the spirit he speaketh mysteries.
But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort. He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself; but he that prophesieth edifieth the church.
Here’s one more point that underscores the importance of prophecy. Who sets a service of the Special Holy Ghost’s magnitude and then invites the General Overseer to dedicate a building he’s yet to close on? Only the one guided by prophecy! The people God has foretold what He is about to do with them! And as further confirmation, after the Holy Ghost Service God told us He took us through this route to demonstrate His faithfulness just like He did when Daniel came out unscathed from the lions’ den and the three Hebrew boys from Nebuchadnezzar’s fiery furnace. Again, Hebrew 13:8 rings out: “Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.”
So what is this “All Round Plenty” about? Let’s first see what plenty means; after which we’ll see how it worked for Jacob.
Plenty means for something to be full, or more than adequate in supply or quantity; something of large number or amount. It also means the quality or a state of being very spacious or copious; to be more than sufficient, or more than adequate. Finally, plenty means beyond considerable degree.
Jacob is the poster child for all round plenty. Though he was the younger of the twins, God had through prophecy provided for him to have all round plenty even before birth. Genesis 25:23-24 says
“And the LORD said unto her, two nations are in thy womb, and two manner of people shall be separated from thy bowels; and the one people shall be stronger than the other people; and the elder shall serve the younger.”
This prophecy became a reality in Genesis 27:23-33:
And he discerned him not, because his hands were hairy, as his brother Esau’s hands: so he blessed him.
And he said, Art thou my very son Esau? And he said, I am.
And he said, Bring it near to me, and I will eat of my son’s venison, that my soul may bless thee. And he brought it near to him, and he did eat: and he brought him wine and he drank.
And his father Isaac said unto him, Come near now, and kiss me, my son.
And he came near, and kissed him: and he smelled the smell of his raiment, and blessed him, and said, See, the smell of my son is as the smell of a field which the LORD hath blessed:
Therefore God give thee of the dew of heaven, and the fatness of the earth, and plenty of corn and wine:
Let people serve thee, and nations bow down to thee: be lord over thy brethren, and let thy mother’s sons bow down to thee: cursed be every one that curseth thee, and blessed be he that blesseth thee. 30And it came to pass, as soon as Isaac had made an end of blessing Jacob, and Jacob was yet scarce gone out from the presence of Isaac his father, that Esau his brother came in from his hunting.
And he also had made savoury meat, and brought it unto his father, and said unto his father, Let my father arise, and eat of his son’s venison, that thy soul may bless me. 32And Isaac his father said unto him, Who art thou? And he said, I am thy son, thy firstborn Esau.
And Isaac trembled very exceedingly, and said, Who? where is he that hath taken venison, and brought it me, and I have eaten of all before thou camest, and have blessed him? yea, and he shall be blessed.
Let’s take a close look at some verses of the passage. In verse 23, Isaac, now old and with dimming sight was unable to “discern” Jacob’s trickery. The failing sight may be blamed but really it was so prophecy could be fulfilled that Jacob got away with impersonation. And in verse 28, Isaac finally releases the blessing on Jacob “Therefore God give thee of the dew of heaven, and the fatness of the earth, and plenty of corn and wine.” Verse 29 brings to light the implication of the blessing “Let people serve thee, and nations bow down to thee: be lord over thy brethren, and let thy mother’s sons bow down to thee: cursed be every one that curseth thee, and blessed be he that blesseth thee.” This marked the turning point for Jacob as he consequently stepped into God’s plan for him and ceased from labor. He no longer needed to usurp or supplant, he became to flourish and his life showcased all round plenty.
As in Jacob’s case, we have been assured “all round plenty” in July through prophecy. This is captured in Joel 2:26 “And ye shall eat in plenty, and be satisfied, and praise the name of the LORD your God that hath dealt wondrously with you: and my people shall never be ashamed.” And we know that God’s operation is guided by His word. If it is His word, you can take it to the bank because He will make it good. Reason we are to remain confident “all round plenty” is ours.
Joel 2:26 brings the following to light:
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a. Plenty is meant for God’s people
b. My level of free praise is tied to how God has dealt with me
c. I am a victim to shame when I’m in lack; when in plenty, I’m superior
d. My level of satisfaction is determined by my level of plenty
e. I am considered to have all round plenty when I start to experience satisfaction
Now that you know He has a better plan for you in the second half of the year than anything you’ve experienced in the first, starting with “all round plenty” in July, are you ready to receive and embrace it? Or are you still going to let the Enemy hold up your sin, challenges or situation in front of you? Remember, you only get rewarded if you believe. That’s why Luke 1: 45 says “And blessed is she that believed, for there shall be a performance of those things which were told her from the Lord.”
Saints, let not that health challenge, debt, or depression weigh you down. Hold on steadfast to His word and confess it. As for me and my household “July is Our Month of All Round Plenty.” Did I hear you say “same here”?
And as Isaac told Jacob I say to you “Let people serve thee, and nations bow down to thee: be lord over thy brethren, and let thy mother’s sons bow down to thee: cursed be every one that curseth thee, and blessed be he that blesseth thee.”
Yours in this Divine Appointment
Pastor Emmanuel S. Olowokere
