YEARS OF FAMINE AND SURPLUS 2

FOR EVERYTHING THERE IS A SEASON, a time for every activity under heaven."
Ecclesiastes 3:1 (NLT)

"HISTORY merely repeats itself. It has all been done before. NOTHING UNDER THE SUN IS TRULY New."
Ecclesiastes 1:9 (NLT)

• A believer in Christ Jesus can live in abundance or surplus in the midst of famines, even whilst some are groaning:
"THEY WILL NOT BE DISGRACED IN HARD TIMES; EVEN IN FAMINE THEY WILL HAVE MORE THAN ENOUGH" (Psalm 37:19 NLT).

• In the time of famine, Isaac sowed and prospered, in the same land where others were groaning and lacking:
  1 THERE WAS A FAMINE IN THE LAND, besides the first famine that was in the days of Abraham. And ISAAC went to Abimelech king of the Philistines, IN GERAR. 2 THEN THE LORD APPEARED TO HIM AND SAID: “DO NOT GO DOWN TO EGYPT; LIVE IN THE LAND OF WHICH I SHALL TELL YOU. 3 DWELL IN THIS LAND, AND I WILL BE WITH YOU AND BLESS YOU; for to you and your descendants I give all these lands, and I will perform the oath which I swore to Abraham your father. 12 THEN ISAAC SOWED IN THAT LAND, AND REAPED IN THE SAME YEAR A HUNDREDFOLD; AND THE LORD BLESSED HIM. 13 THE MAN BEGAN TO PROSPER, AND CONTINUED PROSPERING UNTIL HE BECAME VERY PROSPEROUS" (Genesis 26:1-3,12,13 NKJV).
• Your covenant relationship with God will preserve you at the time of famines.
  That same land and time, where and when others are groaning, Isaac was increasing and prospering:
  a. because of his covenant relationship with God (Genesis 26:3),
  b. and because he did obey God. When he was told by God not to leave the land, but stay, he obeyed (Genesis 26:3,12,13).
• Your Covenant relationship or Walk with God is stronger than any famine or drought, or whatever the cause of the famine might be: "THE LORD WILL GUIDE YOU CONTINUALLY, AND SATISFY YOUR SOUL IN DROUGHT, AND STRENGTHEN YOUR BONES; YOU SHALL BE LIKE A WATERED GARDEN, And LIKE A SPRING OF WATER, WHOSE WATERS DO NOT FAIL" (Isaiah 58:11 NKJV).

7 “BUT BLESSED ARE THOSE WHO TRUST IN THE LORD AND HAVE MADE THE LORD THEIR HOPE AND CONFIDENCE.
8 THEY ARE LIKE TREES PLANTED ALONG A RIVERBANK, WITH ROOTS THAT REACH DEEP INTO THE WATER. SUCH TREES ARE NOT BOTHERED BY THE HEAT OR WORRIED BY LONG MONTHS OF DROUGHT. THEIR LEAVES STAY GREEN, AND THEY NEVER STOP PRODUCING FRUIT."
Jeremiah 17:7–8 (NLT)

• When you are in a covenant relationship with God, it connects you to the heavenly supplies. Regardless of whatever the drought, the famine, or the economy situations of the country of your residence.

• Resources of heaven are released to those who are God's—His covenant children. Those who had come to Him through Jesus Christ, live their lives according to the dictates of His Word, that is, walk in the light of His Word.
• Nothing happens without God's knowledge or knowing: "WHEN THE RAM'S HORN BLOWS A WARNING, SHOULDN'T THE PEOPLE BE ALARMED? DOES DISASTER COME TO A CITY UNLESS THE LORD HAS PLANNED IT?" (Amos 3:6 NLT).
• If there is a famine or drought in someone's life or a nation, God is aware and know about it.
• The pandemic and the recession that follow, being experienced in every part of the world, are known to God and He permitted them.
• Whatever is happening in the world is known to God. Nothing happens without His permission. Thus, your reigning and being satisfied in the time of famine or drought would be through your connection—your relationship and fellowshipping with Him.

• What does relationship and fellowshipping with God mean?
a. Salvation of your soul, that is, being born again (Romans 10:9,10).
b. Walking in the light of God's Word, and growing or developing in fellowshipping with Him (Joshua 1:8; James 1:22,25).
c. Practicing the principles of the Kingdom—biblical principles for blessings.

• It is your obedient to the above mentioned or highlighted points that lead to the establishing or cutting of a Covenant with you as a believer. And this would result in what you get or experience at the time of famines or droughts.
• Covenant is mainly established with God through obedience, willingness to make sacrifices in whatever is commanded by Him—even when it is difficult.
• Note: when a relationship is established with God through a new birth in Christ Jesus, being born-again; God expected you to grow in the relationship with Him.
• Faith and obedience are the keys to the growth in the relationship with God:
  6 AND IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO PLEASE GOD WITHOUT FAITH. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that God exists and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him. 8 IT WAS BY FAITH THAT ABRAHAM OBEYED WHEN GOD CALLED HIM TO LEAVE HOME AND GO TO ANOTHER LAND THAT GOD WOULD GIVE HIM AS HIS INHERITANCE. HE went WITHOUT KNOWING where HE WAS GOING" (Hebrews 11:6,8 NLT).
• Unbelief would drag and impede, or slow down, the growth of your relationship with God. Faith and prompt Obedience will cause your relationship with God to grow, leap, and be intact.

• What could be considered a covenant, or what makes God establishes or cuts a covenant with a believer?
a. When you chose to obey God all the time, do His Words, or carry out His instructions, through such Acts you a candidate to be set apart or chosen to cut or establish a covenant with Him.
b. When your commitment and submission are unwavering, a covenant would be established.
c. When you always deny the self to obey Him, do His Will or bidding, a covenant would be established, strengthened, and deepened.
d. When you are sacrificial in your Giving, Honouring God with whatever you have; a covenant is provoked to be cut or established.

• The points mentioned above and other ones precipitate, bring on or bring about, the cutting of a covenant. And the covenant preserves in the time of famines or predicaments.

• Another thing to consider that could help or bailout in the time of famines or predicaments is, an extension of covenant.

• The covenant of the minister or ministry under which you are, can speak for you in the time of famines or predicaments.
• What preserved Isaac mainly at the time of famine, referred to in the Teaching, was the covenant extended to him through his father—Abraham.
• The covenant that works with your spiritual parent, the Pastor or Prophet, who speaks to your life; would preserve and defend you in the time of famines or droughts and predicaments.
• Your connection with a ministry or minister puts you under the covering of the covenant that operates in the life and ministry of such a minister of God.
• Every genuine minister, called of God, has a Covenant stand with God. Thus, when you put yourself under the covering of the covenant that operates with a minister; God considers you a part, or a partaker, to every good thing sent through such a ministry or minister—to those who are under the Grace or align with it.
• Whatever God will do for the minister and ministry, would be done for the people who identify with the minister and the work—ministry.
• This is the reason why you have to be rooted and faithful wherever you are planted by God. Be committed to whatever you are assigned to do there.
• The covenant that operates where you go to church, the minister who speaks to your life, whom you put your Head under; speaks, helps, blesses, and preserves you in the time of famines or predicaments.
• Note: apart from being born-again, what puts you under the covering of the covenant that works with a minister or ministry is your relationship—your commitment and faithfulness to the person and the work—ministry.
• God will help, protect or rescue, or defend whoever is under the covering of His genuine representative; a minister or prophet of His.

• You will not die in Ignorance in Jesus' name.

• Should there be any ailment in your body, I declare your healing now in Jesus' name.
• Whatever is not planted in your body, working against your health and wellness, is cursed and uprooted in Jesus' mighty name.
  Peace!

STEPS TO SALVATION
• Take notice of this:
IF you are yet to take the step of salvation, that is, yet to be born-again, do it now, tomorrow might be too late (2 Corinthians 6:1,2; Hebrews 3:7,8,15).
a. Acknowledge that you are a sinner and confess your Sins (1 John 1:9); And ask Jesus Christ to come into your life (Revelation 3:20).
b. Confess that you believe in your heart that Jesus Christ is Lord, and that you confess it with your mouth, Thus, you accept Him As your Lord and Saviour (Romans 10:9,10).
c. Ask that He will write your name in the Book of Life (Philippians 4:3; Revelation 3:8).

• If you took the steps As highlighted above, It means you are saved—born-again. Join a Word based church in your area and Town or city, and be part of whatever they are doing there. Peace!