In December of 2019, I was taking time to seek God for His leading for 2020. This is a common thing for me to do every December as the new year approaches. Through a dream, the Lord gave me the focal point for 2020 in His Word. It was very clear, and it was also a scripture I was familiar with: 2 Chronicles 16:9a. “For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth to show Himself strong on behalf of those who are devoted to Him…” Throughout the months of March and April of 2020, COVID-19 became quite an issue. Two other scriptures became a place of focus for me when considering the world events at that time:1 Corinthians 15:1-8a and Acts 1:13-15. Before I get to those passages of scripture, below are the reasons for holding fast to these scriptures.
When I considered the rise of COVID-19 happening at the same time as Passover, I immediately reflected on the story of the Israelites, Moses, Pharaoh, the plagues, and the power of Almighty God moving forward His will for the next season. It is important to remember that God knows and declares the end from the beginning (see Isaiah 46:10)! So when studying the Old Testament with relation to this story of Moses, it is evident that God defined a season and then a transition long before it actually happened. God told Abram that his descendants would be afflicted for 400 years in the land of Egypt. Then they would be moved out from under Pharaoh with great possessions as God would pass judgment on Egypt (see Genesis 15:13-14). The Israelites would eventually get to “the land flowing with milk and honey”, but this was delayed due to the disobedience of some of them. What captured my attention as I meditated on this passage was that in this story, Passover was implemented during a plague. In 2020, we had a plague called COVID-19 happening at the same time as Passover, Resurrection weekend, and Pentecost. In the story of Moses and the plagues, God dealt justly with Egypt and advanced His children as He said He would do hundreds of years earlier. It was clear to me that God was up to something BIG in our time! So I began to focus more and more on His Word and seek His will for my life in this season. “God is searching” started to make much more sense.
1 Corinthians 15:6 says that “… He (Jesus) was seen by over five hundred brethren at once, of whom the greater part remain to the present, but some have fallen asleep”. As I read and considered this passage, the number 500 stood out to me when compared to the next passage of scripture.
Acts 1:13-15: “13. And when they had entered, they went into the upper room where they were staying … 14. These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication… 15. And in those days Peter stood up in the midst of the disciples (altogether the number of names was about one hundred and twenty)…”. When I read that there were only 120 people in the upper room, I had to ask: Where were the other 380 people? What distracted them from staying in Jerusalem as Jesus commanded? As I meditated on these questions, I immediately knew what God was showing me and was convicted by the Holy Spirit to follow the mindset of the 120 people who were obedient and were in the upper room. I couldn’t be caught in the mindset of the 380 people or I would miss what God had planned for this next season. I had to be in the centre of His will for my life and the season ahead.
The passages in Acts and Exodus are examples of a transition that God set in motion years before by His Word! Just like the Israelites coming out of Egypt, those in the upper room were moved into the next season of what God was establishing on the earth at that time too. He empowered the church with His Holy Spirit and launched them into the season of the church.
I firmly believe that God is moving and establishing a new season now. A season of revealing His Glory and His Power! He wants to bring the greatest harvest of souls into His family and Kingdom! There have been multiple prophetic words of this glorious season that we are entering. It’s here now. God is searching for those who are devoted to Him. Which group are you in? The 120 or the 380? I pray that you focus in on Jesus and find out what He wants for you in this time, and then align yourself with His will for your life!