The one reason we need to understand times and seasons is to know what we ought to do and how we ought to pray. If gaining knowledge of times and seasons does not lead to knowing what to do or having prophetic direction, something major is missing. Whatever we receive concerning 2023 should come with what we need to do. When God spoke to Noah about the flood, He also guided him to build an ark of safety. When Joseph interpreted Pharaoh’s dream concerning surplus and scarcity, he told Pharaoh what Egypt must do to escape scarcity resulting from famine. When Daniel interpreted Nebuchadnezzar’s dream concerning an impending judgment, he also told him what to do to avert the judgment: “Therefore, O king, let my advice be acceptable to you; break off your sins by being righteous, and your iniquities by showing mercy to the poor. Perhaps there may be a lengthening of your prosperity” (Daniel 4:27).
God did not tell Noah to just pray to stop the flood. Joseph did not tell Pharaoh to gather people to pray so that famine will not come. Daniel did not offer to pray for the king to avert judgment. The times are not looking great for our world. Disaster is in the air. What are we supposed to do: stand to watch or turn around? We need a swift change!
The 23rd book and chapters are our guiding light for this season.
- WE NEED REPENTANCE AND RECOVERY!
This should be in our response to divine displeasure. We need to make a full return to God. We need to judge our ways with the Word of God and make necessary corrections. This will lead to repentance, rejecting some ideas and ways of doing things and returning fully to God. It will also lead to the restoration of things in the word that had been ignored. We need to return to the Word of God, to the Will of God and to the Ways of God. We need to call ourselves and our world to order for three reasons:
1. Judgment is coming because our world has erred and drifted grossly. If we return to God, we may avert or escape the impending judgment.
2. To draw His presence. God’s presence will go where He is pleased. God withdraws His blessed presence from rebellious people.
3. To provoke the release of God’s power on earth. The pleasure of God will attract the presence of God and the presence of God will cause the release of the power of God.
So, the Lord is saying 2023 is a year to focus on reformation by returning to the Word. It is a year to return to witness the presence and power of God by returning to do His pleasure.
LESSONS FROM THE 23RD CHAPTERS OF THE BIBLE
The 23rd chapters of the Bible indicate that the 23rd season is ripe time to confront for change. 2023 is clean-up year around the world.Josiah began his sweeping reforms in Second Kings 23.Jeremiah spoke against the shepherds of Israel (religious leaders) in Jeremiah 23.In Ezekiel 23 is the prophet’s declarations against Israel and Judah (Oholah and Oholiba).Jesus denounced the religious leaders of His day in Matthew 23. What the Bible records in the above 23rd chapters of the Bible is a prophetic pattern for what He wants done in 2023. God wants action towards change.
PULLING DOWN AND BUILDING
Reformation is about pulling down and building up. Isaiah was a prophet of reformation. Isaiah was a prophet of reformation. The 23rd book of the Bible gives us a picture of what reformation involves. The first part is pulling down the wrong thing. (Isaiah 1-39). The second part is restoring and establishing the real thing. Reformation is about pulling down the evil and establishing the good. It is about confrontation on one hand and restoration on the other hand. We cannot afford to have one without the other. Casting out without restoring what should be is a waste of time. Restoring what should be without pulling down just won’t work. The 23rd book of the Bible records the fall of the mighty and proud beginning with Uzziah. We need reformation that touches the church, family, government and business.
LESSONS FROM JOSIAH, KING OF JUDAH
What King Josiah did in 2 Kings 23 is a good illustration of how to carry out a reformation.
1. He had the Law read to him. He first went through a personal change.
2. He gathered the people together and they came.
3. He read the word of God to them. The word of God was the instrument of reformation.
4. He challenged and led them to make a covenant with God.
5. He dismantled things and people in the land that were offensive to God.
6. He led the people to observe an exceptional Passover as Moses commanded.Reformation begins with the individual, extends to the people around and then hits the wider society.
IT IS SPIRITUAL WARFARE
Reformation is spiritual warfare. It is as tough as swimming against the tide. We need preparation of the whole man for this season. Agents of reformation are enemies of those who do not want the status quo to change. So, they are satan’s targets. The enemy wants them destroyed or weakened and hell will go any length to fight against reformation and the agents.
In Genesis 23, Abraham was attacked through the death of Sarah.
In 2 Samuel 23, Saul wanted to eliminate David. People were ready to betray David.
Josiah died in a battle he shouldn’t have fought in Second Kings 23.
The spirit of death rose against Hezekiah in the 23rd book of the Bible.
In Luke 23, the religious leaders of the Jews moved for the crucifixion of Jesus.
In Acts 23, the Jews wanted to kill Paul.
OUR STRENGTH IS IN GOD
Psalm 23 shows what God’s peopleshould think and say daily. Psalm 23 is the reformers’ Psalm. 2023 is also a Psalm 23 year for those standing for God. The Lord must be the strength and backbone of a reformation generation in 2023. They can count on the Lord for protection, provision and preservation. The presence of God and consciousness of it is the strength of agents of reformation. Preparation for warfare is very necessary in this season. Second Samuel 23 tells us about David’s mighty men and shows the kind of preparedness we need in this season. May the Lord give us mighty men and also help us to raise mighty men in this season.
PARTNERING WITH THE NEXT GENERATION
Revivals are always in danger of losing power. It is important to think of, and plan for, the future of any reformation effort. Josiah’s reformation did not outlive him. It died with him. His sons and successors could not continue the good work. They were a disappointment. The sons of Josiah are the subject of Jeremiah’s admonition in Jeremiah 22.
Jeremiah 22:11-19 says, “For thus says the LORD concerning Shallum the son of Josiah, king of Judah, who reigned instead of Josiah his father, who went from this place: “He shall not return here anymore, [12] but he shall die in the place where they have led him captive, and shall see this land no more. [13] “Woe to him who builds his house by unrighteousness And his chambers by injustice, Who uses his neighbor’s service without wages And gives him nothing for his work, [14] Who says, ‘I will build myself a wide house with spacious chambers, And cut out windows for it, Paneling it with cedar And painting it with vermilion.’ [15] “Shall you reign because you enclose yourself in cedar? Did not your father eat and drink, And do justice and righteousness? Then it was well with him. [16] He judged the cause of the poor and needy; Then it was well. Was not this knowing Me?” says the LORD. [17] “Yet your eyes and your heart are for nothing but your covetousness, For shedding innocent blood, And practicing oppression and violence.” [18] Therefore thus says the LORD concerning Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah: “They shall not lament for him, Saying, ‘Alas, my brother!’ or ‘Alas, my sister!’ They shall not lament for him, Saying, ‘Alas, master!’ or ‘Alas, his glory!’ [19] He shall be buried with the burial of a donkey, Dragged and cast out beyond the gates of Jerusalem”.
We cannot afford to run without the next generation. We must be intentional about connecting with the younger generation. They are the future!
LESSONS FROM THE UNITED STATES
The 23rd season is for landmark decisions that create changes:
In the 23rd year of the 19th century, the US foreign policy took a new turn with the (Monroe) Doctrine of President James Munroe that drew boundaries prohibiting European nations from meddling with states in the Americas.
The 23rd President of the United States lost re-election bid to the same person he defeated to become President. The 23rd position exposed his weakness.
The 29th President of the United States, Warren G. Harding, died in office in 1923 (the 23rd year of the 20th century). Scandals that followed his death revealed his hypocritical lifestyle.
Franklin D. Roosevelt became President of the United States within the 23rd seven years of the United States. Change was desperately needed in this season.
The 23rd season is a time of confrontation, correction and change.
PRAYER POINTS FOR 2023
1. Pray that God will raise prophecy-fulfilling revolutionary leaders like Josiah for the church and nations around the world in this season.
2. Pray for the restoration of God’s word its central place in the church. Pray for church leaders to take the people back to the Word of God.
3. Pray that the church will a experience a long lasting reformation from this season
4. Pray for the protection and preservation of leaders who will emerge in this season to do the will of God in this season. Pray against miscarriage of God’s will in this season. Pray protection over frontline and out-spoken Christian leaders in this season.
5. Pray that God will stir the hearts of people to gather around leaders of reformation in this season as with Josiah in Second Kings 23 and as with David as his mighty men in Second Samuel 23.
6. Pray that 2023 will be a year of experiencing Psalm 23 in the church and the nations.
7. Pray that the mercy of God will push back the hand of judgment stretched against our world in this season.
8. Pray, in this season, for the global release of Isaiah-type multifaceted prophetic mantle that touches religion and politics upon the church. This is also the Elijah anointing that released for change or judgment.
9. Pray for an inter-generational move of God that will impact both the older generation and the younger generation – fathers and sons and mothers and daughters. extends to the people around and then hits the wider society.
