This is my season for breakthrough…to reap what I have sown…

I just love the song that has that line. It is something we often say in charismatic circles. Very often I have heard someone declare that they are entering into their new season. Yet can we honestly say that we are really ready for our new season? So many of us want the change, the release of what God has for us in the new season but we are unwilling to go through the process.

When we look for an example of how to enter your new season and truly take hold of all that has released we can look to the life of Joseph. One day he was called to have an audience with Pharaoh; the ruling king of Egypt. Joseph so impressed Pharaoh with his wisdom, strategic thinking, strategic planning and stately manner that this young man from a race that the Egyptians despised was immediately promoted to the second highest position of authority and power in the entire nation.

Wow! Talk about the ‘suddenly of God’! Wouldn’t you just love that?

I wish we could all have these moments. God should be like former talk show host Oprah, just handing out sudden moments. “You get a sudden moment! You get a sudden moment! Everyone gets a sudden moment!” That would be so awesome.

If we truly want to understand this sudden moment we must examine all of Joseph’s life. He did not have a sudden moment. What happened in that fateful meeting with the king of Egypt was the result of being prepared for many years by God.

Joseph was born a prince. His father was wealthy. His elder brothers were rebellious at times. Not Joseph. He was a good son. Not only was he handsome. He was also a reminder of the deep love Jacob had for Rachel. So his father favored him above his brethren. And so did God.

One night God showed him that he was destined to rule over all his brothers. A right reserved for the first-born. Not the second youngest son. He was rash and innocent, so he told the dream to his brothers and parents. That created intense jealousy by his brothers.

Without warning they attacked him with the intention to kill him. One of his brothers begged them not to kill him. They reconsidered. Dumped him into a pit. Retrieved him and sold him to the first band of slavers who passed by. They would not kill him but perhaps the slavers would do that. Thankfully they kept him alive and sold him to a powerful military leader in Egypt. This man was the captain of the armies of Egypt. A high ranking general.

He who had servants now was a servant. He had no voice. No one to testify on his behalf. No one to come to his aid. He suffered alone in silence. Many nights he wept at the tragedy that had happened to him. I am sure he wondered how could God have allowed this? Why give him a dream about a glorious future. One that caused his brothers to hate him so much that they were willing to destroy his life? Why? Why?

What I love about the story of Joseph is his refusal to be broken. He refused to allow the situation to break his will. No matter what happened he maintained hope that the God who showed kindness to his grandfather and father would one day deliver him. One day God would fulfill his promise.

Your Attitude Determines Your Altitude

Joseph recognized that he had no control over the situation. The only thing he could control was his response. His attitude. He could either be bitter, accept death and rebel or forgive and maintain hope in the promise of God. I am so thankful he chose the latter options. That choice empowered him to work with a spirit of excellence-to perform at his very best.

I am sure Joseph prayed several times to God to be delivered. Yet God did not answer. God was not through dealing with Joseph’s character. He still had a long way to go.

Things did not get better. It got worse. His master’s wife falsely accused him of sexually assault. His master was furious and sentenced him to death. He was thrown into the worse and deepest prison for offenders. His reputation was now completely destroyed.

how do you recover from that?

You would think that all was lost. Nope! This was the moment God was waiting for. This was the final test of Joseph’s character. He had the good looks, he had the skills but did he have the right heart? Would he still serve others, would he give of his very best regardless of how hopeless everything seemed? Joseph passed with flying colors. Once again Joseph demonstrated the purity of his heart and an uncanny ability to perform exceptionally well in the most dire of situations.

At this point God knew he was ready to rule. Notice what God did next. He set the stage for Joseph’s talents, his gifts, to grant him and audience with the King. God gave two fellow prisoners a dream about their fate. And equipped Joseph with the ability to interpret them. That was the seed necessary for the meeting. The men forgot about Joseph when they were removed from he prison. One was killed and the other restored to his position as the chief cupbearer for the King. The cupbearer was happy for the turn of events in his life and completely forgot about Joseph. Well until God intervened once again. He gave Pharaoh two terrifying dreams. Pharaoh was deeply troubled by the dreams and wanted an interpretation. All the myriad of soothsayers, astrologists, physics, wizards, warlocks and practitioners of the mystic arts, as well as learned scholars could not interpret the dream. It was then that the chief cupbearer remembered Joseph and informed Pharaoh of what he had done.

When Joseph was called to have an audience with the king He left nothing to chance. Joseph prepared himself. He changed his appearance to be acceptable to the King. When the King told Joseph his dream, he demonstrated an unmatched ability to interpret dreams with God’s help. he also displayed the wisdom of a statesman. An ability to think strategically to resolve the impending crisis revealed by the dream. God was giving seven years of abundance. Immediately after that period of plenty a famine would follow. Its impact would be so severe that it would wipe out the previous years of prosperity. This wasn’t going to be a swift crisis. It would last for seven years. Egypt and all other nations in that region would be affected.

Just as calmly as he interpreted the dream Joseph outlined a strategy that would alleviate the national and international suffering. Pharaoh being a good leader was quick to immediately appoint him as the deputy leader of the nation. That gave him the ability to move quickly to prepare for what was to come.

Be Prepared At All Times

My brother. My sister. Let please take a page from the book of Joseph’s life.

1. Know that before God elevates you, he will process you. God wants your character to reflect his nature. The process is also meant to remind you that without God you can do nothing.
2. God is not in a hurry to elevate you. He will take his time with the process. The world tells you that it must be done now! Not God. He is patient. He never rushes his process. God took 15 years before he set Joseph in that high place of authority. He did a similar thing for David. Let’s not mention Moses. He was refined for 80 years. Abraham 25 years. I am sure you are seeing the picture now. Be patient. God’s timing is perfect.
3. Prepare while you are waiting on God’s promise to be fulfilled. Be busy preparing. Do not waste the time.
4. Cultivate an excellent spirit. Seek wisdom, knowledge and understanding. Become highly skilled (an expert) in your area.
5. Love and serve others. God will use people to take you to your final destiny.

Let God mold and perfect your gifts. Let him refine your character. Your excellent gifts may grant you an audience with rulers (Proverbs 18:16). However, it is your character that will keep you in that illustrious company.

Be prepared. Be prepared. Your suddenly will arrive!

Selah

Psalm 105:16-19

When he summoned a famine on the land and broke all supply of bread, he had sent a man ahead of them, Joseph, who was sold as a slave. His feet were hurt with fetters; his neck was put in a collar of iron; until what he had said came to pass, the word of the Lord tested him.

Psalm 66:10 

For You, O God, have tested us; You have refined us like silver.

P.S. Please read Genesis 37, 39-50 and Deuteronomy. These are excellent scriptures to help you breakthrough into an abundance mindset. The books of Nehemiah and Ezra are also very useful for preparing for your new season. If you have any other verses or books that have been very helpful to you please share in the comments.