As we finish shortly the biblical year 5779 and the decade of ‘Ayin’ (note: on the evening of 29'th of September 2019), which leads us to enter as God's people into the biblical year 5780, that opens a new decade, I would like to address the meaning of the transition as well as the associated challenge.
This message is based on a teaching by Lance Wallnau with the title ‘How to Keep from Sabotaging Your Own Transition’.
The Challenge of Transition
One of the challenges of transition is to understand how to leave one phase or stage of life and enter the next. Jesus was also tested in the desert as He went into His ministry and more intensely in Gethsemane before giving His life for the sake of humankind on the cross.
It should be noted that one is very vulnerable in strategic times of transition.
If you are in times of transition, it is advisable to ask yourself the following questions:
In which facet of my God-given identity, in that I have never walked before, should I now walk?
What is the task I have to do that I have never done before?
And the last questions lead to the point with regard in which facet and how God appears in this context.
Who will be God to me in this time who He has never been to me before?
It should be noted that one is very vulnerable in strategic times of transition.
If you are in times of transition, it is advisable to ask yourself the following questions:
In which facet of my God-given identity, in that I have never walked before, should I now walk?
What is the task I have to do that I have never done before?
And the last questions lead to the point with regard in which facet and how God appears in this context.
Who will be God to me in this time who He has never been to me before?
To which aspect(s) of God should one relate?
To answer these questions, the following points should assist us:
1. You should get to know parts of yourself that have never been developed before.
The moment you enter a transition, in which the phase of life changes, you should appear in a new way. This means that you should include everything you have ever learned and done. In this way one trains new ‘muscles’ (in the sense of empowerment), a new consciousness and explores new areas.
The moment you enter a transition, in which the phase of life changes, you should appear in a new way. This means that you should include everything you have ever learned and done. In this way one trains new ‘muscles’ (in the sense of empowerment), a new consciousness and explores new areas.
This process is the expansion of one's own authentic self. It is the God-given identity on a whole new level.
In addition, one goes to a new place where one has never been before. Therefore, during a transition, one cannot fail to feel challenged inwardly.
2. Furthermore, it is necessary to face the resistance of the spiritual forces in the midst of the transition. When entering the time of transition, the spiritual world will not fail to try to use old patterns against you in order to lock you up or block you. It is similar to the people of Israel, where the older generation tried to enter the Promised Land. There was a very real distinction between their whereabouts and the place of their destined Promised Land by God. Only after the people of Israel had completed the change (note: of leadership and generation) a new beginning was to arise.
What was it that prevented this transition?
It was the old habits that did not die in the desert!
What was waiting for them?
A land of prophetic promises, their Promised Land.
How does the devil try to keep believers in Christ from the transition?
He does this by activating external resistance from some source directed toward his evil intent. This could be political, legal, or even occult. But this is not an easy option for the adversary and requires a lot of resources. It is Satan's preferred goal that one disqualifies oneself. He will direct his arrows personally at you. He uses against you your own history, your old patterns, your old fears and your old sinful nature.
And in addition, it is precisely at such times of transition that it happens that people come across you who should be avoided in these phases.
Jesus warned His disciples ‘to watch’. This word ‘to watch’ means to observe what is coming out in us and also what is developing around us in our environment.
Jesus is full of mercy with us in our time of battle. This is the reason why He instructed His disciples to pray; for ‘the spirit is willing and the flesh is weak’. (see Matthew 26:41).
Matthew 26:41:
41 “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
And in addition, it is precisely at such times of transition that it happens that people come across you who should be avoided in these phases.
Jesus warned His disciples ‘to watch’. This word ‘to watch’ means to observe what is coming out in us and also what is developing around us in our environment.
Jesus is full of mercy with us in our time of battle. This is the reason why He instructed His disciples to pray; for ‘the spirit is willing and the flesh is weak’. (see Matthew 26:41).
Matthew 26:41:
41 “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
This statement of Jesus can also be translated as: ‘Your spirit man wants to do the right thing but your emotions and untrained senses overwhelm your mind.
Your natural man is weak. If you neglect to pray (note: to have true fellowship with the Heavenly Father), you will be anxious and intimidated, which leads you to want to run away from the circumstances.’
Therefore, it is wise not to be hindered by anything that concerns transition! Here the observation of what is happening in you personally and what is going on in your own environment has an important meaning.
Because of this one should ask oneself the following questions personally:
Am I going into a new phase?
What tactics does the adversary use to keep me away from my promise?
What words of the Lord do I rely on to maintain my victory?
You may not have been clearly aware of the issue of transition until now, but now it is important to be open to the meaning of the time of transition.
Amen and Amen.
