Bible Passage(s): Joel 2: 18 – 32
Memory Verse:    ” Then the Lord said, “I have seen the affliction of my people who are in Egypt, and have heard their cry because of their taskmasters; I know their sufferings, and I have come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians, and to bring them up out of that land to a good and broad land, a land flowing with milk and honey, to the place of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Per′izzites, the Hivites, and the Jeb′usites.” Exodus 3: 7 – 9

(This message is an adaptation of David Hathaway’s article, “O, God – Show Yourself” in the Prophetic Vision Magazine, Winter 2019 Edition)
“In Exodus 3, the Angel of the Lord appeared to Moses in a flame of fire. Moses turned aside to see why the bush was not burned, and when he did, the Lord called him by name – and Moses replied, “Here I am.” There comes a time when the Lord wants you and me to answer, “Here I am!”

Then God says to Moses, “I have seen the affliction of My people in Egypt and I have heard their cry! I know their sorrows! I am come down to deliver!” – That is the Glory of God! Whether we see God, whether we realise the Power that He has, God IS here! Whatever the sin of the people, whatever the suffering, God IS here – in Power! Despite the unbelief and sin – God has NOT forsaken His people! God will NEVER leave you, whatever your circumstances, however great the battle – God IS ALREADY here!

You will ask, like Moses did, “God, who am I, that I should go to Pharaoh and bring my people out of Egypt?!!” God does not speak about Moses’ strength or power to do the job. All He says to Moses is, “I will be with you! Do it! I am with you!” And I have this same message in my spirit for you in this year 2020 – God says, “DO IT! I’m with you!” Against all your doubts, all your fears, if God is here, who else, what else do we need?!

But Moses continues, “When I go to my people and tell them, the God of your fathers has sent me, they will say, ‘Tell us His Name’ – what shall I say?” The only answer God gives: “I AM.” That means – He’s EVERYTHING. The God of the past, the present and the future. The Living God. It means, whatever He has done in the past, He can do it again! This year God is about to do a New thing in your life.

In Joel 2 we have a strong promise of the former and the latter rain. God says, “I will send the first rain. It will be moderate, limited. And I will send you the last rain – WITHOUT LIMIT!” We have seen the first rain, we have seen what God has done. But that is only the beginning. God is about to release His Power, His Glory – greater than the first time! Because the world must understand who God is! I believe we are living in this time now, when God will release His Power, greater than has ever been seen in the past. The challenge to us is that we must live to see the fulfilment of Joel’s prophecy!

But where is the blessing of God today? It’s on the suffering Church all over the World. God is visiting the suffering Church. When I think about Nigeria, is it that God has to bring suffering? Is it the only thing He can use to bring His Glory back into Nigeria? Through persecution and suffering? Because as God said to Moses, “I have seen the suffering of my people, and I am come down to deliver!” But Moses argued, “The people won’t believe me, they’ll say You haven’t shown Yourself to me.” And God said, “Moses, what is it you have in your hand?” He was a shepherd, he had the shepherd’s staff in his hand. God said, “Throw it on the ground.” Immediately it became a serpent. Then God says, “Reach out your hand and take it by the tail!” If you are going to kill a snake, you don’t take it by its tail! What a challenge to us as Christians! We have to deal with the enemy, with sin – with such Power and Authority – that we can take it by the tail, and it will not harm us!

I have seen this Power of God many times. And yet I must tell you, I still don’t understand how great God is, how much Power He has… UNLIMITED POWER… From nothing He could create the heavens and the earth. From the dust of the earth, He created man. If God can do all this, HIS POWER IS SO UNLIMITED, SO GREAT – that nothing, absolutely nothing is impossible to God. It’s a lifetime’s adventure – it will take eternity – to understand who God really is – greater than the universe, faster than light, expanding WITHOUT LIMIT…

God is saying to us as He said to Moses, “I have come down. I am here! I AM!” In the New Testament God became flesh in the Person of Jesus Christ – Emmanuel, God WITH us! God is IN you, Christ is IN you, IN me! But we have to translate that knowledge – into action!

Hebrews 11 says that without faith it’s impossible to please God. Just think. Unless I put implicit faith and trust in Him, I cannot please Him. What is faith? Faith is the action! Put your faith into action. Go out and do it!” That’s what God said to Moses, “What have you got in your hand? Throw it down, and you will see the Power of God!”

I challenge you this year. What’s in your hand? What do you have? Throw it on the ground – let God demonstrate His Power! And God WILL demonstrate His Power through you! But we’ve got to have the faith to believe it’s going to happen! Act on it! So often our faith is weak. In Matthew 17, when Jesus was on the Mount of Transfiguration, the disciples were down in the valley praying over a sick boy and couldn’t heal him. Why? Jesus rebuked them for their lack of faith, “This kind only comes out with prayer and fasting. BUT, if you have faith, you will SPEAK to this mountain and COMMAND it and it WILL move.” If you will speak with faith in your heart, what you believe will happen!”

We have Authority WITH God. But we have to KNOW the Authority we have! Jesus said, every demon will bow down at the Name of Jesus. We have more Power, more Authority than we realise – over sickness, disease, over every opposition in this world. And, if you have the faith to believe, I declare – YOU are the generation who will see MORE – THE UNLIMITED POWER AND GLORY OF GOD – signs and wonders will follow you – GOD WILL DO WHAT YOU SAY!

Therefore I charge you this year; walk in fullness of the authority that you have in Christ Jesus and experience the UNLIMITED power of God in your Life, Family, Ministry and Business and also in your country. Whatever the situation confronting you, this is the year that you will experience the Unlimited Power of God in all ramifications. Go with faith and use that which God has placed into your hand!

May the Lord bless and keep you. May He make His face to shine upon you and be gracious unto you. May the Lord lift up His countenance upon you and give you peace, now and forevermore. Amen.

Prayer Points for the Year 2020
1. Thank the Lord for making you to cross over safely into the year 2020. It is indeed His doing and it is marvellous in our eyes. Many of us travelled extensively this past year, on the roads, in the air, on the seas and even on the rails and the Lord kept us safe. In spite of the perils, kidnappings, terrorists and ritualists. Sing praises to Him and adore His Holy name.

2. Reflect over year 2019 and recount His many blessings in your life. Year 2019 was our year of Harvest. The Lord kept His Word and did even much more. Why don’t you list all He did for you and thank Him for each of them.

3. Place your journey this year before the Lord and pray that He will fulfil His Words for your life; fullness of the authority that you have in Christ Jesus and you will experience the UNLIMITED power of God in your life, family, Ministry, Business and in your country.

4. Pray for God will demonstrate His Power through you this year and that He will give you faith to believe it’s going to happen.

This year, the Unlimited Power of God will manifest in your life. You will grow in faith and go from glory to glory to fulfil the counsel of God for your life. Nothing that you set your mind upon to do will be impossible for you in Jesus mighty name.