In this year of new beginnings, the Lord reminded me this morning during prayer of the revelation He gave me out of Jeremiah 1:10-12.  

NKJV Version

9Then the LORD put forth His hand and touched my mouth, and the LORD said to me: “Behold, I have put My words in your mouth.  10See, I have this day set you over the nations and over the kingdoms, To root out and to pull down,
To destroy and to throw down, To build and to plant.”
11Moreover the word of the LORD came to me, saying, “Jeremiah, what do you see?” And I said, “I see a branch of an almond tree.”
12Then the LORD said to me, “You have seen well, for I am ready to perform My word.”   

We see in verse 10, God was explaining to Jeremiah how He was going to use him to execute His judgment on the earth. Before there can ever be a building or planting, there must be an uprooting by God. We see this everyday on a construction site. Before the new carpet is laid and lumber is connected together to make a frame, the trucks are turning over dirt to expose the things that are hidden that will cause harm or future damage to the new building.  In verse 11, the question to Jeremiah was a very powerful one but also important. Here he saw an almond tree that blossomed while the other trees were dormant. The word tree in the Hebrew means (to wake, watch, to keep watch of, be alert). The meaning of this was that God was ready to release or perform His word of judgment on Israel. God told Jeremiah, you have seen well. The judgment of God has blossomed. Judgment means in the Hebrew (to judge, govern, vindicate, punish, to rule, to act as law-giver, to decide controversy of man, avenged, defend). You see, just like the almond tree blossoming before it’s time, God’s judgment has come at a time when the people have not expected. In our natural minds we say, “God won’t judge now, it’s a time of blessing”.

This is why the question to Jeremiah was important because as a prophet of God, He could not be detoured by the opinions of others because of their deafness and blindness to word of God. So God had to test him. God was also saying here that not only do I want you to see that this almond tree has blossomed but I want you to see and know the timing. I am ready says God to perform my word. Jeremiah couldn’t let anyone tell him that God was going to do this at another time, why, because he saw it with his own eyes. As we go through this year, we are going to see God performing His word. God does not want us to be afraid. These things must take place. Remember Psalm 91:7-8 says: 

NKJV Version

7 A thousand may fall at your side, And ten thousand at your right hand; But it shall not come near you. 8 Only with your eyes shall you look, And see the reward of the wicked.  

This year is not only the beginning of the abundance of wealth, prosperity, and blessings but also the year that God shall exalt one (ministries, business, people, etc…) and bring another down.  

James 4:10 NAS

Humble yourselves in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt you. Isaiah 2:12 NKJV For the day of the LORD of hosts Shall come upon everything proud and lofty, Upon everything lifted up– And it shall be brought low.

God is exalting or raising up those who are humble and bringing low those who are proud. He is also judging everything that has brought harm to his precious possession.  

Zechariah 2:8-9 NKJV Version

8“After a period of glory, the LORD Almighty sent me against the nations who oppressed you. For he said, ‘Anyone who harms you harms my most precious possession. 9I will raise my fist to crush them, and their own slaves will plunder them.’ Then you will know that the LORD Almighty has sent me.”  

He is also giving us the land as an inheritance. Where there has been evil practices going on, God is rooting them out to give us the land. I see by the spirit right now stores, music studios, church buildings, and companies being rooted out because there have been sacrificial worship to many gods.

 Joshua 1:10-11

10Joshua then commanded the leaders of Israel, 11“Go through the camp and tell the people to get their provisions ready. In three days you will cross the Jordan River and take possession of the land (Canaan) the LORD your God has given you.”  Do not be surprised when you see even ministries being rooted out of buildings because of the evil practices not just behind the scenes but also out in the open. I also see secular and christian programs/networks being rooted out.  Especially the christian/church because the bible says in 1 Peter 4:7: NLT

17For the time has come for judgment, and it must begin first among God’s own children. And if even we Christians must be judged, what terrible fate awaits those who have never believed God’s Good News? 

In closing let us stay humble and pray for those who have refused to hear the voice of God, that they may return to the heart of repentance. 

Psalm 51:17

The sacrifice you want is a broken spirit. A broken and repentant heart, O God, you will not despise.

At the end of 2007, the Lord made it very clear to me that His body was not just stepping into a new year with the ritual or traditional New Year’s resolution but a year of beginnings. You must understand that this year, “2008″, is the season that you come in contact with the reality of your dreams. The Lord said that on December 31, 2007, when your clock hit 12 midnight, you crossed over into your realities. This is what was going on in this text. The people of Judah were celebrating their release from Babylonian captivity. For years they were dreaming of freedom, dreaming of laughter, peace, joy, etc…. There was anticipation to seeing the realities of what they were dreaming. Does this sound like you? What were your dreams in 2007? Were you dreaming about your marriage being healed and restored? How about a better relationship with your children? That dream of starting your own company, being financially free, being healthy, walking in the gifts and calling of God for your life, etc…? I can go on and on but I think you get the picture.

The people of Judah were experiencing the reality of their dreams even to the point where it seemed like a dream. In others words they were saying that famous phrase of today, “I can’t believe it”! Well, I’m telling you to believe it! You are not dreaming. This is really happening. You and I have gone years of people saying that it can’t happen, it won’t happen, and awhhhhhhhhh you’re crazy. Well, excuse me while I speak on your behalf and mine to those haters out there who said it couldn’t be done! We are not crazy! Not in the past, present, or future. God loves dreamers. When you dream, you open yourself up to another form of communication with God. It is in this place where He begins to show you that your dreams were His dreams for you since the beginning of time. I encourage you to keep on dreaming because God is waiting to show you more.

If you don’t mind, I would like to share my testimony with you of how I am right now experiencing my realities. One of my dreams was to have my ordination as a Pastor and Prophet (which was already done by God) to be confirmed by those I had submitted myself under. You see, it doesn’t matter what you are called to do, God already ordained you before the foundation of world was established. Religion says that when a preacher lays his/her hands on you, then you are at that moment a pastor, prophet, teacher, evangelist, or apostle but that’s not true. An ordination service is only a confirming or agreement of what God has established.  Religion also says that it should happen at a time I think it should but that is also incorrect. Just as who you were to be on earth was established, the time or season was as well. For anyone to say that you are not this or it’s not time yet, are dead wrong. Let me say this in love to those of you who have said and/or right now still speaking those words. Please stop. When you speak these things to someone out of an impure heart, you are only yielding your instruments (the parts of our bodies) to sin.

Romans 6:12-14 12 Do not let sin control the way you live; do not give in to its lustful desires. 13 Do not let any part of your body become a tool of wickedness, to be used for sinning. Instead, give yourselves completely to God since you have been given new life. And use your whole body as a tool to do what is right for the glory of God. 14 Sin is no longer your master, for you are no longer subject to the law, which enslaves you to sin. Instead, you are free by God’s grace.

When you allow the spirit of religion to control you by using your mouth to speak against what God has already established, you are using your mouth to declare the plans of this spirit into existence. I just felt I needed to share this part. Getting back to my dream, the call for my life was not confirmed by those who I submitted myself under. I share this not to discredit anyone but only to encourage you. When it was time for me to leave that place and come to Ohio, I had no idea of what was ahead of me. For you see, it was here in Columbus, Oh on December 31, 2007 that my pastors Apostle CJ and Lanita Gaul agreed with what God had done in heaven and ordained my wife and I.  Let the realities of your dreams this year flow like a gushing river. When it flows like a gushing river, nothing and I mean nothing can stop it. Enjoy your realities and forgive those who spoke evil against it. Don’t point your finger in pride to say “I told you so”. That’s not the character of God. I hear in my spirit that the realities will speak for itself and it doesn’t matter if they say I’m sorry or not. You and I must walk in love because Psalm 118:23 says: “This is the Lord’s doing, and it is marvelous to see”. This is your season! Amen