"Get in Position"

I learned last week that almost everything in life operates in 7 year cycles. Most Divorces happen between the 6th and 8th year. Seven is the number of completion, or the end of a cycle. I heard someone say that the economy operates in seven year cycles, television sitcoms enjoy about seven years of success before a downswing. Churches even operate in seven year cycles, meaning that though you may have enjoyed great success, if you don't reposition yourself before the end of the seventh year, the Church will hit a point of decline. You can never stand still, you are either positioned for increase or you are in position for decline. As Albert Einstein once said, the definition of insanity is to keep doing the same thing expecting different results.

Luke 19:1-10

Jesus Comes to Zacchaeus' House
Then Jesus entered and passed through Jericho. 2 Now behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus who was a chief tax collector, and he was rich. 3 And he sought to see who Jesus was, but could not because of the crowd, for he was of short stature. 4 So he ran ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see Him, for He was going to pass that way. 5 And when Jesus came to the place, He looked up and saw him, and said to him, "Zacchaeus, make haste and come down, for today I must stay at your house." 6 So he made haste and came down, and received Him joyfully. 7 But when they saw it, they all complained, saying,"He has gone to be a guest with a man who is a sinner."
8 Then Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, "Look, Lord, I give half of my goods to the poor; and if I have taken anything from anyone by false accusation, I restore fourfold."
9 And Jesus said to him, "Today salvation has come to this house, because he also is a son of Abraham; 10 for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost." NKJV

When I used to drive a truck for Pepsi (scary), I learned something very valuable. When you are coming into a turn, you can't wait till you get to the turn to start positioning yourself, you have to plan ahead and begin getting in position before the turn comes lest, you miss your opportunity. Those that fail to do this waste time, energy and resources, and contrary to popular opinion, the opportunity is not guaranteed to come again. Let's look at Zacchaeus to see what we can learn about getting in position for a coming blessing.

* As Bishop Tony has said often, The opportunity of a lifetime must be seized in the lifetime of the opportunity, the opportunity you get today, you may never get again. My desire is that today you will move into position for your moment.

* Zacchaeus was short of stature. Your smallness does not hinder God's ability to release Divine opportunities for increase. Zacchaeus didn't let his present condition keep him from his Destiny position. Through faith and expectation we can climb the tree of Grace to go to a level that is far beyond our present ability. What excuses have you let talk you out of getting position? Is it a lack of resources? Is it a lack of personal capacity? Have you let your present stature talk you out of a future opportunity? Consider the ant that though it is small in stature it can carry something of much greater weight.

* Zacchaeus had the ability to see a coming blessing (foresight) and the diligence to get in position for a future blessing. I call this being dressed for where you are going. It would be like you being dressed for a wedding, but you stop by the post office. You feel the need to explain why you are dressed in a tuxedo to the guy standing behind you in line. Why? Because you look foolish in your present because you are dressed for where you are going. Naomi told Ruth go down to the threshing floor and sit at Boaz feet until he tells you what to do next.

Ruth 3:1-4
Then Naomi her mother-in-law said to her, "My daughter, shall I not seek security for you, that it may be well with you? 2 Now Boaz, whose young women you were with, is he not our relative? In fact, he is winnowing barley tonight at the threshing floor. 3 Therefore wash yourself and anoint yourself, put on your best garment and go down to the threshing floor; but do not make yourself known to the man until he has finished eating and drinking. 4 Then it shall be, when he lies down, that you shall notice the place where he lies; and you shall go in, uncover his feet, and lie down; and he will tell you what you should do." NKJV

* Some of us need to wash ourselves of the past so that when we meet our Destiny moment, we won't meet our opportunity looking like what we have been through. Though we are not in that situation (abuse, addiction, sin) we still wear the residue of it (iniquity). Naomi told Ruth, you have been a beggar but you are about to meet your Boaz (Redemption). If you will get in position, Your Redeemer will tell you what to do next.

* While the world moves at the speed of light, the Church moves at a snail’s pace, although we are the ones who claim to be prophetic. Yet we are always a nickel short and a day late.

* You have to have confidence in your gifts, confidence in your God, confidence in your anointing.
You have to know when you walk into a room that they will be blessed because you are there.
You have to leave the interview knowing that I don’t need them, they need me. You have to understand that you are blessed, blessed are you when you come in… You have to know that that company is better off for hiring you.

Lastly, if there is a new company that is opening next year with 10,000 jobs with the lowest hourly wage at $25, you can't wait till next year, you have to get in position now.

* Go back to school, get that degree, eliminate that debt, invest in that stock...

Here is a prophetic word the Lord gave me today. Even as life operates in cycles, the economy is in a downward spiral cycle but for those who will get in position now, there will come seven years (a cycle) of tremendous prosperity. For those who have invested in real estate, I heard the Lord say buy the field, for there shall be a divine reversal! I see a time of great prosperity coming to those who are in position now, to those who have not watched the wind, but they have casts their bread on the water, it shall return in not many days. Boaz is coming, and even as Jacob's heart was revived when he saw Joseph (the promise), many will be revived because they shall see the thing that they thought was dead. Even as a the wind of the spirit came from the four corners of the earth and revived the dry bones, so shall my spirit blow across the land and what was once dead and scattered shall be revived into a army of God's great power.

The future president will not be the solution says the Lord, in fact he will be overwhelmed by the state of the economy and the beginning of new wars, but my Church shall rise even as the dry bones, and the marketplace that has been invaded by light, shall see a great uprising of righteousness and truth. Wherever the face of religion is represented there is a strong stronghold of poverty, but I will reveal my remnant and they will see the release of the wealth of the wicked into their hands.

Are you in position for a future blessing? Or are you watching the sign of the times, waiting to react? What can you do now, to climb your tree so that when it comes, it will bypass the crowd to come to your house?

Blessings,
Craig