KWASIZABANTU MINISTERS' CONFERENCE 2003

5 March 2003

"Go forth, understanding the times and the seasons" - Dr Isak Burger

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We must be good stewards of God's time and resources. There are seasons more favourable for planting than others. In 2 Timothy, Paul urges Timothy to do his utmost to come before winter, because he knew that his time of departure was at hand and that they might never see one another again in this world, unless he came before winter. So too God gives us certain opportunities, and if we do not take advantage of them, they might be lost forever. A farmer who spends all his time, money, resources and strength on less fertile soil, and at the wrong time of the year, will surely come to want. This principle applies spiritually as well.

In Gal 4:4 we read that, "when the fullness of the time was come, God sent forth His Son ...". What does this mean? It was the most opportune time for Jesus to come to earth in history. It was a very stable time, as the Romans ruled the whole known world. One could easily travel from country to country. There was one universal language understood by most people, Greek. Almost every city had a Jewish synagogue, which was a good starting point for Christianity.

Compare also Noah and Jonah. Noah, the preacher of righteousness, preached for years and only his family responded and was saved. Jonah preached one sermon unwillingly, and the whole city of Nineveh repented. The time was ripe and the soil fertile to receive God's Word.

Even Jesus did not receive the same response wherever He preached. The Samaritans responded to His words, whereas Israel missed the opportunity. In Luke 19:44 Jesus cries for Jerusalem because she did not "know the time of her visitation". It is the same today. We must be sensitive and see the high potential areas and labour there firstly.

However, God is able to turn a low-potential area into a high-potential area through His children. If God's people are one, and seek God's face with fervent prayer, He will prepare the soil and change the harvest, so that much fruit can be harvested.