Get ready to step into a new season.
September 13-15 marked the beginning of a new year on the Jewish calendar (5776). While nowadays we use the Greco-Roman calendar system, I feel the Jewish calendar has prophetic significance, and I always sense something stirring in the spirit around this time of year.
Usually coinciding with Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement), September is also a significant month for me personally: It’s when I got married to the love of my life, when I was ordained and when I received a prophetic dream to move to Los Angeles.
This Jewish New Year is extra special because it is the Year of Jubilee. On the Jewish calendar, years are observed in seven-year cycles, with a sabbatical year on the seventh year. Then at the culmination of every seven cycles (a total of 49 years) comes the 50th year: the Year of Jubilee, when all agricultural work ceased, all land was returned to its original owner and all slaves were released into freedom! (See Leviticus 25:8-24.)
God wants to unload His immeasurable blessings on you in this New Year!
If you want to walk in the fullness of what God is doing, you must partner with His prophetic plan both for the church as a whole and for your own journey of faith.
On Tuesday, I shared the first two tests you must overcome to see your prophetic dream come to pass as you pursue your God-given destiny. Today let’s take a look at the next three:
3. The Purity Test. In Genesis 39 the story of Joseph continues as he faced a test that every person has to go through: the purity test.
“Now Joseph was well-built and handsome, and after a while his master’s wife took notice of Joseph and said, ‘Come to bed with me!’ But he refused” (Gen. 39:6-8).
Joseph passed the purity test with flying colors. What was his secret? He had the right perspective that was aligned with the fear of the Lord: “How then could I do such a wicked thing and sin against God?” (Gen. 39:9).
If you want God’s blessing and favor, you must flee from immorality—and run straight to the Lord!
4. The Prison Test. The next phase of Joseph’s journey was another test of character. After being falsely accused of rape, Joseph was sent to the king’s prison (Gen. 39:17-20). There he was sustained by the Lord as he kept his heart from bitterness due to injustice.
To overcome the prison test, you must persevere and hold onto hope that is anchored in God. Perseverance means fighting the battle while you are waiting.
Perseverance produces character (Rom. 5:3-5), and character is the key to supporting your destiny. Deep character comes through deep trials.
5. The Prosperity Test. Finally, through a series of God-orchestrated events—including extraordinary prophetic insight that came through the interpretation of dreams (Gen. 40-41)—Joseph came into a place of power and influence as his prophetic destiny unraveled (Gen. 40:38-44).
The final test boils down to how you handle prosperity and favor when it’s given to you. It’s not just about reaching your destiny but what you do with your destiny.
When God prospers you, it’s your responsibility to intentionally give Him all the glory.
Joseph’s story is a tale of trials and testing, but it’s also a testimony of God’s faithfulness to complete the work He started.
God has a dream for you! His thoughts for you are higher than yours, and you are called to greatness in His Kingdom! {eoa}
Ché Ahn and his wife, Sue, are the Founding Pastors of HRock Church in Pasadena, California. Ché serves as the Founder and President of Harvest International Ministry (HIM) and the International Chancellor of Wagner Leadership Institute (WLI). With a Master of Divinity and Doctor of Ministry from Fuller Theological Seminary, he has played a key role in many strategic outreaches on local, national and international levels. He has written more than a dozen books and travels extensively throughout the world, bringing apostolic insight with an impartation of renewal, healing and evangelism.
For the original article, visit hrockchurch.com.
