IT’S A NEW SEASON – PART TWO (2): DR. MENSAH OTABIL – 16TH AUGUST, 2020

ONLINE SUNDAY SERVICE MESSAGE BY DR. MENSAH OTABIL (GENERAL OVERSEER INTERNATIONAL CENTRAL GOSPEL CHURCH (ICGC) ACCRA, GHANA)

TOPIC: IT’S A NEW SEASON – PART TWO (2)

DATE: 16TH AUGUST, 2020

TEXT: EXODUS 5:20-23; EXODUS 15:22-25 AND NUMBERS 14:2-3

I am going to continue the Message I started last week, when I titled the Message “IT’S A NEW SEASON.”

DMC NOTES: YOU CAN ACCESS THE FULL TEXT OF THE PART 1 OF THIS SERIES ON THIS LINK:

https://discoverymediacrew.com/Its-A-New-Season-Dr-Mensal-Otabil

And we talked about the sons of Issachar, who had understanding of the Times and knew what Israel ought to do.

And today I am doing PART TWO (2) of: IT’S A NEW SEASON.

When we say a New Season, obviously, it means there is an Old one.

So anytime we talk about the New Season, we are referencing a Change in Seasons.

And when there is a Change in Season, there must of necessity, be a Change in ATTITUDE.

One of my memories as a child, was in Primary School – When I was in Middle School; in those days, one of the Prized Possession for the Boys and Girls was to become a ‘Bell Boy’ or on rare occasions a ‘Bell Girl’.

But mostly, it was a job given to the Boys.

And this was a Pupil who would go and ring the School Bell at certain times, to indicate a Change in the School Period.

And normally when there was a Change in the School Period, they would go round and ring the Bell.

And usually when they rang the Bell, they would announced: “Change Lesson Please!

It simply means: When that happened, the Teacher would move from the Subject he or she is teaching, to the next Subject.

And one of the things that happens when there was a Change of Lesson – When the Bell is rung was that the Teacher move from one Subject to the other.

The first (1st) thing the Teacher would do, is to CLEAN everything that is on the Blackboard. Everything that the Teacher wrote from the Previous Lesson is wiped out from the Blackboard, and a New Lesson is about to be taught.

I believed that our world is the Place where a “Changed Lesson” is taking Place. And the Blackboard or Whiteboard, or whatever board is been WIPED OUT.

And some New Things are about to be written.

Some New Attitudes must be learned and we have to learn them, in order to function effectively in this New Season that we have entered in.

Our World’s Blackboard is being CLEANED. Our world is going through some Major Changes: and what you learned yesterday may not be valuable today.

As a matter of fact, what should be an advantage to in the Previous Season may not be an advantage to you in a New Season.

When we were in High School, we sometimes move from the classroom to the Sports Field for Physical Education.

So, you may have been very Good in Mathematics but when the Season Change and you have to go and Play Football or run around the School field; you may be a very Poor Student in that.

So, one time you are exceptionally Good, another time you find yourself becoming a Liability!

So, in a New Season, something similar happens: One moment you are at the Top of your game, another moment, you are finding yourself struggling to catch up!

And so, we are going to look at some things in the Bible; to help us to bring this understanding to focus.

When Seasons Change, what used to work “FOR” you, could work “AGAINST” you!

… That is the difficult thing about a Change in Season.

What used to work for you, what used to be your Strong Point, may actually turn out becoming your weakest.

And so, as we are excited about a Change in Season, we also must be Mindful about this – We make the right adjustment that God wants us to make.

So, we will look at Israel, and how they related to God. And I am going to Present: THREE (3) CASES of their relationship with God.

And we are going to draw some Conclusions and then we learn some Lessons.

… We are going to look at:

1. How Israel related to God – WHEN GOD WAS DELIVERING THEM FROM EGYPT.
2. Then we are going to look at How they related to God, WHEN GOD HAD JUST BROUGHT THEM FROM EGYPT INTO THE WILDERNESS.
3. Then we are going to look thirdly, at: how they related to God, WHEN GOD WAS PREPARING THEM TO ENTER INTO THE PROMISED LAND.

… And then some interesting things that I want you to Pay attention to.

So, let’s start with the first one;

1. WHEN GOD WAS DELIVERING THEM FROM EGYPT.

And the Passage I am going to read is from Exodus 5:20-23.

And this happens when Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and demands that he let the People go.

And Pharaoh is so annoyed, he is so incensed; that he intensifies the affliction of the People.

So naturally, the Israelites were very upset with Moses and with God because now they are suffering worse than before.

And so they approached Moses and Aaron.

And so let’s read the conversation: Exodus 5:20-23 (NKJV);

20 Then, as they came out from Pharaoh, they met Moses and Aaron who stood there to meet them.

21 And they said to them, “Let the Lord look on you and judge, because you have made us abhorrent in the sight of Pharaoh and in the sight of his servants, to put a sword in their hand to kill us.”

22 So Moses returned to the Lord and said, “Lord, why have You brought trouble on this people? Why is it You have sent me?

23 For since I came to Pharaoh to speak in Your name, he has done evil to this people; neither have You delivered Your people at all.”

So, the People came, they complained to Moses. And then Moses complains to God.

And then, in Exodus 6:1, God responds:

“Then the Lord said to Moses, “Now you shall see what I will do to Pharaoh. For with a Strong Hand he will let them go, and with a Strong Hand he will drive them out of his land.”

So, they complained to Moses, Moses complains to God, and then God ACT against Pharaoh!

So, their complain is working! – God is not angry with their complains; they complained, Moses complained, and GOD ACT.

If you were there observing, you would say Wow! – That is an interesting thing.

You know if you want God to do something for you, you COMPLAIN – and God ACT!

And God act AGAINST Pharaoh and not against THEM – I want you to note that!

So that is the first (1st) case I want you to note: God is bringing them out, He wants to deliver them. As their situation is getting worse for them, they complain to God. And then God Acts against Pharaoh.

And after that, there were ten (10) Major Plagues that God brought against Pharaoh.

2. WHEN GOD HAD JUST BROUGHT THEM FROM EGYPT INTO THE WILDERNESS.

Then, when they entered the wilderness, they had no water.

And then they got water. And then later they found out that it is not Good for Human Consumption.

… So, they used the Method they had learnt – COMPLAINS!

Exodus 15:22-25 (NKJV);

22 So Moses brought Israel from the Red Sea; then they went out into the Wilderness of Shur. And they went three days in the wilderness and found no water.

23 Now when they came to Marah, they could not drink the waters of Marah, for they were BITTER. Therefore the name of it was called Marah.

24 And the people complained against Moses, saying, “What shall we drink?”

25 So he cried out to the Lord, and the Lord showed him a tree. When he cast it into the waters, the waters were made sweet. There He made a statute and an ordinance for them, and there He tested them.

So, when God had delivered them, things go bad. They complained, God Acts against Pharaoh, and God delivers them!

They got to the wilderness, they want water then they got water. It was not Good for Human Consumption; the complained to Moses; Moses complains to God, and they get water.

So, by this time, if you were an Israelite, you will just begin to Notice a Pattern – Complaining to get results.

… This thing seems to be working!

Exodus 16:2-4; this time, they are HUNGRY and they used the Tried and Tested Method.

2 Then the whole congregation of the children of Israel complained against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness.

3 And the children of Israel said to them, “Oh, that we had died by the hand of the Lord in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the pots of meat and when we ate bread to the full! For you have brought us out into this wilderness to kill this whole assembly with hunger.”

4 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Behold, I will rain bread from heaven for you. And the people shall go out and gather a certain quota every day, that I may test them, whether they will walk in My law or not.

They COMPLAINED, God gives them water; they are hungry, and God rains bread from Heaven for them.

Now, if you were in their company, by now the Principle has been Tested and Proven: The way to get God’s attention is COMPLAIN, and He will solve your Problem for you.

I am sure the Israelites think: Now we have the Blueprint of how to survive in dealing with Jehovah – When you are in trouble, COMPLAIN – and God will ACT!

… That is a lesson they have learned.

But the BELL is about to be RUNG; and there is going to be a CHANGED LESSON.

And when you have Studied the Bible for a while, you would get to understand that: God actually responds to FAITH and not to Doubt!

… Because when we complain, we are DOUBTING God.

But for some reasons, at these Seasons of their lives, DOUBTS seem to work! Doubts and Complains seem to get God’s attention. God seems not to mind their doubt at all.

And I believed they are in a certain Season of their lives – They are in what I consider as “A BABY SEASON” of their lives!

They are a New Nation, they have just been delivered; they are babies in the sight of God.

And isn’t that how babies behave when they want food? – They cry, they throw tantrums, they fall to the ground and they throw a force and the mothers respond!

The fathers sometime don’t respond that quickly but the mothers do!

So, at this Stage, Israel through their experience and through God’s Dealings with them, they have learnt a Major Lesson.

And the lesson is: If you want God to act for you, if you want things to go on well for you, if you are not happy with something, COMPLAIN, thriw a tantrum force and God will ACT!

It works for Israel; it even works for Moses because when they complained against Moses, Moses complains to God – and God ACTS.

… That is the LESSON!

3. WHEN GOD WAS PREPARING THEM TO ENTER INTO THE PROMISED LAND.

Now they are about to enter into the Promised Land, and God wants to Prepare them for the Promised Land.

And this is very important, because the reason why He took them from Egypt is to take them to this Land.

Now He wants them to get into this Land.

And something happened there – Almost similar to the Lessons they have learnt in the Past.

God told Moses to send twelve (12) Spies to go and see the Promised Land. And then the Twelve (12) Spies went and they saw the Promised Land and came back:

Ten (10) of them, gave a very, very “Gloomy Report” to Israel – They told them: Listen folks, it is not Possible, we cannot enter the Promised Land.

… So the whole Nation is discouraged!

But two (2) of them – Joshua and Caleb said: Well, we saw the Land, we believe God will give us the Land.

And the People were offended that some People had a Positive Vision for the Nation. And so they said: We don’t want that; we want Gloom!

And they get back to what they know: They start complaining, they are angry – They are angry at God, they are angry at Moses, they are angry at everybody!

So, let us read how God responded this time in Numbers 14:2-3 (NKJV);

2 And all the children of Israel complained against Moses and Aaron, and the whole congregation said to them, “If only we had died in the land of Egypt! Or if only we had died in this wilderness!

3 Why has the Lord brought us to this land to fall by the sword, that our wives and children should become victims? Would it not be better for us to return to Egypt?”

Now, if you have been studying Israel – This is a very rare Lesson! It is complains they have mastered, majored in.

Because if you Pay attention, it is similar to what they said in Exodus 16:3: Oh, that we had died by the hand of the Lord in the land of Egypt.”

So, whenever they are in trouble, this is how they complain – And when they complain this way, God ANSWERS them!

So they realized, well: You know situation is bad; let us do what we know how to do!

… So they complained again!

In Numbers 14, they complained the same thing – Used the same words. But look at how God responds to them – in Numbers 14:26-29:

26 And the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying,

27 “How long shall I bear with this evil congregation who complain against Me? I have heard the complaints which the children of Israel make against Me.

28 Say to them, ‘As I live,’ says the Lord, ‘just as you have spoken in My hearing, so I will do to you:

29 The carcasses of you who have complained against Me shall fall in this wilderness, all of you who were numbered, according to your entire number, from twenty years old and above.

So, God set out to eliminate the whole Generation of plPeople (Twenty (20) Years and above) for doing the SAME THING that got them results in the Past.

In the Past, it got Pharaoh eliminated; in the Past, it got them water; in the Past, it got them food – This time, it got them death!

So, something has Changed! – It is a CHANGED LESSON!

God says: I am not going to deal with you the same way I used to deal with you in the Past!

So let’s ask ourselves: *WHAT HAS CHANGED?

HAS GOD CHANGED?

No! – He is the same God.

HAVE THE PEOPLE CHANGED?

No! – These are the same People of Israel, not Philistines.

… God has not Changed, the People have not Changed!

Has the People’s Method Changed?

No! – It is the same Method they have been using from Egypt through wilderness.

So, WHAT HAS CHANGED?

… THE SEASON!

… The SEASON has CHANGED!

Now, they are about to enter into the Promised Land, to be Responsible Owners of the Property God has Promised them.

And God says: You are not going to use the same thing you used as BABIES, when you have become ADULTS.

So, when we say, “IT’S A NEW SEASON”, it has serious repercussions for all of us.

It means that something we think works, may not work!

1. Some Lessons we learnt in the Past, and have Mastered; may not be useful.
2. Something that used to be an advantage to us may be a disadvantage to us.
3. What is allowed and celebrated in one Season, could be rejected and Punished in another Season.
4. What got you results yesterday, may not get you results today.

So, I am excited about future. I know you are but some of you are scared.

But we are not going to live in the future the way we lived in the Past because when the Season Changes, Attitude must Change.

It is almost like leaving Ghana during December wearing light shirt and trousers (because it is warm here) to go to London in December.

You move from HEAT in Ghana, when you get to Heathrow Airport, you will realize: Although you are the same Human Being and you are on the same Earth but you have moved from one Season to another.

And your shirt has now become a liability. If you don’t have Winter clothing, you could freeze to death!

It is the same Earth, same Human Being but the Seasons have Changed.

What used to be an Advantage, is no longer an Advantage.

Most of you; who are a little older would remembered that on Sunday, the 4TH of August, 1974; Ghana changed from driving on the left side of the road to driving on the right side of the road.

And those of us who were alive then, remembered all the advertisements that went out at that time.

When we used to drive on the left side of the road, having a Right Hand drive car, was an advantage. Because it helped you to see clearer – if your car was a right hand drive Car.

But overnight – One Sunday, we moved from driving on the left side of the road, to the right side of the road (which we still do).

… And having a car that was Right Handed, was now a liability.

You have got to have a LEFT HAND drive Car – to ride on the right hand side of the road.

So, overnight, those who had cars that seemed to be at Advantage to them, were now liabilities. Something that had worked for them for years, was a liability!

Can you imagine: If somebody had imported so many of those cars to sell; all of a sudden, they are not appealing because Overnight, Seasons have changed and what used to work is not working any longer.

So what am I saying?

I believed that the era we live in, is Presenting us a similar Season.

Year 2020 is a CHANGED LESSON!

It is a Season’s Change – COVID 19 did not create it. It only accelerated something that was already happening.

So, what Probably would have taken us generally about ten (10) or twenty (20) years to get in to; we have now been ushered in Speedily, Quickly, Instantly.

And in the Season, some things that worked for so long are not working!

One (1) of the things I have seen happening this time is People who spent a lot of money building Office Blocks for Companies to use (as Rent) are having difficulties.

Just last year (2019) that seemed to be the Best Real Estate Investment – for most People.

Overnight, People are working with Laptop, Phones and iPad at home! And Offices are now a liability!

… So, Investment in that Hard Building doesn’t seem to work!

It is not the only thing that doesn’t seems to work.

Can you imagine if somebody had spent all his money, all his investment to say that the Hotel Industry is the Best Industry in the world?

And finally, built his Hotel last year. And finally, opened it at Christmas last year (2019) waiting for the Christmas Market and the New Year Market; And hoping for the Easter Market.

.. And all of a sudden, no Hotels!

Or can you imagine somebody who started his Airline Business last year; spent all his Savings just to start an Airline?

Then just overnight, it is not working!

There is a Change in Season.

Listen, something that was as Predictable as much as Possible last year, may not be working for you this year!

So, normally when things change, you can decide – YOU WON’T CHANGE!

And there are very confident People; who believed that they can weather the Season and the Season will adjust to them.

For those I would kindly say that: That approach is not the Smartest!

The Season doesn’t adjust to you; you adjust to the Season.

The interesting thing about Israel though is that – When God finally got a Generation that did not complain; and it took Him forty (40) years or about that to get a Generation that had to UNLEARN the OLD Lessons, and LEARN a New Lesson.

When He finally got that, in three (3) days, they went to the Promised Land and they took over the Promised Land.

And they took over Jericho, and then went on and won almost all their battles.

So, what seemed so difficult became so easy; because they adjusted the Lesson.

And when they ADJUSTED the Lesson, they started WINNING.

So, sometimes what it takes to WIN is not as DIFFICULT as it appears.

So, THREE (3) MAIN THINGS I WANT CONCLUDE WITH:

… Based on everything I have said.

I believe that we are entering a Season of ACCELERATED DEVELOPMENT and ADVANCEMENT.

I believe with all my heart that after CHAOS, would always come CONSTRUCTION.

After CHAOS, would always come something NEW.

God created ORDER out of Chaos: “The Earth was without form, and void; and darkness was on the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. Then God said, LET THERE BE LIGHT! And there was Light.” – Genesis 1:2-2 (NKJV).

God moved from Chaos to ORDER; from darkness to Light; from destruction to Construction.

So after every System of Destabilization comes an ERA OF STABILIZATION; and of Growth, and of Increase, and of Abundance.

So, I believe that we are getting there. I believed it is going to happen. Whether you want it or not, it is going to happen.

It is a Change Lesson, it is a Change in Seasons.

It does not need your cooperation for it to happen.

It will happen in spite of your lack of cooperation. So it is better that we just do it!

So I believe that we are going to Advance, and we and going to Develop.

And for everyone who is listening to me or reading now on the Label of DMC: You are about to enter a better Season of your LIFE – A More Prosperous Season, a Greatest Season, a More Flourishing Season – Amen.

… It is going to HAPPEN!

You must have lost so much, but you are about to GAIN SO MUCH!

So, if what you built have been destroyed – it is sad but something BETTER is about to be BUILT AGAIN in your life – Amen!

You are about to enter a New Promise; that I can say with every CERTAINTY.

But TWO (2) THINGS MUST HAPPEN – If we are going to BENEFIT from the New.

And I believe (just from my observation) that these two (2) things are important. That if we are going to really seize the New Season.

1. We must Develop SELF DEPENDENCE.

Everything we need for our survival must be WITHIN our reach – Both as a GROUP and as INDIVIDUAL.

So, as a Nation, everything we need for our Survival must be within our reach. We cannot Outsourced Survival.

And as Individual, as a Business Person; everything you need for your Survival must be within your reach.

That is the most Important Lesson!

Because if this thing has taught us anything, it is that: There comes a time when all Nations SHUT DOWN!

And if you don’t have Capacity to survive by yourself, you are dead!

So, for everybody who is thinking of the Next Season, this is a Lesson!

2. That at the same time when we are becoming SELF DEPENDENT; we have to become MORE EFFECTIVE at working with People.

That Linking Up with People is going to be very much important. But this Linking Up is not going to be done Physically – So, what we used to do in one (1) Place together, we must learn to do in a different form.

And this Lesson is going to continue: whether it is Church, it is Business.

… Even our Education – That Transition has taken Place!

And we have to find effective ways of doing the old things we used to do in the New Way.

If we can adjust, then like Israel, we will enter the Promised Land.

But if we insisted on using the same Old Lessons; we may be very Good at it, but it may not work for us.

So, I am speaking to this Nation, I am speaking to Africa, I am speaking to Churches, I am speaking to Businesses, I am speaking to Individuals: That some things that used to work for us, may actually work against us in this New Season.

… Next week when I do PART THREE (3) of “IT’S A NEW SEASON” – I will go a little further in that direction.

DMC NOTES: Our Sincere Apologies relaying this Message late but we will surely Cover Up and Release in the Coming Days!

But today, I just want you to get this Principle: “When there is a Change in Lesson; when there is a Change in Seasons; What you were a Master of in one Season, may not EQUIP you EFFECTIVELY for the Next Season.”

That means: No matter how Good you are; you must learn New things. All of us must learn New Things.

It may sound scary, but it is not that scary. We can learn them.

As a matter of fact for Israel, they had a man called Caleb, who was eighty five (85) Years old! Who learned the New Things and survived in the Promised Land.

So, you can still be OLD, and NEW. You can be Old and Fresh.

And I Pray in this New Season, you will not miss your Visitation.

That when the Abundance come you will not miss it. When it is a time to REBUILD, you will not miss is – Amen.

For some of you who have struggled for years; you are about to rise in a way that will shock yourself – Amen.

For some of you who have lost SO MUCH in this time; you are about to receive a FULL RECOMPENSE: Good Measure, Pressed down, and Shaken together, and Running over – Amen!

… That is the way of the Lord God you serve!

And He will Bless you abundantly, He will increase you abundantly, and He will cause you to redeem everything to the Full.

I just want us to spend a little time Praying, before we close today.

And I just want you to ask God to help you to learn everything NEW that you must learn.

Just say: Lord, I am ready to learn, I am ready to Change, I am ready to do it differently. I am read Lord, help me.

Give me a learning heart. A heart that is open to New Things. A heart that is yielded to you. And a heart that will not fight and RESIST the New thing that You are doing in my life.

CLOSING PRAYER:

So Father, we Thank You this morning for reminding us (through Your Word): That what used to work yesterday may not work now. What we used to get result yesterday may not get results now.

But You remain the same God yesterday, today and forever!

And we trust You to open our hearts; Teach us New Things, and help us Lord to be Part of the New Thing that You are doing in this New Season of our lives.

In Jesus’ Name we have Prayed – Amen and Amen and AMEN!!!

Thank you so much for staying all through to read.

To read other Messages on the Coverage of DMC MediaCrew so far this Year and beyond; kindly visit our Website: http://discoverymediacrew.com.

Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/discoverymediac

Send a Friend Request on Facebook to DMC MediaCrew.

Like our FB Page: Discovery Media

Join us on WhatsApp:

https://chat.whatsapp.com/LYia4HScOnh2N30YU9E8AZ

Join us on Telegram: https://t.me/joinchat/NzzPckuGazKYFxZZFkt9fg

Follow Us on Instagram: Discoverymediacrew

Watch and Follow Us on YouTube: Discovery Media Crew

For Enquiries, email Us on: info@discoverymediacrew.com

And I can assure you that you will be glad you did as it will avail you first hand access to comprehensive reports on the various Messages of Pastor E.A Adeboye and other Men of God!

It is outrightly wrong and a sin we frowned at it for anyone to consciously remove the original source of the work that does not emanate for him or her!

Discovery Media Crew … Reaching out to the World through the Power of the Gospel!!!

COMPILATIONS BY:

MOSES DURODOLA, TITILAYOMI AJAYI AND TOPE BABALOLA

© DISCOVERY MEDIA CREW (DMC) 2020