Eccl. 3:1 says: “To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven”. According to this scripture, God is a God of seasons. I believe with all my heart that we are moving into a “new season” in the church, in our personal lives and in the country of South Africa.
Chief Justice Mogoeng Mogoeng had a massive task at the house of parliament to preside over the swearing in ceremony of 400 members from 14 political parties taking their oath to serve the sixth democratic parliament. This happened on Wednesday 25 May 2019. Just before the ceremony began, the Chief Justice did something that has never been done before. He called the whole house of parliament to three minutes of prayer or meditation. He himself then went on his knees and prayed for three minutes. Normally they would only have a one-minute time of silent meditation.
In an interview with Radio Pulpit, Chief Justice Mogoeng Mogoeng said that morning while he was praying the Holy Spirit said to pray for three minutes because God is a triune God; God the Father, Jesus the Son and the Holy Spirit. During his presidency elect speech, Cyril Ramaphosa thanked the Chief Justice for not only presiding over the establishment of South Africa’s new Parliament, but also for his prayer. He said: “I want to thank you Chief Justice for doing an unprecedented act of going on your knees and praying. Not only for this Parliament but praying for our nation”.
In one of our prayer meetings we sensed that at that moment walls of injustice were broken down in parliament and that South Africa will now enter into a new season of established leaders of a higher integrity and honesty. Leaders who are not bent on enriching themselves, but on serving this beautiful multiracial, multi-generational nation.
I want to use Peter the apostle as a Biblical figure who had challenges moving into his season. In Matt. 4:19 we read that Jesus said to Peter and Andrew his brother: “Follow Me and I will make you fishers of men”. Now this transformed Peter from just a normal fisherman to a preaching “power house”. Yet Peter faced certain challenges:
– His faith was challenged when he stepped out of his fishing boat and walked on water. In a sense he didn’t walk on water, but he walked on the Word of God.
– His feelings were challenged. In Matt. 16:16 Peter has a Godly revelation that Jesus was the Christ, the Son of the living God, but seven verses later Jesus rebukes him saying: “get behind me Satan” because Peter had rebuked Jesus for saying that He would suffer and die.
– One moment Peter was in the spirit and the next moment in the flesh.
– Peter’s traditions and prejudices were challenged when he followed Jesus into Samaria.
– It was a racial thing and in the new season racial issues will be challenged. God is no respecter of race, nationality or gender. God is light, He is not white (1 John 1:5).
– Peter’s humility was challenged when Jesus washed his feet at the last supper. Pride can be destructive and God resists the proud (1 Peter 5:5).
Peter overcame all the challenges and he could move into his new season.
Are you ready to be challenged in this new season? You might be faced with all kinds of challenges, but by God’s grace you can overcome and move into your new season.
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