Seasons – Part 12

June 30, 2021 ~ Sharon R Moorefield ~ Leave a comment

Genesis 8:22 – While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease.

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As I conclude this series on seasons, I want to reiterate the importance for the believer to be aware of what needs to be done in the various seasons of life, and the need to be ready for the upcoming season. Allow me to offer some closing examples concerning seasonal needs and future preparation.

Reciprocity – Use wisdom in your opportunities to give. Use your faith to make every opportunity you have to give a sowing season. If the Lord prompts you to give, it’s because you’re already there. Live in such a manner that you always have seed to sow when it’s time to sow. Summer will follow, and then the harvest.
Pools of Bethesda – There are seasons when the Lord offers something special for your life. Be ready to take advantage of it. Stay as close to the water (Word of God) as possible, and when that season comes, it will be just for you. Jump into the Word; it’s alive; it heals. That’s a harvest. Keep alert, winter is coming.
Temptations – When Satan tempted Jesus and was soundly defeated, he left for a better season. He never found one with Jesus. Temptations WILL come to you. Remember, “It is written.” Overcome them, and never allow your enemy to find a better season.
Egypt – Israel was in bondage in Egypt for a season. Father had 400 years in mind. Moses’s actions caused that season to last for 30 extra years. When you’re in a winter season, don’t do something to extend the winter. Get ready for spring; it is on the way.
Wilderness – Israel’s spring of deliverance from their winter in Egypt soon turned into a long, hot summer of 40 years in the wilderness. Moses had delayed their spring. They delayed their own harvest. Be wise, dear child of God. Walk obediently and in faith in the summer seasons. Harvests come more quickly that way.

These are only a few examples of what the Scriptures call seasons. Seasons are real. God has established their order, and will see to it that you have all you need to live victoriously in any of them. You, however, must use your faith in each season so you can access and wisely use the resources Father provides, and be ready for the season that is next to arrive. It WILL arrive, and you CAN live at the highest levels of victory, regardless of what the season holds.

Manna for Today – Isaiah 55:10; 2 Corinthians 9:10; Ecclesiastes 3:1-15; Jeremiah 29:11; Isaiah 45:11; Isaiah 55:11; Hebrews 11:1-6; Galatians 5:6; Joshua 1:6-9; Proverbs 4:20-23; Romans 10:6-17

Seasons – Part 11

June 29, 2021 ~ Sharon R Moorefield ~ Leave a comment

We need to be prepared for the coming season.

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Genesis 8:22 – While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease.

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Regardless of the season in which you now abide, you need to be prepared for the one that is coming. If you’re in summer, you need to be ready for harvest. If you’re in winter, you need to be prepared for spring. Whatever your present season, regardless of the arena of life, the next season is coming. The wise man will be prepared for it. Let’s consider necessary preparation.

If you’re in a winter season, things are tough. It could be symptoms in your body, financial pressure, or intense emotional stress. You already know that spring is coming. Part of the work of each season, along with doing the work of the season, is preparing for the coming season so you do not enter it ill-prepared. Entering a season, ill-prepared, even if it is a pleasant season, leaves you unprepared to work in it as you should. When that happens, things just seem to get worse. If I am in a harvest season, a time of reaping a great harvest from seed sown and work done well, I know that winter is coming. I don’t know how long the season may be, but I do trust the Lord to see to it that my harvest is bountiful enough to see me through it abundantly, for that is how He works. Regardless of my current season, or the one to follow, I know that Philippians 4:19 is still part of my covenant, and that Matthew 6:33 still works. God’s Word is absolutely true. He will never fail us. The season you face does not control you, but by faith you can to well in any season.

You are probably quite aware of the season in which you currently stand. You know what is expected of you in that season. Doing what you know needs to be done in this season requires faith. Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God. Knowing your present season, you are aware of what is coming next, and what you presently need to do to be prepared for it. Doing what is necessary to be prepared for the coming season requires faith. Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God. That is the pattern that exists in every season. To know what to do, and not do it is sin. You know that, too. Today, my heart’s desire is that you may recognize whatever season it is in which you are now, and with that, see by Holy Spirit how to use your faith to live in that season at the highest possible level of victory, and prepare yourself for the season to come, and live there the same way, season to season. Keep yourself in the Word, my friend, and in the love of God.

Seasons – Part 10

June 28, 2021 ~ Sharon R Moorefield ~ Leave a comment

A problem for many Christians is misguided use of seasons, even God-seasons.

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Genesis 8:22 – While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease.

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Consider the following scenario. A Christian is in a battle. The enemy has leveled an attack against them in the arena of their health. They seek prayer and ministry, find it, and receive a breakthrough freeing them from the attack. Let’s consider that any believer, after being delivered from a demonic attack, immediately thanks God for their deliverance and healing. That is absolutely appropriate. But what I have observed in so many believers at that point is, in reality, the wrong step to take. That breakthrough from a spiritual winter facing sickness and disease is their entry into a fresh spring. Holy Spirit will refresh them; that’s and early rain. But sadly, many Christians do not take the appropriate follow-up steps in their freshly arrived spring, and use that breakthrough as an opportunity to rest, take it easy, share their testimony, and generally rejoice with others.

Don’t misunderstand what I say here. If those things are done with proper spiritual insight, they can move in the right direction. But if those things are done simply because they are relieved from the winter season they just endured, big trouble is likely ahead. I have seen ministries started because someone had a breakthrough. I have seen books written because someone had a breakthrough. While there is nothing inherently wrong with those actions, they are often taken while the truly necessary actions of spring are left undone.

Think of a farmer. When winter ends, he does not rest, take it easy, go fishing, and generally tell everyone how he survived the winter. He plans, plows, cultivates, plants, and prepares for summer. In the summer he waters, weeds, protects his crops, and prepares for the coming harvest and storage. In harvest time, he harvests, stores the harvest for future needs, and prepares his field to rest for the winter. Oh, did I say winter? Yes, I did. For you see, you may have just come out of a winter season where health is concerned, or finances, or professional issues are at stake. At that point, one thing you must clearly realize is that winter will come again. It’s part of the cycle of seasons. But if you do not do the priority works in the seasons following winter, you will not be ready when the next winter season comes, and that can be devastating, even fatal.

Seasons require season-specific actions. Those actions taken prepare you for success and blessing in the seasons that follow. Those actions left undone prepare you for loss, defeat, devastation, and even death. Certain things are required in EVERY season; faith, prayer, thanks, praise, worship, obedience. And even these may require a specific manner of use in different seasons. Learn what is needed in each season you face, and apply yourself, your resources, and your time in the correct manner to be victorious.

Seasons – Part 9

June 25, 2021 ~ Sharon R Moorefield ~ Leave a comment

Seasons come, seasons change, seasons go, like it or not.

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Genesis 8:22 – While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease.

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One of the problematic arenas of life I have seen, even experienced in my own life, is the failure to engage in the right actions in different seasons in order to gain a desired outcome. Today I want to share with you some things that will turn to greater blessing for any believer who will put them to work, and keep them in a proper order. Let’s talk about life from a seasonal perspective.

A season of spring comes to you. Things around you seem to be looking new and refreshing. That lasts for a while, and then some things happen to create some pressures. It’s summer. After a while, there a sense of refreshing again, and then what appears to be success or good outcomes. It’s harvest time, or fall. Suddenly, things get tough. Things don’t seem to be working as well, and you may find yourself running short of the resources you need to continue moving forward. It’s winter. If you take the time to monitor the repetitions of this cycle in all the arenas of life, you could recognize the seasons.

What we need to do is learn to recognize the seasons at their beginning, learn to anticipate them, and learn what needs to be done to use that season for a blessed and proper outcome. I don’t believe most people ever recognize these seasonal changes in life. They occur in our lives constantly, and they are not the same in every arena of life. For instance, you may be in a physical spring, a financial fall, and a professional winter, all at the same time.

I have watched over the years, and most people enjoy the warming and freshness of spring, while not taking time to plow and sow. They follow that by taking a vacation in the summer heat to get away from it all, and fail to tend the crops they should have sown. In the fall, when they should be harvesting, they have nothing to harvest, and instead enjoy the change to a milder, more colorful season. Then winter comes, and that are not prepared to deal with the shock of cold. The necessary work needed in each season is too often avoided, so that lack of some sort, at some level, becomes the norm when times become difficult. It is in these times that people seem to need the most help, when in fact, they could be ready to give so much help to others, receiving even greater blessing and modeling the truly successful life. We must learn how to function at the height of our knowledge and with the greatest possible skill and readiness in each season of life. When we do, instead of a time of lack, winter becomes the great time of sharing.

Seasons – Part 8

June 24, 2021 ~ Sharon R Moorefield ~ Leave a comment

In every cycle of seasons, there is always a winter.

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Genesis 8:22 – While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease.

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We may not like it. In fact, some people hate it. I’m talking about winter. Some folks just don’t like cold weather, especially when the temperature is in the freezing arena. Of course, some folks don’t like hot weather; they just don’t like to sweat. Still, like it or not, seasons follow cycles. If there is a spring, summer will follow, as will fall and winter. It may seem, especially in the spiritual realm, that some seasons can be unusually protracted, but the cycle will occur. Keep in mind that there are certain laws, both spiritual and natural, that Father has set in place that cannot be put aside. Regardless of how demonic or human attempts, these laws are fixed. Examples can be seen in gravity, reciprocity, and as we are examining, seasons. These laws are fixed and activating them WILL produce a determined result. Let’s examine the winter season.

WINTER – the Primary Purpose – REST. How can we call winter, a time when it can be cold, even bitterly cold, a time for rest? Think about it in a reasonable manner. We plow, prepare, and plant in the spring. That’s a lot of work. We water, weed, and guard in the summer. That’s a lot of work. We plan, harvest, preserve, and store in the fall. That’s a lot of work. In the winter, we can’t do the work of spring, summer, and fall. So, what can we do? We can rest by keeping the fires burning, enjoying the harvest, feeding and ministering to others, and thanking God for the bounty of our harvest that makes all this possible. That is reasoning about the natural winter season. The same should be true for the Christian in any winter season; God-season, enemy-season, or you season.

In the spiritual realm, remember that Father always provides the time and resources in every season for His kingdom to prosper and move forward, to grow and become stronger. That includes the winter season. Regardless of the cold, possible inclement weather, and other hindrances, Father fully provides. As the Scriptures declare, “I’ve never seen the righteous forsaken or his seed begging for bread.” He didn’t say that about all the seasons but winter. God established that truth, and it is settled for anyone who will walk with knowledge, wisdom, and obedient action through any of the seasons, including winter. One of our great problems in the Church today is the failure to recognize the proper actions for the seasons we encounter. Doing the wrong thing at the wrong time, even if the intentions are right and pure, usually end in disaster. Remember, “Herein is My Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be My disciples” (John 15:8).

Seasons – Part 7

June 23, 2021 ~ Sharon R Moorefield ~ Leave a comment

If you’re not prepared for the work at hand, you are greatly limited in that work.

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Genesis 8:22 – While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease.

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Today we come to the third season; fall, or harvest. It’s the time for which everyone seems to be waiting. But in the overall scheme of things, it is not the end. We will come to that later. Now we examine harvest time.

FALL – the Primary Purpose – HARVEST. Finally, after all the work put into spring planting and summer growth, we arrive at the long-awaited harvest time. The fruit is ripe and the laborers who have done all the work to come to this point are ready to taste the fruit of their labors. And they deserve it. But there is much more to consider than merely collecting the harvest. Allow me to offer some thoughts for your consideration. Do you have the requisite instruments for the harvest? Are they ready for the work? What are your plans for the harvest? Do you have a place to store the harvest so that it will not be wasted, or lost to rot and decay? Do you know what to do to protect the harvest? With whom will you share the harvest? To whom do you owe any part of that harvest? Will you faithfully pay that which you owe? You see, there is much more to the harvest than merely collecting it.

Once again, the same principles need to be applied to the spiritual harvest. If you have done the spring (seedtime) work properly, and if you have kept the enemy from destroying or stealing your harvest, you can be assured your harvest will come. The Scriptures declare, “Be not deceived. God is not mocked. For whatsoever a man sows, that shall he also reap” (Galatians 6:7). At the harvest, the questions I asked earlier need to be answered. When the harvest is ready, you must be ready, too. God wants you to be blessed. Do the work that needs to be done in the proper season. Don’t leave the job partially done. Follow through with your work. Don’t be discouraged, dismayed, distracted, or delayed. Be faithful, for as the Scriptures declare, “And let us be not weary in well doing; for in due season, we shall reap if we faint not” (Galatians 6:9). It is when we learn to recognize the seasons Father places in our live and do the work required of us in those seasons that we experience the greatest blessing in our lives. Jesus was tempted just like we are, faced the same issues we face, but always and in every situation walked in victory. It is because He walked in His earthly life properly in the seasons Father established, and by that, lived above, independent of, and free from the enemy-season, and to always do those things that pleased the Father. Remember, “Herein is My Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be My disciples” (John 15:8).

Seasons – Part 6

June 22, 2021 ~ Sharon R Moorefield ~ Leave a comment

Each season has its own peculiar issues that must be handled.

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Genesis 8:22 – While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease.

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In today’s Second Miler, we will take a closer look, not only at the primary focus of summer, the second season, but at the contributing elements that must be undertaken to produce the desired harvest. Remember, each season has a primary purpose, but there are many other elements that surround that purpose that must be carried out. Let’s take a closer look at summer.

SUMMER – the Primary Purpose – GROWTH. In the spring, the seed is sown. In the summer, the plant it produces grows and matures, preparing to be harvested. As already stated, the primary purpose in the summer is growth/maturity. But once the work of spring is finished, you cannot simply abandon the field. There is still much work to do, and it is often hot, and can be very tiring work. One of the reasons it can be so tiring is that you are seeing no mature fruit. In the summer, the seeds have germinated and generally beginning to grow into mature plants. Where there was only dirt and an indication that seeds had been planted, now there are plants that can generally be identified for the fruit they will produce. It is also during the summer that blossoms that indicate the first elements of fruitfulness are seen, and following that, young fruit not yet ready for harvest. And while all that is viewed with joy, there is heat that must be quenched by watering. There are weeds that will grow and choke the plants. These must be removed, either by hand or with some tool designed for the work. And let us not forget a plethora of animals like birds, rodents, deer, and insects that will attempt to devour the young and tender plants, or the early fruit they produce. These, too, must be dealt with by some means; netting, traps, or some deterrent. All this work must be continually maintained in order for summer to produce its primary purpose, growth/maturity.

In the spiritual realm the same elements must be considered. Take a few moments and read Mark 4:1-20. As the seed you have planted springs forth, you must give attention to watering that seed so it can draw the nutrients it needs to grow and ultimately produce abundant fruitfulness. Persecutions and afflictions come to create dry and hot conditions that cause potentially fruitful plants to whither in the heat. The Word is the water you need. Then there are the elements that come to choke, devour, and make your planting unfruitful. They are the deceitfulness of riches, the cares of this life, and the lusts of other things. They, too, must be stopped in their efforts so you may ultimately reap an abundant harvest. Prayer, spiritual warfare, and the constant application of the Word (Sword of the Spirit) must be your daily work to assure growth/maturity for your harvest. Remember, “Herein is My Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be My disciples” (John 15:8).

Seasons – Part 5

June 19, 2021June 19, 2021 ~ Sharon R Moorefield ~ Leave a comment

Each season holds a purpose that needs to be recognized.

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Genesis 8:22 – While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease.

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Seasons run in a cycle of four parts; spring, summer, fall, & winter. In the natural world each season has a generally expected length. In the realm of the spirit, lengths can vary greatly. Each season has a primary function, but there are many other elements that must be experienced so the primary function can achieve its highest order of success. If you’ve ever worked on a farm, in the fields, or even in a home garden, you will understand. Keep in mind that these same principles must be applied in the spirit realm, too. With that in mind, let’s take a look at the first of our four seasons.

SPRING – the Primary Purpose – PLANTING. Spring is the season when seeds are sown into the ground. But much more needs to be done that simply sowing. The ground must be plowed, or tilled. You COULD just throw seed in your yard and on your driveway, but there would be no harvest. Plowing is often in stages. Unplowed ground must be turned over. That means to dig deeply into untilled ground to reach depths in the soil that can release nutrients and hold necessary water, where seed will not be left open to the sky. After initial plowing, the soil must be broken up to create a proper bed in which a seed can sprout and grow more easily. Some people call this discing the land. Then rows, or hills need to be prepared in which seeds can be sown at proper depth and with proper spacing to allow for full and flourishing growth. It is at this point that fertilize will often be introduced into the row, or hill, to feed the seed well as it germinates and develops its root system. As you can see, the actual planting, which is the primary purpose, is but a fractional portion of the entire planting process. But if you will have an abundant harvest, these things must be done.

In the spiritual realm, this same pattern needs to be followed. Prayer, praise, and worship are your primary tools for plowing and discing your spirit man to prepare your spirit to receive the seed of God’s Word and ultimately produce the greatest possible harvest. Yes, receiving the seed of God’s Word into your heart is the primary purpose for in you the spring season. But do you want that Word to grow as quickly as possible, and in that growing, produce the optimal fruit? The fruit you will ultimately produce is not just for you, but for others as well, and especially for Father. You see, “Herein is My Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be My disciples” (John 15:8).

Seasons – Part 4

June 18, 2021 ~ Sharon R Moorefield ~ Leave a comment

There are three kinds of seasons we all shall encounter.

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Genesis 8:22 – While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease.

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So far, I have mentioned God-seasons, and those seasons that are brought upon us by the enemy of our soul. There is a third. It is the season that we can create for ourselves by the words of our own mouth, and whether it be a good thing or a bad thing, the powers-that-be stand by to act on those creative words we speak. Let’s take a look at the three kinds of seasons.

The God-season – This is a season prepared for you by Father as a part of His plan for your life, your calling, your ministry. They are prepared for you to help bring you into your “expected end.” In every God-season of your life, there will always be every necessary provision of resources and time to accomplish that which is necessary for victory, success, and blessing.

The Enemy-season – This is a season prepared for you by the enemy of your soul as a device to distract, disable, and ultimately destroy you. He will endeavor to deceive you into believing it is God’s will for you to go through it, but it is not. Remember, when Satan brings a storm into your life, you have the authority to rebuke it and declare, “Peace, be still.” By the same token, you have the authority when confronted by an enemy-season to exercise your faith and wreck that season rather than allowing it to wreck you.

The You-season – This is a season of your own creating. It can be good or bad, right or wrong, life-giving or deadly. That choice is up to you. Jesus said, “By YOUR words you are justified, and by YOUR words you are condemned” (Matthew 12:37). In Mark 11:23, in His powerful faith teaching, He said that if you believe in your heart what you say with you mouth, you will have it. It is the Word of God. It is immutable, unchanging, and unalterable. You carry in your mouth and heart the power to create seasons for your own life.

You should embrace God-seasons and live in them to the fullest. You should rebuke, fight against, and overcome enemy-seasons. And you should use your faith in the Word of God to create you-seasons that will honor and glorify your Father, edify the body of Christ, and bless you and all who partake of the fruit-fulness that arises from that season. Whatever you do, DO NOT use your words to create seasons that the enemy can use against you. Keep your focus on God’s Word, your thinking clear with the washing of the water by His Word, and make sure your words are words of justification and not condemnation.

Manna for Today – Isaiah 55:10; 2 Corinthians 9:10; Ecclesiastes 3:1-15n; Jeremiah 29:11; Isaiah 45:11; Isaiah 55:11; Hebrews 11:1-6; Galatians 5:6; Joshua 1:6-9; Proverbs 4:20-23; Romans 10:6-17

Seasons – Part 3

June 17, 2021 ~ Sharon R Moorefield ~ Leave a comment

Regardless of your season, faith and love are required.

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Genesis 8:22 – While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease.

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When we talk about seasons, it may be easy to think that while we may be forced to exercise our faith in seasons of attack, trial, and testing, none of which are from the Lord, that all we have to do when it’s a God-season is sit back and everything’s going to be alright. Nothing could be further from the truth. My dear friend, faith is required at all times; in, through, and following every season we encounter. Oh, and by the way, so is love, for the faith that is required works by love. Every believer should ALWAYS remember that certain elements of God’s kingdom are required in EVERY kingdom transaction. That includes prayer, study, meditation, confession, forgiveness, giving, receiving, healing, deliverance, thanksgiving, praise, and worship. There is NO arena of kingdom of God where faith, love, patience, and righteousness are not central figures in order to walk in victory.

The seasons that God has set in motion for every believer have in them everything needful for that season to be played out in complete victory, and it is the will of Father for you to access every one of those elements and use them in faith according to His plan. Of all the elements and spiritual forces at our disposal in the kingdom of God, I believe FAITH and LOVE are paramount, and BOTH are built upon, strengthened and sustained by the Word of God. Every season into which you enter, whether a God-season, or a foul, destructive season sent upon you by the enemy of your soul, your victory, your outcome, your life depends upon the Word of God you carry into that season with you.

Jesus demonstrated this for us in both arenas. When Satan came to tempt Him in the mountain after a forty day fast, Jesus’ response to every temptation and every word Satan spoke was, “It is written…” These temptations were NOT from Father. By the same token, when Jesus stepped fully into His earthly ministry to preach, heal, deliver, and save, everything He did, every message He brought, every miracle and healing He performed arose from the deep and unchanging faith in the Word that He carried in His Own heart. The Word has been given us to build our faith, for faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God. Jesus is the “Author and Finisher” of our faith. The faith He provides to us is in NO way flawed, but is rather perfected in Him. And let us NEVER forget that though heaven and earth will pass away, His Word shall NEVER pass away. Build your faith; hear the Word. Walk in love; obey the Word.