YEARS OF FAMINE AND SURPLUS 1

"FOR EVERYTHING THERE IS A SEASON, a time for every activity under heaven."
Ecclesiastes 3:1 (NLT)

"HISTORY merely repeats itself. It has all been done before. NOTHING UNDER THE SUN IS TRULY New."
Ecclesiastes 1:9 (NLT)

• There is no permanent situation, or condition, all things are subject to change.

• There are different seasons and times in life. Thus, wisdom to do things at each season and time of an individual believer's life is important and should be asked for—requested from God.
• Pharaoh, the king of Egypt had two dreams in which the events that were to happen was revealed to him—pharaoh.
• The interpretation of the dreams according to Joseph was, there would be seven years of surplus and that of famine:
  29 THE NEXT SEVEN YEARS WILL BE A PERIOD OF GREAT PROSPERITY throughout the land of Egypt. 30 BUT AFTERWARD THERE WILL BE SEVEN YEARS OF FAMINE SO GREAT THAT ALL THE PROSPERITY WILL BE FORGOTTEN IN EGYPT. FAMINE WILL DESTROY THE LAND. 31 This famine will be so severe that even the memory of the good years will be erased. 32 AS FOR HAVING TWO SIMILAR DREAMS, IT MEANS THAT THESE EVENTS HAVE BEEN DECREED BY GOD, AND HE WILL SOON MAKE THEM HAPPEN" (Genesis 41:29-32 NLT).
• The dreams were repeated twice because it was established by God, It would surely come to pass (Genesis 41:32).

• There would always be a season of surplus and famine in the life of every person, or family, or nation.

• It is what the person or the people concerned did with the surplus that determines their state in the time of famine.
• A number of people, and Nations of the world are currently experiencing a recession in their economy. People groan, and many do not know what to do. As an individual, what did you do the surplus, when you had it?
• The advice of Joseph to Pharaoh and the whole Egyptians was:
  34 THEN PHARAOH SHOULD APPOINT SUPERVISORS OVER THE LAND AND LET THEM COLLECT ONE-FIFTH OF ALL THE CROPS DURING THE SEVEN GOOD YEARS. 35 Have them gather all the food produced in the good years that are just ahead and bring it to Pharaoh’s storehouses. STORE IT AWAY, AND GUARD IT SO THERE WILL BE FOOD IN THE CITIES. 36 THAT WAY THERE WILL BE ENOUGH TO EAT WHEN THE SEVEN YEARS OF FAMINE COME TO THE LAND OF EGYPT. OTHERWISE THIS FAMINE WILL DESTROY THE LAND” (Genesis 41:31-36 NLT).
• Every individual person, believer alike, experiences seasons of surplus and famine. Every business organization experiences a fall; a setback or a hitch, at one time or the other.
• There are different seasons and times in life, thus, If you knew how to preserve the abundance or surplus, you would not suffer at the time of famine (Proverbs 21:20).
• There is no New thing under the sun. Money had failed in Egypt before (Genesis 47:15). So, If money is failing today, It is not New.
• Some because of lack of wisdom, not being prudent, could not manage their surplus well: "THE WISE HAVE WEALTH AND LUXURY, BUT FOOLS SPEND WHATEVER THEY GET" (Proverbs 21:20 NLT).

"THE WISE MAN SAVES FOR THE FUTURE, BUT THE FOOLISH MAN SPENDS WHATEVER HE GETS ."
Proverbs 21:20 (the Living Bible)

"THERE IS PRECIOUS TREASURE AND OIL IN THE HOUSE OF THE WISE [who prepare for the future], BUT A SHORT-SIGHTED AND FOOLISH MAN SWALLOWS IT UP AND WASTES IT."
Proverbs 21:20 (Amps.)

• Thus, when you have abundance, manage it well, there are different seasons of life: "IN THE BLINK OF AN EYE WEALTH DISAPPEARS, FOR IT WILL SPROUT WINGS AND FLY AWAY LIKE AN EAGLE" (Proverbs 23:5 NLT).

"WILL you set your eyes on that which is not? FOR RICHES CERTAINLY MAKE THEMSELVES WINGS; THEY FLY AWAY LIKE AN EAGLE TOWARDS HEAVEN" (Proverbs 23:5 NKJV).

• Riches make themselves wings or sprout wings and fly away, according to the Scripture above, but you can cause the riches to birth for you; through investments, before they depart.

• What a famine is.

• A severe shortage of food, as through crop failure or overpopulation.

• An acute shortage of anything.
• Severe hunger, starvation; a dearth.
• It is the state of needing something that is absent or unavailable.

• There are numbers of things that can cause famines:
I. The system of the world.

• We live in a sinful world where the devil governs and roams about to do evil (2 Corinthians 4:4; 1 Peter 5:8); there are evil occurrences that could bring lacks or droughts, either in the life of an individual person, a family, or a nation, or whatever.
• There are different seasons and times of life, and we live in a broken world; thus, an individual, believers or nonbelievers, family, organization, or nation, can experience a famine.

II. A famine can be divinely orchestrated, to correct or speak to an individual believer or a nation (2 Kings 8:1).

• God at times permitted famines because of Sin, people's disobedience to His Word or commands (Psalm 105:16).
• God uses famines to discipline or correct an erring individual believer or a nation at large (2 Kings 6:25).
• As an individual believer, God might allow you to experience famine or drought even in the time of abundance or at the time of surplus—If He wanted to correct you (Jeremiah 14:12).
• And vice versa, God can cause you to experience surplus or abundance in the time of famines or droughts—It all depends on an individual believer's relationship, fellowship, and his or her obedience to God's instructions (Genesis 26:1-3,12-14).

III. Government policies.

• A change in government, that is, a new era, can bring a famine or surplus.
• New policies made by the New government can be the cause of a famine or surplus, or whatever.

IV. A natural phenomenon.

• An unusual, significant, or unaccountable fact or occurrence in an individual life can bring a famine or surplus.
• A new technology might bring surplus or famines.

V. There are other numbers of things that could bring a famine for an individual, organization, or a nation.
a. Losing your belongings. Robbery as an example.
b. Accidents.
c. New developments.
d. Change in season, what is in vogue or trending.
e. New government era and policies.
f. Disasters: flooding, fire incident, tornado, or whatever.

• There are different challenges and problems that could lead to lacking or famines in life.
• Thus, God's wisdom and steadfastness in God's Word are needed to prepare for every season of life that comes in a believer's journey on earth. It is this that would see a believer through in the time of famines.

• You will not fail in Jesus' name.

• Should there be any ailment in your body, receive your healing now in Jesus' name.
• Hold of sicknesses is broken completely in Jesus' name.
  Peace!
  TO BE CONTINUED

STEPS TO SALVATION
• Take notice of this:
IF you are yet to take the step of salvation, that is, yet to be born-again, do it now, tomorrow might be too late (2 Corinthians 6:1,2; Hebrews 3:7,8,15).
a. Acknowledge that you are a sinner and confess your Sins (1 John 1:9); And ask Jesus Christ to come into your life (Revelation 3:20).
b. Confess that you believe in your heart that Jesus Christ is Lord, and that you confess it with your mouth, Thus, you accept Him As your Lord and Saviour (Romans 10:9,10).
c. Ask that He will write your name in the Book of Life (Philippians 4:3; Revelation 3:8).

• If you took the steps As highlighted above, It means you are saved—born-again. Join a Word based church in your area and Town or city, and be part of whatever they are doing there. Peace!