“But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His son born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive adoption as sons.” (Galatians 4:4)
The Bible tells us in Ecclesiastes that to everything there is a season and a time to every purpose under the heaven. God is an orderly, methodical God and He is a great planner. The fullness of time in scriptures refers to the appropriate time for something to occur. It is God’s ordained time for a miracle or breakthrough. In the above text, Paul was referring to the set time of Jesus’ birth.
Fullness of time refers to divine / destiny moments. It was a destiny moment for David when he encountered Goliath in the valley of Elah. The stage was set for David to manifest all he had been learning and trained for at the back side of the wilderness.
The Bible says God makes everything beautiful in His own time (Ecclesiastes 3:11). The word beautiful there means harmonious and organized, for example when the fullness of time comes for a woman to deliver a baby, everything begins to work harmoniously for the woman to deliver: her body goes into contraction, her water breaks and the baby begins to try to work itself out of her body. At the fullness of time, everything works harmoniously and automatically to produce the desired outcome.
Fullness of time also refers to when a thing matures or peak or when something is brought to focus. At that material point in time of maturity, thanking God for answered prayer is the expedient thing to do. For example, when winter comes, it is no longer necessary for clothiers to wish that their jackets and sweaters and long coats will be sold because they will certainly be sold.
It’s important for us to know there are set times for some things in our lives to occur (Ecclesiastes 3:1). Before the set time arrives, our best efforts at achieving may seemingly not result into favorable or desirable outcomes. Having this knowledge will free us from unnecessary worry and agitation. At this time of the year when 2010 is reaching its fullness, peaking and maturing, people usually look back to assess the year. Many may conclude due to unfulfilled desires, that the year was a failure. It is noteworthy to affirm that if you have trusted God for a blessing, done your own part in obedience to His will and the blessing still is not fulfilled, it may just be that the fullness of time hasn’t yet come.
The following are some notable truths about the fullness of time:
1. It can be accelerated or brought close: The first miracle Jesus performed in His ministry was in a wedding in Cana of Galilee when He turned water into wine. When Mary, His mother approached Him to bail out the wedding people who ran out of wine. He responded to Mary thus; “……..My hour has not come.” (John 2:4). In other words, Jesus said the fullness of time for ministry isn’t now. Mary subtly insisted and persisted on Him by asking the wedding people to obey whatever He asks them to do. Jesus ended up performing a notable miracle of turning water into wine. This is a clear Biblical evidence that the fullness of time can be adjusted by God; it can be brought close or it can be delayed or postponed. A man of God once said that everyday is God’s day and the day you dare to believe is your own day.
2. It can be delayed or postponed: God once spoke to Abraham – the patriarch of the Israel nation that the nation will be in tribute and servitude for 400 years in Egypt (Genesis 15:13-14). The set time for their deliverance was after 400 years, but the Israelites eventually used 430 years in Egypt, adding an extra 30 years. Bible scholars tell us this was so because Moses - the deliverer - stepped out ahead of the set time to kill an Egyptian, and he had to be sent to the wilderness and ministry of Jethro to be well discipled, prepared and trained for the task ahead. When we run ahead of God and try to birth miracles carnally, we may suffer consequences that would result in delays.
3. It can be aborted: It’s impossible for God’s sovereign plan to be aborted, but it is possible for God to set apart His purposes for individuals who will not respect His laws and principles. Elisha served Elijah and eventually entered his shoes by becoming the prophet to Israel. Gehazi ministered to Elisha and would have likely taken over from him. However, Gehazi blew it big time because he was greedy and interested in immediate gains. Elisha couldn’t transfer the anointing he had to anyone and had to carry it to the grave. Gehazi failed because he cut corners. He refused to wait on God’s timing to be enriched, he short-circuited the maturing process that would have made him a great man of God and he was set apart.
CONCLUSION: Brethren, as we enter the last month in 2010, be rest assured that God is mindful of you. As we gratefully thank Him for our fullness of time, believing Him against all odds, wait on Him and refuse to birth things carnally, and also refuse to cut corners and run ahead of Him, the God that reserves the best till the last will suddenly surprise us. The God that brought Joseph from prison to the palace in 24 hours can do much more in approximate 720 hours that we have left in 2010.
Have a blessed month in Jesus name.
Ade(Gboyega) ESAN
www.rccgpittsburgh.net
http://gboyegae.blogspot.com
