By Kathi Pelton
The late John Paul Jackson prophesied about two pandemics that would come; the first would mainly produce fear but the second one would be very serious. I am sobered by the fact that God gave us words that we see coming to pass in our current days through voices that “left us too soon” like John Paul Jackson, Kim Clement and Jill Austin. “Give us ears to hear, Lord!”
As I’ve watched fear empty the shelves of grocery stores and even online warehouses I began to think about Joseph and how God gave him the interpretation of Pharaoh’s dream (Genesis 41) where there would be seven years of abundance and seven years of famine. Because Joseph was given the interpretation of Pharaoh’s dream he was given Pharaoh’s signet ring and put in charge of Egypt during this fourteen year period. Joseph took from the abundance of the seven years and stored grain “beyond what they could measure” that would provide in the days of famine that were coming. During the famine the nations went to Egypt to receive from Joseph’s storehouses the provision that would sustain their lives.
Yesterday I kept hearing in my spirit three words, “Fill Joseph’s Storehouse!”
What if what we are experiencing today with the COV-19 is merely the dress rehearsal for a much more serious pandemic? If it is a dress rehearsal then we, as the church, were not prepared! Where is the wisdom of Joseph that fills the storehouses with grain for the days of famine?
Will the Church arise and take the signet ring of the Lord to take charge and become storehouses that are “filled beyond measure!”
Yes, we want to fill the vats of heaven with prayer first and foremost; we are doing that. Yes, we want to prepare by turning the hearts of sons back to fathers and daughters back to their mothers! We are longing for that! Yes, we want to return to the fear of the Lord that releases wisdom; we are humbling ourselves to receive that wisdom. But, maybe we have forgotten to steward the practical provisions that will be greatly sought after in days of “famine” (or in another global pandemic).
What if the church had storehouses of abundant supplies that were “beyond measure” for the days to come? The nations of the world would come to where the storehouses are in the days of great need.
I am first an intercessors and worshipper; but I want that intercession to release wisdom that has foresight for the days to come. I love the prayer of Solomon in 1 Kings 3,
“…And now, O Lord my God, you have made your servant king in place of David my father, although I am but a little child. I do not know how to go out or come in. And your servant is in the midst of your people whom you have chosen, a great people, too many to be numbered or counted for multitude. Give your servant therefore an understanding mind to govern your people, that I may discern between good and evil, for who is able to govern this your great people?”
We need to be given an “understanding mind” to govern this great people! Both Solomon and Joseph were given “understanding minds” to know how to lead and govern; both spiritually and practically. Again, first and foremost, we need to see our nations (our hearts) turned back to God. Solomon’s prayer in 1 Kings 8:22-61 while dedicating the temple confirms that (read and pray those verses for your nation) but often we forget that we need an understanding mind to know how to prepare practically (to steward the abundance we’ve been given). Will we be the much needed storehouse when famine comes?
Let’s begin to ask the Lord to give us wisdom (an understanding mind) of how we, the Church, can become Joseph’s storehouse that is filled with grain for the days that are coming. I looked around my house this week and realized, “I am not prepared! Have I eaten my seed that was for the days of famine?” It’s a real question. This isn’t shame or condemnation but rather a sobriety of the current state of things.
Will God in His great mercy give us time to prepare? Will He give us seven years of plenty so that we will steward abundance for the sake of times of famine? Will we eat the “above and beyond” or store it for the days ahead? God, have mercy upon your people and sober us in this time to humble ourselves and ask for wisdom and an understanding mind.
If we will do this we will see the very ones who “threw us in the pit because of our dreams” come to us in times of great need and hold their hands out to receive from us (spiritually and practically). They will be like Joseph’s brothers and be restored to us; they will show honor the ones that they had previously mocked and threw into a pit.
We are to be the answer to a world in need; spiritually and practically. It’s not “either or” but “both and…”
I do not know if what we are experiencing is a dress rehearsal but if it is we have been found wanting and must let this be a wake up call to both dedicate the temple AND to fill the storehouses!
Give us understanding minds God!
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