Minister Brandy Lee
The numerical biblical meaning for the number ‘20’ comes from the Hebrew word ‘kaph,’ meaning ‘redemption’ or ‘perfect waiting period.’ The numerical meaning for the number ‘21’ means ‘great wickedness of rebellion and sin.’ Understand that in 2020, God gave us a perfect waiting period for redemption—meaning a chance to turn away from sin and come back to God. In 2021, God is bringing judgement to the great wickedness and rebellious people of this world.
This is not a time to be asleep spiritually but for us to arise and wake up! ‘Wake’ means to emerge from a state of sleep. In 2021, we cannot afford to be asleep spiritually as God reigns and brings consequences to the wickedness of this world.
“Now concerning the times and the seasons, brethren, you have no need to have anything written to you. For you yourselves know well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. When people say, ‘There is peace and security,’ then sudden destruction will come upon them as travail [labor pain] comes upon a woman with child, and there will be no escape. But you beloved, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief. For you are all children of light and children of the day; we are not of the night or of darkness. So then let us not sleep, as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober. For those who sleep sleep at night, and those who get drunk are drunk at night. But, since we belong to the day, let us be sober, and put on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation. For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us so that whether we wake or sleep we might live with him. Therefore encourage one another and build up each other, as indeed you are doing,” 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11.
We must remain aware of the voice of God in 2021. God is bringing judgement and consequences upon those who have rejected Him.
In these scriptures Paul is mentioning the second coming of Christ to Earth, but we do not know the day or time He will appear. Paul is encouraging the church of Thesalonica to remember that we, the saints of God, the righteous, the children of God are not of darkness but of the light of day. We do not need to be afraid or overcome when Jesus returns like a thief in the night. It is a day we must look forward to and cherish.
Paul is encouraging us in 1 Thessalonians to understand that we are different and set apart from the darkness of this world. We must take on the ‘full armor of God’ as found in Ephesians 6:11-17 and be able to fight against the enemy.
Children of God, you must be awake spiritually in 2021, because the enemy will be willing and ready to throw much turmoil your way. We must be equipped spiritually with the ‘belt of truth,’ the ‘breastplate of righteousness,’ ‘feet planted in peace,’ the ‘shield of faith,’ the ‘helmet of salvation’ and the ‘sword of the Spirit,’ which is the word of God.
God taught you in all of 2020 how to stay planted as a soldier in the army of the Lord. Stay awake, people of God, with the word of God. Stand strong in the Lord. Don’t fall asleep!
We all need encouragement, and ‘accountability partners’ to stay awake. God does not want us to be destroyed or exercise wrath upon us. He wants us to be blessed.
We have been given the promise of eternal life through our Lord and savior Jesus Christ. This is what God wants us to accept and receive. When we receive Jesus Christ, we take on victory and God’s testimony.
“Every one who believes that Jesus is the Christ is a child of God, and every one who loves the parent loves the child. By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey his commandments. The love of God is that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome. For whatever is born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that overcomes the world, our faith,” 1 John 5:1-4.
“If we receive the testimony of men, the testimony of God is greater; for this is the testimony of God that he has borne witness to his Son. He who believes in the Son of God has the testimony in himself. He who does not believe God has made him a liar, because he has not believed in the testimony that God has borne to his Son. And this is the testimony, that God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son,” 1 John 5:9-11.
Testimony is the evidence or proof that something exists. Our testimony is not personal, but God’s. Everything we experience is by the will and power of God. So remember in wisdom why you have the promise to make it no matter what. God has the final say so, and it’s His testimony to prove to the darkness of this world His power, eminence, and might. You have the power to speak life in 2021. Let Him use you. Stay awake, and stay alert. It’s Gods testimony!
