“ “10 I will multiply people on you, all the house of Israel, [indeed] all of it; the cities shall be inhabited and the ruins will be rebuilt. 11 I will multiply on you man and animal; and they will increase and be fruitful. And I will cause you to be inhabited as you were formerly, and I will do better [things] for you than at your beginning. Then you will know [with great confidence] that I am the Lord.””
This is the year in which we shall experience God in a way we have never seen before. God is inviting us to walk with Him, trust Him, and welcome the Holy Spirit to guide and direct our path. As we welcome Him into our lives, we will see Him revealed to us and work within and through us to cause fruitfulness and increase in every aspect of our lives in profound ways that we have never known before. God is ready to give our lives meaning through rebuilding broken lives, relationships, prayer lives, ministries, cities, churches, families, communities, etc. This is the year when God is ready to cause an increase and overflow of his glory in our lives, which will make us experience and appreciate Him for who He really is.
Ø Remember, when God releases his word, it is always READY to be fulfilled.
Jeremiah 1:12: “The Lord said to me, “You have seen correctly, for I am watching to see that my word is fulfilled.”
Therefore, it is incumbent on us to do all it takes to be in a position where we are READY to receive his word. This tells us that we have work to do to ensure his word is fulfilled in every aspect of our lives.
John 1:1-5 “1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through him, and without him was not anything made that was made. 4 In him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.”
Ø The bible verses above look complicated to an ordinary mind. How can the word be at the beginning, at the same time with God, and was God?? Even reading the other verses brings more confusion and makes no sense when interpreted with a canal mind.
The word of God released from his mouth is living and active (Hebrews 4:12a). The word has always been there, and without it, nothing ever existed. The word has life and light at the same time. Therefore, every aspect of our lives must be living, active, and shining throughout 2025. The word of God has spiritual knowledge that can help us navigate life if we understand what it is and if we have the wisdom to apply it to our daily lives. To achieve our goal for 2025, we need to use these three main words as our best friends: Understanding, knowledge, and wisdom. These are the backbone needed to navigate a successful journey through the word of God. All these come from Him if we are open to receiving them.
Proverbs 2:6: “ For the Lord giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding.”
Ø Revelation is the unfolding of the hidden knowledge or insight of God’s word, and understanding is the ability to discern what it is saying, which makes its application easy. Wisdom is what helps us to apply the knowledge that has been understood in our daily lives.
According to John 1:1-5, the word is the beginning of creation, and without the word, nothing came into existence. This implies that spiritual and physical success is in the Word. No wonder God spoke to Joshua in Joshua 1:8: “Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.”
Ø We must learn to begin our day with the Word, go through the day guided by the Word, and end the day in the Word. Acts 17:28a: “For in him we live and move and have our being.”
The Holy Spirit is the Channel through which all of these become manifested. According to John 16:13, “But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come.” We must submit to the total control, guidance, and leadership of the Holy Spirit. The scripture above says: when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, there is no deception in him. He represents everything Jesus would have been to us if he was physically present on earth today. Just like in the days of the Apostles, the Holy Spirit must come. John 14:26 But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. We must invite him to the place of prayer and our daily walk with God. He speaks on our behalf; he supports our daily walk; he helps and directs us. He is our teacher, revealing to us what the father is really saying. He understands the mind of God. When he comes, we are enabled to live this passage fully: 1 Corinthians 2:12-14: “12 What we have received is not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may understand what God has freely given us.13 This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, explaining spiritual realities with Spirit-taught words. 14 The person without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God but considers them foolishness, and cannot understand them because they are discerned only through the Spirit.” When the Holy Spirit comes, we are expected to experience changes that cannot be hidden just like in the days of the apostles. We will notice physical and spiritual changes in our lives and those around us will not miss these changes.
Therefore, we are encouraged to walk according to Isaiah 54:2: “Enlarge the place of your tent, and let the curtains of your habitations be stretched out; do not hold back; lengthen your cords and strengthen your stakes.” This implies that whatever the Holy Spirit is leading us to accomplish in 2025 must be fruitful and multiplied, in addition to some of the good stuff the good Lord allowed us to carry from 2024 into 2025. Whatever was death or dormant, he has no choice but to receive life in 2025. It is time for the word of God to be effective in our lives. Enlarging the place of the tent is personal, as everyone knows how much they would want to travel with God, be used by God, be blessed by God, etc. If the tent is not increased, the curtains cannot be stretched because they will not fit.
Ø Everything begins with our spiritual location and positioning.
Matthew 7:24: “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock."
We must seek Godly wisdom in 2025 to accomplish every spiritual goal.
Practically, let us explore some of the things we can do in 2025 to experience an increase.
1. Create quality time/ space to read, study, and meditate on the Word of God.
2 Timothy 2:15: “Study and do your best to present yourself to God approved, a workman [tested by trial] who has no reason to be ashamed, accurately handling and skillfully teaching the word of truth.” The Apostle Paul encouraged his spiritual son Timothy to study the word of God. Irrespective of our role in the church or society, as Christians, we all work for the Lord; therefore, we must arm ourselves with the knowledge of God’s truth so that we are not embarrassed at any time. Ezra 7:10: “Ezra had devoted his life to studying the Law of the LORD, to practicing it, and to teaching all its laws and regulations to the people of Israel.” In this Ezra 7:10, we see a man who devoted himself to the studying of the word of God.
There is a blessing in dwelling in the word. Psalm 1:1-3 1 Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, or set foot on the path of sinners, or sit in the seat of mockers. 2 But his delight is in the Law of the LORD, and on His law he meditates day and night. 3 He is like a tree planted by streams of water, yielding its fruit in season, whose leaf does not wither, and who prospers in all he does.” When we study and meditate on the word of God, verse 3 above tells us the results. The word of God is the water in which our roots grow deeper and receive good nutrients that cause an outflow of good fruits irrespective of the season of our lives. We grow both physically and spiritually.
The Holy Spirit is our best guide, and thus, he helps us when we study. We can build knowledge (information)and understanding of the Word. As we gain understanding, wisdom will help us apply the word. For example, if we can memorize and understand Mathew 6:33, that is knowledge. Wisdom is what helps us to live, according to Mathew 6:33.
Studying/reading the word must be intentional. Time devoted must be meaningful.
This is how and where we will begin to understand who God really is, his voice, his character, and all other attributes of God. Deuteronomy 29:29: “The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but the things that are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law.” It is when we dwell in that word that He begins to reveal by His Holy Spirit what we are privileged to know.
John 10:27: “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.” The voice of God is in his word; therefore, spending time in his word helps us to identify his voice and the way he communicates to us through his word. This is very personal and unique to each person.
2. Create space/time for personal prayers.
There is nothing that can be achieved spiritually without spending quality time in the place of prayer and the Word. Both the word and prayer go together. If you do not have the revealed word, you cannot pray effectively. This is beyond quoting scriptures. Jesus, our role model, spent time in prayers. Luke 6:12: “In these days he went out to the mountain to pray, and all night he continued in prayer to God.”
Through prayers, we can communicate with God freely without fear of judgment. We come in confidence, knowing that his heart is always open to hearing what we have to say and, of course, ready to answer us. 1 John 5:14-15: “14 And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. 15 And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him.
In the place of prayer, we can call on the name of our God and he is able to reveal to us hidden mysteries we would never have known if we did not pray. Jeremiah 33:3: “Call to me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known.”
God never forgets his own; his eyes are focused on his righteous children, and with attentive ears, he listens to their prayers. It is such a blessing for God’s eyes and ears to be in a position where he sees and hears us all the time. Just imagine how many are calling at the same time. 1 Peter 3:12: “For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are open to their prayer. But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”
Prayer also helps us to be glued to the Father, creating a great and unique relationship. John 15:7: “If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.”
3. Create time to worship in songs and words.
John 4:24 says, “God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.” In our daily walk with God, we must follow him and relate to him in prayers/words in spirit and truth. Here, the focus is on using songs/words as a worship tool. It must be intentional and in a quiet space without distractions.
We want to worship him to express our appreciation to him. Isaiah 25:1: “O Lord, you are my God; I will exalt you; I will praise your name, for you have done wonderful things, plans formed of old, faithful and sure.”
1 Timothy 1:17: “To the King of the ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.”
Hebrews 12:28: “Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe.”
Daniel 4:37: “Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and extol and honor the King of heaven, for all his works are right and his ways are just; and those who walk in pride he is able to humble.”
4. Create time for fellowship with other believers: church services, prayer groups, spiritual programs, listening to sound messages from seasoned preachers, etc.
Acts 4:31: “And when they had prayed, the place they were gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness.”
The outpour of the power of the Holy Spirit rested upon the early church in Acts of the Apostles because they were always gathered together in one place in love, unity, prayer, and the word of God, as well as sharing all they had together.
Acts 1:14: “All these with one accord were devoting themselves to prayer, together with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers.”
It is unfortunate that most gatherings today do not reflect this same kind of love. We all own this and can correct it by making it a duty to attend and participate in these gatherings by showing real love towards others. The Bible encourages our meeting together, and we must take steps to make it worth attending. Hebrews 10:25: “Not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.
5. Create space for the ministry of the Holy Spirit.
This has been explained above. The Holy Spirit is the GPS in our daily journey with the Lord. We must invest in knowing who he is and taking time to learn how he operates, as well as how to please him. He also helps us pray right.
Romans 8:26: In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans.
Ephesians 6:18: “Praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints.”
6. Invest in Walking in Your Consecrated Life.
When we become born-again believers, the major difference between us and the others is that we go through consecration and transformation. If we cannot see the difference between us and those around us, then we have not been really/fully consecrated. This is a life set apart, committed to God, and forsaking all that is counted for daily pleasure in our past lives. It is denying self and following Jesus every day at every cost.
v It is dying to the flesh in all its totality and its practices and allowing the totality of the Spirit of God in our being.
We are a new creation in Christ totally forsaking our old man and its ways of doing things and taking over the new man in Christ and the new way of doing things. 2 Corinthians 5:16-17: “16 So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come.”
We cannot, therefore, live anymore according to worldly standards. We must daily offer ourselves to God as a living sacrifice that is holy so he can accept it, for that is the true way of worshipping him. Romans 12:1-2: “1 Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. 2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.”
We must die to self, daily and present ourselves to be cleansed at the altar of the Lord if we really mean business with God. 2 Timothy 2:20-22: “20 In a large house there are articles not only of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay; some are for special purposes and some for common use.21 Those who cleanse themselves from the latter will be instruments for special purposes, made holy, useful to the Master and prepared to do any good work. 22 Flee the evil desires of youth and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.”
Hosea puts it in a good way- Sow righteousness- This simply means investment, taking steps to cultivate a life that is righteous before God. Hosea 10:12: “Sow for yourselves righteousness; reap steadfast love; break up your fallow ground, for it is the time to seek the Lord, that he may come and rain righteousness upon you.”
7. Create time to pray for others.
God has commanded that we pray for everyone. We cannot only pray for ourselves. We must create time to pray for family members, neighbors, coworkers, leaders within and outside the church, nation, etc. 1 Timothy 2:1-2: “2 First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, 2 for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way.”
Apostle Paul was always praying for the church. Ephesians 1:16-17 : “I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better."
Epaphras, another believer in Jesus Christ, always stood in the gap and wrestled for the church in Colossae. Colossians 4:12: “Epaphras, who is one of you and a servant of Christ Jesus, sends greetings. He is always wrestling in prayer for you, that you may stand firm in all the will of God, mature and fully assured.”
God will always reward us, as we will all get whatever we deserve. Corinthians 3:8: “He who plants and he who waters are one, and each will receive his wages according to his labor”
There are advantages to praying for others. When Job prayed for his friends, his entire life was restored and blessed even more than he had before. Job 42:10: “And the Lord restored the fortunes of Job, when he had prayed for his friends. And the Lord gave Job twice as much as he had before.”
Finally, take time to read or listen, and digest these words, as well as write down the things you will do.
Wishing us all an exciting and Blessed 2025