These are the prophetic words that I heard from the Lord for the year 2018:
"This is a year of many supernatural events, manifestations and healings. It is a year of many unexpected happenings and unexpected blessings, even against all odds. Like Saul, whom no one would expect to experience the great light and be turned into Paul, so will there be many unexpected happenings in 2018! This is a year of many 'suddenlies', but fear not, for as long as you fix your eyes on Me, you shall see My purposes in your life come to pass, even in ways you have never thought possible."
People of God, this is also a year of many new beginnings, because the Lord is doing a resetting and giving you a headstart this year! Look not at what happened in your past, and watch Him restore His purposes in your life this year, especially in the areas you have been under attack, delayed, or it seemed impossible to 'launch' in the past. There is a breath of fresh air that He is releasing to His people this year. A new strength is being released. A new hope is being released. It is a time of launching into the deep, like in Luke 5:4 when Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a catch." Moments before that, Simon Peter and the other fishermen had toiled all night, but caught nothing. It had been a demoralizing experience for them. But this time, as they heeded Jesus' words, the unexpected happened, and they caught a great number of fish, way beyond what they thought possible, and their net was breaking, so much so they had to signal the others to come and help them! (Luke 5:5-6)
The word 'reset' is an interesting word. It can be defined as 'to set things (afresh and anew) again'. It is like you resetting your password. Why do people reset their password? People do so to enhance security, or if they have forgotten their old password, or simply because they wanted a 'fresh start'. In the context of what the Lord is saying here, He is helping you to 're-strategize' for the greater things ahead of you, and so that the enemy cannot 'touch' you or 'compromise' you. This is also a year of many 'headstarts' for God's people. In the context here, it means 'to gain a certain advantage (or favor) that others don't have'. The 'advantage' here comes by heeding the words of the Lord that He is speaking specifically to each of you.
The key book in the Bible to start the year off right is the book of Acts.
Reading from the book of Acts, after the coming of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:1-39), the church grew in ways not possible by works of men alone. It was the work of the Holy Spirit. Miracles, signs and wonders accompanied the preaching of the good news of Jesus Christ, and through the hands of the apostles, many were healed and set free from unclean spirits. The church was flourishing, and the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved (Acts 2:40-47).
But then came the persecution. And there also arose a man named Saul, who was consenting to the believers' death, and he made havoc of the church, entering every house and dragging off men and women, committing them to prison (Acts 8:1-3). Then Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest and asked letters from him to the synagogues of Damascus, so that if he found any who were of the Way (Jesus), he might bring them bound to Jerusalem (Acts 9:1-2).
But God! Acts 9:3-5 then says, 'As he (Saul) journeyed he came near Damascus, and suddenly a light shone around him from heaven. Then he fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to him, "Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?" And he said, "Who are You, Lord?" Then the Lord said, "I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. It is hard for you to kick against the goads."' Saul trembled before the Almighty, and was so overwhelmed by the 'great light' that he was three days without sight, and neither ate nor drank (Acts 9:6-9). He was then converted (Acts 9:10-19), and began preaching Christ in the synagogues, much to the amazement of those who heard him (Acts 9:20-22).
You see, Saul's life was being reset through the 'great light experience', and it happened at a time when the purposes of the Lord for the church seemed to be hindered. It was indeed a supernatural event, and an unexpected blessing to the church when Saul became a changed man (he was later named Paul). And that was how the church had a fresh impetus, a 'headstart', and the good news of Jesus Christ eventually spread throughout the whole world! 2 Corinthians 4:6 says, 'For it is God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ'. If 'Saul' speaks of your 'old self', then 'Paul' speaks of your 'new self'. It was a total turnaround for him, and it has to be God who's at work!
The one supernatural event that stood out as I was reading this passage in the book of Acts is in Acts 9:17-18, when Ananias (a certain disciple of the Lord at Damascus) came into the house where Saul was, and laying his hands on him he said, "Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you came, has sent me that you may receive your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit." Immediately there fell from Saul's eyes something like scales, and he received his sight at once; and he arose and was baptized. Saul (who was later named Paul) never looked back since then, and he went on to become an apostle who was greatly used by the Lord, and one who wrote about half of the entire New Testament! Speaking of 'spiritual insights' and 'revelation' of the Lord!
People of God, the year 2018 is also a year God is releasing 'spiritual insights' to you like you have never seen before in your life. The word 'insight' simply means 'the capacity to gain an accurate and deep understanding of something'. As you look ahead in this new year 2018, may you also walk in such deep 'spiritual insight', just as 1 Corinthians 2:9-10 says, 'But as it is written: "Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him." But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God'. Amen.
