First of all, I know this is a long post but stick with me…it’s gonna be worth it! The Lord shared something with me today that I’m dying to share with you. Don’t we often wonder why things happen; or, what’s going to happen? Don’t we as the human race search for significance? Don’t we search for answers? The Lord so encouraged my heart today! Anybody like to be encouraged? What I’m about to share is not something some palm reader or weegie board or zodiac sign will tell you; this is something biblically based that the God of all creation (our Elohim) in His infinite wisdom I believe has revealed to us about the coming year.
Numbers in scripture always have significance. There was a reason God created the heavens and the earth in 6 days (and not 5, or 4, or 15) and rested on the 7th (not the 8th or 3rd or 13th). There is a reason there were 12 apostles and not 10 or 5 or 20. God is a God of detail and everything has meaning under the surface.
With that in mind, let’s look back for just a moment at 2008. As we look at what the number eight means, think back over the year that has just passed and see if anything relates to you personally.
According to scripture, the number eight always means a new beginning or a new order of things. The eighth day is really the first day of a new week. The eighth note of the musical scale is the same as the first. Eight is the number for new birth or new creation. There were eight people saved from the flood in the ark. With those eight the world was populated anew. This number also carries the thought of resurrection. For eight souls were saved or resurrected in the ark. Look at I Peter 3:18b-21:
"He (Christ) was put to death in the body but made alive by the Spirit, through whom also he went and preached to the spirits in prison who disobeyed long ago when God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ark was being built. In it only a few people, eight in all, were saved through water, and this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also – not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a good conscience toward God. It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ."
Also note, the eighth time Noah’s name occurs in Scripture it says, “And Noah walked with God.” (Genesis 6:9) This was a new beginning to him.
And one final example of eight in scripture is the circumcision of male children of Israel. Romans 2:28-29 teaches that circumcision in the literal sense is really a picture of what God desires to happen in our hearts by His Spirit. The male child was circumcised according to Genesis 17:12 on the eighth day. (Hold on to all these references to the work of the Spirit in making things new, resurrecting life and circumcising our hearts. It will shed even more light in a moment.)
So, although it’s typical to begin a new year (as we just have) and think of the blessing of something “new” – a new start, a new year or even just a new day – the significance of THIS “new order of things” is far greater than the typical. Did God begin something new in you in 2008…Selah (think on these things…)
Maybe it was unexpected; maybe it was something you’ve been praying for or maybe it was something you never dreamed would happen. Maybe it initially didn’t make sense; maybe it scared you to death. Maybe it was an amazing surprise; maybe it was horrifying! But however you look at it…it was a new order, a new beginning, a new season.
Okay, enough of looking back; let’s look forward to 2009! I’ve already got chills all over me.
The number nine biblically stands for the fruit of the Spirit or divine completeness from the Lord. Nine comes after eight (new birth). As nine follows eight, so the good fruit, the fruit of the Spirit, follows as the result of the new birth.
Paul speaks of nine “fruit of the Spirit” in Galatians 5:22-23,
“..the Fruit of the Spirit is (1) love, (2) joy, (3) peace, (4) longsuffering (or patience), (5) gentleness (or kindness), (6) goodness, (7) faith, (8) meekness, (9) temperance (self-control): against such there is no law.”
Paul also speaks of nine gifts of the Spirit in I Corinthians 12:8-10 (check it out!). In Matthew 5:3-12 there are nine Beatitudes. And it was the ninth hour when Jesus died on the Cross (Mt. 27:46-50). In that hour Jesus cried, “It is finished!” What is finished? What has been made complete? God’s plan of salvation for man’s sin. Sin was finished! Satan was finished! And with it the gift of access to the Father was restored! Hallelujah!
So, what does that mean for us in 2009? What significance could the meaning of the number nine have to us this year? May I suggest that God desires to complete us this year like He never has before? To make us whole again! To in some way make His plan complete in you. May I suggest that God longs to empower us by His Spirit to bear fruit this year…in 2009!
The Old Testament parallels this truth in Leviticus, chapter 25. There is both a picture of the new birth and the fruit of the Spirit when God told Israel to sow the land but in the seventh year there was to be a rest (even for the land). A sabbath for the Lord. In that chapter they are told what they should eat in the 6th, 7th, 8th and 9th years. God said He would command His blessing on them in the 6th year and it would bring fruit for three years. Then in verse 22 God says, "While you plant during the eighth year, you will eat from the old crop and will continue to eat from it until the harvest of the ninth year comes in.”
Do you see that? The harvest comes in the ninth year! Fruit! What truths did God plant in you in ’08? Get ready for the reaping! What prayers did you pray in ’08? Get ready for the harvest! Get ready, my friends, the fruit is ripe and the Spirit of God is working! Let’s be confident of this, that He who began a good work in us, will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus! (Philippians 1:6)
I’m rushing out the door to go hear a sister speak tonight who’s 2008 “new order of things” included the accidental death of her two-year old son! I can think of few things comparable to that kind of suffering! But in my spirit I just wanna climb the highest mountain peak and shout, “THE HARVEST IS COMING!!!!” GOD WILL BRING FRUIT FROM THIS NEW THING!
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