Welcome to a brand-new YEAR- 2021- our year to DISCOVER AND RECOVER. The Lord says the year 2021 will be your year to discover and recover. God says many lives have been ravaged and raided by Coronavirus and all manner of diseases, in 2021 you shall recover lost grounds. God says He has a good plan for you. Planning is God’s idea. That is why one third of the bible is about prophecy. This year the Lord says you will break limits. Nothing is going to frustrate you. God says I promise that I will never leave you nor forsake you. There is divine visitation due to divine revelation. It is a year of discovery. “And David enquired at the Lord, saying, Shall I pursue after this troop? shall I overtake them? And he answered him, pursue: for thou shalt surely overtake them, and without fail recover all. “And David recovered all that the Amalekites had carried away: and David rescued his two” 1 Sam 30:8,18. Furthermore the Lord says it is a year of restoration and abundance. “And I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten, the cankerworm, and the caterpillar, and the palmerworm, my great army which I sent among you.” Joel 2:25.
What is discovery and recovery?
To discover is to see, find, or become aware of for the first time. To show the presence of something hidden or difficult (to see). To discover is to make something known. To discover is to learn or find out something surprising or unexpected.
To recover is to get back or regain what was missing or lost. It is to bring back to normal. To become completely well again after an illness or injury. To cause to be restored to a normal or usual condition to gain or regain control or possession.
Discovery Channel is opened.
God has opened his discovery channel in 2021 for those who will seek his face. The story was told in 1st Samuel chapter 30 of how bandits, kidnappers raided a city called Ziglag. David was the King of Israel at that time. He was a good warrior. In one of his attempts to fight for the land these evil men came and raided the whole city and took away the properties of his soldiers, their wives and children. I can say it is similar to what we are watching daily, especially in Nigeria, where Boko Haram and Kidnappers are ravaging farms and settlements, killing people in their thousands. We learnt the people complained bitterly, David the king unable to see a solution began to weep, wailing like a baby over their loses. But David took advantage of what I call the discovery Channel of the Holy Ghost, he went to the sanctuary of the Lord to find out what needs to be done to recover the lost.
Let me follow the story I have from 1 Sam 30 to explain how to discover and recover what we have lost in life
The past year Coronavirus was a tool in the hand of the devil to burn things down across the globe.
“V.1.And it came to pass, when David and his men were come to Ziklag on the third day, that the Amalekites had invaded the south, and Ziklag, and smitten Ziklag, and burned it with fire”
NOTE: Their properties were bunt with fire- Fire has power to destroy. God has power to restore. It is the plan of God to help you recover whatever the enemy burnt down or confiscated.
V2.And had taken the women captives, that were therein: they slew not any, either great or small, but carried them away, and went on their way”
NOTE: Diseases kill people, people lose jobs, investments and property
V.4. “Then David and the people that were with him lifted up their voice and wept, until they had no more power to weep.”
NOTE: Whatever happens you cannot see 2020 again. So weeping does not solve the problem- Fighting over a broken egg is a waste of energy.
V5. And David was greatly distressed; for the people speak of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters: but David encouraged himself in the Lord his God.
NOTE: Help does not necessarily come from expected quarters. The people you expect solutions from have similar problems, however when people look to you as a leader, they need solution. The man by the pool of Bethesda said “no man was able to help me”. That is life for you, only Jesus truly cares about you. Human beings may want to help but are themselves incapacitated and sometimes it’s just– “every man for his sons and daughters”
Strategies for discovery and recover
Step 1. Encourage yourself. David encouraged himself- The least you can do for yourself is to encourage yourself when you are befallen with tragedy or adversity. As you step into this year encourage yourself. Realize life is about solving problems. David must have said “the last thing I want to do is go down the drains.” “There is hope. There is a better life. I need to put the pieces of my life together I don’t have to continue to sob and weep like a baby. I must stop looking back.” To encourage yourself is to refuse to look back negatively. It is not to whine and murmur and gossip. It is to go back in memory lane positively at your accomplishments and energize yourself from that. David must have remembered that he once killed Goliath the giant. He probably told himself “this type of Goliath will go also”. Determine to “See Your Maker Not Your Attacker”
V. 7-8 And David said to Abiathar the priest, Ahimelech's son, I pray thee, bring me hither the ephod. And Abiathar brought thither the ephod to David. And David enquired at the Lord, saying, Shall I pursue after this troop? shall I overtake them? And he answered him, pursue: for thou shalt surely overtake them, and without fail recover all.
Step 2. Seek Knowledge. Find out what to do next- David enquired of the Lord- There are many ways to find out the will of God for you but I will mention only three – Seek the face of God through prayer. Seek counsel from your prophets, pastors or leaders. Thirdly, through books. Daniel said- “In the first year of his reign I Daniel understood by books the number of the years, whereof the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah the prophet, that he would accomplish seventy years in the desolations of Jerusalem”. Dan 9:2 V10. But David pursued, he and four hundred men: for two hundred abode behind, which were so faint that they could not go over the brook Besor.
NOTE: Not everyone that started this year will still be with you at the end of the year. We are not praying for death. But that is a reality. Twenty boys don’t play for twenty years, as they say. Not everyone in your company will be there forever. Even children grow up get married and move on. Some people will “faint”, that is lose energy. Many factors may be responsible for fainting but the truth is that they cannot continue. They are weak. Move on without them. It is called the challenge of discovery. Many get stuck when some people leave them. Sometimes the best couples divorce we don’t pray for it but if it happens, move on. Make sure you are not the one that frustrated the relationship or schemed your spouse out V.11 And they found an Egyptian in the field, and brought him to David, and gave him bread, and he did eat; and they made him drink water.
Step 3. Prepare yourself and the people to help you. Your attitude will help you at his stage. Your destiny helper is always around you but many a time you need to recognize them. Prepare yourself to recognize your helpers. Many times, our helper does not have our predetermined look. The friend that inspired me to pursue my education after high school is a Muslim, he helped me with one naira! It was a slave girl that helped Naaman. It was a servant that encouraged Saul to look for Samuel. The helper of David was an Egyptian that was abandoned by his troupe. David could have killed him in anger realizing he was on the side of those that ravaged him. No. He dressed him up and fed him. That house help may be your destiny ladder to greatness. That church member you criticize often may be the one God has ordained to help you get a job. That brother with facial tribal marks may be the one you are destined to marry but you disdain him because of the marks. Many people called me during the holiday season asking for one assistance or the other, I asked them how they got my number they said through social media! I still did my best to help them. Feed that weak brother and sister. Give them bread. Pay someone’s school fees. Connect those future couples together
V 16-17 And when he had brought him down, behold, they were spread abroad upon all the earth, eating and drinking, and dancing, because of all the great spoil that they had taken out of the land of the Philistines, and out of the land of Judah.17 And David smote them from the twilight even unto the evening of the next day: and there escaped not a man of them, save four hundred young men, which rode upon camels, and fled.
Step 4. Pursue and Recover. Do the necessary. David gathered the information and pursued the people. Met them and fought throughout the night before he could dislodge them. Part of the problem with this age is failure to use knowledge or apply knowledge. Wisdom is the right application of knowledge. Knowledge acquired and unused will still make the person remain as poor as a church rat, the person could remain a beggar at 70 years of age!
Step 5. Discover Jesus. The reason many people are stuck is that they trivialize the Savior – Jesus Christ. Jesus did not meet the standard of a savior. Born in manger. Born of parents who didn’t have any financial clout. “That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world. 10 He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not.11 He came unto his own, and his own received him not.12 But as many as received him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name”: Jn 1:9-12 And he did not do many miracles there because of their lack of faith. Matt 13:58
God does not look at the physical appearance but the heart. Jesus is the Savior. You need to discover what Jesus has purchased for you. Jesus was rejected but he has become the corner stone. He has made all things for you- “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:” Eph 1:3
The Challenge:
Year 2021 is new to us, but it is in God’s book of history. God is able to help you. You need to discover your future before you can recover it. Discover your future. Joseph discovered his future at a tender age. He did everything to achieve it. He did not allow sin to stop him from recovering what is in the book of life for him. Until you discover what God has for you, you will not be able to recover it. I thank God for my life. I have discovered that my purpose is to refine souls and not oil. I know I have not reached my life goals but I have found that Jesus is the only one that can help me to get there. Without Him I can do nothing. One of God’s purpose for me is to win more souls this year and the rest of my life. Another one is to help my nation Nigeria and Africa recover themselves from poverty by helping them get rid of corruption. God brought me to Canada to put Canada on the spiritual map of the world. Get Canadians to know God as they did before exporting missionaries to the world to preach the gospel. Have you discovered your purpose? Are you pursuing your purposes to do what called you to do? Are you like the Egyptian -willing to help others to recover?
Examples of people who discovered and recovered.
1. Sarah. Initially she literarily threw her marriage away begging her husband to marry their maid. Then we read “Through faith also Sara herself received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged him faithful who had promised.” Heb 11:11. She would have died childless, but she rose up in her spirit and recovered her destiny. Those of you trusting God for children, or having marital challenges or desiring to be married. Pursue, discover and recover
2. Deborah. While men were failing in leadership, she discovered her leadership skills, ability and capacity. In answering the call, Deborah became a singular biblical figure: a female military leader. She recruited a man, army general Barak, to stand by her side, telling him God wanted the armies of Israel to attack the Canaanites who were persecuting the highland tribes Jug 4:6-7. Our political class has definitely failed us. When good people keep quite evil men rule. When the righteous are in power the people rejoice. Discover your political, academic, ability and come to the world stage in 2021. Similarly, Esther discovered her spiritual abilities and went to recover the Jews from the Babylonian bondage through serious prayer and intersession under the tutelage of Mordechai. Who will you recover from spiritual? Physical or financial bondage.
Conclusion: God says it is your year to discover and to recover. I challenge you in 2021, discover God’s purpose and plan for yourself. But don’t stop there, plan to recover all you have lost. Seek God for forgiveness of your sins, for guidance in all you do (Psalm 32:1). Seek for protection from diseases He that keeps Israel does not sleep or slumber (Psalm 121); for help, miracles, divine intervention (Isaiah 50: 7) and to show you the way to heaven. Remember the coming of the Lord is near, ensure you are rapturable. Shalom.
Dr. Amos Dada is the District Superintendent of Christ Apostolic Church Bethel Canada. Convener of International Gathering of Eagles Conference and President, Canadian Institute of Leadership and Development. Www.igoeministry.com, www.canadaleadership.com and www.cacbethel.com.
