GOD'S HEARTBEAT - Entering 2023 - by Paul M Hanssen

- GOD’S HEARTBEAT -

Entering 2023 - by Paul M Hanssen

To him that overcometh…

(Revelation 2:7 – The message to all seven churches)

I have been asked what my opinion is concerning the coming year, 2023. My opinion has little relevance, however, God’s heartbeat, thoughts, and Will concerning the coming year carry a great weight of importance. If we profess to be “His people”, and if we indeed call Him “our God”, then it behooves us to gently lay our ear to His bosom and hear His heart concerning coming events and what His Will is for His people!

I do not profess to be a prophet. Neither do I claim great insight into coming events. But I have heard the heartbeat of Heaven. The Spirit of God is stirring. The fire of God’s jealous zeal is mounting. The voice of God is sounding in Heaven with commands that will have great impact and effect upon a great number of Earth’s inhabitants.

The coming year is going to be shrouded in calamity in more ways than one. And yet, for the people of God, the call from God’s Throne to His people is not about the coming calamities. God’s Spirit is not first and foremost drawing attention to the woes that face Earth’s population. My ears have heard a voice proceeding from the Spirit of God, a voice that is carrying one word sent to God’s people. One word, that if taken heed to, will bring about great victory and spiritual restoration in the midst of chaos and global dilemma. God’s voice is screaming one word into the ears of His chosen, "Overcome!”

The call to overcome is not about overcoming the financial crisis that is facing mankind. It is not about overcoming natural disasters. It is not about overcoming wars. It is not about overcoming the calamities that face creation. No - rather, it is about overcoming spiritual lukewarmness and apathy. It is about overcoming slothfulness, unconsciousness, and dullness. The call to overcome is about overcoming sin and the weight that so easily besets us (Hebrews 12:1).

To overcome means to subdue, conquer, prevail, and get the victory over something. All of these meanings point to placing something under one’s authority and dominion. Overcoming has to do with climbing over obstacles or placing one’s ‘feet of conquering possession’ on new territory. When it comes to you and I overcoming as believers, one of two things is going to happen; we will either overcome or we will be overcome. There is no middle ground.

While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage. For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning (2 Peter 2:19-20).

Jesus came to redeem us from the pollution, corruption, and defilements of this world. However, the danger in this generation is to once again become entangled with that which we have been set free from. Entangled means to be entwined with and involved with. With what are you entwined? What is your time involved in? Into what are your thoughts, energy, and life’s precious moments woven? Are you overcoming, or are you being overcome? More and more of God’s people are living their lives overcome by the “pollutions” of this world. These pollutions are toxic causing the moral decline so evidenced today, a decline that ultimately produces spiritual death (2 Pet. 1:4, Titus 2:4). These pollutions are the reason and foundation for the moral decline, spiritual apathy, and the lukewarmness that has engulfed and overcome this present and final church age (Rev. 3:14-22).

Who are they that will be ready and prepared to meet Jesus when He comes to take His people out of this wicked world? It will not be those who boast great success in ministry. It will not be those who profess great faith with claims of the miraculous. It will not be those who proclaim great accomplishments and mighty works. No – it will be overcomers! It will be those who have conquered the pollutions within and without. It will be those who have prevailed and who stand victorious over the strongholds of their own weaknesses that are working to hold them captive. It will be those who have overcome the urge to fall asleep and give up. It will be those who have resisted the great temptation to quit upon the last and final lap of the race. The overcomers are those who endure to the end!

In this coming year, 2023, God is calling His people to overcome! If we do not overcome, we will be overcome. If we do not conquer, we will be conquered. So, while the calamities spin seemingly out of control about us (and yet all things are very much under God’s control) lift up your eyes to Him from whence comes your help. He is calling you to overcome!

So, to answer the questions that some are sending my way concerning 2023, my answer is that GOD IS CALLING HIS CHOSEN PEOPLE TO OVERCOME. This is God’s voice and His heartbeat toward His people for this present moment in history. Resist the urge to quit. Resist the urge to give up. Resist the temptation to fall asleep and rather stand guard and be on watch (Mark 13:35, Luke 21:36, 1 Peter 4:7). Repent of the pollutions into which you have entangled yourself. Your spiritual house is under attack. Will you overcome, or will you be overcome?

He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son (Revelation 21:7).

-Paul M Hanssen