Joseph Prince - Right Place, Right Time: How God Orchestrates Success
I believe that this is the remote word that God has for us today, are you ready for it? Amen, for this year, for this year. Praise God. All right, let’s go to Ecclesiastes 9:11, «I returned», now Solomon is writing this by the Holy Spirit, the wisest man that ever lived, besides Jesus of course, «I returned and saw under the sun that The race is not to the swift, Nor the battle to the strong, Nor bread to the wise, Nor riches to men of understanding, Nor favor to men of skill; But time and chance happen to them all». So he’s saying this, «Guys, if the truth is known, I’ve observed this». And remember, he asked God for wisdom and became the wisest man, right?
And he says, «I’ve observed this, the race is not always to the swift. Nor the battle to the strong», amen, «Nor bread to the wise, Nor riches to men of understanding, Nor favor to men of skill. But time and chance happen to them all». We have seen this time and time again that people with less experience sometimes bump into someone, and in the course of the conversation, later on, «Come and work for me. Come over». We have so many testimonies like this in our church. Doesn’t mean that the person has the most experience, doesn’t mean he’s the strongest, the best, the wisest, that favor happens to him. But time and chance happen to them all, amen. Now the word 'time' here, I’m going to share with you some Hebrew. Today we’re going to learn some Hebrew, right, and some Greek. And then another principle we’ll learn, and all this has got to do with the theme of the year, and what God’s going to do this year for you, okay? So now, sit back, watch.
The Kairos Year of right time, right place. 'Right time' in the Hebrew is the word, 'eth.' In the Greek, eth is 'kairos.' That’s why we have the Kairos Year of right time, right place. Right place is 'qarah.' We’re going to study this because it’s very interesting, and God will unveil to us, even for your own life have seen this phenomenon taking place in your life. I believe even recently, you have seen yourself being at the right time, at the right place. All of a sudden, you meet an acquaintance, or you meet an old friend, and a door is open to you. Or you invite an old classmate that you met, okay, lah old one. Okay, young one, alright. A young classmate you met, all right, who used to be in the same school 50 years ago.
Alright, so you invite him over to the church, and I’ve heard this kind of testimony. It’s down through the years, and good things happen to these people. All because you had a chance encounter with them, or is it really chance? Like the word 'time' and 'chance.' It’s unfortunate that the English word uses chance, but remember, it is not the English word that is the word that tells the real meaning, but it is the Hebrew. What the Hebrew says is, 'qarah.' Amen, right time, right place. God is going to make things happen to you, right time, right place. So the word 'eth' first, let’s study the word, 'right timing.' Right timing, a lot of things depend on right timing.
So can we, with our smarts, with our intelligence, position ourselves in such a way that things can happen for us, and we are aware of the right timing. People try that all the time, you know, they want to get involved in an investment at the right time, and/or they want to be in a certain place, at the right place, you know. They want to be in that position where they are ready to receive a benefit, or something, or even encounter their life partner. They want that to happen to them, but friend, once you think about it, when you realize that it is beyond man’s intellect, it’s beyond man’s disposing of his affairs. It’s not within man to put himself in the right place at the right time. Even averting tragedy, for example, no one can tell which plane might not make it. You can be a guy who tops the Mensa test, and your IQ is really high, it doesn’t really matter. You cannot control your right time and your right place, you need God.
So more than ever this year, we need the Lord, and not just the Lord, we need His grace. In what aspect to trust the Lord? His grace, because you see, if grace is unearned and undeserved favor, then the only way to frustrate grace… grace is another word for favor from God, and grace is unearned, undeserved favor. The only way you can frustrate it is trying to earn it. Whether you are trying your best to earn it with your good behavior, or whatever it is. «Pastor Prince, are you saying that we don’t have to have good behavior»? No, of course not. But you don’t have a good behavior to try to get close to God. You must realize that you are close to God, that’s why your good behavior flows from there.
The Bible says, «For those who are believers in Christ, he has placed you in his Son». That’s why the phrase, «We are in Christ Jesus». In Christ, in him, through him. Amen, we are forevermore, God will see you always in Christ. When God sees you, God doesn’t look at you with all your faults and shortcomings today. God looks at Jesus to see him as you. Hallelujah. So when you pray, how do you pray? You pray as if you’re in Christ, and honestly, folks, let me just submit this to you. Sometimes we put the name of Jesus like this in prayer. We pray whatever we are gonna pray, we say, «In Jesus’s name,» now I’m not against that, okay? But actually, the idea of whatever you ask the Father in my name is actually like, as if I am praying it. And when you pray, you need to be aware your prayer carries the same values, the same power as if I am praying.
If you pray like that, that’s praying in my name, representing me, just as I represent you. You follow what I’m saying so far? Does God answer Jesus’s prayer? Yeah, amen, of course, and now your prayer is like Jesus’s prayer, praise the Lord. That’s praying in his name, «So in right timing, time and chance, if and 'qarah' happen to them all, if that is true, then it behooves us to find out about right timing and right place». Now why do we say 'eth' is right timing? Because in the Hebrew, because Ecclesiastes is in the Old Testament, it’s in Hebrew. What is 'eth' in the Greek? What is 'eth' in the Greek? It is the word 'kairos.' The word 'kairos.' Say «kairos».
Now 'kairos' is right timing. In fact, Thayer, who is a Greek scholar, He defines 'kairos' like this. 'Kairos' is opportune, seasonable time, the right time. When you say, «Opportunity,» for example, it comes from the word opportune. That means there is a great door of favor open, all right? Don’t miss your opportune moment, don’t miss this opportunity, right? It’s a favorable moment. Now that in Hebrew is 'eth, ' in Greek it is 'kairos.' So it’s the right time. Say, «The right time». Now this is Tehiyah, a Greek scholar. Another Greek scholar from word studies said of Kairos like this, «Time as opportunity», this is Kairos, «Time as opportunity, the suitable time, the right moment, a favorable moment». A moment of favor. Amen. That’s kairos.
So these people, they got the favor, they got the riches, they got the victory in the battle, amen, and won the race. These are men who had 'kairos' moments happening to them. They had God arranging for right time, right place. Only God can orchestrate right time, right place, amen. Look at the way 'kairos' is used in the New Testament. And New Testament is in Hebrew or Greek? Greek. Right? So let’s go to one use of it. You find Peter is preaching on the day of Pentecost and he says, «Therefore repent», he told the Jewish people, and return, «so that your sins may be wiped away in order that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord».
Times of refreshing is the word. Times is the word 'kairos.' And 'kairos' of refreshing comes from the presence of the Lord. Praise the name of Jesus, now 'Kairos' for the Greek. Eth for the Hebrew, timing, seasonable time, right time. All right, let’s look at the first occurrence of 'eth' in the Old Testament. The first time it appears, and we can learn something from there, the first time it appears, the story of Noah. You all know Noah? The flood was coming, and God told Noah to go into the ark to build the ark first, then go into the ark with his family. Amen. He was the only one who knew how to float his assets when the world was in liquidation. So, it’s a picture of all of us in Christ today, amen.
In Christ, the ark is like Christ. In fact, the word used to pitch, to seal the ark, they used pitch to seal. Right? The word pitch is the same word as atone. The atoning work of Jesus Christ. We are in Christ. We are safe from what is coming from outside. Amen. And we inside cannot drop or fall outside. We may fall inside the ark, But we never fall outside the ark. We are safe, amen, outside, there is destruction but inside, we are safe. So it’s so interesting that the first occurrence happens when Noah sends out the dove. First, he sent out a raven, then He sent the dove. And the Bible says, the dove came to Him in the evening. And behold, a freshly plucked olive leaf was in her mouth, and no 1 knew that the waters had receded from the earth.
Now this word, 'in the evening, ' is the word 'eth.' The evening, the word 'eth' is used. Imagine in the book of Genesis, the story of Adam and Eve, there’s no 'eth' used there, amen. Cain and Abel, no 'eth' used there. All the way until after the flood, then 'eth' happened. It’s like after the judgment, Passover Jesus as He bore our sins. Amen. Have you prayed for something and you find that it takes a long time for it to manifest? Sometimes some prayers, many prayers in fact, manifest almost instantly or at least very soon, right? But there are some that take a long time. Amen. It might take sometimes a year or more before it manifests. Like Abraham and Sarah, they believed God for a child and the child didn’t come until about 20 years after. That’s a long time. Don’t you think so?
Well, their manifestation is very interesting. You know what the Bible calls their manifestation? 'Kairos.' I’ll come to that, but first, notice Genesis 8:11. «The dove came to him in the evening». Have you noticed that the first time 'eth' is used, or 'kairos' in the Greek, right, it’s got to do with the dove. The dove is a picture of the Holy Spirit, so is the Holy Spirit in you that brings you to the right timing, right place? So the first time 'eth' is mentioned, 'Kairos' in the Greek, about right timing, it’s got to do with the Holy Spirit. Keep that in mind, we need the Holy Spirit this year. And that’s why I said that these things can only happen to believers because only believers have the Holy Spirit. And once you put your trust in Christ, He dwells in you and, «Greater is he that is in you than He that is in the world». Amen.
Now, let’s go to the New Testament and see how 'kairos' is used. Okay, we saw already in Acts 13, in the sermon on Pentecost when Peter preached, and he says that, «Times of refreshing». But I talked about Sarah just now, right, the year of manifestation. Here it is in Genesis 18, it says here, «I will certainly return to you according», God is talking to Abraham. «I will certainly return to you according to the time of life, and behold, Sarah your wife shall have a son». And Sarah was listening in the tent door who was behind him like many women, because they can’t trust their husband to tell them later on because he misses all the facts. She would say, is that all? He also said that, but what, any more, right? We guys are headliners, women are details, right? Guys are… Okay, never mind. Guys just, you know, you know? Women are more precise.
So she was listening to hear, and God says, «Abraham, this time next year, according to the time of life, according to the time». The word time is 'eth, ' which is a seasonable, favorable time Sarah shall have a son. If that is not enough, God repeats himself, drop down verse 14, «Is anything too hard for the Lord? At the appointed time I will return to you, according to the time of life, and Sarah shall have a son». Waiting for 20 years, and finally, when 'kairos' happens, the manifestation happens. That’s why I call this the 'Kairos Year.' This is the year of your manifestation. Whatever you’ve prayed for for years, it’s the year of manifestation, amen. You know the word, «Is anything too hard for the Lord»?
If you look it up in the Hebrew, it’s not just «too hard». The word is anything too wonderful for the Lord. Don’t you just love God’s Word? How it builds faith when you read it? Amen. Now, watch this, it says, according to the time of life, right? Look at what the New Testament says about the same verse when Paul wrote it in Romans 9:9, «For this is the word of promise», referring to the same incident, «At this time, 'Kairos, ' I will come and Sarah shall have a son». Can you see it? In the Hebrew, its 'eth, ' he has a son. So in other words, they were waiting for that miracle baby, they were both, all right, beyond the years already. Sarah, even when she was young, she was barren, and now, she’s 99 and he’s 100 years old. And God says, «we’ve been waiting for 20 years, God says, 'Your kairos moment is here.'»
But what I want you to see is this, when 'kairos' happened, manifestation happened. The long-awaited manifestation happened. But notice it comes together with 'kairos' season, at the 'kairos' season, Sarah will have a son. At this time of life, at this 'kairos' time, and God is giving us this year as the 'Kairos Year.' Amen, right time, right place. Now, I’ll come to the place part just in a while, but look at another verse that uses 'kairos' over here in Galatians, «Let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart». In fact, the context has got to do with giving, but it’s saying, «You don’t see your manifestation, you don’t see your harvest, don’t lose heart, don’t give up, we shall reap, when»?
In due season, we shall reap. Make a guess, «due season» in the Greek, what is it? What is it? I love this church, these people are amazing, amen. Invite me back, will you? Amen! I tell you, this is an amazing church. You got the right word, 'kairos.' «Due season» is 'kairos.' What happens when 'kairos' comes, that due season comes? We shall reap. Have you ever had this experience? «I must pray about this, I must pray about this». And before you had a chance to pray, answer came ready. You didn’t have to pray. Well, that will happen more and more this year. That’s why he said to me, «This will happen more». And when you see that happen, give glory to Jesus. There’s one reason why we’re sharing this theme of the year and all that, you see, all these things happening, you’ll give only one the glory. You won’t give it to the one, the instrument that God used. You won’t give it to another person or whatever. You’ll give the glory to Jesus.
When you pray and look to God, God will give you the best. He’ll give you the best, it’s a deal, or whatever it is, whether it’s an encounter. Don’t forget, many of these right moments and right timing, listen carefully, many of them happening this year will be you meeting someone that turns out to be someone who needs Jesus. Don’t forget, that’s the right timing, right place, not just for you, for that person! Don’t let that opportunity go by. Galatians 6 real fast, it says what? «In due season, we shall reap», right? The next verse says, «As we have opportunity», you know what the word opportunity is? 'kairos' also. So the emphasis here is on 'kairos.' As long as we have 'kairos, ' let us do good to all.
Now here, the first part refers to humanity as a whole, alright, community work, blessing the poor, the less fortunate, but especially those who are the household of faith. So doing our 'kairos' is not about me, I, myself, us, my family, it’s about being a blessing. There’s a word used for, the world out there use it. In fact, it was only invented in the 1700's by an Englishman from a fairy tale. And the word that describes 'qarah, ' right happening, the world out there calls it serendipity. Now what is serendipity? I’m going to give you a definition from the dictionary. Serendipity is, «An aptitude for making desirable discoveries by accident, good fortune».
The world calls it luck. You didn’t plan that day to meet your life partner, you just went because your friend told you to go somewhere and all that, and then you bumped into your life partner. Here today, you are married. You thought it was a chance happening, God arranged your steps. I see husbands and wives looking at each other. Actually, you don’t have to wait for this year, you’ve been experiencing it already, but this year will be more pronounced, more consistent so that you give glory to God when it happens. And please write to us also. We’d like to hear the testimonies. Amen. Even for your health, the Lord allows you to hear something, see something at the right time, amen.
So in other words, they do look for it. For example, «Seek you first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things you desire», and those are material physical things as well, he just got through telling us, «shall be added to you». You’re not running after them. You’re running after the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and then all these things are added to you, that’s serendipity. You’re pursuing something, and then you chance upon something fortunate, something good. Do you know that a lot of scientific discoveries, even medicine and all that, I can share a long list of it, like, for example, penicillin, is all a serendipitous discovery.
For example, penicillin that kills bacteria, Alexander Fleming, and he’s a Presbyterian Christian, by the way, he himself said that, «It was God who was involved in this experiment». Because he left a petri dish full of bacteria overnight, forgot to clear it, he just kept it to one side. He «left it by accident,» he says. «Accident». Next morning, he got up, there was a growth that stopped, and killed the bacterial growth. That’s how they discovered penicillin until today, it still kills bacteria, and saves many lives. And Alexander Fleming, that scientist, that’s the Presbyterian Christian, he says, it was God that caused all that to happen. God makes serendipity happen to us. Right time, right place. Has this blessed you?