Seasons - What Is God Up To - 4

Subject: Understanding The Seasons In Our Lives

By Rick Welborne

Eccl 3:1 & 11-14 NKJV
1 To everything there is a season, A time for every purpose under heaven: 
11 He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also He has put eternity in their hearts, except that no one can find out the work that God does from beginning to end.
12 I know that nothing is better for them than to rejoice, and to do good in their lives,
13 and also that every man should eat and drink and enjoy the good of all his labor--it is the gift of God.
14 I know that whatever God does, It shall be forever. Nothing can be added to it, And nothing taken from it. God does it, that men should fear before Him.
–We have looked at the seasons and timing of God during the last three weeks...
–We have seen how he takes us from chronos time (a general time) to a kairos time (an opportune time when we think something is about to happen).
–Last week we talked about pleroo which is the fulness of time where what we have prayed for has come to fruition.
–As I was preparing this sermon the Holy Spirit reminded me of the promise the Lord gave to Abraham because of his obedience...preached on this a few years ago:
Gen 22:15-18 (NKJV)
15 Then the Angel of the LORD called to Abraham a second time out of heaven, 
16 and said: "By Myself I have sworn, says the LORD, because you have done this thing, and have not withheld your son, your only son--
17 "blessing I will bless you, and multiplying I will multiply your descendants as the stars of the heaven and as the sand which is on the seashore; and your descendants shall possess the gate of their enemies.
18 "In your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed, because you have obeyed My voice."
–God promised him Blessings, Multiplication, his children storming the gates of hell, and the nations being touched through them! Remember though, he waited 21 years.
–This is our aim, our goal birthed out of our worship to God and our obedience to Him.
–Dutch Sheets in speaking of these transitions in our lives and of the seasons in our lives gives four scriptural references which speak of these shifts or changes.
Prov 4:18 (NIV)
18 The path of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn, shining ever brighter till the full light of day.
Romans 1:17 (NKJV)
17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, "The just shall live by faith."
2 Cor 3:18 (NKJV)
18 But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.
–This is going from one God encounter to another! Some need this God encounter now! Salvation was good but you need a fresh touch!
Psalms 84:4-7 (NKJV)
4 Blessed are those who dwell in Your house; They will still be praising You. Selah
5 Blessed is the man whose strength is in You, Whose heart is set on pilgrimage.
6 As they pass through the Valley of Baca, They make it a spring; The rain also covers it with pools.
7 They go from strength to strength; Each one appears before God in Zion. 
1. Pilgrimage - this journey God has us on.
2. They pass thru the Valley of Baca...valley of weeping...they pass thru...they pass thru!
See the transition...general time (pain), opportune time (expectation), fullness of time..
They pass thru!
3. They make it a spring...what do you make your mess?...when life gives you lemons...make lemonaide...when you experience grapes of wrath...make it new wine.
What do you make it?
4. The rain covers it with pools...this speaks of abundance...not just a spring but overflowing blessings...Remember Abraham.
–God promised Abraham Blessings, Multiplication, children storming the gates of hell, and the nations being touched through them!
5. See the progression...see the transition...they go from strength to strength!
6. See the reward...Each one appears before God in Zion. Jesus said my reward is with me! Oh I want to see Him...look upon His face.
–Pastor Rick, whether we are in the general process of time or the opportune time what is it that we should be doing right now?
1. We must accept responsibility to do our part.
Sheets: God will do what only He can do; we must also do what He expects and requires of us during the time of transition. Don’t make the mistake of overemphasizing the sovereignty of God. In other words, it is dangerous to believe that God will make sure that we get to fullness, no matter what we do. The generation of Israelites who perished in the desert is proof that fullness is not automatically guaranteed.
–God is telling Israel now is your fullness of time...example Joshua 1.
Josh 1:1-2 (NKJV) 
1 After the death of Moses the servant of the LORD, it came to pass that the LORD spoke to Joshua the son of Nun, Moses' assistant, saying:
2 "Moses My servant is dead. Now therefore, arise, go over this Jordan, you and all this people, to the land which I am giving to them--the children of Israel.
–Joshua, Moses is dead...now you do what I am telling you..be responsible! Like Joshua we have to be responsible to hear and obey God.
2. We will have to move in great faith.
–"Moses My servant is dead. Now therefore, arise, go over this Jordan..."
–Move in faith...don’t care that others were afraid...you move in faith and trust me!
–If we will have revival...someone will have to lead...move in faith to trust God!
–You may have to step out to cross your Jordan...step out in faith and trust God!
3. We must be very flexible.
Josh 1:11 (NKJV)
11 "Pass through the camp and command the people, saying, 'Prepare provisions for yourselves, for within three days you will cross over this Jordan, to go in to possess the land which the LORD your God is giving you to possess.' "
–Three days...are you crazy...we do not have time to prepare...can’t do it.
–Those who are not pliable will never move with God...obey quickly.
–Israel has waited for 40 years and now they have to be ready in 3 days...what?
–Get ready with your family, your business, your church to move quickly with God...we cannot afford to miss His timing and His season.
4. We must remember the basics.
–God told Joshua to stick with the manual...the basics.
Josh 1:7-8 (NKJV)
7 "Only be strong and very courageous, that you may observe to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may prosper wherever you go.
8 "This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.
–Stick to the Book...meditate on it night and day. Do what it says and you will be blessed and have good success.
Psalms 119:105 (NKJV)
105 Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path. 
5. We need to hold fast to past promises.
Josh 1:6 (NKJV)
6 "Be strong and of good courage, for to this people you shall divide as an inheritance the land which I swore to their fathers to give them.
–Swore to their fathers...we need to grab hold of past promises and trust God.
–Godly words spoken over Timothy by Paul:
1 Tim 1:18 (NKJV)
18 This charge I commit to you, son Timothy, according to the prophecies previously made concerning you, that by them you may wage the good warfare,
–Past saints of Life Church have promised revival is coming...somebody needs to take hold of that with your pastor...1000 plus is coming!
6. We must live in complete obedience.
–Twelve times in Josh.1 is obedience emphasized...word command used 8 times. God would never command us do do anything we could not do!
–Sheets says that it is imperative that we obey and that we obey quickly. Samuel tried to convince Saul...obedience was better than his offerings:
1 Sam 15:22 (NKJV)
22 Then Samuel said: "Has the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, As in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, And to heed than the fat of rams.
7. We need to realize there will be battles we have to fight.
Josh 1:3 (NKJV)
3 "Every place that the sole of your foot will tread upon I have given you, as I said to Moses.
–Hebrew word for tread (darak)...military term...not just a walk but treading on your enemies...treading on your enemies means you are fighting and winning.
–Between the promise and the prize there is a process and that process is usually a fight...seems that it intensifies right before the victory!
8. We must recognize our need for help.
Joshua 1:12-17 (NLT) 
12 Then Joshua called together the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh. He told them,
13 "Remember what Moses, the servant of the LORD, commanded you: ‘The LORD your God is giving you a place of rest. He has given you this land.’
14 Your wives, children, and livestock may remain here in the land Moses assigned to you on the east side of the Jordan River. But your strong warriors, fully armed, must lead the other tribes across the Jordan to help them conquer their territory. Stay with them 
15 until the LORD gives them rest, as he has given you rest, and until they, too, possess the land the LORD your God is giving them. Only then may you return and settle here on the east side of the Jordan River in the land that Moses, the servant of the LORD, assigned to you." 
16 They answered Joshua, "We will do whatever you command us, and we will go wherever you send us.
17 We will obey you just as we obeyed Moses. And may the LORD your God be with you as he was with Moses.
–Joshua was going to need help and we will too. Don’t be so prideful or arrogant to ask for help and prayers. You have not because you do not ask.
–You will probably be surprised how many are willing to help if they only knew your need. Everybody needs somebody sometimes! Dean Martin
9. We must let His peace sustain us.
Josh 1:9 (NKJV)
9 "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go."

Phil 4:6-7 (NKJV)
6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God;
7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
–Our peace is birthed out of the absolute fact that God is with us! Here is a great word for all of us from Paul:
Col 3:15-17 (NKJV)
15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful.
16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.

17 And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.