Church Mission
Part 7 – When is When
Pastor Bruce A. Shields
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SERMON TIMELINE
·
Introduction
o Step One: Where do we Begin?
o The Disciples
o
Go and ‘Make’ Disciples
o
Get Your Nets
o
When, Where & How to Fish
WWhen is When?
INTRODUCTION
Today is Sunday. April 30th, 2023
Over
the last few weeks, we have taken a close look at and compared Luke 5 and Matthew 18 to better understand what our mission and ministry should be as a church
or member of the Body of Christ.
We
compared and could see Jesus’ ministry, which began in Luke 5, was the same as He stated in Matthew 18 at the end of His ministry; it was the Lord
who calls, gives direction, and commands what is to be accomplished.
Jesus
is the Lord of when, where and how.
We
talked last week about how many times in scripture the ministry and mission was
compared to sowing seed, watering, growing, harvesting. We need to remember
this allegory, because it will aid in your mission for Christ.
How?
Because once you understand that Christianity and following Christ takes time
and nurturing, you will understand patience and kindness to those whom you are
ministering to. Which is the first two actions listed in 1 Corinthians 13 when scripture descries love.
It
is less frustrating and disheartening when you are serving the Lord when you
understand that time and patience is needed in ministering to the lost.
This
brings us to today's message. How important God’s timing is.
ILLUSTRATION:
The
bride takes one more look at herself in the mirror before pulling her veil
down. With much anticipation and excitement she goes into the sanctuary and stands
at the front of the church. The pastor look’s at her and smiles.
She
smiles back.
The
pastor nervously looks about the congregation, then back to the bride, and
asks, “What are you doing?”
The
bride smiles and says, “I’m getting married!”
The
pastor nervously smiles again, “Yes, but that’s next week.”
Timing is
important!
The Lord’s Timing is of the Utmost Importance
SCRIPTURE READING (Legacy
Standard Bible)
Ecclesiastes 3:1-8
“There is an appointed time for everything. And there is a time for every
matter under heaven—
A time to give birth and a time to die;
A time to plant and a time to uproot what is planted.
A time to kill and a time to heal;
A time to tear down and a time to build up.
A time to weep and a time to laugh;
A time to mourn and a time to dance.
A time to throw stones and a time to gather stones;
A time to embrace and a time to shun embracing.
A time to search and a time to lose;
A time to keep and a time to throw away.
A time to tear apart and a time to sew together;
A time to be silent and a time to speak.
A time to love and a time to hate;
A time for war and a time for peace.”
The point these verses make is this, God has set a time for all things, regardless
of whether they appear to mortals as “good” or “bad,” the times have been appointed.
This is an example of predestination in action, without removing the free
will to choose God has so graciously given us. I may be powerless over the time
of my death, but I can choose the manner in which I live until then.
This also reveals to us that there are going to be times of heartache,
sadness, pain and suffering. But also times of peace, love, laughing, dancing,
healing, living!
But God’s timing of such matters serves His purpose, not ours.
ILLUSTRATION:
I learned at a very young age, cracking jokes and goofing off at my great
aunts funeral is frowned upon by most of society. Poor timing. In my characters
attempt to lighten the mood and make others feel better I upset others because
it appeared I did not care for my aunt.
This, of course, was completely wrong. I did care for her. In a bad time
in my life, I will always remember the kindness she showed me, just for the
sake of being kind.
However, we must listen closely to the Spirit of God, and watch, wait,
listen for His timing. Jesus is the Lord of “When.”
TODAY’S MESSAGE
I.
LISTEN
a.
How do you Hear when the Lord Speaks to You?
i.
Through
the reading the the Holy Word
ii.
Through
Prayer
iii.
In
quiet time and meditation on God’s Word
iv.
Through
others
b.
Listening is not the same as hearing
i.
You
may tell your child to do something and they answer back, “OK.”
1.
Then
they sit there, doing nothing.
2.
They
“heard” you, but did not “listen” to you.
ii.
We
don’t want to just “hear” the Spirit of God, we want to “listen.”
c.
Knowing the difference between the Lord and everything else
i.
It
will always line up with scripture
1. Sometimes
the Spirit has led some prophets to do some incredible things.
a.
However,
some of the things prophets of old had to do were because there was no Bible,
and the foundation of belief of God was established through various extremes,
because as you know, news travels when it is extraordinary.
b.
Isaiah 20:2-4 “at
that time Yahweh spoke by the hand of Isaiah the son of Amoz, saying, “Go and
loosen the sackcloth from your hips and take your shoes off your feet.” And he
did so, going naked and barefoot. And Yahweh said, “Even as My servant Isaiah
has gone naked and barefoot three years as a sign and wonder against Egypt and
Ethiopia, so the king of Assyria will lead away the captives of Egypt and the
exiles of Ethiopia, young and old, naked and barefoot with buttocks uncovered,
to the shame of Egypt.”
i.
Though
not out of the realm of possibilities, it is very unlikely any of us are called
to be a major prophet and have to go to these extremes to get the message of
God across to the people.
ii.
We
have the complete revelation of God in His Holy Word, and need nothing more
today to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
iii.
Because
of the cross and what the Lord accomplished there, the Holy Spirit can now
dwell within mankind and be his guide and teacher in all he hears.
iv.
John 14:16
“But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will
teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you.”
v.
Luke 12:12
“the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say.”
2.
The
key is to compare what is said with what the Bible says. When God speaks to a
person today, it is in 100% complete agreement with what God has already said
in the Bible.
3.
God
does not contradict Himself. 1 John 4:1 instructs us, “Dear
friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they
are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.”
4.
1 Thessalonians 5:20-21 declares, “Do not treat prophecies with contempt. Test everything.
Hold on to the good.”
5.
So,
whether it is a “word from the Lord” or a supposed prophecy, our
response should be the same. Compare what is said to what the Word of God says.
If it contradicts the Bible, throw it out.
6.
If
it agrees with the Bible, pray for wisdom and discernment as to how to apply
the message (2 Timothy 3:16-17; James 1:5).
7.
And
if anyone claims to be a prophet or have a Word from God, and they are wrong,
even once, they are a false prophet and have nothing to do with what they say.
ii.
What
the Spirit of God speaks will always benefit the Kingdom (though we may not
always know how)
iii.
The
more time you spend in the Word and Prayer, the easier it will be to recognize
the voice of God.
1.
When
my wife calls me and I answer the phone, I don’t need a caller ID to know it is
her I am speaking to. I know her voice.
II.
OBEDIENCE
a.
What Good is a Command if it has Been Ignored?
i.
I
asked my boys to clean their room. They heard, but did not listen.
ii.
We
need to listen and DO what the Spirit of God reveals to us.
b.
What Good is Obedience to Our Faith Walk?
i.
Continual
“hearing” and “obeying” grows us in faith and our walk, and brings us ever
closer to God.
c.
How can we be Sure we are Obeying?
i.
If
the Lord reveals a “when,” then you do not move until then.
ii.
The
Lord gave me a “when” approximately 1 year after my salvation.
1.
“I”
will make you a pillar in “MY” church
2.
and
you will teach my Word to my people.
iii.
I
did not understand until years later that “pillar” was an allegory in the Old
Testament Tabernacle and Temple for an Elder.
iv.
One
day the pastor of the Baptist church approached me and said, “The Elder’s have
recognized a calling on you from God to preach and teach. They want you to
become an Elder.”
1.
It
was then I realized what God had said was fulfilled.
2.
I
did not seek that position, and never told anyone other than my mother and wife
what God had said to me.
v.
KEY
TAKEAWAY
1.
I
will make you = God did it, just as He said He would
2.
In
my church = Body of Christ, not a building or denomination
3.
You
will teach My Word to My People = I am not an evangelist, I am called to teach
God’s Word to His people. I am a teacher.
God
gave me a calling.
When?
When He would make me a pillar.
Where?
Within His church, the Body of Christ.
How?
I would teach His Word to His People.
III.
SUCCESS
a.
Where Comes After the When (Sometimes before)
i.
Sometimes
you may get the where before the when.
ii.
However,
it usually comes after the When.
iii.
Sometimes
God may put the where on your heart long before the when.
1.
A
heart for children
2.
Mission
work in a certain place
3.
A
call to evangelize
iv.
We
still must listen to the when, and remain within God’s timing.
b.
The Lord’s Voice will be Confirmed
i.
Through
the reading of God’s Word
ii.
Through
other believer’s
1.
As
it was with the Baptist Elder’s and Pastor for me
iii.
Sometimes
through non-believers
1.
If
the lord can speak through a donkey, He can speak through whomever He chooses.
a.
However,
it will still line up perfectly with the Word of God if it is Him.
c.
You are Ready for Where (or When)
i.
Once
you know the when, you are ready for the where.
ii.
Unless
you know the where, in that case, you are ready for the when.
God’s Timing is the ONLY Timing we need to be Concerned
with!
CONCLUSION
The Lord will give us a mission, sometimes multiple missions, in this
life. When we eagerly peruse Him, and His Will, He will bring you to the place
He wants you to be, when He wants you there, and make known to you, what it is He
wants you to accomplish.
Sometimes we are to “get the door open” for the gospel.
Sometimes we are to “Sow the seed” of God’s Word.
Sometimes we are to build, encourage, strengthen, edify, grow, water,
that seed through the Holy Spirit within us doing a work.
Sometimes we are there to bring that brother or sister to the decision of
Christ, and lead them to the next step of Baptism, the outward expression of
the spiritual truth which took place within their heart, preparing the way for
God’s Holy Spirit.
There are many stages of the Christian walk, and every stage needs a
Saint and a minister of the Gospel to be there.
All those who belong to the Lord are Saint, ministers and part of the
Holy Priesthood, and the Lord Jesus Christ is our High Priest, leading us and
guiding us through obedience to Him. If we will listen.
Next week: Where is Where?
NEXT WEEK
Part 8 – Where is Where?
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