Our Times Are In God’s Hands! Series

Topic: Sunday Sermon Series - Palms for the New Year

Title: Our Times are in God’s Hands! (Part 1)

Text: Psalm 31:14-15 - Begin message by reading Psalm 31:1-15

Intro: Since the beginning of the new year, we have been considering the topic of time. The bible has much to say about it. One of the most sobering is found in Ecclesiastes 3:

Ecclesiastes 3 (NIV)

1 There is a time for everything,

and a season for every activity under the heavens:

2 a time to be born and a time to die,

a time to plant and a time to uproot,

3 a time to kill and a time to heal,

a time to tear down and a time to build,

4 a time to weep and a time to laugh,

a time to mourn and a time to dance,

5 a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,

a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing,

6 a time to search and a time to give up,

a time to keep and a time to throw away,

7 a time to tear and a time to mend,

a time to be silent and a time to speak,

8 a time to love and a time to hate,

a time for war and a time for peace. (siaesiates e

Did you notice that approximately 50% of the things mentioned we would consider to be negative? Mourning, weeping, dying, etc.?

Well the bible says much about the “times” that we are presently living in. They are identified as “the last days.” And what can we expect in the last days? Paul by the inspiration by the Holy Spirit said this about these days:

2 Timothy 3:1 But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. -NIV

The idea of terrible communicates the fact that these days will be…

Terrible -?a?ep?? (chalepoi)- Difficult, dangerous, and furious.

The definition for time, is not only:

Times - ?a???? (kairoi) - An occasion a fixed and definite period.

But it also…

Times - ?a???? (kairos) refers to a season or more specifically to a fixed and definite time possessing certain characteristics.

Times - ?a???? (kairoi) - The time when things are brought to crisis, the decisive epoch waited for!

What is the epoch waited for?

Ephesians 1:10 This plan, which God will complete when the time is right, is to bring all creation together, everything in heaven and on earth, with Christ as head.-GNT

Ephesians 1:10 He planned to bring all of history to its goal in Christ. Then Christ would be the head of everything in heaven and on earth. -GWT

Nicky Gumble writes something interesting about thist…

Nicky Gumble - In the West, many people assume history is aimless: ‘Full of sound and fury, signifying nothing’ (as Shakespeare put it in Macbeth). Many Eastern religions tend to regard history as either circular or illusory, while Marxists understand history in terms of class struggle.

Nicky Gumble - In contrast to all these views, the New Testament sees history as moving towards a climax. The ultimate struggle is between good and evil – ending with the triumph of good and God.

Nicky Gumble - The kingdom of God will not fail. God is working his purposes out in history. Jesus is the centerpiece. All lines in history converge on him. As someone has said: ‘The hinge of history is on the door of a Bethlehem stable.’

Nicky Gumble - History is ‘His story’. As you hear the news and read history books you get some of the details. As

you read the Bible you get the big picture.

Nicky Gumble - God is the Sovereign Lord of history. But we are not mere robots. You are not being moved around like a piece on a chessboard. Rather, you have a part to play. God involves you in his plans. God works out his purposes in co-operation with his people.

Well with this in mind I would like to bring to you a message that I’ve entitled from the 31st Psalm:

Our Times are In God’s Hand!

And with that being the reality of our lives and future, I agree with a statement written by Octavius Winslow regarding this:

Octavius Winslow – The declaration that “our times are in the Lord’s hands,” implies that the future of our history is impenetrably and mysteriously veiled from our sight,

We have definite and clear scriptural picture for how it will end, but the mystery lies in the present. What will be the road, and the way between now and the ultimate climatic end when God brings all things in subjection to His Son? What can we expect? Where do I fit in and what may await me?

Acts 1:6 So when the apostles were with Jesus, they kept asking him, “Lord, has the time come for you to free Israel and restore our kingdom -NLT