Being Reminded.
Ecclesiastes 3:1-11NKJV
So the bank calls you on Friday afternoon and tells you that someone is going to be giving you a deposit each day of 86,400 pennies each day starting on Monday morning. That is $864 a day, seven days a week, 52 weeks a year
But there is one stipulation… you have to spend all the money that same day. No balance will be carried over to the next day.
Each evening the bank must cancel whatever sum you failed to use.
You start to think about that $864 times seven days, that’s over $6000 a week and almost $315,000, a year that you could spend if you were diligent. But remember what you don’t spend is forfeited.
Well so much for “pretend” Now let’s play “let’s get serious”
Every morning someone who loves you very much deposits into your account of time 86,400 seconds—which is 1,440 minutes which of course is 24 hours each day
Now you’ve got to remember the same stipulation applies, because God gives you this amount of time for you to use each day
Nothing is carried over on credit to the next day
According to Biblical history—King Solomon, (David’s youngest son), was the wisest ruler, and King of all time.
What made Solomon wise? Anything and everything was on the table, and Solomon chose understanding and insight. Solomon wanted the wisdom to understand the times, days and seasons etc.
1 Chronicles 12:32a And of the children of Issachar, which were men that had—understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do…
One thing for sure—The wise think a lot. They study timelines, they discern seasons of opportunity, seasons of sowing, and seasons of harvesting and storing.
Hear me, The wise understand seasons.
Solomon writes under God’s inspiration this wonderful reminder:
Ecclesiastes 3:1-8NKJV To everything there is a season, A time for every purpose under heaven: 2 A time to be born, And a time to die; A time to plant, And a time to pluck what is planted; 3 A time to kill, And a time to heal; A time to break down, And a time to build up; 4 A time to weep, And a time to laugh; A time to mourn, And a time to dance; 5 A time to cast away stones, And a time to gather stones; A time to embrace, And a time to refrain from embracing; 6 A time to gain, And a time to lose; A time to keep, And a time to throw away; 7 A time to tear, And a time to sew; A time to keep silence, And a time to speak; 8 A time to love, And a time to hate; A time of war, And a time of peace.
In 1973, Jim Croce wrote, Time In A Bottle—"If I could save time in a bottle…The first thing that I'd like to do…Is to save every day…'Til eternity passes away…Just to spend them with you.”
The Apostle Paul stated in, Ephesians 5:15-18NKJV See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, 16 redeeming the time, because the days are evil. 17 Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is. 18 And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit,
The infilling of the Holy Spirit is for you to redeem the time.
Q&A—Can you discern the season and time you’re presently in? The wise do.
Everyone listen, It does not matter who you are, you’ll go through season’s. Hard seasons, dry seasons, and yes, even harvest seasons!
Here’s the truth about seasons—Some season’s in life seem to linger, primarily because of unresolved issues out of your control.
Jesus spoke some powerful words in the sermon on the Mount. We might know these words as the Beatitudes. These words are found in Matthew 5, through chapter 7. They are also also found in, Luke 6.
Jesus said these words about prayer.
Matthew 7:7-11NKJV “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. 9 Or what man is there among you who, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent? 11 If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!
The next part of this message from Jesus comes from, Luke the physician.
Jesus stated in, Luke 6:38NKJV Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you.”
In the day and time you’re presently in, as you ask, seek and knock, God will strategically place you where you need to be. P.H
During these times, days and seasons, keep on—knocking, keep on—asking, keep on—seeking. As you do, Again Jesus say’s, For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you.”
In, John 16:33AMP Jesus states this about seasons. 33 I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have [perfect] peace. In the world you have tribulation and distress and suffering, but be courageous [be confident, be undaunted, be filled with joy]; I have overcome the world.” [My conquest is accomplished, My victory abiding.]
As season’s change, or possibly seem unending, remember this, Ask God for its— meaning.
What can I learn from this season? Finally when the season concludes make sure you celebrate God’s big picture.
This is for certain, In the days and times we live in, It’s easy to catch—spiritual amnesia.
We forget our deliverance.
We forget our blessings.
We forget our praise.
Going back to King Solomon, Pertaining to times, days, and season’s—
Seasons seem to dictate what and how we respond to them:
We’re reminded of past Christmas’ when things were simple.
We’re reminded of those we’ve lost—death takes it toil.
We’re reminded of situations in life that can’t be repaired.
We’re reminded of Separation, Divorce. Addictions. Personality issues.
We’re reminded of estrange children.
We’re reminded of times when everyone seemed to be laughing. Jovial, joyous times.
We’re reminded daily that most Americans are just one, and at most, just two paychecks away from Financial disaster.
We’re reminded of pain in general… physical emotional and even spiritual pain.
We’re reminded that loneliness is real.
Around the Thanksgiving/Christmas season are some of the loneliest times. Strongholds try to invade our times and seasons.
Can I remind you that Jesus is the only antidote to every stronghold.
Strongholds meaning, physical and emotional walls, fortified barrier’s, walls that seemingly entrap, or enslave us.
Barriers, that were well meaning, but now… it’s another story.
Barriers of fear, a voice saying no, you’re not good enough.
Barriers of the fear of man. Barriers of insecurity.
Barriers of past…past mistakes…failures…hurts.
Ready for a cold hard fact, The devil doesn’t want you happy. He wants you to think and believe that your best times/days is behind you. P.H
Daniel 7:25AMP—Daniel sees a vision of a fourth beast. 25 He will speak words against the Most High [God] and wear down the saints of the Most High, and he will intend to change the times and the law; and they will be given into his hand…
Again, Daniel 7:25aNLT He will defy the Most High and oppress the holy people of the Most High…wear out, or wear down the saints.
Q&A: Can satan be messing with your season, day or time?
We’ve all been through unwanted situations and life-challenges that try to interfere with our desirable seasons.
Again I was reminded after reading the last two chapters of Revelation, God wins, and we win!
Listen to the conclusion of, Daniel 7:26-27NLT “But then the court will pass judgment, and all his power will be taken away and completely destroyed. 27 Then the sovereignty, power, and greatness of all the kingdoms under heaven will be given to the holy people of the Most High. His kingdom will last forever, and all rulers will serve and obey him.”
I think it’s safe to say there’s Saints of God that need to experience, and or see, a grand arrival of Jesus’ miracle working power. They need to be reminded of God’s rule, power and complete authority.
Solomon brings a powerful conclusion to seasons: Ecclesiastes 3:9-11NKJV What profit has the worker from that in which he labors? 10 I have seen the God-given task with which the sons of men are to be occupied. 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.
Hear that again, “He—God has put Eternity in the heart of man.”
Fact, Eternity in the heart of man does not change. It’s not dictated by time, dates or season.
As I’ve read and studied this text I’m reminded. I’m reminded that there is a time. A day, A month, and season’s change.
God controls the season. Genesis 8:22NKJV “While the earth remains, Seedtime and harvest, Cold and heat, Winter and summer, And day and night Shall not cease.”
Do you understand the season you’re presently in?
We have a divine promise as long as the earth lasts there will be seasons of planting and harvesting. There will be times of hot and cold. There will be spring, summer, fall and winter. We have this confidence that day and night will never cease.
I remind you of this fact, Seeds planted generate new life.
By Solomon making this last statement,
11b. He has put eternity in mans heart…
Truth—“Eternity placed within the heart of man, keeps him on track. Times, dates and seasons change, but God is the same, yesterday, today and forever—Hebrews 13:8.
Benediction.
