SN122291 Knowing the right time Luke 2:6
Beginning:
Does anyone here know what time it really is, really? GMT (Greenwich mean time) is the standard military time all over the world. Pilots refer to it as Zulu time.
I love daylight saving time. Gail and I enjoy long summer evenings in the garden or on the back deck. In the winter we go to work in the dark and return the same.
John Burroughs, born in 1837 and died in 1921 said, “I still find each day too short for all the thoughts I want to think, all the walks I want to take, all the books I want to read, and all the friends I want to see. The longer I live, the more my mind dwells upon the beauty and wonder of the world.”
Time is an interesting concept. It comes to us like knots in a string. Sometimes my string is like a bird’s nest as it seems life comes in big confusing bunches.
A. W. Tozer said, “That God appears at time’s beginning is not too difficult to comprehend, but that he appears at the beginning and end of time simultaneously is not so easy to grasp. Time is known to us by a succession of events . . . . Changes take place not all at once but in succession, one after the other, and it is the relation of "after" to "before" that gives us our idea of time . . .. God is not compelled so to wait. For him everything that will happen has already happened. “
Measuring time is different depending upon which sex you represent. When a man says there is one minute and thirty seconds on the scoreboard a woman thinks the trash will be taken out in one minute and thirty seconds. A good quarterback can stretch one minute and thirty seconds into thirty. When a woman says she will be ready in five minutes she means five minutes in geological time. When I order something from a catalog I want it delivered in two dog weeks.
Some wonder if it is time to get married. Others wonder if it is time to change jobs/careers. Is it time to get involved in church? Is it time to grow spiritually?
There are two Greek words for time: Chronos (Chronological) and Karios (Seasonal). However you are defining time you need to know this is now our time. Illustration Dead Poets Society movie
Read Eccl 3:1 There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven:3:2 a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot,3:3 a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build,3:4 a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance,3:5 a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, a time to embrace and a time to refrain,3:6 a time to search and a time to give up, a time to keep and a time to throw away,3:7 a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak,3:8 a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace.
Let me ask you again, What time is it?
Background:
Luke’s account of Jesus’ life contains many time references.
Luke says God knew the right time (Chronos and Karios) to send Jesus.
Historically, religiously, sociologically, culturally, politically and on and on it was the perfect time for God to send His son.
Burden
Many people fail to notice the time. They may think that tomorrow or next week will be the best time for this and that, but the only time we have to control is now. I hope this message is a wake up call to my hearers as it impacts our use of time.
Basic Truth
The most important thing anyone can know is what time it is
Big Question:
What time is it, right now in your life?
Is it time for you to commit your life to Jesus?
Luke 1:26 In the sixth month, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee,27 to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary.28 The angel went to her and said, "Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you."29 Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be.30 But the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God.31 You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus.32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David,33 and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end."34 "How will this be," Mary asked the angel, "since I am a virgin?"35 The angel answered, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God.36 Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be barren is in her sixth month.37 For nothing is impossible with God."38 "I am the Lord’s servant," Mary answered. "May it be to me as you have said."
An angel with a great announcement visited Mary. Mary, you will be the mother of the Son of God. Mary, you have been highly favored. Mary knew what the angel meant. She was a child of her culture. She knew the time was right for Messiah to come. She got it. She said, “I am the Lord’s servant.” In other words, If God wants to use me, go ahead.
Illustration
If we had only known what time the plans would slam into the twin towers and the Pentagon how many lives could have been saved? One minute’s difference could have made all the difference. What time is it really?
It is time to make a commitment if you are sick of the way you’re living now
It is time if your life is not working without Jesus
It is time if you hear the soft whisper in the deepest place saying, “Now”.
It is time you ended your waiting
Luke 2:34 Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother: "This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against,35 so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too."36 There was also a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was very old; she had lived with her husband seven years after her marriage,37 and then was a widow until she was eighty-four. She never left the temple but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying.38 Coming up to them at that very moment, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem.
An old prophetess and an old Prophet had awaited the birth of this child all their lives. They looked for him every day. When they saw Jesus they knew the purpose for which they had been born was accomplished. Their long wait was over.
Illustration:
I have a dog named Maggie who is waiting for her purpose in life to be revealed. She has a thousand years of genetics in her blood to hunt, find, and point quail. It is so sad that there are no quail for her to hunt. Has she missed her time? Has Maggie been born too late?
Have you wondered why you were born? Who knows but you entire life has been heading for such a time as now. This could be the life changing day when you step across the chasm of unbelief and into the light of faith.
It is time to let Jesus be born in your manger
Luke 2:4 So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David.5 He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child.6 While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born,7 and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.
The Father knew what time it was. It was the right time politically because of the Pax Romana. The message of the birth could travel well on Roman roads. It was a good time religiously as people were desperately searching for truth, values and absolutes upon which to build their lives. The Greeks were experimenting with democracy, African and Ancient Near Eastern nations were emerging and the good news that God forgives came at just the right time.
Is it time for you to let Him be born in you?
Here is how you will know if this is right. You will be aware of your sinfulness. You will have a desire to be different. You will have a strange longing to be part of something and have friends that build you up instead of pulling you down.
What do I want you to know?
There is a right time to submit to God. That time is now.
What do I want you to do?
Abandon your life plans and submit them into His divine plan for your life.
He has a wonderful plan, and a divine time schedule.
