WHAT’S THE TIME MR WOLF?
John 7:1~39
1. INTRODUCTION
Do you have a mission statement? It is a popular concept in both the private and public sector to have a short statement outlining the goal of the organisation. My personal goal is to be bold, not to miss an opportunity and not to fall. My wife’s is to keep it simple, live a life of love, for Jesus. Jesus had a mission. It was only to do what the Father was doing. It also meant living His life on the Father’s timeline and not the world’s.
Jesus mentions several times in John Chapter 7 “For me the right time has not yet come”. He was so aware of being within the will and timing of God. When my dear mother-in-law was diagnosed with cancer time took on a new concept. I want to share some thoughts with you today that I hope God will use to encourage and bless you whatever circumstances you are going through at this time.
2. TIME IS SHORT!
For us time felt so short as a family, how long would we have together? We just didn’t know. So every moment felt so precious for the things we still wanted to do or say. But in a sense time is always short. As none of us know the time we will be called home, it’s important to make the right decisions, to be doing the things Jesus wants us to do and live lives pleasing to Him. Time maybe short for us all as surely Jesus is standing at the door. We can see from Matthew 24 that many of the signs Jesus told us would signal His coming and the end of the age have or are happening.
3. WAITING IS THE HARD BIT
Waiting for all the tests to be carried out and for the results, endless hours waiting for information either at the hospital or by the phone at home was easily the hardest bit to endure. We don’t wait patiently that’s for sure. Yet Jesus didn’t move without the Father’s direction. He deliberately stayed away before it was the right time for Him to go to the Feast in John 7. Similarly He waited before going to Mary and Martha when Lazarus was sick. In fact Lazarus was buried before Jesus got there. Not that that presented any problems for Jesus! After all He is the Resurrection and the Life. He holds the keys of death and Hades.
Notice that Jesus did not give into pressure from family or dearly loved friends to move outside of the perfect will and timing of God. And nor should we.
4. THE TIME IS NOW ~ THE GOSPEL
Jesus made a special announcement in John 7:37. He stood up at the feast and spoke in a loud voice deliberately to get the crowd’s attention. He’s making the same invitation to those who don’t know Him today.
“If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink.”
With time so short I urge you to make a personal commitment to follow Jesus as your Lord and Saviour. It’s not something to put off or delay until another time. God says in His word:
“I tell you, now is the time of God’s favour, now is the day of salvation.” (2 Cor 6:2).
This is the day of salvation.
5. THE RIGHT TIME
Jesus said to His brothers in John 7:6 that:
“The right time for Me has not yet come; for you any time is right”.
His time was not governed by this world’s principles and objectives. He was in the will of the Father and on His timetable. We need to know the will and timing of God for our lives too.
James Chapter 4 talks about those who boast: “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money”.
In reply James says “Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow”. He says instead we ought to say, “If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that”.
Our whole happiness and joy is going to depend upon being in God’s will and timing. Because believe me it won’t work if were not. God will make sure of that! I don’t know about you but being swallowed by the equivalent of Jonah’s wale for not doing what God has in mind for me doesn’t sound like a pleasant experience. Let’s choose to follow the Lord wherever and whenever He wants. It may not be by the scenic route; in fact I think we can count on it that it won’t be! But it will be for our eternal glory and benefit. After all we are not just living for the here and now.
6: IN TIME WE GROW!
It’s in the difficult time we grow. Those hard times equip us with the growth we need in order to minister and help other through the difficulties they are going through. God doesn’t waste any of the experiences we go through. For:
“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him”. Romans 8:28
7. IN TIME IT GOES!
They say after a mother has given birth she forgets her pain. Maybe some of you know differently! But there is a sense in which these times of pain do go. Barbara Johnson always loves to quote the verse “It came to pass”! But when you are really going through painful times it seems that it will never end.
You know Jesus faced persecution from His own family for it says in John 7:5 that “even His own brothers did not believe in Him”. But later on at least two of His brothers became very prominent believers in the early church; we even have letters written by James and Jude in the Bible. When we become Christians we too can face very painful times of persecution, experiencing hurtful words and actions from family, friends and work colleagues. They give up eventually when they see you are persistent, steadfast and firm. But remember how ever difficult it is to go through those times we grow and it goes!
8. WORRYING IS A WASTE OF TIME!
We can waste our time by worrying! I think some of us are more prone to worrying than others. My wife would tell you she learnt some hard lessons during her mother’s illness. That worrying is not going to help. In fact it will make it worse. That your mind can race ahead imagining all kinds of things that may or may not happen, leaving you wore out. Jesus wants us to take one day at a time. That’s enough believe me. We are promised strength for each day. Remember the Lord’s Prayer ~“Give us this day our daily bread”
However difficult the circumstances maybe, choose to wake up each morning, receive all that you need from God for today, and take it one step at time, believing that He will order your steps and guide you. God promises never to leave or forsake you however hard the times are that you are going through.
9. USING TIME WISELY
Lillian Pook taught her pupils wisely. Treat others, as you would like to be treated. Spread a little happiness every day. Her pupils have never forgotten the effect that this ex-missionary and teacher, once caught and tortured by the Gestapo had on them, writing to the local paper to share their memories of this godly lady.
Considering that she is over a 100 years old I think she has truly made the most of her time. Lets do the same.
But if we want to use our time wisely we need to take to heart John 7:38~39:
“Whoever believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him”. By this He meant the Spirit whom those who believed in Him were later to receive.
You know we need those streams of living water if we are going to make a difference in this hurting world around us. Without the power of the Holy Spirit we will make ineffective use of the time we have. Why? Because without Him we are not equipped to do the things the Father is doing. We need to pray for a fresh outpouring of His Holy Spirit so that we, who are so powerless, are empowered to do the things God wants us to do.
CONCLUSION
Maybe you feel like you are living on borrowed time. Remember the title of this message? What’s the time Mr Wolf? As little children we use to play a game, where we crept up silently behind Mr Wolf who would keep telling us the time. Until suddenly he would turn round and decide it was time to chase and eat you all up. Life can feel like the wolf is chasing you and there is no time left. But if I can say one thing into your hearts today it would be to live every moment of the time you have for Jesus, even if that bad old wolf is chasing you and your time is running out.
Ephesians 5: 15~17 “Be very careful then, how you live ~ not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.
