Season's Of God

The Seasons of God

November 19, 2000

Intro: A number of years ago, there was a report from Russia that they had had a disastrous mismanagement of their collective farms. Here were hundreds of trucks on the Steppes, tractors as well as combine-harvesters, but they arrived too late. Because of their blundering everything fell in a heap, and it was a most tragic thing to see thousands of acres where crops lay rotting in the fields. They missed the season.

Prov 10:5

5 He that gathereth in summer is a wise son: but he that sleepeth in harvest is a son that causeth shame.

1. The Seasons of God

A. God’s Word Pictures

a. Parables – word pictures – we find them throughout the Bible

b. We see the Parable of the Sower –

c. Soil representing man’s heart and seed the Word of God

d. We read of Sowing and Reaping, of planting, pruning, and harvest

e. These are simple pictures that God uses to describe the way He works in peoples lives and hearts

f. It is a parallel between the visible world around us and the invisible realm of the Kingdom – how these two go hand in hand

Eccl 3:1

1 To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven:

B. Everything Operates According to Seasons

a. It tells us that life has to do with certain segments of time

b. It talks about specific seasons that are defined and limited to their time frame

c. All of life is subject to these different seasons

d. And one of the revelations that we need to grasp is the work of harvest also has to do with seasons

C. Gathering in the Summer

a. Our text speaks of ‘gathering in the summer’

b. Is says a wise son is one that needs to be about the work of gathering the harvest

c. While the season is right – while the opportunity exists – a wise son gathers

d. But the son who causes shame is one who sleeps and is oblivious to the urgency of the hour

D. Gathering in Particular Season

a. Our text talks about gathering in the summer

b. How many know that summer doesn’t last all year long

c. It is limited and confined – and today I want to consider with you in being sensitive to the season around us

d. There is a harvest before us – God is on the move – revival is happening, but it is wise to know which season we are in

2. The Season to Gather what you Have

A. Paul’s change of Season

a. As you read about Paul’s ministry and the history of the church…it was evangelizing

b. In Ch. 13-15 it was an incredible season of gathering…the churches were growing…men rising up…healings taking place…the church on the move

c. It was a tremendous season of harvest…the church was growing daily

d. Beloved, as you read this, you will notice that no less than 9 different regions and cities were impacted by the ministry of Paul and Barnabas

e. It was a critical season in the history and development of the church

f. But the season of evangelism changed…and I want you to notice with me…that this is a critical time

B. A Season of Follow-up

a. The season changed at different points of time along the way…notice

Acts 15:36

36 Then after some days Paul said to Barnabas, "Let us now go back and visit our brethren in every city where we have preached the word of the Lord, and see how they are doing."

Acts 15:41

41 And he went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches.

b. Paul noticed a critical time – a change in the season – we’ve been evangelizing, we’ve been preaching and gathering

c. But…it’s time to follow-up…it’s time to revisit

Acts 16:5

5 So the churches were strengthened in the faith, and increased in number daily.

d. They were strengthened…and increased – Paul said, we have to re-enforce and strengthen what we have

e. We’ve been frantically evangelizing, but the emphasis is a little different now

f. We must keep what we have and strengthen it…the season has changed

g. And, Beloved, we must also be aware of what is happening in our church

h. How often have you seen a farmer always reaping, or always planting

i. Never, there are seasons for each – in between these two seasons is to water, to cultivate, to clean and maintain

C. Changing Focus

a. And that is where we are at this morning…we have to strengthen what we have

b. We just got done with the biggest outreach of the year…we must gather and strengthen what we have

c. Here is Paul…he saw that the onus was on him to conserve, consolidate and reinforce his churches or his gains might be lost