Plan for: Thanksgiving | Advent | Christmas
Plan for: Thanksgiving | Advent | Christmas
Trust in God's unchanging nature and control over all life's seasons, even when our expectations need to be recalibrated.
Good morning, church family. We're going to dive into some deep waters today, but don't worry, we're not going it alone. We're exploring the wisdom of Ecclesiastes and the promise of God's unchanging nature and his control over all life's seasons. We're talking about the transitions we face in life, and how we can trust in God's love and grace even when our expectations might need a bit of a recalibration.
As Warren Wiersbe once said, "The world changes - circumstances change, we change - but God's Word never changes." In a world that's always shifting, isn't it comforting to know that we serve a God who stays the same?
Our Scripture passage for today comes from Ecclesiastes 3:1-9:
"There is a time for everything,
and a season for every activity under the heavens:
a time to be born and a time to die,
a time to plant and a time to uproot,
a time to kill and a time to heal,
a time to tear down and a time to build,
a time to weep and a time to laugh,
a time to mourn and a time to dance,
a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing,
a time to search and a time to give up,
a time to keep and a time to throw away,
a time to tear and a time to mend,
a time to be silent and a time to speak,
a time to love and a time to hate,
a time for war and a time for peace."
As we delve into the first point of today's sermon, we are confronted with the profound truth of God's changelessness and control. This concept is not only foundational to our Christian faith, but it also provides a deep well of comfort and assurance in a world that is often marked by uncertainty and change.
Scripture references: The Bible is replete with affirmations of God's unchanging nature. In Malachi 3:6, God declares, "I the LORD do not change." Similarly, in Hebrews 13:8, we read that "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever." These passages, among others, underscore the fact that God's character, His promises, and His purposes do not fluctuate. He is not swayed by the winds of change or the shifting sands of time. His love for us is steadfast, His mercy is unending, and His grace is inexhaustible.
A source of immense comfort: In a world where everything is subject to change – our circumstances, our relationships, our health, our wealth – it is deeply reassuring to know that we serve a God who remains the same. His love for us does not waver, His promises do not fail, and His purposes for us do not change. No matter what we go through, we can rest in the knowledge that our God is unchanging.
His control: The passage from Ecclesiastes that we read earlier paints a vivid picture of the various seasons of life. There is a time for everything – for joy and sorrow, for planting and uprooting, for speaking and silence. And who controls these times and seasons? It is God. He is the one who sets the boundaries of our days and directs the course of our lives.
Rooted in God's wisdom and love:: He knows what we need in each season of our lives, and He provides it in His perfect timing. Even when we don't understand why we are going through a particular season, we can trust that God is in control and that He is working all things together for our good.
As we journey through life, we all experience various stages and seasons ... View this full PRO sermon free with PRO
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