'tis The Season

Title: ‘Tis the Season

Text: 1 Chronicles 12:32

Date: December 2, 2012

Place: Washington A/G

Introduction

Seasonal Activity

“‘Tis the Season”

An often used expression this time of the year

Used to explain many phenomena we see occurring in a certain time or season of the year

Holiday Experiences

Just last week I experienced with many of you the madness of a late night door buster sale.

I marveled at the insanity

I observed the impatience of many with their fellow man and with the employees of various stores

I saw store shelves pillaged and ransacked in the name of a good sale

I saw frustrated customers and workers alike

In the middle of it all I even saw a few people that appeared to be enjoying themselves.

As I surveyed this scene playing out in many instances I remember repeating a certain phrase in my mind and a few times stating it aloud, “tis the season!”

With this phrase:

We excuse ourselves from many of our routine disciplines

Thanksgiving Dinners

Indulgences of the season

We try to overlook the rudeness and crudeness of others and justify our own as we all charge forward in the name of a great bargain

Console ourselves concerning the long lines and heavy traffic.

Uncharacteristic Activity

You may question why I’m leading down this road of observation.

My aim is to point out to you how willfully we will alter our lives just because the calendar mandates that it is a certain season of the year.

Many who participate in the hustle and bustle of the season do so simply because it’s the season to do so.

In the giving and receiving of gifts there is no recollection or symbolism in their minds of Jesus Christ as the greatest gift given to mankind.

I’m saying to you that there are many things we feel incumbent upon us to do or partake of simply because the calendar mandates.

Seasons Defined

Differing Entrances and Exits

Variance of ages

Variance of life experiences

Variance of seasons

Some in the earliest years of life

Some in the adolescence

Some in young adulthood

Some mid-life

Some, shall we say, well-experienced, or veterans of life.

There are things that we do in this life, or don’t do for that matter, that are dictated by the season of life that we are in.

One Common Season

Regardless of where we find ourselves in the theatre of natural things there is one calendar and one season that unites us all.

But as for me, I trust in You, O LORD; I say, "You are my God." My times are in Your hand… (Psalm 31:14-15a)

In other words the Psalmist is saying that all of the circumstances of this life are amendable and subject to the will of God.

And so are the seasons of our lives subject to and superseded by “the Times and seasons the Father has put in His own authority” (Acts 1:7)

Clearly stated, no matter where you are on the timetable of the natural man we are all in the same season of God’s prophetic calendar

“Tis the Season”

Understanding the Season

As a people whose lives are all subject to the timing and the plan of Almighty God, I can honestly say that we need to be a people who understand the seasons in which we live and know how to respond.

From the tribe of Issachar, there were 200 leaders of the tribe with their relatives. All these men understood the signs of the times and knew the best course for Israel to take. (1 Chronicles 12:32 NLT)

Body

A Seasonal Snapshot

It is not for us to know the times and the seasons that the Father has put under His own power, but I believe the Bible gives us several snapshots, a mental picture of where we are on God’s Timetable and I believe these represent exactly where we are in the present.

"Take heed that no one deceives you. For many will come in My name, saying, 'I am the Christ,' and will deceive many. And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of sorrows. "Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My name's sake. And then many will be offended, will betray one another, and will hate one another. Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many. And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold. (Matthew 24:4-12 NKJV)