GET TOGETHER- WHAT TIME IS IT?

GET TOGETHER- WHAT TIME IS IT?
Ec 3:1-12 To everything there is a season, A time for every purpose under heaven: A time to be born, And a time to die; A time to plant, And a time to pluck what is planted;A time to kill, And a time to heal; A time to break down, And a time to build up; A time to weep, And a time to laugh; A time to mourn, And a time to dance; A time to cast away stones, And a time to gather stones; A time to embrace, And a time to refrain from embracing;A time to gain, And a time to lose; A time to keep, And a time to throw away;
A time to tear, And a time to sew; A time to keep silence, And a time to speak;
A time to love, And a time to hate; A time of war, And a time of peace.
What profit has the worker from that in which he labors? I have seen the God-given task with which the sons of men are to be occupied. He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also He has put eternity in their hearts, except that no one can find out the work that God does from beginning to end.

There was a song that came out in 1970 by a group called Chicago. The name of it was Does Anybody Really Know What Time It is? I think that in the song that there is a line that says does anybody really know what time it is? Does anybody really care?
I think that the first time that I ever heard the passage from Ecclesiastes read was on Monday November 25th 1963 when it was read by a Catholic Priest at President John F. Kennedy’s funeral. In 1965 a Rock Group by the name of the Byrd’s used some of this passage in a song Turn, Turn, Turn.
As I read this passage it makes me ponder and think about what time that it is for us who are believers in Jesus Christ. I personally think that it is a critical time in the Kingdom. And in our nation. Many polls and surveys indicate that those who faithfully follow Jesus Christ in our nation are in a decline.
For all of us who have called on the Name of Jesus Christ to save us from our sins and beginning with me it is a time to really examine our hearts and to evaluate our commitment level. Three years ago, the Lord had me to step aside from the Pastorate at Christ Community Fellowship. But as all believers we do not retire from serving the Lord Jesus Christ. The Lord may have allowed Christians to retire from their places of employment in order that we might serve Him in a greater way.
When I ponder what time it is. Here is what I think about. Jesus said this about the time and season as we get close to His return in Mt 24:12 “And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold. I am no expert on end times theology. But we can see lawlessness abound and even celebrated. We also see the love of many growing cold. Which leads me to this. Lord please don’t let my love grow cold. Lord please don’t let our family members that are saved grow cold. Lord, please light a fire under Your people.
In 1Ch 12:32 we are told of the sons of Issachar; of the sons of Issachar who had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do, their chiefs were two hundred; and all their brethren were at their command.”
As believers in Jesus Christ with a calling in the Body of Christ we need to understand the times.
In the Book of Esther we see that she had a calling for the time that she lived in : Es 4:14 “For if you remain completely silent at this time, relief and deliverance will arise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father’s house will perish. Yet who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?”(NKJV) If you have ever called on the Name of Jesus Christ this is a time to be just as faithful as Esther was and risk it all by trusting God for what God is calling us for at this critical time in the Kingdom. It may cost us position. It may cost us popularity, but we are called for such a time as this.
I know that one day we will all give an account to the Lord. I don’t want to hear Him say to me Preston, I kept you in good health into the later years of your life so that you could serve me. Why didn’t you understand the seriousness of the time that you were living in?
Jesus has given us a commission Mt 28:19,20 “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,”teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen. (NKJV) Has there ever been a greater need in our culture and throughout the world than now for every believer in Jesus Christ to heed His voice and obey what He commanded us to do? As I have heard it said before. This wasn’t the great suggestion, but the great commission.

When I read this verse, it tells me that every human deep down has a desire to live forever. Ec 3:11 ¶ He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also He has put eternity in their hearts, except that no one can find out the work that God does from beginning to end. It also tells me that He can take the worst things in our lives and make something beautiful out of it.
So what time is it? It is the time to take the Gospel to a lost and hurting world. Only Jesus Christ can give eternal life. Only Jesus Christ can make all things beautiful in His time.
Will we like the sons of Issachar have an understanding of the times and fulfill the purpose that God has for us living at this time on the earth? Will we be like Esther and risk it all for the Gospel’s sake? It is my prayer that we will. There are souls hanging in the balance as to where they will spend eternity. What type of culture should not the Lord return first that our descendants will live in depends upon our commitment level now.

Let Us Pray

Lord forgive us for when we have been lukewarm in our commitment to You and not doing what You have called us to do. Help us to understand the times and to be faithful to our calling at such a time as this.
In Jesus Name
Amen

PS For those in Northwest Alabama our Broadcast Redeeming the Time comes on at 9:30 A.M. AND 9:30 P.M. on Sunday morning and Sunday night. That is on Spectrum Channel 10. In Jasper, it is on TV 16.

GET TOGETHER- WHAT TIME IS IT?
Ec 3:1-12 To everything there is a season, A time for every purpose under heaven: A time to be born, And a time to die; A time to plant, And a time to pluck what is planted;A time to kill, And a time to heal; A time to break down, And a time to build up; A time to weep, And a time to laugh; A time to mourn, And a time to dance; A time to cast away stones, And a time to gather stones; A time to embrace, And a time to refrain from embracing;A time to gain, And a time to lose; A time to keep, And a time to throw away;
A time to tear, And a time to sew; A time to keep silence, And a time to speak;
A time to love, And a time to hate; A time of war, And a time of peace.
What profit has the worker from that in which he labors? I have seen the God-given task with which the sons of men are to be occupied. He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also He has put eternity in their hearts, except that no one can find out the work that God does from beginning to end.

There was a song that came out in 1970 by a group called Chicago. The name of it was Does Anybody Really Know What Time It is? I think that in the song that there is a line that says does anybody really know what time it is? Does anybody really care?
I think that the first time that I ever heard the passage from Ecclesiastes read was on Monday November 25th 1963 when it was read by a Catholic Priest at President John F. Kennedy’s funeral. In 1965 a Rock Group by the name of the Byrd’s used some of this passage in a song Turn, Turn, Turn.
As I read this passage it makes me ponder and think about what time that it is for us who are believers in Jesus Christ. I personally think that it is a critical time in the Kingdom. And in our nation. Many polls and surveys indicate that those who faithfully follow Jesus Christ in our nation are in a decline.
For all of us who have called on the Name of Jesus Christ to save us from our sins and beginning with me it is a time to really examine our hearts and to evaluate our commitment level. Three years ago, the Lord had me to step aside from the Pastorate at Christ Community Fellowship. But as all believers we do not retire from serving the Lord Jesus Christ. The Lord may have allowed Christians to retire from their places of employment in order that we might serve Him in a greater way.
When I ponder what time it is. Here is what I think about. Jesus said this about the time and season as we get close to His return in Mt 24:12 “And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold. I am no expert on end times theology. But we can see lawlessness abound and even celebrated. We also see the love of many growing cold. Which leads me to this. Lord please don’t let my love grow cold. Lord please don’t let our family members that are saved grow cold. Lord, please light a fire under Your people.
In 1Ch 12:32 we are told of the sons of Issachar; of the sons of Issachar who had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do, their chiefs were two hundred; and all their brethren were at their command.”
As believers in Jesus Christ with a calling in the Body of Christ we need to understand the times.
In the Book of Esther we see that she had a calling for the time that she lived in : Es 4:14 “For if you remain completely silent at this time, relief and deliverance will arise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father’s house will perish. Yet who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?”(NKJV) If you have ever called on the Name of Jesus Christ this is a time to be just as faithful as Esther was and risk it all by trusting God for what God is calling us for at this critical time in the Kingdom. It may cost us position. It may cost us popularity, but we are called for such a time as this.
I know that one day we will all give an account to the Lord. I don’t want to hear Him say to me Preston, I kept you in good health into the later years of your life so that you could serve me. Why didn’t you understand the seriousness of the time that you were living in?
Jesus has given us a commission Mt 28:19,20 “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,”teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen. (NKJV) Has there ever been a greater need in our culture and throughout the world than now for every believer in Jesus Christ to heed His voice and obey what He commanded us to do? As I have heard it said before. This wasn’t the great suggestion, but the great commission.

When I read this verse, it tells me that every human deep down has a desire to live forever. Ec 3:11 ¶ He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also He has put eternity in their hearts, except that no one can find out the work that God does from beginning to end. It also tells me that He can take the worst things in our lives and make something beautiful out of it.
So what time is it? It is the time to take the Gospel to a lost and hurting world. Only Jesus Christ can give eternal life. Only Jesus Christ can make all things beautiful in His time.
Will we like the sons of Issachar have an understanding of the times and fulfill the purpose that God has for us living at this time on the earth? Will we be like Esther and risk it all for the Gospel’s sake? It is my prayer that we will. There are souls hanging in the balance as to where they will spend eternity. What type of culture should not the Lord return first that our descendants will live in depends upon our commitment level now.

Let Us Pray

Lord forgive us for when we have been lukewarm in our commitment to You and not doing what You have called us to do. Help us to understand the times and to be faithful to our calling at such a time as this.
In Jesus Name
Amen

PS For those in Northwest Alabama our Broadcast Redeeming the Time comes on at 9:30 A.M. AND 9:30 P.M. on Sunday morning and Sunday night. That is on Spectrum Channel 10. In Jasper, it is on TV 16.