The Different Seasons that Every Christian
Experiences
Selected Scriptures
October 23rd
2011 PM
Pastor Craig Ledbetter
I.
Introduction (Eccl 3:1)
A.
Seasons and Cycles, and
Patterns in life are many times very confusing
B.
Most people ignore the seasons
of life, and have no day of rest in a week; have no time just with God; have no
regular sleeping patterns; have no job or season of work; have no regular season
of eating - always helter-skelter. And so their bodies wear out faster than they
should!
C.
God made seasons, and cycles
FOR us (Mark 2:27), and expects us to know about them, and understand them, and
work with them.
D.
It is how God designed us, and
it is how we succeed as Christians – bear fruit!
II.
Background – this makes a great study in itself!
A.
Seasons are normal (Gen 1:14;
2Kgs 4:16,17) - don't be ashamed about changing
B.
Seasons are all about changes
- called cycles - they affect us, usually for good
1.
The sun is cycling - every 11
years – producing more and then less radiation
2.
The human body is changing,
and going through seasons
a.
Every seven years, every cell
in your body will have been replaced by new ones
b.
Every month, a woman’s body
goes through a cycle of change
c.
Men have mid-life crisis’
where they sense they are growing old, and worry about it
3.
Land needs seasons – should
not be overworked (Ex 23:10,11)
4.
People and animals need weekly
seasons (Ex 23:12) – need a break – a change!
5.
Even seasons themselves are
subject to change (Dan 2:21) – not always perfectly set
a.
There are some summers when
summer never comes, and it is winter time all year long
b.
It happened in 1816 throughout
c.
And BOY will seasons change in
the not so distant future!
C.
Seasons are NOT forever (Gen
40:4; Josh 24:7)
D.
Some seasons never come (Acts
24:25)
E.
Four things are NOT to be
affected by seasons – by changes, by popularity
1.
Right Judgment (Ex 18:26)
2.
Right Preaching (1 Tim 4:2)
3.
Soul-winning (Acts 1:7,8)
4.
Right Living (Act 20:18; Titus
2:12) – live for God now, no matter the season
III.
Preview
A.
A Christian’s life is a repeating circle, with two branches – one
entering, and one exiting
B.
You enter the circle at the new birth
C.
You stay in the circle until death, or the rapture
D.
And then you are free, and perfect, and with no more night seasons, no
more dry seasons, no more tough seasons!
E.
Begins as a Baby
Christian
1.
The Season of Growing
2.
A Season of Waiting
3.
The Season of Fruitfulness
4.
Then to a Time of
Harvesting
5.
Then to a Time of Pruning
- Chastening
6.
Then to a Time of Defeat
and Loss – a Quiet Season - the Night Season
7.
The Season of Rest
8.
Then to a Time of Growth
Again – back where you started!
F.
Finally to Perfection
– when we arrive home in heaven