That time comes when we have to trust God’s timing in our life, in our life, in some new dimension, in some new way.
With the news a few weeks ago of over 100,000 covid deaths, everyone in the UK seems to be asking for a timetable for the way forward. That is not easy. When will all this end? When will we get back and get back to “normal”?
What does God say about time? The birth of Jesus tells us a lot about time.
Timing is everything, because we can say the right thing at the wrong time, or we can do the right thing at the wrong time.
1 – GOD HAS A SCHEDULE FOR EVERYTHING THAT HAPPENS. “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven.” Ecclesiastes 3 verse 1. “The right time” is used about 96 times in the Bible; This is not a minor topic. Everything happens at the moment that GOD chooses, now know that.
Galatians 4, verses 4 and 5: “When the fullness of time had come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive all the rights of children”.
Jesus came at the right time. What made it the right time? We do not know. Wouldn’t it have been better today with television and social media? NO! Jesus came at the right time.
“Time” is used in the “Christmas Story” about 16 times.
2 – GOD DOES NOT TELL US all the details of His Schedule
God does not tell us everything in advance.
“God has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also placed eternity in the hearts of men, but they cannot understand what God has made from beginning to end.” Ecclesiastes 3 verse 11
People do so many things when trying to discover the future.
If we knew the future, it could scare us. If we knew the future, we could try to manipulate the future. God wants us to trust Him. Today, trust Him.
Acts 1 verse 7 – Jesus speaks resurrected and alive – “It is not for you to know the times or the dates that the Father has set with his own authority.
3 – GOD IS NEVER IN A HURRY AND GOD IS NEVER LATE.
“The vision WILL HAPPEN at the time I have designated. It is moving steadily toward its goal and will not be proven false. If it seems slow or delayed, wait for it! It will certainly happen. It will not be too late!” Habakkuk 2 pours 3
What is our vision, our goal, for 2021? If GOD has given you a goal, an objective, a vision, it will come true at the right time. Doing the right thing at the right time also reduces tension and stress.
4 – GOD’S TIME IS NOT ALWAYS CONVENIENT – Normally God calls us to inconvenience – do you think it was convenient for Joseph and Mary?
Caesar suddenly decides to take a census: “At that time, Caesar Augustus ordered all the people under Roman rule to return to their hometown to register for a census… So Joseph took Mary with him to Bethlehem, and in At that time she was very pregnant… In Bethlehem, it was time for her to have her baby”. Luke 2, verses 1 to 6. Mary, without close relatives, gives birth to Jesus, in a latrine or barn. She trusted God, as did Joseph.
5 – AT THE RIGHT TIME GOD CAN DO ANYTHING INSTANTLY.
We can spend time trying to do things in our own power and in our own strength. “I am the Lord, in his time I will do this quickly!” Isaiah 60 verse 22
The hardest place to be is in God’s Waiting Room. Be careful not to rush. Sometimes we think that God is taking too long. God wants to test our faith and grow our character, so he doesn’t immediately respond with actions. Sometimes we are not prepared for what God wants to do.
We can have big plans: God is more interested in you than in your plans.
“In the time of my favor I will answer you.” Isaiah 49 verse 8.
Remember that God answers with ‘Yes’, or ‘No’, or ‘Not yet’, or ‘Wait’.
A delay is not a denial.
We don’t give our children everything they ask for as soon as they ask for it.
Delays can cause negative emotions. We say – I want it now – I’ll use my card – and that can cause worry, or worse – tension and stress – and debt.
What does God want me to do while I wait?
God says – Fear not! Do not worry! Do not forget! Do not faint!
Many things will happen in 2021 and many things will not happen in 2021.
1 – DO NOT FEAR: – 365 times God says “DO NOT FEAR” in the Bible
“Do not be afraid just believe”. Mark 5 pays 36
Psalm 31 verses 14 and 15 – “I trust in you, O Lord. I say, ‘You are my God.’ My times are in your hands.” Confidence is the great stress reliever in life.
Psalm 69 verse 13 – “I beseech you, O Lord, in the time of your favor; answer me with your sure salvation.” That just means – I trust you, totally.
2 – FRET NOT – This is an old English word that really means worry – God wants us to be patient and humble – wait patiently. It is a sign of faith.
Psalm 37 verses 7 and 8 – “Be still before the Lord, and wait patiently for him; do not worry when men prosper in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes.” Worry is worth nothing. Worry can’t change the past or affect the future, but it can mess up the present.
Philippians 4 verse 6 – “Do not be anxious about anything, but present your requests to God in all prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving.”
The old wayside pulpit used to say, “Why worry when you can pray?”
3 – DO NOT FORGET: Do not forget what God has said in His Word. Study the Word of God. There are over 6,000 promises in this BOOK the BIBLE.
James 1 verse 25 – “If you keep looking closely at God’s perfect Word that sets people free, and keep studying it, and DO NOT FORGET IT, and put it into daily practice, you will be blessed by God in everything you do!”
When God speaks to you, or reveals something to you, write it down.
Psalm 1 verses 1 to 3 “Blessed is the man who has not walked in the counsel of evildoers, nor has he sat in the way of sinners, nor has he sat in the chair of scorners. His delight is in the law of the Lord, and in his law he meditates by day and at night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which bears its fruit in its season, and whose leaf does not fall. Everything he does prospers.”
There is a rich royal blessing in these three verses.
4 – DON’T GIVE UP: – another old English word – don’t give up – don’t give up – be diligent and determined. Standing even when it is not easy to stand.
Galatians 6 verse 9 – “Let us not grow weary in doing good, for in due time we will reap, if we do not give up.”
Some people feel like giving up. Do not give up. Search.
Look at Jesus who was born in Bethlehem at the right time.
It is always the right time for two things:
1 – TO RETURN TO GOD – Acts 3 verse 19 – “Now is the time to change your ways and return to God so that he can blot out your sins and pour down showers of blessing to refresh you.”
2 – TO ACCEPT THE SAVING GRACE OF JESUS - 1 Timothy 2 verse 6 -…Jesus gave himself a ransom for all men – the testimony given in due time.
2 Corinthians. 6 verse 2 – “Now is the time of God’s favor; now is the day of salvation.
God has a schedule for everything that happens.
God does not give us all the details of His journal.
God is never in a hurry and God is never late.
God’s timing is not always convenient.
At the right time, God can do something quickly, sometimes instantly.