Rock Family Church of Morgantown WV
Seasons Greeting
- That's My King
- Holy Forever
- subtitle – “a welcome change” or “embrace the race” or “change for the better”Our Tongue in cheek title asks us – how well do we “greet” the “seasons” of life?Theme: change is for the better – wind represents changeSeasons are everywhere – Christmas season, hunting season, tax seasonGodly change is GOOD· Example – Change of paceGod is eternal - times are temporaryGod’s Word never changes, but the Holy Spirit blows at His will!1- Sense the wind2- Set the sail or set the course3- See the rewardJohn 3:8 (NLT)
John 3:8 NLT 8 The wind blows wherever it wants. Just as you can hear the wind but can’t tell where it comes from or where it is going, so you can’t explain how people are born of the Spirit.”8 The wind blows wherever it wants. Just as you can hear the wind but can’t tell where it comes from or where it is going, so you can’t explain how people are born of the Spirit.”Full contextJohn 3:5–8 (NLT)5 Jesus replied, “I assure you, no one can enter the Kingdom of God without being born of water and the Spirit.6 Humans can reproduce only human life, but the Holy Spirit gives birth to spiritual life.7 So don’t be surprised when I say, ‘You must be born again.’8 The wind blows wherever it wants. Just as you can hear the wind but can’t tell where it comes from or where it is going, so you can’t explain how people are born of the Spirit.”Creatures of habit vs winds of change· We like things to stay the same – familiar, comfortable· Don’t miss the SPIRITUAL for the COMFORTABLETHINGS change – seasons· fads, trends – don’t stay stuck like a disco duck and Ford pintos· For the better – updates – upgrades, faster, more powerful computers, bigger and better – new – improved· Technology - makes life easier and faster – From trains to Cars to planes· From chalk board to a white board – from landlines to smart phonesPEOPLE change - Reasons· Personal growth is good change· jobs - promotion is change for good· Assignments – sometimes are temporary· Ministries change – we must keep up with the world· Churches – human “scaffolding” for a season in your lifeWind – either we sense the wind and prepare for it, or miss the wind and chase after it1- Sense the Wind – embrace the change· God created time· Times are in God’s hands· Times change – seasonsThe wind blows for a season – identificationThe wind of change is God’s grace to:1- inform you – that change is coming2- allow you – TIME to make adjustments3- wisdom – HOW to make adjustmentsLife Lesson: Your “season” is not over every time God corrects you or things get challenging.Winds represent the Signs of the times – times are changing!Matthew 16:2–3 (NLT)Matthew 16:2–3 NLT 2 He replied, “You know the saying, ‘Red sky at night means fair weather tomorrow; 3 red sky in the morning means foul weather all day.’ You know how to interpret the weather signs in the sky, but you don’t know how to interpret the signs of the times!2 He replied, “You know the saying, ‘Red sky at night means fair weather tomorrow;3 red sky in the morning means foul weather all day.’ You know how to interpret the weather signs in the sky, but you don’t know how to interpret the signs of the times!· Natural wind blows when there is a change in the weather front – when cold air is confronted with hot and begins to mix· In Jesus’ example, a South wind brought hot weatherLikewise, Spiritual wind blows when the new ways confront the old and begin to mix, leaving us with the best of both! The winds of change are good!· Recognize the times you are in - Issachar· Know the signs of the times – like Issachar – knew what Israel should doThe wind blows for a reason – purification· Chaff – blown away from what kernels at the harvest season· End times – people are “blown away” by GodSometimes we see change coming· See aging – this is getting old· See something not working· Job is “getting old”· Grace is lifting – it was easy now it’s hard – it was a joy now it’s a drudgerySometimes we DON’T see change coming· Sickness, death, company closure· Sometimes we don’t see the winds, even though God told us. Jesus told the disciples that He was going to be crucified, yet they acted as if He didn’t tell them. As a result, they didn’t set their sail and scattered when He was arrested. They did not want to bear the fact they He would leave them. They wanted things to stay as they always have been, even though Jesus told them that it will be better if He go away.· Although Jesus was crucified, He gave us the Holy Spirit = change!Some change is not from God – to blow us off track· Forced upon us -· Bad - fired, sickness, death, divorce2 - Set the Sail – Seek God’s FaceChoice - Go with the flow or againstPaul had to sound the ship or wreck on the rocksPaul - set the sail to leave, turned the sail in the storm, lowered the sail to survive- let the current carry himSeasons - Adjust the sails - prepare· There is a reason for your season· Get ahead of the curve· Prepare - Set yourself up for success· Reinventing yourself for new job3 – See the Land – finish the Race· Congratulations! Your faith paid off!· when you see the land, you will be glad you set out by faith!Personal challenge:· What is your reaction to change? Bitter or better· Don’t get Stuck in a rut – whether by traditions of man or even harboring bitterness of the past· Refuse to be a relic· Don’t end up chasing the wind you missed!· Moving forward is not disrespectful of our predecessors.· In fact, it honors their legacy by adapting the keep the vision alive to a new generation.· Refuse to dry up like an old wineskin, let’s stay anointed with oil in order to be flexible to handle the new wine of Gods’ blessing!Closing: Greet the Seasons in your lifechange: I’m the better for it John 3:8NLT
Matthew 16:2–3NLT
Rock Family Church of Morgantown WV
304-292-1128
3 members