The Seasons of a Christian’s Life - 1

The Different Seasons that Every Christian Experiences

Selected Scriptures

 

October 23rd  2011 PM

Pastor Craig Ledbetter

Bible Baptist Church, Ballincollig, Cork, Ireland

www.biblebc.com

 

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a.       Every seven years, every cell in your body will have been replaced by new ones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 Europe

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