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by Sandy Shaw
There comes that moment when we have to trust God’s timing in our life – in our lives - in some new dimension – in some new way.
As we emerge from Covid-19, many in the U.K. seem to be asking for a timetable for the way forward. That is not easy. When will all this be all over? When will we return and be back to “normal”?
What does God say about timing ? Jesus’ birth tells us a lot about timing .
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 TIMETABLE FOR EVERYTHING THAT HAPPENS. “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven.” Ecclesiastes 3verse 1 . “The right time” is used around 96 times in the Bible – this is not a minor theme. Everything happens at the time GOD chooses – now know that .
Galatians 4verses 4,5 - “When the time had fully come, God sent His son, born of a woman, born under law, to redeem those under the law, that we might receive the full rights as sons.”
Jesus came at the right time . What made it the right time? We do not know. Would not today have been better – with television – and social media? NO! Jesus came at the right time. “Time” is used in the “Christmas Story” around 16 times.
2 - GOD DOES NOT TELL US all the details of His Timetable
God does not tell us everything in advance.
“God has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men, yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end.” Ecclesiastes 3verse 11
People do so many things as they try to find out the future.
If we knew the future, it might scare us – if we knew the future, we might try to manipulate the future – God wants us to trust Him. Today – trust Him.
Acts 1verse 7 –The risen living Jesus speaks - “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by His own authority.
3 – GOD IS NEVER in A HURRY AND GOD IS NEVER LATE.
“The vision WILL happen at the time I have appointed. It moves steadily toward its goal and it will not be proven false. If it seems slow or delayed, just wait for it! It will certainly happen. It will not be late!” Habakkuk 2verse 3
What is our vision - our goal - for 2021? If GOD has given you a goal – an aim – 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 TIMING IS NOT ALWAYS CONVENIENT - Normally God calls us to inconvenience – do you think it was convenient for Joseph and Mary?
Caesar suddenly decides to hold a census - “At that time, Caesar Augustus ordered all people under Roman rule to return to their hometown to register in a census . . . So, Joseph took Mary with him to Bethlehem, and by this time she was very pregnant . . . In Bethlehem, the time came for her to have her baby.” Luke 2verses 1to 6 . Mary with no close family around, gives birth to Jesus - in an outhouse, 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 its time I will do this swiftly.!” Isaiah 60 verse 22
The most difficult place to be is in God’s Waiting Room. Be careful not to be in a hurry. Sometimes we think God is taking too long. God wants to test our faith and grow our character – that is why He does not answer with action immediately. Sometimes we are not ready for what God wants to do.
We may have big plans – God is more interest in you, than in your plans.
“In the time of my favour I will answer you.” Isaiah 49 verse 8 .
Remember God answers by ‘Yes’ – or ‘No’ or ‘Not yet’’ – or ‘Wait’.
A delay is not a denial.
We do not give our children everything they ask for as soon as they ask.
Delays can cause negative emotions. We say – I want it now – I will 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! Fret not! Forget not! Faint not!
A lot of things will happen in 2022and a lot of things will not happen in 2022.
1 - FEAR NOT: - 365 times God says “FEAR NOT” in the Bible
“Don’t be afraid; just believe.” Mark 5 verse 36
Psalm 31verses 14,15 - “I trust in you O Lord. I say, “You are my God”. My times are in your hands.” Trust is the great stress reliever in life.
Psalm 69 verse 13 - “I pray to you, O Lord, in the time of your favour; answer me with your sure salvation.” That simply means – I trust you, totally.
2 – FRET NOT - This is an old English word which really means worry – God wants us to be patient and humble – wait patiently. It is a sign of faith.
Psalm 37 verses 7,8 - “Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; do not fret when men succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes.” Worry is worthless. Worry cannot change the past or affect the future – but it can spoil the present .
Philippians 4verse 6 - “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.”
The old Wayside Pulpit used to say, “Why Worry When You Can Pray”.
3 - FORGET NOT: Do not forget what God has said in His Word. Study God’s Word. There are over 6,000 promises in this BOOK the BIBLE.
James 1verse 25 - “If you keep looking closely into God’s perfect Word that sets people free, and you keep on studying it, and you DON’T FORGET it, and you put it into daily practice – you will be blessed by God in all you do!”
When God speaks to you – or reveals something to you – write it down.
Psalm 1verses 1to 3 “Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers. His delight is in the law of the Lord and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers.”
There is real rich blessing in these three verses.
4 – FAINT NOT : - another old English word – don’t quit – don’t give up – be diligent and determined. Stand - even when it is not easy to stand.
Galatians 6 verse 9 – “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest, if we do not give up.”
Some people do feel like giving up. Do not give up. Look up.
Look to Jesus who was born in Bethlehem at the right time.
It is always the right time for two things -
1 - TO COME BACK TO GOD - Acts 3verse 19 - “Now is the time to change your ways and come back to God so he can wipe away your sins and pour out showers of blessing to refresh you.”
2 - TO ACCEPT THE SAVING GRACE OF JESUS - 1Timothy 2verse 6 -.…. Jesus gave himself as a ransom for all men – the testimony given in its proper time.
2Corinthians. 6 verse 2 – “Now is the time of God’s favour; now is the day of salvation.
God has a timetable for everything that happens.
God does not give us all the details of His diary.
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.
“Loving Father, we have so much to learn about how You move in our lives and how You move in our world. We thank You that you are a God who acts and moves and speaks. Teach us from the Scriptures – from the Bible – and as we feed upon Your Word, may we grow and mature as disciples of Jesus in whose Name we pray. Amen”
Alexander 'Sandy' Shaw is pastor of Nairn Christian Fellowship in Nairn, Scotland. Nairn is 17 miles east of Inverness - on the Moray Firth Coast - not far from the Loch Ness Monster!
Gifted as a Biblical teacher, Sandy is firmly committed to making sure that his teachings are firmly grounded in the Word.
Sandy has a weekly radio talk which can be heard via the Internet on Saturday at 11:40am, New Orleans time, at wsho.com.
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