Tis the Season

1
Tis the Season

• Ecclesiastes 31

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Ecclesiastes 31

• To everything there is a season, a time for
  every purpose under heaven A time to be born,
  and a time to die a time to plant, and a time to
  pluck what is planted a time to kill, and a time
  to heal a time to break down, and a time to
  build up a time to weep, and a time to laugh a
  time to mourn, and a time to dance a time to
  cast away stones, and a time to gather stones a
  time to embrace, and a time to refrain from
  embracing a time to gain, and a time to lose a
  time to keep, and a time to throw away a time to
  tear, and a time to sew a time to keep silence,
  and a time to speak a time to love, and a time
  to hate a time of war, and a time of peace.

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Introduction

• Here we are in the midst of the holiday season.
  Shopping, exchanging of gifts, spending time
  with family seem to be the norm for most
  households.
• For many, it is a time of joy
• For others, it is a time of loneliness grief.
• The bible tells us that in life there is a season
  for everything (Ecclesiastes 31)
• What about our spiritual life?

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Keep Gods Schedule

• Numbers 92-3
• Let the children of Israel also keep the
  Passover at his appointed season. In the
  fourteenth day of this month, at even, ye shall
  keep it in his appointed season according to all
  the rites of it, and according to all the
  ceremonies thereof, shall ye keep it.
• When God appoints something in order, it is our
  responsibility to keep it!
• We have no right to change Gods order and/or
  schedule of things!

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Keep Gods Schedule

• Acts 207
• Now on the first day of the week, when the
  disciples came together to break bread
• What is Gods appointed day to break bread?
• Then let it be that day and only that day!
• God takes His specificity seriously
• Dont you take yours seriously?
• Let us keep Gods divine order of things.

6
Bear Fruit

• Psalm 13
• He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of
  water, that brings forth its fruit in its season,
  whose leaf shall not wither and whatever he does
  shall prosper.
• There is no excuse for any Christian who does not
  bear righteous fruit.
• John 1516
• You did not choose Me, but I chose you and
  appointed you that you should go and bear fruit,

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Bear Fruit

• Matthew 310
• And even now the ax is laid to the root of the
  trees. Therefore every tree which does not bear
  good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.
• Matthew 718-19
• A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad
  tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not
  bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the
  fire.
• Mark 420
• But these are the ones sown on good ground,
  those who hear the word, accept it, and bear
  fruit some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some a
  hundred.

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Bear Fruit

• How can we bear good fruit?
• Bring someone else to Christ.
• Extend a helping hand to someone in need.
• Grow in your own personal Bible knowledge.
• Raise a godly family.
• Matthew 1233
• Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or
  else make the tree bad and its fruit bad for a
  tree is known by its fruit.
• The only person we are fooling is ourselves.

9
Use a Wise Tongue

• Proverbs 1523
• A man hath joy by the answer of his mouth and a
  word spoken in due season, how good is it!
• Isaiah 504
• The Lord GOD hath given me the tongue of the
  learned, that I should know how to speak a word
  in season to him that is weary
• As Ecclesiastes 37 said, there is a time to
  keep silence, and a time to speak.
• Its not just about using the right words but
  whether or not to use the right words!

10
Use a Wise Tongue

• James 119
• So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be
  swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath
• James 126
• If anyone among you thinks he is religious, and
  does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own
  heart, this one's religion is useless.
• Proverbs 1019
• In the multitude of words sin is not lacking,
  But he who restrains his lips is wise.

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Use a Wise Tongue

• Proverbs 1313
• He who guards his mouth preserves his life, But
  he who opens wide his lips shall have
  destruction.
• Proverbs 1728
• Even a fool is counted wise when he holds his
  peace When he shuts his lips, he is considered
  perceptive.
• Colossians 46
• Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned
  with salt, that you may know how you ought to
  answer each one.

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Use a Wise Tongue

• Where might this apply?
• In a crowd where you are the minority.
• In an argument with your spouse.
• In a bible-class setting.
• From the pulpit or anytime you are leading a
  public discussion.
• When, even though you are right in what you have
  to say, you may hurt the feelings of another
  person.
• When disciplining your children.

13
Expect Satan To Return

• Luke 413
• And when the devil had ended all the temptation,
  he departed from him for a season
• What does this text infer?
• That Satan was coming backsometime!
• Have you ever felt that Satan just hasnt been
  around lately?
• Dont be fooled into thinking hes given up.
• Hes just looking for the opportune time to
  pounce on you!

14
Expect Satan To Return

• 1 Peter 58-9
• Be sober, be vigilant because your adversary
  the devil walks about like a roaring lion,
  seeking whom he may devour. Resist him
• James 47
• Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he
  will flee from you.
• Let us not be caught off-guard by thinking that
  the devil has given up on usknow that he is just
  waiting to return in due season.

15
Desire To See Jesus

• Luke 238
• And when Herod saw Jesus, he was exceeding glad
  for he was desirous to see Him of a long season,
  because he had heard many things of Him and he
  hoped to have seen some miracle done by Him.
• Do you desire to see Jesus?
• How long have you been waiting to see Jesus?
• Im ready to see Him! NOW!
• Revelation 2220
• Come, Lord Jesus!

16
Dont Delay Obedience

• Acts 2425
• And as he reasoned of righteousness, temperance,
  and judgment to come, Felix trembled, and
  answered, Go thy way for this time when I have
  a convenient season, I will call for thee.
• Many of us operate our daily lives based on
  convenience.
• If it fits in my schedule and doesnt
  inconvenience me, then Ill do it.

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Dont Delay Obedience

• What a terrible approach to your salvation!
• Was the death of Jesus convenient?
• Too many people today have the Felix syndrome
  Ill obey when its convenient for me
• All throughout the NT, we see the immediacy of
  obedience toward God.
• 2 Corinthians 62
• Behold, now is the accepted time behold now is
  the day of salvation.

18
Dont Grow Weary

• Galatians 69
• And let us not be weary in well doing for in
  due season we shall reap, if we faint not. (KJV)
• Speaking from experience that we all have shared,
  weariness seems to be a common challenge for
  all believers.
• This verse says exactly what we need to hear.
• In essence, it saysjust be patient, keep doing
  what you are doing because your time for reward
  and rest will surely come.

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Be Ready To Preach

• 2 Timothy 42
• Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of
  season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all
  longsuffering and teaching.
• Preaching the truth is not always popular.
• We are to preach it when its not in season
• We are to preach it even when it is in season
• Wouldnt it be nice if hunting season was
  all-year round? Preaching the gospel is!

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Be Ready To Preach

• Mark 1615
• And he said to them Go into all the world and
  preach the gospel to the whole creation.
• Romans 1015
• And how shall they preach unless they are sent?
  As it is written How beautiful are the feet of
  those who preach the gospel of peace, Who bring
  glad tidings of good things!
• 1 Corinthians 916
• For if I preach the gospel, I have nothing to
  boast of, for necessity is laid upon me yes, woe
  is me if I do not preach the gospel!

21
Avoid Passing Pleasures

• Hebrews 1124-26
• By faith Moses, when he was come to years,
  refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's
  daughter choosing rather to suffer affliction
  with the people of God, than to enjoy the
  pleasures of sin for a season esteeming the
  reproach of Christ greater riches than the
  treasures in Egypt for he had respect unto the
  recompense of the reward.
• There is no denying that sin is pleasurable.
• This scripture also makes it clear that the
  pleasures of sin are merely temporary.

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Tis The Season

• To Keep Gods Divine Order.
• To Bear Much Fruit.
• To Use a Wise Tongue.
• To Expect Satan To Return To His Tempting Ways.
• To Desire To See Jesus.
• To Not Delay Your Obedience.
• To Not Grow Weary In Well Doing.
• To Always Be Ready To Preach.
• To Avoid The Passing Pleasures of Sin.