Walking In Season

WALKING IN SEASON

Women’s Spring Tea Event

May 31, 2014

Calvary Chapel Grace Fellowship

Read Psalm 1

Psalm 1:3 NKJV “He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf also shall not wither; and whatever he does shall prosper.”

“Success is...knowing your purpose in life, growing to reach your maximum potential, and sowing seeds that benefit others.” -John C. Maxwell, Your Road Map For Success

Walking in season will lead to walking seasoned. In order to be a “seasoned saint” you must learn to embrace the season you are in.

What are seasons?

In the Bible the Hebrew word for season is “eth” and it means time.

A Webster’s Dictionary definition described a season as “a time characterized by a particular circumstance or feature.”

Seasons were created by God! In the beginning God said, “Let there be lights in the firmament of the heavens to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs and seasons, and for days and years.” -Genesis 1:14 NKJV

Psalm 104:19 NKJV “He appointed the moon for seasons; the sun knows its going down.”

Jeremiah 5:24 NKJV “They do not say in their heart, ‘Let us now fear the LORD our God, who gives rain, both the former and the latter, in its season. He reserves for us the appointed weeks of the harvest.”

Seasons are all about time. They have a beginning and they have an end.

How do you live in season?

When you learn what the season you are in looks like and what it requires of you, it will help you embrace it.

Ecclesiastes 3:1 “For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven.”

Read Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

What are some things that define a season of life for a woman? (write it down)

Asking yourself these questions can help you define the particular season of life you are in:

1. What is my age?
2. Where do you live? (ex: state, country, apartment, home)
3. What are my top responsibilities in the home? (ex: paying bills, cleaning, yardwork)
4. Where am I financially? (ex: starting off, paying off debt, saving, giving)
5. Where am I spiritually? (ex: dry season, fruitful season, dark season, trialsome season, a season of breakthrough or deliverance?)
6. What are my immediate family responsibilities? (ex: newlywed, babies, teenagers, adult children, grandchildren, taking care of aging parents, family crisis or tragedy that demands your involvement)
7. What are your work or church responsibilities?

Why is it important to embrace your season?

• Your season is there to serve you (it has a purpose)
• You were not created for the season, the season was created for you.
  
  

When the appointed time came, Christ died on the cross. The “appointed time” served the purpose of Christ’s death on the cross before time even began Revelation 13:8 NKJV “All who dwell on the earth will worship him, whose names have not been written in the Book of Life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.”

Ephesians 1:4 NKJV “just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love,”

• Once the season is gone, you cannot get it back. We suffer the lack of lessons learned when we do not embrace the season we are in.
  
  

“God has not been trying an experiment on my faith or love in order to find out their quality. He knew it already. It was I who didn’t.” -C.S. Lewis, A Grief Observed

• It is God’s way (the better way)

Exodus 13:10 NKJV “You shall therefore keep this ordinance in its season from year to year.”

Psalm 143:8 NKJV “Cause me to hear Your lovingkindness in the morning, for in You do I trust; cause me to know the way in which I should walk, for I lift up my soul to You.”

Proverbs 4:11 NKJV “I have taught you in the way of wisdom; I have led you in right paths.”

Proverbs 9:6 NKJV “Forsake foolishness and live, and go in the way of understanding.”

Proverbs 13:15 NKJV “Good understanding gains favor, but the way of the unfaithful is hard.”

• Living in season will bring you more rest with greater productivity which will bring you greater freedom and joy.

You are not getting ahead or staying behind. You are walking in the timetable God has appointed for you and you are living for Him in each moment.

“We work and we work and we work. Striving for what we already have. However, a filled calendar does not reflect a fulfilled life.” -Sharon Jaynes, A Sudden Glory

How do you embrace the season you are in?

Embracing seasons are difficult. Why? Because what we long and crave for transcends “living in season”.

Psalm 84:2 NKJV “My soul longs, yes, even faints for the courts of the LORD; my heart and my flesh cry out for the living God.”

“Our eternal souls were purposely fashioned for more than this world can spare.” -Beth Moore, James: Mercy Triumphs

After you have an idea of what your current season in life looks like you will have a greater ability to actually embrace it and live it out.

First, accept your season. Be good at it!

“Never underestimate the importance of simply being physically present in the place where God wants you.” -Warren W. Wiersbe

This is not a message about “doing more” it is about doing what you already have to do in your season well. Summer is coming up...do summer well! It is about taking control of our part of the season (being faithful with what we are given) and then leaving the results all up to God.

How do you prepare for your next season? Simply by embracing the one you are in. When you focus on the season you are in you are, in fact, preparing for the next one.

“Today’s tasks are preparation for tomorrow’s calling.” -Priscilla Shirer, Gideon

Matthew 6:33-34 ESV “But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.”

Leviticus 26:4 NKJV “then I will give you rain in its season, the land shall yield its produce, and the trees of the field shall yield their fruit.” -God will give you what you need for each season

Deuteronomy 11:14 NKJV “then I will give you the rain for your land in its season”

Second, endure through the season. See it through to the end.

Galatians 6:9 ESV “And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.”

• Stay connected to the Lord in your daily quiet time (or secret time as we now call it from our study on Sapphira).

God is interested in your connection to Him.

Leviticus 2:13 NKJV “And every offering of your grain offering you shall season with salt; you shall not allow the salt of the covenant of your God to be lacking from your grain offering. With all your offerings you shall offer salt.” -Let each season you are in make you more “seasoned”.

“Making a commitment to seek God every day does not put you in bondage -it brings you into the greatest freedom you can know in Jesus Christ.” -Kay Smith, The Privilege

“Modern civilization is so complex as to make the devotional life all but impossible. It wears us out by multiplying distractions and beats us down by destroying our solitude, where otherwise we might drink and renew our strength before going out to face the world again... ‘Commune with your own heart upon your bed and be still’ is a wise and healing counsel, but how can it be followed in this day of the newspaper, the telephone, the radio and the television? These modern playthings, like pet tiger cubs, have grown so large and dangerous that they threaten to devour us all...No spot is now safe from the world’s intrusion.” -A.W. Tozer

• Cry out to God and seek to grow

Psalm 22:2 NKJV “O My God, I cry in the daytime, but You do not hear; and in the night season, and am not silent.”

Psalm 16:7 NKJV “I will bless the LORD who have given me counsel; my heart also instructs me in the night seasons.”

Third, look ahead of the season. Set your gaze beyond it.

• Be heavenly minded

Colossians 3:2 KJV “Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.”

Matthew 6:19-20 NKJV "Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.”

1 Peter 1:3-5 NKJV “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.”

• Move on

Philippians 3:12-14 NKJV “Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”

“Those who keep looking back at their failures will never win the race set before them.” -Kay Arthur, As Silver Refined

Do not feel pressure. Don’t worry! We never will “arrive” until we arrive in heaven and in glory.

“Failure in the past does not nullify purpose in the future.” -Charles Swindoll, Hope in Hurtful Times

“En route to maturity, we all spill our milk, say things we shouldn’t, and at time, don’t act our age.” -Charles Swindoll, Hope in Hurtful Times

REST -Matthew 11:28 NKJV "Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”

There will be a GRAND FINALE!

1 Thessalonians 5:1-2 NKJV “But concerning the times and the seasons, brethren, you have no need that I should write to you. For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night.”

• Acknowledge God’s sovereignty in every season. He has supreme authority.
• Acts 1:7 NKJV “And He said to them, ‘It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has put in His own authority.’” -We need to be okay with the unknown and walk by FAITH.
• Dan 2:21 NKJV “And He changes the times and the seasons; He removes kings and raises up kings; He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding.”
• God’s watchful eye is on you in your season.
  
  

“Faith never knows where it is being led, but it loves and knows the One Who is leading”. Oswald Chambers, My Utmost For His Highest

• Seasons change but Jesus stays the same.
• Hebrews 13:8 NKJV “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.”
• Our work in the gospel also stays the same.

2 Timothy 4:2 NKJV “Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching.”

Isaiah 40:8 NKJV “The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God stands forever."

• Learn the secret.
• Philippians 4:11-13 NKJV “Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”
• Let your seasons make you “seasoned” -Colossians 4:6 NKJV “Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one.”

GOD IS MORE THAN OUR SEASON

Psalm 4:7 NKJV “You have put gladness in my heart, more than in the season that their grain and wine increased.”

Leah

                 Women of the Bible

 Leah

Scripture References: Genesis 29:16-35; 30:9-21; 35:23-26; 49:31; Ruth 4:11

About Leah

Leah means “weary” “dull” “yearning”

Leah was Rachel’s older sister.

Leah was Laban’s eldest daughter, also Rebekah’s niece.

Leah had six sons and one daughter. She was the mother of Judah through whom the Savior, Jesus Christ, would come (Revelation 5:5).

Leah was the one that was buried with her husband Jacob.

Her Situation

Read Genesis 29:16-25

It is noted that Leah was not as “beautiful” as Rachel was. “Man looks at the outward appearance but the Lord looks at the heart.” 1 Samuel 16:7

It must have been difficult for Leah, being the eldest, to be passed by. When Laban came to her with the plan to deceive Jacob, she willingly entered into the scheme.

“For the first time, sly Jacob, who had deceived his own father and cheated his brother, felt poignantly the pain of being deceived himself. And so it is with us. We do not see the harm in a bit of cheating, lying or gossiping until we are cheated against, lied to and gossiped about ourselves. Until we ourselves are injured, we do not see how mean and evil it is to injure someone else.” -Frances Vander Velde

A woman’s greatest attractiveness will always be found in 1 Peter 3:3-4

1 Peter 3:3-4

And let not your adornment be merely external -braiding the hair, and wearing gold jewelry, or putting on dresses; but let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the imperishable quality or a gentle and quiet spirit, which is precious in the sight of God.

We are never going to be able to compete with the standards of the world, but the beauty that we can possess the world will never have. (share about the makeup products for Avon)

These scriptures teach us that every woman has an opportunity to be attractive.

●     The beauty of your heart -CHARACTER: the person that you are when no one else is looking, the person that you are in your private thought life. (Look over Thinking Biblically handout)

●     Gentle and quiet spirit -this is what GOD treasures. Care about what He cares about.

●     WORK ON inner beauty -take thought, time and preparation to be beautiful on the inside every day. This will spill over and literally you will be more beautiful!

Her Heartache

Read Genesis 29:30-31

Genesis 29:31 “Now the Lord saw that Leah was unloved...”

Jacob loved Rachel more than he loved Leah.

Women deeply desire to have an intimate and loving relationship. Every day Leah had to live with a man who didn’t love her. His attention and affections were for Rachel.

Psalm 34:18-19

The Lord is near to the brokenhearted, and saves those crushed in spirit. Many are the afflictions of the righteous; but the Lord delivers him out of them all.

Leah was used. She was a pawn in the hand of Laban’s deception...only to be rejected. Nothing that happens to you goes unnoticed by God.

2 Chronicles 16:9

For the eyes of the Lord move to and fro throughout the earth that He may strongly support those whose heart is completely His....

God’s desire is that our hearts are completely for Him, then He will move powerfully! We stay stunted spiritually when we are only partially trusting God.

Psalm 33:18

Behold, the eye of the Lord is on those who fear Him, on those who hope for His lovingkindness.

Ask God to give you a true fear of Him! Fear of God will show GREATLY in your actions!

2 Chronicles 20:12

O our God, wilt Thou not judge them? For we are powerless before this great multitude who are coming against us; nor do we know what to do, but our eyes are on You.

It’s like saying “God, whatever, you’re in control. What can I do? Do YOUR thing.” :-)

Her Sons

Read Genesis 29:32-35; 30:9-21

In verse 16 Leah wasn’t exactly showing Jacob reasons for desiring her. Both Leah and Rachel were consumed with what they thought was going to satisfy them in life. When you manipulate people with emotions or corner them, it will be extremely difficult for them to have genuine love and concern for you.

The names Leah gives her sons reveal what God was doing in her heart.

                                                Leah’s SONS:

Reuben means “Behold a son!” -this reveals her gratitude to God.

Simeon means “Hearing” -her she gives credit to God for answering her prayers.

Levi means “joined, attached”-she assumes that because of her sons Jacob would now be drawn to her.

Judah means “Praise” -here Leah decides to submit to God’s control and just praise Him!

Jacob had sons through Leah’s maid Zilpah and Leah was happy naming them Gad which means “how fortunate” and Asher which means “happy”. When Leah saw God was not doing what she wanted Him to, she stepped in herself and this was when she became proud and foolish.

Issachar means “he will bring reward” -Leah is looking for the blessing of God and not God Himself.

Zebulun mean “to reside” “dwell with” -Leah decides to remain where she is spiritually and seek God for what He can give her.

Leah had bought into the doctrine that God was there to serve her and didn’t want to live like she was there to serve God.

“I feel that we must repudiate this great, modern wave of seeking God for His benefits. The sovereign God wants to be loved for Himself and honored for Himself, but that is only part of what He wants. The other part is that He wants us to know that when we have Him, we have everything -we have all the rest. Jesus made that plain when He said, ‘But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you’ (Matthew 6:33). It seems that Christian believers have been going through a process of indoctrination and brainwashing, so that it has become easy for us to adopt a kind of creed that makes God to be our servant instead of our being God’s servant.” -A.W. Tozer

What are the things hindering you from having a pure pursuit of God? A.W. Tozer goes on to share “Actually, anything or anyone that keeps me from knowing God in this vital and personal way is my enemy. If it is a friend that stands in my way, the friend is an enemy. If it is a gift that stands between us, that gift is an enemy. It may be an ambition, it may be a victory in the past, it may even be a defeat that still overwhelms me -any of these allowed to stand between the Lord and myself becomes an enemy and may keep me from further knowledge of God.”

**Take a moment to think of things in your life that are your “enemies” when it comes to your furtherance of intimacy in your relationship with Jesus Christ.

Do not only be interested in what God can give and in what God can do for you! Ask God for a heart to seek Him for Himself and recognize the “enemies” that will hinder that in your life. We cannot combine the mindset of the world with our relationship with God it will only keep us from the truth.

Life Lesson

Seek the Lord to know Him for Himself. He IS what you need.

Colossians 3:3-4

For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory.