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.”

Esther

ESTHER

About her:

The only book of the Bible that doesn’t mention God’s name.

Esther was Jewish and she was from the tribe of Benjamin. She was taken to Babylon around 600 B.C. when the Jews were taken captive.

Esther’s Jewish name is Hadassah which means “myrtle”

Esther means “star” and she most definitely is the “star” in this drama!

Esther was an orphan. Her parents had died.

Esther lived with her uncle Mordecai. He took care of her as his own daughter.

Esther was physically beautiful.

Esther had a specific call from God at a specific time in history. God sovereignly placed you where you are and has a unique calling and purpose for your life at this particular time in history.

1 Corinthians 1:9 NKJV “God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.”

Ephesian 4:1 NKJV “I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called,”

1 Peter 2:9 NKJV “But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;”

Setting the Stage:

King Ahasuerus reigned from India to Ethiopia over 127 provinces. 180 show of this royalty and all that he had. He was basically showing off.

The feast was 7 days in the court of the garden. Everything for the feast was beautiful! Beautiful curtains, couches of gold and silver, pearls, marble. It was a royal event! Drinks were served in golden vessels.

The kings orders were to “do as each man desired.” (Esther 1:8)

The queen of King Ahasuerus was Queen Vashti.

Vashti means “beautiful”

She gave a feast for all the women in the palace that belonged to the king. Imagine a week long Women’s Bible Study!

It was the KING that she refused! If you are in leadership, you're actions are magnified and you set the tone and the example. Her rebellion could possibly cause a women's rights movement and the men would see to it that that didn't happen. Obviously women were viewed of as objects to be possessed…no different than today really. Despite all of women's attempts to be viewed as individuals…not by merely what they possess on the outside…the world and society today still holds on to vanity.

We are going to see God’s sovereignty in removing this queen so that one of his own people the position.

The decree of all women giving honor to their husbands. High and low alike (Esther 1:20). Is a godly Biblical principle.

Ephesians 5:33 NKJV “Nevertheless let each one of you in particular so love his own wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband.”

Esther 2:2 -the young men were probably thinking "so the beautiful young women you don't have maybe we'll get a chance at them."

Huge decisions can be made in one conversation. Never underestimate your influence.

“You can never really live anyone else's life, not even your child's. The influence you exert is through your own life, and what you've become yourself.”  -Eleanor Roosevelt

“Leadership is influence.” -John C. Maxwell

“I have thought a sufficient measure of civilization is the influence of good women.” -Ralph Waldo Emerson

“Only God Himself fully appreciates the influence of a Christian mother in the molding of character in her children.” -Billy Graham

The story begins:

Mordecai was a Jew who lived in Susa who had been carried away with Jeconiah king of Judah during the Babylonian captivity.

Esther is described by her physical beauty but we will see her inner beauty and courage as the story progresses.

She immediately pleased the king and won his favor and was given cosmetics, food, servants and was advanced to the best place in the harem.

What do you think Esther was like to get this kind of favor? What is your personal idea and description of what she was probably like?

Every day Esther updated Mordecai with what was going on. She had a good family relationship! Constant communication.

Esther was a Jew but she did not make that known because Mordecai told her to keep quiet about it. Esther had a submissive spirit and knew her place which is a very attractive quality.

Submission:

James 4:7 NKJV “Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.”

1 Peter 2:13-14 NKJV “Therefore submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake, whether to the king as supreme, or to governors, as to those who are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and [for the] praise of those who do good.”

Colossians 3:18 NKJV “Wives, submit to your own husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.”

Esther had gone a whole year of beauty treatments! Six months with oil of myrrh and six months with spices and ointments.

Esther 2:15 -she was a woman who took advice and received counsel and sought wisdom. She had a submissive spirit but look what that brought her! A TON of influence and a position of great authority. She was a woman whom everyone loved…and it wasn't just because of what she looked like! It was WHO she was.

Psalm 90:12 NKJV “So teach us to number our days, That we may gain a heart of wisdom.” This verse is so appropriate for Esther as she truly put her life on the line for her people.

Proverbs 3:13 NKJV “Happy is the man who finds wisdom, And the man who gains understanding;”

Esther 2:20 -Esther was a “good kid”...she wasn’t a rebellious teenager. She was a mature young adult full of hope.

(2:19-23) -God kept giving Esther favor with the king! A lot of the blessing that came with the favor was in her relationship with Mordecai. God know what you need and who needs to be in your life. He is a sovereign God...working things out.

God’s Sovereignty:

Joseph understood - Genesis 50:20 "But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive.”

God has purposes you don’t understand - Deuteronomy 8:2 NKJV "And you shall remember that the LORD your God led you all the way these forty years in the wilderness, to humble you and test you, to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep His commandments or not.”

God got the Israelites out of Egypt but they wandered for 40 years because He had to get Egypt out of their hearts.

God uses circumstances for our good and for His glory - 2 Corinthians 4:14 NKJV “For all things are for your sakes, that grace, having spread through the many, may cause thanksgiving to abound to the glory of God.”

Esther 4

Esther was brave and willing. She didn’t live life to please herself. The world didn’t revolve around her. This is a beautiful quality!

1 Chronicles 15:30 NKJV “Tremble before Him, all the earth. The world also is firmly established, it shall not be moved.”

Psalm 33:8 NKJV “Let all the earth fear the LORD; Let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of Him.”

Psalm 89:11 NKJV “The heavens are Yours, the earth also is Yours; The world and all its fullness, You have founded them.”

Esther 5

Queen Esther won favor in the kings sight and he offered her up to half the kingdom. She invited him to a feast she prepared for him.

5:7 -Esther is building the anticipation of the king. You know when someone tells you they have to talk with you about something...and you know it’s serious and you’re wondering what it is and you have to wait???

Proverbs 25:15 NKJV “By long forbearance a ruler is persuaded, and a gentle tongue breaks a bone.”

Esther 6

God is ALWAYS working sovereignly behind the scenes!

6:6 -when you seek to honor yourself you will be brought low. Always humble yourself and you will be lifted higher. Read Luke 14:8-11

Esther 7:1-6

What a scene of drama!

Proverbs 26:27 NKJV “Whoever digs a pit will fall into it, and he who rolls a stone will have it roll back on him.”

Psalm 9:16 NKJV “The LORD is known by the judgment He executes; The wicked is snared in the work of his own hands.”

God moves MIGHTILY in times of “silence”

Psalm 53:7 “He was oppressed and He was afflicted, yet He opened not His mouth; He was led as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before its shearers is silent, so He opened not His mouth.”

Esther 9

God blessed Esther and heard the cries of His people.

Psalm 72:12 NKJV “For He will deliver the needy when he cries, the poor also, and him who has no helper.”

God turned their mourning into dancing and their fasting into feasting!

Psalm 30:11 NKJV “You have turned for me my mourning into dancing; You have put off my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness,”

Psalm 30:5 NKJV “For His anger is but for a moment, His favor is for life; weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning.”

She is now known as Queen Esther. Isn’t it, at one time or another, every girls dream to be a queen? Haven’t we all played that before?

Esther 10

Mordecai became second to the King!!!!!

Esther was brave and bold. Esther lost her life...and by losing it to God’s will...she gained it!

Matthew 10:39 NKJV "He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it.”