SEASONS in life cannot be ignored. We should therefore prepare ourselves for both summer and winter and day and night.
However, we have a challenge in the modern age. We are now living in a very fast world where people are now looking for most up to date and specific information.
Hearers and listeners choose sermons that speak to the now. There is no patience for wholesome words or complete/full counsel of God. We deprive ourselves of food for spiritual growth.
It is very right to discern and speak to present situation and circumstance.
However, it is naive to ignore some pastures that Jesus the Chief Shepherd leads us to.
He knows what antibodies He’s introducing and what strength and muscle He’s developing.
We are drawn to take heed of a word that Christendom calls “word in season” which speaks to immediate situation, circumstance and needs.
There’s nothing wrong with word of knowledge, wisdom or prophecy. The problem comes when we ignore the Word in its fullness.
- Of a word in season
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An example of how some institutions teach is a good example. There are pupils and students who are coached for exams.
They come out with flying colours though they did not fully comprehend the full syllabus.
Universities sometimes often do entrance tests and some with straight. As fail to answer the very basics of their area of study. In real life, this often shows up.
We have learnt through this platform to take in everything that comes from God the Father even if it seems it does not immediately minister to our needs.
There are many sermons we discard because we don’t relate with in our immediate circumstance.
In financial stress, a message on material prosperity sounds palatable.
We will ignore sermons on stewardship.
When we get so called financial breakthrough or financial miracle we fail because we ignored sermons on stewardship and generosity.
We thought verses like the following were not speaking to us. Let’s read 1 Timothy 6:17-19, “[17] Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy; [18] That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate; [19] Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.”
If you think you are poor, these verses are probably speaking to you more than they are speaking to the rich.
After all as believers we confess that we are rich. We need to, therefore, think as rich.
There will be no reason to trust God for better life and not prepare for it.
Let’s have a look at 2 Timothy 4:2-3, Amplified Classic, “[2] Herald and preach the
Word! Keep your sense of urgency [stand by, be at hand and ready], whether the opportunity seems to be favorable or unfavorable. [Whether it is convenient or inconvenient, whether it is welcome or unwelcome, you as preacher of the Word are to show people in what way their lives are wrong.] And convince them, rebuking and correcting, warning and urging and encouraging them, being unflagging and inexhaustible in patience and teaching. [3] For the time is coming when [people] will not tolerate (endure) sound and wholesome instruction, but, having ears itching [for something pleasing and gratifying], they will gather to themselves one teacher after another to a considerable number, chosen to satisfy their own liking and to foster the errors they hold.”
We are quick to discard sermons that are not tasty and we walk out during preaching because the preacher is “not prophetic”.
I have been around for some time to see people coming back to look for messages we preached 10 or 20 years ago.
Those who have been with this devotion know how I am passionate about preserving and filing sermons especially those we think are not ministering to us.
We survive unexpected attacks because we took every Word that came from God. While the preacher was not speaking to us when they mentioned adultery and fornication, we took in the message wholeheartedly and it saved us when temptation came.
It is regrettable that we have unfortunately compartmentalised the Word of God thereby depriving others. We have singles ministry where we hammer them with understanding God as single fathers and mothers.
The problem comes when they remarry and start looking for messages on couples as a matter of urgency. They may fail to live couples lives because they always thought they were singles.
There’s need to revisit and interrogate our approach to so called tailor made messages.
Let the children sit in the church building during church service times. Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless
before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, to the only wise God our Saviour,
be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever.
Grace and peace be multiplied to you through knowledge.
All Bible quotations are from the King James Version unless otherwise stated.
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