Can you Spare some "Change?"

SERMON STARTER

          Our recent political campaign battle was fought by the Democratic platform of, “Time for a Change.” You don’t have to be a rocket scientist to realize that our country is in the throes of great change. Change and innovation is confronting us every day. Have you seen any phone booths lately? They’ve disappeared with the advent and continuing sophistication of the cell phone.

          Detroit and the American Automotive Industry have lost their battle to compete with Chinese manufacturing and their government subsidized automotive industry. How can our hourly people compete with a Chinese worker that will work for a total compensation package of $8.00 per hour? Our U.S. economy is slowly being changed by globalization.

          Change is everywhere. I heard a man say sarcastically recently, “My luck is changing. . . It’s getting WORSE!”  To complicate matters our churches are led by and filled with people whose personality type is phlegmatic. According to the behavioral profiles, phlegmatics are stoic people who work well in a group, but believe that change, any change is a threat. Their favorite mantra is “We never did it that way before.” Another favorite line is “I understand what you are saying, but I’m agaen’ it!”

          Life is NOT a static, no-change situation. All of life is dynamic. Life is constantly in a changing state of flux. How we hate change. All change is seen as a threat and must be resisted.

This sermon explores what the Bible says about change. It is meant to challenge how you think about yourself and your need for the status quo. With Jesus’ help we can meet the changes that are ahead and overcome our own distress.

 

Pastor Phil   <><<

Sheepfold Ministries – January 4, 2009

Pastor Phil Roland

 

Can you Spare some "Change?"

Isaiah 43:18,19; Ecclesiastes 3:1-15

 

“With the new year will come change and with the change danger mixed with opportunities. We will need discernment and courage to overcome and seize the opportunities. With God’s help anything is possible.” Pastor Phil

 

"Do not remember the former things, Nor consider the things of old.

Behold, I will do a new thing, Now it shall spring forth; Shall you not know it? I will even make a road in the wilderness And rivers in the desert.”

 

I.  CHANGE IS INEVITABLE

 

          A. Change is Appointed by God – Text v.1

               “To everything there is a season, A time for every purpose under heaven”

                1. We are fearful of change

                        a. Life’s Unexpected Storms

                        b. Losing our Grip/Control

                2. We have a great urge to maintain the status Quo

              “Status Quo is Latin for the mess we’re in!”  Ronald Reagan

            B. Change is Everywhere

                 1. Seasonal Change

                 2. Political Change

                 3. Technological Change

                        a. Computers Slow Down

                        b. Innovation Speeds Up

                 4. Economic Change

                 5. Vocational Change

                        a. Unemployment / Under-Employment

                        b. Two or Three Vocational Shifts in a Lifetime

                 6. Mortality Change

                        a. Young Become Aged

                        b. New Becomes Old

                        c. Healthy Become Infirmed

 

II.  GOD’S IN CONTROL OF YOUR CHANGES – Romans 8:28

“And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.”

 

            A. God Resists the Proud / Gives Grace to the Humble  - 1 Pet. 5:5-7

            “Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders. Yes, all of

  you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for "God

  resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble." Therefore humble

  yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due

  time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.”

            B. God’s in Control – Say it softly as you exhale, “God’s in Con-trool”

1. Even your own Death Date has been set by God

                        2. Play the “Longevity Game” – My projected age is 91

                        http://www.nmfn.com/tn/learnctr--lifeevents--longevity_game

                        3. No Computer can Calculate your Longevity

                        4. Your days are in His Hands

            C. God’s in Control, Enjoy Life and Rest in Him – vs. 12,13

                “I know that nothing is better for them than to rejoice, and to do good in

      their lives, and also that every man should eat and drink and enjoy the

      good of all his labor; it is the gift of God.”

                1. Make the Best of Each Season of Change in your Life

                        2. God has made Everything Beautiful in it’s Time v. 11

                             “He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also He has put

       eternity in their hearts, except that no one can find out the work

                               that God does from beginning to end.”

1. 1.      Even Painful Circumstances are set in Place by Him

 

III.  GOD IS SENDING CHANGE INTO OUR LIVES

            A. God never changes – Isaiah 45:6,7

            “That they may know from the rising of the sun to its setting That there is

  none besides Me. I am the LORD, and there is no other;  I form the light

  and create darkness, I make peace and create calamity; I, the LORD, do all

  these things.'”

            B. We Change, People Change, Hearts Change

            C. At Least Ten Things Will Remain Constant in the midst of Change

                 10. The Bible will still have the answers

       9.  God will Still Hear and Answer Prayer

       8.  The Holy Spirit will still move

       7.  God will still inhabit the praises of His People

       6.  There will still be Anointed Preaching

       5.  There will still be the singing of praises to God

       4.  God will still pour out blessings on His people

       3.  There will Still be room at the Cross for His children

       2.  Jesus will still love you                  And the Number One thing that will Remain Constant

       1.  Jesus will still save us from our Sins

 

Can you Spare some "Change?", Text:

Ecclesiastes 3:1-15 – NKJV

To everything there is a season, A time for every purpose under heaven:

2  A time to be born, And a time to die; A time to plant, And a time to pluck what is planted;

3  A time to kill, And a time to heal; A time to break down, And a time to build up;

4  A time to weep, And a time to laugh; A time to mourn, And a time to dance;

5  A time to cast away stones, And a time to gather stones; A time to embrace, And a time to refrain from embracing;

6  A time to gain, And a time to lose; A time to keep, And a time to throw away;

7  A time to tear, And a time to sew; A time to keep silence, And a time to speak;

8  A time to love, And a time to hate; A time of war, And a time of peace.

9  What profit has the worker from that in which he labors?

10  I have seen the God-given task with which the sons of men are to be occupied.

11  He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also He has put eternity in their hearts, except that no one can find out the work that God does from beginning to end.

12  I know that nothing is better for them than to rejoice, and to do good in their lives,

13  and also that every man should eat and drink and enjoy the good of all his labor; it is the gift of God.

14  I know that whatever God does, It shall be forever. Nothing can be added to it, And nothing taken from it. God does it, that men should fear before Him.

15  That which is has already been, And what is to be has already been; And God requires an account of what is past.