What Time Is It?

Understanding the Seasons in Life
(Eccl. 3:1-26)

I. A TIME AND SEASON FOR EVERYTHING

“There is a TIME for everything, and a SEASON for every activity under heaven” (3:1 NIV)

TIME – the measured or measurable period during which an action, process, or condition exists or continues.
A SEASON in our life is a time frame that has been allotted for something to happen

Eccl 3:2-8 contains 14 antitheses; 28 items
A Time to be born, and a time to die … … a time for war and a time for peace

FOUR SEASONS (Gen. 8:22)
Spring Hopeful, emerging, budding
Summer Fruitful, blessings, growing
Fall Weakening, fading, cooling
Winter Cold, lifeless, dead

Isaiah 40:31
Season of waiting – “but those who hope (wait) in the Lord will renew their strength;”
Season of soaring – “They will soar on wings like eagles”
Season of running – “they will run and not grow weary”
Season of walking – “they will walk and not be faint.”

RECOGNIZE THE SEASONS IN OUR LIVES
To be successful we must observe the seasons that we are to go through and do the right thing at the right time

You must not run ahead of God’s season (Gen. 16:2-5)
You cannot pray away a season (2 Cor. 4:7-9)
There is a reason for the season, an eternal purpose

Perspectives on Seasons
1. God ordains the seasons (:10)
2. They are beautiful (:11)
3. We cannot see the whole picture (:11) There are some things in life you’ll never know

TIMING IS IMPORTANT
TIMING IS EVERYTHING
GOD’S TIMING IS IMPECCABLE. Gal. 4:4, John 4:6, Mark 1:15

HE MAKES ALL THINGS BEAUTIFUL IN HIS TIME (3:11)
Recognize God’s Timing
Accept God’s Timing
Get in Alignment with God’s Timing

IT IS TIME … to plant… to harvest
IT IS TIME to seek God (Hosea 10:12)

II. HOW TO MAKE THE MOST OF YOUR TIMES AND SEASONS

TIME – EQUAL BUT UNEQUAL
86,400 seconds; ; 1,440 minutes; 24 hours
Pareto Principle and Time Management: Do the Important Thing.
80% of results come from 20% of activity Eph. 5:15-16

Always be prepared no matter what the seasons (2 Tim. 4:2)

Different Seasons – Different Activities — Do the Proper Work of the Season

III. STEPPING INTO A NEW SEASON

God can change your season — “He changes times and seasons” (Dan. 2:21a)

WAIT FOR GOD’S APPOINTED TIME (Hab. 2:3)
Wait for the season of blessings (Ezek 34:26)

SEIZE YOUR SEASON SEIZE THE OPPORTUNITY (Jn 5:1-9)

Each season brings about unique opportunities that we should take advantage of individually and corporately for our betterment in every area of our life.

“There comes a special moment in everyone’s life, a moment for which that person was born. That special opportunity, when they seize it, will fulfill their mission – a mission for which they are uniquely qualified. In that moment they find greatness. It is their finest hour.” (Winston Churchill)

“There are certain windows of opportunity when – if you don’t take a risk and move forward – your effectiveness could come to a standstill. Know that the greater the risk you take, the more critical it is that you have the proper timing.” (John Maxwell, “Law of Timing” in 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership)

I CAN’T LET MY SEASON, MY WINDOW OF OPPORTUNITY PASS ME BY !!