On Time
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4 But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, 5 to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons.
1 Now I say that the heir, as long as he is a child, does not differ at all from a slave, though he is master of all, 2 but is under guardians and stewards until the time appointed by the father. 3 Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world. 4 But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, 5 to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons.
Introduction
Gift Giving at Christmas and Preaching
1. Especially in America: “Buy me! Take me home!”
Especially in America: Christmas seems very commercialized
some people who are ignorant of the facts may even think it was invented by the retail industries to sell products
sometimes people who do know the facts can be so discouraged they reject the traditions becasue the focus is not on Jesus
But we should not throw the baby out with the bath water — the traditions can honor Jesus
What if we were more mindful of why we give the gifts as we give them?
What if we were mindful of the reason for the traditions as we participate in them?
in many homes if you try to stop the ritual of gift giving or dinner time to have a moment of worship or praise, you might be stoned, or at least made uncomfortable.
2. Preaching at Christmas is like that
Even the Preaching at Christmas can seem like the traditions - stories we have heard before and don’t give enough thought to.
The inn, the shepherds, the wise men!
a. The inn, the shepherds, the wise men!
The prophecies and the angelic appearances!
b. The prophecies and the angelic appearances!
B. Today … Christmas with Paul
Today I want to begin the Christmas season with a passage fro Galatians (4:4-5)
1. His statement about Christ’s birth to the Galatian church
His statement about Christ’s birth to the Galatian church
2. All his statement encompasses
I would like to think about all his statement encompasses
God is always on Time
God is always on Time
“When the fullness of the time was come.”
The Coming of Christ had been expected and prophesied of for nearly 4,000 years
There were many times it seemed He could have come
When Joseph became Leader in Egypt
When Moses lead them from Egypt
When David became King
During the 400 years of the judges
The 400 years between the testaments
When Noah led the animals into the ark
and how many times before the flood did people consider the coming of The Christ?
All of the prophets wrote of Him
From Moses to Malachi
The one who would crush the serpent’s head
The One moses said God would raise up “like unto me, Him you shall here”
The “star that shall come out of Jacob” who Balaam prophesied of ()
The root of Jesse,
The Branch of righteousness,
the Stone cut without hands that smashes the image and fills the whole earth,
the suffering savoir, the one who would bear our sins,
the Prince of Peace,
the child who would be born to a virgin, whose goings forth have been from of old even from everlasting....
The one who would turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the children to their fathers...
Yet, for all these prophesies and expectations, He still had not come.
It might have seemed late
Or worse, maybe He wasn’t coming
But God is never late.
2. How impatient we become when things don’t work out as planned: When our prayers are not answered or when difficulties persist
How impatient we become when things don’t work out as planned: When our prayers are not answered or when difficulties persist
We may be discouraged
Doubt begins to take hold
Sometimes even anger
3. But God is always on time!
But God is always on time!
Consider some Old Testament examples:
4. Consider some Old Testament examples:
a. Joseph sold into slavery and imprisoned. He becomes the prime minister of Egypt
Joseph sold into slavery and imprisoned. He becomes the prime minister of Egypt - at just the right time
Moses preserved in the desert becomes the deliverer - at just the right time
b. Moses preserved in the desert becomes the deliverer
c. The Red Sea experience: The sea opened just in time
The Red Sea experience: The sea opened just in time
5. God was right on time with the birth of Christ
God was right on time with the birth of Christ
a. How long it must have seemed!
How long it must have seemed!
The promise in the Garden, the prophecies, the silence
b. The promise in the Garden, the prophecies, the silence
c. Then, ACTION: angelic activity
Then suddenly, ACTION: angelic activity
d. The taxing, the crowded inn, the birth, the shepherds, the wise men
The taxing, the crowded inn, the birth, the shepherds, the wise men
And even in this flurry of actions and prophetic fulfillment, most those involved had no idea.
And you could be right in the middle of God’s wonderful plan right now, and not even know it.
God will be right on time with the Second Coming of Christ
6. God will be right on time with the Second Coming of Christ
a. The current scene and temptations to date setting
The current scene and temptations to date setting
Some doubt, but God will be on time (2 Peter 3)
b. Some doubt, but God will be on time
God is always on time in His working in our lives
7. God is always on time in His working in our lives
You are not here by accident
a. You are not here by accident
Your difficulties are opportunities to believe
b. Your difficulties are opportunities to believe
So many of the things that seem like trouble are just God setting you up fro triumph
If you will choose to see Christ instead of crisis
You will see opportunity instead of oppression
You will see triumph instead of trouble
Look for Jesus in your present day - God will be on time, so don’t you be late.
God meets People where they are
God meets People where they are
“God sent forth His Son, made of a woman, made under the law …”
2. That’s where we all had our beginning
That’s where we all had our beginning
Born so helpless
a. Born so helpless
How strange that God should choose this entrance to the world
b. How strange that God should choose this entrance to the world
He could have come in the form of an angel - instead He chose the seed of Abraham ()
He will return again - at just the right time.
3. How great the degree of His humility ()
How great the degree of His humility ()
4. Laid in a manger
Laid in a manger
In every way tempted like as we are - yet without sin
the trials of growing up
learning obedience
suffering, struggling, learning and working
being hungry and being tempted
yet without sin
5. God will meet you where you are today
God will meet you where you are today
God wants to change People from what they are to what they can be!!
God wants to change People from what they are to what they can be!!
“That we might receive the adoption of sons”
2. Adoption means “son placed”
We are no longer merely servants,. but sons
Jesus could have come as an angel, but He chose a man.... the firstborn of many brethren
He is not ashamed to call us brothers (and sisters)
Adoption - a legal term - as certain as blood
more powerful than biology
A choice with consequence
3. Adoption possible because of redemption … the cross
Adoption possible because of redemption … the cross
God is developing you into what you ought to be
4. God is developing you into what you ought to be
Jesus will change your Life
You can only be what you ought to be through his Power
Make this your Moment of Decision: the most Important in your Life