Trusting God's timing in our life

Rick Warren

DECEMBER 22-24, 2018

WHAT JESUS’ BIRTH TELLS US ABOUT GOD’S TIMING

1. GOD HAS A  

Timetable

FOR EVERYTHING THAT HAPPENS.

“There is AN APPOINTED TIME for everything, and there is A RIGHT TIME for every activity under heaven.” Ecclesiastes 3:1 (NAB) 

“When THE RIGHT TIME came, God sent his Son to earth, born of a woman and living under the law, so that his Son could pay for our freedom from the law, and adopt us as his children into God’s family!”Galatians 4:3-5  

2. GOD DOES NOT TELL US  

details

IN ADVANCE.

“God has given us a desire to know the future. He always does everything just right and on time, but people can never completely understand what he is doing.”Ecclesiastes 3:11 (NCV)  

Jesus: “You don’t get to know the time. Timing is the Father’s business.” Acts 1:7 (Mes)  

3. GOD IS NEVER  

in a hurry

AND HE’S  

never late

GOD: “The vision WILL happen at the time I have appointed. It moves steadily toward its goal and it will not be proven false. If it seems slow or delayed, just wait for it! It will certainly happen. It will not be late!”Habakkuk 2:3  

4. GOD’S TIMING IS NOT ALWAYS  

convenient for me

“At that time, Caesar Augustus ordered all people under Roman rule to return to their hometown to register in a census . . . So, Joseph took Mary with him to Bethlehem, and by this time she was very pregnant . . . In Bethlehem, the time came for her to have her baby.”Luke 2:1-6  

5. AT THE RIGHT TIME GOD CAN  DO ANYTHING INSTANTLY.  

GOD: “I am the Lord, so when the right time comes, I will make it all happen quickly!” Isaiah 60:22 (TEV)  

GOD: “At the RIGHT TIME I will answer your prayers!” Isaiah 49:8 (NCV) 

WHAT DOES GOD WANT ME TO DO WHILE I WAIT?

Fear not!

Fret not!

Forget not!

Faint not!

1. FEAR NOT... TRUST GOD.

Jesus “Don’t be afraid. Just trust me.” Mark 5:36 (NLT)  

“I trust in you Lord. You are my God and my times are in your hands.” Psalm 31:14-15 (NIV)  

“I pray to you, Lord, so when the time is right, please answer me and help me with your wonderful love.” Psalm 69:13 (CEV)  

2. FRET NOT:   BE PATIENT AND HUMBLE.

“Wait and trust the Lord! DON’T FRET when others prosper or their dishonest plans succeed. And don’t get angry or upset – it only leads to trouble.”Psalm 37:7-8 

“DON'T FRET or worry. Instead of worrying, pray! Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns.” Philemon 4:6 (Mes)  

“Humble yourselves under God’s mighty hand, so that he can lift you up at just THE RIGHT TIME!” 1 Peter 5:6 (TEV)  

3. FORGET NOT:  

STUDY GOD'S PROMISES

“IF you keep looking closely into God’s perfect Word that sets people free, and you keep on studying it, and you DON’T FORGET it, and you put it into daily practice – you will be BLESSED by God in all you do!”James 1:25  

“Happy are those who . . . find joy in obeying the Word of the Lord, and they study it day and night. They’re like trees that grow strong beside a stream, and bear fruit at the RIGHT TIME and whose leaves do not dry up. They succeed in everything they do!”Psalm 1:1-3 (TEV) 

4. FAINT NOT:  

DON'T GIVE UP

“We must never get tired of doing what is right and good, for AT THE RIGHT TIME we will reap a harvest of blessing IF we don’t give up, or quit.”Galatians 6:9 

IT’S ALWAYS THE RIGHT TIME FOR 2 THINGS:

• TO COME BACK HOME TO GOD

“Now is the time to change your ways and come back to God so he can wipe away your sins, and pour out showers of blessing to refresh you.”Acts 3:19 (Mes)  

• TO ACCEPT THE SAVING GRACE OF JESUS

“Jesus gave himself to pay for the sins of everyone. He is the proof that God wants all of us to be saved. And that proof came at the RIGHT TIME.”1 Timothy 2:6 (ICB)  

UNEXPECTED JOY

The Promise Fulfilled – Part 3

Buddy Owens, Saddleback Church

DECEMBER 15-16, 2018

A PERSPECTIVE TO HOLD

The angels were joyful — Luke 2:10-14 

The shepherds were joyful — Luke 2:20 

The wise men were joyful — Matthew 2:10 

The baby John leaped for joy in his mother’s womb — Luke 1:44 

Mary was joyful — Luke 1:47 

“Mary said, ‘My soul praises the Lord’s greatness! My spirit finds its joy in God, my Savior, because he has looked favorably on me, his humble servant.’”Luke 1:46-48 (GW) 

“Wait with hope for the Lord. Be strong, and let your heart be courageous. Yes, wait with hope for the Lord.” Psalm 27:14 (GW) 

• TO “WAIT WITH HOPE” MEANS TO ANTICIPATE WITH  

joyful confident expectation (not in doubt or distress). 

A PROMISE TO CLAIM

“In the sixth month, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. The angel went to her and said, ‘Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.’ 

“Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. But the angel said to her, ‘Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God. You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end.’ 

“‘How will this be,’ Mary asked the angel, ‘since I am a virgin?’ 

“The angel answered, ‘The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be barren is in her sixth month. For nothing is impossible with God.’ 

“‘I am the Lord’s servant,’ Mary answered. ‘May it be to me according to your word.’”Luke 1:26-38 (NIV) 

“To the praise of the glory of his grace, by which he made us highly favored (accepted) in the beloved.” Ephesians 1:6 (NKJV) 

• GRACE PRINCIPLE: WHEN THE  

Favor (poured out upon you).  

OF GOD RESTS ON YOU, THE  

Power (that you can't generate on your own). 

OF GOD IS RELEASED THROUGH YOU.  

“You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you.” Acts 1:8 (NLT) 

“[He] is able to do immeasurably more than all we could ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us.” Ephesians 3:20 (NIV) 

A PROCESS TO EMBRACE

• PREPARE  

Yourself

“Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry . . . You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. But now you must rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips . . . You have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator . . . Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts . . . Be thankful . . . Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly . . . Sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.”Colossians 3:5-16 (NIV) 

• PREPARE  

Your environment

“So roll up your sleeves, put your mind in gear, be totally ready to receive the gift that’s coming when Jesus arrives. Don’t lazily slip back into those old grooves of evil, doing just what you feel like doing. You didn’t know any better then; you do now. As obedient children, let yourselves be pulled into a way of life shaped by God’s life, a life energetic and blazing with holiness.”1 Peter 1:13-16 (Message) 

• IS THERE SOMETHING GOD IS WAITING FOR ME TO  

give up

OR  

start up

TO MAKE MYSELF READY FOR HIS ARRIVAL?  

PEACE FOR EVERYONE

Kay Warren

“. . . He will be called . . . Prince of Peace.” Isaiah 9:6(NLT) 

THREE QUESTIONS:

WHY DID JESUS COME TO EARTH?

“For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” Luke 19:10 (NIV) 

WHO ARE THE LOST?

1. 

Outcasts like the shepherds

“The Spirit of the Lord is on me because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”Luke 4:18-19 (NIV) 

2. 

Elites such as the wise men

“You say, “I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked.”Revelation 3:17 (NIV) 

3. 

Average people like Mary and Joseph

“For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard.” Romans 3:23 (NLT) 

WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE “SAVED?”

1. 

I have peace with God for our past.  

“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: while we were still sinners Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8 (NIV) 

“But he was wounded and crushed for our sins. He was beaten that we might have peace. He was whipped, and we were healed!” Isaiah 53:5 (NLT) 

“By faith we have been made acceptable to God. And now, because of our lord Jesus Christ, we live at peace with God.” Romans 5:1 (CEV) 

2. 

I have the peace of God for today.  

“He will keep in perfect peace all those who trust in him, whose thoughts turn often to the Lord!” Isaiah 26:3 (TLB) 

3. 

One day there will be peace on earth.

“The Lord will settle international disputes; all the nations will convert their weapons of war into implements of peace. Then at the last all wars will stop and all military training will end.”Isaiah 2:4 (TLB) 

“In that glorious day of peace there will no longer be the issuing of battle gear; no more the bloodstained uniforms of war; all such will be burned. For unto us a child is born; unto us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder. These will be his royal titles: “Wonderful,” “Counselor,” “The Mighty God,” “The Everlasting Father,” “The Prince of Peace.” His ever-expanding, peaceful government will never end. He will rule with perfect fairness and justice from the throne of his father David. He will bring true justice and peace to all the nations of the world. This is going to happen because the lord of heaven’s armies has dedicated himself to do it!”Isaiah 9:5-7 (TLB) 

The Subversive Hope

The Promises of Christmas – Part 1

Dr. Ed Stetzer

And again, Isaiah says, “The Root of Jesse will spring up, one who will arise to rule over the nations; in him the Gentiles will hope.” May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.Romans 15:12-13 

When Jesus heard that John had been put in prison, he withdrew to Galilee. Leaving Nazareth, he went and lived in Capernaum, which was by the lake in the area of Zebulun and Naphtali – to fulfill what was said through the prophet Isaiah: “Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali, the Way of the Sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles – the people living in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned.” From that time on Jesus began to preach, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near”Matthew 4:12-17 

From that time on Jesus began to preach, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” Matthew 4:17 

Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near!

1. The Hope of the  

Kingdom

“The Kingdom of Heaven”

God  

Rules

Over All of The World.

“The LORD has established his throne in heaven, and his kingdom rules over all.” Psalm 103:19 

The World is  

Broken

and Lost.

“As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient.”Ephesians 2:1-2 

We Are Given a New  

Life

and New Hope.

“For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.”Colossians 1:13-14 

2. The Hope of the  

Already

but Not Yet.

“Has Come”

3. The Hope We  

Have

“Near”

“The kingdom of heaven has come near.” Matthew 10:7 

4. The Hope of  

Christ

“Repent, because . . .” 

And again, Isaiah says, “The Root of Jesse will spring up, one who will arise to rule over the nations; in him the Gentiles will hope.” May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.Romans 15:12-13