Necessary Seasons
Pastor Erickson teaches from Ecclesiastes 3 that to everything there is a season, showing from Scripture and his own family's story that seasons of joy and sorrow are temporary and under God's control. He calls people not to resist the season God has them in, as David did when he stayed home from battle, but to stay faithful, trust God's mercy and hold on because joy comes in the morning.
The message in 6 points
To everything there is a season
He opens Ecclesiastes 3, wanting to preach to where people are living, to those who have lost loved ones, face sickness or have lost jobs. He reads the times to be born and to die, to weep and to laugh, and that God makes everything beautiful in his time.
40:50Seasons can come by surprise
At the wedding in Cana Jesus told his mother his hour had not yet come, yet he obeyed and his ministry began. From creation in Genesis God set lights for signs and seasons, and planting and harvest cannot be exchanged.
45:21Every life passes through seasons
He recalls long northern winters and the lift when spring finally comes. Life moves from childhood to old age, and we keep wishing for the next season or the last one. The psalmist never saw the righteous forsaken, and every season, good or hard, is temporary.
53:39Joy comes in the morning
He tells of a painful season of loss he and his wife walked through while still serving the church. They kept coming to church and putting God first, and joy came again with the birth of their daughter Windsor Kate. God's purposes are higher than ours.
1:01:44Resisting a season brings trouble
It is okay to grow old gracefully. David stayed home at the time when kings go to battle, and resisting that season led him into sin and far worse seasons. We are the outcome of our decisions, yet in Psalm 51 David found God's mercy.
1:12:21All seasons are in God's hands
Seedtime and harvest will not cease while the earth remains. Joseph went from favored son to slave and prisoner to the right hand of Pharaoh, each season setting up the next. Like a tree planted by the rivers, the faithful will bear fruit in their season, so keep standing and keep believing.
1:20:28
In his words
“All seasons are temporary. Laughter today doesn't guarantee us we won't be in sorrow tomorrow, we won't have tears tomorrow.”
“Who are we? I tell you who we are. We are the outcome of our decisions.”
“You can't rush God. You can't make decisions for God. All you can do is just keep on standing like Pastor [Nolan] said, just keep on standing, keep on fighting, keep on believing.”
Taken word for word from the video, with punctuation added. Words in [brackets] were fixed so the line reads clearly.
Scripture
He reads
Ecclesiastes 3:1-8
1To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: 2A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted; 3A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; 4A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; 5A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; 6A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; 7A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; 8A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.
King James Version.
John 2:4
4Jesus saith unto her, Woman, what have I to do with thee? mine hour is not yet come.
King James Version.
Genesis 1:14
14And God said, Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and years:
King James Version.
Psalms 37:25
25I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread.
King James Version.
2 Samuel 11:1-4
1And it came to pass, after the year was expired, at the time when kings go forth to battle, that David sent Joab, and his servants with him, and all Israel; and they destroyed the children of Ammon, and besieged Rabbah. But David tarried still at Jerusalem. 2And it came to pass in an eveningtide, that David arose from off his bed, and walked upon the roof of the king’s house: and from the roof he saw a woman washing herself; and the woman was very beautiful to look upon. 3And David sent and enquired after the woman. And one said, Is not this Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite? 4And David sent messengers, and took her; and she came in unto him, and he lay with her; for she was purified from her uncleanness: and she returned unto her house.
King James Version.
Psalms 51:1-3
1Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions. 2Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. 3For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me.
King James Version.
Genesis 8:22
22While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease.
King James Version.
Romans 8:28
28And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
King James Version.
Psalms 1:3
3And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.
King James Version.
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