Time - Is Difficult, Get Ready, It's Now!

Notes: Time - Is Difficult, Get Ready, It's Now!

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Pastor Steve Wilburn from Core Church in Los Angeles
Speaking at Harvest OC
October 2, 2014

Pastor Steve is talking about the loss of Pastor Steve Mays. He said this verse came to him:
Psalm 116:15 NKJV
[15] Precious in the sight of the LORD Is the death of His saints.

After the first sin of Adam and Eve, when we die we go back the full circle into paradise, into Heaven.

Pastor Steve says Jesus Christ  is coming back! Did you know that?

He said that he named this message Time, because it is just a matter of it before Christ comes back.

Time is used for lots of things. Science keep time to measure intervals. Then there's time to do everything, eat, sleep, do dishes or whatever.

As you get older time seems to go much faster.

It's been said time waits for no one!

Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 NKJV
[1] 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.

John Lennon said time you enjoyed wasting is not wasted.

Pastor Steve says time wasted is time wasted. We have to do Gods work at all times, don't waste it.

God has never asked an atheist or an agnostic to share his message!

So then who should share it? If you are a Christian then you should waste no time sharing Jesus' message. 

1. Time is difficult

Trouble means things that disturb, bring difficulty and pain.

From the book of Joel, Joel learned what trouble could be. One his main troubles were locust, it destroyed all the land. Joel's message is timeless. Troubles hit everyone, rich or poor, healthy or ill.

There are opportunities in every difficulty, and difficulties in very opportunity.

Pastor Steve is sharing a story about being in New Zealand. He spoke to a girl that was in a massively sad time. Then he was sharing with her and then the boyfriend was interrupting saying things like I don't believe the Bible was written by God. Steve addressed his concern and then went back to witnessing to the girl. The boyfriend interrupted a few more times while Steve was trying to consul the girl. Steve thought the guy was not helping the situation. One of the verses he said to the boyfriend to address his concern was:
2 Timothy 3:16-17 NKJV—All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness,  that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.

As Steve was talking to the girl, the boyfriend said the movie they were going to see was about to start. Steve thought the boyfriend was getting in the way of her accepting Christ. Yet, the girlfriend decided to head into the movie while the boyfriend stayed and talked to Steve. After Steve answered all of the boyfriends questions, the boyfriend gave his heart to God and the girl didn't. Steve was amazed that it happened. He said he asked the boyfriend why he decided to put his faith in Jesus right then and the guy simply stated because Steve answered all the questions the guy had and wanted to follow him.

1 Peter 2:9 NKJV
[9] But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;

Steve is talking about living your life for Christ and dying with no regrets.

If you died tonight would you be dying with regrets?

Jeremiah 20:9 NKJV—Then I said, “I will not make mention of Him, Nor speak anymore in His name.” But His word was in my heart like a burning fire Shut up in my bones; I was weary of holding it back, And I could not.

Joel 1:4 NKJV
[4] What the chewing locust left, the swarming locust has eaten; What the swarming locust left, the crawling locust has eaten; And what the crawling locust left, the consuming locust has eaten.

In our lives locust are anything that are a distraction in our life. It could be lust, or envy, or work, or anything.

Idle time is not your friend, it can be your biggest enemy.

No matter how many times we have fallen or failed, we must not give up.

At any time, the Lord could perfect you.

John 10:10 NKJV
[10] The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.

Do you feel like your life has been devoured? Should you crawl into a whole and hope your life gets better, or should you crawl, rebuild and pull yourself up.

There are things that the people of God need to rise up and do. We do not have to go anywhere to be in the mission field.

God puts his missionaries in the most useless places. Jesus Christ never waited for the right place.

He says share with everyone! There is a God in Heaven that loves you.

He said 56% of people will go somewhere they are invited.

He said it's quick, invite people to church. What if someone comes and gives their life to Christ.

2. It's time to get ready.

Joel 2:9-14 NKJV
[9] They run to and fro in the city, They run on the wall; They climb into the houses, They enter at the windows like a thief. [10] The earth quakes before them, The heavens tremble; The sun and moon grow dark, And the stars diminish their brightness. [11] The LORD gives voice before His army, For His camp is very great; For strong is the One who executes His word. For the day of the LORD is great and very terrible; Who can endure it? [12] "Now, therefore," says the LORD, "Turn to Me with all your heart, With fasting, with weeping, and with mourning." [13] So rend your heart, and not your garments; Return to the LORD your God, For He is gracious and merciful, Slow to anger, and of great kindness; And He relents from doing harm. [14] Who knows if He will turn and relent, And leave a blessing behind Him- A grain offering and a drink offering For the LORD your God?

Rend in Hebrew means to either surrender or retreat back.

Pastor Steve is talking about when he was young, he was drinking, doing speed and got a girl pregnant. Then when he was 18 he heard the Gospel.

Luke 12:3 NKJV
[3] Therefore whatever you have spoken in the dark will be heard in the light, and what you have spoken in the ear in inner rooms will be proclaimed on the housetops.

He said after he heard that he was converted.

Malachi 2:6 NKJV
[6] The law of truth was in his mouth, And injustice was not found on his lips. He walked with Me in peace and equity, And turned many away from iniquity.

We are called to share the life changing message of the cross.

If your life was to end would have regrets or no regrets?

You can't take anything. You get here naked and you leave naked.

Revelation 22:12 NKJV
[12] "And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work.

Your work isn't climbing the corporate ladder. It what you did for the kingdom of God.

3. The time is now.

Joel 2:29-31 NKJV
[29] And also on My menservants and on My maidservants I will pour out My Spirit in those days. [30] "And I will show wonders in the heavens and in the earth: Blood and fire and pillars of smoke. [31] The sun shall be turned into darkness, And the moon into blood, Before the coming of the great and awesome day of the LORD.

Joel 2:32 NKJV
[32] And it shall come to pass That whoever calls on the name of the LORD Shall be saved. For in Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there shall be deliverance, As the LORD has said, Among the remnant whom the LORD calls.

Philippians 3:13 NKJV
[13] Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead,

You can't change yesterday but you can decide what you do tomorrow.

The time is now, God is raising up an army of light. He is not raising you up to use your weakness. For when your are weak God is strong.

Joel 2:28 NKJV
[28] "And it shall come to pass afterward That I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh; Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, Your old men shall dream dreams, Your young men shall see visions.

1 Corinthians 3:16 NKJV
[16] Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?

You Christian are the holy of holies. But do you ever let out the Holy Spirit.

Joel 2:32 NKJV
[32] And it shall come to pass That whoever calls on the name of the LORD Shall be saved. For in Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there shall be deliverance, As the LORD has said, Among the remnant whom the LORD calls.

This your family, friends and strangers, and you could help lead them there.

You could be instrumental in leading someone to Christ.

Joel 3:13-14 NKJV
[13] Put in the sickle, for the harvest is ripe. Come, go down; For the winepress is full, The vats overflow- For their wickedness is great." [14] Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision! For the day of the LORD is near in the valley of decision.

How much should we be pushing and persuading people? Pastor Steve says he begs people. They need to be persuaded.

What is your decision?

Philippians 3:10 NKJV
[10] that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death,

We need to make a decision to lead people to Christ.

Christian means to be Christ like.

You will never regret leading someone to the Lord.

You will regret if you did nothing.

Lord here I am, please give me the power to let you send me!