Now we look at the ,WHEN.... when do we serve...??? First every Born again child of GOD is on GOD's schedule and GODs time table. The plan of service for your life is not something left up to chance.. GOD has an intricate plan.... and that plan was written before you were even born.
Please.......... .Read slowly and carefully the verses below.. and let not your natural mind prejudice your thinking...
Ps 139:15 My frame was not hidden from You, When I was made in secret, And skillfully wrought in the depths of the earth;
Ps 139:16 Your eyes have seen my unformed substance; And in Your book were all written The days that were ordained for me, When as yet there was not one of them.
Amazing .... All your days are recorded in heaven NOW... not after you die....right NOW... How can this be... ??? We have to understand that GOD has not limitations like we might imagine... God sits outside of the dimension of time... He sees , past, present and future in an instance..and He orchestrates every element... HE is sovereign in every respect...
David wrote.. , This is..sooooooo far above my head .. I'm not going to even worry about it.. ..Well that's "Ormond's".. translation of what David said...:
Ps 139:6
Your [infinite] knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high above me, I cannot reach it....
The Prophet Jeremiah writes as directed by the Holy Spirit:
Jer 29:11
For I know the thoughts and plans that I have for you, says the Lord, thoughts and plans for welfare and peace and not for evil, to give you hope in your final outcome.
Here again... New Testament....
Eph 2:10
For we are God's [own] handiwork (His workmanship), recreated in Christ Jesus, [born anew] that we may do those good works which God predestined (planned beforehand) for us [taking paths which He prepared ahead of time], that we should walk in them [living the good life which He prearranged and made ready for us to live].
And how much clearer can we get from reading..."predestined (planned beforehand) for us [taking paths which He prepared ahead of time], "
And Again......
Ex 23:20
"Behold, I am going to send an angel before you to guard you along the way and to bring you into the place which I have prepared.
Your life has tremendous value to GOD, He has ordained you to be a significant part in the Kingdom of GOD. GOD has a PLAN For YOU...
And plans have schedules..... You are on GODs schedule..even if you are not aware of it.. Still you are on His time frame, for executing His will in the earth...
John 7:6
So Jesus *said to them, "My time is not yet here, but your time is always opportune.
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John 7:8
"Go up to the feast yourselves; I do not go up to this feast because My time has not yet fully come."
Jesus was on a schedule ... And he was always on time... He knew the plan for His life... Jesus knew the appointed time for things to happen in His life..
Matt 26:45
Then He *came to the disciples and *said to them, "Are you still sleeping and resting? Behold, the hour is at hand and the Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of sinners.
Jesus was much aware of the time and the hour of His betrayal... Jesus knew the time and the hour of each phase of His ministry... and He waited on GOD.... There were no short cuts.. no work arounds..
There is another element to ..the "When to serve GOD".. and it is being prepared to serve when the call comes to began ...when the time is NOW.. we must be ready to serve.... Preparation to serve makes you qualified to serve...
Preparation begins with study:
2 Tim 2:15
Study and be eager and do your utmost to present yourself to God approved (tested by trial), a workman who has no cause to be ashamed, correctly analyzing and accurately dividing [rightly handling and skillfully teaching] the Word of Truth.
And finally preparation ends with trail..or testing.. call it your final exam..
Pet 5:10
And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace [Who imparts all blessing and favor], Who has called you to His [own] eternal glory in Christ Jesus, will Himself complete and make you what you ought to be, establish and ground you securely, and strengthen, and settle you..:
Yes ... GOD Himself..."will Himself complete and make you what you ought to be".... in His service...
Let me give you our foremost example Jesus ... , I will show you Jesus being prepared for ministry.....and then .. Jesus when preparation as completed... and He became qualified for ministry...:
Jesus.................the final exam:
Luke 4:1
THEN JESUS, full of and controlled by the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led in [by] the [Holy] Spirit
Noticed Jesus is full of and controlled by the Holy Spirit:
Luke 4:2
For (during) forty days in the wilderness (desert), where He was tempted (tried, tested exceedingly) by the devil. And He ate nothing during those days, and when they were completed, He was hungry
Completed the Exam.. Now Qualified to Serve:
Luke 4:14
Then Jesus went back full of and under the power of the [Holy] Spirit into Galilee, and the fame of Him spread through the whole region round about.
First we see Jesus full of and controlled by.... and NOW we see Jesus full of and under the POWER..of the Holy Spirit..
Look at the Prophecy written by the Holy Spirit using the hand of the Prophet Isaiah:
Is 61:1
THE SPIRIT of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed and qualified me to preach the Gospel of good tidings to the meek, the poor, and afflicted; He has sent me to bind up and heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the [physical and spiritual] captives and the opening of the prison and of the eyes to those who are bound,
We serve...WHEN .. we are qualified to serve: "and qualified me ".. as shown above... Friends it is obedience under fire....
Heb 5:8
Although He was a Son, He learned [active, special] obedience through what He suffered
Heb 5:9
And, [His completed experience] making Him perfectly [equipped], He became the Author and Source of eternal salvation to all those who give heed and obey Him
Mark 2:9
"Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, 'Your sins are forgiven'; or to say, 'Get up, and pick up your pallet and walk'?
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Mark 2:10
"But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins"--........................
When we serve GOD .. when the time arrives... we will be fully prepared and fully qualified.... and we then,,,,operate in HIS Authority...
Matt 28:18
And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.
Matt 28:19
"Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit,
Matt 28:20
teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age."
