Untitled Sermon

When God broke His silence in the fullness of time!

Galatians 4:4  But when the fulness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son.

Galatians 4:1 Now I say, That the heir, as long as he is a child, differeth nothing from a servant, though he be lord of all; 2 But is under tutors and governors until the time appointed of the father. 3 Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world: 4 But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, 5 To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. 6 And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. 7 Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.

Galatians 4:1 Now I say that as long as the heir is a child, he differs in no way from a slave, though he is the owner of everything. 2Instead, he is under guardians and trustees until the time set by his father. 3In the same way we also, when we were children, were in slavery under the elements of the world. 4When the time came to completion, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, 5to redeem those under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. 6And because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba, Father!”  7So you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, then God has made you an heir. CSB

Galatians 4:1–4 (FSB): 4:1 as the heir is a child In Paul’s time, children received their inheritance when they came of age. Until then, they had neither decision-making rights nor freedom.

no different from a slave Under Roman law, underage children could not exercise legal power over their inheritance; their status was almost identical to that of a slave. Paul uses this analogy to illustrate the condition of those living under the law.

Slavery  in Paul’s time was very different from slavery during the pre-Civil War era in North America. First-century slavery was not wholly based on race, did not always involve oppression, and often had temporal limits—functioning like a credit system. See note on Col 4:1; and note on Eph 6:5.

Slavery in the First Century

4:3 when we were children, we were enslaved Paul applies the contrast he has been developing to the Galatians (Gal 4:1–2). As an underage child or slave, there is no possession or inheritance, no decision-making rights, and no freedom.

4:4 when the fullness of time came With this phrase, Paul brings together the idea of coming of age and the coming of Jesus. Paul stresses that the life, death, and resurrection of Christ occurred according to the plan of God (v. 2

The fullness of time!

This morning, I would like to talk about the silent years of our lives. The moments in our walk, that we feel like things aren't happening the way that they should.  Or within a timeline that we feel that things should of happened.  I am convinced that during these times, God is working on us and preparing us for what is to come!

What is there to learn from the 400 years of silence, between the Old and New Testaments?

What does it teach me most?  That God is working and orchestrating.  He is not silent.  Rather He is showing us He has a master plan and He is forever working in our lives.  For He is always with us.  He has perfect timing and brings everything to light in His perfect timing.

For example, in these 400 years, the time between the Old and New Testament, God was bringing about the perfect moment for His Son to come into this world and save us.

How So?

Three major empires ruled during these 400 years.  Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece, and Rome.  God used each one of these empires to prepare for the coming King.

Medo-Persia - It was during this reign that the exiled Jews were allowed to return back to Jerusalem.  Medo-Persia gave financial support for the rebuilding of the Temple and the Jerusalem Wall.  Thus establishing the center of worship once again.

Greece - Many aspects came out of the Greek Empire.  One being the Pharisees and Sadducees.  The other is one of the biggest aspects which is the "common" language.  Many of the Jews adopted the Greek language and cultural way of living.  Thus the Old Testament being translated into Greek and crossing cultural borders.

Rome - This powerhouse allowed for self-government with a governor. Rome brought about major trade routes with roads which allowed for the Gospel to spread like wildfire after the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

It was God who used these pagan empires.  These empires that God's people distrusted and even despised. (Romans 8:28) These empires who ruled when they thought God was absent. These empires where the people wondered if God abandoned them.  It was these empires that developed local worship, access to scripture, a rebuilding of a people, a common language and a major road system that allowed for the Good News of Jesus Christ to reach the ends of the earth.

Good can come from the silent years!!

WHAT IS THE SILENT YEARS?

"For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry.” Habakkuk 2:3.

1. It is a season where your gifts and talents may feel useless.

2. It is a time of preparation.

3. They are years when your labor, sacrifices, and faithfulness go unrecognized, unappreciated, and unrewarded.

4. It is a time for you to be refined, molded, and shaped into the person you are destined to be.

5. The silent years are the years you feel abandoned and insignificant in the place of prayer or service to God.

6. It is the years of waiting for your testimonies to come. Waiting is not the absence of movement. It is not denial. Waiting is preparation for your celebration.

7. The silent years are the years you feel like a caterpillar in a cocoon, waiting patiently, to become a beautiful butterfly.

8. It is the time for you to learn what you need to know in order to be what God wants you to be.

Beloved, when God has you in the silent years, do not worry. Refuse to complain or compare your life with others. Keep away from sin and let go of bitterness. Keep praying and keep your faith alive. Stay in God’s will. Trust His timing. Your story is not over! Your time will come.

At times the Lord’s delays are designed to increase our faith. By confidently clinging to God’s Word and knowing that He has never failed to fulfill His promises, we will eventually see the evidence of His faithfulness every time.

WHAT MUST WE DO WHILE WE WAIT IN THE SILENT YEARS?

1. Refuse the temptation of sin.

2. Keep following and serving God.

3. Meditate on the promises of God daily through prayers. Read it every day, asking God to give you passages which will bring stability to your life. Pray daily. (Luke 18:1-8).

4. Keep praising and giving thanks for what God is about to do.

5. Have faith

6. Wait for God's timing. Wait patiently, quietly, and dependently.

HOLD ON! A CHANGE IS COMING.

You may be in the fire. You may be in the flood, but you are on your way to a wealthy place, to a place of abundance and overflow. That fire is brief; the flood is for a while. Your setbacks are positioning you for a comeback. Your struggle will not last forever. Your pain is not permanent. You will not remain where you are forever. A change is coming! You are on the verge of a breakthrough!

Because of prophecy, we know that the messiah, our savior was on his way!!  Breakthrough was about to happen!!

Scripture also tells us of one who is coming to prepare the way for the Lord!

Isaiah 40:3-5 (700 B.C.)

The voice of one crying in the wilderness: “Prepare the way of the LORD; Make straight in the desert a highway for our God. Every valley shall be exalted and every mountain and hill brought low; The crooked places shall be made straight and the rough places smooth; The glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together; for the mouth of the LORD has spoken.”

Malachi 3:1 (430 B.C.)

“I will send my messenger, who will prepare the way before Me. And the Lord, whom you seek, will suddenly come to His temple, Even the Messenger of the covenant, in whom you delight. Behold, He is coming,” says the LORD of hosts.

Malachi 4:5 (430 B.C.)

Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD.

How do we know that these prophets were speaking of John the Baptist?   Matthew 3 proves it: “In those days John the Baptist came preaching . . . For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah, saying: ‘The voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the LORD; Make His paths straight” (Matthew 3:1,3)

Matthew 11:12 From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has been suffering violence, and the violent have been seizing it by force. 13For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John. 14And if you’re willing to accept it, he is the Elijah who is to come.

A time was coming!!!!!  So many trials and tribulations had come their way, but better days were coming!!  Jesus was on the way!!  The fullness of time was on the horizon!!

Prophecy of our LORD and His coming!

Isaiah 53:1 Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the LORD revealed? 2 For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him.

3 He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.

4 Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.

5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.

6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.

7 He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.

8 He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken.

9 And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth.

10 Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand.

11 He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities. 12 Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.

2 Samuel 7:12 When your time comes and you rest with your ancestors, I will raise up after you your descendant, who will come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. 13He is the one who will build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. 14I will be his father, and he will be my son.

Isaiah 7:14 Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.

Fulfillment:

Luke 1:35 And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.

The garden… The sin…. The flood…. The wilderness…. The promise land….. The split kingdom…. The destroyed temple…. Exile….. The return…. The rebuilding…. And now waiting…. But hold on!!!!!!  God isn't done yet!!!   Jesus was on the way!!!!  In the fullness of time!!!!

The silence was broken when Jesus stepped on the scene!!

The message here today is that don't give up if things aren't moving the way you thought they would.  God isn't finished yet and a time is coming!

It's Friday now… but Sundays coming!!!!

Closing..

Ephesians 1:2-11

2 Grace be to you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ. 3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: 4 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: 5 Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, 6 To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved. 7 In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace; 8 Wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence; 9 Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself: 10 That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him: 11 In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:

You hear that???  IN THE FULLNESS OF TIME!!!

The difference between Malachi, and now, is that we have the Holy Spirit!!  Our years are not silent!  We have been commissioned to go and tell!!  To baptize!!  To make disciples!!  There is a time coming when Christ is going to gather together those who have called upon His name!

The fullness of time is upon us.  Just like 2000 years ago when those who crucified Jesus, knew that they had been in the presence of Christ, but then it was too late.  Today, you are in the presence of Jesus, because of access through the Holy Spirit, only this time grace has an expiration date on it!  You had better call on His name while you have time!!

Matthew 27

54 Now when the centurion, and they that were with him, watching Jesus, saw the earthquake, and those things that were done, they feared greatly, saying, Truly this was the Son of God.