SITTING ON THE BENCH IN 2021

Lamentations 3:6 KJV 1900

He hath set me in dark places, as they that be dead of old.

Matthew 5:16 KJV 1900

Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

SITTING ON THE BENCH

Introduction:

College basketball is starting up again in our nation. Freshmen from all over the country will be entering the college game.

When the season begins each team will post a schedule and list their starting lineup.

These starting lineup will be the player that start and normally plays every game.

There was a time when one great player was all a team needed.

But now championship depend upon bench strength.

There are members on the team who must be able to step in at any moment and fill the place of one of the regulars.

If you have ever sat on the bench, you were just waiting on the coach to look your way and motion you that its your time.

You have been waiting for this chance all season long, your heart is pounding, excitement is in the air.

They are the reserve in the shade, sitting in a dark place.

Life is like that.

Joshua

This is where we find Joshua, sitting in the shadows of Moses.

Exodus 17:9–10 KJV 1900

And Moses said unto Joshua, Choose us out men, and go out, fight with Amalek: to morrow I will stand on the top of the hill with the rod of God in mine hand. So Joshua did as Moses had said to him, and fought with Amalek: and Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of the hill.

Exodus 24:13 KJV 1900

And Moses rose up, and his minister Joshua: and Moses went up into the mount of God.

Numbers 27:18 KJV 1900

And the Lord said unto Moses, Take thee Joshua the son of Nun, a man in whom is the spirit, and lay thine hand upon him;

Deuteronomy 31:23 KJV 1900

And he gave Joshua the son of Nun a charge, and said, Be strong and of a good courage: for thou shalt bring the children of Israel into the land which I sware unto them: and I will be with thee.

Elisha

1 Kings 19:16 KJV 1900

And Jehu the son of Nimshi shalt thou anoint to be king over Israel: and Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abel-meholah shalt thou anoint to be prophet in thy room.

1 Kings 19:19 KJV 1900

So he departed thence, and found Elisha the son of Shaphat, who was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen before him, and he with the twelfth: and Elijah passed by him, and cast his mantle upon him.

Poem

Sure, it takes a lit of courage to put things in God’s hand

To give ourselves completely, our lives, our hopes, our plans

To follow where He leads us and make His will our own

But all it takes is foolishness

To go the way alone

It is never easy to sit in the shade while others are in the spotlight.

Mrs. Knapp and Mrs. Van Alstyne (Maiden name Fanny Crosby)

Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine Oh, what a foretaste of glory divine

The marvelous thing about it is the fashion in which a woman whose blindness might have made her bitter, instantly heard the message of joy and peace in a new melody.

“That is the test! Do you hear - Do you see”

While sitting on the bench, wondering what, if any, useful part you have to play in the game of life?

Your response to any situation is a vital measure of your own faith.

Are you in the game?

Can you be called upon on a moment’s notice.

The dark place or the bench is a wonderful opportunity to shine to show the world what is really on the inside.

Mordecai was the forgotten man until a crisis discovered him.

He could have allowed the shadows of life to engulf him, but he did not.

He stayed in the game.

He encouraged those who were involved.

Suddenly his chance came, and he made the most out of it.

God has not forgotten you.

Light your lamp at this altar and then make your place on some bench in life.