GOD IS NEVER OUT OF SEASON
It's vacation time! It is the season when the piggy bank looses it's life
savings. Plans are established and for a week or two, families head out to
see extended family and friends. Some go to Six Flags, or to see 'Mickey',
play on beaches or go to the mountains. Some enjoy a stay-at-home for a much
needed rest. It's a time we look forward to all year long, and rightly so.
It seems like the most unlikely time for a church to experience a visitation of
God. Yet that is exactly what we have been experiencing here at the Ark.
In the midst of running two busy fireworks tents, nursery workers, children's workers,
ushers, 180 youth ministry workers, volunteers from all areas of ministry were all
pulling double duty to fill in for those who were on their much needed vacations.
Yet, as the choir steps up and Pastor Devin begins to lift up the Name of the Lord
in Praise and Worship, Heaven comes down! It almost seems out of season.
But God is never out of season! He expects His Church whom He purchased
with His own Blood to produce fruit even in an unlikely season.
In the book of Mark the 11th chapter is the story of Jesus cleansing the Temple.
Interwoven in the midst of that story is another story that sheds light on
what I am saying. God is NEVER out of season! It is the story of the
fig tree. In verse 12, Jesus comes to a fig tree as He and His disciples are
leaving Bethany. Jesus is hungry. It is springtime and time for the
tree to begin to put on figs. It is early in the season and is one of two
seasons for the tree to bear fruit: one in Spring and again in Autumn.
He moves towards the tree with hope for figs as the leaves were thick and green
and healthy. There were no figs, no fruit and in verse 14 Jesus curses the
tree. The Disciples saw this and considered what had happened. Jesus
now enters the Temple in Jerusalem. He cleanses the Temple and speaks the
Word that 'My House shall be called a House of Prayer but you have made it a den
of thieves.' (vs. 15-17)
On the way out of Jerusalem, Peter sees the fig tree dried up from the roots.
Peter cries out 'Rabbi, the tree is dead!' Jesus replies 'have faith in God.'
(vs 22) He was angry at the tree and He was angry at what the Temple
had become. The parallel is this: the Temple had become like the fig tree,
full of green leaves but fruitless. Seemingly healthy but deceitfully so with
no produce. Jesus was showing His anger at religious life without substance.
It makes no difference what the season. If you have faith in God you can speak
to the mountain to be removed and cast into the sea. If you do not doubt in
your heart you will have whatever you say (Mark 11:23-24).
Here is what I say:
Come on God, this is as any other season-Your season!
Revival in the summer
Revival in the Fall
Revival in the Winter
again in the Spring
God, You are never out of season!
So let's show Him fruit in this summer vacation season here at the Ark!
See you Sunday,
Pastor Mike Leichner
P.S. NO down times here!