For Such a Time As This by Brother Duke Hansen

         This morning we will be in a few different places in the Bible. I want to start out in the book of Genesis chapter 8. A lot of our days are spent in dealing with the carnal and natural side of life. When we are able to look into the spiritual side, it's usually a glimpse. In our flesh, there is pain, suffering, trials among other afflictions. Did you know there are trials you experience similarly in the spirit?

        In Genesis 8, it is the account of Noah after the flood. Why did Noah be seen by God? Noah was walking upright among the wickedness of the world then. Noah was a good and faithful servant, a beacon of light in his day. Noah was unaware that God was going to destroy the world. He never lost sight of who he was serving. In life sometimes God uses someone to wake us up and make us aware to what's around us. In the book of Esther, her uncle Mordecai was used to warn her of the potential fate to the Israelites.

        So, our scripture is going to be in verse 20, The great flood water has receded and the ark is now upon dry ground.

        20 And Noah builded an altar unto the Lord; and took every clean beast, and of every clean fowl, and offered burnt offerings on the altar.

        You can walk as close to God as you choose to. He gives you the free will to walk as close or as far from him. Noah had such a close relationship with God, his first action upon dry ground was to build an altar and offer burnt offerings of every clean beast and fowl.

        We miss out living in the spiritual overflow because often we are too busy killing ourselves to obtain the overflow of material objects and property. We should fix our eyes on the spiritual, and the overflow there to shun sin and shed iniquity.

        21 And the Lord smelled a sweet savor; and the Lord said in his heart, I will not again curse the ground any more for man's sake; for the imagination of man's heart is evil from his youth; neither will I again smite any more every thing living, as I have done.

        It bears repeating here. The Lord states in his heart there would be no more sacrifice. He won't curse the ground any more for man's sake. There would be one everlasting sacrifice to come many years later.

        We are going to move over to the book of Ecclesiastes chapter 3. Solomon was the wisest man in the scriptures bur he was not spiritual. He was surrounded by wealth, women, and lots of land.

        To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:

        2 A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which 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 together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing.

        6 A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away;

        7 A time to rend, 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 go war, and a time of peace.

        What are these times and seasons which Solomon worse about? The are all established in principles by God in the very beginning. Everything is beautiful in his time could very well be a summary of this passage. There's a time for everything in life for man. God set the world in their heart. Let's move to verse 11.

        11 He hath made every thing beautiful in his time; also he hath set the world in their heart, so that no man can find out the work that God maketh from the beginning to the end.

        It is written in the Bible that God created angels. There are the heavenly host and the fallen third on earth. The angels people think they see are terrestrial or fallen angels.

        God said that these things are not common knowledge. It would be repealed unto you. Let's go to verse 13.

        13 And also that every man should eat and drink, and enjoy the good of all his labour, it is the gift of God.

        God wants you to enjoy your life in all of its aspects. What is pain, agony, and suffering designed for? To bring you closer to God. To have a better understanding of what we already have. A deeper appreciation for the creator and his creation. They're there to strengthen your spirit man. You have to get past the carnal sins of life and move onto the iniquity embedded in your life. Will God let you fall? Yes, he will.

        A man or a woman who receives the Holy Ghost are a son or daughter of God. You should have dominion over your life and God leads your walk. Being plagued by the devil or bad choices, ruled by your emotions should have you look at your connection spiritually to God. There are very few who get attacked by the devil. The devil isn't omnipresent. He will attack some to be sure. You are imbued from on high. Greater things we shall so after the comforter was to come. If you don't recognize or if you do recognize but have no faith in it, then you should really examine your relationship with God this morning. 

        Let's go to the book of James chapter 4. We will begin at verse 1.

        From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members?

        2 Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain; ye fight and war, yet ye have not. because ye ask not.

        When you go to God in prayer you can complain to God much like David did in his day. Read Psalms for many examples of that. There's power and authority you can use in a way but it may not what desires you to do. You don't have growth because you haven't asked. It's great to hear from God, but sometimes it isn't what we need to hear.

        We have a season to cut off the flesh and cleave closer to God. You are where you're at for such a time as this. Yet are you close to God? A shaking, a move to God's church and people is going to occur and now is the time for you to prepare for it.

        Seasons are not limited to describing the weather. It is the many things Solomon wrote about. Let's go down to verse 6.

        6 But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resists the proud but gives grace unto the humble.

        You have to learn the difference between what is of earth and of heaven. You need to know the difference between what is pride, arrogance, and wisdom. Let's move up to verse 4.

        4 Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.

        Overcoming sin and resisting temptation is not about willpower. It's about belief and faith that delivers. 5000 people were present when Jesus ascended into heaven and only 120 were in the upper room. Their faith brought them there. God gives us more grace. How can I tell if I need more grace? Are you too proud in life? You need more humility to receive more grace. The flesh under conviction allowed to be torn down and living in humility increases the grace of God. Let's read verse 7.

        7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

        There's no fight between you and the devil or God and the devil. The key is submission. Submission brings more grace from God. Submission to God is reading the word of Gos and putting it into your life. A broken and contrite spirit will always be greater than a sacrifice of bulls and goats. This book of James is not for the faint of heart. This is a difficult read due to the hard truths in the verses.

        Saying no is not strong enough to resist temptation. State no more. There's more strength in those two words. It isn't about will power. When temptation falls, find your prayer closet and request more grace.

        We're going to struggle and fall short. We will fall on our backside and fail. When your flesh fails, your spirit grows greater. When you mature you will make more choices in faith than decisions in emotion. Don't miss out this upcoming turn from God. Things are not going to get easier. You will need to put more under the blood and draw closer to God in faith.

        Submission is a beautiful place. It's ugly to look at from the world's view and joked about. It is lovely before God.