November 28, 2021 "Signs that the Kingdom Has Come” - Pastor Hines

 

November 28, 2021

"Signs that the Kingdom Has Come” - Pastor Hines

We talk often of how the bible is hard to understand and even harder to study. If we can think of the bible as God’s word, we can think of the bible as needing the same tender love and care and attention in communicating and understanding that we have to give to our family, friends and neighbors. We want to listen carefully to God, not casually as if God were a stranger that does not matter at the end of the day. We may have to ask, “What did you say God?” and wait for an answer. We may have to say, “What do you mean?” and wait for the answer. We may find ourselves feeling a range of emotions when we talk to God and listen to God’s word. Sometimes we are glad, but we may also feel sad or even mad. It’s ok.

Just as we relate to one another in stages and phases, with understanding and misunderstanding, just as we accept one another for who we are, we also do well to accept God and God’s word with all its clarity as well as perplexity. As we grow in our intimacy and appreciation of one another, our love for one another grows. It is the same in our relationship with God. We grow in our knowledge of how God works and how God loves us more than words can say.

Jesus, as the son of God, tells the disciples in verse 31 that the kingdom of God is coming. Romans 14.17 tells us that the kingdom of God is three things - righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit. The kingdom or kin-dom as we often say – is, was, and will be. It’s, at the same time, now and not yet. Time is not cut and dry or as predictable as we may imagine. India is 11 hours ahead of us. Our today is their yesterday. God knows. We can only wrap our mind around so much at once. God’s kingdom was here, is here, and will be here.

Like an ocean wave, we see coming our way a world full of righteousness, a world full of peace, and a world full of joy! There are days that we are inundated with God’s goodness. Then there are days that we have to look far and wide in order to see the good we long for and we desperately need. By faith, we know a wave of goodness is coming our way. Even though there are often waves that toss us and challenge us in many ways, one tough wave is a reminder – a sign - that another wave will follow and there is sure to be a blessing among them.

In verse 25 of this 25th chapter of the gospel of Luke, Jesus reminds the disciples that the sun and the moon and the stars are not always aligned calmly, but at times they will indicate stress and strain. The chaos of the atmosphere, like we have seen in the last few years with increased floods, fires, and so forth, cause many of us to be confused, fainthearted, fearful and even lose our right minds. Meteorologists look in the atmosphere in order to be able to forecast storms, thunder, lightning, torrential rains, hail and other daunting weather changes that mystify us and force us to take heed and take shelter. As verse 32 says, every generation experiences the chaos and has an opportunity to create something good. What we know as heaven and earth will disappear like an ocean wave. It will reappear and be recreated in time and out of time, in place and out of place. Fortunately for us, God is our refuge no matter what happens! Jesus will return in our lives again and again in a cloud - that is physical or spiritual.

I was walking with Dorene one day and she noticed a fig tree. Dorene could identify the fig tree by its leaves. She could say with confidence that there were no figs on the tree because the season for figs was over, but like the waves of an ocean, the season would soon return. Linda has a fig tree in her back yard and during the summer, she shared with us the most delicious and delightful fresh figs. I’ve never seen her tree, but I’ve eaten the figs because, as simple as it sounds, she knew the signs that the figs had ripened. She took heed and picked them so they could be enjoyed, which is certainly God’s intention. 

God gives every Christian signs. I hiked a trail at Innabah the other day and there were many signs that kept me safe. They directed me to many pleasant paths and wonders to explore and enjoy.  Signs are a good thing.

God gives us signs regarding our health. Stamina, strength, calm, and peace of mind are signs of health. When we see signs of distress in our children during this pandemic, we begin to watch and pray and wait for God to guide us, for it is likely that we have not traveled this journey before. We need signs to guide us.

If we see a traffic sign, we do well to pay attention. I witnessed a man running through a stop sign. When the ambulance came, his moaning and groaning on the gurney suggested his injuries were not worth the risk he took. He may not have seen that he took a risk. The other day I was coming out of Giant and I nearly drove in front of an oncoming car because I thought he had a stop sign but the sign was for traffic going in the opposite direction. Nevertheless, thank God for signs. Signs are a blessing, especially when the Holy Spirit trains our spiritual eyes to see the many signs that God gives to lead us in the right paths, or beside still waters, and green pastures.

How have your spiritual eyes been trained by the Holy Spirit? Do you receive insights while praying or serving? Does reading and studying God’s word bring to mind a greater sense of where God is guiding you?

In this world of so much uncertainty in the weather, deception among businesses, grief around unsettling changes, and contradictions in the health field, God gives us signs that guide us to strength, forbearance, constant love and presence that helps us be the church and the kin-dom we are called to be. These signs come from the words of loved ones, a dream, a vision or whatever and however God chooses. The most important thing to know is that there are signs, there are indicators, there are things to see and know that only God can show you. God is for you, not against you.

Pay attention to the signs of the kingdom. Where do you see someone doing the right thing and where are the good works being done? Can you identify in your life or the life of someone you know the fruit of the spirit of joy? We need to know the signs of joy because the joy of the Lord is what gives us physical and emotional strength. Do you see the signs of peace anywhere in this word of woe? Pray to God we find our way to peace. We may even have to go back to the songwriter saying, “When there’s no peace anywhere on earth, there is peace in Christ.”

Don’t miss the signs, my friends. Listen to Jesus! May the signs be in our lives like a neon light to brighten our paths and the paths of those who follow in our footsteps.