Pastor Mark Smith continues our recent series on the theme of Time. Unfortunately this week’s message was not recorded properly, so it will not be available. Here are some notes of the message. A video in the Nooma series was used - No. 17 ‘Today’, in the series by Rob Bell. See www.nooma.com for more info.
We have looked over the last few weeks at God’s timings in our lives and the waiting times. Today we are looking at the past!
Time is very precious and we find ourselves in a state of tension when it is measured; e.g. exams, appointments, etc.Life is constantly changing and counting down to events such as a holiday, a season, both good and bad events and eventually a countdown to the end of our life on earth!
Sometimes time is certain and sometimes it is uncertain… the only sure thing is that God is real and His promises are certain. We need to know the certainty and consistency of the Lord and His Word or we become overawed by the pressures of time!
James 4 v13-14… Life is a vapour.
Allow God into our lives to bring Peace. In the context and reality of God – our lives begin to make sense.
We often talk about and dream about our future, but quite often our dreams and aspirations for the future are limited by our experience of the past.
We may be scared to move on, or even live in the present, because of what the past has done to us…
BUT GOD…. Makes all things new!
Ezekiel 36 v 26
God says He will take away the damaged heart and give us a new one.
2 Corinthians 5 v 17
If any one is in Christ … he is new.
The past is our past… our heritage… but it doesn’t need to be our identity.
Our identity is in Christ
Ephesians 4 v 22-24
Put off the old self and be made new.
Nooma Video (17) – questions from the video shown.
1. When you think of your life, what is the best time?
2. Have you ever tried to make anything in your life how it used to be only to find you couldn’t?
3. Does your life today look anything like you would have imagined 5. 10, 20 years ago?
If not, what are some of the things you would never have imagined?
4. Are there things in your life now that make you long for certain times in your past when things where different?
Mark 16 v 14-15
5. Do you believe God has provided everything we need in our lives today?
If so why do you think so many of us still look to the past for how we would like things to be?
6. Are there things in your past you have thoroughly dealt with in order for you to move on?
7.Do you think we can live our lives today to the fullest if we are in someway stuck in the past?
8. What kind of consequences do you think it could have? Ref James 4 v 14
9. If you’re in anyway stuck in the past, are there any people around you who might suffer from you not being fully present?
How?
10. What part do you think you’re supposed to play today?
Is your life in a place where you can play your part?
If not, what steps do you need to take?
“May you accept the past for what it is. May you celebrate what needs to be celebrated and grieve what needs to be grieved. May you receive from God a new spirit, one for here, now, today.” – Rob Bell
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“Failure is never quite as frightning as regret” Dunno who said that, but there’s good amount of challenge within it’s truth
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