Christian Life Church, Shipley : The Appointed Time

The Appointed Time

Gal 4:4 READ FROM 3:29-4:7

But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons.

Times and Seasons - a right time

There are times and seasons with God. Or should l say, there are times and seasons for us, and God works into those for our sakes.
Here we see that God looked down, that is the Father, Son and Holy Ghost looked down upon the earth and saw that the time had come, the time was now in, when He could send forth Jesus His Son to the earth.
There was a right time. And there are times and seasons for us too, both individually and corporately.
The individual time works into the corporate time (not the other way round). Because the plan and purpose of God is far greater and bigger than You! Or me!
But there was an issue if timing. So what time is it for us?
Now I’m not talking just to you personally, I’m talking to US together, corporately.

- Although what l say may be very personal, it’s about us TOGETHER

So what time is it?

l believe the LORD gives his sons understanding of the times, so that we are not aimless or purposeless.
Well we can say this;
Although the fullness of time had come and God sent forth His son. Isaiah says; "For unto us a child is born, unto us a Son is given...
He was always a son, but he was a child before He entered into Sonship which brought forth His inheritance.
I truly believe that corporately we have come into a place where we have (for the most part) left the dimension of being 'children'.
For many of us, being a child has consumed most of our adult years.
We have reacted like children. We have acted like children. We have cried like children. We have not wanted to grow up into sonship at all
When we have been disciplined we have made a great fuss and run away, and got upset, but finally and wonderfully, l believe that the majority of us are growing up into sonship.
Now that doesn't mean that we lose our child-like ability to trust. No,that ability remains and continues, along with a child-like humility.
But it does mean that we begin to think, understand and speak as people who are taking responsibility for their own lives.
It means we have the ability to communicate, listen and debate without having to 'win' or 'push our point' or 'have the last word'.
At last we are growing up into maturity.
As the vision which God has given to us as a Church says till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect/mature man, and to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine by the trickery of men in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, but speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head - Christ... (Ephs 4:13-14)

Faith brings us into sonship.

Now the sense of what Paul is saying in Galatians chapter 4, is that FAITH is that which brings us into all that Sonship is.
Yes of course, from the moment we are born again we become sons of God.
But although that is our position in Him, for many it is not their experience.
Indeed we are all to experience what it means to be a CHILD.
Resting, assured, enjoying His Father heart towards us,and this has always got to be our place.
At the same time the Father wants each of us, (but also corporately) to GROW UP into a mature man. But this maturity comes by exercising the faith which He has given and is giving to you at this present time.
Faith brings us into sonship. As we walk as sons of God we also become heirs with Him of all that belongs to Him.

Listen

But listen. Now l say that the heir, as long as he is a child, does not differ at all from a slave, though he is master of all.
So if you remain in what has been called the "eternal babyhood of the believer", although there is this incredible inheritance which belongs to you - YOU CANNOT ENJOY IT.
In fact as a child with this inheritance you would most definitely squander it and lose it.
According to this, a child also is someone who is likened unto a slave who must be constantly told, do this, bring that, go there, see to that... this of course is for his own benefit, and hopefully helps the child to know what, where, how, and when to use what He has been given....
However, a CHILD is under guardians and stewards.
These guardians and stewards are given by God to help all of us grow up into full stature.
But there is a "time appointed by the Father" when guardians and stewards have to take a step backwards, and begin to allow the children to walk into their sonship.
It's at this point we must be watchful of a number of stages in the growing up that can be painful and difficult, if not understood and grace applied in plenty.

My observation has been that some fathers who have been given a stewardship over their children, have not wanted to release their children into the fullness of their sonship and have held them back.
This has produced a control and heaviness that has not been beneficial for the kingdom.
In the sons it has produced a desire to be free from control and there has been a separation of fathers and sons.
Sons, in their desire to walk in fullness, have not discerned the proper way, and injured both themselves and those around as they have walked into new things.
There have been fathers who have not wanted to release those around them, and they themselves have been released by their sons and felt not wanted!
True guardians, fathers, and stewards are those who desire to release, bless and set into place all that God has for their children.
More and more l believe that that is the right heart of a man or woman of God who has been called to raise up a new generation.
They have great joy, great delight, great blessing in seeing those who are with them growing up and becoming all that God has for them.
That, l believe, is where we are ;

I want you to know that from this time onwards, there will be no more nagging at you to come to meetings, no more asking you to do things that you know very well you should be doing, no more chasing you around to find out if you are OK because we haven't seen you for 6 weeks, no more patting you on the head when really what you need is a kick up the pants. l KNOW THAT THE FULLNESS OF TIME IS IN.. It's time to come into Sonship.

Of course those who are just saved, relatively new-born and still being weaned,- well, they will be looked after and given the right food and drink, but for those who have been in the household of God for 20/30/40 years,- to those whom much is given much is expected, and not by me, but by the LORD!

As l read Galatians l was taken by these verses, but especially by verse 3.

Even so we, when we were CHILDREN we were in bondage under the elements of the world...

l have come to realise that most Christians live in fear of living!
Everything scares them.
They got saved, had a great 3 months and then joined the church, got back into fear, then into legalism, and re-wrote all the laws and regulations so that their lives would be governed again.
The liberty of the Spirit was too great for them.
The Spirit and the Word said things to them like,

For to me, all things are lawful, but not all things are beneficial. For all things are yours, whether Paul or Apollos, Cephas or the world or life or death, or things present or things to come - all are yours, and you are Christ’s... Do you not know that you will judge the world....Do you not know that we shall judge angels...? For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: 'You shall love your neighbour as yourself". "For the whole of creation eagerly awaits for the revealing of the sons of God"...

True Sons

True sons of the LORD begin to understand the incredible liberty He has bought for us, and not only that, they begin to live in it, and they begin to live as though it is!
You see so many have returned again to rules and regulations, laws and duty; they are still slaves and children.
They show by how they live that they are still in need of guardians and stewards.
They still need the line drawing and the rules spoken, because liberty is too much!!
CHILDREN ARE IN BONDAGE UNDER THE ELEMENTS OF THE WORLD.

What are they?

Listen to v9 But now after you have known God, or rather are known by God, how is it that you turn again to the weak and beggarly elements, to which you desire again to be in bondage?

''You observe days and months, seasons and years. I am afraid for you lest l have laboured in vain..."

Therefore if you died with Christ from the basic principles of the world, why, as though living in the world, do you subject yourselves to regulations - do not touch, do not taste, do not handle, which all concern things which perish with the using - according to the commandments and doctrines of men? These things indeed have an appearance of wisdom in self-imposed religion, false humility, and neglect of the body, but are of no value against the indulgence of the flesh (Col 2:20)

Rules, regulations, do this, don't do that.....

But you were born to live life! And life to the full.
It's not external religion you need, it's internal life, and that is what God wants for you, nothing less!
As we read earlier, the whole of creation is awaiting the appearing of the sons of God.
Creation will itself be delivered from the bondage of corruption.
Do you know who will deliver it?
Of course, it’s the sons of God, as they live and die for their great king. As they proclaim the power of the gospel even the creation will be delivered!
But it can only receive deliverance from those who live as though they're delivered!!
Those who live in liberty are those who will bring liberty.
THIS IS WHAT GOD WANTS FOR YOU!

Did you know that sons of God are led by the Spirit of God? Sons of God walk in the Spirit of God

They live by the Spirit.

Jesus is our example: He was/is incredible. He was able to fulfill that which was "old" and at the same time bring in that which was "new".
You see the revelation which He held (WAS). He didn't just preach it or teach it, He WAS it. He lived it by the Spirit.
So He not only taught it, but He fulfilled the old system of things, and at the same time brought in a whole new system which was actually a whole new way to live!

More to say

There is so much more to say, but so little time to say it in. I’m going to finish by saying this: The fullness of time is in
The time is here. He has sent forth SONSHIP into your heart, and He has given you His faith by which you can experience this sonship.
He has given you His Spirit, the very same Spirit that cried out in Jesus "Father, Father...I love you!"
You were under the law.
You were assigned guardians and stewards to bring you up and care for you.
And truly the FATHER will never leave you nor forsake you.
But you have an inheritance. You are an heir of God through Christ.
RISE UP AND BE THE SONS OF GOD whom He has called and chosen you to be!

2006 is The Appointed Time for you to rise up and become a SON

2 Kings 6:1-7

''And the sons of the prophets said to Elisha, "See now, the place where we dwell with you is too small for us. Please let us go to the Jordan and let every man take a beam from there, and let us make there a place where we may dwell." So he answered, 'Go'.

Then one said, "Please consent to go with your servants". And he answered, "I will go". So he went with them. And when they came to the Jordan they cut down trees. But as one was cutting down a tree, the iron ax head fell into the water; and he cried out and said, "Alas, master! For it was borrowed". So the man of God said, "Where did it fall?" So he showed him the place. So he cut off a stick and threw it in there; and he made the iron float. Therefore he said, "Pick it up for yourself." So he reached out his hand and took it.''

Zech 8:7-13 Gen 26:22

Pages that link to this page: Teaching

		The Appointed Time by Paul Hubbard Gal 4:4 READ FROM 3:29-4:7 But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons. Times and Seasons - a right time There are times and seasons with God. Or should l say, there are times and seasons for us, and God works into those for our sakes. Here we see that God looked down, that is the Father, Son and Holy Ghost looked down upon the earth and saw that the time had come, the time was now in, when He could send forth Jesus His Son to the earth. There was a right time. And there are times and seasons for us too, both individually and corporately. The individual time works into the corporate time (not the other way round). Because the plan and purpose of God is far greater and bigger than You! Or me! But there was an issue if timing. So what time is it for us? Now I’m not talking just to you personally, I’m talking to US together, corporately. - Although what l say may be very personal, it’s about us TOGETHER So what time is it? l believe the LORD gives his sons understanding of the times, so that we are not aimless or purposeless. Well we can say this; Although the fullness of time had come and God sent forth His son. Isaiah says; "For unto us a child is born, unto us a Son is given... He was always a son, but he was a child before He entered into Sonship which brought forth His inheritance. I truly believe that corporately we have come into a place where we have (for the most part) left the dimension of being 'children'. For many of us, being a child has consumed most of our adult years. We have reacted like children. We have acted like children. We have cried like children. We have not wanted to grow up into sonship at all When we have been disciplined we have made a great fuss and run away, and got upset, but finally and wonderfully, l believe that the majority of us are growing up into sonship. Now that doesn't mean that we lose our child-like ability to trust. No,that ability remains and continues, along with a child-like humility. But it does mean that we begin to think, understand and speak as people who are taking responsibility for their own lives. It means we have the ability to communicate, listen and debate without having to 'win' or 'push our point' or 'have the last word'. At last we are growing up into maturity. As the vision which God has given to us as a Church says till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect/mature man, and to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine by the trickery of men in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, but speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head - Christ... (Ephs 4:13-14) Faith brings us into sonship. Now the sense of what Paul is saying in Galatians chapter 4, is that FAITH is that which brings us into all that Sonship is. Yes of course, from the moment we are born again we become sons of God. But although that is our position in Him, for many it is not their experience. Indeed we are all to experience what it means to be a CHILD. Resting, assured, enjoying His Father heart towards us,and this has always got to be our place. At the same time the Father wants each of us, (but also corporately) to GROW UP into a mature man. But this maturity comes by exercising the faith which He has given and is giving to you at this present time. Faith brings us into sonship. As we walk as sons of God we also become heirs with Him of all that belongs to Him. Listen But listen. Now l say that the heir, as long as he is a child, does not differ at all from a slave, though he is master of all. So if you remain in what has been called the "eternal babyhood of the believer", although there is this incredible inheritance which belongs to you - YOU CANNOT ENJOY IT. In fact as a child with this inheritance you would most definitely squander it and lose it. According to this, a child also is someone who is likened unto a slave who must be constantly told, do this, bring that, go there, see to that... this of course is for his own benefit, and hopefully helps the child to know what, where, how, and when to use what He has been given.... However, a CHILD is under guardians and stewards. These guardians and stewards are given by God to help all of us grow up into full stature. But there is a "time appointed by the Father" when guardians and stewards have to take a step backwards, and begin to allow the children to walk into their sonship. It's at this point we must be watchful of a number of stages in the growing up that can be painful and difficult, if not understood and grace applied in plenty. My observation has been that some fathers who have been given a stewardship over their children, have not wanted to release their children into the fullness of their sonship and have held them back. This has produced a control and heaviness that has not been beneficial for the kingdom. In the sons it has produced a desire to be free from control and there has been a separation of fathers and sons. Sons, in their desire to walk in fullness, have not discerned the proper way, and injured both themselves and those around as they have walked into new things. There have been fathers who have not wanted to release those around them, and they themselves have been released by their sons and felt not wanted! True guardians, fathers, and stewards are those who desire to release, bless and set into place all that God has for their children. More and more l believe that that is the right heart of a man or woman of God who has been called to raise up a new generation. They have great joy, great delight, great blessing in seeing those who are with them growing up and becoming all that God has for them. That, l believe, is where we are ; I want you to know that from this time onwards, there will be no more nagging at you to come to meetings, no more asking you to do things that you know very well you should be doing, no more chasing you around to find out if you are OK because we haven't seen you for 6 weeks, no more patting you on the head when really what you need is a kick up the pants. l KNOW THAT THE FULLNESS OF TIME IS IN.. It's time to come into Sonship. Of course those who are just saved, relatively new-born and still being weaned,- well, they will be looked after and given the right food and drink, but for those who have been in the household of God for 20/30/40 years,- to those whom much is given much is expected, and not by me, but by the LORD! As l read Galatians l was taken by these verses, but especially by verse 3. Even so we, when we were CHILDREN we were in bondage under the elements of the world... l have come to realise that most Christians live in fear of living! Everything scares them. They got saved, had a great 3 months and then joined the church, got back into fear, then into legalism, and re-wrote all the laws and regulations so that their lives would be governed again. The liberty of the Spirit was too great for them. The Spirit and the Word said things to them like, For to me, all things are lawful, but not all things are beneficial. For all things are yours, whether Paul or Apollos, Cephas or the world or life or death, or things present or things to come - all are yours, and you are Christ’s... Do you not know that you will judge the world....Do you not know that we shall judge angels...? For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: 'You shall love your neighbour as yourself". "For the whole of creation eagerly awaits for the revealing of the sons of God"... True Sons True sons of the LORD begin to understand the incredible liberty He has bought for us, and not only that, they begin to live in it, and they begin to live as though it is! You see so many have returned again to rules and regulations, laws and duty; they are still slaves and children. They show by how they live that they are still in need of guardians and stewards. They still need the line drawing and the rules spoken, because liberty is too much!! CHILDREN ARE IN BONDAGE UNDER THE ELEMENTS OF THE WORLD. What are they? Listen to v9 But now after you have known God, or rather are known by God, how is it that you turn again to the weak and beggarly elements, to which you desire again to be in bondage? ''You observe days and months, seasons and years. I am afraid for you lest l have laboured in vain..." Therefore if you died with Christ from the basic principles of the world, why, as though living in the world, do you subject yourselves to regulations - do not touch, do not taste, do not handle, which all concern things which perish with the using - according to the commandments and doctrines of men? These things indeed have an appearance of wisdom in self-imposed religion, false humility, and neglect of the body, but are of no value against the indulgence of the flesh (Col 2:20) Rules, regulations, do this, don't do that..... But you were born to live life! And life to the full. It's not external religion you need, it's internal life, and that is what God wants for you, nothing less! As we read earlier, the whole of creation is awaiting the appearing of the sons of God. Creation will itself be delivered from the bondage of corruption. Do you know who will deliver it? Of course, it’s the sons of God, as they live and die for their great king. As they proclaim the power of the gospel even the creation will be delivered! But it can only receive deliverance from those who live as though they're delivered!! Those who live in liberty are those who will bring liberty. THIS IS WHAT GOD WANTS FOR YOU! Did you know that sons of God are led by the Spirit of God? Sons of God walk in the Spirit of God They live by the Spirit. Jesus is our example: He was/is incredible. He was able to fulfill that which was "old" and at the same time bring in that which was "new". You see the revelation which He held (WAS). He didn't just preach it or teach it, He WAS it. He lived it by the Spirit. So He not only taught it, but He fulfilled the old system of things, and at the same time brought in a whole new system which was actually a whole new way to live! More to say There is so much more to say, but so little time to say it in. I’m going to finish by saying this: The fullness of time is in The time is here. He has sent forth SONSHIP into your heart, and He has given you His faith by which you can experience this sonship. He has given you His Spirit, the very same Spirit that cried out in Jesus "Father, Father...I love you!" You were under the law. You were assigned guardians and stewards to bring you up and care for you. And truly the FATHER will never leave you nor forsake you. But you have an inheritance. You are an heir of God through Christ. RISE UP AND BE THE SONS OF GOD whom He has called and chosen you to be! 2006 is The Appointed Time for you to rise up and become a SON 2 Kings 6:1-7 ''And the sons of the prophets said to Elisha, "See now, the place where we dwell with you is too small for us. Please let us go to the Jordan and let every man take a beam from there, and let us make there a place where we may dwell." So he answered, 'Go'. Then one said, "Please consent to go with your servants". And he answered, "I will go". So he went with them. And when they came to the Jordan they cut down trees. But as one was cutting down a tree, the iron ax head fell into the water; and he cried out and said, "Alas, master! For it was borrowed". So the man of God said, "Where did it fall?" So he showed him the place. So he cut off a stick and threw it in there; and he made the iron float. Therefore he said, "Pick it up for yourself." So he reached out his hand and took it.'' Zech 8:7-13 Gen 26:22 Pages that link to this page: Teaching Christian Life Church, 4 Manor Lane, Shipley, Bradford BD18 3EA Tel: 01274 531919 Email: office \| webmaster
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