Trust in God's Timing in life

 The past three weeks God has been reminding me of how important it is to trust in God's timing for our life.   At times,   God's timing may be not our timing.   We have to wait and seek his will and leading for our life.   A friend showed me that I God's ways are bigger than ways.   God knows what he is doing in these specific waiting periods we face in our life.   

Some of the great leaders in ministry had to wait for their time to be used by God.   Jesus was tempted by Satan in the wilderness and did not start his ministry until he was 30 years old.   Joseph was thrown into the dungeon by his brothers,  accused of raping Pharaoh's wife,  and mistreated by the cupbearer before he was able to start serving God.   Paul spend three years in the desert in Arabia before he started serving God in ministry.   He had to go through persecution before God would end up using him in ministry.   Lastly,  it was not until Moses was 80 years old that God called Moses to lead his people into Egypt. 

Pastor Jered reminded me how God used specific times to mold leaders into his image.   These leaders had to go through trying times before they could serve God in ministry.   Those circumstances molded these leaders so they were ready for the hard times in ministry.    Also,  he reminded me how these leaders had to wait for God's timing to serve him.  Even the greatest of leaders had to wait for God's appointed time, to serve him in ministry. 

How are you struggling to wait for God's timing?   What are ways in which you need to trust in God's timing and not your timing?  Observe the ways in which you are striving for your will and not God's will for your life.   Pray about specific ways you can train yourself to trust in God's plans for your life.  Lastly,  remind yourself that God is in control and he is still working in the waiting.

The Institute- at First Irving- 1 Timothy 3

 God has been using the Institute at First Baptist Irving to reaffirm my call to serve him in ministry.   I am thankful for the leadership of Pastor Jared Richard.   I am thankful that the church set up this gathering of those in the church that desire to learn about gospel centered ministry.    This morning reminded me that our character and how we lead comes before being a great teach of the Bible.   Pastor Jared discussed how character of a pastor/elder is more important than having great charisma.   

Also,  discussing these qualities reminded how important it is to lead others well.   We have to represent Christ inside and outside of the church.     Jered mentioned a point that stood out to me as well.  He said if you're character is out of line,  you're not qualified.    It remined me how we need to model the character of Christ.    These character traits we discussed can influence others for godliness when we are growing in Christ.  

This meeting showed me God is maturing these character traits in me.   It reminded me that God's timing is not my timing as well.  Many leaders in the Bible had to wait on God for the appropriate time to serve him in ministry.   God has been molding me into spiritual maturity described in Colossians 1:28.   He has been using this waiting period in my life to mature my faith and character to become into the image of Jesus Christ.    

Unseen Realm: End Times

 The Supernatural Worldview of the Bible informs how we think about the the End Times.   It helps us interpret specific events that occur in the end of the age.  Dr. Hesler discusses how the Supernatural Worldview impacts our view of Armagedon and other important passages in the Revelation that discuss the end times.    Also,  Dr.  Hesler talks about how this supernatural worldview gives us a big picture of Jesus' ability to overcome the unseen realm during the end times events.  

Unseen Realm/Supernatural Worldview

 Dr. Heiser also discusses Jesus' descent into Hell or Sheol at great length.   He paints a clear picture of how he takes the keys from Hades and death while overcoming the "Watchers" or "sons of god." When Christ takes the keys from Hades,  he shows that he has authority over death and the unseen realm.  This parallel is shown when Peter 3 and Revelation three describing Christ taking the key over Hades and clarifying us his authority over the supernatural realm.  This overall picture of Christ overcoming death shows us a supernatural worldview of the Bible.