Change is Coming!

 GETTING READY FOR WHAT’S NEXT SERIES:  Part 3: Changing Direction.

INTRODUCTION: a.    Today is the last message in my 3 part—Getting Ready for What’s Next series. ·     

In part one I introduced the topic with this theme: A Change is Coming.

Part two was: Changing Focus.

This title of this sermon is: (PP#1) Changing Direction.

Let’s Pray: Lord, I’m totally convinced that you have something next for all of us here at NHC for the future to look back a bit—at what you’ve said in the past about the future to come—to help us cope better in the present. Your Spirit is timeless and today we need you more. We know you’re coming soon and today in this present moment of time we want than ever—come Holy Spirit—Dove from heaven—spring of living water—fire of holiness—wind of all wisdom—anoint your weak servant and pour you Spirit upon all that have ears to hear today. In Jesus name. Amen!  

b.    Proposition: (PP#2) To prepare for what God has next we need to change our direction. By boarding the time machine of Gods’ Word—let’s go back to the beginning of the New Testament to get ready to shoot like a rocket to the glorious future of what God has next. (PP#3)  

1.   WE NEED TO CHANGE OUR DIRECTION FROM FOCUSING ON PERILS OF THE PRESENT TO HOPE FOR THE FUTURE. Let’s examine first….  

a.   Physical Perils of the Present. Car accidents can certainly cause physical perils of great pain—not only on the body of the car but also on the physical body.

Personal Illustration: 2003 Buick Century accident on 107 avenue and 95 street. §  I was really down in the dumps—my old friend Billy the Buick was crushed beyond repair—I almost had a memorial service for the old guy.   ·      But—light swallowed the darkness with hope for the future when the Lord opened his door of heavenly blessings and handed Catherine and I the keys to an almost brand new Toyota Camry.

My right hip was a bit wrenched in the accident—like Jacob’s hip after he dared to wrestle with the angel of the Lord—but the Lord took me back in his time machine to the Apostle Paul when this great man of God penned these words to the church in Corinth in 1Corinthians Chapter 15.

(PP#4) 1Corinthians 15:40, 42-44: There are also heavenly bodies and there are earthly bodies; but the splendor of the heavenly bodies is one kind, and the splendor of the earthly bodies is another.  So will it be with the resurrection of the dead. The body that is sown is perishable, it is raised imperishable; it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body.

Old Man: There’s hope for the future—those arthritic knees and hip that’s taken you hostage in your walker, your wheel chair or your bed—will soon be transformed into the strength and agility of a young man—running through the gardens of paradise with the excitement of a child’s first trip to Disney Land.

(PP#5) Illustration: Grandparents taking their granddaughter for a stroll down our street.

Young Woman—Old Woman:  Strangled by the cruel hands of cystic fibrosis lung disease—there is hope for the future in your chronic present peril—soon your new eternal lungs of glorified splendor will be breathing in the wind of the Holy Spirit—you will again run on the race tracks of heaven. o   But until then—all you with boots of physical pain stomping on your head, your neck and back and limbs—until you are clothed with your new body in glory land—God gives you hope for the future while you’re here on earth—the painkiller of his grace.

(PP#6) 2Corithians 12:9-10: But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me.10 That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

Elaborate! 

We need to change our direction of focus from our physical perils of the present to hope for the future—not only down here on earth but as well as up there in heaven. o   Let’s now dig a little deeper into the body to disclose.  

b.   EMOTIONAL PERILS OF THE PRESENT.

(PP#7)   a.    It seems today that every place in the world is in some kind of peril.

Stats: This last week or so has been an infernal nightmare of heat waves in various parts of the world—especially Greece, France, Great Britain and other parts of Europe and now in the Prairie provinces. o   As reported earlier in the week, over 1100 people have died in record breaking heat waves over Europe—in France alone 16 thousand people are displaced because of raging forest fires—and the worst is yet to come. Mr. Sun is burning with rage at Mother Nature and shooting her fiery darts at every nation of the world this summer.  

b.    When Mother Nature starts falling apart so do all her children populating this earth.

People, especially young people are losing trust—hope and faith that leading medical professionals, scientists, politicians, psychologists and pastors can dig us out of this hell hole the world’s fallen into. o   A world-wide fog of anxiety—depression—a sense of hopelessness and helpless—especially amongst younger people is clouding their view of the sun of hope for the future.  

c.     In the 60’s the Counter-culture movement of the hippie generation believed they could change the world. (PP#8)

Like wild fire this movement spread throughout the world with hurricane winds of angry protests—L.S.D.—marijuana and hashish—sexual liberation and the explosion of classic rock and roll.

(PP#9) Kicked off by the Monterey Pop Festival in 67 followed by the infamous Woodstock music festival of about a million in attendance the juggernaut of change was unstoppable. 

For a few years this “flower power” started in the Haight/Asbury district of San Francisco, was a paradigm shift—the Age of Aquarius. (PP#10)

 John and Yoko, were in their bed in a well published “love-in” giving peace a chance and preaching their gospel of “All you need is love” in the hopes of initiating the stoppage of the war in Viet Nam and changing the world for the better. 

But—Satan had sold them a bill of goods that quickly turned out bad.

Instead of peace—joy and love their hero’s started dying in tragic deaths of drug overdoses: Jimmy Hendrix—Janice Joplin—Jim Morrison of the Doors Rock band to mention a few.

The flower children were dropping like flies into hard core drug addiction opening the doors of death to even more lethal street drugs of “crack” cocaine and the mess we have today on our streets.

Violence was not stilled but erupted at the end of the 60’s with the assassinations of president hopeful Robert Kennedy and Civil rights leader Martin Luther King Junior. o   Since then the sisters of HOPE—PEACE & JOY have been sliding down a slippery slope faster than bob-sled riders in an Olympics medal race.  

d.    (PP#11) To cope with increasing tensions and stresses today—young people have traded the genuine for the counterfeit—just like the counter-culture of the 60’s.

Today the culture of the youth, even more than using emotional painkillers of drugs and alcohol, have turned to the addiction of social media: o   Tick Tock—Instagram—U-tube—Twitter—Facebook and the like are now their hero’s in a world of falling hero’s that seems to be only changing for the worst.

Illustration: My wife Catherine mentioned an interesting trend that she heard about that’s happening on social media with some young women.

(PP#12) YOUNG MAN—YOUNG WOMAN there’s a better way to cope with perils in the present—there is hope for the future—Jesus Christ is the hope of glory—the author of love—the fountain of joy—the PRINCE OF PEACE! o   Please give peace a chance and listen to these 3 verses of “manna from heaven”:

Jesus is the real deal—the eye in the hurricane—not only does he promise peace in the depths of your soul here on earth but he gives us a glimpse of the glory of heavens peace. 

(PP#13) John 14:1-2: Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me.

2 In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. 

(PP#14) John 14:27: Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. 

(PP#15) Romans 5:2-5: Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance;4 perseverance, character; and character, hope.

5 And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us. 

Even in the midst of extreme suffering like a mom holding her newborn minutes after an excruciating painful birth, Jesus can bring joy in the midst of great trials because he covers the afflicted with love like a cozy, warm comforter on a cold night.

Blood is thicker than water—those adopted into the family of God find true and lasting emotional love, joy and peace that doesn’t vanish like a mist when you stop getting the “likes” you hoped to get on your social media post.

CONCLUSION: a.    I thank God we can go back to biblical prophesies of the past that give us hope for the future. ·     

(PP#16) Revelation 21:1 & 3-4: Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea.3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God.4 He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away." 

Let that sink in for a moment—no more pain—no more pain—no more pain!

Illustration: Imagine for a moment what it will be like when you’re born again for the 3rd and last time into the kingdom of heaven.

Elaborate! 

We need to change our direction from focusing on perils of the present to hope for the future!

Illustration: Days of Future Passed by the Moody Blues.

Elaborate. Days of Future Passed Lyrics

The Day Begins Cold hearted orb that rules the night, Removes the colours from our sight. Red is grey and yellow white, But we decide which is right, And which is an illusion. Pinprick holes in a colourless sky, Let insipid figures of light pass by, The mighty light of ten thousand suns, Challenges infinity and is soon gone. Night time, to some a brief interlude, To others the fear of solitude. Brave Helios wake up your steeds, Bring the warmth the countryside needs. Dawn: Dawn Is A Feeling Dawn is a feeling, a beautiful ceiling, The smell of grass just makes you pass into a dream. You're here today, no future fears, This day will last a thousand years, if you want it to. You look around you, things they astound you, So breathe in deep, you're not asleep open your mind. You're here today, no future fears, This day will last a thousand years, if you want it to. Do you understand that all over this land there's a feeling? o   In minds far and near, things are becoming clear with a meaning. Now that you're knowing, pleasure starts flowing, It's true life flies, faster than eyes could ever see. You're here today, no future fears, This day will last a thousand years, if you want it to.

The Morning: Another Morning Balloons flying, children sighing, What a day to go kite flying! Breezes cool, away from school, Cowboys fighting out a duel.Time seems to stand quite still In a child's world it always will. Fishes biting, so exciting, Lunch time sounds so inviting. Angler Bill, he gets a thrill Sitting, watching bobbing quill. Time seems to stand quite still In a child's world it always will. Yesterday's dreams are tomorrow's sighs. Watch children playing, they seem so wise. Mary Green, today's a queen, One thousand dollies are a dreaming. Cotton frocks and golden locks, Her palace is an orange box. Time seems to stand quite still In a child's world it always will.

Lunch Break: Peak Hour I see it all through my window it seems, Never failing, like millions of bees. All life is run, no time to be won, Only to do what can be done Peak hour, peak hour, peak hour. Minds are subject to what should be done. Problem solved time cannot be won. One hour a day, one hour a night, Sees crowds of people Home in full flight. Peak hour, peak hour, peak hour. It makes me want to run out And tell them, they've got time. Take a step back out and look in, I've found out, I've got time. Minds are subject to what should be done, Problem solved, time cannot be won. One hour a day, one hour a night, Sees crowds of people Home in full flight. Peak hour, peak hour, peak hour. The

Afternoon: Forever Afternoon (Tuesday?) Tuesday afternoon I'm just beginning to see, now I'm on my way. It doesn't matter to me, chasing the clouds away. Something, calls to me, The trees are drawing me near, I've got to find out why Those gentle voices I hear, explain it all with a sigh. I'm looking at myself reflections of my mind, It's just the kind of day to leave myself behind. So gently swaying through the fairyland of love, o   If you'll just come with me you'll see the beauty of Tuesday afternoon, Tuesday afternoon. Tuesday afternoon, I'm just beginning to see, now I'm on my way. It doesn't matter to me, chasing the clouds away. Something, calls to me, The trees are drawing me near, I've got to find out why Those gentle voices I hear, explain it all with a sigh.

Evening: Time To Get Away Evening has come to pass, The time of day doesn't last. Evening, has earned its place today, I'm tired of working away. Working, living it brings, Only way to have those things. Toiling has bought too many tears, Turn 'round all those past years. Evening time to get away. Evening time to get away. Evening time to get away. 'Til next day. Live all you people, you can't see where you're at, It doesn't really hurt you, so that can't be bad. Live all you people, you can't see where you're at, It doesn't really hurt you, so that can't be bad. Evening time to get away. Evening time to get away.

Evening: The Sun Set When the sun goes down, and the clouds all frown, Night has begun for the sunset. See it with your eyes, Earth's re-energized By the sun's rays everyday. Take a look out there, planets everywhere. When the sun goes down, and the clouds all frown, Night has begun for the sunset. Shadows on the ground, never make a sound, Fading away in the sunset. Night has now become day for everyone. I can see it all, from this great height, I can feel the sun, slipping out of sight. And the world still goes on through the night.

Twilight Time Twilight time to dream awhile, In veils of deepening blue. As fantasy strides, over colourfull skies, Of form disappearing from view. In twilight time, dream with me awhile. A nightingale plays a dark mellow phrase, Of notes that are rich and so true. An aerial display by the firefly brigade, Dancing to tunes no one knew. In twilight time, dream with me awhile. In twilight time, dream with me awhile. Building castles in the air, Whistling to the wind. As nature bows down her head, See what tomorrow brings. In twilight time, dream with me awhile. Bats take to wing like puppets on string, Prancing through cool evening air. In a sightless glide, no reason to hide Away from the sun's blinding stare. In twilight time, dream with me awhile. In twilight time, dream with me awhile.

The Night: Nights In White Satin Nights in white satin, never reaching the end, Letters I've written, never meaning to send. Beauty I'd always missed with these eyes before. Just what the truth is, I can't say anymore. 'Cos I love you, yes I love you, oh how I love you. Gazing at people, some hand in hand, Just what I'm going through they can't understand. Some try to tell me, thoughts they cannot defend, o   Just what you want to be, you will be in the end. And I love you, yes I love you, Oh how I love you, oh how I love you. Nights in white satin, never reaching the end, Letters I've written, never meaning to send. Beauty I've always missed, with these eyes before. Just what the truth is, I can't say anymore. 'Cos I love you, yes I love you, Oh how I love you, oh how I love you. 'Cos I love you, yes I love you, Oh how I love you, oh how I love you.

Late Lament Breathe deep the gathering gloom, Watch lights fade from every room. Bed-sitter people look back and lament Another day's useless energy spent. Impassioned lovers wrestle as one, Lonely man cries for love and has none, New mother picks up and suckles her son, Senior citizens wish they were young. Cold hearted orb that rules the night, Removes the colours from our sight. Red is grey and yellow white, But we decide which is right, And which is an ill.  

b.    Prayer & Altar Call.