“OUT OF SEASON SAINTS”
TEXT: 2 Tim. 4:2
THESIS: To show that believers need to be consistent in service regardless of circumstances.
INTRO:
A. I love spring. But I live in Penna. We have winter here. I cannot work in the garden, fish, or spend time outdoors. But I don’t hibernate. I keep working. I keep preparing messages, preaching, praying, serving, visiting, witnessing, and working.
B. Some of you live for baseball season, trout season, hunting season, the Christmas season, etc. But you can’t live or work only in that season. You may like that season better than other seasons, but the “downtime” is good for you.
C. As a Christian we need to be faithful to the Lord “in season” and “out of season.” We need to be “instant” Paul says. There are several words translated “instant” in the NEW TESTAMENT but here the word is “ephistemi” and means to “stand up, be there, be aggressive, be counted.” It means don’t just be a “sunshine saint!” (I may be a “fair weather fisherman” but I want to be an “OUT OF SEASON SAINT!”) It means don’t be an opportunist.
NOTE: The word “opportunist” means “one grasping at opportunities, without regard to moral considerations.” The second definition is “one who adjusts his policy in the light of each new situation as it arises, not according to principle or plan.” My own definition is “politician…like Bill Clinton!”
D. We need to “step up to the plate, stand up, be there, be aggressive, be counted” in the good times (“in season”) and the bad times (“out of season”). We need to be faithful, consistent, read our Bible, pray, witness, visit, work, shout, tithe, work our bus route, study for our S.S. class, be excited, praise the Lord, all the time!
Let me give you 4 “out of season” times we need to be “instant” in…
I. …WHEN WE HAVE SINNED:
A. Like Peter:
1. Peter was trying to serve God.
2. Peter was a sincere, aggressive, right-motive believer.
ILLUS: 🔹Peter blew it. He denied the Lord, he cursed and said: “I don’t know Him…I don’t hang with His crowd, don’t associate me with Him!” Then the rooster crowed and He looked into those piercing eyes of Jesus, began to weep, knew he had miserably failed and sinned, decided to quit the ministry and said: “I go a fishing. I messed up. I lost my temper. I cussed. I’m done.” But Jesus hadn’t given up on Peter. He said “I can use a guy with a temper (under control); I want to use Peter.” So when Peter went fishing and didn’t catch anything all night, Jesus showed up on shore and asked, “…have ye any meat?” Peter and his pals said “No!” Then Jesus said, “Cast your net on the right side of the ship…” The net filled with fish and almost drug Peter under and he said, “I’ve been here before!” The Lord was saying to Peter, “I’m the same Jesus I was when you were doing right and things were going right. I loved you then and I love you now and I want to use you again.” Peter literally jumped at the opportunity and swam to shore to re-connect with his Savior! And the Lord fed Peter so that he could feed others. Pretty soon Peter was preaching and thousands were saved!
🔹If you’ve blown it. You yelled at your employee, your wife, your children and lost your testimony. Don’t quit. Confess it to them and the Lord and keep serving!!! They know you still have flesh! They too have blown it and unless they are hypocrites, will admit it and forgive you.
II. …WHEN THE EXCITEMENT FADES:
A. Like John Mark:
1. John Mark lived in the days when thousands were being saved in Jerusalem.
2. He went with Paul on his first missionary journey, but the reception wasn’t same at Paphos, like it was at Jerusalem.
3. They began having all kinds of problems and the ministry didn’t look quite so glamorous anymore.
4. Next time out, John Mark ran back to momma and refused to continue with Paul.
ILLUS: When you first got saved you were so excited. You hadn’t heard all of the preachers jokes and stories. You jumped in with both feet. The bus ministry looked exciting. You had kids who looked forward to your visit every Saturday and jumped on your bus gladly. They the preaching got old, the kids got old, you got old and the bus ministry didn’t seem as exciting. Now you were having a hard time getting kids to come.
You weren’t seeing as many saved and baptized. Some were dropping out. What should you do? “Be instant…out of season!”
5. Maybe Paul was thinking about John Mark when he wrote this admonition to Timothy; maybe he was saying “Don’t be another John Mark! Keep going!”
III. …WHEN OTHERS DISAPPOINT YOU:
A. Like Paul:
1. Paul was so disappointed in John Mark that it caused Paul and Barnabas to
split up.
2. Paul and Barnabas had been on a missionary trip together; they had grown close…it hurt when they had to part… they both thought they were right.
ILLUS: Working together in the ministry brings folks close together. It hurts when disagreements and failure enter the picture. It is never easy. When my former associate got involved in sin and we had to separate, it hurt. What hurt even more was the trouble it caused in the ministry; folks misunderstood my need to do right and misinterpreted my motives. Some friends even left the church. But I (and others) had to “be instant…out of season!”
B. Like Others:
1. Don’t you know Moses was disappointed when he came down off the mountain and found his older brother and High Priest of Israel, overseeing an idolatrous orgy?!
2. Don’t you know Elisha was disappointed when his servant Gehazi got greedy and went after Naaman and collected payment and then lied about it?
a. Elisha said “Went not my heart with you?” He was saying “You tore my heart out. I trusted you.”
3. Don’t you know Paul was heartsick over Demas and his other partners in the ministry deserted him when he went to prison for preaching the Gospel?
4. Don’t you know Jonathan was disappointed in his father King Saul when he was trying to kill his friend David?!
ILLUS: 🔹When a family member, a friend, a loved one, an associate violates your friendship and love, what do you do? You just have to be an “OUT OF SEASON SAINT!” You have to do right even when others do wrong. I’ve seen assistants fail, friends desert me, loved ones abandon me, teens break my heart and their parents hearts, good people go wrong. I’ve shed tears and lost sleep (I didn’t quit eating!), over those who have been a disappointment. But I decided I am going to be an “OUT OF SEASON SAINT!” and just step up to the plate and keep on keeping on. We need to learn to sing: “Earthly friends may prove untrue, Doubts and fears assail. There is One Who cares for you. One Who will not fail! Jesus never fails…!”
🔹It is O.K. to have heroes in the ministry, but remember they all have feet of clay. Jesus is the only hero who cannot fail you. Jack Hyles may commit adultery. Pastor LoTurco may leave his wife. Pastor Hays may quit the ministry. Pastor Clark may preach heresy. Pastor Fedena may become unfaithful. But Jesus never fails! He will never be a disappointment to you or me.
IV. …WHEN YOU CAN’T FIND GOD:
Job.23:3, 8-9 Oh that I knew where I might find him! that I might come even to his seat! …
Behold, I go forward, but he is not there; and backward, but I cannot perceive him: On the left hand, where he doth work, but I cannot behold him: he hideth himself on the right hand, that I cannot see him:
A. Like Job:
1. Job was overburdened with his physical problems and couldn’t seem to see God or get in touch with heaven.
2. Talk about an “OUT OF SEASON SAINT!” – but instead of throwing in the towel, Job declares: “…I cannot see Him, but He knoweth the way that I take: when He hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold. My foot hath held his steps, his way have I kept and not declined.” V. 10,11
3. Job is saying “I can’t see God, but He can see me! So I won’t quit!”
CONCL: When you’ve sinned…be instant! When the excitement fades…be instant! When others disappoint you…be instant! When you can’t find God…be instant! Be an “OUT OF SEASON SAINT!”
I never dreamed anyone would ever ask me to sign their Bible. Now when I go to preach, folks will come to me and ask for my signature. (Those who don’t know me!) My prayer is that when they look at that signature in the years to come, or after I am gone, they can say “Well, he wasn’t perfect, but he stayed faithful. He was an “OUT OF SEASON SAINT”!”
THESIS: To show that believers need to be consistent in service regardless of circumstances.
INTRO:
A. I love spring. But I live in Penna. We have winter here. I cannot work in the garden, fish, or spend time outdoors. But I don’t hibernate. I keep working. I keep preparing messages, preaching, praying, serving, visiting, witnessing, and working.
B. Some of you live for baseball season, trout season, hunting season, the Christmas season, etc. But you can’t live or work only in that season. You may like that season better than other seasons, but the “downtime” is good for you.
C. As a Christian we need to be faithful to the Lord “in season” and “out of season.” We need to be “instant” Paul says. There are several words translated “instant” in the NEW TESTAMENT but here the word is “ephistemi” and means to “stand up, be there, be aggressive, be counted.” It means don’t just be a “sunshine saint!” (I may be a “fair weather fisherman” but I want to be an “OUT OF SEASON SAINT!”) It means don’t be an opportunist.
NOTE: The word “opportunist” means “one grasping at opportunities, without regard to moral considerations.” The second definition is “one who adjusts his policy in the light of each new situation as it arises, not according to principle or plan.” My own definition is “politician…like Bill Clinton!”
D. We need to “step up to the plate, stand up, be there, be aggressive, be counted” in the good times (“in season”) and the bad times (“out of season”). We need to be faithful, consistent, read our Bible, pray, witness, visit, work, shout, tithe, work our bus route, study for our S.S. class, be excited, praise the Lord, all the time!
Let me give you 4 “out of season” times we need to be “instant” in…
I. …WHEN WE HAVE SINNED:
A. Like Peter:
1. Peter was trying to serve God.
2. Peter was a sincere, aggressive, right-motive believer.
ILLUS: 🔹Peter blew it. He denied the Lord, he cursed and said: “I don’t know Him…I don’t hang with His crowd, don’t associate me with Him!” Then the rooster crowed and He looked into those piercing eyes of Jesus, began to weep, knew he had miserably failed and sinned, decided to quit the ministry and said: “I go a fishing. I messed up. I lost my temper. I cussed. I’m done.” But Jesus hadn’t given up on Peter. He said “I can use a guy with a temper (under control); I want to use Peter.” So when Peter went fishing and didn’t catch anything all night, Jesus showed up on shore and asked, “…have ye any meat?” Peter and his pals said “No!” Then Jesus said, “Cast your net on the right side of the ship…” The net filled with fish and almost drug Peter under and he said, “I’ve been here before!” The Lord was saying to Peter, “I’m the same Jesus I was when you were doing right and things were going right. I loved you then and I love you now and I want to use you again.” Peter literally jumped at the opportunity and swam to shore to re-connect with his Savior! And the Lord fed Peter so that he could feed others. Pretty soon Peter was preaching and thousands were saved!
🔹If you’ve blown it. You yelled at your employee, your wife, your children and lost your testimony. Don’t quit. Confess it to them and the Lord and keep serving!!! They know you still have flesh! They too have blown it and unless they are hypocrites, will admit it and forgive you.
II. …WHEN THE EXCITEMENT FADES:
A. Like John Mark:
1. John Mark lived in the days when thousands were being saved in Jerusalem.
2. He went with Paul on his first missionary journey, but the reception wasn’t same at Paphos, like it was at Jerusalem.
3. They began having all kinds of problems and the ministry didn’t look quite so glamorous anymore.
4. Next time out, John Mark ran back to momma and refused to continue with Paul.
ILLUS: When you first got saved you were so excited. You hadn’t heard all of the preachers jokes and stories. You jumped in with both feet. The bus ministry looked exciting. You had kids who looked forward to your visit every Saturday and jumped on your bus gladly. They the preaching got old, the kids got old, you got old and the bus ministry didn’t seem as exciting. Now you were having a hard time getting kids to come.
You weren’t seeing as many saved and baptized. Some were dropping out. What should you do? “Be instant…out of season!”
5. Maybe Paul was thinking about John Mark when he wrote this admonition to Timothy; maybe he was saying “Don’t be another John Mark! Keep going!”
III. …WHEN OTHERS DISAPPOINT YOU:
A. Like Paul:
1. Paul was so disappointed in John Mark that it caused Paul and Barnabas to
split up.
2. Paul and Barnabas had been on a missionary trip together; they had grown close…it hurt when they had to part… they both thought they were right.
ILLUS: Working together in the ministry brings folks close together. It hurts when disagreements and failure enter the picture. It is never easy. When my former associate got involved in sin and we had to separate, it hurt. What hurt even more was the trouble it caused in the ministry; folks misunderstood my need to do right and misinterpreted my motives. Some friends even left the church. But I (and others) had to “be instant…out of season!”
B. Like Others:
1. Don’t you know Moses was disappointed when he came down off the mountain and found his older brother and High Priest of Israel, overseeing an idolatrous orgy?!
2. Don’t you know Elisha was disappointed when his servant Gehazi got greedy and went after Naaman and collected payment and then lied about it?
a. Elisha said “Went not my heart with you?” He was saying “You tore my heart out. I trusted you.”
3. Don’t you know Paul was heartsick over Demas and his other partners in the ministry deserted him when he went to prison for preaching the Gospel?
4. Don’t you know Jonathan was disappointed in his father King Saul when he was trying to kill his friend David?!
ILLUS: 🔹When a family member, a friend, a loved one, an associate violates your friendship and love, what do you do? You just have to be an “OUT OF SEASON SAINT!” You have to do right even when others do wrong. I’ve seen assistants fail, friends desert me, loved ones abandon me, teens break my heart and their parents hearts, good people go wrong. I’ve shed tears and lost sleep (I didn’t quit eating!), over those who have been a disappointment. But I decided I am going to be an “OUT OF SEASON SAINT!” and just step up to the plate and keep on keeping on. We need to learn to sing: “Earthly friends may prove untrue, Doubts and fears assail. There is One Who cares for you. One Who will not fail! Jesus never fails…!”
🔹It is O.K. to have heroes in the ministry, but remember they all have feet of clay. Jesus is the only hero who cannot fail you. Jack Hyles may commit adultery. Pastor LoTurco may leave his wife. Pastor Hays may quit the ministry. Pastor Clark may preach heresy. Pastor Fedena may become unfaithful. But Jesus never fails! He will never be a disappointment to you or me.
IV. …WHEN YOU CAN’T FIND GOD:
Job.23:3, 8-9 Oh that I knew where I might find him! that I might come even to his seat! …
Behold, I go forward, but he is not there; and backward, but I cannot perceive him: On the left hand, where he doth work, but I cannot behold him: he hideth himself on the right hand, that I cannot see him:
A. Like Job:
1. Job was overburdened with his physical problems and couldn’t seem to see God or get in touch with heaven.
2. Talk about an “OUT OF SEASON SAINT!” – but instead of throwing in the towel, Job declares: “…I cannot see Him, but He knoweth the way that I take: when He hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold. My foot hath held his steps, his way have I kept and not declined.” V. 10,11
3. Job is saying “I can’t see God, but He can see me! So I won’t quit!”
CONCL: When you’ve sinned…be instant! When the excitement fades…be instant! When others disappoint you…be instant! When you can’t find God…be instant! Be an “OUT OF SEASON SAINT!”
I never dreamed anyone would ever ask me to sign their Bible. Now when I go to preach, folks will come to me and ask for my signature. (Those who don’t know me!) My prayer is that when they look at that signature in the years to come, or after I am gone, they can say “Well, he wasn’t perfect, but he stayed faithful. He was an “OUT OF SEASON SAINT”!”