I found a bag of garlic hiding in the refrigerator the other day, but I couldn't recall how long they'd been there. And I couldn't find an expiration date. Now, I know garlic can last a long time but not forever!
We get used to thinking everything has an expiration or "best by" date, and we have been told that God's mercy never expires. Let me tell you that even though His love never ends His mercies expire every night and have to be acquired every new season (every day).
What Does God Say?
Lamentations 3:22-23 explains,
"The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness" (ESV).
The secret to access never-ending mercies is to understand that there is a renewal process that has to happen. His mercies never come to an end but you have to seek them every morning.
When Israel was in the desert on the way to the promised Land they had to pick up fresh Mana every morning with the exception of the seventh day. If they tried to store the heavenly food it would be rotten on the next day. God did this to show them how to be dependent on Him but also to reveal the principle of the expiration date and the constant need for renewal.
Have you ever looked into an album of old pictures? The clothes, hair style, objects and even the quality of the picture show that something is out of season. There is an expiry date for almost everything.
Show youtube movie: Expiration Date
Comment the sentence "if you go to my parents house watch out what you eat because they don't believe in expiry dates..."
Today I would like to talk about a few expiry dates. As we understand this principle we will be able to understand how to take advantage of God's promises and drastically change our destiny. If we keep attached to the old we will miss the blessings that God has in store for each one of us.
1. Churches and Worship Style seasons have an expiry date
Consider the way people worshiped God in the Old Testament. Do we worship God today? Do we worship God using the same methods?
The answer is YES we still worship today but the method or liturgy how we approach God is very different. In fact we don't need to go as far as the Old Testament to see a difference. When I was a child my family was Roman Catholic and I still remember attending to mass in Latin. We all know that Latin is a dead language but the Church kept the tradition to an extreme point and the consequence was that only priests and scholars could understand what was being said.
When I started going to the Pentecostal Church liturgy changed and I was able now to understand what was going on and finally the Bible started to make sense. Since then in the last 25 years I've seen the changes happening in the World and how liturgy changed dramatically in growing Churches and how everything stayed the same in dying churches.
Statistics show an unprecedented growth in Bible based Churches all over the World. However there are thousands of Churches closing every year that have something in common, they passed the expiry date. The new generation of Christians will understand that some Churches have past expiry date and will look for something new.
Matthew 9:17
17 Neither is new wine put into old wineskins. If it is, the skins burst and the wine is spilled and the skins are destroyed. But new wine is put into fresh wineskins, and so both are preserved.
Talking to the Pharisees Jesus explained them that religious systems have an expiry date and that they should be open to be renewed in order to receive fresh revelation from the Lord.
2. Families have an expiry date
Many people like to explore Genealogy and understand who their ancestors where. History shows that some lineages are long lasting but eventually they will come to an end. Think about your family and your house. Those of you that have children and grandchildren know that one day a kid will go West or South. Some kids will get married and forget about their parents. Others will die or disappear some will divorce and build two families at the same time. I don't want to depress you but just make you understand that even families have an expiry date.
3. Your Life has an expiry date
Life as you know it will come to an end as one day you will get to the limit of your days here on Earth.
Job 13:27-28
27 You put my feet in the stocks and watch all my paths; you set a limit for the soles of my feet. 28 Man wastes away like a rotten thing, like a garment that is moth-eaten.
This is not a very nice image but we are being changed like a moth-eaten garment.
Job 14:1-5
1 Man who is born of a woman is few of days and full of trouble. 2 He comes out like a flower and withers; he flees like a shadow and continues not... 5 Since his days are determined, and the number of his months is with you, and you have appointed his limits that he cannot pass.
God has given us life limits that we cannot pass. There are also different seasons in our life. Like a flower that comes and withers...this talks about different stages of our existence.
4. Even Ministry has an expiry date
Some Churches that where in revival in the 70's filled the pews with Hymnbooks with classical Anthems from the beginning of the century. Guess what? We are in another season.
In the 80's Churches where blessed and Tele-Evangelists where really popular. Guess what? We are in another season. People don't watch Christian TV anymore.
Some Churches that where truly blessed in the 90's used dance, worship with flags and coloured ribbons as a way of expression. Guess what? We are in another season.
Last decade had new expressions of Prophetic insight and people where seeking for the Lord to light the fire again. Guess what? We are in another season.
You may have done a small group in your house for 10 years and now no one wants to go there. Don't blame anyone. Guess what? Mission accomplished that season is over, move on and seek the Lord about what to do next.
6. Understanding Seasons
Ecclesiastes 3:1 For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven.
When a season is over a new season is about to start. If we continue doing things out of season we will not see any good thing coming out of it. Winter season is coming and if I decide to use my summer wardrobe I will probably get the flu or worse. If I decide to plant roses in my backyard in November I will not see any results. If I like my wife's stew and decide to keep a portion in the fridge so I can eat it at Christmas I will have a surprise when I open the tupperware container.
Do you understand seasons?
Luke 21:29-33
The Lesson of the Fig Tree
29 And he told them a parable: Look at the fig tree, and all the trees. 30 As soon as they come out in leaf, you see for yourselves and know that the summer is already near. 31 So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that the kingdom of God is near. 32 Truly, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all has taken place. 33 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.
A Generation represents a season. Is your generation going to pass away?
How would you define your generation? What is the main thing that happened in the World during the season of your generation (war? scientific discovery? computers? etc...)?
As a Church we are called to reach our generation with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. People that are in positions of authority and that are still to reach the age of retirement define our present Generation. We cannot do Church in 2011 the same way we where doing in 1981.
Have you ever met a couple where they are both divorced and remarried and keep talking about their previous mate? This is a horrible experience for both of them. If your marriage didn't work and you have a second opportunity of building a family focus in this new season and stop talking about your previous wife. It's a new season and you need to forget about the past. A new season requires a new mentality and a new way of doing things.
Conclusion
Enjoy the "new wine" that God prepared for you. An understanding of history is great if you want to remember things and good memories should be well kept. However you cannot live in the past and hold to the things of the "good old times". Let me tell you that the best is yet to come and God has many other things in store for you if you just submit to the Holy Spirit and allow Him to transfer me you by the renewal of your mind.
Romans 12:2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
Only God can renew our vision. If we don't allow renewal to happen in our lives we will pass the expiry date.
My question to you this morning is simple. Have you passed the expiry date in your spiritual life? If Christianity became boring and coming to Church is now a burden you have to question yourself and ask God to renew your life so that you can receive the "new wine" he wants to give you.
Also think about your Church and ask yourself about what can you do to ensure that we will be able to reach our generation with the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.
