In every season of life, God has a purpose for us, and we must embrace change, live according to His commandments, and let love guide us to overcome evil.
Good evening, brothers and sisters. I'm so glad to be here with you today as we dive into a profound message that's as relevant today as it was millennia ago. Our focus will be from Ecclesiastes, a book written by Solomon, and we're looking at some select verses from chapters 3 and 12. The message today is about A Time for Everything: Love Must Overcome Evil, The Necessity of Change, and Finding a Way to Show Love and Avoid Evil.
As we can see in the world around us, change is part of life. It's as constant as the tide, ebbing and flowing, bringing in the new and washing out the old. We find comfort in the words of Christian author, Oswald Chambers who said, "All of God’s people are ordinary people who have been made extraordinary by the purpose He has given them." This reminds us that in all seasons of life, God has a purpose for us, and that purpose is rooted in love.
The first point of this sermon, "A Time for Everything: Love Must Overcome Evil," is a profound reminder of the cyclical nature of life and the inherent power of love to overcome evil. This concept is deeply rooted in the wisdom of Ecclesiastes, where Solomon, the author, emphasizes that there is a time and season for everything under heaven. This notion of time and seasonality is not just about the physical changes we see in nature, but it also applies to our spiritual journey and moral choices.
The idea of 'a time for everything' is a powerful reminder that life is not static but dynamic. It is a series of changes, of ebbs and flows, of highs and lows. It is a journey filled with different seasons, each with its unique challenges and blessings. Life is not always about being on the mountaintop; there are also valleys to traverse. There are times of joy and times of sorrow, times of peace and times of conflict, times of love and unfortunately, times of hate. This is the reality of our human existence.
However, Solomon does not leave us in despair. He provides us with a beacon of hope - love. In the midst of these changing seasons, love stands as a constant, a force that can overcome the darkest of evils. This is not a superficial or transient love, but a deep, sacrificial love that reflects the very nature of God. It is a love that chooses to do good even when faced with evil, a love that forgives in the face of betrayal, a love that seeks peace in the midst of conflict.
This love is not passive; it is active and intentional. It is a love that stands up against injustice, that defends the weak and the oppressed, that fights against the evils of prejudice, hatred, and bigotry. It is a love that does not ignore evil but confronts it head-on. It is a love that chooses to respond to hate with compassion, to violence with peace, to darkness with light.
But how do we cultivate such a love? It begins with understanding that this love is not something we can generate on our own. It is a divine love, a love that comes from God and is made possible through a relationship with Him. As we grow in our relationship with God, His love fills us and transforms us, enabling us to love as He loves.
This love is not just about feelings; it is about actions. It is about making choices that reflect God's love in our daily lives. It is about choosing to forgive instead of holding grudges, choosing to serve instead of being served, choosing to love instead of hate. It is about choosing to overcome evil with good.
This is not an easy task. It requires courage, strength, and perseverance. It requires us to step out of our comfort zones, to take risks, to face opposition. But as we do so, we become agents of change, bringing light into the darkness, hope into despair, and love into a world filled with hate.
As we read in Ecclesiastes 3:1-9, there is a time and season for everything ... View this full PRO sermon free with PRO
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