It Is Not Over: You Can Find Purpose at Any Age

Trevor S. Ferguson

September 29, 2012

Genesis 47:7-10 (NKJV)
⁷ Then Joseph brought in his father Jacob and set him before Pharaoh; and Jacob blessed Pharaoh. ⁸ Pharaoh said to Jacob, "How old are you?" ⁹ And Jacob said to Pharaoh, "The days of the years of my pilgrimage are one hundred and thirty years; few and evil have been the days of the years of my life, and they have not attained to the days of the years of the life of my fathers in the days of their pilgrimage." ¹⁰ So Jacob blessed Pharaoh, and went out from before Pharaoh.

Hebrews 11:21 (NKJV)
By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, and worshiped, leaning on the top of his staff.

INTRODUCTION

Life on earth is not easy! We are faced with trials and challenges every day.  Over time the wear and tear of everyday living takes its toll on us. Job summarized this feeling when he exclaims in Job 14:1 “Man Man that is born of a woman is of few days, and full of trouble”. The feeling of frustration and weariness in life is sometimes greatest in the senior years. As persons face retirement, and their level of activity and responsibility decline, they often wonder whether their lives were successful, and begin to harbour concerns about what the future holds. They may begin to ask themselves questions such as: What will I do now that I am retired? Am I going to be a burden on my family? Am I going to be a burden on the society? What is my purpose now?

Today, we want to tackle some of these issues as we reflect on the latter years of the life of Jacob and seek to glean from his life some principles for living in the senior years. Note however that these principles may be applicable to persons at all stages of life.   

EXPOSITION

The text is set with Jacob arriving in Egypt in the middle of a severe famine in Judah. Jacob is taken to the palace to meet Pharaoh, the king of Egypt, where Jacob’s son Joseph was serving as chief minister. Jacob was now 130 years old had been through the ‘thick and thins’ of life. He had spent 20 years in Haran as he fled from his brother Esau, he had struggled with God at Peniel, after which he met and made peace with his brother Esau. He had seen the death of his wives Rachel and Leah, and had thought he had lost Joseph as well.

When Jacob met with Pharaoh he was a must have been a relieved man and most would expect that after all these struggles he would find himself a quite retirement home in Egypt and finally rest his weary body and mind. Jacobs answer to Pharaoh’s apparently benign question “How old are you?” speak volumes. "The days of the years of my pilgrimage are one hundred and thirty years; few and evil have been the days of the years of my life, and they have not attained to the days of the years of the life of my fathers in the days of their pilgrimage."  

We first note that Jacob describes his life as a pilgrimage.  According to Adam Clarke’s Commentary, a pilgrim refers to an alien, a stranger, or foreigner. The pilgrim was a person who took a journey, long or short, on some religious account, submitting during the time to many hardships and privations. The writer of Hebrews tells us that the heroes of faith all considered themselves pilgrims. Verse 10 of Hebrews 11 tells us that Abraham looked for a city whose builder and make is God. Verse 13 tells us that they considered themselves pilgrims and strangers on the earth, while verse 14 tells us that they declare plainly that they seek a country, and verse 16 tells us that God has prepared a city for them.

We too must recognize that we are pilgrims on this earth. Our home and citizenship is in heaven. Therefore we do not become too attached to this world, but must be ready at any time to take our exit.

The last clause of Jacob’s response was also remarkable as he said to Pharaoh – “I have not yet attained unto the years of my fathers’ pilgrimage”. I believe that Jacob was saying to Pharaoh. I am old, but I am not finished yet. When Jacob looked at the 180 years that Isaac lived and the 175 years that Abraham lived he said to himself, I am 130 years old, but it’s not over. I don’t know if I have another 10 or 20 or 30 or 50 years left in this body but it’s not over. As long as I have life in this body I am going to find purpose. Life may have been hard. I have lost Rachel, I have lost Leah, and I thought I lost Joseph and even Benjamin too, but it’s not over! There is famine all around and I have been forced to migrate to a foreign land, but it’s not over.

For somebody today, the Lord wants you to know that it’s not over, you may be growing old, your body may be growing weak, you have struggled to get to where you are today, but it’s not over. Have you attained unto the years of your father’s pilgrimage? Have you completed your divinely appointed tasks? It’s not over! It does not matter how old you are today. You can find purpose at any age. It’s not over.

Having recognized that it’s not over, it’s time for you to find new purpose. It’s time to find a new occupation. What did Jacob do? I believe that Jacob in his later years focused on blessing people. Verses 7 and 10 of Genesis 47 showed that Jacob blessed Pharaoh. I believed he blessed him when he entered and blessed him when he left. Genesis 48 narrates how Jacob blessed the sons of Joseph, Ephraim and Manasseh while Genesis 49 narrates the blessings of Jacobs 12 sons. It is instructive that his action of blessing Joseph’s sons was singled out as the marker of Jacob’s faith in Hebrew 11:21 “By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, and worshiped, leaning on the top of his staff.” Jacob was so determined to deliver these blessing that physical weakness and dimness of vision could not restrain him from performing these blessings. The scripture tells us that when Jacob heard that Ephraim and Manasseh were coming to visit, he strengthened himself and sat upon the bed. Although he had to support himself, he was still determined to bless.

For seniors today God is saying to you “Release the blessing!” Don’t die with the blessings stored up in you, share your testimony, lay your hands upon the heads of your children. Release the blessing!!

CONCLUSION

God is saying to you, you may be old, but it’s not over. You may be young or middle aged and have gone through hell and high waters, but it’s not over. You can find new purpose at any age. Let God reveal himself in you. It’s not over!!!

AN EXCELLENT SPIRIT

Trevor S. Ferguson

September 1, 2012

Daniel 5:10 -12 (KJV)

¹⁰ Now the queen, by reason of the words of the king and his lords, came into the banquet house: and the queen spake and said, O king, live for ever: let not thy thoughts trouble thee, nor let thy countenance be changed:

¹¹ There is a man in thy kingdom, in whom is the spirit of the holy gods; and in the days of thy father light and understanding and wisdom, like the wisdom of the gods, was found in him; whom the king Nebuchadnezzar thy father, the king, I say, thy father, made master of the magicians, astrologers, Chaldeans, and soothsayers;

¹² Forasmuch as an excellent spirit, and knowledge, and understanding, interpreting of dreams, and shewing of hard sentences, and dissolving of doubts, were found in the same Daniel, whom the king named Belteshazzar: now let Daniel be called, and he will shew the interpretation.

Daniel 6:1-3 (KJV)

¹ It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom an hundred and twenty princes, which should be over the whole kingdom;
² And over these three presidents; of whom Daniel was first: that the princes might give accounts unto them, and the king should have no damage.
³ Then this Daniel was preferred above the presidents and princes, because an excellent spirit was in him; and the king thought to set him over the whole realm.

INTRODUCTION

The world today is achievement oriented. People are judged by what they produce and what they achieve with little emphasis on how they achieved it. Concepts often used in this competitive arena include the following: “By any means necessary!”; “What really matters is the bottom line!” “The end justifies the means!”

Today I want us to begin to focus beyond (or above) the bottom line, as we reflect on Christian character and Christian ethic. Let us look not only on the final results but also evaluate how the race is run. We will use Daniel as our character reference as re reflect on the theme: AN EXCELLENT SPIRIT

EXPOSITION

Daniel is one of the most outstanding bible characters. The Book of Daniel chronicles the life of Daniel from he was a teenager until he was over 90 years old, yet, a remarkable phenomenon is that in the over seventy years on record Daniel emerges with an unblemished character. (Note that the bible is frank on the character of his heroes; if he had messed up it would be recorded.)

Some of Daniel’s outstanding achievements are listed include the following:

1. He spoke up when offered the kings food – he would not allow even the king to violate his values
2. Along with Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, he out-performed all the other students while training in the kings palace in Babylon – they were 10 times better than the others
3. He interpreted the dreams of Nebuchadnezzar twice
4. He interpreted the writing on the wall for Belshazzar
5. He was Chief Minister in Babylon under Darius
6. He was among the leaders in Babylon until the reign of Cyrus
7. He is one of the major prophet – with remarkable prophecies related to world history and the end times

Underlying Daniel’s outstanding achievements was an impeccable character. He was a model of excellence! He demonstrated excellence in academics, excellence in work and excellence in ministry. Most importantly however, he had AN EXCELLENT SPIRIT. This description is used for Daniel both in Daniel 5 and 6. This was part of the reason why he was called to interpret the writing on the wall and the chief reason for his promotion under Darius.

WHAT IS AN EXCELLENT SPIRIT?

The word translated ‘spirit’ here is the Hebrew equivalent for the word ‘mind’. A person’s mind corresponds to his way of thinking or his way of doing things. Therefore Daniel had an excellent way of thinking and an excellent way of doing things! He was not concerned only with the result or with his achievements; he was concerned about how things were done.

The text of Daniel 6:4-5 provides an excellent illustration of this point:

⁴ Then the presidents and princes sought to find occasion against Daniel concerning the kingdom; but they could find none occasion nor fault; forasmuch as he was faithful, neither was there any error or fault found in him. ⁵ Then said these men, We shall not find any occasion against this Daniel, except we find it against him concerning the law of his God.

When Daniel’s work was scrutinized they could find no fault or flaw. He had done everything the right and proper way. His work was characterized by flawless integrity!

We see Daniel’s excellent spirit in his several addresses to kings and people in authority, including, Ashpenaz (the master of the eunuchs), Nebuchadnezzar, Belshazzar and Darius. Daniel was never disrespectful even though he spoke to these persons at some of the lowest points in their lives.

Daniel’s life was also characterized by prayer, fasting, study of the word and intercession. When the princes in Babylon sought fault against him, the only fault they could find was in the regularity of his prayers. When he needed answers from God we see Daniel engaged in extended fasting. When he learnt by studying the book of Jeremiah the appointed time that Israel should spend in Babylon, Daniel engaged in intercessory prayer for his people, confessing their sins before God and seeking God’s forgiveness and deliverance for Israel.

APPLICATION – DEVELOPING AN EXCELLENT SPIRIT

Let me suggest some ways of achieving this excellent spirit.

We must:

1. Commit ourselves to God
2. Ensure that we have a personal conviction regarding the things of God and not just following church rules or traditions
3. Do the right thing (all the time)
4. Do things right (all the time)
5. Do everything to a standard of excellence
6. Develop your spiritual disciplines: regular prayer, regular bible study, regular fasting
7. Practice right attitudes and right motives
8. Never settle for mediocrity

CONCLUSION

Although we live in a results oriented world, God still requires his people to live to a higher standard. That standard requires an excellent spirit.  This must be backed up by a strong foundation of spiritual discipline.  

Let us put these principles into practice so when we are being evaluated (whether by God or by man), it can be said of us ‘an excellent spirit is in him/her!’

Practical Principles from Proverbs: Part Two

Trevor S. Ferguson

July 29, 2012

Proverbs 3:11-12 (KJV)

11 My son, despise not the chastening of the LORD; neither be weary of his correction:

12 For whom the LORD loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth.

Proverbs 4:14-15 (KJV)
¹⁴ Enter not into the path of the wicked, and go not in the way of evil men.
¹⁵ Avoid it, pass not by it, turn from it, and pass away.

Proverbs 6:27-29 (KJV)
²⁷ Can a man take fire in his bosom, and his clothes not be burned?
²⁸ Can one go upon hot coals, and his feet not be burned?
²⁹ So he that goeth in to his neighbour's wife; whosoever toucheth her shall not be innocent.

Proverbs 6:6-11 (KJV)
⁶ Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise:
⁷ Which having no guide, overseer, or rule ,
⁸ Provideth her meat in the summer, and gathereth her food in the harvest.
⁹ How long wilt thou sleep, O sluggard? when wilt thou arise out of thy sleep?
¹⁰ Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep:
¹¹ So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth, and thy want as an armed man.

In this blog, I will continue to share with you from the book of Proverbs again focusing of practical principles for Christian living.

PRINCIPLE #1: THE CHASTENING AND CORRECTION OF THE LORD IS DESIGNED TO MAKE US BETTER CHRISTIANS - PROVERBS 3:11-12

God’s desire is for us to be fruitful Christians. If He sees that were are faltering or falling into sin, He will step in to correct us and get us back on the right path. His correction may take many forms. It may be a simple rebuke in private, or public if that is required. At other times God will set up life events that blocks desires or prosperity so that He may get our attention. In more extreme cases God may allow us to go through bad experiences (usually the consequences of our own actions) so that we may recognize our error and turn back to him.

Regardless of the degree of discipline, it is never Gods intention for us to fail, but rather His desire is for us see the error of our ways and make amends. If he allowed us to continue in error then that would suggest that He does not love us. But we know that He does. Let us therefore be sensitive to the rebuke or chastening of the Lord so that we may grow and become better, more fruitful Christians.

PRINCIPLE #2: STAY FAR AWAY FROM ANYTHING THAT IS EVIL OR SINFUL. IF WE TOY WITH TEMPTATION WE MAY BE TORN BY ITS TEETH – PROVERBS 4:1-15; 6:27-29

Man by nature is adventurous, but sometimes what we think is adventure is just plain stupid. There is often the temptation to participate in activities even though we know that they are risky. Many have tried it and have failed. Many are out of the church today because they put too much trust in their flesh. The principle proposed by Proverbs is to stay clear of temptation: Enter not in the path of the wicked; go not in the way of evil men. Avoid it, pass not by it, turn away from it and pass away!!!

In chapter 6, Solomon asks some pointed questions: Can a man take fire in his bosom and be not burned? Can one go up on hot coals, and his feet not be burned? In verse 32 he describes the person who commits adultery as one who lacks understanding and one who destroys his own soul.   

My charge to us today is to stay clear from trouble and any form of sin. It is not worth it! It is better to lack a few things here on earth than to lose out on our salvation and end up spending and eternity in hell!!

PRINCIPLE #3: DO NOT BE DECEIVED BY LAZINESS. PERSISTENT WORK BRINGS SUCCESS – PROVERBS 6: 6-11

God does not sanction or reward laziness. The principle of work actually predates the fall. God placed Adam in the Garden of Eden with responsibility to dress it and keep it (Genesis 2:15). We note that the command to dress and keep came before the command to eat. In God’s economy therefore man is expected to work for his bread. Paul reiterated this principle in 2^nd Thessalonians 3:10 “… this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat.”

In the church therefore we expect that Christians will embrace the principles of hard work and eschew laziness. We leant from the ant that small size does not limit our capacity to work. Although a tiny creature the ant is among the most industrious animals. They will group together to move objects much larger than themselves and as cited in this passage they will store up food in times of plenty so that they have great reserves between harvests.

We as Christians must embrace similar principles. Laziness is never acceptable. In everything that we do let us make persistent disciplined efforts. Progress may sometimes be slow, but in the long run we will reap great success.

Practical Principles from Proverbs

Trevor S. Ferguson

June 30, 2012

Proverbs 1:10 (KJV)

My son, if sinners entice thee, consent thou not.

Proverbs 3:5-10 (KJV)
⁵ Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
⁶ In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
⁷ Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil.
⁸ It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones.
⁹ Honour the LORD with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase:
¹⁰ So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine.

INTRODUCTION

The Christian walk is quite challenging. Many persons start on the journey but falter somewhere along the way. Indeed if all the persons who came to the kingdom remained in the church, the church today would be many times its current size.

What are the reasons for this attrition?

Many falter because when faced with difficult circumstances they fail to trust God and end up losing out on their faith. Some have been deceived by other persons who led them into error. Still others came up on hard times and in desperation gave up on God.

Today I want to share three principles from the book of Proverbs that if we adhere to, will help to cement our faith and keep us strong in the kingdom of God

PRINCIPLE #1: PUT ALL YOUR TRUST IN GOD – PROVERBS 3:5-6

What does it mean to trust God? According to the NIV Bible Commentary trust in this context means to rely on someone for security. The person on whom we should rely is God. This of course is difficult for many.  We cannot see God, we cannot touch him; how then can we rely on Him as our security? This requires faith! The writer of the book of Hebrews reminds us that without faith it is impossible to please God. He that comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those that diligently seek Him (Hebrews 11:6). This therefore says to us that in all our doings we must practice faith. Although it is not always easy, it is a necessity. Let us pray like the disciples: Lord, Increase or Faith! (Luke 17:5). If we trust in God, He will lead us all the way to heaven!

PRINCIPLE #2: GIVE TO GOD ALL THAT WHICH IS DUE UNTO HIM – PROVERBS 3:9-10

Many of us fail to trust God when it comes to our finances. Although the church has established the biblical principle of tithing and giving as the means of supporting the ministry, many people hold back. In this however we fail to realize that we are in fact holding back on our own blessing. I am not a proponent of a give to get policy because I believe this is flawed in principle. We however give when we believe that the cause to which we give is just. We should note however that when we give with the right perspective, God will certainly bless us. The principle outlined by Solomon here is that we should honour the Lord with our substance and the first fruits of our increase. This essentially means that we should give willingly to God from our possessions and also set aside the first portion of our income or profits as a gift to God.  The promise given in verse 10 is that when we do this we will have full barns (i.e. adequate possessions) and our winepresses will burst with new wine suggesting that we will have in abundance. Let us give willingly to God. He will richly bless us.   

PRINICIPLE #3: DO NOT FOLLOW OTHER PEOPLE INTO ERROR – PROVERBS 1:10

This verse gives a strong and direct instruction that if we consistently follow, we would avoid huge amounts of trouble. How many of us have followed others and ended up on the wrong side? Children, particularly teenagers are often influenced by peers. Most of these pressures involve doing things and getting things.

One of the most pervasive challenges facing the church today is premarital and extra-marital sexual activity. If we apply this principle however we could keep ourselves out of mountains of trouble. If someone entices you, just say no. No discussion, no argument, no negotiation, no rationalization. No at the start, no at the end! Do not underestimate the power of self will and personal decisions. The bible tells us: Resist the devil and he will flee from you! (James 4:7)

There are several others areas where we must resist pressure from others to get involved in things that are not acceptable to God. These include areas of worldliness such as how we dress, the types of movies we watch, or sites we visit on the internet, the types of songs that we sing and the places we go for entertainment. Let’s reiterate the principle of Proverbs 1:10. My sons (and by extension, daughters, brothers, sisters, mothers, fathers), If sinners entice you, Do not give in to them!

Another area that is often overlooked is in the area of our business arrangements. Many times we are lured by others to get into shady, ‘under the counter’ or ‘back door deals’. Others are lured into white collar fraudulent transactions. Again brothers and sisters, if sinners entice you, consent thou not!

CONCLUSION

Today we have highlighted three principles:  

1. Put all your trust in God
2. Give to God all that which is due unto him
3.  Do not follow other people into error

I firmly believe that if we put these principles into practice we will live more fruitful Christian lives and fewer persons will fall by the way. Let us therefore put them into practice!