FACING THE FACING THE ENEVITABLEENEVITABLE

(Part II)(Part II)

““Growing Older Growing Older TogetherTogether””

Seasons of life!Seasons of life!More to remember (wiser)More to remember (wiser)Opportunity to growOpportunity to growIncrease freedom/responsIncrease freedom/responsCritical decisions (His plan)Critical decisions (His plan)Divine providence!Divine providence!

What is “age”?What is “age”?The amount of time during which The amount of time during which

a thing has existed! a thing has existed! Question?Question?((Psa. 139:16Psa. 139:16) “Your eyes saw my ) “Your eyes saw my

substance, being yet substance, being yet unformedunformed.”.”((Eph. 1:4Eph. 1:4) “He choose us in Him ) “He choose us in Him

before the foundation of world”before the foundation of world”Irrelevant!!Irrelevant!! (eternal beings!) (eternal beings!)

Growing Pains!!Growing Pains!!Natural Natural andand Spiritual ( Spiritual (tensiontension))His plan for the Church (heart)His plan for the Church (heart)

((Eph. 4:13Eph. 4:13) “Perfect man” ) “Perfect man” (teleios)(teleios)Complete/mature/of full ageComplete/mature/of full ageGrowth of mental and moral Growth of mental and moral charactercharacter

His will for us!!His will for us!!((Heb. 6:1-3Heb. 6:1-3) “Onto perfection”) “Onto perfection”

Repentance from dead worksRepentance from dead worksFaith toward GodFaith toward GodDoctrine of baptismsDoctrine of baptismsLaying on of handsLaying on of handsResurrection of the deadResurrection of the deadEternal judgmentEternal judgment

Making Disciples!Making Disciples!Authentic men (Erik)Authentic men (Erik)Ladies retreat (Cory)Ladies retreat (Cory)Children’s ministry Children’s ministry

(Sophia/Rick)(Sophia/Rick)Environment conducive for Environment conducive for

growth!growth!Today..subject is…Today..subject is…

““Growing Older Together”Growing Older Together”

What does that look like?What does that look like?

((Jn. 21Jn. 21) Peter/Jesus… 3 times!!) Peter/Jesus… 3 times!!(18) “Most assuredly, I say to (18) “Most assuredly, I say to

you, when you were younger, you you, when you were younger, you girded yourself and walked where girded yourself and walked where you wished; but when you are you wished; but when you are old(er), you will stretch out your old(er), you will stretch out your hands, and hands, and anotheranother will gird you will gird you and carry you where you do not and carry you where you do not wish”wish”

LESSONS FROM LESSONS FROM NEH.!NEH.!

Picture of Church coming Picture of Church coming out of bondage of Babylon out of bondage of Babylon ( the world)( the world)A A progressiveprogressive picture picture

First want to see if you First want to see if you recognize these two recognize these two picturespictures

70 yrs. Captivity!!70 yrs. Captivity!!Persia overthrows BabylonPersia overthrows BabylonKing Cyrus issues decreeKing Cyrus issues decree

““You are You are freefree to go” to go”Go back & restore JerusalemGo back & restore JerusalemExciting (one problem)!!Exciting (one problem)!!

900 miles ..cost involved 900 miles ..cost involved (camel/walk/donkey)(camel/walk/donkey)

Return of the Exiles!Return of the Exiles!Three different waves: (2%)Three different waves: (2%)ZerubbabelZerubbabel: 50,000 (538 BC): 50,000 (538 BC)

Altars/feasts before templeAltars/feasts before templeEzra:Ezra: 2000 (81 yrs. later) 2000 (81 yrs. later)

Worship/Word (spiritual)Worship/Word (spiritual)Neh:Neh: (13 yrs. later) (444 BC) (13 yrs. later) (444 BC)

Political/spiritual cent. (94 yrs)Political/spiritual cent. (94 yrs)

Resistance!!Resistance!!Every wave experienced itEvery wave experienced itZerubbabelZerubbabel (2 yrs into it) (2 yrs into it)

Laid foundation temple Laid foundation temple (resist)(resist)

Work stopped for 14 yearsWork stopped for 14 yearsEzraEzra resistance to restoration resistance to restoration

of worship and wordof worship and wordSpiritual sideSpiritual side

Pick up in Neh. 4Pick up in Neh. 4Enemy Enemy hearshears about the about the

rebuilding (people talking)rebuilding (people talking)First weapon…First weapon…mockingmockingMocking turns to harrassmentMocking turns to harrassment

QuestionsQuestions turn to turn to declarationsdeclarations

Prayer is activatedPrayer is activated““So we built” (mind to work!)So we built” (mind to work!)