PDF Do you know who came up with the phrase timing is everything ...

Do you know who came up with the phrase "timing is everything"? William Shakespeare, in 1599, used this phrase in his play Julius Caesar. Today we see the phrase used in sports, cooking, and aerospace to mention a few.

During the month of December we are focusing on Galatians 4:4,5 as we explore the theme of "Christmas, It's About Jesus."

Gal 4:4-5 NIV But when the time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under law, (5) to redeem those under law, that we might receive the full rights of sons.

Last Sunday we looked at the first part of this verse, "But when the time had fully come..." Here we see that God executed his plan for redeeming the world by sending Christ at the right time. In Galatians chapter three Paul shares with us portions of God's activity with man. Also, we see in scripture that even significant Jewish events fit into God's strategy. Listed below are these specific acts in history that we touched on in our morning service.

1. God made an eternal promise with Abraham. (Galatians 3:15) 2. God provided the law next to convict us of our sin (Galatians 3:19, 22,23) 3. God gave the Passover and Day of Atonement as precursors of Christ's coming.

(Hebrews 9:9-28) 4. God provided Jesus at the right time that we might be justified by faith.

(Galatians 3:24-29)

Not only do we see from scripture how God spoke through Jewish history, but he also used secular history to fulfill his plan. At the time Jesus came the Romans were in control of the known world. As a result of their activity there was a common roadway system that they built for their troops and carts to travel on. God used these 53,000 miles of road to enable the rapid spread of the gospel. Secondly, there was a universal language of "Koine" or "common" Greek that the Romans brought to the forefront of all the countries that they conquered. For example, if Paul, the writer of Galatians, were alive today he would need to speak Hebrew, Arabic, Turkish, Greek, Italian and Spanish in order to minister to the same countries that he went to in the first century.

As we move closer to Christmas, don't forget that God is always on time. He has proven it through history, and he continues to prove it today. Pray for and wait on his timing. Remember, timing is everything.

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