Seasons of Life: Tasks, Troubles, Provision, and Blessing

Canaan Fellowship

Seasons of Life: Tasks, Troubles, Provision, and Blessing

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Bill Teubl MD shares a message about the seasons of life and how God provides grace, tasks, troubles, provisions, and blessings in each season.

[00:00:00] Explains he is sharing this framework because he finds it useful for asking God what to do and how God helps in each season of life.
[00:00:30] Frames each season around four questions: the task God calls us to, the troubles associated with it, God’s provision to help, and the blessings that follow.
[00:01:11] Emphasizes that God’s intent in creating us was to bless us and share His life, glory, and love with us.
[00:02:36] Explains that we must receive God’s blessings, and that receiving them requires God’s help—we need His grace to receive His grace.
[00:04:43] Notes this changes things because we must wait on God for His grace rather than simply believing His promises are automatically experienced.
[00:05:47] Reviews the seasons roughly in 20-year intervals: childhood, a season of decision and choices, building and investing, and influence and legacy.
[00:06:04] Describes the main tasks: childhood teaches obeying parents then God; the second season is discerning who to live with, work with, and minister to; the third is having the Spirit inhabit labors in home and church; the last is sitting in the gates.
[00:06:43] Describes the troubles: young children rebel and dishonor parents; older children face the pleasures of the world; the decision season faces cares, riches, and pleasures (Luke); the building season faces pride in natural abilities; the last season faces loss of vision or cold love.
[00:08:14] Addresses God’s provision for a young child learning to obey, noting the parent must take initiative, drawing on Proverbs 29 (the rod and reproof give wisdom).
[00:09:54] Distinguishes correction (child misunderstands) from reproof (child understands but willfully disobeys), noting reproof addresses the rebellious will.
[00:11:22] Uses this to illustrate that God often asks us to obey before explaining why, and demanding an explanation can cause us to miss a blessing.
[00:12:03] For older children, the provision is the work of the Spirit, citing Galatians 5:24 about crucifying the flesh with its passions and desires.
[00:15:02] For the decision season, cites Luke 8:15 (parable of the sower) about holding fast the word in an honest and good heart and bearing fruit with patience.
[00:16:19] Explains “good soil” refers to outward attributes (functionality) while “good heart” refers to inward moral excellence and character, both being important.
[00:19:05] Concludes that walking in the Spirit cultivates the soil of the heart so it can hold God’s word fast for wise decisions.
[00:20:04] For the building season, the provision is grace to the humble, citing James 4:6 that God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble; pride must be put to death.
[00:21:50] For the legacy season, cites 1 Corinthians 15:58 on being steadfast and immovable, abounding in the Lord’s work, and 2 Timothy 4:7 on finishing the race.
[00:22:35] Notes later life brings loss—children leaving home, approaching retirement—creating a need for renewed vision and learning to sit in the gates.
[00:24:05] For the childhood blessing, cites Ephesians 6:2-3: honoring father and mother brings the promise that it may go well with you and you may live long in the land.
[00:26:06] For walking in the Spirit, cites Romans 8:14 that all led by the Spirit are sons of God, and reflects on the precious truth of having a Father in Heaven who loves us—unique to the message of Jesus.
[00:28:27] Notes that a young person transitioning out of the home knowing God loves them and holds them safe is a crucial blessing for moving forward.
[00:29:38] For the decision season, cites Psalm 32:8 that God instructs, teaches, and counsels with His eye upon us, and that the fruit of wise decisions confirms them.
[00:30:33] For the building season, cites James 1:25 that the doer who acts will be blessed in all his doing; shares his practice of praying Moses’ prayer to establish the work of his hands.
[00:32:35] For the legacy season, reads Ecclesiastes 9:13-16 about the poor wise man who delivered the city by wisdom though no one remembered him, showing wisdom is better than might.
[00:33:24] Encourages older believers to speak and pray with the wisdom God has given, which becomes a bulwark of protection for family, church, and community even if despised.
[00:34:46] Shares Francis Frangipane’s insight that revival will look different in different communities depending on whether faith communities rise up in prayer and receive God’s grace.
[00:35:43] Calls on the older members of the congregation to stand in prayer and speak wise words, setting groundwork for revival and protection for children, grandchildren, church, and community.

Scripture References

Proverbs 29
Galatians 5:24
Luke 8:15
James 4:6
2 Timothy 4:7
1 Corinthians 15:58
Ephesians 6:2-3
Romans 8:14
Psalm 32:8
James 1:25
Ecclesiastes 9:13-16

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