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See in depth article on Redeem the Time
REDEEM THE TIME
ACRONYM FOR "TIME"
T ------ Time
I ------ Impacts
M ----- My
E ----- Eternity
Adoniram Judson a famous missionary to Burma wrote that
"A life once spent is irrevocable. It will remain to be contemplated through eternity. The same may be said of each day. When it is once past, it is gone forever. All the marks which we put upon it, it will exhibit forever. Each day will not only be a witness of our conduct, but will IMPACT our ETERNITY. How shall we then wish to see each day marked with usefulness! It is too late to mend the days that are past. The future is in our power. Let us, then, each morning, (enabled by God's Spirit) resolve to send the day into eternity in such a garb as we shall wish it to wear forever. And at night let us reflect that one more day is irrevocably gone, indelibly marked."
Jesus commanded His disciples
Stop (continually) storing up for yourselves treasures upon earth where moth and rust destroy and thieves break in and steal, but store up for yourselves treasures in heaven where moth and rust do not destroy and thieves do not break in and steal, for where your treasure is there will your heart be also. (Mt 6:19-21)
A PROPER PERSPECTIVE OF TIME
Billy Graham was asked what he was most surprised by in life. He answered, “Its brevity.” AND Billy Graham lived to age 99!
Charles Haddon Spurgeon the prince of preachers once said "'NOW' is the watchword of the wise."
PURITAN THOMAS BROOKS - Time is not yours to dispose of as you please; it is a glorious talent that men must be accountable for as well as any other talent.
SCRIPTURES ON BREVITY
Job 14:2 “Like a FLOWER he comes forth and withers. He also flees like a SHADOW and does not remain.
David - Psalm 144:4 Man is like a mere BREATH; His days are like a PASSING SHADOW.
James 4:14 Yet you do not know what your life will be like tomorrow. You are just a VAPOR that appears for a little while and then VANISHES away.
Paul 1 Cor 7:29 – "The time that remains is VERY SHORT."
PRAYER OF MOSES – written when he was well past 80 years
Psalm 90:12 So teach us to number our days, That we may present to Thee a heart of wisdom.
PRAYER OF DAVID –
Psalm 39:4 "O LORD, help me understand my mortality and the brevity of life! Let me realize how quickly my life will pass!
EPHESIANS 5:15-18
15 Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise,
16 making the most of (redeeming) the time (opportunity), because the days are evil.
17 So then do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.
18 And do not get drunk with wine, for that is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit
EPHESIANS 5:18
Ray Stedman says Eph 5:18 is "the great secret of real Christianity."
J. Vernon McGee in a commencement address at Dallas Theological Seminary in his 80s said that if he were starting his ministry over again, he would give much more attention to the Person and work of the Holy Spirit. He would preach on the practical importance of the Holy Spirit more frequently and attempt to lead people to depend daily on His supernatural power.
And do not get drunk with wine, for that is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit, (19) speaking
THE NECESSITY OF BEING SPIRIT FILLED
TO OBEY THE >1500 NT COMMANDS
John MacArthur says “If we do not obey this command, we cannot obey any other—simply because we cannot do any of God’s will apart from God’s Spirit. Outside of the command for unbelievers to trust in Christ for salvation, there is no more practical and necessary command in Scripture than the one for believers to be filled with the Spirit."
SPIRIT FILLED BELIEVERS
ARE LIKE ARTESIAN WELLS
STAY LOW!
STAY OPEN!
John 7:38-39 He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, ‘From his innermost being will flow rivers of living water.’” 39 But this He spoke of the Spirit, Whom those who believed in Him were to receive; for the Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.
WHAT FACILITATES FILLING?
Colossians 3:16 Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God.
PARALLEL BETWEEN
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Ephesians 5:18-6:9 |
Colossians 3:16-4:1 |
Be
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Let...dwell within
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THE
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THE
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Speaking to
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Teaching & Admonishing
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In PSALMS
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With PSALMS
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SINGING and making melody
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SINGING with thankfulness
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Always GIVING THANKS for ALL things
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Do ALL in the name of the Lord Jesus,
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WIVES
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WIVES
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HUSBANDS
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HUSBANDS
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CHILDREN
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CHILDREN
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FATHERS
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FATHERS
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SLAVES
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SLAVES
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MASTERS
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MASTERS
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REDEEM THE TIME
NAS - making the most of your time, because the days are evil.
NET taking advantage of every opportunity, because the days are evil.
ESV making the best use of the time, because the days are evil.
KJV Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.
REDEEM - Exagorazo - Buy out of the market place.
Galatians 3:13 Christ REDEEMED us from the curse of the Law, having become a curse for us–for it is written, “CURSED IS EVERYONE WHO HANGS ON A TREE”–
Col 4:5-6 Conduct yourselves with wisdom toward outsiders, REDEEMING the opportunity (kairos). 6 Let your speech always be with grace, as though seasoned with salt, so that you will know how you should respond to each person.
"Kairos"
"Who made thee? Lysippus made me.
What is thy name? My name is OPPORTUNITY.
Why hast thou wings on thy feet? That I may fly away swiftly.
Why hast thou a great forelock? That men may seize me when I come.
Why art thou bald in back? That when I am gone by, none can lay hold of me."
Ready for Harvest
Jesus said
“I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields!
They are ripe for harvest.”
John 4:35
Ob Portu ("For Port")
TEMPUS FUGIT
CARPE DIEM
THE DAYS ARE EVIL
Not Obstacles but Opportunities!
Acts 4:31 And when they had prayed, the place where they had gathered together was shaken, and they were all FILLED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT and began to speak the Word of God with BOLDNESS.
Php 2:14-15 Do all things without grumbling or disputing; so that you will prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as LIGHTS IN THE WORLD.
(1) LET THE WORD RICHLY DWELL WITHIN - MEMORIZE THE WORD
Billy Graham said “I am convinced that one of the greatest things we can do is to memorize Scripture.”
Chuck Swindoll "I know of no other single practice in the Christian life more rewarding, practically speaking, than memorizing Scripture...No other single exercise pays greater spiritual dividends! Your prayer life will be strengthened. Your witnessing will be sharper and much more effective. Your attitudes and outlook will begin to change. Your mind will become alert and observant. Your confidence and assurance will be enhanced. Your faith will be solidified."
Psalm 37:31
The law of his God is in his heart His steps do not slip.
Joshua 1:8
This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth,
but you shall meditate on it day and night,
so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it;
for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have success.
(2) MAKE DISCIPLES
Matthew 28:19-20 “Go therefore and MAKE DISCIPLES of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
2 Timothy 2:2 The things which you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, ENTRUST these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.
(3) PRAY - ESPECIALLY FOR THE LOST
Revelation 5:9 And they sang a new song, saying, “Worthy are You to take the book and to break its seals; for You were slain, and purchased for God with Your blood men from EVERY TRIBE and TONGUE and PEOPLE and NATION.
1 Thessalonians 2:19-20 For who is our HOPE AND JOY AND CROWN of exultation? Is it not even YOU, in the presence of our Lord Jesus at His coming? For YOU ARE OUR GLORY AND JOY.
John MacArthur “A great part of heaven’s bliss for the redeemed will be the joyful presence of those whom they have been used to reach…Whether or not believers know those people now as friends, they will know them in glory as FRIENDS FOREVER AND AS SOURCES OF ETERNAL JOY.”
WORK FOR THE LORD—
His RETIREMENT PLAN IS OUT OF THIS WORLD.
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Han Chinese, Xiang in China Did you know there is a people group in China that has a writing system that is only understood by their women? They call themselves the Xiang, one of the Han Chinese peoples. The Xiang worship the spirits of dead communist leaders that once ruled China. Ministry Obstacles: The Xiang take great pride in their fighting abilities. They are independent to the point of rejecting outside ideas, including those coming from Christ’s followers. Outreach Ideas: Martial artists who know Jesus might be able to establish contact with this people group. Ask the Lord to raise up the right people to go to them. Scripture Focus: "You must not have any other god but me." Ex 20:3 Scripture Prayer: Pray for this people group to understand and obey this essential and central command. Prayer Focus: We do not know if there are any from this people group that follow Christ. Pray for a movement to Christ among this people group, precious in God’s sight. Ask God to show them that Jesus Christ is the sovereign, risen Savior, the only one who is truly worthy of worship. Pray for spiritual openness and a hunger for true righteousness, especially among their leaders. |
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Daily Pop-up Reminder to Pray
(4) FIND AN ACCOUNTABILITY PARTNER
2 Ti 2:22 Now flee from youthful lusts and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart.
PRACTICAL – WHAT WE DO –
(1) TEXT DAILY TO CHECK UP.
(2) TALK AT LEAST ONCE PER WEEK.
(3) DAILY PRAY Colossians 1:9-12 FOR EACH OTHER. This is not vain repetition but belief in the promise in 1 Jn 5:14-15
“This is the confidence which we have before Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests which we have asked from Him.”
(5) SET NO WORTHLESS THING BEFORE YOUR EYES
Psalm 101:3 I will set no worthless thing before my eyes; I hate the work of those who fall away; It shall not fasten its grip on me.
THREE SUGGESTIONS:
(1) DON'T WATCH THE NEWS - Scripture - Philippians 4:8
(2) IF YOU LIKE TO WATCH MOVIES GET VIDANGEL - ALLOWS YOU TO DELETE OFFENSIVE MATERIAL
(3) DON'T CLICK THAT MOUSE!
(6) PRAY FOR REVIVAL FOR AMERICA
Psalm 80:18b REVIVE us, and we will call upon Your name.
Psalm 85:6 Will You not Yourself REVIVE us again, That Your people may rejoice in You?
Habakkuk 3:2 LORD, I have heard the report about You and I fear. O LORD, REVIVE Your work in the midst of the years, In the midst of the years make it known; In wrath remember mercy.
Let us pray like the old Puritans
Turn my heart from vanity, from dissatisfactions, from uncertainties of the present state, to an eternal interest in Christ. Let me remember that life is SHORT AND UNFORESEEN, and is only an OPPORTUNITY FOR USEFULNESS; GIVE ME A HOLY AVARICE TO REDEEM THE TIME, to awake at every call to charity and piety, so that I may feed the hungry, clothe the naked, instruct the ignorant, reclaim the vicious, forgive the offender, diffuse the Gospel, show neighborly love to all. Let me live a life of self-distrust, dependence on Thy Spirit, mortification, crucifixion, prayer." In Jesus' Name. Amen (From Valley of Vision)