Teachings
2 Timothy 4:2-5
Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long suffering and doctrine. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.
REDEEMING THE TIME (1 OF 3)
Ephesians 5:16-17 “Redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.”
These last days, there are many distractions that hinder personal fellowship with the Lord, and spending time in prayers and study of God’s Word.
These distractions are meant to poison the souls of Believers and rob them of the spiritual strength that is needed to run the Christian race victoriously with power.
Isaiah 40:31 “But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.”
Psalm 119:28 “I am weary from grief; strengthen me through your word.” CSB
There are Believers who do not know the Word of God or the Will of God, thereby, they cannot use the Word of God to examine what they read or watch to determine the truth; and hold on to the truth.
Some Believers that know the Word of God are no longer able to distinguish what is right or wrong or withdraw from distractions that are evil because of confusion and compromise.
1 Thessalonians 5:21-22 “But test all things carefully [so you can recognize what is good]. Hold firmly to that which is good. Abstain from every form of evil [withdraw and keep away from it].” AMP
A spiritual man judges all things and discerns all things to avoid the distractions and deceptions of the enemy and social media.
1 Corinthians 2:14-16 “But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man. For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? but we have the mind of Christ.”
HOW WE CAN REDEEM THE TIME:
1. By walking in the Wisdom of God by the Spirit of God.
Every Believer must make the best use of the time, talent, and treasure that God has given him/her by walking in wisdom and the knowledge of God, especially regarding secular contents and relationships with unbelievers.
Colossians 4:5 “Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time.”
1 Corinthians 2:6-7 “Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought: but we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory:”
Ephesians 5:15 “Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise,” ESV
2. By not living in sin by the Help and Power of the Holy Spirit. Careless and aimless living open the door for sin.
We should manage our time and emotions effectively by submitting to the checks and promptings of the Holy Spirit that keep us away from sin.
2 Thessalonians 3:11, 14-15 “We hear that some among you are idle and disruptive. They are not busy; they are busybodies. Take special note of anyone who does not obey our instruction in this letter. Do not associate with them, in order that they may feel ashamed. Yet do not regard them as an enemy, but warn them as you would a fellow believer.” NIV
Ephesians 5:3-7 “But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints; Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks. For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience. Be not ye therefore partakers with them.”
3. By renewing our mind with the Word of God and living by the Word of God.
The Word of God enables us to know the requirements of God and empowers us to live according to God’s requirements, if we submit to the truth of God’s Word.
Micah 6:8 “He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?”
Romans 12:2 “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”
Prayer:
I thank you, Lord, for giving me the gifts of time, talent, and treasure.
I pray against talent and treasure stealers.
I pray for the grace and wisdom to manage my time, talent, and treasure effectively with the Help and Power of your Word and the guidance of the Holy Spirit. In Jesus’ mighty name, I pray. Amen.
REDEEMING THE TIME (2 OF 3)
Romans 13:11-12 “And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed. The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light.”
It is essentially noteworthy that man has an appointed time to spend on earth.
This is why Moses, the Man of God, prayed for wisdom and knowledge to spend the allotted time on earth judiciously.
Psalm 90:12 “Teach us to number each of our days so that we may grow in wisdom.” GW
What you spend most of your time on each day makes or mars your destiny, and your eternity.
The fight and opposition against our salvation and glorious destiny are fiercer than before, and they are being perpetrated through distractions that waste time and sap spiritual energies.
Proverbs 8:33 “Listen to instruction and be wise; don’t ignore it.” CSB
HOW WE CAN REDEEM THE TIME (CONTINUED):
4. Not being influenced by worldly pleasures and successes. We should not lose our spiritual focus and the Perfect Plan of God for our lives because of happenings and hypes on social media or anywhere.
Psalm 73:1-3, 16-19, 22, 25-28 “God is truly good to Israel, to those whose lives are pure. But my feet had almost stumbled. They had almost slipped because I was envious of arrogant people when I saw the prosperity that wicked people enjoy. But when I tried to understand this, it was too difficult for me. Only when I came into God’s holy place did I ⌞finally⌟ understand what would happen to them. You put them in slippery places and make them fall into ruin. They are suddenly destroyed. They are completely swept away by terror! I was stupid, and I did not understand. I was like a dumb animal in your presence. As long as I have you, I don’t need anyone else in heaven or on earth. My body and mind may waste away, but God remains the foundation of my life and my inheritance forever. Without a doubt, those who are far from you will die. You destroy all who are unfaithful to you. Being united with God is my highest good. I have made the Almighty Lord my refuge so that I may report everything that he has done.” GW
5. By knowing that our days on earth are measured and limited. Limited resources must be used sensibly. Any wasted day cannot come back.
We have to plan, prepare for, and actualize what God has ordained to do through us, each and every day of our lives.
Psalm 90:4-6 “For a thousand years in thy sight are but as yesterday when it is past, and as a watch in the night. Thou carriest them away as with a flood; they are as a sleep: in the morning they are like grass which groweth up. In the morning it flourisheth, and groweth up; in the evening it is cut down, and withereth.”
Psalm 39:4 “Teach me, O Lord, about the end of my life. Teach me about the number of days I have left so that I may know how temporary my life is.” GW
6. By living righteously and a life worthy of emulation. Believers are ambassadors of Christ on the earth.
We are the salt of the earth and the light of the world. We have to redeem and spend our time according to God’s Call, Plan and Purpose, and not for fulfilling worldly pleasures and on things that are opposed to righteous and holy living.
1 Peter 2:11-12 “Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul; Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation.”
Ephesians 4:1-3 “I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.”
7. By Watching and Praying.
Watching and praying help us submit to God’s requirements and enable us to live a life of focus and discipline.
The solitude that is required in fasting enables us to commune with God and to be strengthened by God to do His Will at all times.
No man can redeem the time without the supernatural Help of God.
Mark 13:32-37 “But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father. Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is. For the Son of Man is as a man taking a far journey, who left his house, and gave authority to his servants, and to every man his work, and commanded the porter to watch. Watch ye therefore: for ye know not when the master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cockcrowing, or in the morning: Lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping. And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch.”
Prayer:
Heavenly Father, I thank you for giving me all I need and enabling me to live a balanced life.
I pray against anything that wants to break my focus, waste my time, sap my energy, and destroy my Glorious Destiny. In Jesus’ mighty name, I pray. Amen.
REDEEMING THE TIME (3 OF 3)
2 Corinthians 6:1-2 “We then, as workers together with him, beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain. (For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.)”
Apostle Paul said he did not receive the grace of God that was bestowed upon him in vain, therefore, he labored more than the other Apostles.
1 Corinthians 15:10 “But by the grace (the unmerited favor and blessing) of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me was not [found to be] for nothing (fruitless and without effect). In fact, I worked harder than all of them [the apostles], though it was not really I, but the grace (the unmerited favor and blessing) of God which was with me.” AMPC
Redeeming the time requires using our time, talent, and treasures effectively and judiciously for the performance of God’s Will, Plan, and Purpose for us.
As soon as Apostle Paul had his conversion experience when the Lord appeared to him, he used his time, talent, and treasure to fulfill God’s Call to the Jews and Gentiles.
Romans 15:18-20 “For [of course] I will not venture (presume) to speak thus of any work except what Christ has actually done through me [as an instrument in His hands] to win obedience from the Gentiles, by word and deed, [Even as my preaching has been accompanied] with the power of signs and wonders, [and all of it] by the power of the Holy Spirit. [The result is] that starting from Jerusalem and as far round as Illyricum, I have fully preached the Gospel [faithfully executing, accomplishing, carrying out to the full the good news] of Christ (the Messiah) in its entirety. Thus my ambition has been to preach the Gospel, not where Christ’s name has already been known, lest I build on another man’s foundation;” AMPC
Acts 20:34-35 “You yourselves know personally that these hands ministered to my own needs and those [of the persons] who were with me. In every thing I have pointed out to you [by example] that, by working diligently in this manner, we ought to assist the weak, being mindful of the words of the Lord Jesus, how He Himself said, It is more blessed (makes one happier and more to be envied) to give than to receive.” AMPC
God wants us to make the most opportunities of all He has given to us by managing our time, talent and treasures effectively by knowing and fulfilling His Will.
Ephesians 5:15-17 “Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.” NIV
HOW WE CAN REDEEM THE TIME (CONTINUED):
8. By being born again. No one can effectively redeem the time by knowing and fulfilling God’s Will without having a personal relationship with God and being empowered by God.
The Apostles in the Bible could not do it; neither can anyone fulfill the Will of God without knowing God intimately.
John 3:3-5 “Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb, and be born? Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.”
1 Peter 1:23 “Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.”
9. By not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together. Corporate fellowship enables us to be put in remembrance of God’s Will, and corporate prayers strengthen and encourage us to fulfill God’s Will and Purpose.
Hebrews 10:25 “Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.”
2 Timothy 2:2, 14 “And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also. Of these things put them in remembrance, charging them before the Lord that they strive not about words to no profit, but to the subverting of the hearers.”
10. By living holy and godly lives continually, and if we sin, we should repent and purify ourselves with Jesus’ Word, Blood, and Spirit.
Sometimes, we come short of redeeming the time by wasting or not making the best use of the time, talent, and treasures that God has given us. If this happened, we should repent, seek God’s forgiveness, and receive His forgiveness.
Our love for God should make us to be a good steward of all He has graciously given to us.
1 Corinthians 4:2 “Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.”
Titus 2:12-13 “Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;”
1 Peter 4:10 “As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.”
Prayer:
I thank you, Lord, for every gift that you have given me.
I pray to be a good steward of the time, talent, and treasures that you have given me. In Jesus’ mighty name, I pray. Amen.
