"Redeeming the Time"
The new rhythm allows us to:…
-quality time with God
-be fully present with family
-be completely healthy
-enjoy biblical community
-steward well
-rest
Amos 3:3 (NKJV) Can two walk together, unless they are agreed?
If we are ever going to live the way Jesus wants us to, then it will require us to get a handle on our time.
The difference between those who are living a purposeful, healthy, impact and fully engaged life; and those who are not — is one group effectively stewards their time well, while the other one doesn’t.
Matthew 7:24-28 (NLT) Anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock. 25 Though the rain comes in torrents and the floodwaters rise and the winds beat against that house, it won’t collapse because it is built on bedrock. 26 But anyone who hears my teaching and doesn’t obey it is foolish, like a person who builds a house on sand. 27 When the rains and floods come and the winds beat against that house, it will collapse with a might crash.” 28 When Jesus had finished these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching…
Is God interested in how we manage our time?
-“Seek first His kingdom…” Mt. 6:33
-“When you pray…” Mt. 6:5
-“When you fast…” Mt. 6:16
-“Go into all the world…” Mt. 28:19
-“Serve and encourage one another…” Heb. 3:13
-“Use your God-given gifts…” Rom. 12:6
-“Be hospitable…” Rom. 12:13
-“Fellowship with one another…” Acts 2:42
-“Honor your father and mother…” Eph. 6:1
-“Love your spouse…” Eph. 5:28
-“Raise your kids to follow Him…” Eph. 6:4
-“He has created you for good works…” Eph. 2:10
-“He who doesn’t work, doesn’t eat…” 2 Thess. 3:10
1. Perspective
2. Purpose
3. Priorities
“Perspective fuels purpose.
Purpose defines priorities.
Priorities determines the value of time.”
1. Perspective
Genesis 1:1-5 (NKJV) In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. 2 The earth was without form, and void; and darkness was on the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. 3 Then God said, “Let there be light;” and there was light. 4 And God saw the light, that it was good; and God divided the light from the darkness. 5 God called the light Day, and the darkness He called Night. So the evening and the morning were the first day.
The eternal God created time.
Chronos — “a measurement of time.”
Psalm 39:4 (NLT) Lord, remind me how brief my time on earth will be. Remind me that my days are numbered [measured]—how fleeting my life is.
Psalms 90:12 (NKJV) So teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.
Kairos — “an appointed time, an opportune moment, a season, limited period of time.”
Instead of us looking at our lives solely through chronos [as grains of sand slipping through an hourglass], we need to view our life through the lens of kairos opportunities God opens and closes throughout the course our lives.
Not ever second of our day holds the same VALUE in God’s eyes.
Ephesians 5:15-16 (NIV) Be very careful, then, how you live — not as unwise but as wise, 16 making the most of every opportunity [redeeming the time], because the days are evil.
2. Purpose
“We have successfully compartmentalized our lives into two major categories: Secular and Sacred.”
Colossians 3:17 (NKJV) And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.
1 Corinthians 10:31 (NKJV) Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.
He saved and called us to whole and holy; therefore, every area of our lives has the ability to honor Him.
Ephesians 2:8-10 (NKJV) For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast. 10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.
“We aren’t saved by our good works, but we are certainly saved for good works.”
Work — “task, employment, business.”
“If a man is called to be a street sweeper, he should sweep streets even as Michelangelo painted, or Beethoven composed music, or Shakespeare wrote poetry. He should sweep streets so well that all the hosts of heaven and earth will pause to say, ‘Here lived a great street sweeper who did his job well.” —Martin Luther King Jr.
3. Priorities
Priority — “what is regarded as more important.”
When you have a right perspective of time, and when you know your purpose — you won’t struggle to define your priorities.
In my experience, the #1 thing that hijacks our priorities are other PEOPLE!!!!
“It’s easy to blame everyone and everything else for my lack of productivity. But these days, I remind myself that everyone who calls, texts, knocks on my door, and asks me for things is just doing what every human being does: trying to move his or her priorities onto my agenda.
That’s just the way life works. Nobody will ever ask you to accomplish your top priorities. They will only ask you to accomplish theirs.
Think about it. Every text, every email, every random phone call, every knock on your door, every meeting you get invited to, every request you get puts other people’s priorities on your calendar. Your friend is looking for advice, your coworker has a question, your neighbor needs help moving a desk up the stairs, and your toddler throw a temper tantrum. None of this is on your to-do list. One hundred percent of a workday or day off can be used up helping other people accomplish their priorities while yours sit unattended.” —Carey Nieuwhof
If we don’t want to continually live a life that’s constantly getting hijacked by other people’s priorities, “Then we are going to have to learn how to say, NO.”
”We have to be willing to disappoint some people.”
This may come as a surprise, but even Jesus disappointed people.
Luke 4:38-41 (NLT) After leaving the synagogue that day, Jesus went to Simon’s home, where he found Simon’s mother-in-law very sick with a high fever. “Please heal her,” everyone begged. 39 Standing at her bedside, he rebuked the fever, and it left her. And she got up at once and prepared a meal for them. 40 As the sun went down that evening, people throughout the village brought sick family members to Jesus. No matter what their diseases were, the touch of his hand healed every one. 41 Many were possessed by demons; and the demons came out at his command, shouting, “You are the Son of God!” But because they knew he was the Messiah, he rebuked them and refused to let them speak. 42 Early the next morning Jesus went out to an isolated place. The crowds searched everywhere for him, and when they finally found him, they begged him not to leave them. 43 But he replied, “I must preach the Good News of the Kingdom of God in other towns, too, because that is why I was sent.” 44 So he continued to travel around, preaching in synagogues throughout Judea.
He said, “no” because He was more interested in obeying the Father than pleasing people.
Galatians 1:10 (NIV) Am I now trying to win the approval of people or of God? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ.
“Are we living for the applause of people, or the applause of nail scarred hands.”
—Mark Batterson
Q—What does your time say about you?
Ephesians 5:15-16 (NIV) Be very careful, then, how you live — not as unwise but as wise, 16 making the most of every opportunity [redeeming the time], because the days are evil.