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Redeeming the Time Ephesians 5:15, 16

Redeeming the Time Ephesians 5:15, 16. Redeeming the Time. Introduction. A. Eph. 5:16, “redeeming (m aking the most of) your time, because the days are evil.” Chapter 4:17-31 describes them. Same now. Redeeming the Time.

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Redeeming the Time Ephesians 5:15, 16

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  1. Redeeming the Time Ephesians 5:15, 16

  2. Redeeming the Time • Introduction. • A. Eph. 5:16, “redeeming (making the most of) your time, because the days are evil.” • Chapter 4:17-31 describes them. Same now.

  3. Redeeming the Time • B. Metaphor: buy, redeem for oneself, buy (as in the market) the opportunity, for maximum benefit. • No matter how you measure it (hourglass, clock, calendar), it’s extremely PRECIOUS.

  4. Redeeming the Time • C. Gen. 1:1, “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” • Here is the beginning of “time.” God is eternal, time pertains to man and earthly life.

  5. Redeeming the Time • D. Gen. 8:22, “While the earth remains .. summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease.” • “Time” is related to “the earth” and “man.” • This means it will keep on spinning on its axis and revolving around the sun until God calls “time.”

  6. Redeeming the Time • I. Time is short (literally, shortened). • 1 Cor. 7:29-32, “But this I say, brethren, the time is short…” • So don’t let family… or sorrow… or happiness …or business… or enjoying this life… HINDER YOU SPIRITUALLY.

  7. Redeeming the Time • Job 14:1, “Man who is born of woman is of few days and full of trouble.” • Ps. 103:15, “as for man, his days are like grass; as a flower of the field, so he flourishes. 16 the wind passes over it, and it is gone, And its place remembers it no more.” • Sounds like a “funeral sermon,” but we should remember this every day.

  8. Redeeming the Time • Passes very rapidly. • Job 7:6, “My days are swifter than a weaver's shuttle.” • Job 9:25, “my days are swifter than a runner.”

  9. Redeeming the Time • II. There is no “tomorrow.” • Prov. 27:1, “Do not boast about tomorrow, For you do not know what a day may bring forth.”

  10. Redeeming the Time • III. Life is a “vapor.” • A. James 4:14, “For what is your life? It is just a vapor, that appears for a little time, and then vanishes away.” • B. Therefore, do not say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, and spend a year there and engage in business and make a profit.” James 4:13.

  11. Redeeming the Time • C. “Instead, you ought to say, "If the Lord wills, we will live and also do this or that” James 4:15.

  12. Redeeming the Time • D. God controls time. We ought to be very thankful for the time that God gives us and make the most of it.

  13. Redeeming the Time • IV. How is time wasted? • A. Laziness, Rom. 12:11, “not lagging behind in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord.” • Heb. 6:12, “that you may not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.” Same word in 5:11.

  14. Redeeming the Time • B. Excuses. • 1 Kings 20:40, “while your servant was busy here and there, he was gone.” • C. “Do not be anxious,” because this is an improper use of time. • 1 Cor. 7:32, “I want you to be without care.” • Col. 3:1, 2, Not distracted, keep mind on things above.

  15. Redeeming the Time • D. Wanting to have more and better. • Luke 12:15. Much time wasted wanting “things,” getting “things,” involved with “things.” • Luke 8:14, “And the seed which fell among the thorns, these are the ones who have heard, and as they go on their way they are choked with worries and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to maturity.”

  16. Redeeming the Time • E. Entertainment, diversions, pleasures of life, TV, music, internet, visits, cell, sports. • Innocent things, BUT think about how much time is CONSUMED. • How much time did Jesus and apostles give to these things? • “Oh, but that was different.” Why?

  17. Redeeming the Time • F. Regret, a tremendous waste of time. • Phil. 4:13, “forgetting those things which lie behind.” Forget the past! • “Oh, if only I had …” or “if only I had not…” Dog / rabbit.

  18. Redeeming the Time • G. Waiting. How many hours do we waste in waiting rooms? Or travelling? • Always have Bible, NT or a tract to read. • Bible tapes, sermons, hymns, in house, car, truck. Can use headphones anywhere.

  19. Redeeming the Time • V. Program your time. • Have to for work (and this affects schedule for eating, sleeping). • Make time not only to worship God, but also to pray, study the Bible, visit, teach. • If this is not programmed, it isn’t done.

  20. Redeeming the Time • A. Time is like capital to invest. • It is the principal asset of man. You can’t loan it, nor hoard it. Can only spend it • B. Not “agonize” but “organize” time. Each one has 168 hours each week. • Put first things first. • 1 Tim. 5:8 does not contradict Matt. 6:33. • 1 Tim. 6:8, here’s the rub!!

  21. Redeeming the Time • C. Not serve God “on the run.” • Home; church; even preachers and teachers prepare lessons “on the run.” • “There is just no time,” have to do everything “on the run.” • Time to go back to square one, prioritize, put first things first. If necessary call it “emergency”!

  22. Redeeming the Time • D. Haggai 1:2, "The time has not come, even the time for the house of the LORD to be rebuilt.” • But their houses? “Then the word of the LORD came by Haggai the prophet, saying, "Is it time for you yourselves to dwell in your paneled houses while this house lies desolate?"

  23. Redeeming the Time • E. Jn. 4:35, “Do you not say, 'There are still four months and then comes the harvest'? Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look at the fields, for they are already white for harvest!” • It’s so easy to just be wrapped up in our own little world, our home and family, our job or business, our worries… and let the harvest go.

  24. Redeeming the Time • VI. “Take advantage” of every opportunity. • Jn. 9:4, “I must work the works of Him who sent Me while it is day; the night is coming when no one can work. • John 12:35, “Then Jesus said to them, "A little while longer the light is with you. Walk while you have the light, lest darkness overtake you; he who walks in darkness does not know where he is going.”

  25. Redeeming the Time • Look for open doors – This is time well spent! • 1 Cor. 16:9, “for a wide door for effective service has opened to me, and there are many adversaries.” • Look for people like the eunuch, Cornelius, Lydia, the jailor, those of Berea. • Acts 18:10, “I have many people in this city."

  26. Redeeming the Time • VII. What happens if we waste time? • A. Talents not used, Matt. 25:14-31. • B. There is no growth, Heb. 5:12-14. • C. Character not developed, 2 Pet. 1:5-10.

  27. Redeeming the Time • D. The lost remain lost. • E. The world goes from bad to worse, 2 Tim. 3:13; Matt. 5:13-16. No salt, light. F. We lose our soul, Rev. 3:16, 17.

  28. Redeeming the Time • Conclusion. • A. “Therefore, be careful how you walk.” • Do we do it? Making the most of our time? • Have you obeyed the gospel? • Do you put the Lord first in your life?

  29. Redeeming the Time • B. The most dangerous “thief” of time is PROCRASTINATION. All the Devil wants. • “The house is on fire, RUN, BUY A FIRE- EXTINGUISHER!” Too late! • “You need an operation right now” – “Oh, I better take some vitamins.” Too late for that.

  30. Redeeming the Time • Doctor says, “You have six months,” RUNS TO BUY LIFE INSURANCE. Too late! • Matt. 25:11, “Lord, lord, open to us. But he answered, Verily, I say to you, I know you not.” • Rom. 13:11, “knowing the time, that it is already the hour for you to awaken from sleep.”

  31. Redeeming the Time • One of the most deceptive lies of Satan: “There’s a lot of time!” “There’s more than enough time!” • “Don’t hurry!” “You’re young.” “You’re healthy.” “It won’t happen to you.”

  32. Redeeming the Time • When one dies or when Christ comes TIME WILL END. • Then there will be no days, weeks, months, years. • Eternity is not a “long time” – it has nothing to do with time.

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