Redeeming you r Time

"God's Sovereignty Over Time"

Introduction:

- Begin by discussing the significance of time in our lives and how it often feels like a limited and finite resource.

- Highlight the common struggles and questions people have about time and God's involvement in it.

- Introduce the concept of God's sovereignty over time and how it can bring comfort and hope to our lives.

1: God's Creation and Control of Time

- Explain how God, as the Creator of the universe, also created time itself Genesis 1:1-5

Genesis 1:1–5 NIV

1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. 2 Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters. 3 And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. 4 God saw that the light was good, and he separated the light from the darkness. 5 God called the light “day,” and the darkness he called “night.” And there was evening, and there was morning—the first day.

- Share biblical passages that affirm God's control over time, such as Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 and Psalm 31:15.

- Quote from Pastor Timothy Keller: "God is not bound by time as we are. He is the author of time and has the power to intervene and direct its course."

Questions for reflection:

1. How does understanding that God created time impact your view of its value and purpose?

2. In what ways have you seen evidence of God's control over time in your life or in the lives of others?

2: Trusting God's Timing

- Discuss the human tendency to become impatient and try to control our own timing and outcomes.

- Share biblical examples of individuals who struggled with waiting for God's timing, such as Abraham and Sarah (Genesis 16) and Moses Exodus 2:11-15

Exodus 2:11–15 NIV

11 One day, after Moses had grown up, he went out to where his own people were and watched them at their hard labor. He saw an Egyptian beating a Hebrew, one of his own people. 12 Looking this way and that and seeing no one, he killed the Egyptian and hid him in the sand. 13 The next day he went out and saw two Hebrews fighting. He asked the one in the wrong, “Why are you hitting your fellow Hebrew?” 14 The man said, “Who made you ruler and judge over us? Are you thinking of killing me as you killed the Egyptian?” Then Moses was afraid and thought, “What I did must have become known.” 15 When Pharaoh heard of this, he tried to kill Moses, but Moses fled from Pharaoh and went to live in Midian, where he sat down by a well.

He toke mater in his own hands, he did not wait. When we take mater in our own hands we mess up.

Pastor Charles Stanley: "God's timing is perfect. Trusting Him often means waiting, but it's worth it."

Questions for reflection:

1. Are there areas in your life where you struggle to trust God's timing? Why?

2. How can we cultivate patience and trust in God's timing, even when it seems delayed or different from our expectations?

3: Embracing God's Eternal Perspective

- Discuss the limitations of our human perspective when it comes to understanding God's timing.

- Share biblical passages that emphasize God's eternal nature and His perspective of time, such as 2 Peter 3:8-9 and Isaiah 55:8-9.

- Quote from Pastor John Piper: "God is never late and never early. He is always precisely on time, even when it doesn't feel like it to us."

Questions for reflection:

1. How does embracing God's eternal perspective change the way we view time and our circumstances?

2. How can we develop a deeper trust in God's timing, even when it doesn't align with our own desires or plans?

Conclusion:

- Summarize the main points discussed: God's creation and control of time, the importance of trusting His timing, and embracing His eternal perspective.

- Encourage the congregation to reflect on their own relationship with time and invite them to surrender their anxieties and impatience to God.

- Remind them of the assurance that comes from trusting in God's sovereignty over time and His faithfulness in all seasons.

By incorporating Bible verses, quotes from well-known pastors, and thought-provoking questions, this sermon aims to help the congregation understand and embrace God's sovereignty over time, ultimately leading to a deeper trust in His timing and a renewed perspective on the value of each moment.