Redeeming the Time: Dedication & Faithfulness
Sermon • Submitted • Presented
0 ratings
· 2 viewsNotes
Transcript
Today we begin our second and final sermon series in our Green Liturgical Season of Spiritual Growth.
We are focusing on the Presence of God.
In this series I want to help you cultivate a 24/7 awareness of God’s Presence.
But not not some subconscious intellectual awareness, a real, practical, life changing RESPONSE to God’s Presence.
-
The way i want to achieve this is through the biblical Command to each of us to “Redeem the Time”.
15 See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise,
16 Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.
5 Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time.
-
Jesus Christ is our Redeemer.
13 Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:
When we think of the act of redeeming something we usually think that its an act exclusive to God. Only can can redeem.
Well it is true that as far as the redemption of human beings are concerned ONLY God can redeem us - Its important to note that we are also capable of redeeming something.
-
In our case: Time.
To redeem something is to reclaim it from bad circumstances to good purposes.
You and I are redeemed in that we are reclaimed (by the blood of Jesus) from the evil circumstances of sin to serve the Holy purposes of God.
-
How does this apply to “time”?
Well because of sin, corruption has touched everything in the world including time.
Scientifically this is called Entropy.
This means that:
Anything + Time = Decay.
An apple; flowers; a baby....
Redeeming the time is the reclaiming of time away from decay and back towards devotion.
If time is redeemed then the equation changes:
Anything + Redeemed time = Devotion.
So to Redeem the Time means that you and I have to consciously and deliberately reclaim time spent in a fallen, evil world to time spent glorifying and honoring God.
-
Basically: To redeem the time requires that we do nothing on “autopilot” or in a thoughtless way.
We need to do and thing about everything with intention: Intention to Grow.
Intention to glorify God.
Intention to see His kingdom come.
How do we accomplish this?
That is what this series will be about.
We begin with:
Dedication and Faithfulness.
Dedication and Faithfulness.
2 Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.
21 His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.
Dedication to something is characterized by Consistency.
I am dedicated to my wife; which means that i am consistent in maintaining our relationship.
When we do infant Dedication we are saying that we will be consistent in raising our children in the fear of the Lord.
-
Consistency is even a part of what it means to be faithful.
If i am faithful to something it means that i am consistent with it.
I cannot overstate is importance of consistency when it comes to our awareness of God.
The bible stresses its importance.
58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.
9 And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.
But there is a problem.
Dedication and Faithfulness will manifest such powerful evidences of grace - but not instantly.
We live in a world of immediate gratification, but good things often take time.
This is where spiritual consistency comes in.
Let me give you a simple instillation:
Let me give you a simple instillation:
This is the workout of a triathlete gold medal winner.
If you were to go to gym and complete this workout, go home and look in the mirror 2 things will occur.
First: You will definitely “feel” like you worked out.
But Secondly: You will not notice any measurable difference in your health.
If you did it again: On the 2nd day, you will not see any difference. 3rd day will not yield any noticeable effect.
4th day and you will still look exactly the same.
You might “feel” small differences but you will not see any changes.
However, if you are just consistent, don’t go harder, faster, heavier - just be consistent with the plan and suddenly, one day, when you are not looking for any changes, the changes will begin to manifest.
-
Every year i quite going to Gym for January.
Its just to busy, with so many people taking up the equipment.
But by February, its back to just regular people.
Why?
Because all those people wanted to make a change, and went to gym for 4 weeks, put in all that effort, endured all that stiffness and pain, and by the end of January, they saw zero difference.
So, as is human nature: They stopped trying.
Here is what they don’t know: Yes it takes a long time to actually see changes but when they start to manifest, they come quicker and quicker.
Transition:
Transition:
As true as this is in the natural over 30 years of being saved and 20 years in full time ministry has taught me that is works exactly the same in the spiritual.
Lets say you wanted to be more effective and powerful in your prayer life.
So you set up a more defined prayer program.
You set your alarm and get up 30 min earlier to pray.
That is wonderful!
But let me tell you what to expect:
Firstly, you will “feel” the effect very quickly. You will feel like you just prayed.
And you do this for a few days.
But, after 3 weeks, your prayer life really has not yielded the fruit you expected.
Your prayers seem no more effective as they always are.
Getting up extra early to Pray is just as challenging as it always was.
Other than the newly formed bursa in your knees, there is no discernible difference in your prayer life.
This applies to reading the bible.
Going to Church.
Attending a Bible Study.
Initially the output results do not match the input effort.
So many people come to the end of their Spiritual “January” as it were and stop putting the effort in.
-
But in the same way, if they would just be consistent, forget about seeing results and just be obedient, one day - often out of the blue - The results suddenly manifest!
And like all things: When they actually begin to manifest - the changes come quick.
The bible phrases it like this:
4 But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.
Notice that Patience will complete her perfect work: BUT ONLY IF YOU LET HER!
Application:
Application:
Whatever you do for God must be done faithfully, consistently and with dedication for the results to manifest.
The christian race is NOT a sprint, its a marathon!
1 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,
To “run with patience” means that you run without the finish line in sight.
You run and simply trust that with each step you are getting closer, you cannot see yourself getting closer, but by faith in God’s promises you continue to be dedicated, faithful and consistent.
You don’t see the finish getting any closer but by the power of hope believe that it is!
The bible says this exactly:
25 But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.
Conclusion:
Conclusion:
Do do anything without dedication and consistency is, by definition, a waste of time - the very opposite of redeeming the time!
I am so glad you came to church today.
But if you don’t come next week and the week after, and after, you may learn something or be blessed by something - You will “feel” like you went to church.
But it will not manifest real, lasting, empowering, edifying, God glorifying changes in your life.
I love the amplified translation of Mat 7:7:
7 Keep on asking and it will be given you; keep on seeking and you will find; keep on knocking [reverently] and [the door] will be opened to you.
Don’t ask - Keep asking!
Don’t seek - Keep Seeking!
Don’t knock - Keep Knocking!
And in the fullness of time the door will be opened.