Kingdom Time

Series: Kingdom Stewardship

Speaker: Bill Sizemore

Text: Ephesians 5:14–17 (ESV)

Title: Kingdom Time: Living by Heaven’s Clock

Subtitle: When you wake up to God’s time, you begin to walk in God’s will.

🎬 Opening Illustration and Hook

In 1797, a man named John Harrison changed the world—not by fighting a war or preaching a sermon—but by building a clock. Sailors were dying at sea because no one could measure time accurately enough to know where they were. Harrison’s invention, the marine chronometer, saved thousands of lives by helping ships stay on course.

Church, time is more than hours ticking on a wall.

Time is the divinely measured space God gives us to accomplish His will.

It’s not defined by 24-hour days but by God-ordained moments—moments filled with opportunity, obedience, and eternal consequence.

Jesus said in Matthew 6:33-34 (ESV):

Matthew 6:33–34 ESV

33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. 34 “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.

Notice the integration of time with the Kingdom of God.

The Kingdom clock doesn’t run on tomorrow’s worries or yesterday’s regrets. It runs on the present moment of obedience—right here, right now.

So let me say it plainly:

Time is not just something you spend; it’s something you steward through the wisdom of the Holy Spirit.

And here’s the phrase I want you to remember this morning:

“When you wake up to God’s time, you begin to walk in God’s will.”

We’re launching a new series called Kingdom Stewardship—learning how to faithfully manage our time, talent, and treasure for the glory of God.

Today, we begin with the most irreplaceable of them all—Kingdom Time.

Because if you don’t steward your time, you’ll mismanage everything else.

Here’s our roadmap for today:

Wake Up – See time as a spiritual stewardship.

Prioritize – Order your time by Kingdom relationships.

Redeem the Time – Live every day with eternal purpose.

🧭 Sermon Outline

Wake Up – Time Is a Stewardship, Not an Ownership

Ephesians 5:14–16 ESV

14 for anything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says, “Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.” 15 Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, 16 making the best use of the time, because the days are evil.

🕊️ A Mind Shift About Time

Most Christians think “giving their time” means volunteering at church—showing up on Sundays, serving in the nursery, or joining a ministry team.

But Kingdom time is not measured by church service; it’s measured by Spirit obedience.

The American church has unintentionally taught that service is limited to a building, but God measures time differently.

Every breath, every conversation, every task, every drive to work is sacred space—a divine opportunity to advance His Kingdom.

We must have a mind shift that sees time holistically—that our life is one continuous offering of worship, not divided into “church time” and “personal time.”

Romans 12:1 reminds us:

Romans 12:1 ESV

1 I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.

When we wake up to God’s time, we no longer ask, “What will I do for God?”

We ask, “Lord, what are You doing—and how can I join You?”

💭 Wake Up Emotionally

Waking up emotionally is not just about feeling alert—it’s about being spiritually sensitive.

It means you refuse to drift through life saying “Que sera, sera” (“whatever will be, will be”).

Instead, your heart posture of every moment in time becomes:

“Lord, what would You have me do?”

Life is short—a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes (James 4:14).

So every decision must be made under the counsel of the Spirit.

Emotional awakening says:

“I will not let my emotions or busyness dictate my direction. I will let the Holy Spirit set my pace.”

💪 Wake Up Physically

Proverbs 6:6–11 ESV

6 Go to the ant, O sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise. 7 Without having any chief, officer, or ruler, 8 she prepares her bread in summer and gathers her food in harvest. 9 How long will you lie there, O sluggard? When will you arise from your sleep? 10 A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest, 11 and poverty will come upon you like a robber, and want like an armed man.

The ant works with purpose, not panic. She stores in the summer, rests in the winter, and never stops contributing to the colony’s well-being.

To wake up physically means learning the rhythm God built into creation—rest, meditation, work, and enjoyment.

When we rest, we honor His sovereignty.

When we meditate, we honor his presence.

When we work, we honor His purpose.

When we enjoy life, we honor His goodness.

Living in balance maximizes the glory of God in our bodies.

As 1 Corinthians 10:31 reminds us:

1 Corinthians 10:31 ESV

31 So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.

🔥 Wake Up Spiritually

Finally, to wake up spiritually is to recognize that God is at work all around you—in your job, your family, your neighborhood, and your church.

You are not randomly placed in this time and space.

You are strategically positioned for the advancement of His Kingdom.

Paul said in Acts 17:26–27 that God “determined the allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place, that they should seek God.”

Acts 17:26–27 ESV

26 And he made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place, 27 that they should seek God, and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him. Yet he is actually not far from each one of us,

That means you were born for this moment in time.

So when you wake up spiritually, you begin to ask:

“Why has God placed me here? What assignment has He given me for His glory?”

📷 Illustration

“In Chicago, there’s a display known as the Doomsday Clock. It was created in 1947 by scientists who worked on the atomic bomb. The clock doesn’t tell time—it tells how close humanity is to destroying itself.

In 1991, it stood 17 minutes before midnight, when peace seemed possible. But today, it’s been moved to just 90 seconds before midnight—the closest it’s ever been.

That clock warns the world that our time is running out.

But Heaven has a different clock.

It’s not counting down to destruction—it’s counting down to redemption.

Every tick of God’s clock is another moment of mercy, another opportunity for the Church to build His Kingdom before time runs out.”

🧩 Application

You can’t steward what you haven’t surrendered.

Until you see your time as God’s time, you’ll continue to live as if your calendar belongs to you.

➡ Personal Application:

Ask the Spirit: “Where have I limited God’s time to certain days or duties?”

Invite Him to awaken your mind, body, and spirit to the full stewardship of life.

➡ Corporate Application (Reliant):

As a church, let’s not confine God’s time to service.

Let’s wake up to what He’s doing every day—through our families, our jobs, our Out Posts, and our conversations.

Transition Sentence to Point Two:

When we wake up, we begin to see time differently.

But if we’re going to walk wisely, we must not only wake up—we must prioritize.

Because what you give time to reveals who rules your heart.

Prioritize – Build Your Schedule Around the Kingdom

👑 Kingdom Priorities Lead to Kingdom Time Management

Matthew 6:33–34 ESV

33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. 34 “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.

Once we wake up, the next step is to prioritize.

Because even when we’re awake, if our priorities are wrong, our time will still be wasted.

Jesus doesn’t just tell us to seek the Kingdom—He says to seek it first.

That means everything else in life finds its order beneath the reign of King Jesus.

Time management for the believer isn’t about productivity; it’s about priority.

It’s not asking, “How much can I get done?” but “What matters most to the King?”

When your schedule is ordered around God’s priorities, your calendar becomes a canvas for Kingdom impact.

Ministry runs on the rails of relationships.

📅 The Five Relationships That Shape Your Time

Kingdom priorities are built around relationships, not activities.

Because every command God gives flows through relationship—first with Him, then with others.

Here are the five relationships that define Kingdom stewardship of time:

1. My Relationship with God – The Source of Wisdom

Everything begins here.

Without time in His presence, every other relationship will suffer.

Jesus modeled this when He rose early to pray (Mark 1:35).

He withdrew often—not because He was lazy, but because He understood something most of us forget:

You can’t redeem the time if you don’t first receive direction from God.

When you begin in God’s presence, He aligns the rest of your day to His will.

Application:

➡ The first appointment on your calendar shouldn’t be with people or, God forbid, social media—it should be with God.

➡ Before you check your phone, check in with the spirit.

2. My Relationship with Family – The Field of Discipleship

Your family is not a distraction from ministry—it is your first ministry.

Deuteronomy 6 says to “teach these things diligently to your children… when you sit, when you walk, when you lie down, and when you rise.”

That means discipleship doesn’t happen in a class—it happens in the course of time.

The greatest gift you can give your family isn’t money or possessions—it’s presence.

Illustration:

Charles Francis Adams was the son of President John Quincy Adams and the grandson of President John Adams—men who carried enormous responsibility for shaping a nation. Like his father and grandfather, Charles was a brilliant statesman, but he was also a very busy man. One afternoon, he recorded a brief note in his journal that read, “Went fishing with my son today—a day wasted.” His son, Brooks Adams, wrote in his own diary that same day, “Went fishing with my father—the most wonderful day of my life.”

Two men lived the same moment—one saw it as wasted, the other saw it as priceless. It reminds us that sometimes the most meaningful use of our time isn’t in what we produce, but in who we’re present with.

Application:

➡ Make your family time sacred. It’s not “time off”; it’s “time on mission.”

➡ The way you love your family preaches louder than any sermon you’ll ever hear or give.

3. My Relationship with God’s Family – The Church

Hebrews 10:24–25 says,

“Let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together.”

The local church is where the Kingdom takes form on earth—a place to belong, serve, and grow.

But if we’re not careful, we treat church like a consumer service instead of a community of servants.

Your time in the body of Christ should build others up, not just fill a seat.

God doesn’t need more spectators—He’s raising up stewards.

Application:

➡ Personal: Ask, “Am I building the church, or am I just attending it?”

➡ Corporate (Reliant): As we build out Reliant’s Outposts—our community hubs for ministry and multiplication—our goal is not just more space but more kingdom opportunity.

Time spent at each Outpost should reach the lost, multiply disciples, and equip leaders.

4. My Relationship with Others – The Mission Field of Influence

Jesus summarized the Law with two commands: Love God and Love your neighbor.

That means every friendship, every connection, every conversation is Kingdom time.

Time spent with people is never wasted when it’s used to plant seeds of faith, hope, and love.

Even casual interactions can become divine appointments if you walk in awareness.

Illustration:

The Samaritan woman at the well thought she was running an errand—but Jesus turned an ordinary moment into a divine appointment. One conversation changed an entire city (John 4).

Application:

➡ Don’t rush through people. Some of your greatest Kingdom moments will happen in interruptions.

➡ Every conversation is sacred when the Spirit is leading it.

5. My Relationship with Co-workers – The Marketplace Mission

Your job isn’t just how you make a living—it’s where you live out your witness.

Colossians 3:23 says,

“Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men.”

When you see your workplace as a mission field, your time at work becomes Kingdom time.

People watch how you show up, how you serve, and how you respond under pressure.

Illustration:

Working at Bank of America as a teller in KC. Snowy day gave me the opportunity to share the gospel with the entire branch.

Application:

➡ Personal: Work with integrity and joy; your attitude is a sermon.

➡ Corporate: Reliant’s Outposts are designed to be bridges—connecting faith and work, church and culture, Sunday and Monday.

🧩 Conclusion and Altar Call

When we talk about Kingdom Stewardship, it’s not just about rearranging your calendar — it’s about renewing your mindset.

Paul wrote in Romans 12:2,

“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God.”

That’s the mind shift we need:

To see time not as something to manage, but as something to offer.

What is the direction of the Spirit in my life at this moment.

Every second is a sacred opportunity. Every moment is Kingdom time.

And when you begin to see your days through the Spirit’s eyes, you stop living for someday and start living for today.

So what is the Spirit saying to you?

Maybe He’s whispering, “Wake up. Stop drifting. Redeem the time I’ve given you.”

Maybe He’s calling you to reorder your priorities — to place Him and the kingdom first again.

Maybe He’s inviting you to give your time back to Him so your life can count for eternity.

🙏 Altar Call for the Unbeliever

If you’ve never given your life to Jesus, today is your time — your moment in God’s story.

You may not have another one like it.

The Bible says, “Now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation.” (2 Corinthians 6:2)

Don’t waste your life chasing the temporary.

Come to the One who holds eternity.

Surrender your time, your heart, and your future to the Savior who gave His life for you and gives life to you.

This is your Kingdom moment.

🔥 Altar Call for the Believer

And for those of us who know Christ — maybe you’re tired, busy, distracted, or running on autopilot.

You’re awake physically, but spiritually asleep.

The Lord is calling you to wake up again — to let Him set the rhythm of your days.

Maybe you need to re-prioritize your life:

To give God the first moments of your morning to set the course of your day,

To reclaim dinner time as family discipleship,

To see your job as your mission field,

To invest your evenings in building His Kingdom, not your comfort.

Come kneel before Him today and say:

“Lord, my time is Yours. Teach me to number my days, that I may gain a heart of wisdom.” (Psalm 90:12)

Let the Holy Spirit reorder your days, renew your purpose, and restore your joy.

Because the best way to honor God with your time is to let Him rule your heart.

✝️ Final Challenge

Church, this is the Kingdom mind shift:

Time is not your possession — it’s your partnership with God.

It’s the space where Heaven touches earth.

So wake up.

Prioritize what matters most.

Live each day like it’s your Kingdom assignment — because it is.

Hook Phrase (Final Line):

“If you don’t live by Heaven’s time, you’ll drift on earth’s tide.”