Spiritual Disciplines 09

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Spiritual Disciplines – 09

STEWARDSHIP I

Text: Ephesians 5:15-16

Place Preached - (Mississauga International Baptist Church)

Date Preached - (12/18/03)

Introduction:   

What causes us the greatest stress in today’s world?

Being overloaded with responsibilities at home, work, school, church?  Paying bills, or running late for appointments?  Unexpected expenses, too little rest?

Yes in most cases the greatest producers of anxiety have to do with the clock or the dollar. 

They have to be included in any discussion of Godly living.

The Disciplined Use of Time

If we are going to be like Jesus, we must see the use of our time as a spiritual discipline.

John 17:4  I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do.

If Godliness is our aim, the disciplined use of our time will greatly assist us in reaching that goal.

The use of our time may also indicate how much of a priority godliness is in our lives.

Ten Biblical Reasons for the wise use of our time.

1. Use Time Wisely “Because the Days are Evil”

Ephesians 5:15-16See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise,    Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.

Even without the opposition or persecution known by the Christians of Paul’s day, the world we live in is not conducive to using time wisely.

We live in days of active evil.

The natural course of the world, and of our flesh leads us towards evil, not towards godliness or Christlikeness.

Therefore we must take heed to the scriptural admonitions of...

Colossians 3:2  Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.

Romans 12:2  And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

2. Wise Use of Time is the Preparation for Eternity

You must prepare for eternity in time.  There is no second opportunity!!

There is a specific day on the Calendar when all our preparation will be over.

Hebrews 9:2727And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:

How would you prepare if you knew that day to be tomorrow?

We must prepare before it is too late!

2 Corinthians 6:22(For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.)

3. Time is Short

ILLUS: The Scarcity of a thing, coupled with demand, determines it’s value.

If no one ever died, time would not be so precious.

James 4:1414Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.

70 years is not much in comparison to 900 (Lifespan of the antediluvians).

Let’s use our time well!!

4. Time is Passing

What does remain is fleeting.

ILLUS: Time is not like a rock that you can chisel off a piece whenever you need it.  It is more like an hourglass in which the sand is constantly running.

Time is slipping by while we speak.

1 John 2:17  And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.

A common wrong conception is that of “Saving Time”.  Really all we can do is use those same 24 hours more wisely every day!!

ILLUS: As a child time seems to go by so slowly.  Now it seems more and more like you are paddling upstream on the Niagara river.  (Upstream from the falls that is!)

No time like now to start “Redeeming the Time”.

5. The Remaining Time is Uncertain

We don’t actually know how short it is.

Proverbs 27:1 Boast not thyself of to morrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth.

There are thousands in eternity who did not know today was their last day.

EXAMPLES – Think of current examples of individual who have died.

Youth, Strength, and Popularity are not preventives to an “untimely” demise.

Psalm 31:1515My times are in thy hand: deliver me from the hand of mine enemies, and from them that persecute me.

We must plan to live for years, but be ready to go momentarily.

6. Time Lost cannot be Regained

Some things (Even money) once lost can be regained, but time is different.  Once lost, it is forever gone.

Only in Joshua’s day did the Sun stand still – Josh 10:12-14 - (Not going to happen again!!)

ILLUS: Flying East to West in a supersonic Concorde was said to make time stand still.  Arrive in New York before you left London, Heathrow.  This of course is only an illusion created by the Time Zones.

John 9:4  I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work.

God will forgive the misuse of our time in the past.  But He will not reissue it to us.

What can we do?

Philippians 3:1313Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,

7. You are Accountable to God for your Time

Romans 14:12  So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.

This applies to Believers and non-believers alike.

Our eternal reward will be directly related to our earthly use of time.

LOOK UP & READ I Corinthians 3:13-15

Accountability for the believer’s time can be illustrated by the negative example of...

Hebrews 5:1212For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat.

We must decide now that we will use our time in a manner that will put is in good standing on judgement day.

Matthew 12:3636But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.

Every word, what about the idle hours?

8. Time is so easily Lost

You don’t have to do anything to lose time.

Proverbs 24:33-34 Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep:34So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth; and thy want as an armed man.

Time is so easily wasted because it appears to be so common and plentiful.

If a man wasted money as he wasted time we would ridicule him.

The expression says “A fool and his money are soon parted”.  But the same is true of time and it is infinitely more valueable.

9. We Value Time at Death

We value things most when they are gone.  Money, food, friends etc.

The same is true of time – Listen to the Last words of these infidels...

Voltaire to his doctor – “I will give you half of what I am worth if you will give me six months’ life.”

Thomas Hobbes – “if I had the whole world, I would give it to live one day.”

You don’t want to have a fool’s refrain for your last words.

SEE Proverbs 5:11-13

 

Better to be like Jonathan Edwards who said; “Resolved, That I will live so, as I shall wish I had done when I come to die.”

10. Time’s Value in Eternity

In HELL – Remorse, and agonizing lament over failure to see God’s goodness and take full advantage of the opportunity so graciously appointed by God to receive Christ.

Luke 16:2525But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented.

In HEAVEN – If any regrets, only that we did not use our earthly time more for the glory of God, and for growth in His grace.

Revelation 21:4  And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.

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