Time to serve the Lord (1)

At the Right Time

It is the right time to serve the Lord.

Galatians 4:4 (NASB95)

4But when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth His Son…

Galatians 4:4 (NLT)

But when the right time came, God sent his Son…

Intro: This is the season we are all pressed for time. But this year is different… Some of the activities we would normally be in are on hold… Perhaps you are not as rushed as you were last year..

Perhaps you had some plans that didn’t work out because of covid… Even something like the way you were to celebrated the Holidays.. (kellers had to cancel our trip)

1. Time is precious

Today, we are talking about time and how we use it. And sometimes how we lose it.

Illustrations

“Do Over”

Hour Glass

· Conversation

· Life

· Decisions

Psalm 90:10–17 (NASB95)

10As for the days of our life, they contain seventy years, Or if due to strength, eighty years, Yet their pride is but labor and sorrow; For soon it is gone and we fly away.

11Who understands the power of Your anger And Your fury, according to the fear that is due You?

12So teach us to number our days, That we may present to You a heart of wisdom.

13Do return, O Lord; how long will it be? And be sorry for Your servants.

14O satisfy us in the morning with Your lovingkindness, That we may sing for joy and be glad all our days.

15Make us glad according to the days You have afflicted us, And the years we have seen evil.

16Let Your work appear to Your servants And Your majesty to their children.

17Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us; And confirm for us the work of our hands; Yes, confirm the work of our hands.

Life expectances in us 78.54

80 times 365 = 29,200

65 times 356 = 23,725 (leaves me with 5,475

24 times 365 = 8,760 (20,440)

First a wonderful promise:

Psalm 103:13–18 (NASB95)

13Just as a father has compassion on his children, So the Lord has compassion on those who fear Him.

14For He Himself knows our frame; He is mindful that we are but dust.

15As for man, his days are like grass; As a flower of the field, so he flourishes.

16When the wind has passed over it, it is no more, And its place acknowledges it no longer.

17But the lovingkindness of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear Him, And His righteousness to children’s children,

18To those who keep His covenant And remember His precepts to do them.

2. Life has interruptions, but even then in the interruptions, God has a plan

I’m reminder of this passage:

James 4:13–15 (NLT)

13Look here, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we are going to a certain town and will stay there a year. We will do business there and make a profit.”

14How do you know what your life will be like tomorrow? Your life is like the morning fog—it’s here a little while, then it’s gone.

15What you ought to say is, “If the Lord wants us to, we will live and do this or that.”

3. The time we have brings opportunity and responsibility

Ephesians 5:15–17 (NASB95)

15Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise,

16making the most of your time, because the days are evil.

17So then do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.

It seems that sometimes we are waiting for something to happen and then we will give our lives to God.

Colossians 4:5 (NASB95)

5Conduct yourselves with wisdom toward outsiders, making the most of the opportunity.

One of the greatest ways to make your life and my life meaningful is the make a difference in someone else’s life.

1 Thessalonians 2:19–20 (NLT)

19After all, what gives us hope and joy, and what will be our proud reward and crown as we stand before our Lord Jesus when he returns? It is you!

20Yes, you are our pride and joy.

Jeremiah 8:20 (NASB95)

20“Harvest is past, summer is ended, And we are not saved.”

Mark 1:15 (NASB95)

15and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.”

4. Here are some passages about God’s timing.

God’s time for you and me is NOW.

2 Corinthians 6:2 (NLT)

2For God says, “At just the right time, I heard you. On the day of salvation, I helped you.” Indeed, the “right time” is now. Today is the day of salvation.

Isaiah 55:6 (NASB95)

6Seek the Lord while He may be found; Call upon Him while He is near.

Take note that God is ‘speaking’

Hebrews 4:7 (NASB95)

7He again fixes a certain day, “Today,” saying through David after so long a time just as has been said before, “Today if you hear His voice, Do not harden your hearts.”

The call is urgent

Romans 13:11–12 (NLT)

11This is all the more urgent, for you know how late it is; time is running out. Wake up, for our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed.

12The night is almost gone; the day of salvation will soon be here. So remove your dark deeds like dirty clothes, and put on the shining armor of right living.

Sometimes we know what we need to do but we get paralyzed.

What about the time (and opportunity) that God has give us?

2021 coming: At the new year, we have a tendency to think more about the passing of time and the hope and plans for the future.