TIME

Bikers Church Cape Town

TIME by Pastor George Lehman Today we have had 237 days of time and 136 days left to Year End. Time is such an important commodity. Time allows us to learn, grow, and improve. God speaks to those who take Time to listen. If you could be given time back to rectify mistakes or start over again, what would you change if you had that time back? If everyone were met by an angel tonight and everyone was given a guaranteed 24 hours of time, Before Jesus comes to fetch you, what would you begin to do in the next 23h55 minutes? All of us here have been created equal in this one respect. Each person has been given 24 hours each day, 7 days a week (None of us were given a bit more or less) The difference between people is determined by what we do with the amount of Time given to us. It’s not how many hours you put in, but how much you put into the hours. Ephesians 5:15-16 - “Look carefully then how you walk! Live purposefully and worthily and accurately, not as the unwise and witless*(foolish, idiotic) but as wise (sensible, intelligent people),16 Making the very most of the time [buying up each opportunity], because the days are evil.” God takes the time He gives us seriously and so should we! Remember, every minute spent angry, is Sixty Seconds of wasted Joy. We need to make every second count, because we either positively or negatively influencing others or ourselves. The Times demand sober living. (Dis tyd dat ons moet begin om nugter te lewe.) I believe God is saying to His Church: We are living in a Time of Grace. He is giving us a Time of favour to become a mighty instrument in His hand to become effective and useful, to break out of Luke-warmness and compromise. But for us to become an instrument in God’s hand, we are going to have to look at how we are using our time given to us 24 hours a day, each day. We need to make sure we don’t waste valuable Time on things that have no eternal value. And making sure that we are actively addressing those things in our lives that we know are not right with God. 2 Corinthians 6:1-2 (Amp) - “Labouring together [as God’s fellow workers] with Him then, we beg of you not to receive the grace of God in vain [that merciful kindness by which God exerts His holy influence on souls and turns them to Christ, keeping and strengthening them—do not receive it to no purpose]. 2 For He says, In the time of Favor (of an assured welcome) I have listened to and heeded your call, and I have helped you on the day of deliverance (the day of salvation). Behold, now is truly the time for a gracious welcome and acceptance [of you from God]; behold, now is the day of salvation! We must make the most of the Time given to us. It has been my observation that many Christians get ahead, during the time that others waste. We need to ask: “LORD what am I spending my time on that You give me” Don’t waste time! Have you ever used this quote? This is a true expression and a good thought – But its really not accurate, when you waste time, its not time you are wasting, its your very life Activity equals accomplishment. Activity is not accomplishment; hard work is not results. We should not ask ourselves whether we’re busy, But what are we busy with. We serve a God who is interested in results. It’s not how much we do, that matters, it’s how much we get done. In other words, don’t spend R100-00 worth of time on 10 cents worth of results. We have a real bad habit of putting things off for tomorrow. What you put off until tomorrow, you’ll probably put off tomorrow too. The lazier and uncommitted a person is, the more he is going to do tomorrow. “Psalm 23” The TV (the mobile phone) is my Shepherd; I shall not want. It makes me lie down on the sofa. It leads me away from the Scriptures, It destroys my soul. It leads me in the paths of distraction and violence, For the sponsor’s sake. Yea, though I walk in the shadow of my Christian responsibilities, There will be no interruptions; For the TV and (mobile phone) is with me. It’s cable and it’s remote control— They comfort me. It prepares a commercial before me, In the presence of my worldliness. It anoints my head with humanism. My coveting runneth over. Surely laziness and ignorance shall follow me all the days of my life. And I shall dwell in the house Watching TV and my mobile forever. TV and may I add, mobile devices are one of the major causes of wasted time. Tomorrow is the only day in the year that appeals to a lazy man. Proverbs 27:1 - Do not boast about tomorrow for you do not know what a day may bring forth. Romans 13:11-14 “11 Another reason for right living is this: you know how late it is; time is running out. Wake up, for the coming of the Lord is nearer now than when we first believed. 12-13 The night is far gone; the day of his return will soon be here. So quit the evil deeds of darkness and put on the armour of right living, as we who live in the daylight should! Be decent and true in everything you do so that all can approve your behaviour. Don’t spend your time in wild parties and getting drunk or in adultery and lust or fighting or jealousy. 14 But ask the Lord Jesus Christ to help you live as you should, and don’t make plans to enjoy evil. We really need to take control of the time that God has given us. Every time you look at your watch on your arm, in your car, on the wall – Ask yourself: “How am I using time?” Don’t be like the airline pilot flying over the Pacific Ocean, who reported to his passengers: “We’re lost, but we’re making great time.” Going places but really going nowhere ® we need to be going somewhere with purpose on purpose. It’s called procrastination. Sitting and doing nothing. (Dis soos makeer die pas.) You are marching but going nowhere. It’s like walking on a treadmill. The first step in overcoming procrastination is to get rid of all excuses and reasons for not taking decisive and immediate action. The best time of the day is now. It’s not so much that you are going through the Christian motions - but are you progressing, are you growing. We are called to: - Make progress and not excuses. We must realise that when we choose to kill time. We begin to kill those wonderful gifts, abilities and talents the successes, the calling, the usefulness, which God has placed within your life. Ecclesiastes 11:4 (LB) – If you wait for perfect conditions, you will never get anything done. Psalm 90:12 - “So teach us to number our days, that we may get us a heart of wisdom. Colossians 4:5 - “Behave yourself wisely (living carefully and with discretion) in your relations with those of the outside world (non-Christians) making the very most of the Time and seizing the opportunity.”