Making the Most of Every Day
Ephesians • Sermon • Submitted
0 ratings
· 101 viewsNotes
Transcript
Sermon Tone Analysis
A
D
F
J
S
Emotion
A
C
T
Language
O
C
E
A
E
Social
If you had a bank that credited your account each day with $86,000 but did not allow you to carry over any balance to the next day…any money left in your account was forever lost when the clock struck midnight....what would you do?
You would draw out every dollar, every day…use it to the full advantage.
Wouldn’t it be cool to have an account like that....
You actually have one.....it’s called a “day”, it’s called “time”
It credits you with 86, 400 seconds per day.....
Whatever you fail to “use” is lost forever....
You can’t save it for another day.....you can’t overdraft on a busy day
See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise,
Be careful how you live - be wise
Be “purposeful”
Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.
Eph. 5:16
“redeem” - to purchase and reclaim as one’s own.
“redeem” - to purchase and reclaim as one’s own.
Illust - Your child has been taken hostage....no longer in your possession…being held by someone else....you pay a price to get them back.
WHY MUST WE REDEEM THE TIME?
WHY MUST WE REDEEM THE TIME?
Because time is precious
Because time is precious
“precious” - an object, substance or resource which is limited and therefore of great value; not to be wasted or treated carelessly.
“precious” - an object, substance or resource which is limited and therefore of great value; not to be wasted or treated carelessly.
Behold, thou hast made my days as an handbreadth; And mine age is as nothing before thee: Verily every man at his best state is altogether vanity. Selah.
Whereas 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.
The days of our years are threescore years and ten; And if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, Yet is their strength labour and sorrow; For it is soon cut off, and we fly away.
Time is the only resource, that once spent, can never be recovered.
Time is the only resource, that once spent, can never be recovered.
Because the days are evil
Because the days are evil
Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.
In Paul’s day, that mean Roman persecution that would at some point limit opportunities for the gospel.
Today: We live in a world-system (remember who the God of this world is ) that is “evil” when it comes to the use of our time.
It puts “demands” on us…or at least we think it does…we “allow” it to....
It’s why we feel our “time” has been taken “hostage” by something/someone outside of us.
And if we aren’t purposeful with our time, that is exactly what happens....the enemy will dictate to you how to use your time...
If the enemy can get us “busy” with lesser causes…he has won.
How Do We Redeem the Time?
How Do We Redeem the Time?
View time as a limited resource. ()
View time as a limited resource. ()
So teach us to number our days, That we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.
What do you do when you don’t have much time before a deadline? You get laser-focused.
Marble Jar (each marble = 1 Saturday)
Plan purposefully ()
Plan purposefully ()
The thoughts of the diligent tend only to plenteousness; But of every one that is hasty only to want.
There is treasure to be desired and oil in the dwelling of the wise; But a foolish man spendeth it up.
We can’t just allow our schedule to get overbooked....that’s like spending all your money and wonder why you can’t save…why your stressed about money.
Make difficult choices.
Make difficult choices.
There is treasure to be desired and oil in the dwelling of the wise; But a foolish man spendeth it up.
“redeem” - pay a price
“redeem” - pay a price
“redeem” - pay a price
You have to build in “margin”....
You can’t do it all..
What happens with money?
(if you don’t intentionally save, you spend it al
You can’t do it all..
“Choosing to Cheat”
-You will cheat something or someone.
Same with time...
Your family
Your work (maybe you’re not the most dedicated)
Your spiritual life/spiritual family
Whatever you do comes at the expense of whatever you could be doing.
Whatever you do comes at the expense of whatever you could be doing.
You can’t stay up late Saturday night and come Sunday morning early ready to worship, learn and serve.
How do you know what to sacrifice?
You can’t work countless overtime hours at work and spend the kind of time with your family you need to.
You can’t have your kids involved in every sport, travel team or school activity and wonder why they aren’t that interested in church/youth group.
Most of us, if asked, would say we’re just too busy....BUT WHO’S IN CHARGE OF OUR CALENDAR?
It’s not that we need to learn to say no, it’s that we need to learn to say no to the right things....
But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
If you don’t plan carefully
If you were told you had a week to live…how would you spend it?
-Playing a video game
-Watching T.V.
Telling loved ones about Jesus?
Make the most of every opportunity.
Make the most of every opportunity.
“Redeeming the time” - “make the most of every opportunity”
Take full advantage of the opportunities God grants you....
-with your family
-at school
-at work
-in life’s situations
And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.
And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
Our purpose...
-with our family (make them a D-1 athlete),
God’s purpose (make disciples)
-at school (be popular, do well academically for scholarships)
God’s purpose (make disciples)
-at work (make money, feel successful in career)
God’s purpose (make disciples)
Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time.
We think walking in wisdom is all about us....
“living our best life now!”
-And while walking in wisdom will help us make wise decisions in our lives, primarily our wisdom is for the purpose of others seeing Christ in us and us looking for opportunities to share Christ with them.
Conclusion: Ecc. 12:1-7
God’s purpose (give Him glory)