HOW TO HAVE MORE TIME
Below are notes to a sermon preached Sunday evening, Sept. 5, 1999, at Gospel Light Baptist Church, Albany, Georgia:
HOW TO HAVE MORE TIME
By Michael D. O’Neal Pastor, Gospel Light Baptist Church Albany, Georgia
Scripture Reading: Ephesians 5:11-17
Text: Ephesians 5:16
Ephesians 5:16 Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.
Introduction: How often do we say, “I just don’t have the time” to accomplish something? I have heard people say, “I don’t have the time to go to every church service” ” … to go soul-winning” ” … to take a Sunday School class” “… to work up at the church” etc.
It is very difficult for me to realize and remember this great truth:
I HAVE ALL THE TIME I NEED TO ACCOMPLISH WHAT GOD WANTS ME TO DO IN LIFE.
Time is a precious commodity. We often hear that “time is money,” and there is a sense in which that is true.
God acts on a schedule. Christ was born when “the fulness of time was come” (Gal. 4:4). In “due time Christ died for the ungodly” (Rom. 5:6).
We are commanded to redeem the time. To redeem means to buy or purchase, to possess for your very own. The truth is, our problem is not that we do not have ENOUGH time, but that we do not TAKE or USE what precious time we have.
In order to redeem the time, we must
I. BE AWARE OF TIME
Romans 13:11 And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed.
A. We must be aware of time’s presence
B. We must be aware of time’s prophecy
* Luke 12:56 Ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky and of the earth; but how is it that ye do not discern this time?
C. We must be aware of time’s purpose
* Psalms 90:12 So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.
D. We must be aware of time’s passing
* 1 Corinthians 7:29 But this I say, brethren, the time is short: it remaineth, that both they that have wives be as though they had none;
* 2. James 4:14 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.
In order to redeem the time, we must
II. BE ACTING IN TIME
Acts 24:25 And as he reasoned of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come, Felix trembled, and answered, Go thy way for this time; when I have a convenient season, I will call for thee.
A. We must act in time for our conversion
* 2 Corinthians 6:2 (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)
* The rich man in hell waited too late.
* He also waited too late to reach his loved ones.
B. We must act in time for our children
* Proverbs 19:18 Chasten thy son while there is hope, and let not thy soul spare for his crying.
* Don’t wait before it is TOO late to spank them, to tell them you love them, to spend time with them, to win them to Christ, to play with them.
C. We must act in time for our church
* The church needs members now!
* The church needs workers now!
* The church needs tithers now!
* The church needs soul-winners now!
In order to redeem the time, we must
III. BE ACQUIRING TIME
Ephesians 5:16 Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.
A. We get more time by honoring our parents
* Ephesians 6:2 Honour thy father and mother; (which is the first commandment with promise) 3 That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth.
* This includes obedience.
* This includes respectful speech and attitude.
* This includes financial support in their old age.
B. We get more time by holding to priorities
* Job 23:12 Neither have I gone back from the commandment of his lips; I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food.
* Hebrews 12:1 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,
C. We get more time by heeding God’s promises
* Ecclesiastes 7:17 Be not over much wicked, neither be thou foolish: why shouldest thou die before thy time?
* Proverbs 3:1-2 My son, forget not my law; but let thine heart keep my commandments: 2 For length of days, and long life, and peace, shall they add to thee.
“Only one life, ’twill soon be past; only what’s done for Christ will last.”