Making Our Time Count

while they're leaving I want to say thank you to Pastor again I appreciate Pastor for allowing me to teach this month I've really enjoyed this um it's just one of those things that I like to do and I like talking about just practical things in life those are the things that that help us to get through life um and sometimes we've got to talk that way and uh you know we can we'll wait for pastor to preach the house down but I'll I'll gladly step up and say let's just talk about life and uh thank you Pastor I appreciate that tonight we're going to be talking about time and uh as we have worked our way through our all of the things that we do in our giving and and our gaining with what we what our theme is I think this is probably one of the most one of the most important things that we have and that is time and I want to I want to talk to you along these lines and that is making our time count making our time count the Bible can tell us many things about time we can go through the scripture and we will tonight but that is one of the only things that we're equal on it's the only thing that you and I actually possess that there is only 24 hours in a day that's given to me and you have 24 hours does anybody have 25 sometimes no we all have the same amount of time but but what counts is how we use that time what counts is is if we're using it wisely Ecclesiastes the third chapter and I don't think I gave this one to them but uh just as an onset here I want to use this Ecclesiastes the third chapter the scripture tells us that there is there is a season in time for everything everything under Heaven has a season and time and and the writer goes through and begins to talk about each one though there's a time to to uh to be born and there's a time to die I mean you know that is part of it there's a time to plant and there's a time to pluck up what's been planted There's A Time to Kill and there's a time to heal and there's a Time to break down and there's a time to build up there's a time to weep there's a time to laugh how many you like to how many you like to laugh yeah there there are times that uh and that you just need to sat down and just have a good laugh I I think that's one of the reasons why that God gave us grandchildren because after a hard days of work and now now there's still works it's just your Karen's out there she's probably laid over on one of the seats but after I get off of work I go home and sit down and these these kids get to they just I get met at the door and he says hi Amber how are you and of course you know your heart needs that again there there are times that things need to get serious I watch pastor and and I'm going to take a rabbit here for a minute but I watch him on Sundays we're getting close to church time and you'll see those little fellows they're just running all over the place and he'll grab them he'll send them packing yeah and then he'll pass me say you see him running again grab them and again these are things that we we must teach as time I I read this a few days ago and how many ever been around churches that um uh that they started whenever you get there at 10 o'clock and then they're sitting around there waiting well what time's Church starting well we got to wait on so we gotta wait on so and so and they're waiting on a group of people to get there and it's well you're not teaching them anything I I when that clock hits 10 o'clock guess what boom we're going with or without you do you think that for one moment that the Lord when he when he decides to call us home that he's going to say well let's wait a few more minutes no no because time is important I know I'm getting getting ahead of myself but we're going to talk about three um biblical principles here three and we've got several areas we'll go underneath those but I want to I want to talk to you about these three principles and this is this is to do with time the very first one if you'll turn to your Bibles to Proverbs I mean Psalms Psalms 90 verse 12 Psalms 90 and verse 12. the psalmist writes here and he says so teach us to number our days that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom teach us to number our days so that we can we can look for wisdom so that we will have wisdom so that we'll have a wise heart when you look at what time is given to man number one your days are numbered everybody say that so number your days in other words when it talks about wisdom plan for those days plan for the days that God has given you you heard me a few weeks ago talk about Windows of opportunity you're not going to always have that opportunity and it will pass you up so we have to know time and seasons we have to understand what time and seasons are so we study and we watch how life gives us those opportunities take those take those opportunities and say okay what how do I apply these wisely God gives you those gifts and we talked about those do you know that God never intended for you to just he gives you a gift and you just take off and just start using it however you've got to plan with it right you've got to take and look at it and say okay God how how do I apply this when do I apply this when do I use this the psalmist said that we want God to teach us teach us to number those days that that we gain wisdom during that time Genesis 1 verse 5 Genesis 1 and verse 5. underneath this same this same principle God put into motion and God called the light he called it what day and the Darkness he called it what he did all of this because he wanted you to understand that's why I still believe there was a reason why you go to bed God never intended for us to have night shifts well still pastors it was 2 45 at the plant for me this morning and I was in and I was like yeah y'all knew I was teaching tonight but God put that in motion he puts together time daytime and he also mentions in the scripture and I did not put this one down but he says you work while it's what day because what Night Comes when nobody can so he puts all of this together for you to understand that their your days are numbered your days are numbers every one of us got the same amount you you got the same amount of time Proverbs 39 yes no let's go Psalms 39 I keep saying Proverbs I thought I had proverb in there Psalm 39 and verse 4. Psalms 39 and verse 4. let's look at this somebody read that for me Lord make me know my name and what is my days because I need to understand that I I am weak I'm frail there are things about this know what season you're in in life ask God for wisdom your days of life or only a season and I don't I don't want us to get real Grim about that I don't want us to get I don't want you to to think that we're going to head that direction but you have to understand in what season you're in shared that short story with you about my grandmother at the end of our lesson here a few weeks ago of how that when it came time for her to leave this world she was no longer worried about anything in this world why because she had already made peace with God she knew and she you ever heard the saying live life till its fullest live it to its fullest so you grab every opportunity you've got you know that guy that's sitting on the couch playing video games he's got the same amount of time we've got matter of fact I'm not so sure of what it will be shorter and and you've got the opportunity and you've got these guys getting out there and getting it and they're making it and they're doing what they need to do yeah they understand that time is short we in training and in management training and those of you that's going through any type of business training you understand this there's what we call business management there's time management that's involved in that there's a class on that time management and and you you have to learn how to manage what's going on and you structure your day accordingly there is a time for everything so manage your time wisely that's number two there's a time for everything manage it wisely we just read earlier in Ecclesiastes we read those things in life that have to happen there's a time there's a season for all of these things to happen Matthew let's look at Matthew 6 verse 33 Matthew 6 and verse 33 most of you could probably quote that is the saying of Jesus he says seek ye first what the kingdom of God and his righteousness and all these things shall be added unto you you seek God first understand that we're managing our life and that is not to say that everything that you do needs to be managed for Prosperity or for for production for Life production it's talking about balance we manage our that's that's a part of of Life management is you've got to know when to stop you got to know when to slow down you got to know when when to balance your life have you ever heard the saying scripture says that you become so Heavenly minded that your what so you can you can you can do all the right things but then come to a place in your life that you what have you accomplished have you even saved your own family have you done anything to keep your kids right oh but she's she goes to church he goes to church you got to manage those things and managing the time and managing it wisely God help us that we manage it Ecclesiastes the third chapter and we're going back to chapter three verse 11. look at the scripture Ecclesiastes the third chapter verse 11. somebody read that one he he's he set everything in motion he's put it all out there and he's placed it in your heart how many of you ever felt that that there are things that God starts dealing with you about do you know that you're you're given a measure of time before that that expires you can take what God has laid on your heart and have good intentions and never do anything about it God help us to understand the time that we've been given the opportunities that we've been given and we treat them wisely God help me that my time that you have given me here on this Earth it counts it counts for something if there's anything that needs to count and that is that we we do what God has called us to do the point is is that we need to manage it to balance life number three and I know we're moving through these but I've got a few more things I want to talk to us about number three and that is remember that the days that you're living in are evil and we must be careful how we live it there are so many things in our world today Ephesians Paul writes here Ephesians 5 verse 15 through 17. Ephesians 5 15 through 17. somebody read that somebody else Redeeming the time come on next one mama we must we must see where we're at that's why we have the prophet that's why we have we have the five-fold ministry and operation in life in our churches must see where we at let us know how close we are let somebody speak into your life and tell you where you need to be I I don't think you need to do that right now yeah let's do this let that be a word in your life find those things and walk wisely not as not as fools redeem the time scripture says that redeem the time because these times are not getting any better how many of you and I I don't know when I mentioned this but just here not long ago talking to somebody and I said you know the news we get news and it's I don't call it news anymore but um we get what we call news there was a day that we would get broadcast of news and it would be about everything going on you had the Good Bad and The Ugly everything we just broadcast and you could be talking about something that was happening and a bad car wreck bad situation and then all of a sudden and then we have we have oh so and so down the street he's the Good Samaritan that helps and you know that was a part of news now do you hear anything good on your news do you hear anything about prayer meetings on your news right now no is there anybody talking about that in the news media no just maybe some independent group that's out there but nobody's talking about those things why because that's the day and time we live in know the times know and where you're living know what's going on around you realize that that these days are not getting any better and redeem the time make sure that you make it count um Romans let's look at this Romans the 12th chapter or the 13th chapter I'm sorry Romans 13. 11 through 14. let's look at that and that knowing the time it is high time to what awake out of sleep for what for your salvation is near than you believe it's already there it's standing at the door because the night is far spent the day is at hand let us therefore cast off the works of darkness and let us use let us put on the armor of light he's saying remember the times look at what time you're you're in right now look around you see what's happening in your world redeem the time be wise know how to use your time some years ago and we were we were doing the conferences and going to camp meetings and doing all that you know that's just what we do right and since Karen and I were young young couple you know we're we've got little babies and we're just got people coming up to you at the camps you know they they speaking into your life and and looking for the prophet you know just looking for it looking for that that man of God that speaks into your life and you're at a meeting and all the time he's speaking into your life speaking speaking words of wisdom and and the reason I'm bringing this out I want to take you somewhere with it but there came a there came a camp meeting or a conference that I did not get that word nobody said anything and I almost got offended I did but I was at an altar and I realized the Lord laid it on my heart he put it in my heart so I knew it was him he said everybody's been speaking into your life That season now has shifted what'd you just say exactly right that's exactly what I felt in my spirit he said it was my turn and I was like oh me yeah it's your turn and the reason I bring this up is because I want you to to understand that God gives you a season to gain knowledge he gives you a season to gain wisdom understanding use it wisely study to know yourselves approved do those things that do your homework and then what happens is there's a shift that happens and then all of a sudden now you're in that season of where you're starting to speak into somebody else's life you're starting to help those others now I don't know about you but that that that itself brings something into my my spirit and says you know what thank you Lord that you're still moving can I say that I want somebody yeah I need somebody to speak into my life but at that point in time in your life it's time for you to start speaking what God's given you you know it's seasons of life it's not about take take take take there comes times when you gain and God gives and you gain and you gain and you gain and now it shifts now you give you give you give and you spend till you can't spend anymore I will say this and Pastor will agree with me but I know there's been times in his life that he stood in a Pulpit and gave till he was just like no more to give and you say God how much more and you turn around and you find yourself in his word and all of a sudden here it comes again it comes and then you go and you it's like wringing it out again but that's a part of your life and I I want you young people to listen to me gain all you can right now listen to what God is saying listen to what the pastor's saying listen to what's going on in your classrooms gang gang gang because there's coming a day that you're going to have to start giving you're going to start giving it's your turn to give your turn to give again God gives you gifts he gives you opportunities don't be afraid to use those gifts and opportunities he gave them to you and he gives you a window of opportunity to use that and if you don't use it it'll lose it you'll you'll it'll leave you or that opportunity passes on and then you live with regrets you live with those things God why didn't I do something about that God help us James the fourth chapter verse 6 uh verse 13 through 15 James 4 13. through 15 very good passage of scripture right here with somebody read that for us go ahead what is your life appearance for a little time and for that he ought to say if the Lord will we shall live and do this for them you see this is the way a lot of folks are is yeah we're gonna and you need to have plans right you need a plan but when it comes right down to it you know what Lord's willing as the old-timers say Lord's willing and the Creeks Creeks don't rise Lord's willing we're going to be there Lord willing we want to seek the will of God we need to seek the will of God God what is your will for my life I like the fact that people and and I was just talking Lauren and I was just talking about school I like the fact that we we go and we we do our education and we do those things and we've got to we've got to keep ourselves going because those windows of opportunity only expands whenever you do that right you're when you expand your knowledge guess what happens to the window your window expands and sometimes whatever you studied in school is not necessarily what you're going to do it just gives you some tools to use hello I have yet to hardly use anything in engineering oh every time I try to go to an engineering job I start in and I do a little bit of it and they say Hey you you're a good manager come here come on now I gotta deal with people I just want to death so I can I can push numbers but you get those opportunities those opportunities widen the the Opera the opportunity window widens God can use whatever you're doing but you only get that for a season Harbor you getting any younger no no anybody anybody getting any younger nope sometimes you want to cry like a baby though right no we're not time is being spent and we it's just like currency it's just like anything else you spend it wisely God help us to spend time wisely understand our times our days are numbered so number your days number sit down and go through the plan look at it say what I need to do this is where I'm at this is where I've only got just a little bit of time where do I need to go from here there's a Time for everything so manage it wisely God gives you that opportunity jump go do it because you probably won't get it again and remember what kind of day you're living in remember that seek the will of God know what God's will is for your life ask him God give me direction give me understanding I started to bring and and I they still make and pull it up but um our prayer that we pray every Sunday if they would could you put that up there I know it's on one of your slides they may not be able to but our prayer that we pray every Sunday and most of you could quote it we can all pretty much quote it we don't have to have it it's there it is a prayer that we pray and we pray it because we know that it works and we start praying this prayer things start happening be be very mindful of the time that you're given because everything in this prayer is a part of time it's a part of time it's a part of that God gives you that span of time to utilize in order for those things to happen you have to have a certain amount of time for that to happen there are things that has to take place you receive jobs and better jobs raises and bonuses that there are things that happen in order for that to happen Windows of opportunities things that we're doing in our time so God can do in his time in order for us to do it and I made this in my very first lesson is we must come in an alignment with God if you want time to be on God's time bring yourself in alignment with God and if you bring yourself in alignment with God there'll be opportunity after opportunity after opportunity that will drop into your life and as long as you are stepping through those doors of opportunity and using time wisely God's going to bless you he's going to bless you I want to want to just close out and and this this little season that we've given that God has given us but I want to close out by saying this is that no matter where you are in alignment with God and in step with God in your time that God's given you don't lose track of God's will don't lose it we get so caught up in life and opportunity comes knocking and we jump through that window of opportunity then you've got you've got to ask yourself because what did we say the very last one was remember the times that you're in there are things that can can present itself as of God it can scripture tells us to try that spirit and know try it be very prayerful about the time that God has given you is this your will God it looks like it's a good opportunity but is it your will God is it the will of God would you stand with us I want God to use us accordingly I want him to use every one of you accordingly I I want to take just just a moment for you to lift your hands but want Pastor to come back up and I want him just for for a moment uh I really feel like he could close this out for us the last four weeks we've been talking about some very important things that we need to take note of this last one being time God help me to redeem my time wisely would you lift your hands with us right now in the name of Jesus God I thank you for the time you've given me I thank you Lord for the things that you've given me the things that you've you've helped me with the things that God you are showing me help me God to understand what your will and your timing is help me to know the seasons and times that we're living in because I know that your coming is near I know that you're drawing nigh to us God help me God to understand that and know what my time is teach me God those things teach them to me God thank you Lord come on love the Lord for just a moment