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Big Apple Chapel is a New Testament based church in New York City, modeled after the pattern of the early church, with a strong emphasis on following Christ as a community of His disciples.

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  • Sunday - 10:30 am
  • 520 8th Ave, 16th floor
    New York, NY
  • phone: +1 (973) 837-1041
 

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Faithfulness with our Time

2008-09-07

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Or what shall a man give/get in exchange for his soul? Mk 8:37

I. Our Time Isn’t Our Own

1Cor 6:19 …you are not your own 20  For you are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.  (See Pt 1: Semper Fi…Always Faithful  8/98)

II. We Have All The Time There Is And Will Have To Give An Account

For Faithfully Using It According To God’s Purposes

A. God works on a timetable  Jn 7:6  Then Jesus said: My time is not yet come: but your time is always ready. Mk 1:15 Gal 4:4



B.  God has a timetable for us   Acts 17:31 appointed a day, in which he will judge the world in righteousness…

Lk 19:44  and level you…to the ground; and they will not leave in you one stone upon another, because you did not know the time of your visitation.

Lk 21:34 take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down w/ carousing, drunkenness, & cares of this life, that Day come on you unexpectedly

Rm 13:11 do this, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we believed.


C. Sometimes we don’t get a second chance  Lk 12:40  Be you therefore ready also: for the Son of man comes at an hour when you think not.

Js 4:14  you know not what shall be tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor, that appears for a little time, and then vanishes away.

Ecc 9:10  Whatever your hand finds to do, do  with your might; for [there is] no work or device or knowledge or wisdom in the grave where you are going.1Pt 1:17 since you call on the Father, who without partiality judges according to each one’s work, conduct yourselves during your sojourning here in fear

1Pt 4:17… judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?

 

III. Make Most Of Time By Walking In Wisdom

Col 4:5 Walk in wisdom toward those who are outside, redeeming the time. Eph 5:15 See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, 16  redeeming the time, because the days are evil. 17 Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is.

 

A. Number Days & Apply Heart to Wisdom  [Pick right objectives and right means of attaining those objectives]

Ps 90:9…we spend our years as a tale that is told 10 The days of our years are 70;  if by reason of strength 80, yet is their strength TOYL and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away. 11Who knows the power of Your anger? For as the fear of You, so is Your wrath. 12 So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts to wisdom. (or present a heart {decision making} of wisdom)

Dt 32:29  O that they were wise, that they understood this, that they would consider their latter end!  Ps 39:6 they busy themselves in vain…

 

B. Priorities (God’s will) Need To Be Determined By Prayer Mark 1:35

 

C. Our Objectives-Not People Should Control Our Time  Ac 18:20 When they asked him to stay a longer time with them, he did not consent  

Jn 9:4  I must work the works of Him that sent me, while it is day: the night comes, when no man can work.

 

IV. Don’t Spend, Kill Or Waste Time, But Rather Invest It In

Life Purpose & Plan; Objectives; Goals, Priorities  (God {spiritual growth}, spouse, children, ministry {relationships}), work {personal growth}, leisure/recreation). Life is designed to make us dependent upon God, deepen our relationship with God, develop our capacity to minister to others and glorify God, and delight us in eternity.

 

- Ac 17:21 all the Athenians and strangers which were there spent their time in nothing else, but either to tell, or to hear some new thing

- 1Pt 4:2 that he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh for the lusts of men, but for the will of God. 3  For we have spent enough of our past lifetime in doing the will of the Gentiles--when we walked in lewdness, lusts, drunkenness, revelries, drinking parties, and abominable idolatries.

-  Jude 1:18 How that they told you there should be mockers in the last time, who should walk after their own ungodly lusts/desires

 

+ Ministry 1Tim 6:19 Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.

+ Growth Heb 5:12 For by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles...

+ Reward Rm 8:18 I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us

 

V. Manage The Minutes And The Years Will Take Care Of Themselves

No goals = no Lordship; ¼ goals = no review; ½ goals = no sacrifice; 7/8 goals = no fun ; All goals = no challenge

 

Questions for Reflection/Discussion/Response:

  1. What are some of the biggest misuses of time? How can we eliminate these from our lives? How can you save time?
  2. If we always have all the time we need to do God’s will, how can we possibly run out of time? 2Cor 9:8
  3. Does God hold us accountable for results or the use of our time?
  4. Would having more time help you be more faithful in its use? Have you ever considered tithing your time as a sign of God’s ownership?
  5. For what will you exchange the 604,800 moments God will give you this week? (223,200 completely discretionary)