Redeeming the Time

by Alan Feaster

Text: Ephesians 5:1-21

Definition of redeemed Vines Pertaining to Salvation: λυτρόω lytroō

• "to release on receipt of ransom" (akin to lutron, "a ransom"), is used in the Middle Voice, signifying "to release by paying a ransom price, to redeem"
• (Deuteronomy 15:15; 24:18) God Redeemed Israel.
• (Titus 2:14; I Peter 1:17-19) Christ has redeemed us out of the slavery of sin

How serious is Time Management in God's View?

Definition of redeemed Vines: Pertaining to our borrowed time on earth: έξαγοράζω exagorazō
in the Middle Voice, "to buy up for oneself," Ephesians 5:16 and Colossians 4:5, of "buying up the opportunity" (RV marg.; text, "redeeming the time," where "time" is kairos, "a season," a time in which something is seasonable), i.e., making the most of every opportunity, turning each to the best advantage since none can be recalled if missed.

• Examples in Matthew 24:36-25:46
  • Dividing true believers from, fake followers – below are the conditions set for how that will happen

• • Parable of Servants (Faithful vs Lazy and wicked revels in sin) Matthew 24:45-51

• • Parable of the Virgins (Prepared Virgins vs tried to do enough to just get by) Matthew 25:1-13

• • Parable Talents - Profitable Servant vs the Servant who is lazy, unfaithful causes loss (Matthew 25:14-29) *A talent was worth about fifteen year's wages of a laborer

• • Judgment Day - Sheep who were faithful vs40 "you did it to one of these" vs Goats who did nothing but live for themselves vs45 "you did not do it" (Matthew 25:31-46)

•  Redeem the time we have been given
  • (Ephesians 5:16; Colossians 4:5-6)
  • What God tells us is a salvation issue if we redeem the time or not.

• Time Sheets
  • Entertainment
  • Work: At home or in the office
  • Family Time: (this does not include TV time or video games)
  • Making Meals: (Breakfast, lunch, and dinner)
  • Personal Bible Time:
  • Teaching Family the Bible
  • Sleeping:

• MARK DOWN HOW MANY HOURS YOU SPEND IN EACH CATEGORY PER DAY
• MARK WORLDLY OR GODLY INFLUENCE.
• MARK WHAT WORLDLY INFLUENCE WE CAN FORFEIT TO HAVE MORE GODLY INFLUENCE IN OUR LIVES

Total Hours:
Where are your priorities? Because it is easy to make excuses and be overran take the easy way out when you have had a hard week, month, or year(s).

We are looking for an approved Life from God

• If you do God's will life will be bearable if not enjoyable knowing God has approved of your works. (Ecclesiastes 9:7-11)

• Our Attitude Time Management & Where our focus should be!
  • Spiritual exercise (I Timothy 4:6-10) Where our hope is fixed.
    • Nourished, discipline, purpose godliness, promise for the present life and for the life to come
    • labor and strive, fixed our hope
    • It is a trustworthy statement deserving full acceptance.
    • Have you fully accepted this statement into your life?

God's Yoke Gives us rest.

• (Matthew 11:29-30; Lamentations 3:27) God's Yoke will restore you, Worlds will not.
• End of your life, are you worthy (Ephesians 4:1, Revelation 3:4) Of God's blessing?

Which of the two Widows are you?
(I Timothy 5:13) Lazy Widows - Why they are not redeeming the time.
(I Timothy 5:9-10) Wise Widows – Redeemed their time on earth.
Which will you be, when you meet God?