My Days Are Limited

My Days Are Limited

September 18, 2011 Morning Service

Immanuel Baptist Church, Wagoner, OK

Rick Boyne

Message Point: We must not waste our time on things that don’t matter, but invest our time in eternal things.

Focus Passage: Ephesians 5:13-17

Supplemental Passage: So teach us to number our days, That we may present to You a heart of wisdom. (Psalms 90:12)

Introduction: “My Days Are Limited” - I found that handwritten in the front of Bro Gerald Smith’s Bible on Tuesday at the VA Center in Claremore. He passed away early Friday morning. It wasn’t his motto nor his creed. It was a reminder that, despite having lived more than 90 years, we don’t live forever. It was a reminder that there were important things that he needed to do. It was a reminder that there were urgent matters to be accomplished that shouldn’t wait to a time more convenient. It was a reminder that one day, his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, would send the angels to gather him to be with Jesus forever – but until that happens, his days on earth to accomplish the things he needs to do, were limited.

I. Wake Up!

a. First meaning: be saved!

i. Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life. (Romans 6:4 NASB)

b. Second meaning: be on the alert!

i. so then let us not sleep as others do, but let us be alert and sober. (1 Thessalonians 5:6 NASB)

ii. Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. (1 Peter 5:8 NASB)

II. Be Careful!

a. Walk as wise men

i. Doing wickedness is like sport to a fool, And so is wisdom to a man of understanding. (Proverbs 10:23 NASB)

b. make the most of your time

i. Conduct yourselves with wisdom toward outsiders, making the most of the opportunity. Let your speech always be with grace, as though seasoned with salt, so that you will know how you should respond to each person. (Colossians 4:5-6)

c. the days are evil

i. But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come. For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good, treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, (2 Timothy 3:1-4 NASB)

III. Understand!

a. do not be foolish

i. "... You have acted foolishly in this. Indeed, from now on you will surely have wars." (2 Chronicles 16:9b NASB)

b. understand God’s will

i. This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. (1 Timothy 2:3-4 NASB)

Invitation: