2.10.2008
"Watching Time"
Being Good Stewards of our Time
by William Akehurst, HSWC
Key Scriptures:
Mark 14:32-38
Deut. 26:2
Ephesians 5:15-17
Colossians 4:5a
James 4:14
Romans 13:10-12
Revelations 22:7-10
As a guideline, a tithe is 10% of our treasures, talents and even our time. With 24 hours in a day, the first fruits of our time should be presented unto the LORD. What are you doing 2.4 hours each day? Are you giving back to the LORD?
As we prepare for Easter, Easter is not that far away
Last week, we looked at faith and remembrance, with our communion service.
The Hour is come.
Today, we will be in that garden of Gethsemane.
Jesus went there with his disciples to spend his last moments before being handed over.
In that garden, Jesus went to pray. And he asked his disciples to pray with him.
Can you not tarry but one hour, He said.
That is my question today.
In a world that is so busy. We have so many things to do in a day...
That telephone call, that show on the radio or TV. We have everything else to do today.
But I want to look at something this day.
Mark 14:32-38
32 And they came to a place which was named Gethsemane: and he saith to his disciples, Sit ye here, while I shall pray.
33 And he taketh with him Peter and James and John, and began to be sore amazed, and to be very heavy;
34 And saith unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful unto death: tarry ye here, and watch.
35 And he went forward a little, and fell on the ground, and prayed that, if it were possible, the hour might pass from him.
36 And he said, Abba, Father, all things are possible unto thee; take away this cup from me: nevertheless not what I will, but what thou wilt.
37 And he cometh, and findeth them sleeping, and saith unto Peter, Simon, sleepest thou? couldest not thou watch one hour?
38 Watch ye and pray, lest ye enter into temptation. The spirit truly is ready, but the flesh is weak.
The disciples were rebuked for not staying awake. Can you not watch with me one hour?
We must guard ourselves, by praying, and keeping to the WORD of GOD, to keep us from falling into temptation
Ephesians 5:15-17
15 See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, 16 Redeeming the time, because the days are evil. 17 Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.
We must walk cautiously, warily, viligantly, with awareness, AS WISE. To Redeem time during an evil day. By understanding the will of God for our lives.
Colossians 4:5a Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time... Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.
Walk in the wisdom and the knowledge of the LORD. In His precepts. Life everlasting. Walk in this wisdom and show them who are without this knowledge. Redeeming our time, and theirs. For the Lord.
We were made for one thing. To Glorify the LORD.
James 4:14 Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor, that appears for a little time, and then vanishes away.
And we don’t have time to fool around. Life is short. We must be prepared. We must be equipped. We must let life pass by as if we were asleep!
Romans 13:10-12
10Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.
11And 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.
12The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light.
The time is now. The time is at hand. SALVATION, Jesus is NOW. Let us put on the armor of light. Let us equip ourselves with Christ.
HOW?
Keeping the sayings of God’s Word. Doing what it says. Keeping right with God by getting into His Word and Consuming it. Taking it in as food. Food for the soul.
But more so. 2 words. Worship God.
The time is now. Don’t keep yourselves from God’s word, Open the Book and let it flow through you.
Revelation 22:7-10
7Behold, I come quickly: blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book. 8And I John saw these things, and heard them. And when I had heard and seen, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel which shewed me these things. 9Then saith he unto me, See thou do it not: for I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren the prophets, and of them which keep the sayings of this book: worship God. 10 And he saith unto me, Seal not the sayings of the prophecy of this book: for the time is at hand.
The bible talks about tithing. Giving of your first fruits as it says in Deuteronomy. Tithing is numerically shown as 1/10th of the fruits of our labor. And it is to be given back to the one who gave it to us…God.
Deuteronomy 26:2 That thou shalt take of the first of all the fruit of the earth, which thou shalt bring of thy land that the LORD thy God giveth thee, and shalt put it in a basket, and shalt go unto the place which the LORD thy God shall choose to place his name there.
So, If we are to give back to the Lord of our first fruits, which he has given us, in the first place. What are some of the first fruits.
The one I am referring to today, is the first fruit of our time.
That said. It caused me to think about tithing of our first fruits. But moreso, it caused me to think about the very thing that God gives me each day, when I open my eyes. He has given me life.
So, if we are to tithe of our first fruits, the very first thing He gave to us was not just life, but TIME.
Stay with me here.
So, if we are given life, we are given time. And if we are to give back to the Lord that which he gave to us. Shouldn’t we give back to him our time?
And if, mathematically speaking, we are to give back to Him, at minimum, 1/10th of our time. I have to ask this question…How much time are we giving Him?
We should give our all to Him, right?
But mathematically speaking, we must give back to Him the first 1/10th of our day.
Stay with me here.
So if we give back to him 1/10th of our day, how much time should we give back to the LORD, minimally speaking.
Well, Bill, I sleep for 8 hours, so that leaves 16 hours times 1/10th equals 1.6 hours right?
God wants us to give back to him of our first fruits. Not what is left over. He wants us to give him our time.
So, if there are 24 hours in a day and night. Wouldn’t that be 2.4 hours a day.
How much time have you spent with the Lord?
How much of your day have you given back to God, which He has first given to you.
Interesting isn’t it. Makes us think.
How many of you like to read?
I like the readers digest. Guidepost magazine, and a handful of others. I also read articles from trade magazines.
I remember in school having to read a bunch of books and then to do a book report on what I read. As time went on, I learned of Cliffe notes and the sort.
I do remember reading Star wars, cover to cover. I couldn’t put the book down. I read the whole thing in a weekend.
And many other books of that nature.
But let me get back to the issue at hand here.
Let me ask you another question…
If we are to keep the sayings of the bible, God’s Word, as it says in Revelations. Then I have to ask you this question.
How many of you have even read the book? From Cover to Cover?
Ahhhh. Now we are on to something.
Beginning this month, I had heard on the radio of a plan to read the bible in 90 days.
I have the schedule in the back. And I would like you to join with me in reading the bible in 90 days.
The bible is broken down to reading in 90 days. And it takes about 30 minutes a day to read what is scheduled.
Won’t you join with me in giving back to the LORD some of our time this next 3 months.
I CHALLENGE YOU TO STUDY AND READ WITH ME EACH DAY ACCORDING TO THE SCHEDULE.
Would you join with me by starting today, the 10th of February to finish on the 10th of May. I believe that’s Mothers day?
* * * * *
My Sermon NOTES from the word…
Mark 14:32-38
Vs 34:Tarry ye here, and watch
Vs 37: Are you sleeping? Could you not watch one hour?
Vs 38: Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation
32And they came to a place which was named Gethsemane: and he saith to his disciples, Sit ye here, while I shall pray.
33And he taketh with him Peter and James and John, and began to be sore amazed, and to be very heavy;
34And saith unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful unto death: tarry ye here, and watch.
35And he went forward a little, and fell on the ground, and prayed that, if it were possible, the hour might pass from him.
36And he said, Abba, Father, all things are possible unto thee; take away this cup from me: nevertheless not what I will, but what thou wilt.
37And he cometh, and findeth them sleeping, and saith unto Peter, Simon, sleepest thou? couldest not thou watch one hour?
38Watch ye and pray, lest ye enter into temptation. The spirit truly is ready, but the flesh is weak.
Deut 26:2 The first fruits
That thou shalt take of the first of all the fruit of the earth, which thou shalt bring of thy land that the LORD thy God giveth thee, and shalt put it in a basket, and shalt go unto the place which the LORD thy God shall choose to place his name there.
Ephesians 5.15-17 Walk carefully, wisely, redeeming your time during this evil day
EPH 5:15 See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, EPH 5:16 Redeeming the time, because the days are evil. EPH 5:17 Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.
Colossians 4:5 Walk in wisdom to those who don’t understand. Help them redeem their time as well as your own.
Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time. Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.
Romans 13:10-12 It’s time to WAKE UP. Salvation and Christ’s return is nearer now more than ever before.
10Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.
11And 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.
12The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light.
Revelation 22:7-10 #1. Woship God. Don’t worship angels or saints or prophets. Worship only GOD alone. #2 Keep the word alive in your hearts. #3 Don’t hide it but rather open the word and let get it in you. #4 Do it NOW, the time is at hand.
7Behold, I come quickly: blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book.
8And I John saw these things, and heard them. And when I had heard and seen, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel which shewed me these things.
9Then saith he unto me, See thou do it not: for I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren the prophets, and of them which keep the sayings of this book: worship God.
10And he saith unto me, Seal not the sayings of the prophecy of this book: for the time is at hand.
