Deal or No Deal: The Choice Is Yours!
It’s Not My Time, It’s His!
Last week, we began a new sermon series entitled Deal or No Deal? The Choice is Yours! And I said that for the next few weeks, I wanted to talk about making the choice to obey God and not waver from His ideal for your life in the following areas of your life: Your Time * Your Treasure * Your Temple * Your Testimony * Your Talents
Our theme verse for this series is a verse that summarizes this so clearly and profoundly:
I Corinthians 6:20 For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.
There is another verse that captures the same theme:
John 3:30 He must increase, but I must decrease.
This series is all about making a CHOICE on how to use this life of yours. And my prayer is that you make the choice to follow God’s Way – every time – and never consider an offer or temptation to compromise…which leads me to what you see on stage this morning! Deal or No Deal, the choice is yours!
And I want to talk about making the BEST CHOICE…not just an “ok” choice or a “good” choice. Jesus Himself shared this same desire when he was talking to Martha – who was doing a very honorable thing…she was cooking dinner for the Lord! But she go so burdened by the details of ministry, she forgot to take the time to pause and simply spend time with God. So, Jesus reminded her of the fact that it was indeed the BEST choice to spend time with me: Luke 10:42 But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her.
Notice three things about spending time with God:
1. “But one thing is needed” (or “necessary”)
2. “Mary has chosen that good part” (or “best” choice)
3. “Which will not be taken away from her” (ie. it will make a lasting impact)
Last week, we looked at the example of Christ – who went through a season of temptation where Satan attempted to make multiple offers for Jesus to settle for less & to quit the game and not endure to the end…and made the BEST choice!
Matthew 4 provided us with an example of how Satan played a spiritual game of “Deal or No Deal” with Jesus and tempted Him NOT to go to the cross…but to every offer, Jesus said “No Deal” to each of Satan’s offers. Jesus had stuck with HIS CHOICE – which was the Father’s choice – “I will go to the cross.” He made a choice…and He stuck to His choice! Well, today, I want to talk about OUR lives and the choices we make…and how we must chose God’s Way in five areas of our lives.
Today, we our theme is: “It’s Not My Time…It’s His!” Today, we make our one singular choice to Follow God’s Way…with our “Time.” Being good stewards of the time that God gives us!
When you hear the words, “Give God your time,” I bet your mind goes to the all-familiar – “Well, I guess I have to go to church more or get more involved in church-sponsored activities more!” But, there is so much more to giving God your time than accumulating more hours inside of a brick & mortar building.
So, today, I want to five areas as to what it means to “Give God Your Time.” These explanations are often overlooked and ignored when discussing the topic of giving your time to God, but let’s go to the scriptures to reveal them.
1. TIME WITH GOD!
How much time? All the time. Every moment of your existence. “As you Go,” you should commune with God and spend time with Him. In other words, you should have a “God-consciousness” every moment of your life. At the beginning of your day. As you live out your day. At the end of your day.
Martin Luther, the great Protestant reformer of the mid-1500’s, is attributed to responding the following way one day he was informed of his schedule of events and responsibilities on a particular day: ‘I have so much to do today that I should spend the first three hours in prayer.”
He had to accomplish so much that day that he knew he couldn’t possibly be successful unless he bathed it in prayer! Isn’t that the opposite of how we view a busy day? We often respond like, “Sorry, God, I don’t have time for you today. I’ll catch you tomorrow.”
Remember this principle: The more we do in a day, the more we must spend time with the one who will sustain us through that day!
Psalm 1:1-3 Blessed is the man, Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, Nor stands in the path of sinners, Nor sits in the seat of the scornful; 2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD, And in His law he meditates day and night. 3 He shall be like a tree, Planted by the rivers of water, That brings forth its fruit in its season, Whose leaf also shall not wither; And whatever he does shall prosper.
I Thessalonians 5:17 sums this point up in three words: Pray without ceasing.
I am not saying that you have to spend three hours on the floor in prayer every day, but AS YOU GO throughout your day, THINK about God, TALK to God, MEDITATE on his greatness.
2. Time With Family!
The proper balance: You may not have a lot of time, but your time with them should be “undivided, quality time.” Because we just finished a series entitled, “The Ultimate Ride: Transforming Your Life & Family,” I won’t belabor the points of spending time with Family.
So, I’ll approach the idea of needing to spend time with your family in a little different way today; and that is, regardless of what season of life you are in, the Bible says that you have a unique role in your family or extended family.
Notice all the occasions where the Bible acknowledges the different roles of different roles of different age groups.
Titus 2:1-8 But as for you, speak the things which are proper for sound doctrine: 2 that the older men be sober, reverent, temperate, sound in faith, in love, in patience; 3 the older women likewise, that they be reverent in behavior, not slanderers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things— 4 that they admonish the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, 5 to be discreet, chaste, homemakers, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be blasphemed.
6 Likewise, exhort the young men to be sober-minded, 7 in all things showing yourself to be a pattern of good works; in doctrine showing integrity, reverence, incorruptibility, 8 sound speech that cannot be condemned, that one who is an opponent may be ashamed, having nothing evil to say of you.
I John 5:12-14 I write to you, little children, Because your sins are forgiven you for His name’s sake.
13 I write to you, fathers, Because you have known Him who is from the beginning. I write to you, young men, Because you have overcome the wicked one. I write to you, little children,
Because you have known the Father. 14 I have written to you, fathers, Because you have known Him who is from the beginning. I have written to you, young men, Because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, And you have overcome the wicked one.
These verses say this: Grandparents, you should be on the ready to train up the younger parents.
Parents, you should be on the ready to train up a child. Single individuals, you should use your time and talents to point us to God as you have skills and a vibrant passion to pursue God. Teenagers, while you have the energy and a brilliant mind, you should use that to encourage all of us to be excited about serving God!
The point is in your particular season of life, you need to take the time to minister to your family in the unique way God has equipped you to do so!
As a pastor, my heart grieves at the amount of families that are breaking up and being torn apart by sin. WE need to make sure that from grandparents, great-grandparents on down, we are doing all we can and spending the time to strengthen our families!
3. Time With Others!
How much time should I focus on “Others?” Every time the opportunity arises.
This word is seen in I Peter 3:15 - 15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear.
This point is further supported by II Timothy 4:2 Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching.
Meaning, be ready “when it is an opportune time…and when it is not an opportune time.” Or, in other words, “any time” I am not going to tell you something you don’t already know, but maybe you haven’t really thought about this. And that is, when you take time for others, usually it does NOT coincide with your schedule nor are the opportunities predictable. They are often spontaneous situations that call for us to be on the ready.
Time for “Others” requires a level of flexibility and commitment. And the Bible requires that we make sure we are always postured to help others. We are the body of Christ, a family, and we must be willing and ready to help each other.
4. Time For Church!
How much time? So much as to support and strengthen you in your other weekly activities.
Meaning, the church is one large, God-ordained, support system to support your spiritual life, at times your physical life, and even your social life! To make it a priority to schedule church-related encounters first – and schedule other events around church – it will give you clarity as to how to schedule various other activities. In other words, we need to give God your “Schedule.”
Spending time with fellow believers, worshiping together, conversing about spiritual things can really “refuel” you and energize you to make it through your week! But, giving God your time at church does not just mean to attend. The goal is to eventually serve.
I understand if you are here as our guest this morning. We’re glad you’re here. But let me tell you, my friend, where your spiritual journey will take you if you continue to fellowship with us here at TRBC:
1. You learn from God’s Word more and more about God’s love for you.
2. Then I pray the day will come where you will give your entire heart and life to Christ – you get saved.
3. THEN, you fall in love with seeing others come to the same saving knowledge of Jesus Christ…and you desire to do whatever you can to make that happen…and you start serving in the church!
On July 1, 2007, I presented the vision is where God wants us to go as a church. And I said that “our passion, with God’s power, is what will make them happen!” Well, let me just tell you, my friend, that none of these goals will be accomplished through you if you don’t take the time to fellowship and partner with this church! Let me briefly share that vision with you again.
1) We have a dream of seeing 5000 local salvation decisions as a result of this local church!
2) We have a dream of seeing the attendance of this church double in the next 5 years!
3) We have a dream of adding 5000 additional people in our Sunday School programs!
4) We have a dream of baptizing 500 each year from now on!
5) We have a dream, in partnership with Liberty’s School of Religion and Liberty Seminary of planting 500 churches in the next five years!
6) We have a dream of sending 500 missionaries in the next five years!
7) We have a dream of sending 500 of our church members on various short term mission trips!
8) We have a dream of having 5000 of our members, of you, involved as lay ministers. Meeting the needs of our members, meeting the needs of our community, feeding the hungry, providing shelter to the homeless, helping the less fortunate, and letting the world see Christ within us!
This is a God-sized vision, God-sized dreams. AND GOD SIZED DREAMS ALWAYS TAKES GOD SIZED FAITH WHICH ALWAYS PRODUCES GOD SIZED MIRACLES!
But if you won’t take the time to join together as a church, I promise you that you will regret being able to look back and tell your children and grandchildren –“I was right there in the middle of what God did at TRBC in 2008!” Because, my friend, God is doing something here…I can’t explain it…it is at times difficult to describe…but God message is reaching millions and saving thousands and healing hundreds of people! And I don’t want you to miss out on one moment of God’s hand so evidently moving in this place! The church is a worthy recipient of your time.
5. Time For Self!
How much time should I focus on “Self?” Time enough to maintain a balanced life of body/soul/spirit…but not too much time so as to forfeit these other priorities.
The bible speaks often of how even our Lord “retreated from the crowd’ to refresh and regroup with His disciples. A balance is needed. BUT, there is one area of your “Self” that the Bible often says NOT to spend a lot of time on…your past. Because it often leads to needless anxiety, burdens, and doubt. So, rather than dwelling on your sinful past, the Bible calls on you not to always dwell on it:
Philippians 3:12-14 Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. 13 Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, 14 I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
God wants you to focus on HIM…not your past time! Satan is the only one who would you prefer you that you focus on your past, because the more you do, the more it stops your forward progress spiritually!
“But what if you have wasted so much time in your life…when you could have been living for God?”
I want to share with you a remarkable verse. I say remarkable because it offers a hope and a promise that no one else can offer to someone who claims they have “wasted their time.”
Ephesians 5:15-16 See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, 16 redeeming the time, because the days are evil.
There are two words that are vitally important to understanding this fantastic promise of hope:
1. “time” = Chairos (ki-ross) which means “Time Periods/Seasons (of life)”
2. “redeeming” = Agorazo” (ah-gor-ROD-zo) “to buy back”
In other words, God allows you to “buy back your life” or “buy back your life!!!” Meaning, the past isn’t important, only our future with Him really matters!
How can you be given the opportunity to buy back your past, to walk purely again before Him??
Because through belief, confession, repentance, and a sincere desire to live for Him…
God forgives you…THEN, does the unthinkable – the impossible –He allows you to “redeem” your time!
Meaning, He gives you another chance! He doesn’t erase the past, but He changes the meaning of it! Meaning, he allows you to look at the past not as a curse but as a motivation to follow Him and pursue righteousness more today…because He’s given you another chance to redeem the time!
This is the very picture of one of our theme verses: I Corinthians 6:19-20 Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? 20 For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.
And do you want to guess as to what the Greek word is for the word “bought” is in this verse? Yep. The same root word as the word as in Eph.5 – “to be bought out of the marketplace of sin” by God!
Why give Him our time? Why be good stewards of the time we have? Why would I want to give God all this TIME? ANSWER: Because we are running out of time. We should give Him our time, because we can see that the world is getting worse and worse – just like this verse describes…and time is running short! We are running out of time!
II Timothy 3:1-5
1 But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: 2 For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3 unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, 4 traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away!
And in return, we spend our lives giving back in return for all He has given to us!
…Our Time.
If you have never really accepted Jesus as your personal Savior, would you do it right now? Do not delay or put it off. If you would like to receive Christ by faith, pray this simple prayer in your heart:
Dear Lord, I acknowledge that I am a sinner. I believe Jesus died for my sins on the cross, and rose again the third day. I repent of my sins. By faith I receive the Lord Jesus as my Savior. You promised to save me, and I believe You, because You are God and cannot lie. I believe right now that the Lord Jesus is my personal Savior, and that all my sins are forgiven through His precious blood. I thank You, dear Lord, for saving me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
If you prayed that prayer, God heard you and saved you. I personally want to welcome you to the family of God and rejoice with you.
