What would Jesus Do” Sermon Series
Time management and Time spent
Selected verses
Introduction-
Last week we began a Series called “What would Jesus do.”
How would Jesus act concerning the things you go through in life?
How did Jesus allow God the Father to disciple Him?
How did Jesus allow more of God the Father into His life?
Last week we looked at compassion.
Compassion is a warning- Jesus used words like Beware, watch out, Take heed, listen.
Compassion is caring- compassion is action you take for someone else.
Compassion is personal- I cannot teach you compassion. It has to come from the heart and God.
This morning, I want to talk about time- Time management and time we spend with God and others.
Here’s why it is important.
We are only here for a certain amount of time.
Each one of us has a given certain amount of time on this earth.
Each one of us has a purpose and that purpose is to be fulfilled in that time.
The world and all its blessings and curses takes time away from us.
What time we spend eternally is the time that will be rewarded by God the Father.
Our memory verses/ Need to hear them again.
Isaiah 43:19-
“See, I am doing a new thing. Now it springs up, do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness.”
Jeremiah 29:11-
“ For I know the plans that I have you declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
Keeping in mind that God wants to do a new thing in your life.
You have purpose with God and He is your hope and your future.
It only makes sense that time management and time we spend with others is really important with God.
Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 Text
Breakdown the verses into a picture of time and what we are to accomplish in that time period.
Time is important to us and to God.
Time on earth has a beginning and an end.
Eternity is forever-either with God forever or by our choice separated from God forever.
God created time- before God created man, there was no need for time because etermity has no boundaries and is not llimited.
What would Jesus do concerning our time?
Who did Jesus spend His time with?
We know the familiar story of Jesus and the women caught in adultery.
There were all her accusers with stones ready to throw and they asked Jesus what he thought ought to be done-
John 8:6-8-
“They were using this question as a trap, in order to have a basis for accusing him. But Jesus bent down and started to write on the ground with his finger. When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, Let anyone of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.”
I wonder what Jesus wrote on the ground- it is not recorded. Maybe… you are all sinners!
There were men in the crowd who were with “that women.”
To stone someone to death, the law says that there has to be two witnesses. It is pretty hard to have two witnesses catch here in the act and not be participating in the sin.
If she caught in the act, where was the man? She was not by herself.
There was “good temple people” who had no compassion for others or forgot where God had brought them from.
Jesus had no problem sitting and eating with sinners. He had more problems sitting with those that did not think they sinned and made themselves to be better than they were.
I think long-time Christians forget where God brought them from.
I think we forget that we are not perfect.
We are not any better except we are saved by His grace and mercy.
We forget that mercy and grace needs to be given out to be received by sinners just like us.
After a while, we don’t hang with people that are not just like us, we separate ourselves. Not on purpose, but because it is easy.
Jesus spent time with sinners- He offered a better way to live and respond to God’s goodness.
How much time is enough?
That is going to be different for each one of us. It will be determined by where God has placed you and who He has placed in your path. I know this-
He ate with sinners
He socialized with sinners
He had compassion and helped sinners.
He shared his testimony with sinners.
He invited them to his place of worship. If they did not have a way, he brought them.
That will take some of your time- no that will take a lot of your time. But if you are doing kingdom work, it will be work that will have eternal blessings.
Jesus invested his time in people
Things are good and there is nothing wrong with things if they are used in the correct way.
Jesus never invested in things, He used things and invested in people.
How much time is enough? Only you and God can correctly answer that. For some, a few hours will be enough, other s more. For some, He may be asking you for a job change and call you into full time ministry. Others, you may have to pass on a promotion because you know right where God has you is where you need to be. Only you can answer that question… I do not have that for you God does.
I know as Christians, we are called to be investing in His kingdom and finding out where that is for each one of us. All of us who profess Christ have that responsibility.
What were his priorities and how did he set them?
What Would Jesus Do? Let's Make the Question Relevant!
Before asking, "What Would Jesus Do?" we must truly ask, "Who is Jesus?" Is Jesus merely a historical figure -- a good man, a teacher, or a prophet? Or is He God incarnate who came to earth about 2,000 years ago to die for the sins of all mankind?
Jesus Himself asked His disciples this very same question. Why? Because He knew that what they believed about Him would have a significant bearing on how they would live their lives for Him (see Matthew 16:13-17).
Likewise, if we believe Jesus for who He claims to be (God incarnate -- John 1:1-3) and for what He did on Earth (died for our sins -- John 3:16), then we can truly accept Him as our Lord and Savior. He will then come into our life and reveal Himself to us in Spirit, allowing us to genuinely ask the question "What would Jesus do?"
"What would Jesus do?" is an irrelevant question for many people because they don't know who Jesus is.
"What would Jesus do?" is powerful and life-changing only for those who truly know Jesus and have surrendered their lives to Him.
Illustration-
I heard Tim Tebow being interviewed and it has stuck in my mind. He was then the starting quarterback for the Florida Gators and he watched as players put the black smear under their eyes for better vision inscribe names of their girlfriends and mother, and Tim thought what can I put under my eyes. He felt God told him to put Phil 4:13 under his eyes. That verse says” I can do all things in Christ who gives me strength.” They were in a stadium and a man named Phil thought that he did it for him- no, it is a scripture verse dear to me. They were winning games and one night Tim thought to change the verse under his eyes. His coach at the time, was superstitious and Tim knew that he would be upset that he changed the verse so he went to talk to him. After discussion, he had the coaches blessing and he changed the verse. He went with John 3:16. John 3:16 under his eyes for the National Championship Game. They won the game and Tim Tebow was told later that 94 million hits on Google was for John 3:16.
Let’s think about this-
94 Million people Googled John 3:16 after the game.
325 Million People live in USA and 1/3 of a supposed Christian Nation has to Google John 3:16 to find out what it means?
What would Jesus do? Tim Tebow decided that He would bring honor and glory to God by sharing a Scripture.
What did it reveal? That we have a long way to go and that we can take nothing for granted.
What would Jesus do?
If we do not know what Jesus did, we cannot answer that question. If we do not know what Jesus did in His life, we cannot possible know what Jesus would do in our lives.
Here are some things Jesus did with His time when He needed to know what to do
He sought God the Father
Jesus demonstrated intimacy with God by seeking him continually in prayer.
Forty-five times the gospels tell us that Jesus went alone to pray.
Every aspect of his life and ministry was saturated with prayer.
He might sleep less or work less, but he would find time to pray.
He embraced sinners
Jesus demonstrated the love of God by accepting the castaways of society.
This provoked great disdain from the religious establishment.
Jesus was not afraid to embracing the sinful and sickly, the unseemly and unimportant.
He helped build broken lives
By the power of God's Holy Spirit, Jesus provided for people's physical and financial needs (Matt. 14:14-21-21, 17:27).
He cast out demons (Luke 4:36)
Healed broken bodies (Luke 5:17)
Raised the dead (John 11:1-44)
Forgave the sins of the guilty (Matt. 9:6). Jesus proved that God's power is sufficient to meet every need.
Scriptures promise us that the same power works in and through our lives today (Phil. 2:13).
I am not a miracle worker. But I do know miracles still happen.
Jesus operated on the assumption that we have a wonder-working God who delights in restoring lives that seem irrevocably shattered.
Jesus saw the people around him as miracles waiting to happen.
He addressed hypocrisy
Jesus demonstrated the heart of God by standing against lifeless religion.
Jesus died because He knew religion never saved anyone.
Jesus rebuked religious people who buried the heart of God in their manmade traditions.
He cleansed the temple because people were using God's house for sinning.
You don’t have to wear a tie or suit to get God attention. I like wearing a tie- I wear a tie. When I don’t I don’t. you might think I don’t know how I want ot dress but I want everyone to know that how you dress is not what is going to impress God. It is coming into His house with a heart for god or at least being honest and seeking Him.
He taught God's Word
Whether addressing crowds or one person, Jesus took advantage of every teachable moment.
He was always helping people discover his Father.
He lived it and spoke God’s Word. John 1:14
Many of us do not consider ourselves teachers. If we don't stand in a pulpit on Sunday or lead a study during the week;
We may be tempted to think this aspect of Jesus' life doesn't apply to us.
Jesus taught when he conversed one on one with Nicodemus and when he preached to thousands of people. His life shows us the grace and mercy of God.
Teaching simply requires being so filled with God's Word that it naturally overflows from our lives into the lives of those around us.
He served
At the last supper, he put on a towel and washed his disciples' feet (John 13:2-17). The Son of the Living god did that! He served! He was about His Father’s business and business was good!
Sometimes we feel so busy that we don't have time for people.
But God's work is people!
His business is helping people.
His business is praying with a child for her sick cat.
Reading the Bible with a new Christian.
His business is pushing a stalled car.
Taking a late night call from a struggling friend.
7. He equipped leaders
Finally, Jesus demonstrated God's character by equipping leaders who continued his mission and changed the world after his departure.
He refused to let the ministry pressures of today stop him from identifying and investing in the leaders of tomorrow (Matt. 10:1-4).
Close,
What would Jesus do?
You have to know what He already did, so you can know what Jesus would do in your life and your situation.
How would Jesus use His time? He used it productive for the kingdom of God and He used it wisely by spending time with God the Father. He valued time with family and friends
We all need down time- we cannot go 24/7 at anything we are doing. I am saying that God has something for everyone of us to do to reach this community that so desperately needs Jesus.
If we truly believe that there is a Heaven and a Hell, then our work for the kingdom is never done. We are all ministers of the gospel and we are all able to share our testimony with people as God gives the opportunity.
So what would Jesus do? He would seek the Father for the strength and wisdom to embrace, restore, confront, teach, serve, and equip the people around him.
These seven priorities should drive us back to the gospels to take a fresh look at how Jesus lived. The fad phase of WWJD may be over, but we need to hold on to those bracelets and keep asking ourselves—What would Jesus do? It's a great question. But remember: If you're not sure what Jesus actually did in his life, then you're just guessing at what he might do in yours.
