Freedom House Church and Healing Centre

Let’s start with what the word of God says about redeeming the time.

Walk in wisdom toward those who are outside, redeeming the time. (Col 4:5 NKJV)

See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil.  Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is.  And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit, (Eph 5:15-18 NKJV)

In these scriptures the apostle Paul advocates “redeeming” or buying back every precious wasted minute.  He understood that God has made us stewards over our most irreplaceable possession-time.  We are to be good stewards of our time, using it wisely, constructively, and in the worship and service of the Lord.  We are to walk cautiously, sensitively, as a person would walk through thorny terrain, capitalizing on every appropriate opportunity.  

Time (Kairos) in these scriptures means opportune time, set time, appointed time, due time, definitive time, seasonable time, proper time for action.  Kairos describes kind, or quality, of time.

To accomplish this, we need to be continually be filled with Holy Spirit so that we will live wisely and understand what the will of the Lord is.

Throughout scripture, God condemns idleness:

• Laziness casts one into a deep sleep, an idle person will suffer hunger. (Pro 19:15 NKJV)
• For even when we were with you, we commanded you this: If anyone will not work, neither shall he eat. (2 Thess 3:10 NKJV)
• In Pro 31:27, the virtuous woman is described as a busy woman, who “does not eat the bread of idleness”.

She watches over the ways of her household, And does not eat the bread of idleness. (Pro 31:27)

• The wise king declares in Eccl 10:18 that the man who does not take time to work in general maintenance will find his house crumbling around him.

Because of laziness the building decays, And through idleness of hands the house leaks. (Eccl 10:18 NKJV)

• Jesus in His parable of the laborers in the vineyard illustrated that God wants our time to be spent in some worthy endeavor, specifically working in His vineyard.  He also rebukes the spirit of serving for the reward itself rather than out of love. (Mt 20:1-16)

We all need to ask ourselves, “How do I spend my time?”  “Do I waste time?”  “Am I idle?”  “Do I spend my time fulfilling the desires of my flesh, doing my own thing? Or, “Do I spend my time in worship and service of the Lord?”

For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. (Gal 5:13 NKJV)

I have recently resigned from the College of Physicians & Surgeons and am now released to be available to do whatever God would have me do.  God has impressed upon my heart to take time to pray and ask Him how He would like me to spend the gift of time He has given me.  I do not want to be busy.  I want to be about my Father’s business.  I need Holy Spirit’s wisdom and discernment so that I can be a good steward of the time God has given me desiring to worship and serve Him.  What has helped me is to know the calling God has on my life; His vision He has given to me personally.  Also, I am part of a local Church and am committed to being part of what God is doing to fulfill the vision and mission He has given to us.  This helps me to know what to say yes to and what to say no to and therefore be a better steward of time.

If you find yourself convicted by reading these scriptures realizing that you have been idle, repent and receive forgiveness with joy.  Pray and ask Holy Spirit to guide you in the decisions you make regarding how you spend your time.  Desire to worship and serve the Lord.  Desire to be about your Father’s business.  Desire to obey what Jesus has commissioned His Church to do in Mt 28:19-20 and Mark 16:15-18.

Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen. (Mt 28:19-20 NKJV)

And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.” (Mk 16:15-18)

*teaching from the New Spirit Filled Life Bible

“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches...” Rev 2:7