Sermon Notes

12/31/06

Pastor Dennis Smith

Belfair A-G

“We Have Time”

[Words in brackets are my own added thoughts]

“I was not in safety, neither had I rest, neither was I quiet; yet trouble came.” Job 3:26

We are stretched to the limit; chronically rushed and exhausted.

We don’t need MORE time, we need to properly manage [prioritize] our time.

I.  Is God pleased with how you spent, used and managed your time in 2006?

1. TIME IS A GIFT FROM GOD. 

1. We are told in Psalm 90:10 that we are given 70-80 years…  “ yet is their strength labor and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away.”   God numbers our YEARS and commands US to number/keep track of our DAYS; use them diligently [not waste] our days- realizing there is a limit to them.  
2. Treat your days as precious rather than common;  in a limited time-frame. Ask God to give you the wisdom to number your days aright.
3.  Days are like pennies, they don’t seem like much, but they add up.  Ask yourself daily, “Is this how I want to spend this day?”
1. TIME IS VALUABLE. 
   1. Time is even more valuable than money.  Money can be saved, stored and renewed, but time passes and cannot be renewed.  When spent it is gone and cannot be made to wait.  You can always make another dollar (although it may take hard work), but you cannot earn another day/year.
   2. Evaluate often how you are doing/did.

3.  MAKE GOOD USE OF YOUR TIME   
   1. “See then that ye walk circumspectly; not as fools, but as wise, Redeeming the time because the days are evil.” Ephesians 5: 15 & 16
   2. How can we use our time wisely and not foolishly? Make PRIORITIES!  We will fit our time AROUND what we feel is important!  If not we become OVERLOADED/OVERWHELMED, trying to put too much into a day/year. 
   3. Learn to say “NO”.
   4. Remember that there are GOOD things and BEST things.  We cannot do EVERYTHING!  Choose what has ETERNAL significance. 

II.                 Priorities

A.      GOD MUST BE FIRST.

1.      God creates the SOLID foundation on which to build all life.

2.      Spiritual Disciplines connect us to God and keep HIM the #1 priority!

a.       GOD’S WORD [ our spiritual daily vitamins]

b.      PRAYER: regular communication with God

                                                                                                                                       i.      A spiritual obligation

                                                                                                                                     ii.      A spiritual responsibility

                                                                                                                                    iii.      CHANGES things.                              

                                    c.  WAIT UPON THE LORD

                                                                   i. Seek His face.

                                 ii. Seek His presence.

                             iii. Press in to God.  Don’t just skim/rush.

                                                                                                                                   iv.      [ Meditate upon God’s Law day and night.]

                                                                                                                                     v.      Refuel spiritually.

c.       CHURCH

                                                                                                                                       i.      Corporate worship/gathering together

                                                                                                                                     ii.      Make learning with brothers/sisters a priority. Build one another up.

B.       FAMILY

1.      worship

2.      have fun

3.      make memories

4.      mature,  grow and develop

5.      nurture

6.      teach

7.      learn

8.      be TOGETHER

C.      REST:  The Sabbath was given to us to provide a concentrated time to worship God and to renew ourselves mentally, physically and spiritually.

1.      without rest we become broken.

2.      worship is not work; it is spiritual refreshment

3.      [Just as we clean our homes daily, but still need a time for “deep cleaning” we do the same thing spiritually through our Sabbath day of worship and rest.]

4.      [Adam and Eve’s first full day on Earth was the first Sabbath…  set a precedent of how to begin each new week!]

D.      BE A GOOD NEIGHBOR/FRIEND

1.      outreach

2.      witness

3.      extend love/meet needs

Job 3: 26 ends with the word trouble (KJV); turmoil (NIV, NAS).  Lack of priorities leads to:  stress, anxiety, sickness, fear, etc.

Rich benefits result from understanding God’s principles for Time Management: ease, quietness, rest, strength, joy, healing in relationships with God and others [and self]. 

Happy 2007!

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