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REDEEMING THE TIME
One minute can be longer than we think it is. Now
that the minute is gone there is nothing you can do
to get it back.
I stole one minute from you and you willing gave
me that minute. Nothing was said, nothing was
accomplished, and nothing will ever be
accomplished from that wasted minute.
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REDEEMING THE TIME
• There are 1440 minutes in a day.
• Approximately 480 minutes are spent in sleep.
• If you work, during the work week, that leaves us
with 960 minutes of which 540 minutes are
generally work related, if you work regularly.
• That leaves us with 420 minutes each day. What
can we do with those minutes?
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REDEEMING THE TIME
Twice in his letters Paul admonishes us about
redeeming the time.
• Eph. 5:15-17 – we are to walk circumspectly as
wise, redeeming the time
• Col. 4:5-6 – redeeming the time by walking in
wisdom toward those who are outside
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REDEEMING THE TIME
The phrase redeeming the time can be understood
to mean, to buy up for one’s use the opportunities
that we have.
In these passages we learn that redeeming the time
involves us walking in wisdom in a couple of ways.
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REDEEMING THE TIME
15See
then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as
wise, 16redeeming the time, because the days are evil.
17Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will
of the Lord is.
Ephesians 5:15-17
The first is walking circumspectly, or carefully, as
wise. This is a general every day walk. It is
important that we think and consider the steps we
take each and every day.
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REDEEMING THE TIME
As Christians we must be the light in a dark world.
• Matt. 5:13-16 – as the salt and light of the world
we must consider our walk
• Eph. 5:8-14 – Paul writes of this walk in the light
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REDEEMING THE TIME
One of the hardest things to do is forget the past.
We may remember the things we did and realize the
years we wasted.
We must also remember that we cannot get them
back and the only thing to do now is redeem our
time now.
What can I do now?
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REDEEMING THE TIME
• Phil. 4:8-9 – Paul reminds us of the things which
we should emulate – Gal. 1:11-12, 1 Cor. 11:1
• Matt. 25:34-40 – even the smallest things are
profitable
• Rom. 12:9-21 – Can we claim these? – Rom.
12:1-2
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REDEEMING THE TIME
• Haggai 1:2-7 – They were not walking as wise
but considering themselves first – Matt. 6:33
• Eph. 5:17 – “Therefore do not be unwise, but
understand what the will of the Lord is.”
• Eccl. 12:13 – “Fear God and keep His
commandments, for this is man’s all.”
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REDEEMING THE TIME
• Acts 24:22-25 – Paul reasoned with Felix about
faith in Christ which involves righteousness, selfcontrol, and the judgment to come.
Felix became afraid. Why?
• Acts 26 – Paul offers his defense and preaches
Christ to Agrippa. vss. 26-28
• Acts 2:37; 8:12; 10:44-48; 13:48; 16:15; 16:33;
17:23; 17:34
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REDEEMING THE TIME
Over and over again when the Gospel was preached
the hearers who desired to understand what the will
of the Lord is responded in obedience. This is the
beginning of a circumspect walk that redeems the
time.
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REDEEMING THE TIME
• 1 Peter 5:6-9 – we should understand that the
devil is seeking to devour us
• Rom. 6:15-23 – we understand that we can be a
slave of righteousness
• Eph. 4:17-24 – we put off the old man and the
futility of that walk – this walk is not redeeming
the time
• Heb. 10:19-26 – we encourage one another
• Eph. 4:12 – equipped and ready to edify
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REDEEMING THE TIME
The second use of redeeming the time has a
specific direction; to those who are outside.
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REDEEMING THE TIME
“Walk in wisdom toward those who are outside, redeeming
the time. Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with
salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one.”
Colossians 4:5-6
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REDEEMING THE TIME
Redeeming the time here has the same aspect of
walking circumspectly and know what the will of
the Lord is.
The difference is that there is a specific direction
that this redeeming the time is directed to those of
the world.
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REDEEMING THE TIME
The song we sing on occasion is “The World’s
Bible”. The song encourages us to walk in Christ
every day because there are so many in the world
that will only see the Bible through the life that we
lead.
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REDEEMING THE TIME
• 2 Cor. 3:1-3 – Paul commends the Corinthians
because they had written God’s word in their
hearts
• Ezek. 36:26-27 – This is the new heart that God
spoke of through the prophet
• 2 Cor. 6:17 – “Come out from among them…”
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REDEEMING THE TIME
• Matt. 5:11-12 – we may be persecuted for
Christ’s sake
• 1 Peter 4:12-19 – we must commit ourselves to
Him
• Rom. 12:19-21 – we do not react as the world –
remember Stephen
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REDEEMING THE TIME
As we study the letters of Paul we see that he wrote
concerning former conduct and present living.
• 1 Cor. 6:9-11 – what you once were you are no
longer
• Col. 3:1-11 – our minds must be set above
• 1 Thess. 4:1-12 – not like the Gentiles (world)
• Rom. 13:11-14 – we walk with the armor of light
• Matt. 5:43-48 – we are reminded to love even our
enemies
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REDEEMING THE TIME
As we walk redeeming the time we realize that it is a
walk inside and outside, toward fellow saints and
those who are outside.
It is a daily examination realizing the opportunities
we have and seeking to take advantage of those
opportunities to teach the Gospel and edify others
according to the Gospel.
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