AWAKE, ARISE, AND TRIUMPH
Sunday – November 21, 2021, Kislev 17, 5782
A WELL OF TRUTH
BEST USE OF TIME – PART THREE
Greetings dear and precious saints of God and welcome back to our Sunday blog titled “A Well of Truth” currently focused on Part Three of the best use of time or redeeming time. Please take a moment before I start to share these teachings as widely as possible to expand the reach of this Ministry. Thank you for sharing. Do we Christians really take the Bible seriously or are we just happy with Salvation and Heaven when we die. Are we saved, born again, just to make Heaven or does our Heavenly Father have grandiose plans for all of His children here and in that which is to come? On what are we focused, the carnal or the spiritual. Romans 8:6 tells us that to be focused on the carnal is death but to focus on the spiritual is life and peace. Do we consider ourselves living a spiritual life by showing up at Church once or twice a week and spending some time in prayer and study? As we judge ourselves can we truly say we are doing the following, I hope familiar, verse?
Matthew 6:33 (KJV)
33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
What do you suppose the phrase “seek ye first” means? It couldn’t possibly mean to seek the Kingdom of God before ALL else, could it? Where is our thought life? For example, are we even focused on this teaching being introspective or just reading through it? Let’s look at another translation, the New Jerusalem Bible.
Matthew 6:33 (NJB)
33 Set your hearts on his kingdom first, and on God’s saving justice, and all these other things will be given you as well.
This translation adds the word ‘hearts’, our life emanates from our hearts, good or bad. Let’s look in one more place.
Matthew 6:33 (MSG)
33 Steep your life in God-reality, God-initiative, God-provisions. Don’t worry about missing out. You’ll find all your everyday human concerns will be met.
This has everything to do with our study today for this is far and away the best use of time. One might say, “well I just can’t be in Church or prayer all the time”. This is not talking about that although these have a significant role in our lives. If we approach things we do naturally (shopping, getting the oil changed, working a job, and so on) as unto the Lord always looking for ways to show the glory of the Kingdom to others, we are living a spiritual life. I am not talking about zeal without wisdom and the leadership of the Holy Spirit getting into people’s faces but acting in accordance with the leading of the gentle Holy Spirit. Our secular job is not separate from our spiritual life but an intricate part of our spiritual life, work in the Kingdom of God. First, we do our work, take care of our family, our homes and so on as unto the Lord, good stewards, as service to Him and to our fellow man. This is the love commandment.
Ephesians 5:13-17 (KJV)
13 But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light: for whatsoever doth make manifest is light.
14 Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light.
15 See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise,
16 Redeeming the time, because the days are evil. (Bold added)
17 Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.
Walking circumspectly is walking in the light which is where the Lord is and the wise, walking in the darkness and paying little attention to our walk (thought life and words) is walk as a fool. I didn’t say it, He did. Before I end for today let’s look at verse sixteen in two other translations of the Bible.
Ephesians 5:16 (AMP)
16 Making the very most of the time [buying up each opportunity], because the days are evil.
Since the fall of man, I don’t know that there was ever a time when the days were not evil, but they are certainly evil and will stay that way until the Second Coming of Christ (not the Rapture). We are in constant warfare, not against flesh and blood, but demonic powers seeking to degrade our use of time. Look at the Complete Jewish Bible.
Ephesians 5:16 (CJB)
16 Use your time well, for these are evil days.
Let each one of us determine in our hearts before the Lord to make Matthew 6:33 a reality without exception and stay engaged spiritually which is the best use of our time.
Lord willing, I will return with fresh Words from the Throne in two weeks, next week is The Feast of Dedication.
2 Chronicles 20:20 b (KJV)
20 … Believe in the LORD your God, so shall ye be established; believe his prophets, so shall ye prosper.
Until our next publication, as your Bible Teacher and a Prophetic Voice in your life I speak this blessing over each and every one of you, receive it, believe it, doubt it not, and speak over yourself and your family by faith in Jesus’ name!
Numbers 6:24-26 (AMP)
24 The Lord bless you and watch, guard, and keep you;
25 The Lord make His face to shine upon and enlighten you and be gracious (kind, merciful, and giving favor) to you;
26 The Lord lift up His [approving] countenance upon you and give you peace (tranquility of heart and life continually).
By: Dr. David Wood, Author, Bible Teacher, and Prophetic Voice
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