REDEEMING THE TIME
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IT’S WORSE THAN THEY THOUGHT
WORSHIP: O COME, O COME EMMANUEL (IN ISRAEL)
COLLEGES “BOUGHT BY BEIJING”
ABBY JOHNSON STANDS UP AGAINST VACCINES WITH ABORTED FETAL TISSUE
REDEEMING THE TIME
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Some time ago I was in prayer over the future of this nation, weeping before God. All I could plead was “more time, Lord.” My heart’s cry in that moment was literally that. Lord, more time to see the end of the bloodshed of innocent babies. More time to see child trafficking abolished from this land. More time to see racial healing in this land. More time to see justice for all the corruption and wickedness. More time until this nation and the nations see another great awakening. More time to see loved ones and people come to accept Jesus as Lord and Savior. More time, Lord!
As I prayed, I couldn’t help but think of King Hezekiah.
Hezekiah became deathly sick, and Isaiah the prophet went to visit him.
“Set your affairs in order and prepare to die,” Isaiah told him. “The Lord says you won’t recover.”
Hezekiah turned his face to the wall.
“O Lord,” he pleaded, “remember how I’ve always tried to obey you and to please you in everything I do . . . .” Then he broke down and cried.
Before Isaiah had left the courtyard, the Lord spoke to him again.
“Go back to Hezekiah, the leader of my people, and tell him that the Lord God of his ancestor David has heard his prayer and seen his tears. I will heal him, and three days from now he will be out of bed and at the Temple! I will add fifteen years to his life and save him and this city from the king of Assyria. And it will all be done for the glory of my own name and for the sake of my servant David.” ( 2 Kgs 20:1-6 TLB)
God honored Hezekiah’s prayer. He even sealed it with a miracle. The shadow of the sundial went back ten steps. How did Hezekiah respond? He unfortunately did not use wisdom shortly after this. He allowed the enemies of God’s people, the Babylonians, into the palace and showed them everything—silver, gold, and the royal treasuries. This cost him greatly as a dire word came from the prophet Isaiah. Everything would be carried away by the Babylonians, including his offspring. It would not be in Hezekiah’s time though.
This seems to be a warning we Christians should heed as we pray and live.
See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, Redeeming the time, because the days are evil. (Eph 5:15,16 KJV)
I have been thinking on this verse quite a bit, with the current state of this nation and the battle we face before us. Redeeming the time really stood out to me. The word redeem itself is a Greek word, exagorazo, composed of two words: ek (come out of) and agorazo (to purchase). The picture of this word is to purchase someone out of slavery. Jesus Christ demonstrated this when He redeemed us from the curse of the law. The Greek word for time is kairos. This means the right or opportune time. It is a time that must be taken or the opportunity may pass you by. It may be now, or it may be a later time; it is God who decides that and not man. So what does it mean for us to redeem the time?
Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever you had formed the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God. (Ps 90:2)
God is not bound by time because he is eternal. Humans, on the other hand, have our days numbered, and that makes time a precious commodity.
Help us to remember that our days are numbered, and help us to interpret our lives correctly. Set your wisdom deeply in our hearts so that we may accept your correction. (Ps 90:12 TPT)
Ephesians 5:15,16 in the Amplified Bible makes the message very clear: Look carefully then how you walk! Live purposefully and worthily and accurately, not as the unwise and witless, but as wise (sensible, intelligent people), making the very most of the time [buying up each opportunity], because the days are evil.
We see the key to redeeming the time here: . . .making the very most of the time (buying up each opportunity) because the days are evil. Though this was written so long ago, we can definitely see the parallels here. The days we are in are evil. We are seeing those who celebrate evil as good and those who call good evil.
These were his (Jesus) instructions to them: “Plead with the Lord of the harvest to send out more laborers to help you, for the harvest is so plentiful and the workers so few.
(Lk 10:2 TLB)
What if God answers our prayers for America and redeems the time, as he did for Hezekiah? How will we respond? Will we become haughty and lifted up in pride? Will we lighten up on our intercession? We must use wisdom and not grow comfortable as Hezekiah did. Let’s make the most of the time that God has given us.
We are not to see all the problems we are facing as merely problems, rather as opportunities. An opportunity to be a witness for Jesus and a shining light in the darkness. An opportunity to really be the church. An opportunity to strengthen those who have tired hands, and encourage those who have weak knees. (Is 35:3)
Like Moses needed Aaron and Hur to lift his hands in the battle, we intercessors are joined as one, lifting one another up. While we are believing for a move of God, instead of waiting, let’s make the most of this opportunity and be the move of God. This could be the greatest opportunity for the harvest that we’ve ever seen.
Times of chaos and darkness are often catalysts for revival. People are afraid, hurting, needing answers, and we can use this time to hunker down in fear and hide or we can be the hands and feet of Jesus Christ. I’ll end with the words of the Apostle Peter. In Acts 3, at three o’clock, he and John were headed to the temple to pray. They saw a lame man who had been carried there. This man, as he was accustomed to, expected people to have compassion and give him money. But this was Peter’s reply, “I don’t have any silver or gold for you. But I’ll give you what I have. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, get up and walk!” (Acts 3:1-8)
Brothers and sisters, let give the lost not just what we have, but Who we have.
Author Gloria Robles is a passionate intercessor with a prophetic voice for today. For more from Gloria, go to Spotify or Anchor to listen to her podcast Something To Share. (Photo Credit: Getty Images.)
Share your prayers for redemption for these times we are living in!
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Thank you for giving the founding Fathers such wisdom, Lord, and we ask that the paths left for Trumps reinstatement would go forward according to the Constitution. We ask that your would give courage to our leaders who are being threatened, that the good Senators that will need to oppose the Electors would do so no matter the cost. we ask your hedge of protection around our leaders, that your Peace would descend upon them. Give them your Grace, Lord, in this war we face, make all crooked roads before them straight, and bless the works of their hands. By the blood of Jesus and in His name, I pray. Amen.
I would ask that everyone reading this seek God earnestly for a prayer assignment. I have seen over the last two months the maturing of our prayers. From strictly about the election, to merciful justice, and now to revival and awakening beyond the election. As was mentioned, even if we are at peace, the enemy (Satan) remains at war and will not relent against God and the church. Because of that, there is and will continue to be so much for which we contend and prayer is the key to victory in that contention. Just as a carrier air wing can not send all the fighter aircraft after the same incoming hostile threat and must rely on airborne command and control from the E2 Hawkeye to ensure each incoming enemy aircraft is covered, so too, we the ecclesia must rely on God to send the warriors into the battlefield where we are needed. Just as
a defensive coordinator will ensure players cover down on the running backs, receivers, and quarterbacks of rival offense, God directs His warriors in battle. So, given that our prayers have matured over time, let God rely on us to cover all spiritual threats on the battlefield of war.
Great analogy! I have the feeling I should thank you for your service, too.
Amen! Excellent exhortation & prophetic insight. Thank you for sharing.
I have sensed for months that God wants to give his church more time but not more time to just burn it up on ourselves. It’s more time to get involved furthering the gospel, restructuring our priorities, getting to really “know God”, reaching out and being involved in ways we haven’t before (yes that includes the political world) and rededicating our finances to help others / further God’s work.
BUT if we don’t do that, God will not give us more time. More time is a gift and it is conditional upon how we respond to His prompting. Will we be obedient? I pray so.
This is a wonderful insightful article.
Thank you
Father, please forgive me for wasting your precious time in the past. Thank you for waking me up to what is really going on so that I have been able to join your saints in interceding over these past several months. Please wake up your church, those who are still just waiting for things to go “back to normal.” Please give your interceding saints vision, strength and direction for the days ahead. Please give us more time and allow us to redeem it in the precious name of Jesus. Amen.
Father, I thank You for the Revival that is taking place as you word good through the evil surrounding Covid. People are seeking for answers amidst the uncertainty and changes that have occurred in recent months. What a great opportunity You have placed with Believers everywhere, to step forth and look for ways to spread the Gospel message to family members, friends, neighbors because of the HOPE You give all who trust in You and Your Word. There is fear about many threats and things about us. Help all Christians to be determined daily to put on the full armor God, granting us full assurance You will protect and embolden us to be about Your business of sharing the Gospel message, comforting others, encouraging others. Mother Teresa said something like, “We don’t do big things”. “We do little things with alot of love”. “God You are Love”. Help us to remember “Love makes the world go round”. Strengthen and guide us to look for ways to share Your love with others daily.
In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
At this point in time in our personal and national journey through life, there is no other more important activity or exercise than prayer. It’s what IFA is all about. All the mature and true servants of the Lord in one way or another have acknowledged in some way, “Nothing of importance gets done without prayer”. That does not mean that we have to neglect reality and tend to our responsibilities and chores, but to live and breathe prayer before, during, and after those responsibilities are accomplished. I’m 79 and still learning, and endeavoring to become better at this most important Christian duty. GK
Sorry… you were “weeping”?
???
Look… I’m sorry to pick on you, and certainly we have bigger fish to fry. But…
There are things that irk me about American Christianity. We seem to have this wimpy, the-moon-is-made-of-marshmallows mindset. Part of the manifestation of this is, in my opinion, “Christianese”. Words like “weep” instead of “cry” or “bawl”. “Period” or “chapter” as opposed to the cliche’d “season”. And, there are others.
I just want us to talk like normal human beings.
Anyway… to address more urgent matters, you wrote:
“What if God answers our prayers for America and redeems the time, as he did for Hezekiah? How will we respond? Will we become haughty and lifted up in pride? Will we lighten up on our intercession? We must use wisdom and not grow comfortable as Hezekiah did. Let’s make the most of the time that God has given us.”
To this I answer with words from the apostle Paul:
“Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.” (1 Peter 5:8).
I also will quote something often credited to Thomas Jefferson:
“The price of liberty is eternal vigilance.”
What do these statements have in common? We are in a perpetual state of war, even when at peace. Our enemy, the devil, never rests. So, until Jesus is sitting in Jerusalem, neither can we.
Psalm 106:15 “And He gave them their request, But sent leanness into their soul” NKJ. I so agree with Gloria, just one more time. But our Lord in His wisdom knows if it will bring “leanness” to the soul of His followers, America or even hinder people coming to Him! Our merciful Lord does not want ant to perish, but all come to faith in Him. Yes, yes just one more time, please, if it will cause a revival of Your truth and salvation. In Jesus name Amen
AMEN! Get up and walk, America!
Hallelujah, for this timely word! Yes, time is so precious!
I agree, we must ask Almighty God for more TIME for Our Country to REPENT!! And for the Ekklesia, Christ Jesus’s followers, to be Stronger, Bolder and more Effective than ever before, in Sharing Our Faith, as God gives US opportunities to do so. To be co-laboring with Him for a Great Harvest of Souls!!
We need Revival in ALL 50 States!!
May Our Lives Glorify God everyday while we still have
the TIME!
In Jesus Name. Amen.
Many of us, myself included, prayed fervently for months against the evil Biden family getting into power. We prayed daily for the victory of President Trump. Then, when it looked like, due to corruption and interferance in the election from people around the world as well as here, Trump would lose, we stopped praying. Brothers and sisters, when need to pray more now than ever. God can do anything He wants to do. I can’t believe that He won’t honor those pleading prayers for justice that millions of Americans sent up. He is with us in the storm, and with us on the other side of the storm as well. Don’t despair and don’t give up!
You’ve got a large “Amen” to your words, Linda
Thank you, buddy!
Thanks for the reminder. I needed to hear those words. We serve a God of miracles and He can and will do anything for us if we only ask in His will and with faith the size of a mustard seed. As a nation founded on religious liberty, we must not forget to praise Him above all things. God Bless You.
Thank you, honey! I had to encourage myself, like King David encouraged himself in the Lord, when he was trying to escape from Saul trying to kill him. Now, we’ve got socialists trying to bring about our destruction and we cannot get lazy about praying now. Even now, God can change this election situation around if it meets with His will.