Download... 2011 January revival. January 9, 2011 AM. Bro. Nesly Jean-Baptiste.
All that have not accepted Salvation’s deliverance from sin, are still condemned. Yet we can be so very thankful, that Christ has provided a redemption for all who are willing to forsake sin and self to receive His gift. God then desires to hear our rejoicing of the sounding of His word, as well as rejoicing in the songs of worship.
TEXT: EPHESIANS 5: 13-17
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.
17 Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.
There ought to be diligence, while waiting for the present that we live in,.. to unfold. There are those who once worship with us in truth, but today they are gone. They are no longer here. Time does not stand still. While we are “musing”,..trying to get it “together,” time does not “sit” but moves on....
When you hear something about “redeeming the time,” it is we will want to “buy” all the opportunities we have, while we are yet alive. We want to be “covered” what we have to, by staying in our place. Let’s make the best of what we have from God, not only as a saint but the sinner as well. The sinner often does not realize, that without Salvation, his time is being wasted. The many that have come to Christ, have done so at different stages of their life. Yet often all would tell you,..”I wish I had made that decision sooner.” The things we had gotten ourselves into and all the reaping of sin is realized then to be such a waste of our lives. We realize then that if we had been saved, we would have avoided those “pits.” Plus those things that we did to our minds and bodies, will come back. It does not go away.
Bro Nesly made reference to one who lamented about how all those things of his past sinful life, now affect his mind and body as he has matured. It cultivates the desire in hindsight, to take care of these minds and bodies, God has given us. It causes us to realize that we could have done better. Bro Nesly through this encouraged, “Make a choice for God Today! Examine your heart,..”Are you happy?” Of course even in sin, there are many “spikes” of happiness,..but in general there is not true happiness without God! Bro Nesly testified of his life before Christ, while in college. How lonely he was, with grief and sadness. Many times he wet his pillow with his tears. He would often think,”there has to be something better than this.” So many try this and try that, only to find emptiness, and the reaping of what they sowed. He exhorted based on his experience, Today, to make your choice for soul redemption, while you have the present time to do it. ..”To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts.” Hebrews 4:7b None of us has the promise of tomorrow.
So many make new year resolutions,..because there is something they want to change. Often those they just give it up. The Bro exhorted for all those not redeemed, to choose today, to make this their “birth year”, by redeeming the time, through Salvation in Christ. What a wonderful start, it can afford any not yet redeemed. People easily make the time for all kinds of things that they desire. Nothing is more valuable to redeem than the time God has given us to serve Him.
Ecclesiastes 3:1- 9 1 To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: 2 A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted; 3 A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; 4 A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; 5 A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; 6 A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; 7 A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; 8 A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace. 9 What profit hath he that worketh in that wherein he laboureth?
Verse 1 To every thing there is a season. Bro Nesly made reference on how while are children are quite small, we have an window of opportunity to guide them in knowledge of God and Salvation. It is known that a child not yet born, is often affected by sounds outside the womb. From the years of 1-8 especially there is a more fertile opportunity to instill a spiritual impact in their lives from the beginning. Teaching them to properly honor their parents, and others. Let’s “buy” up those opportunities! There is a time and a season for everything (opportunities) under the heavens. “A time to be born,..a time to die,..etc.,.the need to understand that our time here is transitory.
Bro Nesly shared an incident of a woman coming to him (when she realized he was a pastor) with a prayer request. She asked him, “Can you pray for me to find a good man?”. He then asked her, “Are you a good woman?” He then exhorted her to truly live for God, in complete consecration (“I am yours, and yours forever”) in His Church, etc., and forget about the rest, (for God’s will in her life.) She replied, “Naw, that’s not what I am looking for.” Yet, she wants a good man. Bro Nesly’s thought of course, You really want a good man (or woman), truly surrender yourself to God and His will for you, and what God has for you will be fulfilled. Again the above scriptures Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 a time for all these things,..but in verse 9, What profit hath he that worketh in that wherein he laboureth? What profit is there in this world (or your life) if not saved? Matthew 16: 26 For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? ..You live for the everyday life, but your soul is empty.
Bro Nesly told how he realized while in college, that like everyone else, he was trying to enjoy the things in his life,..yet knew that still he was empty,..with a vast void. Thank God that void is now filled! You might think it is filled in having a good companion,..but your soul cannot be filled with this world and/or it’s people,..only by God! Back in Jesus’ day, if you had been there with your sins, you would have been one of the ones to crucify him. Today,..while you are living, you need to seek that treasure for your soul, that only Jesus can give!
Luke 12:15-21 15 And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth. 16 And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully: 17 And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits? 18 And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods. 19 And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry. 20 But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided? 21 So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God. God’s truth stands for yesterday, today, and forever! Verse 17 Too often people in their abundances of this life,..think they don’t need God or to be really concerned about Him. There’s nothing wrong with having many material goods, when God is truly first and in control. You can help others for His kingdom! Again, in Verse 17 There was nothing wrong with his abundance. Verse 18 Nothing wrong here with the preparation for his many goods. Verse 19 This where he “went off” (taking his ease). When we are redeemed, we have a different priority altogether. So many are working physically hard for so many temporal pleasures and riches. Then come to a place when all they have amassed, is too much for them to have time to enjoy! Where are we with God?
When possessing true spiritual treasures, those treasures are a depth of riches that are always for our spiritual benefit and joy! But God will not force you to choose Him,..you only can make that decision. A “wasted” life is the result of only material gain, often at the loss of your soul. Yet with Christ,..we enjoy all we obtain through Him! It is wise to remember that while on earth, we are all on “probation, until we through faith fully endure to the end.. Make a choice Today while you hear His voice! Hebrews 3:15 While it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation.
This man (spoken above in Ecclesiastes 3, verse 19), effectively put God on the “back burner.” Verse 20..God called him a fool...the most dangerous judgment based on his life of vanity. “This night they soul will be required of thee,” effectively passing his treasures, to another not having worked for it. People often want to be happy accumulating earthly treasures and temporal “pastimes.” As one claiming Salvation, are you rich towards God with spiritual increases being diligent towards Him? If you endure to the end, heaven will be your gain. Matthew 24:13 But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.
Luke 6:47-49 47 Whosoever cometh to me, and heareth my sayings, and doeth them, I will shew you to whom he is like: 48 He is like a man which built an house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock: and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it: for it was founded upon a rock. 49 But he that heareth, and doeth not, is like a man that without a foundation built an house upon the earth; against which the stream did beat vehemently, and immediately it fell; and the ruin of that house was great. Hearing, Listening, and Doing God’s word is like the man here that who dug deep to build on a solid rock foundation. “Getting” saved in one thing,..Staying saved takes real effort. The digging deep for a solid rock foundation, is what withstood the storms of life. The rock is Christ Jesus. That is likened to this man that spent more time praying, and studying, to be and stay spiritually solid, and secure.
Bro Nesly told of a man that had been raised in the church, and then gotten a job in the city. This young man had been “sheltered” in all his church life and activities. Bro Nesly exhorted him in the need to really pray and study to help him be prepared in spite of his “sheltering” from what he was to be exposed to. The more praying and studying, will help you draw closer to God and appreciate Him more! The Bro.made reference to how in the O.T. the priest of God always had much preparation to come before God, in the holy of holies, that inner and sacred room of sacrifices. In this new covenant, God now exhorts us in Hebrews 4:14-16 14 Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. 15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need., for the spiritual manna to sustain our soul in Christ.
Prayer is not a duty,..but a Joy! If truly having a spiritual relationship with God, you will always reach out to Him, above and beyond than just having your “devotions.” Time really spent with God will be the cultivating of this rich experience and relationship. Your richness in God will come only by “digging” deep,...like the man who built on the rock. The house could not be shaken off it’s foundation when the storms of life came. Luke 6:48 But he that lives for the everyday temporal, ..effectively was like that one who built his house upon the sand,..wiping his treasures away. Luke 6:49 The blessing is again in redeeming the time (our life), for Christ the rock.
Matthew 13:47-49 47 Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a net, that was cast into the sea, and gathered of every kind: 48 Which, when it was full, they drew to shore, and sat down, and gathered the good into vessels, but cast the bad away. 49 So shall it be at the end of the world: the angels shall come forth, and sever the wicked from among the just, The wicked will be severed from the just. Because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall “wax cold.” Matthew 24:12 And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. Don’t be weary in well doing, Galatians 6: 9 And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. ...Keep your eyes upon the Lord! Redeem the time (opportunities). The world has all kinds of opportunities,.. especially around the holidays (i.e. Black Friday, etc),..to take your time and money. Saints (God’s redeemed) will buy up the time that is God for the joy found only in Him! Come unto me all ye that are heavy laden and I will give you rest.. Matthew 11:28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
If you are not saved,..Christ can do the same for you! Will you consider your soul and come to Christ this morning?
