REDEEMING THE TIME

INTRODUCTION

There are times and seasons. A time to plants, and to harvest; time to break down and to build up; A time to weep and to laugh; time to mourn and to dance; a time to get and to lose; A time to keep and to cast away. All these are the occurrences of the earth we must all have within the period of our sojourn here in this space. 

But here is the most interesting part of the whole scene. All times are working together for our good, irrespective of the what it’s saying. 

For we know that all things work together for good …… Rom. 8v28

That sounds good to you, right? That means, the times you have been through, the time you are in currently, and the times you will be in the next few years of your life, are all WORKING TOGETHER for your good. Though this might seem arduous, as a resultant effect of the time, but it’s simply the truth.

You would agree with me, that no matter how bad a person is, there’s still a good side to look out for; no matter how spoilt a yam can be, it still has one good side. In the same way, irrespective of how difficult or evil this time might be, there’s still some scent of goodness in it. That’s why the scripture instructs in Eph. 5v16;

Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.

The first question is, Which TIME are we talking about here? It’s whatever TIME you are right now! Why do we need to redeem the time? First, because the days of this time are evil, and secondly; so you can maximize the goodness from it.

 Redeeming the time is, therefore, a divine wisdom from ages, to get exempted from the evil of the time, and take advantage of its goodness thereof.

But it’s in a gradual process. Therefore, how do we achieve this instruction in such a time as this? Hence, the reason why you should give your wrapt attention, as I will be taking you through the secrets to flourish and blossom even in your time.

Point 1

BE SPIRITUAL

For the past few years till now, I've  understand that everything(both living and non-living) emerge based on Spirituality. Many might not agree with these saying but it’s the truth. We are in a generation that does not like spirituality yet we practice it every blessed day.

You go out in the morning and come back in the evening; you sleep at night and wake up in the morning, Isn’t that spiritual? Or do you think that is normal? Don’t forget that the food we eat, and the water we drink were called out from the ground through the mouth of God. 

How about the electronic gadgets we use every day? who gave the knowledge to invent and use them? Every habit(good or bad) in the world today, the attacks and favors you had are all acts of spirituality. 

All these point to the truth that, everything is spiritual and spirituality is everything. Therefore if you must pull through this time, then you can’t afford to live a carnal lifestyle. It’s either you are spiritual or you are carnal. Rom 8v6 says;

To be carnally minded is death; to be Spiritually minded is life and peace. 

You have to be a Spiritual-minded person to survive through this time. It is a vital key to enjoying the goodness of this season. But what is Spirituality in its actual sense?

Spirituality is not a religious thing. It’s transcend beyond praying, fasting, reading the bible, or going to church. It is doing what God tells you to do. It's a strict obedience to the instructions given to you either through His word or sent to you.

You cannot choose to believe God’s word, and not do them. It is carnality. Acknowledging that the word of God is true but deciding to use your head knowledge is a carnality in the highest order. But instead, choose to be SPIRITUAL. Think more on this.

Point 2

YES IT’S POSSIBLE!

The word possible, ceased to be a statement of fear or doubt. It’s an affirmative statement from a believing and courageous heart. The first wisdom to redeeming your time is, having a possibility mindset. Phil. 2v5 affirms;

Let this mind be in you, which was in Christ Jesus

One of the attributes of the Mind of Christ is possibility. It is a mind that believes all things that are true, just, pure, and lovely.

You have to believe that it’s possible to live above the economic situation of this country of this world. You have to believe it is possible to flourish and blossom in this time. 

You have to believe that the thriving of your business or ideas is possible, even in this time when all businesses are shutting down.

   Yes! You don’t have any other options than to believe in the possibility of what God can do for you at this time. You just have to carry the possibility mindset in and around you wherever you go, because the possibility mindset is the victorious mindset. 

I know you are familiar with this Prov. 4v23, but permit me to quote it here again; As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he: …….

Your thinking pattern has a whole lot to do with your survival at this time. If all you are thinking is how things won’t be possible, then all you will be seeing around you is, impossibility. 

If things are not going as planned and expected, the first thing to do is to check the state of your mind, what you are thinking, and how are you thinking. Watch out!

Point 3

DON’T PAY ATTENTION!

Permit me to share some of my little experience. Owing to the grace of God alone, I have been in this writing ministry for about 3-4years. And believe me, I have had different experience from different people. While some were encouraging, some were utmostly discouraging. 

Some even asked; do you think people have time to read books in this economic meltdown? My response would be; “those who read still read, and those who don’t like to, do not”. 

But here’s one thing I do; I do not pay attention, I just keep doing what the Lord instructs me to do. Prov. 4v20(NIV) admonished; My son, pay attention to what I say; turn your ears to my words

This is very simple and direct enough to understand. But let me open your eyes a bit. So many times, we pay attention to the wrong things and that’s why we are not getting the right response from God.

Truth be told, the time you are in presently might be tough, the economic situation of your nation might be unbearing. But there is a wisdom to be exempted; Don’t give attention! It’s okay to think about the situation, but you must never allow it to get into your heart.

Instead, Give your attention to the word of God. And I tell you, this is the best time to do so. This is because everything happening currently in this time is a result of the verdict given by the word declared through the mouth of God in Isaiah 60v2;

For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: 

Did you see that? Everything happening in this time has been prophesied a several years ago. Yet, the same voice spoke;

But the LORD shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee. 

And this is what makes the time interesting and more promising. It practically means, in the midst of difficulties, you will be rising. While men are saying, there’s a cast down, as for you, it’s a lifting up. 

But if this must become your portion, You must decide to consistently give your attention to the word of God only. Instead of paying attention to the nonsense and complaints people are making here and there, turn your ears to the word of God! It’s a Godly habit you need to learn. It is in Him(the word) we live, move, and have our being.

There’s absolutely nothing worth your attention than the word of God! This is the time to set your affection on God and lay hold on His promises for you. It’s a time to take advantage of the word of life for your survival in this time. Pay attention! 

Point 4

DISCOVER!

Let’s consider such a beautiful scripture in Deut. 18v18;

I will raise them a Prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee, and will put my words in his mouth; and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him. 

One of the intentions of God to redeem the time for His people is the giving of His priest. For every time and dispensation, there's always a provision of priests to hear and advocate for His people.

In order to flourish in this time, the place of a priest over your life cannot be over-looked. Priests are sanctified and ordained vessels of the most High, representing His mouthpiece to convey His special counsel to the saints.

They are God's system here on earth sent with power and authority to fulfill certain prophecies over your life. 

The beautiful thing is, You have a priest. But the question is, have you discovered your own? Just as my priest, Pastor Falana .A. Paul says and I quote; "The anointing of the Spirit upon your priest is able to settle you.

Your priest is a sent from God to deal with every ordeal in your life. Because in their hands, is the grace you need to pull through in this time. 

That’s why you need to locate your priest whose feather you can fly upon to serve, achieve your good plans and fulfill your destiny in Christ. 

Friends you may say, the name of Jesus is enough, but don’t forget that the rate at which that name answers in our mouth differs, and that’s due to our level of consecration before the lord. My sincere advice is that, you pray to God to give you a priest after His own heart. 2Chron 20v20 says,

…… believe in the Lord your God, so shall ye be established; believe in his prophets, so shall ye prosper.

You are established by believing in the Lord your God, but if you don’t believe in His prophet for you, prosperity will only be a mere desire. You can have a personal relationship with God but don’t trivialize the importance of discovering your priest.

You might not get to certain heights until you meet him, and it might take you years, even if you get there. Prov. 18v16 says; 

A man's gift maketh room for him, and bringeth him before great men.

Your priest is one of the gifts that God has given to you. He has the power to make way for you in the realm of the Spirit so you can be exempted from the horror of the time. 

Your lifting in this time is truly in the hands of God through the mouth of His prophet for you. If God is saying to you, what you are asking me is in the hands of my servant, go to Him. If you like, pray from now till next year, you will not get it. Why? Because you have disobeyed the ordinance of God. Look at what Heb. 10v5 says;

Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, BUT A BODY THOU HAS PREPARED ME. 

There are times you think you need to pray much but little do you understand that you only need to see much! 

There's a place of personal relationship with God but there's also a place of discerning the body for your acceleration! If you think you can wait on God in fasting and prayer for everything you need, it’s good but you might be weary while waiting!

There's a body(MAN) God has prepared for you, ask Him to show you. If He has shown you, Go and submit to that authority and stop disturbing God for the request He has given to you already! May the Lord open your eyes to see. Amen!

Point 5

NEVER LOOSE YOUR JOY!

This is one powerful tool. Being joyful is a secret that works for all time, especially a time as this. Like I said earlier, there are some who will pass away with the time, while some will come out of it.

I don’t know what you are going through, but there’s a secret I know, which can bring you out of any circumstances you might be currently, and that is Joy!

This is absolutely different from happiness. While happiness is based on what you have or seen, Joy is dependent on what is not seen.

You can be happy when someone gives you money or gift of any kind, but you don’t need all these things to be Joyful. Happiness celebrate the visible while Joy celebrate the invisible. 

Have you ever thought of why you were happy at some point of your life, and after some time, you became moody all of a sudden? If you observe very carefully, you will notice you had something then, and that’s the reason for you being, happy. 

Those time you were sad, when you needed something but it’s not forthcoming. That’s the time you need to be Joyful. Do you know why? Look at what Hab. 3:17-18 says;

 

Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labour of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the salts:

Did you see that? You needed money but it’s not coming, you had plans but not having enough resources to execute them, You needed to get something for your children but you were unable to, there are bills and manner of things calling for immediate attention but you can’t due to certain incapacities.

Your academics, marriage, business and ministry is not yielding as excepted. Yet He says, …. I will REJOICE in the LORD, I will JOY in the God of my salvation. ….vs 18b

 

There are two reasons why you are not joyful. The first is, because you aren’t seeing well. If you look carefully, you see that what you have is more than what you think you don’t have. You are not just seeing it. 

Secondly, Your mind is not stayed on Him(Jesus). Isa. 26v3 says;

 Thou will keep him in perfect peace; whose MIND IS STAYED ON YOU. 

You are focusing your mind on your needs. Instead of looking at what God has in stock for you, you are looking at what you don’t have. 

You have over-crowded your mind with the thought of your needs so much that, your attention has been shifted away from what God can do for you. So when this happen, you struggle so hard to be Joyful, because you have choked it. 

Never allow the things you have or not, determine your Joy. If you do, you are giving the devil a license to tamper with your Joy. And whatever takes your Joy takes your life.

Rather, let God and His promises in His words, be the reason for your rejoicing. 

I rejoice at your word like one who discovers a great treasure. Psa. 119v162

In this time, never loose your Joy! Even if you loose everything, guard jealousy your Joy. It is a fetcher, there’s a high tendency that you will recover all, when your Joy is still intact. Once again, never loose your Joy. You need it to prevail in this time.

Point 6

HOLD YOUR PEACE

This is one of the greatest virtues that enhance the mind and earn you a victorious living, even in the most turbulent times. Peace is a spiritual virtue. 

A spiritual commodity that money cannot buy. You can purchase anything you desire with money but not with peace because it is priceless.

We cannot see Him, yet abide with us, and we see Him, working miraculously in our life. He is a perfect description of who God is and the place He dwells.

Aside from this, peace is one of the attributes that depict the nature of God. That is, it is in His nature to be peaceful. That’s why he said;

Counsel is mine, and sound wisdom….. Prov. 8v14

The abode of God(heaven) is full of peace, but the earth here is full of war and troubles. Why? The adversary, Satan who originated war in heaven desiring to dis-organize God’s organogram, was forcefully sent down here into the earth. And since then, the earth has become an abode of troubles. Rev 12v12 says; 

Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabitants of the earth and of the sea! For the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time. 

All manner of abominable things such as smoking, sexual immoralities, raping, hatred, ritual killing, theft, and all, done under heaven till date came as a result of the presence of Satan here on earth. 

How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! How art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weakens the nations. Isa.14v12. 

So he is the one who weakens the nation(men, God’s handwork) by inspiring them to do evil and wicked things and by implication, turn man into a wicked being.

Since the wickedness of the wicked is too much, peace has been made absent and stolen from the earth through Adam, for there’s no peace for the wicked. 

     But Jesus said in Jh 14v27;

Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you, Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. 

So Jesus came and said, the peace that the devil stoled from you, I have bought it back with my blood, and have come to give it to you, even more abundantly( John 10v10).

That’s why he said, do not be troubled, nor be afraid because He knows where we are dwelling, and much more, His peace is enough to console us. 

That peace is Jesus, and that same Jesus is the word of God (John 1v1). And that’s exactly the kind of peace I’m talking about here. It is the peace of God, purchased by Jesus, and it surpasses human understanding. 

So the news is, the devil is not happy with that, and just as he did in the garden of Eden, he wants to steal your peace again, that’s why the Lord Himself admonishes us to HOLD OUR PEACE. 

The Lord shall fight for you when you HOLD YOUR PEACE.              Exo 14v15

He has not relented, he is still in the business of stealing the peace of the saints. Your peace is the word of God in your heart.

Unlike the proverb of Jesus in Matt. 13, you must not allow the evil birds to pluck the word of God off your heart, never allow the challenges of this time to choke the word in your heart. 

Storms may come, wind may blow, but just like David, you must be still and encourage yourself always in the lord. The world and its systems may change, but you must continually feast on the word because the word of God lives and abides forevermore. 

Come what may; be calm. There is nothing happening to you currently that is new or can’t be overcomed, so you don’t have to be anxious about anything(Phi 4v6) because you will prevail. 

No time is permanent. In such a time as this, Two things are bound to happen; Its either you pass away with the time or you overcome the challenges of the time. When you lose your peace, you are gradually passing away with the time. May this not be your portion. 

Know this, and be confident about it; This time is your time, but you won’t enjoy it, if all you do is moan, and complain about everything. When you are troubled, the devil is happy and calm, but when you are calm, the devil is sad and troubled. Choose one. 

When you hold your peace, you are in charge of your mind. When you are in charge of your mind, then you are in charge of any circumstances around you. Hold your peace firmly. 

Finally,

PLUG IN!

There are diversities of systems. There is a system of the world and there is also a system of Zion. By experience, we understand that there’s a high tendency of the world system to fail but there’s a system that cannot and will never fail, it’s called the Zion’s system!

It’s a system that knows no limitation or restrictions. It’s far beyond the rule and domain of the world’s governing system. It’s a source that knows no end. It is your surest and safest source, any day, anytime, and anywhere. 

Over the years, I have tested, tasted, and have seen that He can be trusted. It’s a system you must plug in, if this time must be redeemed for you. 

You can ask me, how do I plug into this system? It’s very simple. First, you have to decide to accept Jesus as the Lord and Savior of your soul, as He is the only way to this wonderful system. 

Then you can begin to walk in His ways. If you like to do this. Kindly make these declarations with me;

‘‘O Lord God, I come to you in the name of Jesus Christ. You said in Act 2v21, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved Lord Jesus, I confess my sins before you. Cleanse me from all my guilt and make me whole once again. Come into my heart and be the lord of my life. I receive eternal life into my spirit. ‘I declare that I am saved; I am born again; I’m a child of God! I now have Christ dwelling in me, and greater is He that lives in me than he that lives in the world ( 1 Jh 4v4)! I walk in the consciousness of my new life in Christ Jesus’’. Halleluyah" 

    Congratulations on your decision to join the wonderful family of God. Continue to give yourself to the ministry of the Word and prayer to keep your mind sound and active anyday, anytime, and anywhere. See you at the top! 

Thanks for reading!

I hope you were blessed by this article? A token from you to support this content speaks lot of encouragement to me. 

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OPAY 

OLANIYI A. ISAAC 

God bless you👏