Speaker 1: Greetings in the name of our Lord, jesus Christ, and praise be to his name from Nairobi City, here in Kenya, the capital of Africa, where we've had a great week, my great privilege to be able to share with us God's word.
Speaker 1: Even as we continue to focus on open door responsibility, uplifted kingdom stewardship and in this regard I'd like to draw our attention to responsible kingdom stewardship of time.
Speaker 1: Allow me to read from Ephesians, chapter 5, verse 15 to 17.
Speaker 1: This is what scripture says be very careful, then, how you live, not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the day is arrival.
Speaker 1: Verse 17 says, and I'd like to sum it up this way, three statements that Paul brings to our attention.
Speaker 1: The number one be careful, then, how you live.
Speaker 1: Number two, he says make the most of every moment.
Speaker 1: And thirdly, he says understand the Lord's will.
Speaker 1: And I'll sum it up in this First, if we would steward the gift of time, well, we must, number one acknowledge the Lord.
Speaker 1: Allow me to read from the book of Proverbs, chapter 9, verses 10 and 11.
Speaker 1: Because if we are going to live not as wise, but as wise, this is what Scripture says Proverbs, chapter 9, verse 10 and 11.
Speaker 1: The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.
Speaker 1: And knowledge of the Holy One is understanding, for through wisdom your days will be many and years will be added to your life.
Speaker 1: We must learn to acknowledge the Lord, because the Lord is the author of life and if we will live meaningfully, making every moment count, we must acknowledge Him as the God of our days, the God in our every day.
Speaker 1: The rite of Psalm 118, verse 23 and 24, says this is the Lord's doing and it is marvelous in our eyes.
Speaker 1: This is the day, this is the hour, this is the week, this is the moment, this is the year that the Lord has made.
Speaker 1: We will rejoice and be glad in it.
Speaker 1: May you and I learn to acknowledge God in our moments, but not only in our moments, but God of our moments.
Speaker 1: Secondly, appreciate that there is time for everything.
Speaker 1: Ecclesiastes, chapter 3, verses 1,.
Speaker 1: The preacher says there is time for everything and a season for every activity under heaven.
Speaker 1: Then he goes on to say in verse 11, the Lord has made everything beautiful in its time.
Speaker 1: And my encouragement to you and I is may we learn to be in the present.
Speaker 1: Enjoy this hour.
Speaker 1: Yesterday is gone.
Speaker 1: Tomorrow is a hope.
Speaker 1: God has given you this hour, however difficult or how easy it may be.
Speaker 1: Be in the now and make the most of this hour, this moment that God has given you, enjoy it, celebrate it.
Speaker 1: Let God continue to lead you and to guide you in the now, because he is the God who is in you now.
Speaker 1: And finally, paul says in verse 17, understand the Lord's will.
Speaker 1: In verse 17, understand the Lord's will.
Speaker 1: And this is important because we must learn to apply ourselves to the will of God wherever it is that he sends us.
Speaker 1: Matthew, chapter 6, verse 10,.
Speaker 1: Christ prays and he says your kingdom come.
Speaker 1: Your will be done here on earth as it is in heaven.
Speaker 1: My brothers and my sisters, you see, god's will must be done and God is looking for men and women who will avail themselves as instruments in his hands to do his will.
Speaker 1: And how.
Speaker 1: I pray for you and I that if we will steward the gift of time, well, I pray for you and I that if we will steward the gift of time, well then we must be instruments in God's hands to do his will, that we will go where God sends us, that we will say that which God tells us to say, that we will do that which our heavenly father instructs us to do.
Speaker 1: 1 Corinthians, chapter 10, verse 31,.
Speaker 1: This is what the Bible says that whatever you do, whether in word or in deed, do it all for the glory of God.
Speaker 1: So may the Lord bless you, even as we steward responsibly the gift of time.
Speaker 1: Number one.
Speaker 1: Acknowledge the Lord.
Speaker 1: Number two.
Speaker 1: Appreciate that there is time for everything.
Speaker 1: Be in the present, be in the now and finally understand the Lord's will and apply yourself to do, to seek God's will and to walk in obedience to him.
Speaker 1: May the Lord bless you, for he is indeed glorified when you do his will.
Speaker 1: In Jesus name, have a super week, amen.