It's Time At times when the fragility of life is made so apparent, as in the recent attack against our former President, we are made aware of just how close we are to the end of an era, that so very much is about to change. Though it may have seemed that there was yet ample time to achieve, acquire, and fulfill a potential, we realize that it will all inevitably be coming to an end. The chance to complete those critical things, always on the intended list but ever pushed into the future, is running out. If there was ever a time to be engaged and active in the significance of life, the time is now. Especially concerning our nation and world, which are experiencing the threats of godless wickedness and their dangerous consequences, this is no time for those who have received new life in Christ to be anything but fully engaged in the significance of kingdom purpose. There is a critical window of time to affect our world with an anointing that will yet provide healing, justice, restoration, and salvation. Rather than waiting for a movement to come from another source at another time, we have already been given the necessary weapons and authority for immediate activation and effective overcoming of the darkness. For those who will humble themselves, turn from wickedness, and seek the face of God, this is the very moment in time for lighting up the world with God’s love and salvation. Of all the things that could occupy at this time, the heart given to this eternal purpose will have its greatest reward. Notes It's Time R&R Gain Craving Repairs Doctor Prayer Problem - Life is but a breath. Psalms 39:5 (NLT) 5 You have made my life no longer than the width of my hand. My entire lifetime is just a moment to you; at best, each of us is but a breath.” Whatever is gained will soon fade. James 1:10-11 (NLT) 10 And those who are rich should boast that God has humbled them. They will fade away like a little flower in the field. 11 The hot sun rises and the grass withers; the little flower droops and falls, and its beauty fades away. In the same way, the rich will fade away with all of their achievements. Our earth plans – based on limited time. James 4:13-14 (TLB) 13 Look here, you people who say, “Today or tomorrow we are going to such and such a town, stay there a year, and open up a profitable business.” 14 How do you know what is going to happen tomorrow? For the length of your lives is as uncertain as the morning fog—now you see it; soon it is gone. When this life is the soul's passion, it will be lost. Mark 8:35-36 (TLB) 35 If you insist on saving your life, you will lose it. Only those who throw away their lives for my sake and for the sake of the Good News will ever know what it means to really live. 36 “And how does a man benefit if he gains the whole world and loses his soul in the process? When time is taken from cravings and given to God it becomes eternally impacting. 1 John 2:17 (NLT) 17 And this world is fading away, along with everything that people crave. But anyone who does what pleases God will live forever. Must do the works of Jesus before the night falls. (What are the works?) John 9:4 (TLB) 4 All of us must quickly carry out the tasks assigned us by the one who sent me, for there is little time left before the night falls and all work comes to an end. Though called, it is not until prayer and repentance time that there is hope of healing. 2 Chronicles 7:14 (AMPC) 14 If My people, who are called by My name, shall humble themselves, pray, seek, crave, and require of necessity My face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven, forgive their sin, and heal their land. Time For: Salvation – Calling on the Name Humility – God’s will first Prayer/Seek/Turn – In His presence is craving displacing joy Salvation – Called by My Name. 2 Corinthians 6:2 (NLT) 2 For God says, “At just the right time, I heard you. On the day of salvation, I helped you.” Indeed, the “right time” is now. Today is the day of salvation. Humility Hebrews 3:15 (TLB) 15 But now is the time. Never forget the warning, “Today if you hear God’s voice speaking to you, do not harden your hearts against him, as the people of Israel did when they rebelled against him in the desert.” Prayer/Seek/Turn Now is the time for earnest, disciplined prayer. 1 Peter 4:7 (NLT) 7 The end of the world is coming soon. Therefore, be earnest and disciplined in your prayers. How to best spend time to defeat the enemy? Psalms 27:1-6 (NKJV) 1 A Psalm of David. The LORD is my light and my salvation; Whom shall I fear? The LORD is the strength of my life; Of whom shall I be afraid? 2 When the wicked came against me To eat up my flesh, My enemies and foes, They stumbled and fell. 3 Though an army may encamp against me, My heart shall not fear; Though war may rise against me, In this I will be confident. 4 One thing I have desired of the LORD, That will I seek: That I may dwell in the house of the LORD All the days of my life, To behold the beauty of the LORD, And to inquire in His temple. 5 For in the time of trouble He shall hide me in His pavilion; In the secret place of His tabernacle He shall hide me; He shall set me high upon a rock. 6 And now my head shall be lifted up above my enemies all around me; Therefore I will offer sacrifices of joy in His tabernacle; I will sing, yes, I will sing praises to the LORD. Now is the time to cut off anything that would hinder confidence in God’s presence/effective prayer. 1 John 3:21-22 (TLB) 21 But, dearly loved friends, if our consciences are clear, we can come to the Lord with perfect assurance and trust, 22 and get whatever we ask for because we are obeying him and doing the things that please him. Powerful prayer is fervent and effective when it is time for righteous identity. James 5:16 (AMPC) 16 Confess to one another therefore your faults (your slips, your false steps, your offenses, your sins) and pray [also] for one another, that you may be healed and restored [to a spiritual tone of mind and heart]. The earnest (heartfelt, continued) prayer of a righteous man makes tremendous power available [dynamic in its working]. For there to be joy beyond this life, this must be the time for stripping of any weight and patiently running the race God has set before us. Hebrews 12:1-2 (TLB) 1 Since we have such a huge crowd of men of faith watching us from the grandstands, let us strip off anything that slows us down or holds us back, and especially those sins that wrap themselves so tightly around our feet and trip us up; and let us run with patience the particular race that God has set before us. 2 Keep your eyes on Jesus, our leader and instructor. He was willing to die a shameful death on the cross because of the joy he knew would be his afterwards; and now he sits in the place of honor by the throne of God. Overview: Our perception of time affects how we decide to act on different things in life. When there is an urgency, it becomes time to deal with them. Our time on this earth is greatly limited and the things of greatest importance can be displaced because of ignorance, apathy, laziness, and worldly cravings. With our new life in Christ come weapons and authority to do the works our Father has given us to do. The night is quickly coming when no one can work, and it is urgent that we humbly take our place in prayer, seeking the Father’s face, turning from wickedness, and effectively healing an afflicted world around us. There is the greatest joy and reward beyond this life in putting off the weights and worldly distractions that would keep us from responding to the urgency of eternal kingdom purpose. Prayer: Father, in the increasing darkness of the world around me, fill me with an overwhelming urgency that it’s time to cut off anything that would keep me from seeking and knowing You. In the brief moments of my remaining life here on earth, cause me to set aside anything hindering running the race You have set before me. I humble myself now to seek Your will and ways above any other with a passion for the world to know You because it’s time. Declarations: Because Jesus responded in obedience when it was time for Him to lay down His life for me, I now walk in newness of life with an eternal purpose. By receiving new life, humbling myself to the Father’s will, praying/seeking His face, and turning from wickedness, I can affect this passing world with eternal kingdom purpose. As I have chosen to follow Him, I am filled with an ever-increasing urgency that night is coming when I will no longer be able to work. My remaining moments here on earth must be filled with an awareness that now is the time for doing the will of my Father.