Seeking The Kingdom & Redeeming the Times
Redeeming the times" is a part of the Christian walk of faith that many are not in complete and constant concience of.
The scriptures below will help us understand what it means to REDEEM the TIMES in the Revelation Of Christ Jesus
Ephesians 5:14 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.
Awake you who "sleep", and arise from the DEAD shows us that the spirit of the world tries to captivate people in an unatural sleep which truly is DEATH as they believe and think that they are alive Spiritualy but are not.
Colossians 4:2 Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving;
4:3 Withal praying also for us, that God would open unto us a door of utterance, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in bonds: 4:4 That I may make it manifest, as I ought to speak.
4:5 Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time.
4:6 Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.
The Word of God is given to us so that we use each oportunity we are given to share the word of God with "Those that are WITHOUT" in which one can take the understandig of the word "without" to mean WITHOUT THE CONSCIENCE of God, WITHOUT the revelation of THE WORD OF GOD, and even meaning WITHOUT (as in outside) from the SANCTIFICATION OF GOD where we are given the ministry of reconciliation (2 corrinthians 5:18).
This indeed is what Jesus meant when he said to preach the gopel unto all.
To give more insight about Redeeming the times which is relevant to the book of revelation for any Ministry or commandment of God during the times in which we live today, Revelstion 18 that is entitled the fall of Babylon contains some verses that are not always refered to by any that know that there is such a thing as babylon.
Revelation 18:4 And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.
18:5 For her sins have reached unto heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities.
18:6 Reward her even as she rewarded you, and double unto her double according to her works: in the cup which she hath filled fill to her double.
Redeeming the Times by Seeking The Kingdom
When people learn to Seek the kingdom first before any of the things in life , like being concerned with the priority of what we ourselves are going to feed ourselves with according to physical requirements, we have many places to apply our understanding of godly contentment which is OF GREAT GAIN.
Service under other men
1 Timothy 6:1 Let as many servants as are under the yoke count their own masters worthy of all honour, that the name of God and his doctrine be not blasphemed.
6:2 And they that have believing masters, let them not despise them, because they are brethren; but rather do them service, because they are faithful and beloved, partakers of the benefit. These things teach and exhort.
********One might truly reanalyse how the unjust steward in Luke 16 of Jesus' story was infact only unjust towards his earthly mastee and JUST TOWARDS GOD in even what he had done that caused his earthly master to want to put him out of stewardship. This also shows that if it were any case of God putting someone out of stewardship, it would be for the actions of that worldly master and his tastecfor unrighteous gain.*******
Serving One Another To Please God and not with eye service towards men's worldly principle and demonic doctrine - 1 Timothy 4-5 are prior
Colossians 3:22 Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh; not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing God:
Acts 10:34 Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons:
10:35 But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him.
1 Timothy 6:3 If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness(1 Timothy 4);
6:4 He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings,
6:5 Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself.
The idea of life's seeking and pursuit and its attachment to gain by worldly teaching cripples one towards their own personal gain deceiving one that such is righteousness.
Jesus teaches us that it is more blessed to give than to receive. The principle of mammon claims that there is nothing to be given without anything to return UPON giving, which adversly causes one to focus on RECEIPT than the actual GIVING of which begins to bear hypocracy since one would be sought to give to you so that you can in turn give yourself, therefore still showing that GODS principle of GIVING being more blessed than receiving. This is the truth amongst men as well revealing that GOD IS THE ONE THAT GIVES ALL THINGS.
Contentment vs Gain
6:6 But godliness with contentment is great gain.
6:7 For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.
6:8 And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.
Caution About willing to be rich in the world
6:9 But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition.
6:10 For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
6:11 But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness,(seking the kingdom first), godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.
This infact reminds us that money is not a good thing, because its principles are of unrighteousness. This is the reason Jesus spoke of stewardship saying "if you cannot be trusted with what is another man's who will entrust you with true riches, and that is what is your own?"
This reveals that the unrighteousness of money is in that anyone having it has it at the EXPENSE of others, why the unrighteous principle will deem those with more money than the others "Richer", when infact all are equal in Gods eyes in ALL DESERVING OF ALL THINGS (vs 17).
6:12 Fight the good fight of faith(the spirit of the world<babylon> tries to resist), lay hold on eternal life(storing/laying up our riches in Heaven), whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.
6:13 I give thee charge in the sight of God, who quickeneth all things, and before Christ Jesus, who before Pontius Pilate witnessed a good confession;
6:14 That thou keep this commandment without spot, unrebukeable, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ:
6:15 Which in his times he shall shew, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords;
6:16 Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom be honour and power everlasting. Amen.
6:17 Charge(remind,encourage) them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy;
6:18 That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate;
6:19 Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.
Mathew 25 - The Sheep And The Goats
Stewardship Of The Life Of God within us and all that He has given all to have and share with one another
Matthew 25:31 When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory:
25:32 And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats:
25:33 And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.
25:34 Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:
25:35 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:
25:36 Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.
25:37 Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink?
25:38 When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee?
25:39 Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?
25:40 And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.
25:41 Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:
What actualy sends people to hell
25:42 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink:
25:43 I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not.
25:44 Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee?
25:45 Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me.
25:46 And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.
THE truth of the issue between abundance and lack of anything
2 Corinthians 8:9 For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich.
8:10 And herein I give my advice: for this is expedient for you, who have begun before, not only to do, but also to be forward a year ago.
8:11 Now therefore perform the doing of it; that as there was a readiness to will, so there may be a performance also out of that which ye have.
8:12 For if there be first a willing mind, it is accepted according to that a man hath, and not according to that he hath not.
8:13 For I mean not that other men be eased, and ye burdened:
8:14 But by an equality, that now at this time your abundance may be a supply for their want, that their abundance also may be a supply for your want: that there may be equality:
8:15 As it is written, He that had gathered much had nothing over; and he that had gathered little had no lack.
Bear in mind that we are Justified by faith, and THAT FAITH OUT WORKS THESE THINGS that Jesus spoke of in Mathew 25 concerning the sheep and the goats.
Each time you are "in transit" or at a place where you witness and have knowledge of someone who could use the sharing of bread or anything you have in abundance beyond your own daily need, you can be certain that it is Gods voice which is asking, suggesting or pointing out that you indeed can give. In this very desire to do Good we find the growth of the kingdom of God in COMPASSION towards others than ourselves.
You can always check on these kind of suggestions and be overjoyed to see that God does not think like the world or reason like man where faith in compassion to even SEEK OUT the needy of ANY of the earths fruits and supply it to them. God truly does not lie when he says that we receive much more pressed down, shaken and running over even storing our treasures in Heaven where moth and rust do not destroy.
The blessing of God to is TO BLESS OTHERS and this we ought to keep in dsily remembrance because even when excersized upon our enemys or those who do not do good towards us, we are bound to see Gods glory in His Kingdom manifesting in ways that our own thinking or that of the world cannot comprehend nor understand because of its darkness.
The Light of Christ shines through us and to us as we seek His Kingdom.