REDEEMING THE TIME
(week 43/17)
DEOYE OBE, OLUBI JOHNSON AND GBOYEGA ADESIYAN

Ephesians 5:14-17 KJV: 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.

In the redeeming the time, the first step is to AWAKE from being fast asleep spiritually!

Someone who is asleep is unaware of his surroundings, or what is going on.

We are to arise from the dead or, from living like the Gentiles who are spiritually dead people. The result is that Christ shall give us the light of revelation knowledge, in particular, a knowledge of the times and seasons through the prophetic anointing of sons of Issachar (1Chr.12:32) so that we may discern.

What does it mean to be sleeping?

Sleeping among the dead means being controlled most of the time by the prince of the power of the air (Eph.2:2-3); one who spends most of the time seeking after food, drink and raiment, is living among the dead, i.e. living without the hope of perfection and the resurrection (1Cor. 15:19, 32) saying, “Let us eat and drink for tomorrow we die”

Matthew 6:32-34 KJV:  For after all these things do the Gentiles seek: for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. (33) But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. (34) Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof. 

Then, we must receive the light of the glorious gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ (2Cor.4:6) through the prophetic anointing of the sons of Issachar (2Chr.12:32) who have an understanding of the times and what Israel ought to do.

In their light, we see light (Ps.36:9). John the Baptist typifies the prophetic, John the Baptist ministry that prepares the way for the coming of Christ (Mal.3:1-5; Jn.1:21-23).

John 5:35 KJV: He was a burning and a shining light: and ye were willing for a season to rejoice in his light. 

To redeem the time, we must see (make sure) that we walk circumspectly. This means to be careful in all circumstances, cautious, vigilant, sober, aware of danger.

We only walk circumspectly, because of the light of the glorious gospel of Christ that we receive from the sons of Issachar. This redeeming the time is vital now because:

  • The days are evil and sin is abounding, bringing gross darkness on the people. (Rom. 5:20, Mat. 24:12; Is. 60:2) and God has promised to do a short work in the earth (Rom. 9:28) and desires that we follow on to know Him by walking in the light of life.

John 8:12 KJV: Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.

  • We are presently in the season of His coming in us (Ma. 3:1-3)!

There is a Kairos season called a ‘little while’ in which we must press in, lest darkness come upon us!

John 12:35-36KJV: Jesus said unto them, yet a little while is the light with you. Walk while ye have the light, lest darkness come upon you: for he that walketh in darkness knoweth not whither he goeth (a type of 40 years of wilderness experience). (36) While ye have light, believe in the light, that ye may be the children of light. These things spake Jesus, and departed, and did hide himself from them. 

Hebrews 10:37-39 KJV: Yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry. (38) Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him. (39) But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.

Having therefore received the light of gospel of the glory of God, we are to shine as lights in this present darkness.

Philippians 2:15-16KJV: That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world; (16) Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain.

Isaiah 60:1-3 KJV: Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the LORD is risen upon thee. (2) For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the LORD shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee. (3) And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising.

God will hold His Church accountable for the blood of those who die during this season of trouble because of sins of omission that delayed His coming in us, which coming, with its attendant revival, would have saved some from premature death.

Ezekiel 3:18 KJV: When I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; and thou givest him not warning, nor speakest to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life; the same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand.

(Ps. 102:19,20).

HOW DO WE REDEEM THE TIME?

(1)        By following true spiritual fathers and staying under their covering (Is. 32:1-2).

(2)        By becoming a wise virgin through operating the seven pillars of wisdom (Pro.9:1).

Ephesians 5:17 KJV: Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.

It is important to tithe our time daily, using the Blood (Heb.13:20,21) the Word (1Jn.2:5; 2Pet.1:4-10)) and the power of the Spirit (1Jn. 4:12,13; Rom. 10:11-12) to pray for frequently (Heb. 5:7) and fervently with all types of prayer (1Tim.2:1; Eph.6:18) and to walk in the Spirit.

It is the watchmen (prophetic intercessors) that cried at midnight! All the virgins wise and foolish were sleeping! This message is the voice of the prophetic watchman at ‘midnight’ the transition between the day of Pentecost and the dawning of the day of Tabernacles.