Rise, Shine, and Redeem the Time*

RISE, SHINE, AND REDEEM THE TIME!

 

 

When we were children, our parents might have awakened us in the morning by saying, "Rise and shine, time to get up!". As we see the end time signs pointing to the return of Christ, the Word of God also cries out the same thing to the Church, because the Church is sleeping. Jesus spoke a parable of ten virgins who were sleeping when the sudden call of the bridegroom came (Mt. 25:1-10). Five of the virgins were wise: they had lamps filled with oil. They had vessels of extra oil, and the lamp wicks were trimmed and ready for lighting. They had properly prepared for the arrival of the bridegroom, though they did not know exactly when that would be. Five of the virgins were foolish: they had lamps, but they had no oil for their lamps. All ten had something in common though. They were all asleep when the call that the bridegroom had arrived went forth at midnight. The wise virgins awoke and being prepared, were able to go immediately to meet the bridegroom and to enter the wedding with him, and the door was shut. The five foolish tried to borrow oil from the wise ones, but were told that they must go out and buy their own oil at this last minute. By the time the five foolish virgins returned with the necessary oil for their lamps, the bridegroom had come and left. When they tried to get into the wedding, asking the bridegroom to open for them, He answered,"Verily I say unto you, I know you not." Jesus concluded the parable by warning, "Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh."

Scripture tells us that after this prophetically timed point, the only way to enter will be as martyrs.

As Jesus was able to identify those whom He knows by their readiness and preparation for His coming, Paul taught that we can identify the readiness of the Church by their "shine" of preparation also, as the wrath of God becomes imminent for those who are the "children of disobedience" (Eph. 5:6-17). He even tells us not to walk as fools but as wise. The children of disobedience are those who fellowship with unfruitful works of darkness. However, he says, we are light in the Lord: walk as children of light. Walking in the light means that not only do we not fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but we reprove them:

"But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light: for whoever doth make manifest is light. Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light."  (v. 13-14).

Paul wrote that by shining as light in this manner, we are "redeeming the time, for the days are evil. Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is." (v. 16-17). In teaching this wisdom concerning being light in darkness, Paul was referring to the prophecy of Isaiah which said,

"Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the LORD is risen upon thee. For behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the LORD shall arise upon thee. And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising."   Isa. 60:1-3

Jesus prayed to the Father that we would have the same glory that He had in the Father from the beginning. We can understand then why Jesus said that He, as the Bridegroom, did not know those who did not possess this light which is with those who love Him, and are prepared, waiting and looking for His appearing. It is not a light that you can obtain from others. It must come with the preparedness found in the relationship we have with the Light of the World, Jesus. This glory light in us is at its most important when the darkness has come to cover the earth, as we are seeing now. Knowing these signs of the times, Paul urges:

"And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed. The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light." 

                                                                                                      Rom. 13:11-12

Jesus told His generation that they did not know the signs of the times. Is the Church the same way? If not, then it is time to wake up, rise, and shine. Paul wrote that he should not have to tell the Church of the times and the seasons, because they should already know this (1 Thess. 5:1-6). He wrote again:

"Ye are all children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness. Therefore let us not sleep, as do others, but let us watch and be sober. For they that sleep, sleep in the night..."  v. 4-7

Paul wrote again of "redeeming the time"  by our speech and walk of wisdom toward them that are without (Col. 4:2-6):

"Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man."  v. 6

Shining as light, and redeeming the time requires us to speak.

Peter wrote that Noah was a "preacher of righteousness" placed in the middle of corruption and evil before the bringing of the flood upon the world of the ungodly. Noah and his family were delivered out before the destruction. In the same manner, Lot was living in Sodom, vexed in his soul by the unlawful deeds of those around him. The LORD delivered him out of the area before the overthrow with ashes of the cities of Sodom and Gomorrha. The overthrow of these cities continues to serve Him as an example to those who follow after wickedness, and the deliverance of Noah and Lot, and their families, continues to serve as an example of the preservation of those of light who shined in the midst of the works of darkness. Peter warned not to accept the false teachings that would try to convince you otherwise (2 Pet. 2:1-9).

Again and again, the Word of God calls to the Church to rise, shine, and redeem the time, especially as we see the signs of the times all around us.

 

*The above is based upon the 2/16/20 message to the Church from Dr. Kenneth Stevenson. 

To contact/Support this ministry, to submit prayer requests, to order the new book, "NAZAH: White Linen and the Blood of Sprinkling", to submit a miracle testimony regarding this ministry for the memorial book of remembrance for Sean Stevenson:

Dr. Kenneth Stevenson
P.O. Box 154221
Waco, TX  76705

https://twitter.com/everlastingcov8

http://endtimeschool.com/

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Prayer of Salvation for all who desire to receive Jesus as their Savior: Lord Jesus, I desire to know You, and to know Your salvation. I believe that You died for me, and that You were resurrected for me. Forgive me of my sins. Come into my heart, change me, fill me with Your righteousness. Inscribe my name in the Lamb's book of life. Baptize me in Your Holy Spirit, so that I can learn the truth of Your Word and ways, and be strengthened in my walk all the days of my life. You are the hope of my life, and You are my eternal life. I place my trust in You, Lord, for myself, and my whole household. Use me to do the will of the heavenly Father, Who sent You, in Whose name You came. In Your name, and in thanks and praise I pray, Amen.

 

Dr. Stevenson's newest book is now available:
  

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Sean Stevenson