We must purchase it...


A Must Purchase...
TIME!
Here are some great questions to get started in redeeming the time:

WHAT IS THE PRIORITY OF YOUR LIFE?

MOST IMPORTANT, WHAT DOES GOD'S WORD SAY ABOUT TIME?


"See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise,
 
redeeming the time, 
because the days are evil."
*fools is defined as a person that acts or thinks unwisely

We see the same phrase in Colossians...

"Walk in wisdom toward them that are 
without (not believers), 
redeeming the time."

REDEMPTION DEFINED:
 
REDEMP'TION, n.
Repurchase o f captured goods or prisoners; the act of procuring the deliverance of persons or things from the possession and power of captors by the payment of an equivalent; ransom; release; as the redemption of prisoners taken in war; the redemption of a ship and cargo.


In theology, the purchase of God's favor by the death and sufferings of Christ; the ransom or deliverance of sinners from the bondage of sin and the penalties of God's violated law by the atonement of Christ.
"In whom we have redemption through his blood."



I really like the definition of redemption/redeem... 
"repurchase"
...then apply it to the verses...
REPURCHASE THE TIME...
implying that our 
priority of TIME has been misspent...

Read the following verses about walking unwisely plus making the best use our time:

Ephesians 5:15-16 

"Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil."

To some who read this...
redeeming your time might mean..

1- taking time to accept Jesus Christ as your Savior...
John 3:16

2- taking time to make Him Lord of your life...
Romans 12:1

3- taking time out to reassess your priorities with whatever time we have left...Ecclesiastes 12:1




PERSONAL INSIGHT:

IT'S SOBERING BUT WITHOUT A DOUBT based upon sound realistic thinking...
I'm in my last lap of life!


As I analyze where I have been in life and ministry and try to figure out what God wants me to do as I approach the stretch run of my life, it boils down to this summation:

WHERE I HAVE BEEN...
IN THE MINISTRY GOD HAS CALLED ME TO BE AS AN EVANGELIST

By God's grace... for the first 25 years of my new life in Christ
as a businessman I became deeply involved in an organization called Christian Business Men Committee (CBMC)...it was my privilege to eventually serve on the both the National and International Boards of CBMC.There were chapters throughout the USA and many parts of the world. CBMC meetings would have guest 
businessmen speakers at mealtime gatherings tell of their life before Christ, how they accepted Jesus and what has happened since
There were older men who became my role models- Clayton, Ken, Ted, Ralph, Lorin, Jim. I also had the joy of speaking to a great number of chapter community gatherings throughout America including Mayor/Leadership Breakfasts.

As much as I loved and personally benefited from CBMC there seemed to be an evangelism emphasis that was missing. 

MY LIFE'S VERSE...for 48 years:
"In Him we live, move and have our being..." Acts 17:28

Why wait for a banquet to share my faith in Jesus Christ?
We are a witness every minute of every day already...why not be a good witness and WHY WASTE PRECIOUS DAILY TIME where we live, move and have our being?



Also, in churches, 
witnessing should not be solely defined is as an event, 
program or short term trip...
These can be very good...but what about witnessing defined as
sharing Christ daily as led

...our lives are nonverbal and verbal witnesses at all times whether we like it or not.



THE BLIND SPOT 
in the church:


~Insights NOT from what I have read or heard, but rather...
as an experienced witness for nearly 50 years of my life having publically testified in 44 states, 200+ cities...plus the last 14 years working with and training believers from 100+ churches of varying size and backgrounds from  many  areas of America~

THE BLIND SPOT:
Believers don't know how to witness where they walk daily!

HERE'S PARTIALLY WHY...
actual sobering and sad leadership examples...

a few of many real examples I've seen:



-A youth pastor in the South at a well known mega church told me 
"I don't want to play golf with any sinners"


-The assistant pastor at a mega church in the west told me he leads short term mission trips almost monthly but has never witnessed in his neighborhood or community


-A lay leader who headed the missions effort of a large church in the south told me bluntly..."I witness around the world but don't ask me to witness where I work or live"

-A well known international pastor was preaching ..I was blessed by his insightful teaching. At the end he said to the large audience, "Now here's what I want you to do: go out and invite someone to church!"
  (Why not Jesus?)

-When I was an atheist 
I truly believe if a person would have said to me "Ted, can I tell you about my faith in Jesus Christ?" I would have listened and respected their opinions...but not one person ever told me about Jesus!




FRANKLY because of the aforementioned...
IT'S EASY FOR ME to know what I should be doing
 MY LAST LAP: 
Offering my witness experiences and insights to help the church in their blind spot

WB training is specifically dedicated to equipping believers to make Jesus Christ known as a
 "John 3:16 witness"
...love people and give the Son

Ted Sprague

*****

PS

BIG NEWS:
In 2017 our speaking/training focus is also in seminaries, universities and conference centers 
~see our "newly updated" website:
www.witnessbreakthrough.org



The catch-
WB needs your help...PLEASE
...thus far we have contacted 5 people with connections to 5 different 
well known institutions...


ALSO
as led, please pass this on to someone who might be interested in  helping overcome  the church's 
BLIND SPOT 

and/or 

getting WB into a Seminary, University or Conference facility





www.witnessbreakthrough.org

[email protected]