But Philip was found at Azotus: and passing through he preached in all the cities, till he came to Caesarea. (Acts 8:40).

Many times you’ve heard businessman or woman say they cannot participate in an event, a service, or activity for God because of the time it will take away from their business. God has called each of us to be good stewards of our time and our resources. It is just as important to learn how to say yes as it is to say no, and we must be faithful to our employers if we do not have the freedom to take time away. However, many times I sense that business people justify a lack of obedience under the guise of stewardship.

You also heard among the Christian saying that they cannot be in church because they cannot stand a certain member.

• You are not going to church to meet another member.
• You are not going to church to hear from a man.

You go to church to meet with your Father and the Holy Spirit. The Book of Acts explains to us the full process and the things that God wants of us,

Philip was one of the first businessmen who were given the commission to preach the gospel. He was in the city of Samaria preaching when many miracles began to take place and the crowds came to see what was going on. Then, in the midst of this great move of God, the angel of God spoke to Philip and told him to leave Samaria and go to a desert road that led from Jerusalem to Gaza. Imagine how Philip must have questioned the logic of this decision when he was seeing so much fruit in Samaria. Philip was obedient to the angel. Along the road, he met an Ethiopian eunuch who wanted to have the scriptures explained to him. Philip explained the scriptures to the Ethiopian, who was the treasurer of Ethiopia under Queen Candace, and led him to the Lord, then baptized him in a nearby lake. A few moments later Philip was supernaturally transported many miles northwest of his location to Azotus where he preached Christ along the way toward his final destination of Caesarea.

So often we think if we give our time outside our business life our business will suffer. God redeemed the time for Philip by supernaturally transporting him to the next place he was to be. God always blesses those who serve Him. He can redeem lost time for those who willingly give of themselves for His purposes. Do not fall into the trap of believing that God cannot redeem the time you give for Him. If He calls you to live outside your normal business life, be assured He can make up that time. I have heard countless examples of business people who experienced God’s supernatural financial provision for the time given for the sake of the gospel through unexpected business or unusual income that resulted after they made the commitment to take time away from their business for service to God.

God desires us to respond as Philip did in order to be used of God in the life of another person. Listen to the voice of the Holy Spirit so that you can go and speak when He says go and speak. Do not fear the consequences of what that might mean if it requires leaving your business interests for a time. God will make it up. He always takes care of those who are obedient. He is more concerned about obedience than the bottom line.

God will not take away anything from you that He cannot give you back in double portions or a hundredfold. Whenever God promises anything He will bring it to pass and I want you to believe this now and forever. Let us continue to redeem the time for these days are evil.