Redeeming the Time - Free Indeed - Ep. 32

Summary

Barry Bennett’s central message is that time is a God-given resource that can either serve a person’s growth or be wasted. He encourages viewers to “redeem” time by using it intentionally to pursue God’s purposes, develop their lives, and bless others.

Main Ideas

• Time has a purpose. Bennett cites 2 Timothy 1:9 to teach that God’s purpose and grace existed before time began, and Romans 5:6 to note that Jesus came “at the appointed time.” He argues that growth, development, and the fulfillment of promises all involve time.

• People can choose how they use time. Drawing on Ephesians 5:15–16, he interprets “making the most of every opportunity” as resisting the ways that “evil days” or distractions can consume time. Rest is worthwhile, he says, but people can also lose time to activities they consider unproductive.

• Time works like a growing season. Bennett uses a watermelon seed as an analogy:

  1. Seed: A seed contains potential, as he believes God’s promises and the qualities God gives people do.
  2. Environment: A seed needs suitable conditions. In his spiritual analogy, these include a receptive, faithful heart, engagement with Scripture, prayer, and communion with God.
  3. Time: Growth and harvest take time. A seed left unplanted retains potential but does not produce a harvest; one planted in suitable conditions can grow and multiply.

• Put potential into action. Bennett says God’s promises should not remain only in a Bible or in someone’s thoughts. He encourages people to speak and act on them, and to invest time in learning, developing skills, caring for relationships, and growing spiritually.

• Sow into other people. He applies Isaiah 58:6–10 as a call to generosity and service: help people who are burdened, share with those in need, encourage others, and move beyond self-centeredness. He presents love, forgiveness, joy, peace, patience, kindness, faith, and encouraging words as “seeds” that can be planted through actions and speech.

• Expect that some results take time. Bennett says people may be experiencing benefits from seeds planted years earlier. His advice is to keep sowing rather than assume that a lack of immediate results means the effort is fruitless.

• Use time for ongoing growth. He gives examples from his own life, including studying, learning Spanish and guitar, reading about healing, and continuing to improve as a communicator, husband, and father. He also recalls praying for and encouraging others while hospitalized with cancer. He connects serving others with spiritual fruit and healing, describing his own experience rather than offering a guaranteed outcome.

Practical Approach

1. Identify how your time is currently being spent, including activities that may have little value to you.
2. Choose what you want to cultivate, such as a skill, relationship, spiritual understanding, or project.
3. Plant “seeds” through purposeful actions: study, practice, prayer, encouraging words, generosity, and service.
4. Create supportive conditions through faith, a receptive heart, Scripture, and prayer.
5. Continue consistently and allow time for growth and results.
6. Begin wherever you are; Bennett emphasizes that it is not too late to make different choices.

The message closes with a prayer asking viewers to value time and sow God’s qualities through service, prayer, giving, and encouragement. Bennett also mentions his book Shaping Your Future and materials available through Andrew Wommack Ministries.

Speakers and Sources Featured

• Barry Bennett — the sole speaker and presenter.
• Biblical passages cited or referenced: 2 Timothy 1:9; Romans 5:6; Ephesians 5:15–16; Isaiah 55:11; Isaiah 58:6–10; and Psalm 5:11.
• Other ministry and materials mentioned: Andrew Wommack Ministries and Bennett’s book Shaping Your Future.