Title
Now is the Time 现在是时候了
Date
01/18/2026
Description
2 Cor 6:2: For he says, “I listened to you at the time of my favor. And the day when you needed salvation, I came to your aid”.” So can’t you see? Now is the time to respond to his favor! Now is the day of salvation!
歌 林 多 後 書 6:2: 因 为 他 说 ： 在 悦 纳 的 时 候 ， 我 应 允 了 你 ； 在 拯 救 的 日 子 ， 我 搭 救 了 你 。 看 哪 ！ 现 在 正 是 悦 纳 的 时 候 ； 现 在 正 是 拯 救 的 日 子 。 (page 1875)
Hebrews 3:15: Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts.
希 伯 來 書 3:15: 正如《经》里写到的：“今日，如果你们听到上帝的声音，不要固执，不要像过去那样对抗上帝。” (pg 1942)
Philippians 1:6: Being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ.
腓 立 比 書 1:6: 我坚信，在你们中间开始这项美好事业的上帝，一定会继续这项工作，直到耶稣基督重返那天，并把它完成。(pg 1902)
1 Cor 1:18: For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.
哥林多前书 1:18: 因为十字架的道理，对走向灭亡的人来说是愚笨的，但对我们这些得救的人，却是 神的大能。 (page 1848)
Romans 5:17: ...much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ.
羅 馬 書 5:17: 如果因一人的过犯，死亡就借着那人做了王，那么接受上帝洪恩又得到祂所赐之义的人，岂不更要借着耶稣基督一人在生命中做王吗？ (p 1828)
歌 林 多 後 書 6:2: 因 为 他 说 ： 在 悦 纳 的 时 候 ， 我 应 允 了 你 ； 在 拯 救 的 日 子 ， 我 搭 救 了 你 。 看 哪 ！ 现 在 正 是 悦 纳 的 时 候 ； 现 在 正 是 拯 救 的 日 子 。 (page 1875)
Hebrews 3:15: Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts.
希 伯 來 書 3:15: 正如《经》里写到的：“今日，如果你们听到上帝的声音，不要固执，不要像过去那样对抗上帝。” (pg 1942)
Philippians 1:6: Being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ.
腓 立 比 書 1:6: 我坚信，在你们中间开始这项美好事业的上帝，一定会继续这项工作，直到耶稣基督重返那天，并把它完成。(pg 1902)
1 Cor 1:18: For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.
哥林多前书 1:18: 因为十字架的道理，对走向灭亡的人来说是愚笨的，但对我们这些得救的人，却是 神的大能。 (page 1848)
Romans 5:17: ...much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ.
羅 馬 書 5:17: 如果因一人的过犯，死亡就借着那人做了王，那么接受上帝洪恩又得到祂所赐之义的人，岂不更要借着耶稣基督一人在生命中做王吗？ (p 1828)
Creator
Pastor: Mike Koger
Contributor
Hillside United Methodist Church
3737 US 80
Phenix City AL 36870
United States
3737 US 80
Phenix City AL 36870
United States
Transcription
NOW IS THE TIME:
Responding to the Favor That Is Already Here
Sometimes a door is already open.
No pushing. No knocking. Just open.
But an open door still requires a response.
You can walk through it - or walk past it.
That's how God's grace works.
He opens the door. He extends favor...
And then He invites us to respond.
2 Corinthians 6:2: "For He says, 'I listened to you at the time of My favor, and the day when you needed salvation, I came to your aid.' So can't you see? Now is the time to respond to His favor! Now is the day of salvation!"
There are moments in life when everything changes -
not because circumstances suddenly shift, but because we respond.
As we shared last week, there is a season when we should respond...
Jesus spoke to the people of Jerusalem who rejected His love and cried,
"If only you could recognize that this day peace is within your reach!"
In today's scripture, Paul is not speaking to people far from God.
He's speaking to believers. People who already know Him.
People who have already heard His voice.
And yet he's saying: "Can't you see?"
In other words - don't miss this moment.
Because salvation is not only about what God has done.
It's also about when we respond.
Hebrews 3:15 reminds us, "Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts."
Notice what the Scripture does not say.
It does not say:
"When you become worthy..."
"When you get everything right..."
"When you finally feel ready..."
It says: "I listened to you at the time of My favor."
Favor is not something we earn. Favor is something God offers.
Grace is already moving. Help is already near. God is already attentive.
The only question left is not whether God is ready -
- but whether we are responding.
Philippians 1:6 assures us: "Being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ."
Ron Carpenter: "Not every touch is an instant finish, but every touch is a Divine beginning. When God starts a work, He's inviting you into deeper knowing, not shallow relief. The process shapes your faith so the miracle can be sustained. In the end, the greatest outcome isn't just what God does for you-it's how you come to know Him in a deeper way."
Salvation Is Not Just an Event - It's a Response
Today is not the completion - but if, by faith, we respond, it is the next step.
Paul says: "Now is the day of salvation."
Salvation is not only about conversion.
For believers, it is about receiving again what Christ has already provided.
"But to us who are being saved it is the power of God." (1 Corinthians 1:18)
Salvation includes:
- forgiveness
- healing
- restoration
- wholeness
- renewed life
This is why Scripture repeatedly emphasizes today.
Because delay hardens the heart. But response keeps the heart soft.
1 Cor 1:18 tells us: "For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God... to us who are being saved, it is the mighty power of God released within us."
Everything we've been learning these past weeks has been leading here:
- beholding
- thawing
- flowing
- rejoicing
- loving
All of it prepares us to respond now.
The Danger Is Not Rejection - It's Postponement
Most people don't reject God outright. They postpone.
"I'll deal with this later."
"I'll surrender when things settle down."
"I'll respond when I feel stronger."
But Scripture says: Now is the time.
Mark 5:27-29 illustrates this truth: "When she heard about Jesus, she came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak, because she thought, 'If I just touch his clothes, I will be healed.' Immediately her bleeding stopped and she felt in her body that she was freed from her suffering."
Because grace has a momentum.
And when the Spirit stirs the heart, He is inviting us into life.
To delay is not neutral. It slowly dulls awareness.
But to respond - even quietly - keeps the heart open and alive.
And this is why Holy Communion matters so much today.
Communion is not performance. It is response.
Psalm 27:8 captures this beautifully: "My heart says of you, 'Seek his face!' Your face, Lord, I will seek."
When we take the bread and the cup, we are saying:
"I receive what You have already done."
"I agree with Your finished work."
"I respond to Your favor - now."
Paul tells us that when we receive Communion, we proclaim the Lord's death until He comes.
We are declaring:
- forgiveness is mine
- healing is available
- grace is sufficient
- salvation is active - now
So today, there is no pressure. No striving. No fear.
Just an invitation.
This morning, nothing needs to be forced. Nothing needs to be proved.
The door is already open.
The only question is... will we respond?
If your heart has been stirred... If something has softened...
If you sense Grace drawing you closer... Don't rush past it.
Because now is the time to respond to His favor.
Now is the day of salvation.
John 6:37 promises: "The one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out."
Prayer:
Lord Jesus,
I respond to Your favor today.
I receive Your grace - not someday, but now.
I open my heart to Your forgiveness, Your healing, Your restoring life.
I turn from self-effort and trust in Your finished work.
Thank You for meeting me in this moment.
I receive what You have freely given. Amen.
Romans 5:17 affirms: "...much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ."
Will you be open to Receive today?
The Change You Seek - can you go from Resolutions to Revelation today?
Holy Communion
When Jesus was with His disciples in the Upper Room He told them, "I have longed to share this meal with you" (Luke 22:15)
As we receive the bread and the cup today,
let this be a moment of agreement with grace...
in alignment with God's Perfect Plan.
Taking the bread and the cup
His body - broken for your healing
His blood - poured out for your forgiveness
Not trying. Not striving. Simply responding...
Because now is the time.
And now is the day of salvation.
Responding to the Favor That Is Already Here
Sometimes a door is already open.
No pushing. No knocking. Just open.
But an open door still requires a response.
You can walk through it - or walk past it.
That's how God's grace works.
He opens the door. He extends favor...
And then He invites us to respond.
2 Corinthians 6:2: "For He says, 'I listened to you at the time of My favor, and the day when you needed salvation, I came to your aid.' So can't you see? Now is the time to respond to His favor! Now is the day of salvation!"
There are moments in life when everything changes -
not because circumstances suddenly shift, but because we respond.
As we shared last week, there is a season when we should respond...
Jesus spoke to the people of Jerusalem who rejected His love and cried,
"If only you could recognize that this day peace is within your reach!"
In today's scripture, Paul is not speaking to people far from God.
He's speaking to believers. People who already know Him.
People who have already heard His voice.
And yet he's saying: "Can't you see?"
In other words - don't miss this moment.
Because salvation is not only about what God has done.
It's also about when we respond.
Hebrews 3:15 reminds us, "Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts."
Notice what the Scripture does not say.
It does not say:
"When you become worthy..."
"When you get everything right..."
"When you finally feel ready..."
It says: "I listened to you at the time of My favor."
Favor is not something we earn. Favor is something God offers.
Grace is already moving. Help is already near. God is already attentive.
The only question left is not whether God is ready -
- but whether we are responding.
Philippians 1:6 assures us: "Being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ."
Ron Carpenter: "Not every touch is an instant finish, but every touch is a Divine beginning. When God starts a work, He's inviting you into deeper knowing, not shallow relief. The process shapes your faith so the miracle can be sustained. In the end, the greatest outcome isn't just what God does for you-it's how you come to know Him in a deeper way."
Salvation Is Not Just an Event - It's a Response
Today is not the completion - but if, by faith, we respond, it is the next step.
Paul says: "Now is the day of salvation."
Salvation is not only about conversion.
For believers, it is about receiving again what Christ has already provided.
"But to us who are being saved it is the power of God." (1 Corinthians 1:18)
Salvation includes:
- forgiveness
- healing
- restoration
- wholeness
- renewed life
This is why Scripture repeatedly emphasizes today.
Because delay hardens the heart. But response keeps the heart soft.
1 Cor 1:18 tells us: "For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God... to us who are being saved, it is the mighty power of God released within us."
Everything we've been learning these past weeks has been leading here:
- beholding
- thawing
- flowing
- rejoicing
- loving
All of it prepares us to respond now.
The Danger Is Not Rejection - It's Postponement
Most people don't reject God outright. They postpone.
"I'll deal with this later."
"I'll surrender when things settle down."
"I'll respond when I feel stronger."
But Scripture says: Now is the time.
Mark 5:27-29 illustrates this truth: "When she heard about Jesus, she came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak, because she thought, 'If I just touch his clothes, I will be healed.' Immediately her bleeding stopped and she felt in her body that she was freed from her suffering."
Because grace has a momentum.
And when the Spirit stirs the heart, He is inviting us into life.
To delay is not neutral. It slowly dulls awareness.
But to respond - even quietly - keeps the heart open and alive.
And this is why Holy Communion matters so much today.
Communion is not performance. It is response.
Psalm 27:8 captures this beautifully: "My heart says of you, 'Seek his face!' Your face, Lord, I will seek."
When we take the bread and the cup, we are saying:
"I receive what You have already done."
"I agree with Your finished work."
"I respond to Your favor - now."
Paul tells us that when we receive Communion, we proclaim the Lord's death until He comes.
We are declaring:
- forgiveness is mine
- healing is available
- grace is sufficient
- salvation is active - now
So today, there is no pressure. No striving. No fear.
Just an invitation.
This morning, nothing needs to be forced. Nothing needs to be proved.
The door is already open.
The only question is... will we respond?
If your heart has been stirred... If something has softened...
If you sense Grace drawing you closer... Don't rush past it.
Because now is the time to respond to His favor.
Now is the day of salvation.
John 6:37 promises: "The one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out."
Prayer:
Lord Jesus,
I respond to Your favor today.
I receive Your grace - not someday, but now.
I open my heart to Your forgiveness, Your healing, Your restoring life.
I turn from self-effort and trust in Your finished work.
Thank You for meeting me in this moment.
I receive what You have freely given. Amen.
Romans 5:17 affirms: "...much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ."
Will you be open to Receive today?
The Change You Seek - can you go from Resolutions to Revelation today?
Holy Communion
When Jesus was with His disciples in the Upper Room He told them, "I have longed to share this meal with you" (Luke 22:15)
As we receive the bread and the cup today,
let this be a moment of agreement with grace...
in alignment with God's Perfect Plan.
Taking the bread and the cup
His body - broken for your healing
His blood - poured out for your forgiveness
Not trying. Not striving. Simply responding...
Because now is the time.
And now is the day of salvation.