Nothing Good Happens after Midnight

Romans  •  Sermon  •  Submitted   •  Presented   •  54:19
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Introduction

I remember hearing growing up, “nothing Good happens after Midnight”. This statement wasn’t about people who work night shift, or night owls. It was a comment about behavior. People behave different when they are tired, when it is dark, and when they think know one will see them.
Thus the saying nothing good happens after midnight
Paul knows the new age is dawning. Something that in a way we are still waiting on and in a way has already come, because Christ Kingdom is Now and not Yet.
Rather than spending our time gratifying the desires of the flesh, we should be clothing ourselves with the righteousness that is about to envelop the entire world.

Romans 13:11-14

Romans 13:11–14 NIV
11 And do this, understanding the present time: The hour has already come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. 12 The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. 13 Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy. 14 Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the flesh.

In The Light

Isaiah 60:2 NIV
2 See, darkness covers the earth and thick darkness is over the peoples, but the Lord rises upon you and his glory appears over you.
We are still in the age of Darkness as a whole but the dawn in near. Christ has come. Isaiah is now being refined by Paul as he tells the Romans that the glory of God (the second advent of Christ) is growing nearer day by day.
The need to come out of the darkness and into the light behaviorally is what every believer must do in light of the imminent Day of the Lord.
The believer has been justified and declared holy by God, as Paul has clearly shown.
But when Christ returns, when salvation is at hand, he will not come for his own in the realm of darkness on this earth. He will come looking for his own in the light.
1 Thessalonians 5:5 CSB
5 For you are all children of light and children of the day. We do not belong to the night or the darkness.
Therefore, do not be like those of the night, those who are asleep morally, who participate in orgies and drunkenness … debauchery … dissension and jealousy, and who practice “sexual immorality … impurity … greed … obscenity … foolish talk [and] coarse jesting”
Because all of those things will be made visible on the day of our salvation. Better to come out of the darkness now and be found pure and holy when the light of the glory of God shines on all people at the end of this age.
Light and darkness are incompatible in the spiritual realm just as they are in the physical realm. They cannot be in the same place.
To come out of darkness means to put on the armor of light.
What is the armor of light? Look at another letter where Paul is discussing similar things.
Ephesians 6:11–18 CSB
11 Put on the full armor of God so that you can stand against the schemes of the devil. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this darkness, against evil, spiritual forces in the heavens. 13 For this reason take up the full armor of God, so that you may be able to resist in the evil day, and having prepared everything, to take your stand. 14 Stand, therefore, with truth like a belt around your waist, righteousness like armor on your chest, 15 and your feet sandaled with readiness for the gospel of peace. 16 In every situation take up the shield of faith with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit—which is the word of God. 18 Pray at all times in the Spirit with every prayer and request, and stay alert with all perseverance and intercession for all the saints.
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1 Thessalonians 5:8 CSB
8 But since we belong to the day, let us be self-controlled and put on the armor of faith and love, and a helmet of the hope of salvation.
Put on the Armor of God. For it will protect you. When you fight the right enemy.
We like to fight each other. It is easy for us to do. We can see that enemy. We can see when we are hurting others. we can see when we are winning. We get angry, we argue, we hate, but the enemy we should be fighting is HaSatan. The great advisory.
The one who seeks to destroy.
We must come into the light
When I was told nothing good happens after midnight, I didn’t believe it. I can make good decisions no matter when the time.
We all think we are immune.
I am reminded of another biblical story. I am reminded of Abram and Lot. Abraham and Lot have a problem their herds are getting to big to hang around each other and the people who work for each are starting to fight. Abraham didn’t want any fighting so he told Lot to choose which direction he should go and Abraham would go the other. Lot saw the land was good and he took for the land he thought was right. (some Genesis sounding language there). But this was the land of Sodom and Gomorrah. I am sure Lot thought he wouldn’t end up in the city, but the next time we see him. He is sitting at the gates, living in the city.
We think we can handle it but when we think no one is watching we fall. When we think we can do it on our own we fail.
In the darkness is activities that traditionally are done by darkness. So that you can’t be seen. Not that that is the only time it happens. Especially by the illusion of the internet. The illusion that you can’t be seen.
Romans 13:12–13 CSB
12 The night is nearly over, and the day is near; so let us discard the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. 13 Let us walk with decency, as in the daytime: not in carousing and drunkenness; not in sexual impurity and promiscuity; not in quarreling and jealousy.
Let us put aside things that lead us away from the life of Christ.
Let us put aside things that aren’t healthy.
Let us put on Christ and His Life

Next Steps

Is there areas of you life where you might be compromising with darkness - whether through actions, thoughts, or hidden sins.
Bring these things into the light, seeking forgiveness and strength in Christ.
Daily do we need to clothe ourselves with Christ—His righteousness, His light, and His truth.
live as people of the light, reflecting the righteousness of Christ in anticipation of His return.
unite among believers, resisting the temptation to fight each other and focusing instead on standing firm against spiritual darkness.

Bibliography

W., Jackson. Reading Romans with Eastern Eyes: Honor and Shame in Paul’s Message and Mission. Downers Grove, IL: IVP Academic: An Imprint of InterVarsity Press, 2019.
Boa, Kenneth, and William Kruidenier. Romans. Vol. 6 of Holman New Testament Commentary. Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 2000.
Chip, Ingram. R12 Living on the Edge Study Guide: Dare to Experience True Spirituality . New York: Howard Books, 2009.
Bruce, F. F. Romans: An Introduction and Commentary. Vol. 6 of Tyndale New Testament Commentaries. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1985.

Questions for Further Discussion

What is the significance of the saying 'nothing good happens after midnight' in relation to behavior?
According to the sermon, what does it mean to come out of the darkness and into the light behaviorally?
How does the sermon describe the believer's preparation for the imminent Day of the Lord?
What is the importance of putting on the armor of light, according to the sermon?
How can believers reflect the righteousness of Christ in anticipation of His return, as mentioned in the sermon?
What steps can teens take to bring areas of compromise with darkness into the light, as suggested in the sermon?
How can adults daily clothe themselves with Christ and His righteousness, according to the sermon?
In what ways can teens resist the temptation to fight each other and instead focus on standing firm against spiritual darkness, as advised in the sermon?
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