Know the Time - Part 2
Notes
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Introduction
Introduction
Text:
8 Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law. 9 For the commandments, “You shall not commit adultery, You shall not murder, You shall not steal, You shall not covet,” and any other commandment, are summed up in this word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” 10 Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law. 11 Besides this you know the time, that the hour has come for you to wake from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed. 12 The night is far gone; the day is at hand. So then let us cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light. 13 Let us walk properly as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and sensuality, not in quarreling and jealousy. 14 But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.
Recap: If you were with us this morning we began a series we are calling, “Do you know the time?” This morning we said this:
It’s time for us to wake up
Too many of us as Christians are asleep at the wheel. Paul tells us that it’s time for us to wake up.
Why? Because today is one step closer than yesterday to Christ’s Return.
Opening Story/Illustration: Anyone ever gone to a fancy event or dinner? I’ve been to a few events where I had to dress up all fancy. There’s a couple of things you need to know before you prepare for any event. Normally these are provided for you on the invitation. Know the right time and know the right attire. Anyone ever shown up at an event wearing the wrong attire?
Text explanation: Paul, in this passage lays out an event for us. That the event of Christ’s coming is one day closer than it was yesterday. This is an event of historical proportion! He then goes on to tell us how to prepare for the event.
Transition to Points:
Points
Points
Know the right time
“The Night is far gone; the day is at hand.”
In the ancient world they didn’t electricity to power street lights, So at night, it was very dark. Nighttime was viewed as a time of evil and corruption. Criminals could carry out their deeds under the cover of night.
Often we can get away with things because we aren’t seen.
Illustration: I’ve didn’t grow up on a farm, but I’ve heard from sort of general knowledge, that you have to wake up really early - like before the sun comes up. In other words - While it’s still night and the day is almost here, you have to get up and prepare for the day.
This is the idea here - The idea that the, “Night is far gone..” is that the night is almost over. Daytime is almost here. So let’s wake up and let’s be prepared for the day that is coming!
The idea that the, “Night is far gone..” is that the night is almost over. Daytime is almost here.
One commentator put it like this, “We are living at the edge of the great change between this age and the age to come, on the cusp of the tension between what is and what shall be.”
So what should our response to this moment be?
Paul says, It’s time to stop acting like it’s night.
Since the day is almost here, we should act like it’s daylight and not nighttime.
Literally he is saying, “Let us conduct ourselves properly.”
Illustration: A few years ago at my house there was a break in. It was during the day - But the thieves goal was to not be seen. They came in when they believed no one would be home. They came in through an entrance that you can’t see from the road. They took every precaution not to be seen.
This is the problem in many of our lives is we take every precaution not to really be seen. We have things in our lives we want to hide. We act like it’s nighttime and there are things that we want to kind of cover up.
“Let us walk properly as in the daytime.” - Let’s stop practicing things we feel like we need to hide.
Literally he is saying, “Let us conduct ourselves properly.” Or, “because we belong to the day, we must live decent lives for all to see.”
We must give an honest impression of ourselves to the world.
Our lives should be an honest reflection of the light of Christ’s glory, not the darkness of sin.
Paul gives us a short list of things we should not be practicing.
He says we should Not be walking in: Orgies, Drunkenness, Sexual immorality, Sensuality, Quarreling, and Jealousy .
Orgies - The idea here is drunken sexual immorality.
This is not an exhaustive list of vices, but it’s a great place to start.
Drunkenness - Not to let a substance
These sins are characteristic of darkness.
Sexual immorality
They are split into 3 pairs:
Sensuality
Drunkenness and Orgies
Quarreling
Drunken, wild, out of control parties
Recent news has highlighted how those can affect our lives
Jealousy
Sexual immorality and sensuality
Sexual sins
When we live in darkness it’s easy for us to become trapped by sexual sin.
God’s design for sex is a man and a woman in marriage, period. Anything outside of that is outside of his design and plan.
It’s not because God doesn’t want us having fun, it’s because he wants to spare us pain.
Quarreling and Jealousy
When we live in darkness we participate in activities that destroy the community.
Most of us in the room are pretty good with the first four things on that list, but how are we doing with these two?
Are you picking fights with people you ought not to be in?
Do you react to others out of jealousy?
These two sins tear apart the fabric of a community, a group, a church.
Why? Because we know the right time. It’s almost daytime. It’s time to prepare it’s time to get ready.
Know the right attire
“Cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light.”
“Put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh
The idea here is that it’s like clothing we put on.
This isn’t about salvation, but it’s about daily putting on the character of Christ.
Paul uses this language in other places
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10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. 14 Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. 16 In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; 17 and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, 18 praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints,
8 But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation.
In Roman 6 Paul tells us that we are either in Christ or In Adam. We are either following and allowing Christ to work in and through our lives or we are allowing our old nature - Adam to work in and through our lives. We must make a decision - Which nature are you going to feed?
i. We are called to Holiness! In light of His coming we must be Holy!
In Christ we died to sin! ()
We are called to Holiness! In light of His coming we must be Holy!
This is not a set of rules, it is rather right living because of a relationship with Christ!
ii. This is not a set of rules, it is rather right living because of a relationship with Christ!
iii. Because of what Christ has done for me, I live to please him!
Because of what Christ has done for me, I live to please him!
Illustration: My son spits up a lot. Like a lot. Way more than I remember his sister spitting up. He gets his clothes dirty or your clothes dirty multiple times a day and you can’t leave him in them because it’ll start to stink. Changing his clothes isn’t difficult, but I’ve got a nephew who hates having his clothes changed. Like the kid will put up a fight because He doesn’t want to change.
Some of us have attitudes and habits in our lives that stink. The longer we sit in them, the more we start to smell! Some of us put up a fight when God wants to change things. God puts his finger on it and old nature rears it’s ugly head and says, You’re not changing me!?!
What i’ve learned - Is God can either work things out my life the easy way or the hard way…and the easy way is so much better. listen to the voice of the Holy spirit and let him change things in your life.
What attitudes and mindsets have you put on that you need to take off? What habits and sins are on that need to be taken off?
Paul is telling us - The day is coming, you need to be dressed properly! Take off the old attitudes and habits and put on Christ!
Paul is telling us - The day is coming, you need to be dressed properly! Take off the old attitudes and habits and put on Christ!
It’s almost time for your big event! Don’t miss the time and be dressed right!
Conclusion
Conclusion
Know that’s it’s time to live properly
Now what? Let’s find a place to pray and let’s pray that God would root out of us some of the things we don’t need!