Topic: Wake Up to the Day of the Lord
Reading: Romans 13:11-14
11 Besides this you know what hour it is, how it is full time now 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. Let us then cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light; 13 let us conduct ourselves becomingly as in the day, not in reveling and drunkenness, not in debauchery and licentiousness, not in quarreling and jealousy. 14 But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.
Introduction and Overview
Wake up to the day of the Lord. This is the key message in these scriptures today. There has been a period of darkness in every person’s life, but now is the time to wake up to the day of the Lord and step away from the darkness.
When we come to Christ we are called first to repentance. Repentance is the process by which we begin to change. We are leaving the darkness of our former sinful lives behind us to wake up to the day of the Lord. There is no place for sin in our lives as we move forward with Christ. We need to cast those things off and seek the things of God.
Jesus is the light and there is no darkness where there is light. It is the devil who operates in the darkness and who wants to keep you sleeping in the complacency and convenience of sin. But we are called to wake up because we are now entering the day of the Lord where He rules and where His word brings us light and life.
Key points from reading:
- It is time now to wake up to the Day of the Lord
- Since coming to Christ you have stepped out of the darkness into Jesus’ light
- Make no provision for the passions of your flesh to drag you into sin
Discussion:
- Scripture: Romans 13:11
- In this first verse of this section we find that we are instructed to wake up to the day of the Lord. We are told to wake from sleep because the day of the Lord is at hand.
- This sleep it speaks of is not the physical rest we get every night. Instead, we are to wake up from the sleep of the darkness in this world. We have been sleeping in the darkness of sin and condemnation and when we are asleep, we don’t do anything. If we are to live with Christ we have to do something. We need to make a stand against the forces of darkness that would try to keep us asleep and unaware of the designs of the devil. He doesn’t want us awake to what he is doing. If he can keep us asleep and in the dark, then he can keep us under his control.
- But when we wake up and see the light of the truth that is in the words of Jesus, we see what the devil is doing. We can reject the evil of this world and see clearly to walk with and in Jesus Christ as sons of light rather than creatures of the dark.
- Salvation is near at hand. We have been saved through our faith in Jesus, and now we have to live our faith in the light of the truth.
- Scripture: Romans 13:12
- This verse continues the emphasis of the need to wake up to the day of the Lord. It tells us that the day is at hand and the night is far gone. We can no longer live as shadows in the ways of darkness. We need to come out of the darkness and into the light of the truth.
- The darkness harbours all that is evil in this world. All of the sin and the fleeting pleasures of the passions of the flesh are in the ways of darkness. Think about this. Those who do evil and promote evil in this world, often do so at night. Thieves lurk in the shadows. Murderers and rapists love the darkness. Drug dealers sell their wares in the dark. Why do they do this? Because they want to be hidden. They know what they are doing is wrong, and they think that no-one will see them in the dark.
- But we are in the light. We are encouraged in this verse to put on the armour of light. If you read Ephesians chapter 6 you will gain an insight into the armour of light that will protect you from the darkness of the devil. Put it on and it will protect you from the darkness.
- Scripture: Romans 13:13
- Here are examples of the works of darkness we are to put off as we wake up to the day of the Lord. Revelling, drunkenness, debauchery, licentiousness, quarrelling, and jealousy. All of these are inflamed by the passions and desires of the flesh. They do not represent the works of light but are manifestations of the darkness.
- We are instructed to put them all off. Do not fall prey to these things. Do not feed these dark passions, causing them to rise up in you and lead you to sinfulness. You would not do these things in the light of day as they are manifestations of the darkness. So, live in the spiritual light and put off all of these passions and the evil they represent and seek to behave in a manner that is appropriate to your calling.
- You would not do these things if the Lord was standing with you. Well, guess what. The Lord IS standing beside you, watching everything you do. So, speak, act, and behave in the knowledge that He is beside you at all times. Do what is right in God’s eyes and please God, not the passions, lusts, and desires of the flesh.
- Scripture: Romans 13:14
- Finally, we are encouraged to “put on the Lord Jesus Christ.” That is, since we have been buried with Him and raised from the dead with Him in baptism, we need to live our lives seeking to show the Spirit of Christ in all we say and do. We are called to live in the Spirit now that we have come to Christ. In due course as we grow we need to show the fruit of the Spirit in our lives as the Spirit works transformation in us.
- In order to do this, we need to make no provision for the flesh. Those things that tore us down before we came to Christ must be avoided. If you had a weakness in some area of your life, stay away from the things that trigger that weakness. If you suffered alcoholic addiction, stay away from places that sell liquor. If you had a drug problem, stay away from the clubs and back alleys where they are sold. Whatever your passion and weakness was, stay away from it so you are not led astray by the weaknesses in your system. The Lord through the Holy Spirit will, in time, give you power over those passion so they no longer rule your life. Instead, let Christ rule in your heart and do what you need to do to please Him.
- The flesh wants gratification. All of the time. The flesh seeks out the easy route, the complacent path, the way that is accepted by the world. But we are called to follow the straight and narrow path. We are told it will be a hard path. But the reward for our trust, loyalty, and faith in Christ will vastly outshine the fleeting pleasures of sin through gratification of the passions of the flesh. His path leads to eternal life. The alternative path of darkness leads to eternal death. And there is no comparison. Seek the life and wake up to the day of the Lord.
Prayer Points
- Pray and ask the Lord to help you overcome the darkness of the passions of the flesh. Every time you feel your passions or weaknesses arise, pray and ask the Lord for strength and victory over them.
- Pray also that the Lord will lead you away from the places or events that triggered your past weaknesses. Ask Him to show you His paths that lead to life so you are no longer overcome in weakness.