GOD'S CALL TO AWAKE

ROMANS 13:1

A. "AND THAT, KNOWING THE TIME, THAT NOW IT IS HIGH TIME TO AWAKE OUT OF SLEEP: FOR NOW IS OUR SALVATION NEARER THAN WHEN WE BELIEVED. THE NIGHT IS FAR SPENT, THE DAY IS AT HAND: LET US CAST OFF THE WORKS OF DARKNESS, AND LET US PUT ON THE ARMOUR OF LIGHT."
  1. This is one of Paul's timely admonitions, which, I believe, is meant for God's remnant people:
    1. We, of all men, are a time conscious people.
    2. We are, and rightly so, Bible prophecy minded.
  2. The admonition in our text embodies truths, if heeded, which will save the soul. That mighty man of God knew the constant dangers to the spiritual life of God's people, and he sought to warn us against them."
B. THERE ARE THREE HIGH POINTS IN OUR TEXT WORTHY OF OUR PRAYERFUL CONSIDERATION
  1. We know the time:
    1. A chain of prophetic forecasts in the books Daniel and Revelation show clearly that we are at the very threshold of eternity.
    2. Included in these forecasts are The Image of Daniel 2; The Beasts of Revelation 7; the cleansing of the sanctuary recorded in Daniel 8:13, 14; and the special prophecies in the book of Rev. 12; 13; 14; 16; 18; 20
    3. We do not overlook that great prophetic outline of Matt. 24.
  2. All these prophetic forecasts point to the end of time and the soon coming of Jesus Christ:
    1. That is what our Lord says - Matt. 24:33
    2. He especially emphasizes this truth in Luke 21:25, 26
  3. The breakdown of morality in society is still another sign of the time:
    1. Note, with prayer, what the Lord said of conditions in the last days - Luke 17:26-29; 21:34-38
    2. Paul speaks of the same conditions - 2 Tim. 3:1-9
    3. The lukewarm condition among God's people is still another mark of the time of the end - Matt. 24:12, 13; Rev. 3:14-17
    4. The cry for union with the Papacy is also a sign of the end - Rev. 13
C. OUR URGENT NEED
  1. Is plainly indicated by our spiritual condition:
    1. We are sleepy -
      1. Secret or hidden sins cause us to sleep when we ought to be wide awake. Compare Rom. 13:11 with Heb. 12:1-9; 1 Cor. 11:30
      2. Being engrossed with the cares of this world is still another reason for our sleepiness - Luke 21:34-38
    2. Some among us are entangled in the works of darkness - Gal. 5:19-21
  2. Paul's timely admonition is:
    1. "Awake out of sleep"
    2. Said the mariner to Jonah, "What meanest thou O sleeper?" Jonah 1:6
    3. Sleep is characteristic of inactiveness, being unproductive, and unconscious of the surrounding.
  3. Cast off the works of darkness:
    1. That God's people should be weighted down with the works of darkness is to be regretted.
    2. Consider 1 John 2:15, 16
    3. The works of darkness are a condition of the heart - Matt. 15:19
  4. The admonition of our opening text is, therefore, a clear indication:
    1. That Present Truth, powerful as it is, is ineffective in the lives of the people that are entangled in the works of darkness.
    2. That is one sad reason for so many among us being soundly asleep.
  5. My God shall supply all your needs:
    1. By us putting on the whole armor of light or Present Truth.
    2. This armor of light is pictured by Paul in his letter to the Ephesians - Eph. 6:10-18
    3. If we heed the counsel of the faithful and true witness - Rev. 3:14-17
  6. The time is very late, the day is at hand, and it will be to the saving of our souls to heed the counsel of our text.


Design © John Bryant 2011