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Our Changed Relationship to the Present Time

Our Changed Relationship to the Present Time. Romans II Series [21] Romans 13:11-14. A WAKE-UP CALL: ROMANS 13:11-14. A Wake-up Call in 4th Century: for St. Augustine A life in sexual immorality and bondage “Take up and read! Take up and Read!”. St. Augustine’s Confession

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Our Changed Relationship to the Present Time

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  1. Our Changed Relationshipto the Present Time Romans II Series [21] Romans 13:11-14

  2. A WAKE-UP CALL: ROMANS 13:11-14 • A Wake-up Call in 4th Century: for St. Augustine • A life in sexual immorality and bondage • “Take up and read! Take up and Read!”

  3. St. Augustine’s Confession I flung myself down under a fig tree and released my tears. Streams gushed from my eyes, an acceptable sacrifice to You, my God. And I poured out my heart to You, saying, “How long? How long? Why not put an end to my uncleanness right now?” Then I heard the voice of a boy or girl coming from a house nearby, chanting repeatedly. "Take up and read! Take up and read!” I knew such words were not part of any children's game, nor had I ever heard anything like it. So I interpreted it as a command from heaven to open the book and read the first chapter I should come upon. For I had heard about Anthony who was converted by hearing a gospel reading and taking it as a personal admonition. So I quickly returned to the place where Alypius was sitting and picked up the book of Paul's letters. I opened it and read silently the first paragraph that my eyes fell upon:

  4. St. Augustine’s Confession “Let us walk properly as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and sensuality, not in quarreling and jealousy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.” (Ro 13:13,14) I did not need to read any further. Instantly as the sentence ended, all my gloomy doubt vanished, dispelled by a saving light infused into my heart . . . Too late have I loved You, O Beauty so ancient and so new, Too late have I loved You!  You were with me, but I was not with You. You cried out & pierced my deafness. You enlightened my blindness. I tasted You and I am hungry for You. You touched me, and I am afire with longing for Your embrace . • St. Augustine

  5. A WAKE-UP CALL: ROMANS 13:11-14 • A Wake-up Call in 21st Century: for us • Spiritual slumber is subtle yet more detrimental than persecution/oppression—it is a key strategy that Satan uses against us. • Spiritual sleepiness is dangerous because of its effects—i.e., sluggishness, inattentiveness, carelessness, negligence, the “frog-in-the-kettle” syndrome, etc.

  6. THREE ESSENTIALS OF WHAT TO DO ABOUT THE PRESENT TIME 1) KNOW that the time is URGENT. 11Besides 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. 12The night is far gone; the day is at hand. (vs. 11-12a)

  7. THREE ESSENTIALS OF WHAT TO DO ABOUT THE PRESENT TIME 1) KNOW that the time is URGENT. • The word, “time” [kairos] means a decisive epoch; the present time is URGENT because it lies in the tension of this age and the age to come—“already but not yet.” • The hour has come [It’s ALREADY here]. • Salvation is nearer to us now [it’s NOT YET but so close]. • The night is far gone; the day is at hand. [Christ’s imminent return is almost here].

  8. 4But you are not in darkness, brothers, for that day to surprise you like a thief. 5For you are all children of light, children of the day. We are not of the night or of the darkness.  6So then let us not sleep, as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober. 7For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, are drunk at night. 8But 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.  1 Thessalonians 5:4-8

  9. THREE ESSENTIALS OF WHAT TO DO ABOUT THE PRESENT TIME 2) BE CLEAR about what the overarching command is. • The command is NOT: • Hurry up! • Get busy! • Do more! It is an ironic habit of human beings to run faster when we have lost our way. Rollo May

  10. THREE ESSENTIALS OF WHAT TO DO ABOUT THE PRESENT TIME 2) BE CLEAR about what the overarching command is. • The command is NOT: • Hurry up! • Get busy! • Do more! • The command IS: WAKE UP from spiritual sleep! • Stay alert. • Be sober. • Keep vigilant.

  11. The hour has come for you to WAKE UP from your slumber… (v.11a, NIV) But make sure that you don't get so absorbed and exhausted in taking care of all your day-by-day obligations that you lose track of the time and doze off, oblivious to God. The night is about over, dawn is about to break. BE UP AND AWAKE to what God is doing! Romans 13:11-12a [MSG]

  12. THREE ESSENTIALS OF WHAT TO DO ABOUT THE PRESENT TIME 3) BEHAVE PROPERLY as spiritually-awake people. . . . 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. 14But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires. Romans 13:12b-14

  13. THREE ESSENTIALS OF WHAT TO DO ABOUT THE PRESENT TIME • BEHAVE PROPERLY as spiritually-awake people. • Cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light. • Put off: dark deeds (like dirty clothes). • Put on: the armor of light (which is the appropriate attire for the fight). • Walk properly as in the daytime [live as the children of light (1 John 1:7)] • not in orgies and drunkenness, • not in sexual immorality and sensuality,  • not in quarreling and jealousy.

  14. THREE ESSENTIALS OF WHAT TO DO ABOUT THE PRESENT TIME • BEHAVE PROPERLY as spiritually awake people. • Put on the Lord Jesus Christ—and make no provision for the flesh to gratify its desires. • How do you put on the Lord Jesus Christ? Wear Jesus’ thoughts, speech, way of life as yours—live in the presence of Jesus’ love and victory for your all-day protection and fight! • How do you make no provision for the flesh? Make no room for cultivating first thoughts for sin—kill them beforeit has a chance to settle in your mind and heart! Let us be Christ's men from head to foot, give no chances to the flesh to have its fling. Romans 13:14 [J. B. Phillips]

  15. PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS FOR OUR EVERYDAY LIFE 1. REALIZE that you are living in an URGENT/CRITICAL time. • Be ready for Christ’s imminent return. • Don’t waste your life. 2. WAKE UP from your spiritual slumber. • Put off all deeds of darkness—stay away from them. • Be diligent in doing the right things for the right purpose. 3. PUT ON THE LORD JESUS CHRIST EACH DAY as your armor of light. • Practice/wear the presence of Jesus as your way of life! • Never make room for cultivating a thought for your sinful desire.

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