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The Time is at Hand · Stornoway Free Church of Scotland - Sermons

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Well, we can turn back to our reading in the book of Romans, chapter 13.
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We're going to look at the end of this chapter, verse 11.
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Besides this, you know the time that the hour has come for you to wake up from sleep.
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For salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed.
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The night is far gone, the day is at hand, and so on.
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We are reminded this morning in this service that we're checking out of 2025 and checking in to 2026, God willing, in this coming week ahead.
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And the year seems to go past quicker.
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Each year that passes, time just goes past so quickly.
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But as we think about coming to the end of a year and as we think about our lives in general,
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how much of our time is taken up with the consideration that we find in these verses that we've just read.
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The consideration being the Lord could come today.
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The Lord could come today.
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The word here is in verse 12.
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The night is far gone, the day is at hand.
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The reminder here is that the Lord could come at any time.
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And yet the reality for us, for many of us, I'm sure, is that we're going on in our lives busy with so many different things.
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All we want to do is get through our to-do list to get things done.
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And we go on like this day by day, week by week, month by month.
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And it can even go into year by year where we're just living our lives in this busy way, trying to get through different things.
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But as the year draws to a close, and as we look back over it, even as you think of this time last year, coming to the end of 2024, going into 2025,
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think how quickly that time has gone past.
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Going through the winter months of January and February as the gales were coming.
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Coming into the springtime when there's always that element of newness and freshness.
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And looking forward to the summer months, which then pass by so quickly.
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Before you know it, you're into the autumn and you're seeing the leaves falling off the trees.
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And then here we are on this last Lord's Day of the year.
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Looking back just a few days where the shortest day has just come and gone.
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And that's the cycle that we live in, this time that keeps going past so quickly.
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But how much of what we did or how we were living was motivated by that thought,
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well, the Lord could come at any moment.
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Are you ready?
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Are you ready for that moment when the Lord comes?
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That's the warning that we have so much through Scripture.
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Jesus himself gave this warning on a number of occasions.
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For example, in Matthew 24, verse 42 to 44, he says there,
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There's the stark warning that Jesus,
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Jesus himself says,
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Therefore you also must be ready,
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For the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.
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You don't know, but are you ready?
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Are we ready for the Lord's return?
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He says there,
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Jesus, stay awake.
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And it's the same kind of phrase that we have here with Paul in verse 11.
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And besides this, you know the time that the hour has come for you to wake from your sleep,
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to wake up.
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That's what we see here as well.
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But we go on, we make plans in our life,
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and I'm sure many of us are looking ahead and already making our plans for 2026,
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and even some, maybe even looking further ahead than that.
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We'll have Easter and summer holidays to think about, getting them booked up.
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We'll have maybe if you're at the stage of life, you're in school,
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but you're starting to think about what's next.
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Maybe after you finish fourth year or sixth year,
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you're thinking, what college, what university, what career am I going to follow?
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We're all always making plans.
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We're always looking ahead.
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We need to make plans.
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We need to plan ahead in our lives,
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but do our plans reflect God and his will for us?
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Are your plans, are our plans,
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are they in light of the fact of the Lord's coming
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and being ready for that day?
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James, in the letter of James in chapter 4,
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it says this,
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Come now, you who say,
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Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a town
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and spend a year there and trade and make profit.
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Yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring.
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What is your life?
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For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes.
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Instead, you ought to say,
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If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.
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Again, James gives that warning to us.
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We're making our plans,
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but we do not know what tomorrow will bring.
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So there's warnings for us all the way through Scripture.
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And as we turn to Romans chapter 13 here,
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and as we ask that question,
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Are we ready for the Lord's return?
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Romans chapter 12 begins in verse 1 and 2 with,
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again, it's instructions in living in our lives,
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but it's living in the present,
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thinking of the past mercies of God, if you like.
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Chapter 12 begins with that.
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And at the end of chapter 13,
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it's coming to the point in verse 11 to 14,
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where it's living in the present
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in light of the Lord's return.
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So chapter 12 begins kind of looking back,
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living in the present.
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Chapter 13 ends with living in the present,
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but looking always ahead to the Lord's return,
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without that knowledge of just when it will be.
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And so there's an urgency here.
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There's a great need here presented by Paul
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to us this evening,
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to ourselves,
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looking back in our lives,
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living in light of God's past mercies,
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all that he has done for us,
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and especially all that he has done for us in Christ.
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But living in the present,
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looking ahead,
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reminded that the day is coming
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when the Lord will come again.
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And so we are warned in these verses.
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There's three warnings for us this evening
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that I want to take from these verses together.
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Three warnings as we come to the end of this year,
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and God willing,
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as we go into a new year,
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are we doing so in light of the Lord
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and the light that he could come at any moment?
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And so the first warning for us
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is those words,
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wake up.
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Wake up in verse 11.
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Besides this,
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you know the time that the hour has come
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for you to wake from your sleep.
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Time to wake up.
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Those words that we love to hear in the morning.
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It's time to get up.
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But it's not just about getting up in the morning.
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It's much more than that.
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It's time to wake from the slumber
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that we are in in life,
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when we are just sleeping our way through life,
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unaware of eternity,
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unaware that the Lord could come at any time.
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You see,
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this is not just a gentle coming round
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after a good night's sleep.
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This is not just slowly opening your eyes
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and thinking,
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well,
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I had a good 8,
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10,
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12 hours sleep there.
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This is a wake-up call.
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This is just a shaking awake
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in the middle of the night almost
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when you're just sound asleep.
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We're not paying attention.
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We're not aware
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of what's going on around us.
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There's a danger around us
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that we're unaware of,
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and we are being woken up.
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That's the cry of Paul here,
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to wake up.
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This week,
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God willing,
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we'll be counting down
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to a time that we can see coming.
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On New Year's Eve,
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it's always the case
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that you have the countdown to midnight,
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countdown to the new year coming in.
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And we know it's coming.
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We can see it coming.
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We've had it in the past.
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God willing,
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we'll have it this week.
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We live in light of that.
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A new year is coming in.
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But we also live in light
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of so much uncertainty,
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so much that we're unsure of,
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so much that we don't know.
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Because there are other things
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that alarm us
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and wake us up at different times.
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You think of being off just now.
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If you're off for a few days,
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or even if you're lucky enough
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to be off for a fortnight,
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and the alarm gets switched off.
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It's not going off every morning
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to go to school or to go to work.
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And each morning,
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it's probably maybe getting
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a little bit later each morning.
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You're getting used to sleeping
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in more and more.
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But when you go back to work
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or when you go back to school
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and when the alarm is set
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for that first day back,
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it comes as a shock.
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It comes as something
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that startles you awake
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because you got so used
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to it not being there,
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but now it's there again
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and it just wakes you up
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with a startle.
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It's the same with other things
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that we see.
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So many things now
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that have alarms
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that can startle us.
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For example,
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your car,
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your dashboard,
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it'll light up
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with a warning light
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unexpectedly
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and make a noise
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or even slow down
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to a stop.
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And you don't see it coming,
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but it just comes
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out of the blue.
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There's no warning.
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So many pieces of machinery
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or things that we're working
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with these days,
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there's so many warnings
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that'll just come
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out of the blue
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that startle us.
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And all of these things,
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it's a question of,
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well, what do we do with them?
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What do we do with the alarm
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going off in the morning
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when we don't want to hear it?
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Well, there's three things.
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We can just ignore it.
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We can hit the snooze button
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or we can listen to it
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and actually do something
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about it.
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And that's the warning
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that Paul is giving us here
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in this wake up
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from your sleep.
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Wake up from where you are
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just now.
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What are you going to do?
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Are you going to choose
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to just ignore this word?
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Come to the end of another year
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and just choose another time.
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Are you going to choose
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to snooze it,
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to pause it and say,
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we'll come back to that.
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Or are you going to listen to it?
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That's the warning of the gospel,
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to be aware of the danger
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that we are in.
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That if we do not have Christ,
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if we are not trusting in him fully,
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then we are in danger.
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Because you see,
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the second half of this verse says,
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for salvation is nearer to us now
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than when we first believed.
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Time is moving on.
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Time is fast moving on.
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Are you awake?
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Are you looking to Jesus?
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Jesus, as he says himself,
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stay awake for you do not know
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the day your Lord is coming.
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That's the warning
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that's ringing in our ears.
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It's time to wake up.
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Are you awake?
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Do you hear this alarm going off?
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Do you hear this warning sound
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of the gospel as we're ringing
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in your ear?
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Has it registered?
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Who is the warning for?
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Well, it's for us all.
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Even if you're a Christian
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sitting in here tonight,
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it's not to sit comfortably
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and think,
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well, I'm all right.
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It's for every one of us,
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for the Christian
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and for those who are seeking the Lord,
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for those who have
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no interest in the Lord,
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the warning is for us all.
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Because you see,
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it uses the word there,
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salvation is nearer to us now
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than when we first believed.
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The wake-up call
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is to the Christian
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as well as the non-Christian.
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It's for everyone
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to wake up from the slumber
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that we are in.
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That's the warning
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that Paul is giving us here.
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Salvation is nearer
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than when you first believed.
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So the warning is here
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in light of time and seasons
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and the time that goes on
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so quickly.
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And the idea here is that
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every one of us
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should be looking around us
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and seeing the changing world
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in which we live.
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When we see
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the way the Scripture
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teaches,
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the way it goes through
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from the Old Testament
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to the New Testament,
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every warning that the Lord
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is giving,
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as you think of the Old Testament,
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he's warning of things
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that are to come.
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You see it fulfilled.
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You see the prophets' warning
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of invasions coming.
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You see the prophets' warning
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of a people turning away from God
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and there's going to be consequences.
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And you see them fulfilled.
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You see nations coming
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and taking God's people captive.
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You see a Redeemer being prophesied.
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You see the coming
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of the Lord Jesus fulfilled
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in the Scripture,
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what we've been remembering
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in this past week.
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The Lord Jesus
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born into this world
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as a man.
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You see that foretold.
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You see it fulfilled.
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And so it goes on.
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You see the warnings
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in the New Testament
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of a world
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that will go into decline
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and turning away from God.
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We see that being fulfilled
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in our own day.
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But behind all of these warnings now
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is the Lord will come.
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The Lord will come again.
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And so he's saying
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it is time to wake up.
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Every one of us
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needs to wake up.
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Too many people
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are just sleeping
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their way through life.
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Christians included.
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We are not aware
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of living in light
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of the Lord's return.
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I'm sure as you've been
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enjoying meals
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in this past week
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and maybe just having
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a bit more time
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to rest and relax.
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After a meal
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you go and sit down
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and you say
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I'm going to watch
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something on the television.
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I'm going to watch
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maybe the football.
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I'm going to watch
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a soap.
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I'm going to watch
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a movie.
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So you sit down
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to relax and watch it.
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How long has it taken
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until you're asleep?
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You've had a big meal.
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You're sitting maybe
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in a warm room
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and within 5, 10, 15 minutes
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you're away with it.
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You're sleeping
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in that chair.
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We're out of touch
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because when you're sleeping
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you're not aware
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of things that are going on
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round about you.
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And there's times
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where you can just
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doze off like that.
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And it's good for us
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to get a rest,
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to get a sleep.
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But there's other times
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when there's no excuse
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for sleeping.
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And especially
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as we think of
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what Paul is saying
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to us here
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is not to sleep
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our way through life
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unaware of God,
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ignoring the warning
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of the gospel,
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ignoring all that
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he is saying to us.
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It is time
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to wake up
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because we're living
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in light of the return
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of the Lord.
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Have we been awake
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this last year
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or have we been sleeping
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our way through it?
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There's an urgency
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in these words
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that as a people
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we have to take heed of.
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One person
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put it like this.
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In the midst
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of a generation
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screaming for answers,
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Christians are stuttering.
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Christians are sleeping.
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What a warning
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there is in these words
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for us.
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Because we get
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so complacent,
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so comfortable in life
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that we're not living
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in light of the imminent
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return of the Lord
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that it could be
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at any moment.
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And when we lose
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that sight
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we lose that
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urgency
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in it all.
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So we are being called
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to wake up
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as a people.
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The second thing
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we're being told here
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is to watch out.
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We see this
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in verse 12.
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The night is far gone,
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the day is at hand.
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So let us
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cast off
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the works
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of darkness
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and put on
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the armour
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of light.
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What are we doing
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with our lives?
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That's the question
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being asked
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in this verse.
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And again,
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it's in light
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of the day
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being at hand.
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But you see here
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that there is
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the works of darkness
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and the armour
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!
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of light.
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the difference
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is there.
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And so how are we
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living our lives
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as we
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wake up
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of our slumber?
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What are we seeing
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around us?
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What are we seeing
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in our people?
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What are we seeing
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in our communities?
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What are we seeing
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in our church?
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If it's time
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to wake up
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what are we
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watching out for?
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Well,
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what are our works?
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Paul here
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is saying
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it is time
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then to cast
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off the works
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of darkness
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and put on
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the armour
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of light.
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It's about
19:18
making sure
19:19
that we are
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doing right
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with the Lord.
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Light and darkness
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are opposite.
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Paul,
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writing to the
19:27
Ephesians,
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says it as well.
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He says it
19:30
in chapter 5
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verse 13,
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but when anything
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is exposed
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by the light
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it becomes visible.
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For anything
19:36
that becomes visible
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is light.
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Therefore it says
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awake,
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O sleeper,
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and arise
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from the dead
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and Christ
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will shine
19:45
in you.
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Again,
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it's that warning
19:48
of wake up.
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Wake up.
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See the light
19:54
of Christ
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and let the light
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of Christ
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shine in you.
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But he says
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arise from the dead.
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We are dead
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in darkness.
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That is the place
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that darkness
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so often represents
20:06
in the word of God.
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it's our place
20:09
of being lost.
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Whether it's
20:11
in this life
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or whether it's
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in eternity.
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It's a place
20:15
of darkness
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eternally
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where there's
20:17
wailing and
20:18
gnashing of teeth.
20:19
It's a place
20:20
of darkness
20:21
in this life
20:22
when we are
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ignorant
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and ignore
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the warnings
20:25
of the gospel,
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turn away
20:26
from God,
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we are in
20:28
darkness.
20:30
And so Paul
20:30
is writing here
20:31
to the Christians
20:32
in Rome
20:35
saying in the
20:35
midst of this
20:36
time that you
20:37
are living,
20:37
which was a
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time of
20:39
crisis in
20:40
so many ways,
20:42
when they
20:42
were being
20:42
persecuted
20:43
and all that
20:45
was happening
20:45
in the Christian
20:46
church at this
20:47
time,
20:48
it was making
20:49
so many
20:49
turn away.
20:51
Or the danger
20:52
was that they
20:52
would turn back
20:53
to the darkness.
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darkness.
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But he's
20:56
warning them
20:57
here,
20:58
it is not
20:59
a time
20:59
to turn back.
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He's saying
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cast off
21:02
the works
21:03
of darkness
21:03
and put on
21:04
the armour
21:05
of light.
21:07
The armour
21:08
of light,
21:09
so it's this
21:09
defence
21:10
that you're
21:11
putting on.
21:12
It's this
21:12
protection
21:13
that you're
21:14
putting on.
21:15
The armour
21:16
of light,
21:17
the same
21:17
as Paul
21:18
speaks of
21:19
in Ephesians
21:20
chapter 6,
21:22
the armour
21:23
of God.
21:25
what we have
21:26
available for
21:27
us in the
21:28
gospel.
21:29
All the
21:29
powers that
21:30
we have
21:31
when we
21:31
see the
21:32
powers of
21:32
darkness
21:33
that are
21:34
spoken of
21:35
so often
21:37
in the
21:38
scriptures,
21:39
you also
21:40
have the
21:40
power of
21:41
the light
21:42
of the
21:42
gospel.
21:47
The armour
21:48
of light
21:49
is what we
21:50
have available
21:51
to us
21:52
here.
21:53
And what
21:54
he's saying
21:54
is now
21:55
is the
21:56
time to
21:56
trust in
21:58
the Lord.
21:58
Watch out
21:59
for what
22:00
you are
22:00
doing.
22:01
Watch out
22:01
for what
22:02
is going
22:02
on around
22:04
you.
22:04
Because
22:05
every day
22:05
there are
22:06
people dying
22:07
without the
22:08
Lord who
22:09
are going
22:10
to a
22:11
lost
22:11
eternity.
22:13
Darkness
22:13
and light
22:15
are the
22:15
opposite.
22:17
And where
22:17
do you want
22:18
to spend
22:18
eternity?
22:22
Where do
22:23
you want
22:23
to be
22:24
but with
22:25
the Lord
22:25
surely
22:26
for all
22:27
eternity?
22:28
The forces
22:29
of evil
22:29
are all
22:30
around us.
22:32
It's a time
22:33
of year when
22:33
we can maybe
22:34
watch many
22:35
of these
22:35
movies that
22:36
portray
22:37
good and
22:38
evil fighting
22:40
against each
22:40
other.
22:41
James Bond
22:42
was always
22:43
a Christmas
22:44
film back
22:44
in the
22:45
day.
22:46
The forces
22:46
of evil
22:47
trying to
22:48
gain the
22:49
power of
22:49
the world,
22:50
control of
22:50
the world,
22:51
and the
22:52
superhero
22:52
coming in.
22:55
The same
22:56
with any
22:57
kind of
22:57
superhero,
22:58
like Superman
22:58
or Batman
22:59
or any
23:00
of these
23:00
things.
23:01
It's always
23:01
these two
23:02
forces coming
23:03
against each
23:04
other.
23:06
And it's
23:07
far-fetched
23:08
in so many
23:08
ways.
23:10
But when
23:11
you look at
23:11
the scriptures
23:12
it reminds
23:12
us of the
23:13
reality of
23:14
this battle
23:15
that is
23:16
going on
23:16
between the
23:18
forces of
23:19
evil and
23:20
the power
23:21
of God.
23:22
There is
23:23
this darkness
23:23
that seeks
23:24
to overcome.
23:26
But Paul
23:26
is saying
23:27
watch out
23:28
for this.
23:28
Put on
23:29
the armour
23:30
of light.
23:33
And so
23:33
we are to
23:34
wake up
23:35
of our
23:35
slumber
23:36
and recognise
23:37
the seriousness
23:38
of the day
23:39
that we live
23:39
in and to
23:41
see that
23:42
we are to
23:42
be about
23:43
the Lord's
23:44
business.
23:45
We are
23:45
reminded of
23:46
that this
23:47
morning from
23:48
Callum as
23:48
well.
23:50
And somebody
23:50
who was
23:51
reading this
23:52
week put it
23:52
like this,
23:53
we have a
23:53
duty in
23:54
this life.
23:55
The kind
23:56
of things
23:56
that we are
23:57
to watch
23:57
out for
23:58
in our
23:59
lives.
24:01
We have
24:02
a duty
24:02
first to
24:03
the Saviour.
24:05
That is
24:06
what this
24:06
word of
24:07
Paul is
24:07
bringing the
24:08
people back
24:09
to, to
24:09
the Saviour
24:10
who they
24:11
are to
24:11
see and
24:12
know and
24:12
love with
24:13
all their
24:14
hearts.
24:14
The Saviour
24:15
who is the
24:16
light of
24:17
the world
24:17
and to
24:18
put on
24:18
this armour
24:19
of light
24:20
to serve
24:22
him
24:22
faithfully
24:23
who served
24:24
his people,
24:26
who gave
24:26
his life
24:28
for his
24:29
people.
24:30
But they
24:31
also said
24:31
you have
24:32
a duty
24:32
to the
24:33
saints,
24:34
that is
24:34
the people
24:35
of God.
24:36
The duty
24:37
is to
24:37
carry out
24:38
your
24:38
responsibilities
24:39
to the
24:40
church.
24:40
That's
24:40
what we
24:41
are being
24:41
called to
24:42
here as
24:42
well,
24:43
as we
24:44
are to
24:44
watch out
24:45
for what
24:45
is going
24:45
on around
24:47
us.
24:48
When we
24:48
come to
24:49
the church,
24:49
when we
24:49
come to
24:50
be part
24:51
of the
24:51
people of
24:52
God,
24:52
we make
24:54
our vows,
24:54
we make
24:55
our promises
24:56
to each
24:56
other that
24:57
we will
24:57
look out
24:58
for one
24:59
another,
25:00
that we
25:00
will pray
25:01
for one
25:01
another,
25:01
that we
25:02
will encourage
25:02
one another.
25:04
That is
25:05
what we
25:05
are to
25:05
be as
25:06
the people
25:07
of God
25:07
to watch
25:08
out for
25:09
these things.
25:09
We don't
25:10
let the
25:10
power of
25:11
darkness
25:11
come in
25:12
to destroy
25:13
these things,
25:14
but that we
25:14
put on
25:15
the armour
25:16
of light
25:17
to guard
25:17
us with
25:18
one another.
25:21
They also
25:21
went on to
25:22
say you
25:22
have a
25:23
duty to
25:24
sinners.
25:25
You have
25:26
a duty
25:26
to the
25:27
saviour,
25:28
you have
25:28
a duty
25:28
to the
25:29
saints,
25:30
but you
25:30
also have
25:31
a duty
25:31
to the
25:32
sinners.
25:33
And that
25:34
is the
25:34
duty of
25:35
the church,
25:35
to let
25:37
Christ
25:37
shine
25:38
in us
25:39
and through
25:40
us,
25:41
to let
25:41
that light
25:42
of the
25:42
gospel
25:43
shine in
25:43
to those
25:45
around us,
25:46
because our
25:47
duty to
25:47
sinners is
25:48
to tell
25:49
them that
25:50
they are
25:50
lost and
25:51
perishing in
25:52
the darkness
25:52
of this
25:53
world,
25:55
but that
25:55
there is a
25:56
saviour who
25:57
is able to
25:58
save.
25:59
We are
26:00
called to
26:01
be a
26:02
witness to
26:02
those around
26:04
us.
26:05
So we
26:06
are to
26:06
watch out.
26:08
We are to
26:08
watch out in
26:10
all of these
26:10
relationships with
26:11
our saviour,
26:13
with one
26:13
another,
26:14
and with
26:14
those who
26:15
are lost
26:15
around us.
26:18
We are in
26:19
that crisis
26:20
of the hour
26:21
because the
26:22
day is at
26:23
hand.
26:25
But are we
26:25
living in
26:26
the light of
26:27
the Lord's
26:28
return?
26:29
Are we
26:29
witnessing in
26:30
the light that
26:31
the Lord could
26:32
come at
26:33
any moment?
26:34
Are we
26:35
looking out
26:36
for one
26:36
another in
26:37
light that
26:37
the Lord
26:38
could come
26:39
at any
26:40
time?
26:42
So we
26:42
are to
26:42
watch out
26:43
in all of
26:44
these things.
26:45
The night
26:46
is far
26:46
gone,
26:47
the day
26:47
is at
26:48
hand,
26:49
so let
26:49
us cast
26:50
off the
26:50
works of
26:51
darkness
26:51
and put
26:52
on the
26:53
armour of
26:55
light.
26:56
The final
26:57
thing we
26:58
see here
26:58
is that
27:00
we are to
27:00
walk in
27:01
a particular
27:02
way.
27:02
in verse
27:04
13,
27:04
let us
27:05
walk
27:05
properly
27:06
as in
27:08
the
27:08
daytime.
27:09
Let us
27:10
walk
27:10
properly
27:11
as in
27:12
the
27:13
daytime.
27:14
So here
27:15
Paul is
27:16
saying that
27:17
our behaviour,
27:18
the way we
27:19
live, the way
27:19
we walk,
27:20
should be in
27:20
light of
27:21
being in
27:22
the day,
27:22
of being
27:23
in the
27:24
light.
27:26
I'm sure
27:26
many of us
27:27
know what it
27:27
is to walk
27:28
around in
27:29
the dark.
27:30
Maybe you're
27:30
in your
27:31
house and
27:32
you get
27:32
up and
27:33
it's
27:33
dark but
27:33
you don't
27:34
want to
27:34
wake up
27:35
anybody
27:35
else so
27:35
you leave
27:36
the lights
27:37
off.
27:38
But as
27:39
you're
27:39
walking
27:40
around,
27:41
you forget
27:42
that you've
27:42
left something
27:43
on the
27:43
floor or
27:44
you forget
27:45
where a
27:45
certain piece
27:46
of furniture
27:46
is and
27:48
without
27:48
recognising
27:49
where you're
27:49
going,
27:50
you knock
27:50
into it or
27:51
you kick
27:51
it, even
27:52
worse if
27:53
you're not
27:53
wearing
27:54
anything on
27:54
your feet
27:55
and you get
27:55
a scream
27:56
of ouch
27:57
when that
27:58
happens.
27:59
We're trying
28:00
to do things
28:01
in the dark
28:01
we're not
28:02
seeing.
28:03
And that's
28:04
the very
28:04
thing the
28:05
gospel speaks
28:06
about.
28:06
We're trying
28:07
to live
28:07
our lives
28:08
apart from
28:09
God,
28:10
thinking we
28:11
know where
28:11
we're going
28:12
and what
28:12
we're doing,
28:13
but all the
28:14
time we're
28:14
just groping
28:15
around in
28:16
the dark.
28:18
Because apart
28:18
from him,
28:19
we are in
28:20
that darkness.
28:22
And so we
28:23
need to walk
28:24
in this light,
28:25
walk in the
28:26
daytime,
28:28
getting away
28:29
from the
28:29
things of
28:30
the darkness,
28:31
getting away
28:31
from the
28:32
things of
28:32
this world
28:33
and putting
28:33
on that
28:34
armour of
28:35
light and
28:36
walking in
28:37
that way.
28:39
The Bible
28:40
describes the
28:42
sinful world
28:43
in which we
28:44
live in as
28:45
darkness.
28:47
And there's
28:48
a contrast
28:49
when we
28:50
think of the
28:50
Christian life
28:51
as living
28:51
in the
28:52
light.
28:53
Paul asks
28:54
that question,
28:56
a rhetorical
28:56
question in
28:57
2 Corinthians
28:58
chapter 6
28:59
verse 14.
29:00
What
29:01
fellowship has
29:02
light with
29:03
darkness?
29:04
The two
29:05
just don't
29:06
go together.
29:09
And so
29:09
for us,
29:10
it's important
29:11
that we keep
29:11
walking in
29:13
the light
29:13
and walking
29:15
in the light
29:15
of the
29:16
Lord's
29:16
return.
29:19
We think
29:20
this world,
29:21
or so many
29:21
think this
29:22
world,
29:23
is progressive.
29:24
progressive.
29:25
It's found
29:26
its way
29:26
out of the
29:27
darkness of
29:28
Christianity,
29:29
out of the
29:29
dark ages
29:30
which
29:31
Christianity
29:32
is.
29:33
But it's
29:34
so not
29:35
true.
29:36
To go away
29:37
from that
29:37
is to go
29:38
back into
29:39
the darkness,
29:40
to go back
29:40
into the
29:41
world,
29:44
and to go
29:45
back into
29:46
the very
29:46
things that
29:47
the Word
29:47
of God
29:48
condemns.
29:48
darkness.
29:50
The darkness
29:50
that we see
29:51
around us
29:52
in this
29:53
world is
29:53
maybe becoming
29:54
more and
29:55
more prevalent,
29:56
but we
29:57
still have
29:58
the light
29:59
of the
30:00
Gospel.
30:01
We still
30:02
have the
30:02
light of
30:03
the Lord
30:03
Jesus
30:04
Christ.
30:07
Because this
30:07
world is in
30:08
darkness.
30:10
This world
30:11
is in
30:11
darkness
30:11
concerning
30:12
what mankind
30:14
is like.
30:16
We live in
30:16
a world
30:17
where so many
30:17
will say,
30:18
but I'm
30:19
a good
30:19
person.
30:21
And yet
30:21
the Bible
30:22
says there
30:23
is none
30:23
who is
30:24
good.
30:25
We are
30:25
ignorant.
30:28
The
30:28
world is
30:29
in darkness
30:30
as to our
30:31
purpose in
30:32
this life.
30:33
Where so
30:34
many people
30:34
will have
30:35
their own
30:36
goals,
30:36
their own
30:37
targets,
30:37
living for
30:38
self.
30:40
Whereas the
30:41
Scriptures
30:41
teach us
30:42
our great
30:43
purpose is
30:44
to glorify
30:45
God and
30:46
to enjoy
30:46
him forever.
30:47
there is
30:48
this darkness
30:49
and there
30:49
is this
30:50
light.
30:52
The world
30:52
is in
30:53
darkness
30:53
concerning
30:54
death
30:54
and
30:55
eternity.
30:56
Where the
30:57
world
30:57
says,
30:58
well,
30:59
death is
30:59
either the
31:00
end and
31:00
that's it.
31:02
Or you
31:02
see so
31:03
many saying,
31:04
well,
31:04
when there's
31:05
death,
31:05
then we
31:05
all go
31:06
to heaven.
31:07
And we'll
31:07
all enjoy
31:08
being together
31:09
there.
31:10
But the
31:10
reality is
31:11
so different.
31:13
Where death
31:14
usher's in
31:15
eternity.
31:17
And eternity
31:17
in heaven is
31:18
for those
31:19
who believe,
31:20
for those
31:21
who trust
31:21
in the
31:22
Lord Jesus
31:22
Christ.
31:23
Because if
31:23
you don't,
31:24
it's
31:25
darkness.
31:25
darkness.
31:28
And so the
31:29
contrast is
31:30
there for
31:30
us.
31:31
And which
31:31
way are we
31:32
walking as
31:33
we come to
31:33
the end of
31:34
this year?
31:34
Are we
31:34
walking in
31:36
darkness?
31:37
Or are we
31:38
walking in
31:39
light of the
31:40
gospel?
31:41
Are we
31:42
walking in
31:42
light of the
31:43
Lord's
31:44
return at
31:46
any moment?
31:47
Martin Lloyd
31:48
Jones in
31:49
one of
31:49
his books
31:49
on Romans
31:51
said this,
31:52
the world
31:53
would not
31:54
go on
31:54
living as
31:55
it does
31:55
for a
31:56
second if
31:57
it knew
31:58
something about
31:59
the judgment
32:00
to come.
32:03
The world
32:03
would not
32:04
go on
32:04
living as
32:05
it does
32:05
for a
32:06
second if
32:08
it knew
32:08
something of
32:09
the judgment
32:10
to come.
32:12
The Lord
32:13
will come
32:14
to judge.
32:16
We don't
32:17
know when.
32:19
We look
32:19
forward to
32:20
days and
32:21
we live
32:21
for days.
32:23
We plan
32:24
for days.
32:25
We plan
32:25
for things
32:27
that are
32:27
going to
32:28
happen in
32:28
the future.
32:30
And there's
32:30
nothing wrong
32:31
with that
32:31
until we
32:34
leave God
32:34
out of it.
32:36
Until we
32:37
put him
32:38
away.
32:41
Because then
32:42
we're just
32:42
planning for
32:43
darkness.
32:45
But as we
32:46
come to
32:47
the end of
32:48
this year,
32:48
let us
32:48
make sure
32:49
whatever we
32:50
have behind
32:51
us, that
32:53
before us
32:54
we have the
32:54
Lord.
32:56
And that we
32:56
are looking
32:56
to him.
32:58
That we
32:58
are trusting
32:59
in him.
33:02
Faith is
33:04
living in
33:05
light of
33:06
what is to
33:07
come.
33:09
And what
33:09
is to come
33:10
is that the
33:11
day of the
33:12
Lord is
33:13
before us.
33:14
we might
33:16
not even
33:16
get to
33:18
Wednesday
33:18
night's
33:19
bells.
33:19
Because the
33:21
Lord could
33:21
come.
33:23
But are we
33:24
living in
33:25
that way?
33:27
The day
33:27
is at
33:28
hand.
33:30
It is time
33:31
to wake
33:32
up.
33:33
It is time
33:34
to watch
33:36
where we
33:36
are and
33:36
what's going
33:37
on around
33:37
us.
33:38
and it
33:39
is time
33:40
to walk
33:41
in the
33:42
light.
33:43
To put
33:44
our trust
33:44
in the
33:45
Lord Jesus
33:46
Christ.
33:47
To walk
33:48
with him
33:49
that the
33:50
darkness
33:51
will not
33:52
overwhelm
33:53
us.
33:54
Let us
33:54
pray.
33:57
Lord our
33:57
gracious God,
33:58
we do
33:59
thank you
33:59
for the
34:00
light of
34:00
the gospel.
34:01
We thank
34:02
you for
34:02
the light
34:02
that shines
34:04
into our
34:05
hearts
34:05
through
34:05
Jesus
34:06
Christ.
34:06
And we
34:07
pray for
34:08
even that
34:09
light of
34:10
armour of
34:11
light to
34:11
be ours
34:12
in each
34:13
and every
34:13
day.
34:14
That we
34:15
would know
34:15
your protection,
34:16
your grace,
34:18
your peace,
34:18
your mercy
34:19
with us.
34:20
Guide us
34:21
Lord through
34:21
your spirit.
34:22
Guide us
34:23
by your
34:24
light and
34:24
by your
34:25
truth.
34:26
Let them
34:26
shine before
34:27
us today and
34:28
in all the
34:29
days that
34:29
may be ahead
34:30
of us.
34:31
That we
34:31
would know
34:31
your presence
34:32
and your
34:33
peace upon
34:33
us.
34:34
As we
34:34
ask all in
34:35
Jesus name.
34:36
Amen.
34:42
We're going
34:43
to conclude
34:44
by singing
34:45
to God's
34:46
praise in
34:46
Psalm 25,
34:49
the Scottish
34:49
Psalter version.
34:54
Psalm 25
34:56
you'll find
34:56
on page
34:57
231,
34:58
the first
34:59
version of
34:59
the psalm.
35:01
We're going
35:02
to sing
35:02
from verse
35:03
4 to
35:03
verse 6,
35:04
the tune
35:04
is Dennis.
35:08
A psalm
35:09
that reminds
35:09
us of
35:10
just looking
35:10
to the
35:11
Lord,
35:12
praying to
35:12
the Lord,
35:13
seeking
35:13
his mercy
35:15
upon us.
35:16
Show me
35:16
thy ways,
35:17
O Lord,
35:17
thy paths,
35:18
O teach
35:19
thou me,
35:19
and do
35:20
thou lead
35:20
me in
35:20
night through
35:21
that in
35:21
my teacher
35:23
be.
35:23
For thou
35:23
art God
35:24
that does
35:24
to me
35:25
salvation
35:26
send,
35:27
and I
35:27
upon thee
35:27
all the
35:28
day
35:28
expecting
35:29
to attend.
35:30
We'll
35:30
sing from
35:31
verse 4
35:31
to 6
35:32
to God's
35:33
praise.
35:33
Amen.
36:03
Amen.
36:33
Amen.
37:03
Amen.
37:05
Amen.
37:07
After the benediction, I'll go to the door to my left.
37:20
We'll close with the benediction.
37:22
Now may grace, mercy, and peace from God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit rest upon and abide with you all now and forevermore.
37:31
Amen.
37:33
Amen.
38:03
Amen.
38:05
Amen.
38:07
Amen.
38:09
Amen.
38:11
Amen.
38:13
Amen.
38:15
Amen.
38:17
Amen.