AWAKE OUT OF SLEEP

AWAKE OUT OF SLEEP!

Rom 13:11-14

11 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.

12 The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light.

13 Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying.

14 But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.

The word “chambering” in verse 13 is very graphic and is from the Greek word koite (koy'-tay); a couch; by extension cohabitation; by implication, “illicit intercourse.”

The Lord is coming – on His way, perhaps! Our salvation, full and complete, is nearer than it was when we first believed.

Dr. Alexander MacLaren said: Time closing in upon us! "The time is short," or, as we might perhaps render it so as to give the full force of the metaphor, the time is pressed together. It is being squeezed into narrower compass, like a sponge in a strong hand. There is an old story of a prisoner in a cell with contractile walls. Day by day his space lessens -- he saw the whole of that window yesterday, he sees only half of it to-day. Nearer and nearer the walls are drawn together, till they meet and crush him between them. So the walls of our home (which we have made our prison) are closing in upon us.

Our national ills are a reflection of our personal ones. We have a “representative” form of government and in many ways our government represents us morally and ethically. We don’t like what we see but we can hardly deny it.

Dr. Adrian Rodgers said: When a nation loses its ability to discern morality, it embarks on a slippery slope toward self-destruction. America is in a crisis, and unless we have a moral rebirth, we will join the graveyard of the nations.

It is time to Wake Up! Samson lay in the lap of Delilah and laughed at her tricks time after time because he trusted in his amazing God-given strength. Looking back Samson knew he had slept too long.

It is time to Look Up! Jesus is coming. Now our full and complete salvation – even our entrance into heaven – is nearer than when we first believed. Jesus said when you see these things coming to pass; look up for your redemption draweth nigh.

It’s time to Pray Up! Satan is working as never before because he knows his time is short. We need to resist the devil so that he will flee from us. It is time for God’s people to clearly choose who we will serve.

Dear Lord, shake me awake! Show me what I can do to not only keep myself pure and prepared but to help my fellow believers to be ready for your arrival. AMEN

OUR NEED FOR SAFETY

OUR NEED FOR SAFETY!

Ps 119:117

117 Hold thou me up, and I shall be safe: and I will have respect unto thy statutes continually.

           Our world has become a very dangerous place! The natural result of rebellion against the will and ways of God is violence. We see that in the earliest days of man when Cain slew his brother Abel over a dispute over religious observance (Genesis 4:8). If religion can be so violently divisive, what hope is there of political contention? The most mild-mannered people today are carrying weapons out of fear for their personal safety! In our text above, I see three important things.

           Our cry! The psalmist cries out for support when he says “hold me up.” In fact the entire phrase is translated from only one Hebrew word which literally means “to support, comfort, and establish.” We may not formally make that cry to God. We may not even be openly aware of our need but the deep cry of our heart is for a support system beyond ourselves.

           Our need! The word “safe” here means “to be open, wide, or free.” I’m a Texan and when I think of this I can’t help thinking about the song “Don’t fence me in.” Safety is more than the need to feel that there is no danger nearby. It is the freedom that accompanies it that we need. If slavery is the price of safety then we have made a very bad trade.

           Our response! When we cry out to God and He saves us our natural response is to have regard for his appointments and commandments. We are inclined to do what He requires.

Dear Lord, we are not safe in this world but you have made us safe in your loving care. Hold us up, Lord and we will respond in grateful obedience. AMEN

HE CARES FOR YOU

HE CARES FOR YOU!

Luke 15:4

4 What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it?

1 Peter 5:7

7 Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.

           Many years ago I talked to an insurance salesman who told me that he had to constantly sell more and more policies to offset attrition. Attrition is that gradual wearing away of his clientele. I thought it somewhat cold because I am also concerned with retention! If you are dealing with souls instead of customers it becomes critically important!

           When Jesus asked “what man of you,” he was pointing out that some shepherds might simply count his ninety-nine sheep and be grateful. However, Jesus could not be satisfied until that one lost sheep was found and returned.  

           Peter reminds us that God cares for us. The idea is that God always has His eye on us! Sheep have a tendency to go astray, and that is why they need a shepherd! Earlier, Peter reminds us of this very thing. “For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.” 1 Peter 2:25.

           To we who stray and enjoy our wandering, this is aggravating because we don’t want a constantly watching eye but for those of us who are lost and feel our lostness, we are grateful.

Ps 38:21-22

21 Forsake me not, O Lord : O my God, be not far from me.

22 Make haste to help me, O Lord my salvation.

Lord, I am a shepherd and there are some who are straying. I see them, although they do not know it. Help me to rescue them. Lord, I also am a sheep and have my own wandering ways. Never take your eye off me. AMEN

CHARACTER

CHARACTER!

Rom 5:1-5

5 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:

2 By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

3 And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience;

4 And patience, experience; and experience, hope:

5 And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.

           The word “experience” in verse four is the Greek word dokime (dok-ee-may’) and literally means trustiness or CHARACTER! Vincent’s Word Studies says that it means “tried or proven integrity.”

           Because we have been justified by our faith in Christ, we are now at peace with Him and have been given peace from Him. Not only are we no longer at war with Him but we have been given the calmness that transcends anything this world may offer.

           Little by little, God begins to build character in His children by allowing tribulation to come into our lives. This He gives us in measured amounts so that we are not overwhelmed. The trials first build patience or endurance. Like an athlete who trains and builds muscle, strength, and stamina, so the believer is able to endure patiently more and more challenges. Almost imperceptibly, because we learn to do the right thing over and over, we develop character.

           Character builds hope! Hope is the Greek word elpis which means “to anticipate with pleasure or confidence.” Every time we meet a challenge with integrity and patience, hope is built in us. Because God has delivered us in the past, we know He will not fail us now or in the future. We develop a confidence in Him that cannot be shaken by mere trials.

           Finally, we arrive at boldness because this hope “maketh not ashamed!” Perhaps the reason we fear to boldly proclaim our faith is that we haven’t fully developed it. We haven’t born the trials that build this kind of confidence and character.

1 Peter 5:10

10 But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.

Dear Lord, I know that you deliver my trials in measured amounts. Thank you for building character in my. Help me to be a good student. AMEN

NO CONDEMNATION

NO CONDEMNATION!

John 8:10-11

10 When Jesus had lifted up himself, and saw none but the woman, he said unto her, Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee?

11 She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.

           The Temple! What a place to have your sins discovered! Yet it was in this hallowed place that the scribes and Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in the very act of adultery. How horrifying would it be if we too were to have our most secret acts discovered?

           The Law prescribed death by stoning which was a slow and torturous way to die. It was corporate punishment in which everyone took up at least one stone to hurl at the guilty. In such a manner was sin put away from the people. This was a strong deterrent to those who would sin. Although the Law had been mostly ignored, at least in the punishment of it, the Pharisees wanted to know if Jesus would uphold the Law. If He did they could accuse him of being harsh! If He did not, they could accuse him of disrespecting the Law.

           The Woman! As far as we can tell, this woman was not a prostitute but rather a cheating wife. It is clear that she was entangled in a trap that had more to do with trapping Jesus than trapping her.

           The Lord chose neither to prosecute the law or to ignore it but to apply forgiveness. We would really like to know what He wrote on the ground! Those standing around with stones were likewise guilty in this drama. They had planned this and brought her to Jesus – but where was the man? The Law prescribed stoning for both guilty parties!

           The verdict was guilty but Jesus said that there would be no condemnation! No stones would come crashing down upon her skull. This does not mean that Jesus condoned her sin. He chose not to condemn her. It was an act of grace but required repentance! He did not say “go and keep on sinning” but rather “go and sin no more!”

Rom 8:1

8 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

Dear Lord, we are guilty, trapped, and caught in the act! Nothing escapes your gaze. We are forgiven – if we would only receive that forgiveness! We have both an opportunity and an obligation to go and sin no more. Thank you for your marvelous mercy. AMEN