WEBVTT 00:00:04.879 --> 00:00:11.039 So this morning we are going to be like it was mentioned in Romans 13, verses 11 through 14. 00:00:11.119 --> 00:00:18.079 It's probably a very familiar passage, one that maybe you've read a hundred thousand times or heard that many. 00:00:18.559 --> 00:00:25.359 And so the potential is to maybe check out when we're navigating a scripture that we've just heard over and over again. 00:00:25.839 --> 00:00:30.640 Heard this before, I can kind of uh autopilot through this, and I would just encourage us not to do that. 00:00:30.719 --> 00:00:37.200 Um I would my prayer is that we would be encouraged and motivated and challenged with this very familiar scripture. 00:00:37.359 --> 00:00:48.880 Um fourth century uh uh theologian, philosopher Augustine uh actually came to saving faith reading this scripture uh by happenstance. 00:00:49.039 --> 00:00:56.960 He he pursued um knowledge and and uh all the all the oratory preparation and and training possible. 00:00:57.119 --> 00:01:05.040 Um but he also, while he was doing that, enjoyed um all of the uh all the all the sexual promiscuity that you can imagine. 00:01:05.120 --> 00:01:17.200 And and it kind of plagued him through his whole life, um, up until one day he was face down on the ground, wrestling with this uh this perceived demon that he couldn't just couldn't rise above. 00:01:17.280 --> 00:01:21.680 He could not gain control over uh over this part of his life. 00:01:21.840 --> 00:01:31.680 Um and all of a sudden he heard children um near him calling out in this chant that he hadn't heard before, take up and read, take up and read. 00:01:31.840 --> 00:01:37.280 And oddly enough, he uh next to him there was a scroll, and that scroll happened to be of Romans 13. 00:01:37.359 --> 00:01:43.040 He just opened it up, um, and the first thing he saw were these verses that we're reading today. 00:01:43.200 --> 00:01:47.920 And and that was the moment that the Holy Spirit changed Augustine forever. 00:01:48.079 --> 00:02:13.680 Um so if it was powerful enough to transform um in an instant um one of the kind of the titans of our faith as far as uh uh who we learn from, where we where we get our our our uh our training and and a lot of our ideals, especially from a Western Christian perspective, um certainly we can we can expect something cool to happen today. 00:02:13.759 --> 00:02:25.039 So, but before we do, let's um let's re-review where we've been in chapters one through uh 11, especially, um leading up to now 12 and 13, where there's a little bit of a pivot. 00:02:25.199 --> 00:02:35.280 One through 11 was um kind of going over what God uh did on our behalf to secure for us uh this salvation that we couldn't earn or get for ourselves. 00:02:35.439 --> 00:02:40.960 Um and and now we're we're kind of looking at what does it look like to live like that's true? 00:02:41.199 --> 00:02:42.560 What does it look like? 00:02:42.639 --> 00:02:44.639 Um how is that manifest in our lives? 00:02:44.719 --> 00:02:54.800 What are we called to and what are we called away from if we really do have that saving faith that we had learned about in chapters uh 1 through 11. 00:02:54.879 --> 00:03:03.039 And then most recently last week, learning that uh we don't owe each other anything but to love one another as Christ loves us. 00:03:03.280 --> 00:03:05.919 Love each other as we love ourselves. 00:03:06.080 --> 00:03:07.599 That's the duty that we have. 00:03:07.759 --> 00:03:20.000 And so that's the context to which we come now to verses uh 11 and 12, which says, Besides this, you know the time, that the hour has come for you to wake from sleep. 00:03:20.319 --> 00:03:23.360 For salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed. 00:03:23.520 --> 00:03:26.960 The night is far gone, the day is at hand. 00:03:27.439 --> 00:03:39.039 And I would summarize uh that, uh, those those two verses, really 11 and 12a, um, as the call is to love, and the call is for right now. 00:03:39.759 --> 00:03:48.159 We can understand what is expected of us, what we're called to do, but we also need to understand that it's time to do that right now. 00:03:48.800 --> 00:03:50.719 But let's make sense of this besides. 00:03:50.879 --> 00:03:53.680 In the English Standard Version, it says besides this. 00:03:54.000 --> 00:03:59.520 Other versions or other translations have it as do this or and do this. 00:03:59.680 --> 00:04:07.680 So um no one anything but to love them and do this because you know the time. 00:04:07.840 --> 00:04:09.280 You know what time it is. 00:04:10.159 --> 00:04:21.120 So Paul's exhortation here is to fulfill the law through love, um, and he's proclaiming that you're called to love God and love others, and do this because you know the hour that we're in. 00:04:21.839 --> 00:04:26.879 So I know some of you are in sales, I have a I have a background a bit in sales. 00:04:27.040 --> 00:04:29.360 Um and okay, there we go. 00:04:29.439 --> 00:04:30.560 I we knew this would happen. 00:04:30.720 --> 00:04:32.560 We knew this was we knew this was coming. 00:04:32.800 --> 00:04:34.079 Um sales. 00:04:34.399 --> 00:04:36.639 Uh you gotta you gotta sell two things. 00:04:36.800 --> 00:04:37.279 The why. 00:04:37.439 --> 00:04:45.519 You got someone in front of you ready ready to sign, or you want them to sign, but you've got to convince them on why, and then why what? 00:04:46.560 --> 00:04:46.879 Now. 00:04:47.680 --> 00:04:48.800 Why right now? 00:04:49.040 --> 00:04:51.759 It's great that you sold me on it, but I've got no urgency. 00:04:51.839 --> 00:04:55.439 And that's what Paul's create uh cultivating here is some urgency. 00:04:56.240 --> 00:04:58.959 You gotta do this, but you gotta do it now. 00:04:59.519 --> 00:05:02.800 And so good salesmanship on on Paul's uh part. 00:05:03.120 --> 00:05:10.879 Um but let me ask you, is there anything that motivates you to love or motivates you like time does? 00:05:11.839 --> 00:05:30.720 I know like I recently lost my grandfather, and uh over the the coming weeks leading up to his death, nothing motivated me to spend time with him and invest in him and have my children around him like that reminder of wow, he is the day is dimming, the time is short. 00:05:30.959 --> 00:05:33.199 I wanted all the time with him that I could get. 00:05:33.360 --> 00:05:36.399 It created incredible urgency with me. 00:05:36.639 --> 00:05:46.800 And parents, probably especially moms, if you've ever been told uh, you know, you're never gonna see your kids this young ever again than they are today. 00:05:47.120 --> 00:05:49.279 This is the youngest you'll ever see them. 00:05:49.439 --> 00:05:54.160 It creates this like ache of like, oh man, I need to soak every minute in. 00:05:54.319 --> 00:05:59.439 I need to make the best and most of this daylight that I have with these kiddos. 00:05:59.759 --> 00:06:00.959 It's it's time. 00:06:01.360 --> 00:06:04.399 And there's no guarantee on how much time we have. 00:06:04.639 --> 00:06:10.560 Um, and I don't care what televangelist told you, how to calculate till the end times are here. 00:06:10.639 --> 00:06:11.600 Um we don't know. 00:06:11.839 --> 00:06:12.639 Nobody knows. 00:06:12.720 --> 00:06:19.360 Um, but what what we do know, what what Paul's telling us, is the time is near uh for that transition to happen. 00:06:19.519 --> 00:06:25.439 But let's, while we're talking about time, I think it's important to kind of uh see what Paul's uh talking about. 00:06:25.600 --> 00:06:28.319 So the time is we know the time we're in. 00:06:28.399 --> 00:06:29.680 What's what time are we talking about? 00:06:29.839 --> 00:06:35.040 So um we can kind of break up time into like four uh components. 00:06:35.279 --> 00:06:37.279 Um and yeah, there we go. 00:06:37.439 --> 00:06:45.680 Um so obviously there was a time before creation, um uh, but then you know, where where we come into the fold um is creation. 00:06:45.839 --> 00:06:47.759 There was there was an eternity before. 00:06:47.839 --> 00:06:54.240 Um this is when God created all of our uh known universe, um earth, um, beasts, us. 00:06:54.399 --> 00:06:59.600 Um and then we move to the fall when when we rebelled against our good creator. 00:06:59.759 --> 00:07:06.720 Um we severed that perfect existence that we had with him when we invited death into our story. 00:07:06.879 --> 00:07:11.439 Um and then we move on to the period where it's like a rescue mission happened. 00:07:11.519 --> 00:07:23.759 This is God's loving response through Jesus to our idolatry as he descended to reconcile all those that he'd called his own to restore what we had squandered. 00:07:24.000 --> 00:07:29.360 And then we can look forward to uh the return, the promised return of that king. 00:07:29.519 --> 00:07:34.720 Um and so often we just kind of sit here and not really look forward to that. 00:07:34.879 --> 00:07:45.839 Um thankfully, Jesus has promised to return, um forever defeating Satan, sin, and death to establish a kingdom that will exist forever. 00:07:46.000 --> 00:07:52.240 So where we are right now is in between uh that rescue and return. 00:07:52.639 --> 00:07:55.920 And so this is where Paul is uh kind of calling us to see. 00:07:56.160 --> 00:07:57.519 Look where we're at. 00:07:57.680 --> 00:08:03.680 Um this is uh this is it's really important because this age doesn't last forever. 00:08:03.839 --> 00:08:07.279 And we need to make the most of this age uh while we're here. 00:08:07.439 --> 00:08:15.600 And so what that looks like is um in the here, and but not yet, there's like this cosmic battle um happening. 00:08:15.920 --> 00:08:25.360 Real supernatural forces of evil and of God or goodness kind of battling each other, and we're invited to be uh we're invited to be a part of that. 00:08:25.519 --> 00:08:30.959 Um, Jesus has promised to make a brand new creation alongside of us, um those in him. 00:08:31.279 --> 00:08:32.960 But for now we're in that not yet. 00:08:33.039 --> 00:08:34.799 And that's that that's there's tension there. 00:08:34.960 --> 00:08:39.679 There's tension because we want all of that, uh all of what's promised. 00:08:39.919 --> 00:08:41.759 We yearn for things to be better. 00:08:41.919 --> 00:08:46.000 We yearn for all of the mess that we see around us all the time to pass away. 00:08:46.159 --> 00:08:46.960 We yearn for that. 00:08:47.759 --> 00:08:48.960 I know I do. 00:08:49.759 --> 00:08:57.360 Um but what we're called to is not some passive yearning, we're called to a diligent and vigilant action. 00:08:57.759 --> 00:09:05.600 And and the the action that we're called to, quite literally, from Paul, is wake up and wake up right now. 00:09:07.279 --> 00:09:08.240 Wake up. 00:09:10.799 --> 00:09:16.240 I know that I have this battle uh almost every morning with with my with my kiddos. 00:09:16.480 --> 00:09:23.120 It's I'll kind of travel into the room and I'll do like the gentle, hey, good morning, everybody, uh, time for a new day. 00:09:23.360 --> 00:09:33.519 And then 15 minutes later, it's like, all right, turning the light on, pulling the covers off, it's time to go now, because I'm not going to be the dad that got you to school late. 00:09:33.679 --> 00:09:36.879 Um so it it I feel like that's what Paul's doing. 00:09:36.960 --> 00:09:42.080 He's like shaking us, saying, it is time to go, and it's time to go uh right now. 00:09:42.960 --> 00:09:57.039 So uh let's notice though that Paul doesn't seek to motivate us just by pointing out um the darkness and the urgency to respond to it, but he includes the hope that we have, um, even though the darkness surrounds us. 00:09:57.200 --> 00:10:07.120 That we can look around and we can, it feels like Satan's just driving this whole thing, that he's got full control and that it could be feel a little hopeless. 00:10:07.279 --> 00:10:14.399 Um but what Paul says is that actually, no, um, the night is far gone and the day is at hand. 00:10:14.559 --> 00:10:28.000 So he's using these night and day components to represent God and evil, that the time will come that the night will fully pass, and that the light is actually already uh shining through. 00:10:28.240 --> 00:10:39.840 And so he's reminding us that we're in that period following the rescue mission carried out by Jesus, securing our redemption, but prior to that time where we're delivered and we're taken all the way home. 00:10:40.080 --> 00:10:44.480 The darkness of the fall and our condemnation under it has passed away. 00:10:44.799 --> 00:10:47.279 The dawn is here, the sun is out. 00:10:47.519 --> 00:10:52.879 The sun came out when the stone rolled away, but it left us with really short time. 00:10:53.120 --> 00:10:57.919 And that's mysterious, and it's hard to kind of reconcile, it's hard to wrap our minds around. 00:10:58.000 --> 00:11:00.000 Um, but just uh know this. 00:11:00.159 --> 00:11:04.720 Um, where we are now um is what Paul was talking about, that age, that time. 00:11:04.799 --> 00:11:10.159 And he actually talked about this in another uh in another portion of scripture that he wrote. 00:11:10.240 --> 00:11:22.879 Uh 1 Thessalonians 5, 4 through 6 says, But you are not in darkness, brothers, for that day to surprise you like a thief, for you are all children of light, children of the day. 00:11:23.039 --> 00:11:31.440 We are not of the night or of the darkness, so then let us not sleep as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober. 00:11:31.919 --> 00:11:35.440 See, the powers of darkness, Paul's saying, are nullified to us. 00:11:35.759 --> 00:11:36.559 But what does it mean? 00:11:36.720 --> 00:11:40.159 How do we how do we proceed in light of this? 00:11:40.320 --> 00:11:40.879 What do we do? 00:11:41.039 --> 00:11:42.320 What does this mean for our conduct? 00:11:42.399 --> 00:11:44.720 What does this mean for our hope and our motivation? 00:11:45.679 --> 00:11:50.720 And that's where we can move on to verses 12b through 14 in Romans 13. 00:11:51.039 --> 00:11:55.840 So then let us cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light. 00:11:56.000 --> 00:12:11.279 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. 00:12:11.600 --> 00:12:20.639 And I would summarize that with uh as as this wake up, suit up, wage war on the darkness. 00:12:20.960 --> 00:12:22.320 It's time to go. 00:12:22.559 --> 00:12:26.720 Our time is short, we're not under the darkness anymore. 00:12:26.960 --> 00:12:28.639 So let's let's act like it. 00:12:28.799 --> 00:12:32.320 Let's remember who we are, let's remember where our identity is. 00:12:33.679 --> 00:12:41.919 Going back to 1 Thessalonians, Paul again said it this way in verses 8 and 9 in chapter 5. 00:12:42.159 --> 00:12:50.480 But 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. 00:12:50.559 --> 00:12:57.759 For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. 00:12:59.120 --> 00:13:06.720 So the call is to take this love that we have and charge the gates of hell with it. 00:13:06.960 --> 00:13:10.320 But that that that call is for us to love everyone. 00:13:10.639 --> 00:13:13.360 Do you ever struggle to love everyone? 00:13:14.480 --> 00:13:17.679 I I make it, I personally make it very difficult for a lot of people to love me. 00:13:17.759 --> 00:13:19.039 My wife will tell you this. 00:13:19.200 --> 00:13:32.799 Um I make it difficult for uh Miss Melissa or Miss Tina back there every time I submit slides and I I forget that I'm not supposed to put two spaces after a period or the end of a sentence, and we have to go back and change all of that. 00:13:32.960 --> 00:13:37.039 Um I make it really difficult sometimes uh for people to love me. 00:13:37.120 --> 00:13:40.879 And I know that uh traffic, people in traffic can can definitely do that. 00:13:41.039 --> 00:13:44.639 Uh people online can definitely do that, just pull the worst out of us. 00:13:44.720 --> 00:13:46.480 I know that's true for me. 00:13:46.879 --> 00:13:52.320 Um throw in uh political differences, cultural differences, racial differences. 00:13:52.639 --> 00:14:02.320 Um and it's it's just this cauldron to make it really difficult to pursue and to have love prevail in all of our dealings with each other. 00:14:02.480 --> 00:14:06.480 Um spoiler alert, we can't do it on our own with our own power. 00:14:06.639 --> 00:14:13.440 We can't do that without doing what Paul has asked us to or told us to, and that's to put on Christ. 00:14:15.200 --> 00:14:22.240 He instructs us, he instructs us on what we're uh to do, um, what we're not to do. 00:14:22.320 --> 00:14:27.600 Um, but let us not make this like a list of things, like a checklist, because I know I I can tend to do that too. 00:14:27.679 --> 00:14:31.200 Like if you just tell me what to do or what not to do, um, I can do that. 00:14:31.360 --> 00:14:37.440 Um but I can also make it not really motivated with a heart posture that seeks to glorify God. 00:14:37.519 --> 00:14:39.519 That's that's just legalism. 00:14:40.080 --> 00:14:43.360 So it's not just about how much stuff can I avoid doing. 00:14:43.600 --> 00:14:44.960 Um, all right, cool. 00:14:45.039 --> 00:14:46.799 Uh no orgies this past week. 00:14:46.879 --> 00:14:48.000 I did a great job. 00:14:48.240 --> 00:14:52.000 Um it's it's bigger than that, it's more than that. 00:14:52.159 --> 00:15:07.120 And so I don't want us to get lost in the specifics because we face a lot of things that Paul and and his uh his compatriots didn't face back then through technology and change and and and just new ways to sin. 00:15:07.200 --> 00:15:11.519 And so I don't want us to get lost in just the the specifics. 00:15:11.679 --> 00:15:16.080 Um I also want to point to the the language that Paul is using here. 00:15:16.240 --> 00:15:18.960 Um he has got us geared up. 00:15:19.360 --> 00:15:25.840 Um what do you think of when you hear that we've got armor and a helmet and a breastplate? 00:15:25.919 --> 00:15:28.399 We're we're called to war. 00:15:29.200 --> 00:15:31.120 We're called to war, we're called to battle. 00:15:31.279 --> 00:15:35.600 How often do we wake up and it's just another day? 00:15:35.919 --> 00:15:40.720 We don't process like I'm about to go and wage war against darkness. 00:15:40.960 --> 00:15:45.440 I'm gonna wage war to glorify God and to protect my family. 00:15:45.679 --> 00:15:47.840 Because that's that's really what's at stake. 00:15:47.919 --> 00:15:53.039 And so often, I know I don't, we don't really process our day that way. 00:15:53.279 --> 00:15:59.519 We don't, we don't, we don't look at what is ahead and think, I need to have all of my armor on. 00:15:59.759 --> 00:16:01.200 I need that today. 00:16:01.440 --> 00:16:05.679 And so Paul is Paul is again calling us to wake up. 00:16:05.919 --> 00:16:07.679 See this is not just another day. 00:16:07.840 --> 00:16:12.240 This is this is uh this is the day, but it's diminishing days. 00:16:13.039 --> 00:16:14.639 Our time is short. 00:16:17.120 --> 00:16:25.039 Paul's making it clear that we have to literally clothe ourselves with Christ in what he calls the armor of light. 00:16:26.000 --> 00:16:39.200 As a new creation in Jesus, Paul tells us in Colossians 3 to put on, there's phrasing again, um, to put on compassionate hearts and kindness and humility and meekness and patience. 00:16:39.519 --> 00:16:46.960 So when we when we think of war and engaging in battle, it's easy just to conjure up these feelings of like rage and homicidal tendencies. 00:16:47.120 --> 00:16:51.600 And uh, we can incorporate that as we rush the darkness in our lives. 00:16:51.759 --> 00:17:02.000 But Paul's saying, as you're gearing up, just know you're putting on compassion and kindness and meekness and patience. 00:17:04.720 --> 00:17:10.559 And so I guess a question that I have uh for us to just be pondering is like, what are we wearing? 00:17:10.720 --> 00:17:14.400 Are we wearing the clothing that reflects that call? 00:17:15.200 --> 00:17:19.839 So as we go, just I know I'm pondering that, I'd like you to as well. 00:17:20.079 --> 00:17:22.400 Paul's saying, this is who you are. 00:17:22.640 --> 00:17:26.319 You're a new creation, you are beloved and holy. 00:17:26.799 --> 00:17:33.279 And as you're clothed in Christ, Paul is saying, wake up, remember who you are, and act like it. 00:17:34.319 --> 00:17:41.440 Don't pursue your day as if you're defeated, as if you've got no capability to rise above your sin. 00:17:42.079 --> 00:17:45.440 As if you just have to acquiesce to everything around you. 00:17:45.759 --> 00:17:46.640 You don't. 00:17:47.039 --> 00:18:05.200 Put on your breastplate of faith and love, put on your helmet of hope and salvation, put on the armor of light, put on Christ, cast off the darkness, and proclaim that the day is here, the dawn is here, the darkness is far gone. 00:18:05.359 --> 00:18:14.880 Wake from your sleep, wage war as if you have the armor that you need, and as if time is short, because both are true. 00:18:15.680 --> 00:18:20.480 We have everything that we need except unlimited time. 00:18:21.119 --> 00:18:26.960 And so both of those should be incredibly motivating to us to go at it. 00:18:27.680 --> 00:18:30.160 So, again, what are you wearing today? 00:18:30.480 --> 00:18:31.759 Or recently? 00:18:32.559 --> 00:18:45.119 If I walk into a space and I see um two men wearing all white, um, except for miscellaneous colors of paint on their clothes, I'm gonna know right away those are painters. 00:18:45.279 --> 00:18:47.759 They're here to paint somewhere, they should paint my house. 00:18:48.000 --> 00:18:57.759 Um if if I'm at a restaurant and those gentlemen come up and they ask for my order, I'm going to wonder if they went to the wrong job that day. 00:18:58.559 --> 00:19:01.119 If they suited up for the wrong mission. 00:19:01.359 --> 00:19:04.240 Because you don't look like you're here to serve me food. 00:19:04.480 --> 00:19:06.480 Not in a restaurant that I've been to anyway. 00:19:06.799 --> 00:19:15.279 Um are you dressed in what you're called to wear if you are on this mission? 00:19:16.319 --> 00:19:18.799 If you believe that our time is short? 00:19:19.519 --> 00:19:26.480 If you want to love everyone around you, starting with the people closest to you to you, are you dressed for that? 00:19:26.720 --> 00:19:27.680 Are you prepared for that? 00:19:27.839 --> 00:19:31.200 Are you are you praying for that? 00:19:32.880 --> 00:19:36.400 Are you dressed as if your family is at stake? 00:19:37.759 --> 00:19:43.440 Are you dressed to answer the call to love your literal neighbors as they numb themselves in passivity? 00:19:43.839 --> 00:19:54.720 This came to mind for me because I uh walking around my neighborhood during the pandemic, it was astonishing what people's recycling bins looked like. 00:19:54.960 --> 00:19:59.680 I mean, just overflowing with all the booze. 00:19:59.839 --> 00:20:04.640 Like it was clear that we had an alcohol problem in my neighborhood during the pandemic. 00:20:04.720 --> 00:20:06.079 And I looked into it. 00:20:06.319 --> 00:20:12.880 Um alcohol sales rose upwards of 20% in 2020 over 2019. 00:20:14.720 --> 00:20:18.799 I can't help but think that that there's some sort of coping mechanism there. 00:20:18.960 --> 00:20:21.599 I'm so miserable, I just want to numb out. 00:20:21.759 --> 00:20:24.880 I need to forget, I don't want to think about it. 00:20:25.039 --> 00:20:28.000 And surely there was a lot of real stress to cope with. 00:20:28.160 --> 00:20:35.759 Um, but that's just a one way in which we didn't seek hope and sustenance in Christ. 00:20:35.920 --> 00:20:37.599 We sought it in a bottle. 00:20:37.839 --> 00:20:42.079 And and Paul calls out plenty of other options that we might distract ourselves with. 00:20:42.319 --> 00:20:46.799 Um broadly, he says, make no provision for the flesh. 00:20:46.960 --> 00:20:52.000 Um, provision, literally translated, would be more like forethought. 00:20:52.240 --> 00:20:53.839 Give no thought to it. 00:20:54.079 --> 00:20:58.079 Don't don't let it creep in and stay in your mind. 00:20:58.400 --> 00:21:06.000 Don't turn over that thought of whatever that sin is as if that's a possibility, but I'm gonna fight it. 00:21:06.240 --> 00:21:10.880 Just stamp it out of your mind as as quickly as it comes in. 00:21:10.960 --> 00:21:12.400 Don't give it any thought. 00:21:12.480 --> 00:21:14.640 Don't give it a second thought. 00:21:14.880 --> 00:21:16.640 Give no provision. 00:21:18.160 --> 00:21:35.440 Uh another stat that I that I saw, um, and and these figures kind of uh depending on on what you're really looking at, um, and I don't mean a pun there, but uh pornography consumption grew by by between 20 and 45 percent last year. 00:21:35.519 --> 00:21:51.359 And that that varied based on um uh kind of the demographic um and and the the medium, but nonetheless, pornography consumption rose by 20 to 45 percent last year over the year before. 00:21:51.599 --> 00:21:59.759 So again, we're distracting ourselves, we're finding uh fleeting pleasure to pacify us. 00:22:00.559 --> 00:22:06.960 To keep us asleep, to keep us numb, and to keep us off mission, quite frankly. 00:22:07.519 --> 00:22:09.519 And Paul's saying, wake up. 00:22:09.759 --> 00:22:11.200 Leave that behind. 00:22:12.799 --> 00:22:16.559 Don't think for a second about living unpeaceably. 00:22:18.160 --> 00:22:24.640 Starting and engaging in ridiculous arguments and debates that might make you feel powerful and smart. 00:22:25.839 --> 00:22:29.599 While you're choosing all the hills to die on except the right one. 00:22:29.839 --> 00:22:32.480 Live peaceably with each other, no quarreling. 00:22:32.799 --> 00:22:36.559 Stop losing hours upon hours on social media. 00:22:36.880 --> 00:22:48.000 Being convinced about which causes you're for or against, which people you hate or envy, which of your posts got the most likes or who didn't like it, more importantly. 00:22:48.640 --> 00:22:50.960 All these things we're escaping with. 00:22:52.480 --> 00:22:57.359 We're escaping and we're off mission and forgetting what we're called to. 00:22:59.119 --> 00:23:06.000 And the truth is we don't have a lot of time to make these corrections. 00:23:06.079 --> 00:23:07.119 So we have to today. 00:23:07.279 --> 00:23:15.680 Can we today leave here and put on our armor and act like the sons and daughters that we are? 00:23:15.920 --> 00:23:28.240 Put away that which destroys us, or that would join our actions with our enemy, and instead put on Christ and all the armor included. 00:23:28.480 --> 00:23:34.880 And go to your enemy with love and with the news that a new day is here for them too. 00:23:35.359 --> 00:23:40.880 The day that we're enjoying, the day that we're proclaiming God's goodness, that day is for them too. 00:23:41.839 --> 00:23:45.519 And so the main idea this morning is this. 00:23:47.039 --> 00:23:53.680 That in Christ Jesus we have the armor of light and the assurance of victory. 00:23:56.319 --> 00:23:58.480 That should make us so bold. 00:24:00.319 --> 00:24:05.519 We're not waging a war with the outcome unknown. 00:24:06.079 --> 00:24:16.000 How different would every other war be if if the the men and women charging whatever gate, they they just knew the victory was theirs. 00:24:16.480 --> 00:24:18.000 It was absolutely guaranteed. 00:24:18.079 --> 00:24:18.960 That's what we have. 00:24:19.200 --> 00:24:20.960 So what are we afraid of? 00:24:21.359 --> 00:24:22.960 Why are we sleeping? 00:24:25.680 --> 00:24:27.839 Paul doesn't just say that everything will be okay. 00:24:28.000 --> 00:24:31.039 He says that the night is far gone. 00:24:32.160 --> 00:24:36.640 It's not just being held back or restrained. 00:24:36.799 --> 00:24:43.200 Um the light has dispelled the darkness once and for all and irretrievably. 00:24:43.359 --> 00:24:45.119 The victory is done. 00:24:46.079 --> 00:24:49.119 Let's take that news everywhere. 00:24:49.519 --> 00:24:51.839 That this battle is not even close. 00:24:52.000 --> 00:24:57.440 The victor is declared, and we're joined in that victory. 00:24:59.440 --> 00:25:05.039 And that should make us bold and joyful, but oftentimes our story is different. 00:25:06.720 --> 00:25:10.960 We tend to slumber while the war wages around us. 00:25:12.880 --> 00:25:20.400 We walk through our days as if a war isn't happening or that there aren't actual souls at stake. 00:25:22.000 --> 00:25:29.279 We tell ourselves the sovereignty of God negates my call to battle. 00:25:29.519 --> 00:25:30.480 He'll take care of it. 00:25:30.559 --> 00:25:32.799 If it's all done, what do I need to do anyway? 00:25:33.599 --> 00:25:35.839 We choose pacification and distraction. 00:25:35.920 --> 00:25:45.839 We choose to worship ourselves and our own kingdoms, giving such little thought to how much or how little time we really do have. 00:25:47.279 --> 00:26:01.359 And if we are truly moved by this incredible work that God has done for us and in us, we have to be and ought to be engaged and motivated at what He wants to do and can do through us. 00:26:02.079 --> 00:26:07.680 Some of us are content or even insistent on wearing old clothes. 00:26:08.400 --> 00:26:12.880 Instead of wearing the armor of light, we're wearing anger and bitterness. 00:26:14.480 --> 00:26:20.799 We're consistently wearing uninhibited lust or laziness. 00:26:21.839 --> 00:26:27.039 We're wearing the guilt and the shame of who Christ has rescued us out of. 00:26:32.960 --> 00:26:43.279 Cast off that which doesn't define you anymore, and put on the full armor of Christ and go boldly with it, confidently. 00:26:46.400 --> 00:26:49.359 And tangibly, what does that look like? 00:26:51.519 --> 00:26:54.079 Well, first, sorry, I jumped ahead. 00:26:54.559 --> 00:26:56.799 Our gospel conviction this morning. 00:26:57.039 --> 00:27:00.000 Christ's victory makes us battle ready. 00:27:01.359 --> 00:27:09.680 Like I said, how much better is it to know that we're not just suiting up for a war that he isn't going to deliver us out of? 00:27:09.920 --> 00:27:12.319 We already know the victory is ours. 00:27:12.799 --> 00:27:22.799 This cosmic stakes couldn't be higher conflict, thankfully, isn't, wasn't, and never will be dependent upon us to win. 00:27:23.279 --> 00:27:29.759 But we get to be, we're invited into that battle that he has won. 00:27:30.240 --> 00:27:34.960 That Jesus has handled, that Jesus stepped into our midst. 00:27:35.839 --> 00:27:52.799 As there was an active war being waged on him by us, and he didn't just, he didn't just give us mercy in that, but he invited us to join him, to be his and say, My victory is now yours. 00:27:52.960 --> 00:27:58.960 Even though you warred against me, you hated me, you were my enemy. 00:27:59.680 --> 00:28:03.920 I'm going to battle, and I'm going to bestow my victory upon you. 00:28:06.000 --> 00:28:12.960 That's the love with which we're called to gear up in and take it to our cities. 00:28:15.359 --> 00:28:17.839 He ferociously pursued us. 00:28:20.640 --> 00:28:28.480 And that's why we can pursue others, as we must, because the dawn is here and the night is far gone. 00:28:29.200 --> 00:28:31.039 So now, what does that look like tangibly? 00:28:31.200 --> 00:28:36.880 What if we're going to walk through this, we're going to put on our armor and we're going to take this to the streets, what does this look like? 00:28:37.119 --> 00:28:45.039 So, our gospel vision first for us individually, uh, then we find hope in the dawn that Jesus has allowed. 00:28:46.799 --> 00:28:49.839 And this in-between time, it can be it can be brutal. 00:28:50.000 --> 00:28:59.200 We can be discouraged by what this world brings to us and reveals to us and has us um walking through. 00:28:59.359 --> 00:29:01.279 Are you broken relationally? 00:29:03.279 --> 00:29:05.440 Are you broken physically? 00:29:06.960 --> 00:29:09.599 Are you uh broken financially? 00:29:10.240 --> 00:29:20.480 Feeling hopeless by the evil that's around you and everywhere, including that which we battle ourselves, please take heart. 00:29:21.119 --> 00:29:23.279 Please be encouraged. 00:29:24.240 --> 00:29:26.799 Wake up and remember who you are. 00:29:28.400 --> 00:29:30.079 Change your clothes. 00:29:30.480 --> 00:29:34.640 Suit up and fight this battle until the fullness of this victory is here. 00:29:35.759 --> 00:29:41.599 And maybe today isn't the day you remember who you are, but maybe today is the day you learn who you are. 00:29:41.759 --> 00:29:47.839 Maybe you walked in here and you did not call yourself a Jesus follower. 00:29:48.799 --> 00:29:53.680 Maybe today is the day that you realize who you are and whose you are. 00:29:53.759 --> 00:29:54.720 I pray that it is. 00:29:58.640 --> 00:30:05.839 But by God's grace, you're changed by the power of the Holy Spirit and the declaration of God's promises. 00:30:06.160 --> 00:30:15.119 Leave here today knowing that you're a new creation and that you can walk properly and confidently in this new day for you. 00:30:17.119 --> 00:30:19.200 Um, as the church, what can we do? 00:30:19.279 --> 00:30:24.480 Um, and I would say this: be sustained in knowing our salvation is nearer than ever. 00:30:25.200 --> 00:30:34.480 So we we the church are we're under a growing assault, I would say, one that doesn't seem like it's going to be subsiding or dimming anytime soon. 00:30:34.720 --> 00:30:39.039 Um we don't say popular things culturally. 00:30:39.200 --> 00:30:48.880 Um, we don't call people to things that um uh seem on the surface as as fun as what uh Paul has called us away from. 00:30:49.279 --> 00:30:58.400 Um we're called tyrants for proclaiming um what love is defined as and with who. 00:30:59.039 --> 00:31:06.720 Um we're being mocked and even prosecuted uh for assembling, even safely. 00:31:06.799 --> 00:31:10.079 So these things are, it's going to continue to be difficult. 00:31:10.160 --> 00:31:14.319 And so what we can do is take heart in that our salvation is nearer than ever. 00:31:14.720 --> 00:31:20.400 Actually, give us motivation to move quickly, but also that this time is fleeting. 00:31:20.960 --> 00:31:44.079 And so know this though this is going to continue to escalate, be reminded that our salvation is nearer than ever, which gives us much hope that our victory is near and all the motivation that we ought to have, to contend for our families, to contend for one another, contend for our neighborhoods, contend for our city. 00:31:46.000 --> 00:31:53.680 Our time is short, let's live like it joyfully and aggressively, and that's our final gospel conviction this morning. 00:31:54.000 --> 00:31:58.799 To put on Christ and make known the time that we're in. 00:32:00.319 --> 00:32:02.079 Can we leave here and do that today? 00:32:02.400 --> 00:32:09.680 Can we cast off the clothing of the world and of the darkness and suit up in the armor that we've been bestowed? 00:32:09.920 --> 00:32:12.880 Let's leave here and do that boldly together. 00:32:13.599 --> 00:32:19.200 With the full assurance that Christ is coming and he's not coming without a victory. 00:32:24.799 --> 00:32:30.559 Declare himself and his kingdom forever and ever that which will stand. 00:32:33.680 --> 00:32:37.599 Through the finished work of our Jesus, the night is far gone. 00:32:38.720 --> 00:32:40.160 Praise be to God. 00:32:40.880 --> 00:32:41.599 You pray with me?