Knowing The Time

Sermon for 6/26/2005

Romans 13:11-14

Knowing the Time

Introduction:

Not long ago the boys had a T- ball game so we all went. We got there at 11 and went to the field and our team was not there. We got up with the coach and somehow our communications got confused and the game was at 10. They had already played the game and left. All because, we did not know the correct time of the game.

Let me ask you a question, “What time is it?” Look at your watch. I don’t have a watch because some people got irritated with me looking at my watch while they were trying to tell me something. It was as if I had more important things to do. Plus I always lost my watch so I no longer wear a watch.

However, to fulfill all our obligations we need to know the time!

WBTU:

A. Our Scripture text begins with the phrase, “understanding the present time” or in the New King James “Knowing the Time”.

B. God is not bound by time but he is keeping time on this earth. He is working up to a time when He will end this age and move on to another one. We, who are Christians, need to be aware of this and to know that it is time for us to do certain things.

Thesis: According to the passage before us this morning, we must realize that it is:

For instances:

1. Time to Wake Vs. 11

A. When Paul talks about “Knowing the time” here he is not talking about a chronological time like 11:30 am on June 26, 2005. Instead he is talking about an epoch, an era, or the age in which we live.

B. We are actually living in the last times before Jesus comes to take us home.

C. Because this age is almost over, and because Jesus could come at any time, we are told here to “Wake Up!”

E. When someone is not “with it” mentally or spiritually, we often wonder when the person will “wake up” and face reality, and do what is necessary. We talk about getting a “wake up” call.

F. Paul is calling us to awake from spiritual “unconsciousness, Unresponsiveness, and inactivity concerning the things of God.” Rouse us to reality!

G. (1 Cor 15:34 NIV) Come back to your senses as you ought, and stop sinning; for there are some who are ignorant of God--I say this to your shame.

I. We as Christians can very easily be unconscious to the things of God. We ignore them. We’re saved, but it doesn’t sink in as to what we should be doing.

J. We as Christians are often unresponsive to the Word of God. The preacher gives a message, and we know he’s right. He then gives a challenge for us to fix what’s wrong, to make a decision for Christ, or to do what the Bible tells us to do. We go home and forget what was talked about just 10 minutes after the service!

K. A 77 year old man in Palm Harbor, Florida, is a sleepwalker. One day 77 year old James Currens sleepwalked out of his house, stumbled down an embankment and didn’t wake up until he was stuck in an alligator infested pond. A neighbor heard him hollering for help and called the police around 5 am. Mr. Currens was found fighting off those alligators with his cane in his hand. There were 8 to 10 gators. And if he hadn’t awoken he’d been gator breakfast? Brothers and sisters, sleepwalking and sleep living will get you into trouble!

L. Wait a minute. Weren’t we saved though the plan of salvation? Belief is the first step. But that is not enough. The demons believe and shudder. Must repent, confess and be baptized. It ends at baptism. No not really.

M. How can our salvation be closer if it has already happened?

N. Salvation is in 3 tenses, past, present and future. Talked about this a few weeks ago. Add to these thoughts with discussion of three Biblical words.

1. Justification- past (For Christians, for some here it is in the future).

a. At a specific moment in time, I believed on the finished work of Christ, His death, burial and resurrection for my sins. I was buried with Christ in his death, burial and resurrection through baptism to remove my sins.

b. (Rom 6:4, 6-7 NIV) We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin-- because anyone who has died has been freed from sin.