KJV: 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. 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. Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying. But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfill the lusts thereof.
AMPLIFIED: Besides this you know what (a critical) hour this his, how it is high time now for you to wake up out of your sleep – rouse to reality. For salvation (final deliverance) is nearer to us now than when we first believed – adhered to, trusted in and relied on Christ, the Messiah. The night is far gone (and) the day is almost here. Let us then drop (fling away) the works and deeds of darkness and put on the (full) armor of light. Let us live and conduct ourselves honorably and becomingly as in the (open light of) day; not in reveling (carousing) and drunkenness, not in immorality and debauchery (sensuality and licentiousness), not in quarreling and jealousy. But clothe yourself with the Lord Jesus Christ, the Messiah, and make no provision for (indulging) the flesh – put a stop to thinking about the evil cravings of your physical nature – to (gratify its) desires (lusts).
*We are at a strategic point in the history of the church. The alarm of heaven is ringing out and WE MUST AWAKEN AND RESPOND. Far too many times, we have hit the snooze button and said, just a few more minutes God. That attitude and those days are over. The church MUST ARISE!!!!!!!
“While the church is sleeping today, wicked men are about their business” (Richard Crisco). There were 12 disciples and when Jesus went to pray in the garden, the 11 that were faithful fell asleep while the one wicked was up all night and about his business of betrayal.
IN THE MIDST OF DIFFICULT TIMES SUCH AS WE ARE IN, IF FEAR GRIPS YOUR HEART IT IS REVEALING AN IDOL IN YOUR LIFE OR MISPLACED TRUST. YOUR TRUST IS IN THE WRONG PLACE.
*The responsibility of the church is to represent the light of God and the gospel. In a world of darkness, if we do not shine forth in an awakened and alert state as Christians the darkness will only grow and increase. If we do not cast off the darkness, we cannot shine forth the light.
*The day of redemption and the shining of God’s light is nearer than ever before.
*We are exhorted here to walk as in the day. In essence, walk as if all our actions were seen and known. Walk without needing to hide or cover up anything. Walk with honesty and integrity.
*Far too many Christians work far too hard to try and cover up something they don’t want others to know about.
THE DEEDS OF DARKNESS THAT THE CHURCH MUST AVOID. THE LONGER WE OVERLOOK AND SIDESTEP THE ISSUES THOUGH, THE MORE SUSCEPTIBLE WE OURSELVES BECOME TO THEM.
1. Rioting and Drunkenness.
a. A violent disturbance of the peace, usually by a crowd.
b. Reveling is to engage in lively and noisy festivities, especially those that involve drinking.
c. Carouse is to drink plentiful amounts of alcohol and enjoy oneself with others in a noisy or lively way.
d. This ultimately denotes having and showing a lack of self-control. The desire to over-indulge oneself.
e. The inability to face truth and reality to the point of finding dangerous and harmful ways to escape it.
2. Chambering and Wantonness.
a. Sexual or moral impurity that is deliberate and unprovoked.
b. This is illicit indulgences of all kinds. The inability to control or properly direct urges or temptations.
c. Whoredom, prostitution, loose living would fit in and fall under this group that Paul warns the believer to flee from.
3. Strife and Envying.
a. The inability to get along with others or even be happy for them.
b. “Varied forms of that venomous feeling between man and man which reverses the law of love.”
c. Strife is angry or bitter disagreement over fundamental issues.
d. The underlying issue with strife and envying always comes back to our inability to find and walk in contentment. We feel as though we lack what others have and make an unhealthy comparison.
*Put on the Lord Jesus Christ, let the Spirit of God clothe and cover you, allowing God’s light to shine forth through your life.
THE PROBLEM FOR THE CHURCH IS THAT WE HAVE HEARD THE ALARM TIME AFTER TIME AFTER TIME, YET CHOSEN TO CONTINUE IN DARKNESS AND SLEEP. THE DARKNESS IS GROWING DEEPER AND STRONGER AND IT IS HIGH TIME THE CHURCH UNDERSTANDS THE NEED TO BE AWAKENED AND REMAIN IN THAT STATE.
