AN ADVENT ALARM AWAKENS ALL (Outline)
November 29, 2009 --
ADVENT 1 --
Romans 13:11-14
INTRO: The morning alarm clock often wakes one up from a deep sleep. The alarm jars each one from their cozy, comfortable bed. Each one wakes up and shakes off the cobwebs of sleep. One by one people get put on their clothes for each day. Today God’s advent alarm rings in our hearts and lives. Our advent alarm says watch, get ready, and be alert. God through Paul speaks to each of us today about that very process of waking up, shaking off sin, and being clothed with Christ. "Behold, I come like a thief! Blessed is he who stays awake and keeps his clothes with him, so that he may not go naked and be shamefully exposed" (REVELATION 16:15). Every believer will be clothed on that Last Day with Christ. Now we are watching and waiting for the Lord’s return.
AN ADVENT ALARM AWAKENS ALL.
I. Put aside all evil deeds.
II. Be clothed with Christ.
I. PUT ASIDE ALL EVIL DEEDS
A. Paul wrote God’s inspired word to the believers in Rome probably in the spring of 57AD.
1. The tide of popularity was beginning to turn against Christianity and followers of the Way.
2. In the opening chapters of Romans Paul emphasizes being saved by grace through faith.
a. God’s undeserved love has saved believers. b. Salvation does not depend on works.
3. Chapter 13 starts with encouragement to honor authority and love one’s fellow man.
B. Verse 11a. “Do this”. This command means to honor and respect authority and love one’s neighbor.
1. The believers were to do this understanding their times. Persecution was starting.
2. The believers were to live like followers of Christ, not like the wicked world around them.
C. Verse 12b. These believers were to shake off their old, sinful way of life. It was darkness.
1. Verse 13b. Paul lists the evil that they once lived in. It was the sinfulness of the world
2. The darkness included wild, riotous living, sexual promiscuity. These were all selfish sins.
3. One who lives selfishly lives jealously. Selfish people are only concerned with themselves.
D. Evil deeds are often done in the dark. Darkness is associated with evil. Darkness stands in direct contrast to the light. Believers are called children of light. On this side of heaven darkness abounds. Wickedness, rebellion, and sin are all around us. At times that which is not light blinds us. "But if your eyes are bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness!"(MATTHEW 6:23). An advent alarm awakens us to throw off deeds of darkness.
E. Why do we still walk in the dark even though we know better? There are a number of reasons. Even believers stray off of the narrow road that enters into the gates of heaven. First, there is our earthly birth. We are born as enemies of God, not friends. Only by grace does God make us his children. Also Satan is very, very deceptive. The things in this world that we can see, feel, and touch can often seem more important than anything else. Let’s face it – our sinful nature likes evil. "This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed" (JOHN 3:19,20). At times we walk in the dark. It is our choice. Thankfully God sent His Light for us.
F. God’s advent alarm awakens us to pay attention to all of the evil that surrounds our every earthly day of life. God’s advent alarm alerts us to shake off all the evil deeds that are part of our living. This is a battle. It is a struggle. But we are not alone. God gives us his strength. "Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us" (HEBREWS 12:1). Notice that sin “easily entangles”. Notice God gives us faithful believers for our encouragement and help.
AN ADVENT ALARM AWAKENS ALL. With God we shake off and put aside all evil deeds.
II. BE CLOTHED WITH CHRIST
A. Verse 11. The present time was indeed very evil. In 70AD Jerusalem would be destroyed.
1. In 60AD Nero would burn Rome and blame the Christians. Persecution begins.
a. Christians die in the arena: fed to lions, gladiators. b. Christians became human torches.
2. The day of salvation and deliverance was closer now than when they first believed.
B. Verse 12. The darkness of evil would soon end. The day of deliverance would brighten on believers.
1. Verses 12c, 13a. God provides armor (SEE: EPHESIANS 6:10ff). Believers are God’s light.
2. The believers would still live lives of faith. They would live with love for those in the dark.
C. Verse 14. Putting aside and shaking off all evil deeds meant there was an emptiness in their lives.
1. The “emptiness” of evil needed to be replaced with something – be clothed with Christ.
2. They already knew about evil. Concerning evil all believers were to be like infants.
D. Everyone would agree about that wickedness is alive and well in this world. Just listen or read about the top news stories. More often than not you will learn of another example of man’s inhumanity to man. The alarm goes off. What are we to do? Where is our hope? Thankfully, as believers we are blessed by our Lord Jesus Christ to know him. "You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ" (GALATIANS 3:26,27). The holiness of Christ covers up our unholiness. His sinlessness covers our sinfulness with divine forgiveness.
E. Christ’s clothing is now a part of our Christian living. God has shown us time and again his great love for and to each and every one of us. We are saved by grace through faith not works. Having been saved our Lord God Almighty wants us to be the shining lights in our sin-darkened world. Being clothed with Christ means that others ought to see the life of Christ in us. "Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience" (COLOSSIANS 3:12). Examine this list of clothing. Wear it openly. You will not see or hear much about these traits in people who live in darkness rather than light. Be clothed with Christ for others.
F. One of our biggest challenges in this world is to not to become too attached to this life. Looking around we appreciate the many blessings that God has showered upon each one of us. We lead relatively comfortable lives. Truly, we basically lack for nothing. Generally we enjoy our lives and family and friends. We are comfortable in this world, this life. The reality is that we are only on a pilgrimage through this wilderness called life. This life has nothing to offer eternally. At times we might forget that fact. "For while we are in this tent, we groan and are burdened, because we do not wish to be unclothed but to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life" (2 CORINTHIANS 5:4). God’s advent alarm wakes us up to look forward to the eternity yet to come.
CONC.: Day in and day out the alarm clock buzzes sleeping people awake. Day after day those comfortable in bed are jarred awake to join the hustle and bustle we call life. We get up, shake off the slumber of darkness and greet the new day. We put on our clothes for the day. It is my prayer that when we hear our alarms go off we would think off God’s advent alarm. We shake off and put aside all evil deeds of darkness. We get dressed not only for the day but for our life by wearing the clothing of Christ. "For it is light that makes everything visible. This is why it is said: ‘Wake up, O sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.’ Be very careful, then, how you live--not as unwise but as wise" (EPHE-SIANS 5:14,15). AN ADVENT ALARM AWAKENS ALL OF US. We live as wise when we put aside evil deeds of darkness. We live wisely being clothed with Christ. Amen. Pastor Timm O. Meyer
ADVENT 1 rdgs:
JEREMIAH 33:14-16;
1 THESS. 3:9-13;
LUKE 21:35-36;
(PSALM 25)
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