PEOPLE GET READY

 

This is all the more urgent, for you know how late it is; time is running out. Wake up, for our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. 12The night is almost gone; the day of salvation will soon be here. So remove your dark deeds like dirty clothes, and put on the shining armor of right living. 13Because we belong to the day, we must live decent lives for all to see. Don’t participate in the darkness of wild parties and drunkenness, or in sexual promiscuity and immoral living, or in quarreling and jealousy. 14Instead, clothe yourself with the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ. And don’t let yourself think about ways to indulge your evil desires. Romans 13:11-14 NLT

 

I. WISE UP.

 

This is all the more urgent, for you know how late it is; time is running out. Vs 11

 

You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. 7Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. Matthew 24:6-7 NIV

 

He said to the crowd: “When you see a cloud rising in the west, immediately you say, ‘It’s going to rain,’ and it does. 55And when the south wind blows, you say, ‘It’s going to be hot,’ and it is. 56Hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of the earth and the sky. How is it that you don’t know how to interpret this present time? Luke 12:54-56 NIV

 

And when he drew near and saw the city, he wept over it, 42saying, “Would that you, even you, had known on this day the things that make for peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes. 43For the days will come upon you, when your enemies will set up a barricade around you and surround you and hem you in on every side 44and tear you down to the ground, you and your children within you. And they will not leave one stone upon another in you, because you did not know the time of your visitation.” Luke 19:41-44 ESV

 

II. WAKE UP.

 

Wake up, for our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. Vs 2

 

So then let us not sleep, as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober. 1Thessalonians 5:6 ESV 

 

“Awake, you who sleep, Arise from the dead, And Christ will give you light.” Ephesians 5:14 NKJ

Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. “Simon,” he said to Peter, “are you asleep? 

“The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field; 25but while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat and went his way. Matthew 13:24 NKJ

Then she said to him, “How can you say, ‘I love you,’ when your heart is not with me? You have mocked me these three times, and have not told me where your great strength lies.”  16And it came to pass, when she pestered him daily with her words and pressed him, so that his soul was [b]vexed to death,  17that he told her all his heart, and said to her, “No razor has ever come upon my head, for I have been a Nazirite to God from my mother’s womb. If I am shaven, then my strength will leave me, and I shall become weak, and be like any other man.”

18When Delilah saw that he had told her all his heart, she sent and called for the lords of the Philistines, saying, “Come up once more, for he has told me all his heart.” So the lords of the Philistines came up to her and brought the money in their hand.  19Then she lulled him to sleep on her knees,and called for a man and had him shave off the seven locks of his head. Then she began to torment him, and his strength left him.  20And she said, “The Philistines are upon you, Samson!” So he awoke from his sleep, and said, “I will go out as before, at other times, and shake myself free!” But he did not know that the Lord had departed from him. 21Then the Philistines took him and put out his eyes, and brought him down to Gaza. They bound him with bronze fetters, and he became a grinder in the prison.  22However, the hair of his head began to grow again after it had been shaven. Judges 16:15-22 NKJ

III. CLEAN UP.

 

So remove your dark deeds like dirty clothes, Vs 12

 

Sin will take you farther than you want to go, keep you longer than you want to stay, and cost you more than you want to pay.

 

How can a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed according to Your word. 10With my whole heart I have sought You; Oh, let me not wander from Your commandments 11Your word I have hidden in my heart, That I might not sin against You. Psalm 119:9-11 NKJ

 

Wash me clean of my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin. Psalm 51:2 BSB

 

Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow. Psalm 51:7 NIV

 

“Wash yourselves, make yourselves clean; Put away the evil of your doings from before My eyes. Cease to do evil, 17 learn to do good; Seek justice,Rebuke the oppressor; Defend the fatherless, Plead for the widow 18“Come now, and let us reason together,” Says the Lord, “Though your sins are like scarlet, They shall be as white as snow; Isaiah 1:16-18 NKJ

 

If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. I John 1:9 NKJ

 I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel who showed me these things.9Then he said to me, “See that you do not do that. [d]For I am your fellow servant, and of your brethren the prophets, and of those who keep the words of this book. Worship God.” 10And he said to me, “Do not seal the words of the prophecy of this book, for the time is at hand.  11He who is unjust, let him be unjust still; he who is filthy, let him be filthy still; he who is righteous, let him be righteous still; he who is holy, let him be holy still.” Revelation 22:8–11 KJV.

IV. DRESS UP

 

put on the shining armor of right living. Vs 12 NLT

 

Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. Colossians 3:12-13 NIV

Fight the good fight of the faith. I Timothy 6:12 NIV.

11Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. Ephesians 6:11-18 NLT

12For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places. 13Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm. 14Stand your ground, putting on and the body armor of God’s righteousness. 15For shoes, put on the peace that the belt of truth comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared. 16In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil.f 17Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. 18Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere. Ephesians 6:11-18 NLT

V. GROW UP.

Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, Ephesians 4:15 ESV 

 

But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen. 2 Peter 3:18 ESV 

 

When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I gave up childish ways.  Corinthians 13:11 ESV

 

Brethren, do not be children in your thinking; yet in evil be infants, but in your thinking be mature. 1 Corinthians 14:20

 

Don’t participate in the darkness of wild parties and drunkenness, or in sexual promiscuity and immoral living, or in quarreling and jealousy. Instead, clothe yourself with the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ. Vs 13-14

 

So as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him: bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; Colossians 1:10 ESV 

 

All who fear the LORD will hate evil. Proverbs 8:13 NLT

 

VI. SPEAK UP.

 

Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves; ensure justice for those being crushed. 9Yes, speak up for the poor and helpless, and see that they get justice. Proverbs 31:8–9, NLT.

 

One night the Lord spoke to Paul in a vision: “Do not be afraid; keep on speaking, do not be silent. Acts 18:9 NIV

“Shout with the voice of a trumpet blast. Shout aloud! Don’t be timid. Tell my people Israel of their sins! Isaiah 58:1 NLT

For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: Romans 1:16 NIV

VII. LOOK UP.

“And there will be strange signs in the sun, moon, and stars. And here on earth the nations will be in turmoil, perplexed by the roaring seas and strange tides. 26People will be terrified at what they see coming upon the earth, for the powers in the heavens will be shaken. 27Then everyone will see the Son of Mane coming on a cloud with power and great glory. So when all these things begin to happen, stand and look up, for your salvation is near!” Luke 21:25-28 NLT