Have you ever slept through your alarm and missed an important appointment? How did you feel when you realized what happened? Did you feel ashamed, frustrated, or angry? Did you wish you could go back in time and do things differently? Well, today I want to talk to you about a spiritual wake-up call that God is giving us in His Word.

Romans 13:11-14: Just like Paul said to the Romans – He is telling us that we are living in a critical time, and we need to be ready for His return. He is telling the church that this life is not all there is, Christ is coming soon so we ought to live life in light of Christ’s return and wake up, suit up, and grow up!

 

In light of Christ’s return we need to Wake Up: 

Romans 13:11 says, “And do this, understanding the present time: The hour has already come for you to wake up from your slumber because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed.“

 

Are you spiritually asleep today? If you are, then the first thing we need to do is to wake up from our spiritual slumber.

 

What does it mean to be spiritually asleep?

 

It means to be: unaware, indifferent, or disobedient to God’s will and purpose for our lives. It means to be living for ourselves, for the world, or for the devil. It means to be wasting our time, talents, and resources on things that do not matter in light of eternity. And MOST of all it means to be missing out on the joy, peace, and power that God has for us.

 

When the book of Romans was being written, Paul was speaking to a church, where some were undergoing immense persecution and cultural pressure, and it would have been very easy for the believers then to compromise and become disobedient; falling away from the faith. For others in the church at that time, it would have been very easy for them to live for themselves and just go with the current and flow of the world. The church in Rome was a very vibrant church and it would have been very easy for them to forget that they should live in light of eternity. There would have been many of those who would have read this portion of Romans, that upon hearing, would have decided to take Paul’s words and stay awake and many of those who read these words have been awakened from their slumbers to a living faith in Jesus Christ.

 

Some of us in this room are awake and thank God for that, but some have been lulled to sleep by the attractions of the world and sin and have become sleeping Christians.

 

If you have fallen into a spiritual slumber and you find your self just going with wherever this life takes you and you have lost your sense of direction as a follower of Jesus Christ, then just like the church in Rome, you need to wake up! … How does one “wake up” from their spiritual slumber?

 

We need to hear and obey God’s Word. We need to pray and seek His face on our own and with other believers. We need to repent and turn from our sins. We need to follow Christ’s example. We need to watch and be alert for His coming.

 

With a humble heart, we need to allow the Holy Spirit to show us where we have fallen asleep and wake up because the time is short, and the day is near. Paul said when he wrote this, that the time of God’s grace is drawing to a close and the fact that Christ has not returned yet doesn’t mean that He will not return, it means that we need to wake up and stay awake, putting off all laziness and complacency from our lives.

 

Not only do we need to wake up, but …

 

In light of Christ’s return we need to Suit Up: 

Romans 13:12 says, “The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light.”

 

The second thing we need to do is to suit up with the armor of light.

 

What does it mean to put on the armor of light?

 

It means to put on the character and conduct of Christ. It means to put on the truth, righteousness, peace, faith, salvation, and the Word of God. It means to put on the love, joy, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control of the Spirit. It means to put on the humility, servanthood, obedience, and sacrifice of the cross.

 

Why do we need to put on the armor of light?

 

Because we are in a spiritual battle. Because we have an enemy who wants to destroy us. Because we have a world that wants to deceive us. Because we have a flesh that wants to tempt us. Because we have a God who wants to use us. We need to put on the armor of light because we are called to be soldiers of Christ who are suited up with the armor of Light … (Light diminishes and repels darkness. No armor of light means vulnerability!)

 

In light of Christ’s return we need to Grow Up: 

 

Romans 13:13-14 says, “Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in carousing (partying) and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery (corrupt living), not in dissension (rebellion) and jealousy. Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ (armor of Light), and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the flesh.” (NKJV says “make no provisions for the flesh”)

 

The third thing we need to do is to grow up in our relationship with Christ.

 

What does it mean to clothe ourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ?

 

It means to identify with Him, to imitate Him, and to abide in Him. It means to know Him, to love Him, and to serve Him. It means to worship Him, to trust Him, and to follow Him. It means to become more like Him, to reflect His image, and to reveal His glory.

 

How … How do we clothe ourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ?

 

We need to spend time with Him, to listen to Him, and to talk to Him. We need to study His Word, to meditate on His promises, and to apply His principles. And out of the overflow of that, we will feel the need to join His family, to fellowship with His people, and to love and support His body. We will feel the need to share the good news and make disciples; fulfilling His mission as His bride the church.

 

We need to grow up in our relationship with Christ because He is our life, our hope, and our Lord, BUT We CANNOT begin to do that if we are making provisions for the flesh!

 

While preparing this, I went ahead and prepared a short test that we can take together as a youth group. These 3 questions we will use as a tool for self-examination, exposing blind spots in your life that have led to you possibly making provisions for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts in your own life.

 

The Provisions Test: 

Questions to help me know if I am currently making provisions for my flesh:

 

1) Am I buying things associated with sinful temptations or sinful pleasures?

 

• • In a world filled with materialism and temptation, this question calls us to examine the choices we make in our daily lives.

• • Am I making purchases that go against my values and faith, potentially leading me into temptation? Do the clothes and accessories I buy take after the identity of what this world prides itself on or do they send a message that declares my identity in Christ? Are the games I am playing, games that are sex or violence-centered?

• • As youth, you are bombarded with advertisements and peer pressures that tempt you to make unwise choices. It is essential to ask yourself whether these purchases align with your values and your faith. By consciously avoiding items associated with temptation and focusing on things that uplift your spirit, you will create a protective shield against the allure of sin. 

 

2) Am I making it easy for myself to fall into sinful behaviors?

 

• • This question encourages us to examine the environments we create for ourselves.

• • Have I adopted an atmosphere where sin can easily take root, or am I intentionally cultivating a space that nurtures my spiritual growth? Do I set boundaries in my life to prevent me from falling into sin? Am I living my life in isolation, or do I have key people in my life to keep me accountable and in line with my faith and Christian values? Am I intentionally AND PROGRESSIVELY making an effort to redirect my life to follow Christ’s example?

• • As young people, it’s important to be mindful of the company we keep, the places we visit, and the entertainment we indulge in. Proverbs 4:23 wisely instructs us, “Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.”. We need to cultivate a lifestyle where we make it difficult for sin to gain a foothold in our lives. We need to surround ourselves with fellow believers, seek out mentors and guidance, and engage in activities that foster spiritual growth. By making it harder for sin to find a home within you, you’ll be better equipped to walk in the ways of righteousness.

 

3) Do I prioritize the physical over the spiritual?

 

• • In a world that often prioritizes the material and the tangible, this question reminds us of the eternal value of our spiritual well-being. It asks us to consider where we invest our time, energy, and resources.

• • Are we more concerned with our outward appearance, worldly achievements, and physical desires, or are we nurturing our spiritual connection with God? Do I place greater importance on my physical desires and worldly achievements, neglecting my spiritual well-being, or am I making God the center of my life by focusing on prayer, Scripture, worship, and service?

• • Matt. 6:33 tells us, “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” This verse and the portion of scripture we are reading in Romans tonight are giving a MASSIVE and CLEAR CALL to prioritize the spiritual over the physical. While our physical needs are important, they should not take precedence over our spiritual growth. To ensure that we are placing God at the center of our lives, we should spend time in prayer, study the Word of God, and seek opportunities for service and worship. As we do that we’ll find that our lives become more aligned with God’s purpose and our actions reflect His love and grace.

 

My friends, God is calling us to wake up, suit up, and grow up. He is calling us to be ready for His return, to be faithful in His service, and to be mature in His love. He is calling us to live for Him, to shine for Him, and to grow in Him … This is the time to now look at our lives in light of what we have heard from God’s Word and ask ourselves: How are we doing with this?  Will you answer His call today? Will you wake up, suit up, and grow up? Will you live in light of Christ’s return?