Oct 17, 2021. I Thessalonians 5:5-8

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NO TIME TO SLUMBER.  I Thessalonians 5:5-8.  10/17/2021.  #12.

1 Thessalonians 5:5-8 [New King James Version]

5 You are all sons of light and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of darkness. 6 Therefore let us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be sober. 7 For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk are drunk at night. 8 But let us who are of the day be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet the hope of salvation.

  1. Called to be light
    1. Believers are called to be light, salt, mature (telos = often translated as perfect), sober, living sacrifices, examples, witnesses, and servants
    1. Light (phos, as in photon, photograph, photosynthesis) = can mean literally light or spiritual illumination, understanding
      1.  Believers are to be spiritual illumination to a lost world to expose sin, lead others to a saving knowledge of God, and to show the ways of God
      1.  Beacons of spiritual light pointing to eternal truth
    1. Believers are to be children of the day when there is light
      1.  Day can mean a 24 hr. period, the time between sunrise and sunset, an indefinite period of time, or spiritual illumination
      1.  We have come to the light and are in daylight
  2. Called out of darkness
    1. Darkness = only used a few times in NT to mean night
      1.  Darkness = evil, unenlightened, wickedness, debauchery, or Satanic
      1.  Anyone not is the light is automatically in darkness (born as sinners) = no twilight, dusk, or moonlight—only darkness and light
    1. Men love darkness rather than light (Jn. 3:19)
      1.  Eph. 6:10-13 – the demons are rulers of darkness
      1.  EPH. 5:6-14 – believers are to have no fellowship with the works of darkness, but we are to expose the evil they do
      1.  Col. 1:13 believers have been delivered from the power of darkness and translated into the kingdom of his love
        1.  2 Cor. 10:3-5 believers have been given mighty tools to overcome power of dark.
        1.  Along with salvation comes the indwelling of the Spirit and strength from God
    1. Believers are delivered from power of darkness, but they can choose to live in darkness in rebellion against Lord
      1.  1 Jn. 2:11 if we hate our brothers, darkness has blinded us
      1.  1 Cor. 3 believers can live according to the flesh
  3. Called to be awake, aware, and active
    1. Sleep = used of rest, death of the saints, or spiritually unaware, unconcerned, and inactive
      1.  John 11 Lazarus was asleep (dead); 1 Corinthians 11
      1.  Mt. 26 the disciples slept while Jesus prayed
    1. Rom. 13:11 it is high time that the church awakes
      1.  Problem in OT, NT, and church age = God’s children remain spiritually asleep (drift through life)
      1.  Slumber = weak in Bible, prayer, service, witness and defense of the faith
    1. Church = called to spiritual warfare
      1.  Ephesians 6 called to put on armor of God
      1.  Acts 1 called to a bold witness
      1.  Hebrews 5 called to diligent Bible study (2 Timothy 2:15)
    1. Paul states that those asleep and drunk do so at night
      1.  We are children of the day
      1.  Ephesians 5:18 filled with Spirit and not wine
      1.  John 9:4-6 we must work while it is day (urgency)
      1.  Ephesians 5:16 time must be redeemed for the Lord
    1. We are called to an eternal purpose and ministry
      1.  Breastplate of faith and love (Ep. 6 righteousness)
      1.  Helmet = hope of salvation
      1.  Faith saves and trusts while love motivates
    1. Must see our lives as a calling from God

Key verse:  Ephesians 5:6-14

6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. 7 Therefore do not be partakers with them. 8 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light 9 (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth), 10 finding out what is acceptable to the Lord. 11 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them. 12 For it is shameful even to speak of those things which are done by them in secret. 13 But all things that are exposed are made manifest by the light, for whatever makes manifest is light. 14 Therefore He says: “Awake, you who sleep, Arise from the dead, And Christ will give you light.”