TIMEOUT: STOP, REFOCUS, AND GET BACK IN THE GAME OF LIFE – 2

TIME OUT: STOP, REFOCUS, AND GET BACK IN THE GAME OF LIFE – 2 by Pastor Shah, Clearview, Henderson

This morning we are in part two of our two-part series through Romans 13 titled, “TIMEOUT: STOP, REFOCUS, AND GET BACK IN THE GAME OF LIFE.” Just like in a game when the players begin to lose their momentum, the coach calls a timeout to talk to his players, so also in the game of life, the Holy Spirit calls a timeout to talk to us: He reminds us about the game plan He has for us. He warns us about the time that is remaining in the game. He corrects the mistakes that need to be corrected. Finally, He gives us the right focus to get back in the game and win it.

Romans 13:11-14  11 And do this, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed.  12 The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light.  13 Let us walk properly, as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in lewdness and lust, not in strife and envy.  14 But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts.

Overall Background: The passage we just read is inspiring, to say the least. Paul through the Holy Spirit challenges us to wake up out of our complacency and start living the Christian life. He warns us that it is “high time,” meaning you are not only asleep but you have overslept. “The night is far spent and the day has dawned.” But before we can jump back in the game, He also corrects some of our common mistakes or distractions in the game of life.

Application: This morning there are many people here who started well, they conquered incredible odds, and they even made some tremendous progress, but then something happened and they got distracted and lost their focus. Instead of winning the game, they are sitting on the sideline, looking back to the glory days. This morning the Holy Spirit wants you to acknowledge your distractions, make the necessary changes, and get back in the game. For those who haven’t been distracted, this message is a reminder to avoid these distractions and help others do the same. But, more than that, God wants us to set our minds on the right goal.

3 distractions to avoid in the game of life:

I. UNRESTRAINED CELEBRATIONS

‪13 Let us walk properly, as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness

Sadly, we lose the force of the passage because of words that have almost become archaic. So let’s look at each of those words carefully.

Background: The word for revelry is the Greek word “komois” and the word for drunkenness is “methais.” Komois was the name of the Greek god Comus who according to Greek mythology was the son and cupbearer of the God Bacchus – the god of wine and partying. Comus was the god of all night celebrations. He represented anarchy and chaos. Usually you see him depicted as a young man who is at the point of unconsciousness from drinking so much. He has a wreath of flowers on his head and a torch that he’s about to drop from his hands.

During his festivals, people came out into the streets at night with loud music and singing and drinking and vulgarity and sensuality and sexuality. This was a night when everything goes. Men and women would exchange clothes. This was a night of unrestrained celebration. I tell people – sometimes we think that we have invented wild and crazy and that’s not true. There’s nothing new under the sun.

Paul warns the Christian not to get involved in these “unrestrained celebrations.” In Galatians 5 he gives the same warning – 19 Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness…21 envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

It’s all right to go to a Fourth of July Celebration and have a great time. Go to the Fair and have a great time. But when you start going places where there is drinking and vulgarity and sensuality and sexuality, just know that now you are on the Devil’s playground, where he sets the rules or the lack thereof. Don’t even watch it on TV.

Peter also agrees with Paul in I Peter 4:3 For we have spent enough of our past lifetime in doing the will of the Gentiles—when we walked in lewdness, lusts, drunkenness, revelries, drinking parties, and abominable idolatries.  4 In regard to these, they think it strange that you do not run with them in the same flood of dissipation, speaking evil of you.

II. UNBRIDLED SEXUAL PERVERSION

13 Let us walk properly, as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in lewdness and lust,

Background: Again, two words are used – the first one refers to natural sexual behavior. But it is not referring to the sex between a husband and wife. It is referring to premarital or extramarital sex. The world says, “as long as a man and a woman love each other, it doesn’t matter what they do in the privacy of their home or car. We’re not in the 1800s. Everybody is doing it.” Or, if it’s about their children – “They won’t listen anyways. All you can do is tell them to use protection. At least my boy is not with another boy or my girl is not with another girl.” Wrong! God calls it sin. That is lewdness.

The second one refers to all manner of unnatural sexual behavior. This is referring to everything from homosexuality to bestiality. We’re living in a time when even some Christians try to condone this sinful lifestyle. There is a strong effort in our nation to destroy marriage. It doesn’t matter what Federal Judge from wherever has to say, the Great Judge calls it a sin. We’re not called to make fun of those living in that sinful lifestyle. We’re not called to condemn people living in that lifestyle. We’re called to love them but still call “sin” sin.

Listen to Paul in Ephesians 4:17   17 This I say, therefore, and testify in the Lord, that you should no longer walk as the rest of the Gentiles walk, in the futility of their mind,  18 having their understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart;  19 who, being past feeling, have given themselves over to lewdness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.

Sex in marriage is wonderful and beautiful and a gift from God. Sex outside of marriage whether it is premarital or extramarital or unnatural, it is sin.

Application: Do you go places where this is going on? Are you around people who exemplify this kind of behavior? Are you watching shows and movies and Internet where you are filling your eyes and the eyes of your children with this junk? Are you too curious for your won bad?

III. UNEDIFYING DESTRUCTIVE BEHAVIOR

13 Let us walk properly, as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in lewdness and lust, not in strife and envy.

Background: Here the word strife means trying to get one’s own way in an argument. It wants to possess something, no matter whom it belongs to. It is self-indulgent. It brings an atmosphere of constant tension and dissension.

The second word for envy is the Greek word “zelos.” It really refers to jealousy. It means you have something that you refuse to share with others.

Strife and envy/jealousy have a way of destroying fellowship in the body. They have a way of distracting us from the game of life.

What is the outcome? James 3:16 For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there.

Application: Do you go places that glorify this kind of behavior? Do you watch movies and shows that show this kind of behavior? Do you hang around people who live this kind of lifestyle?

3 Distractions to Avoid: 1. Unrestrained Celebrations. 2. Unbridled Sexual Perversion 3. Unedifying Destructive Behavior.

It’s not enough just to avoid sin. As Dietrich Bonhoeffer once said, “Being a Christian is less about cautiously avoiding sin than about courageously and actively doing God’s will.” Meaning: You cannot go through life with a list of “I don’ts.”

1 Attitude to Embrace:

IV. REPRESENT CHRIST IN EVERY WAY.

14 But put on the Lord Jesus Christ,

Background: This simple sentence is the theme of the entire book of Romans. It means to put on His jersey. It means to look like Him. It means that in everything I think, look, walk, and talk like Jesus. I put on His eyes, ears, mouth, hands, feet, heart, and mind. “Put on the Lord Jesus Christ” means that when people see me, they see Jesus. “Put on the Lord Jesus Christ” means that when people see me, they see Jesus.  But, there’s more – When I see myself, I see Jesus.

What else? And make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts. Meaning: Don’t let any part of you show the ugliness of sin and flesh.

How does all this work? Let each part of you look like Jesus Christ. He has complete and total authority over my mouth, eyes, ears, hands, feet, mind, and heart. I have to get permission from Him to do anything. When I do things His way, people see Jesus. When I do things my way, people see me. I am sinful, evil, worldly, selfish, carnal, and empty. He is selfless, kind, loving, patient, caring, gentle and humble.

If I am saved, I belong to Him. I have to do it His way. I Corinthians 6:20 helps us with this: “For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.”

When I choose to go my way, I fail and do not represent Him.

Are you saved? Without being saved, you cannot put on Christ.