Sermons by J.H. Blackman, Jr.

A Day In The Life Of A Christian

INTRODUCTION:
1. SCRIPTURE READING:
  Romans 13:11-14 = "And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to
  awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed. The
  night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of
  darkness, and let us put on the armour of light. Let us walk honestly, as in the
  day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in
  strife and envying. But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision
  for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof."
2. PAUL SPEAKS ABOUT GODLY LIVING:
  1. In these four verse he give a very timely lesson on the appropriate godly living of a
    child of God.
  2. The lesson is presented in the course of a day’s activity.
    1. Getting up.
    2. Getting dressed.
    3. Plan for the day.
    4. Necessary provisions to consider.
DISCUSSION:
1. THE GETTING UP HOUR:
  1. The time to get up has arrived:
    Romans 13:11 = "And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to
    awake out of sleep: …"
    1. The sleep we are to awaken from is not natural (physical) sleep, but the sleep of listlessness, and negligence.
      1. Listlessness has to do with being indifferent or neutral in our activities.
        Joshua 24:15 = "And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD,
        choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods
        which your fathers served that were on the other side of the
        flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but
        as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD."
        
        Matthew 6:24 = "No man can serve two masters: for either he
        will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the
        one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon."
        
        Revelation 3:15-16 = "I know thy works, that thou art neither
        cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because
        thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee
        out of my mouth."
      2. Negligence has to do with being careless of doing that which should be done, which is the same as disregarding the importance of something.
      Hebrews 2:3 = "How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation;
      which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed
      unto us by them that heard him;"
      
      Luke 13:3 = "I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all
      likewise perish."
      
      James 4:17 = "Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it
      not, to him it is sin."
    2. The call is urgent and it is imperative.
      1. The urgency is seen in:
        2 Corinthians 6:2 = "(For he saith, I have heard thee in a time
        accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee:
        behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of
        salvation.)"
        
        Matthew 25:13 = "Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day
        nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh."
      2. The imperative factor is seen in that there is something we can avoid
        and must be ready for.
    Romans 5:12 = "Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and
    death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:"
    
    Hebrews 9:27 = "And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this
    the judgment:"
  2. The day has dawned.
    Romans 13:11 = "…Knowing the time…" or "…Knowing the season…"
    (ASV).
    1. We must not oversleep.
    2. So many of us love to snooze a little longer. Get up now!
  3. Why is this so imperative?
    Romans 13:11 = "… For now is our salvation nearer than when we
    believed."
    1. The time is fast approaching:
      Matthew 25:13 = "Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor
      the hour wherein the Son of man cometh."
    2. The final consummation is upon us – that is the judgment of all things we
      have done:
  Hebrews 9:27 = "And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the
  judgment:"
  
  2 Corinthians 5:10 = "For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ;
  that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath
  done, whether it be good or bad."
2. GETTING DRESSED -- PUTTING ON THE WORKING GARMENTS FOR THE DAY.
  Romans 13:12 = "The night is far spent, the day is at hand: …"
  1. We must put off the garments of the night.
    Romans 13:12 = "… Let us therefore cast off the works of darkness …"
    1. The are the clothes of the night.
    2. We should be ashamed to wear these during the day.
    John 3:19 = "And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the
    world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were
    evil."
  2. We must put on:
    Romans 13:12 = "… And let us put on the armour of light."
    1. Children of God are to walk in the light and not in the dark.
      John 12:36 = "While ye have light, believe in the light, that ye may be
      the children of light. These things spake Jesus, and departed, and
      did hide himself from them."
      
      2 Corinthians 6:14 = "Be ye not unequally yoked together with
      unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with
      unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?"
      
      1 Thessalonians 5:5-8 = "Ye are all the children of light, and the
      children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness.
      Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be
      sober. For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be
      drunken are drunken in the night. But let us, who are of the day, be
      sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet,
      the hope of salvation."
      
      1 John 1:7 = "But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin."
    2. The word "Armor" in Romans 13:12, signifies that the Christian is a soldier
      and must dress ready for battle as noted in Ephesians 6:13-19. In his battle
      against darkness.
  Ephesians 6:13-19 = "Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye
  may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand
  therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate
  of righteousness; And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;
  Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the
  fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the
  Spirit, which is the word of God: Praying always with all prayer and
  supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and
  supplication for all saints; And for me, that utterance may be given unto me,
  that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel,"
3. PLAN FOR THE DAY – HOW WE SHOULD WALK:
  1. Postively Paul says:
    Romans 13:1 = "Let us walk honestly, as in the day …"
    1. Walk as Jesus set us an example:
      1 John 2:6 = "He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to
      walk, even as he walked."
      
      1 Peter 2:21-22 = "For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ
      also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his
      steps: Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth:"
    2. The kind of walking includes purity, love, and humble obedience to the
      Father’s will.
    1 John 1:6 = "If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in
    darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:"
    
    Colossians 2:6 = "As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so
    walk ye in him:"
  2. Negatively Paul says:
    Romans 13:13 = "… Not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering
    and wantonness, not in strife and envying."
    1. Not living a life of sensuality:
      1. Rioting - A carousel of reveling.
      2. Drunkenness – Being under in intoxicating influence of alcohol.
      3. Chambering – Sexual pleasures of the world.
      4. Wantonness – filthy, lasciviousness, lewd emotions or desires.
    2. Not living a life of hatred:
      1. Strife - Contention, debate, strife, variance.
      2. Envying - Indignation, jealousy, zeal.
4. WHOLESOME PROVISIONS -- SOME NECESSARY PROVISIONS WE NEED
  TO MAKE:
  1. That which is needed or necessary:
    Romans 13:14 = "But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ…"
    1. This is done in baptism.
      Galatians 3:26-27 = "For ye are all the children of God by faith in
      Christ Jesus. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ
      have put on Christ."
    2. When one puts on Christ, this includes His love, gentleness, purity and
      courage.
    3. When one puts on Christ he is fully clothed and equipped for the daily battle
      a Christian will face.
    2 Timothy 3:16-17 = "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is
    profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in
    righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished
    unto all good works."
  2. That which is forbidden:
    Romans 13:14 = "…And make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts
    thereof."
    1. We need to give consideration to the necessities of the body, but not to the
      lust of the body.
    2. Natural needs of the body must be considered, but the wanton appetites
      must be checked and denied.
CONCLUSION:
1. QUESTIONS:
  1. Have you awaken out of sleep?
  2. Have you cast off the works of darkness?
  3. Are you walking honestly before God?
  4. Have you put on the Lord Jesus Christ?
2. BEGIN TODAY IF YOU HAVE NOT DONE THESE THINGS?
3. DO NOT WASTE THE ONLY DAY YOU HAVE!

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