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on guard


1 Thessalonians 5:5&6
"5 Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness.
6 Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober."

This week we are studying ENCOURAGEMENT. We turn to Paul's first letter to the Thessalonians. Specifically a section where he is ENCOUNTERING them. Christians are living in the light, "darkness" is a metaphor for sin, ignorance, and misery. Paul has warned that Judgement Day as a specific day in time, and when that day comes it will surprise everyone. Like a thief in the night. 

Paul's writing is made more powerful by being both literal and metaphorical; "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." we need to be aware that Christians CAN be converted BACK into “children of darkness.”

We don't want that. The worldly culture will want us to be more like them. Applying peer pressure to get Christians to be lewd, crude and rude. Hoping to see Christians become decadent, excessive and self-indulgent. None of this is good for Christians. This is why Paul is encouraging "let us watch and be sober." We want to be ON GUARD for the evils of the worldly culture. Sobriety is more than avoiding intoxication. It's also keeping above the influence of the tempting excesses of the culture. It would be a shame to squander the Salvation that Jesus has given us.
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