Its Time To Pay Attention

Hey friend, listen. Is this how it goes in your life as it does in my life? When someone asked me or I ask them, ((music playing)) "Hey, how's it going?" What is the response? It's pretty much always the same. Oh, I'm fine. And we just kind of move on, right?

But if we take the time to stop and follow up where we say, "How are you doing?" And they say, "I'm fine." And then you say, "Listen, can I ask you something? How's it really going?" They have a tendency to let their guard down. They have a tendency to slow down and to become more honest.

Why? Because they are starting to detect that you actually care. And as Christians, we need to do that. As Christians, you and I need to exhibit and display that we honestly care for one another. ((music playing)) And so recently, I put this into practice. We had a plumber at our house.

He was doing his work and he was getting ready to leave. And as I was paying the bill, I asked him, "How are you doing?" And he said, "Fine." And I said, "How's it really going?" and he put down his tools and he then began to tell me how his wife has been battling some great illness and we were able to pray together and I was able to witness to him even in the prayer.

And so you and I are called to love one another just as Jesus loves us. Friends, listen. The next time you hear someone say, "I'm fine." Don't just accept it at face value. Dive in. Look at it as an open door to say, "No, really, I want to know how you're doing."

And pray for them. Ask them, "Do you would you mind if I pray for you?" Well, friends, listen, that's living out the love of God. So, let's grab our Bibles and let's get into the study right now that it's time to pay attention. Let's learn from the word of God how you and I can love more, love bigger in a world that needs us more than ever. and do this.

Here's a command. This is what you're to do. What is that, Paul the Apostle? What are you saying to us? Knowing the time that now it is high time to awake out of sleep. For now our salvation is nearer than when we first believe. Verse 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. What great words. And so, we learned this. The second argument is attention. I owe you attention. And what do we mean by attention? And I encourage you to do this everybody.

If you do not own Daniel Webster's uh dictionary of the American language of of English, you got to get it. It's the 1828 dictionary. You can get it online or you can buy the book. You got to buy the book. It will impress Amazon when they show up to your house.

That dictionary is about that thick and it's that book's about that big. And it is the actual original definition of English words in 1828 by Noah Webster. It's the one and only real dictionary. Attention. The act of attending to or the heating of the proper application of the ear to sound or of the mind to objects presented for its contemplation.

Literally meaning a stretching towards or leaning towards. I love that. According to what God is saying to us in this in verses 11 and 12, you and I are to give each other attention and lean into each other's life. We're to lean in and find out how are you really doing?

What's really going on? And listen, if we really care, have you noticed this? If we really care, and this is one of the remarkable things about church, it doesn't matter what cultural background you're from. It doesn't matter what uh financial background you're at. It doesn't matter uh your age.

If any one of us honestly detects that the other one cares for the other one, there is a remarkable connection that is timeless. It's it's it it's it's not based on generation. When when a kid knows that this old woman or this old man grandpa style loves on them, there's freedom, there's love, and there's healing.

And vice versa. And remember last week, which I'm really happy to see, you came back. You weren't supposed to. You surprised me. Last week I doubled down very hard on marriage. How can we talk about these things of love and owing one another nothing but love and we talk it up but then we're brutes and beasts at home in our marriages.

And I made it very clear that you're actually lying to yourself and you cannot be a Christian. The Bible made it very clear. And so I said goodbye to many of you. But I didn't expect you to come back, but here you are. Unless you're all visiting, which would be both sad and good, I guess, wouldn't it?

But it's a remarkable thing. Attention. We give attention to so much in life. Everything's clamoring for our attention. Everything's pulling on us. Well, I want to submit to you today that if I slow down, I'm going to hear God just like you're going to hear God say, "Love one another."

And by doing this, you're also preparing yourself to not only be more like Jesus, but we're also getting ready for eternity. You think about that for a moment. When the Bible gives us these awesome truths, these are timeless truths. And so when the scripture says, "Knowing the time," what do we learn from this?

Well, mark this down. The attention that I should give you should be manifested this way. I should be calling you as a friend and as a lover of your soul and you to you of mine calling one another both to uh wake up. We that we need to wake up.

See what do you mean by that? Well, right here the Bible is telling us that know the time or knowing the time. This is a great word. The word in uh Greek is Kronos uh chronology. Know the time. The Bible tells us that as a believer, we are to be knowing the time or knowing the atmospherics that are around our life.

Listen, I'm convinced of this. I really mean what I'm about to say. Christians are the only ones that really know anything about real time. >> You say, "What kind of statement is that?" There's there are those who make time pieces. There are those who study time. In fact, about 30 years ago, I think the study was at Stanford University where they were able to conclude, listen to this, because we think time is a constant, don't we?

In the physical realm, time is a constant. We also think light is a constant in the physical realm. Guess what? If any of you have had basic physics, did you know that you cannot have in this world in the physical universe, even though light and time is properties of a physical universe, for entropy, I didn't mean this to turn out this way.

It's just starting to come out. I can feel it. [laughter] Here it comes. So, the second law of thermodynamics is called entropy. And that means that all things are going from an ordered state to a chaotic state. It means that the universe, including your body, sad to say, not your body, my body is going from an ordered state to a chaotic state.

We would say it this way, the moment we're born, we begin to die. That's based on the second law of thermodynamics. things are going from an ordered state to a disordered state. In other words, you buy a brand new car and by the time you get it home, some nuts and bolts have fallen off of it.

How did that happen? You can notice this. No, no nuts and bolts ever screw themselves on tighter. They always unscrew themselves. That's a good way to remember that. So, listen. According to time in this physical realm, time you can manipulate time now. You can move time in a laboratory.

And light, what about light? We now know that light, the great constant in the physical realm, is slowing down. Light slowing down. What does this mean? It means the Bible's been true all along. That there's an end coming. Even if you don't believe in God, according to science, there's an end coming.

Science speaks of it. The Bible warns about it. Or for us as believers, it encourages about it. How are we encouraged? Because the believer is the only one, as I said, who really knows what time it is. You and I live on ET time, not Eastern time, but eternal time.

Because heaven, listen to this, heaven is eternal. The lives that we are now living is such a huge contradiction. We live in this physical realm. We have to deal with time all the time, but yet we're living in light of eternity. I hope you're living like that in light of eternity.

Now, that doesn't mean you don't invest. Doesn't mean you don't brush your teeth. It doesn't mean that you don't mow your lawn. You got to do those things. But we don't know when the end is going to be. But we do know this. I will not always be around.

Neither will you. Young people have a hard time with what I just said because they feel like they're going to live forever. You're not. And there's going to come an end because time in this physical realm plays out that role upon our bodies. But glory be to God, you cannot go into heaven and say, "What time is it in heaven?"

It's timeless. Isn't it beautiful? And it's not a lot of time. The world sees God as some old man with a long white beard. That's impossible. That would be an old man meaning there's time and a long white beard means there's age. He's eternal. The Bible says Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.

No time in heaven. ((applause)) I can't wait to get there. Are you excited to go there? I can't wait to get there, man. It's going to be great. Could happen today. Think about that. The Lord could come back today or I could drop dead right now. You said, "Pastor, don't say that."

Okay, you could drop dead right now. Are you ready to meet God? Think about that. What a remarkable thing. And you, I, you and I, if we love one another, we are to call one another to wake up. Because the Bible says here that knowing the time that now it is high time that we awake out of sleep.

This is a remarkable theological statement. You might want to write it down because this means that man without God is asleep spiritually. >> You ever seen someone in in a coma without God? The spirit that is within you is in a state of coma. The Bible tells us when the spirit of God quickens you, you become alive spiritually and he makes us alive.

Now as believers, we are to encourage one another and give attention to one another, calling each other to wake up. Why? Because it's high time that we awake out of sleep. First of all, Jesus said in Acts chapter 1:es 7 and 8, Jesus said, and I'll paraphrase it.

The disciples asked Jesus, "Awesome. Now that you're risen from the dead, are you going to restore the kingdom to Israel?" They they knew the right question to ask. They they didn't have the right time. Jesus answered and said, "Listen, we got a lot of work." I'm paraphrasing. Got a lot of work to do.

That's not for now. You're gonna you're going to go wait for the Holy Spirit's power and I'm going to send you out to the ends of the earth. Why? Because 2,000 years ago, he told the disciples, "We got a lot of work to do, guys. You got to go and preach this word all around the world.

That's the job." But listen to look at First Thessalonians chapter 5. I love this. Paul says, "Oh, remember numerous times Jesus will say,"Nobody knows the day or the hour of the coming of the son of man." You got, right? You have you you've read that. Nobody knows the day or the hour.

We do not know the day or the hour and we're not going to know the day or the hour. Don't let somebody say, "Oh, but God showed me a dream last night and I'm going to write a book. It's about the day and the hour God showed me."

Listen, run away from that person. Jesus says, "Nobody knows the day or the hour." Listen to what Paul says concerning the times and the seasons. That's different than day or hour. Concerning the times, the years and the seasons. It starts out broad. Concerning the times, years, and seasons, months.

Paul says, "I don't have to write to you. You'll have no need that I should write to you, for you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night. But listen, that's not going to happen to you. He says, for when they say that's not you, you're not a they.

You're not a they and you're not a them. For when they say peace and safety, sudden destruction comes upon them as labor pains upon a pregnant woman, and they shall not escape. But you, verse four, brethren, are not in darkness. You're spiritually alive now, so that this day should overtake you as a thief.

You are all sons of light and sons of day, sons of the day. We are not of the night, nor of darkness. Therefore, let us not sleep as others do. Don't be comeomaos, but let us watch and be sober. And to be watching and to be sober, that is spiritually level.

It means that we're going to be loving one another. It doesn't mean you go enroll in some seminary to be to get your doctorate in theology. That's not what it means. Who needs that? I'm not Listen, I'm not downplaying learning. What I'm saying is your learning and your knowledge means nothing to us unless you're loving one another.

What would it matter if you've achieved this that and the other thing and you're just gross to be with and you exhibit nothing of what you suppose that God has done in your life? Oh, God loves me. Does he now? Then why is it so rare if never you're loving toward other people?

How can that be? You think God loves you. You know God loves you, but you can't return that love to others. This is a serious situation where it looks like you don't really know what you're talking about because we don't want to hear theology. We want to experience it.

And I'm not talking about bells and whistles and little shivers up your spine and goosebumps. I'm talking about love. Real rolling up your sleeves love for one another. And so he says, "And do this knowing that the time is that it's high time." This word high time is an amazing statement because it means that it's a designated time.

It's a particular time. It's a time that has been known to God. It's a time that God has revealed to us. We are now living according to the apostle for the last 2,000 years. Watch. For the last 2,000 years, the apostle announced it's high time. You said, 'Well, Jack, you just you just contradicted yourself.

If he said it 2,000 years ago that now's the time and it's high time that we wake out of sleep, then how does that apply now? You remember in eternity there is no time. In this world, there is time. Conclusion, if he said it back then 2,000 years ago, how much closer are we to it now?

Amen. >> We are more responsible now than those then what they were living and you and I live much further down the timeline in chronology. And yet you and I are living in light of eternity. I believe the bibleelving Christian who's looking at the world through the lens of the Bible uh they see they understand they look at things and number one thing is this.

Don't you and I want as many men and women and boys and girls to join us in heaven forever as possible. >> It's always that way, no matter what it is. Listen, this church holds elected officials accountable for their authority, for their position. That doesn't mean we want to establish a kingdom on earth.

That ain't going to happen. We want as as much as they want us out of here, we want out of here more. But in the meantime, in earth time, we are going to do the right thing. We're going to stand for what's right, and we are going to be salt and light because this is what Christ has called us to do with all the while looking [applause and cheering] up. 2 Corinthians chapter 6 tells us, "We then as workers together with him, that is God, also plead with you not to receive the grace of God in vain."

In other words, experience his salvation. Please do and run with it. For he says, God says, "In an acceptable time I have heard you, and in the day of salvation I have helped you." Paul goes on, "Behold, now is the accepted time." Behold, now is the day of salvation.

How about this, church? Now is the acceptable time for you to consider living forever with Christ, forgiven of your sins, given a new life and a new meaning. And oh, by the way, don't receive that grace in vain. Join us and let's tell the world together that sins can be forgiven.

Life can be lived all over again. God can give you security of eternal life in heaven. And when you finish your course in this world, Christ receives you into his glory. What's better than that? [applause and cheering] What's better than that? There's nothing better than that. The second thing is this everybody is also verses 11 to 12 is that for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believe and in the night it is far spent.

So, if I owe you my attention, I'm going to be encouraging you to get ready, to get ready. You and I are to encourage each other to get ready. When he says that our salvation, I hope I hope this warms your heart. For now, our salvation. Do you know what's implied here?

That you own it. It's your salvation. Can you all hear me? This is important. If you have salvation, you're [clears throat] not going to lose it. >> You're not going to lose it. The problem is some of you think you have it and you don't. And then people wake up around you to find out you didn't have it.

They thought you had it. The Bible says in First John, "These things have been written that you might know you have eternal life." You need to make sure in your own life, do you really really know the Lord Jesus Christ in the sense that you are the sinner and he is the redeemer?

That he is God and you're not. That he did it all and you can do nothing but turn to him and love him and thanks >> for all that he's done. That's it. That he died on the cross for you because you couldn't buy your way into heaven. >> And then he rose again from the dead to sanctify your life forever.

We will be completely redeemed for all time and eternity. And by the way, we will not be in heaven like this. We won't be in heaven saying, "Oh man, how long we how long we've been up here?" Oh, long time. The There's no keeping of time. It doesn't exist because time's physical.

Isn't it fascinating? It's physical in eternity. It's not physical, but it's more real than what you and I are living in right now. So, what does that mean? like we can we like shake hands, touch each other, can we give each other a hug? If you can do that here, why can't you do it there?

It's going to be better there than it is here. >> What? Listen, whatever is of this world is going to pale in comparison compared to what God has in store for us. The Bible says, "Eye has not seen, ear has not heard, neither has it entered the mind of man the things that God has prepared for those who love him."

He's talking about heaven forever is going to be ((cheering)) awesome. And I can't wait to go. Yes. >> ((applause)) >> Well, listen. It's not only time to pay attention. It's always time to pay attention as believers. And your words and my words and actions, they really matter. It reflects what we believe and who we believe in.

And it really puts things in the perspective of eternity. If you think about it, the motivation behind it all ((music playing)) is eternity, is the love of God. And remember this, that redemption covers all time and eternity. The redemption that Christ brings is not temporary. It's not for a thousand years or a million years.

It is forever. And if you truly have salvation, that is, if you really have it, my friend, you're not going to lose it. It can't be lost. If you're in his family, God does not abort anyone out of his family. That should bring you great confidence in knowing that Jesus Christ saves sinners.

Why? Because he is the savior and the redeemer. Uh do you know right now, friend, that you have the assurance of eternal life? Because you should. The Bible says that these things these things have been ((music playing)) written that you might know that you have eternal life. Isn't that beautiful?

Do you want to know how to live daily with confidence in God's promises and grace? Trust him at his word. Take him at his word. Let's do that right now together. Wherever you're at, do the best you can to pay attention right now ((music playing)) as we pray. Heavenly Father, we come to you in the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior.

And we're asking you, Lord God, to open up our eyes brighter and bigger to the reality of heaven. That what awaits us is eternal life, eternal fellowship, eternal existence with the one who died on the cross for our sins and rose again from the dead. ((music playing)) The Jesus Christ of the Bible, not the Jesus of man-made religions, but the Jesus ((music playing)) of the Bible.

So, Father, we pray now that all those who are listening would be sure and make sure that they've put their faith in you and you alone in Jesus name. Amen. Friends, listen. Jack Gibbs.com is where you can find out more and study with us more in the word of God.

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