The Third Sunday of Advent (NTA)

1 Thessalonians 5:1-11

Now concerning the times and the seasons, brothers, you have no need to have anything written to you. ² For you yourselves are fully aware that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. ³ While people are saying, “There is peace and security,” then sudden destruction will come upon them as labor pains come upon a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. ⁴ But you are not in darkness, brothers, for that day to surprise you like a thief. ⁵ For you are all children of light, children of the day. We are not of the night or of the darkness. ⁶ So then let us not sleep, as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober. ⁷ For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, are drunk at night. ⁸ But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation. ⁹ For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, ¹⁰ who died for us so that whether we are awake or asleep we might live with him. ¹¹ Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing. 

Put on the full Armor of God!  Put on Faith and Love and the Hope of Salvation!  Many soldiers fight and die.  They fight for a reason or for a person.  But when the battle is over many lay dead or asleep.

Put on the Breastplate and the helmet.  Ready yourself for battle for you are soldiers of the Day and Night is coming.  The Darkness sweeps across this land.  It comes with Religious bodies and with Military might.  The night even comes through things that should help and protect us.

Stay Awake be ready for battle.  Be Ready!  The Lord is coming to Judge the Living and the Dead.  He will raise our fellow warriors who have fallen asleep.  We will all be united together to stand with out Lord.

But Now we stand and fight.  Encourage one another to believe in Christ our Savior.  Encourage one another to act in Love for one another.  Encourage one another to Hope in the Salvation of God.  Stay Awake and stand ready.  Put on the Full Armor of God.