AWAKE!
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For weeks I have sensed a need for alertness in my inner man. An understanding for my
need to awaken out of the spiritual slumber the enemy tries to lull us into. The slumber can
result into a sense of tranquility and false peace leading to sudden loss of vision and spiritual
vigor and alertness.
The Lord pointed out the letter to the church in Sardis in Rev. 3:1-3
"I know your works, that you have a name that you are alive, but you are
dead. Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are
ready to die, for I have not found your works perfect before God.
Remember therefore how you have received and heard; hold fast and
repent. Therefore if you will not watch, I will come upon you as a thief,
and you will not know what hour I will come upon you."
Romans 13:11 "..now it is high time to awake out of sleep..."
Ephesians 5:14 Therefore He says:"Awake, you who sleep, Arise from the
dead, And Christ will give you light."
Before we can arise, we must first wake up. We must come alive in the areas we may
have become sleepy.
Sardis was the wealthy capital of Lydia in what is today the nation of Turkey. The city
was built upon a high hill and it was like a fortress, seemingly impossible to conquer. It
was a magnificent city full of life and vigor. Since God looks not at the outside, but at the
heart, He knew that they were really dead. They became complacent and felt the enemy
could not overtake them and forgot to keep the watch. They did not keep themselves free
from sin and beneath the pious exterior was actually filth.
He told them to wake up, to remember, to hold fast and to repent. Jesus knew they
understood His reference to coming as a thief, because the history of Sardis spoke to them.
Sardis was overtaken twice by the enemy by night, suddenly and unexpected, because they
did not keep a watch. The watchmen on the wall were sleeping instead of being on their
post.
The ten virgins also fell asleep, but that was not a problem, instead for them it was about
being prepared and filled up. The wise virgins had enough oil in their lamps and plenty
more. The foolish virgins had to buy some oil and missed the time of their visitation. They
even asked the wise virgins to give them some oil. But since they are wise, they knew the
way to acquire this oil was by spending time with their Beloved and to fill up on Him and
this kind of investment could not be transferred.
The Lord is asking us to be vigilant and to keep a watch as individuals, but also for our
brethren. We are to cover each others weaknesses in prayer and realize that God's grace is
sufficient and in our weakness His strength is being made known. Jesus is our fortress and
He is our defense. In Him we move and live and have our being. He has made provision
for us and as we return to our first love, our times with Him become more intense and
intimate. We are able to see as He sees and strengthen those things that remain and are
ready to die.
In Hebrews 12:12 we are exhorted to "strengthen the hands which hang down, and the
feeble knees..." You can refer to my recent message on this verse "RENEW YOUR
SPIRITUAL VITALITY".
I pray that those things which are dormant within you are awakened and that the breath of
God is breathing new life into your inner man. I declare: Come Alive to the things of God
in your inner man! So that you arise and shine for your light has come and the glory of the
Lord is risen upon you. May you understand the calling of God on your life and take a hold
of God's promises and be watchful and alert.
May you have a hunger and thirst to seek His face and to keep close to Jesus.
need to awaken out of the spiritual slumber the enemy tries to lull us into. The slumber can
result into a sense of tranquility and false peace leading to sudden loss of vision and spiritual
vigor and alertness.
The Lord pointed out the letter to the church in Sardis in Rev. 3:1-3
"I know your works, that you have a name that you are alive, but you are
dead. Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are
ready to die, for I have not found your works perfect before God.
Remember therefore how you have received and heard; hold fast and
repent. Therefore if you will not watch, I will come upon you as a thief,
and you will not know what hour I will come upon you."
Romans 13:11 "..now it is high time to awake out of sleep..."
Ephesians 5:14 Therefore He says:"Awake, you who sleep, Arise from the
dead, And Christ will give you light."
Before we can arise, we must first wake up. We must come alive in the areas we may
have become sleepy.
Sardis was the wealthy capital of Lydia in what is today the nation of Turkey. The city
was built upon a high hill and it was like a fortress, seemingly impossible to conquer. It
was a magnificent city full of life and vigor. Since God looks not at the outside, but at the
heart, He knew that they were really dead. They became complacent and felt the enemy
could not overtake them and forgot to keep the watch. They did not keep themselves free
from sin and beneath the pious exterior was actually filth.
He told them to wake up, to remember, to hold fast and to repent. Jesus knew they
understood His reference to coming as a thief, because the history of Sardis spoke to them.
Sardis was overtaken twice by the enemy by night, suddenly and unexpected, because they
did not keep a watch. The watchmen on the wall were sleeping instead of being on their
post.
The ten virgins also fell asleep, but that was not a problem, instead for them it was about
being prepared and filled up. The wise virgins had enough oil in their lamps and plenty
more. The foolish virgins had to buy some oil and missed the time of their visitation. They
even asked the wise virgins to give them some oil. But since they are wise, they knew the
way to acquire this oil was by spending time with their Beloved and to fill up on Him and
this kind of investment could not be transferred.
The Lord is asking us to be vigilant and to keep a watch as individuals, but also for our
brethren. We are to cover each others weaknesses in prayer and realize that God's grace is
sufficient and in our weakness His strength is being made known. Jesus is our fortress and
He is our defense. In Him we move and live and have our being. He has made provision
for us and as we return to our first love, our times with Him become more intense and
intimate. We are able to see as He sees and strengthen those things that remain and are
ready to die.
In Hebrews 12:12 we are exhorted to "strengthen the hands which hang down, and the
feeble knees..." You can refer to my recent message on this verse "RENEW YOUR
SPIRITUAL VITALITY".
I pray that those things which are dormant within you are awakened and that the breath of
God is breathing new life into your inner man. I declare: Come Alive to the things of God
in your inner man! So that you arise and shine for your light has come and the glory of the
Lord is risen upon you. May you understand the calling of God on your life and take a hold
of God's promises and be watchful and alert.
May you have a hunger and thirst to seek His face and to keep close to Jesus.
