AWAKE

Therefore He says: “AWAKE, you who sleep, arise from the dead, and Christ will give you light” – Ephesians 5:14

The Awakening Call has echoed for ages: “AWAKE, AWAKE! Put on your strength, O Zion; put on your beautiful garments, O Jerusalem, the holy city! For the uncircumcised and the unclean shall no longer come to you. Shake yourself from the dust, arise; sit down, O Jerusalem! Loose yourself from the bonds of your neck, O captive daughter of Zion!” (Isa.52: 1-2). God is calling His people to awake in divine Strength, Beauty, Purity, Maturity, and Liberty. His mandate in this day of power is: “Awake, awake! Put on your strength.”  The children of Issachar had “understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do” (1 Chr. 12: 32). It is time for God’s Saints to AWAKE! We are not living in ordinary times. God is calling and challenging us to awake, arise, and shine in the light of the reality of the Day of His Glory. But, we cannot shine until we arise, and we cannot arise until we AWAKE!

There is time no more for spiritual, mental or physical slumber. Yet, the abnormal reality is that it is possible for a believer in Jesus Christ to become a sleeping Christian, and even a gospel church to fall asleep. One is most likely to slumber when outward circumstances are very comfortable; and when all seems to be going well (Lk.12:19). Samson’s anointing and destiny were drained as he slept cozily on Delilah’s lap (Jud.16:19). Beloved, we are in the end times; in times like these, we must not be engaged in just anything that comes along our way; pray any purposeless kinds of prayers; invest in just any project or endeavor without clear divine leading; or allow our hearts to be preoccupied with worldly pursuits, materials concerns, cares of this life, and mere forms of religious observances (Lk. 21: 34-36). These are the slumber inducers.

Believers are exhorted to awake, and warned of the dangers of spiritual sleep: it is like a coma that may result in death unless the believer awakens. God casts a hard gaze on the slothful man who sleeps while others work: “How long will you slumber, O sluggard? When will you rise from your sleep?” (Pro.6:9). This is the season of staying awake with the Lord Jesus (Mt.26: 36-46). He is saying to us “Watch” – “Stay awake” (Mk.13:37)! The apostle Paul constantly spurred churches to wake up: “It is HIGH TIME to AWAKE: “And that knowing the time, that NOW it is high time to AWAKE out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed” (Rom.13:11). He charged the Corinthians to “awake to righteousness, and do not sin…” (1Cor.15:34). And the Thessalonians: “You are all sons of light and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of darkness. Therefore let us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be sober” (1The.5:6).

A ‘sleeper’ lacks sensitivity; is insecure and vulnerable to attacks and dangers; cannot defend himself; is likely to be left behind when others have moved on, and may end up being obsessed with daydreams, illusions and delusions (Jud.4:21). When King Saul slept Abner could take away the spear from his pillow (1Sam.26:7-22). The ‘sleeper’ lives more in a world of fantasy and vanity than reality (Ecc.5:7). God is calling ‘sleeping’ Christians to awake! Luke 9:32 says about the disciples of Jesus: “when they were awake, they saw His glory.”  His Glory has risen upon you; but until you awake from spiritual and mental slumber, you cannot see His glory (Isa.60:1). This present world system seems to be ‘drugged’ in the stupor of sin, satanic deception, and spiritual blindness. Therefore, you must awake and shake yourself from the dust of worldliness so that you can begin to soar upon eagle’s wings into realms of glory.

Jesus Christ – the Light of the world has appeared; what are you doing lying down and lazing in the dark?