Are You Awake? A timely word for the bride of Christ
There is a concerted effort of the enemy to lull us to sleep when we need to be most fully awake.
Awake to His nature.
Awake to our sonship and abiding in Him.
Awake to the schemes of the enemy.
Awake to the times and seasons.
Awake to our assignment.
Awake to God’s voice louder than anything else.
Awake to our call to be watchmen on the wall and partner with His purposes with demonstration and power.
Yesterday I saw a picture today of an ostrich with its head in the sand. I saw commotion break out around the ostrich. Perhaps it was because the ostrich was scared, overwhelmed and confused, but the ostrich jammed it’s head even deeper. And I felt the jolting reality that this is most of us in the Church.
I know that ostriches do not really bury their heads but humans do. There is a battle over our sobriety. And we have to ask ourselves, “Are we truly awake?”
Here are some guideposts for us:
Beware of confusing activity with intimacy. We will not endure unless we are abiding in the Vine and building our lives upon the Rock. (John 15:1-5, Matthew 7:24-26)
Be aware of seeking out what tickles your ears but does not anchor or align your heart. (2 Timothy 4:3-4, Psalm 1)
“For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables.” II Timothy 4:3-4
Be wary of haughty or christiany, positive one-liners that temporarily buffer you from going low (humility), feeling your need and embracing childlikeness in an era where “experts” will be extinct.
Friends, this is our grand invitation to living from where we are seated - with Christ in heavenly places. (Ephesians 2:6)
This is our moment to refuse being lulled to sleep when all of creation is groaning for the revealing of the sons of God. (Romans 8)
Let’s pray this together:
God, open my eyes to who You are. Enlighten my eyes and show me anywhere I’ve been lulled to sleep. I break agreement with slumber and I renounce the fear, overwhelm, distraction or any other sin/lie that wants to keep me from arising and shining for such a time as this. Here I am, God. Set me on fire for what burns in Your heart. To you be all the glory! Amen.
Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time, casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you. Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. But resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your brethren who are in the world. After you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen and establish you. To Him be dominion forever and ever. Amen.
1 Peter 5:6-11