Tag Archives: Awake

Awakening from Slumber – The Call to the Body of Christ

28 Friday Aug 2015

Posted by in Bible, Christian, Christianity, Faith, God, Inspiration, Jesus, Jesus Christ, Life, Love, Spiritual

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ID-10083143Most of us use some sort of alarm or alert to wake up in the morning. An alarm clock is a device that is designed to stimulate our senses in order to awaken out of a deep sleep. When we are asleep we are typically unaware of our surroundings. Of course, some are considered to be what is known as a ‘heavy sleeper’ which means that it is difficult to wake up from a session of sleep. Others are considered to be what is known as a ‘light sleeper’ which means that their pattern of sleeping is easily broken and aroused by any sort of noise or movement.

However, regardless of the type of sleeper you are, the device known as an alarm clock provides the necessary stimulation to be awakened from your sleep. The alarm may or may not result in success because there are some who hear the alarm and either press the snooze button to gain an extra 15 minutes, or they turn the alarm off only to go back to sleep. More often than not, by ignoring the alarm it can cause one to be tardy for their destination because their focus is to sleep rather than to be awakened.

If we look at the world around us, there are many signs of a world that is constantly deteriorating before our eyes. Violence fills just about every nation and lawlessness seems to be abounding. Many forms of sin which God has stated throughout His Word have now become commonplace. So much so that even in some realms of Christianity such sins have either become acceptable or even practiced among those who claim to be in Christ. In the book of 1 Thessalonians chapter 5, the Apostle Paul is writing to believers in the church of Thessalonica.

Throughout this chapter, the Apostle Paul urges Christians to be aware of ‘The End Times’ or essentially Christ’s return. In verses 1-3, Paul says the following:

(NLT) “Now concerning how and when all this will happen, dear brothers and sisters, we don’t really need to write you. For you know quite well that the day of the Lord’s return will come unexpectedly, like a thief in the night. When people are saying, “Everything is peaceful and secure,” then disaster will fall on them as suddenly as a pregnant woman’s labor pains begin. And there will be no escape.”

In verse 1 the word ‘this’ is referring to the day of the Lord or Christ’s return. In this short passage, Paul says that the day of the Lord’s return will come unexpectedly as a thief in the night. This means that Christ’s return will be sudden and it will catch many who are not ready in an unaware position.

Also, notice that Paul says that many will say, “Everything is peaceful and secure,” which suggests that those who are not in Christ are seeing our world from the unbelieving standpoint. Basically, there are many who hear the truth and yet they do not believe that certain things such as the coming of the Lord will happen. If you look at the chaos that surrounds our world today, there are still those that do not and will not acknowledge the truth concerning the signs of the times. 

As Paul says in verses 2-3, many will say that the time that we live in is peaceful and secure and yet those who are unaware will be met with the inevitable which is the return of Jesus Christ. Notice also what Paul says as he continues with this message of urgency:

(NLT) “But you aren’t in the dark about these things, dear brothers and sisters, and you won’t be surprised when the day of the Lord comes like a thief. For you are all children of the light and of the day; we don’t belong to darkness and night. So be on your guard, not asleep like the others. Stay alert and be clearheaded.” 

Paul says that those who are truly in Christ are those who will not be caught off guard by Christ’s return. Essentially, this means that if you and I are following after the things of God and we are spiritually in tune with what God wants for our lives then we will be abreast of our changing world.

Paul says in verse 6, “So be on your guard, not asleep like the others. Stay alert and be clearheaded.” This is the crucial part of this blog post which is to point to the call that God has given to the body of Christ. God has called each person who is in Christ to not only spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ but to also be aware and fully knowledgeable about the signs of the times. Paul uses the word ‘asleep’ which means that he is stressing the point of maintaining an alert disposition. 

The fact is that in our modern time the body of Christ has seemingly lost its focus. Many Pastor’s have lost the true meaning of what it means to be a messenger of the Gospel by adhering to teaching of prosperity and seeking to fill empty church pews. God is concerned with whether or not the Gospel is brought to the masses and preparing the body of Christ for what is to come.

All of the violence and even the weather patterns which have become increasingly worse are pointing to the signs of the times. They are also pointing to the abundance of sinful behavior.  However, the question is, is the body of Christ truly awake to what is happening in our world?  Or are we passively watching on the sidelines as our world imposes sin and immorality upon us? Those who are truly in Christ must stand up and stand together for the sake of the Gospel.

The call is to those who are serious about Christ and willing to give their very reputation and even their life for the cause of Jesus Christ. The world is seeking answers to the endless cycle of violence and tragedy. They are looking for a remedy by their human hands but you and I who are in Christ, we have the answer which is Jesus Christ.  9/11 was one of the moments in which the world was shaken to its foundation. Many Christians were asleep even at that time. Have we who are in the body fallen asleep again?

It is time for us to be awakened as Paul encourages us. For a final observation, Paul says the following in verses 7-8:

(NLT) “Night is the time when people sleep and drinkers get drunk. But let us who live in the light be clearheaded, protected by the armor of faith and love, and wearing as our helmet the confidence of our salvation.” 

These two verses point to the fact that we who are in Christ are to be of the light or the light of Christ. If we are in the light, then it means we cannot be unaware of what is truly occurring within our world. Paul says that we are to be “clearheaded” and that we remain protected by arming ourselves in love, faith, and even the confidence in our salvation. Arming ourselves means that we are spiritually in tune and aware of what is taking place. The fact is that Jesus Christ will return again, but before that happens, we will see more sinfulness and consequences for such sin.

However, the good news is that Jesus Christ died for you and I so that we would be saved from our sin. Safety is only found in Christ which means that if you are not in Christ then you are vulnerable to what will occur as time goes on. If you haven’t accepted Christ, now is the time to do so. Each day that passes seems to grow worse and worse, but the hope that we have is in Jesus Christ. Life in Christ is better than a life lived in the unawareness that comes from being in sin.

Awakened & Alive in Jesus Christ

30 Thursday Jul 2015

Posted by in Bible, Christian, Christianity, Faith, God, Inspiration, Jesus, Jesus Christ, Life, Love, Spiritual

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ID-10027894Death is a natural occurrence as it relates to the cycle of life that everyone has and will experience.  The beginning stage involves being born into this world and hopefully growing up to live a long, healthy, and enjoyable life. However, after the beginning and the in-between stage of life, there is an ending point.  No one knows when their time will arrive, but all of us will transition into death which will bring us to our eternal destination whether that be Heaven or Hell.

However, the topic of death is one that most do not wish to have. It is the very fact that death symbolizes a loss of life or the ceasing of one’s natural body in the state of living that makes it difficult to even ponder.  When we die, our Earthly body will return back into the ground and our spirit will return back to God. (Ecclesiastes 12:7) It is when a person dies, that life in the natural sense no longer exists. Some also consider death to be an experience in which our soul rests or sleeps.

As it relates to our spiritual well-being, there is a similar analogy that can be drawn to describe being alive in Christ or being dead in your sin. In the book of Ephesians chapter 2, the Apostle Paul brings this analogy to the attention of those in the church of Ephesus.  In the first part of this chapter, Paul uses language that suggests that those he was speaking to were in their sin but had been converted to a life with Jesus Christ.

Verses 1-3:

(NLT) “Once you were dead because of your disobedience and your many sins. You used to live in sin, just like the rest of the world, obeying the devil—the commander of the powers in the unseen world. He is the spirit at work in the hearts of those who refuse to obey God. All of us used to live that way, following the passionate desires and inclinations of our sinful nature. By our very nature, we were subject to God’s anger, just like everyone else.”

Paul says to those in Ephesus, “Once you were dead because of your disobedience and your many sins.” What he is suggesting is that when you and I are in a state of sin, we are living in death.  To live in death is to be in a constant state of decay and lacking vitality. Romans 6:23 says that the wages of sin is death.  When Paul made that statement, it didn’t only mean a physical death but also a spiritual death.  To be spiritually dead is to be in a separated position from God who is the giver of life. 

There are many who are exhibiting what could be the same as a fictional portrayal of a zombie. Zombies are purely imaginative in their existence of entertainment. Horror movies and television shows have portrayed individuals who were supposed to be dead, and yet they could be seen walking around as a living person.  Many are living in this life unaware of the fact that while they are physically alive, they are spiritually dead. Spiritual deadness breeds corrosion and it begins to spread to various parts of your life. Why is it that some of the wealthiest individuals are also some of the most cantankerous and unfulfilled individuals?

The reason is because there is the absence of life in the spiritual sense.  The Apostle Paul in verse 2 goes on to say to those at Ephesus who had given their lives to Christ, that they were once ruled by satan.  Paul says, “He is the spirit at work in the hearts of those who refuse to obey God.” When you are in a condition of spiritual deadness, it is satan who is at work in your heart. There are many who believe that we as humans have the ability to be ‘good people.’ However, because we are all born into sin, the element of ‘being good’ is not within our capability.  

By the world’s definition, ‘being a good person’ is strictly moral rather than it being based on godly principles and His virtues. Within ourselves we cannot ‘be good’ because it is our spiritual deadness that prohibits us from ever achieving life and the fruits of the Holy Spirit.  In the latter part of verse 3 Paul says, “By our very nature, we were subject to God’s anger, just like everyone else.” The nature that Paul refers to is our sinful nature. It is because of our condition of being dead spiritually that we are unable to please God. 

Nevertheless, there is hope and it involves the spiritual awakening and revitalization that only Jesus Christ can give.  The Apostle Paul says in verses 4-6:

(NLT) “But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much, that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved!) For he raised us from the dead along with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ Jesus.”

The fact is that before any of us can experience a spiritual resurrection, we must come to terms with the reality that we are spiritually dead.  That comes by making a decision once you have heard God’s truth.  The great thing about God is that He leaves no person without the knowledge of His truth.  It is up to all of us to decide whether we want to be alive or remain dead spiritually.

Paul says that God gave us life when Jesus was raised from the dead.  It is the grace of God that provides each person with the gift of eternal life. However, here is a key point of this scripture:

Verse 6:

“For he raised us from the dead along with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ Jesus.”

If you are in Christ, you are now united with Christ which means that you have an inheritance that is given to you because you are in a relationship with Jesus Christ.  The keywords that support that are, “seated us with him in the heavenly realms.” So, when you and I are connected to Christ, not only do we gain life but we become beneficiaries of God’s blessings.

To be alive is to experience life in abundance both here on Earth and after our physical bodies have ceased from living.  There are many who are asleep or spiritually dead because they are in sin, however, Jesus Christ came so that you and I could have life.  Even those of us who are in Christ, we must ensure that we are constantly plugged into the power source.  It is possible to claim Christianity and yet be as dead as those who living in worldliness. 

It isn’t so much about claiming Christianity or stating that you are a Christian. The proof comes when you and I are in steady connection with God through Christ.  In doing so, our lives begin to exhibit the fruits of Spirit which comes from our daily walk with the Lord.  Do you know Jesus as your personal Lord & Savior? If you are walking in unrepentant sin, you are spiritually dead. However, Jesus came to give you life and life abundantly.  Accept His gift of life and be awakened and alive in Jesus Christ.