Ephesians 5:14 (niv) --- ..."Wake up, O sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you."
Have you ever met anybody that has a tendency to sleep all the time? I not talking about a teenager that sleeps halfway through the day or about the person with a sleep disorder. I am talking about someone who is awake but oblivious to everything going on around them spiritually. I know many people like that.
Ed Young in his ONE PRAYER message, Lord, Make Us Wake Up, reminded church people, you and me, that often we are asleep to knowing God, sowing in ministry and growing with God. That is a fact. Many of the people we attend church with or people we are around need to wake up to what God is doing. Here are a couple things that he said about being asleep to knowing God:
"We will always fall short when we rely on our good works."
"We are comforted by Christ, but are we uncomfortable for Christ?"
Being awake is an easy but tough issue at the same time. Why is that? Much of the time when God wakes us up or gets our attention, we will be uncomfortable. It could be because God wants to deal with our short falls or sin. It could be because He wants to plant us in some ministry that is tough. Yet at the same time, as many of us know, being close to God, growing closer by spending time with God, is so very sweet. It is an awesome place to stay. But it is also uncomfortable for most people.
Are we awake to knowing God?
Paul said it this way when he finally woke up to God:
Philippians 3:10 (nasb) ---- that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death;
Paul literally said, "now I can really know God." Not only is that possible, but it is the promise of God to us. He offers us intimacy with Himself. That leads to knowing God more.
Some people through their words and actions show that they don't have a clue, don't really know God. If they did, their commitment to God, His church and to living life would be far different.
I heard a great illustration of this in a message by Erwin McManus, pastor of Mosaic. Erwin was interviewing some people who are Christians but had the opinion that we need to keep the church small so that we can enjoy each other and have what they thought church was to be like. He came back with the fact that The Red Cross, and other organizations like them, don't talk about keeping themselves small. They need lots of volunteers. So, why would anyone want to keep the church small? It is all about focus. Church is not about us. It is about God. Church is all about God impacting the world around us through us. Get it?
Therefore, we need to wake up to this truth! Why?
Ephesians 5:14-16 (nlt) --- ..."Awake, O sleeper, rise up from the dead, and Christ will give you light." So be careful how you live. Don't live like fools, but like those who are wise. Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days.
Lets do everything we can together as the church to let God work through us so that others will know who God is, see how God works and experience the bigness of His love! Wake up to this truth.
Join the ONE PRAYER conversation at www.oneprayer.com. The Community Fellowship and over 1,470 churches are focusing on God together for four weeks. Spend time praying, fasting, sharing and seeking God. It will change your life and your focus. Join us.
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