Ephesians 5:14 Awake, You Who Sleep
Food for Thought
An all-creatures.org Guide to Kingdom Living

Ephesians 5:14 (New King James Version)

14 Therefore He says: “Awake, you who sleep,
Arise from the dead,
And Christ will give you light.”
Are you spiritually awake? 

America has turned into a sleeping nation.  Many Christians have become apathetic and lukewarm and seem to be governed by a spirit of entitlement.  It is in this self-centeredness we lack motivation and no longer represent the integrity of Christ.   In our sluggish attempts to make it through the day we are not much of a threat to the kingdom of darkness. The enemy only needs to tap us lightly and we are offended. We crumble lacking godly character. Because of this there are believers who are unable to move forward in their gifting and purpose. It is emotional or mental bondage that takes up so much energy to maintain and they fall victim to discouragement.  When we stay in our denial or apathy the enemy doesn’t have to work too hard to keep us oppressed.   

What happened?  Where are the martyrs who once stood with conviction against the lies of the enemy? These people advanced forward with passionate desire to see God’s glory on earth.  Where are the servants of the King of glory who were relentless in their love and determination to stand in the heat of the battle fighting for righteousness?

Somehow we became what God hates; Luke warm Christians. The fire of the Holy Spirit that is supposed to blaze with our hope in God has dwindled to a small flicker as we become more and more like the world. Throughout the generations reading the bible has lost its importance and for many Christians it no longer holds the place of reverence or respect it once did. It is viewed more as a chore than the privilege it really is. There are people in countries that don’t have the freedom or a right to own or read a bible. They have to study in secret, but for them it is life giving and fills them with hope.  God shines His light on these moments when a seeker is seeking Him.

Our time spent with God looks like fast-food quiet times and if He is not quick enough at touching our hearts in the few minutes we give Him than we snatch it back with impatience. We behave like God is on our time-table instead of the other way around.  It is no wonder we, the Christians, lack peace and wisdom. We haven't stood still long enough to wait upon the Lord and allow Him to work His works in us at His pace and in the volume He knows best. We cannot be silent in a world where the enemy is quickly drawing people to hell. We must awaken to the Spirit of God calling us into position on the battlefield or we will face defeat.  Our battle is first within ourselves. It is called complacency.  We must take back ground we gave up to the enemy.  Christians will fight or be trampled upon in the advancements of our enemy.

Yes, indeed awake o sleeper and arise from the dead and Christ will give you light. 

Challenge:  pray this prayer:   God, do everything you need to do in me so that you can do everything you want to do through me.   

Marni Montanez

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The purpose of this series is to encourage people to live as loving, compassionate, and peacemaking children of God: Jesus tells us to pray, "Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven." (Matthew 6:10) God tells us through Micah (6:8), "He has told you, O man, what is good; And what does the Lord require of you But to do justice, to love kindness, And to walk humbly with your God." And we know from Revelation 21:4 that there will be no more mourning, or crying, or pain, or death. Thus, Christian living requires us to set the standards of these conditions here on earth for our fellow human beings, and for the other animals, as a witness to the rest of the world. To do otherwise is not Christian.