Esotropiart

Part I: "A Sleepy World"

K, Dave. You've been preaching some freakishly awesome sermons lately, but today you outdid yourself. The Holy Spirit was present to convict, and we all needed to hear every bit of it - including yourself, as you humbly admitted. Praise God for such a boldness! I'd go as far as saying anyone should hear this word from God to His people. It is a message for our time. I hope the sermon recording makes its way online so I can review it (and anyone else can listen if they so desire). It is what God has been laying on my heart as well - my inevitable weekly direct connection with the sermon! Once again, I'm highly privileged and thankful to have had a preview of the message during our afternoon meeting. Our conversation in general, I felt, was highly profitable. I have been edified and "enlightened" beyond belief! Sometimes hearing something isn't enough - discussing it is gold - especially since it always relates to the issues I am struggling with or experiencing! I dare not forget these times or what I'm learning here. I have to write down immediately what the Spirit has done in me as the result. I feel it is my duty, among other more "active" responses - such as applying the amazing sermons and Biblical principles to my life as soon as possible.

It seems one our struggles as modern-day western culture Christians is to connect with the new generations (stay relevant, but not polluted), to share Jesus, and to be active disciples of Christ. Such tasks seem daunting if not impossible (on our own, it is). I know I am intimidated by sharing my faith here in this country. People seem deadened or even hostile to anything that relates specifically to Biblical Christianity. People have their minds full of deceptions and assumptions about what Christians are. Interestingly enough, just about every other religious and philosophical "truth" is readily and quickly accepted. Mention "Jesus" or "the Bible", and the walls go up. To me, this shows who has "command" over all the rest, and it is yet another among many confirmations I have chosen to believe the correct (and only) Truth. This is surely a sign of the times we live in - the sifting of the wheat and chaff has already begun!

Besides this you know the time, that the hour has come for you to wake from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed. The night is far gone; the day is at hand. So then let us cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light.

Romans 13:11-12 ESV

I believe the Spirit has shown me that our entire nation and much of the westernized world is under a dark cloud of spiritual drowsiness and oppression (not every individual, but as a whole). It's becoming more rare to see people on fire for Christ and ready to bear His cross. The truth is being distorted craftily, fused with the vain philosophies of this world.

for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true), and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord. Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. For it is shameful even to speak of the things that they do in secret. But when anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible, for anything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says,

"Awake, O sleeper,
and arise from the dead,
and Christ will shine on you."

Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.

Epeshians 5:8-17 ESV

The Spirit is moving, and not all is lost, but I sense we are largely resisting Him in our comfort and laziness. People go to church, but they live mediocre Christian lives or are almost completely defeated by bondage, sleep, or doubts that have creeped in. We live for ourselves, are plagued by "conveniences" and won't lift a finger if it has a cost associated with it. We speak of great things, but we do little. It frustrates me!

You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. Or do you suppose it is to no purpose that the Scripture says, "He yearns jealously over the spirit that he has made to dwell in us"? But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, "God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble." Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Be wretched and mourn and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you.

James 4:4-10 ESV

I speak of these convicting things freely because I have experienced them firsthand. Three months ago, I was under this same shroud of spiritual drowsiness, laziness and blindness to the evil forces at work. I was "The Sleeper"! Stop a moment and consider... could you be "sleeping" too? Only by the grace of God, I have had tons of blinders removed - and more each day. God's kindness led me to repentance. He is giving me His Spirit, the Word of Truth, unprecedented victory, encouragement, companionship, and greatly increased faith. All this in spite of by far the worst life circumstances, sorrow and discouragement I've ever been dealt - by far!

Man, no, that's not the half of it! My entire being has been transformed (or is being transformed) in every area! I'm greatly encouraged by the undeniable work I see God doing in my heart. I have a new boldness to do things for Him that I could have never dreamed possible from my own efforts to motivate myself. All this is from Him, and I have nothing to boast about (zero, nada, zip, zilch!). Thank God I was steeped in sin at the moment He delivered me (not that sin is good). This way it could be clearly seen and testified that it was HIS hand that had done it! Praise be to His name forever and ever! Amen.

Take care, brethren, that there not be in any one of you an evil, unbelieving heart that falls away from the living God. But encourage one another day after day, as long as it is still called "Today," so that none of you will be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. For we have become partakers of Christ, if we hold fast the beginning of our assurance firm until the end, while it is said,

"TODAY IF YOU HEAR HIS VOICE, DO NOT HARDEN YOUR HEARTS, AS WHEN THEY PROVOKED ME."

Hebrews 3:12-15 NASB