Saturday 29 September 2012

1 Thessalonians 5:6 « So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be awake and sober. »

It is in this passage that the apostle Paul describes the conditions of the last days.  And I believe that he is describing the time in which you and I are living right now.  And Paul says, “don’t be like everyone else.”

I think Paul is talking about other Christians here, not the unbelievers.  Obviously unbelievers would be lost in their trespasses and sins.  Rather, I think he is talking about other Christians who have fallen asleep.  They are asleep to the presence of God.  They are asleep to the holiness of God.  They are asleep to the depth of the love of God.  And they are asleep to the extraordinary purposes of God.

We are now in the last full day of the Daniel Fast.  And I have no doubt that God has stirred your heart.  You have awakened to Him as like never before.  So I say to you, Now that you are awake; stay awake!  Don’t be like others who doze off and on.  You paid a price for God to awaken you.  So stay awake!

To be sober literally means to be alert and vigilant.  It means that we throw indifference in the garbage can.  It means that being lukewarm is never again an option.  It means that moral excellence is our goal and not an exception.

You are different now.  God has met you; and you have met Him.  We want to encourage you to use the preceding page in this prayer guide to write down in clear terms just how you will now live your life differently; now that He has awakened your heart.