Awake If you’ve ever been up in the early hours of the morning, the world is a very different place. There might be a few scattered folks with their eyes open, but the community as a whole is motionless. It’s a great time to avoid the traffic as you pretty much own the roads. There is also this sense, though, of vulnerability, that someone could do whatever they want without ever being seen. Many have cameras on their doors now that can notify and record movements, but the time of sleeping is still when we are most susceptible to threats from those with no goodwill on their minds. The best advantage for an attack comes when the awareness senses are shut down and occupied elsewhere. A false sense of security can also develop when none of their warnings have occurred over an extended period of time. Repose from weariness makes for a most inviting target. The world around us is in a state of early-morning slumber, weary of the never-ending warnings of impending doom and quite occupied with a self-directed dream domain. This is when it is most critical to be prepared and vigilant against the threats of wickedness and devastation to both temporal and eternal life. Rather than getting lulled by the steady diet of oppression and discouragement in the news and social media, and instead of receding into the dream world of entertainment and medications, it is essential to awaken to the truth in righteousness and be ready for what is surely coming. By walking soberly in the Light of God’s presence and His Word there will be a rest that is secure in that secret place and safe from any attacks to the heart. Against any evil scheme and also in readiness for the second coming of our Savior we can be kept from falling and always ready to go at His calling. Notes Our promise – the brightness of His Glory Isaiah 60:1-2 (NKJV) 1 Arise, shine; For your light has come! And the glory of the LORD is risen upon you. 2 For behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, And deep darkness the people; But the LORD will arise over you, And His glory will be seen upon you. Awake From- Intoxication of the world Desensitization Diversions/enticements Discouragements To Righteousness Hope in Christ Kingdom purpose Sleep inducing companionship 1 Corinthians 15:33-34 (NKJV) 33 Do not be deceived: “Evil company corrupts good habits.” 34 Awake to righteousness, and do not sin; for some do not have the knowledge of God. I speak this to your shame. Clear of diversions – awake to righteousness 1 Peter 5:8 (NKJV) 8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Out of darkness into light of day 1 Peter 2:9-10 (NKJV) 9 But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; 10 who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy. Rise from the dead Ephesians 5:13-14 (NKJV) 13 But all things that are exposed are made manifest by the light, for whatever makes manifest is light. 14 Therefore He says: “Awake, you who sleep, Arise from the dead, And Christ will give you light.” Walk in the Light Romans 13:11-14 (NKJV) 11 And do this, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed. 12 The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light. 13 Let us walk properly, as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in lewdness and lust, not in strife and envy. 14 But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts. Awaken from worldly delusions to eternal readiness 2 Peter 3:10-13 (NKJV) 10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up. 11 Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, 12 looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be dissolved, being on fire, and the elements will melt with fervent heat? 13 Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells. Overview The darkness of night covers the earth with reason to become dangerously asleep to the enemy’s threats. In Christ we’ve been brought into the light of day and awakened to righteousness. By walking in His light we are kept from the worlds tiring diversions and made vigilant against the enemy’s threats. We are awakened from every enticement’s deception to be prepared and welcoming of Jesus’ return. Prayer Open my eyes to the glory of Your presence that is always around and inside of me. Let this light protect and preserve me from the world’s sleep that would overtake me. Cause me to carry this light in sobriety and awaken those around me to the eternal safety in Your presence. Declarations In Christ I have been brought out of darkness into a new day of light. I am now awakened from the world’s darkness of sin and failure to the brightness of righteousness and victory. I no longer live diverted and distracted by the enticements of this world, but walk intentionally on the path of righteousness and freedom. From the intoxication of the world I have been awakened to live in preparation for Jesus coming.