WAKE UP!

“Another reason for right living is that you know

how late it is; time is running out.
Wake up, for the coming of our salvation is nearer

now than when we first believed.”
Romans 13:11
New Living Translation

There are approximately eighty different types of sleep disorders. One disorder in particular is hypersomnia. According to Wikipedia, hypersomnia is characterized by reoccuring episodes of excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS) or prolonged nighttime sleep. Different from feeling tired due to lack of or interrupted sleep at night, persons with hypersomnia are compelled to nap repeatedly during the day, often at inappropriate times such as at work, during a meal, or in conversation.
In like manner, many saints are spiritually asleep. The Day of the Lord is at hand and it is certainly inappropriate for sleep at this time. In this context, the Bible associates sleep with inattentiveness, complacency, carnality, passivity and negligence. Considering the time; the perilous times and return of the Lord, the saints are exhorted to come from the place of slumber and sleep and awake to righteousness.
Many refer to the church as the ‘sleeping giant.’ Why? The church on its knees is stronger than any military force known to man. The effectual, fervent prayers of the righteous avail much. A praying church can change the landscape of our society and hasten the coming of the Lord. At a time when the church should be stirred to fervent prayer and intercession, many long to be entertained and have their itching ears tickled with a smooth word. Not only must we awake to prayer, but awake to fasting. Jesus told his disciples, “This kind can come forth by nothing, but by prayer and fasting” (Mark 9:29). Certainly there are situations in individual lives, communities, nations and world that would qualify for the category of ‘this kind.’ The body of Christ must replace feasting with fasting. Of course, we must awake to not only being hearers of the word, but DOERS of the word. This requires reading, study and meditation of the word of God. It is the ‘engrafted word’ that is able to save our souls (James 1:21). The church must also awake to true repentance. We cannot just be sorry or apologize. Being sorry is only the first step. But, we must sorrow to repentance. We must repent and turn from our wicked ways (2 Chronicles 7:14).
The body of Christ must awake from sleep regarding righteousness and holy living. We must not remain passive or politically correct regarding morality. We cannot be silent or look the other way regarding the leaven of sin in our churches and especially in our own individual lives. The King, the master of the house is coming.
Are you sleeping at an inappropriate time? The alarm is sounding. Time is running out. Stopping hitting the snooze bar. If you continue to hit the snooze bar, eventually you will stop hearing the alarm. Wake up!