So many "woke" people keep tellin' us what to think, what to do, how to behave.. daily.. what to say and not to say.
Are we, are they.. really woke? Awakened? Are you?.. ya can be. We all can walk while not sleeping. Me thinks it's really a better way to go.
“We are not going to move this world by criticism of it nor conformity to it, but by the combustion within it of lives ignited by the Spirit of God.” ~ Vance Havner
"But when they did not find them, they dragged Jason and some brethren to the rulers of the city, crying out, 'These who have turned the world upside down have come here too.'" ~ Acts 17:6
Want to look at woke? The early church wasn't all concerned about lookin' vogue, or relevant, or cool so as to get accepted. They weren't acting all weird either, but they were woke in the best kinda way. They turned their world upside down (or should I say right side up? So the sleeping would arise like from an effective alarm clock). And in this crazy, topsy-turvy world today where wrong is considered right and right is considered wrong, we need to do the same...the way they did it.
Pray and preach the Gospel winning people to Jesus. Watch and pray. Remember this.. we aren't going to awaken this world on our own or by self-righteous criticism. I don't want to be known by them more for all that I'm against pointing a finger of accusation, than what I am for. I'm for knowing the Lord well and for them too, and for making Him well known..and for them doing the same thing. I want to be so in love with my first-love Jesus, so filled with His JOY and Spirit of love and the truth of His word ...that they get thirsty when I simply brag on Christ! Lord, please revive -- give us renewed passion inside! Send another awakening. People want to walk woke!
R.A. Torrey gave us a prescription for biblical revival during a February 1917 address at the Moody Bible Institute:
"Let a few of God's people, they don't need to be many, get thoroughly right with God themselves—the rest will count for nothing unless you start right there; then let them band themselves together to pray for a revival until God opens the heavens and comes down. Then let them put themselves at God's disposal to use them as He sees fit. That will bring a revival to any church, any community."
Again, let’s..: 1) Get right with God, 2) get together with other Christians and pray for revival and 3) make yourself available to God, especially in winning souls.Spiritual awakening, that outpouring of the Spirit, is up to God. We can't organize it, but we can agonize for it in prayer and call upon God to send it.
On TV I used to hear these words so often, but had to ask.. was it really happening as they said it was? Nope. It can happen--let’s agree together in prayer. What does our nation... what do the nations need more?
You know the words "revival" and "awakening" are often used interchangeably, but there is a distinction. An awakening takes place when God sovereignly pours out his Spirit, and it impacts a culture.
Do you know the three “R”s of recommitment? Has your walk with the Lord closer, tighter, better before.. has your faith in Jesus been stronger in days gone by? First, remember how it was and how you obeyed Him? Write it down. Second, repent -- yes really turn in repentance. Hang a U-Turn, change your direction. Why keep going in the same lame direction? And three, repeat. Do those things you used to do. Remember from where you have fallen.
Have you taken a stride from the Master's side? Got distracted, taken a glide..away? Man, do like ..in those words of John Lennon...
“Get back, get back, back to where you once belonged
Get back, get back, BACK to where you once belonged
Get back Jo!”
Morning has broken, is fully awoken, kinda like the first morning.. Blackbird has spoken, really? Like the first bird... Praise Him with singing -- yes, the Lord in the morning.. Praise God for you springing.. fresh from the Word! No mo broke inside, but woke!
Morning has awoken so to speak -- it's time to walk that way. Real revival and awakening starts with me, it starts with you. God sends it, but we can do some revival things ..in sowing to this. We can ask, we can sing, we can inquire and pray in faith.
Remember when Jesus said to the local church of Ephesus, "But I have something against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first. Remember therefore from where you have fallen. Repent, and do the works you did at first, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your candlestick from its place, unless you repent" (Rev. 2:4-5).
If you are really walking awake, then you are to love all people and use sanctified common sense for your community.
