A word for the times in which we live

We are living in a world with so much uncertainty, deception, confusion, and strife.   

I have a word for you. God is calling you to rise up, to renew your commitment to Jesus, to let go of complacency and compromise, and to return to God. 

He is calling us to stand firm and get into position, as he has set before you an open door, that no one can shut.

At present, it is as though God’s people have been weak and asleep, but God is wanting his people to awaken out of their slumber. Like a sleeping giant arising, God is waiting for his people to wake up, to look to Jesus, to be sold out for him, and to get ready for a new season, for God is about to do something new.

There are a few verses that come out of the book of Revelation, that were written to God’s people, and I believe that this is a word for the next season of your life.  

Arise! 

Have you fallen asleep? Maybe you are fully awake to life, but you may be asleep spiritually. Many have become lazy in their walk with God. It is time to wake up!

Jesus says, “I know your deeds; you have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead. Wake up! Strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have found your deeds unfinished in the sight of my God.” (Revelation 3:1-2) 

You may be known as a person who is close to God, on the cutting edge with what God is doing, but you may have grown sleepy in your faith. We have become so used to wearing masks, that it is easy to hide who we really are. 

It is time to wake up! God is not finished with you! He is wanting to do new work in you and through you. He is waiting for you to arise. You still have a purpose and destiny to fulfil.

It is time to wake up. It is time to arise!

Renew!

Maybe you used to have a vibrant walk with God, but somehow you have drifted from God. The fire that once burned brightly may be starting to fade, or worse yet, maybe it has fizzled out. 

Sometimes we drift from God. Some many who once had a close walk with God, have dozed off. Many have become lethargic and have even spiritually fallen asleep. Some have allowed other things to consume their life. 

Today, you may look back and realize that you have let go of God. You may be on the verge of shipwrecking your faith. Like a boat out at sea, without a rudder, you may have drifted away from God. You may be close to the rocks, and in danger. Before it is too late, you can renew your walk with God. You can return to God. 

Come back to your first love. He is the anchor of your soul. 

If you have drifted from God, or let God go, it is time to renew your walk with God. 

Have you let go of God? Have you abandoned your first love? 

Jesus says, “You have forsaken the love you had at first. Consider how far you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first.” (Revelation 2:4-5)

If you have let go of God, I need to implore you to return to God. He wants to light a new fire in your heart. 

Review your life. Where do you stand with God?  If you are not where you need to be, repent of your indifference, turn around, and come back to God. 

 “When you draw near to God, he will draw near to you.” (James 4:8) 

God desires an intimate walk with you. Come back to the cross. Surrender your life afresh to God. God is wanting to light a new fire of passion in your heart. He longs for a renewed, intimate, and deep walk with you. When we turn back to God, times of refreshing will come.

It is time to return to God. Make Jesus your first love. Renew your walk with God.

Get fired up!

Are you living in a state of compromise and complacency? Are you just going through the motions? Maybe you are still doing the right religious things, but your heart may not be in it. God wants us to be sold out for him. Many have become sickly lukewarm!

Jesus says, “I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth.” (Revelation 3:15-16)

If you are cold towards God, you know the true spiritual condition of your heart. If you reject God, you know exactly where you stand with God. And, when you are hot for God and sold out for God, and are living for Him, you know God intimately as your Lord and Savior. You have a close walk with God.

However, when we are in-between, half in and half out, we can often fool ourselves. We can think that we are ok with God, not too close and not too distant. We can think all is ok, but this is an extremely dangerous place to be. In our indifference we can sometimes have a false sense of security that all is ok with God, but God hates when you are lukewarm. He wants you to be single-minded, to be either fully in or out. You cannot sit on the fence. 

Turn from your indifference. Get fired up for Jesus. Don’t miss God.

There is more to life than just the here and now. There is an eternity. Life does not end at the cemetery. Life continues beyond the grave. You will either spend forever with God in The Kingdom of Heaven, or you will be separated from God in Hell for all eternity.  

Don’t let your eternity be a matter of change. You cannot just go through the motions. You cannot be lukewarm. God wants to spit the lukewarm out.

God is holy. He cannot mix with sin. God is also just and needs to punish sin. But instead of punishing us for our sin, God sent Jesus. Jesus came as the pure spotless lamb of God and out of love he paid the full price on the cross for our sin. All who put their faith in the finished work of Jesus are born again and restored into relationship with God. This is not based on your works, or your effort, or your performance. It is based fully on what Jesus did on the cross. 

Return to God. Turn from your lukewarmness and complacency. Call on Jesus to be your Lord and Savior. Surrender your life to God. 

Don’t be lukewarm. Be hot. Be sold out for God. It is time to get fired up for Jesus.

God is knocking on the door of your heart. Invite him in!

God desires a close relationship with you. He wants to lead you and guide you. He knows what is happening in your life. He knows every struggle, every confusion. He understands your fears and your weaknesses. He invites you to open the door of your heart so that he can come in.

Jesus says, “Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.” (Revelation 3:20)

Jesus is calling. He is knocking. He is asking, may I come in? He wants to restart a close walk with you. You do not need to face life alone. God could have chosen to live anywhere in the universe, but he chose to take up residence in the heart of man. Open the door of your heart!

God is knocking! It is time to open the door of your heart and invite Jesus in. The all-powerful God wants to take up residence in your heart.  Invite Jesus in!

Open doors!

The world is getting darker and darker. So many are lost and broken. Many are on a road to destruction. We need to arise, empowered by the Holy Spirit and share the Good News of Jesus, with all who God brings across our path. 

Jesus says, “I know your deeds. See, I have placed before you an open door that no one can shut.” (Revelation 3:8) 

God has set before you an open door. No one can shut the door that God opens. Make use of the opportunities that open-up to share the Good News. As we arise, God will pour out his power! 

It is time to arise. God has sent before you an open door. Get up and step through into a new season.  

A new season

So many are burnt out. Dried out. Lost. Wandering through the wilderness. 

There is a new season. God wants to pour out the cool refreshing rain of His Spirit on our dry and thirsty land. He wants to let rivers flow into the desert.

“For I am about to do something new. See, I have already begun! Do you not see it? I will make a pathway through the wilderness. I will create rivers in the dry wasteland.” (Isaiah 43:19)

God wants to revive those who are in a spiritual drought. He wants to rescue those who are drifting aimlessly without purpose. He wants to rescue the broken. He wants to save the lost. He wants to pour out his love, mercy, and grace, on those who are broken and in trouble.

It is time to look to God. It is time for revival. He is waiting for you to arise and to shine for Him.

Shine!

It is time to arise! Renew your commitment to Jesus. Let go of complacency and compromise. Look to Jesus. Get fired up. Stand up for God. Open the door to you heart. Invite Jesus in. God has set before you an open door, that no one can shut. 

“Wake up, sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.” Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.” (Ephesians 5:14-16)

God is about to do something new. Get into position. Get ready for a new season. God wants to empower you to reach your world. 

It is time to shine!