Awake, awake! Put on your strength, O Zion; Put on your beautiful garments, O Jerusalem, the holy city! For the uncircumcised and the unclean Shall no longer come to you. (Isaiah 52:1)
How is your relationship with alarm clocks? Are you among those who rely on the sudden sound from that device alongside your bed to arouse you out of a sound sleep? The Bible is filled with examples where God sought to get the attention of His people. It could have been through the sounding of trumpets, the threat of war, or natural occurrences such as earthquakes, famines that would cause people to take notice. Is there a similar alarm sounding forth in our day?
Blow the trumpet in Zion, And sound an alarm in My holy mountain! Let all the inhabitants of the land tremble; For the day of the LORD is coming, For it is at hand: (Joel 2:1)
Jesus spoke about many of the things we are seeing in today’s world. He spoke of wars and rumours of war (Matthew 24:6), He spoke about nations rising up against one another (Matthew 24:7). Jesus also warned about the rising up of many false prophets and that iniquity would increase (Matthew 24:11-12).
The Apostle Paul spoke similarly as he neared the end of his life. He referred to many who would be lovers of themselves, unthankful, unholy, disobedient to authority and having a love for pleasures more than a love for God. He added that many of these people would have a form of godliness but lack the life and power (2 Timothy 3:1-5).
Are not many of these warnings taking place in our day? Are we truly awake to the reality taking place all around us?
The Example of Lot
And delivered righteous Lot, who was oppressed by the filthy conduct of the wicked for that righteous man, dwelling among them, tormented his righteous soul from day to day by seeing and hearing their lawless deeds)– (2 Peter 2:7-8)
We can see that Lot was desensitised to the reality of sin and perdition that surrounded him. The Bible speaks of him as a righteous man, yet he did not seem to be alarmed or awakened to the condition of Sodom (Genesis 19). Is it possible that many of us are sleepwalking as believers in the modern-day version of Sodom?
With each passing day, lawlessness continues to increase at unprecedented levels. Clearly the trumpets and alarms are sounding but are there any in the church who are hearing and responding to God’s clarion call? Apparently, when the alarm sounds, many revert to the all-to familiar snooze button. It is time to Wake-Up!
The Example of Abraham
And Abraham came near and said, “Would You also destroy the righteous with the wicked? (Genesis 18:23)
Abraham was one who had an intimate relationship with God. In fact, God made known to Abraham what He was about to do in Sodom (Genesis 18:17). The prophet Amos affirms this attribute of God towards those who seek to know Him.
Surely the Lord GOD does nothing, Unless He reveals His secret to His servants the prophets. (Amos 3:7)
God bestows this privilege to those who are awake and vigilant. Once Abraham came to know what God was going to do, he immediately stood in the gap to intercede. Can you see these two groups (The Lot’s and Abraham’s) in today’s Christianity? There are many who love and serve the Lord yet find themselves vexed and overwhelmed by the prevailing culture of the day. They fail in being able to make a significant impact in their sphere of influence.
On the other hand, there are those who set themselves apart for the purposes of God. They spend time in His Word, praying and fasting, while desiring to know more of His heart and ways. These are the ones who hear and respond to the sound of the trumpet.
Blow the trumpet in Zion, Consecrate a fast, Call a sacred assembly; (Joel 2:15)
The Intercessory Call upon Lighthouse
The ministry of Intercession was highlighted in the year 2023 and continues to be emphasised in the church. How would Lighthouse be defined as a church in light of this message. Remember, Lot made a decision based on what looked good to his natural eyes (Genesis 13:10). Abraham had a vision for something greater, he sought after Zion, a city whose founder and maker was God (Hebrews 11:10). It is time to wake up!
DAILY MEDITATIONS:
Monday: 1 Peter 5:8
Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.
Tuesday: 1 Thessalonians 5:6
Therefore let us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be sober.
Wednesday: Proverbs 24:33-34
A little sleep, a little slumber, A little folding of the hands to rest; So shall your poverty come like a prowler, And your need like an armed man.
Thursday: Esther 4:14
For if you remain completely silent at this time, relief and deliverance will arise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father’s house will perish. Yet who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?”
Friday: Romans 13:11
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.
Saturday: Proverbs 6:9
How long will you slumber, O sluggard? When will you rise from your sleep?
Sunday: Psalm 121:4
Behold, He who keeps Israel Shall neither slumber nor sleep.
All scriptures are quoted from the New King James Version
By Pastor Timothy O’Connell
