By Pastor Stephen Hess –
This summer we have embarked on a 12-week prayer journey focused on the theme of “awakening.” Awakening is a term that refers, first and foremost, to the work of the Holy Spirit where he brings a sinner from death to life, from unbelief to belief, and from darkness to light. As Paul says in Colossians 1:13, “He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.” Believers are those who have been awakened to faith in Jesus Christ.
However, sometimes those who have been awakened need another awakening. Several times in his writings, Paul addresses Christians and churches who have “fallen asleep.” That is, they have become spiritually complacent or even spiritually compromised. Even though believers are those who have been brought out of darkness into light, sometimes we can begin to wander back into the darkness rather than walking in the light. When this happens, God’s people need awakening.
When Paul calls the people of God to “wake up,” he highlights two aspects of what it means to live the awakened life. First, to live the awakened life means to cast off the works of darkness. In Romans he says, “The night is far gone; the day is at hand. So then let us cast off the works of darkness…” (Rom. 13:12). Likewise, he says in Ephesians, “Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them” (Eph. 5:11).
What are the works of darkness? Paul mentions three categories: First, there are sins of the body. He says, “But sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you” (Eph. 5:3). Second, there are sins of the tongue. He says, “Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving” (Eph. 5:4). Third, there are sins of the heart. He says that anyone who is covetous or an idolator has no inheritance in the kingdom of God (Eph. 5:5). If we are going to live the awakened life, we need to cast off these works of darkness.
Second, to live the awakened life means to live as children of the light. Paul says, “For at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true), and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord” (Eph. 5:8-10).
What does it mean to walk as children of the light? Here are four things Paul mentions: First, we should seek to walk in God’s wisdom. He says, “Look then carefully how you walk, not as unwise but as wise” (Eph. 5:15). Second, we should seek to steward our time. Paul says, “…making the best use of the time, because of the days are evil” (Eph. 5:16). Third, we should seek to understand God’s will. Paul says, “Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is” (Eph. 5:17). Fourth, we should seek to be filled with the Spirit. Paul says, “And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit” (Eph. 5:18). He then goes on to describe what it looks like to be filled with the Spirit: “…addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ” (Eph. 5:19-21).
If we are going to live the awakened life, we need not only to cast of the works of darkness but to walk as children of the light. I hope you will join us as we continue this summer prayer journey, asking God to bring about awakening in the church and in the world. As we wait upon the Lord, we can be thankful that he has graciously promised to hear us, and confident that he will answer our prayers according to his will.