13 But when anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible, 14 for anything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says, “Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.” ~ Ephesians 5:13-14
11 Besides this you know the time, that the hour has come for you to wake from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed. 12 The night is far gone; the day is at hand. So then let us cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light. 13 Let us walk properly as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and sensuality, not in quarreling and jealousy. 14 But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires. ~ Romans 13:11-14
Spiritual slumber and spiritual death are two frightening states to be in. I’d say the most frightening, if I’m being honest. Why? Because in the state of spiritual slumber and spiritual death, you don’t even realize that you have fallen into that place. You’re unaware you’re asleep. You have no idea you’re dead. You think you’re okay. You think you’re good, but you’re asleep. You’re dead.
So, how do you test your spiritual temperature? You pay attention to your reaction to the LORD. To His Word. His Church. And even the World. Does the Word of God move you? When you worship, does the Presence of God fill the atmosphere? Do the things of God excite you? Are you falling asleep every time you’re in church? Do you become disinterested in a conversation when the things of God are brought up? Does God stir you?
When the Presence of God came down in the Old Testament, the ministers had to stop ministering. His Presence was just too much to continue. How much more should we, the Church, usher in the Presence of the LORD with our worship? We have the very Spirit of God dwelling in us. We are the Temple of the Living God. When the Spirit fell on the early Church in the New Testament, they were filled with power from on high and spoke in tongues. They were alive. They were awake. They were moving in the Spirit of God Almighty.
Today, so much of the Church is spiritually dead. Spiritually asleep. The Word of God has become just mere words, and worship has become just singing. What good is knowing the Scripture if it doesn’t change you? What good is worship if it doesn’t usher in the Presence of God? When we are spiritually asleep or spiritually dead, we make His Word void. We make His Presence cold. We remove the Power of God from our midst, and we allow darkness to reign in our lives, our homes, our communities, and our nation. It’s time the Church awakens from its deep sleep and rises out of the depths of its grave.
Peace. Love. Go Forth and Test Your State.