I’m sitting here at 11:45pm eating chocolate “no-bake” cookies my sister made me for Valentine’s Day.
I don’t really want to eat them because, quite frankly, I’ve had enough. But my hand keeps going into the plastic container, and I keep taking one out until my stomach says enough.
Enough.
I’ve had enough of a lot of things lately.
I’ve had enough of the news media shoving their false narrative and hidden agendas down our throats. I’ve had enough of people honking their horns at me when I’ve stopped at a stop sign, you know- like you are supposed to do. I’ve had enough of being told by people that I am not grateful for what I have. I can look at everything in this house and in my life and know that God has not only watched out for me but by His Hand; I am blessed. Blessed beyond what I deserve. I’ve had enough people on social media poohing the revival going on in many places worldwide. I’ve had enough of our so-called president destroying this nation and its people. I’m tired of feeling sorry for myself, doubting myself, and worrying about things beyond my control.
But I have absolutely, without a doubt, had enough of the church bowing to this world and not rising up for the glory of His kingdom.
It is easy to think we are safe in our church pews while the rock band brings people to their feet and the preacher preaches as if the world will simply leave Christians alone if we stay silent. Let me clue you in; it won’t.
In John 5:1-18, there is a story about a man who had laid by a pool waiting for the waters to be stirred by angels so he could be healed. You see, he couldn’t walk. He was paralyzed. For thirty-eight years, he could not get to the pool, nor could he get someone to take him to the pool for healing. Jesus came to him and asked him if he wanted to be healed. The man said yes but offered excuses as to why he could not. In verse 8, Jesus says, “Get up! Pick up your bed and walk”.
In John 11:1-44, Jesus is told that his friend Lazarus is dead. By the time Jesus traveled to Judea and visited with Mary and Martha, Lazarus had been dead for four days. He stank. He had decayed. He was in his grave clothes. Jesus told them to take away the stone, and Jesus called in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!”
If Jesus had not called Lazarus by name, everyone in their tombs and graves would have risen.
Today, Sunday, February 19th, at 12:19am, Jesus is telling the church to rise up and come out. But we’ve become too comfortable in our padded pews, sipping our coffee, eating our doughnuts while the announcements are made and the choir and band get ready for worship.
My old church had no padded seats. There was a piano and organ played by older ladies of the church. The choir was anyone who wanted to sing on that Sunday, and they were hymns in bound books and not a PowerPoint presentation.
Church, we must be aware of what is happening in the world, but we don’t have to be a part of it. We don’t have to place our heads in our hands and pray the world never encroaches upon our world- our own private world. We don’t have to sit by the pool and wait for someone else to solve our problems. We don’t have to remain asleep until the stone rolls away, and Jesus calls our name. Jesus called our name when He saved us- does He have to do that again?
Jesus has called us to RISE UP. He has called us to take off our grave clothes and COME OUT. While there are some battles we cannot win, we must not be afraid to fight. Because in the end, we win the war.
Evil men will be destroyed:
Psalm 37:37:39 “Mark the blameless man, and behold the upright; For the man of peace will have a posterity. But transgressors will be altogether destroyed; The posterity of the wicked will be cut off. But the salvation of the righteous is from the Lord; He is their strength in time of trouble.”
WAKE UP, CHURCH! Jesus is standing, and He is saying, “Get up! Pick up your bed and walk.”
Get up. Wake Up. Come Out.
Put down the coffee and doughnut (you don’t need it anyway), put your phones up, take out your Bibles, and WAkE UP!
Nothing will change until we wake up and make our voices heard.
WAKE. UP.
PICK UP YOUR BED AND GET ON YOUR FEET.
COME ALIVE.
CHURCH- IT’S PAST TIME.
Amen.