“Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light.” Ephesians 4:14
Dear Ones:
When Jesus commanded Lazarus, who was dead, to come forth from the tomb, we read: “…and he that was dead came forth bound hand and foot with graveclothes.” (Jn. 11:44) What is the key element here that we need to lay hold of in our consideration of an “awakening?” It is that of the power and authority of God in Christ, brought to bear at a certain point and time, by the specific word of God. Just as God spoke creation into existence, so the Lord Jesus speaks “life into the dead.” And so, when we consider the subject of awakenings in the Bible, we are brought face to face with the impossibility of man’s resources to bring about an awakening. We are also confronted with God’s power and authority, according to His spoken word, to bring the impossible to life and light. When the Apostle Paul declares: “Awake thou that sleepest, ” he is dealing with someone who is dead, lifeless and hopeless. However, the principle of faith which is brought to bear here is that of hearing the word of God, of Christ, whose voice is one of authority. Paul makes this principle clear when he writes: “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” (Romans 10:17) When God speaks, even though it be to that which is dead, He brings His power and authority to bear on that matter, person, or circumstance. When a person hears the “word of God,” Christ speaking to his heart, and responds in faith, then a promise of God is realized: “…and Christ shall give thee light.” Christianity is not a compilation of truths, knowledge, and wonderful stories and sayings. It is an interaction with God, made possible by the sacrifice of Christ on Calvary. When God speaks to the heart, grace is given to the believer to respond in faith and obedience. It is then that God moves in a faithful manner to reveal Himself to the heart and mind, in the circumstances of His choosing.
In Isaiah, chapters fifty-one, and fifty-two, we discover three awakenings. These are three authoritative “calls” of God. The first one is in the form of a prayer, the cry of the heart to God: “Awake, awake, put on strength, O arm of the Lord: awake, as in the ancient days, in the generations of old.” (51:9) God is giving to Israel a prayer here, one that will set in motion the rising up, the beginning of a new endeavor, the action and intervention, of God. It is a call for the Great Initiator to begin a new work, one of great magnitude and scope. The effect of such a movement of God by the Spirit is: “…the redeemed of the Lord shall return and come with singing unto Zion; and everlasting joy shall be upon their head: and they shall obtain gladness and joy; and sorrow and mourning shall flee away.” (v.11) What a wonderful result to God “awakening,” and moving in the hearts and circumstances of men.
The second awakening, is that call of God to Jerusalem, to honestly come to grips with the declaration of God concerning His dealings with her. He commands her: “Awake, awake, stand up, O Jerusalem, which hast drunk a the hand of the Lord the cup of His fury.” (v.17) He later tells Jerusalem, “Behold, I have taken out of thine hand the cup of trembling, even the dregs of the cup of my fury; thou shalt no more drink it again.” (v.22) God is commanding Jerusalem to awaken to a new beginning, no more one of judgement, but one of blessing and hope.
The third awakening again is addressed to Zion. The Lord’s authoritative word to her is: “Awake, awake; put on thy strength, O Zion, put on thy beautiful garments, O Jerusalem.” (52:1) The word from heaven has come to her: “Shake thyself from the dust; arise, and sit down.” (v.2) Jerusalem is called to believe God for the new beginning, to rejoice and to sing. (v. 9)
Dear Father, Make us to hear Thy voice to awaken. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Love, Dad