Ever been mistaken for being awake, when you are asleep?  We are able to do all of the following while we are asleep: walk, talk, sing, hear and think.

Paul speaking to the Ephesians in Eph 5:14 says:

“Wake up , O Sleeper, rise from the dead and Christ will shine on you.”

In this passage, Paul was very concerned about believers who were sleeping.  It is possible to function as a believer, but be spiritually asleep.  Spurgeon said: “This sleepiness in the Christian is exceedingly dangerous, too, because he can do a great deal while he is asleep that will make him look as if he were quite awake.”

Spurgeon goes on to say that ““The man who is asleep does not care what becomes of his neighbours; how can he while he is asleep? And oh! Some of you Christians do not care whether souls are saved or damned… It is enough for them if they are comfortable. If they can attend a respectable place of worship and go with others to heaven, they are indifferent about everything else.”

Ephesians 5 goes on to give four instructions to those who want to be spiritually awake.

• Be Careful. 

We are to be careful how we live, other translations use the word “circumspect”.  It is a sense of deciding what you do and who you are.  It is the opposite of just going with the flow in life.  If you are going to be careful one needs to live accurately.  Like living your life according to a map, on your lap, showing you the path that you want to live.  That map is the word of God, that marks the route out.  The Word is the lamp that guides us on the route and being careful to walk accurately is the first step in becoming spiritually awake.  Very few believers take the time to reflect on how they are living out their lives, which way their lives are going and whether it reflects the truth of their confession and what scripture says.  Being careful, is thinking about how you are living.

• • How much is your life just going with the flow? Have you got a clear idea of who you are and what you are about?  What or who is your map for life?

• Be wise.

To live wisely one needs to know and understand the Word of God and also have the ability to apply the truth and it’s principles to how we live our lives in practical situations.  One area that is often neglected is how we use our time.  There is “time”, and there is “the time,” referring to a season or period of time.   Part of this wisdom is redeeming “the time”, “making the most of every opportunity.”  Our lives go through times and seasons and in a world where there is TV, binge watching series, movies, games, messaging, online shopping and social media, it is easy to lose hours in a day just in-front of a screen.  In the process we lose “the time” filled with opportunity that was meant for something else.  Our world is designed to rob us of our time.  Redeeming our time is often taking back that which is being stolen from us, so that we can live wisely.

• Have you ever considered that there is “time” and “the time?” What season of life are you in right now and what does God want from you in this season.  Are you using the time in your season wisely.

The reason scripture warns us about being careful to live wisely and redeem our time is because the “days are evil”.  The world is pervaded with evil and Christ’s Lordship over “our time” needs to be given an urgency in how we approach life.

• Be alert.

We are not to be foolish but know what God’s will is.  Fools are often ignorant of truth, or unwilling to listen to correction.  They continue in their foolish way without forethought or consideration of the consequences.  Paul calls us not to be foolish, but to understand what God’s will is.  God’s will for ourselves and for His people.  Sometimes we are so anxious about our priorities and plans, yet not anxious to know God’s will.

• • To what extent do your priorities and plans reflect God’s will for your life? When you set up your goals, was prayer and a reflection of God’s will and purpose for your life a part of it?

• Be filled.

• Often, we as believers run on empty, when the fuel tank of God’s love and grace is available to us.  The word filled here is a continuing verb, we are to be continually filled by the Holy Spirit.  Much of the weakness, defeat and lethargy in our spiritual life can be attributed to the fact that we are not constantly being filled with the Holy Spirit.

Paul contrasts the effect of the Holy Spirit with the state of drunkenness. Alcohol is a depressant; it “loosens” people because it depresses their self-control, their wisdom, their balance and judgment. The Holy Spirit has an exactly opposite effect. He is a stimulant; He moves every aspect of our being to better and more perfect performance.

• To what extent has weakness, defeat and lethargy become a characteristic of your life and when last did you rely on the help of the Holy Spirit?

When we are filled with the Holy Spirit, it overflows in worship and thanksgiving.  Praise naturally flows when we are Spirit-filled, we make music to God in our hearts.  So often we seek a spa day or exotic holiday that we think will lift us, but we actually need spiritual upliftment, not physical.  We need worship and thanksgiving that lifts our spirits.

When we are filled it also overflows into our relationships.  We start to count others as more important than ourselves, submitting to one another like we would submit to Christ.  Knowing that we are all under His leadership.  When Christ is Lord of the body of Christ, in each and every heart, submitting to each other as to Christ, is not a problem.  Our rights become less important; we stop insisting on our way and instead follow the leadership of Christ.

Thank you, Lord, for your word, that it is practical and able to bring the light of understanding into our lives.  Awaken my spirit Lord, please fill me with Your Spirit with fresh vitality and insight into how I am living my life.  Help me to take this time with You to reflect upon my life, to be circumspect and ask myself if I am living this life intentionally.  Help me to redeem my time and not allow frivolous activity to steal this season of my life from me.  Help me Lord to think carefully about what Your will is for my life, how you would like to see me live and translate that into my goals and priorities for the day.  Help me to awaken from my spiritual sleep and pursue you afresh.