Keep Awake!

Mark 14:38
Keep awake and pray that you may not come into the time of trial the spirit indeed is willing but the flesh is weak.

My brother and I used to play a game when we were younger on New Year's Eve. My parents would be gone out and we were at Grandmama’s house. We would stay up and try to watch Dick Clark drop the ball in Time’s Square, but I had a hard time keeping him awake. I would kick him, put water on his face, put hot sauce in his mouth, LOL, trying to keep him awake. I didn’t want him to miss the New Year coming in.

There is something new coming your way but you are in danger of missing it because you chose to go to sleep. God is shifting us into a new direction but many of us are in danger of missing it if we don’t Keep Awake! The world we live in has a hypnotizing effect on us and we are slipping into sleepiness without knowing that time is winding up. We are slowly drifting into a cultural pull upon our God consciences. We are falling asleep not knowing that the enemy has slipped in at night and sown weeds amongst our harvest. It’s time to keep awake.

Jesus was getting ready to go through the hardest transition of his life. He was going to be arrested and crucified. All he wanted was for his friends to watch, pray, and keep awake. Instead, he came and found them sleeping. It’s natural for us to get sleepy but there are times when we have to fight against natural tendencies. This is the time to keep awake. It’s time for the body of Christ to wake up and strengthen those things that remain. Time ain’t long. This is the time to keep awake through:

1. Prayer. Pray that you may not enter into temptation. Temptation is the process by which we are drawn away from God. Like Ty Tribett said the other night, what draws us away is not a sin. The sin is the action on what has been drawing us and the action leads to death. When we fall asleep, we start sleep walking into what can kill us. Prayer keeps us sober. Prayer keeps our “spirit man” alert and watching out for the enemy. This is the season to wake up and start praying.

2. The Spirit is willing. There is not a Christian out there who doesn’t want to be caught sleeping when Jesus comes back. Our Spirit is willing. We want to stay up and pray but being willing is only half the battle. It’s not enough to be willing if you don’t follow it up with action.

3. The flesh is weak. All of Jesus' disciples had good intentions to stay awake and be with him, but when Jesus was arrested they all fled. When we read the scripture where it says that in the last days, many will fall away from believing in Jesus. We always say, “That ain’t going to be me!” But what we don’t know is that some of us have already fallen asleep and are drifting fast. Keep awake!
How do I stay awake?

A. Find a time when you are most alert to read your bible and pray everyday. Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God. How can they hear without a preacher? Quit sleeping in on Sunday, get up and come to church. Time ain’t long.

B. Don’t get caught sleeping. Use your discernment so you can distinguish what is from God and what is a distraction from the enemy. Keep awake!

C. Watch out for the enemy, and watch out for Jesus. Staying awake means you are looking for two things. You are making sure the enemy doesn’t come in to stop Jesus from accomplishing his purpose and you have to be watching for Jesus to come back to tell you it’s time. Keep awake!

Dear God, Keep me awake! I know that you are coming back soon. Don’t let me drift into a sleepy state and be oblivious to the shift. I want to be awake and helpful to you when the enemy tries to stop your movement and help you fulfill your purpose. Keep me awake so I can be ready when you come.

In Jesus Name,
Amen