Romans 13:11 NKJV

DO THIS, KNOWING THE TIME, THAT NOW IT IS HIGH TIME TO AWAKE OUT OF SLEEP; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed.

2 Peter 3:8–13 ESV

But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.The Lord is not slow to fulfill His promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. BUT THE DAY OF THE LORD WILL COME LIKE A THIEF, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed. Since all these things are thus to be dissolved, WHAT SORT OF PEOPLE OUGHT YOU TO BE IN LIVES OF HOLINESS AND GODLINESS, WAITING FOR AND HASTENING THE COMING OF THE DAY OF GOD,because of which the heavens will be set on fire and dissolved, and the heavenly bodies will melt as they burn! But according to His promise we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.

1 Thessalonians 4:16–18 NKJV

For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words.

Isaiah 60:1–3 ESV

Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD has risen upon you.For behold, darkness shall cover the earth, and thick darkness the peoples; but the LORD will arise upon you, and His glory will be seen upon you. And nations shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising.

Acts 3:19–21 NKJV

REPENT therefore and BE CONVERTED, that your sins may be blotted out, so that TIMES OF REFRESHING MAY COME FROM THE PRESENCE OF THE LORD,and that He may send Jesus Christ, who was preached to you before, whom heaven must receive until the times of restoration of all things, which God has spoken by the mouth of all His holy prophets since the world began.

Exhortation: Awake to Know the Times

We are Running Out of Time

We are all running out of time, both the people of God and the people of this world. Time is consistently diminishing with each ticking second. No matter how many more years we have, according to God’s will, our time on earth is like a ticking time bomb, and we are invariably moving nearer to the final second when our time is up. No one can extend or add time. Each passing hour is one hour less of whatever remaining time is allotted to us by God who holds eternity in His hands. He decides times and seasons and dispenses them. We do not have a minute to spare or waste on things that have no eternal consequence or value. THE CHURCH MUST FIND OUT AND UNDERSTAND WHAT GOD WANTS AND QUICKLY OBEY HIM.

The most important event concerning God’s kairos time that we must fix our eyes on and prepare for is the soon-coming return of our Lord Jesus Christ. We know it is soon but do not know precisely when, and we must not fall asleep. The Bible warns us that Jesus will return at the most unexpected time, so we must be prepared. In Mark 13:32–37 NKJV, Jesus warns His disciples:

But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. TAKE HEED, WATCH AND PRAY; for you do not know when the time is.It is like a man going to a far country, who left his house and gave authority to his servants, and to each his work, and commanded the doorkeeper to watch. WATCH THEREFORE, FOR YOU DO NOT KNOW WHEN THE MASTER OF THE HOUSE IS COMING—in the evening, at midnight, at the crowing of the rooster, or in the morning—LEST, COMING SUDDENLY, HE FIND YOU SLEEPING. AND WHAT I SAY TO YOU, I SAY TO ALL: WATCH!

God has set kairos moments for the unfolding of the things that will take place according to His plan and design. IT IS IMPERATIVE FOR US TO STUDY THE BIBLE AND UNDERSTAND GOD’S TIMES AND SEASONS SO THAT WE ARE PREPARED AND KNOW HOW WE OUGHT TO LIVE AND WHAT WE OUGHT TO DO. THE CHURCH MUST NEVER TOLERATE BEING ASLEEP OR IGNORANT ESPECIALLY FOR SUCH A TIME AS THIS.

To be asleep is to be totally without knowledge or awareness of what is happening around us, and what God is doing. Being asleep or ignorant is spiritually fatal to the Church. ABOVE ALL, LIVE WITH AN ETERNAL PERSPECTIVE AND PURPOSE TO WALK IN STEP WITH GOD UNWAVERINGLY, KEEP HIS WORD STEADFASTLY, AND SERVE HIM OBEDIENTLY TILL THE END. We know that the end is near. We must not get weary of doing well, but we must be careful to live with a God-given purpose because it will not be long before Christ’s return. We must not live frivolously squandering our lives as those who foolishly think all things remain the same. We must take heed to Paul’s rebuke in Ephesians 5:14–17 NLT:

This is why it is said, “Awake, O sleeper, rise up from the dead, and Christ will give you light.” SO BE CAREFUL HOW YOU LIVE. Don’t live like fools, but like those who are wise. MAKE THE MOST OF EVERY OPPORTUNITY IN THESE EVIL DAYS. Don’t act thoughtlessly, but UNDERSTAND WHAT THE LORD WANTS YOU TO DO.

It is imperative for the Church to first awake from sleep and arise to redeem time by living carefully. We must seek to know God and discern His times, purpose and plans for each season, seizing every opportunity to understand what He wants us to do and obey.

Time: Invest or Waste

TIME IS A PRICELESS GIFT FROM GOD. Time is life—one minute of time is one minute of life. WE EITHER INVEST TIME OR WASTE IT.There is no third option of putting it on hold. Time we do not invest in God and His kingdom is time wasted and can never be recovered. To invest time, we must awaken to know God’s will and priority and arise to do it. WE MUST LIVE WITH THE SAME PURPOSE OF LIFE AS JESUS when He declared in John 4:34 NJKV, “MY FOOD IS TO DO THE WILL OF HIM WHO SENT ME, AND TO FINISH HIS WORK.” Whatever time we put into doing the will of God and finishing His work, we are investing our lives in God and His kingdom.Time invested in God and His kingdom is never lost but saved and will bear eternal and multiplied dividends. God is our Rewarder if we invest our time to seek Him. We will receive rewards both now and in eternity. Hebrews 11:6 NKJV declares, “But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for HE WHO COMES TO GOD MUST BELIEVE THAT HE IS, AND THAT HE IS A REWARDER OF THOSE WHO DILIGENTLY SEEK HIM.”

It is wise for us to evaluate the things and activities in our lives that are eating up our time but are worthless. One of the biggest enemies of redeeming time is entertainment and pleasure-seeking, be it being engaged in social media, surfing the internet, watching endless hours of television, shopping, etc.There has never been a time in human history when the world has been more inundated with countless ways, forms, apps, and things to provide entertainment and enhance pleasure-seeking. These are not just for adults but for every generation. The Church has to understand that just because something is available and not a sin and the world is doing it, we do not have to do the same. Can we deny ourselves, not feel entitled, or think that by not having what the world has we are deprived or falling behind? These are worthless ways to use our time to entertain human nature and feed the flesh, but they LEAVE THE SOUL EMPTY AND SPIRITUALLY IMPOVERISHED. These Christians can be church-attenders but are not faithful followers of Jesus Christ. They are bereft of intimacy with God, revelation of Him, and passion for Him. Day after day, they cannot chase after God because they have no desire, knowledge of God, or truth. Minute by minute, they are wasting their lives on the lifestyle of this world as they continue to consume all the world offers.

It is Time for a New Awakening

If the Church is to do all that God calls us to do in these end times, we must no longer be asleep. It is time for a new awakening. It is time for the greatest revival to come upon nations where all who call on the Lord Jesus shall be saved (Romans 10:13).

WE NEED THE HOLY SPIRIT TO COME MIGHTILY TO BREAK THROUGH THE SPIRITUAL STUPOR, shake His Church awake, and cleanse His temple of all the secular and profane so that THE EYES OF THE CHURCH WILL BE OPENED TO SEE GOD AND OUR TRUE STATE. The heart of the Church must be shattered by a revelation of God until we fall before God in holy fear and repentance like Isaiah did when he cried out to God in Isaiah 6:5 NKJV:

WOE IS ME, FOR I AM UNDONE! BECAUSE I AM A MAN OF UNCLEAN LIPS, AND I DWELL IN THE MIDST OF A PEOPLE OF UNCLEAN LIPS; FOR MY EYES HAVE SEEN THE KING, THE LORD OF HOSTS.

Like Isaiah 6:8 NKJV, the Church will be ready to hear God when He asks, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for Us?” We must say, “Here am I! Send me.” We must invest time in God and His kingdom rather than waste it.

What happens in the new awakening? We arise to live and shine in the glory of Jesus Christ that He has imparted to us, dispelling all darkness and manifesting Him to the whole world so that all may know He is God. We are awakened to our sinful state and see God for who He is, leading to repentance of all sins, turning to God with the whole heart, and restoring Him to His rightful place of love, worship, and service. There is a new awareness of the holiness of God compelling us to live in the fear of God and tremble at His word. There will be a restoration of passion for God that we seek Him earnestly until He comes, saves, revives, and sets hearts on fire for Him. The Church will have a renewed faith and boldness to arise to crush and prevail over satan and all his dominions by the blood of the Lamb and the word of our testimony as we love not our lives unto death (Revelation 12:11). The Holy Spirit will put in our hearts a vision, passion, and obedience to God’s call to world missions, causing many to be willing to abandon all to go wherever He sends them to preach the gospel, bringing in a harvest of souls into His kingdom. We will be willing and eager to die for what Jesus gave His life for—the salvation of souls. The Church will have a heart on fire for God and will not tolerate sin but seek to be the spotless Bride of Jesus Christ by living pure and holy before Him. Like the five wise virgins (Matthew 25), the Church will be ready and prepared, looking toward the return of our Lord Jesus Christ.

THE HOLY SPIRIT IS THE KEY TO ALL AWAKENINGS. Without the Holy Spirit, whatever we do is man-made. There will be no true transformation, but only renovation.We ought to be wise and determine how we should live for God and what we should do.

It is a Time of Deep Darkness

The world is now in deep darkness as Isaiah 60:2 NLT states, “Darkness as black as night covers all the nations of the earth, but the glory of the LORD rises and appears over you.”When there is an absence of God there is a presence of darkness. Genesis 6:5–8 NLT describes the world that was filled with deep darkness because of rampant wickedness, and it says,

The LORD observed the extent of human wickedness on the earth, and He saw that everything they thought or imagined was consistently and totally evil. So the Lord was sorry He had ever made them and put them on the earth. It broke His heart.And the LORD said, “I will wipe this human race I have created from the face of the earth. Yes, and I will destroy every living thing—all the people, the large animals, the small animals that scurry along the ground, and even the birds of the sky. I am sorry I ever made them.” But Noah found favor with the LORD.

Once more, we are in a time of deep darkness that covers the nations of this world as in Noah’s time. The Church must awake and arise as light for such a time as this. The glory of God is upon us! Awake and arise to shine. We must not get swallowed up by the darkness, nor should we fear it. Did not our Lord Jesus Christ declare in Matthew 16:18–19 NLT?

UPON THIS ROCK I WILL BUILD MY CHURCH, AND ALL THE POWERS OF HELL WILL NOT CONQUER IT. And I will give you the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven. Whatever you forbid on earth will be forbidden in heaven, and whatever you permit on earth will be permitted in heaven.

Jesus Christ, the Lord of lords and the King of kings, is sovereign, and He has already conquered death, hell, and satan. No other name can compare to His, for His name is higher than all. Every knee shall bow and acknowledge Him as Lord at the mention of His name. His Church cannot be overcome, but in Him we overcome all. No power, spirit, entity, or devilish scheme in heavenly places or on earth can prevail against His Church. The sons and daughters of God, who are children of light, will stand and overcome all darkness through Christ Jesus! It is time amid the blackest of nights for the Church to arise and shine the brightest. Darkness will never be able to prevail against light. The church must now awake, arise, and shine, for the glory of God is upon us.

Just as God raised Noah in his time, God is raising His Church for such a time as this. THIS IS A TIME OF INVINCIBLE HOPE, UNQUENCHABLE FAITH, AND UNSHAKEABLE COURAGE BECAUSE THE GLORY OF GOD HAS RISEN UPON US. We have this to look forward to—overwhelming victory as nations get set free and saved in the power of the Holy Spirit. THE TIME OF DEEP DARKNESS IS THE TIME FOR GREAT REVIVAL.

It is a Time of God’s Judgement

God is not only the eternal Almighty God, King of kings, Lord of lords, Heavenly Father, Creator, Savior, Healer, and Provider, but He is also the Lawgiver and the Judge. God gives His laws to His created beings (humanity) to live by and to know Him. Without laws, there is no need for a judge. God judges when His laws are broken. James 4:12 NIV says, “THERE IS ONLY ONE LAWGIVER AND JUDGE, THE ONE WHO IS ABLE TO SAVE AND DESTROY. But you—who are you to judge your neighbor?” God does not have to arrogate to (appropriate for) Himself the power and right to judge, for He rightfully is both the eternal Lawgiver and Judge. That is why the Bible says not to judge but let God judge. Israel rejected God as the Judge over them when they clamored for a king to be their judge instead of God. They displeased God and did a disservice to themselves, but God gave them the king they had asked for.

THE LAWS OF GOD REVEAL TO US WHO GOD IS AND SHOW US THE WAY TO LIVE AND WALK. God’s judgments assign us the due consequences according to how we live and walk in the light of His laws(God’s moral law abides even though we have been freed from Mosaic regulations. 1 John 3:4–5). To those who obey, He rewards, and to those who disobey, they reap the consequences of their disobedience, which is judgment. The wages of sin is death. Sin has consequences. The purpose of God’s judgment is to help us see the error of our ways so we can turn back to Him. Through God’s judgments in this life, we receive the just retribution for sins, which now has the purpose of correcting, training, and restoring. In it, God’s justice is fulfilled, and His saving love is extended. GOD’S CURRENT JUDGMENTS ARE NOT VINDICTIVE BUT REDEMPTIVE.

The world is under God’s judgment for rejecting Him and giving themselves over to committing every form of rebellion and evil against Him. It also rejects the grace for salvation provided by Jesus Christ who gave His life to save them. Therefore, the whole world groans under the weight of their sins of rejecting and rebelling against God, causing the breeding and multiplying of evil in every form, shrouding the entire earth in deep darkness. When God judges, He is providing a way for humanity to awaken, repent, and return to Him, and He will save, forgive, restore, and bless. God’s judgment, although severe, is always righteous, just, and compassionate. His judgment is His megaphone calling sinners to awake, arise, repent, and return to Him.

What is the Church to do in this season of God’s judgment? JUDGMENT WILL FIRST BEGIN IN THE HOUSE OF GOD, PARTICULARLY WITH THE LEADERS. 1 Peter 4:17 NLT says, “For the time has come for judgment, and it must begin with God’s household. And if judgment begins with us, what terrible fate awaits those who have never obeyed God’s Good News?” WE MUST FIRST AWAKE, ARISE, AND REPENT OF OUR OWN SINS OF REJECTION AND REBELLION AGAINST GOD BEGINNING WITH THE LEADERSHIP. When leaders repent, we can lead the people of God to repent. AS GOD FORGIVES AND RESTORES US, WE MUST STAND IN THE GAP AND EARNESTLY INTERCEDE FOR THE NATIONS TO AWAKE, REPENT, AND BE SAVED. We not only intercede for the nations, but we must abandon all distractions and obstacles so that we can go to them, preach, and call them into repentance and salvation. We must also teach and disciple them to follow Jesus Christ. Both the Church and the world are running out of time. We must go and quickly do what the Holy Spirit calls us to do.

In times of God’s judgment, our love for God and faith in Him must grow stronger. This is not the time to fear, be discouraged, get bitter, or fall away. THIS IS THE TIME TO ARISE AND SHINE THAT NATIONS WILL COME TO OUR LIGHT. Whenever we see judgment, know that ahead is God’s salvation, healing, and deliverance if we turn to Him. There is invulnerable hope, redemption, deliverance, and restoration ahead as nations turn to Him.

It is a Time of Salvation and Great Harvest

Joel prophesied about the time of salvation and the great harvest that would come upon the world. Peter quoted Joel’s prophesy to all the curious people who wondered about the outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon Christ’s disciples and the manifestation in the upper room. In Acts 2:14–41 NLT, Peter boldly stepped forward with the eleven other apostles and declared to all who were there,

Listen carefully, all of you, fellow Jews and residents of Jerusalem! Make no mistake about this. These people are not drunk, as some of you are assuming…No, what you see was predicted long ago by the prophet Joel: “IN THE LAST DAYS,” GOD SAYS, “I WILL POUR OUT MY SPIRIT UPON ALL PEOPLE.Your sons and daughters will prophesy. Your young men will see visions, and your old men will dream dreams. IN THOSE DAYS I WILL POUR OUT MY SPIRIT EVEN ON MY SERVANTS—men and women alike—and they will prophesy. And I will cause wonders in the heavens above and signs on the earth below—blood and fire and clouds of smoke. The sun will become dark, and the moon will turn blood red before that great and glorious day of the LORD arrives. BUT EVERYONE WHO CALLS ON THE NAME OF THE LORD WILL BE SAVED.”…So let everyone in Israel know for certain that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, to be both Lord and Messiah! Peter’s words pierced their hearts, and they said to him and to the other apostles, “Brothers, what should we do?” Peter replied, “EACH OF YOU MUST REPENT OF YOUR SINS AND TURN TO GOD, AND BE BAPTIZED IN THE NAME OF JESUS CHRIST FOR THE FORGIVENESS OF YOUR SINS. Then you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. This promise is to you, to your children, and to those far away—all who have been called by the Lord our God.” Then Peter continued preaching for a long time, strongly urging all his listeners, “Save yourselves from this crooked generation!” THOSE WHO BELIEVED WHAT PETER SAID WERE BAPTIZED AND ADDED TO THE CHURCH THAT DAY—ABOUT 3,000 IN ALL.

God is not willing for anyone to perish in sin. He did not give Jesus Christ, His only Son, to save just a few. Salvation is provided for the whole world. The last days are the most significant days for salvation and a mighty harvest of souls through the power of the Holy Spirit. Many countries, especially those undergoing persecution, are already experiencing revival and a supernatural harvest of souls against the attacks and severe persecution for their faith.

It is a Time of Refreshing

We need to awaken to God’s time of refreshing His Church by His Holy Spirit. When a huge crowd gathered and marveled at the disciples speaking in tongues after the Baptism of the Holy Spirit, Peter spoke to them in Acts 3:19–21 NKJV saying,

REPENT therefore and BE CONVERTED, that your sins may be blotted out, so that TIMES OF REFRESHING MAY COME FROM THE PRESENCE OF THE LORD, and that He may send Jesus Christ, who was preached to you before, whom heaven must receive until the times of restoration of all things, which God has spoken by the mouth of all His holy prophets since the world began.

If the listeners repent and turn away from their sins and to God, they will be forgiven, saved, and receive times of refreshing in His presence. Repentance paves the way for the Holy Spirit to have access to do the supernatural in the lives of the contrite be it an individual, a community or a nation. It is time for the Church to wait on the Lord until He forgives, renews, and refreshes us so that we can “mount up on wings as eagles, we shall run and not grow weary, and we shall walk and not faint” Isaiah 40:31 NKJV. “In waiting, with joy you will drink deeply from the fountain of salvation” Isaiah 12:3 NLT.

In refreshing, the Holy Spirit also restores what was lost or broken through sin. He restores God’s divine order, righteousness, and spiritual prosperity. The Church is then no longer weak, tired, compromised, or downtrodden. There will be faith, hope, love, and courage. In strength, we can bring the gospel to all nations, and the end will come. We await the return of Jesus Christ our Lord.

Awake to the Return of our Lord Jesus Christ

Only God the Father knows the hour of Christ’s return. It will be sudden and unexpected. The Church must awake, arise, and be prepared, for we are running out of time. In preparation for His soon but unknown return, we must not get weary in welldoing but be faithful, committed, and trustworthy to do all He has called us to do.The Church must arise and not be afraid to lay down all, even our own lives, to do the will of God and finish His work. Missions must be our priority and focus—bringing the gospel to the ends of the earth, baptizing converts in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey all things as spoken by Jesus Christ.

The Church must not live like the world; neither should we be lukewarm, apathetic, or asleep. It is time to arise and shine that nations will come to the light. We will no longer live for ourselves but all for God as we look forward to welcoming the return of our Lord Jesus Christ and to hear Him say as in Matthew 25:23 ESV, “WELL DONE, GOOD AND FAITHFUL SERVANT. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. ENTER INTO THE JOY OF YOUR MASTER.”

As followers and servants, the Church cannot be asleep, lazy, uncaring, and failing to do all that He has appointed us to do. CHRIST’S RETURN IS ALSO THE DAY OF INESCAPABLE ACCOUNTING AND JUDGMENT. It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of an angry God because of disobedience, presumptuousness and lack of fear of Him that one would ignore His will and work.To the servant with one talent who buried the talent and did not do what he was commanded to do, the Master was furious, rebuked, and pronounced a terrible judgment over him. In Matthew 25:26–30 ESV, Jesus said concerning the disobedient servant,

YOU WICKED AND SLOTHFUL SERVANT!You knew that I reap where I have not sown and gather where I scattered no seed? Then you ought to have invested My money with the bankers, and at My coming I should have received what was My own with interest. So take the talent from him and give it to him who has the ten talents. For to everyone who has will more be given, and he will have an abundance. But from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. And CAST THE WORTHLESS SERVANT INTO THE OUTER DARKNESS. IN THAT PLACE THERE WILL BE WEEPING AND GNASHING OF TEETH.

Are we awakened and ready for the return of our Lord Jesus Christ? Soon, the end will be here, and we must not be caught lazy, unprepared, and wicked. The Church must awake and arise to give all to love, obey, and serve Him by doing His will and finishing His work.