Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:07):
Well, I was thinking the other day about when I
was young and foolish, you might say. I was about
twenty one years old, driving home late at night with
my Camaro and felt a little tired. I was always
told if you hold one hand in the air when
you're getting tired, to drop it and to wake you up.
Speaker 2 (00:29):
Don't listen to that. It don't work.
Speaker 1 (00:32):
So on the left of me that laughing at Stephanie.
On the left of me, I had trees. On the
right of me, I had a cornfield.
Speaker 2 (00:42):
Well.
Speaker 1 (00:43):
All of a sudden I heard I woke up and
I am taking down cornstalks with my Camaro.
Speaker 2 (00:52):
Scared me to death.
Speaker 1 (00:53):
I wound up getting back on the road and heading
to my location, wide awake. By the way, after that,
welcome the healing begins. My name is Pastor Gale.
Speaker 3 (01:06):
And this is Stephanie Butler.
Speaker 1 (01:08):
We're here to talk about the subject staying alert. I
just think it's really good to stay alert. I don't
like you know, I've had my recent problems with staying
alert and didn't wind up in a good place. So
I'm going to tell you a key and stay alert.
You know, a good key rest sleep, Yeah, And I
(01:30):
think even rest for the believer is very important. So
staying alert this is a very important subject spiritually and
everything like that, because there's a song out there that
goes a wake up, Why are you falling asleep? So
I think a lot of the church today can be
(01:50):
in a sleep mode, or believers can be in a
sleep mode or just a mode of doing life.
Speaker 2 (01:55):
And God wants you to be.
Speaker 1 (01:57):
Alert because today's world is philm do with distractions, deceptions,
spiritual warfare. God calls his people to stay alert and
that is just a suggestion. Who it's a pace to
stay alert. Let me tell you, it's a command repeated
through scripture. The consequences of sleep are serious. We all
(02:20):
know that, like sixteen thousand dollars serious. I won't go
into that right now, but so are the blessings of
remaining watchful. Any thoughts from your perspective? Stuffani, do you
ever grow tired on the highway?
Speaker 3 (02:35):
Yeah, I'm not a great night driver, so I have
to open the windows, lean forward on the steering wheel.
I am not a great night driver. So you know,
do the personal emdr where my eyes are shifting left
and right and left and right. But yes, you do.
You get tired and our bodies need rest. And in
America especially, so many times we're like, we have to go, go, go,
(02:58):
go go. We have to do everything everybody else to do.
We have to accomplish all these tasks. But the truth
of the matter is you don't. It's okay to set boundaries.
It's okay to work normal hours. It's okay not to
take your work home. It's okay to say no, I'm
so sorry, I can't make it. I've got fifteen other
events this week, right, And that's something that's in American culture.
I think we're learning to do because we need our rest.
Speaker 1 (03:20):
So rest is very important because it says the first
Peter five eight, we are to be sober and vigilant
because our adversary, to the devil, prowls around like a
roaring lion, seeking someone whom he may devour.
Speaker 2 (03:33):
It's really, really true.
Speaker 1 (03:35):
This verse reminds us that the enemy is not passive,
but he's very active. He's on the prowl, and we're not.
And we're to be watchful, and we are not to
be easy target. Staying alert is about living with spiritual awareness,
sensitivity to God, and readiness for his return. So my
(03:56):
goodness staying alert this whole Oh, I had another bad
thing happened. So I did fall asleep once and wreck
a car. No one got hurt, thank God. But then
I've learned now that rest stops are there for a reason.
Speaker 2 (04:09):
Yeah, so I pulled my car over.
Speaker 1 (04:11):
Yeah, fallen asleep and had a dream I wrecked my car.
Speaker 2 (04:15):
Then I woke up. That wasn't fun.
Speaker 1 (04:17):
But anyways, why is staying alert so important?
Speaker 3 (04:24):
Well, I think that the verse you read before, where
it says that the enemy may devour, he's looking for
somebody he may devour. We give him permission to devour
by not doing some of these following things like we
talked about earlier resting, but number one resisting the enemy.
Ephesian six eleven says, put on the whole armor of God,
(04:46):
that you may be able to stand against the wiles
of the devil. He's a wiley devil. He's smart. He's
been around a long time. He's been watching people. He
knows how to push the right buttons at the right
time and get the kind of results he wants. So
we have to be alert, we always say in our
local gather, and keep your head on a swivel. Because
he's always looking to take you out. And if we
operate that way and we think that way, then when
(05:08):
he comes, he may not have an opportunity with us
because we're we're paying attention and keeping those doors shut.
Speaker 1 (05:15):
And alertness means that you have built into your Christian
walk areas of rest and refreshment so you can be
at the top of your game on your day to
day basis and not tired. That's right. Sometimes we just
run on e We'll run on tiredness. We don't have
anything in the tank. We've worked all day, we worked hard,
(05:38):
and we just keep going, going, going, until we're totally
out of gas. We're basically running on fumes. I don't
know if you've ever run on fumes, but that's not good.
So to resist the enemy, the Bible says, to resist
the devil, and he will flee from you. How do
you resist them? Well, when he comes at you, you
resist them with the word of God. And yet when
(06:00):
you talk about staying alert, I was thinking about the
disciples in the garden. Jesus took them away and he says,
you stay here and pray, and I'm going up ahead.
He comes back and they're sleeping, and he says to them, could.
Speaker 2 (06:15):
You not tarry with me one hour?
Speaker 1 (06:17):
And he went back off and he prayed the morning
come back they were sleep again.
Speaker 2 (06:22):
So our flesh likes to sleep, and we have to
learn to walk in the.
Speaker 1 (06:30):
Spirit and to be rested up, and to be prepared
for whatever battle the enemy has. So the Bible says,
stale or at what what does that mean? Be aware
of what is going on around you, be aware of
what is coming at you. Listen to the Lord for
(06:51):
his instruction for what he'd have you to do.
Speaker 3 (06:54):
Well, I think so practical things too, you know, when
we're under attack or when there are things going on
in our life. I mean, just make it sure you
eat right, because we get tired when we don't eat.
Making sure you take a nap if you need to
take a nap, Making sure you drink a lot of water,
that you're hydrated right like we do several of these
shows in a row. You know, it's important for us
to take a break, use the restroom, get a drink
(07:15):
of water. That much.
Speaker 1 (07:19):
I'm a salad, or have a casaburger. Yeah, now, we're
making you all hungry, all right, The Bible says we're
to be alert because we are to be ready for
the Lord's return. Matthew twenty four forty two. Watch there,
for you know not know the hour that your lord comes.
So we know the Lord has said for a long
(07:40):
time that he will come back, and by the way,
he will come back, but he's going to come back
in a day and an hour that nobody knows. So
when I think about, say, an alert, I think about
the five Whys and five foolish versions.
Speaker 2 (07:54):
They all had oil in their.
Speaker 1 (07:56):
Lamps, but the five Whys took extra oil a lot.
Speaker 2 (08:01):
They were alert.
Speaker 1 (08:02):
They knew that the time might be longer than anticipated,
so they had extra.
Speaker 2 (08:07):
Oil, and their lamps were trimmed.
Speaker 1 (08:10):
Their lamps were bright so that when the bridegroom came.
Speaker 2 (08:14):
They had enough in reserve to go in with him.
Speaker 1 (08:18):
While the others had to go back and search for oil.
And when they came back, they couldn't get in the door.
Everything was shut. And so we need to be ready
for the Lord's return. We need to have extra oil.
To me, what the extra oil means is like having
reserves in your spiritual tank, not running on e but
(08:40):
being filled up with the spirit being preyed up with
the spirit, having the Word of God on board, being ready.
Speaker 3 (08:48):
Yeah, I'll bring out of that place of overflow instead
of not enough, so you know, making sure you do
the things you need to do, being in the word,
taking the time for prayer, lowing God to love you.
We can only love others, and as much as we
allow him to love us, love your neighbor as yourself.
So we receive from him and give out of that
place of having received. And when we haven't received, it's
(09:10):
sort of like trying to squeeze I don't know, juice
out of a dry grate. There's nothing there, no right.
Speaker 1 (09:18):
Another reason to stay alert is because we are to
walk in purity and obedience. Wow, that is so good,
because Roman's thirteen eleven to twelve. Now it is high
time to out of sleep. For now our salvation is
nearer than when we first believe. Paul urges the church
(09:39):
to wake up. The nearer we get the Christ's return,
the more urgent it is to walk in holiness and truth.
And I think about this a lot. Paul thought the
coming of the Lord was in his time. Yeah, how
long ago was that?
Speaker 3 (09:55):
It was a long time ago? And we know that
all of the prophecies that need to be fulfilled before
Jesus' return have been fulfilled. We're already starting to see
the blood moons. There's things happening in the nations, a
lot of signs, a lot of signs saying literally, he
could come at any second.
Speaker 1 (10:15):
So what are the ramifications of falling asleep spiritually? Hmmmm?
The first one is being vulnerable to temptation. I think
we talked about this Matthew twenty six forty one. Watch
and pray that you enter not into temptation. The spirit,
indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak, I would say,
(10:35):
very weak. You know, the disciples instead of being prayerful,
they were and instead of praying, they were sleeping. They
fell asleep ahead of Jesus going on trial. And Jesus,
by the way, really needed their support during that time,
but they were overcome by sleep.
Speaker 2 (10:54):
Go ahead with the next one.
Speaker 3 (10:56):
Yeah, Number two is missing divine opportunities when we're sleeping,
it says Matthew twenty five, five and six. And this
is just a part of it. While the bridegroom terry,
they all slumbered and slept. And when you're sleeping, you
miss out on opportunities. It's like, nah, I'm not going
to this. No, I'm not gonna do that. I don't
feel like it now. I don't want to get out
of the house those kinds of things, and you miss out.
The foolish versions missed the wedding feast because they weren't prepared.
(11:21):
Spiritual sleep causes us to miss what God is doing
and many times to mis encountering him face to face.
Speaker 2 (11:29):
And I don't want to miss out, do you?
Speaker 3 (11:31):
No, definitely not.
Speaker 1 (11:32):
Another ramification of fall a save spiritually is a loss
of discernment Romans thirteen eleven.
Speaker 2 (11:39):
It is high time to wake up out of sleep.
Speaker 1 (11:42):
Spiritual sleep dulls our sensitivity to God's voice. We start
to tolerate send, lose our spiritual hunger and ignore.
Speaker 2 (11:51):
The warning signs.
Speaker 1 (11:52):
This is so true. So the loss of discernment is
really key. When you're tired, you could miss something completely.
It could go straight by you and you didn't even notice.
Also read number four the another reason ramification.
Speaker 3 (12:09):
Another ramification of falling asleep spiritual is becoming spiritually unfruitful.
Ephesians five fourteen and sixteen says, awake though that sleepeth
and arise from the dead and Christ shall give the light.
Sleeping Christians are ineffective. They don't bear fruit or impact
(12:29):
the world around them for Christ because they're too busy
resting and relaxing and doing things that have nothing to
do with the Kingdom of God.
Speaker 2 (12:37):
That is very true.
Speaker 1 (12:39):
You know, when you see Jesus someday, you want him
to say, well done, now, good and faithful servant. That's right.
Another ramification of falling asleep is you risking eternal regret
Revelations three, two to three, if therefore thou shalt watch. Basically,
(12:59):
this scripture Revelation three versus two through three says if
we're not awake, the Lord can come as a thief
and catch us unaware. Jesus warned the Church of Sartists
spiritual sleep could lead to missing his return entirely and
facing his judgment on prepared. Boy, that's one thing I
(13:21):
don't care to do. I don't care to face his
judgment on prepared.
Speaker 2 (13:25):
So let's talk.
Speaker 1 (13:26):
About some keys to staying awake staying alert.
Speaker 2 (13:30):
What are some keys you want to read? Key number one?
Speaker 3 (13:34):
Yeah, One way you can be sure to stay awake
is to pray. For prayer to be a regular part
of your life. In Matthew twenty six forty one, it says,
watch and pray. Prayer keeps us connected to God. It
sharpens our spirit and protects us from temptation. It fills
us up so that, just like those wise virsiins, we
(13:55):
have all the oil we need to slide real nice
through our day without too many problems.
Speaker 1 (14:01):
Another reason, another way of staying alert. Another key is
the word of God some one nineteen, verse one oh five.
That word is a lamp unto my feet and a
light into my path. God's word gives light and clarity.
It guards us from deception and shows us how to live.
It's so good because you know, I meet a lot
(14:23):
of believers and many of them don't even open their Bible.
Many of them have barely read their Bible, and they've
been in the Lord a long time. And I'm thinking,
how can you truly be prepared? If the Bible is
final instructions before leaving earth and you haven't even read
the manual? How can you be prepared the way you
need to be for when you meet the Lord?
Speaker 2 (14:45):
So read the third thing.
Speaker 3 (14:48):
Yeah, the third thing for being alert or key to
staying alert is walking in the spirit. So Galatians five
sixteen says, we walk walk in the spirit, and you'll
not fulfill the life us to the flesh. So that's
just being sensitive to the directives of Holy Spirit within us,
or the spirit of God within us, or the Lord
prompting us in a certain direction. Don't go here, don't
(15:10):
answer that call, maybe or do this or do that.
Being sensitive in those ways, Holy Spirit will lead us.
He will convict us, and he'll empower us to live
alert and be able to live holy lives because he
warns us ahead of time when the enemy's coming in
and trying to take us soft track.
Speaker 1 (15:29):
So another key, the final key, is fellowship and accountability.
Hebrews twenty twenty five tells us not to forsake the
assembling of yourselves together. Staying in fellowship sharpens us, strengthens us,
and helps keep us awake spiritually.
Speaker 2 (15:45):
And I'm telling you.
Speaker 1 (15:46):
Another good key to stay in a alert is getting
spiritual rest, getting some spiritual sleep, so you're actually awake
alert when you need to be awake alert. God is
calling his people to wake up and stay alert.
Speaker 2 (16:04):
The stakes are high.
Speaker 1 (16:05):
The enemy is probably the world is distracting and Jesus
is returning, it says in First Thessalonians five six. Therefore,
let us not sleep as others do. Let us watch,
and let us be sober. So we're called to number one,
examine your spiritual alertness.
Speaker 2 (16:26):
Are you awake or have you grown dull?
Speaker 1 (16:30):
Mm?
Speaker 2 (16:32):
That is really good? Are you awake? Number two?
Speaker 1 (16:36):
Return to prayer and the word of God. Ignite your
spiritual discipline. Do you want to read three and four?
Speaker 3 (16:43):
Yeah? Three and four is stay connected to a godly community,
and four is live every day like it could be
your last. And if you do those things, you will
stay spiritually awake and spiritually alert.
Speaker 1 (17:00):
Alertness is really key in everything we do, because you know,
the enemy is very deceptive and he tries to I
call it sneak things under the radar. He gets to
try to put things in our life that shouldn't be there.
Hopefully he's hoping we won't notice what he's doing until
(17:21):
it's too late. Well, may God give you eyes to see,
ears to hear, and a spirit to follow God's voice
and obey him, because we know what the enemy comes
to do. According to John ten ten, the thief cometh
to kill, seal and destroy I've come that you might.
Speaker 2 (17:41):
Have life and have it more abundantly.
Speaker 3 (17:43):
Did you have until it overflows?
Speaker 1 (17:47):
Amen?
Speaker 3 (17:48):
That's a good word, Pastor.
Speaker 2 (17:49):
Gal it is it is?
Speaker 3 (17:51):
So?
Speaker 2 (17:52):
How is? How is your alertness?
Speaker 1 (17:54):
I think we need to spend some time in prayer,
just praying for those of you that are out there,
because there's a lot of people right now they feel
so weary, so weary in the battle, so worry, weary.
Speaker 2 (18:06):
In their walk with the Lord.
Speaker 1 (18:08):
You might have been in the Lord for years, but
you're tired. We'd like to hear from you, by the way,
We'd like to hear how you're doing. We'd like to
hear your story in your battle. My email is Share
and Healing Begins radio dot com. That Share and Healing
Begins radio dot com. And my email address my and
my website address is www dot SCC Healing Begins dot com.
(18:35):
This www dot s CC Healing Begins dot com. Drop
us a line, drop us an email, tell us how
you're doing.
Speaker 3 (18:44):
We'd love to hear from you.
Speaker 1 (18:45):
Yes, Stephanie, would you pray about people being alert and
being protected from the enemy that's crawling around.
Speaker 3 (18:53):
Absolutely, a couple of different things are coming up, So
Father first and foremost, I asked that to idprune out
of people's lives those things that are sucking the life
out of them, those things that are distractions, that are discouragements,
that are divisions, that are dragging them away from the
destiny that you have for them. I bind any and
all vampiric spirits that would drain the life out of people,
(19:15):
those things that just negative nelly type situations where that's
like nothing they can do is good enough, nothing they
can do is write. Nothing they do bears fruit. I
just ask that you're buying that vampiric spirit in Jesus'
name and send it before the throne of the Truth
Lord Jesus Christ for immediate judgment. As you see fitting
Holy Spirit, I invite you to fill that room now
and baptize them afresh within overcomers anointing. I just see
(19:40):
a huge vat of oil being poured over you from
the top of your head, and it's running down your
hair down onto your shoulders, just like it did on
Aaron's robe. And the Lord says he's gonna strengthen you,
he's gonna refresh you, he's gonna bless you, and you're
gonna be able to go through this difficult season with
an ease that you have not had before. Just receive
(20:01):
that for yourself. We thank you for that, Father, Godfather.
I also ask that you would strengthen their faith. You
would increase their faith and strengthen their faith in this
difficult time. That you would fan the flame of your
Holy Spirit within them and remind them how very much
you love them, fill them with your might and your
courage to continue to get up and move forward into
(20:22):
the next good thing you have planned for them. In
Jesus' name, Amen.
Speaker 1 (20:27):
Lord, I pray you give people a shot a spiritual adrenaline,
just like when you run off the road and realize,
oh my goodness, what am I doing in the cornfield?
Speaker 2 (20:37):
Lord, all of a sudden you're wide awake.
Speaker 1 (20:38):
I pray that you would give people a shot of
spiritual adrenaline.
Speaker 2 (20:43):
Lord.
Speaker 1 (20:43):
I just pray you give them a desire to seek You,
to pray, to seek your faith. And I pray that
you keep people strength to me they stay. But more
than that, I pray that you fill their cup. Yeah.
I'm thinking of that old song like the woman at
the Well, I was searching for things that could not satisfy.
But then I heard the Master speaking, draw from my
(21:07):
well that never shall run dry, and I pray that
with the living water of Jesus, you would fill everybody's cup. Lord,
that you give everybody new hope and new strength for
the week. I pray that you would stand by each
person and let them know they are not alone, and
that you are with them, walking with them and walking
(21:27):
beside them each and every day. Lord, you are so
good to walk with us, talk with us, and take
care of us.
Speaker 2 (21:35):
We praise you for it in the name of Jesus. So, Lord,
just pour out your.
Speaker 1 (21:41):
Spirit on those that are listening and let them know
that you love them and that you care for them. Lord,
heal those that are sick, those that are afflicted, those
that are under torment.
Speaker 2 (21:52):
Heal them, Lord, and thank you for watching out over them.
Speaker 3 (21:57):
Yes, Father, we praise you. We thank you for the
testimony that are about to come in. If you've got
something that you heard today or you received today from
the Lord, we want to hear from you. Pastor Gail.
Tell them how they can get a hold of us.
We want to hear their testimonies.
Speaker 2 (22:10):
Right, Yeah, of course.
Speaker 1 (22:11):
My email is share at Healing begins radio dot com.
So well, we're signing off, but we'll be back and
we want you to know we love you.
Speaker 2 (22:25):
You're important to us.
Speaker 1 (22:26):
Keep listening and keep sending in your comments. May the
Lord bless you and keep you. May He cause us
face to shine upon you and give you peace and
help you stay alert. From Gail and Stephanie. Have a
good night, have a good morning.
Speaker 2 (22:43):
I know we say it just the opposite, but may
you just have a blessed week?
Speaker 4 (23:12):
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Speaker 1 (23:46):
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We offer one on one spiritual care for both adults
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Radio dot com.
Speaker 2 (24:56):
You're not alone. Healing begins here
Well, I was thinking the other day about when I
was young and foolish, you might say. I was about
twenty one years old, driving home late at night with
my Camaro and felt a little tired. I was always
told if you hold one hand in the air when
you're getting tired, to drop it and to wake you up.
Speaker 2 (00:29):
Don't listen to that. It don't work.
Speaker 1 (00:32):
So on the left of me that laughing at Stephanie.
On the left of me, I had trees. On the
right of me, I had a cornfield.
Speaker 2 (00:42):
Well.
Speaker 1 (00:43):
All of a sudden I heard I woke up and
I am taking down cornstalks with my Camaro.
Speaker 2 (00:52):
Scared me to death.
Speaker 1 (00:53):
I wound up getting back on the road and heading
to my location, wide awake. By the way, after that,
welcome the healing begins. My name is Pastor Gale.
Speaker 3 (01:06):
And this is Stephanie Butler.
Speaker 1 (01:08):
We're here to talk about the subject staying alert. I
just think it's really good to stay alert. I don't
like you know, I've had my recent problems with staying
alert and didn't wind up in a good place. So
I'm going to tell you a key and stay alert.
You know, a good key rest sleep, Yeah, And I
(01:30):
think even rest for the believer is very important. So
staying alert this is a very important subject spiritually and
everything like that, because there's a song out there that
goes a wake up, Why are you falling asleep? So
I think a lot of the church today can be
(01:50):
in a sleep mode, or believers can be in a
sleep mode or just a mode of doing life.
Speaker 2 (01:55):
And God wants you to be.
Speaker 1 (01:57):
Alert because today's world is philm do with distractions, deceptions,
spiritual warfare. God calls his people to stay alert and
that is just a suggestion. Who it's a pace to
stay alert. Let me tell you, it's a command repeated
through scripture. The consequences of sleep are serious. We all
(02:20):
know that, like sixteen thousand dollars serious. I won't go
into that right now, but so are the blessings of
remaining watchful. Any thoughts from your perspective? Stuffani, do you
ever grow tired on the highway?
Speaker 3 (02:35):
Yeah, I'm not a great night driver, so I have
to open the windows, lean forward on the steering wheel.
I am not a great night driver. So you know,
do the personal emdr where my eyes are shifting left
and right and left and right. But yes, you do.
You get tired and our bodies need rest. And in
America especially, so many times we're like, we have to go, go, go,
(02:58):
go go. We have to do everything everybody else to do.
We have to accomplish all these tasks. But the truth
of the matter is you don't. It's okay to set boundaries.
It's okay to work normal hours. It's okay not to
take your work home. It's okay to say no, I'm
so sorry, I can't make it. I've got fifteen other
events this week, right, And that's something that's in American culture.
I think we're learning to do because we need our rest.
Speaker 1 (03:20):
So rest is very important because it says the first
Peter five eight, we are to be sober and vigilant
because our adversary, to the devil, prowls around like a
roaring lion, seeking someone whom he may devour.
Speaker 2 (03:33):
It's really, really true.
Speaker 1 (03:35):
This verse reminds us that the enemy is not passive,
but he's very active. He's on the prowl, and we're not.
And we're to be watchful, and we are not to
be easy target. Staying alert is about living with spiritual awareness,
sensitivity to God, and readiness for his return. So my
(03:56):
goodness staying alert this whole Oh, I had another bad
thing happened. So I did fall asleep once and wreck
a car. No one got hurt, thank God. But then
I've learned now that rest stops are there for a reason.
Speaker 2 (04:09):
Yeah, so I pulled my car over.
Speaker 1 (04:11):
Yeah, fallen asleep and had a dream I wrecked my car.
Speaker 2 (04:15):
Then I woke up. That wasn't fun.
Speaker 1 (04:17):
But anyways, why is staying alert so important?
Speaker 3 (04:24):
Well, I think that the verse you read before, where
it says that the enemy may devour, he's looking for
somebody he may devour. We give him permission to devour
by not doing some of these following things like we
talked about earlier resting, but number one resisting the enemy.
Ephesian six eleven says, put on the whole armor of God,
(04:46):
that you may be able to stand against the wiles
of the devil. He's a wiley devil. He's smart. He's
been around a long time. He's been watching people. He
knows how to push the right buttons at the right
time and get the kind of results he wants. So
we have to be alert, we always say in our
local gather, and keep your head on a swivel. Because
he's always looking to take you out. And if we
operate that way and we think that way, then when
(05:08):
he comes, he may not have an opportunity with us
because we're we're paying attention and keeping those doors shut.
Speaker 1 (05:15):
And alertness means that you have built into your Christian
walk areas of rest and refreshment so you can be
at the top of your game on your day to
day basis and not tired. That's right. Sometimes we just
run on e We'll run on tiredness. We don't have
anything in the tank. We've worked all day, we worked hard,
(05:38):
and we just keep going, going, going, until we're totally
out of gas. We're basically running on fumes. I don't
know if you've ever run on fumes, but that's not good.
So to resist the enemy, the Bible says, to resist
the devil, and he will flee from you. How do
you resist them? Well, when he comes at you, you
resist them with the word of God. And yet when
(06:00):
you talk about staying alert, I was thinking about the
disciples in the garden. Jesus took them away and he says,
you stay here and pray, and I'm going up ahead.
He comes back and they're sleeping, and he says to them, could.
Speaker 2 (06:15):
You not tarry with me one hour?
Speaker 1 (06:17):
And he went back off and he prayed the morning
come back they were sleep again.
Speaker 2 (06:22):
So our flesh likes to sleep, and we have to
learn to walk in the.
Speaker 1 (06:30):
Spirit and to be rested up, and to be prepared
for whatever battle the enemy has. So the Bible says,
stale or at what what does that mean? Be aware
of what is going on around you, be aware of
what is coming at you. Listen to the Lord for
(06:51):
his instruction for what he'd have you to do.
Speaker 3 (06:54):
Well, I think so practical things too, you know, when
we're under attack or when there are things going on
in our life. I mean, just make it sure you
eat right, because we get tired when we don't eat.
Making sure you take a nap if you need to
take a nap, Making sure you drink a lot of water,
that you're hydrated right like we do several of these
shows in a row. You know, it's important for us
to take a break, use the restroom, get a drink
(07:15):
of water. That much.
Speaker 1 (07:19):
I'm a salad, or have a casaburger. Yeah, now, we're
making you all hungry, all right, The Bible says we're
to be alert because we are to be ready for
the Lord's return. Matthew twenty four forty two. Watch there,
for you know not know the hour that your lord comes.
So we know the Lord has said for a long
(07:40):
time that he will come back, and by the way,
he will come back, but he's going to come back
in a day and an hour that nobody knows. So
when I think about, say, an alert, I think about
the five Whys and five foolish versions.
Speaker 2 (07:54):
They all had oil in their.
Speaker 1 (07:56):
Lamps, but the five Whys took extra oil a lot.
Speaker 2 (08:01):
They were alert.
Speaker 1 (08:02):
They knew that the time might be longer than anticipated,
so they had extra.
Speaker 2 (08:07):
Oil, and their lamps were trimmed.
Speaker 1 (08:10):
Their lamps were bright so that when the bridegroom came.
Speaker 2 (08:14):
They had enough in reserve to go in with him.
Speaker 1 (08:18):
While the others had to go back and search for oil.
And when they came back, they couldn't get in the door.
Everything was shut. And so we need to be ready
for the Lord's return. We need to have extra oil.
To me, what the extra oil means is like having
reserves in your spiritual tank, not running on e but
(08:40):
being filled up with the spirit being preyed up with
the spirit, having the Word of God on board, being ready.
Speaker 3 (08:48):
Yeah, I'll bring out of that place of overflow instead
of not enough, so you know, making sure you do
the things you need to do, being in the word,
taking the time for prayer, lowing God to love you.
We can only love others, and as much as we
allow him to love us, love your neighbor as yourself.
So we receive from him and give out of that
place of having received. And when we haven't received, it's
(09:10):
sort of like trying to squeeze I don't know, juice
out of a dry grate. There's nothing there, no right.
Speaker 1 (09:18):
Another reason to stay alert is because we are to
walk in purity and obedience. Wow, that is so good,
because Roman's thirteen eleven to twelve. Now it is high
time to out of sleep. For now our salvation is
nearer than when we first believe. Paul urges the church
(09:39):
to wake up. The nearer we get the Christ's return,
the more urgent it is to walk in holiness and truth.
And I think about this a lot. Paul thought the
coming of the Lord was in his time. Yeah, how
long ago was that?
Speaker 3 (09:55):
It was a long time ago? And we know that
all of the prophecies that need to be fulfilled before
Jesus' return have been fulfilled. We're already starting to see
the blood moons. There's things happening in the nations, a
lot of signs, a lot of signs saying literally, he
could come at any second.
Speaker 1 (10:15):
So what are the ramifications of falling asleep spiritually? Hmmmm?
The first one is being vulnerable to temptation. I think
we talked about this Matthew twenty six forty one. Watch
and pray that you enter not into temptation. The spirit,
indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak, I would say,
(10:35):
very weak. You know, the disciples instead of being prayerful,
they were and instead of praying, they were sleeping. They
fell asleep ahead of Jesus going on trial. And Jesus,
by the way, really needed their support during that time,
but they were overcome by sleep.
Speaker 2 (10:54):
Go ahead with the next one.
Speaker 3 (10:56):
Yeah, Number two is missing divine opportunities when we're sleeping,
it says Matthew twenty five, five and six. And this
is just a part of it. While the bridegroom terry,
they all slumbered and slept. And when you're sleeping, you
miss out on opportunities. It's like, nah, I'm not going
to this. No, I'm not gonna do that. I don't
feel like it now. I don't want to get out
of the house those kinds of things, and you miss out.
The foolish versions missed the wedding feast because they weren't prepared.
(11:21):
Spiritual sleep causes us to miss what God is doing
and many times to mis encountering him face to face.
Speaker 2 (11:29):
And I don't want to miss out, do you?
Speaker 3 (11:31):
No, definitely not.
Speaker 1 (11:32):
Another ramification of fall a save spiritually is a loss
of discernment Romans thirteen eleven.
Speaker 2 (11:39):
It is high time to wake up out of sleep.
Speaker 1 (11:42):
Spiritual sleep dulls our sensitivity to God's voice. We start
to tolerate send, lose our spiritual hunger and ignore.
Speaker 2 (11:51):
The warning signs.
Speaker 1 (11:52):
This is so true. So the loss of discernment is
really key. When you're tired, you could miss something completely.
It could go straight by you and you didn't even notice.
Also read number four the another reason ramification.
Speaker 3 (12:09):
Another ramification of falling asleep spiritual is becoming spiritually unfruitful.
Ephesians five fourteen and sixteen says, awake though that sleepeth
and arise from the dead and Christ shall give the light.
Sleeping Christians are ineffective. They don't bear fruit or impact
(12:29):
the world around them for Christ because they're too busy
resting and relaxing and doing things that have nothing to
do with the Kingdom of God.
Speaker 2 (12:37):
That is very true.
Speaker 1 (12:39):
You know, when you see Jesus someday, you want him
to say, well done, now, good and faithful servant. That's right.
Another ramification of falling asleep is you risking eternal regret
Revelations three, two to three, if therefore thou shalt watch. Basically,
(12:59):
this scripture Revelation three versus two through three says if
we're not awake, the Lord can come as a thief
and catch us unaware. Jesus warned the Church of Sartists
spiritual sleep could lead to missing his return entirely and
facing his judgment on prepared. Boy, that's one thing I
(13:21):
don't care to do. I don't care to face his
judgment on prepared.
Speaker 2 (13:25):
So let's talk.
Speaker 1 (13:26):
About some keys to staying awake staying alert.
Speaker 2 (13:30):
What are some keys you want to read? Key number one?
Speaker 3 (13:34):
Yeah, One way you can be sure to stay awake
is to pray. For prayer to be a regular part
of your life. In Matthew twenty six forty one, it says,
watch and pray. Prayer keeps us connected to God. It
sharpens our spirit and protects us from temptation. It fills
us up so that, just like those wise virsiins, we
(13:55):
have all the oil we need to slide real nice
through our day without too many problems.
Speaker 1 (14:01):
Another reason, another way of staying alert. Another key is
the word of God some one nineteen, verse one oh five.
That word is a lamp unto my feet and a
light into my path. God's word gives light and clarity.
It guards us from deception and shows us how to live.
It's so good because you know, I meet a lot
(14:23):
of believers and many of them don't even open their Bible.
Many of them have barely read their Bible, and they've
been in the Lord a long time. And I'm thinking,
how can you truly be prepared? If the Bible is
final instructions before leaving earth and you haven't even read
the manual? How can you be prepared the way you
need to be for when you meet the Lord?
Speaker 2 (14:45):
So read the third thing.
Speaker 3 (14:48):
Yeah, the third thing for being alert or key to
staying alert is walking in the spirit. So Galatians five
sixteen says, we walk walk in the spirit, and you'll
not fulfill the life us to the flesh. So that's
just being sensitive to the directives of Holy Spirit within us,
or the spirit of God within us, or the Lord
prompting us in a certain direction. Don't go here, don't
(15:10):
answer that call, maybe or do this or do that.
Being sensitive in those ways, Holy Spirit will lead us.
He will convict us, and he'll empower us to live
alert and be able to live holy lives because he
warns us ahead of time when the enemy's coming in
and trying to take us soft track.
Speaker 1 (15:29):
So another key, the final key, is fellowship and accountability.
Hebrews twenty twenty five tells us not to forsake the
assembling of yourselves together. Staying in fellowship sharpens us, strengthens us,
and helps keep us awake spiritually.
Speaker 2 (15:45):
And I'm telling you.
Speaker 1 (15:46):
Another good key to stay in a alert is getting
spiritual rest, getting some spiritual sleep, so you're actually awake
alert when you need to be awake alert. God is
calling his people to wake up and stay alert.
Speaker 2 (16:04):
The stakes are high.
Speaker 1 (16:05):
The enemy is probably the world is distracting and Jesus
is returning, it says in First Thessalonians five six. Therefore,
let us not sleep as others do. Let us watch,
and let us be sober. So we're called to number one,
examine your spiritual alertness.
Speaker 2 (16:26):
Are you awake or have you grown dull?
Speaker 1 (16:30):
Mm?
Speaker 2 (16:32):
That is really good? Are you awake? Number two?
Speaker 1 (16:36):
Return to prayer and the word of God. Ignite your
spiritual discipline. Do you want to read three and four?
Speaker 3 (16:43):
Yeah? Three and four is stay connected to a godly community,
and four is live every day like it could be
your last. And if you do those things, you will
stay spiritually awake and spiritually alert.
Speaker 1 (17:00):
Alertness is really key in everything we do, because you know,
the enemy is very deceptive and he tries to I
call it sneak things under the radar. He gets to
try to put things in our life that shouldn't be there.
Hopefully he's hoping we won't notice what he's doing until
(17:21):
it's too late. Well, may God give you eyes to see,
ears to hear, and a spirit to follow God's voice
and obey him, because we know what the enemy comes
to do. According to John ten ten, the thief cometh
to kill, seal and destroy I've come that you might.
Speaker 2 (17:41):
Have life and have it more abundantly.
Speaker 3 (17:43):
Did you have until it overflows?
Speaker 1 (17:47):
Amen?
Speaker 3 (17:48):
That's a good word, Pastor.
Speaker 2 (17:49):
Gal it is it is?
Speaker 3 (17:51):
So?
Speaker 2 (17:52):
How is? How is your alertness?
Speaker 1 (17:54):
I think we need to spend some time in prayer,
just praying for those of you that are out there,
because there's a lot of people right now they feel
so weary, so weary in the battle, so worry, weary.
Speaker 2 (18:06):
In their walk with the Lord.
Speaker 1 (18:08):
You might have been in the Lord for years, but
you're tired. We'd like to hear from you, by the way,
We'd like to hear how you're doing. We'd like to
hear your story in your battle. My email is Share
and Healing Begins radio dot com. That Share and Healing
Begins radio dot com. And my email address my and
my website address is www dot SCC Healing Begins dot com.
(18:35):
This www dot s CC Healing Begins dot com. Drop
us a line, drop us an email, tell us how
you're doing.
Speaker 3 (18:44):
We'd love to hear from you.
Speaker 1 (18:45):
Yes, Stephanie, would you pray about people being alert and
being protected from the enemy that's crawling around.
Speaker 3 (18:53):
Absolutely, a couple of different things are coming up, So
Father first and foremost, I asked that to idprune out
of people's lives those things that are sucking the life
out of them, those things that are distractions, that are discouragements,
that are divisions, that are dragging them away from the
destiny that you have for them. I bind any and
all vampiric spirits that would drain the life out of people,
(19:15):
those things that just negative nelly type situations where that's
like nothing they can do is good enough, nothing they
can do is write. Nothing they do bears fruit. I
just ask that you're buying that vampiric spirit in Jesus'
name and send it before the throne of the Truth
Lord Jesus Christ for immediate judgment. As you see fitting
Holy Spirit, I invite you to fill that room now
and baptize them afresh within overcomers anointing. I just see
(19:40):
a huge vat of oil being poured over you from
the top of your head, and it's running down your
hair down onto your shoulders, just like it did on
Aaron's robe. And the Lord says he's gonna strengthen you,
he's gonna refresh you, he's gonna bless you, and you're
gonna be able to go through this difficult season with
an ease that you have not had before. Just receive
(20:01):
that for yourself. We thank you for that, Father, Godfather.
I also ask that you would strengthen their faith. You
would increase their faith and strengthen their faith in this
difficult time. That you would fan the flame of your
Holy Spirit within them and remind them how very much
you love them, fill them with your might and your
courage to continue to get up and move forward into
(20:22):
the next good thing you have planned for them. In
Jesus' name, Amen.
Speaker 1 (20:27):
Lord, I pray you give people a shot a spiritual adrenaline,
just like when you run off the road and realize,
oh my goodness, what am I doing in the cornfield?
Speaker 2 (20:37):
Lord, all of a sudden you're wide awake.
Speaker 1 (20:38):
I pray that you would give people a shot of
spiritual adrenaline.
Speaker 2 (20:43):
Lord.
Speaker 1 (20:43):
I just pray you give them a desire to seek You,
to pray, to seek your faith. And I pray that
you keep people strength to me they stay. But more
than that, I pray that you fill their cup. Yeah.
I'm thinking of that old song like the woman at
the Well, I was searching for things that could not satisfy.
But then I heard the Master speaking, draw from my
(21:07):
well that never shall run dry, and I pray that
with the living water of Jesus, you would fill everybody's cup. Lord,
that you give everybody new hope and new strength for
the week. I pray that you would stand by each
person and let them know they are not alone, and
that you are with them, walking with them and walking
(21:27):
beside them each and every day. Lord, you are so
good to walk with us, talk with us, and take
care of us.
Speaker 2 (21:35):
We praise you for it in the name of Jesus. So, Lord,
just pour out your.
Speaker 1 (21:41):
Spirit on those that are listening and let them know
that you love them and that you care for them. Lord,
heal those that are sick, those that are afflicted, those
that are under torment.
Speaker 2 (21:52):
Heal them, Lord, and thank you for watching out over them.
Speaker 3 (21:57):
Yes, Father, we praise you. We thank you for the
testimony that are about to come in. If you've got
something that you heard today or you received today from
the Lord, we want to hear from you. Pastor Gail.
Tell them how they can get a hold of us.
We want to hear their testimonies.
Speaker 2 (22:10):
Right, Yeah, of course.
Speaker 1 (22:11):
My email is share at Healing begins radio dot com.
So well, we're signing off, but we'll be back and
we want you to know we love you.
Speaker 2 (22:25):
You're important to us.
Speaker 1 (22:26):
Keep listening and keep sending in your comments. May the
Lord bless you and keep you. May He cause us
face to shine upon you and give you peace and
help you stay alert. From Gail and Stephanie. Have a
good night, have a good morning.
Speaker 2 (22:43):
I know we say it just the opposite, but may
you just have a blessed week?
Speaker 4 (23:12):
Attimes Batti Battis.
Speaker 1 (23:46):
Are you struggling with emotional pain, anxiety, trauma, or feeling
stuck in life? At Spiritual Care Consultants, we believe that
(24:08):
healing is possible because we've seen it happen every day.
We offer one on one spiritual care for both adults
and children at no cost, right in our office or
through secure zoom sessions. Whether you're facing grief, stress, depression,
or simply need someone to talk to, our trained consultants
are here to walk with you toward healing and hope.
(24:31):
We combine biblical wisdom, compassionate listening, and proven spiritual care
tools that will help bring clarity, peace and restoration. To
learn more, visit Www dot SCC Healingbegins dot com and
if you have any questions orud like to reach out
to us, email us any time at share at Healingbegins
(24:54):
Radio dot com.
Speaker 2 (24:56):
You're not alone. Healing begins here
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