Latest / The Daily Word / September 11 – Stay Awake and Ready
Transcript
- Robert Rosales: Hey, good afternoon, good morning, good evening, welcome to the Daily Word podcast. I'm Robert Rosales, and along with my wife Yolanda, I have the privilege of serving as the campus pastor at our Gastonia location. Thank you so much for investing some time with me to get in the Word of God. Whether you're listening on your morning commute, enjoying a cup of coffee, or beginning your day with the Lord, my prayer is. This time will encourage you and draw you closer to Jesus. Each day as a church, we're reading through the Bible together using the life journal reading plan. And today, once again, we're going to focus on the New Testament passage. One of the things I've learned over the years is that God often speaks and we hear him the clearest when we have quiet moments and we slow down to listen. That's why I like to keep my time with him simple. Bible A journal, a pen, and a heart that's ready to hear. Don't forget, I'm using the SOAP method. Come on, soap scripture, observation, application, and prayer. This is a simple framework that's found in our life journal reading plan. And if you haven't picked up a life journal, come on, whichever campus you attend, we've got some in the lobby. The Welcome Center area. So I encourage you to pick one up as soon as you can. This framework is so simple. I've been using it for years, and it will help you move God's word from the page into your everyday life. Now, before we begin, let's invite the Holy Spirit to speak and lead. Father, thank you for this new day and for the privilege of opening your word. Quiet the distractions around us and the noise within us. Give us hearts that are teachable. Minds that are attentive and lives that are ready to obey whatever you reveal. Holy Spirit, illuminate the scriptures and help us not only understand them, but help us to live them out today. We ask this in the name of Jesus. And everybody said, Amen. Okay, friends, today's passage for September 11th is Revelation chapter 16, and I journaled from verse 15. I want to read to you verse 15 out of the NIV version today. Look, I come like a thief. Blessed is the one who stays awake and remains clothed, so as not to go naked and be shamefully exposed. Those are the words of Jesus. They're in red, and this is the title of my journal entry from chapter 16, verse 15. God's final judgment and our Readiness. Come on, say it with me. God's final judgment and our readiness. Here's my observation. As I read through this chapter, I was struck by God's final judgment and wrath being poured out on evil in the earth. Seven bowls of wrath, sores broke out on the wicked, all life in the sea died, rivers and springs turned to blood, the sky, the sun scorching people with fire. Continuing. The throne, beasts, and kingdom plunged into darkness, the river Euphrates dried up. And finally, impure spirits that look like frogs that perform signs gathered kings for the great battle on the day of God Almighty. But here's what really arrested my attention. Right in the middle of this terrifying sequence of judgments, Jesus interrupts. With a declaration. Behold, I am coming as a thief. Blessed is the one who stays awake and remains clothed. Come on, highlight that or underline it in your Bible. The second part of the verse uses clothing as a metaphor for spiritual preparedness. Remaining clothed is a figure of speech relating to the end times with proper clothing signifying. Acceptability to the Lord. Even as the whole world descends into chaos and nations gather their forces for final rebellion, the Lord reminds us of his imminent return. This isn't a threat to the faithful, it's an invitation to vigilance. Let me say that again. It's an invitation to vigilance. While the day of the Lord comes as a thief in the night for the unprepared. Believers are not in darkness, so that this day should overtake them as a thief. The verse calls us to keep our spiritual garments clean, to maintain moral readiness and righteousness regardless of surrounding turmoil. Those servants whom the master finds watching are blessed. The placement of this promise within the bolds of wrath is profound. It reminds us that even when God's judgment falls on the earth, his people are called to remain alert, clothed in righteousness, and prepared for his coming. Our readiness isn't about fear, it's about hope and faithfulness in the midst of darkness. Come on, somebody say amen. So, Pastor Robert, how does that apply to your life and to our lives? Well, this is what I wrote. As I think about this, I am stirred and encouraged. To stay awake and ready, to continue to press into the Lord and against the sway and ungodliness of the culture. How will I do this? Is it possible in the middle of a wicked and rebellious generation? Yes, it is. I will keep leaning into the spiritual disciplines that help me stay awake and ready. Daily devotions, prayer, solitude. Meditating on God's word and promises, private worship, gathering with God's people, and maybe the most important, pressing into being a disciplined disciple of Jesus Christ. All of this with the leading and help of the Holy Spirit, of course, because I can't do any of it without his help. Come on, would you pray with me? Father God, thank you for speaking to me today through your word. I am reminded that even though judgment is reserved for the wicked, no matter how dark and crooked our culture becomes, with the Holy Spirit's help, I will stay awake, ready, and clothed. Help me to remain faithful. Help me to walk in purity, holiness, and daily alignment with you and your word. I ask these things in Jesus' name. Amen. Lakeshore family. As you go about your day, my prayer is that you'll keep growing in your love for Jesus and His Word. As you invest time with Him, may He give you fresh insight, strengthen your life, and guide your steps. Thanks for joining me today on the Daily Word podcast. I pray you've been encouraged to stay in God's Word and walk closely with the Holy Spirit. God bless you, and we'll catch you again tomorrow.