Sit Down and SHUT UP!!!

Sit down and shut up.......have you ever been told these words? While they are not the friendliest words to hear, they do have their time and place i.e., a classroom, a theater or a very reserved church service (not ours!). However, in our spiritual lives these words can be very counterproductive.

What happens when you sit still and remain silent for very long? If you're anything like me and you've stayed up a little too late, or worked harder than usual the day before, your eyes will begin to grow heavy, your listening will begin to fade and before long you will be completely incapable of responding if called upon, because you are sound asleep. This is exactly what Satan wants to happen in your Christian walk. He wants you to be lulled to sleep so you will become the most ineffective Christian you can be.

But God's Word gives the exact opposite instruction! We are told to WAKE UP! STAND UP! and SPEAK UP! Ephesians 5:14-21 tells us:

"Wherefore he saith, AWAKE thou that sleepest, and ARISE from the dead, and

Christ shall give thee light. See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools,

but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Wherefore be ye not

unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is. And be not drunk with

wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; SPEAKING to yourselves in

psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, SINGING and making melody in your heart

to the Lord; GIVING THANKS always for all things unto God and the Father in the

name of our Lord Jesus Christ; Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear

of God."

WAKE UP! ...to the fact that God has a purpose for your life. And that He has already

placed inside you everything you need to accomplish that task. That as you obey Him, He

will guide you in your decisions toward fulfilling that plan! And as you step out in

obedience, He will empower, enable and equip you for the next step!

STAND UP! ...in the face of adversity. When persecutions come, DO NOT BACK DOWN!

When things get tough, DO NOT QUIT! When you feel like you are standing alone, DO

NOT LOSE HOPE! Jesus said He would never leave nor nor forsake us. He is always

there to support and encourage you as you stand!

SPEAK UP! ...in every opportunity to share your faith with others. Be bold to tell people

that God has been good to you and He desires to do the same for them. Never be

ashamed of your testimony. When someone freely shares all their problems and

frustrations in life, freely share THE answer with them. When you purpose to share Jesus

with someone, He will give you the right words to say at the right time.

All these things have been put to practice by many of you already. Some of you already

have a testimony to the fact that these words are true. It has been said, "A man with an experience is never at the mercy of a man with an argument." You can tell him over and

over that it isn't true, but it's too late, he's already experienced that it is true! People can

tell me that God isn't real, but it's too late, I've already met Him and know He is real.

They can say He doesn't heal people anymore, but it's too late, I've already seen people

healed and been healed myself. They can say He isn't interested in meeting my needs,

but it is too late, I have already had needs met in abundance, to the point of overflow!

Thank God, He is real, and He cares deeply about each one of us. And He desires a

closer relationship with YOU!

WAKE UP! STAND UP! and SPEAK UP!