Word: Wake Up from Your Slumber
Romans 13:8-14
Love Fulfills the Law
8 Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for whoever loves others has fulfilled the law. 9 The commandments, “You shall not commit adultery,” “You shall not murder,” “You shall not steal,” “You shall not covet,” and whatever other command there may be, are summed up in this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” 10 Love does no harm to a neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.
The Day Is Near
11 And do this, understanding the present time: The hour has already come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. 12 The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light.
Everlasting Love Gave Us Everlasting Life
The LORD has appeared of old to me, saying, “Yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love: therefore with loving kindness have I drawn you.” Jeremiah 31:3
God’s everlasting Love has drawn us into everlasting life through the sacrifice and resurrection of Jesus Christ. So many of us miss out on the greater gift of discovering Him because we settle for the surface level of receiving from & knowing about Him…
When we delve deeper into God we find there is always so much more to be found in Him, all joy and peace and everything that is good. He bridged the gap so we can have eternal intimacy and true freedom with Him now and forevermore.
Let’s never forget the precious gift we have to seek God’s face and experience His supernatural presence, where He longs for us to be for eternity…
This Is Our Love Story…
Once upon a sacred union there was a woman who had perfect Love in the beginning- but she was deceived and let her eyes wander. She disregarded Love’s truth and faithfulness for a taste of the forbidden, and in a bite of weakness she became blinded, disillusioned…
Even in her infidelity her True Love kept pursuing her, continuing to draw her in to be reunited, not letting her be consumed by the darkness of her mistakes. Her Love calls to her out from hiding, gently beckoning her seek and be found. He gave up the most prized of all, and gave the greatest gift so that their relationship could be restored even deeper and more passionate than before…
Because you see, once upon a perfect place before there was time, there was Love. He gave His life for you and I so we would know what True Love is…ultimate sacrifice, never-ending faithfulness, laying down one’s desires and life for another. We can never be fulfilled or know True Love until we fully embrace Him.
“This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through Him…And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them…”
“This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.” 1 John 4 (Read more in context)
The Vision Awaits…It’s Time To Make Your Move
The vision God placed in your heart isn’t just for you… What’s the message He’s given you that others are waiting for you to deliver?
Lives may depend on it, so envision it, write it, dare to take action on it today even if it’s just a small step of faith. Follow His lead and move forward into your destiny, bringing others with you into purpose & Truth – all will be revealed in His time, but it’s time to prepare the way for Him & make a move:
“Then the LORD answered me: Write the vision and make it plain on tablets, that he may run who reads it. This vision is for a future time. It describes the end, and it will be fulfilled. If it seems slow in coming, wait patiently, for it will surely take place. It will not be delayed.” Habakkuk 2:2-3
“So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what He has promised.
For, ‘In just a little while, He who is coming will come and will not delay.'” Hebrews 10:35-37
Message Pick: Run Your Race & Run It Well – Touré Roberts & DeVon Franklin from One Church International
A few months back we featured One Church International in Los Angeles as our Ministry to Watch because of the relevant messages they share that encourage anyone to pursue purpose, and especially those called to the arts and entertainment. I’ve been continually blessed by the wisdom of Pastor Touré Roberts and his determination to align with the heart of God and how He is moving in the seasons.
This latest word “Run Your Race & Run It Well” encourages you (with a little illustrative clip from a familiar childhood cartoon) to embrace the race God has called you to and to run it with perseverance and faith, not letting distractions, obstacles, snares and detours get in your way.
Part 2 of the message is from DeVon Franklin, an influential voice in Hollywood and beyond (whom we previously shared inspirational words about purpose from his book Produced by Faith.) DeVon reminds us that sometimes we ask God for what we’re not ready for, getting us off track, and how we have to follow His lead and timing when running the race: