October 5, 2023: The Hour Has Come!

"Besides this, you know the time, that the hour has come for you to wake from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed." (Romans 13:11, ESV)

When our boys were little, I used to wake them up to the tune of Reveille, "It's time to get up. It's time to get up. It's time to get up in the morning!" Paul tells the church, "It is time to wake up from sleep!" The implication is that the church has fallen asleep. It is no longer prepared for the arrival of Jesus.

Jesus in John 17:1–3 also speaks of "the hour has come." It was not an hour of resignation to death. It was the realization of all that He had been preparing for!

Revival is not needed because of the condition of the world. Revival is necessary because of the condition of the church. Revival returns the church and the saints from backsliding. It gets the church right with God! Saints come out of secret sins and shake off lethargy. When the church gets right with God, the 'fire' jumps out of the pews and into the streets. Holy Spirit conviction falls on lost communities, resulting in radical salvations. In Romans 13:11–14, Paul says, Wake up! Cast off the darkness! Put on the light of Christ! Make no provision for the flesh!

Roar, Lion of Judah! Roar over Your bride! May we hear the reveille of heaven and awaken from our slumber! No more business as usual!