Introduction
As a Firefighter one of the worst things in the world that can happen is sleeping through an alarm…
I remember one time after we had a long day of hose testing, everybody was pretty tired and we were hoping for a quite night, which never seems to happen… about 1:00 or 2:00 in the morning the tones went off for a structure fire. Everybody jumps up and gets in their bunker gear and jumps on the truck & we roll out lights and sirens blaring… That is all of us except one… We had one guy that didn’t wake up and missed the truck, when we rolled back in to the station around 5:30 he was waiting with coffee made and said “ ya’ll left me”… I said well maybe you'll get some action next time… but this time you missed out on fighting fire and saving lives...
It's like this when we are spiritually asleep. There’s a call going out, we have been dispatched… into a world in need of hope, we have been called to a world that needs compassion and is in need of the Good News of Jesus. But, when we’re spiritually asleep, we fail to respond to God’s promptings. We think we’ll have time later, and we miss the chance to make a difference in the lives of others. The call is found In Ephesians 5:14, Paul says, “Wake up, sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.”
Just like a firefighter who must be ready to jump into action, God calls us to be spiritually alert and prepared to respond when He calls. There’s a world that needs us now… not later.
The Apostle Paul urges us in our scripture today (Ephesians 5:14-17) to wake up and live with intentionality, to wake up from spiritual slumber, understanding God’s will, and to live wisely in a dark world. Let’s look at our scripture for today (Read Ephesians 5:14-17)
I. Wake Up from Spiritual Sleep (Ephesians 5:14)
Verse 14: “Wake up, sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.”
The call to "wake up" isn’t just for the physically asleep it’s for those who have become spiritually complacent. What does complacency look like? One way it might look is going to church out of routine or habit but not engaging in worship or maybe reading the Bible without seeking transformation.
In today’s world, many of us get lulled into spiritual sleep by distractions… like entertainment, social media, or the pursuit of material success. These things can pull us away little by little from the things that matters most and interrupt our relationship with Christ.
Illustration:
It’s dangerous to drive when your drowsy, because your awareness has tapered off, and you might crash before even realizing it. In the same way, spiritual drowsiness can lead to poor decisions or missed opportunities for growth.
Think about it "Are there areas in your life where you’ve fallen asleep spiritually?" Are you just going through the motions of faith?
It’s time to seek God earnestly, asking Him to "wake us up" and to renew our spiritual passion.
II. Make the Most of Every Opportunity (Ephesians 5:15-16)
“Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise.” “Making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.”
We’re told to be careful in how we live, to walk wisely, because life is short, and the world around us is filled with temptation and distractions. Wisdom means making those choices that honor God and to make the most of the time we’ve been given.
Paul says "the days are evil" that hasn’t changed, it applies to us even today. Just look around at the moral decay and the challenges we face on a daily basis in the world today. We live in a broken world that all too often pulls us away from God’s ways.
Think about it this way… A wise investor considers where to place their resources for the best long-term return. In the same way, we are called to invest our time and energy in things that will have eternal value— things like, loving others, serving God, and sharing the gospel.
How do you spend your time? Are you investing in what matters most— are you investing in your family, are you investing in your faith, are you serving others... Or do you waste time on things that don't align with God's purposes?
Ask yourself, “What opportunities is God placing in front of me right now that will allow me to share His love, encourage others, or grow in my faith?” Don’t forget… Every day is an opportunity to live for God’s glory.
III. Understand the Will of the Lord (Ephesians 5:17)
“Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.”
It’s Foolish to live without considering God’s will… It’s foolish to pursue worldly desires instead of God’s direction. The Bible tells us that God has a specific purpose for each of our lives, and it’s up to us to seek that purpose.
Understanding God’s will isn't a mystery. His general will for all believers is clear in Scripture: His will is for us to live holy lives, love others, and make disciples. Beyond that, He reveals His specific will as we walk closely with Him.
If you use a GPS and don’t program the destination in, you’ll drive around aimlessly… If you don’t seek God’s will, you’ll wander without direction in life. But God, like a GPS, guides us when we stay connected to Him through prayer and His Word.
Are you actively seeking God’s will for your life, or do you make decisions based on what feels right in the moment?
Seek God daily, asking Him to guide their decisions, to shape your desires, and give you clarity on your purpose.
Conclusion / Call to Action
Paul’s message is a call to wake up, to live wisely, and to understand God’s will. These are not passive suggestions; these are urgent commands for believers who are navigating in a spiritually dark world.
If you’ve been spiritually asleep or distracted, I invite you to take this opportunity to recommit your heart to God. I Invite you to pray for a spiritual awakening, asking Christ’s light to shine on you.
If you’re struggling to make the most of your time, I encourage you to make intentional decisions this week to spend time in prayer, to spend time in the Word, and spend some time serving others. Time is a precious gift, and God wants us to use it for His glory.
If you don’t know Christ, I invite you to receive Him as Savior. Let the light of Christ awaken you, with transformation, and bring you from death to life.
Closing Prayer: God I ask that You fill us with wisdom and awaken our hearts to Your purpose. I ask you to guide us and give clarity to those seeking Your will and give us strength to walk wisely in the days ahead.
In Jesus Name AMEN
