There are
times when we seem to be waiting on God to do something in our life
and we aren’t sure what God is wanting of us. One of the ladies of the church
told me about one of the Scriptures that God had used to call her to a place
of transition in her life …
Matt 9:6-7
Jesus said … "Arise, take up your bed, and go to your house." 7
And he arose and departed to his house.
The simple act of obedience of this man who had been paralyzed was
the key to his healing! He obeyed the Lord … he got up … rolled up his
bed … and went home … HEALED! There are a number of places in Scripture
where that is spoken to us … “Arise!” Let’s read a few of them:
God spoke to Abram about his descendents:
Gen 13:16-17
I will make your descendants as the dust of the earth … 17 Arise, walk
in the land through its length and its width, for I give it to you."
The angels sent by God spoke to Lot about leaving Sodom and Gomorrah:
Gen 19:15
15 When the morning dawned, the angels urged Lot to hurry, saying, "Arise,
take your wife and your two daughters who are here, lest you be consumed
in the punishment of the city."
It was God’s word to Joshua:
Josh 1:2
2 "Moses My servant is dead. Now therefore, arise, go over this
Jordan, you and all this people, to the land which I am giving to them.
It was the command of the Captain of the Lord’s army to Gideon:
Judges 7:9
9 It happened on the same night that the LORD said to him, "Arise,
go down against the camp, for I have delivered it into your hand.”
When Solomon prayed a prayer of dedication, he ask the Lord to make
the Temple the place of His habitation:
2 Chronicles 6
40 Now, my God, I pray, let Your eyes be open and let Your ears be attentive
to the prayer made in this place.
41 "Now therefore, Arise , O LORD God, to Your resting place,
You and the ark of Your strength.
David frequently cried out to God in prayer for God to protect Israel:
Ps 68:1
Let God arise, let His enemies be scattered;
When Jesus commanded a dead child to come to life, He said:
Mark 5:41
" Little girl, I say to you, arise."
42 Immediately the girl arose and walked, for she was twelve years of
age.
The Apostle Paul called for a spiritual transformation in our commitment
to Christ:
Eph 5:14
" Awake, you who sleep, arise from the dead, and Christ will give you light."
More than 140 places in the Bible someone has heard that word … ARISE!
I would like for us to listen to the Lord speak it into our hearts this
morning.
The word ARISE is an Invitation to join God in what He is doing! Abram
had been living a normal life with his extended family until God called
him to leave his country and his kinsmen and travel to an unknown destination.
It was on this seemingly unplanned journey that God spoke unimaginable
words into Abrams spirit:
ARISE! Believe me Abram! Your descendents will be like the dust of
the earth and the stars in the heavens … and you will inhabit all of
this land! ARISE Abram and walk through the land! Look! I have given
it to you and your descendents! ARISE!
In the context of Genesis 13, Lot had just left Abram, taking the choice
fields for his sheep and leaving Abram with hills of rock and sand. It
could have been a discouraging time in Abrams life, but he heard those
words …… ARISE!
Don’t ask God to join you in your plans. Ask God to include you in
His! If you listen you will hear His invitation to ARISE … walk through
the land of promise! God has given it to you!
The word ARISE is a Call to Action!
The angels urged Lot and his family to hurry and leave the condemned
cities of Sodom and Gomorrah! Hurry! ARISE! There is danger here and
your life is threatened! Arise! Move away from here! Forsake sin and
follow God! ARISE!
Have you heard that voice? Have you heeded that voice? Ron Duhs told
the story of an Army officer who wanted to sit in the helicopter in the
seat where he was sitting. He obliged the officer and shortly after the
helicopter was airborne, an enemy bullet took the life of the officer
and Ron lived to tell the story. Was that a coincident of was that the
answer to prayer? I believe God worked in Ron’s favor that day. He said,
“Arise! Let someone else sit in your place.”
Have you heard that voice when sin lurked at your door? Temptation
knocks and a desire wells up within you to lie, or to cheat, or to steal
… and the Spirit of the Lord says, “ARISE, move away from this place!
There is danger here! Arise!” God wants us to act quickly and move away
from sin. ARISE!
The word ARISE is a Commitment of Faith.
Joshua had always had Moses to lean upon. Moses spoke to the Lord face
to face! The authority of Moses had never been questioned by Joshua!
Now God confronts him with what he already knows: Moses is dead.
Have you ever come to the place where all the familiar people were
no longer available to be a help to you? All the familiar places are
gone and all the things we’ve trusted in are no longer available. Our
methods are useless. Our plans are all awry. Then we hear the Lord say
… “All of those things are dead. Now …… ARISE and take the promises I
have given to you!”
Did you know that God’s plans are bigger than our disappointments?
Did you know that God’s abilities are stronger than our devices and arrangements?
MOSES IS DEAD! ARISE! MOVE ON TO THE PLANS THAT I HAVE MADE FOR YOU!
ARISE! Make a commitment to move on when all the familiar things you’ve
trusted have been stripped away.
The word ARISE is a Call to Battle.
Gideon was left with 300 men as he faced a warrior nation of thousands,
and God spoke into his spirit, “ARISE, I’ve delivered them into your
hands.” WOW! The odds against him seemed to be overwhelming … but he
and God were a majority! When the 300 men broke the water pitchers, blew
their trumpets, and waved their lamps … God put a spirit of fear in the
enemy and they began destroying each other in the darkness of night!
Do you know that you are in a war with powers of spiritual darkness
… and you and God are a majority? Don’t run! Don’t hide! Don’t sit and
do nothing! ARISE to the battle for the Lord has delivered you!
The word ARISE is an Encouragement to Fulfill Your Purpose.
When Jesus entered the room where the little girl lay upon the bed,
devoid of life, everyone was weeping and wailing. Such a young age for
life to be gone! It looked as if the purpose of her life was taken from
her! Such sorrow!
But Jesus has another word! “ARISE!” Purpose, destiny, and fulfillment
are yet to take place in this little girl’s life! She responded to the
command of Jesus and got up!
We have all known people who felt as if their mission in life was over.
Sometimes we have limited ourselves with a defeated attitude: I’m too
poor, I’m too young, I’m to old, I’m not talented enough, I’m not educated
… and the defeat just oozes out of their pores! I want you to know that
is not God’s idea for your life! He says, ARISE!
There is life after sickness, there is life after divorce, there is
life after losing all you finances, there is life after retirement! Don’t
just lay down and die! ARISE!
The Apostle Paul said it like this ….
Eph 5:14
" Awake, you who sleep, arise from the dead, and Christ will give you light."
God has presented you with a decision this morning! Will you arise
or will you continue to slumber?
ARISE and join God in what He is doing!
ARISE to a Call to Action!
ARISE with a Commitment of Faith!
ARISE to God’s Call to Battle!
ARISE and Fulfill Your Purpose!
ARISE!
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