Matthew 1:24-25 – Then Joseph, being aroused from sleep, did as the angel of the Lord commanded him and took to him his wife, and did not know her till she had brought forth her firstborn Son. And he called His name Jesus.
In a dream, God invited Joesph (Mary’s soon-to-be husband) to become a VESSEL that would HELP PRESENT JESUS to the world!
What an invitation for the church today! If we’ve EVER needed vessels to PRESENT Jesus to the world, it’s NOW!!!
Before Joseph played a leading role in the most life-changing encounter the world had ever known, he was AROUSED from his SLEEP! THINK ABOUT THAT!!
One of the definitions for SLEEP in Matthew 1:24 is spiritual torpor. Torpor is a form of apathy, dullness, complacency, or casualness.
History shows when spiritual awakenings occur, the church is the FIRST to be awakened from her sleep! God allows it so that she could be shaken loose from any spiritual complacency or sin. He’s returning her to first love!!
We can see this happening today. God is shaking things in the body of Christ right now!!
Who can endure the day of His coming? And who can stand when He appears? For He is like a refiner’s fire And like a launderer’s soap. He will sit as a refiner and a purifier of silver; He will purify the sons of Levi, And purge them as gold and silver, That they may offer to the LORD an offering in righteousness. (Malachi 3:2-3)
We pray for God to awaken His church, return us to CENTER (Christ), and restore us to the simplicity of the gospel. In humility, we ask Him to cleanse us of anything that would hinder Him from using us!
We want to be vessels prepared to present JESUS to the world!!
Make us READY,
Heart of Nations House of Prayer,
-Mandy Reiszner