Pastor's Pondering, July 10, 2018

Wake, Pray, Slay

I recently saw a shirt with the “Wake. Pray. Slay” motto on the back. I imagined waking up, praying to God for direction, and then taking a sword and suddenly and violently slaying everything that was not like God.

In the Bible, Christ established a unique way of living. He communicated often with His Father and performed miracles people had never seen before. He healed the sick, commanded evil spirits to come out of people, and even turned water into wine. Towards the end of his life on earth He tells his disciples that they will do even greater things than He did (John 14:12)!

Although that may seem hard to believe, God wouldn’t have said it if he didn’t mean it. As Christians or “followers of Christ” (Acts 11:26) when we first wake up, we are to act just like Christ (1 John 4:17b), pray (Mark 1:35) and do not accept evil spirits in ourselves or others (Mark 1:39, Mark 16:17). Just like Jesus told Satan, we are to also tell him to get behind us (Luke 4:8). 

Every morning the world presents itself to us as something overwhelming. But we have the Greater One and we are to go about doing what Jesus did. He laid hands on the sick for their recovery, He fed the hungry, He comforted the lonely; He healed all of those who devils had attacked (Acts 10:38).  This morning and every morning, let us wake up ready to act like Jesus, let us pray just like Jesus and let us work His work and slay everything that is not like Him.

John 14:12
New International Version (NIV)

12 Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.

Acts 11:26
New International Version (NIV)

26 and when he found him, he brought him to Antioch. So for a whole year Barnabas and Saul met with the church and taught great numbers of people. The disciples were called Christians first at Antioch.

1 John 4:17b
New International Version (NIV)

17 … In this world we are like Jesus

Mark 1:35
New International Version (NIV)
35 Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.

Mark 1:39
New International Version (NIV)

39 So he traveled throughout Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and driving out demons.

Mark 16:17
New International Version (NIV)

17 And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues;

Luke 4:8
King James Version (KJV)

8 And Jesus answered and said unto him, Get thee behind me, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.

Acts 10:38
New International Version (NIV)

38 how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him.