Look Alive, Scavengers Are Watching

Situation

Dead, death, dying, sickness, cancer, abuse, molestation, decay, lies, deceit, anger, strife, stress, beat down, tired, foolishness, psychotic, loneliness and emptiness. How many of us relate to any of those words just said? As we turn our attention to I want us to understand the encouragement Jesus gives John in the midst of his isolation. It is one thing to be lively and spirit filled around folks that are spirit filled but it is a completely different animal trying to look alive when you are by yourself. When you are alone mentally, physically, and spiritually. I want us to understand the significance of the spirit of John. John has been exiled to a desolate island by himself. This is, truth be told, the 1 century version of Castaway. What John is experiencing physically is what many of us experience daily mentally and spiritually. Here we are in this sanctuary with over 100 people in and we feel alone. Some of us might have parents in this audience, cousins, friends and enemies and we feel alone. The significance is that although John was isolated he had not been robbed of his spirit. He was still spiritually alive in the midst of a plan in which his oppressors thought he would instantly become discouraged and die.

Verse 10 states, I was in the spirit on the Lord’s day and heard behind me a great voice, as a trumpet. It is interesting to note that in the midst of his isolation is when Jesus called him to do something great. Sometimes Jesus has to wait until you are by yourself to ask you to do something by yourself that is going to change the world. Jesus waits until John is alone and tells him what thou seest, write in a book and send it to the seven churches which are in Asia.

We Have to Start Acting Like Jesus Lives

Why worship in a dead way, with a dead spirit to a savior that lives forever? Jesus essentially repeats himself he tells John that he is the first and the last, I am he that liveth and was dead and behold I am alive for evermore.

There is a lively calling on our life and Jesus is waiting on you. He is making it certain because many times Jesus has repeated himself a number of times to ensure that you know and understand what he wants out of your life.

Not only does Jesus reveal himself but he describes in himself prior to enlisting a command.

I’m the first and the last

I am I alive, even though I was dead

Not only did I die, but I’m not going to die again

So you can count on me.

Not only can you count on me but I have the access. It is one thing for someone to say they can help you but it is a completely different thing to get help from someone who can open the door, walk you right in and ensure that you are used the way that he desires.

How many times have you walked into a place after you were told to come and have to mention someone’s name, your level of stress does not go down until you know that the reference’s name carries weight in that realm.

Jesus is telling John even if you have to stare death in the face, take the leap of faith because no one dies and no one goes to hell unless I say so. We are so afraid of doing things in live that we end up dying on our island of Patmos because we refuse to listen to the man with the access.

Stay Away From Scavengers

Let’s think about John’s situation right now. He’s alone, he is on a foreign land, he’s been exiled from family and friends that he loves the most and guess what? Jesus shows up.

Jesus shows up because he knows Scavengers like haters and especially Satan are roaming looking for people who are isolated based on a terrible mistake or an unappreciative gift.

Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.

Understand lions are not necessarily scavengers by nature but they will not turn down injured prey or dead prey if they need a meal.

Scavengers are animals that feed on dead or injured animals. Scavengers are not usually held in high esteem, but they have a job to do: they clean the earth of organic garbage.

In live you have real scavengers but you also have opportunistic scavengers. They aren’t necessarily a big fan of dead meat but they will not pass up a free meal. They would rather look for something dead than hunt for fresh meat themselves.

We have friends that are like this, folks that tend to show up when you are doing bad, misery loves company remember. They hope you get injured to die so they can devour you.

The interesting thing is scavengers clean the earth of organic garbage and a dead christian is essentially organic garbage. You have nothing to offer the body of Christ until you rely on him to revive you.

Rotten fruit has no use on the branch. Satan’s goal is to get to you before Jesus cuts you off.

Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.

Scavengers are that friend who waits good for you to fail a test to say, “man you failed the test anyway let’s skip class today”.

Scavengers are that friend that waits good until you feel isolated to introduce some new sin in your life.

Scavengers do not love you, they love the fact that you are spiritually injured or spiritually about to die.

tells us what scavengers look like.

David ask God to deliver him from them. This is why we have to look alive, Peter says be alert, be sober, your adversary is waiting for you to look isolated, downtrodden and defeated so he can devour you!

Verse 3 of “For, lo they lie in wait for my soul; The might are gathered against me;

It is interesting to note that typically scavengers are typically gifted animals just like people who embody these traits. They are typically a feared animal. Think about a scavenger people do not house them as pets we typically stay away from them even though they only feed on dead, rotting animals.

Verse 4 essentially begins by David saying, I haven’t done anything wrong yet they are ready to attack me.

Have you ever had someone that just did not like you and you did not know why. Scavenger!

Verse 5 tells us that we do not have to seek revenge on the scavenger because they people will go as low as they need to go to ruin you.

Scavengers not only look for dying and dead people verse five says they return at evening, the type of folks that like to do dirt in the darkness. Scavengers always have something negative to say, “the words from their lips are sharp as swords.

Look alive in front of the folks that are always gossiping.

Even though you are around these people the celebration comes in verse 10. Even in a room full of haters rely on God, and he will let you glow up in front of your enemies. He prepares a table in the presence of thine enemies. When you are alive you do not have to hide from enemies because they do not like the way lively spirited folks taste anyway.

Do wish harm on them, rely on God that he will be your shield and provide an example to the other dead and injured folks when God brings them down in your presence.

You have nothing to be afraid of, but if you are injured, dying or dead you need to ask God to revive you today!