Reset - Wake Up The Saint

Reset Pastor Lila Clay (Ephesians 5:14b-18, ESV), Therefore it says,“Awake, O sleeper,and arise from the dead,and Christ will shine on you.15 Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, 16 making the best use of the time, because the days are evil.” I think of the words in the song “Even So Come”. The line says, “Call back the sinner, wake up the saint.” Isn’t it interesting that we have to wake up the saint? Yet sometimes we do. Sometimes if we are honest with ourselves, we know there are seasons in our life when we the Lord has to say, hey, wake up. We just drift a little to the left or the right. And we are not alone. Lately it seems like a bunch of saints need a wake-up call. Truly the days are evil. Lawlessness abounds. The love of many has grown cold. All signs of the end of days. I sense the Lord wants to prepare us for something. He wants to wake us up and for us to reset. Do you know what it means to reset? Well on computer equipment, printers and even some household components now stop working right because the program has gotten corrupted. It can be a minor thing but it keeps it from working right. Who knows what happens, either it gets a virus, or the program is just faulty from an update, not enough storage?Whatever causes it when this happens, you either pull out a service manual or call customer service for a tech rep to fix it. Occasionally the rep tells you to reset it. When you do it returns the program restores to its factory default. It goes back to how it was originally programmed and it just fixes everything. Now I want you to think about this in your personal life. God is the ultimate reset. Think about how in Genesis when Adam and Eve sinned, God immediately began His work to restore everything to its original settings. This is because of His great love for us. Yet some people resist God’s course corrections. They interpret God’s correction as punishment and not kindness. Yet… (Romans 2:4, NLT) Don’t you see how wonderfully kind, tolerant, and patient God is with you? Does this mean nothing to you? Can’t you see that his kindness is intended to turn you from your sin? Remember God only corrects those he loves.(Hebrews 12:6, NLT)For the LORD disciplines those he loves, and he punishes each one he accepts as his child.” If we belong to Him, then he will instruct us and correct us. God has given us the ability to hit a reset button in our spiritual lives, but in order for us to reset we need to let God’s Spirit guide us in the process, much like we would call customer service to get a representative to help us troubleshoot the problem. Afterall this is why God’s Holy Spirit came into the world to teach and remind us of the truth. (John 14:26, ESV)But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you. The Holy Spirit is God’s customer service rep, the scripture is our instruction manual. Since must sins begin in our thought process, in our attitudes and minds, we should begin there to seek God’s help. Pray and ask God to send His Holy Spirit to change your thoughts, when in doubt rely on your instruction manual, the word of God, for understanding of what the Spirit is saying to you. If we are going to be changed by the renewing of our thoughts. (Romans 12:2, ESV)Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. 1. Examine Yourself: Then you need to ask the Holy Spirit to highlight those areas in your life that have been corrupted and need a reset. (Romans 8:5, ESV) For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. a. Ask yourself: Where is my focus? Is it on eternal things or spiritual things? ▪ (Romans 8:6-7, ESV)For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace.For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God’s law; indeed, it cannot. b. Ask yourself: Does this focus or thought process bring me peace? ▪ (Romans 8:8, ESV)Those who are in the flesh cannot please God. c. Ask yourself: Am I being controlled by my passions, desires, my flesh? d. Ask yourself: Am I trying to please God or am I trying to please myself and others? ▪ (Psalm 18:21, ESV)Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits. e. Ask yourself: Are my words and thoughts centered on life or death? 2. Once you have examined your thoughts. Let the Lord correct you. DO NOT RESIST OR GRIEVE THE SPIRIT. Allow the Holy Spirit to deal honestly with you about what needs to change and needs to be reset. ▪ (Colossians 3:1-3, ESV)If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. ▪ (Galatians 6:8, ESV)For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. 3. How do you hit the Reset button? ▪ (Joel 2:12, ESV) "Yet even now," declares the LORD, "return to me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning; 13 and rend your hearts and not your garments." Return to the LORD your God, for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love; and he relents over disaster. ▪ (Joel 2:12, MSG) But there's also this, it's not too late - God's personal Message! - "Come back to me and really mean it! Come fasting and weeping, sorry for your sins!" 13 Change your life, not just your clothes. Come back to God, your God. And here's why: God is kind and merciful. He takes a deep breath, puts up with a lot, this most patient God, extravagant in love, always ready to cancel catastrophe. – It is never too late to reset. If you are still breathing you can hit the reset button with God now. I was told by the Spirit of God that we were to do Communion apparently this ordinance established by Jesus himself is a way to hit the reset button. Before we do I am supposed to read something. “Write this down, proclaim it to My church…” “The mission of this church is to glorify Me and to teach My truths in all it does and says, from the least to the greatest, regardless of age. I have called each of you here because of how I created you with your gifting, talents and desire to follow Me. The war you battle is within your own minds and hearts, against the lies of My enemy, Satan. Come, now, My children, stand together in this battle for My Kingdom here in Nacogdoches. Do you not know that what you do here builds My Kingdom throughout the world? Now quit bickering, quit picking up offenses that were never there and stand together for Me. I am coming soon; you must be ready.”