If we are asleep in the light, Dr. Ronald Holmes’ message to First Timothy Baptist Church for Wednesday Night Bible Study on April 17 is to “Wake up Everybody.” The title of the message came from a songwriter named Keith Green who released the song in the late 1970’s. Green’s song was a wakeup call to the church for being so apathetic in reaching lost people and helping humanity, said Holmes.  The lesson focused on (1) wake from apathy, (2) put on the spiritual armor, and (3) encourage one another. Utilizing the book Beyond the Sunday Sermon, the following provides the message titled Asleep in the Light: Wake Up Everybody.

Dr. Holmes said the Lord is still calling his church to wake from apathy. Apathy is when you lack interest or concern about a specific situation and don’t care about what is going on around you. We must get out of the rut of being self-centered and take on the mentality of being “all for one and one for all.” We must wake from apathy. For instance, the bible says in 1 Thessalonians 5:5, “Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness.” “Ye are the light of the world” (Matthew 5:14). Therefore, we must let our light so shine before men that they may see our good works and glorify our Father in heaven.

In point two, Dr. Holmes said we must put on the spiritual amor of God when we wake from apathy. In Ephesians 6: 11-18, Paul writes about spiritual warfare. He mentions six pieces of spiritual armor to “stand against the wiles of the devil.” They include (1) the belt of truth, (2) the breastplate of righteousness, (3) the shoes of the gospel of peace, (4) the shield of faith, (5) the helmet of salvation and (6) the sword of the Spirit which is the word of God. In the message, Dr. Holmes emphasized the breastplate and the helmet. He said, “The breastplate protects your heart, and the helmet protects your mind.” “For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Thessalonians 5:9).  In other words, God does not want us to be angry in the midst of a storm or tribulation. He does not want us to be spiritually asleep. He wants us to wake up and put on the spiritual amor so we can “stand firm against the tactics of the devil” (Ephesians 6: 11).

For point three, Dr. Holmes said we must encourage one another. The bible says in 1 Thessalonians 5: 11, “Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even also ye do.” In this world, everybody struggles with something; so everybody needs to be encouraged during trials and tribulations. In fact, sometimes we need encouragement that God will be a father, mother, healer, counselor, lawyer, doctor and problem solver for us in time of need. We must be thankful when we are blessed. We can’t take the credit when God blesses us. Rather, we must wake from apathy and bless the Lord at all times (Psalm 34:1); for trouble will come in our lives; and when it comes, Jesus says let not your heart be troubled (John 14:1). Jesus says “be of good cheer” because he has overcome the world (John 16:33). Jesus also says, “Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need” (Hebrews 4:16).

Wednesday’s bible study lesson on May 22 at 7:00p.m. – 8:00p.m. (EST) is, “Faithfulness Until the End” from the book, Beyond the Sunday Sermon. The book can be purchased online from Amazon.com. To virtually attend the bible study, go to the First Timothy Baptist Church’s website, YouTube or Facebook.

Dr. Ronald Holmes is the author of 27 books and publisher of “The Holmes Education Post,” an education focused Internet newspaper. His books for children cover topics on the coronavirus, solar system, flowers, careers and school bullying.  His books for adults focus on religion, relationships, hazing, workplace bullying, bipolar disorders, issues in education and completing the dissertation.