Facing the Crises: Sandy and the Election
The American people once again have been called upon to deal with serious crises. At this time it’s visible on two fronts: the aftermath and devastation of Hurricane Sandy, and then Tuesday’s national elections. It is no exaggeration to say we are dealing with a crisis in both arenas. As always, any effective solution will only be found when people come together, work together, and pull together for a common cause and common good. The world has witnessed the horrific aftermath of the catastrophic storm, but the world is also witnessing the aftermath of mismanagement, uncontrollable federal spending leading to unsustainable debt, limited opportunity, and diminishing resources.
The world will also witness the inspirational effect of people assisting their neighbors. There will be some talk about the importance of political leadership, assistance from FEMA, and the role of the federal government. When these agencies function in a proper manner, it is beautiful to observe, just like road construction under wise oversight not only expanding our travel ways and corridors, but doing it expeditiously and with great focus on the safety of drivers. Although as citizens we may experience some inconvenience and delays, as we observe the significant progress, we can’t help but exclaim, “What a great country we live in!”
Together we look after one another and government agencies provide additional oversight and safety for the people. This clearly illustrates how healthy government and cooperation on the part of the population can work together effectively. I am convinced this will be the case as we help people recover from Sandy’s negative effect and people rebuild to overcome their losses. Expressions of compassion, comfort and assistance (much of it coming from the community of faith) will rebuild people’s lives.
My close friend and pastor of Skyline Wesleyan Church in San Diego, Dr. Jim Garlow, appropriately shared, “The ‘image of God’ on every human results in creativity, followed by productivity and the potential of appropriate prosperity. Succinctly stated, free enterprise (appropriately defined within the framework of Judeo-Christian values) is inherently biblical. Socialism or Marxism is inherently anti-biblical.” The point is that government programs alone are not going to rebuild the east coast or our nation. They don’t have their own funds unless they print it and devalue everything. Creative, productive citizens working together and sharing the financial burden will do the work and they will prosper in the process!
As we assist those who have been so adversely affected by the storm, I pray we learn some important lessons regarding the upcoming election and the direction our nation must go. You will witness all people, races, social levels, and political parties pulling together. This is not only the American way that has enabled us to be the nation admired by the world, but also the biblical way. This is the way Jesus and the Holy Spirit inspire and lead us to work together in meaningful harmony. Please prayerfully and from a position of deep conviction and proven principles vote this coming Tuesday for the best possible candidates. Do not allow personalities, parties, ethnicity, or an inappropriate sectarian discussion mislead your decision. Vote for those you believe are best qualified to help our nation recover from the devastation brought about through unsustainable debt, mismanagement of the people’s funds, damaging regulations, excessive bureaucratic interference, and failure to recognize the importance of biblical morality.
Do not take lightly the position of those who do not place the greatest possible emphasis on the right to life, because if you diminish the most helpless, innocent life (which is in the womb,) you are devaluing the life of every person on the planet. No, you do not base your vote on that one single issue, but if this is of small importance to a candidate or a party, it should cause deep concern. You will find those individuals and even the platforms begin to reflect that basic morality, biblical principles and the belief established in the Constitution are of little importance and everything truly important will be reduced.
Beware of those who ignore moral principles and substitute the natural for that which is unnatural, against nature along with proven historic practices such as marriage between one man and one woman. When you begin to redefine basic morality or totally ignore it, you have literally destroyed the essence of family and the foundation necessary to sustain everything of value. You see this redefining of the natural even in the propaganda of television, like the sitcoms “The New Normal” and “Modern Family,” to say nothing of the soap operas and movies that promote promiscuity and unnatural attraction as the norm. This programming promotes that which destroys real relationships.
Not for a moment am I implying that you should mock, ridicule, or make fun of people who may differ in their practices and beliefs. We must refuse, however, to redefine absolutes. Redefinition will lead to accepting and approving damaging practices such as compulsive, addictive, unrestrained behavior, totally self-serving tendencies of greed and manipulation and out-of-control debt because sound management principles and practices have been cast aside (see Romans 1).
When we address these serious issues in order to be effective in correcting our course, we’re going to have to come together and work toward the best possible solutions. And, yes, everyone is going to have to be willing to sacrifice and do whatever is necessary to rebuild from the foundation up. We cannot discard or diminish the importance of a solid foundation. That’s where we start. We restore the principled foundation and then we begin to build. The national restoration process, just as with Sandy, will be time-consuming and demanding, requiring total commitment and cooperation on the part of the American people.
Of all the people in America, the people of faith should lead the way as the example. Those of us who claim to know God in a personal way and love Him with all our heart must demonstrate the fact that we love our neighbor as ourselves. We’re not only going to help rebuild from the storm, we’re going to help rebuild our nation in the aftermath of decades of unhealthy, unprincipled decisions, policies and practices. We can do it! Just as the rebuilding is underway on the east coast, may next week – whatever the outcome of the election – find the American people more determined than ever to restore and rebuild this great nation “under God, indivisible.”
This article was written by James Robison
4 comments:
My Dear Brother James,
I am compelled to compose this specific comment to you personally and I am deeply prayerful that the Spirit of our Lord Jesus Christ will edify you by his grace. It will be up to your discretion to post this particular comment or not. Though we have not met face to face, I have a Godly respect and love for you as a servant of our Lord Jesus. I believe in your ministry and see how you have been used to be a blessing to millions of suffering people. God has brought you a long way from a child who was not initially wanted. You were spared for such a time as this. My heart’s desire is to witness a greater outpouring of the revelation of Jesus Christ in your life and that your ministry will continue to bring the grace of God to those in spiritual darkness and human distress. If I can ever be of service to you, do not hesitate to contact me.
The comment that is upon my heart at this time is in reference to the spiritual condition of this nation. I am moved by your statement in the last sentence of this post. You write “Of all the people in America, the people of faith should lead the way as the example. Those of us who claim to know God in a personal way and love Him with all our heart must demonstrate the fact that we love our neighbor as ourselves. We’re not only going to help rebuild from the storm, we’re going to help rebuild our nation in the aftermath of decades of unhealthy, unprincipled decisions, policies and practices. We can do it! Just as the rebuilding is underway on the east coast, may next week – whatever the outcome of the election – find the American people more determined than ever to restore and rebuild this great nation “under God, indivisible.””
I want to begin by acknowledging your unwavering faith and commitment to manifesting the love and compassion of Jesus Christ and in addition remaining fearless to speak boldly the word of God in the face of such controversy and opposition. The scripture says “give honor to who honor is due” and you certainly should be honored for your endurance for the sake of demonstrating the love of God. Upon that premise, I desire that you be encouraged to remain faithful to your calling in the grace of Jesus Christ without fear or discouragement.
I will remind you of the spiritual warriors of the book of Acts who stood fearless in the love of Christ as they were constantly challenged by Satan and the earthly adversaries under his influence. I like to refer to those warriors as Jesus preachers. You are familiar with Acts 4 where “When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus.” Yes, Jesus Preachers. Jesus said “If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when he comes in his Father’s glory with the holy angels.” The early warriors of the cross were not ashamed to be identified with Jesus Christ, his teachings, and his revelations. They remained steadfast after receiving the Holy Spirit and “turned the world upside down.”
In Acts 2 when the great revival and spiritual awakening erupted on the day of Pentecost, immediately Peter went straight to the prophecy of Joel, reminded them that Jesus was approved of God and was put to death by wicked men, that Christ was raised from the dead, and they preached repentance in the name of Jesus Christ and warned them to save themselves from the corrupt generation at that time. The message was with love and compassion yet, with boldness in the face of a corrupt city and its leaders who were deceived and twisted up in divisive politics and religious hypocrisy. Nevertheless, they preached Jesus Christ.
In Acts 3 we find Peter giving praise to Jesus Christ in the presence of the onlookers for healing the beggar at the gate. He once again spoke fearlessly in reference to Jesus being killed and disowned by the political and religious leaders, choosing rather the murderer Barabbas, and preached the message of repentance.
Acts 4 provides us the account of Peter and John causing a disruption among the religious and political leaders for proclaiming the resurrection of Jesus Christ. They preached that Jesus was rejected by the builders, was made the capstone, salvation does not exist but by the name of Jesus Christ, and they were threatened to not speak in his name again. While praying they spoke of how the Roman politics of Herod and Pilate conspired with the religious hypocrisy of the people of Israel to murder the holy servant Jesus. The Jesus preachers unashamedly prayed that Jesus Christ would enable them to speak boldly the word of the Lord and perform more signs and wonders through Jesus. Before the chapter concludes they were flogged and ordered not to teach in the name of Jesus Christ.
Acts 5 gives us a clear picture of the prophecy of Jesus Christ being fulfilled in the ministries of the Jesus Preachers. The sick were healed and many signs and wonders occurred. This caused anger and jealousy among the religious leaders in so much they had the Apostles thrown in jail and gave them strict orders to not preach and teach in the name of Jesus Christ. They were once again flogged and rejoiced because they had been counted worthy to suffer for the name of Jesus Christ. The Jesus Preachers continued to go from temple court to temple court and from house to house proclaiming the good news that Jesus was the Messiah.
Acts 6 leads us to another Jesus Preacher named Stephen. The power of the Holy Spirit was with him and it stirred up the carnal politics of the church fathers who had embraced the Greek language and culture, resulting in false accusations brought against Stephen. They feared his Jesus preaching was going to dismantle there cozy religious and political denomination when the heard him speak against the holy place and the law. With Holy Spirit boldness and love Stephen gave them a history lesson beginning with Abraham all the way down to Solomon and then revealed the prophetic emphasis on the scriptures of how it was all pointing to Jesus Christ. He angered them by preaching that the Most High does not dwell in temples made by human hands and exposed their stiff-necked and uncircumcised condition of their hearts and ears. While being stoned, this Jesus Preacher looked up and saw Jesus Christ and prayed that the sin of the people would not be held against them.
Time would fail me my precious Brother to continue. But we find in Acts 9 the high and mighty religious Pharisee named Saul of Tarsus had his world turned upside down when he met Jesus Christ. From that conversion he became the most powerful and influential Jesus Preacher of them all. The early Jesus Preachers were brought before all manner of kings and political leaders and were hated by the religious hypocrites. They fearlessly preached the revelation of Jesus Christ, his deity, his death, his burial, and his resurrection. They preached that every scripture and type and shadow of the old covenant was prophetic of the coming Messiah who would be the very word made flesh and all the works of man would fade away in light of the glory and majesty of Jesus Christ.
Acts 28 is one of the most beautiful settings in scripture my Brother. Here is Paul, a servant and prisoner of Jesus Christ, as he often refered to himself, in Rome, the most powerful religious and political arena in history. Paul makes that most precious and immortal statement as he stood face to face with his opponents “It is because of the hope of Israel that I am bound with this chain.” O my brother James, these were genuine Jesus Preachers. He then concludes with a message that is fulfilled in our time, our age, and our season.
“The Holy Spirit spoke the truth to your ancestors when he said through Isaiah the prophet: Go to this people and say, you will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing but never perceiving. “For this people’s heart has become calloused; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts and turn, and I would heal them. Therefore I want you to know that God’s salvation has been sent to the Gentiles, and they will listen!” For two whole years Paul stayed there in his own rented house and welcomed all who came to see him. He proclaimed the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ—with all boldness and without hindrance!”
My dear Brother James in Christ Jesus, we are standing in the supernatural presence of Jesus Christ and in the same prophetic place Paul stood hundreds of years ago. Remember, the word of God, which is the testimony of Jesus Christ, which is the spirit of prophecy, continues to unveil itself from generation to generation and from age to age. “Jesus Christ (who is the word) is the same yesterday, and today, and forever.” For nearly 2000 years the above prophecy has been unfolding itself in the nations and people of the Gentiles or non-Jewish people. The revelation of Jesus Christ was rejected by the Jewish fathers and has been preached to the non-Jewish people of every tribe, kindred, tongue, and nation. Here we are. We are standing on the threshold of the most climatic fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophecy. The last great awakening in the Bride of Jesus Christ among the Gentiles is ready to be manifested. However, the conclusion of the prophecy of Isaiah reads like this in light of current prophecy;
“The Holy Spirit spoke the truth to your ancestors when he said through Isaiah the prophet: Go to this people (the Gentiles) and say, you will be ever hearing but never understanding. You will be ever seeing but never perceiving”For this people’s heart (the Gentiles) has become calloused; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts and turn, and I would heal them. Therefore I want you to know that God’s salvation has been sent to Israel, and they will listen!”
As God turned from the Jews because of their stiff-necked and rebellious ways and brought his revelation of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles, so will God finish his ministry among the Gentile Bride, turn from the stiff-necked and rebellious Gentiles and go back to the Jews. We find this in Revelation 7 when 144, 000 predestinated Jews from the twelve tribes of Israel receive their revival and are sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise just like the Gentile Bride has been. The same Jesus the Jews rejected in Jerusalem will be revealed to them and Zechariah wrote “And one will say unto him, what are these wounds in your hands? He will answer those with which I was wounded in the house of my friends. Awake, O sword, against my shepherd, and against the man that is my fellow, says the LORD of hosts: smite the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered: and I will turn mine hand upon the little ones. And it will come to pass, that in all the land, says the LORD, two parts therein shall be cut off and die; but the third shall be left therein.
And I will bring the third part (144,000) through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried: they will call on my name (Jesus Christ), and I will hear them: I will say, It is my people: and they will say, The LORD (JESUS CHRIST) is my God. And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and supplication. They will look on me (by revelation, not religion or politics) the one they have pierced (Jesus Christ), and they will mourn for him as one mourns for an only child, and grieve bitterly for him as one grieves for a firstborn son.”
Brother James, before our Creator and in the Spirit of Jesus Christ and his word, I encourage you to stand firm in the unfailing word of promise. This election has not diminished the revelation of Jesus Christ by one jot or one tittle. As you wrote “Of all the people in America, the people of faith (the Bride of Jesus Christ) should lead the way as the example. Those of us who claim to know God in a personal way and love Him with all our heart must demonstrate the fact that we love our neighbor as ourselves (and love one another as he loved us). We’re not only going to help rebuild from the storm, we’re going to help rebuild our nation in the aftermath of decades of unhealthy, unprincipled decisions, policies and practices. We can do it! Just as the rebuilding is underway on the east coast, may next week – whatever the outcome of the election – find the American people more determined than ever to restore and rebuild this great nation “under God, indivisible.”
The only nation throughout history and prophecy which will be restored to the revelation of Jesus Christ is the one Peter wrote about. He said “But you are a chosen people (this applies to both Jew and Gentile and the word chosen tells us it is God who does the choosing), a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him (Jesus Christ) who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.” My Brother James, not all Jews are Israel and in like manner not all Gentiles make up the Bride of Jesus Christ. But the Lord knows them that are his…and his sheep know his voice and a stranger they will not follow. No earthly Jewish king and no earthly Gentile leader will be used to restore a nation to righteousness. The prophecy of scripture does not support such an event. Only the King of Glory, Jesus Christ, can right the wrongs, make the crooked places straight, and exalt the low places.
When the political and religious condition of Sodom and Gomorrah had reached the place of sanctioned sexual perversion and a complete disregard for the Creator, God sent his messengers into those cities and pulled out Lot and his family and destroyed those cities. However, Abraham and Sarah never went to those perverse cities, but were visited by the Lord himself (the Spirit in human flesh, a theophany) and received a supernatural change in their bodies in order to receive the promised son, Isaac. In like manner, God has his messengers who are pulling righteous people like Lot and his family out of the political and religious perversions of our generation and at the same time, the seed of Abraham, the Bride of Christ, according to the promise, are communing with the word made flesh, by the Holy Spirit, and receiving a supernatural change to receive the promised son, Jesus Christ. The types, shadows, and prophecies are perfect. The judgments of prophecy are hanging over this nation. It is ripe for the harvest and ready for destruction. Let us be as Noah; “By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in holy fear built an ark to save his family. By his faith he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness that comes by faith.” The ark today is Jesus Christ.
I invite you my Brother to stand with me, and I with you, and us with the other Jesus Preachers and go forth to bring Jesus Christ to whosoever will. The same Holy Spirit who lived in the Apostles in the first age is the same Holy Spirit in us today. The same Jesus they preached then is the same Jesus we preach today. Those warriors of Christ did not change nations and political and religious hypocrites in their time, but brought deliverance to those ordained to eternal life. We can only follow in their footsteps.
May you and I stand as Paul and Barnabas and shine the light of the glorious Gospel of Jesus Christ to a dying and suffering world. Let us be counted as Jesus Preachers. There is one holy nation under Jesus Christ, who is the head of the church, his Bride, and they are indivisible. I have delivered my soul, my Brother James. I love you by the grace of God and my prayers are with you. Until we meet…
The Apostle Paul wrote in Galatians 6 “Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap.” The initial emphasis of that verse is ‘God is not mocked.’
Mankind mocks the God of creation and the Bible every time he assumes he can disregard God’s divine precepts and admonitions and still succeed and prosper. God is mocked each time a politician solicits God to Bless America and ignores the fundamentals of the 10 Commandments and the Sermon on the Mount and continues to follow his own path that seems right.
Jesus said “I am the way, the truth, and the life.” God is mocked each time promises of peace and prosperity are propagated and the Prince of Peace and the fountain of all divine treasure is set aside. Jesus said “Except you believe that I am he, you will die in your sins.” God is mocked every time sin is justified and excused by human philosophy, peoples rights, and political agendas.
What was Jesus saying when he said “Except you believe that I am he…? He was very clear and explicit when he stated “Search the scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life, but those scriptures testify of me.” So, who is he? He is the supreme revelation and manifestation of the infallible word made flesh. He is the fullness of the “I am that I am” veiled in human form. Jesus Christ is the very embodiment of deity whose divine attributes are revealed as Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, and The Prince of Peace.” God is mocked each time the grace and truth of these revelations are shoved aside and man seeks to do that which is right in his own eyes.
Yes we are facing a crisis. Since the fall of Adam of Eve humanity has faced crisis after crisis. The crisis is a continual desire to disobey the peaceable and prosperous will of God by sin and transgression. Hurricanes, earthquakes, pestilence, wars, disease, tornadoes, destructive fires, and death did not exist before Eve chose to believe the lie of the serpent and Adam chose to listen to the voice of his wife. However, there is a solution and a divine remedy.
Jesus said “I have come that you might have life, and life more abundantly.” However, God is mocked each time the remedy is ignored. Read the following words of Jesus carefully from Luke 13:
“There were present at that season some that told him of the Galilaeans, whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. And Jesus answering said to them, Do you suppose that these Galilaeans were sinners above all the Galilaeans, because they suffered such things? I tell you, No: but, except ye repent, you will all likewise perish. Or those eighteen, upon whom the tower in Siloam fell, and killed them, do you think that they were sinners above all men that lived in Jerusalem? I tell you, No: but, except you repent, you will all likewise perish.”
Jesus Christ would say in this season: “Or the hurricane that struck the east coast, Do you think that those Americans are sinners above all the American sinners? I tell you, No: but, except you repent, you will all likewise perish…O America, America, which ignores the prophets, and blasphemes them that are sent unto you; how often would I have gathered your children together, as a hen does gather her brood under her wings, and you would not! Behold, your house is left unto you desolate: and verily I say unto you, Ye will not see me, until the time come when you will say, Blessed is he that comes in the name of the Lord.”
The only remedy to any national, physical, or spiritual crisis is to repent of disobedience and begin to sow the seeds of grace, truth, righteousness, and love which comes by Jesus Christ. As our Brother James has stated “The American people once again have been called upon to deal with serious crises. At this time it’s visible on two fronts: the aftermath and devastation of Hurricane Sandy, and then Tuesday’s national elections. It is no exaggeration to say we are dealing with a crisis in both arenas. As always, any effective solution will only be found when people come together, work together, and pull together for a common cause and common good. The world has witnessed the horrific aftermath of the catastrophic storm, but the world is also witnessing the aftermath of mismanagement, uncontrollable federal spending leading to unsustainable debt, limited opportunity, and diminishing resources.”
In Matthew 24 Jesus spoke about many crisis’ which would come upon the earth and the spiritual condition of humanity during the crisis’. He said “Take heed that no man deceive you. For many will come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and will deceive many. And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars: see that you be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there will be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers (various) places. All these are the beginning of sorrows.”
The first crisis he pinpoints is deception. Deception has been and always will be the bottomless pit from which all crisis and chaos originates. The first deception in the heavens by Lucifer, as he deceived a third of the angels, resulted in a war as he was cast out of the presence of God. The deception and lie in the Garden from the serpent resulted in Adam and Eve facing the crisis of sorrow and death and the first murder as Cain killed Abel. All throughout history, in every nation, country, and generation, the prophecy of Jesus, in reference to deception, will be discovered and pronounced. He continues to explain why.
“For many (notice, many, the majority) will come in my name, saying, I am Christ, and will deceive many (the majority).” Notice the text and the context of his “name, saying, I am Christ.” His name is synonymous with his spirit, nature, and his character. Thus the meaning of “I am Christ.” They are not saying they are ‘Jesus’, but “I am Christ.” The expression ‘Christ’ gives us the emphasis of a messiah, an anointed one, who comes bearing promises of truth, peace, blessings, unity, and prosperity. Every king, monarch, president, and religious leader under the influence of Satan’s deception comes with a message of the aforementioned characteristics. And, each time such a message is delivered, crisis and sorrows erupt. Why?
The Spirit of God prophecies in II Peter “They promise a message of freedom, blessings, and prosperity, but they themselves are slaves of depravity, sin and corruption. For you are a slave to whatever controls you.” There is no truth in them and the prophetic signs of their deception are the fruits of the tree. Jesus said “You will know a tree by the fruit it bears.” Their fruit is deception, greed, war, power, manipulation, lies, destruction, murder, and rebellion and in essence, blasphemes The true Messiah of truth and blessings, Jesus Christ, the word made flesh.
His prophecy and his interpretation foretells the results of deception; “wars and rumors of wars, nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there will be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places. All these are the beginning of sorrows.” Every crisis, conflict, and catastrophic event is a reminder of his prophecies in Matthew. All of these sorrows are leading up to and initiating the events pointing toward the end of the world.
The peace, blessings, prosperity, and healing every leader promises and searches for can only be found in Jesus Christ and his Gospel. However, if you listen carefully by the Holy Spirit, their message makes promises not founded upon the Apostles and Prophets with Jesus Christ as the Chief Cornerstone. Notice carefully, DO NOT BE DECEIVED, as the leaders of every nation promise success, peace, and prosperity what has the result been? Sorrows and crisis each and every time. It is Thus Saith The Lord God by the Holy Spirit and the infallible revelation of Jesus Christ, our age and generation of wolves in sheep’s clothing, false messiahs, both political and religious, bearing promises of truth and peace, will continue to bring the fruit of destruction and sorrows upon the nations of the world. Godly sorrow and repentance is the only solution.
“Now, brothers, about times and dates we do not need to write to you, for you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night (the light shines in darkness, and the darkness does not see it). While people (deceptive leaders falsely propagating truth) are saying, “Peace and safety,” destruction (crisis, sorrows) will come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.
But you, brothers, are not in darkness (deception) so that this day should surprise you like a thief. You are all sons of the light and sons of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness (deception and lies). So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep (deceived), but let us be alert and self-controlled (oil in our vessels and fighting the good fight of faith). For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, get drunk at night (drunk with the deceptive cares of this world, political and religious). But since we belong to the day (light), let us be self-controlled, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet. For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath (divine judgment) but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep (alive or dead), we may live together with him. Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.”