Sermon notes of Pastor Mark Downey

Scripture Reading: Revelation 3:1-6

We are creatures of habit sometimes moreso than creatures of God.  The first thing most people do when they wake up in the morning is to wake up, stretching, yawning and other bodily functions.  Then you shuffle to the kitchen to get a pot of coffee going in order to wake up and smell the coffee, which is also a euphemism used to tell someone that they are wrong about one thing or another and need to pay attention to what is really happening.  I woke up last week to a smoke alarm blipping; there was no fire, it's just that the batteries were low.  It got my attention and I was immediately focused to correct the situation.  Most people wake up to their routines and are not yet focused on what is really happening.  Their only alarm is their alarm clock and you turn it off as it so rudely interrupts a dream you were having.  The body and mind are activated to get out of bed.  But, how long does it take to charge your spiritual batteries?  What if our habitual routine of things were preceded by something completely different.  What if the Holy Spirit took charge right off the battery of life before the demands of body and mind.  This is what is called a paradigm shift, a change from one way of thinking to another.  Let's suppose that the first thing we do, the first minute of waking from sleep, whether laying down or sitting on the edge of your bed, your eyes are open and you contemplate the invisible presence of God and your second thought is that this could be the day that He makes His presence visible.  Quite a profound prospect don't you think?  As a result of the silent meditation, even if it's for one minute, your first contact of the day is with the mind of God, not your own mind.  The paradigm for the rest of the day is that your spiritual batteries are charged and you're ready to face the day with divine insight.