Those Spiritually Dead

Those spiritually dead live "according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience" (Ephesians 2:2). We were spiritually dead not believing the gospel of Christ. We were spiritually dead living by the spirit of disobedience. Our lifestyle was according to this present evil world. That's when we had no relationship with God.

Those spiritually dead are without a personal relationship with God in Christ. We were physically alive, but spiritually dead. The word dead means separated. Those spiritually dead are separated from God through sin. "And He made you alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins" (Ephesians 2:1).

Those spiritually dead come to new life through faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. "But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ" (Ephesians 2:4-5). Our new life comes by God's love and mercy in Christ. Because he lives, we are spiritually alive to God. Christ is our new life.

What did we do to deserve new life with God? The answer is nothing. It's because God was rich in mercy toward us. It was God's mercy and grace in Christ alone. You were spiritually dead, but now "by grace you have been saved" (Ephesians 2:5). By grace through faith in Christ, believers are spiritually alive to God with new life.

Confidence In God

Faith is trust and confidence in God. Confidence in God is a sure foundation in life. The word confidence means with faith. It's not self-confidence, but faith in God. "For the LORD will be your confidence"(Proverbs 3:26). 

Faith is always confidence in God. Faith in God helps in every situation of life. Faith as confidence in God brings practical results. "When you lie down, you will not be afraid; yes, you will lie down and your sleep will be sweet"(Proverbs 3:24). Be confident with faith in God to conquer all your fears and worries. Self-confidence may easily be defeated in the face of fear. Have faith in God as your confidence.

When you are afraid in any situation, turn your thoughts toward God. Remember that God is with you everywhere and all the time. Have faith in God's presence as your confidence. You may become afraid when your confidence is in yourself or anyone else, other than God Himself. He cannot fail. He must prevail. Have faith in God's ability and power.

Faith is sure confidence in God. It's not how much faith you have, but it's the focus of your faith. Faith focused upon God's word of promise in the Bible cannot fail, simply because God cannot fail. Faith is confident that God will do what he has promised.

When God Awakens You

Therefore He says, 'Awake you who sleep, arise from the dead, and Christ shall give you light (Ephesians 5:14). When God awakens you from spiritual death, it's unto new life in Christ. It is new life, which is abundant and eternal (John 10:10; Romans 6:23). God awakens you to faith in Christ from the darkness of spiritual death, unto the light of new life.

And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins (Ephesians 2:1). God awakens you from spiritual death unto new life through faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. The same Holy Spirit, who raised Jesus from the dead, raises you from spiritual death to be spiritually alive to God.

We were spiritually dead without the grace of Christ. God awakens you by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone (Ephesians 2:1, 8-10). We are God's workmanship created anew in our Lord Jesus Christ.

God's grace awakens us through repentance and faith in Christ. It is the goodness of God that leads us to repentance (Romans 2:4). For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God (Ephesians 2:8). Grace is the gift of God, giving you faith to trust Christ. God's grace awakens the spiritually dead to new life in Christ.

The Ministry of Spurgeon

Charles H. Spurgeon said, "In many places dedicated to the Lord, the name of Jesus is too often kept in the background. The Holy Spirit is almost entirely neglected, and very little is said concerning His sacred influence. . . . May God send us a Christ-exalting, Spirit-loving ministry." 

Spurgeon understood full well that our ministry is to exalt Jesus Christ. Yet, Spurgeon warned that the Holy Spirit is almost entirely neglected. He realized that preaching the gospel without the power of the Holy Spirit is vain and empty. Therefore, his ministry both exalted Jesus and depended upon the Holy Spirit to give the results. 

Christ was exalted on the Day of Pentecost. The Holy Spirit worked in the hearts of people. The promise of the Father was fulfilled just as Jesus had spoken (Acts 1:8). The Holy Spirit came with great power to exalt Jesus as Lord. The Holy Spirit was sent to draw people to Jesus. Three thousand repented and received Jesus Christ that very day. They were filled with the Holy Spirit to exalt Jesus Christ as Lord.

Spurgeon understood that the effectiveness of our ministry is totally dependent upon the power of the Holy Spirit. Yet, his primary focus was upon preaching the Lord Jesus Christ. The reason for that is simple. Spurgeon knew that the Holy Spirit's ministry is effective through us, when we focus on the Lord Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 12:3).