Hey guys,
Thanks for all of your awesome comments on our “Monster” devotional last week! I really enjoyed reading them, and congrats to our contest winner, Don, who got the signed Skillet poster. We’ve got more to give away, and another study this week from Skillet- inspired by their song “Awake And Alive.” Check it out below and post your thoughts in the comments section to be entered for another chance at winning this.
AWAKE AND ALIVE
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“When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.” – Acts 2:1-4
Peter had been staying in a rented house in Jerusalem with the other disciples after Jesus’ crucifixion. Part of it was fear; if they killed Jesus, they might kill his followers too. But he was also devastated. His messiah, his long-awaited savior was dead.
The questions were swirling through Peter’s head: Was he wrong to trust in Jesus? Didn’t Jesus promise a better life? What was going to happen to him now?
Peter probably thought about going back to his family’s fishing business. It had been several years since he walked away from those familiar boats and nets; surely his father would welcome him back. Maybe he shouldn’t have left in the first place.
In fact, Peter wouldn’t have stayed in this house at all if Jesus hadn’t asked them to wait. He was fulfilling the request of his beloved teacher, but he was waiting for who knows what.
When we’re walking with God and can sense his presence, it’s easy to live the Christian life. Our hope is alive and our fears are vanquished. But when we go through dark times, we start wondering where God is. We begin doubting our faith. Suddenly, the life we abandoned for Jesus starts to look a whole lot more attractive, and we’re tempted to go back where we started.
But if we did this, we would miss out on a crucial part of following Jesus – experiencing the spirit of God. One of Jesus’ greatest promises to us was that we would never be alone. And because of the Holy Spirit, we never have to be.
After 40 days of waiting in the upper room, the disciples were overtaken by a mighty rushing wind. In one, sweeping force, the disciples were filled with the spirit of God. It was a sign of their genuine faith in Jesus. And suddenly, instantly, they awakened to the truth of everything that Jesus had taught them. Their eyes were opened, and their lives were never going to be the same.
At this time, the Jewish people were celebrating the feast of Pentecost in Jerusalem. The story says that people were gathered together from every nation under Heaven. So when they heard the violent wind, they circled around the house to see what was going on.
Once afraid and doubtful, Peter now stood in front of the crowd awakened and alive. This was his moment. This was his time. He spoke passionately and courageously about how Jesus came to save them from their sins. He insisted that they repent from their ways and trust in Jesus so they could find forgiveness as well.
A Christian life without the spirit of God is dead. But when the Holy Spirit fills us, we know what we believe. We stand strong for our convictions and speak truth at every opportunity. The spirit banishes fear and doubt, and we sense God’s presence inside us.
The good news is that this gift is available to all of us who believe in Jesus.
As Peter said to the crowd, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”
I have recently gone through a period of time where I was not living for God at all. Outwardly, I seemed to be, but inwardly, I was further from God than I had ever been. I've been attending a worship/prayer service at my church for the last four or five months. Shortly after I began attending, God began to speak to me and show me what was necessary for me to come back to Him. It's been a tough stretch, but I realized that life is a waste when God is not my focus. Since my focus has shifted back to God, I have a joy that I can't explain aside from it being from God. God is good all of the time! My circumstances, good or bad, don't matter one bit!
Thanks for the studies. I have recently been hired as our Youth Director and would love to use your studies for the youth. Thanks and God Bless You and your music.
I'm taking a whole class on Acts right now at my University, and it's been fascinating. So this post kind of immediately caught my attention. Also, yesterday I started having a conversation with a guy at school who I don't know that well. We got talking about what it's like to live your faith in the world, whether here or in other countries. And one thing that came up over and over was how apathetic, how asleep, American Christians are. He was saying that maybe that would be good incentive to go overseas and live as a missionary there, where you could live out your faith awake. But that's not what I personally am called to. I feel like I need to stay here, waking people up by letting Christ's light shine through me. We are so very apathetic so often, as believers, when what God has done should prompt us to risk everything. I want to do that. I want to risk everything to wake up the world. So this song has been on my mind, and this devotional brought it back. It's so cool how Peter stands up and bravely proclaims what he believes... it's amazing, what God can do in our hearts when we let Him wake us up.
Love the song and the study. Great to tie these songs and their inspiration together when leading worship or teaching in youth groups. Thanks for sharing!
Thank you very much. I had no idea they made Skillet bible studies. God has been doing a lot in my life, and I pray that I continue to keep the worship and glory of God the fuel and goal of all that I do. For if I am not living for Christ, I'm not really living at all. I am giving Him all that I am, that He may use me as He wills. I pray that you all do the same.
I don't think that Peter was scared at that time, cause he had already seen Jesus come back from the dead and ascend into heaven. He was very scared when they arrested Jesus, and for the 3 days that he was dead, but after he came back, he was excited. I think that Peter more came Awake when Jesus came back, bit he came Alive when the Holy Spirit came upon him. Either way, SKILLET ROCKS!!!!! Not only because of HOW they perform, but also WHAT they perform!
Thanks for the studies! I enjough them alot ecspeically since it has to do with Skillet!
Wow. No words can express the connection I have with this bible study. I've been feeling lost for the past couple months, and considering going back to my old life. Everything around me has been falling apart, and I felt like God had left me. But now I realize he never will, and he'll always be with me.
Thanks for the study! I'm sure if someone who read this was in a dark place it would most certainly help them! :)
Jesus told the disciples He would pray the Father and He would send them another Comforter. When the evidence of the Holy Spirit came it empowered Peter to boldly proclaim the Gospel. I think sometimes people don't know Christ is alive, or is more than a story in the Bible. God says in His Word that if you seek Him with all your heart you will find Him. (Deuteronomy 4:29, Jeremiah 29:13) So the ordinary person can experience the truth of His Word. We can have this same type of evidence happen to us so we will know that Jesus lives and we can boldly proclaim the Gospel ourselves. If you don't know how to seek Him just talk to Him, or read the Word, John 1:1 says "the Word was God", so if the Word is God then pray to Him and read about Him and let Him reveal Himself to you. It might be a dream, vision or maybe He will speak to you it dosen't matter how it will happen. What matters is that it will happen, and once it does nothing can take that experience away from you. Then you will be "Awake" to this knowledge, and help others find out Jesus Christ is "Alive".
I have had those times of wanting to return to the state I was in before knowing Jesus, but thank God I haven't returned to that place. It is in those times that I try to focus on God and Jesus the best way I can. I have been writing skits and plays, drawing on my experience from high school, since coming to Christ and throught the Holy Spirit, have been able to perform them for members of my church as well. Daily I am thankful for what the Lord has done for me. Thank you as well for these studies.
"The good news is that this gift is available to all of us who believe in Jesus." And everyone is invited to receive that gift, no matter who they are. That's part of what makes Christianity so great. All are invited. Love the studies. Skillet rocks my face off!!
I can definitely relate to how Peter felt. Without the Spirit of God it's impossible to stand up for what we believe in with full conviction. We simply cannot do it on our own. He gives us the strength and courage we need. Otherwise we'd be to scared of the world thought of us, or try to escape the easy way out. Back to our old lives without God. When you're devastated and when you start to doubt, it's excruciatingly tempting to leave it all. But with the Holy Spirit we CAN be awakened and we can become alive. Fear and doubt is not from God. "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me" Phillipians 4:13 Skillet Rocks
Oh that's really cool! I think I understand the song better as well as the story! :) You should make the next study off of Hero. That's a good one too! To my Home Skillet Biscuit! Emphasis on the Skillet! Whoo!
Matthew 11:13-" So if you, even though your bad, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the Father keep giving the Holy Spirit from heaven to those who keep asking Him?"
This is awesome, I want to be awake and alive...
Really like the studies...Keep them coming! The studies combined with music videos are a great tool.
I am going to start sharing these with my wife. She will enjoy them, too.
Awake and Alive... When God's spirit comes to live in us we're supposed to wake from our spiritual sleep, and work to serve him. This Skillet devotion a week this is a really good thing to have. it makes me think about things in a different perspective. Thanks :D
Most of the songs I write are from visions or dreams but some are out of scripture so I love to read about the story behind the songs. To cool. That ties in the song theme O so well. Love your music and can't wait to see you on 11/11/10. Your friend in Christ!
Thanks for the studies. It's great to hear that their is a biblical basis to the songs that you write and sing. As a youth leader this is a great resource for me. It's my hearts cry to see the youth of today become Awake and Alive with the Spirit of God and see them change the landscape of America and the world. God Bless You.
Love these studies! It is funny how even after age 50 the enemy has the ability to attack believers through financial or employment circumstances. After serving the Lord for many years, it is sometimes hard to ignore the circumstances of life and fully trust. God is always good and there is truly "something deep inside that keeps my faith alive!" Thank-you Skillet for your music and the message which I can still enjoy even in my old age.
Thanks for sharing this! It is true, when we go through trials here on Earth, it's hard to believe God can work it out for good. But, as Christians, God calls us to believe by faith, even when we cannot feel that he is there. God says that "He will never leave us nor forsake us." It is up to us to truely believe that and take that to heart. Also, Jesus sent the Holy Spirit to Christians so that he with his help, and prayers to God, we can overcome our fear and not trusting in God. With the renewing of our faith, we can then go out with boldness and share our faith. However, that is a little hard, but we just have to keep trusting in God.
One of the best songs ever!
Awesome song. It pretty much describes that dark side we still have and that it relates to the thought that sin will lead to death.
Thanks for the encouragement - I've always liked the song this study goes with.
I love the lyrics to this song. We need to know what we believe so that the lies that are thrown at us cannot wrongly influence our lives. The Holy Spirit is just the thing that is needed in humans to remind us what God has done for us.
I love these studies!! Skillet is one of my fave bands, I love their music/songs! Thanks for these!
I like this study and the song is good too.
I loved this one too, but I thought the Monster one was better. I like how they both go hand in hand with each other. Thanks.
The devil will do all he can to take us away from God. So it is so important to keep looking toward Christ in the good and bad. We must not be swayed in our faith. By being faithful we will one day have the better life with Jesus that is promised.
I love these studies. They really connect the music with the biblical truth behind it. I wish more websites would do this. :)
Hey everyone! We LOVE hearing your comments and are so excited that you're joining us for these devotionals. We're going to try and bring more your way! Thanks, as always, for stopping in to see us! We love you!
Wow, these studies are incredible! I really love that they're based off of Skillet songs, please keep it up! :) Okay so my family has been told we need to move again, and this will be the 17th or 18th time in my 15 years of life...I've lost count. :P We go thru really hard times, and I always feel like God steps out of the picture sometimes. I ask him to show himself to me, and then when he does, I take it and feel "awake and alive" for the moment...but then something else will happen, and it starts all over again. Sometimes we will ask God to show us something only he can do, and he will. But then we'll forget about "that one time" and ask him to show himself again, and if he doesn't, some of us will lose faith completely. I just wish we could ALWAYS feel "awake and alive" in knowing that our lives, and everything around us was given to us, and we didn't deserve any of it, but He showed us he was real in the ultimate way....giving up his life for us! Yet some of us still lose faith, I can't imagine how he feels when his children spit in his face after he did that for us! How we're ashamed to say his name after he died so we could live! These are really great bible studies, Skillet is my absolute favorite artist, thanks so much! :D
Wow! Thanks for a different and more spiritual way of thinking about a great song. I will remember this whenever I listen to Alive and Awake.
It's hard to just sit back and wait for an answer as Peter did. Thankfully, Jesus will never abandon us and will always reveal an answer in His time! thanks for sharing this Bible study!
I have been feeling dry for a long while and I think this bible study will help immerse me back into God's worship and guidance. Thanks so much for all you do!
My wife and I have been through a lot in our 17yrs of marriage. Two mis-carriages a marriage problem, and this past July we lost our house to foreclosure. But GOD has always been there for us opening up new doors. Its easy to trust something you can see, but when we can no longer see it we lose faith. Jesus told us he will always be there and he is.
it kind of reminds me of how like, Jesus saying that Peter would betray him made Peter's trust in Jesus and faith way stronger afterwards. It makes me think of my life how sometimes, all i can see is that things are going wrong. But in the end, my faith is stronger. I just came out of a really hard time in my life, today, for the first time in a long time I woke up and thought, "Life is so amazing!" our faith is increased by our problems, and that's why Paul and Peter and everyone has problems. it's really amazing.
Being Awake and Alive....it's something everyone needs to be. A lot of us are "asleep" or numb to the stuff around us and we need to wake up to all the hurting, wake up to what we are feeling. This song packs a powerful message and ministers to those wondering about their soul condition. God works marvels in music...not just skillet, but all music is food for the soul. Some music brings you down, while some builds you up.....choose the stuff that builds! GOD BLESS!!
There are times when I struggle and I wonder where God is. I don't feel Him around me. Then there are the times when I am so certain He is there that I can almost touch Him, when I am awake to His very presence in my life. Those are the joyful moments that feed my soul during the dark times.
Just, wow. Today I started a devotion book and it has already impacted me a LOT. The lesson was about opening your eyes and ears to find out what God wants you to do for him. The awake and alive study seems to have been stuck into my day for some reason, and I think i know why. God is trying so hard to get me to pay a heck of a lot more attention to Him. During my day, I heard a song that my dad was listening to so that he could practice the Christmas cantata he is going to be in, and for some strange reason, I started listening to what those words really were saying. I realized that God is trying to get my attention by amazing me with these coincidences, and I do believe that He has my full attention from now on. Anyway, I LOVE LOVE LOVE Skillet!!! I have been to 5 concerts since 2008 and I plan on going to many more in the near future =)
Oh how we need to remember what Jesus has done for us, even in these dry times. If our eyes are open and spirit awake, we will remember there is this bigger picture. As for me, I want to be awake, alive and sold out for my Savior like never before! Thanks Skillet for the perspective!