ReflectiononWilsonGospelWakefulness

2013MatthewHundley

Reflection on Gospel Wakefulness, by Jared C. Wilson (Foreward by Ray Ortlund) by Matthew Hundley In his foreward to Gospel Wakefulness, Ray Ortlund poses the question, What is the spiritual future of our churches? (9) In a time where churches are all about show and programs where has the focus on gospel discovery gone? Despite the good, bad and ugly of the modern church; Gods hand is at work, creating new spiritual conditions for tomorrow. Jared Wilson picks up on this themepointing to what seems to be the chief focus of churches today: keeping people from becoming numb to the message. In order to do this most churches turn non-routine ways to present the gospel. Churches seek to inject a little razzle dazzle (16) in order to distract from the numbness, entertain and keep people from getting restless. Wilson cites critic Skye Jethani who says that ministries that focus on manufacturing spiritual experiences may actually be retard spiritual growth by making people dependend on the experience. (17) Wilson takes a step back to define the gospel or good news as: Jesus died for sins on the cross and resurrected for eternal life out of the tombif you confess with your mouth and believe with your heart that this is good newsyou will be saved. (24) He then builds off of this definition to spell out gospel wakefulnessour thematic phrase for this bookas treasuring Christ more greatly and savoring his power more sweetly. (24) Gospel wakefulness is that thing that God often grants us in and through moments of intense bruising where our hearts undergo a growth spurt. (26) He goes on to point out that gospel wakefulness is not spiritual euphoriawhich he defines as the exorbitant joy, the desire to leap and praise which is symptomatic of radical healing. Spiritual euphoria is the result of spiritually seeing with the eyes of faith what you always assumed was there. (33) While euphoria is not bad, it is typically momentary. Gospel wakefulness is not something we bring about; it is something Christ brings about in us. The work of conversion is Gods, instigated by the new birth granted to my dead heart, received therefore by my exercising of Gods gift of faith to me in repentance and belief in the gospel. (35) Gospel wakefulness comes at the intersection personal brokenness and the gospel. God wants us broken so that any power in us can be undeniably attributed to him. (39) Paul writes in 2 Cor 4:7-10 that we are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to

ReflectiononWilsonGospelWakefulness

2013MatthewHundley

despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying in the body the death of Jesus; so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies. (40) When our idols crash down upon us, we give up the artifice of self-reliance and open up to the wonders of gospel wakefulness. (41) God does not wait until we have made it through our brokenness to dispense his comfort. (45) Gospel wakefulness means being awake to what Christ has done to release us, so we dont graduate from our new birth experience but keep seeing it with ever-growing awe. (57) One of the marks of gospel wakefulness is the failure of anything else to thrill the soul like the gospel. (59) What happens in the experience of gospel wakefulness is a satisfaction so complete that it fixes the center of our affections on God alone, in Christ alone, by his Spirit alone. (60) The divinely entertained heart of Gospel wakefulness finds itself daydreaming about the gospel more naturally. (63) We make the gospel central to our daily lives. Gospel wakefulness means treasuring Christ more greatly and savoring his power more sweetly. (77) Worship as a response. All of Christian life is worship. Moving toward a gospelsaturated life. Time for another aside to describe religion versus gospel. (131) Religion says get to work. Gospel says within the church. Where we find sanctification: in our own work vs. in the work of Christ. The good news is that Christs finished work actually means the work of salvation is finished. (135) The ultimate work of our sanctification is to look to Christ more and more for our own sense of self, as our treasure, as our hope even in our effort. (145) Gospel confidence. The wakefulness of the gospel produces boldness and access with confidence through our faith in him (i.e. humility). (170) Gospel wakefulness results in a tender heart and a thick skin. (175) Confidence in knowing we are in Christ. Learning to see our selves in Christ. Embrace our selves in Christ (not apart from Christ). Our work [as pastors] is not about our leadership but Jesus Lordship. We need to preach the gospel with full conviction that it is the power of salvation for all who believe. (195) What does a gospel wakened church look like? The gospel wakened church seeks to love its neighbors. It doesnt mind looking foolish to those to whom the cross of Christ is foolish. The flock has learned to trust Gods word and to live in Christ-centered harmony. The gospel wakened church is worshipful and glories in the Gospel. The gospel wakened church treasures Christ more greatly and savors his power more sweetly.