Great morning to you, 3C Ramsgate family; the question I want to ask you this morning as we enter this new year is: Are you asleep?
We have stepped into a brand-new year, and with it, we have stepped into open doors of opportunity and fresh possibilities. As a church, we are moving forward with great expectation as we continue to walk in our vision and complete our transition to 3C Ramsgate. It is an exciting season, but it is also a critical one.
Sunday was Day 7 of our 21 days of prayer and fasting together. While this is something we do every year, I want to challenge you: this is not simply a spiritual task to tick off a list, but a divine opportunity for us to align ourselves with God’s assignment for our lives.
The Gethsemane Moment: Why We Cannot Afford to be Asleep
Even Jesus, our Lord, entered a time of deep prayer to seek the Father regarding alignment with His assignment. In Mark 14:32-34, we see Him in Gethsemane—a word that means “oil press”. For Jesus, this quiet olive grove became a place of intense spiritual battle and deep intimacy. He was troubled and deeply distressed, saying, “My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Stay here and watch”.
He fell to the ground and prayed, “Abba, Father, all things are possible for You. Take this cup away from Me; nevertheless, not what I will, but what You will”. This is the ultimate picture of alignment; it wasn’t about His own comfort, but the Father’s purpose. Because of what Jesus did there, we now walk in spiritual warfare from a place of victory.
But notice the disciples. While the most pivotal moment in history was unfolding, Jesus found them sleeping. He asked Peter, “Simon, are you sleeping? Could you not watch one hour? Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak”.
Are You Asleep to Your Divine Assignment? | What is the Temptation?
When Jesus speaks about “not entering into temptation,” what is He referring to? If we study the context, it’s not just about common sins; the real temptation is not aligning our lives with God’s purpose.
In the Bible, the meaning of “sin” is “to miss the mark”. It is living without accuracy—going through the religious motions but having the wrong motives or a misaligned intention. Many people end up living for the world in carnality because they are unfulfilled and empty.
Our assignment as New Testament believers is simple: Believe the Bible, love God, and love people. As James 1:25-27 reminds us, we must be “a doer of the work” and keep ourselves “unspotted from the world”. A great way to start “doing the work” is to discover how you can serve through our ministries.
The Three Pillars of Alignment: Give, Pray, Fast
In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus gives us three fundamental practices that keep us aligned and empower us to walk in our assignment. He didn’t say “If you do these things,” He said “When you do them”.
1. Give (Generosity)
Generosity is an act of worship and an expression of where your heart is. In Matthew 6:3-4, Jesus tells us, “But when you do a charitable deed, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, that your charitable deed may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will Himself reward you openly”.
When we give, we should be:
- Generous and Sacrificial: Give as you are able, following Jesus’ example.
- Planned and Regular: Set aside money consistently, not impulsively.
- Proportionate: Give according to your means.
- Cheerful: Give with a ready heart, not under compulsion.
We practice this through various biblical methods, including First Fruits, Tithing, and Offerings. We also encourage you to be equipped for the mission by registering for the G12 Africa Conference 2026.
2. Pray (Intimacy)
Prayer is the master key to everything in life. It is your personal time with Jesus where the power for your identity sits. We are told in Ephesians 6:18 to “Pray at all times (on every occasion, in every season) in the Spirit… interceding in behalf of all the saints”.
If your prayer life feels limited, check your motives. James 4:3 warns us that we often “ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures”. If you have never made that first connection with Him, I invite you to pray this salvation prayer today.
3. Fast (Discipline & Power)
Fasting is an outward physical discipline of obedience that produces an inward release and revival. We see throughout the New Testament that fasting leads to breakthrough:
- Jesus overcame the devil and began His ministry in power after fasting.
- The Apostle Paul received clarity and direction for his ministry.
- Anna the Prophetess recognized Jesus as the Messiah through a life of fasting and prayer.
- The Church in Antioch saw the commissioning of Paul and Barnabas through fasting.
Wake Up to Your Purpose
Church, let us not be like the disciples in the garden, heavy-eyed and missing the moment. This time of prayer and fasting allows us to confront unhealthy patterns, correct wrong lifestyles, and intentionally establish godly habits that fulfill His will.
When we do these things with a heart of humility, there is an open reward from God. Let’s establish these habits at the beginning of this year and build God’s will into our lives.
A Prayer for Alignment
Dear Heavenly Father, I thank You for the open doors and fresh possibilities
You have placed before me this year. Lord, I ask that You would forgive me for the times I have been “asleep” to Your purposes or have “missed the mark” by following my own desires. During these 21 days, I choose to align my heart with Your assignment. Help me to give generously, to pray with deep intimacy, and to fast with a spirit of discipline. Strengthen my spirit so that I do not enter into the temptation of living for myself. May my life be accurately centered in Your will, producing fruit that lasts for Your Kingdom.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.
