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When Believers Sleep Song: I am running the race to meet my redeemer (2x), Heavenly r-a-c-e (3x), I am running the race to meet my redeemer 1. Introduction: “So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be alert and self-controlled. For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, get drunk at night. But since we belong to the day, let us be self-controlled, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet. For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him.” (1 Thessalonians 5: 6-10). “Jesus told them another parable: "The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field. But while everyone was sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and went away.”(Matthew 13: 24-25). You’ll notice that in 1 Thessalonians 5: 6-10, the word sleep appeared four times. Sleep can be used both figurative and literal. Sleep can imply rest from labour. Sleep can also mean dead mind, dull, lost of senses. Spiritually, one can be said to be sleeping when an individual has become complacent in spiritual activities and matters. When such a person takes these things as mere routine and worst still becomes dry. 2. Different types of sleep in the scripture: i. Natural sleep: The sleep of a labourer is sweet, whether he eats little or much, but the abundance of a rich man permits him no sleep. (Ecclesiastes 5:12). “In vain you rise early and stay up late, toiling for food to eat— “Then he got into the boat and his disciples followed him. Without warning, a furious storm came up on the lake, so that the waves swept over the boat. But Jesus was sleeping.” (Matthew 8:23-24). ii. Spiritual sleep: “for it is light that makes everything visible. This is why it is said: “O king of Assyria, your shepherds slumber; your nobles lie down to rest. Your people are scattered on the mountains with no one to gather them.” (Nahum 3:18). As it is written: "God gave them a spirit of stupor, eyes so that they could not see and ears so that they could not hear, to this very day." ( Romans 11:8) . iii. Perpetual sleep/death: “He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him.” (1 Thessalonians 5:10). I will make her officials and wise men drunk, her governors, officers and warriors as well; they will sleep forever and not awake," declares the King, whose name is the LORD Almighty. (Jeremiah 51:57). “Look on me and answer, O LORD my God. Give light to my eyes, or I will sleep in death;” (Psalm 13:3). “Multitudes who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake: some to everlasting life, others to shame and everlasting contempt.” (Daniel 12:2). “Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed—“ (1 Corinthians 15:51). “Brothers, we do not want you to be ignorant about those who fall asleep, or to grieve like the rest of men, who have no hope. We believe that Jesus died and rose again and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. According to the Lord's own word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left till the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first.” (1 Thessalonians 4:13-16). 3. Dangers and consequences of sleeping spiritually i. You will lose your weapons So David and Abishai went to the army by night, and there was Saul, lying asleep inside the camp with his spear stuck in the ground near his head. Abner and the soldiers were lying around him. Abishai said to David, "Today God has delivered your enemy into your hands. Now let me pin him to the ground with one thrust of my spear; I won't strike him twice." But David said to Abishai, "Don't destroy him! Who can lay a hand on the LORD's anointed and be guiltless? As surely as the LORD lives," he said, "the LORD himself will strike him; either his time will come and he will die, or he will go into battle and perish. But the LORD forbid that I should lay a hand on the LORD's anointed. Now get the spear and water jug that are near his head, and let's go." So David took the spear and water jug near Saul's head, and they left. No one saw or knew about it, nor did anyone wake up. They were all sleeping, because the LORD had put them into a deep sleep. Then David crossed over to the other side and stood on top of the hill some distance away; there was a wide space between them. (1 Samuel 26:7-13). All your weapons of prayers, faith, study of the scriptures and fellowshipping will be lost the moment you start sleeping spiritually; when you are no longer vigilant, no more watching and praying and you have started gambling with your soul. As St. Paul would say: “The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds.” (2 Corinthians 10:4). “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armour of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armour of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.” (Ephesians 6:10-17). You remember the Gethsemane story? There Jesus took with him Peter, James and John and expected them to stay awake and pray with him. But unfortunately they all slept and snored as they never did before. Jesus knew full well what was about to happen to him and for this purpose he tarried in prayers. If you read the events leading to his crucifixion on the cross you’ll noticed how composed and prepared he was for all these. But one of Jesus’ companions was not ready and all he could do when Jesus was arrested was to take a sword (carnal weapon) and chopped off the ear of one of the servants of the high priest. (Matthew 26: 36-56, Mark 14: 32-52). ii. You will be violating God’s laws You were running a good race. Who cut in on you and kept you from obeying the truth? That kind of persuasion does not come from the one who calls you. "A little yeast works through the whole batch of dough." (Galatians 5:7-9). You start compromising to the point that you will not even know what compromises are any more. And if care is not taken, your heart will become so hardened so much so that you’ll start behaving as if you never knew the Lord before. “Formerly, when you did not know God, you were slaves to those who by nature are not gods.” (Galatians 4:8). iii. You will lose sight of heaven and become worldly At this point heaven is no longer your goal and aim. You become so engrossed in the things of this earth to the detriment of your soul. The devil will deceive you by telling you that you needn’t worry about heaven but just concern yourself about the life here and now. He is a liar! “If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are to be pitied more than all men.” (1 Corinthians 15:19) . “But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Saviour from there, the Lord Jesus Christ,” Philippians 3:20 “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Matthew 6:21). “What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?” (Mark 8:36-37). “Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For everything in the world—the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does—comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever.” (1 John 2:15-17). “You adulterous people, don't you know that friendship with the world is hatred toward God? Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God.” (James 4:4). iv. You forsake your first love Of course when you start to slumber, your love for God and His things diminishes. You will be experiencing spiritual dryness. The word of God, spiritual songs and prayers that once made meaning to you and touched you, now no longer move you. “Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken your first love.” (Revelation 2:4). You will find yourself no longer experiencing joy in His presence: “ You have made known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.” (Psalm 16:11). Everything has become old fashion to you. But we know that in the Lord all things are forever new. He is a God of freshness. “Because of the LORD's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” (Lamentations 3:22-23). 4. Exhortation to watchfulness Wake up from your sleep! Be watchful! You’ll need to make a conscious and deliberate effort to rise up again and fight on! The battle is not over yet! “Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you—unless, of course, you fail the test?” (2 Corinthians 13:5) . “Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord's will is. Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit.” (Ephesians 5:15-18). “And do this, understanding the present time. The hour has come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armour of light. Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy. Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the sinful nature.” (Romans 13:11-14). “What I mean, brothers, is that the time is short. From now on those who have wives should live as if they had none; those who mourn, as if they did not; those who are happy, as if they were not; those who buy something, as if it were not theirs to keep; those who use the things of the world, as if not engrossed in them. For this world in its present form is passing away. (1 Corinthians 7:29-31). "Be dressed ready for service and keep your lamps burning,” (Luke 12:35). This little light of mine, I'm going to let it shine With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, "Save yourselves from this corrupt generation." Shalom! Evang. John B. Oseh |