SLEEPING AND WAKING
SLEEPING AND WAKING
“He died for us so that whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with Him” (1 Thess. 5:10).
Both “sleeping” and “waking” are natural activities. God designed us so that we spend approximately one third of our lives sleeping. He also designed us to wake up from our sleep so that we might engage in useful activities that are essential to life. Our “survival” involves both the physical and the spiritual. Our text from 1 Thessalonians warns that Jesus will come as a thief in the night. Since we are not children of the darkness the day of His return will not take us by surprise (1 Thess. 5:2-4). Since both sleeping and waking are normal, we must dedicate them both to Jesus!
SLEEPING CAN BE GOOD
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Adam was asleep when God took one of his ribs and made a wife for him (Gen. 2:21,22). •
Abram was asleep when God made a covenant with him about his descendants and the Promised Land (Gen. 15:12-20).
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Jacob was asleep when God renewed the covenant He had made with Abram (Gen. 28:10-22). •
The Pharaoh was asleep when God gave him dreams that revealed the future (Gen. 41:1-40).
SLEEPING CAN BE BAD
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Loving sleep is associated with poverty (Prov. 20:13).
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Sisera was asleep when Heber’s wife murdered him (Jud. 4:20-22). •
The disciples were asleep when Jesus needed their help (Matt. 26:36-46). •
While men slept the devil sowed weeds among the wheat (Matt. 13:24-30).
SLEEPING CAN DEMONSTRATE OUR TRUST IN THE LORD
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God grants sleep to those He loves (Ps. 127:2).
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Daniel was asleep when God revealed to him the king’s dream (Dan. 2:14-49).
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Jesus was asleep during a storm that terrified His disciples (Mk. 4:36-41).
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Peter was asleep while chained between two soldiers and waiting on his trial (Acts 12:6-19).
THERE IS A TIME TO WAKE UP FROM SLEEP
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“The hour has come for you to wake up from your slumber” (Rom. 13:11).
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“Let us not be like others who are asleep, but let us be alert . . .” (1 Thess. 5:6).
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“Be self controlled and alert” (1 Pet. 5:8).
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“Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come (Matt. 24:42).
THE DEVIL IS AMBITIOUS
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He is constantly roaming back and forth throughout the earth (Job 1:7).
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He prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour (1 Pet. 5:8).
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The devil is the ruler of the kingdom of the air and works in those who are disobedient (Eph. 2:2).
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In order to defeat the devil we need to put on the whole armor of God (Eph. 6:10-18).
EVERYTHING WE DO MUST BE DEVOTED TO CHRIST
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This includes when we are awake, or when we are sleeping! (I Thess. 5:10).
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“Whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ giving thanks to God the Father through Him” (Col. 3:17).
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“So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God” (1 Cor. 10:31).
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“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will direct your paths” (Prov. 3:5,6).
TOTAL COMMITMENT TO CHRIST IS A ROAD THAT LEADS TO ABUNDANT LIFE! The thief comes to steal, kill, and destroy, Jesus came to give us life that is abundant – (Jn. 10:10)