Asleep on Your Watch?

Let’s look back in time, for our vision is always 20/20 when we use the past experiences to help us see the here and now! Countless disastrous events in History occurred while men slept. Just for instance:

#1 –Sept. 12, 1759 — In Quebec, the French headquarters in Canada was under attack by Major General James Wolf of England. After the French repelled three attempts by the British, the governor felt safe and wrote a letter to a friend and said, “We are no longer concerned about the security of Quebec.”  However, while men slept, the British scaled the north wall along the St. Lawrence seaway, and at early dawn, caught the French unprepared and won the battle. The North American continent came under the control of Britain.

#2 –Around Christmas time in 1776, the fire for American independence burned low. Several defeats were suffered in a row. But while men slept, General Washington led 2500 men across the Delaware River at Trent, New Jersey, Dec.26,1776, and swept a victory for American independence.

#3 –While men slept, the Meades and Persians entered and conquered Babylon and Belshazzar the king was slain.

#4 –While men have slept, many tragedies have occurred. – Fires, tornadoes, and flash floods have swept  home away.

#5 –This last thought is the most important for it deals with the eternity – OURS!  We need to be aware of the dangers when we sleep spiritually. We don’t excuses, like this top ten list that for sure:

Ten Best Excuses when you are caught napping…

10. “They told me at the blood bank this might happen.”

9. “This is just a 15 minute power-nap like they raved about in that time management course you sent me to.”

8. “Whew!  Guess I left the top off the White-Out.  You probably got here just in time!”

7. “I wasn’t sleeping!  I was meditating on the mission statement and envisioning a new paradigm.”

6. “I was testing my keyboard for drool resistance.”

5. “I was doing a highly specific Yoga exercise to relieve work-related stress.  Are you discriminatory toward people who practice Yoga?”

4. “Why did you interrupt me?  I had almost figured out a solution to our biggest problem.”

3. “The coffee machine is broken…”

2. “Someone must’ve put decaf in the wrong pot…”

And the #1 best thing to say if you get caught sleeping at your desk…

1. “…in Jesus’ name.  Amen.”

It is funny in one way but in another it gets our attention that’s for sure! Now with that thought let’s get some seed of truth to change our mind set:

I. SOME MEN SLEEP LIKE JONAH.

A. God had commanded Jonah to go preach to the city of Nineveh.

1. 1. He boarded a ship to flee in the opposite direction.
2. 2. God brought a mighty tempest on the sea; men were in danger, but Jonah was fast asleep. See Jonah 1:5
3. 3. The sailors confronted Jonah. See Jonah 1:6

B. Many today are like Jonah so far as their souls are concerned.

1. 1. The danger is great, but they are asleep regarding it all while their sin is raging like a hurricane.

C. Paul’s admonition needs to be heeded: “Awake you who sleep, arise from the dead and Christ will give you light.” See Ephesians 5:14

II. SOME SLEEP LIKE THE DISCIPLES OF JESUS IN THE GARDEN. See Mark 14:32-42

A. Jesus had plainly told His disciples several times that He would suffer and die. Matt. 16:21-23

1. 1. When that time came, it would have been good for the disciples to encourage Him in what He was about to face.
2. 2. But they, not understanding, and being exhausted from a long day, went to sleep instead of giving sympathy to Jesus.

B. Today some are exhausted and worn down spiritually.

1. 1. There is a need to be watchful, for the enemy will attack in our weakest moments.
2. 2. We need to be alert and watchful.

C. Remember, our enemy the devil never sleeps.

1. He is always awake and active, and we need to be on guard.
2. On Alert – In home study time please Read: Ephesians 6:10-18

Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. —Ephesians 6:11

In an article for Youth Ministries magazine, a 14-year veteran of the Navy SEALs describes the color-code system they use to indicate levels of combat readiness. Each stage has a parallel in spiritual warfare.

Condition White: The soldier is relaxed and daydreaming, unaware of his surroundings. A Christian in this condition is easy prey for Satan.

Condition Yellow: The soldier is relaxed physically but alert mentally. A believer at this level may sense trouble coming, but he’s not ready to confront it.

Condition Orange: The soldier is physically prepared, mentally alert, and ready to fight. A believer at this stage has on the full armor of God.

Condition Red: As in condition orange, the soldier is ready to fight. The difference is experience. A battle-seasoned Christian knows quickly what to do because of his experience and familiarity with Scripture.

Wherever we as followers of Christ happen to be–at work, in the mall, on a business trip, even among fellow believers–we need to know about Satan’s methods and be prepared to resist. He always seems to attack at our most vulnerable moments. But if we stay alert and armed, we can fend off his most powerful attacks.

THINKING IT OVER

Which color code describes your spiritual condition?

How have you responded recently to temptation?

Are you studying and obeying God’s Word?

SPIRITUAL VICTORY COMES ONLY TO THOSE WHO ARE PREPARED FOR BATTLE.

III. SOME SLEEP THE SLEEP OF SAMPSON.

A. Delilah had already tried three times to find the source of Sampson’s great strength. See Judges 16:7,11,13

B. When “his soul was vexed to death,” he told Delilah the truth about his strength. See Judges 16:16-22

1. 1. Why did he do such a stupid thing?  No doubt, he was so enraptured and charmed by this woman that he didn’t want to lose her.  Verse 4 of chapter 16 says that he loved this woman.

C. Delilah lulled Sampson to sleep on her knees and had his hair cut off. Judges 16:19

1. 1. He thought he could go out as other times and shake himself free, but the Lord had departed from him.  The Philistines put out his eyes, and made him grind at the mill in the prison.

D. Many today, like Sampson, are charmed by someone or something of this world.

1. 1. We cannot presume we can place ourselves in danger and be safe.
2. 2. One day we may wake up like Sampson and find that the Lord has departed from us.

IV. SOME SLEEP THE SLEEP OF THE SLUGGARD. See Proverbs 24:30-34

A. Today many are lazy, inactive, and are not doing the Lord’s work.

B. And, with no work to do, they often begin to bite and devour one another.

Illustration:  There is a story about a husband and wife who were continually arguing over whether or not the window should be open or closed when they slept at nights. The man insisted that the window be open, otherwise it would be stuffy and hot. The wife insisted that the window be closed; otherwise it would be too cold. One night he said the window must be open for he felt hot, but she insisted that it be closed for she felt cold. He opened it, she closed it – open, close; open, close; over and over again. Finally, without turning on a light, the husband picked up a stool and threw it at the window. Glass shattered everywhere. They went to sleep and in the early morning, just before daybreak, the man said he had never slept better with the fresh air coming in. She replied that she hardly slept a wink, but nearly froze to death.  When they turned on the light, the window was not broken, but the mirror beside it was!  Let us not be biting and devouring one another, but be busy in the Lord’s work.

C. Lazy farmers do not reap crops, neither does a lazy Christian.

V. OTHERS SLEEP THE SLEEP OF CARELESSNESS. See Ephesians 5:14-17

A. There is a lot of careless people in the world; they could care less about the salvation of their own souls.

1. 1. They do not understand what the will of the Lord is, nor do they want to understand it.
2. 2. They need to be brought to life by the gospel. Eph. 2:1-5

B. There is a lot of carelessness in the church. Many are asleep spiritually.

1. 1. Paul said to the Corinthians, “…For this cause many are weak and sickly among you and some sleep.” 1 Cor. 11:30
2. a. They were careless in worship

C. Let us not sleep as does the world. 1 Thess. 5:6-8

1. 1. God’s people are to be sober and vigilant at all times. 1 Pet. 1:13; 4:7; 5:8-9

Conclusion:

*While men slept the enemy came and sowed tares.

*Let us be awake, alert, and watchful.

*There are dangers all around us.

*The enemy is always awake and active.

*Many are living unrealistically, in illusion, thinking they are awake spiritually, but they are asleep.

*They think that all things are fine as they are, but they have slipped into spiritual poverty.

*Let us wake up and see our true condition.

*Let us be active, and do our very best in the Lord’s service.

Remember GOD’s WORD will change your life!