A Spirit Of Sleep Vs Ready!

A SPIRIT OF SLEEP --- vs. GETTING READY

By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr Kyfingers@aol.com

I use a sword and a canteen of water in this message...

TEXT:

KJV

Matthew 24:44 Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man

cometh.

NIV

Matthew 24:44 So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do

not expect him.

LIVING

Matthew 24:44 so you can avoid trouble by always being ready for my unannounced return.

Message

Matthew 24:44 Be vigilant just like that. You have no idea when the Son of Man is going to show up.

Matthew 25:13 Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son

of man cometh.

INTRODUCTION:

China has been called the SLEEPING GIANT, I believe this!

Yet, I feel the great danger we face is a SLEEPING LEADERSHIP in a SLEEPING

CHURCH.

READY: watchfulness, not asleep, stirred, attention,

preparations are complete, willing, inclined, in a fit state, prepared...

Vigilant, alert,

We used to sing this song, you don't hear it much anymore, I am afraid we don't hear

the theme of GETTING READY sung much anymore.

GETTING READY TO LEAVE THIS WORLD

by Luther G. Prealey

Laying up my treasures in that home above,

Trusting fully trusting in my Savior's love,

Doing what I can for heaven's Holy Dove.

CHORUS

I am getting ready to leave this world of sorrow,

Getting ready for the gates of pearl,

Keeping my record right,

Watching both day and night,

I am getting ready to to leave this world.

Trusting in the riches of His saving grace,

In each earthly trial I His love can trace,

Sure, that up in heaven I shall find a place,

To prepare a mansion Jesus said I'll go,

If it were not true I would have told you so.

Just a little while to linger here below.

I. TO NOT BE READY AND PREPARED BECOMES A BAD HABIT...

THERE IS A TYPE IN THE BIBLE: SLEEP! SLEEP IS LIKENED UNTO NOT BEING READY...

SAUL LOST OUT BECAUSE HE WAS NOT READY: SAUL WAS GIVEN TO SPIRITUAL SLEEP.

A. How stupid is it to be found IN THE HEAT OF A BATTLE NOT PREPARE, with no weapons.

1 Samuel 13:22 So it came to pass in the day of battle, that there was neither sword nor spear found in the

hand of any of the people that were with Saul and Jonathan: but with Saul and with Jonathan his son was

there found.

B. SAMUEL HAD HEARD FROM GOD...Saul is a GOD CALLLED, GOD ANOINTED MAN...

THE LESSON OF SAUL IS MUUCH GREATER THAN REBELLION AND DISOBEDIENCE...

SAUL LIVED HIS LIFE SPIRITUAL ASLEEP...

C. God man is laying in a DITCH SOUND ASLEEP... NOT PREPARED, NOT READY...

1 Samuel 26:5 And David arose, and came to the place where Saul had pitched: and David beheld the place

where Saul lay, and Abner the son of Ner, the captain of his host: and Saul lay in the trench, and the people

pitched round about him.

D. SLEEP IS A TYPE BOTH IN THE OLD AND NEW TESTAMENT...

WHEN GOD'S PEOPLE SLEEP THE ENEMY ATTACKS....

1 Samuel 26:7 So David and Abishai came to the people by night: and, behold, Saul lay

sleeping within the trench, and his spear stuck in the ground at his bolster: but Abner and

the people lay round about him.

E. WHEN LEADERS SLEEP THERE GROWS THE SPIRIT OF SLEEP--- NOT ONLY THE KING,

BUT THE GENERALS WERE DRAWN INTO THIS GREAT DANGER, AND NOT BEING PREPARED

IS CONTAGIOUS...

1 Samuel 26:15 And David said to Abner, Art not thou a valiant man? and who is like to thee in Israel?

wherefore then hast thou not kept thy lord the king? for there came one of the people in to destroy the king

thy lord. [16] This thing is not good that thou hast done. As the Lord liveth, ye are worthy to die, because ye

have not kept your master, the Lord's anointed. And now see where the king's spear is, and the cruse of

water that was at his bolster.

II. WHILE A SLUMBERING SPIRIT INFECTED LOOK WHAT THE MIGHTY ANOINTED MAN OF GOD

LOOSES:

1 Samuel 26:12 So David took the spear and the cruse of water from Saul's bolster; and they gat them away,

and no man saw it, nor knew it, neither awaked: for they were all asleep; because a deep sleep from the Lord

was fallen upon them.

A. ONCE AGAIN WHEN SAUL WAKES UP--- HE FINDS THE HE HAS BEEN ROBBED...

B. WHAT WILL OUR ENEMY STEAL FROM US WHILE THE CHURCH SLEEPS...

1. SAUL LOOSE HIS SWORD: The symbol of power, battle, and readiness.