Luke 22:46
46 And said unto them, Why sleep ye? rise and pray, lest ye enter into temptation.
(KJV)
The alarm clock is going off, it’s time to stop pressing the snooze button & GET UP!!!
Title: ~~~
I) Why sleep ye?
Now, that is a good question. If I were to ask the question, “How many of you here sleep?” I suppose every hand would go up. Our bodies are built in such a way that we need to have a certain amount of rest each day. Of course, some need more rest than others. But there are those who don’t necessarily need more, they just want more.
Spiritually speaking, sleep is a bad thing. When Jesus came back to His disciples, He found them sleeping. They were sleeping at a crucial time in their lives.
There are times in our lives that we need to stay awake. We need to be sober!!!
1 Peter 5:8-9
8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:
9 Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world. (KJV)
I wonder how many here would consider yourselves to be a “night person?” Basically, someone that could sleep all day & stay up all night.
Spiritually speaking, Paul says we’re not.
1 Thess 5:5-6
5 Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness.
6 Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober. (KJV)
He says let us not sleep, as do others. I am sick & tired of “Christians” who think they have to live like the world to win people to Christ. The only one that is winning anybody is the Devil. He’s convincing them to be like him.
Tell your neighbor, “Wake Up!!!”
Prov 6:6-11
6 Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise:
7 Which having no guide, overseer, or ruler,
8 Provideth her meat in the summer, and gathereth her food in the harvest.
9 How long wilt thou sleep, O sluggard? when wilt thou arise out of thy sleep?
10 Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep:
11 So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth, and thy want as an armed man.
(KJV)
Prov 6:6-11
6 Take a lesson from the ants, you lazybones.
Learn from their ways and become wise!
7 Though they have no prince
or governor or ruler to make them work,
8 they labor hard all summer,
gathering food for the winter.
9 But you, lazybones, how long will you sleep?
When will you wake up?
10 A little extra sleep, a little more slumber,
a little folding of the hands to rest—
11 then poverty will pounce on you like a bandit;
scarcity will attack you like an armed robber. (NLT)
II) Rise and pray
If ever there was a time that the church need to pray, it’s now!!!
1.) Individually – we must develop a personal prayer life.
2.) Corporately – we must come together in prayer.
1 Tim 2:8
8 I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting. (KJV)
James 5:16-18
16 Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.
17 Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months.
18 And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit. (KJV)
Eph 6:18-20
18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;
19 And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel,
20 For which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak. (KJV)
Like the old song says, “Prayer is the key to heaven & faith unlocks the door.”
Tell your neighbor, “Wake Up & Pray!!!”
(Close)
Notice he said to pray that you enter not into temptation. This is the hour of our temptation, when the enemy will try to get us to stray. Our only way out is to wake up & pray!!!
1 Peter 4:7-8
7 But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer.
8 And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins. (KJV)
