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.
2. SAUL'S CRUISE OR CANTEEN OF WATER IS REMOVED... Water is a type, living water,
Water is ESSENTIAL TO LIFE... Water is a type of the PRESENCE OF A HOLY GOD...
C. WHILE WE SLEEP ... WHAT DOES THE ENEMY SNEAK INTO OUR CAMP TO STEAL?
D. Saul has made a HABIT OF NOT BEING PREPARE and READY.
Saul teaches and accepts his leaders and family as NOT READY...
III. COULD WE BE GETTING FOR THE BIG STUFF AND THEN FALL FOR THE TRAP OF
BEING UNPREPARED FOR THE LITTLE STUFF. SAMSON IS A GREAT LESSON OF DOING
GREAT THINGS GREAT AND LETTING THE LITTLE STUFF BECOME A TRAP...
A. Samson just TASTED A GREAT VICTORY...
WITH THE JAW BONE OF A DONKEY... Samson slays 1,000 of his enemies...
B. This mighty man of God, forgot his daily provisions...
SAMSON: WHERE IS YOUR WATER? Any soldier knows to carry a CANTEEN OF WATER?
Judges 15:18 And he was sore athirst, and called on the Lord, and said, Thou hast given this great
deliverance into the hand of thy servant: and now shall I die for thirst, and fall into the hand of the
uncircumcised?
C. While Samson was not PREPARED, God was merciful and provided THE ILL PREPARED
WARRIER WITH DIVINE PPROVISIONS...
Judges 15:19 But God clave an hollow place that was in the jaw, and there came water thereout; and
when he had drunk, his spirit came again, and he revived: wherefore he called the name thereof
En-hakkore, which is in Lehi unto this day.
D. NEVER FORGET THE LESSON: SAMSON SEEMS TO LIVE MOMMENT BY MOMENT AND
WAS NOT READY FOR HIS SUSTAINED VICTORY.
E. How sad that a WEAK WOMAN defeated A MIGHTY MAN OF GOD...
SAMSON TEACH US ... BE READY SOLDER, BE PREPARED!
F. SAMSON'S SPIRITUAL SLEEP EVEN HAS A SAD EFFECT ON HIS PRAYERS AND ACCEPTING
GOD'S PROMISES. A SPIRIT OF SLEEP PRAYS: ''ONLY THIS ONCE..."
Judges 16:28 And Samson called unto the Lord, and said, O Lord God, remember me, I pray thee, and
strengthen me, I pray thee, only this once, O God, that I may be at once avenged of the Philistines for
my two eyes.
IV. THERE WAS 10 VIRGINS, THEY WERE ARE CLEAN... SO COULD NOT BEING READY BE A SIN?
50% WERE READY... THE SAD STORY IS 50% WERE NOT PREPARED...
A. All were asleep. Just 5 were in a deep spiritual sleep.
B. THERE WAS A SONG IN THE 1970's: I WISH WE ALL BEEN READY...
Matthew 25:10 And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with
him to the marriage: and the door was shut.
C. Want to hear so SAD WORDS?
Matthew 25:12 But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not.
V. THERE IS A JUDGMENT OF SLEEP... THIS JUDGMENT IS MUCH DEEPER THAN THE HABIT
OF SPIRITUAL SLEEP...
Mark 13:36 Lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping.
B. Remember PETER'S SENSE OF FALSE SERCURITY and how powerful he thought he was...?
Sleeping through PRAYER TIME exposes the WEAKNESS OF THE FLESH...
C. THERE ARE TWO CALLS TO WAKE UP... THE THIRD CALL IS SO SAD:
SLEEP ON NOW...
Mark 14:37-41 And he cometh, and findeth them sleeping, and saith unto Peter, Simon, sleepest thou?
couldest not thou watch one hour?
[38] Watch ye and pray, lest ye enter into temptation. The spirit truly is ready, but the flesh is weak.
[39] And again he went away, and prayed, and spake the same words.
[40] And when he returned, he found them asleep again, (for their eyes were heavy,) neither wist they
what to answer him.
[41] And he cometh the third time, and saith unto them, Sleep on now, and take your rest: it is enough,
the hour is come; behold, the Son of man is betrayed into the hands of sinners.
D. MY FRIENDS, MAY WE NEVER HEAR THE SAD WORDS... SLEEP ON...
VI. WANT TO TALK ABOUT WHERE THE RUBBER METS THE ROAD?
MANY HAS FALSE ASSURANCES, THEY CLAIM VERY SERIOUSLY WHAT THEY HAVE DONE
IN THE NAME OF JESUS... LOOK AT THE WONDERFUL WORKS...
THEN WE HEAR THE WORDS: I NEVER KNEW YOU... HOW VERY SAD...
THEY EXPECTED THE WORDS WELL DONE? THEY HEARD: I DON'T KNOW YOU?
A. MANY WILL SAY? Not a few, but many...
Matthew 7:21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but
he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
[22] Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name
have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
[23] And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
B. SAY: LORD, LORD?
C. Prophesied in Your Name: sounds full gospel to me?
D. LOOK AT MY WONDERFUL WORKS?
E. SORRY? SORRY!
CONCLUSION:
We are in a terrible battle. Many have wonder works? Many cast out devils? Many preach and give
prophesy... but they are not READY, they are not prepared. There has grown a SPIRIT OF SLEEP,
the wax is over the eyes, God wants YOU TO BE READY!!!!
His servant, Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com
Pass it on?
