WORDS OF DISTINCTION – “Sleep”
INTRODUCTION: We continue in our series on “Words of Distinction”. We have studied the words “daily”, “adoption”, and “rather”. TONIGHT, we look at the word “sleep”.
“sleep” is a funny thing. When you need the rest, SLEEP often doesn’t come. You toss & turn … fidget … you’re in misery because you can’t sleep. THEN … when you need to stay awake, sometimes SLEEP overtakes you … you can’t help but fall asleep. Someone once said: “You can buy sleep (it comes in a pill form), but you can’t buy rest.”
Some people need more sleep than others. Some can get by with 5-6 hours. Others, like me, need 7-8 hours sleep. Sometimes we SLEEP at the wrong times and in the wrong places. My mother used to go to sleep while in the car, waiting for the light to turn green.
Some people sleep in church. I’ve got lots of stories about that! There can be many reasons for sleeping in church. #1 reason, I suppose, is because of the boring sermon, or the boring preaching. Sometimes it’s because of physical reasons … you are just plain tired, or may have a health issue. Sometimes it’s from staying out too late on Saturday night.
The Bible has a lot to say about “sleep”. Probably because everybody does it. BUT … there is GOOD sleep, and there is BAD sleep.
Matthew 26:45-46 – all turn. Jesus says 2 things about “sleep”:
o 26:45 – “Sleep on now.”
o 26:46 – “Rise, let us be going.” … get up out of your sleep.
There’s a time to sleep … AND … there’s a time to wake up. The Bible seems to puts “sleep” into these 2 categories.
I. “Sleep On.”
SLEEP refreshes us for the events of the next day. In our text, Jesus is headed for the cross on the next day, and He wanted the Disciples to stay up and pray with Him. Every time He went to them, they were asleep. They had missed out on a wonderful experience of ministry. NOW, Jesus says “sleep on” … they will need their rest for the events of the next day.
SPIRITUALLY SPEAKING, there are times when we SHOULD sleep. We see this illustrated in several Bible characters, who we find “sleeping”.
When I think of “sleep”, I think of:
1.- ADAM – Genesis 2:18-22 – all turn
God caused Adam to SLEEP. Adam didn’t sleep because he was tired. He didn’t fail God by going to sleep (like the Disciples). God CAUSED him to sleep. It was GOOD that Adam slept. WHY? Because God was going to do surgery on Adam. I would rather be put to SLEEP whenever anybody is going to do surgery on me.
We can apply this to our SPIRITUAL lives as well. There are some things in our life that God wants “put to sleep”, so He can do surgery on us:
o WORRY – We need to put our WORRY’S to sleep. We need to give them to the Lord, and FORGET those things that are behind, and look in faith to Christ. Philip. 3:13-14 – “forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, [14] I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.”
o GRUDGES – We need to bury them so deep, that they can never surface again. Holding GRUDGES or ILL-FEELINGS against someone is like a CANCER. It eats us up. It doesn’t do near the damage to others, that it does to us. We need to bury the past … not dig it up, again & again. Philip. 3:13-14 (again) – “forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, [14] I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.”
o SINFUL HABITS – We need to put them to sleep, so God can do surgery on us … they’ve been NIGHTMARES too long … ruling & ruining our lives.
When God put Adam to sleep, he awoke … and there was Eve … a help-mate, a companion, a blessing! Those things that are hindering our Spiritual growth … we need for God to put them to sleep, so He can do His surgery on us.
When I think of “sleep”, I think of:
2.- PETER – Acts 12:5-7 – Herod the King had James, the brother of John, killed. When he saw that it pleased the Jews, he arrested Peter & put him in prison.
Jesus said, “Peter, sleep on”, and that’s exactly what Peter was doing. He wasn’t worrying, complaining, or losing any sleep over it … he was sleeping like a baby. His “sleep” was a sleep of peace … and trust in God. Peter had placed his life in God’s hands. God was in control … there was nothing to worry about.
How could Peter (we) do this? Peter gave his TOMORROWS to the Lord. WHY? BECAUSE … he gave his TODAY’S to the Lord. Peter had nothing to lose. AFTER ALL, “absent from the body is to be present with the Lord” (2 Cor. 5:6).
When I think of “sleep”, I think of:
3.- CHRIST – Matthew 8:23-27 – This is the only time in Scripture that we read of Him sleeping. AND … what a time to sleep! Have you ever known somebody like this … who can sleep no matter what’s going on around them? BUT … there was a PURPOSE for His sleeping … to test their faith.
What is the PURPOSE for the storms in our life? It’s an opportunity for us to cry out to God, like the Disciples did … “Lord, save us, we perish!”. The Disciples cried out to Jesus, and He was ASLEEP!
REMEMBER Psalm 121:4 – “Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep.” BUT … sometimes, it SEEMS LIKE God is SLEEPING, doesn’t it? WHY? The same reason the Disciples found Jesus SLEEPING … to test their faith.
How did they wake Jesus? ANSWER: With their prayer … “Lord, save us!”. These trials & storms in our life are to bring us to our knees in prayer. Sometimes, that’s the only way He can get us on our knees … AMEN? PRAYER will AWAKEN the POWER of God.
God may not answer your prayer WHEN you want Him to … or HOW you want Him to. BUT … that simply means that He has something else for you to learn … something BETTER for you.
When I think of “sleep”, I think of:
4.- STEPHEN – Acts 7:59-60 – Stephen had just preached to the Sanhedrin about the unbelief of Israel. They didn’t like it! (don’t get any ideas!).
The Bible likens the DEATH of a Christian as “sleep”. This is the picture that Jesus gave of Lazarus - John 11:11 - “Our friend Lazarus sleepeth; but I go, that I may awake him out of sleep.” When I go to bed, I shed my old clothes and put on my pajamas and go to sleep (please don’t put that image in your minds!). The Christian, when he dies, sheds his old body (old clothes) for a new one, before he enters the presence of he Lord.
o Like sleep, he rests from the labors of this earth.
o Like sleep, he is refreshed at the breaking of dawn, to a life of eternal joy & peace.
o Like sleep, he will awaken in the presence of Jesus.
SO … Jesus says, “Sleep on!”. There are GOOD things about “sleep”. BUT … there are also some things that AREN’T so good about “sleep” … Spiritually speaking. Jesus also said: “Arise out of your sleep”. 1 Thes. 5:6 – “Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.”
II. “Rise, Let us be going.”
I see several people in the Bible who could apply the words of Jesus to “Arise out of your sleep.”
When I think of “sleep”, I think of:
1.- SAMSON – Judges 16:18-19 – Samson was lulled to sleep by Delilah. Satan loves to do that to us, doesn’t he? THEN … when he gets us to sleep, he starts with the scissors … taking away our strength and our usefulness. 16:20-21.
Satan knew Samson’s weakness … WOMEN! Satan knows YOUR weakness, too. He knows what will draw you & me away from the Lord. Maybe it’s the love of money … the lust of the flesh … pride … the love of pleasure … I could go on & on. You know what YOURS is … I know what MINE is.
Satan will lull you to sleep … THEN … get out the scissors … and steal your JOY and USEFULNESS. Jesus says: “Arise out of thy sleep.”.
When I think of “sleep”, I think of:
2.- JONAH – Jonah 1:4-5 – Jonah slept in total insensitivity to the WILL of God … the CALL of God. Jonah didn’t care about the lost, like God did. Jonah said: “Let them all go to Hell … I don’t care.” THEN .. he went to SLEEP.
How many of us do the same thing? We’re satisfied with our own salvation. We’re going to Heaven, so that’s all that matters. If others don’t want to go there, that’s their tough luck! What have we done? We’ve become like Jonah. It’s time we woke out of our sleep. Jesus said, “Arise, let us be going.”
When I think of “sleep”, I think of:
3.- EUTYCHUS (one of my favorite Bible characters) – Acts 20:7-9 – He started out right, but he just got weary in well-doing … AND … it cost him! The Christian life is a STRUGGLE … it’s hard to STAY AWAKE … the Devil is doing his best to put you to SLEEP.
What happens when the Devil puts you to sleep? ANSWER: You miss out on God’s blessings … you’re asleep!
Look at the Disciples on the Mount of Transfiguration - Luke 9:32 – “But Peter and they that were with him were heavy with sleep: and when they were awake, they saw his glory, and the two men that stood with him.” They almost missed out on seeing the glory of the Lord!
Look at the Disciples in the Garden of Gethsemane - Luke 22:45 – “And when he rose up from prayer, and was come to his disciples, he found them sleeping for sorrow,” AND … they didn’t receive the strength they needed for the problems they would face the next day.
Don’t let the Devil put you to sleep … it’s DANGEROUS! It’s a long way down to the bottom! You’ve come too far, to fall down now. Jesus said, “Arise out of your sleep.”.
When I think of “sleep”, I think of:
4.- TEN VIRGINS – Matthew 25:1-5 – They weren’t living in light of the Lord’s soon return. They were caught SLEEPING!
o 5 were caught UN-PREPARED … no oil … a picture of the LOST.
o 5 were caught PREPARED … oil in their lamps … a picture of the SAVED.
BUT … ALL TEN were caught “sleeping” !– 21:5
What’s the LESSON here for us? 21:13 – We don’t know WHEN Jesus is coming back … we’d better not be caught “sleeping”. This is a “sleepy” generation. Jesus gives this warning in Mark 13:35-36 – “Watch ye therefore: for ye know not when the master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cockcrowing, or in the morning: [36] Lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping.”
Don’t be so sound ASLEEP, spiritually speaking, that you aren’t ready for the Lord’s coming. Don’t get caught UNPREPARED.
CONCLUSION:
o Maybe there are some things in your life that you need to “put to sleep” … some sin … some habit … some worries … some grudges … some ill-feelings …
o Maybe we need some trials in our life to see that Jesus isn’t “sleeping” … BUT … that He cares about you .. and is always there for you.
o Maybe we need to see that Satan is trying to lull you to sleep … to steal your joy … our effectiveness as a Christian.
Some people will be Spiritually asleep … UNTIL … one day they wake up in the pit of Hell. THEN … it will be too late! The LOST need to wake up to the fact that they are a sinner, in need of a Savior.
There are some things in our lives that we need to PUT TO SLEEP … there are other things that we need to WAKE UP about. Let’s let the Holy Spirit be out teacher tonight.
STAND – PRAYER
OUTLINE FOR HANDOUT:
WORDS OF DISTINCTION – “Sleep”
INTRODUCTION: There is GOOD sleep, and BAD sleep.
- Matthew 26:45-46 – Jesus said:
o 26:45 - “Sleep on now.”
o 26:46 – “Rise, let us be going.”
I. “Sleep On”
1.- ADAM – Genesis 2:18-22
- There might be some things God needs to do surgery on us:
o Worry – Philippians 3:13-14
o Grudges – Philippians 3:13-14
o Sinful Habits
2.- PETER – Acts 12:5-7 – Peter gave his today & tomorrow to the Lord – 2 Corinthians 5:6
3.- CHRIST – Matthew 8:23-27 – His purpose for sleeping was to test their faith – Psalm 121:4
- Prayer will awaken the power of God.
4.- STEPHEN – Acts 7:59-60 – Death is like sleep to the Christian – John 11:11
II. “Rise, let us be going.”
1.- SAMSON – Judges 16:18-19 – When we are sleeping, Satan will take the scissors to us – 16:20-21
- Satan knows your weakness … and uses it to steal your joy and effectiveness.
2.- JONAH – Jonah 1:4-5 – Jonah was insensitive to the will and call of God.
3.- EUTYCHUS – Acts 20:7-9 – The Devil tries to put you to sleep so you will miss out on God’s blessings – Luke 9:32, 22:45.
4.- TEN VIRGINS – Matthew 25:1-5 – All 10 were sleeping.
- Don’t be asleep when the Lord returns – Mark 13:35-36
CONCLUSION:
o Are there some things in your life that needs to be put to sleep?
o Are there some trials in your life that are put there so you can see that Jesus isn’t sleeping?
o Satan is trying to lull you to sleep to steal your joy and effectiveness.
Don’t be caught sleeping when Jesus comes!
PRISCILLA BAPTIST CHURCH – Ray Scott, Pastor
