“Don’t Fall Asleep NOW!” Part 1

^{“Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.”}

^{1 Thessalonians 5:6}

As I began to study out this topic, more and more things came to my attention in the Bible that pertained to this subject. I narrowed it down to a few illustrations and the second part will be concluded next week.

How many times in our Christian lives, do we go along going through the motions and doing our job or ministry and fall into a trance or a rut? It’s easy to do. With our busy schedules and mind-boggling long list of activities and responsibilities, we begin to lose sight of things that are really important to God and for ourselves and our families.

I believe that is Satan’s strategy. He wants to keep us busy and sidetracked so that we forget to be alert and watch for his attack. He wants to lull us to sleep so that he can slip in unnoticed and wreak havoc in our lives and the lives of our loved ones. Think about this right now! If you were to fall asleep and not keep your guard up for yourself and those that you love, who would? Could it be that you may be the only one interceding for someone about to be attacked by Satan? Sobering and convicting thought isn’t it? The truth of the matter is that we very well may be the only person interceding on someone’s behalf. How are you doing? Are you alert and awake or are you distracted and asleep? The outcome of someone’s vulnerability to Satan’s attack may depend on you.

“And she made him sleep upon her knees; and she called for a man, and she caused him to shave off the seven locks of his head;  and she began to afflict him, and his strength went from him.”

Judges 16:19

As I looked into those in the Bible that fell asleep instead of being alert and watching, it was no surprise to see the end results. Let’s take a look at a very well-known man, Samson as an example. We all know the account. What happened? Well, Delilah was being paid by the Philistines to find out the secret of Sampson’s strength. He tricked her a few times, but then what happened? He fell asleep. He let down his guard and Satan swooped in via Delilah and Samson was done. He lost his strength.

“Then Jael Heber's wife took a nail of the tent, and took an hammer in her hand, and went softly unto him, and smote the nail into his temples, and fastened it into the ground: for he was fast asleep and weary. So he died.”

Judges 4:21

Remember when God told Deborah, Barak and the children of Israel to attack Sisera and his many men? God intervened and the children of Israel won the battle but Sisera ran away and escaped to the tent of Jael. There Sisera fell asleep because he thought he was safe. Jael drove a tent nail through his head and pinned him to the ground. Sisera died. He lost his life.

“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.”

Luke 9:32

How about when Jesus took Peter, John and James and went up into the mountain to pray? Remember that the glory of God shone as Jesus met with Moses and Elias. Peter, John and James fell asleep. They missed out on seeing the glory of the Lord.

“And the keeper of the prison awaking out of his sleep, and seeing the prison doors open, he drew out his sword, and would have killed himself, supposing that the prisoners had been fled.”

Acts 16:27

Remember Paul and Silas? They were sitting in a dungeon prison and they were singing their hearts out in praise to the Lord. What happened? The prison began to shake and their chains fell off. Where was the guard? The guard was sleeping. When he woke up and saw what had happened he took his sword and was ready to kill himself until Paul and Silas called out to him that they were still there. The guard had missed out on witnessing a miracle.

Continued Next Week!