31/08/2012
WHEN TO STAY AWAKE!
By Oyerinde Tom Agunloye
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Many people sleep when they are supposed to be doing some other things that may benefit their lives, whether spiritual physical, marital or otherwise. To my greatest amazement, Christians tend to be the major culprits. Yet the Bible warns in Prov.6:10-11 yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to slee
p: So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth, and thy want as an armed man.
Apostles Peter, James and John were supposed to be praying for themselves, the Church and making intercessory prayers for the Lord when they slept off in Matt 26:36-46, Mark 14:32-42; Lk22:39-46. Jesus even came to them and emphasized the need to pray, but they chose to sleep instead. In 1Kings 3:19-21, a woman slept on her baby and took another woman’s baby when the latter was also asleep. Also in Matt.13:24, when men slept the enemy came and soweth tares among the wheat.
Recently, a couple and a baby were sleeping after a night-long crusade in an auditorium; the little girl suddenly woke in the middle of night and walked away. Maybe if they had stayed awake praying or studying the word they would have seen the girl when she left them. It was God that actually saved the day for them. He (God) is merciful!
Brethren, let us not waste our precious time sleeping when we are suppose to pray, study the Word, do all the necessary tasks we ought to do and make good plans for the next day/s, week/s or years. Pro.6:6-9 Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise: which having no guide, overseer, or ruler, Provideth her meat in the summer, and gathereth her food in the harvest How long wilt thou sleep, O sluggard? when wilt thou arise out of thy sleep?
Sleep is not bad after all, as the body needs certain level of rest but when we sleep we should also be spiritually awakened. In Sam. 26:7-12, Saul who sees David as his arch-enemy slept off when he was even looking for David to kill. He would have killed David if David was the one sleeping.
Matt 25:5-6 says ‘While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept. And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him’. Apart from not having enough fuel in their lantern, it is glaring that the foolish virgins would not have made it even if the oil is sold in the next building to them. This is because they may not have fully recovered from their sleep, and some among them might still be dreaming when the bridegroom was fully around. Ps.132:4-5 says ‘I will not give sleep to mine eyes, or slumber to mine eyelids, Until I find out a place for the LORD, an habitation for the mighty God of Jacob’. Is.5:27 None shall be weary nor stumble among them; none shall slumber nor sleep; neither shall the girdle of their loins be loosed, nor the latchet of their shoes be broken.
Brethren, unnecessary sleep/slumber brings poverty, backwardness, failure, shame etc. Please wake-up spiritually!
Stay blessed!
