subject: Be careful where you sleep [print this page] Be careful where you sleep Be careful where you sleep
On the roads, tiredness can causes sleep, and fatal accidents, people sleep on the buses, in the airplane, in taxis, on the sofa, in their own bed, some in the fields, some on grass, and some fall leaning up against the wall, many sleep in the gutter, and wake up not knowing where they are, some sleep even while you are talking to them, others having fall asleep in strange places, has never woken back up.
While Paul was preaching Eutychus fell asleep and fell out of the window, he did not fell inward, he fell outward, we not aware if he broke any bones, he fell from the third floor, and died, then miraculously raised back to life by Paul. This tells us several things, be careful where you sleep, your guard may be let down, your security may not be in place, and never sit on the fence, make your decision for or against.
Acts 20:9. This is an instance of sleeping in public worship has some apology. The late hour of the night, and the length of the services, was the excuse. But, though the thing is often done now, yet how seldom is a sleeper in a church furnished with an excuse for it. No practice is more shameful, disrespectful, than that which so common of sleeping in the house of God. Reflects motives and interest.
Some people fall asleep after just a few minutes, especially if they are tired, coming in from work, or has done some energetic exercise. Allowances are made in these areas to refresh and reinvigorate the body.
In Pilgrim progress, john Bunyan, Christian slept in a den; Daniel slept in a den, and uses the lions for his pillows, classic Jonah went down into the ship, and had to be awaken by the sailors, Jesus was asleep in the ship, and woke up to rebuke the wind.
Sleep is unconscious awareness, drowsiness, not aware of the danger that surrounds us, so it is wise to make sure our house is in order, and our conduct is orderly.
The tempter behind the scene
Now we turn to the serious side of things, in the garden, In the midst of His sorrow, Jesus cried out to God three different times. Satan's goal was to prevent Christ from going to the cross,
Only hours ago, Jesus had said, "Hereafter, I will not talk much with you; for the prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in me" (John 14:30). Christ affirmed Satan would tempt Him, but that his temptation would not succeed. As Christ approached the garden, He anticipated His impending conflict with Satan. When you're filled the Holy Ghost wants to pray,
Jesus came to the place called Gethsemane, and said to His disciples, "Sit here while I go over there and pray." So, you men could not keep watch with me for one hour? 41"Keep watching and praying that you may not enter into temptation; the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak. Matthew 26:36, one of these days it may let you down if you do not guard against the things that will come inside of you, the spiritual things are very important, guard your heart for out of it are the issues of life.
Now judgment is upon this world, now the prince of this world cast out, and the grand conflict in which the enemy would be vanquished begins, the crumbling of his dominion in crisis, until he loses all power. Satan, as prince of this world, is both a murderer and a liar. These two traits of the evil spirit are related as cause and effect. The devil lies in order to kill. He deceives the human mind in order to pervert the human will.
Just prior to Christ's perspiring blood, Luke 22:43 say, "There appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening Him." Matthew 26:38 tells us His sorrow was so intense, that it was "unto death." Jesus might have died in the garden were it not for the strengthening from the angel. His solitary prayer intensified His struggle, as did His sorrow unto death. The price of victory is vigilance; the disciples were asleep at the greatest moment of spiritual conflict,
The reason for their sleep
The natural thing for the disciples to do after midnight was sleep. After all, they were weary from a busy week of activity. Additionally, they recently had eaten a huge meal--all eleven had consumed an entire sacrificial lamb and everything that went with it, including unleavened bread and four cups of wine.
Then they had just completed a long walk and a hard hike up the Mount of Olives. I'm sure they felt weary just from that. Luke adds that they also were sleepy because of sorrow (22:45). The circumstances were depressing for them, and when people become depressed, they often find escape in sleep.
