Sleeping Saint

Introduction

Ephesians 5:8–15 (NKJV)

8 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light 9 (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth), 10 finding out what is acceptable to the Lord. 11 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them. 12 For it is shameful even to speak of those things which are done by them in secret. 13 But all things that are exposed are made manifest by the light, for whatever makes manifest is light. 14 Therefore He says: “Awake, you who sleep, Arise from the dead, And Christ will give you light.” 15 See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise,

PRAY.

Background:

Many times when God gives me a sermon, it will begin with a thought on a specific verse. It did not happen this way with this one. In fact, this is a message that has been stirring inside of me for quite some time, but God only recently opened it up to me. I kept hearing the term sleeping saint.

Interestingly enough, when one uses the term “Sleeping Saint,” it is often to describe Christians who have passed from mortal life who now sleep in Jesus. When we hear this verse we often think of 1 Thessalonians 4 when Paul talks about not wanting us to be ignorant concerning those who have fallen asleep or “passed away.”

In fact, when I heard “Sleeping Saint,” in my mind I knew it would be a sermon and I automatically thought that would be the text and the message, but how many people know that God’s ways are higher than ours and He is the one who gives the message? That said, I must let you know that there is another type of sleeping saint, and that is the saint I am going to talk about today.

Point 1: Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing

We have all heard the phrase, “Wolf in Sheep’s clothing,” but what about the Sheep in Wolf’s clothing.

This phrase originates from Matthew 7:15

Matthew 7:15 NKJV

15 “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves.

Jesus used this metaphor to talk about false prophets who at their hearts are evil but disguise themselves with goodness. Remember my earlier sermon where I told you not to watch words or even actions but fruit? It is made plain in verse 9:

Ephesians 5:8–9 NKJV

8 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light 9 (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth),

To walk as children of the light, it is a matter of fruit. However, here comes the great equalizer. Verse 8 tells us we were all once darkness .So many times we forget that it is Christ who gives us light. In fact, we all know Romans 3:23 by heart, “For all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.”

If it surprises you the type of people that God chooses to use, you would really be surprised at the ones the demons get the most use out of. We are looking for fruit, not ministry, not words, not even actions—fruit, which is the outworking of actions and words that are done in real obedience to God. Those are the things God told us we would be able to use to measure a good tree from a bad one.

The fact is, when we learn to use Scripture as a mirror and look at ourselves, then we can learn from this verse that we were all in darkness, and we can begin to think about how God brought us out and then realize that God’s light can bring others out—and no case is hopeless.

So I would like to mirror things today and talk about “The Sheep in Wolf’s Clothing.

Point 2: Sheep in Wolf’s Clothing

Pastor Darlene McCarty had a teaching at Camp Jackson one time on Prickly People. We all know one. It is someone who may for whatever reason irk us or seem completely unapproachable.

You see a wolf in sheep’s clothing is a person with bad motives, who disguises as a sheep, but what is critical for you to understand is that there is a such thing as a “Sheep in wolf’s clothing”

These are people who for whatever reason want to portray themselves as prickly or as a wolf to keep people away for whatever reason, but inside of them is a sheep. I know because I am one of them.

If you would’ve known me 10 years ago, many of you would’ve crossed the other side of the street to avoid coming into contact with me. However, God saw something more.

The Bible Says:

Ephesians 5:13–14 NKJV

13 But all things that are exposed are made manifest by the light, for whatever makes manifest is light. 14 Therefore He says: “Awake, you who sleep, Arise from the dead, And Christ will give you light.”

This is interesting to me. You see, we often think of the exposing of the dark by the light but never the light by the light. However, it says to those who sleep that are in darkness, arise from the dead and Christ will give you light.

“The enemy knows your name but calls you by your sin, God knows your sin but calls you by your name. “

No one is beyond saving. In fact, the Bible is clear:

Because the fact is, I wasn’t saved just so I could be saved. I was saved so I could be saved and reach people—waking up those who sleep. In fact, there are people who are divinely assigned for me to come across who are asleep that maybe due to my own testimony only I am able to wake up.

Ezekiel 3:18 NKJV

18 When I say to the wicked, ‘You shall surely die,’ and you give him no warning, nor speak to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life, that same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood I will require at your hand.

We are commanded by God to

Point 3: Waking Those Who Sleep

Ephesians 5:1–2 NKJV

1 Therefore be imitators of God as dear children. 2 And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma.

John said:

John 1:3–4 NKJV

3 All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. 4 In Him was life, and the life was the light of men.

You are therefore commanded by God to not only live in the light that was given to you but to give that light to others.

Is your life the light of men? Are you living it or just talking it?

In order to live it, you must be sharing it.

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