Don't Sleep Through Your Blessings

Ephesians 5:14 AV

Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light.

Intro. The Book of Ephesians has two divisions:

Chapters 1-3 How God see the Church in Christ

Chapters 4-6 How God would have the world see the Church in Christ

Chapter 5:14, since we have been given clear instruction on the Characteristics of living the Christian life, now it’s fitting that Paul give us exhortation and warning of the pitfalls in the Christian life.

I. THE STATE OF MIND INTO WHICH THE CHRISTIAN CAN GET

“…thou that sleepest...” He may be asleep

A Christian may be asleep and not know it. See ;

Mark 10:17–22 AV

And when he was gone forth into the way, there came one running, and kneeled to him, and asked him, Good Master, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life? And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God. Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Defraud not, Honour thy father and mother. And he answered and said unto him, Master, all these have I observed from my youth. Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me. And he was sad at that saying, and went away grieved: for he had great possessions.

A sleeping Christian may be kept in high esteem by his neighbors. (Fellow Christians are not likely to accuse him!)

May have taken great pains not to be awaken. “I know what I believe”

May carry on normal activities:

Talk in his sleep - earnest, kind, warmhearted.

Walk in his sleep. Sleep walking can take you to dangerous places.

Can dream in his sleep - Bigger SS, bigger Church, Bigger choir

Why is it bad for Christians to be asleep?

We are Christ’s servants and ought not to be asleep!

We can be certain that the enemy is awake!

Why is it that Christians go to sleep

Our evil nature

Chloroform of bad doctrine

Warming sun of prosperity

Intoxication of pride

II. WHAT DOES CHRIST SAY TO HIS PEOPLE WHO ARE ASLEEP?

Ephesians 5:14 AV

Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light.

Asleep - dead vs.14

Asleep - dead

One who is dead:

Knows nothing

Sees nothing

Hears nothing

Feels nothing

Says nothing

III. THE PROMISE WITH WHICH CHRIST PROMISES US TO AWAKE

Ephesians 5:14 AV

Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light.

Eph

“…and Christ shall give thee light.”