Some saints tend to be sleepy. I am not necessarily talking about nodding off during a sermon. I am thinking about the "sleepiness" of spirit that is a danger to our souls.

One who is sleepy is unaware of what is going on around him. He is not alert or active. If he tries to do something, he stumbles around. He does not hear what others are telling him.

Saints that are spiritually sleepy are a danger to themselves and those around them. If a sleepy saint is a parent, he will not know the dangers that threaten his children. If he is an elder in the church, he will be unaware of the devil's activities to destroy the body of Christ. A sleepy Christian remains weak and immature who is not awake and listening to the instruction of God's word.

Spiritual sleep may indicate total spiritual death. God says, "Awake, you who sleep, arise from the dead, and Christ will give you light" (Eph. 5:14). Paul said that some in the church at Corinth were weak and sick, and "many sleep" - they were spiritually dead (1 Cor. 11:30). We can be asleep and dead to Christ!

Sleepy saints need to wake up! All of us must be alert to the danger of Satan: "Be sober, be vigilant [watchful]; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour" (1 Pet. 5:8). We cannot sleep and hope others will watch for us. Satan is looking for sleepy saints who are easy prey.

Jesus may return in our lifetime. We don't want Jesus to find us spiritually asleep: "Therefore let us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be sober" (1 Thess. 5:6). The devil can do a lot of bad things if we are asleep. We will lose our souls if we are spiritually asleep. Wake up and be watchful!

- The Central Voice, August 2014