ASLEEP AT THE PEW?
Eph 5:14
14 Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light.
I used to sleep walk at the old North Side Assy of God Church when I was a child. My mother would place a blanket on the floor by her feet and I would sleep. I was found wondering around the parking lot, I Guess I thought I was heading for the restroom.
Sleepwalking can be dangerous. Bumping into obstacles, falling, etc.
Asleep at the wheel can be deadly also. I’ve driven some distances and did not remember passing through certain areas. Scary.
But I want to talk about something more dangerous and can be fatal, and that is being asleep at the pew.
I’m not talking about snoring. I’m talking about sitting in church with no real concern. Some people sleep with their eyes open. Asleep and can’t hear a word you are saying.
It really aggravates me to talk to someone, with them looking at me and knowing that they are not listening to me.
How much more must it aggravate Jesus for people to sit where the Word of God is being preached knowing that they are not listening to what He is saying to them.
John 8:43
43 Why do ye not understand my speech? even because ye cannot hear my word.
Matt 13:10,13,15
10 And the disciples came, and said unto him, Why speakest thou unto them in parables?
13 Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand.
(If I told them in plain English, they would not understand me)
15 For this people’s heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.
How many times have you left a service not taking into consideration that God may have been talking specifically to you.
Maybe you were asleep.
How are you living? Holy I hope. If not, then God may be speaking to you this morning.
Matt 15:10
Hear, and understand:
1 Thess 5:6
6 Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.
1 Peter 5:8-9
8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:
I find it interesting in the Bible that when God spoke specifically to some one they had no problem hearing Him and usually responded with great fear.
But, when He spoke through men people had a difficult time hearing Him and usually the authority was not respected.
Matt 23:34,37
34 Wherefore, behold, I send unto you prophets, and wise men, and scribes: and some of them ye shall kill and crucify; and some of them shall ye scourge in your synagogues, and persecute them from city to city.
Let me give you an example of the devastation of those asleep at the pew.
Matt 25:1-12
25:1 Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom.
2 And five of them were wise, and five were foolish.
(In what were foolish? They were still virgins. I believe they were
apathetic -1. Feeling or showing a lack of interest or concern; indifferent. 2. Feeling or showing little or no emotion; unresponsive. Happy going to church, just asleep on the pew.
3 They that were foolish took their lamps, (Line them all up and they looked alike) and took no oil with them:
4 But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.
5 While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept.
6 And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him.
7 Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps.
8 And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out.
9 But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves.
10 And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut.
11 Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us.
12 But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not.
You are vulnerable when you are asleep. The devil can do with you what he wants to and by the time you notice it, the damage is done and it’s usually too late.
When you are asleep you are useless. You are of no benefit to those around you, your family, the Church or the Kingdom of God.
There are many people who say they hope they die in their sleep.
You don’t want to die if you are spiritually asleep.
How can I awake?
The first thing to do is to acknowledge that you have been sleeping in the pew.
Repent.
Revive your prayer life (obviously you didn’t have one).
Revive your interest in Bible study.
Work in the church to help keep yourself accountable.
Luke 11:28
Blessed are they that hear the word of God, and keep it.
Luke 8:18
18 Take heed therefore how ye hear:
John 5:25
...they that hear shall live.
John 10:27
27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:
Rom 13:11-14
11 And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed.
12 The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light.
13 Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying.
14 But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.
1 Cor 15:34
34 Awake to righteousness, and sin not;
