Written by Uyoyou Christiana Charles-Iyoha
Sleep is good. This is because the human body is
divinely designed to rest, heal and rejuvenate during sleep, albeit quality
sleeps devoid of worries, anxiety, fears and probably nightmares. However, too
much sleep is not good for the body just as too little sleep or lack of sleep
is not good for the body.
Significantly, sleep is not just physical. There is
also spiritual sleep, a situation where a person goes to sleep spiritually.
That is to say that you relax your spiritual oars, no Bible reading and study,
no fervent prayers, no waiting on God, no praise and worship sessions, no
evangelism, you are complacent, laid back, lackadaisical and non chalant about
your Christian life and you even take sin for granted. Beloved, this is a dangerous
spiritual state that if left to slide further can spell disaster.
The Bible records that a young man named
Eutychus was overcome by sleep and fell
from the third story of the building to the ground floor. Quite instructive is
the fact that Eutychus was at a deeply spiritual meeting – the Apostle Paul was
leaving Troas for good the following day. So he decided to speak to the
believers there as well as break bread with them. It was in the midst of this
meeting that Eutychus chose to sleep and even as he sank into deep sleep, it
did not occur to him to leave the window sill where he was sitting to a less
dangerous place to sleep in; or better still, stand up and walk around to shake
off the sleep. He slept on till sleep took the better part of him and he fell
down dead.
Fortunately and to the glory of God, the Apostle
Paul was used by God to minister life to him and he was brought back to life.
Beloved, spiritual sleep is dangerous and should not
be toyed with. It is actually a satanic tool and trap with which the enemy
plants thorns and thistles in the lives of the children of God. Please read
Matthew Chapter 13 verses 24 to 30, Proverbs Chapters 24 verses 30 to 34, 6
verses 4 to 11, 10 verse 5. It is also the sleep of death, death to a new life
in Christ Jesus. Please read Psalm 13 verse 3. It is a snare that should be
avoided at all costs as it brings unpalatable consequences and is a harbinger
of negative circumstances such as the great poverty which came upon the young
man devoid of understanding in Proverbs chapter 24 who left his vineyard to go
to seed because of his lack of control over sleep.
Fortunately and instructively, spiritual sleep can
be avoided. How, you may ask? Through prompt and willing obedience to the instructions
given to you by the Holy Spirit at all times. You read and study your Bible
when He prompts you to do so; you spend quality time in fellowship with God
when He prompts you to do so; you pray, praise and worship and adore when He
prompts you to do so; you go for evangelism when He prompts you to do so; you
plant seeds of kindness and His love when He prompts you to do so; and you
minister His grace when He prompts you to do so.
As you are consistently led and guided by the Spirit
of grace and supplication and you are willing to and obedient, God in His
power, mercy and grace will stir you out of harm’s way and ensure you do not
sleep spiritually.
No comments:
Post a Comment