“AWAKE”

I THESSALONIANS 5:6

2/58

 

Introduction:

 

What sad things, depravity had done:  things in nature which are pictures of divine plenitude of blessing are now representative of sin.

 

Compare:  the waters - across the plain, through the valley, fertile deposit of soil in which farmer sow his seed, bears commerce of work upon it’s bosom, but sin appropriates the figure.  The judgment of God: sin like the breaking forth of waters.

 

Compare:  fire - one of God’s most gracious gifts, gladden our hearts in winter, picture of divine influence of Holy Spirit, of the Holy zeal of Christians but sin touched it, become the fires of torment and hell.

 

So sleep - one of God’s sweetest gifts; the very figure of the blessed, “they that sleep in Jesus.”  David puts it among the rich gifts of grace:  “So he giveth his beloved sleep.”  But sin - also - has appropriated this metaphor also.  Sleep here a sinful condition.  The lost, condemned world pictured as asleep - “as others do.”  The danger of the Christian - that he may fall into the slumber of the lost, the base, ignoble herd who are not alive to the celestial calling.  This sleep into which the Christian may fall is not the death of the lost - we were dead once in trespasses and in sin but now are resurrected and shall never die, quickened into immortal life; but a sleep so nearly akin to death that slumbering Christian’s look as if they were dead; carnal sinners.

 

 

I.  THE GREAT DANGER

 

John Bunyan, Pilgrim’s Progress.

 

The road that leads from the City of Destruction to the City of God - a position of it more dangerous than any other.  Not abound with lions, no dragons in it - no dark woods, no deep pitfalls, yet more pilgrims destroyed there than any other. 

 

Lying down to slumber, like Heedless and Too-bold, in the Arbors of Sloth.  The church at east in Zion; tread softly, she is fast asleep.

 

Not when the Coliseum is filled with the roar of hungry beasts.

 

Not when the town square of Smithfield is filled with stakes.

 

Not when Patmos is waiting to receive the lonely and exiled pastor of Ephesus.

 

Never read that Christian’s slept when lions in the way.

In Giant Despair’s castle

When fighting with Apollyon.

When going through the River of Death.

 

But after the weary road to pretty little arbor, went in, sat down, rested himself, unstrapped sandals, rubbed weary feet...asleep.

 

 

II.  WHY PAUL APPEALS TO WAKE UP

 

     1.  5:5,6  It is daytime.  Opportunity time.  Work time. 

 

Compare:  Dallas at 7-8-9 o’clock in the a.m.  The thoroughfares...  But if silent, still...untimely, unseemly.  So for a church to be asleep, slumber...

 

Insensible:

Sleep sealed their senses.  Oblivious.  Watchman calls from the tower - he asleep.

Revolution raging in the street below - he asleep.

Fire, flood of changing fortunes - he asleep.

Opportunities - past.

 

Inactive:

Farmer not plough his field.

Pilot not guide his ship.

Merchandiser not run his business.

 

Asleep.  Spiders of night building cobwebs over the house.

 

Children unsought, unbrought, untaught.  Have everything, except the will, heart to work.

 

Subject to illusions:

 

What queer things, he that sleepeth is subject to.

Fear and fears - dreams...

Distortions...personal grandeur...

 

     2.  It is wartime.  5:8.

 

Compare:  The enemy at the gates - the captain with his orders, dispatches before him, asleep at the table.  Soldiers slumbering, nodding over their bayonets.  Airmen, asleep in their briefing rooms.  Not a man keeping watch - not a sentry awake.

 

Another Pearl Harbor.

Another Titanic.

 

What is the matter?  Has some great wizard been waving his wand, put a spell…?  Here, take the trumpet, blow a blast, a call to arms.

 

The sleeper - anything take him away.

 

A.  Mighty Sisera - man of war - banners had waved victorious over greatest foes - asleep in tent of Jael - softly nail and hammer - Judges 4:21.

 

B.  Mighty Samson asleep, shorn of his locks, and the Philistines upon him.  Judges 16:19.

 

C.  Sleeping Saul, surrounded by Abner, captain of the host, and his army.  Abashai, seeing the spear stuck in the ground at his bolster; “Let me smite him but that once - I will not smite him the second time.”

 

The blackwinged angel of us “But once - not a second time.”

 

     3.  It is death-time.

 

The Black Plague - wagons down the street - ringing of a bell.  “Bring out your dead - bring out your dead.”  Rumbling of the wheels of the carts - the dreadful cry.

 

The only difference - more concentrated then.  Time brought swiftly.

 

The cart, the wagon, now the funeral car.

 

House marked with white cross - now a wreath.

 

     5.  It is storm-time, judgment time.

 

Compare:  A howling storm, broken ahead, on the rocks directly.  Where the captain?  Sailors!  200 passengers aboard.

 

Compare:  A poor wretch condemned to be hanged by neck till die, a pardon for him - under the pillow of a sleeping friend.

 

Compare:  A physician, cure for cancer.