I Thessalonians 5:6

1. Intro.
1. the duty of the gospel minister is to point out every turning of the road to heaven
1. to speak concerning dangers
2. to speak concerning privileges
2. there is a portion of the road which leads to heaven that has more danger than any other portion
1. it does not abound with lions or darks, scary woods
2. it does not have any deep pitfalls, yet more Christians have been destroyed here than anywhere else
3. there seems to be a place on the road to heaven where many Christians fall to sleep
3. this verse of Scripture warns us to not fall asleep (spiritually)
1. there are many Christians and churches today that have fallen to sleep
2. these people are doctrinally sound, but they have laid down in the bed of sloth
2. what it means to be in a state of sleep
1. a state of insensibility
1. when a man is asleep, he does not know what is going on around him
2. when a man grows sleepy, he becomes unconcerned with what is going on around him
1. prayer isn’t important anymore
2. the thought of a sinner perishing in hell no longer moves us
3. they think that the preaching is not what it use to be
2. he that sleeps is subject to divers illusions
1. when we sleep, our sense of judgment is gone
2. when we sleep, we fashion strange things in our head
1. we may dream of being rich and powerful, but in reality we are poor and weak
2. the dream world seems so real, but it is not
3. spiritual sleep does not allow us to see things as they really are
3. sleep is a state of inaction
1. no daily bread is earned by him that is asleep
2. nothing worthwhile is gained by those that sleep
3. how many Christians are inactive
1. once it was their delight to teach a Sunday School class
2. once they attended prayer meetings
3. once they were involved in the work of the church, but now they are just bench warmers
4. were are the ministers that preach
1. there are men that can amuse an audience for twenty minutes, but is that preaching
2. the Bible says to preach the Word, to be instant in season and out of season
4. the man who sleeps is in a state of insecurity
1. when sleeping we are the most vulnerable
1. many a people have been killed in their sleep
2. Samson’s hair was cut off while he was sleeping
3. David’s men took the spear of a sleeping Saul
4. Eutychus fell asleep while Paul was preaching, and fell from the third loft and died
2. sleeping men are always in danger
1. they cannot ward off the blows of an enemy
2. Christians that are asleep are in great danger
1. Satan can never take our life
2. Satan can take our sword, shield, and breastplate
3. why the Christian should be awake
1. because the Lord is coming – I Thessalonians 5:1-2
1. He comes as a thief in the night, let us not be found sleeping
2. He comes at such an hour as we think not
3. He will come in the clouds of heaven to gather His church
1. is there any Christian that want to be found sleeping when he come
2. if our Lord were to come this morning, are there not many who would be afraid to see Him
4. when we are expecting company, do we not tidy and clean our house
5. do we want to have our house dusty, and spiders of neglect building their webs when Jesus arrives
6. what activity will Jesus find us doing when He comes (watching or sleeping)
2. will we sleep while souls are being lost
1. sleepy Christians are asleep while souls are being lost
2. while people are being damned
3. while hell is being filled with people
4. while Christ is being dishonored
5. while the devil is grinning at thy sleepy face
6. we will never catch the devil asleep, don’t let him catch us asleep
4. when is the Christian most likely to sleep
1. when his worldly circumstances are all right
1. easy roads tend to make us slumber
2. few sleep in a storm
3. why are many churches asleep now
2. when all is going well in spiritual matters
1. "there is no temptation half so bad as not being tempted"
2. the distressed soul does not sleep
3. it is after we have gained confidence that we are in danger of falling into sleep
3. when we get near our journeys end
1. when are we most likely to sleep: when we are weary
2. when are we likely to be weary: at the end of the journey
3. most accidents happen close to home
4. those who have been many years in grace are most in danger of slumber
1. we get into the routine of the thing
2. if we are always traveling the same road we are likely to sleep
5. we need to have the heart and spirit of Caleb when he said, "give me that mountain"
6. we should always be seeking new ground to conquer
5. how to stay awake
1. keep Christian company
1. Christians who isolate themselves are in danger of falling to sleep
2. Two Christians working together for the Lord will travel to heaven faster than one
2. look at interesting things
1. there are some things which make it impossible to sleep while looking at
2. Jesus crucified on the cross is one of those things
3. a Christian never went to sleep at the foot of the cross
3. have a deep sense of value for the place to which we are going
1. if we remember that we are going to heaven, we will not sleep
2. if we remember that hell is behind us, and the devil is pursuing us; we will not sleep
3. heavens gates are open, and waiting for us to enter into its safe boundaries
6. there are some that do not sleep at all, because they are positively dead