A Theology of Sleep
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Service Notes
Bro. Frick will answer the “What does the Bible say” question tonight? "Will people get married and have children during the millennial kingdom?"
Vote to add Dan & Kelli Gill as Strategic Partners
Proverbs 24:33–34 (KJV 1900)
33 Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, A little folding of the hands to sleep: 34 So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth; And thy want as an armed man.
33 Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, A little folding of the hands to sleep:
34 So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth; And thy want as an armed man.
Introduction
Introduction
Picture “Life is short. Stay awake for it.” [Slide]
Good marketing. Is it a good message? We are told to number are days. James 4:14 Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away. What if coffee vapor slowed down the vapor.
14 Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.
We all want the sleep of Proverbs 3:24 When thou liest down, thou shalt not be afraid: Yea, thou shalt lie down, and thy sleep shall be sweet. / Wish everyone could get the type of rest Henry Penrod is famous for in church.
24 When thou liest down, thou shalt not be afraid: Yea, thou shalt lie down, and thy sleep shall be sweet.
We have heard of the danger of too much sleep. Proverbs 6:10-11 Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, A little folding of the hands to sleep: 11 So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth, And thy want as an armed man. Repeated in 24:33-34
10 Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, A little folding of the hands to sleep: 11 So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth, And thy want as an armed man.
Laziness brings us into a deep sleep. Deep is not speaking of good sleep but they can that takes us close to death. Proverbs 19:15 Slothfulness casteth into a deep sleep; And an idle soul shall suffer hunger.
15 Slothfulness casteth into a deep sleep; And an idle soul shall suffer hunger.
Many verses outside of Proverbs.
Jesus even wakes the disciples up on an occasion. Matthew 26:41 Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.
41 Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.
We want to sweet sleep in Proverbs but we have often had the nights like Job. Job 7:4 When I lie down, I say, When shall I arise, and the night be gone? And I am full of tossings to and fro unto the dawning of the day.
4 When I lie down, I say, When shall I arise, and the night be gone? And I am full of tossings to and fro unto the dawning of the day.
It is a good 25% of our lives. We need to get it right.
The Bible speaks of death as sleep because of the reality of the resurrection.
The Bible speaks of death as sleep because of the reality of the resurrection.
The death of David was referred to sleep. 1 Kings 2:10 So David slept with his fathers, and was buried in the city of David. Acts 13:36 For David, after he had served his own generation by the will of God, fell on sleep, and was laid unto his fathers, and saw corruption:
10 So David slept with his fathers, and was buried in the city of David.
36 For David, after he had served his own generation by the will of God, fell on sleep, and was laid unto his fathers, and saw corruption:
Scripture paints the death of a believer as merely a temporal rest for the body until the resurrection
When the Bible speaks of sleep in a literal manner it speaks in two ways; a sleep of sluggard and a sleep of peace.
When the Bible speaks of sleep in a literal manner it speaks in two ways; a sleep of sluggard and a sleep of peace.
Sluggard sleep; This kind of sleep is simply avoiding the good work that God has called us to do
Sluggard sleep; This kind of sleep is simply avoiding the good work that God has called us to do
When there was a work to be done. Nahum 3:18 Thy shepherds slumber, O king of Assyria: thy nobles shall dwell in the dust: Thy people is scattered upon the mountains, and no man gathereth them.
18 Thy shepherds slumber, O king of Assyria: thy nobles shall dwell in the dust: Thy people is scattered upon the mountains, and no man gathereth them.
When we should be in prayer. Mathew 26:41
Sleep may be the place you hide from responsibilities. Jonah 1:5 Then the mariners were afraid, and cried every man unto his god, and cast forth the wares that were in the ship into the sea, to lighten it of them. But Jonah was gone down into the sides of the ship; and he lay, and was fast asleep.
5 Then the mariners were afraid, and cried every man unto his god, and cast forth the wares that were in the ship into the sea, to lighten it of them. But Jonah was gone down into the sides of the ship; and he lay, and was fast asleep.
When we suffer significant trauma like losing a loved one, or losing a job, we can retreat to sleep. But this kind of sleep is simply shutting the door on the reality of life's difficulties.
What many of us would never do with alcohol we might with sleep. It seeks to ignore the hurt and pain of life instead of seeking God's comfort, healing, and redemption by faith through it.
Sleep in peace: This kind of sleep demonstrates a complete trust in God and understanding that we are not Him.
Sleep in peace: This kind of sleep demonstrates a complete trust in God and understanding that we are not Him.
Jesus exhibited faith in God's call by sleeping in the boat during a storm. Mark 4:38 And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish?
38 And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish?
We can enjoy this same type of sleep. Ezekiel 34:25 And I will make with them a covenant of peace, and will cause the evil beasts to cease out of the land: and they shall dwell safely in the wilderness, and sleep in the woods. (if we have a camping ministry this will be the verse for it)
25 And I will make with them a covenant of peace, and will cause the evil beasts to cease out of the land: and they shall dwell safely in the wilderness, and sleep in the woods.
The LORD alone will bring this comfort to his people so that they can rest without anxiety or fear. Psalm 3:5 I laid me down and slept; I awaked; for the Lord sustained me.
5 I laid me down and slept; I awaked; for the Lord sustained me.
We trust in the Lord when we rest. Psalm 4:8 I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: For thou, Lord, only makest me dwell in safety.
8 I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: For thou, Lord, only makest me dwell in safety.
God uses these restless nights to call us to Him
God uses these restless nights to call us to Him
Sometimes God shows His love for us not only through the gift of sleep, but through the gift of sleeplessness
King Ahasuersus in Esther 6.
1 On that night could not the king sleep, and he commanded to bring the book of records of the chronicles; and they were read before the king. 2 And it was found written, that Mordecai had told of Bigthana and Teresh, two of the king’s chamberlains, the keepers of the door, who sought to lay hand on the king Ahasuerus. 3 And the king said, What honour and dignity hath been done to Mordecai for this? Then said the king’s servants that ministered unto him, There is nothing done for him. 4 And the king said, Who is in the court? Now Haman was come into the outward court of the king’s house, to speak unto the king to hang Mordecai on the gallows that he had prepared for him. 5 And the king’s servants said unto him, Behold, Haman standeth in the court. And the king said, Let him come in. 6 So Haman came in. And the king said unto him, What shall be done unto the man whom the king delighteth to honour? Now Haman thought in his heart, To whom would the king delight to do honour more than to myself? 7 And Haman answered the king, For the man whom the king delighteth to honour, 8 Let the royal apparel be brought which the king useth to wear, and the horse that the king rideth upon, and the crown royal which is set upon his head: 9 And let this apparel and horse be delivered to the hand of one of the king’s most noble princes, that they may array the man withal whom the king delighteth to honour, and bring him on horseback through the street of the city, and proclaim before him, Thus shall it be done to the man whom the king delighteth to honour. 10 Then the king said to Haman, Make haste, and take the apparel and the horse, as thou hast said, and do even so to Mordecai the Jew, that sitteth at the king’s gate: let nothing fail of all that thou hast spoken. 11 Then took Haman the apparel and the horse, and arrayed Mordecai, and brought him on horseback through the street of the city, and proclaimed before him, Thus shall it be done unto the man whom the king delighteth to honour. 12 And Mordecai came again to the king’s gate. But Haman hasted to his house mourning, and having his head covered. 13 And Haman told Zeresh his wife and all his friends every thing that had befallen him. Then said his wise men and Zeresh his wife unto him, If Mordecai be of the seed of the Jews, before whom thou hast begun to fall, thou shalt not prevail against him, but shalt surely fall before him. 14 And while they were yet talking with him, came the king’s chamberlains, and hasted to bring Haman unto the banquet that Esther had prepared.
God used the restless dreams of Nebuchadnezzar in Daniel 2 & 4
1 And in the second year of the reign of Nebuchadnezzar Nebuchadnezzar dreamed dreams, wherewith his spirit was troubled, and his sleep brake from him. 2 Then the king commanded to call the magicians, and the astrologers, and the sorcerers, and the Chaldeans, for to shew the king his dreams. So they came and stood before the king. 3 And the king said unto them, I have dreamed a dream, and my spirit was troubled to know the dream. 4 Then spake the Chaldeans to the king in Syriack, O king, live for ever: tell thy servants the dream, and we will shew the interpretation. 5 The king answered and said to the Chaldeans, The thing is gone from me: if ye will not make known unto me the dream, with the interpretation thereof, ye shall be cut in pieces, and your houses shall be made a dunghill. 6 But if ye shew the dream, and the interpretation thereof, ye shall receive of me gifts and rewards and great honour: therefore shew me the dream, and the interpretation thereof. 7 They answered again and said, Let the king tell his servants the dream, and we will shew the interpretation of it. 8 The king answered and said, I know of certainty that ye would gain the time, because ye see the thing is gone from me. 9 But if ye will not make known unto me the dream, there is but one decree for you: for ye have prepared lying and corrupt words to speak before me, till the time be changed: therefore tell me the dream, and I shall know that ye can shew me the interpretation thereof. 10 The Chaldeans answered before the king, and said, There is not a man upon the earth that can shew the king’s matter: therefore there is no king, lord, nor ruler, that asked such things at any magician, or astrologer, or Chaldean. 11 And it is a rare thing that the king requireth, and there is none other that can shew it before the king, except the gods, whose dwelling is not with flesh. 12 For this cause the king was angry and very furious, and commanded to destroy all the wise men of Babylon. 13 And the decree went forth that the wise men should be slain; and they sought Daniel and his fellows to be slain. 14 Then Daniel answered with counsel and wisdom to Arioch the captain of the king’s guard, which was gone forth to slay the wise men of Babylon: 15 He answered and said to Arioch the king’s captain, Why is the decree so hasty from the king? Then Arioch made the thing known to Daniel. 16 Then Daniel went in, and desired of the king that he would give him time, and that he would shew the king the interpretation. 17 Then Daniel went to his house, and made the thing known to Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, his companions: 18 That they would desire mercies of the God of heaven concerning this secret; that Daniel and his fellows should not perish with the rest of the wise men of Babylon. 19 Then was the secret revealed unto Daniel in a night vision. Then Daniel blessed the God of heaven. 20 Daniel answered and said, Blessed be the name of God for ever and ever: For wisdom and might are his: 21 And he changeth the times and the seasons: He removeth kings, and setteth up kings: He giveth wisdom unto the wise, And knowledge to them that know understanding: 22 He revealeth the deep and secret things: He knoweth what is in the darkness, And the light dwelleth with him. 23 I thank thee, and praise thee, O thou God of my fathers, Who hast given me wisdom and might, And hast made known unto me now what we desired of thee: For thou hast now made known unto us the king’s matter. 24 Therefore Daniel went in unto Arioch, whom the king had ordained to destroy the wise men of Babylon: he went and said thus unto him; Destroy not the wise men of Babylon: bring me in before the king, and I will shew unto the king the interpretation. 25 Then Arioch brought in Daniel before the king in haste, and said thus unto him, I have found a man of the captives of Judah, that will make known unto the king the interpretation. 26 The king answered and said to Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, Art thou able to make known unto me the dream which I have seen, and the interpretation thereof? 27 Daniel answered in the presence of the king, and said, The secret which the king hath demanded cannot the wise men, the astrologers, the magicians, the soothsayers, shew unto the king; 28 But there is a God in heaven that revealeth secrets, and maketh known to the king Nebuchadnezzar what shall be in the latter days. Thy dream, and the visions of thy head upon thy bed, are these; 29 As for thee, O king, thy thoughts came into thy mind upon thy bed, what should come to pass hereafter: and he that revealeth secrets maketh known to thee what shall come to pass. 30 But as for me, this secret is not revealed to me for any wisdom that I have more than any living, but for their sakes that shall make known the interpretation to the king, and that thou mightest know the thoughts of thy heart. 31 Thou, O king, sawest, and behold a great image. This great image, whose brightness was excellent, stood before thee; and the form thereof was terrible. 32 This image’s head was of fine gold, his breast and his arms of silver, his belly and his thighs of brass, 33 His legs of iron, his feet part of iron and part of clay. 34 Thou sawest till that a stone was cut out without hands, which smote the image upon his feet that were of iron and clay, and brake them to pieces. 35 Then was the iron, the clay, the brass, the silver, and the gold, broken to pieces together, and became like the chaff of the summer threshingfloors; and the wind carried them away, that no place was found for them: and the stone that smote the image became a great mountain, and filled the whole earth. 36 This is the dream; and we will tell the interpretation thereof before the king. 37 Thou, O king, art a king of kings: for the God of heaven hath given thee a kingdom, power, and strength, and glory. 38 And wheresoever the children of men dwell, the beasts of the field and the fowls of the heaven hath he given into thine hand, and hath made thee ruler over them all. Thou art this head of gold. 39 And after thee shall arise another kingdom inferior to thee, and another third kingdom of brass, which shall bear rule over all the earth. 40 And the fourth kingdom shall be strong as iron: forasmuch as iron breaketh in pieces and subdueth all things: and as iron that breaketh all these, shall it break in pieces and bruise. 41 And whereas thou sawest the feet and toes, part of potters’ clay, and part of iron, the kingdom shall be divided; but there shall be in it of the strength of the iron, forasmuch as thou sawest the iron mixed with miry clay. 42 And as the toes of the feet were part of iron, and part of clay, so the kingdom shall be partly strong, and partly broken. 43 And whereas thou sawest iron mixed with miry clay, they shall mingle themselves with the seed of men: but they shall not cleave one to another, even as iron is not mixed with clay. 44 And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever. 45 Forasmuch as thou sawest that the stone was cut out of the mountain without hands, and that it brake in pieces the iron, the brass, the clay, the silver, and the gold; the great God hath made known to the king what shall come to pass hereafter: and the dream is certain, and the interpretation thereof sure. 46 Then the king Nebuchadnezzar fell upon his face, and worshipped Daniel, and commanded that they should offer an oblation and sweet odours unto him. 47 The king answered unto Daniel, and said, Of a truth it is, that your God is a God of gods, and a Lord of kings, and a revealer of secrets, seeing thou couldest reveal this secret. 48 Then the king made Daniel a great man, and gave him many great gifts, and made him ruler over the whole province of Babylon, and chief of the governors over all the wise men of Babylon. 49 Then Daniel requested of the king, and he set Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, over the affairs of the province of Babylon: but Daniel sat in the gate of the king.
Daniel's own dream in Daniel 7.
1 In the first year of Belshazzar king of Babylon Daniel had a dream and visions of his head upon his bed: then he wrote the dream, and told the sum of the matters. 2 Daniel spake and said, I saw in my vision by night, and, behold, the four winds of the heaven strove upon the great sea. 3 And four great beasts came up from the sea, diverse one from another. 4 The first was like a lion, and had eagle’s wings: I beheld till the wings thereof were plucked, and it was lifted up from the earth, and made stand upon the feet as a man, and a man’s heart was given to it. 5 And behold another beast, a second, like to a bear, and it raised up itself on one side, and it had three ribs in the mouth of it between the teeth of it: and they said thus unto it, Arise, devour much flesh. 6 After this I beheld, and lo another, like a leopard, which had upon the back of it four wings of a fowl; the beast had also four heads; and dominion was given to it. 7 After this I saw in the night visions, and behold a fourth beast, dreadful and terrible, and strong exceedingly; and it had great iron teeth: it devoured and brake in pieces, and stamped the residue with the feet of it: and it was diverse from all the beasts that were before it; and it had ten horns. 8 I considered the horns, and, behold, there came up among them another little horn, before whom there were three of the first horns plucked up by the roots: and, behold, in this horn were eyes like the eyes of man, and a mouth speaking great things. 9 I beheld till the thrones were cast down, and the Ancient of days did sit, whose garment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like the pure wool: his throne was like the fiery flame, and his wheels as burning fire. 10 A fiery stream issued and came forth from before him: thousand thousands ministered unto him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him: the judgment was set, and the books were opened. 11 I beheld then because of the voice of the great words which the horn spake: I beheld even till the beast was slain, and his body destroyed, and given to the burning flame. 12 As concerning the rest of the beasts, they had their dominion taken away: yet their lives were prolonged for a season and time. 13 I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him. 14 And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed. 15 I Daniel was grieved in my spirit in the midst of my body, and the visions of my head troubled me. 16 I came near unto one of them that stood by, and asked him the truth of all this. So he told me, and made me know the interpretation of the things. 17 These great beasts, which are four, are four kings, which shall arise out of the earth. 18 But the saints of the most High shall take the kingdom, and possess the kingdom for ever, even for ever and ever. 19 Then I would know the truth of the fourth beast, which was diverse from all the others, exceeding dreadful, whose teeth were of iron, and his nails of brass; which devoured, brake in pieces, and stamped the residue with his feet; 20 And of the ten horns that were in his head, and of the other which came up, and before whom three fell; even of that horn that had eyes, and a mouth that spake very great things, whose look was more stout than his fellows. 21 I beheld, and the same horn made war with the saints, and prevailed against them; 22 Until the Ancient of days came, and judgment was given to the saints of the most High; and the time came that the saints possessed the kingdom. 23 Thus he said, The fourth beast shall be the fourth kingdom upon earth, which shall be diverse from all kingdoms, and shall devour the whole earth, and shall tread it down, and break it in pieces. 24 And the ten horns out of this kingdom are ten kings that shall arise: and another shall rise after them; and he shall be diverse from the first, and he shall subdue three kings. 25 And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time. 26 But the judgment shall sit, and they shall take away his dominion, to consume and to destroy it unto the end. 27 And the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people of the saints of the most High, whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him. 28 Hitherto is the end of the matter. As for me Daniel, my cogitations much troubled me, and my countenance changed in me: but I kept the matter in my heart.
David was led to call out to the LORD in repentance through his sleepless nights in Psalm 6.
To the chief Musician on Neginoth upon Sheminith, A Psalm of David. 1 O Lord, rebuke me not in thine anger, Neither chasten me in thy hot displeasure. 2 Have mercy upon me, O Lord; for I am weak: O Lord, heal me; for my bones are vexed. 3 My soul is also sore vexed: But thou, O Lord, how long? 4 Return, O Lord, deliver my soul: Oh save me for thy mercies’ sake. 5 For in death there is no remembrance of thee: In the grave who shall give thee thanks? 6 I am weary with my groaning; All the night make I my bed to swim; I water my couch with my tears. 7 Mine eye is consumed because of grief; It waxeth old because of all mine enemies. 8 Depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity; For the Lord hath heard the voice of my weeping. 9 The Lord hath heard my supplication; The Lord will receive my prayer. 10 Let all mine enemies be ashamed and sore vexed: Let them return and be ashamed suddenly.
My father made a profession of faith after a restless night.
Here is a prescription for your restless night.
Here is a prescription for your restless night.
Psalm 119:147–148 (KJV 1900)
147 I prevented the dawning of the morning, and cried: I hoped in thy word. 148 Mine eyes prevent the night watches, That I might meditate in thy word.
147 I prevented the dawning of the morning, and cried: I hoped in thy word.
148 Mine eyes prevent the night watches, That I might meditate in thy word.
Funny story about Charles Spurgeon dreaming about his passage.
Should we interpret dreams?
Should we interpret dreams?
The Bible is complete, having revealed everything we need to know from now until eternity.
We should compare any thought (awake or asleep) to the Word of God.
Be mindful of what you think upon throughout the day. Galatians 6:8 For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.
8 For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.
A faithful theology of sin alerts us that our dreams may be disclosing dark desires that abide unseen in our hearts.
If our dreams are continually bad we should consider Proverbs 4:23 Keep thy heart with all diligence; For out of it are the issues of life.
23 Keep thy heart with all diligence; For out of it are the issues of life.
Here is a good bed time routine
Here is a good bed time routine
Before you sleep, set your mind upon God through his word and prayer. Fill your heart with truth Phil 4:8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
Cast every anxious care on him 1 Peter 5:7 Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.
7 Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.
Pray to him and plead with him to give you the sleep he has promised Psalm 127:2 It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, To eat the bread of sorrows: For so he giveth his beloved sleep.
2 It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, To eat the bread of sorrows: For so he giveth his beloved sleep.
Sleep is not the goal. Trusting God is.
Sleep is not the goal. Trusting God is.
Paul has sleepless nights even though He understood he was not indispensable. 2 Cor 6:4-5 But in all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses, 5 In stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labours, in watchings, in fastings;
4 But in all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses, 5 In stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labours, in watchings, in fastings;
Paul was obviously losing sleep for a purpose. But there is also a staying up that doesn’t profit anything. Psalm 127:1 Except the Lord build the house, they labour in vain that build it: Except the Lord keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain.
1 Except the Lord build the house, they labour in vain that build it: Except the Lord keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain.
Jesus would go out early morning. Mark 1:35 And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed.
35 And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed.
Jesus would also take a nap during a storm.
How much sleep is too much sleep?
How much sleep is too much sleep?
That is a spiritual question.
God has made us differently and we can be in different seasons.
But even our sleep patterns should be constantly submitted to Him for review.
Other reasons for a lack of sleep
Other reasons for a lack of sleep
Ignorance. We do not understand its value in our lives.
Ignorance. We do not understand its value in our lives.
The Exxon Valdez, Challenger Space Shuttle, and Metro North Train tragedies in New York were all linked to sleep-deprivation.
A God who does not sleep created us in a way in which we do. To reject its place in our lives it to rebel against His design for us.
Sometimes the most spiritual thing you can do is go to sleep.
Sleep is a gift from God. Accept it. Psalm 127:2 It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, To eat the bread of sorrows: For so he giveth his beloved sleep.
2 It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, To eat the bread of sorrows: For so he giveth his beloved sleep.
Jesus commands it to his disciples. Mark 6:31 And he said unto them, Come ye yourselves apart into a desert place, and rest a while: for there were many coming and going, and they had no leisure so much as to eat.
31 And he said unto them, Come ye yourselves apart into a desert place, and rest a while: for there were many coming and going, and they had no leisure so much as to eat.
Lack of Discipline.
Lack of Discipline.
Even when we know the value of sleep we ignore it.
Many times it is something we are seeking in the day that we do not feel like we have had enough of; productivity or pleasure.
We need to trust God for the new day. Lamentations 3:22-23 It is of the Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. 23 They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.
22 It is of the Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. 23 They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.
Anxiety
Anxiety
We are not ready to cast our cares upon the Lord. So we hold on to them.
Casting cares should be part of your bed time routine. 1 Peter 5:7-9 Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you. 8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: 9 Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.
7 Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you. 8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: 9 Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.
Story / The Trouble Tree
The carpenter who was hired to help a man restore an old farmhouse had just finished his first day on the job and everything that could possibly go wrong went wrong. First of all, on his way to work he had a flat tire that cost him an hour’s worth of pay, then his electric saw broke, and after work his old pickup truck refused to start.
His new boss volunteered to give him a lift home and the whole way to his house the carpenter sat in stone silence as he stared out his window. Yet on arriving, he invited his boss in for a few minutes to meet his family. As they walked toward the front door, he paused briefly at a small tree, touching the tips of the branches with both hands. When he opened the door, he underwent an amazing transformation. His tanned face was one big smile as he hugged his two small children and kissed his wife.
Afterwards, the man walked his boss to his car to say thank you. Now on their way out of the house, the boss’ curiosity got the best of him so he had to ask the man about the tree on the front porch. He said, I noticed when you came up on the porch before going into your house you stopped and touched the tree, why?
“Oh, that’s my trouble tree,” he replied. “I know I can’t stop from having troubles out on the job, but one thing’s for sure – my troubles don’t belong in the house with my wife and children. So I just hang them up on the tree every night when I come home. Then in the morning I pick them up again.”
“Funny thing is,” he smiled, “when I come out in the morning to pick ‘em up, they aren’t nearly as many as I remember hanging up the night before.”
Caffeine / Screens / Exercise
Caffeine / Screens / Exercise
Ecclesiastes 3:1 To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:
1 To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:
“Our hope isn’t in a perfect eight hours of sleep, but in a faithful God whom we can trust to sustain us the next day.”
What can we learn from the need to sleep?
What can we learn from the need to sleep?
God created you to require sleep
God created you to require sleep
Life is too short to sleep all the time, but life is also too short not to sleep more than a lot of us do.
Sleep should keep or make us humble
Sleep should keep or make us humble
“Every time we go to bed, we humbly admit again that the world will be fine without us for a while.”
Psalm 121:4 (KJV 1900)
4 Behold, he that keepeth Israel Shall neither slumber nor sleep.
4 Behold, he that keepeth Israel Shall neither slumber nor sleep.
Sleep is a gift from God
Sleep is a gift from God
Psalm 127:1–2 (KJV 1900)
1 Except the Lord build the house, they labour in vain that build it: Except the Lord keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain. 2 It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, To eat the bread of sorrows: For so he giveth his beloved sleep.
1 Except the Lord build the house, they labour in vain that build it: Except the Lord keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain.
2 It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, To eat the bread of sorrows: For so he giveth his beloved sleep.
God saturated view of life.
If a house is being built. God is building.
If a city is being watched. God is watching.
If you are sleeping. God is giving that as a gift.
God is working and we are working.
God builds. We build.
God watches. We watch.
God gives. We receive.
God explains how we are to work and watch.
Psalm 127:2 It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, To eat the bread of sorrows: For so he giveth his beloved sleep.
2 It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, To eat the bread of sorrows: For so he giveth his beloved sleep.
We may get up early. We stay up late but we will not do it with anxious toil or sorrow.
Why? We acknowledge that God is the decisive worker.
Why? We embrace being loved. (beloved sleep)
Missionaries say it can be stressful to stay in someones home. Why? We do not know what they think or feel about us. Hard to sleep under those conditions.
Luke 12:32 (KJV 1900)
32 Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.
32 Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.
Conclusion
Conclusion
Sleep in peace tonight, God is bigger than anything you will face tomorrow and He loves you. You are His beloved. Sleep like it.