Five Signs You Might Be Spiritually SLEEPing

In the gospel of Matthew we read the parable of the Ten Virgins (five wise and five foolish), who waited on the bridegroom. It is an interesting parable, and among its many points for study, there is the thought-provoking revelation that “while the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept” ~ Mat. 25:5.

All ten virgins were sleeping.

Sleeping is a natural thing to do, but as Christians, we are advised to awake out of sleep ~ Rom. 13:11; and to not sleep as others do, but to watch and be sober.

|| Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness. Therefore let us not sleep as do others; but let us watch and be sober. ~.1.Thes..5:5 – 6

What does it mean to be spiritually sleeping? In the Bible, the word “sleep” found in 1 Thes. 5:6, comes from the Greek word katheudó which means “to sleep” and when used metaphorically, it means “to yield to sloth and sin, and be indifferent to one’s salvation.” ~ Biblehub.

As we await the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ . . . will believers (like the five wise virgins in the parable) be found sleeping? What are the signs of spiritual indifference? Read more on the five signs indicating that you might be spiritually sleeping, as shown in the mnemonic S-L-E-E-P.

Overview:
S – Sin Willfully
L – have Lack Of Love
E – are being Empowered By The Flesh
E – are Entangled With The Affairs Of This Life
P – live a Prayerless Life

Believers are described as sleeping when they:

S– Sin Willfully

The Christian who willfully sins, who enjoys sin, and who makes excuses for habitually sinning, is asleep spiritually.

The unrepentant believer cannot effectively be a witness for the Lord and will surely lag behind in the Christian race.

Read what the apostle Paul said, “I discipline my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway [rejected, unapproved, considered a counterfeit].” ~ 1 Cor. 9:27. It is therefore very important that we do not let sin reign in our mortal bodies, that we should obey it in the lusts thereof; to become slaves to sin ~ Rom. 6:12 – 16.
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It is not okay to let sinful practices have mastery of us, It is time to awake to righteous living! Let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us. Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; ~ Heb. 12:1 – 2a.

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L– have Lack Of Love

If we find ourselves hating our lives, hating others, and even hating the things pertaining to God, then as believers, we are not only asleep, we are incapable of being truthful ambassadors of Christ.

Having a lack of love is the second sign of being spiritually asleep, and it is also one of the signs to expect as we approach the end of the world.

|| And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. ~ Matt. 24:11 – 12a

The Bible encourages us stating: “Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love (1 John 4:7–8)

Let us, therefore, ask God to awaken our desire to know him and to love him more; to love ourselves – we, who are made in his image; and to love others as we love ourselves.

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E– are being Empowered By The Flesh

Conducting our lives according to our fleshly desires is another sign of being spiritually asleep. And when we operate in anger, greed, revenge, lust etc., we are quickly recognized as pretenders and hypocrites in the church; with no genuine testimonies of having changed lives.
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Being empowered by our carnal instincts is also an open door for Satan to lead us away from God; for when we have no control over our spirits, we are compared to a city that is broken down, and without walls ~ Prov. 25:28.

One of the major goals as Christians therefore, is to cease from doing the works of the flesh and instead demonstrate the fruit of the Spirit (love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance ~ Gal 5:19 – 23) in our lives.

|| As believers, we should not to be empowered by our flesh, but by the Holy Spirit.

And regardless of the various situations we find ourselves, we should “arise to the occasion” as sons [and daughters] of God and conduct our lives in a godly manner; for as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God ~ Rom. 8:14.
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This is important because they that are in the flesh [living a life that caters to sinful appetites and impulses], cannot please God. For the carnal mind is enmity against God, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. ~ Rom. 8:1 – 8.

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E– are Entangled With The Affairs Of This Life

The fourth sign of being spiritually asleep points at believers who prefer to conduct their lives according to the dictates of this life; they eventually become fruitless converts who purposely disobey God’s commands.

|| We become fruitless as Christians when the goals to satisfy our needs in this life becomes paramount and more important than obeying God’s commandments.

This entanglement [being more involved] in the affairs of life is really an outward indication of how we inwardly view God. We imply that God is not powerful enough to help us accomplish our various goals; and instead, we each do things, as Frank Sinatra’s song states, “My Way”.
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As Christians, let us stir up our faith in God, and avoid those situations where money, the ways of the world, and people:

• Dictate our choices.
• Influence our decisions.
• Turn our hearts against God.

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There should be no compromises in our Christian beliefs. Remember, we cannot live the way other people do, and it is not possible for us to serve two masters. God has chosen us to be soldiers, and in order to please him, we are to be free from entanglement and serve him wholeheartedly ~ 2 Tim. 2:4.

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P– live a Prayerless Life

Believers who don’t recognize the need for prayer [with Bible study and sometimes with fasting] are spiritually asleep and weakened.

A prayerless life, or living a life without prayer, is the fifth sign of being spiritually asleep; and it is the root cause of defeat in the Christian life.

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As Christians, we cannot allow ourselves to be tossed about and battered by the winds of opposition, tribulation, and misfortune . . . that is not our portion.

While we are not exempt from the tragedies of this life, we can still become victors in every situation we face. God has promised that “when thou passeth through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walketh through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee” ~ Isa. 43:2.

|| A Christian is as strong as his prayer life.

Let us, therefore, fall upon our knees and call upon the living God to strengthen us; to deliver us, and to make a way. God is just a prayer away and we cannot be too busy, too hurt, or too depressed to pray . . . remember, all our spiritual battles are fought and won on our knees.

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Reawaken Your Prayer Life
The Christian’s prayer life must be developed and strengthen, for it is our place of protection, and refuge. Prayer is the vital line of connection to God, and it is one way of abiding in Christ.
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NOTE: When all our efforts are bathed in prayer to God then our lives will be meaningful and fruitful [accomplish much]; for, without him, we can do nothing ~ John 15:5.
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Let us no longer remain “under the circumstances” we find ourselves . . . arise and pray! Let’s go boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need ~ Heb. 4:16.

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Author: SuzAndy
Live for Jesus, that’s what matters!
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• Biblical Mnemonics