SLEEPING IN CHURCH

"And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed." - Romans 13:11

Have you ever seen someone sleep during church?  Some find it difficult to stay awake during church because of the medicine they are taking.  Others stay up too late on Saturday night, making it tough for them to stay awake during a worship service.  Sadly, some fall asleep during church because there is so little happening during the service to keep them awake.

The real problem in most churches is not an elderly person who nods off during the sermon.  Instead, the real problem is that most church members are spiritually asleep.  It is possible to be wide-awake during the service, yet be sleeping spiritually.

What are the signs of spiritual sleep in a church?

1.  INDIFFERENCE 

First of all, there is indifference.  When a person is asleep, he doesn't care what is going on around him.  When a person sleeps, he is unconcerned about events that are going on.  Spiritual sleep is very similar.  When a person is spiritually asleep, he doesn't care about spiritual reality.  Apathy is a deadly disease in many churches.  Many church members simply come to church because of tradition or for the sake of their image.  They are careless about critical, spiritual issues.

2.  INACTIVITY

Secondly, there is inactivity.  When a person experiences physical sleep, he tends to remain rather inactive.  Spiritual sleep brings similar results.  A sleeping church member is dormant.  Although many professing believers carry a Bible, a notepad and a pen to church with them (which is good), how many are actually practicing the sermons they hear?  Like never before, we have messages available from very gifted ministers.  Furthermore, study Bibles and Bible software are abundant.  Yet how many believers are actually working for the Lord?  We tend to feast at God's table every week, but we are spiritually obese because of a lack of exercise.  Inactivity is a sign of spiritual sleep.  In fact, sometimes it is difficult to distinguish between a sleeping person and a dead person, isn't it?  Today, it is often tough to make a distinction between the saints and sinners. 

3.  INATTENTIVENESS

Finally, there is inattentiveness.  When a person experiences physical sleep, he is often oblivious to events going on around him --- even critical events.  Many church members are numb to the dire need near them.  I fear that many church members are unaware of the spiritual decay, eroding freedom and spreading persecution in our world.  So many church members fail to realize how close we are to the Lord's return.  Despite the reality of hell and impending judgment, many church members are insensitive to the fact that souls are perishing.

What is the answer to spiritual sleep?  In our text, Paul writes, "... now it is high time to awake out of sleep."  In this text, Paul is writing to believers.  Believers need to heed God's wake up call.  Adrian Rogers used to say, "We dare not push the snooze button!"  I believe God is sending out the alarm for church members to wake up!  Here's the reason, "... for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed."  We are closer than ever to the Lord's return.  Very soon, we will stand before the judgment seat of Christ.  

Eternity is near.  Judgment is coming.  Souls are perishing.  The Gospel is true.  It is high time that believers wake up to reality.  Knowing that souls are at stake, we dare not sleep any longer.

It is time to heed God's alarm --- and wake up!