***Acts 20***
Verse 9
*
~And there was a certain young man~
named Eutychus
sitting on the window-sill,
sinking into a deep sleep;
and as Paul kept on talking,
he was overcome by sleep and fell
down from the third floor,
and was picked up dead.
*
(Soul Winner's New American Standard)
(New Testament)
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Grace be unto you from me, my beloved Christian brothers & sisters. God has been so merciful & good to us, that in His Love for us, He has allowed this group to come together once again, in the sharing of His Word. Remember to take some time out of your daily schedule to give Him some praise for all He has done for you. I pray that in the upcoming week, you will seek His face for guidance in your life. Modern technology is so advanced these days with gadgets, films, & O yes, even medicine. There seems to be a pill for any problem, but my theme today is about, Sleep.
Do YOU take a sleeping, sedative, or any other pill or drug; yes, alcohol is a drug also, dear friends, to induce a false sense of sleep or do you come to
God in reading His Word?
There is a natural peace that shall come upon
you in studying the Word.
For this brings me to my topic for this week:
(A Sweeter Sleep)
____________________________________________
Dear friends, sleep is a good thing & from time to time it is necessary. The bible text is a wonderful illustration that you cannot avoid sleep; you must get your rest. Now, we do not want to get our sleep, because we might die; as in the text's statement, in this case, it is that you will not miss the sermon.
Now, I know some of you might say:
" The sermon was so boring"
or
"the minister did not speak on a subject for me".
I read in a theology lesson that:
"sleeping while hearing the Word is an evil thing",
a sign of low self esteem of the Word of God. Infirmity requires tenderness, but contempt requires severity. A snoring, nodding, or sleeping person in church can be a most distracting thing, as was this man while Paul was preaching.
Allow me to continue friends, & you will find that all of God's word is not boring, but a guide for our lives & if you want
(A Sweeter Sleep)
*Come to God*
(Thank You Lord)
Paul simply went down, resurrected him & immediately brought him back up, so he could hear the rest of the sermon. Truthfully, Christian friends, you will never be able to benefit by Bible study if you are not awake. It is good to get your rest, so that when you have time to study the Word, your mindset will be attentive & responsive. As you will see in the message, if you want a peaceful sleep without the aid of an artificial stimuli.
*(Study God's Word)*
Here is a little sleep theology:
(Psalm 127)
There is something very interesting about it friends, in the Bible, it never says:
"Go to sleep", the Word says: "Get Up"
(John 5:8-9)
did you know that my brothers & sisters? God knows you will go to sleep sooner or later.
It does not say in the Bible to:
"Get eight hours of sleep, or you need to fully get your rest no matter what does not get done".
In
(Psalm 127)
it does say:
"don't loose sleep over worry"
It does no good to wake up or even trying to go to sleep worrying about losing your job, home, health, etc. If God is not the one taking care of all areas of your life,
then staying awake is NOT going to help.
The bible says:
"He neither slumbers nor sleeps"
(Psalm 121)
This chapter of scripture is a cornerstone in My faith.
In this, there is no need for both of us to stay up worrying (smile). Turn it over to Him. Depression, anxiety, & yes, the more serious problem, Suicide is still no need to worry.
Heed my topic today friends, there is nothing so great that shall overtake you, that with prayer, comfort of friends/family, singing, & trusting in God, that one cannot overcome his/her worries. God has allowed mankind to learn about some medical tools to be used to combat some chemical imbalances, but as with all things, they should be used with caution. Don't pop pills to mask your problem(s), identify the root source & seek a counselor or pastor. Don't stress,"Get Up". Parents, do not worry about your children either, they are a heritage from whom? From the Lord, he blessed you with them & he will take care of them. Don't worry mothers & fathers, get your rest.
There is in the Word of God, a proper remedy for all diseases of the soul.
Another thing friends,
do not go to sleep when you could or should be working.
(Psalm 132)
David with all of his afflictions & problems, he swore to the Lord that he would not sleep or slumber until his business with God was finished. When someone says to you, you look so tired, say to yourself, well I must be doing something, being busy should be satisfying. I would rather not worry about getting eight hours of sleep or if the doctor says to slow down, he is limited in power, God has all power, when I need to do what God wants me to do.
Consider the ant in
(Proverbs 6)
count yourself not to be a sluggard, one who does not get out of bed.
Have you ever seen an ant sleeping?
Always moving Working Staying busy
"Love not sleep",
(Proverbs 20:13)
unless you want to become poor. Get up & find yourself busy, especially for God.
Now, to a most wonderful passage of scripture & so true to the theme of this topic,
if you have trouble sleeping, this is a Word for you.
(Proverbs 3:24)
Dear friends, this is so good.
Where do you find sound wisdom?
In the Bible; then Study The Bible, if you want help, to keep you from falling in this world, then Study The Bible & when you lie down, you won't be afraid.
The Word says:
"your sleep will be sweet"
You want to sleep sweet?
Study The Bible.
You got insomnia?
Does depression, anxiety, suicide, want to enter your life?
Open the Bible & start to study the Word & it will make your sleep sweet. When you live right before God you are confident that He is in control over your life, being undisturbed with foreboding or evil dreams. Hence, your sleep is sweet & refreshing. O, don't you feel so good after a good sleep?, your body cries, I needed that! Most people are afraid to sleep, because they are afraid of not awaking & are not ready to meet God. True believers go to rest in perfect confidence, knowing God shall watch over them & if sudden destruction shall come near them,
He knows how to preserve them.
God's peace takes over your mind & good things do you think after reading His Word.
God is so wonderful, is He not dear friends?
Another way to sleep well is found in:
(Ecclesiastes 5:12)
If you want to sleep well.
Work
Some will say, I can't go to bed on a full tummy, but if you are tired, dog-tired from working, you will go to bed lying on that plate, LOL.
Am I right about it?,
& the rich has such an abundance, it will not allow him to sleep. You know why? He/She has so much going on that rest flees from them in their hoarding of material things, perishable, friends.
Lay up your treasures in heaven, where they will never fade or perish.
(Matthew 6:19-21; I Peter 1:4)
I hear some of you saying:
well, Don
"I have trouble sleeping & I work hard".
The answer in this statement is found in
(Proverbs 4:16)
The Word is talking about "evil people", I know none of you are evil, so let's address the ones who do not sleep, until mischief & evil deeds are done. As they try to sleep, it is taken away.
Dear friends,
Sin will keep you awake.
The Bible does not say to go to bed, it says to "Get Up".
You will go to sleep when you are tired. If you have problems with sleeping, maybe it is because of Sin, or you may need to spend more time studying the Word, so that your sleep will be Sweet.
Pray for one another in the uplifting of spirit & healing.
If this has been a beacon of light for you, send me a note of reflection. As always, if any one of you wish to be opted from this list, send me your name, in that, I shall delete your name,
as I wish not to offend anyone.
May God always walk with you & you with God.
Peace
Don
F-orsaking
A-ll
I
T-ake
H-im
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