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  AWAKE OR ASLEEP
  by Thaddeus Barnum
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Summary: This sermon challenges Christians to examine whether they are
spiritually awake or asleep in the present time, drawing parallels to
the watchman on the wall in the Old Testament who warned of danger. The
message emphasizes the importance of being prepared and ready for the
return of the Lord, likening it to a thief coming in the night. It
highlights the need for anticipation, expectation, and vigilance in
awaiting the Lord's return, as well as the danger of being lulled into
spiritual sleep and powerlessness within the church.

Topics: "Spiritual Vigilance", "Preparedness for Christ's Return"
Scripture References: Luke 12:35, 1 Thessalonians 5:2, Matthew 24:42, Ephesians 5:14

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DESCRIPTION
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This sermon challenges Christians to examine whether they are
spiritually awake or asleep in the present time, drawing parallels to
the watchman on the wall in the Old Testament who warned of danger. The
message emphasizes the importance of being prepared and ready for the
return of the Lord, likening it to a thief coming in the night. It
highlights the need for anticipation, expectation, and vigilance in
awaiting the Lord's return, as well as the danger of being lulled into
spiritual sleep and powerlessness within the church.

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CONTENT
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Here's my question today. As Christians, as the church of our Lord Jesus
Christ in our present time, are we awake or are we asleep? You see, back
in the Old Testament, the picture of the watchman on the wall, the
watchman could look out and see danger, see the enemy coming. The moment
that happened, the watchman would turn to the city and cry out, call
out, wake up, be ready, prepare, prepare yourselves.

So that's what we've been doing the past times. I've been asking you
stand on the wall with me, discern our times, stand on the wall with me,
look at the church in its present state and condition. How are we? Are
we ready? Are we prepared? What's fascinating to me is what Jesus, our
Lord, does with that same image.

Luke 12, 35 to 40 is just one example where he puts us in that place of
looking out and not looking for the enemy, but looking for the master to
return to the house. The Lord's coming to us as a thief in the night.
Blessed is the one who is awake.

The imagery of the thief is it takes the breath away. We need to be
watching for that moment. We do not know the hour to expect our Lord to
return.

And so there's that anticipation, that expectation. So it is that Paul
writes about this in First Thessalonians 5, 2, because it was in the
heart of every Christian. You yourselves are fully aware the day of the
Lord will come like a thief in the night.

While people are saying there is peace and security, then suddenly
destruction comes upon them. You see, this is what's happened in the
long history of the church. We've had these awakenings that have been
lulled back into sleep where Christians find themselves, the church
finds themselves powerless.

No longer can we hear the sound of the watchman. No longer is the word
of God preached in strength. No longer do we hear the name, the person,
the power of the Holy Spirit.

We are lulled to sleep. Everything is well with us. Everything is fine.

The church has got its programs. It's doing its thing, not realizing.
We've turned to ritualism.

We've turned to moralism. We're powerless. We're lifeless.

It's even harder when the church looks alive. It appears alive. We find
that in Revelation chapter 3, the church in Sardis, where the Lord says
to them, you've got a reputation of being alive.

And many of our churches do. They've got programs. They're bustling.

They look so healthy. They look so well. But our Lord says to that
church, no, no, you're dead.

Wake up. I'm coming like a thief. You see, he's calling all of us to
account.

Are we awake? Are we awake to him? Are we watchmen watching for his
return, watching for the master to return to the house? Friend, the
state of the church, are we awake? Are we asleep?

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Video: https://sermonindex2.b-cdn.net/bVY71nLYQE8.mp4
Source: https://sermonindex.net/speakers/thaddeus-barnum/awake-or-asleep/
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