A. Matt. 13:24-30
Mat 13:24 Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed
good seed in his field:
Mat 13:25 But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way.
Mat 13:26 But when the blade was sprung up, and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares also.
Mat 13:27 So the servants of the householder came and said unto him, Sir, didst not thou sow good seed in thy field?
from whence then hath it tares?
Mat 13:28 He said unto them, An enemy hath done this. The servants said unto him, Wilt thou then that we go and
gather them up?
Mat 13:29 But he said, Nay; lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with them.
Mat 13:30 Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye
together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn.

1. Verse 25 says, “…While men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat and went his way.”
2. We want to consider the phrase “while men slept.”
   B. Many disastrous events in History occurred while men slept.
   C. While men have slept, many tragedies have occurred.
3. Fires, tornadoes, and flash floods have swept homes, and even cities, away.
   D. We need to be aware of the dangers when we sleep spiritually.

I. SOME MEN SLEEP LIKE JONAH.
A. God had commanded Jonah to go preach to the city of Nineveh.

1. But he boarded a ship to flee in the opposite direction.
2. God brought a mighty tempest on the sea; men were in anger, but Jonah was fast asleep. Jonah 1:5
3. The sailors confronted Jonah. Jonah 1:6
   B. Many today are like Jonah so far as their souls are concerned.
4. The danger is great, but they are asleep regarding it all.
5. Their sin is raging like a hurricane.
   C. Paul’s admonition needs to be heeded: “Awake you who sleep, arise from the dead and Christ will give you light.”
   Eph. 5:14

II. SOME SLEEP LIKE THE DISCIPLES OF JESUS IN THE GARDEN. Mark 14:32-42

A. Jesus had plainly told His disciples several times that He would suffer and die. Matt. 16:21-23

1. When that time came, it would have been good for the disciples to encourage Him in what He was about to face.
2. But they, not understanding, and being exhausted from a long day, went to sleep instead of giving sympathy to
   Jesus.
   B. Today some are exhausted and worn down spiritually.
3. There is a need to be watchful, for the enemy will attack in our weakest moments.
4. We need to be alert and watchful.
   C. Remember, our enemy the devil never sleeps.
5. He is always awake and active, and we need to be on guard.

III. SOME SLEEP THE SLEEP OF SAMPSON.
A. Delilah had already tried three times to find the source of Sampson’s great strength. Judges 16:7,11,13
B. When “his soul was vexed to death,” he told Delilah the truth about his strength. Judges 16:16-22

1. Why did he do such a stupid thing?
2. No doubt, he was so enraptured and charmed by this woman that he didn’t want to lose her.
   a. Verse 4 of chapter 16 says that he loved this woman.
   C. Delilah lulled Sampson to sleep on her knees and had his hair cut off. Judges 16:19
3. He thought he could go out as other times and shake himself free, but the Lord had departed from him.
4. The Philistines put out his eyes, and made him grind at the mill in the prison.
   D. Many today, like Sampson, are charmed by someone or something of this world.
5. We cannot presume we can place ourselves in danger and be safe.
6. One day we may wake up like Sampson and find that the Lord has departed from us.

IV. SOME SLEEP THE SLEEP OF THE SLUGGARD. Prov. 24:30-34
A. Today many are lazy, inactive, and are not doing the Lord’s work.
B. And, with no work to do, they often begin to bite and devour one another.

1. There is a story about a husband and wife who were continually arguing over whether or not the window should
   be open or closed when they slept at nights. The man insisted that the window be open, otherwise it would be stuffy
   and hot. The wife insisted that the window be closed, otherwise it would be too cold.
   One night he said the window must be open for he felt hot, but she insisted that it be closed for she felt cold. He opened
   it, she closed it – open, close; open, close; over and over again.
2. Finally, without turning on a light, the husband picked up a stool and threw it at the window. Glass shattered
   everywhere. They went to sleep and in the early morning, just before daybreak, the man said he had never slept better
   with the fresh air coming in. She replied that she hardly slept a wink, but nearly froze to death.
3. When they turned on the light, the window was not broken, but the mirror beside it was!
4. Let us not be biting and devouring one another, but be busy in the Lord’s work.
   C. Lazy farmers do not reap crops, neither does a lazy Christian.

V. OTHERS SLEEP THE SLEEP OF CARELESSNESS. Eph. 5:14-17
A. There is a lot of careless people in the world; they could care less about the salvation of their own souls.

1. They do not understand what the will of the Lord is, nor do they want to understand it.
2. They need to be brought to life by the gospel. Eph. 2:1-5
   B. There is a lot of carelessness in the church. Many are asleep spiritually.
3. Paul said to the Corinthians, “…For this cause many are weak and sickly among you and some sleep.” 1 Cor. 11:30
   a. They were careless in worship
   C. Let us not sleep as does the world. 1 Thess. 5:6-8
4. God’s people are to be sober and vigilant at all times. 1 Pet. 1:13; 4:7; 5:8-9

Samuel and Eli – God calling Samuel
1Sa 3:5 And he ran unto Eli, and said, Here am I; for thou calledst me. And he said, I called not; lie down again. And he
went and lay down.
1Sa 3:6 And the LORD called yet again, Samuel. And Samuel arose and went to Eli, and said, Here am I; for thou didst
call me. And he answered, I called not, my son; lie down again.
1Sa 3:7 Now Samuel did not yet know the LORD, neither was the word of the LORD yet revealed unto him.
1Sa 3:8 And the LORD called Samuel again the third time. And he arose and went to Eli, and said, Here am I; for thou
didst call me. And Eli perceived that the LORD had called the child.
1Sa 3:9 Therefore Eli said unto Samuel, Go, lie down: and it shall be, if he call thee, that thou shalt say, Speak, LORD; for
thy servant heareth. So Samuel went and lay down in his place.

The TEN virgins
Mat 25:1 Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet
the bridegroom.
Mat 25:2 And five of them were wise, and five were foolish.
Mat 25:3 They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them:
Mat 25:4 But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.
Mat 25:5 While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept.
Mat 25:6 And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him.

Concl.
A. While men slept the enemy came and sowed tares.
B. Let us be awake, alert, and watchful.

1. There are dangers all around us.
2. The enemy is always awake and active.
   C. Many are living unrealistically, in illusion, thinking they are awake spiritually, but they are asleep.
3. They think that all things are fine as they are, but they have slipped into spiritual poverty.
   D. Let us wake up and see our true condition.
4. Let us be active, and do our very best in the Lord’s service.

v) To the sleeping Church
3  1-3  “Write this to the angel of the Church in Sardis: ‘These are the words of him who holds in his hand the seven Spirits
of God and the seven stars: I know what you have done, that you have a reputation for being alive, but that in fact you
are dead. Now wake up! Strengthen what you still have before it dies! For I have not found any of your deeds complete
in the sight of my God. Remember then what you were given and what you were taught. Hold to those things and
repent. If you refuse to wake up, then I will come to you like a thief, and you will have no idea of the hour of my coming.
4-6  Yet you still have a few names in Sardis of people who have not soiled their garments. They shall walk with me in
white, for they have deserved to do so. The victorious shall wear such white garments, and never will I erase his name
from the book of life. Indeed, I will speak his name openly in the presence of my Father and of his angels. Let the
listener hear what the Spirit says to the Churches