The Neglected Obedience Of "Staying Awake"
“Staying awake” is a common command in Scripture. It means to wake up, be alert, and remain watchful. Don’t fall asleep to what’s really happening. Don’t grow cold in your love for the Lord. Don’t lose your sober-mindedness when chaos surrounds you. Stay awake.
This command is used in several ways in the New Testament.
Stay awake…
For the Second Coming (Mark 13:34-37)
To guard against temptation (Mark 14:34-38)
Rather than letting ourselves relax and satisfy fleshly cravings (Mark 14:34-38)
To enter into the great feast with the Master (Luke 12:37)
To guard against false teachers who will try to lead people astray (Acts 20:31)
Because this is what it means to be manly leaders (1 Corinthians 16:13)
For the purpose of giving thanksgiving to God (Colossians 4:2)
As opposed to getting drunk (1 Thessalonians 5:6-7)
To guard against the wiles of the devil (1 Peter 5:8)
As opposed to being spiritually sleepy, lazy, and close to the point of forfeiting a church (Revelation 3:2-3)
One growing fruit of the Spirit in our lives is that we learn more and more to “stay awake”. Today’s great need is for an Awakening Ministry. This was the theme of the recent Twin Lakes Fellowship conference. Whether you’re a pastor, elder, deacon, or layperson, this particular sermon by David Irving was very impactful. He reminds us that one of the greatest needs (and most neglected commands) is for us to “stay awake”.