WAKE UP, SLEEPING SAINT

WAKE UP, SLEEPING SAINT

By Rev. Samuel Arimoro

Main Text: Ephesians 5:8-14; Romans 13:11-14

Key Verse: “Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light.” — Ephesians 5:14 (KJV)

Supporting Texts: Isaiah 60:1-3; Matthew 25:1-13; Mark 13:33-37; Romans 13:11-12; 1 Thessalonians 5:5-8; Revelation 3:1-3.

Description: This message calls believers out of spiritual slumber into renewed vigilance, holiness, prayer, and wholehearted commitment to Jesus Christ.

INTRODUCTION

Spiritual sleep is a dangerous condition in which a believer remains physically alive and may continue participating in religious activities while losing spiritual alertness, sensitivity to the Holy Spirit, and commitment to God's Word. Just as a sleeping person is unaware of many things happening around him, a spiritually sleeping Christian may fail to recognise temptation, tolerate sin, neglect prayer, and overlook divine opportunities. Spiritual sleep does not always begin with open rebellion; sometimes, it begins with little compromises, prayerlessness, distraction, and a gradual loss of passion for God.

In Ephesians 5, the Apostle Paul reminds believers that they were once darkness but are now light in the Lord. He commands them to walk as children of light, reject the unfruitful works of darkness, and live carefully in a world filled with evil. In verse 14, he gives a powerful call: “Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light.” This is a call to spiritual awakening—a summons to leave every condition that weakens our fellowship with God and return to a vibrant life of faith and obedience.

The church needs spiritual awakening, families need spiritual awakening, and individual believers need spiritual awakening. God has not called us to live carelessly, allowing our spiritual lives to deteriorate while the enemy takes advantage of our negligence. The call to awake is a call to repentance, renewed devotion, spiritual vigilance, and active service. The good news is that Christ does not merely command us to wake up; He also offers the light and grace we need to rise and walk in the fullness of His purpose.

1. SPIRITUAL SLEEP IS A REAL DANGER

Spiritual sleep is not necessarily the absence of religious activity. A person may attend church, sing in the choir, preach sermons, or occupy a leadership position and still become spiritually careless. The danger is that outward activity can hide inward weakness. When our relationship with God becomes neglected, our spiritual senses gradually lose their sharpness.

The call to awake is therefore a call for honest self-examination. We must ask whether our prayer lives are alive, whether the Word of God still influences our decisions, whether sin grieves us, and whether we are faithfully fulfilling our responsibilities before God.

a) Spiritual Sleep Produces Carelessness (Romans 13:11)

Paul tells believers that it is high time to awake out of sleep because their salvation is nearer than when they first believed. He is urging Christians to recognise the seriousness of the time and live with spiritual urgency.

A careless believer postpones repentance, neglects prayer, delays obedience, and assumes that there will always be another opportunity. Such a person may know what is right but continually postpone doing it. Spiritual carelessness is dangerous because opportunities can pass while we remain unprepared.

Practical Application: Stop postponing spiritual responsibilities. Return to consistent prayer, Bible study, fellowship, and obedience today.

b) Spiritual Sleep Weakens Discernment (Matthew 26:40-41)

In Gethsemane, Jesus found His disciples sleeping when He had asked them to watch with Him. He warned them to watch and pray so that they would not enter into temptation. Their physical tiredness revealed a moment of spiritual vulnerability.

When believers neglect prayer and spiritual watchfulness, they may fail to recognise temptation before it becomes a serious problem. They may trust the wrong people, entertain dangerous thoughts, or underestimate the power of sin. Spiritual alertness helps us recognise danger and depend on God for strength.

Practical Application: Watch your spiritual condition carefully and pray about the areas where you are most vulnerable to temptation.

c) Spiritual Sleep Allows Compromise (1 Corinthians 10:12)

Paul warns that anyone who thinks he stands should take heed lest he fall. Overconfidence can make a believer careless. When we assume that our experience, position, knowledge, or past victories will automatically protect us, we may stop guarding our hearts.

Many spiritual failures begin when people become comfortable with little compromises. They excuse dishonesty, entertain impure thoughts, harbour bitterness, or neglect accountability. A spiritually awake believer recognises that continued dependence on God's grace is necessary.

Practical Application: Examine your life honestly and deal promptly with every compromise before it grows into a destructive habit.

d) Spiritual Sleep Can Hide Behind Religious Activity (Revelation 3:1-2)

Jesus told the church in Sardis that it had a reputation for being alive, yet it was spiritually dead. He commanded them to wake up and strengthen what remained.

This warning shows that public reputation is not the same as spiritual vitality. A church may be popular while lacking spiritual depth; a believer may be admired by people while neglecting private fellowship with God. What matters is not merely what people see but the true condition of our hearts before the Lord.

Practical Application: Do not measure your spiritual life only by church attendance or public recognition. Examine your private walk with God.

Biblical Example: Samson (Judges 16:19-21)

Samson repeatedly treated the danger surrounding his relationship with Delilah lightly. When she called, “The Philistines be upon thee, Samson,” he assumed he could escape as before, but he did not know that the Lord had departed from him. His story warns us against presumption and repeated compromise. We must never treat spiritual danger as a game.

2. RECOGNISE THE SIGNS OF A SLEEPING SPIRIT

Spiritual sleep often develops gradually. A believer who once prayed passionately may become prayerless. Someone who once delighted in Scripture may begin to regard Bible study as a burden. Another may continue attending church but lose concern for holiness, evangelism, fellowship, or the needs of others.

Recognising these signs is not intended to condemn the believer. It is intended to awaken the heart before spiritual decline becomes more serious. The Holy Spirit exposes our condition so that we can repent, receive grace, and return to a fruitful relationship with God.

a) Loss of Passion for Prayer (Luke 18:1)

Jesus taught that people ought always to pray and not to faint. Prayer is an essential expression of our dependence on God. When prayer becomes consistently neglected, our fellowship with Him suffers and our spiritual vigilance weakens.

A person may spend hours on entertainment, social media, conversations, or business while struggling to give God a few focused minutes. The issue is not that every believer must pray for the same number of hours, but that communion with God must not be continually displaced by other activities.

Practical Application: Establish a realistic daily prayer schedule and protect that time from unnecessary distractions.

b) Loss of Hunger for God's Word (Amos 8:11)

Scripture warns of a famine of hearing the words of the Lord. God's Word provides spiritual nourishment, correction, instruction, and encouragement. When we lose our appetite for Scripture, we become more vulnerable to confusion and deception.

A believer may still enjoy motivational messages while avoiding the parts of Scripture that challenge personal behaviour. Spiritual maturity requires more than hearing words that make us comfortable; it requires receiving the whole counsel of God and allowing it to transform our lives.

Practical Application: Return to systematic Bible reading and meditate on what you read until it begins to influence your daily choices.

c) Tolerance of Sin (Hebrews 3:13)

The writer of Hebrews warns believers to encourage one another daily so that none may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. Sin often presents itself as harmless, reasonable, or deserved. When it is repeatedly excused, the conscience can become less responsive to correction.

A spiritually awake person does not claim to be perfect but remains willing to repent. The danger is not only committing sin; it is becoming comfortable with sin and refusing correction. God calls us to confess our failures and receive His cleansing grace.

Practical Application: Confess known sin, seek God's forgiveness, and take practical steps to remove the circumstances that encourage repeated failure.

d) Indifference to the Work of God (Matthew 9:37-38)

Jesus observed that the harvest was plentiful but the labourers were few. He instructed His disciples to pray for labourers to be sent into the harvest. His words reveal God's concern for people who need spiritual help.

When believers become spiritually asleep, they may lose their concern for the lost, the suffering, and those who need encouragement. Church activities may continue, but the burden to reach people with the gospel can diminish. Spiritual awakening restores compassion and a willingness to serve.

Practical Application: Pray regularly for unbelievers, support evangelism, and take practical opportunities to share Christ's love with others.

Biblical Example: The Sleeping Disciples (Mark 14:37-38)

Jesus found Peter sleeping and asked whether he could not watch with Him for one hour. He then reminded the disciples to watch and pray against temptation. Their experience teaches us that sincere intentions are not enough; we must cultivate spiritual discipline to remain alert.

3. HEAR THE CALL OF GOD TO AWAKE

The command in Ephesians 5:14 is both urgent and hopeful. God exposes spiritual sleep because He desires restoration, not destruction. His call is an invitation to rise from carelessness and return to a life of fellowship, obedience, and spiritual usefulness.

We must not respond to this call with excuses or blame. We must respond with repentance and action. The time to awake is not when every circumstance becomes convenient; it is when God's Word reveals that change is necessary.

a) Awake from Spiritual Indifference (Isaiah 60:1)

Isaiah declares, “Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the LORD is risen upon thee” (KJV). The call to arise demands movement from passivity to purposeful action.

Some believers have become indifferent because of disappointment, prolonged waiting, repeated struggles, or familiarity with church activities. God calls them to renew their devotion and become active in the responsibilities He has entrusted to them. Past disappointment must not become a permanent excuse for present inactivity.

Practical Application: Identify one neglected spiritual responsibility and begin fulfilling it again with renewed commitment.

b) Awake from the Deception of Delay (Proverbs 27:1)

The Bible warns us not to boast about tomorrow because we do not know what a day may bring forth. We often assume that there will always be more time to serve God, reconcile relationships, correct mistakes, or fulfil our assignments.

But delay can become a habit that weakens obedience. The believer who repeatedly says “later” may eventually miss opportunities that were available today. Spiritual urgency means taking appropriate action while the opportunity remains.

Practical Application: Act promptly on the godly instructions and responsibilities you have been postponing.

c) Awake to Your Spiritual Responsibility (Romans 12:11)

Paul tells believers not to be slothful in business but fervent in spirit, serving the Lord. Christianity is not a call to passive existence; it is a call to active faithfulness. Every believer has responsibilities in prayer, service, holiness, relationships, and witness.

You may not occupy a public ministry position, but you can still serve God faithfully in your home, workplace, neighbourhood, and church. Spiritual awakening helps you recognise that ordinary responsibilities can become meaningful acts of service when performed for the Lord.

Practical Application: Serve God faithfully in your present position instead of waiting for a more visible assignment.

d) Awake Before the Day of Accountability (2 Corinthians 5:10)

Scripture teaches that we must all appear before the judgement seat of Christ to receive according to what we have done in the body. This truth reminds us that our lives have eternal significance.

We should not live as though our choices have no consequences. The time, opportunities, gifts, relationships, and resources God gives us are responsibilities to be managed faithfully. Spiritual alertness helps us live with eternity in view.

Practical Application: Review how you use your time, gifts, and resources, and make changes that will help you serve God more faithfully.

Biblical Example: The Prodigal Son (Luke 15:17-20)

The prodigal son came to himself when he recognised the emptiness of his condition. He arose and returned to his father, who received him with compassion. His awakening involved both a change of mind and a decision to act. In the same way, spiritual awakening must lead us to turn towards God rather than merely regret our condition.

4. REPENT AND RETURN TO YOUR FIRST LOVE

Awakening requires more than emotional excitement. A person may be moved by a powerful sermon, prayer meeting, or spiritual song and yet return to the same habits without meaningful change. True awakening begins when the heart turns towards God and produces repentance, renewed obedience, and a changed pattern of living.

God's grace makes restoration possible. No believer should remain trapped in shame or despair when God is calling them to return. We must acknowledge our condition honestly, receive His forgiveness through Christ, and take deliberate steps towards spiritual renewal.

a) Remember Where You Have Fallen (Revelation 2:4-5)

Jesus rebuked the church in Ephesus because it had left its first love. He commanded them to remember, repent, and return to their former works. This teaches us that spiritual renewal begins with honest remembrance.

We must consider whether our love for Christ has weakened, whether our service has become mechanical, or whether our devotion has been displaced by other interests. Remembering our former passion should not make us live in nostalgia; it should help us recognise what needs to be restored.

Practical Application: Examine what has weakened your devotion to Christ and deliberately return to the spiritual practices that strengthen your fellowship with Him.

b) Confess and Forsake Sin (Proverbs 28:13)

The Bible teaches that those who cover their sins will not prosper, but those who confess and forsake them will obtain mercy. Repentance requires honesty before God. We must stop defending what He calls sin and stop blaming others for choices we must personally correct.

Confession should be accompanied by a sincere willingness to turn away from wrongdoing. Where necessary, this may involve ending a harmful relationship, making restitution, seeking accountability, or changing a pattern of behaviour. God's mercy does not encourage us to continue in sin; it empowers us to leave it.

Practical Application: Name the sin you need to address, confess it to God, and take concrete steps to forsake it.

c) Return to Your First Love for Christ (Jeremiah 2:2)

God reminded His people of the devotion they had shown in earlier days. The language of first love points to wholehearted affection, trust, and commitment. Over time, familiarity can cause believers to take God's goodness for granted.

Returning to our first love does not mean trying to recreate every feeling from the past. It means renewing our commitment to Christ and placing Him at the centre of our lives. Love for Jesus should influence our priorities, choices, relationships, and willingness to obey Him.

Practical Application: Give Christ first place in your daily schedule, personal decisions, and use of resources.

d) Receive God's Cleansing and Restoration (1 John 1:9)

John assures believers that if we confess our sins, God is faithful and just to forgive us and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. The call to awake is therefore not a message of hopeless condemnation. It is a call to return to the God who offers forgiveness and restoration through Jesus Christ.

Do not allow past failure to convince you that spiritual renewal is impossible. At the same time, do not treat forgiveness lightly. Receive God's mercy with gratitude and allow His grace to train you to live in righteousness.

Practical Application: Confess your sins, receive God's forgiveness by faith, and begin walking in the new obedience He enables.

Biblical Example: Peter's Restoration (John 21:15-19)

Peter denied Jesus during His trial, but the risen Lord later met him and restored him to service. Jesus addressed Peter's love and recommissioned him to care for His people. Peter's failure was serious, but it did not have to be the end of his story. His restoration shows that sincere repentance can lead to renewed service under the grace of God.

5. RISE AND WALK IN THE LIGHT OF CHRIST

Ephesians 5:14 does not end with the command to awake and arise. It concludes with the promise that Christ will give light. God does not merely expose our darkness; He provides the light we need to walk in truth. Jesus is the Light of the world, and those who follow Him are called to walk in His light.

Spiritual awakening must therefore lead to a new pattern of life. We must reject the works of darkness, cultivate holiness, and allow Christ's character to be seen in us. The evidence of awakening is not simply that we felt something during a meeting, but that our lives increasingly reflect the Lord we profess to follow.

a) Let Christ Illuminate Your Heart (John 8:12)

Jesus declared that He is the Light of the world and that whoever follows Him shall not walk in darkness but shall have the light of life. His light reveals truth, exposes deception, and directs our steps.

When Christ illuminates our hearts, we begin to see our motives and behaviour more clearly. We become willing to acknowledge attitudes that need correction and choices that must change. His light is not given merely to make us feel inspired; it leads us towards truth and transformation.

Practical Application: Invite Christ to expose every hidden attitude or habit that is preventing you from walking faithfully with Him.

b) Put Away the Works of Darkness (Romans 13:12)

Paul urges believers to cast off the works of darkness and put on the armour of light. Spiritual awakening requires separation from practices that contradict God's character.

This may mean rejecting dishonesty, sexual immorality, bitterness, gossip, destructive habits, or secret conduct that damages our fellowship with God and others. We cannot genuinely embrace the light while deliberately protecting darkness in our lives.

Practical Application: Remove one source of temptation or sinful compromise from your daily life and replace it with a godly practice.

c) Walk as a Child of Light (Ephesians 5:8-9)

Paul reminds believers that they were once darkness but are now light in the Lord. He then calls them to walk as children of light, whose fruit is found in goodness, righteousness, and truth.

A child of light demonstrates the reality of faith through everyday conduct. At home, such a person practises love and patience. At work, the believer acts honestly. In the church, the believer serves with humility. In the community, the believer treats others with dignity and compassion.

Practical Application: Let your conduct at home, in church, and at work demonstrate goodness, righteousness, and truth.

d) Keep Watch Until Christ Comes (Mark 13:35-37)

Jesus repeatedly commands His followers to watch because they do not know when the master of the house will return. Spiritual vigilance is not a one-time experience; it is a daily commitment.

We must remain faithful whether life is easy or difficult, whether we are celebrated or overlooked, and whether answers to prayer come quickly or slowly. The believer who is awake continues to pray, obey, serve, and prepare for the Lord's return.

Practical Application: Live each day in readiness for Christ by maintaining your devotion, fulfilling your responsibilities, and remaining faithful in your walk with God.

Biblical Example: The Wise Virgins (Matthew 25:1-13)

In Jesus' parable, the wise virgins prepared their lamps and carried extra oil while waiting for the bridegroom. When he arrived, they were ready to enter the wedding feast. The foolish virgins were unprepared and discovered too late that they could not borrow readiness from others. The lesson is clear: every believer must cultivate personal spiritual readiness and remain faithful while waiting for the Lord.

6. BECOME AN INSTRUMENT OF SPIRITUAL AWAKENING

God awakens believers not only for their personal benefit but also so that they can strengthen others. A spiritually renewed Christian becomes a source of encouragement, prayer, godly influence, and practical service. Awakening should spread from the individual to the family, from the family to the church, and from the church to the wider community.

We cannot force spiritual revival in others, but we can pray, live faithfully, proclaim God's Word, and encourage people to return to the Lord. The church needs believers who are spiritually alive, committed to truth, and prepared to serve in the power of the Holy Spirit.

a) Awaken Your Family Through Godly Living (Joshua 24:15)

Joshua declared his determination that he and his household would serve the Lord. His words express the importance of making a clear commitment to God within the family.

Parents and guardians influence the spiritual atmosphere of their homes through their example, conversations, discipline, prayers, and priorities. Family members may not respond immediately, but consistent godly living can provide a powerful testimony of Christ's transforming grace.

Practical Application: Establish regular family prayer and Bible reading, and let your conduct support the faith you teach.

b) Stir Up Others to Love and Good Works (Hebrews 10:24-25)

The writer of Hebrews instructs believers to consider how to provoke one another to love and good works, without neglecting fellowship. Christian community helps us remain spiritually alert and encourages us when we become weary.

A spiritually awake believer does not merely criticise the weaknesses of others. Such a person encourages, teaches, prays, and offers practical support. Our words should help people grow in faith and become more faithful in serving God.

Practical Application: Deliberately encourage one believer this week through prayer, a Scripture, practical help, or a sincere word of support.

c) Pray for Spiritual Revival (Habakkuk 3:2)

Habakkuk prayed that God would revive His work in the midst of the years. His prayer expresses a desire for God's activity to be renewed and made known among His people.

Churches need more than impressive programmes; they need the transforming work of God in the hearts of people. We should pray for genuine repentance, hunger for Scripture, holiness, compassion for the lost, unity among believers, and the empowering presence of the Holy Spirit.

Practical Application: Pray consistently for spiritual awakening in your church, family, community, and nation.

d) Shine as a Witness in the World (Matthew 5:14-16)

Jesus called His followers the light of the world and taught that their good works should lead others to glorify the Father. A spiritually awake believer carries the light of Christ into ordinary relationships and responsibilities.

Our testimony becomes credible when our words agree with our actions. Compassion, integrity, patience, courage, and practical service can open doors for the gospel. God calls us to shine without pride, remembering that the light comes from Christ and that all glory belongs to Him.

Practical Application: Look for a practical way to demonstrate Christ's love to someone who needs encouragement, help, or the message of salvation.

Biblical Example: The Early Church (Acts 2:42-47)

The early believers devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching, fellowship, breaking of bread, and prayers. Their lives were marked by generosity, unity, worship, and a visible witness to the surrounding community. God worked among them, and people were added to the church. Their example reminds us that spiritual vitality involves devotion to God, love for one another, and a faithful witness to the world.

CONCLUSION

The call of Ephesians 5:14 is urgent: “Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light.” Spiritual sleep can develop through prayerlessness, neglect of Scripture, tolerance of sin, indifference, and misplaced priorities. But God is calling His people to awaken, repent, return to their first love, and walk in the light of Jesus Christ. The grace of God is available to restore those who sincerely turn to Him.

Today, do not ignore the voice of the Lord. Examine your spiritual life, confess what needs to change, and take practical steps towards renewal. Rise from carelessness, return to prayer, obey God's Word, serve faithfully, and remain watchful for the coming of Christ. Let your life become a testimony of spiritual vitality and a source of encouragement to others. May the Lord awaken every sleeping area of your life and make you a faithful instrument in His hands.

PRAYER POINTS

1. Father, awaken my spirit and renew my hunger for You, in Jesus name.

2. Lord, deliver me from spiritual laziness, in Jesus name.

3. Holy Spirit, restore my passion for prayer, in Jesus name.

4. Father, expose and remove every hidden sin in my life, in Jesus name.

5. Lord, give me fresh hunger for Your Word, in Jesus name.

6. Father, help me return to my first love, in Jesus name.

7. Lord, let the light of Christ shine in every area of my life, in Jesus name.

8. Father, make me watchful and strong against temptation, in Jesus name.

9. Lord, use me to awaken my family and encourage Your church, in Jesus name.

10. Father, keep me faithful and ready for the coming of Jesus, in Jesus name.

PROPHETIC DECLARATIONS

1. You are rising from every form of spiritual slumber.

2. Your hunger for prayer and God's Word is being renewed.

3. You will not be overcome by temptation or spiritual carelessness.

4. The light of Christ will shine brightly through your life.

5. You will walk in holiness, wisdom, and spiritual alertness.

6. You will recover every godly discipline you have neglected.

7. Your home will become a place of prayer, faith, and godly influence.

8. You will be a vessel of spiritual awakening to others.

9. You will remain faithful and prepared for the return of Jesus Christ.

10. You will arise, shine, and fulfil God's purpose for your life, in the mighty name of Jesus.