Responding to the Wake-Up Call
A.W. Tozer emphasizes the reality of spiritual sleep and the need for believers to be awakened to rise from their spiritual slumber.
A.W. Tozer emphasizes the concept of spiritual sleep in his sermon 'Responding to the Wake-Up Call,' urging believers to awaken from their slumber. He references Ephesians 5:14, highlighting that the call to 'wake up' is directed not at sinners, but at the church, indicating that even faithful members can be spiritually asleep. Tozer explains that being spiritually asleep means being morally good yet unenlightened, and he warns that this state can lead to a disconnection from one's spiritual environment. He encourages listeners to recognize their condition and to seek awakening, as many may feel frustrated upon realizing their spiritual lethargy. The sermon serves as a call to action for Christians to become fully aware and engaged in their faith.
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There is also spiritual sleep. Notice Ephesians 5:14: "Wake up, O sleeper, rise from the dead." This verse is often spoken to sinners, but it was not written to sinners. Ephesians was never written to sinners. It is not a message to sinners at all, but a message to one of the best churches in the New Testament. Yet the writer says, "Wake up, O sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you." Some of the Ephesians were in a somnolent condition; that is, they were morally good but unenlightened. They were religious but unanointed.
It is perfectly possible for a good, faithful, loyal church member to be spiritually asleep--being in a spiritual state that parallels natural sleep.
When your husband, your wife, your child, your relative, your friend or you go to sleep tonight, the fact that you are unconscious and out of the running for a while is not bothering you. You know that normally you will wake up again. You are not dead, but you are cut off from your environment, all but that which is reflex--breathing and a few other things. Likewise it is possible to be a Christian, to be in the church and yet be asleep spiritually. Then you have to be wakened suddenly. You will probably be ashamed of yourself, angry with yourself, frustrated and disconcerted and say, "What's the matter with me?
All this time I was almost awake, but not quite."
Sermon Outline
- The Reality of Spiritual Sleep
- Characteristics of Spiritual Sleep
- The Consequences of Spiritual Sleep
- Being cut off from spiritual environment
- Lack of spiritual awareness and growth
Key Quotes
“Wake up, O sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.” — A.W. Tozer
Application Points
- Believers must be aware of the possibility of spiritual sleep and take steps to avoid it.
- Spiritual growth and enlightenment are essential for believers to remain awake and alert.
- A wake-up call, like Ephesians 5:14, can be a catalyst for spiritual awakening.