Let Us Not Sleep, as Do Others
Christian fellowship and a focus on the Lord Jesus are essential to staying awake and alert in our journey to heaven.
C.H. Spurgeon emphasizes the importance of Christian fellowship in maintaining spiritual alertness, encouraging believers to engage in meaningful conversations about the Lord to prevent spiritual drowsiness. He illustrates this through the dialogue between Christian and Hopeful, who remind each other of their journey towards the Celestial City. Spurgeon warns against isolation, urging Christians to surround themselves with fellow believers to stay awake and focused on their heavenly destination. He stresses the need to keep Christ at the center of their discussions and to remain vigilant, as the promise of heaven and the reality of hell should motivate them to stay awake. Ultimately, he calls for a life lived near the cross, filled with the anticipation of eternal glory.
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There are many ways of promoting Christian wakefulness. Among the rest, let me strongly advise Christians to converse together concerning the ways of the Lord. Christian and Hopeful, as they journeyed towards the Celestial City, said to themselves, "To prevent drowsiness in this place, let us fall into good discourse." Christian enquired, "Brother, where shall we begin?" And Hopeful answered, "Where God began with us." Then Christian sang this song--
"When saints do sleepy grow, let them come hither, And hear how these two pilgrims talk together; Yea, let them learn of them, in any wise, Thus to keep open their drowsy slumb'ring eyes. Saints' fellowship, if it be managed well, Keeps them awake, and that in spite of hell."
Christians who isolate themselves and walk alone, are very liable to grow drowsy. Hold Christian company, and you will be kept wakeful by it, and refreshed and encouraged to make quicker progress in the road to heaven. But as you thus take "sweet counsel" with others in the ways of God, take care that the theme of your converse is the Lord Jesus. Let the eye of faith be constantly looking unto Him; let your heart be full of Him; let your lips speak of His worth. Friend, live near to the cross, and thou wilt not sleep. Labour to impress thyself with a deep sense of the value of the place to which thou art going. If thou rememberest that thou art going to heaven, thou wilt not sleep on the road. If thou thinkest that hell is behind thee, and the devil pursuing thee, thou wilt not loiter. Would the manslayer sleep with the avenger of blood behind him, and the city of refuge before him? Christian, wilt thou sleep whilst the pearly gates are open--the songs of angels waiting for thee to join them--a crown of gold ready for thy brow? Ah! no; in holy fellowship continue to watch and pray that ye enter not into temptation.
Sermon Outline
- The Importance of Christian Fellowship
- The Theme of Our Conversation
- The Value of Our Destination
- The Danger of Slumber
- The devil is pursuing us and hell is behind us
- We must not sleep while the pearly gates are open
- Speak of His worth and value
Key Quotes
“When saints do sleepy grow, let them come hither, And hear how these two pilgrims talk together;” — C.H. Spurgeon
“Saints' fellowship, if it be managed well, Keeps them awake, and that in spite of hell.” — C.H. Spurgeon
“Friend, live near to the cross, and thou wilt not sleep.” — C.H. Spurgeon
Application Points
- Make an effort to hold Christian company and converse with others about the Lord Jesus.
- Labor to impress yourself with a deep sense of the value of heaven to stay awake and motivated in your journey.
- Keep your eyes on the Lord Jesus and your heart full of Him to stay alert and awake in your Christian walk.