Daniel

The Blessings of Sleep and Rest Part 2 of 2

Transcript: AI Transcript

Professor: John Weaver

Subject: Old Testament Studies

Genre: Sermon

Dictation Name:

Date: 2012-11-27

Synopsis: Pastor John Weaver continues his message on Psalm 4:8, exploring how God instructs us during sleep, providentially withholds sleep, and uses sleep as a metaphor for spiritual dullness. He emphasizes that while God may communicate truth during sleep, the completed Scripture is the final revelation, and believers must avoid spiritual lethargy and the danger of sleeping in sin.

[John Weaver] Alright, let's get started. Psalm 4 and verse 8. Psalm 4 and verse 8. You remember I started this message last week. I'm going to review just momentarily. And then we're going to get started. It's Psalm 4 and verse 8. You remember I began a message which I entitled, The Blessings of Sleep and Rest. It's from Psalm 4 and verse 8 where David said, I will both lay me down in peace and sleep, for thou, Lord, only makest me to dwell in safety. Now I want to take just a few moments to review. First of all, we've seen I trust very important truths from Psalm 4 and verse 8. And I gave last week what I would just simply call a simple introduction to what I'm going to be bringing today. I pointed out obviously from this verse, our bodies need sleep and rest. It is God who created our bodies. He knows our lives. He knows our limits. He is the one that has ordained sleep and ordained rest. Secondly, I pointed out from this text, that it is God Himself who gives us sleep and rest.

[John Weaver] Without Him, there is no real rest. Our Lord played upon this truth in Matthew 11 in verse 28, when he looked at the people and he said, come unto me all you that labor and are heavy laden and I will give you rest. Then he said once again, and you shall find rest for your souls. So obviously it is God who gives rest and really and truly physical sleep and physical rest is certainly an analogy of the eternal blessing and the eternal rest that we have in Christ. And then thirdly I pointed out, how it's God who protects us and preserves us while we sleep and rest. And I asked the question last week, why did you not die last night in your sleep or why were you not murdered? And the answer is simply because God was watching over us, God protected us. We could say it like this, we are sovereignly protected. In Psalm 121 verses 4 and 5, I quoted it last week, Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep.

[John Weaver] The Lord is thy keeper, the Lord is thy shade upon thy right hand. And then I went ahead to apply the message from last week to show you that for the child of God, death is likened unto sleep. There's no one in this room that is afraid to lie down and go to sleep. We want sleep, we crave sleep, our body needs sleep, and our Lord then likens death unto falling asleep. No one is afraid to go to sleep, and no Christian should be afraid to die. We may not want to die, but we know that we shall die, but the truth is we are not afraid to die. How easy is it for a child of God to die? It's as easy as falling asleep in his father's arms. That's exactly the analogy that our Lord gave us.

[John Weaver] If you will hold Psalm 4, but look in your Bibles to 1 Corinthians chapter 15, You'll see how the Apostle Paul gives us another truth here in relationship to that. Notice in 1 Corinthians chapter 15, beginning there with verse 54. 1 Corinthians 15 and verse 54, the Apostle Paul wrote, Behold, I show you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, that is, or all die, but we shall all be changed in a moment in the twinkling of an eye at the last trump, for the trumpet shall sound And the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, that's verse 53. And this mortal shall put on immortality, verse 54. So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death, where is thy victory? Or death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin.

[John Weaver] and the strength of sin is the law. So he's saying that the grave nor death gets the victory over the child of God. The truth is our Lord Jesus Christ has already given us the victory because he has died in our stead as our substitute and as our sacrifice. So it's our Lord then who freely gives us an eternal rest because he has taken the sting out of death and he's taken the victory away from the grave and he holds in his own hand the keys of death and the grave.

[John Weaver] Now, while we understood last week that sleep is indeed a blessing, I want you to understand that sometimes sleep can also be a curse. Now before I show you the negatives, I want to show you some positives today. And when I say sin can be a curse, it depends upon the individual, and it also depends upon the circumstances. So, here's the first point today, and I want you to turn in your Bibles, through the book of Hebrews chapter 1, David said, as you turn there, I'm going to quote it, David said, I will both lay me down in peace and sleep, for thou, Lord, only makest me to dwell in safety. So the very first truth that I want to share with you today is this, that God often instructs us while we sleep. Now that may be strange to your ears, but I'm going to show it to you from the Bible. But I want you to understand something that's of primary importance before I share this with you. That Jesus Christ is the full and final revelation of God.

[John Weaver] And when I say that God often instructs us in our sleep, this is not a program, it is not a pitch for believing in dreams. I do not trust dreams. I know that God gave them in the Old Testament, sometimes in the New Testament, But since the Word of God has been completed, we do not need dreams, or visions, or anything else. If you look in Hebrews 1 and verse 1, the Bible says this, God, who at sundry times, and in divers or different manners, spake in times past in the fathers by the prophets, hath in these last days spoken on us by His Son, whom He hath appointed heir of all things, by whom

[John Weaver] also He made the world. Now notice if you would please, the Bible says, that He have in these last days spoken to us by His Son. What does that mean? It means that Jesus Christ is the full and final revelation of God. You don't look for truth in dreams. You don't look for truth in Ouija boards and tarot cards. You don't look for truth in fortune tellers. The only truth that there is, is that which is in Jesus Christ, the living Word, and in the Bible, His written Word. Okay?

[John Weaver] With that said, let me point this out. It must be understood that Christ and Christ alone is the full and vital revelation of God. When one depends upon anything else, it is idolatry, plain and simple. We're shut up to Christ and His Word.

[John Weaver] Now, I want you to turn back in your Bibles to the book of Job, chapter 35. Job 35, because Having laid that groundwork down, I want you to see how God oftentimes instructs us in our sleep. Job chapter 35, and we will begin reading there at verse 10. Job 35 and verse 10. Here the word of God says this, But none saith, where is my maker who giveth songs in the night? But none saith, where is my Maker, who giveth songs in the night?" Hmm. Have you ever had a song in the night?

[John Weaver] That doesn't mean you got up insane. But have there been praises in your mind? Have there been thanksgiving that goes along with all of your thoughts at night? And in other words, God can sovereignly give us things to think upon while we lie in bed. It does not necessarily have to be a dream. God can implant things in our minds so that when we awaken, we're thinking upon the very thing that God brought to our minds. Scripture does indeed teach us that God oftentimes instructs us while we sleep.

[John Weaver] Now, there is no doubt that God did use dreams in the Old Testament, okay? The Word of God had not been completed at that time. He also used some dreams in the New Testament. The Word of God had not been completed at that particular time. But, I want you to understand this. It was Joseph's dreams, you remember, that got him in trouble with his brethren. Joseph did have dreams. But the point is not that Joseph had a dream, but God was teaching and instructing Joseph as he dreamed. Now, I want you to turn back to Job 33. After having reviewed, Henry, after having reviewed what went over last week, we're on our first point showing that God oftentimes instructs us while we sleep. So Job chapter 33, and let's begin reading there with verse 14.

[John Weaver] The Bible says, For God speaketh once, yea, twice, yet man perceiveth it not. Isn't that amazing? Just stop and think about that. Sometimes God does speak to us, And we don't even perceive it's God speaking to us. But notice if you would, the next verse. Job chapter 33 verse 14. For God speaketh once, yea, twice, but man perceiveth it not. In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falleth upon men, in slumberings upon the bed, then He openeth the ears of men and sealeth their instruction, that He may withdraw man from his purpose and hide pride from men. Note, if you would, in a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falleth upon men and slumberings upon the bed, then He openeth the ears of men and sealeth their instructions." God is able to speak to us even when we are unconscious. And He can speak to us in such a way that it changes our lives.

[John Weaver] I want to give you just three quotes before I go any further in explaining this. This is from John Trapp, the old Puritan. And I love what he said when he talks about the fact here that God opens our ears, verse 16, then He opened the ears of men and sealed their instruction. You remember in the Bible, when a slave wanted to be a permanent slave, when he refused to leave, what did the owner do?

[John Weaver] He took him and put an awl and bored a hole. through his earlobe. And here's what old John Trapp says, He maketh the boar bigger, as it were, that good counsel may enter. He calleth up the ears of the soul to the ears of the body, that one sound may pierce both. He saith as to him in the gospel, Epaphada, that's what our Lord said when he healed the deaf man, and together with his word there goeth forth the power. So old John Trapp said it's like God just makes the boar bigger. And he calls up the ears of the soul to the ears that are on the head when God speaks, so that whatever God says goes farther than the ears on the head, it goes down into the ears and the soul. And then Albert Barnes said it like this, the idea is that he reveals to the ear of man imported admonitions or counsels. He communicates valuable truth. We are not to understand this as saying that the sleeper actually hears God speak, But as the ear is the organ of hearing, it is employed here to denote that God then communicates His will to human beings.

[John Weaver] In what way He may have access to the souls of people by dreams or visions or whatever, it is impossible to explain. And then He goes on to say this, And He sealeth their instruction, or literally, in their admonition He seals or fixes a seal. The idea is that He makes the admonition or instruction as secure as if a seal were affixed to it. A seal ratified or confirmed a contract, a will or deed, and in the sense here that the communication of God to the soul was as firm as if it had been ratified in a like manner. So God then seals that instruction. Whatever he instructs, he seals it so that we know ultimately later on it is from him and it is truth.

[John Weaver] Then Adam Clark said this, A dream or a vision simply considered is likely to do no good. It is the opening of the understanding and the pouring in of the light that make men wise to salvation. Serious alarms, holy purposes, penitential pangs for past sins, apprehensions of death and judgment, discoveries of God's justice, of Christ's love, of the world's vanity, and of heaven's excellence to withdraw men from their evil purpose and to hide pride from man. In all of these openings of the ear of the heart and sealing instructions upon the conscience, we have numerous examples in the history of the church, in the experience of good men, and in the civil and providential history of all nations. So once again Adam Clarke is saying that God does more than give a dream. He opens the heart to receive instruction.

[John Weaver] Now the idea is that God sends home his instruction and he gives it in such a matter that it imprints itself upon our mind. We think about it, we know it. It was not the dreams that were important. It was the truth that was communicated that was important. and had to be acted upon.

[John Weaver] Now let me show you two examples. I want you to turn in your Bibles to Genesis chapter 20. In Genesis chapter 20, you remember Sarah and Abraham had gone down because of the famine. And Sarah was a beautiful woman. And Abraham said, you say that you're my sister. And that way they will not kill me to have you. That's exactly what happened. In Genesis chapter 20, notice if you would, beginning there with verse 1, Now why would Abraham say, she is my sister? Now she was his half-sister.

[John Weaver] That was truth. But the reason he said she is my sister is because back then you had to contract or covenant with a family for a bride. So no one could actually, was not supposed to take Sarah without first bargaining with Abraham who would have been her brother. But Abimelech the king didn't bargain with Abraham. He just took her. And look if you would please in verse 3.

[John Weaver] But God came to Abimelech in a dream by night and said unto him, Behold art but a dead man, for the woman which thou hast taken, she is a man's wife. Verse 4. But Abimelech had come not near her, and he said, Lord, wilt thou slay also a righteous nation? said he nodded to me, she is my sister, and she even herself said he is my brother.

[John Weaver] In the integrity of my heart, in the innocency of my hands, have I done this? But what did God tell Abimelech? If you touch her, I'm going to kill you. You're a dead man. Now, God came to Abimelech, who was a heathen. He came to him in a dream. It was not the dream that was important. It was what God said and what God conveyed and what God communicated.

[John Weaver] And Abimelech got the message so thoroughly that he not only returned Sarah, he gave Abraham money and sheep and everything just to correct the misunderstanding. And Abimelech said, Lord, I would have never taken her had I known she was a man's wife. And God says, look at it in verse 6, and God said to him in Adreni, I know that thou didst this in the integrity of thy heart, For I also withheld thee from sinning against me, therefore suffered I thee not to touch her." Now, I don't know what God did to keep Abimelech away from Sarah, but he did something. Maybe he gave him a case of the 24-hour virus. I don't know. But he kept him away. But notice God spoke to Abimelech in a dream.

[John Weaver] Turn right over to Genesis chapter 31. You remember how Jacob had gone and served Laban and married his daughters. God is inheritance. And so Laban is going to chase Jacob now and try to do harm to him. And in Genesis chapter 31, look at verse 24. Genesis 31 and verse 24. And God came to Laban the Syrian in a dream by night and said to him, take heed that thou speak not to Jacob either good or bad. What did God say?

[John Weaver] You better not touch him. A little bit later on, Laban said to Jacob, you know that it was in the power of my hand to do unto the evil, but God appeared unto me and said... So obviously Laban did indeed have an evil intent when he went after Jacob. God also spoke to Jacob in such a way that he knew the truth. Watch. Turn back to Genesis chapter 28. Genesis 28.

[John Weaver] And let's begin reading there at verse 10. Genesis 28 and verse 10. And Jacob went out from Beersheba and went toward Haran. Genesis 28 verse 11. And he lied upon a certain place and tarried there all night, because the sun was set. And he took the stones of that place and put them for his pillows, and lay down in the place to sleep. And he dreamed, and behold, a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven. And behold, the angels of God ascending and descending upon it. And behold, the Lord stood above it and said, I am the Lord God of Abraham, thy father, and the God of Isaac, the land whereon thou liest, to thee will I give it in thy seed. And thy seed shall be as the dust of the earth, and thou shalt spread abroad to the west, and to the east, and to the north, and to the south, and in thee And then thy seed shall all the families of earth be blessed.

[John Weaver] And behold, I'm with thee and will keep thee in all places where thou goest. And I will bring thee again into this land, for I will not leave thee until I've done that which I've spoken to thee of. And Jacob awaked out of his sleep and he said, Surely the Lord is in this place. And I knew it not. And he was afraid and said, How dreadful is this place.

[John Weaver] This is none other but the house of God. And this is the gate of heaven. So what did God do? God came to Jacob in a dream and God spoke to him. And when Jacob awoke, he was not saying, let me tell you about this wonderful dream I had. No, he said, this is the gateway to heaven. God is surely in this place. He understood exactly what God told him. Do you realize God spoke to Daniel the same way? If you will turn over your Bibles to the book of Daniel chapter 8 to begin with. Daniel chapter 8.

[John Weaver] Then I'm going to show you one from the New Testament. Look in Daniel chapter 8. And let's begin reading there with verse 18. Daniel 8 and verse 18. Here it is. Daniel 8 verse 18. Now as he was speaking with me, said Daniel, I was in a deep sleep on my face toward the ground, but he touched me and set me upright. Where did God speak to Daniel when he was in a deep sleep? With his face toward the ground. Turn right over to Daniel 10 and look at verse 9. Daniel 10 and verse 9. Yet I heard the voice of his words, and when I heard the voice of his words, then I was in a deep sleep on my face, and my face toward the ground." God spoke to him, and he knew that God had spoken. If you would turn right on over to Matthew chapter 1. Matthew chapter 1, and let's begin reading there with verse 19.

[John Weaver] Everybody knows the story of Mary and Joseph. Matthew 1 verse 19, then Joseph her husband, when he found out that Mary was with child.

[John Weaver] Now Joseph, her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a public example, was minded to put her away privately. Watch what happens. But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. and she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name Jesus, for he shall save his people from their sins. Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is God with us. Then Joseph, being raised from sleep, did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife. Isn't that amazing? Here God corrected all of Joseph's misgivings, misconceptions, in a dream. And he's saying, Joseph, you've got to understand, Mary has not been with a man.

[John Weaver] That thing, referring to the body of our Lord Jesus Christ, was conceived in her by the Holy Ghost. I want you to go back to the book of Job, and I want you to look in Job 36 and verse 10. Job 36 and verse 10. I'll quote a few of these verses, but I want you to see this one. Job 36 and notice verse 10. The Bible says, He openeth also their ear to discipline.

[John Weaver] and commanded that they return from iniquity. It's God who opens our ears. Do you realize that whether you are asleep or awake, if you hear, receive, and understand truth, it's God who opened your ears. Do you remember in Luke 24, those two disciples on the Emmaus road, when they were downcast and disheartened, And Jesus appeared to them, and He asked them, why are you so downcast? Well, they said, are you a stranger here?

[John Weaver] Have you not known what has happened? And they told Him about how Jesus was crucified. And they said, we had hoped He had been the Messiah. Besides all this is the third day. And our Lord said, O fools and slow of heart ought to believe all that the prophets have written. And then He went on, and when you get down to Luke 24, then opened He their understanding, so that they might receive the gospel. Hmm. When you get to Acts chapter 16, the Lord opened Lydia's heart with the result that she attended to the things which were spoken by the Apostle Paul.

[John Weaver] So it doesn't matter whether you're asleep or whether you're awake, if God opens your ears, He will seal the instruction. In Psalm 17 verse 3, the Bible says this, David said, Thou hast proved mine heart, Thou hast visited me in the night, Thou hast tried me and shalt find nothing. I am purposed that my mouth shall not transgress. But notice what David said to God, Thou hast visited me in the night. Has God visited you and you don't know it? Has He opened your ears and sealed instruction to you? Emphasize this again.

[John Weaver] This is not about dreams. Do not trust in dreams. Do not look to dreams. Do not desire dreams. It's not about dreaming. It's about hearing the Word of God.

[John Weaver] Now, if you really want to dream, I can assure you, I can tell you how to dream. You just get you two pieces of bread and get you a mayonnaise ketchup and mustard and pickle sandwich and I'll guarantee you if you eat it right before bed, you'll dream something. Won't do you any good, but you'll dream something. Now, the truth of the matter is sleep experts tell you that you dream all the time while you're asleep. You just don't remember most often. I've gotten up at nights and I'll tell Alice, I didn't dream at all last night. I slept so hard. Well, I may have. I just didn't remember it. And yet there are other times you dream things and they are so vivid. When you awake, I could remember a dream that I had years ago and I still fight that dream because it was so vivid and so real and yet I know it is so untrue. And occasionally it crosses my mind and I think about it and I think, how did I dream something like that?

[John Weaver] You know where dreams come from most of the time? Let me read to you Ecclesiastes chapter 5 in verse 3. Here's what the scripture says. For a dream cometh through the multitude of business. And a fool's voice is known by a multitude of words. A dream cometh through the multitude of business. We often dream about that which has been on our minds the most during the day. But here's another verse in Ecclesiastes 5 and verse 7.

[John Weaver] Listen to what he said. For in the multitude of dreams and many words, there are also divers vanities. But fear thou God. You don't fear your dreams. Dreams are inconsequential. He said in a multitude dreams, there's vanity. That is that which is useless and worthless. But fear thou God. The fear of God is always profitable. Oftentimes, God does speak to us in the night. He speaketh once, yea twice, and man perceiveth it not. So God oftentimes opens our ears and we're unaware of it, totally and completely.

[John Weaver] I want you to understand, at times, sleep is withheld providentially. Although our bodies need sleep and although God gives sleep, oftentimes sleep is providentially withheld. Now, all of us understand how frustrating it is when we cannot sleep. If we have a problem, if there's something that's really touching upon us very with a great deal of difficulty. We will lie awake in bed with the thoughts running through our minds without ceasing.

[John Weaver] We try to relax and we can't. We pray, it doesn't do any good. We endeavor to shut our thoughts off, yet they cannot be quieted. They scream like a thousand banshees running through our mind one right after the other and we're lying awake there just absolutely miserable. And I submit something to you, that when that happens, the best remedy is not a sleeping pill, but to get out of bed and begin to read your Bible. Evidently, there's something you need to know, there's something you need to learn, there's something that God is trying to give you and tell you, and God speaks in and through His Word.

[John Weaver] Even if it's nothing but 1 Peter 5 and verse 7, casting your burdens upon the Lord, for He careth for you." Maybe He's trying to teach you how to cast that burden upon Him. I'm sure that you remember the story of Esther and Mordecai. You remember how Mordecai saved the king's life and yet no honor had been done for Mordecai. And you remember at the same time, Haman was seeking to have Mordecai hanged on a gallows that he had built.

[John Weaver] And what did God do? God providentially withheld sleep from Ahasuerus. He couldn't sleep. And so he asked for the chronicles of the kings to be brought before him. I suppose he was thinking if you read something very boring you might be able to go to sleep. What could be more boring to read what all had been done by yourself and former kings as well? But as the man was reading to the king, he read how Mordecai had saved the king's life by reporting the individuals who were trying to kill him. Let me just read it.

[John Weaver] The book of Esther, chapter 6, verses 1 through 3. On that night, the king could not sleep, and he commanded to bring the book of the records of the chronicles, and they were read before the king. And it was found written that Mordecai had told of big Thanum, Tiresh, two of the king's chamberlains, the keepers of the door, who sought to lay hands upon the king. And the king said, what honor and dignity had been done to Mordecai for this? And they said, the king's servants that ministered unto him, there was nothing done for him. And you remember how the king heard someone out in the outer court. Who is that? Well, it's Haman. And the king asked him, said, what would you do for the man that the king delights to honor? And Haman thought, Well, who would he like to honor more than me?

[John Weaver] And so he says, let the royal apparel be put upon him. Let him ride on the king's mule and let a nobleman lead him and say, this is to be done to the man whom the king desires to honor. And Hasherer said, you do it to Mordecai and don't let anything fail of what you just said. And of course, you know, the rest of the story. But it all began with God providentially withholding sleep from Asherah.

[John Weaver] I want you to turn to the book of Daniel chapter 2. You see the same thing happened in the book of Daniel, first of all, to Nebuchadnezzar. Notice if you would Daniel chapter 2 and verse 1. Daniel 2 and verse 1. Here the Scripture says, and in the second year of the reign of Nebuchadnezzar, Nebuchadnezzar dreamed dreams wherewith his spirit was troubled and his sleep break from him or left him. In other words, he couldn't sleep. If you would turn right over to Daniel chapter 6. You remember Daniel was thrown in the lion's den. Now King Darius cannot sleep. Look in Daniel 6 and verse 18. And what Derijs did was basically stay awake all night praying and fasting for Daniel. Look at verse 18. Then the king went to his palace and passed the night fasting, neither were instruments of music brought before him, and his sleep went from him. Why? Because he knew Daniel had been thrown into the den of lions wrongly. Now, sleep is our normal and natural state. Therefore, when we cannot sleep, We have to consider whether or not God is providentially withholding it from us.

[John Weaver] If He is providentially withholding it from us, there is something we need to learn. I want you to turn to the book of Ephesians chapter 4. I can quote this, but I want you to see it. Look in Ephesians chapter 4, and I want us to read verses 26 and 27. Look at Ephesians chapter 4 at verse 26 and 27. Look what God says. Be ye angry and sin not.

[John Weaver] Let not the sun go down upon your wrath. Neither give place to the devil. Let not the sun go down upon your wrath. So if you go to bed angry, which you should not do, God could withhold sleep from you until you correct the problem. This is what I'm trying to say. You need to listen when God providentially withholds sleep from you. He's telling you something.

[John Weaver] Now, moreover, we should ask the Lord at such a time if He's speaking to us. You remember how Hannah had brought young Samuel and left him in the temple. And he heard a voice calling him, Samuel, Samuel. And he got up and ran to Eli and said, Here I am, what do you want? I didn't call you, boy. Go back and go to bed. Samuel, Samuel. And he got up and ran to Eli and said, What is it you want? I didn't call you, son. And then he figured out the Lord was speaking to Samuel. He said, You go back. and go to sleep, if He calls you a third time, you say, Speak, Lord, for thy servant heareth."

[John Weaver] So sometimes, God keeps us awake just so He can speak to us through His Word. We need to get up and read our Bibles.

[John Weaver] Now let me give you another verse. I want you to think about this one. You'll find this in the Song of Solomon, chapter 5 and verse 2. Listen to what the bride says. I sleep, but my heart waketh. It is the voice of my beloved that knocketh, saying, Open to me, my sister, my love, my dove, my undefiled, for my head is filled with you and my locks with the drops of the night. Notice, she said, I sleep, but my heart wakeneth.

[John Weaver] Have you ever been where you're asleep, but you can hear everything going on around you? I've been like that. Alice and I get so tickled. I know what she's thinking about. Renee, our oldest granddaughter, used to travel with us a lot. And she was what, about four years old? She's about four years old. And we were in Indiana. She went up there with us. And she was in the back seat. And she was pretending to be asleep.

[John Weaver] And we were talking to some friends there. And we started talking about Renee. And she sits back and she's just grinning. Listen to us talk about her.

[John Weaver] Finally she says, y'all, I can hear in my sleep. Of course she wasn't asleep at all. But there are times that you can hear in your sleep. There are times that you can talk in your sleep. Our twins used to sleep. You could call them, you could talk to them, you could carry on a conversation with them. They would answer you and they'd still be asleep. So, when God withholds our sleep or we're having one of those nights when we're sleeping but we're really awake, we need to pay attention. We need to listen to the voice of God because God is speaking to our subconscious and He's teaching us that we need to listen and to read His word and hear Him.

[John Weaver] Now here's a third truth I want to tell you about sleep. I told you there were some bad things about sleep. Here's the first one, the third point, and that is spiritual dullness and apathy were likened unto sleep. Now each one of us understands what it is to be sleepy. You can be going to sleep or coming up out of a sleep and someone can ask you a question and you could give an answer but you have no earthly idea what the answer is.

[John Weaver] You just cannot think clearly. You are still groggy and you're dull and you cannot function properly. Such spiritual dullness is condemned in the scriptures. I want you to listen to Psalm 76 and verse 5. Listen to what God says. The stout-hearted are spoiled, they have slept their sleep, and none of the men of might have found their hands.

[John Weaver] Now He's talking about an army. He's talking about soldiers. The stout-hearted are spoiled, they have slept their sleep, and none of the men of might have found their hands. There have been times That I have laid on my arm in sleep and your arm goes to sleep. And I have dreamed that I'm trying to get my arm, I can't get my arm. Or it's wrapped up in a cover and I can't get it out. And finally I get wide enough to wake it. Yeah, there it is. And then I have to shake my arm.

[John Weaver] The same thing has happened to you. But God says this. that He put such a sleep upon these soldiers that they could not find their hands. In other words, they just could not function. Why could they not function? Because of their sleep. There's not a person in this room that can go into a deep sleep and function doing what you should be doing. You can't do it. It's impossible.

[John Weaver] So sleepiness is oftentimes likened to spiritual dullness and apathy. I want you to turn in your Bibles, first of all, to the book of, well, we're in Ephesians. Let's go right on over to 1 Thessalonians, chapter 5, and look at verses 6 and 7. 1 Thessalonians, chapter 5, verses 6 and 7. Look what our Lord tells us. 1 Thessalonians 5, verse 6, Therefore let us not sleep, as do others, But let us watch and be sober, for they that sleep sleep in the night, and they that be drunken are drunken in the night. But let us who are of the day be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith, and love, and for in hell the hope of salvation." Notice if you would, let us not sleep as do others.

[John Weaver] Now he's not talking about staying awake 24 hours a day. But he's talking about a sluggish, apathetic spirituality that's worthless. He said, you don't want to sleep like that. You do not want to be spiritually dull. Go back in your Bibles to the book of Luke chapter 22 and verse 46. Luke 22 and verse 46. Here's what He said. Our Lord is speaking to His disciples. And He said unto them, why sleep ye?

[John Weaver] Rise and pray, lest you enter into temptation. Why are you sleeping?

[John Weaver] Now is not the time to sleep, he said. Rise and pray, lest you enter into temptation. In Romans 13 verse 11, the Apostle Paul says this, And that knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of our sleep, for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed. It's time, he said, to awaken out of our sleep. So sleeping, It's likened to a spiritual dullness, or lethargy, or apathy.

[John Weaver] If you will turn in your Bibles to the book of Hebrews, I want you to see this. Here is a very clear, concise illustration of what I'm telling you. The book of Hebrews, chapter 5, and let's begin reading there with verse 11. Hebrews chapter 5, verse 11. Hebrews 5 verse 11, the apostle writes, Let us labor, therefore, to enter into that rest. I'm reading chapter 4. Chapter 5 verse 11, Of whom we have many things to say, and hard to be uttered, seeing you are dull of hearing.

[John Weaver] For when for the time you ought to be teachers, you have need that one teach you again, which be the first principles of the oracles of God, and are begun such as need of milk, and not of strong meat. For everyone that uses milk is unskillful in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe. But strong meat belongs to them which are of full age, even to those who have reason of use, have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil." Now, go back.

[John Weaver] I want you to look at verse 10. He's talking about Jesus Christ and he says,"...called of God and a high priest, after the order of Melchizedek, of whom We have many things to say, and hard to be uttered, seeing you're dull of hearing." Paul said, I'd like to carry you further into doctrine. I'd like to really explain to you the Melchizedek priesthood of Jesus Christ. I'd really like to explain to you how he was called a God and a high priest. But he said, you're dull of hearing. You're too sleepy. You're too droggy. You won't perceive. You won't understand. You won't comprehend.

[John Weaver] And this part of sleep is condemned in scripture. Sleep and laziness are connected, and God reveals that such a one who is sleepy and lazy will never ever progress either physically, materially, or spiritually. I do want you to turn back to the book of Proverbs, to Proverbs chapter 6 to begin with. Proverbs chapter 6, and I'll show you a few verses in this passage. Proverbs chapter 6, notice verse 9. Proverbs 6 and verse 9, we're talking now about how sleepiness and grogginess refers to dullness of hearing the things of God. In Proverbs 6 verse 9, the Bible says, How long wilt thou sleep, O sluggard? When wilt thou rise out of thy sleep? Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep, so shall my poverty come as one that traveleth, and my want as an armed man." Note if you would, how long will you sleep, old sluggard?

[John Weaver] How can you lie in bed? How can you not do what you're supposed to do? Look in Proverbs chapter 19 and verse 15. Proverbs 19 and verse 15. Here it is. God says, Slothfulness casteth into a deep sleep, and an idle soul shall suffer hunger. Slothfulness will cast you into a deep sleep. And an idle soul shall suffer hunger. Look in Proverbs 20 and verse 13. Proverbs 20 and verse 13. God says, Love not sleep, lest thou come to poverty. Open thine eyes and thou shalt be satisfied with bread. Then if you turn right over to Proverbs 24 and look there beginning with verse 30. Proverbs 24 and verse 30. Look what the wise man said.

[John Weaver] I went by the field of the slothful and by the vineyard of the man void of understanding. And lo, it was all drawn over with thorns and nettles that covered the face. the face thereof, and the stone wall was broken down. Then I saw, and I considered it well, I looked upon it and received instruction, yea, yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep, so shall thy poverty come as one that traveleth, and thy want is an armed man."

[John Weaver] I never will forget, and I see it in many cities, used to be mainly blacks, But it's, whites are included now. But I used to could take you by a certain place in Jessup, Georgia. I don't care what time of day or night it was. There were a bunch of men sitting around a barrel that had a fire in it. And they'd sit there all day. Just talk. Smoke cigarettes. All I'm saying is they sat there all day and all night and did Nothing.

[John Weaver] You couldn't hire them to work. They didn't want to work. They didn't want a job. And God says somebody like that, they're going to suffer hunger. Poverty is going to come upon them. Am I sympathetic with them? Not at all. Not at all. The same thing that is true physically, is true spiritually as well. If we do not learn to be alert spiritually, we will suffer hunger as well. We will suffer in every area. If we desire truth, we must work for it. We must read, we must study, we must apply God's Word.

[John Weaver] We will never ever be scholars in the Bible if we're lazy, indolent, and sluggish. You know what the Apostle Paul said in 2 Timothy 2 and verse 15? Listen to this now. Study to show thyself approved unto God. Can you help me? What's the next two words? A workman. that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." I want you to note that word, a workman. Studying is hard work. And God says if you're going to amount to anything in His word, you must be a workman. And if you're not going to work at learning the word of God, you will never learn it.

[John Weaver] One last point today, and that's this. It's dangerous to go to sleep in the wrong place. Although sleep is normal and natural, and although sleep is given to us as a gift from God, it is dangerous to go to sleep in the wrong place. In 1962, my cousin and I took my car and went to Jacksonville Beach. Maybe it was 61, somewhere around there. We got to the beach about 10 o'clock that night and we weren't going to get a motel room or anything, we were just going to sleep in the car. So I parked the car on the beach, wanted to be there first thing in the morning. We went to sleep and about midnight, here's the policeman with a flashlight bumping my window on my door. Well, he woke me up and I rolled the window down and he said, son, do you like your car? I said, well, yes, sir, I do. He said, well, if you like it, you need to move it because by in the morning, you're going to be sitting in three or four feet of salt water.

[John Weaver] I said, thank you, sir. And I got that little car up higher on the cement up there instead of down on the beach. It was dangerous for us to go to sleep there. We did not know that at that time. But you know, many people have laid down and have gone to sleep in dangerous areas. Many homeless people are now being beaten and robbed and murdered where they sleep.

[John Weaver] Do I need to tell you this? Sampson went to sleep in the wrong place. He laid His head down in Delilah's lap. He should have never been there in the first place. He should have never been with a Philistine. He should have never been with a prostitute. Let me read it to you. Don't have to turn there. Judges 16, verses 18 through 21. And when Delilah saw that He had told her all His heart, she sent and called for the lords of the Philistines, saying, Come up this once, for He showed me all His heart. Then the lords of the Philistines came up unto her, and brought money in their hand, and she made him sleep upon her knees, and she called for a man, and she caused him to shave off the seven locks of his head, and she began to afflict him. And a strength went from him, and she said, The Philistines be upon thee, Samson. And he awoke out of his sleep, and he said, I will go out as at other times before, and shake myself.

[John Weaver] And he wished not that the Lord had departed from him. But the Philistines took him and put out his eyes and brought him down to Gaza and bound him with fetters of brass and he did grind in the prison house. Let me tell you something, folks. Whenever we lie down and we are comfortable in sin, whatever that sin is, we're sleeping in the wrong place. We have been bidden to awake from such a place and from such a sleep.

[John Weaver] In Ephesians 5 and verse 14, the Word of God says this, Wherefore He saith, Awake thou that sleepest from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light. Do you realize that sinners are asleep? They are asleep as far as God is concerned. And God commands sinners to awaken out of their slumber and awaken out of their sleep, for they're sleeping in a very dangerous place. They're sleeping lost and under the judgment and the wrath of God. Moreover, how in the world can we speak to others about God's deliverance while we're sleeping in sin ourselves? In 1 Corinthians 15 and verse 54, the apostle said this, Awake to righteousness and sin not, for some have not the knowledge of God. I speak this to your shame. whether we wake or whether we sleep, that which should be foremost in our minds should be the Word of God.

[John Weaver] We should think about it. We should study it. We should sleep on it. We should meditate upon it. And when we're awakened, we should be talking about it. How to apply our lives so that we may be in obedience to the Word of God.

[John Weaver] Now I want you to turn, since you're in Proverbs, to Proverbs chapter 6. I read this verse last week, or this passage, and I told you I was going to close with it this week as well. I want you to note Proverbs chapter 6, beginning there, verse 20. He said this, Keep thy father's commandment, and forsake not the law of thy mother. Bind them continually upon thine heart, and tie them about thy neck.

[John Weaver] When thou goest, it shall lead thee. When thou sleepest, it shall keep thee. And when thou awakest, it shall talk with thee. For the commandment is a lamp, and the law is a light, and the reproofs of instruction are the way of life." Notice what he said. You need to take that Word, God's Word, and make sure that it's in your mind and in your heart, and you hear it, and you read it, and you talk about it, and you sleep upon it.

[John Weaver] I had much rather dream about something holy and righteous and godly than had dreamed something unholy, ungodly, and unbiblical. We need to learn to pray. for sleep and rest. It is true. But we also need to pray with this understanding where God said in Psalm 127 verse 2, it is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late and to eat the bread of sorrows. For so he giveth his beloved sleep. We need to make sure that we have a normal, natural, physical sleep and rest by asking God for it. But we also need to make sure that we do not have a spiritual sluggish, lazy, and slothful attitude toward the Word of God and the things of God. Sleep may either be a blessing or it may be a curse. And if you go to sleep without the Lord Jesus Christ as your salvation.

[John Weaver] You're sleeping in a very dangerous place, wherever it is, however comfortable it may be. For Jesus Christ, and Jesus Christ alone, is Lord and Savior. Let's pray. Father, we do ask that you would help us today, that you would speak to our hearts, teach us, and help us, Lord, to sleep and rest in Thee, but yet, Lord, help us not to be spiritually sluggish and spiritually sleepy. May we be awakened unto Thy righteousness and the truth of Thy Word. Help us deliver Thee. In the name of Jesus Christ, we ask and pray. Amen.

The Blessings of Sleep and Rest Part 2 of 2

John Weaver | YouTube

Lecture Metadata	Details
Speaker	John Weaver
Source	YouTube
Media ID	vTt81er1lBU
Subject	Old Testament Studies
Course	Daniel
Genre	Sermon
Date	2012-11-27
Dictation Name
Book	Book 120: The Blessings of Sleep and Rest — Chapter 2
Source Timed Segments	81

Formatted Transcript

Review of Part 1

Weaver reviews the previous message: our bodies need sleep, God gives sleep and rest, and God protects us while we sleep. Death for the believer is likened to sleep.

Alright, let's get started. Psalm 4 and verse 8. Psalm 4 and verse 8. You remember I started this message last week. I'm going to review just momentarily. And then we're going to get started. It's Psalm 4 and verse 8. You remember I began a message which I entitled, "The Blessings of Sleep and Rest." It's from Psalm 4 and verse 8 where David said,

Scripture Reading — Psalm 4:8

"I will both lay me down in peace and sleep, for thou, Lord, only makest me to dwell in safety."

Now I want to take just a few moments to review. First of all, we've seen, I trust, very important truths from Psalm 4 and verse 8. And I gave last week what I would just simply call a simple introduction to what I'm going to be bringing today. I pointed out obviously from this verse, our bodies need sleep and rest. It is God who created our bodies. He knows our lives. He knows our limits. He is the one that has ordained sleep and ordained rest. Secondly, I pointed out from this text, that it is God Himself who gives us sleep and rest.

Without Him, there is no real rest. Our Lord played upon this truth in Matthew 11 and verse 28, when He looked at the people and He said,

Scripture Reading — Matthew 11:28

"Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest."

Then He said once again, "And ye shall find rest for your souls." So obviously it is God who gives rest, and really and truly physical sleep and physical rest is certainly an analogy of the eternal blessing and the eternal rest that we have in Christ. And then thirdly I pointed out, how it's God who protects us and preserves us while we sleep and rest. And I asked the question last week, why did you not die last night in your sleep or why were you not murdered? And the answer is simply because God was watching over us, God protected us. We could say it like this, we are sovereignly protected. In Psalm 121 verses 4 and 5, I quoted it last week, "Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep.

The Lord is thy keeper, the Lord is thy shade upon thy right hand." And then I went ahead to apply the message from last week to show you that for the child of God, death is likened unto sleep. There's no one in this room that is afraid to lie down and go to sleep. We want sleep, we crave sleep, our body needs sleep, and our Lord then likens death unto falling asleep. No one is afraid to go to sleep, and no Christian should be afraid to die. We may not want to die, but we know that we shall die, but the truth is we are not afraid to die. How easy is it for a child of God to die? It's as easy as falling asleep in his Father's arms. That's exactly the analogy that our Lord gave us.

If you will hold Psalm 4, but look in your Bibles to 1 Corinthians chapter 15. You'll see how the Apostle Paul gives us another truth here in relationship to that. Notice in 1 Corinthians chapter 15, beginning there with verse 54. 1 Corinthians 15 and verse 54, the Apostle Paul wrote,

Scripture Reading — 1 Corinthians 15:51-57

"Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, that is, or all die, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption,"

that's verse 53,

Scripture Reading — 1 Corinthians 15:51-57

"and this mortal shall put on immortality,"

verse 54.

Scripture Reading — 1 Corinthians 15:51-57

"So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin.

and the strength of sin is the law." So he's saying that the grave nor death gets the victory over the child of God. The truth is our Lord Jesus Christ has already given us the victory because He has died in our stead as our substitute and as our sacrifice. So it's our Lord then who freely gives us an eternal rest because He has taken the sting out of death and He's taken the victory away from the grave and He holds in His own hand the keys of death and the grave.

God Instructs Us While We Sleep

God often opens our ears and seals instruction during sleep, but this is not an endorsement of trusting dreams. Christ is the full and final revelation.

Now, while we understood last week that sleep is indeed a blessing, I want you to understand that sometimes sleep can also be a curse. Now before I show you the negatives, I want to show you some positives today. And when I say sin can be a curse, it depends upon the individual, and it also depends upon the circumstances. So, here's the first point today, and I want you to turn in your Bibles, through the book of Hebrews chapter 1. David said, as you turn there, I'm going to quote it, David said, "I will both lay me down in peace and sleep, for thou, Lord, only makest me to dwell in safety." So the very first truth that I want to share with you today is this, that God often instructs us while we sleep. Now that may be strange to your ears, but I'm going to show it to you from the Bible. But I want you to understand something that's of primary importance before I share this with you. That Jesus Christ is the full and final revelation of God.

And when I say that God often instructs us in our sleep, this is not a program, it is not a pitch for believing in dreams. I do not trust dreams. I know that God gave them in the Old Testament, sometimes in the New Testament, but since the Word of God has been completed, we do not need dreams, or visions, or anything else. If you look in Hebrews 1 and verse 1, the Bible says this,

Scripture Reading — Hebrews 1:1-2

"God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds."

Now notice if you would please, the Bible says, that He hath in these last days spoken unto us by His Son. What does that mean? It means that Jesus Christ is the full and final revelation of God. You don't look for truth in dreams. You don't look for truth in Ouija boards and tarot cards. You don't look for truth in fortune tellers. The only truth that there is, is that which is in Jesus Christ, the living Word, and in the Bible, His written Word. Okay?

With that said, let me point this out. It must be understood that Christ and Christ alone is the full and vital revelation of God. When one depends upon anything else, it is idolatry, plain and simple. We're shut up to Christ and His Word.

Now, I want you to turn back in your Bibles to the book of Job, chapter 35. Job 35, because having laid that groundwork down, I want you to see how God oftentimes instructs us in our sleep. Job chapter 35, and we will begin reading there at verse 10. Job 35 and verse 10. Here the word of God says this,

Scripture Reading — Job 35:10

"But none saith, Where is God my maker, who giveth songs in the night?"

Hmm. Have you ever had a song in the night? That doesn't mean you got up insane. But have there been praises in your mind? Have there been thanksgiving that goes along with all of your thoughts at night? And in other words, God can sovereignly give us things to think upon while we lie in bed. It does not necessarily have to be a dream. God can implant things in our minds so that when we awaken, we're thinking upon the very thing that God brought to our minds. Scripture does indeed teach us that God oftentimes instructs us while we sleep.

Now, there is no doubt that God did use dreams in the Old Testament, okay? The Word of God had not been completed at that time. He also used some dreams in the New Testament. The Word of God had not been completed at that particular time. But, I want you to understand this. It was Joseph's dreams, you remember, that got him in trouble with his brethren. Joseph did have dreams. But the point is not that Joseph had a dream, but God was teaching and instructing Joseph as he dreamed. Now, I want you to turn back to Job 33. After having reviewed what went over last week, we're on our first point showing that God oftentimes instructs us while we sleep. So Job chapter 33, and let's begin reading there with verse 14.

The Bible says,

Scripture Reading — Job 33:14-16

"For God speaketh once, yea twice, yet man perceiveth it not."

Isn't that amazing? Just stop and think about that. Sometimes God does speak to us, and we don't even perceive it's God speaking to us. But notice if you would, the next verse. Job chapter 33 verse 14.

Scripture Reading — Job 33:14-16

"For God speaketh once, yea twice, but man perceiveth it not. In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falleth upon men, in slumberings upon the bed; then he openeth the ears of men, and sealeth their instruction, that he may withdraw man from his purpose, and hide pride from man."

Note, if you would,

Scripture Reading — Job 33:14-16

"In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falleth upon men, in slumberings upon the bed; then he openeth the ears of men, and sealeth their instruction."

God is able to speak to us even when we are unconscious. And He can speak to us in such a way that it changes our lives.

I want to give you just three quotes before I go any further in explaining this. This is from John Trapp, the old Puritan. And I love what he said when he talks about the fact here that God opens our ears, verse 16, "Then he openeth the ears of men, and sealeth their instruction." You remember in the Bible, when a slave wanted to be a permanent slave, when he refused to leave, what did the owner do? He took him and put an awl and bored a hole through his earlobe. And here's what old John Trapp says, "He maketh the boar bigger, as it were, that good counsel may enter. He calleth up the ears of the soul to the ears of the body, that one sound may pierce both. He saith as to him in the gospel, Ephphatha, that's what our Lord said when he healed the deaf man, and together with his word there goeth forth the power." So old John Trapp said it's like God just makes the boar bigger. And he calls up the ears of the soul to the ears that are on the head when God speaks, so that whatever God says goes farther than the ears on the head, it goes down into the ears and the soul. And then Albert Barnes said it like this, "The idea is that he reveals to the ear of man imported admonitions or counsels. He communicates valuable truth. We are not to understand this as saying that the sleeper actually hears God speak, but as the ear is the organ of hearing, it is employed here to denote that God then communicates His will to human beings.

In what way He may have access to the souls of people by dreams or visions or whatever, it is impossible to explain." And then He goes on to say this, "And he sealeth their instruction, or literally, in their admonition he seals or fixes a seal. The idea is that he makes the admonition or instruction as secure as if a seal were affixed to it. A seal ratified or confirmed a contract, a will or deed, and in the sense here that the communication of God to the soul was as firm as if it had been ratified in a like manner." So God then seals that instruction. Whatever he instructs, he seals it so that we know ultimately later on it is from him and it is truth.

Then Adam Clarke said this, "A dream or a vision simply considered is likely to do no good. It is the opening of the understanding and the pouring in of the light that make men wise to salvation. Serious alarms, holy purposes, penitential pangs for past sins, apprehensions of death and judgment, discoveries of God's justice, of Christ's love, of the world's vanity, and of heaven's excellence to withdraw men from their evil purpose and to hide pride from man. In all of these openings of the ear of the heart and sealing instructions upon the conscience, we have numerous examples in the history of the church, in the experience of good men, and in the civil and providential history of all nations." So once again Adam Clarke is saying that God does more than give a dream. He opens the heart to receive instruction.

Now the idea is that God sends home his instruction and he gives it in such a matter that it imprints itself upon our mind. We think about it, we know it. It was not the dreams that were important. It was the truth that was communicated that was important, and had to be acted upon.

Biblical Examples of Divine Instruction in Sleep

Examples include Abimelech, Laban, Jacob, Daniel, and Joseph, showing God communicated truth in dreams, but the truth itself was what mattered.

Now let me show you two examples. I want you to turn in your Bibles to Genesis chapter 20. In Genesis chapter 20, you remember Sarah and Abraham had gone down because of the famine. And Sarah was a beautiful woman. And Abraham said, "You say that you're my sister. And that way they will not kill me to have you." That's exactly what happened. In Genesis chapter 20, notice if you would, beginning there with verse 1, "And Abraham journeyed from thence toward the south country, and dwelled between Kadesh and Shur, and sojourned in Gerar. And Abraham said of Sarah his wife, She is my sister: and Abimelech king of Gerar sent, and took Sarah." Now why would Abraham say, "She is my sister"? Now she was his half-sister.

That was truth. But the reason he said she is my sister is because back then you had to contract or covenant with a family for a bride. So no one could actually, was not supposed to take Sarah without first bargaining with Abraham who would have been her brother. But Abimelech the king didn't bargain with Abraham. He just took her. And look if you would please in verse 3. "But God came to Abimelech in a dream by night, and said to him, Behold, thou art but a dead man, for the woman which thou hast taken; for she is a man's wife." Verse 4. "But Abimelech had not come near her: and he said, Lord, wilt thou slay also a righteous nation? Said he not unto me, She is my sister? and she, even she herself said, He is my brother.

In the integrity of my heart and innocency of my hands have I done this." But what did God tell Abimelech? "If you touch her, I'm going to kill you. You're a dead man." Now, God came to Abimelech, who was a heathen. He came to him in a dream. It was not the dream that was important. It was what God said and what God conveyed and what God communicated. And Abimelech got the message so thoroughly that he not only returned Sarah, he gave Abraham money and sheep and everything just to correct the misunderstanding. And Abimelech said, "Lord, I would have never taken her had I known she was a man's wife." And God says, look at it in verse 6, "And God said unto him in a dream, Yea, I know that thou didst this in the integrity of thy heart; for I also withheld thee from sinning against me: therefore suffered I thee not to touch her." Now, I don't know what God did to keep Abimelech away from Sarah, but he did something. Maybe he gave him a case of the 24-hour virus. I don't know. But he kept him away. But notice God spoke to Abimelech in a dream.

Turn right over to Genesis chapter 31. You remember how Jacob had gone and served Laban and married his daughters. God is inheritance. And so Laban is going to chase Jacob now and try to do harm to him. And in Genesis chapter 31, look at verse 24. Genesis 31 and verse 24. "And God came to Laban the Syrian in a dream by night, and said unto him, Take heed that thou speak not to Jacob either good or bad." What did God say?

"You better not touch him." A little bit later on, Laban said to Jacob, "You know that it was in the power of my hand to do you hurt, but the God of your father spake unto me yesternight, saying..." So obviously Laban did indeed have an evil intent when he went after Jacob. God also spoke to Jacob in such a way that he knew the truth. Watch. Turn back to Genesis chapter 28. Genesis 28. And let's begin reading there at verse 10. Genesis 28 and verse 10.

Scripture Reading — Genesis 28:10-17

"And Jacob went out from Beersheba, and went toward Haran."

Genesis 28 verse 11.

Scripture Reading — Genesis 28:10-17

"And he lighted upon a certain place, and tarried there all night, because the sun was set; and he took of the stones of that place, and put them for his pillows, and lay down in that place to sleep. And he dreamed, and behold a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven: and behold the angels of God ascending and descending on it. And, behold, the LORD stood above it, and said, I am the LORD God of Abraham thy father, and the God of Isaac: the land whereon thou liest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed; and thy seed shall be as the dust of the earth, and thou shalt spread abroad to the west, and to the east, and to the north, and to the south: and in thee and in thy seed shall all the families of the earth be blessed.

And, behold, I am with thee, and will keep thee in all places whither thou goest, and will bring thee again into this land; for I will not leave thee, until I have done that which I have spoken to thee of. And Jacob awaked out of his sleep, and he said, Surely the LORD is in this place; and I knew it not. And he was afraid, and said, How dreadful is this place! This is none other but the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven." So what did God do? God came to Jacob in a dream and God spoke to him. And when Jacob awoke, he was not saying, "Let me tell you about this wonderful dream I had." No, he said, "This is the gateway to heaven. God is surely in this place." He understood exactly what God told him. Do you realize God spoke to Daniel the same way? If you will turn over your Bibles to the book of Daniel chapter 8 to begin with. Daniel chapter 8.

Then I'm going to show you one from the New Testament. Look in Daniel chapter 8. And let's begin reading there with verse 18. Daniel 8 and verse 18. Here it is. Daniel 8 verse 18.

Scripture Reading — Daniel 8:18; 10:9

"Now as he was speaking with me,"

said Daniel,

Scripture Reading — Daniel 8:18; 10:9

"I was in a deep sleep on my face toward the ground: but he touched me, and set me upright."

Where did God speak to Daniel when he was in a deep sleep? With his face toward the ground. Turn right over to Daniel 10 and look at verse 9. Daniel 10 and verse 9.

Scripture Reading — Daniel 8:18; 10:9

"Yet heard I the voice of his words: and when I heard the voice of his words, then was I in a deep sleep on my face, and my face toward the ground."

God spoke to him, and he knew that God had spoken. If you would turn right on over to Matthew chapter 1. Matthew chapter 1, and let's begin reading there with verse 19.

Everybody knows the story of Mary and Joseph. Matthew 1 verse 19,

Scripture Reading — Matthew 1:19-24

"Then Joseph her husband, being a just man..."

when he found out that Mary was with child.

Scripture Reading — Matthew 1:19-24

"Now Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a publick example, was minded to put her away privily. But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins. Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us. Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife."

Isn't that amazing? Here God corrected all of Joseph's misgivings, misconceptions, in a dream. And he's saying, "Joseph, you've got to understand, Mary has not been with a man.

That thing, referring to the body of our Lord Jesus Christ, was conceived in her by the Holy Ghost." I want you to go back to the book of Job, and I want you to look in Job 36 and verse 10. Job 36 and verse 10. I'll quote a few of these verses, but I want you to see this one. Job 36 and notice verse 10. The Bible says, "He openeth also their ear to discipline,

God Opens Ears Whether Asleep or Awake

Whether asleep or awake, if we understand truth, it is God who opens our ears. Dreams are not to be trusted; the Word of God is sufficient.

and commandeth that they return from iniquity." It's God who opens our ears. Do you realize that whether you are asleep or awake, if you hear, receive, and understand truth, it's God who opened your ears. Do you remember in Luke 24, those two disciples on the Emmaus road, when they were downcast and disheartened, and Jesus appeared to them, and He asked them, "Why are you so downcast?" Well, they said, "Are you a stranger here? Have you not known what has happened?" And they told Him about how Jesus was crucified. And they said, "We had hoped He had been the Messiah. Besides all this is the third day." And our Lord said, "O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have written." And then He went on, and when you get down to Luke 24, "Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures." Hmm. When you get to Acts chapter 16, the Lord opened Lydia's heart with the result that she attended to the things which were spoken by the Apostle Paul.

So it doesn't matter whether you're asleep or whether you're awake, if God opens your ears, He will seal the instruction. In Psalm 17 verse 3, the Bible says this, David said, "Thou hast proved mine heart; thou hast visited me in the night; thou hast tried me, and shalt find nothing; I am purposed that my mouth shall not transgress." But notice what David said to God, "Thou hast visited me in the night." Has God visited you and you don't know it? Has He opened your ears and sealed instruction to you? Emphasize this again. This is not about dreams. Do not trust in dreams. Do not look to dreams. Do not desire dreams. It's not about dreaming. It's about hearing the Word of God.

Now, if you really want to dream, I can assure you, I can tell you how to dream. You just get you two pieces of bread and get you a mayonnaise, ketchup, and mustard and pickle sandwich and I'll guarantee you if you eat it right before bed, you'll dream something. Won't do you any good, but you'll dream something. Now, the truth of the matter is sleep experts tell you that you dream all the time while you're asleep. You just don't remember most often. I've gotten up at nights and I'll tell Alice, "I didn't dream at all last night. I slept so hard." Well, I may have. I just didn't remember it. And yet there are other times you dream things and they are so vivid. When you awake, I could remember a dream that I had years ago and I still fight that dream because it was so vivid and so real and yet I know it is so untrue. And occasionally it crosses my mind and I think about it and I think, "How did I dream something like that?"

You know where dreams come from most of the time? Let me read to you Ecclesiastes chapter 5 in verse 3. Here's what the scripture says.

Scripture Reading — Ecclesiastes 5:3, 7

"For a dream cometh through the multitude of business; and a fool's voice is known by multitude of words."

A dream cometh through the multitude of business. We often dream about that which has been on our minds the most during the day. But here's another verse in Ecclesiastes 5 and verse 7. Listen to what he said. "For in the multitude of dreams and many words there are also divers vanities: but fear thou God." You don't fear your dreams. Dreams are inconsequential. He said in a multitude dreams, there's vanity. That is that which is useless and worthless. But fear thou God. The fear of God is always profitable. Oftentimes, God does speak to us in the night. He speaketh once, yea twice, and man perceiveth it not. So God oftentimes opens our ears and we're unaware of it, totally and completely.

Sleep Providentially Withheld

God sometimes withholds sleep to get our attention, as with Ahasuerus and Nebuchadnezzar. When unable to sleep, we should seek God in His Word.

I want you to understand, at times, sleep is withheld providentially. Although our bodies need sleep and although God gives sleep, oftentimes sleep is providentially withheld. Now, all of us understand how frustrating it is when we cannot sleep. If we have a problem, if there's something that's really touching upon us with a great deal of difficulty, we will lie awake in bed with the thoughts running through our minds without ceasing. We try to relax and we can't. We pray, it doesn't do any good. We endeavor to shut our thoughts off, yet they cannot be quieted. They scream like a thousand banshees running through our mind one right after the other and we're lying awake there just absolutely miserable. And I submit something to you, that when that happens, the best remedy is not a sleeping pill, but to get out of bed and begin to read your Bible. Evidently, there's something you need to know, there's something you need to learn, there's something that God is trying to give you and tell you, and God speaks in and through His Word.

Even if it's nothing but 1 Peter 5 and verse 7, "Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you." Maybe He's trying to teach you how to cast that burden upon Him. I'm sure that you remember the story of Esther and Mordecai. You remember how Mordecai saved the king's life and yet no honor had been done for Mordecai. And you remember at the same time, Haman was seeking to have Mordecai hanged on a gallows that he had built. And what did God do? God providentially withheld sleep from Ahasuerus. He couldn't sleep. And so he asked for the chronicles of the kings to be brought before him. I suppose he was thinking if you read something very boring you might be able to go to sleep. What could be more boring to read what all had been done by yourself and former kings as well? But as the man was reading to the king, he read how Mordecai had saved the king's life by reporting the individuals who were trying to kill him. Let me just read it.

The book of Esther, chapter 6, verses 1 through 3. "On that night could not the king sleep, and he commanded to bring the book of records of the chronicles; and they were read before the king. And it was found written, that Mordecai had told of Bigthana and Teresh, two of the king's chamberlains, the keepers of the door, who sought to lay hand on the king Ahasuerus. And the king said, What honour and dignity hath been done to Mordecai for this? Then said the king's servants that ministered unto him, There is nothing done for him." And you remember how the king heard someone out in the outer court. "Who is that?" "Well, it's Haman." And the king asked him, said, "What would you do for the man that the king delights to honor?" And Haman thought, "Well, who would he like to honor more than me?"

And so he says, "Let the royal apparel be put upon him. Let him ride on the king's mule and let a nobleman lead him and say, 'This is to be done to the man whom the king desires to honor.'" And Ahasuerus said, "You do it to Mordecai and don't let anything fail of what you just said." And of course, you know, the rest of the story. But it all began with God providentially withholding sleep from Ahasuerus. I want you to turn to the book of Daniel chapter 2. You see the same thing happened in the book of Daniel, first of all, to Nebuchadnezzar. Notice if you would Daniel chapter 2 and verse 1. Daniel 2 and verse 1. Here the Scripture says,

Scripture Reading — Daniel 2:1; 6:18

"And in the second year of the reign of Nebuchadnezzar, Nebuchadnezzar dreamed dreams, wherewith his spirit was troubled, and his sleep brake from him."

In other words, he couldn't sleep. If you would turn right over to Daniel chapter 6. You remember Daniel was thrown in the lion's den. Now King Darius cannot sleep. Look in Daniel 6 and verse 18. And what Darius did was basically stay awake all night praying and fasting for Daniel. Look at verse 18. "Then the king went to his palace, and passed the night fasting: neither were instruments of musick brought before him: and his sleep went from him." Why? Because he knew Daniel had been thrown into the den of lions wrongly. Now, sleep is our normal and natural state. Therefore, when we cannot sleep, we have to consider whether or not God is providentially withholding it from us.

If He is providentially withholding it from us, there is something we need to learn. I want you to turn to the book of Ephesians chapter 4. I can quote this, but I want you to see it. Look in Ephesians chapter 4, and I want us to read verses 26 and 27. Look at Ephesians chapter 4 at verse 26 and 27. Look what God says. "Be ye angry, and sin not:

Spiritual Dullness Likened to Sleep

Scripture condemns spiritual lethargy and apathy, likening it to sleep. Believers are called to be alert and sober.

let not the sun go down upon your wrath: neither give place to the devil." Let not the sun go down upon your wrath. So if you go to bed angry, which you should not do, God could withhold sleep from you until you correct the problem. This is what I'm trying to say. You need to listen when God providentially withholds sleep from you. He's telling you something.

Now, moreover, we should ask the Lord at such a time if He's speaking to us. You remember how Hannah had brought young Samuel and left him in the temple. And he heard a voice calling him, "Samuel, Samuel." And he got up and ran to Eli and said, "Here I am, what do you want?" "I didn't call you, boy. Go back and go to bed." "Samuel, Samuel." And he got up and ran to Eli and said, "What is it you want?" "I didn't call you, son." And then he figured out the Lord was speaking to Samuel. He said, "You go back and go to sleep, if He calls you a third time, you say, 'Speak, Lord; for thy servant heareth.'"

So sometimes, God keeps us awake just so He can speak to us through His Word. We need to get up and read our Bibles. Now let me give you another verse. I want you to think about this one. You'll find this in the Song of Solomon, chapter 5 and verse 2. Listen to what the bride says. "I sleep, but my heart waketh: it is the voice of my beloved that knocketh, saying, Open to me, my sister, my love, my dove, my undefiled: for my head is filled with dew, and my locks with the drops of the night." Notice, she said, "I sleep, but my heart waketh."

Have you ever been where you're asleep, but you can hear everything going on around you? I've been like that. Alice and I get so tickled. I know what she's thinking about. Renee, our oldest granddaughter, used to travel with us a lot. And she was what, about four years old? She's about four years old. And we were in Indiana. She went up there with us. And she was in the back seat. And she was pretending to be asleep.

And we were talking to some friends there. And we started talking about Renee. And she sits back and she's just grinning. Listen to us talk about her. Finally she says, "Y'all, I can hear in my sleep." Of course she wasn't asleep at all. But there are times that you can hear in your sleep. There are times that you can talk in your sleep. Our twins used to sleep. You could call them, you could talk to them, you could carry on a conversation with them. They would answer you and they'd still be asleep. So, when God withholds our sleep or we're having one of those nights when we're sleeping but we're really awake, we need to pay attention. We need to listen to the voice of God because God is speaking to our subconscious and He's teaching us that we need to listen and to read His word and hear Him.

Now here's a third truth I want to tell you about sleep. I told you there were some bad things about sleep. Here's the first one, the third point, and that is spiritual dullness and apathy were likened unto sleep. Now each one of us understands what it is to be sleepy. You can be going to sleep or coming up out of a sleep and someone can ask you a question and you could give an answer but you have no earthly idea what the answer is. You just cannot think clearly. You are still groggy and you're dull and you cannot function properly. Such spiritual dullness is condemned in the scriptures. I want you to listen to Psalm 76 and verse 5. Listen to what God says. "The stouthearted are spoiled, they have slept their sleep: and none of the men of might have found their hands."

Now He's talking about an army. He's talking about soldiers. "The stouthearted are spoiled, they have slept their sleep: and none of the men of might have found their hands." There have been times that I have laid on my arm in sleep and your arm goes to sleep. And I have dreamed that I'm trying to get my arm, I can't get my arm. Or it's wrapped up in a cover and I can't get it out. And finally I get wide enough to wake it. Yeah, there it is. And then I have to shake my arm.

The same thing has happened to you. But God says this, that He put such a sleep upon these soldiers that they could not find their hands. In other words, they just could not function. Why could they not function? Because of their sleep. There's not a person in this room that can go into a deep sleep and function doing what you should be doing. You can't do it. It's impossible.

So sleepiness is oftentimes likened to spiritual dullness and apathy. I want you to turn in your Bibles, first of all, to the book of, well, we're in Ephesians. Let's go right on over to 1 Thessalonians, chapter 5, and look at verses 6 and 7. 1 Thessalonians, chapter 5, verses 6 and 7. Look what our Lord tells us. 1 Thessalonians 5, verse 6, "Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober. For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night. But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation." Notice if you would, "let us not sleep, as do others."

Now he's not talking about staying awake 24 hours a day. But he's talking about a sluggish, apathetic spirituality that's worthless. He said, "You don't want to sleep like that. You do not want to be spiritually dull." Go back in your Bibles to the book of Luke chapter 22 and verse 46. Luke 22 and verse 46. Here's what He said. Our Lord is speaking to His disciples. "And said unto them, Why sleep ye?

rise and pray, lest ye enter into temptation." Why are you sleeping? Now is not the time to sleep, he said. "Rise and pray, lest ye enter into temptation." In Romans 13 verse 11, the Apostle Paul says this, "And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed." It's time, he said, to awaken out of our sleep. So sleeping, it's likened to a spiritual dullness, or lethargy, or apathy. If you will turn in your Bibles to the book of Hebrews, I want you to see this. Here is a very clear, concise illustration of what I'm telling you. The book of Hebrews, chapter 5, and let's begin reading there with verse 11. Hebrews chapter 5, verse 11. Hebrews 5 verse 11, the apostle writes, "Of whom we have many things to say, and hard to be uttered, seeing ye are dull of hearing."

"For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat. For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil." Now, go back. I want you to look at verse 10. He's talking about Jesus Christ and he says, "...called of God an high priest after the order of Melchisedec, of whom we have many things to say, and hard to be uttered, seeing ye are dull of hearing." Paul said, "I'd like to carry you further into doctrine. I'd like to really explain to you the Melchizedek priesthood of Jesus Christ. I'd really like to explain to you how he was called of God an high priest. But he said, 'You're dull of hearing. You're too sleepy. You're too droggy. You won't perceive. You won't understand. You won't comprehend.'"

Sleep and Laziness Connected

Proverbs connects sleep with slothfulness and poverty, both physically and spiritually. Diligence in studying God's Word is required.

And this part of sleep is condemned in scripture. Sleep and laziness are connected, and God reveals that such a one who is sleepy and lazy will never ever progress either physically, materially, or spiritually. I do want you to turn back to the book of Proverbs, to Proverbs chapter 6 to begin with. Proverbs chapter 6, and I'll show you a few verses in this passage. Proverbs chapter 6, notice verse 9. Proverbs 6 and verse 9, we're talking now about how sleepiness and grogginess refers to dullness of hearing the things of God. In Proverbs 6 verse 9, the Bible says, "How long wilt thou sleep, O sluggard? when wilt thou arise out of thy sleep? Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep: so shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth, and thy want as an armed man." Note if you would, "How long wilt thou sleep, O sluggard?"

Scripture Reading — Proverbs 6:9-11; 19:15; 20:13; 24:30-34

How can you lie in bed? How can you not do what you're supposed to do? Look in Proverbs chapter 19 and verse 15. Proverbs 19 and verse 15. Here it is. God says, "Slothfulness casteth into a deep sleep; and an idle soul shall suffer hunger." Slothfulness will cast you into a deep sleep. And an idle soul shall suffer hunger. Look in Proverbs 20 and verse 13. Proverbs 20 and verse 13. God says, "Love not sleep, lest thou come to poverty; open thine eyes, and thou shalt be satisfied with bread." Then if you turn right over to Proverbs 24 and look there beginning with verse 30. Proverbs 24 and verse 30. Look what the wise man said.

"I went by the field of the slothful, and by the vineyard of the man void of understanding; and, lo, it was all grown over with thorns, and nettles had covered the face thereof, and the stone wall thereof was broken down. Then I saw, and considered it well: I looked upon it, and received instruction. Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep: so shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth; and thy want as an armed man." I never will forget, and I see it in many cities, used to be mainly blacks, but it's, whites are included now. But I used to could take you by a certain place in Jessup, Georgia. I don't care what time of day or night it was. There were a bunch of men sitting around a barrel that had a fire in it. And they'd sit there all day. Just talk. Smoke cigarettes. All I'm saying is they sat there all day and all night and did nothing.

You couldn't hire them to work. They didn't want to work. They didn't want a job. And God says somebody like that, they're going to suffer hunger. Poverty is going to come upon them. Am I sympathetic with them? Not at all. Not at all. The same thing that is true physically, is true spiritually as well. If we do not learn to be alert spiritually, we will suffer hunger as well. We will suffer in every area. If we desire truth, we must work for it. We must read, we must study, we must apply God's Word.

We will never ever be scholars in the Bible if we're lazy, indolent, and sluggish. You know what the Apostle Paul said in 2 Timothy 2 and verse 15? Listen to this now. "Study to shew thyself approved unto God." Can you help me? What's the next two words? "A workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." I want you to note that word, a workman. Studying is hard work. And God says if you're going to amount to anything in His word, you must be a workman. And if you're not going to work at learning the word of God, you will never learn it.

Danger of Sleeping in the Wrong Place

It is dangerous to sleep in sin, as Samson did. Sinners are asleep and must awake to righteousness. Believers must not be spiritually sluggish.

One last point today, and that's this. It's dangerous to go to sleep in the wrong place. Although sleep is normal and natural, and although sleep is given to us as a gift from God, it is dangerous to go to sleep in the wrong place. In 1962, my cousin and I took my car and went to Jacksonville Beach. Maybe it was 61, somewhere around there. We got to the beach about 10 o'clock that night and we weren't going to get a motel room or anything, we were just going to sleep in the car. So I parked the car on the beach, wanted to be there first thing in the morning. We went to sleep and about midnight, here's the policeman with a flashlight bumping my window on my door. Well, he woke me up and I rolled the window down and he said, "Son, do you like your car?" I said, "Well, yes, sir, I do." He said, "Well, if you like it, you need to move it because by in the morning, you're going to be sitting in three or four feet of salt water."

I said, "Thank you, sir." And I got that little car up higher on the cement up there instead of down on the beach. It was dangerous for us to go to sleep there. We did not know that at that time. But you know, many people have laid down and have gone to sleep in dangerous areas. Many homeless people are now being beaten and robbed and murdered where they sleep. Do I need to tell you this? Samson went to sleep in the wrong place. He laid his head down in Delilah's lap. He should have never been there in the first place. He should have never been with a Philistine. He should have never been with a prostitute. Let me read it to you. Don't have to turn there. Judges 16, verses 18 through 21. "And when Delilah saw that he had told her all his heart, she sent and called for the lords of the Philistines, saying, Come up this once, for he hath shewed me all his heart. Then the lords of the Philistines came up unto her, and brought money in their hand. And she made him sleep upon her knees; and she called for a man, and she caused him to shave off the seven locks of his head; and she began to afflict him, and his strength went from him. And she said, The Philistines be upon thee, Samson. And he awoke out of his sleep, and said, I will go out as at other times before, and shake myself.

And he wist not that the LORD was departed from him. But the Philistines took him, and put out his eyes, and brought him down to Gaza, and bound him with fetters of brass; and he did grind in the prison house." Let me tell you something, folks. Whenever we lie down and we are comfortable in sin, whatever that sin is, we're sleeping in the wrong place. We have been bidden to awake from such a place and from such a sleep. In Ephesians 5 and verse 14, the Word of God says this, "Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light." Do you realize that sinners are asleep? They are asleep as far as God is concerned. And God commands sinners to awaken out of their slumber and awaken out of their sleep, for they're sleeping in a very dangerous place. They're sleeping lost and under the judgment and the wrath of God. Moreover, how in the world can we speak to others about God's deliverance while we're sleeping in sin ourselves? In 1 Corinthians 15 and verse 34, the apostle said this, "Awake to righteousness, and sin not; for some have not the knowledge of God: I speak this to your shame." Whether we wake or whether we sleep, that which should be foremost in our minds should be the Word of God.

Closing Application and Prayer

We should meditate on God's Word day and night, pray for restful sleep, and avoid spiritual laziness. Salvation is only in Christ.

We should think about it. We should study it. We should sleep on it. We should meditate upon it. And when we're awakened, we should be talking about it. How to apply our lives so that we may be in obedience to the Word of God.

Now I want you to turn, since you're in Proverbs, to Proverbs chapter 6. I read this verse last week, or this passage, and I told you I was going to close with it this week as well. I want you to note Proverbs chapter 6, beginning there, verse 20. He said this, "My son, keep thy father's commandment, and forsake not the law of thy mother: bind them continually upon thine heart, and tie them about thy neck.

When thou goest, it shall lead thee; when thou sleepest, it shall keep thee; and when thou awakest, it shall talk with thee. For the commandment is a lamp; and the law is light; and reproofs of instruction are the way of life." Notice what he said. You need to take that Word, God's Word, and make sure that it's in your mind and in your heart, and you hear it, and you read it, and you talk about it, and you sleep upon it. I had much rather dream about something holy and righteous and godly than had dreamed something unholy, ungodly, and unbiblical. We need to learn to pray for sleep and rest. It is true. But we also need to pray with this understanding where God said in Psalm 127 verse 2, "It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows: for so he giveth his beloved sleep." We need to make sure that we have a normal, natural, physical sleep and rest by asking God for it. But we also need to make sure that we do not have a spiritual sluggish, lazy, and slothful attitude toward the Word of God and the things of God. Sleep may either be a blessing or it may be a curse. And if you go to sleep without the Lord Jesus Christ as your salvation,

you're sleeping in a very dangerous place, wherever it is, however comfortable it may be. For Jesus Christ, and Jesus Christ alone, is Lord and Savior. Let's pray. Father, we do ask that you would help us today, that you would speak to our hearts, teach us, and help us, Lord, to sleep and rest in Thee, but yet, Lord, help us not to be spiritually sluggish and spiritually sleepy. May we be awakened unto Thy righteousness and the truth of Thy Word. Help us, we pray. In the name of Jesus Christ, we ask and pray. Amen.

Study Guide

Major Themes

God instructs during sleep

Summary: God can open ears and seal instruction during sleep, but this is not about trusting dreams; Christ is the final revelation.

Evidence: Job 33:14-16: 'In a dream, in a vision of the night... then he openeth the ears of men, and sealeth their instruction.'

Sufficiency of Scripture over dreams

Summary: Dreams are not to be trusted; the completed Word of God is the only reliable source of truth.

Evidence: Hebrews 1:1-2: 'God... hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son.'

Providential withholding of sleep

Summary: God sometimes withholds sleep to get our attention and teach us something through His Word.

Evidence: Esther 6:1: 'On that night could not the king sleep.'

Spiritual dullness as sleep

Summary: Spiritual apathy and lethargy are condemned as a form of sleep from which believers must awake.

Evidence: 1 Thessalonians 5:6: 'Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.'

Danger of sleeping in sin

Summary: Sleeping in sin, like Samson, leads to destruction. Sinners are asleep and must awake to Christ.

Evidence: Ephesians 5:14: 'Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light.'

Key Arguments

God instructs in sleep but not through dreams today

Summary: While God used dreams in biblical times, today He instructs through His completed Word, not through dreams.

Evidence: Hebrews 1:1-2 shows Christ is the final revelation; Job 33:14-16 shows God's past method.

Sleeplessness can be a divine signal

Summary: When sleep is withheld, it may be God prompting us to seek Him in Scripture and prayer.

Evidence: Esther 6:1; Daniel 6:18; Ephesians 4:26-27.

Spiritual lethargy is sinful

Summary: The Bible likens spiritual dullness to sleep and commands believers to be alert and sober.

Evidence: 1 Thessalonians 5:6; Romans 13:11; Hebrews 5:11.

Laziness leads to poverty

Summary: Physical and spiritual laziness result in lack and hunger; diligence in God's Word is required.

Evidence: Proverbs 6:9-11; 19:15; 20:13; 24:30-34.

Sleeping in sin is dangerous

Summary: Being comfortable in sin is like sleeping in a dangerous place; sinners must awake to righteousness.

Evidence: Samson in Judges 16; Ephesians 5:14; 1 Corinthians 15:34.

Scripture References

Psalm 4:8

Context: Foundation of the message: David's trust in God for peaceful sleep and safety.

Matthew 11:28

Context: Jesus gives rest to the weary; physical rest as analogy of eternal rest.

Psalm 121:4-5

Context: God neither slumbers nor sleeps; He is our keeper.

1 Corinthians 15:51-57

Context: Death is likened to sleep; victory over death through Christ.

Hebrews 1:1-2

Context: Christ is the full and final revelation; no need for dreams.

Job 35:10

Context: God gives songs in the night; He instructs during sleep.

Job 33:14-16

Context: God speaks in dreams and seals instruction.

Genesis 20:1-6

Context: God warned Abimelech in a dream regarding Sarah.

Genesis 31:24

Context: God warned Laban in a dream not to harm Jacob.

Genesis 28:10-17

Context: Jacob's dream of the ladder; God spoke to him.

Daniel 8:18; 10:9

Context: Daniel received revelation while in a deep sleep.

Matthew 1:19-24

Context: Joseph instructed in a dream about Mary's child.

Job 36:10

Context: God opens ears to discipline and commands return from iniquity.

Ecclesiastes 5:3, 7

Context: Dreams come from multitude of business; fear God instead.

Esther 6:1-3

Context: God withheld sleep from Ahasuerus to honor Mordecai.

Daniel 2:1; 6:18

Context: Nebuchadnezzar and Darius had sleep withheld.

Ephesians 4:26-27

Context: Do not let the sun go down on your wrath; avoid giving place to the devil.

1 Thessalonians 5:6-8

Context: Let us not sleep spiritually but be sober and watch.

Hebrews 5:11-14

Context: Dullness of hearing prevents deeper teaching.

Proverbs 6:9-11; 19:15; 20:13; 24:30-34

Context: Sleep and slothfulness lead to poverty.

Historical References

John Trapp (Puritan commentator)

Context: Quoted on Job 33:16: God makes the 'boar bigger' so instruction enters the soul.

Albert Barnes (commentator)

Context: Quoted on Job 33:16: God seals instruction like a ratified contract.

Adam Clarke (commentator)

Context: Quoted on Job 33:16: God opens the heart to receive instruction beyond mere dreams.

Important Quotes

I will both lay me down in peace and sleep, for thou, Lord, only makest me to dwell in safety.

Significance: The foundational verse of the message, emphasizing God's gift of peaceful sleep and protection.

God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son.

Significance: Establishes that Christ is the final revelation, negating the need for dreams today.

In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falleth upon men, in slumberings upon the bed; then he openeth the ears of men, and sealeth their instruction.

Significance: Key text showing God can instruct during sleep, though not an endorsement of dream-seeking.

For a dream cometh through the multitude of business; and a fool's voice is known by multitude of words.

Significance: Warns that dreams often stem from daily preoccupations, not divine revelation.

On that night could not the king sleep, and he commanded to bring the book of records of the chronicles; and they were read before the king.

Significance: Illustrates God's providential withholding of sleep to accomplish His purposes.

Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.

Significance: Exhortation against spiritual lethargy, using sleep as a metaphor.

How long wilt thou sleep, O sluggard? when wilt thou arise out of thy sleep?

Significance: Proverbs' warning against laziness, applied both physically and spiritually.

Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light.

Significance: Call to sinners to awaken from spiritual death and find life in Christ.

Discussion Questions

How does understanding that Christ is the full and final revelation affect our view of dreams and visions today?

Context: Based on Hebrews 1:1-2 and the warning against trusting dreams.

In what ways might God be instructing us during our sleep, and how can we discern His voice from our own thoughts?

Context: From Job 33:14-16 and the emphasis on Scripture over subjective experiences.

Have you ever experienced a time when God providentially withheld sleep? What did you learn from that experience?

Context: Examples of Ahasuerus, Nebuchadnezzar, and Darius; practical application.

What are some signs of spiritual dullness or lethargy in our lives, and how can we 'awake' according to Scripture?

Context: 1 Thessalonians 5:6; Romans 13:11; Hebrews 5:11.

How does the connection between physical laziness and spiritual laziness challenge your current habits in studying God's Word?

Context: Proverbs passages on slothfulness and 2 Timothy 2:15.

What are some 'dangerous places' where believers might be tempted to sleep spiritually, and how can we avoid them?

Context: Samson's example and Ephesians 5:14.

Applications

Seek God's instruction through His Word, not dreams

Summary: Since Christ is the final revelation, we must rely on Scripture for truth and not seek extra-biblical revelations.

Evidence: Hebrews 1:1-2; the warning against trusting dreams.

Respond to sleeplessness with Scripture and prayer

Summary: When unable to sleep, instead of frustration, use the time to read the Bible and seek God's message.

Evidence: Esther 6:1; the advice to get up and read the Bible.

Guard against spiritual lethargy

Summary: Be alert and sober in faith, avoiding apathy and dullness toward God's truth.

Evidence: 1 Thessalonians 5:6; Romans 13:11.

Diligently study God's Word

Summary: Spiritual growth requires hard work; we must be workmen who rightly divide the Word.

Evidence: 2 Timothy 2:15; Proverbs warnings against sloth.

Avoid sleeping in sin

Summary: Do not become comfortable in sin; awake to righteousness and flee from spiritual danger.

Evidence: Ephesians 5:14; Samson's example.

Meditate on God's Word day and night

Summary: Keep God's commandments close, so they guide, keep, and talk with you when you sleep and awake.

Evidence: Proverbs 6:20-23.

deepseek | deepseek-v4-pro | clean_readable_transcript | 2026-06-05T22:56:22Z

deepseek | deepseek-v4-pro | weaver_study | 2026-06-06T14:13:46Z

Clean Transcript

The Blessings of Sleep and Rest Part 2 of 2

Clean readable transcript. This view follows the Commentary.net cleaned segment text while preserving timestamps for audio follow-along.

Alright, let's get started. Psalm 4 and verse 8. Psalm 4 and verse 8. You remember I started this message last week. I'm going to review just momentarily. And then we're going to get started. It's Psalm 4 and verse 8. You remember I began a message which I entitled, "The Blessings of Sleep and Rest." It's from Psalm 4 and verse 8 where David said, "I will both lay me down in peace and sleep, for thou, Lord, only makest me to dwell in safety." Now I want to take just a few moments to review. First of all, we've seen, I trust, very important truths from Psalm 4 and verse 8. And I gave last week what I would just simply call a simple introduction to what I'm going to be bringing today. I pointed out obviously from this verse, our bodies need sleep and rest. It is God who created our bodies. He knows our lives. He knows our limits. He is the one that has ordained sleep and ordained rest. Secondly, I pointed out from this text, that it is God Himself who gives us sleep and rest.
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Without Him, there is no real rest. Our Lord played upon this truth in Matthew 11 and verse 28, when He looked at the people and He said, "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." Then He said once again, "And ye shall find rest for your souls." So obviously it is God who gives rest, and really and truly physical sleep and physical rest is certainly an analogy of the eternal blessing and the eternal rest that we have in Christ. And then thirdly I pointed out, how it's God who protects us and preserves us while we sleep and rest. And I asked the question last week, why did you not die last night in your sleep or why were you not murdered? And the answer is simply because God was watching over us, God protected us. We could say it like this, we are sovereignly protected. In Psalm 121 verses 4 and 5, I quoted it last week, "Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep.
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The Lord is thy keeper, the Lord is thy shade upon thy right hand." And then I went ahead to apply the message from last week to show you that for the child of God, death is likened unto sleep. There's no one in this room that is afraid to lie down and go to sleep. We want sleep, we crave sleep, our body needs sleep, and our Lord then likens death unto falling asleep. No one is afraid to go to sleep, and no Christian should be afraid to die. We may not want to die, but we know that we shall die, but the truth is we are not afraid to die. How easy is it for a child of God to die? It's as easy as falling asleep in his Father's arms. That's exactly the analogy that our Lord gave us.
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If you will hold Psalm 4, but look in your Bibles to 1 Corinthians chapter 15. You'll see how the Apostle Paul gives us another truth here in relationship to that. Notice in 1 Corinthians chapter 15, beginning there with verse 54. 1 Corinthians 15 and verse 54, the Apostle Paul wrote, "Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, that is, or all die, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption," that's verse 53, "and this mortal shall put on immortality," verse 54. "So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin.
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and the strength of sin is the law." So he's saying that the grave nor death gets the victory over the child of God. The truth is our Lord Jesus Christ has already given us the victory because He has died in our stead as our substitute and as our sacrifice. So it's our Lord then who freely gives us an eternal rest because He has taken the sting out of death and He's taken the victory away from the grave and He holds in His own hand the keys of death and the grave.
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Now, while we understood last week that sleep is indeed a blessing, I want you to understand that sometimes sleep can also be a curse. Now before I show you the negatives, I want to show you some positives today. And when I say sin can be a curse, it depends upon the individual, and it also depends upon the circumstances. So, here's the first point today, and I want you to turn in your Bibles, through the book of Hebrews chapter 1. David said, as you turn there, I'm going to quote it, David said, "I will both lay me down in peace and sleep, for thou, Lord, only makest me to dwell in safety." So the very first truth that I want to share with you today is this, that God often instructs us while we sleep. Now that may be strange to your ears, but I'm going to show it to you from the Bible. But I want you to understand something that's of primary importance before I share this with you. That Jesus Christ is the full and final revelation of God.
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And when I say that God often instructs us in our sleep, this is not a program, it is not a pitch for believing in dreams. I do not trust dreams. I know that God gave them in the Old Testament, sometimes in the New Testament, but since the Word of God has been completed, we do not need dreams, or visions, or anything else. If you look in Hebrews 1 and verse 1, the Bible says this, "God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom
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also he made the worlds." Now notice if you would please, the Bible says, that He hath in these last days spoken unto us by His Son. What does that mean? It means that Jesus Christ is the full and final revelation of God. You don't look for truth in dreams. You don't look for truth in Ouija boards and tarot cards. You don't look for truth in fortune tellers. The only truth that there is, is that which is in Jesus Christ, the living Word, and in the Bible, His written Word. Okay?
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With that said, let me point this out. It must be understood that Christ and Christ alone is the full and vital revelation of God. When one depends upon anything else, it is idolatry, plain and simple. We're shut up to Christ and His Word.
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Now, I want you to turn back in your Bibles to the book of Job, chapter 35. Job 35, because having laid that groundwork down, I want you to see how God oftentimes instructs us in our sleep. Job chapter 35, and we will begin reading there at verse 10. Job 35 and verse 10. Here the word of God says this, "But none saith, Where is God my maker, who giveth songs in the night?" Hmm. Have you ever had a song in the night?
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That doesn't mean you got up insane. But have there been praises in your mind? Have there been thanksgiving that goes along with all of your thoughts at night? And in other words, God can sovereignly give us things to think upon while we lie in bed. It does not necessarily have to be a dream. God can implant things in our minds so that when we awaken, we're thinking upon the very thing that God brought to our minds. Scripture does indeed teach us that God oftentimes instructs us while we sleep.
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Now, there is no doubt that God did use dreams in the Old Testament, okay? The Word of God had not been completed at that time. He also used some dreams in the New Testament. The Word of God had not been completed at that particular time. But, I want you to understand this. It was Joseph's dreams, you remember, that got him in trouble with his brethren. Joseph did have dreams. But the point is not that Joseph had a dream, but God was teaching and instructing Joseph as he dreamed. Now, I want you to turn back to Job 33. After having reviewed what went over last week, we're on our first point showing that God oftentimes instructs us while we sleep. So Job chapter 33, and let's begin reading there with verse 14.
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The Bible says, "For God speaketh once, yea twice, yet man perceiveth it not." Isn't that amazing? Just stop and think about that. Sometimes God does speak to us, and we don't even perceive it's God speaking to us. But notice if you would, the next verse. Job chapter 33 verse 14. "For God speaketh once, yea twice, but man perceiveth it not. In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falleth upon men, in slumberings upon the bed; then he openeth the ears of men, and sealeth their instruction, that he may withdraw man from his purpose, and hide pride from man." Note, if you would, "In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falleth upon men, in slumberings upon the bed; then he openeth the ears of men, and sealeth their instruction." God is able to speak to us even when we are unconscious. And He can speak to us in such a way that it changes our lives.
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I want to give you just three quotes before I go any further in explaining this. This is from John Trapp, the old Puritan. And I love what he said when he talks about the fact here that God opens our ears, verse 16, "Then he openeth the ears of men, and sealeth their instruction." You remember in the Bible, when a slave wanted to be a permanent slave, when he refused to leave, what did the owner do?
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He took him and put an awl and bored a hole through his earlobe. And here's what old John Trapp says, "He maketh the boar bigger, as it were, that good counsel may enter. He calleth up the ears of the soul to the ears of the body, that one sound may pierce both. He saith as to him in the gospel, Ephphatha, that's what our Lord said when he healed the deaf man, and together with his word there goeth forth the power." So old John Trapp said it's like God just makes the boar bigger. And he calls up the ears of the soul to the ears that are on the head when God speaks, so that whatever God says goes farther than the ears on the head, it goes down into the ears and the soul. And then Albert Barnes said it like this, "The idea is that he reveals to the ear of man imported admonitions or counsels. He communicates valuable truth. We are not to understand this as saying that the sleeper actually hears God speak, but as the ear is the organ of hearing, it is employed here to denote that God then communicates His will to human beings.
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In what way He may have access to the souls of people by dreams or visions or whatever, it is impossible to explain." And then He goes on to say this, "And he sealeth their instruction, or literally, in their admonition he seals or fixes a seal. The idea is that he makes the admonition or instruction as secure as if a seal were affixed to it. A seal ratified or confirmed a contract, a will or deed, and in the sense here that the communication of God to the soul was as firm as if it had been ratified in a like manner." So God then seals that instruction. Whatever he instructs, he seals it so that we know ultimately later on it is from him and it is truth.
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Then Adam Clarke said this, "A dream or a vision simply considered is likely to do no good. It is the opening of the understanding and the pouring in of the light that make men wise to salvation. Serious alarms, holy purposes, penitential pangs for past sins, apprehensions of death and judgment, discoveries of God's justice, of Christ's love, of the world's vanity, and of heaven's excellence to withdraw men from their evil purpose and to hide pride from man. In all of these openings of the ear of the heart and sealing instructions upon the conscience, we have numerous examples in the history of the church, in the experience of good men, and in the civil and providential history of all nations." So once again Adam Clarke is saying that God does more than give a dream. He opens the heart to receive instruction.
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Now the idea is that God sends home his instruction and he gives it in such a matter that it imprints itself upon our mind. We think about it, we know it. It was not the dreams that were important. It was the truth that was communicated that was important, and had to be acted upon.
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Now let me show you two examples. I want you to turn in your Bibles to Genesis chapter 20. In Genesis chapter 20, you remember Sarah and Abraham had gone down because of the famine. And Sarah was a beautiful woman. And Abraham said, "You say that you're my sister. And that way they will not kill me to have you." That's exactly what happened. In Genesis chapter 20, notice if you would, beginning there with verse 1, "And Abraham journeyed from thence toward the south country, and dwelled between Kadesh and Shur, and sojourned in Gerar. And Abraham said of Sarah his wife, She is my sister: and Abimelech king of Gerar sent, and took Sarah." Now why would Abraham say, "She is my sister"? Now she was his half-sister.
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That was truth. But the reason he said she is my sister is because back then you had to contract or covenant with a family for a bride. So no one could actually, was not supposed to take Sarah without first bargaining with Abraham who would have been her brother. But Abimelech the king didn't bargain with Abraham. He just took her. And look if you would please in verse 3.
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"But God came to Abimelech in a dream by night, and said to him, Behold, thou art but a dead man, for the woman which thou hast taken; for she is a man's wife." Verse 4. "But Abimelech had not come near her: and he said, Lord, wilt thou slay also a righteous nation? Said he not unto me, She is my sister? and she, even she herself said, He is my brother.
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In the integrity of my heart and innocency of my hands have I done this." But what did God tell Abimelech? "If you touch her, I'm going to kill you. You're a dead man." Now, God came to Abimelech, who was a heathen. He came to him in a dream. It was not the dream that was important. It was what God said and what God conveyed and what God communicated.
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And Abimelech got the message so thoroughly that he not only returned Sarah, he gave Abraham money and sheep and everything just to correct the misunderstanding. And Abimelech said, "Lord, I would have never taken her had I known she was a man's wife." And God says, look at it in verse 6, "And God said unto him in a dream, Yea, I know that thou didst this in the integrity of thy heart; for I also withheld thee from sinning against me: therefore suffered I thee not to touch her." Now, I don't know what God did to keep Abimelech away from Sarah, but he did something. Maybe he gave him a case of the 24-hour virus. I don't know. But he kept him away. But notice God spoke to Abimelech in a dream.
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Turn right over to Genesis chapter 31. You remember how Jacob had gone and served Laban and married his daughters. God is inheritance. And so Laban is going to chase Jacob now and try to do harm to him. And in Genesis chapter 31, look at verse 24. Genesis 31 and verse 24. "And God came to Laban the Syrian in a dream by night, and said unto him, Take heed that thou speak not to Jacob either good or bad." What did God say?
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"You better not touch him." A little bit later on, Laban said to Jacob, "You know that it was in the power of my hand to do you hurt, but the God of your father spake unto me yesternight, saying..." So obviously Laban did indeed have an evil intent when he went after Jacob. God also spoke to Jacob in such a way that he knew the truth. Watch. Turn back to Genesis chapter 28. Genesis 28.
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And let's begin reading there at verse 10. Genesis 28 and verse 10. "And Jacob went out from Beersheba, and went toward Haran." Genesis 28 verse 11. "And he lighted upon a certain place, and tarried there all night, because the sun was set; and he took of the stones of that place, and put them for his pillows, and lay down in that place to sleep. And he dreamed, and behold a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven: and behold the angels of God ascending and descending on it. And, behold, the LORD stood above it, and said, I am the LORD God of Abraham thy father, and the God of Isaac: the land whereon thou liest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed; and thy seed shall be as the dust of the earth, and thou shalt spread abroad to the west, and to the east, and to the north, and to the south: and in thee and in thy seed shall all the families of the earth be blessed.
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And, behold, I am with thee, and will keep thee in all places whither thou goest, and will bring thee again into this land; for I will not leave thee, until I have done that which I have spoken to thee of. And Jacob awaked out of his sleep, and he said, Surely the LORD is in this place; and I knew it not. And he was afraid, and said, How dreadful is this place!
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This is none other but the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven." So what did God do? God came to Jacob in a dream and God spoke to him. And when Jacob awoke, he was not saying, "Let me tell you about this wonderful dream I had." No, he said, "This is the gateway to heaven. God is surely in this place." He understood exactly what God told him. Do you realize God spoke to Daniel the same way? If you will turn over your Bibles to the book of Daniel chapter 8 to begin with. Daniel chapter 8.
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Then I'm going to show you one from the New Testament. Look in Daniel chapter 8. And let's begin reading there with verse 18. Daniel 8 and verse 18. Here it is. Daniel 8 verse 18. "Now as he was speaking with me," said Daniel, "I was in a deep sleep on my face toward the ground: but he touched me, and set me upright." Where did God speak to Daniel when he was in a deep sleep? With his face toward the ground. Turn right over to Daniel 10 and look at verse 9. Daniel 10 and verse 9. "Yet heard I the voice of his words: and when I heard the voice of his words, then was I in a deep sleep on my face, and my face toward the ground." God spoke to him, and he knew that God had spoken. If you would turn right on over to Matthew chapter 1. Matthew chapter 1, and let's begin reading there with verse 19.
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Everybody knows the story of Mary and Joseph. Matthew 1 verse 19, "Then Joseph her husband, being a just man..." when he found out that Mary was with child.
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"Now Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a publick example, was minded to put her away privily. But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins. Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us. Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife." Isn't that amazing? Here God corrected all of Joseph's misgivings, misconceptions, in a dream. And he's saying, "Joseph, you've got to understand, Mary has not been with a man.
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That thing, referring to the body of our Lord Jesus Christ, was conceived in her by the Holy Ghost." I want you to go back to the book of Job, and I want you to look in Job 36 and verse 10. Job 36 and verse 10. I'll quote a few of these verses, but I want you to see this one. Job 36 and notice verse 10. The Bible says, "He openeth also their ear to discipline,
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and commandeth that they return from iniquity." It's God who opens our ears. Do you realize that whether you are asleep or awake, if you hear, receive, and understand truth, it's God who opened your ears. Do you remember in Luke 24, those two disciples on the Emmaus road, when they were downcast and disheartened, and Jesus appeared to them, and He asked them, "Why are you so downcast?" Well, they said, "Are you a stranger here?
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Have you not known what has happened?" And they told Him about how Jesus was crucified. And they said, "We had hoped He had been the Messiah. Besides all this is the third day." And our Lord said, "O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have written." And then He went on, and when you get down to Luke 24, "Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures." Hmm. When you get to Acts chapter 16, the Lord opened Lydia's heart with the result that she attended to the things which were spoken by the Apostle Paul.
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So it doesn't matter whether you're asleep or whether you're awake, if God opens your ears, He will seal the instruction. In Psalm 17 verse 3, the Bible says this, David said, "Thou hast proved mine heart; thou hast visited me in the night; thou hast tried me, and shalt find nothing; I am purposed that my mouth shall not transgress." But notice what David said to God, "Thou hast visited me in the night." Has God visited you and you don't know it? Has He opened your ears and sealed instruction to you? Emphasize this again.
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This is not about dreams. Do not trust in dreams. Do not look to dreams. Do not desire dreams. It's not about dreaming. It's about hearing the Word of God.
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Now, if you really want to dream, I can assure you, I can tell you how to dream. You just get you two pieces of bread and get you a mayonnaise, ketchup, and mustard and pickle sandwich and I'll guarantee you if you eat it right before bed, you'll dream something. Won't do you any good, but you'll dream something. Now, the truth of the matter is sleep experts tell you that you dream all the time while you're asleep. You just don't remember most often. I've gotten up at nights and I'll tell Alice, "I didn't dream at all last night. I slept so hard." Well, I may have. I just didn't remember it. And yet there are other times you dream things and they are so vivid. When you awake, I could remember a dream that I had years ago and I still fight that dream because it was so vivid and so real and yet I know it is so untrue. And occasionally it crosses my mind and I think about it and I think, "How did I dream something like that?"
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You know where dreams come from most of the time? Let me read to you Ecclesiastes chapter 5 in verse 3. Here's what the scripture says. "For a dream cometh through the multitude of business; and a fool's voice is known by multitude of words." A dream cometh through the multitude of business. We often dream about that which has been on our minds the most during the day. But here's another verse in Ecclesiastes 5 and verse 7.
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Listen to what he said. "For in the multitude of dreams and many words there are also divers vanities: but fear thou God." You don't fear your dreams. Dreams are inconsequential. He said in a multitude dreams, there's vanity. That is that which is useless and worthless. But fear thou God. The fear of God is always profitable. Oftentimes, God does speak to us in the night. He speaketh once, yea twice, and man perceiveth it not. So God oftentimes opens our ears and we're unaware of it, totally and completely.
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I want you to understand, at times, sleep is withheld providentially. Although our bodies need sleep and although God gives sleep, oftentimes sleep is providentially withheld. Now, all of us understand how frustrating it is when we cannot sleep. If we have a problem, if there's something that's really touching upon us with a great deal of difficulty, we will lie awake in bed with the thoughts running through our minds without ceasing.
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We try to relax and we can't. We pray, it doesn't do any good. We endeavor to shut our thoughts off, yet they cannot be quieted. They scream like a thousand banshees running through our mind one right after the other and we're lying awake there just absolutely miserable. And I submit something to you, that when that happens, the best remedy is not a sleeping pill, but to get out of bed and begin to read your Bible. Evidently, there's something you need to know, there's something you need to learn, there's something that God is trying to give you and tell you, and God speaks in and through His Word.
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Even if it's nothing but 1 Peter 5 and verse 7, "Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you." Maybe He's trying to teach you how to cast that burden upon Him. I'm sure that you remember the story of Esther and Mordecai. You remember how Mordecai saved the king's life and yet no honor had been done for Mordecai. And you remember at the same time, Haman was seeking to have Mordecai hanged on a gallows that he had built.
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And what did God do? God providentially withheld sleep from Ahasuerus. He couldn't sleep. And so he asked for the chronicles of the kings to be brought before him. I suppose he was thinking if you read something very boring you might be able to go to sleep. What could be more boring to read what all had been done by yourself and former kings as well? But as the man was reading to the king, he read how Mordecai had saved the king's life by reporting the individuals who were trying to kill him. Let me just read it.
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The book of Esther, chapter 6, verses 1 through 3. "On that night could not the king sleep, and he commanded to bring the book of records of the chronicles; and they were read before the king. And it was found written, that Mordecai had told of Bigthana and Teresh, two of the king's chamberlains, the keepers of the door, who sought to lay hand on the king Ahasuerus. And the king said, What honour and dignity hath been done to Mordecai for this? Then said the king's servants that ministered unto him, There is nothing done for him." And you remember how the king heard someone out in the outer court. "Who is that?" "Well, it's Haman." And the king asked him, said, "What would you do for the man that the king delights to honor?" And Haman thought, "Well, who would he like to honor more than me?"
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And so he says, "Let the royal apparel be put upon him. Let him ride on the king's mule and let a nobleman lead him and say, 'This is to be done to the man whom the king desires to honor.'" And Ahasuerus said, "You do it to Mordecai and don't let anything fail of what you just said." And of course, you know, the rest of the story. But it all began with God providentially withholding sleep from Ahasuerus.
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I want you to turn to the book of Daniel chapter 2. You see the same thing happened in the book of Daniel, first of all, to Nebuchadnezzar. Notice if you would Daniel chapter 2 and verse 1. Daniel 2 and verse 1. Here the Scripture says, "And in the second year of the reign of Nebuchadnezzar, Nebuchadnezzar dreamed dreams, wherewith his spirit was troubled, and his sleep brake from him." In other words, he couldn't sleep. If you would turn right over to Daniel chapter 6. You remember Daniel was thrown in the lion's den. Now King Darius cannot sleep. Look in Daniel 6 and verse 18. And what Darius did was basically stay awake all night praying and fasting for Daniel. Look at verse 18. "Then the king went to his palace, and passed the night fasting: neither were instruments of musick brought before him: and his sleep went from him." Why? Because he knew Daniel had been thrown into the den of lions wrongly. Now, sleep is our normal and natural state. Therefore, when we cannot sleep, we have to consider whether or not God is providentially withholding it from us.
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If He is providentially withholding it from us, there is something we need to learn. I want you to turn to the book of Ephesians chapter 4. I can quote this, but I want you to see it. Look in Ephesians chapter 4, and I want us to read verses 26 and 27. Look at Ephesians chapter 4 at verse 26 and 27. Look what God says. "Be ye angry, and sin not:
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let not the sun go down upon your wrath: neither give place to the devil." Let not the sun go down upon your wrath. So if you go to bed angry, which you should not do, God could withhold sleep from you until you correct the problem. This is what I'm trying to say. You need to listen when God providentially withholds sleep from you. He's telling you something.
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Now, moreover, we should ask the Lord at such a time if He's speaking to us. You remember how Hannah had brought young Samuel and left him in the temple. And he heard a voice calling him, "Samuel, Samuel." And he got up and ran to Eli and said, "Here I am, what do you want?" "I didn't call you, boy. Go back and go to bed." "Samuel, Samuel." And he got up and ran to Eli and said, "What is it you want?" "I didn't call you, son." And then he figured out the Lord was speaking to Samuel. He said, "You go back and go to sleep, if He calls you a third time, you say, 'Speak, Lord; for thy servant heareth.'"
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So sometimes, God keeps us awake just so He can speak to us through His Word. We need to get up and read our Bibles.
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Now let me give you another verse. I want you to think about this one. You'll find this in the Song of Solomon, chapter 5 and verse 2. Listen to what the bride says. "I sleep, but my heart waketh: it is the voice of my beloved that knocketh, saying, Open to me, my sister, my love, my dove, my undefiled: for my head is filled with dew, and my locks with the drops of the night." Notice, she said, "I sleep, but my heart waketh."
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Have you ever been where you're asleep, but you can hear everything going on around you? I've been like that. Alice and I get so tickled. I know what she's thinking about. Renee, our oldest granddaughter, used to travel with us a lot. And she was what, about four years old? She's about four years old. And we were in Indiana. She went up there with us. And she was in the back seat. And she was pretending to be asleep.
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And we were talking to some friends there. And we started talking about Renee. And she sits back and she's just grinning. Listen to us talk about her.
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Finally she says, "Y'all, I can hear in my sleep." Of course she wasn't asleep at all. But there are times that you can hear in your sleep. There are times that you can talk in your sleep. Our twins used to sleep. You could call them, you could talk to them, you could carry on a conversation with them. They would answer you and they'd still be asleep. So, when God withholds our sleep or we're having one of those nights when we're sleeping but we're really awake, we need to pay attention. We need to listen to the voice of God because God is speaking to our subconscious and He's teaching us that we need to listen and to read His word and hear Him.
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Now here's a third truth I want to tell you about sleep. I told you there were some bad things about sleep. Here's the first one, the third point, and that is spiritual dullness and apathy were likened unto sleep. Now each one of us understands what it is to be sleepy. You can be going to sleep or coming up out of a sleep and someone can ask you a question and you could give an answer but you have no earthly idea what the answer is.
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You just cannot think clearly. You are still groggy and you're dull and you cannot function properly. Such spiritual dullness is condemned in the scriptures. I want you to listen to Psalm 76 and verse 5. Listen to what God says. "The stouthearted are spoiled, they have slept their sleep: and none of the men of might have found their hands."
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Now He's talking about an army. He's talking about soldiers. "The stouthearted are spoiled, they have slept their sleep: and none of the men of might have found their hands." There have been times that I have laid on my arm in sleep and your arm goes to sleep. And I have dreamed that I'm trying to get my arm, I can't get my arm. Or it's wrapped up in a cover and I can't get it out. And finally I get wide enough to wake it. Yeah, there it is. And then I have to shake my arm.
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The same thing has happened to you. But God says this, that He put such a sleep upon these soldiers that they could not find their hands. In other words, they just could not function. Why could they not function? Because of their sleep. There's not a person in this room that can go into a deep sleep and function doing what you should be doing. You can't do it. It's impossible.
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So sleepiness is oftentimes likened to spiritual dullness and apathy. I want you to turn in your Bibles, first of all, to the book of, well, we're in Ephesians. Let's go right on over to 1 Thessalonians, chapter 5, and look at verses 6 and 7. 1 Thessalonians, chapter 5, verses 6 and 7. Look what our Lord tells us. 1 Thessalonians 5, verse 6, "Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober. For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night. But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation." Notice if you would, "let us not sleep, as do others."
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Now he's not talking about staying awake 24 hours a day. But he's talking about a sluggish, apathetic spirituality that's worthless. He said, "You don't want to sleep like that. You do not want to be spiritually dull." Go back in your Bibles to the book of Luke chapter 22 and verse 46. Luke 22 and verse 46. Here's what He said. Our Lord is speaking to His disciples. "And said unto them, Why sleep ye?
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rise and pray, lest ye enter into temptation." Why are you sleeping?
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Now is not the time to sleep, he said. "Rise and pray, lest ye enter into temptation." In Romans 13 verse 11, the Apostle Paul says this, "And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed." It's time, he said, to awaken out of our sleep. So sleeping, it's likened to a spiritual dullness, or lethargy, or apathy.
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If you will turn in your Bibles to the book of Hebrews, I want you to see this. Here is a very clear, concise illustration of what I'm telling you. The book of Hebrews, chapter 5, and let's begin reading there with verse 11. Hebrews chapter 5, verse 11. Hebrews 5 verse 11, the apostle writes, "Of whom we have many things to say, and hard to be uttered, seeing ye are dull of hearing."
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"For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat. For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil." Now, go back.
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I want you to look at verse 10. He's talking about Jesus Christ and he says, "...called of God an high priest after the order of Melchisedec, of whom we have many things to say, and hard to be uttered, seeing ye are dull of hearing." Paul said, "I'd like to carry you further into doctrine. I'd like to really explain to you the Melchizedek priesthood of Jesus Christ. I'd really like to explain to you how he was called of God an high priest. But he said, 'You're dull of hearing. You're too sleepy. You're too droggy. You won't perceive. You won't understand. You won't comprehend.'"
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And this part of sleep is condemned in scripture. Sleep and laziness are connected, and God reveals that such a one who is sleepy and lazy will never ever progress either physically, materially, or spiritually. I do want you to turn back to the book of Proverbs, to Proverbs chapter 6 to begin with. Proverbs chapter 6, and I'll show you a few verses in this passage. Proverbs chapter 6, notice verse 9. Proverbs 6 and verse 9, we're talking now about how sleepiness and grogginess refers to dullness of hearing the things of God. In Proverbs 6 verse 9, the Bible says, "How long wilt thou sleep, O sluggard? when wilt thou arise out of thy sleep? Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep: so shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth, and thy want as an armed man." Note if you would, "How long wilt thou sleep, O sluggard?"
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How can you lie in bed? How can you not do what you're supposed to do? Look in Proverbs chapter 19 and verse 15. Proverbs 19 and verse 15. Here it is. God says, "Slothfulness casteth into a deep sleep; and an idle soul shall suffer hunger." Slothfulness will cast you into a deep sleep. And an idle soul shall suffer hunger. Look in Proverbs 20 and verse 13. Proverbs 20 and verse 13. God says, "Love not sleep, lest thou come to poverty; open thine eyes, and thou shalt be satisfied with bread." Then if you turn right over to Proverbs 24 and look there beginning with verse 30. Proverbs 24 and verse 30. Look what the wise man said.
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"I went by the field of the slothful, and by the vineyard of the man void of understanding; and, lo, it was all grown over with thorns, and nettles had covered the face thereof, and the stone wall thereof was broken down. Then I saw, and considered it well: I looked upon it, and received instruction. Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep: so shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth; and thy want as an armed man."
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I never will forget, and I see it in many cities, used to be mainly blacks, but it's, whites are included now. But I used to could take you by a certain place in Jessup, Georgia. I don't care what time of day or night it was. There were a bunch of men sitting around a barrel that had a fire in it. And they'd sit there all day. Just talk. Smoke cigarettes. All I'm saying is they sat there all day and all night and did nothing.
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You couldn't hire them to work. They didn't want to work. They didn't want a job. And God says somebody like that, they're going to suffer hunger. Poverty is going to come upon them. Am I sympathetic with them? Not at all. Not at all. The same thing that is true physically, is true spiritually as well. If we do not learn to be alert spiritually, we will suffer hunger as well. We will suffer in every area. If we desire truth, we must work for it. We must read, we must study, we must apply God's Word.
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We will never ever be scholars in the Bible if we're lazy, indolent, and sluggish. You know what the Apostle Paul said in 2 Timothy 2 and verse 15? Listen to this now. "Study to shew thyself approved unto God." Can you help me? What's the next two words? "A workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." I want you to note that word, a workman. Studying is hard work. And God says if you're going to amount to anything in His word, you must be a workman. And if you're not going to work at learning the word of God, you will never learn it.
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One last point today, and that's this. It's dangerous to go to sleep in the wrong place. Although sleep is normal and natural, and although sleep is given to us as a gift from God, it is dangerous to go to sleep in the wrong place. In 1962, my cousin and I took my car and went to Jacksonville Beach. Maybe it was 61, somewhere around there. We got to the beach about 10 o'clock that night and we weren't going to get a motel room or anything, we were just going to sleep in the car. So I parked the car on the beach, wanted to be there first thing in the morning. We went to sleep and about midnight, here's the policeman with a flashlight bumping my window on my door. Well, he woke me up and I rolled the window down and he said, "Son, do you like your car?" I said, "Well, yes, sir, I do." He said, "Well, if you like it, you need to move it because by in the morning, you're going to be sitting in three or four feet of salt water."
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I said, "Thank you, sir." And I got that little car up higher on the cement up there instead of down on the beach. It was dangerous for us to go to sleep there. We did not know that at that time. But you know, many people have laid down and have gone to sleep in dangerous areas. Many homeless people are now being beaten and robbed and murdered where they sleep.
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Do I need to tell you this? Samson went to sleep in the wrong place. He laid his head down in Delilah's lap. He should have never been there in the first place. He should have never been with a Philistine. He should have never been with a prostitute. Let me read it to you. Don't have to turn there. Judges 16, verses 18 through 21. "And when Delilah saw that he had told her all his heart, she sent and called for the lords of the Philistines, saying, Come up this once, for he hath shewed me all his heart. Then the lords of the Philistines came up unto her, and brought money in their hand. And she made him sleep upon her knees; and she called for a man, and she caused him to shave off the seven locks of his head; and she began to afflict him, and his strength went from him. And she said, The Philistines be upon thee, Samson. And he awoke out of his sleep, and said, I will go out as at other times before, and shake myself.
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And he wist not that the LORD was departed from him. But the Philistines took him, and put out his eyes, and brought him down to Gaza, and bound him with fetters of brass; and he did grind in the prison house." Let me tell you something, folks. Whenever we lie down and we are comfortable in sin, whatever that sin is, we're sleeping in the wrong place. We have been bidden to awake from such a place and from such a sleep.
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In Ephesians 5 and verse 14, the Word of God says this, "Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light." Do you realize that sinners are asleep? They are asleep as far as God is concerned. And God commands sinners to awaken out of their slumber and awaken out of their sleep, for they're sleeping in a very dangerous place. They're sleeping lost and under the judgment and the wrath of God. Moreover, how in the world can we speak to others about God's deliverance while we're sleeping in sin ourselves? In 1 Corinthians 15 and verse 34, the apostle said this, "Awake to righteousness, and sin not; for some have not the knowledge of God: I speak this to your shame." Whether we wake or whether we sleep, that which should be foremost in our minds should be the Word of God.
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We should think about it. We should study it. We should sleep on it. We should meditate upon it. And when we're awakened, we should be talking about it. How to apply our lives so that we may be in obedience to the Word of God.
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Now I want you to turn, since you're in Proverbs, to Proverbs chapter 6. I read this verse last week, or this passage, and I told you I was going to close with it this week as well. I want you to note Proverbs chapter 6, beginning there, verse 20. He said this, "My son, keep thy father's commandment, and forsake not the law of thy mother: bind them continually upon thine heart, and tie them about thy neck.
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When thou goest, it shall lead thee; when thou sleepest, it shall keep thee; and when thou awakest, it shall talk with thee. For the commandment is a lamp; and the law is light; and reproofs of instruction are the way of life." Notice what he said. You need to take that Word, God's Word, and make sure that it's in your mind and in your heart, and you hear it, and you read it, and you talk about it, and you sleep upon it.
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I had much rather dream about something holy and righteous and godly than had dreamed something unholy, ungodly, and unbiblical. We need to learn to pray for sleep and rest. It is true. But we also need to pray with this understanding where God said in Psalm 127 verse 2, "It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows: for so he giveth his beloved sleep." We need to make sure that we have a normal, natural, physical sleep and rest by asking God for it. But we also need to make sure that we do not have a spiritual sluggish, lazy, and slothful attitude toward the Word of God and the things of God. Sleep may either be a blessing or it may be a curse. And if you go to sleep without the Lord Jesus Christ as your salvation,
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you're sleeping in a very dangerous place, wherever it is, however comfortable it may be. For Jesus Christ, and Jesus Christ alone, is Lord and Savior. Let's pray. Father, we do ask that you would help us today, that you would speak to our hearts, teach us, and help us, Lord, to sleep and rest in Thee, but yet, Lord, help us not to be spiritually sluggish and spiritually sleepy. May we be awakened unto Thy righteousness and the truth of Thy Word. Help us, we pray. In the name of Jesus Christ, we ask and pray. Amen.
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deepseek | deepseek-v4-pro | clean_readable_transcript | 2026-06-05T22:56:22Z

The Blessings of Sleep and Rest Part 2 of 2

John Weaver | Freedom Ministries

Pastor John Weaver continues his message on Psalm 4:8, exploring how God instructs us during sleep, providentially withholds sleep, and uses sleep as a metaphor for spiritual dullness. He emphasizes that while God may communicate truth during sleep, the completed Scripture is the final revelation, and believers must avoid spiritual lethargy and the danger of sleeping in sin.

Review of Part 1

Weaver reviews the previous message: our bodies need sleep, God gives sleep and rest, and God protects us while we sleep. Death for the believer is likened to sleep.

Scripture Reading — Psalm 4:8

"I will both lay me down in peace and sleep, for thou, Lord, only makest me to dwell in safety."

Without Him, there is no real rest. Our Lord played upon this truth in Matthew 11 and verse 28, when He looked at the people and He said,

Scripture Reading — Matthew 11:28

"Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest."

Scripture Reading — 1 Corinthians 15:51-57

"Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, that is, or all die, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption,"

that's verse 53,

Scripture Reading — 1 Corinthians 15:51-57

"and this mortal shall put on immortality,"

verse 54.

Scripture Reading — 1 Corinthians 15:51-57

"So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin.

God Instructs Us While We Sleep

God often opens our ears and seals instruction during sleep, but this is not an endorsement of trusting dreams. Christ is the full and final revelation.

Scripture Reading — Hebrews 1:1-2

"God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds."

Scripture Reading — Job 35:10

"But none saith, Where is God my maker, who giveth songs in the night?"

The Bible says,

Scripture Reading — Job 33:14-16

"For God speaketh once, yea twice, yet man perceiveth it not."

Scripture Reading — Job 33:14-16

"For God speaketh once, yea twice, but man perceiveth it not. In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falleth upon men, in slumberings upon the bed; then he openeth the ears of men, and sealeth their instruction, that he may withdraw man from his purpose, and hide pride from man."

Note, if you would,

Scripture Reading — Job 33:14-16

"In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falleth upon men, in slumberings upon the bed; then he openeth the ears of men, and sealeth their instruction."

God is able to speak to us even when we are unconscious. And He can speak to us in such a way that it changes our lives.

Biblical Examples of Divine Instruction in Sleep

Examples include Abimelech, Laban, Jacob, Daniel, and Joseph, showing God communicated truth in dreams, but the truth itself was what mattered.

Scripture Reading — Genesis 28:10-17

"And Jacob went out from Beersheba, and went toward Haran."

Genesis 28 verse 11.

Scripture Reading — Genesis 28:10-17

"And he lighted upon a certain place, and tarried there all night, because the sun was set; and he took of the stones of that place, and put them for his pillows, and lay down in that place to sleep. And he dreamed, and behold a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven: and behold the angels of God ascending and descending on it. And, behold, the LORD stood above it, and said, I am the LORD God of Abraham thy father, and the God of Isaac: the land whereon thou liest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed; and thy seed shall be as the dust of the earth, and thou shalt spread abroad to the west, and to the east, and to the north, and to the south: and in thee and in thy seed shall all the families of the earth be blessed.

Then I'm going to show you one from the New Testament. Look in Daniel chapter 8. And let's begin reading there with verse 18. Daniel 8 and verse 18. Here it is. Daniel 8 verse 18.

Scripture Reading — Daniel 8:18; 10:9

"Now as he was speaking with me,"

said Daniel,

Scripture Reading — Daniel 8:18; 10:9

"I was in a deep sleep on my face toward the ground: but he touched me, and set me upright."

Where did God speak to Daniel when he was in a deep sleep? With his face toward the ground. Turn right over to Daniel 10 and look at verse 9. Daniel 10 and verse 9.

Scripture Reading — Daniel 8:18; 10:9

"Yet heard I the voice of his words: and when I heard the voice of his words, then was I in a deep sleep on my face, and my face toward the ground."

God spoke to him, and he knew that God had spoken. If you would turn right on over to Matthew chapter 1. Matthew chapter 1, and let's begin reading there with verse 19.

Everybody knows the story of Mary and Joseph. Matthew 1 verse 19,

Scripture Reading — Matthew 1:19-24

"Then Joseph her husband, being a just man..."

when he found out that Mary was with child.

Scripture Reading — Matthew 1:19-24

"Now Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a publick example, was minded to put her away privily. But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins. Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us. Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife."

Isn't that amazing? Here God corrected all of Joseph's misgivings, misconceptions, in a dream. And he's saying, "Joseph, you've got to understand, Mary has not been with a man.

God Opens Ears Whether Asleep or Awake

Whether asleep or awake, if we understand truth, it is God who opens our ears. Dreams are not to be trusted; the Word of God is sufficient.

You know where dreams come from most of the time? Let me read to you Ecclesiastes chapter 5 in verse 3. Here's what the scripture says.

Scripture Reading — Ecclesiastes 5:3, 7

"For a dream cometh through the multitude of business; and a fool's voice is known by multitude of words."

Sleep Providentially Withheld

God sometimes withholds sleep to get our attention, as with Ahasuerus and Nebuchadnezzar. When unable to sleep, we should seek God in His Word.

Scripture Reading — Daniel 2:1; 6:18

"And in the second year of the reign of Nebuchadnezzar, Nebuchadnezzar dreamed dreams, wherewith his spirit was troubled, and his sleep brake from him."

Spiritual Dullness Likened to Sleep

Scripture condemns spiritual lethargy and apathy, likening it to sleep. Believers are called to be alert and sober.

Sleep and Laziness Connected

Proverbs connects sleep with slothfulness and poverty, both physically and spiritually. Diligence in studying God's Word is required.

Scripture Reading — Proverbs 6:9-11; 19:15; 20:13; 24:30-34

How can you lie in bed? How can you not do what you're supposed to do? Look in Proverbs chapter 19 and verse 15. Proverbs 19 and verse 15. Here it is. God says, "Slothfulness casteth into a deep sleep; and an idle soul shall suffer hunger." Slothfulness will cast you into a deep sleep. And an idle soul shall suffer hunger. Look in Proverbs 20 and verse 13. Proverbs 20 and verse 13. God says, "Love not sleep, lest thou come to poverty; open thine eyes, and thou shalt be satisfied with bread." Then if you turn right over to Proverbs 24 and look there beginning with verse 30. Proverbs 24 and verse 30. Look what the wise man said.

Danger of Sleeping in the Wrong Place

It is dangerous to sleep in sin, as Samson did. Sinners are asleep and must awake to righteousness. Believers must not be spiritually sluggish.

Closing Application and Prayer

We should meditate on God's Word day and night, pray for restful sleep, and avoid spiritual laziness. Salvation is only in Christ.

The Blessings of Sleep and Rest Part 2 of 2

John Weaver | YouTube

Lecture Metadata	Details
Speaker	John Weaver
Source	YouTube
Media ID	vTt81er1lBU
Subject	Old Testament Studies
Course	Daniel
Genre	Sermon
Date	2012-11-27
Dictation Name
Book	Book 120: The Blessings of Sleep and Rest — Chapter 2
Source Timed Segments	81

Lecture Guide

Outline

Review of Part 1: Weaver reviews the previous message: our bodies need sleep, God gives sleep and rest, and God protects us while we sleep. Death for the believer is likened to sleep.
God Instructs Us While We Sleep: God often opens our ears and seals instruction during sleep, but this is not an endorsement of trusting dreams. Christ is the full and final revelation.
Biblical Examples of Divine Instruction in Sleep: Examples include Abimelech, Laban, Jacob, Daniel, and Joseph, showing God communicated truth in dreams, but the truth itself was what mattered.
God Opens Ears Whether Asleep or Awake: Whether asleep or awake, if we understand truth, it is God who opens our ears. Dreams are not to be trusted; the Word of God is sufficient.
Sleep Providentially Withheld: God sometimes withholds sleep to get our attention, as with Ahasuerus and Nebuchadnezzar. When unable to sleep, we should seek God in His Word.
Spiritual Dullness Likened to Sleep: Scripture condemns spiritual lethargy and apathy, likening it to sleep. Believers are called to be alert and sober.
Sleep and Laziness Connected: Proverbs connects sleep with slothfulness and poverty, both physically and spiritually. Diligence in studying God's Word is required.
Danger of Sleeping in the Wrong Place: It is dangerous to sleep in sin, as Samson did. Sinners are asleep and must awake to righteousness. Believers must not be spiritually sluggish.
Closing Application and Prayer: We should meditate on God's Word day and night, pray for restful sleep, and avoid spiritual laziness. Salvation is only in Christ.

Major Themes

Key Arguments

God instructs in sleep but not through dreams today

While God used dreams in biblical times, today He instructs through His completed Word, not through dreams.

Hebrews 1:1-2 shows Christ is the final revelation; Job 33:14-16 shows God's past method.

Sleeplessness can be a divine signal

When sleep is withheld, it may be God prompting us to seek Him in Scripture and prayer.

Esther 6:1; Daniel 6:18; Ephesians 4:26-27.

Spiritual lethargy is sinful

The Bible likens spiritual dullness to sleep and commands believers to be alert and sober.

1 Thessalonians 5:6; Romans 13:11; Hebrews 5:11.

Laziness leads to poverty

Physical and spiritual laziness result in lack and hunger; diligence in God's Word is required.

Proverbs 6:9-11; 19:15; 20:13; 24:30-34.

Sleeping in sin is dangerous

Being comfortable in sin is like sleeping in a dangerous place; sinners must awake to righteousness.

Samson in Judges 16; Ephesians 5:14; 1 Corinthians 15:34.

Scripture References

Psalm 4:8: Foundation of the message: David's trust in God for peaceful sleep and safety.
Matthew 11:28: Jesus gives rest to the weary; physical rest as analogy of eternal rest.
Psalm 121:4-5: God neither slumbers nor sleeps; He is our keeper.
1 Corinthians 15:51-57: Death is likened to sleep; victory over death through Christ.
Hebrews 1:1-2: Christ is the full and final revelation; no need for dreams.
Job 35:10: God gives songs in the night; He instructs during sleep.
Job 33:14-16: God speaks in dreams and seals instruction.
Genesis 20:1-6: God warned Abimelech in a dream regarding Sarah.
Genesis 31:24: God warned Laban in a dream not to harm Jacob.
Genesis 28:10-17: Jacob's dream of the ladder; God spoke to him.
Daniel 8:18; 10:9: Daniel received revelation while in a deep sleep.
Matthew 1:19-24: Joseph instructed in a dream about Mary's child.
Job 36:10: God opens ears to discipline and commands return from iniquity.
Ecclesiastes 5:3, 7: Dreams come from multitude of business; fear God instead.
Esther 6:1-3: God withheld sleep from Ahasuerus to honor Mordecai.
Daniel 2:1; 6:18: Nebuchadnezzar and Darius had sleep withheld.
Ephesians 4:26-27: Do not let the sun go down on your wrath; avoid giving place to the devil.
1 Thessalonians 5:6-8: Let us not sleep spiritually but be sober and watch.
Hebrews 5:11-14: Dullness of hearing prevents deeper teaching.
Proverbs 6:9-11; 19:15; 20:13; 24:30-34: Sleep and slothfulness lead to poverty.

Historical References

John Trapp (Puritan commentator): Quoted on Job 33:16: God makes the 'boar bigger' so instruction enters the soul.
Albert Barnes (commentator): Quoted on Job 33:16: God seals instruction like a ratified contract.
Adam Clarke (commentator): Quoted on Job 33:16: God opens the heart to receive instruction beyond mere dreams.

Important Quotes

I will both lay me down in peace and sleep, for thou, Lord, only makest me to dwell in safety.

The foundational verse of the message, emphasizing God's gift of peaceful sleep and protection.

God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son.

Establishes that Christ is the final revelation, negating the need for dreams today.

In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falleth upon men, in slumberings upon the bed; then he openeth the ears of men, and sealeth their instruction.

Key text showing God can instruct during sleep, though not an endorsement of dream-seeking.

For a dream cometh through the multitude of business; and a fool's voice is known by multitude of words.

Warns that dreams often stem from daily preoccupations, not divine revelation.

On that night could not the king sleep, and he commanded to bring the book of records of the chronicles; and they were read before the king.

Illustrates God's providential withholding of sleep to accomplish His purposes.

Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.

Exhortation against spiritual lethargy, using sleep as a metaphor.

How long wilt thou sleep, O sluggard? when wilt thou arise out of thy sleep?

Proverbs' warning against laziness, applied both physically and spiritually.

Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light.

Call to sinners to awaken from spiritual death and find life in Christ.

Discussion Questions

[Question]

How does understanding that Christ is the full and final revelation affect our view of dreams and visions today?

[Context]

Based on Hebrews 1:1-2 and the warning against trusting dreams.

[Question]

In what ways might God be instructing us during our sleep, and how can we discern His voice from our own thoughts?

[Context]

From Job 33:14-16 and the emphasis on Scripture over subjective experiences.

[Question]

Have you ever experienced a time when God providentially withheld sleep? What did you learn from that experience?

[Context]

Examples of Ahasuerus, Nebuchadnezzar, and Darius; practical application.

[Question]

What are some signs of spiritual dullness or lethargy in our lives, and how can we 'awake' according to Scripture?

[Context]

1 Thessalonians 5:6; Romans 13:11; Hebrews 5:11.

[Question]

How does the connection between physical laziness and spiritual laziness challenge your current habits in studying God's Word?

[Context]

Proverbs passages on slothfulness and 2 Timothy 2:15.

[Question]

What are some 'dangerous places' where believers might be tempted to sleep spiritually, and how can we avoid them?

[Context]

Samson's example and Ephesians 5:14.

Applications

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