BBD 08.18.15 Dangerous Sleep (Classic)
Posted by: theburningbushdevotional <theburningbushdevotional@...>
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The Burning
Bush Devotional
Classic
from 2008
08.18.15
Dangerous Sleep
Therefore, since we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we do
not lose heart. But we have renounced the hidden things of shame, not walking
in craftiness nor handling the word of God deceitfully, but by manifestation of
the truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God.
But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing,
whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light
of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on
them. - 2 Corinthians 4:1-4 NKJV.
But he who hates his brother is in darkness and walks in darkness, and
does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes. - 1
John 2:11 NKJV.
One morning about ten years ago (1998) I woke up with a
ruptured disc in my back with severe pain down my left leg (A few weeks later
the pain was gone and my back was much better.). Two weeks after that morning I
woke up with a brown recluse spider bite on my left leg (It slowly healed and
it is hard to even see the scar now. I am very thankful for all who prayed for
me and to the Lord for answering those prayers!) I can only conclude after
those two incidents that sleeping can sometimes be dangerous!!
Of course Samson could confirm that sleeping is dangerous
(Judges 16:19). Sisera could also confirm that sleeping is dangerous (Judges 4:21) and there are several others that could as
well in the Bible. Eutychus could confirm that it is dangerous to sleep in
church (Acts 20:9). But the most dangerous sleep of all is the spiritual
sleep of those who have been blinded by the god of this world (2 Corinthians 4:4). Those blinded by the
god of this world (satan) appear to be unconcerned about death. They appear to
have little concern for anything other than the material world. Spiritually you
can only describe them as being asleep to the reality of eternity. There seems
to be so many of them and they think they know where they are going, but “the darkness has blinded” their eyes.
It may be that the reason so many are blinded by satan is
that there is another category of sleepers. That category is the sleeping
Christian. The apostle Paul says in 1
Thessalonians 5:6-8, “Therefore let us not sleep, as others do, but let us
watch and be sober. For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get
drunk are drunk at night. But let us who are of the day be sober, putting on
the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet the hope of salvation.”
Time is rocketing forward as we move closer and closer to
the time when our Lord Jesus returns. The time that we have to reach those
blinded by satan is running out. Let us wake up and reach out to those around
us who are so close to entering eternity without Christ and without hope. As
the apostle Paul writes to the Thessalonians, “For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Is it not even you
in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at His coming? For you are our glory
and joy (1 Thessalonians 2:19).”
Copyright © 2015. Ed Wrather. The
Burning Bush website has been online since January 31, 1998. On June 8, 1998
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began writing devotionals in the early 1990s. The distribution of those first
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Please continue to pray
for our friend Michelle who is recovering from surgery for cancer. The latest
update is that she is “half way through Chemo, awaiting results of PET Scan at
end of Chemo.” Thank you for your prayers for Michelle!!!
Please continue to pray for
Michelle, Justin Lewis, Shane Hall, Reta (my sister), and Beverly (Jeanie’s
sister). Jeanie has also been experiencing increased pain in her back and side.
So far tests have not revealed it being caused by cancer, but degenerative disc
disease. It is likely she will need additional intervention for the pain.
Please pray for an end to the racial hatred in the USA and that it will be
replaced with peace and love. Many prayer needs are posted at the Burning Bush
website on the Prayer Request page. You can also post your prayer requests
there (Of course, I am always in need of prayer - please pray for me.).
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