SWEET SLEEP

SLEEP IS IMPORTANT TO OUR DAILY HEALTH.

OUR BODIES CAN GO  JUST SO MANY HOURS WITHOUT IT, THEN MAJOR PARTS OF OUR BODIES BEGIN TO BE FATIGUED  AND OR EMOTIONS BECOME ALL OUT OF SORTS; WE CAN’T THINK CLEARLY, AND OTHERS AROUND US ARE AFFECTED.

IT WAS EASIER FOR US TO GET A GOOD NIGHT’S REST WHEN OUR EMPLOYMENT WAS FARMING AND PHYSICAL LABOR; BUT NOW, WE ARE BOMBARDED WITH MUCH MENTAL STRESS: ON THE JOB AND AT HOME. WE HAVE MACHINERY AND ALL KINDS OF APPLIANCES NOW, THAT ARE SUPPOSED TO MAKE OUR WORK EASIER BUT WE JUST SEEM TO “ADD-IT-ON” INSTEAD OF REST WHILE WE CAN.

SOME YEARS BACK, I HAD AN ILLNESS, THAT REQUIRED MUCH REST AND SLEEP.  I QUICKLY NOTICED HOW THE NAPS I WAS TAKING WERE HEALING. IWAS WEARING OUT MY BODY AND WAS ALL STRESSED-OUT.

SLEEP IS DEFINED AS A STATE OF COMPLETE OR PARTIAL UNCONSCIOUSNESS.

IN THE SCRIPTURES, THERE ARE APPROXIMATELY 21 REFERENCES, AND MAYBE MORE, REFERRING TO SLEEP OR THE LACK OF IT.

SLEEP IS DESCRIBED AS SLUMBER IN PROVERBS 6:4,10.          PROVERBS 3:24, IT IS DESCRIBED AS SWEET – WHEN THOU LIEST DOWN, THOU SHALT NOT BE AFRAID: YEA, THOU SHALT LIE DOWN, AND THY SLEEP SHALL BE SWEET. HERE, IT SAYS…THOU SHALT NOT BE AFRAID…

SO WE MUST ASSUME, FEAR KEEPS SOME FROM HAVING SWEET SLEEP.

VERSE 25 – BE NOT AFFRAID OF SUDDEN FEAR , NEITHER OF THE DESOLATION OF THE WICKED, WHEN IT COMETH; AND VERSE 26 READS –  FOR THE LORD SHALL BE THY CONFIDENCE, AND SHALL KEEP THY FOOT FROM BEING TAKEN.

MANY PEOPLE ARE PARALIZED WITH FEAR, AND FEAR BRINGS WITH IT TORMENT. WE ARE TOLD IN THE BIBLE, THAT FEAR IS A SPIRIT; IT IS A HARASSING DEMON THAT KEEPS PEOPLE FROM BEING AT PEACE SO THEY CAN’T ENJOY A GOOD NIGHT’S SLEEP.

SOMETIMES GOD USES THE LACK OF SLEEP FOR HIS PURPOSE:               IN DANIEL 8:18, DANIEL WAS GIVEN A PROPHETIC VISION IN HIS SLEEP: – NOW AS HE WAS SPEAKING WITH ME, I WAS IN A DEEP SLEEP ON MY FACE TOWARD THE GROUND: BUT HE TOUCHED ME ND SET ME UPRIGHT  ( OR MADE ME STAND UP).

IN DANIEL 2:1, WE SEE WHERE THE INABILITY TO SLEEP IS CAUSED BY WORRY NEBUCHADNEZZAR DREAMED DREAMS…WHEREIN HIS SPIRIT WAS TROUBLED, AND SLEEP BROKE FROM HIM (HE COULD NOT SLEEP). WORRY CAN CAUSE ANY OF US TO HAVE INSOMNIA. IN ESTHER 6:1, THE KING COULD NOT SLEEP BECAUSE GOD WANTED HIM TO READ THE BOOK OF CHRONICLES.

INTERCESSORS AND MINISTERS OF THE GOSPEL, CAN’T SLEEP BECAUSE GOD HAS A PURPOSE IN MIND: MOSTLY, SO THEY CAN PRAY AND INTERCEDE ABOUT SOMETHING OR FOR SOMEONE.

PETER WAS FAST ASLEEP IN A PRISON (DUNGEON). JAMES HAD ALREADY BEEN BEHEADED FOR THE CAUSE OF THE GOSPEL, AND PETER WAS NEXT IN LINE: ACTS 12:1-11 – NOW ABOUT THAT TIME HEROD THE KING, STRETCHED FORTH HIS HANDS TO  VEX CERTAIN OF THE CHURCH. AND HE KILLED JAMES THE BROTHER OF JOHN WITH THE SWORD. AND BECAUSE HE SAW IT PLEASED THE JEWS, HE PROCEEDED FURTHER TO TAKE PETER ALSO. (THEN WERE THE DAYS OF UNLEAVENED BREAD).  AND WHEN HE HAD APPREHENDED HIM , HE PUT HIM IN PRISON, AND DELIVERED HIM TO FOUR QUATERNIONS OF SOLDIERS TO KEEP HIM; INTENDING  AFTER EASTER (PASSOVER) TO BRING HIM FORTH TO THE PEOPLE. PETER THEREFORE WAS KEPT IN PRISON; BUT PRAYER WAS MADE WITHOUT CEASING OF THE CHURCH UNTO GOD FOR HIM. AND WHEN HEROD WOULD HAVE BROUGHT HIM FORTH, THE SAME NIGHT PETER WAS SLEEPING BETWEEN TWO SOLDIERS BOUND WITH TWO CHAINS: AND THE KEEPERS BEFORE THE DOOR KEPT THE PRISON.

     AND BEHOLD, THE ANGEL OF THE LORD CAME UPON HIM, AND A LIGHT SHINED IN THE PRISON: AND HE SMOTE PETER ON THE SIDE, AND RAISED HIM UP, SAYING, ARISE UP QUICKLY. AND HIS CHAINS FELL OFF FROM HIS HANDS. AND THE ANGEL SAID UNTO HIM, GIRD THYSELF, AND BIND ON THY SANDELS. AND SO HE DID. AND HE SAITH UNTO HIM, CAST THY GARMENT ABOUT THEE, AND FOLLOW ME. AND HE WENT OUT, AND FOLLOWED HIM; AND WIST NOT THAT IT WAS TRUE WHICH WAS DONE BY THE ANGEL; BUT THOUGHT HE SAW A VISION. WHEN THEY WERE PAST THE FIRST AND SECOND WARD THEY CAME UNTO THE IRON GATE THAT LEADETH INTO THE CITY; WHICH OPENED TO THEM OF HIS OWN ACCORD. AND THEY WENT OUT, AND PASSED ON THROUGH THE STREET; AND FORTHWITH THE ANGEL DEPARTED FROM HIM. AND WHEN PETER WAS COME TO HIMSELF, HE SAID, NOW I KNOW OF A SURETY, THAT THE LORD SENT HIS ANGEL, AND HATH DELIVERED ME OUT OF THE HAND OF HEROD, AND FROM ALL THE EXPECTATION OF THE JEWS.

THIS WAS A TRYING TIME IN OUR HISTORY WHERE THE CHURCH WAS GOING THROUGH HARASSMENT AND PERSECUTION. WE FIND PETER FAST ASLEEP IN A PRISON.

BECAUSE HEROD, THE KING, SAW HOW IT PLEASED THE JEWS TO WATCH JAMES BE KILLED BY THE SWORD, THAT HE DECIDED PETER WOULD BE NEXT: AFTER THE PASSOVER.

SOMETIMES WE FIND IT HARD TO SLEEP AFTER WE HAVE PASSED THROUGH A TRIAL DURING THE DAY OR WE ATE PIZZA LATE IN THE EVENING.

THIS STORY OF PETER AMAZES ME BECAUSE PETER KNEW WHAT WAS TO TAKE PLACE THE NEXT MORNING, YET WE FIND HIM THE NIGHT BEFORE WHE WAS TO BE EXECUTED, AN A DEEP SLEEP, CHAINED BETWEEN TWO SOLDIERS, AND GUARDED WELL.

HEROD’S GREAT DESIRE TO PLEASE THE PEOPLE BY GIFTS AND SHOWS OF BLOOD TO WIN THEIR FAVER, HAD BEEN FOILED. HE WAS PLANNING TO BRING PETER UP ONTO A STAGE OR SOME HIGH GROUND WHERE ALL THE PEOPLE COULD SEE HIM CONDEMNED WHICH WOULD BE AS GOOD THEM AS A GLADIATORIAL SLAUGHTER TO A ROMAN AUDIENCE.

THIS IMPOSSIBLE SITUATION WAS JUST THE RIGHT TIMING FOR A MIRACULOUS EVEN IN THE HISTORY OF THE CHURCH. WHEN THE BATTLE SEEMS THE HOTTEST, THE VICTORY IS USUALLY THE SWEETEST.

SUDDENLY, THE LIGHT SHOWN IN THE PRISON! THE ANGEL HAD TO AWAKE PETER OUT OF A VERY DEEP SLEEP AND RESCUE HIM AS THE SOLDIERS SLEPT ON DUTY. THIS, BY THE WAY, IS AN UNFORGIVABLE ACTION OF A SOLDIER. THIS WAS HIS DEATH WARRENT.

WHY DID PETER HAVE SUCH A CALM DEEP SLEEP ON THE NIGHT BEFORE HIS INTENDED DEATH? BECAUSE HE KNEW HE WAS IN THE PERFECT WILL OF GOD, AND KNEW IT EVEN THOUGH THERE WAS A BATTLE GOING ON FOR HIS LIFE. PETER LIVED WHAT HE TAUGHT THE CHURCH.

WE LEARN SWEET SLEEP AND REST FROM THESE GREAT SOLDIERS OF THE CROSS; BUT THERE IS ONE MORE WAY WE LEARN: AND THAT IS THROUGH EXPERIENCING GOD’S PROMISES THROUGH OUR BEING TESTED.

LAST NIGHT I WAS STUNG IN THREE PLACES ON MY BODY BY A SCORPION IN BED DURING MY SLEEP. THE LAST TWO STINGS CAUSED ME TO JUMP OUT OF BED AND TURN ON THE LIGHT. THERE HE WAS, A BROWN SCORPION, READY TO STING AGAIN. MY HUSBAND SOON CAPTURED MY LITTLE ENEMY, AND I WENT BACK TO BED, AFTER CHECKING FOR MORE OF HIS LITTLE SCORPION FRIENDS. —-DID THIS KEEP ME AWAKE? NO! —-I WENT BACK TO SLEEP, LEAVING MYSELF IN THE HANDS OF THE ONE WHO IS FAITHFUL: MY LORD AND SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST. 

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DOES GOD EXIST? IS THERE PROOF?

IN THE BEGINNING GOD…  (GENESIS 1:1)

THE FOOL SAID IN HIS HEART, THERE IS NO GOD   (PSALM 14:1). 

WE DO NOT HAVE TO SEE GOD TO KNOW HE EXISTS.

THE SCRIPTURES CONFIRM WHAT PEOPLE EVERYWHERE HAVE EXPERIENCED. THERE IS A GOD. IF WE SAY THERE IS NO SUPREME BEING IS TO DENY WHAT IS KNOWN BY INSTINCT.

THERE IS A PART OF US THAT IS VOID THAT ONLY GOD CAN FILL.

PSALM 19:1-4 – THE HEAVENS DECLARE (TELL OF) THE GLORY OF GOD AND THE FIRMIMENT SHOWETH HIS HANDIWORK .

          DAY UNTO DAY UTTERETH SPEECH, AND NIGHT UNTO NIGHT SHOWETH KNOWLEDGE.

          THERE IS NO SPEECH NOR LANGUAGE, WHERE THEIR VOICE IS NOT HEARD.

          THEIR LINE IS GONE OUT THROUGH ALL THE EARTH, AND THEIR WORDS TO THE END OF THE  WORLD. IN THEM HATH HE SET A TABERNACLE FOR THE SUN.

SO, GOD, THE SUPREME BEING, REVEALS HIMSELF THROUGHOUT ALL THE EARTH IN ONE FORM OR ANOTHER, IN EVERY LANGUAGE, BECAUSE CREATION DOES NOT NEED A LANGUAGE.

DAY AND NIGHT HE SHOWS KNOWLEDGE OF HIMSELF; DECLARING THAT HE IS GOD AND THAT MEN EVERYWHERE THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE WORLD OUGHT TO WORSHIP HIM.

JOHN 1:1,9 –    IN THE BEGINNING WAS THE WORD (JESUS), AND THE WORD WAS WITH GOD, AND THE WORD WAS GOD.

          THAT WAS THE TRUE LIGHT, WHICH LIGHTETH EVERY MAN THAT COMETH INTO THE WORLD.

GOD ENLIGHTENS EVERY MAN OR WOMAN THAT COMES INTO THE WORLD (ALL THE PEOPLE OF THE WORLD).

WHEN WITNESSING TO THE LOST, ESPECIALLY THE ATHIEST THEY WILL ASK A QUESTION TO TRY TO STUMP US, OR REALLY TO STOP US AND SHUT US UP.

LATELY, A FRIEND OF MINE RECEIVED A QUESTION,  “WHY WOULD GOD ALLOW PEOPLE WHO HAVE NEVER HEARD THE GOSPEL GO TO HELL?” PEOPLE IN FORIEGN LANDS WHO HAVE NEVER HEARD THE SALVATION MESSAGE? WHICH IS THE REASON FOR THIS MESSAGE.

I BELIEVE GOD REVEALS HIMSELF NOT ONLY BY CREATION, BUT ALSO BY REVELATION OF HIMSELF AND HIS SON, JESUS, IN A SUPERNATURAL WAY: EVEN BY VISIONS AND DREAMS.

LOOK AT ROMANS 1:19,20 –  BECAUSE THAT WHICH MAY BE KNOWN OF GOD IS MANIFEST (SHOWN)   IN THEM  (TO THEM);  FOR GOD HAS SHOWED IT UNTO THEM.

          FOR THE INVISIBLE THINGS OF HIM FROM THE CREATION OF THE WORLD ARE CLEARLY SEEN, BEING UNDERSTOOD BY THE THINGS THAT ARE MADE; EVEN HIS ETERNAL POWER ARE WITHOUT EXCUSE:

THEY ARE WITHOUT EXCUSE.

WHAT ABOUT YOU, DO YOU BELIEVE IN ALMIGHTY GOD?

IF NOT, I CHALLENGE YOU TO ASK JESUS, THE SON OF GOD, IF HE IS REAL, TO REVEAL HIMSELF TO YOU.

IF YOU MEAN IT WITH YOUR HEART, JESUS WILL. 

 

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JESUS WILL MAKE A HOLE IN YOUR WALL

LUKE 7:11-15   AND IT CAME TO PASS THE DAY AFTER, THAT HE WENT INTO A CITY CALLED NAIN; AND MANY OF HIS DISCIPLES WENT WITH HIM, AND MUCH PEOPLE.

NOW WHEN HE CAME NIGH TO THE GATE OF THE CITY, BEHOLD THERE WAS A DEAD MAN CARRIED OUT, THE ONLY SON OF HIS MOTHER, AND SHE WAS A WIDOW; AND MUCH PEOPLE OF THE CITY WAS WITH HER.

AND WHEN THE LORD SAW HER, HE HAD COMPASSION ON HER, AND SAID UNTO HER,WEEP NOT.

AND HE CAME AND TOUCHED THE BIER: AND THEY THAT BARE HIM STOOD STILL, AND HE SAID, YOUNG MAN I SAY UNTO THE ARISE.

AND HE THAT WAS DEAD SAT UP, AND BEGAN TO SPEAK, AND HE DELIVERED HIM TO HIS MOTHER.

NAIN MEANS BEAUTY, ALL OF THIS BEAUTY HAPPEN AT A GATE.

GATES ARE OPENING’S EITHER TO ENTER OR EXIT.

GATES ARE HOLES IN WALLS.

HAS YOUR BACK EVER BEEN AGAINEST THE WALL.

GATES ARE OPPORTUNITES TO GO THROUGH SOMETHING, THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL PASSED THROUGH A GATE OR HOLE IN THE RED SEA.

JESUS IS PRESENT, HE WILL MAKE A HOLE IN YOUR WALL.

WHEN THE DISCIPLES, THE OTHER’S FOLLOWING JESUS, AND THE PEOPLE OF THE CITY, THEY THOUGHT IT WAS OVER FOR THIS DEAD MAN. HIS LIFE WAS HISTORY.

THIS MAN’S OWN MOTHER THOUGHT HIS LIFE WAS HISTORY, BUT JESUS HAD A PLAN AT THE GATE, JESUS MAD A HOLE IN THE WALL OF DEATH FOR THIS MAN.

PROBABLY PEOPLE HAVE THOUGHT IT WAS OVER FOR YOU. BUT JESUS MET YOU AT THE GATE OF DEFEAT AND DEATH TO YOUR DREAMS AND VISIONS AND MADE A HOLE IN YOUR WALL. JESUS WILL MAKE A WAY WHERE THERE IS NO WAY, HE IS THE RESURRECTION AND WILL BRING LIFE TO THINGS THAT LOOK DEAD.

YOUR PROPHECY, YOUR DREAM OR VISION FROM GOD WILL COME TO PASS. IT REALLY DOESN’T MATTER IF IT LOOKS DEAD, THOUGH IT TARRY IT WILL COME.

THE APPERANCE OF SOMETHING ENDING, CAN BE THE BEGINNING OF SOMETHING GREATER.

THE DEAD MAN IS ABOUT TO HAVE A TESTIMONY. YOU ARE ABOUT TO HAVE A TESTIMONY, JESUS IS ABOUT TO MAKE A HOLE IN THE WALL THAT YOUR BACK IS AGAINEST.

THE DEAD MAN WAS CARRIED OUT OF THE GATE, BUT WAS ABOUT TO WALK BACK INTO THE PLACE HE WAS CARRIED OUT OF.

CAN YOU IMAGINE THE THOUGHTS OF THE MOTHER, THE GREIF AND THE FEAR THAT GRIPPED HER MIND AND EMOTION’S, SHE WAS A WIDOW AND THIS WAS HER ONLY SON. SATAN HAD A MIND HE COULD TORRMENT, BUT JESUS MADE A HOLE IN HER WALL, HER BACK WAS AGAINEST THE WALL, BUT JESUS MET HER AT HER NEED.

JESUS HAD COMPASSION, JESUS SAID DON’T WEEP. THERE IS A TIME TO CRY. WEEP BUT DON’T GET UP WITH UNBELIEF, JESUS IS ABLE TO DO EXCEEDING ABUNDANTLY ABOVE ALL THAT WE ASK OR THINK, ACCORDING TO THE POWER THAT WORKETHIN US.

JESUS BEGAN TO WALK TOWARD THE DEAD BODY. THIS IS A MORTICIAN’S GREATEST NIGHTMARE, YOU CAN’T EVEN FINISH A FUNERAL ,IF JESUS IS AROUND.

THE FIRST ONE JESUS TOUCHED WAS THE ONE CARRYING THE DEAD THING, THE BODY.

IF WE ARE CARRYING DEAD DREAM’S, CALLING’S, PROMISES OR VISION’S, JESUS WILL FIRST TOUCH US AND THEN HE WILL SPEAK TO THE VISION IN SIDE US , HE WILL RENEW THAT DEAD THING, HE WILL RESURRECT IT WITH FRESH FIRE.

THE ANOINTING CAUSES US TO STOP AND STAND STILL, WE FILL THAT POWER SURGE, WE STOP OUR EFFORTS AND DISTRESS AND YIELD TO THE SHIFT OF FOCUS. THE FOCUS IS BACK ON JESUS, AS I KEEP MY EYES ON HIM I SHALL NEVER SINK, HE WILL GET ME TO THE OTHER SIDE. MY PURPOSE WILL BE FULFILLED, MY DREAM AND VISIONS FROM GOD WILL BE FULFULLED.

YOUNG MAN I  SAY UNTO YOU. JESUS SPOKE TO HIM, HE WAS DEAD, HE COULDN’T RESPOND WITH FAITH, BUT JESUS IS SPEAKING TO EVERYTHING IN YOU THAT IS DEAD, ARISE, GET UP, COME TO LIFE. THE POWER IS IN HIS SPEAKING.

THE HOLY GHOST IS SPEAKING TO YOU NOW, YOU MAY BE TO DISCOURAGED TO MANIFEST ANY FAITH, BUT THAT’S OK, JESUS IS SPEAKING TO THOSE THING’S IN YOUR HEART THAT YOU FILL WILL NEVER HAPPEN. JESUS IS SAYING ARISE, RESURRECT BY THE POWER OF GOD, NOT YOUR POWER. YOU MAY FILL LIKE ASHES, BUT JESUS IS SPEAKING TO YOUR CORPSE SND SAYING COME ALIVE.

THIS YOUNG SAT UP AND BEGAN TO SPEAK, YOUR GOD GIVEN DREAM WILL SAT UP AND TALK AGAIN.

CAN YOU IMAGINE WHAT THE YOUNG MAN SAID, CAN YOU IMAGINE WHAT YOUR GOD GIVEN DREAM  IS GOING TO SPEAK. LET IT SPEAK LIFE TO MANY, IT IS ALIVE AGAIN, PRAISE THE LORD.   

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