My dear brethren, let us try to examine our spiritual growth. Since the time we have received the Lord Jesus as our personal Saviour, is there growth or decline, or have we remained neutral? What is our spiritual condition in this world?

“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.” Romans 13:11

God wants His people to awake out of sleep and fulfill their responsibilities to hasten the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Those who are sleeping are responsible for delaying the coming of our Saviour.

THE DISCIPLES IN GETHSEMANE

Jesus took His closest disciples to watch and pray with Him when He was pleading with God. But what happened?

“And He cometh unto the disciples, and finding them asleep, and saith unto Peter, What, could ye not watch with Me one hour? Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” Matthew 26:40–41

“The disciples awakened at the voice of Jesus, but they hardly knew Him, His face was so changed by anguish. Addressing Peter, Jesus said, ‘Simon sleepest thou? Couldest not thou watch one hour? Watch ye and pray, lest ye enter into temptation. The spirit truly is ready but the flesh is weak.’” –The Desire of Ages, p. 689

John also, the loving disciple who had leaned upon the breast of Jesus was most assuredly asleep. The love of John for his Master should have kept him awake. His earnest prayers should have mingled with those of his beloved Saviour in His time of supreme sorrow.

“The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light.” Matthew 6:22

It is when men are sleeping, that Satan accomplishes his work. “It was in sleeping when Jesus bade him watch and pray that Peter had prepared the way for his great sin. All the disciples, by sleeping in that critical hour, sustained a great loss.” –The Desire of Ages, p. 713–714

THE RESULTS OF SLEEPING

Brethren, ask yourself if there are any circumstances through which you are sleeping. Are you keeping in mind the time in which we are living? Or are there many times in which you are careless and not taking heed of the time we are living? You should sleep only at the right time lest you will sleep the sleep of death.

“The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light.” Romans 13:12

“Men and women are in the last hours of probation, and yet are careless and stupid, and ministers have no power to arouse them; they are asleep themselves. Sleeping preachers preaching to a sleeping people!” –Testimonies for the Church, vol. 2, p. 337

“God calls for watchmen who, in the power of the Spirit, will give to the world the last warning message; who will proclaim the time of night. He calls for watchmen who will arouse men and women from their lethargy, lest they sleep the sleep of death.” –Testimonies for the Church, vol. 8, p. 304

THE CALL TO AWAKE

“Wherefore He saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light. See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.” Ephesians 5:14–16

“What shall I say to arouse the remnant people of God? I was shown that dreadful scenes are before us; Satan and his angels are bringing all their powers to bear upon God’s people. He knows that if they sleep a little longer he is sure of them, for their destruction is certain.” –Testimonies for the Church, vol. 1, p.263

“God calls upon all, both preachers and people, to awake. All heaven is astir. The scenes of earth’s history are fast closing. We are amid the perils of the last days. Greater perils are before us, and yet we are not awake. This lack of activity and earnestness in the cause of God is dreadful. This death stupor is from Satan.” –Testimonies for the Church, vol. 1, p. 260–261

“The work is fast closing up, and on every side wickedness is increasing. We have but a short time in which to work. Let us awake from spiritual slumber, and consecrate all that we have and are to the Lord. His Spirit will abide with true missionaries, furnishing them with power for service.” –The Southern Watchman, April 9, 1903

“Slumbering watchmen, what of the night? Do you not know the time of night? Do you feel no burden to lift the danger signal and give the warnings for this time? If you do not, come down from the walls of Zion, for God will not entrust you with the light He has to give. Light is only given to those who will reflect that light upon others.” –Evangelism, p. 144

“Let the church arise, and repent of her backslidings before God. Let the watchmen awake, and give the trumpet a certain sound. It is a definite warning that we have to proclaim. God commands His servants, ‘Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and shew my people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins’ (Isaiah 58:1).” –Selected Messages, bk. 1, p. 126

“Behold, the former things are come to pass, and new things do I declare: before they spring forth I tell you of them.”  Isaiah 42:9

“The people need to be aroused in regard to the dangers of the present time. The watchmen are asleep. We are years behind. Let the chief watchmen feel the urgent necessity of taking heed to themselves, lest they lose the opportunities given them to see the dangers.” –Testimonies for the Church, vol. 5, p. 714

Thus saith the Lord, “Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love. Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.” Revelation 2:4–5

May God bless you to understand your true spiritual condition.  May you be convicted if you are spiritually slumbering, and bring forth fruits of repentance unto God, having faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.

Amen.

Jenifer Akello Uganda