WHILE MEN SLEPT

Jesus told us about weeds among the Wheat in the book of Matthew. It is the Parable of the wheat and the tares (weeds). Lets find out what it represents in our daily walk with God.

Reference: Matthew 13:24-25 New King James Version (NKJV)

'Another parable He put forth to them, saying: "The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field; but while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat and went his way."'

There's no room for sleep in your Christian walk. This is because the devil is ready to sow bad seeds in your field, when you fall asleep. Sleeping time is a relaxing time. However the enemy works 24 hours, seeking whom he may devour. Therefore, don't dare to be a part time Christian. By sleeping, I mean to become slumber and slothful in zeal, instead of being fervent in spirit, serving the Lord diligently and enthusiastically.

A part time Christian can never exercise perpetual victory over a full time enemy. Therefore be a full time Christian. When you relax, the enemy is going to sow his seed whether in your nation, ministry, job, business, family, body and so on. All of a sudden, you will begin to see a sudden wave or surge in negativity, which is designed for the worse, if you remain asIeep.

Sleeping happens when you feel you have done enough. For instance, after long duration of prayer and fasting, which has possibly taken you many days, you might want to relax and not pray in the subsequent week; sometimes for a whole week. After giving a sacrificial oblation to God, some Christians might feel they've done so much and so they need to take a break from giving. Also, in the very place where the truth of the Word is preached, and while the hearts of people are open to receive it, the enemy usually comes afterwards to sow the wrong seed, in form of suggestions, lies, and negative thoughts, and if they don't remain awake, strong and rooted in the Word, they may yield to such.

After exercising your faith and receiving your divine healing, you might wish to relax and stop declaring the Word, thereby living the way you want, and so on. These are diverse ways of sleeping. But the Bible says, 'while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat and went his way' (Matthew 13:25).

Sometimes sleeping is as a result of giving unnecessary attention to issues and cares of this world, instead of being spiritually minded. And that's spiritual slumber. Being spiritually minded is a matter of being asleep or awake spiritually. If you are not spiritually minded, you are spiritually asleep and Paul said in Romans 8:6 (ESV), 'For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace.' The phrase 'set the mind on the Spirit' translates a Greek 'noun' phrase, 'phronēma tou pneumatos', which means: developing 'the mindset of the Spirit.' For example, as a Christian, if you become too much entangled in watching worldly films, follow much of modern trend in fashion and pay more attention to politics, than you do to the Word of God, you are seriously sleeping. No matter your interest in other areas of life, pay more attention to God than all, in other to develop the mind of the Spirit.

In Matthew 26:40-41 (NIV), Jesus returned to His disciples and found them sleeping, and He said to Peter, ''Couldn't you men keep watch with me for one hour? Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak." When you sleep, you please the flesh and so you will easily give in to temptations. You make yourself prone to wiles, schemes, and all the strategies of the devil and you may become his victim in whatever you are doing. Therefore, you must put on the whole armour of God. The devourer is always on the move; hence you need to be awake and vigilant. No wonder 1 Peter 5:8 reads, 'Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.'

Scripture Reading - Matthew 25:5; Ephesians 5:14; Ephesians 6:11; 1 Thessalonians 5:5-8.

Exuberant Declaration: I am alive to God and fully vibrant in the spirit. I function by the wings of the Holy Spirit and I refuse to sleep in my Christian walk. I have a luscious and pleasant passion for the Lord, such that I don't relax in my service to the Lord. My life is designed for the glory of God and I'm planted by the streams of divine productivity, where I flow evergreen, remain fervent in spirit, fruitful, and diligent in zeal, serving the Lord faithfully. I am a winner; always triumphant, victorious, successful, and more than a conqueror, now and always. Glory to God!