Sermon on Sleeping

This is a post about trusting God. You can rest knowing God has your back. Let’s look at …

Psalm 3:1-8 NKJV

Lord, how they have increased who trouble me!
Many are they who rise up against me.
2 Many are they who say of me,
“There is no help for him in God.”
3 But You, O Lord, are a shield for me,
My glory and the One who lifts up my head.
4 I cried to the Lord with my voice,
And He heard me from His holy hill. Selah
5 I lay down and slept;
I awoke, for the Lord sustained me.
6 I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people
Who have set themselves against me all around.
7 Arise, O Lord;
Save me, O my God!
For You have struck all my enemies on the cheekbone;
You have broken the teeth of the ungodly.
8 Salvation belongs to the Lord.
Your blessing is upon Your people. Selah

Sleeping is a place of rest. In verse 5 of Psalm 3, David fell asleep trusting in the Lord. We need to be like David and come to peace with the turmoil of the world. True peace will never come until Christ returns.

Jesus even fell asleep during a storm while the disciples and Him were on a boat. The disciples even woke Him. See Calming the Storm.

Our pastor always says if you fall asleep while in a sermon, you are content with yourself.

Peace of mind is based on strength of mind.

Sleep comes when are mind becomes weary and we need to be restored, we are tired. Sleep reminds us that we are not God. God never sleeps. Remember we are helpless. We must rely on God.

Saving faith is rest in Him. You can rest in His protection. David slept despite big turmoil in his life. David even still worshiped God weeping through tough times of his life. See 2 Samuel 15:30. Instead of fear David had faith.

Faith can over come fear!

Joab the nephew of King David was  amazed by his uncle. He asked King David, what are you doing sleeping? We are about to be taken over by an army.

Selah (סֶלָה or selāh) which means There, Lift Up! (Hebrew) It can also mean Stop and Listen! The Amplified Bible says “pause and think on that.” This was first used in the 3rd Psalm and used throughout the book of Psalm. Selah is a word used seventy-four times in the Hebrew Bible—seventy-one times in the Psalms and three times in Habakkuk. The meaning of the word is not known, though various interpretations are given below.

God wants us to pause. He wants us to Be Still and Know He is God. As Psalm 46:10 shows us this.

God is our help. He answers me. God always hears us. The answer is in God’s control On His time. When we pray we should pray the Will of God.

Verse 8 tells us that salvation is the will of God. God can deliver even in the deepest times of trouble. We might think we have too much trouble. We may endure a lot of personal attacks as well. Even at the work place. Remember it is not you, but God who used you to climb the corporate ladder.

Don’t be CEO church goers. What does CEO stand for? It means Christmas, Easter only. As in you only go to church on Christmas and Easter Only. Or only special times.

Today as well churches are becoming battle fields due to hardening hearts. Don’t allow your heart to be harden.

2 Names of God, as used in the Bible

1. Jehovah (God keeps covenant)
2. Elohim (Powerful)

Those are only two of many used. (I made a post on some of the other Names of God, as used in the Old Testament  check out that post here: https://www.courageouschristianfather.com/names-of-god-in-the-old-testament/)

God is the only one who can give us true encouragement. But, we can help to give others encouragement. Be an encourager, lift up people. Don’t put people down! God never tears us down. He is our shield, our protection. We need God to complete protect us.

Now rest in knowing that God has your back. I remember this sermon from last year. I remember I came home and took a good nap after church. After all the Sabbath is a day of rest. I remember other church members sharing they went home and had good naps too. More than likely one of the best naps they have had in a long time.

Check out what Monica says about awaking in her post I found while searching somethings for this post. Visit this blog at: dailydwelling.com/psalm-35

_Footnotes:

1. Sermon notes: Piedmont Baptist Church, Pastor Bob Neal, April 15, 2012, AM Service
2. Men’s Mission Night: April 11, 2012, Wednesday Night, Led by Pastor Bob Neal.
3. BibleGateway.com (New King James Version – NKJV)
4. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joab
5. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Selah
6. First published April 4, 2013. Republishing August 29, 2015.

About the Author

Steve Patterson

A Christian Blogger that enjoys blogging about the Bible, Theology, God, Jesus Christ, Christian Music, Family, Cats, Odd Holidays, sewing and much more. I have been blogging since 2004, however, I have been blogging on Courageous Christian Father since 2012. I enjoy listening to Christian Music. I am married with 1 daughter, 2 step-sons and a step daughter.

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