Awake, O Sleeper: The Church’s Call from Slumber

Eld. Roberto Washington
2 days ago
5 min read

“…it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed.” - Romans 13:11 (KJV)

Ephesians 5:6–17 (KJV)

“Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience. Be not ye therefore partakers with them…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 5:6–17 (KJV)

Introduction: When the Lights Are On but We’re Asleep

The early church lived with urgency. They knew that to belong to Christ meant to walk in His light—awake, alert, and aligned with His will. Today, we face a quieter enemy: not overt persecution, but spiritual drowsiness. Churches can be busy yet asleep, active yet apathetic, visible yet spiritually dull. Paul’s anthem in Ephesians still rings: “Awake thou that sleepest.”

This blog explores what “sleep” looks like in the Body of Christ and how Scripture calls us to wakefulness—to spiritual clarity, holy courage, and Spirit-filled living.

What Does Spiritual “Sleep” Look Like?

1) Sleep as Spiritual Ignorance or Unawareness

Isaiah 29:8–14 paints a haunting picture: people dreaming of satisfaction, waking empty; leaders blinded, truth sealed.

“For the Lord hath poured out upon you the spirit of deep sleep, and hath closed your eyes… the prophets and your rulers, the seers hath he covered.” (vv. 10–11)

Symptoms today:

Hearing sermons but not hearing God
Treating worship as ritual rather than encounter
Confusing human traditions with divine truth (v. 13)

Hope: God promises a “marvellous work” (v. 14)—He awakens His people by unveiling the emptiness of counterfeit religion and rekindling hunger for His living Word.

2) Sleep as Spiritual Apathy and Insensitivity

Paul’s alarm clock sounds in Romans 13:11–14:

“Now it is high time to awake out of sleep… The night is far spent, the day is at hand.”

What apathy looks like:

Delayed obedience, dulled conscience
Living “near” the line of compromise
Treating Christ’s return as a doctrine, not a daily driver of holy living

The remedy:

Cast off darkness (habits, entertainments, attitudes that numb the soul)
Put on the armor of light (v. 12)
Put on the Lord Jesus Christ (v. 14) — this is more than morality; it is union with Christ shaping desires and decisions.

3) Sleep as Moral Complacency (Worldliness)

Back to Ephesians 5:13–18: Paul contrasts darkness with light, folly with wisdom, drunkenness with being Spirit-filled.

“Awake thou that sleepest… walk circumspectly… redeeming the time… be filled with the Spirit.”

Marks of moral sleep:

Treating sin casually
Losing the urgency of the hour
Knowing God’s will vaguely but not practicing it (v. 17)

Marks of wakefulness:

Discernment — testing what pleases the Lord (v. 10)
Separation — “have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness” (v. 11)
Illumination — letting Christ’s light expose and transform (vv. 13–14)
Saturation — being filled with the Spirit (v. 18)

4) Sleep as Neglect of Watchfulness

1 Thessalonians 5:1–11 presents a sober eschatological call:

“Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.” (v. 6)

We are “children of the day” (v. 5). The day of the Lord is not a scare tactic—it’s a sanctifying truth shaping how we love, serve, forgive, and live on mission—alert, armored, and anchored.

Revelation 3:1–6 (Sardis) warns: a church can have a name for being alive and yet be dead. Christ’s counsel: “Be watchful, strengthen what remains… remember… hold fast… repent.” This is not condemnation—it’s mercy knocking.

How Churches Fall Asleep: Case Studies from Scripture

False Teaching & Confusion — Hymenaeus & Philetus (2 Tim. 2:16–18) claimed the resurrection was past, shipwrecking faith.
Opposition & Harm — Alexander the coppersmith “did me great harm” (2 Tim. 4:14).
Worldly Entanglement — Demas “in love with this present world… deserted me” (2 Tim. 4:10).
Legalistic Pressure — Judaizers burdened Gentile believers with requirements Christ fulfilled (cf. Gal. 1:6–9; Phil. 3:2).
End-Time Panic — some in Thessalonica believed the Day had already come (2 Thess. 2:1–2), showing how rumors and spiritual sensationalism can destabilize a church.

Antidotes:

Doctrinal diligence — “Study to shew thyself approved… rightly dividing the word of truth” (2 Tim. 2:15).
Courageous preaching — “Preach the word… reprove, rebuke, exhort” (2 Tim. 4:2–4).
Pastoral posture — gentle, patient, apt to teach (2 Tim. 2:24–25).
Watchfulness in all things — endure afflictions; fulfill your ministry (2 Tim. 4:5).

From Sleep to Shine: Jesus’ Pattern for Renewal

Jesus reveals true worship:

“The true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth… God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.” (John 4:23–24)

This means heart and head, Spirit and Scripture, affections and accuracy. Renewal doesn’t begin with better programs but with truer worship—encountering Christ Himself.

And to the lukewarm, Jesus says:

“As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent… Behold, I stand at the door, and knock…” (Rev. 3:19–20)

This is love knocking, not shame. The risen Christ seeks fellowship with His church—to dine, to dwell, to direct.

A Wakeful Church: Five Marks

Biblically Anchored — Scripture shapes belief and behavior (2 Tim. 3:16–17; 2:15).
Spirit-Filled & Prayer-Saturated — not mere activity, but dependency (Eph. 5:18).
Morally Distinct — holiness as joyful freedom (Eph. 5:3–11; Rom. 13:12–14).
Missionally Urgent — redeeming the time (Eph. 5:16); evangelism as normal life.
Mutually Edifying — “comfort…and edify one another” (1 Thess. 5:11); accountability with gentleness (2 Tim. 2:24–25).

Diagnostics: Are We Asleep?

Do we tolerate what Scripture reproves? (Eph. 5:11–13)
Do our services center on Christ—or on spectacle? (John 4:23–24)
Do leaders preach the Word in season and out of season—or ride trends? (2 Tim. 4:2–4)
Do we love Christ’s appearing—or love this present world? (2 Tim. 4:8; 4:10)
Are we watchful—or easily swayed by rumors, fables, or fear? (2 Thess. 2:1–2)

A Practical Path to Waking Up

Personally

Repent quickly where the Spirit convicts (Rev. 3:19).
Rebuild rhythms of Scripture, prayer, and fasting (Rom. 13:12–14).
Replace compromises with consecration—name them; nail them (Eph. 5:11; Gal. 5:24).
Reorient time—schedule around God’s will; redeem the time (Eph. 5:16).
Rekindle hope—meditate on Christ’s return (1 Thess. 5:1–11).

As a Church

Center the pulpit on the Word—line by line, in season and out (2 Tim. 4:2).
Cultivate Spirit-filled worship—truth-rich songs, room for real response (Eph. 5:18–20).
Strengthen what remains—invest in prayer, discipleship, and the next generation (Rev. 3:2).
Practice church discipline and restoration with tenderness (Gal. 6:1–2; 2 Tim. 2:24–25).
Engage the mission field—local evangelism, global partnerships, mercy and justice as witness (Matt. 28:18–20; Mic. 6:8).

Reflection & Small Group Questions

Where have I/do we exchanged truth for tradition (Isa. 29:13) or urgency for apathy (Rom. 13:11)?
What specific “works of darkness” must we cast off this month? (Rom. 13:12)
How can our worship better reflect Spirit and truth? (John 4:23–24)
What would it look like for us to redeem the time in our city this quarter? (Eph. 5:16)
Who needs encouragement or correction—and how will we approach them with gentleness and patience? (2 Tim. 2:24–25; 1 Thess. 5:11)

A Prayer to Wake the Church

Lord Jesus, Light of the world, awaken Your church. Expose what is dark, heal what is dull, revive what is dying. Clothe us with Your armor of light; fill us with Your Spirit; teach us to walk wisely and redeem the time. Make us true worshipers—in spirit and in truth—and keep us watchful until the day of Your appearing. Amen.

Call to Action

This week:

Fast one meal and ask the Spirit to reveal any area of spiritual sleep.
Memorize Ephesians 5:14–17 and pray it over your church.
Encourage one believer (1 Thess. 5:11) and share the gospel with one non-believer.
Plan a worship night or prayer watch to seek renewal together.

“Awake thou that sleepest… and Christ shall give thee light.”— Ephesians 5:14

WAKE UP FROM YOUR SLUMBER.......