“The sleep of a laboring man is sweet, Whether he eats little or much; But the abundance of the rich will not permit him to sleep.” Ecclesiastes 5:12

“And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall on Adam, and he slept; and He took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh in its place.” Gen. 2:21 While Paul was preaching a man named Eutychus fell into a “Deep Sleep” and fell and was killed. Acts 20:9-10 Rapid Eye Movement

“He will not allow your foot to be moved; He who keeps you will not slumber. Behold, He who keeps Israel Shall neither slumber nor sleep.” Psalms 121:3-4 “I will both lie down in peace, and sleep; for You alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety.” Psalms 4:8 “Awake. Why do you sleep, O Lord? Arise, do not cast us off forever” Psalms 44:23

“Give not sleep to thine eyes, nor slumber to thine eyelids.” v. 4 “Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise:” v. 6 “How long wilt thou sleep, O sluggard? when wilt thou arise out of thy sleep?” v. 9 “Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep:” v. 10

“As a door turns on its hinges, So does the lazy man on his bed.”Pro.26:14 “Laziness casts one into a deep sleep, And an idle person will suffer hunger.” Prov. 29:15 “Do not love sleep, lest you come to poverty; Open your eyes, and you will be satisfied with bread.” Prov. 20:13

“And this, knowing the season, that already it is time for you to awake out of sleep: for now is salvation nearer to us than when we first believed” Rom. 13:11 “Awake, you who are sleeping, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall shine on you” - Eph. 5:14

"Watch therefore, for you do not know when the master of the house is coming--in the evening, at midnight, at the crowing of the rooster, or in the morning 36 "lest, coming suddenly, he find you sleeping.” Mark 13:35-36 “Therefore let us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be sober.” 1 Thes. 5:6

“Consider and answer me, O Jehovah my God: Lighten my eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of death” Psalms 13:3 1 Kings 2:10 “So David slept with his fathers, and was buried in the city of David.” “Our friend Lazarus is fallen asleep; but I go, that I may awake him out of sleep.” John 14:11 v. 14 “Lazarus is dead”.

1.Appear to be asleep 2.Soul still exists - unaware of surroundings 3.They awake and arise  The Dead are conscious in their realm of existence Luke 16 - Rich man and Lazarus Lazarus - “Abraham’s bosom” Rich man - “torments”  It is only the body that is considered asleep “sleep in the dust of the earth” Dan. 12:2

Christ is the “firstfruits of them that are asleep ” 1Cor. 15:20 “For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. 23 But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming.” 1 Cor. 15:22-23 The initial harvest - guarantee of that which is to follow

1 “My son, let not them depart from thine eyes: keep sound wisdom and discretion:” Pro. 3:21 “When thou liest down, thou shalt not be afraid: yea, thou shalt lie down, and thy sleep shall be sweet.” Pro. 3:24

2 Now I lay me down to sleep, I pray the Lord my soul to keep; If I die before I wake, I pray the Lord my soul to take. Ps.4:8 “I will lie down and sleep in peace, for you alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety.”

3 “ when I remember you upon my bed, and meditate on you in the watches of the night; for you have been my help, and in the shadow of your wings I will sing for joy.” Psalms 63:6-7 ESV “He plots trouble while on his bed; he sets himself in a way that is not good; he does not reject evil.” Ps. 36:4 ESV “When you are on your beds, search your hearts and be silent.” Psalms 4:4

 Physical rest is important  Spiritual rest is important Worry often hinders both physical and spiritual “And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” Phil. 4:7

We serve a God that “neither slumbers or sleeps” Psalms 121:4 “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” Matt. 11:28-30

Sermon by Arthur Pigman Evans Church of Christ 515 Gibbs Road Evans, Ga Sunday Morning May 27, 2012