FAITH CAPSULE: Sleeping in the place of evil agenda will not excuse any believer from evil occurrence.
Acts 12
A believer that has ceased from praying is a sleeping believer living outside the will of God in Christ Jesus for us. The book of 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 states, “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” The importance of prayer cannot be well emphasized more than Jesus’ statement to His disciples on the Mount of Olives, “…Pray that you may not enter into temptation.” (Luke 22:40) Evidently, by virtue of Jesus’ statement, it should be safe to say that, the elimination of prayer is an invitation for temptation. Despite His warning against sleeping, the disciples fell into sleep and Jesus came back and said to them, “…Why do you sleep? Rise and pray, lest you enter into temptation.” (Luke 22:46) Jesus repeatedly pointed out that sleeping will lead to temptation.
Paul and Silas were awake and not asleep to access their breakthrough deliverance from their jailers when they prayed, “But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone’s chains were loosed.” (Acts 16:25-26)
Prayer is not playing games; it is labor. Jesus’ experience in Luke 22:44 demonstrate prayer as labor. It is written, “And being in agony, He prayed more earnestly. Then His sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground.” (Luke 22:44) It is a serious business and it demands a serious investment. God is a prayer answering God and He will not fail to hear the prayer of His children. Just as Peter fell asleep at the Mount of Olives so he did again while he was set in prison for untimely death at the hand of Herod. In the case of Peter, “…Constant prayer was offered to God for him by the church.” (Acts 12:5) Prayer delivered Peter from a sudden and untimely death. Wherever there is sleep in place of being awake one is positioned outside the will of God in Christ Jesus.
David knew the consequences of giving in to sleeping rather than prayer when he prayed, “Consider and hear me, O LORD of my God; enlighten my eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of death; lest my enemy say, “I have prevailed against him”; lest those who trouble me rejoice when I am moved.”” (Psalm 13:3-4) Why not engage your eyes in prayer rather than engage your eyes in sleeping when it matters? It does not matter how long you have been in the Lord and neither does it matter the title you answer to, sleeping in the place of evil agenda will not excuse any believer from evil occurrence.
Prayer for the day: Ask God for the grace of enablement to engage prayer without ceasing.