(Disclaimer: This transcript is auto-generated and may contain mistakes.)

all right amen Luke chapter 22 long chapter I know thanks for reading that brother all four for two verses but you know what the Bible says give attendance unto reading amen so that's uh that's a good thing there now if you would look at verse 45 Luke chapter 22 look at verse 45 it says and when he arose up from prayer and was come to his disciples he found them sleeping for sorrow and said unto them why sleepy rise and pray lest ye enter into temptation the title of my sermon this morning is sleeping for sorrow sleeping for sorrow what is sorrow well sorrow is distress its anxiety its sadness it's all the things that people deal with now the Bible tells us that we're not supposed to sorrow as those that have no hope right you ever go to a funeral of lost people what do you typically see you typically see people flipping out uncontrollably right and we're told as believers not to act like that right I'm not saying you can't ever be sad or you can't ever be in distress because that's gonna come that is gonna happen but there is a right way to deal with it as a believer and that's what we're gonna look at this morning now quick context here we just read this Judas is not with them he's not in the Garden of Gethsemane Satan has entered into him and mark as we're gonna see a little bit later has told us that it's Peter James and John right and these guys are sleeping it says for sorrow and and keep in mind who's who wrote this book it's Luke obviously under the inspiration of the Holy Ghost we understand that but Luke was a physician right and so I think it's interesting when you read this passage in the other Gospels you don't notice this but Luke points this out he says and found them sleeping for sorrow and Jesus is gonna tell us hey that's not the right way to be that's not how you're gonna handle sorrow now if you would look at verse 46 again look what Jesus says here he says and said unto them why sleep ye rise and pray lest ye enter into temptation now you can keep your place we're gonna come back to it later at the end of the sermon but go to Psalm chapter 121 Psalm 121 so he says rise and pray and then he tells us why it says rise and pray lest ye enter into temptation now some versions of the Bible these these false versions some of them will say lest ye fall into temptation now the problem with that is that people just don't fall into temptation right like oh I tripped and I fell into adultery oh I tripped and I fell into fornication oh I tripped and I fell into cocaine right no it doesn't happen like that you have to be somewhat asleep you have to have had made provision for the flesh and put that put yourself in that situation in order to enter in to sin right you enter into temptation you don't just fall into it does everybody understand what I'm saying it's not just by chance it's by us sleeping this verse isn't just talking about physical sleep though we are gonna take a look at that but it's talking about a mental sleep it's talking about the Christian who also just decides to bury his head in the sand because the sorrow is just too heavy for him and he neglects to do what God has told him to do and thus gets overtaken by sorrows and that shouldn't be anybody in this room ever as Bible believing Christians we need to learn how to deal with sorrows and you may not realize this but there are people in this room right now that are hurting you may look around and be like everybody's got their their smiling faces on everybody's happy everybody's dancing around and you know and having a good old time I'm just kidding about the dancing around just make it fun to some of you but but you get what I'm saying right but you know when Monday comes rolling around you know people's got problems people have sorrows people have distress and guess what nobody in here is beyond that you may think oh my life's gravy right now I'm good to go well you know what you never know what could happen to you tomorrow and so you need to pay attention you need to learn how to deal with these things as a mature believer in Christ so just a quick introduction here I had to turn to Psalm 121 I just want to give you some just some quick things about how God views his people and so the first thing we're gonna see by reading this some verses out of Psalm 121 is that God's eyes are always towards his people need to understand that God's eyes are always towards his people no matter what you're going through no matter how hard life gets no matter who's making fun of you no matter who's put you you know you know just just out to to the wolves would have you right God's eyes are always towards his people so if you look at verse number one Psalm 121 it says it says I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills from whence cometh my help so what's he saying here you know the help for the believer comes from above it comes from God verse 2 he says my help cometh from the Lord which made heaven and earth he will not suffer thy foot to be moved he that keepeth thee will not slumber see we slumber we sleep we slip we fall but God never falls he never fails his eyes are always on his people verse 4 behold he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep verse 5 it says the Lord is thy keeper the Lord is thy shade upon thy right hand now I'm kind of behind the times I was in somebody's house recently and somebody was all upset about you know some work call a lot of people around here I guess they just work from home you know I guess that's becoming more of a popular thing and this lady's just like just cussing on the phone and I'm working on her appliance and you know she's like sorry you had to hear all that but somebody's trying to cast somebody trying to throw shade on me you know and I'm looking around the house you know as I'm working there's like these Bible verses on the wall and stuff you know they must be Christians or something you go to church somewhere and and I was just thinking about this verse you know and I was but I was asking what does that mean I hear that a lot to throw shade on somebody and this is kind of embarrassing but I just learned what this means it means to say something like subtly about somebody I guess it means she said it means to like insult somebody in a way to where only you and that person understand but everybody around you is kind of like well aloof to it I guess but you know I'm reading this this verse here and I was thinking about this the Lord is thy keeper the Lord is thy shade upon that right hand you know we ought not to get bogged down when people want to say bad things about us or they want to throw shade at you right because the Lord is our shade on our right hand God's eyes are always on his people the Bible says a promotion doesn't come from the east or the west or from the south it comes from the north it comes from God not from your co-workers you can be in a situation at work where people are throwing shade on you all day long right and here's what here here's the deal if you don't let that bog you down and get you down guess what God's gonna promote you it's God that promotes people not your co-workers it's not you sucking up it's not you being a man pleaser it's you being obedient and understanding that God's eyes are always on his people first number six it says the Sun shall not smite thee by day nor the moon by night the Lord shall preserve thee from all evil he shall preserve thy soul the Lord shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth and even forevermore now obviously you know at the time that this is written is talking about the physical nation of Israel the Bible says that today believers in Christ are the Israel of God right so don't let anybody tell you oh this doesn't apply to you because it does apply to you God's eyes are on you his on his eyes are always on the saved now go to Ecclesiastes chapter number five and then I'm gonna have you go to Revelation so just just bear in mind Ecclesiastes chapter number five you say why preach a sermon again about sleeping for sorrow well the Bible says that your adversary the devil is as a roaring lion you know roaming around walking about seeking whom he may devour and guess what think about a lion do they go look for the you know the the most aggressive and fierce animal nearby or would they choose somebody who's in distress think about that yeah somebody who's in distress somebody who's or an animal that's in sorrows right for an easy meal that's what he does and that's the point of the sermon is to protect us from being prey to the devil you know some people you know in here I don't know if this is true but I've seen this I've seen where people go out so many they don't see anybody say for like maybe a month or two months or whatever it is and they get discouraged and instead of praying instead of doing what's right instead of watching like Jesus said they bury their head in the sand and they neglect to do the work anymore you see what I'm saying then what happens then they enter into temptation next thing you know they're not going so anyone anymore next thing you know they're not going to church anymore next thing you know they're out of church they're back into the world doing the things that they were doing before they got saved look I don't want to see that happen to anybody in here and that's why we need sermons like this the Achilles Ecclesiastes chapter number five look at verse number eight we're gonna learn here how we should rest right because part of the application here in Luke chapter 22 is also dealing with physical rest with physical sleep now look at verse number eight it says if thou seest the oppression of the poor and violent perverting of judgment injustice in a province don't miss this marvel not at the matter for he that is higher than the highest regardeth and there be higher than they so look what's going on here turn to Revelation chapter number 11 so what's going on here is Solomon's in his wisdom is saying hey look don't get discouraged don't get sorrowful when you see the government oppressing people right do we not see that in today's country right there's laws that are in the works there's laws that are already passed that are against Bible believing Christians right there are people out there that want to silence us they want to shut us up they want to take us out of the picture and we can't let that bog us down you know again I've got a lot of stories about you know being in people's houses and one one thing that inspired the sermon besides my Bible reading is I don't know what it is but just about every house that I've gone into the last two weeks every house has the same news channel on so eight o'clock and going to house and Jeff knows what I'm talking about somebody's watching Fox News right you know 930 I'm in my second appointment somebody's watching Fox News right after lunch it's CNN and literally I don't miss a beat because I can hear the TV going off in the background and it's just bad news well I had this lady the other day and she's like you go to a lot of people's houses huh I was like yeah she and she goes do they all watch the news I was like yes just about every single one of them I was like I don't know is that just a thing around here and she's like yeah you know everybody around here watches the news and I was like it's kind of weird that you asked and she's like yeah cuz you don't seem to be bothered by it and I was I thought that was kind of weird I was like well I don't even have a TV she's like what I was like I haven't watched TV since 2000 what 13 somewhere like that and I'm not saying I'm holier than now I just decided to give it up you know there's nothing really good on there you know and and she's like well let me catch you up right and she's like shaking this woman is shaking because of what Trump's doing and and all this other stuff and like I don't support our wicked these wicked politicians but she's just like shaking about the environment she's like there's people going after him and they're they're falsely accusing him and in all this stuff and she's like she's getting really worked up and I'm like okay you know calm down you know I'm just trying to get her to pay the bill so I can go to my next job right you know but she's just just just just in agony just in sorrows right but what do you think that that one was doing about it nothing right nothing what are you gonna do you're gonna go protest outside that doesn't do anything you know what does stuff preaching the Word of God you know what does stuff going out and preaching the gospel to the lost that's how you're gonna change this country you're not gonna do it by burying your head under your pillow on your couch listening to Fox News or CNN that's not gonna cut it literally I don't know is it either the next job or the no yeah it was the job at the end of the day same news network right Fox News I go to this lady's house and she is just just again it's like the same person but it's not it's not even the same neighborhood this lady is just freaking out I'm like I'm like what's going on you upset about Trump and she's just starts you know cussing about him and she's like and I'm a Republican and I go to the Mormon tabernacle I'm like whoa okay you know and she's like I called every politician in Idaho and I told him I'm not voting for any more of you Republicans I'm like so what's going on she's like he's destroying the earth I was like he is she's like yeah he's bad for the environment I'm like okay well tell me a little bit more and she's just talking about all these things I guess he's done to the environment and whatnot but you know there's a lot of people out there that are really worried and in distress about the environment next day this is no joke I know I got a lot of stories but look next day I'm in this guy's house and he's got like these the stuff and you know he's a hunter and he's proceeds to start telling me guess what about Donald Trump and how bad he is for the environment and he's like he's the reason there's no more ducks out here why I didn't get my pheasant this year and all this stuff and you know what else it's the chemtrails you heard about chemtrails only yes I've heard about chemtrails you know and he's just he's just in sore distress I mean this guy's really worried about I'm like look I told him this I'm like man you got to calm down you're gonna die you know you're literally gonna die you know the Bible talks about that the Bible says that in the last days people hearts people's hearts that they will fail them for fear and for sorrows and for things that are coming upon the earth that's what it says so we need to guard our hearts look stress can kill you you ever heard somebody say that you know where they got that from probably from the Bible because that is wisdom that's in the Bible right so what I'm saying is there's a lot of people out there that are in distress they're sorrowful they're in agony because of the things that are going on in the earth because of the oppression of the government we ought not to regard that it says Marvel not at that look that's wisdom do you think you're smarter than Solomon was no so we should listen to what he has to say but here's a little bit of encouragement revelation chapter 11 look at verse number 18 revelation chapter 18 look at I'm sorry revelation 11 verse 18 look at look at this it says and the nations were angry and thy wrath has come and the time of the dead that they should be judged and that they and that thou should give reward unto thy servants the prophets and to the Saints and them that fear thy name small and great so what is the Bible telling us here that hey people that fear Christ whether they're of great stature whether they're of small stature whether they're a preacher or somebody who just comes to church faithfully and works for God you're gonna get a reward that's what he's saying so there's there's the reward for the prophets right the prophets of old the preachers of today the preachers to come the Saints people that are that are saved they're gonna get rewards now look how he contrasts that he says and shouldest destroy them now don't miss this which destroy the earth so yes guess what here's a news flash look I can give you news at Fox News won't even won't even dare and we could just close the matter right now there are people out there that are destroying the earth just done deal look at the verse again shouldest destroy them which destroy the earth guess what there are people out there that are destroying the earth we understand that there's nothing you can do about it but guess what there is something that God's gonna do about it he's going to destroy these people so when you see the people spraying the chemtrails you hear about the ducks that are missing over in AMPA you people aren't getting their animals guess what don't worry don't be sorrowful don't bury your head in the sand just understand God is going to destroy those people and get some peace about that go back to Ecclesiastes and remember God's eyes are always towards his people so Ecclesiastes chapter number 5 look at verse number 9 he says moreover so in addition to what we just read moreover the prophet of the earth is for all the king himself is served by the field verse 10 he that loveth silver shall not be satisfied with silver nor he that loveth abundance with increased this is also vanity people that spend their life seeking after gaining more materialistic goods more money more silver more power guess what it's all vain someday that's going to cease people ask do you get envious when you go to somebody's house that has a five-car garage and in the big RV you know parking shed or whatever no no I don't because I've knocked on their doors and I know what they believe they're trying to work their way to heaven and that's the way to hell that's what the Bible teaches those riches and the things that these people have we ought not to look at that and envy that that doesn't profit the believer that buries the believer that puts you to sleep that's what the Bible is teaching us here so don't look to them and be envious look at that and just know that you know what that stuff's gonna perish you're not taking any of that with you first number 11 it says when goods increase they are increased that eat them and what good is there to the owners thereof saving the beholding of them with their eyes verse 12 the sleep of a laboring man is sweet whether he little or much but the abundance of the rich will not suffer him to sleep this is true if you've never been around a lot of real rich people you may not understand this but rich people by and large not a hundred percent of them but a lot of them have trouble sleeping at night why because of the means that they've used to get those riches do the Bible says do not rich people oppress you think about that look do you think Rothschild lays his head down to sleep every night and sleeps peacefully or Rockefeller or Bill Gates or George Soros probably not right they're too busy trying to scheme on how to you know pay some 16 year old girl to run around the world and preach about climate change and cause people to go into distress and sorrows you know and they know their conscience smites them they understand that they're wicked people you see what I'm saying we ought not to look at these people and envy them in any way shape or fashion the Bible says hey if you want sleep work hard that's the answer it look at what the first says there in verse 12 the sleep of a laboring man asleep you say well I can't sleep work harder do more work and guess what you'll get tired enough to sleep I promise you verse 13 there is a sore evil which I have seen under the Sun namely riches kept for the owners thereof to their hurt right that's an evil laying up a bunch of treasures and evils for yourself and not even caring to pass them down to future generations you know that's a sore evil that's a vexation that is vanity verse 14 but those riches perish by evil travail and he beget a son and there is nothing in his hand verse 15 as he came forth of his mother's womb naked shall return to go as he came and shall take nothing of his labor which he may carry away in his hand so he's saying hey look if you're gonna earn riches there's nothing wrong with being rich it's not sinful to be rich that's why Paul also said hey charge them which be rich to not be high-minded understand that so if you're gonna be rich if you're gonna accumulate wealth look Abraham was where was rich what did he do he passed that along he passed that down because he understood that when I go to be with the Lord I can't take anything with me that is the teaching here and that is the wisdom so go ahead and accumulate your riches but not at the expense of Christ not at the expense of working not at the expense of your children verse 16 it says and this also is a sore evil that in all points as he came so shall he go and what profit hath he that hath labored for the wind and the answer is none turn to Proverbs chapter number 24 Proverbs chapter 24 so I just wanted to give you that that that basic introduction there God's eyes are always on his people right we shouldn't sleep for sorrows we should look at the world in the distress and the agony and the things that are coming and get way down and get bogged down by it there's a right way to handle that and that's what we're gonna talk about this morning so we've got three points for you this morning and that's it all right now listen to this point number one is this understand that God did not design sleep to remedy sorrows understand that God did not design sleep to remedy your sorrows while you're turning into Proverbs chapter 24 I'm just gonna reread for you our two opening verses Luke 22 45 and when he arose from prayer and was come to his disciples he found them sleeping for sorrow verse 46 and said unto them why sleep ye and then he gives the formula rise and pray lest ye enter into temptation so he's saying hey look sleeping is not the answer I didn't design sleep so that you could bury your problems I didn't design sleep so that you can live in a fantasy world and pretend that everything is okay said I designed it for the laboring person I designed it so that you could recover so that you could get stronger he said don't learn to love sleep there is a purpose for it and the purpose is not to bury your sorrows so Proverbs chapter 24 look at verse 33 here's the purpose of sleep says yet a little sleep a little slumber a little folding of the hands to sleep look at verse 34 so shall thy poverty come as one that travaileth and I want as an armed man so physical sleep is for physical things it's for your mind it's for your body that's what it's for but notice he says a little sleep a little slumber a little folding of the hands don't learn to love sleep and I know this can be tempting right but what does he what is the Bible telling us here if a person that learns to love sleep is gonna be poor a lot of people you know they'll say oh you know I don't have that much money I don't have this you know what do you love sleep do you have trouble sleeping in look we used to have a person that came to this church they couldn't hold down a job because he loved sleep think about that he loved that snooze button way too much he loved a lot of other problem a lot of other things as well which I don't want to get into right now but look we've all seen a living example of that there's nothing wrong with your eight hours of sleep or some people need nine whatever you know some people can thrive on six you know learn what works for you in sleep that mount that amount and then live your life work hard right that is the answer to your sorrows now turn to Proverbs chapter number three why are you turning into Proverbs 3 I'm brief you Psalm chapter 4 verse 8 which says I will both lay me down in peace and sleep for thou Lord only makest me dwell in safety the Bible says that safety is of the Lord safety is not of you staying awake all night pondering how you're gonna solve the world's problems all that's gonna do is destroy you physically and spiritually Proverbs chapter 3 look at verse 21 look so I'm trying to teach you how to get restful sleep how to sleep well look the Bible has the answers to all people's problems look at verse 21 he says my son talking about his commandments my son let not them depart from thine eyes keep sound wisdom and destruct and in discretion this is why I spend a lot of time preaching sermons about how to obtain wisdom right how to get knowledge in understanding because this is what's going to preserve you in in not your salvation once you're saved you're always saved there's nothing you can do to lose your salvation but there's stuff you could do to get chat chasing by God there's stuff you can do that's gonna mess up your life I've seen countless believers mess up their lives countless in churches like this they go out so any look I know of a family that attended this church briefly when it was in brother acres house right they got caught up in the chem trails and the GMOs and they're like you know what we're gonna go ahead and move to another country and by the way that country has less rights than we have here in Babylon think about that you focus on the wrong things you're gonna go to sleep and you're gonna make stupid decisions they will cost you rewards in heaven and that's what I'm trying to save you from again this morning all right what am I talking about here verse 22 yeah look look at verse 22 so shall thy life so shall be life unto thy soul and grace to thy neck verse 23 then shalt thou walk and the way safely in thy foot shall not stumble don't miss this verse 24 when thou liest down thou shall not be afraid yea thou shalt lie down and thy sleep shall be sweet turn to Proverbs chapter 6 you say okay I admit it I've got trouble sleeping I've got problems well here's your answer learn wisdom and discretion learn God's Word learn his statutes and his commandments and bind them about your neck apply them in your life and guess what when you lay your head down at night no matter what's going on you're gonna realize you can still sleep sweet why because God's eyes are always on his people God is bigger than whatever problem whatever distress whatever sorrow is facing you and you have to understand that you see the problem is we just lose we just we just forget about these things these things aren't being taught anymore they're not being preached anymore they're not being emphasized and so what happens people don't understand God's plan and how to deal with their sorrows so point number two so point number one was God did not design your sleep to hide your problems he designed it to be sweet he designed it for recovery he designed it to benefit you physically point number two is this God designed obedience prayer and faith to overcome your sorrows God designed obedience prayer and faith to overcome your sorrows not sleep you're there in private chapter 6 look at verse 20 says my son keep thy father's commandment and forsake not the law of thy mother verse 21 bind them continually upon thine heart and tie them about thy neck verse 22 when thou goest it shall lead thee now don't miss this when thou sleepest it shall keep thee and when thou awakest it shall talk with thee turn to Psalm Psalm chapter 1 Psalm chapter 1 remember I talked about this a few Wednesdays ago the first nine chapters in the book of Proverbs is a plead from God to the believer saying please learn my wisdom learn knowledge get understanding that's the point of the first nine chapters is to provide you with the benefits of gaining all three of those things knowledge understanding and wisdom why so not not so that you could just come to church and know the Bible that's part of it but so that you can be successful in every area of your life no matter what the devil throws at you because look the fiery darts of the wicked are coming the difference is are you gonna have the shield of faith to block them or not Psalm chapter 1 look at verse 1 it says blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly nor standeth in the way of sinners nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful but his delight is in the law of the Lord and in his law doth he meditate day and night point number two God designed obedience prayer and faith to overcome your sorrows he says blessed is the man blessed are the people that decide you know what I'm not gonna listen to what Oprah has to say I'm not gonna listen to what dr. Phil has to say or dr. Oz or whatever bozos on TV that's not saved it doesn't have the wisdom which is from above which is first pure and then peaceable amen right I'm not gonna listen to those people I'm gonna listen to what God said that's what matters it says his delight is in the law of the Lord and in his law doth he meditate day and night the question I have for you is do you meditate do you ponder the things of God morning and at night if not you should start look look test this when you wake up do some Bible or you say I'm not a morning person read just a little bit then you have got to read God's Word and then you have to meditate on a think about these things ponder them in your heart and you know it do it again at night you know do what works for you but make sure you're doing this every single day this is how you will get wisdom this is how you're going to overcome your sorrows because guess what they're coming I don't care who you are you will face sorrow you will face distress you will face people that want to cast shade on you you will face people that want to harm you it's a part of life Jesus said it is impossible but yet that offenses should come guess what offenses are coming are you going to be able to deal with them look at verse 3 says and he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water that bringeth forth his fruit in his season his leaf also shall not wither and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper and that includes sleep that includes getting rid of sorrows that includes everything you see there's a recipe here there's a formula here that God has laid out for the believer to follow to deal with problems the problem today is that people just don't want to read this stuff they don't want to learn it everybody wants to go by the cliff notes everybody just wants to go to Google and get the fast track get the get the quick answers well you know what there's no quick and easy way to be a mighty Christian you have to put in the work you have to purpose in your heart to learn these things and apply them in your life otherwise you will get destroyed God said my people are destroyed for lack of knowledge says it over and over again turn to James chapter 1 James chapter number 1 so we just read verse 3 which says and he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water that bringeth forth his fruit in his season look the Bible says that you know the the people that win souls are wise you know what you go through a long spell where you're not winning souls you're not you know bringing forth that fruit might want to come back and revisit these things and find out hey have I been subjecting myself maybe to the counsel of the ungodly have I been standing in the way of sinners right if you are be honest with yourself admit it remove those things in verse 3 says that what so ever you do you will prosper that is the answer all right James chapter 1 look at verse number 6 James chapter 1 verse 6 it says but let him ask in faith right talking about wisdom talking about prayer talking about when you come to God you need to ask him in faith now don't miss this nothing wavering for he that waver is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed verse 7 for let not that man think that he shall receive anything of the Lord a double-minded man is unstable in all his ways let a brother of low degree rejoice and that he is exalted but the rich and that he has made low because as the flowers of the grass he shall pass away so James is telling us he's saying hey look when you go to God and you ask him for something don't be wavering I bring this up a lot for a reason because a lot of people tend to waver and guess what this brings this brings sorrows why because then you think oh I'm not gonna get what I want I'm not gonna get what I need from God why isn't God answering my prayers well I don't know are you unstable are you double-minded these are things you need to check on yourself with you need that you need to do an honest self-assessment and and ask yourself are you being double-minded when you go now go before God are you like you know praying for something that you need but you're like oh he's not gonna give it to me because I you know got mad at somebody in the drive-through the other day or something silly like that you know I know people that do stuff like that look you're born again if you're saved your sins are removed as far as the East is from the West the Bible studies faithful and just to forgive us of our sins when we ask him to so you ask for your forgiveness right not to stay saved you can't lose your salvation right but it can affect your fellowship with him right just like those of you have kids when your kids are acting up that affects fellowship that affects the relationship a little bit doesn't it right they need to get right before you're gonna give them their cookies and their treats and all that stuff look it's really the same thing with God right you need to get right you need to understand that when you go before God and you ask him for something don't be double-minded because what does he say look at verse 7 for let not that man think that he shall receive anything of the Lord God doesn't like double-minded people doesn't like it when we're unstable did not Jacob tell Reuben you know that you're unstable as water and think about that did Reuben succeed no he was full of trouble turn to turn to mark chapter 14 mark chapter 14 mark chapter number 14 so I said point number one is understand that God did not design physical sleep to remedy your sorrows right point number two is God designed obedience prayer and faith to overcome your sorrows you have to stress you have problems you need to check yourself you need to bring yourself into alignment with God's Word you need to serve God you need to have faith that he's gonna answer your prayers and you need to be obedient look there's a recipe that's why Jesus said hey what are you doing sleeping wake up and pray lest you enter into temptation okay it it goes in every area of your life not just with the stress right but with other things as well well you're mark 14 I'm just gonna read for you real quick Ephesians 4 26 which says be angry and sin not let not the Sun go down upon your wrath and I wanted to bring that up because look anger is a part of life you're gonna get angry right just don't let it bring you into sin you get angry at a brother don't don't hit him you know do something like that right be angry right sin not and don't let the Sun go down in your ass so if you're having a quarrel with somebody try not to let that fester overnight husbands wives you guys fighting try to remedy that before you go to sleep because it doesn't get any easier in the morning right ladies don't forget stuff like men do you know sometimes you know if I'm in a bad mood or whatever and arguing with Jessica she's got that look on her face back there you know you know I think oh you know when I wake up everything will be right now she remembers just like it's like it just happened whereas I'm like okay I'm good now you know I got it off my chest they're not like that all right guys I'm trying to help you guys out and you guys that aren't married yet you know remember that don't let the Sun go down upon your ass all right so mark chapter 14 so this is really a parallel passage to Luke chapter 22 and I just want you to notice that God has given us this great example here of Jesus praying away these sorrows and I want you to see again how the disciples try to sleep away their sorrow so again mark 14 look at verse 32 it says and they came to a place which was named Gethsemane and he said to his disciples sit ye here while I pray so what are you telling do sit down while I go pray now look at verse 33 and he taketh with him Peter James and John and began to be sore amazed and to be very heavy verse 34 so what we're seeing now is why they were sorrowful verse 34 and saith unto them my soul is exceeding sorrowful unto death tear ye here and watch he said sit here wait pray and watch that's what he said but the reason why Peter James and John are sleeping for sorrows the reason why they're sorrowful to begin with is because why because what Jesus saying unto them right see these guys look they're saved but they think that God's gonna set up the kingdom now all right they're thinking okay we're getting the kingdom now and we're gonna be you know getting these Romans out of here and we're gonna be like it was in the Old Testament right these they don't quite have the full picture yet here and then now all of a sudden Jesus is like hey you know my hour has come that I need to go depart to the Father I'm gonna send you the comforter they're glad about the comforter but they still they're like where are you going I mean think about this they spent three and a half years with Jesus and he's telling him hey I'm gonna go I'm gonna be gone I mean that head that would be sorrowful that that would make you you know it put you in a sorrowful state rather okay so verse 35 it says and he went forward a little and fell on the ground and prayed that if it were possible the hour might pass from him notice how Jesus is praying here this is very important right he doesn't say if you don't give me what I want I'm out of here he doesn't say like that if it's possible but your will be done not mine verse 36 and he said Abba Father all things are possible unto thee take away this cup from me nevertheless not what I will but will thou wilt that's the attitude that the Bible believing Christian needs to have that's how you're gonna overcome your sorrows did you know that you can still get great sleep at night even though you're in distress even though you have anxiety even though you're in sorrows you know how you do it by obedience by faith by trust that's how you do it if you've done all that you could do according to his word you should be able to lay your head down at night and sleep peacefully so the Bible says God's given you sleep don't love it right let's poverty come upon you use it to your advantage verse 37 and he cometh and findeth them sleeping and saith unto Peter Simon sleepest now you got it you gotta love Peter yeah he's a sex Simon you know you're what are you doing you sleeping he said it could it's not that watch for one hour look at verse 38 watch ye and pray lest ye enter into temptation the Spirit truly is ready but the flesh is weak this is what we need to understand this is what so many people don't get out sowing when a person gets saved you get born again you have the new man inside of you and that new man does desire after the law of God you could read about that in Romans chapter 7 the new man wants to do what's right but the problem is we still have the old man right we have this this double nature thing going on here and you don't need you know you don't need to cover it up with booze you just need to realize that hey my spirit is willing but my flesh is weak right and that's the point of church that's the point of fellowship that's a point of prayer reading your Bible doing these things is to strengthen that inner man so that you can put on the inner man on Monday and Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday right in between church services so that you can be mighty not just on Sunday but on Wednesday but on Thursdays when we go out sowing on Saturdays right in every area of your life that's what he's saying here the flesh is weak verse 39 and again he went away and prayed and spake the same words here's round two verse 40 and when he returned he found them asleep again for their eyes were heavy neither was they what to answer him so these guys at this point they're so tired you know that he wakes them up and they're like what what they don't even have words to say okay look at verse 41 it says and he cometh the third time in saith unto them sleep on now and take your rest it is enough the hour has come behold the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners verse 42 rise up let us go lo he that betrayeth me is at hand what's the application here the application here is you put him off too long you sleep too long destruction comes that's the application you think oh you know God's God's long-suffering that's true but you don't know when he's gonna be like okay guess what your hours come you had your chance I tried to wake you up two other times you didn't do it now it's time to reap what you have turn to turn to Psalm chapter number three Psalm chapter number three now I like how Jesus brings this up here he says you know the time has come that the Son of Man must be you know that is is betrayed and given up into the hands of sinners you say well Peter James and John were sinners the true everybody is a sinner the Bible says for all of sin and come short of the glory of God so what's the deal again he's referring to the new man you see you need to understand this because it's unlocked so much of the Bible understanding the difference between the new and the old right so he says the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners rise up let us go lo he that betrays me is at hand he's not saying hey you guys aren't sinners because they are but not in the new man but he's saying hey look these people that are unsaved these these lost people you know they're coming to get me and we know that Judas is one of them and Judas at this point has Satan entered into him he's a reprobate now you're in Psalm chapter 3 I'm just gonna read for you real quick first Peter chapter 5 just just four verses it says humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God that he may exalt you in due time and I like to bring this up because it says in due time meaning when you pray right don't be unstable don't think that you're gonna get your answer right away in due time when he sees fit he will lift you up when he sees fit verse 7 he says casting all your care upon him for he cared for you is that not what I said in the beginning is that not what the entire point of reading Psalm chapter 121 was right he cares for you you have to realize that don't be like oh maybe he doesn't care about me look we're not Calvinists here you understand that he cares about you realize that and just trust him he says in verse 8 be sober be vigilant because your adversary the devil as a roaring lion walketh about seeking whom he may devour I said this at the beginning also for a reason when the Christian decides to bury his or her head in the sand you will get devoured look there's things in reality there's things that we need to know there's hard truths there's dark things in the Bible there's things that are going on out there in the world that are hard to hear that bring sorrow that bring distress right and guess what when you let that get you down your adversary looks at that and says guess what I'm gonna go after you now see my life's in parallels I'm getting destroyed by the devil well guess what you need to be sober you need to be visually you need to wake up and do what I'm telling you and that will pull you out of your rut Psalm chapter 3 look at verse number 1 this is Lord how are they increased that trouble me many are they that rise up against me this is a psalm of David if you don't know about David you should read the Old Testament or just keep coming to church David was a person who went through distress who went through sorrows and a lot of it was brought on by his own sinful life I mean think about his own son Absalom tried to overthrow the kingdom and kill right he said we start off learning about David with his brothers casting shade on him right throwing shade on him and then what happens then Saul tries to kill several times David was always in distress but the Bible says he was a man after God's own heart we need to be God's people after his own heart so verse 2 many there be which say of my soul there is no help for him and God we don't want to be like these people right we don't want to be verse 2 look at verse 3 but thou Lord are a shield for me my glory and the lifter up of mine head it is God that will lift you up it's not going to be the counsel of the ungodly it's not going to be the world that does it it's not going to be you and your infinite worldly fleshly college gotten wisdom it's going to be God that's how it comes look at verse 4 I cried unto the Lord with my voice and he heard me out of his holy hill why because God's eyes are always on his people he careth for you the Bible says verse 6 I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people that have set themselves against me around about look when Verity Baptist Church in Sacramento had their big protests there was 500 sodomites outside throwing stuff and railing on people and calling them names look a lot of those people the overwhelming majority of them they weren't shaken in fact they still attend church there look I brought my kids there to see that and you say you're crazy no because that opened up the Bible to them they got to see what those people are really like and what they're really about they're not about tolerance they're not about coexisting that's not what they're about they are about devouring read Genesis 19 read Judges 19 read the entire Bible read what King Asa had to go through and you will see what I'm talking about but he says hey look I'm not gonna be afraid of ten thousands of people look some there will come a day where people come out here and they try to protest us because of our stand on the Word of God and you know what are you gonna be shaken are you gonna quit are you gonna leave I sure hope not I sure hope not but you know what's gonna make that decision is you are you gonna harken to the counsel of God look at verse 5 again he said I laid me down and slept I awake for the Lord sustained me again going back to the to the wisdom on how to get restful sleep in the midst of trouble now jump down to verse 7 arise Oh Lord save me oh my god for thou hast smitten all mine enemies upon the cheekbone thou hast broken the teeth of the ungodly you're not gonna hear that in a lot of places today you're not gonna hear that in a lot of churches today are you but look this is God's Word verse 8 salvation belongeth unto the Lord thy blessing is upon thy people salvation belongs to the Lord not you repenting of your sins that's not what saves you I do not frustrate the grace of God for if righteousness come by the law then Christ died in vain so people that say you know what I think I have some part in it you know what you do not you're already a sinner it's too late for you you have to get saved in born-again and the Bible says that salvation belongs to the Lord not just spiritual salvation but also salvation of the believer right when you find yourself facing 10,000 people you find yourself in distress and sorrows facing the enemy guess what it's God that's gonna save you out of that turn to 1st Thessalonians chapter 5 1st Thessalonians chapter number 5 point number 3 point number 3 God did not design physical sleep to remedy sorrows nor did he design ignorance to remedy spiritual sorrows received by learn truth I'm gonna read that again because that's a mouthful point number 3 is this God did not design physical sleep to remedy sorrows nor did he design ignorance to remedy spiritual sorrows received by learn truth look you will learn things on this earth you will learn things that cause trouble that cause sorrows every time I see an article about somebody around here molesting children that brings sorrows to my heart I hate that with a passion that's why we're family integrated because I want to give them an opportunity to come in here and creep in unawares and take advantage of our children not gonna happen here not at all does everybody understand that so I said God did not design physical sleep to remedy sorrows nor did he design ignorance to remedy spiritual sorrows a lot of people today like to take the easy road and just do a head plant right in the sand and say you know what I could see what's going on out there I could see that there's millions of people dying and going to hell because no one will tell them the truth but you know what I'm just gonna bury my head in the sand I don't care I don't want to do anything about it look we don't want to be like that not at this church first Thessalonians chapter 5 look at verse 6 well therefore first Thessalonians 5 6 therefore let us not sleep as do others but let us watch and be sober hmm I wonder where he learned that from where did Paul learn that wisdom from probably from Luke chapter 22 mark chapter 14 he learned it from Jesus Christ that's where he learned it from and look that's where we're learning it from too he says hey he's not just talking about physical sleep here again he's saying hey don't bury your head in the sand accept reality and do something about it be a person that takes action not somebody who buries their head in the sand verse 7 for they that sleep sleep in the night and they that be drunken are drunken in the night verse 8 but let us who are of the day be sober putting on the breastplate of faith and love and for in helmet the hope of salvation the breastplate of faith that's your shield of faith a breastplate is a shield it's a protector we need to make sure that we're putting that thing on when you go out there so that we can protect ourselves from the fiery darts of the wicked I turn to Romans chapter 13 we're getting close to being done Romans chapter 13 that breastplate of faith by the way is what's gonna shield you from sorrows I'm not saying they won't come but I am saying there is a remedy to those problems Romans 13 look at verse number 10 Romans 13 10 love worketh no ill to his neighbor therefore love is the fulfilling of the law I don't have time to get into this about the neighbor right now but you know what especially amongst the Brotherhood especially amongst God's people you ought to put petty differences aside don't be arguing and fighting and bickering over stupid stuff doubtful disputations all this person's a you know a vegetarian are you know God said that you're weak feeder herbs yeah let it go put others above yourself look the world has enough trouble of its own right you want to get into fights just go to work just go to work just go out and just go out in the world right we don't need to be fighting amongst ourselves so he says love worketh no ill to his neighbor look you're not gonna get any ill if you love your neighbor you love your brother in Christ you love you know you love God's people you know and we should love the community as well and go out there and tell them hey guess what God's Word says that salvation is a free gift you don't have to earn from it you can rest sound asleep tonight knowing the yes you're a sinner but he's paid the full price for your sins you don't have to work you don't have to ponder anymore you don't have to worry anymore about that verse 11 in that knowing the time that now it is high time to awake out of sleep look if there was ever a time not to be asleep it is right now in 2019 for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed verse 12 the night is far spent the day is at hand let us therefore cast off the works of darkness and let us put on the armor of light we saying hey there's not much time left right we need to put away these dark things we need to get right verse 13 let us walk honestly as in the day not in rioting and in drunkenness not in chambering and wantonness not in strife and envying why because these things are what destroy people this was the problem with the Corinthian Church right people had different teachings and different views they weren't all of one mind they weren't all of one sound mind and Paul says I know for a fact now that there is envying and strife among you why because some people were reading commentary some people reading the Bible some people are reading you're watching YouTube videos I'm being facetious obviously but you get the point verse 13 let us walk honestly as in the day not in rioting and drunkenness not in chambering and wantonness not in strife and envy verse 14 but put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ and make not provision for the flesh to fulfill the lusts there of go to Ephesians chapter 5 and there it is there's another key for you make not provision for the flesh make not provision for the first this is why I talked about that ministry last week that has ladies going into harlot houses to talk to the ladies and just tell them that God loves them that doesn't work don't make provision for the flesh you got your husband waiting out in the car I mean what do you think he's seeing going into that building that's making provision for the flesh that is not wise if you know you struggle with something don't sit it down in front of your face you struggle look this is why dude shouldn't be watching TV looking at all these scantily clad ladies you're not stronger than that don't don't give me this all I can it no you can't oh I'm a eunuch no he better not be I understand what he's trying to tell us here don't put in front of your face which you know you struggle with you struggle with alcohol don't be walking down the boozile at the store don't be looking at the wine when it's red in its cup you see you get that don't make provision for the flesh you're not gonna lose your salvation but you're gonna lose your fellowship with Christ you're gonna get chastened because he cares for you because you're his child and you're gonna get spanked Ephesians chapter 5 look at verse 13 says but all things that are approved are made manifest by the light for whatsoever doth make manifest is light that's the Word of God in the beginning was the word and word is with God this book right here is the Word of God this is what makes manifest it says whatsoever is made manifest by the light for whatsoever doth make manifest is light you know what we have a biblical mandate to judge things and to prove all things in the whole fast that which is good the only way you will do that believer is by God's Word look at verse 14 wherefore you say it awake thou that sleepest and arise from the dead in Christ shall give thee light this is a call to the lost wake up this by the way this proves that Calvinism is not true right verse 15 see then that you walk circumspectly not as fools but as wise circumspectly means to be prudent it means to look well to your going it means to think before you act right there's people that act and there's people that react we want to be people that act and Jessica's looking at me because sometimes I react yes some look I'm a sitter too sometimes that you know people cut me off and I get mad did you know that did you know that I'm just human sometimes I get really mad all right but I'm not gonna confess all my faults before you here this morning look at verse 15 see then that you walk circumspectly not as fools but as wise redeeming the time because the days are evil look at verse 17 wherefore be not unwise but understanding what the will of the Lord is and be not drunk with wine where in the success but be filled with the Spirit so when you decide you know what I'm gonna be filled with the Spirit I'm gonna read my Bible I'm gonna go to church I'm gonna go so I'm gonna do these things right I'm gonna pray I'm gonna meditate day and night like the Bible says right you're going to be filled with the Spirit and when you're filled with the Spirit it's kind of hard to have room for anything else that's the whole point here that's what he's saying right because look yes when you get saved you're sealed with the Holy Spirit forever Ephesians chapter 1 verse 13 and that seal can never be broken right that seals good till the day of redemption when you get your new body but you know what you still need to feed the new man you still need to be filled with the Spirit which is different and I'm not talking about rolling around in the aisles and speaking in some heavenly language that only God and the devil or only you and God know that's what the Pentecostals do and that's false doctrine look at verse 19 speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord what is this doing this be if you're if you're applying verse 19 here right you're being filled with the Spirit not just on Sunday morning not just Sunday night not just Wednesday but all week long verse 20 giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ giving thanks always for all things so when those and then I have to tell myself this because sometimes these red lights around here man they take a while and when I'm running late I you know I got it just remember maybe God's holding me back from an accident maybe God's holding you back from something you know just give thanks in all things always verse 21 submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of the Lord right this is why we need to help each other out this is why we need to care for each other and remain in the fear of the Lord if you don't fear the Lord you're gonna fear something and the Bible says that the wrong kind of fear is a snare into man you learn to fear what people are gonna do to you oh we're gonna get you out of here we're gonna do this we're gonna do that that's a snare unto you that prevents you from doing work turn to Psalms chapter 132 and like I said I promise we're getting close to being done so you're gonna turn to Psalms 132 and then back to where we started in Luke 22 all right so while you're turning to Psalms 132 I'm gonna read some verses for you Galatians 6 9 and let us not be weary and well-doing for in due season we shall reap if we faint not as we have therefore opportunity let us do good unto all men especially unto them who are of the household of faith look a lot of people here a lot of God's people do good things but you know what don't get weary don't get tired don't allow that weariness to bog you down keep going that's what he's saying here look doing good things for other people this can wear you down this can cause stress this can cause sorrows believe it or not look Jessica does a lot of stuff I'm just gonna brag about her for a minute she does a lot of stuff at her house when I wake up there's breakfast I've got lunch ready to go we've got dinner she's taking care of a lot of things at the house she's planning stuff out she's praying for you guys you know she's she's really just doing all this amazing stuff and I'm just like you know don't get wary and well-doing you know because she does a lot of work and a lot of you do most of all of you do but what I'm trying to exhort you this morning is don't get worried don't let that stop you look everybody in here I've known most of you since the beginning and you've done a lot look I love this church people in here do a lot of work for this church you know brother Mike comes in here every Monday and claims I heard that the owner was like hey I forgot that these floors were actually blue you know in the bathrooms you know he straightens the chairs he does a lot of work but don't get weary brother and he won't because he's looking forward to the next the next guy that's one it's gonna creep in here for those of you know what I'm talking about I'll explain to you later all right let me move on here 2nd Thessalonians chapter 3 now I brother Jeff to you know sing any songs don't get worried I can I could take a day for you the congregation might stone you when you get back but I could do it 2nd Thessalonians chapter 3 verse 13 don't turn there just listen to this it says but ye brethren be not weary in well-doing and if any man obey not our word by this epistle note that man and have no company with him that he may be ashamed yet count him not as an enemy but admonish him as a brother there is a place for church discipline when people say you know what I'm not gonna follow that I'm not gonna go out and work and eat my own food I'm gonna try to mooch off of other people in the church I'm gonna kick you out you're gonna get thrown out of here I'm not gonna let you destroy God's flock Psalms 132 look at verse 1 it says Lord remember David in all his afflictions how he's swearing to the Lord and vowed unto the mighty God of Jacob surely I will not come into the tabernacle of my house nor go up into my bed verse 4 I will not give sleep to mine eyes or slumber to mine eyelids until I find out a place for the Lord and habitation for the mighty God of Jacob this is your answer verse number 4 you've got problems guess what I will not give sleep to mine eyes have you sought place for the Lord because that's what he's saying here do you have troubles do you have to stress do you have agony anxiety let me ask you this have you fine have you found a place for the Lord yet have you given him room in your life to work go back to Luke chapter 22 and we're done Luke chapter 22 right where we first started here's the results right we saw an example we saw what Jesus did in the Garden of Gethsemane and then we saw what the disciples did let me just show you the benefits let me just show you and conclude with the results here Luke 22 look at verse number 40 Luke chapter 22 verse 40 it says that when he was at the place he said unto them pray that ye enter not into temptation so before they fell asleep the first time and he woke him up and gave them the wisdom hey you know pray watch lest ye enter into temptation he already told them he already told them now look at this verse 41 and he was withdrawn from them about a stones cast and kneeled down and prayed saying father if they'll be willing remove this cup for me nevertheless not my will but thine be done look at verse 43 here's the result here's what will happen verse 43 and there appeared an angel unto him from heaven strengthening him did you know that the Bible says that angels are ministering spirits that they are here to strengthen us and there's countless examples in the Bible of this this is the application for us when you find yourself in distress you need to pray don't be double-minded don't get unstable pray and guess what God will send you comfort that's what we're seeing here these things are written down for admonition so that we can learn to do the same thing verse verse 44 rather it says in being in agony he prayed more earnestly more earnestly do you see the benefit here do you see the result when you decide you know what I'm gonna do things God's way I'm gonna keep going he will send you strength and you will be able to pray more earnestly in your distress right and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground verse 45 and when he rose up from prayer and was come to his disciples he found them sleeping for sorrow we don't want to be people that are sleeping for sorrow we want to do it well look understand sleep has its place sleep has its purpose and it's not to bury your sorrows okay when we're obedience when we are in obedience with God guess what he's gonna give you that strength that you need and you will be able to continue on more earnestly than you thought you'll be able to do a lot more than you could even think with your fleshly mind so let's bow our heads and have order prayer Lord thank you so much for these exhorting truths in your word thank you for this church Lord I'm pretty blessed us the services to come Lord please bless the soul winning today as well and the fellowship after the service in Jesus name I pray amen