Sleep.

Matthew 26

40 And he cometh unto the disciples, and findeth them sleeping, and saith unto Peter, What, could ye not watch with me one hour?

41 Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.

42 Again a second time he went away, and prayed, saying, My Father, if this cannot pass away, except I drink it, thy will be done.

43 And he came again and found them sleeping, for their eyes were heavy.

44 And he left them again, and went away, and prayed a third time, saying again the same words.

45 Then cometh he to the disciples, and saith unto them, Sleep on now, and take your rest: behold, the hour is at hand, and the Son of man is betrayed into the hands of sinners.

46 Arise, let us be going: behold, he is at hand that betrayeth me.

I am not a "sleeper" type of person. It doesn't turn me on and I often feel like I could do without it. I guess I feel that there is plenty of time to sleep.

I missed a phone call at 12:36 last night because I was sleeping. We had a full day yesterday. Up at 4:30 for service, breakfast, a second service, and then off to one of our members' parents for dinner. We had a great time. Relaxed. Then my son and a friend went and tackled our new church building. We took down more walls. And then home. Stayed up fairly late. But when I went to sleep, I guess I was out for the count. Fortunately, I am up in the middle of the night and was praying.

Here was Jesus in the above scriptures teaching the disciples how to pray in a greater realm than perhaps ever before. Burdened by what lay ahead and they fell asleep at the switch. "...What, could ye not watch with me one hour?

41 Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak." He said this to them THREE times. This was and is important! They did not stay awake. In the end of this age, knowing how to pray and spending time with the Lord is so important. Hearing His voice. How many of you saw the church that was destroyed in southeastern USA last week? No one was in it! Why? Because the pastor heard the Lord say "don't show up!(my paraphrase.)" They didn't. No injuries! We need to stop sleeping when the Lord is talking. We need to stop listening. We need to tarry that hour with the Lord He is calling us to. Spending time with someone develops a relationship. You and I must perservere in finding our time.