Dear Christian friends:

A man had a dream. He saw a church and on the roof of the church one devil lay sleeping. Not far away was a house and around that house stood many devils watching carefully. The man wondered why only one devil was watching the large church and he was not awake, while many devils, all wide awake were watching one small house.

An angel told him why. He said, "In the house a man prays, but the church members are all asleep." It was like that in Gethsemane. How about us?


Asleep to the real battle and don't see any enemy as the disciples. But Jesus saw him and felt him. But Jesus prayed and He won. He won a victory which brought salvation to the world.

We talk about great battles of history: Battle of Manila, Battle of the Bulge, Battle of Waterloo, Iwo Jima, Dunkirk etc. Wellington's victory over Napoleon at Waterloo considered one of the greatest. But Jesus' battle and victory over Satan at Gethsemane is the greatest battle of all time.

By that fight there and on Good Friday and Easter morning Jesus won full salvation for you and me and all people. Yet many do not know of this battle and victory and wonderful salvation. Many have not felt its power in their lives. They are asleep. Satan makes it his business to keep you asleep and ignorant of the value of that battle and the love which Jesus showed to us in His war with Satan.

Peter, James and John were ignorant of Jesus' terrible battle and His great love and suffering. They did not watch him. They saw no enemy. They fell asleep.

That evening in the Upper Room He tried to warn them and help them to see His love and His need to suffer and die. He told them that they would forsake him. He urged them to watch and pray and to stay awake. But they fell asleep and they were only a few feet from Him and that great event.

Many church members are like Peter, James and John. Although we belong to a church and are near to Jesus' Word and love and hear preaching, Baptism, the Lord's Supper etc. we are asleep, careless, indifferent, blind, and deaf to His great love.

Some yawn while we confess sins, and announce God's love and forgiveness. Some laugh and talk during the Creed, the sermon and the Lord's Supper. Many sit nicely and politely during the church hour, but afterwards His love has no influence on them in their talk, their deeds or their money. They continue asleep, not changing and not improving. If only we will not sleep before His love.

Oh, if only we will wake up this Lent and not sleep as we watch His suffering and great love! War was raging in Gethsemane and his disciples slept. This Lent we live again through that war by these Lenten services. How many of us are sleeping? How many are gone tonight? Jesus said to the three, "Can't you watch with Me one hour?"

The battle for the hearts of men continues on. Christ calls His followers to be awake and to arm themselves for the battle to use the sword of the Spirit. Our victorious Lord has given us wonderful weapons: His Word and prayer. But good weapons, yes, the best weapons are useless if the soldier sleeps. One devil can easily guard a sleeping church.

Prayer is the mighty weapon Christ gave to His Church that it may support the battle for which He gave His life. Even children can pray. Sick, shut-ins and the old whose hands tremble can nevertheless fold their hands in prayer.

We face danger and can lose our faith and soul. We need to stay awake and help Jesus and others in His work.

My soul, be on thy guard,
Ten thousand foes arise,
And hosts of sin are pressing hard
To draw thee from the skies.

Oh, watch, and fight, and pray,
The battle ne’er give o’er,
Renew it boldly every day,
And help divine implore.
(Hymn, My Soul, Be on Thy Guard)

Amen.