Rev. Cyril A. Stevens – Sermon 0273A recorded on December 28, 1980 teaching from Acts 12:6 – On Sleeping.
Pastor Cyril A. Stevens uses the biblical figure of the Apostle Peter to illustrate three distinct spiritual types of sleep, tracing a profound personal transformation from immaturity to absolute peace. Initially, Peter exhibits the sleep of unripe experience during the Transfiguration, demonstrating how spiritual blindness causes believers to miss divine revelation and glory. Next, he falls into the sleep of an unfaithful life in the Garden of Gethsemane, revealing how a lack of prayer and reliance on human strength leads to spiritual unfaithfulness and missed opportunities to support Christ. Finally, Peter attains the sleep of unquestioning trust in the Book of Acts, peacefully resting chained in prison because he possesses a fully pardoned heart and profound confidence in God’s ultimate deliverance. Ultimately, Pastor Stevens challenges modern believers to wake up spiritually, abandon complacency, and live fully awake to the daily training and excitement of a Christian life anchored in God’s presence.