In this passage, Revelation 3:1-6 Jesus uses sleep as a metaphor for a spiritual state or condition in which you are not aware of the issues or the urgency or the things you need to do. You are in a different reality, a dream world; you are spiritually out of it. To the degree that that fits you or us as a church we need to wake up.

Here are two links that relate to two issues that I will address but not be able to go deeply into in this week's message due to the time issue. I hope some of you will read and reflect on them and find them helpful. The first is a classic and moving sermon by C.S. Lewis titled, “The Weight of Glory”. The second is an article by John Piper relating to the book of life in Revelation 3:5 and the assurance that those who conquer will not be blotted out of it.

http://www.verber.com/mark/xian/weight-of-glory.pdf

http://www.desiringgod.org/articles/can-the-regenerate-be-erased-from-the-book-of-life