another dubbed jesus film

Hope this makes you smile today!

Random thing from the Bible # 2

"Don't fall asleep in Church!" {Acts 20:7-12}



7) On the first day of the week we came together to break bread. Paul spoke to the people and, because he intended to leave the next day, kept on talking until midnight.

8) There were many lamps in the upstairs room where we were meeting.

9) Seated in a window was a young man named Eutychus, who was sinking into a deep sleep as Paul talked on and on. When he was sound asleep, he fell to the ground from the third story and was picked up dead.

10) Paul went down, threw himself on the young man and put his arms around him. "Don't be alarmed," he said. "He's alive!"

11) Then he went upstairs again and broke bread and ate. After talking until daylight, he left. 12) The people took the young man home alive and were greatly comforted.



I heard this story a while back and for some strange reason it came to mind today.


Here where are, the book of Acts, telling of the initial church's growth and the spreading of the gospel. We hear about miracles done in the name of Lord and the work of the Holy Spirit.


And out of no where comes this passage about a man who died from falling asleep in church.


Paul was into this sermon. He just had to get this message off his chest and let others know about the love he had found in Christ. This might have resembled today what would be a good old all night southern revival. For the message was going long past the midnight hour, and as the verses talked about the lamps being lit...it was late in the night. Paul had the congregation hooked...they were hanging on His every word. And then it happened...around point #30 of Paul's 75 point sermon, a guy named Eutychus fell asleep.


Poor Eutychus...wouldn't you hate to be known as the guy who fell asleep during Paul's message. You will be forever known as that guy. And your story is included in the bible, forever to be read by millions everywhere. Though as we see with the other things in the bible, if it is in the bible it must have importance right?


Now the story doesn't just end there. He doesn't just fall asleep, he falls out a third story window and dies. Wouldn't that be something?...falling asleep and waking up in the presence of the Lord.

Though what amazes me from looking at scriptures, is that it doesn't really even phase Paul. I mean he just goes down to the dead man and lays down on him, and embraces him. He lets everyone know that there is still life in him and brings him back to life. Then he goes back and keeps on preaching his sermon.

Think if you were there and you saw someone fall to their death...that would change the whole mood of the sermon. And you may have already been questioning the power of God while you were listening to Paul preach. Then you get to see the Holy Spirit at work through Paul as he brings this man back to life. Think about that experience...seeing God's power first hand. No reason to question anymore.

There must have been many converts that night!

It was all for God's glory. For if I remember correctly the Holy Spirit had just came down upon these apostles. They were beginning to take God's word all over the earth. The apostles let the people know about Jesus, and the power that He has can bring a man from death to life (thanks to His death, burial, and resurrection). And now thanks to this illustration this congregation no longer had to imagine it, they got to see this power first hand.

There is power in the name of Jesus!

So next time you feel yourself nodding off in church, try to make sure you stay awake...or at least sit in a seat that is close to the ground.