When you go to church, do you find yourselves alert and ready to learn or are you often inattentive to the message, while looking at your phone? I also wonder if you are wide awake or can hardly keep your eyes opened? Think about these questions, for God wants to know our true intentions for Him. Those that are interested don’t only appear this way, but are those that are paying attention to the message and often taking notes. The others, however, don’t care as much, as they often mess with their phones or sleep through the message at hand. Please know that not being attentive to God in church also shows our disinterest in Him. And for those that work late shifts into the evening and go to church early the next morning, good for you. Being a little tired after that is normal, and for that reason God does not hold it against you, unless you purposely show no interest and then sleep because of that. Just know that God knows the heart and those people that sleep because they are disinterested and those that sleep accidentally because of a difficult and long work schedule. Just know that since God is the judge in this, be ready at all times to be accountable to Him in all your actions. Know that church is a place of not just worship but also learning. This knowledge will greatly help our walk with the Lord, if we but pay attention and apply the teachings in our lives.
I mention this topic of sleeping in church because back in Acts, chapter 20, in verses 7 through 12, it mentioned a man that slept through Paul’s message, while he was among those in church. Here is the story… 1“And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them, ready to depart on the morrow; and continued his speech until midnight. And there were many lights in the upper chamber, where they were gathered together. And there sat in a window a certain young man named Eutychus, being fallen into a deep sleep: and as Paul was long preaching, he sunk down with sleep, and fell down from the third loft, and was taken up dead. And Paul went down, and fell on him, and embracing him said, Trouble not yourselves; for his life is in him. When he therefore was come up again, and had broken bread, and eaten, and talked a long while, even till break of day, so he departed. And they brought the young man alive, and were not a little comforted.” Now this story is very real and describes a man who purposely gathered together with the saints of God. He had no interest of going home early but instead wanted to stay up till midnight to get the final message from Paul that day. However, he could not stay up any longer and then fell asleep and died, before being resurrected by Paul.
Eutychus did fall asleep, while hearing Paul’s message and, at the same time, did nothing wrong. You might ask then, why do you mention his story? Well, he is a great example of a person wanting to learn, but because of the amount of time given to the event, he became exhausted. There was no ill will in him. This is why Paul found him lying on the ground and found a reason to raise him from the dead. After falling three floors to his grave, Paul knew his intentions and therefore, God breathed life into him. As you see, God can see the reasons why we fall asleep when hearing God’s message. The intentions are very clear to Him, based on our desires in our hearts. Therefore, a person who stays awake on purpose the day before church, and then ends up falling asleep in the service is inexcusable for his act. This shows a big lack of interest in things spiritual and what God can do for our lives. The same can be said for those that bring their tablets or phones to church. for the purpose of browsing the web, social media or playing games. This is disrespecting God and that person mine as well be telling Him that he does not care about God, for that is what he is showcasing when he or she does such things in church. If you plan on going to church, then also plan on learning, fellow-shipping with one another and assisting where you can. This shows your true interest in God.
Let us pray:
Oh Lord, I pray that everyone that goes to church will also be respectful of You and also desire to learn and grow in the faith, each time they go. It is sad to see so many people not paying attention and instead looking at their phones and dosing off. And then I ask Lord, why do these people come if they are not interested in the message? This has really bogged my mind and has got me thinking. I know how much Your salvation means to me and therefore, I go to church in order to learn more and more. I want more of you Lord and less of me. So I come with arms wide open to worship You, fellowship with others and to receive the message you have for my life. I know that the Holy Spirit speaks stronger and even more convicting then the preacher. It is when I give myself over to truly listen is when the Spirit speaks to my soul and wisdom is poured out upon me. Thank You Lord. I know that the knowledge that I gain by myself is lacking and these sermons really help my faith. Therefore, I will always make it is a habit to get enough rest for the day ahead of me. I would never want to lose focus on what You can do for and through my life. Your ways are what keep me in line and on Your righteous path. I am grateful for Your guidance and direction. Thank You for leading me away from temptation and doing things that are only distracting to my faith. You truly know better than I do and for that reason, I pay close attention. I love You Lord. I say these things in Your holy Name, Jesus. Amen.
Let us read the Bible:
Note: Any Numbered References, found above, are listed below.
1Acts 20:7-12 (KJV)
7 And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them, ready to depart on the morrow; and continued his speech until midnight.
8 And there were many lights in the upper chamber, where they were gathered together.
9 And there sat in a window a certain young man named Eutychus, being fallen into a deep sleep: and as Paul was long preaching, he sunk down with sleep, and fell down from the third loft, and was taken up dead.
10 And Paul went down, and fell on him, and embracing him said, Trouble not yourselves; for his life is in him.
11 When he therefore was come up again, and had broken bread, and eaten, and talked a long while, even till break of day, so he departed.
12 And they brought the young man alive, and were not a little comforted.
