I pray the last two days of this Bible study have been a blessing to you and eye opening.
Let's get started on day three!
SCRIPTURE
Acts 20:7-9
New International Version (NIV)
Eutychus Raised From the Dead at Troas
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.OBSERVATION
Paul was visiting in Troas and he knew that he would only be there for a short time so he kept on talking because there was a lot that needed to be shared with the people. You know what that is like. A preacher keeps preaching and all you can think of is when will he finish so you can go eat and take a nap. Well, Eutychus was tried of listening to Paul. It was late at night and the conversation was of no interest to him. Get this, the Word of God was being spoken to them, the promises of God were being proclaimed and the gospel of Jesus Christ was being shared. However all of that which Paul may have been sharing with them was not exciting enough to keep Eutychus awake. The word of God was being spoken but Eutychus slept through it and fell to his death.
How often do we fall asleep when God is trying to get a word to us. Not just naturally asleep but spiritually asleep. God is speaking to us through His word, pastors, and teachers who share an encouraging word with us. The "sleep" is not taking the word into our hearts so it can change us, correct us and help us grow. If we are not growing then we will sleep and fall to our spiritual death like Eutychus. Sometimes we "sleep" because the word being spoken to us is not what we want to hear. It might be a word of discipline when we want to be told great things.
Almost 8 years ago I ended a relationship with a handsome, a smooth talker and that's all he was! I did not want to hear that he was not the one, so I slept and wasted 7 years of life instead of listening to the word that was being told to me. I had to fall and hit my head to finally wake up. Thank God for His mercy.
We cannot afford to sleep when God speaks.
APPLICATION
Set a time to go to God in prayer and to read His word in order to hear from Him. Listen to God speak regardless of how long it may take to get the full message. Stay alert and take in the word that God has for you. It will help you to grow and become that person God created you to be.
PRAYER
Dear God our Father, thank you for speaking to us. Thank you for the Bible that we can read, your spoken word in print. Father, forgive us for sleeping through the word, sleeping through our prayer time and sleeping when you are calling us to do great things for the Kingdom of Heaven. Help us to absorb your word like a sponge and stay alert. In Jesus' Name. Amen.
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