Take Time To Hear

On the first day of the week, we gathered with the local believers to share in the Lord’s Supper. Paul was preaching to them, and since he was leaving the next day, he kept talking until midnight. The upstairs room where we met was lighted with many flickering lamps. As Paul spoke on and on, a young man named Eutychus, sitting on the windowsill, became very drowsy. Finally, he fell sound asleep and dropped three stories to his death below. Paul went down, bent over him, and took him into his arms. “Don’t worry,” he said, “he’s alive!” Then they all went back upstairs, shared in the Lord’s Supper, and ate together. Paul continued talking to them until dawn, and then he left. Meanwhile, the young man was taken home alive and well, and everyone was greatly relieved. (‭Acts of the Apostles‬ ‭20‬:‭7-12‬ NLT)

I have been accused of being long winded when I preach, but compared to the apostle Paul, I am short winded. In our day, we hear a lot about three point sermons and getting out of church in time for lunch. It is, as if, we want our Christianity like we want our fast food. I have a friend who once joked with me about starting a drive through church. We shared some laughs about it and even elaborated on how it could play out. Now, I'm not saying that things have to be drawn out and excessively lengthy. I have heard sermons over the years that I thought could have concluded much sooner. I have probably preached some of those myself (I can hear some of our church members saying a resounding affirmation to that). We live in an instant generation. We want everything available to us, and delivered to us, right now. We are always busy going somewhere or doing something.
Often, we miss the majesty and beauty of simply taking time to hear God's Word and soak up the fellowship of the saints.
In Luke 10:40-42, we read "But Martha was distracted by the big dinner she was preparing. She came to Jesus and said, “Lord, doesn’t it seem unfair to you that my sister just sits here while I do all the work? Tell her to come and help me.” But the Lord said to her, “My dear Martha, you are worried and upset over all these details! There is only one thing worth being concerned about. Mary has discovered it, and it will not be taken away from her.” (‭NLT).
Far too often, we rush through our lives with urgency and get caught up in the rat race of daily cares of life. It is time to pause, turn off the T.V., lay down the cell phone, and situate ourselves at the feet of Jesus. We need His teaching to live right and to live well. Come away from your "busy" life to to what is best and right. Stop and listen to God's Word with the saints. Go meet with the church! The family of God needs the church like a car needs a gas station. Hebrews 10:25 says "And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of His return is drawing near."(NLT).
In the story of the passage today, we read how Paul had joined his comrades in Troas and, there, met with all the church family of that city on Sunday (the first day of the week). He knew he would not likely return to Troas and he wanted to share as much doctrinal instruction, correction, and exhortation as possible. He, definitely, was long winded. As he spoke late into the night, around midnight, as Eutychus was sitting in the window seal, sleepiness overcame Eutychus and he fell into a deep sleep. The window he was sitting in was three stories high (approx. 25 to 30 feet). The building was packed with believers who were hungry for truth. So full, the room was, that they sat anywhere they could.
Eutychus fell out of the window and died. What happened next was a miracle. God used Paul to resurrect Eutychus from the dead. I could only imagine what a predicament I would be in if someone fell asleep and fell out a third story window and died while I was preaching.
Paul didn't miss a beat. He went immediately to Eutychus and spoke, in the name of Jesus, to him. God raised him from the dead!!! Eutychus was also healed of any injury the fall may have caused. What a Mighty God we serve!!! They all returned inside (I'm not sure where Eutychus sat this time) and shared in the Lord's supper, ate a meal together, and Paul preached until morning. Everyone was relieved concerning Eutychus and I am confident that this event increased the faith of those believers.
I pray that God will create such a hunger in us that we, too, pack his church with believers who want His doctrinal instruction, correction, and exhortation. We need to take time to hear the Word of The Lord!!!!!!!