Sleep Stories in the Bible: Midnight Sermon | Acts 20:7-12

If you’re anything like us we’re on our second cup of coffee right now! Even though we got an extra hour with the time change yesterday, the change in routine has us a bit drowsy! So, grab your hot mug of delicious coffee as Erica jumps into a new series called Sleep Stories in the Bible! We pick up listening to Luke talk about the story of Eutychus; a man who died and was brought back to life… just like Lazarus. Have you heard about him?  This is about a life-changing moment of being ‘asleep’ in the faith and in one transformational moment, one man woke to the truth of Jesus Christ and had a life-long story to share, giving God all the glory. All of us have a story. God’s writing yours and he’s in it with you!

Show Links:

• Who Is Jesus?
• Have a prayer request? E-mail us at [email protected]

Transcription:

Hi, it’s Erica. Welcome to the Bible for Busy People. Are you a little sleepy after turning all of your clocks back? Oh my goodness. We’ve turned our clocks back and now we’re all just a bit drowsy. So, I thought it would be fitting to kick off a series called Sleep Stories in the Bible.

So, grab a cup of coffee and let’s crack open the Bible, or you can open up your phone like I just did, to Acts chapter 20. We’re gonna kick it off in verse seven. This is Luke, the doctor, and I like to call him the reporter, writing this incredible account.

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, [What a name, right?] sitting on the windowsill became very drowsy [Kinda like We’re probably feeling today. We need all the coffee]. 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. Our takeaway verse is verse 10, Don’t worry, he said, he’s alive. [Whoa, whoa. God used Paul to raise UUs from the dead]. Then they all went back upstairs, shared in the Lord 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.

Man, two takeaways from this incredible story about Eutychus in the Bible. Number one, how hungry and thirsty were the people for Paul’s words? Can you imagine what it was like listening to the Apostle Paul teach and tell stories about Jesus? Probably about his own conversion about how he was murdering people until he met Jesus on the road to Damascus. I’m sure he shared his personal testimony that night, and I can picture the flickering lamps and it just makes me think, Lord, give me that kind of hunger and thirst for you, that I’m willing to stay up till dawn to learn more about you. That’s the first takeaway.

Second takeaway for me is what a story Eutychus had to tell for the rest of his life. He fell out of a window, three stories high and lived to tell about it. He was raised from the dead like Lazarus. That absolutely blows my mind. I’m sure it wasn’t pleasant, the fall, and I’m sure he probably felt a little weird. Maybe a little drowsy like we do today. But think about it. He was able to give glory to the Lord through that story for the rest of his life. And I want you to know today, if you are in the middle of your story; if you’re in the middle of that fall from the window, so to speak, God is in it. I think of my friend Chelsea. She and her husband waited 772 days for their adoption to be official. And now Cassie is absolutely their daughter on paper. She was from the moment they first held her, but now it’s official. But there was that 772 day wait. God is writing your story in the waiting. He hasn’t left the building like Elvis. He’s got you. So, don’t worry. You’re gonna have quite a story to tell like my friend Chelsea and like Eutychus, from Acts chapter 20. Amazing. I love that sleep story from the Bible. How about we do another one next time? Until then, You are loved.

Thank you so much for listening to the Bible for Busy People. If you need prayer or you’re ready to go a little deeper in your faith, we’ve posted some resources for you in our show notes. We’d love for you to share this podcast with a friend and leave us a review. It helps us reach even more people with the hope of Jesus. This Podcast is part of purposely, a podcast network designed with practical podcasts to help you find and live in God’s purpose for your life. Find more podcasts that will recharge you at onpurposely.com.