“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 . . . 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.”
Acts 20:7, 11
When He’s our all-consuming desire, we love mulling over His mysteries of faith and fellowshipping with one another.
What was wrong with this assembled group in Troas, which was located on the northwest coast of what is now known as modern-day Turkey? Didn’t they realize it was getting late that Sunday night and they had to get up early the next morning and go to work? How could they let a visiting preacher—even one as prolific as Paul—continue “talking a long while, even till the break of day”?
It was simply because they were so “hungry and thirsty” to “know Christ, the power of His Resurrection, the fellowship of His sufferings and be made conformable unto His death” (Phil. 3:10). Glory!!
Not even Eutychus’ falling out of a third-story window and sudden death could halt the Holy Ghost meeting that night (vv.9-11). In fact, his miraculous recovery even further increased their faith, comfort and joy in the Lord (v.12). Hallelujah!!
Dear Pilgrim, what has happened to us and our churches since that night? Why are we now more concerned about “getting out on time” than we are hearing God’s Word and rejoicing in what He is doing and going to do? For sure, those folks had no wrist watches with alarms to divert their attention; neither did they have televisions, newspapers, best-selling novels, etc., waiting for them at home that competed for their allegiance.
No, they were hard-working folks, who wanted to hear more of the story of Jesus—and they were new believers who were thrilled that Paul and his companions had come their way. Even though he’d already been there seven days. . .most likely preaching and teaching from God’s Word. . .they still couldn’t get enough. And, they knew the next morning the “blessed Band of Brothers” would be setting sail for another place and they might not see them again.
So, they were thrilled to sit, sing and soak up God’s Word.
And, even the three-story plunge of the young man, Eutychus, who’d “fallen asleep and fallen out of the window and been killed” (v.9), couldn’t close the meeting, though it did disrupt it for a few minutes.
Long enough for Paul to raise him from the dead by the Holy Spirit’s power (v.10)!
Never underestimate what God is able and wanting to do in your life—even in a worship service! It’d be easy to look down upon Eutychus for falling asleep or criticize Paul for being so long-winded; however, when the Lord Jesus has free reign to move as He pleases in our lives, we’ll not worry about time or unexpected “interruptions”. . . for we know He’s at work and we can’t get enough of Him or His Word. Amen and amen!
By Tom Smith Morning Manna Dated August 2, 2010