Falling Asleep In Church Can Be Deadly!

[walkin2e]

Acts 20 verse 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".

It is a proven fact...people often fall asleep while the preacher is preaching his sermon. I have been preaching, and have seen people nodding their heads, but they were not agreeing with what I said..they were falling asleep! I believe the enemy puts this sleepiness on them so they can not hear what the Lord is saying through the preacher. Now, it is true that some preachers may be dull, and speak in a monotone voice that causes heads to nod. But to fall asleep while the great Apostle Paul was preaching!?

This young man started well by hearing Paul's message, but ended up falling to his death. I just imagine what a commotion that tragic event caused...I am certain that any others who were asleep woke up...just in time to see a miracle performed. Ole Paul stopped preaching, went down to where the young man lay, fell on him, embraced him...and the young man came back to life! What a great testimony to all the others who were there! I just bet they didn't go to sleep again while Paul was preaching.

So preachers, buck up...they even went to sleep on the great Apostle Paul, but the Lord still confirmed His message.

Irvin L. Rozier, aka walkin2e

 

[calidog]

I believe the enemy puts this sleepiness on them so they can not hear what the Lord is saying through the preacher.

I think the enemy does this the night before.(keeps them up late)

 

[pgp_protector]

But don't forget what then happens in Acts.
[bible]Acts 20:10-12[/bible]

 

[Starcrystal]

I think it can be a specific attack, even if you do get a good nights sleep. I've never actually fallen asleep but have had my eyes so filled with sand that the preaching sounded like a distant drone. Then you walk out of church and suddenly you're wide awake and ready to go fishing or something? What is that? I don't think it's just physical tiredness.

 

[Scorcher505]

I have gotten sleepy my fair share of times in church, and I think it is more a result of a lack of energy in the service. Not a lot of holy spirit movement, and it is really early in the morning. The service I use to run was in the evening for that reason, and we rocked the place out, as well as play softer songs. At every service the Holy Spirit was so thick you could cut it with a knife, no one fell asleep at our service, no matter how sick or tired you were. I think that if the sleepiness is an attack no demon would be brave enough to try taking us on.

 

[The Princess Bride]

I've always wondered about why when I get into service and the preachers begins, why I feel so drained.....

Very thought provocting subject to bring up...

 

[Madewhole]

I think it can be a specific attack, even if you do get a good nights sleep. I've never actually fallen asleep but have had my eyes so filled with sand that the preaching sounded like a distant drone. Then you walk out of church and suddenly you're wide awake and ready to go fishing or something? What is that? I don't think it's just physical tiredness.

 

[oliveplants]

I just think it's funny that after they raised the poor sleepy guy from the dead, Paul went right back to preaching. AND preached all night!

WHen I was a child I actually thought my sleepiness was a sign of a good preacher. Bad preachers never put me to sleep. lol

 

[ivory]

Acts 20 verse 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".

It is a proven fact...people often fall asleep while the preacher is preaching his sermon. I have been preaching, and have seen people nodding their heads, but they were not agreeing with what I said..they were falling asleep! I believe the enemy puts this sleepiness on them so they can not hear what the Lord is saying through the preacher. Now, it is true that some preachers may be dull, and speak in a monotone voice that causes heads to nod. But to fall asleep while the great Apostle Paul was preaching!?

This young man started well by hearing Paul's message, but ended up falling to his death. I just imagine what a commotion that tragic event caused...I am certain that any others who were asleep woke up...just in time to see a miracle performed. Ole Paul stopped preaching, went down to where the young man lay, fell on him, embraced him...and the young man came back to life! What a great testimony to all the others who were there! I just bet they didn't go to sleep again while Paul was preaching.

So preachers, buck up...they even went to sleep on the great Apostle Paul, but the Lord still confirmed His message.

Irvin L. Rozier, aka walkin2e

(lol) I think we all have done this at one time or another

 

[whatfor]

I have never fallen asleep, but often find myself drifting off on a different thought, then I can't remember what was preached that day.
Nothing to do with a boring service, our pastors always make it interesting, I just get off track.

 

[Athene]

For the most part I don't have a problem but one of the elders has the most boring monotonous voice, he goes on and on and his voice doesn't change tone at all - I find it so hard to concentrate and if I've had a bad nights sleep (which is most nights considering i have a baby) I do find myself nodding off.

 

[Amisk]

I suppose there are veriest reasons why people fall a sleep in church.

1. Lack of rest the previous nite is likely a good one. You can't run around half the nite and be awake on Sunday.

2. There are some preachers who are so boring and stale that they are like dry out cookies and even a good English cup of tea can't keep their listeners awake.

(a)This may be because they have failed to study out their message during the week.

(b) Some ministers have too heavy a load to bear through the week (and God knows many a minister is run off his feet most weeks, a lot of times because the Board and congregation don't carry his burden for the weak and unsaved in the church and community).

(c.) Then of course some people have health problems. Many people who complained of tiredness and fall asleep when ever they sit down for a minute have a health problem called "Sleep Apnea". There are also other signs besides wanting to sleep all the time. The person is often up 3 and 4 times a nite to go to the bathroom or because they just can't sleep.

I wondered for a number of years why I fell asleep when I sat down to watch T.V., listen to a sermon, a lecture or just a quiet conversation. I couldn't read a book because I fell asleep after a page or two and then I was up two or three hours every nite.

When I mentioned it to my doctor, he suggested that I should be tested for Sleep Apnea. I really thought he had a screw loose. Anyway he booked me into a clinic and I spent a nite there. They put me on a C-PAP machine for the nite to monitor my breathing. I forget what my readings where but I was advised to obtain my own C-PAP machine.

I thought they were all a little on the nutty side, however the Newf. (my wife) joined them and I ended up with a C-PAP machine at home. Slowly I started sleeping through the nites again. I began staying awake in most of the services. Oh, it didn't make me a brain or the boss' pet but it did change how I felt in the daytime, and it lifted a bit of the depression.

When I go on trips etc. I am not usually gone for long so I often don't use the machine and I can slowly feel the old tiredness creeping back over my body.

By the way the C-PAP machine is good for those whose wife or husband complain about sleeping with a snoring partner. Both snoring and Sleep Apnea are caused by the tongue falling into the back of the mouth and choking off the air passage when you lay on your back. The body reacts by waking you a dozen times a nite to keep you from suffocating. In fact if people's problems are bad enough they can die through suffocation.

My case is not that bad. My brother has just been diagnosed with the same problem and his doctor told him the shape of the neck or throat and being over weigh can increase the problems.

I believe the doctor is correct because I lost 33 lbs and my C-PAP machine has been recalled to replace some defective parts and I haven't missed it as much as I usually do. Having said that, I'll be glad to get it back in active service because I think it still makes a difference.

If you are having a problem staying awake in church, it may not be your minister, it could be that you have a medical problem. Talk to your doctor.

 

[RichardE]

I fell asleep in church because I was tired, not because evil or satan was doing it. I always get tired when I'm bored.

Plus I have never fully agreed with what my church well ex church said, so yea I dont think falling asleep in church is deadly.

Falling asleep on a higher ground with no safety barrier while leaning forward, now thats dangerous.

 

[New_Wineskin]

I fell asleep in church because I was tired, not because evil or satan was doing it. I always get tired when I'm bored.

Plus I have never fully agreed with what my church well ex church said, so yea I dont think falling asleep in church is deadly.

Falling asleep on a higher ground with no safety barrier while leaning forward, now thats dangerous.

Bored is right . Bored of hearing someone paid to deliver a teaching but only rehashes the same things over and over again only in a different way . With the millions of sermons and teachings being put forth as something "new" , I certainly don't see any new ideas being presented .

Think about it ... let's say that there are 1,000,000 "teachings" a year ( I know that there are more than that ) . Even with *one* new idea presented in all of the world in that year , that would be only .0001 percent of needed to present that one new idea . This should be very easy with all of the increasingly extra resources available for developing these teachings . But , what 20 new ideas or doctrines have been put forward in the last 20 years . I am not asking for much , here . All of that money spent on these 100's of thousands of freeloaders should at least result in one new doctrine a year .

But , what do we have ? Even with the very , very few ideas presented in the last 100 years , most new ideas are considered to be false by the majority . They are slow to be accepted and , even when accepted by many , are not accepted by most .

What do we have ? the same old thing every time . Yeah , I am not surprised that people are bored .

 

[Nadiine]

Bored is right . Bored of hearing someone paid to deliver a teaching but only rehashes the same things over and over again only in a different way . With the millions of sermons and teachings being put forth as something "new" , I certainly don't see any new ideas being presented .

Think about it ... let's say that there are 1,000,000 "teachings" a year ( I know that there are more than that ) . Even with *one* new idea presented in all of the world in that year , that would be only .0001 percent of needed to present that one new idea . This should be very easy with all of the increasingly extra resources available for developing these teachings . But , what 20 new ideas or doctrines have been put forward in the last 20 years . I am not asking for much , here . All of that money spent on these 100's of thousands of freeloaders should at least result in one new doctrine a year .

But , what do we have ? Even with the very , very few ideas presented in the last 100 years , most new ideas are considered to be false by the majority . They are slow to be accepted and , even when accepted by many , are not accepted by most .

What do we have ? the same old thing every time . Yeah , I am not surprised that people are bored .

! ! What a scathing rebuke against Pastors & those who go to churches to be taught God's word.

By the way, I don't fall asleep in church - does that invalidate someone elses boredom?

(my color emphasis in quote)
I'd like to ask, WHAT IS NEW IN THE BIBLE SINCE THE NT WAS WRITTEN? It's 2000 years old, what's NEW since God's FULL revelation was revealed to us?

Do we start making up NEW STUFF just so it isn't the same "old boring" garbage you're sick of hearing? :o

The apostles taught Believers TO KEEP TO THE DOCTRINES & TRADITION THEY WERE FIRST TAUGHT, (2000 yrs ago) -- not the NEW ones that would come along.

Rom 16:17 Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.

2Th 3:6 Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which he received of us.

Tts 1:9 Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers.​

Rom 6:17 But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you.

1Ti 4:6 If thou put the brethren in remembrance of these things, thou shalt be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine, whereunto thou hast attained.


Eph 4:14 That we [henceforth] be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, [and] cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;​

These doctrines & traditions taught by the apostles ARE WHAT ARE TO BE CONTINUED IN & what were given.
They do NOT teach us to start NEW teachings & new traditions to follow for the sake of 'variety'.​

​

 

[Athene]

I can understand where New-Wineskin is coming from, in my 14 years as a christian it's getting to the point where I'm hearing the same old sermons rehashed time and time again, I'd like to hear different teachings from different parts of the Bible other then John, 1 Corinth, Ephesians and Romans.

Nadiine, surely you don't believe that the church that exists now is anything like the church that existed when Paul was alive?

 

[thunderlove]

! ! What a scathing rebuke against Pastors & those who go to churches to be taught God's word.

By the way, I don't fall asleep in church - does that invalidate someone elses boredom?

(my color emphasis in quote)
I'd like to ask, WHAT IS NEW IN THE BIBLE SINCE THE NT WAS WRITTEN? It's 2000 years old, what's NEW since God's FULL revelation was revealed to us?

Do we start making up NEW STUFF just so it isn't the same "old boring" garbage you're sick of hearing? :o

The apostles taught Believers TO KEEP TO THE DOCTRINES & TRADITION THEY WERE FIRST TAUGHT, (2000 yrs ago) -- not the NEW ones that would come along.

Rom 16:17 Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.

2Th 3:6 Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which he received of us.

Tts 1:9 Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers.​

Rom 6:17 But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you.

1Ti 4:6 If thou put the brethren in remembrance of these things, thou shalt be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine, whereunto thou hast attained.


Eph 4:14 That we [henceforth] be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, [and] cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;​

These doctrines & traditions taught by the apostles ARE WHAT ARE TO BE CONTINUED IN & what were given.
They do NOT teach us to start NEW teachings & new traditions to follow for the sake of 'variety'.​

​

What she said!

"What news! how much more important to know what that is which was never old!"

While I certainly agree that the whole Bible should be taught (Calvary Chapels teach through the word, book by book, chapter by chapter; I like them), I cannot agree with the notion that

I certainly don't see any new ideas being presented

is somehow a bad thing. People need, now more than ever the simple straight message of the gospel. And it repeated again and again and again, until everyone gets it right!

We are forgiven in Christ
Love your enemies
Hope for heaven
Pray, pray, pray
Read your Bible
Trust God in the storms
Trust God when the sun shines
Help each other out
Give your entire heart to God
Don't sin
Tell others about Jesus

Which of these is being taught too much????

 

[Nadiine]

I can understand where New-Wineskin is coming from, in my 14 years as a christian it's getting to the point where I'm hearing the same old sermons rehashed time and time again, I'd like to hear different teachings from different parts of the Bible other then John, 1 Corinth, Ephesians and Romans.

Nadiine, surely you don't believe that the church that exists now is anything like the church that existed when Paul was alive?

We actually have MORE drama today than they had in their day.

And from my understanding of history, their 'services' were like hours LONG, not just one hour like we so graciously have.

Act 20:9 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.​

First off, New_wineskin in a previous post I read refuses to even attend any church.. if I'm wrong she can certainly correct my understanding.
I actually GO to church, so I don't agree w/ her on her harsh attack. (& as if ALL churches are guilty of it?)

But notice, how many churches today are refusing to teach from the OT. (it's not politically correct anymore) -
It's too "harsh" or "doesn't apply today". SO, here's your result. (reaping what you sow)
All sermons from the same books of the NT repeated over & over.
What's NEW that we can add to them after 2000 years of having the FULL revelation? We've had concerts, choirs, visual effects... it's still the same information becuz the information doesn't change.
Are we now seeking ENTERTAINMENT?
What exactly is being required to keep people 'awake'?

Could it be instead that we're more apathetic? Could it be that we've lost our first love?
The Honeymoon's over? Is it a PASTOR'S JOB TO KEEP OUR FLAME LIT for the Lord in intimate relationship?
Have WE lost interest?
I don't know.
My point is, MAYBE IT'S NOT THE PASTOR OR HIS TEACHING, BUT OUR PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP that is the source of the boredom?

We're essentially saying, hearing this bores me becuz it's tired & we need some FRESH NEW ways for it to be relayed to us. (didn't the Israelites complain about having MANNA every single day while God provided for their needs?)
-just tossing up options here in the discussion.

I really don't struggle with this problem personally - every once in awhile I don't go to church, but it's not becuz i'm disgruntled by any means.

 

[RichardE]

! ! What a scathing rebuke against Pastors & those who go to churches to be taught God's word.

By the way, I don't fall asleep in church - does that invalidate someone elses boredom?

(my color emphasis in quote)
I'd like to ask, WHAT IS NEW IN THE BIBLE SINCE THE NT WAS WRITTEN? It's 2000 years old, what's NEW since God's FULL revelation was revealed to us?

Do we start making up NEW STUFF just so it isn't the same "old boring" garbage you're sick of hearing? :o

The apostles taught Believers TO KEEP TO THE DOCTRINES & TRADITION THEY WERE FIRST TAUGHT, (2000 yrs ago) -- not the NEW ones that would come along.

Rom 16:17 Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.

2Th 3:6 Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which he received of us.

Tts 1:9 Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers.​

Rom 6:17 But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you.

1Ti 4:6 If thou put the brethren in remembrance of these things, thou shalt be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine, whereunto thou hast attained.


Eph 4:14 That we [henceforth] be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, [and] cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;​

These doctrines & traditions taught by the apostles ARE WHAT ARE TO BE CONTINUED IN & what were given.
They do NOT teach us to start NEW teachings & new traditions to follow for the sake of 'variety'.​

​

Swing and a miss.

 

[Nadiine]

Swing and a miss.

What does a post like this help or serve?