Death by defenestration

Falling asleep

Have you ever fallen asleep at an awkward time?

I once fell asleep on a train travelling to Nottingham. Thanks to a helpful guard he didn’t charge me the return fare to skegness.

A few months ago Jenny and I were at the spirit and word conference in Hull, we were sat right at the front, next to the stage. There was guy on the table who fell asleep not one, but a few times during the event. I don’t know how he managed it with all the noise.

It is amazing somehow some people can sleep anywhere. The First time we camped at the One Event, or Grapevine as it was known then, Andrew was desperate to go to a Matt Redman Concert. - He danced on the seats during the first song, he sat for the second, and slept on the row of seats for the remainder of the concert. In his defence he could only have been five at the time.

It can be quite a problem falling asleep in the wrong places at the wrong time.

It can be quite a problem falling asleep in the wrong places at the wrong time.

Adam Fell asleep and woke up married and missing a rib. -

Sampson Fell asleep and woke up bald and beaten -

In the new testament there is a story about a young man called Eutychus.

Εὔτυχος (Eutychos)

is a bit of a strange story. It is one that at first seems to be just one of those incidental details like the 153 fish from last week but it is a story that carries some great lessons.

it can be found in and its a story of two halves.

Acts 20:7–12 NIV

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. 10 Paul went down, threw himself on the young man and put his arms around him. “Don’t be alarmed,” he said. “He’s alive!” 11 Then he went upstairs again and broke bread and ate. After talking until daylight, he left. 12 The people took the young man home alive and were greatly comforted.

Let me start by covering off one lesson that is not in this passage. It is not - if you fall asleep in church God will strike you dead other wise that chap in Hull would be ‘a goner’

Not - if you fall asleep in church God will strike you dead

Acts 2 tells us.

Acts 2:42 NIV

42 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.

The believers had come together for fellowship - Much as we have come together today.

They planned to break bread to remember Jesus command in the form of communion. Much as we are doing today.

They had come to hear teaching and the word of God - Much like today

Paul was with them for a short time, the previous verses speak about the disciples being here for a day, rushing there for two days, spending a week somewhere else. Paul had a lot to say and as the text puts it was talking on and on. Much like I am doing today.

There would have been a lot of people in that room, we don’t know how many, but traditionally the upper room of the building would have been the biggest and there is reference to there being many lamps which suggests there space was big it needed lots of light and full of people. Yet the story focuses on Eutychus and his rapid exit from the meeting.

v7 - came together to break bread -

Unlike Humpty Dumpty there is no question of whether he fell or was pushed. We know he fell asleep and fell, asleep to the floor three floors below.

It seems a strange story to record. Other than when the speaker is droning on don’t sit in a window what can we learn?

There is a key question to unlocking this passage. Why did Eutychus fall and die, I’m sure others in building where just as tired, as the night went on and the room became stuffier with all those lamps.

Eutychus’ position left him vulnerable. The way we position ourselves in relation to God and to the church can leave us vulnerable too.

It is all a matter of position

Eutychus placed himself on the outside.

On the outside

He had chosen to sit somewhere away from where Paul was- not in proximity- not in the middle. Not the floor- not the wall- but a window

Not the floor- not the wall- A window

Out of all the places that he chose, it was a DISTANCE away from where Paul was. He positioned himself on the outside, a spectator to what was going on.

There are some people who will always choose to be spectators to what God is doing - Eutychus was one of them. Sure, he was THERE but he wasn’t on the INSIDE of where God was moving- he had positioned himself on the edge, on the fringe

There are some people who will always choose to be spectators to what God is doing

Sure, he was THERE but he wasn’t on the INSIDE of where God was moving- he had positioned himself on the edge

On the fringe

Some people find comfort on the fringe- staying where its seemingly safe- where they don’t have to get involved- where they are not known but staying on the edge of where God is moving is not where you want to be.

Staying on the edge of where God is moving is not where you want to be

You want to be in the middle of it. Now I get that sometimes it is difficult to be fully involved in things. Life gets in the way, we get tired but staying at the edge for too long can be unhealthy.

Have you ever seen Emperor Penguins?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OL7O5O7U4Gs

To survive frigid temperatures, emperor penguins all converge on the same central point and begin to form a huddle. As those on the outside take the brunt of the cold, those on the inside take tiny steps that move the huddle in waves. The pack continues to shift and rotate from the centre, so no one is left permanently in the cold.

You know what happens to those penguins that stay on the outside too long. - They perish.

Have you ever s

In the fresh air (out side of the presence)

Not only had Eutychus placed himself on the outside of the the church. He had placed himself in the fresh air.

This seems like a sensible thing to do, the text tells us that the room was filled with many lamps, the smoke from which would have filled the room. But this was the part of his problem- not only he had positioned himself in a way from the others from fellowship, he had moved so that he wasn’t close to where Paul was preaching, to where the move of God was going on!

his was Eutychus beginning problem- he had positioned himself in a way that he wasn’t close to where Paul was preaching- to where the move of God was going on!

He had put himself out of the presence of God, the fumes of the lamp where reminiscent of the incense that burned in the temple representing Gods presence.

There is a real danger when we place ourselves on the outside of the things of Church we start to place ourselves outside the presence of God, either accidentally, we drift away or deliberately when we fear the loss of control when God moves.

Now part of this story is that Eutychus, even thoughh he clearly wasn’t paying attention, even though he wasn’t close to the action- was still hanging out with the Christians

Part of this story is that Eutychus, even though he clearly wasn’t paying attention, even though he wasn’t close to the action- was still hanging out with the Christians

Sometimes we seem to think that just because we’re not ‘feeling it’ we shouldn’t come to church or shouldn’t go and fellowship - this is not the case- you can just be a by-stander and still receive some blessings!

• Not the case- you can just be a by-stander and still receive some blessings!

Not the case- you can just be a by-stander and still receive some blessings!

A place of obvious danger

Worse than placing himself on the edge, away from Paul, away from the presence of God he placed himself in an obvious position of Danger. It was an open window, it was three stories up.

We do this if we aren’t close to God. We distance ourselves, give ourselves a little space and pretty soon we are in places that we know are risky. Addicts fall back in with the people they used to associate with. We suddenly get the opinion we can deal with temptations. If you fall out or a window you end up hurting and bleeding in the world.

We have to make sure we stay close to God. Having proximity to what God is doing is the first part of growing in Christ, it is the second step in growing in christ, it is main step.

We can study, read, watch God TV, do good deeds all of which is great but proximity to God is key.

• Having proximity to what God is doing is the first part of growing in Christ

If you don’t want to fall out of a window

If you don’t want to fall out of a spiritual window to the floor below there are some things that can help - you have to keep in the presence of God, in close proximity.

Proximity is really important. Why do sports fans travel to Wimbledon? or the city of a cup final with no ticket? Just to watch on a screen, they could do that at home - It is about proximity.

Why do sports fans travel to Wimbledon or the city of a cup final with no ticket? Just to watch on a screen, they could do that at home - It is about proximity.

It is a matter of activity

It is easy to fall asleep watching the football on TV (receiving) it is not so easy when you are playing the game (participating)

Christianity was never intended to be a spectator sport- its getting involved

o Sure, he was THERE but he wasn’t on the INSIDE of where God was moving- he had positioned himself on the edge

o On the fringe

o Some people find comfort on the fringe- staying where its seemingly safe- where they don’t have to get involved- where they are not known

o Staying on the edge of where God is moving is not where you want to be

o You want to be in the middle of it

It is a matter of comfortability

It is a matter of Attention and intent

For some people- its not just about proximity problem-

Its easy in your Christian life because you’re doing more than other people to get a sense of contentment we risk becoming Spiritual Zombies - Asleep but awake

it is about attention and intent problem - when we become to fimilar with our surroundings to comfortable we

it is about attention and intent problem - when we become to fimilar with our surroundings to comfortable we

Sing the songs, but don’t worship

Sing the songs, but don’t worship

Listen to the sermon don’t apply it

Talk to someone but don’t love them

Serve someone but do it begrudgingly

DON’T FALL ASLEEP- it could cost you your life

Proverbs 20:13 NIV

13 Do not love sleep or you will grow poor; stay awake and you will have food to spare.

Mark 13:35–37 NIV

35 “Therefore keep watch because you do not know when the owner of the house will come back—whether in the evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or at dawn. 36 If he comes suddenly, do not let him find you sleeping. 37 What I say to you, I say to everyone: ‘Watch!’ ”

Paul’s Reaction

The second part of the scripture is Pauls reaction to someone so rudely interrupting his flow by falling out of the window.

The text tells us that Paul goes down, I suggest that Paul ran down, there was urgency to help. Paul throws himself on Eutychus.

A week ago Paul was in Philippi celebrating the feast of unleavened bread.

Philippi celebrating the feast of unlevened bread.

As a Jew he would know he parallel between the passover meal and the last supper, he was not there of course, but we know he spoke with the disciples of those events.

His mind may have been taken to the stories of the disciples In the garden of Gethsemane - where the disciples fall asleep - three times - Jesus asking them to keep watch each time.y Yet the disciples could not keep awake and abandoned christ.

Paul throws himself on Eutycus

Paul might of thought of this - that the disciples could not keep awake, abandoned christ.

Paul may have thought about his own atrocities. implicated in the killing of believers.

Here he throws himself down on Eutychus - a parallel of how God threw himself down on Paul and how his grace covers each and every one of us no matter how we fall.

Parallel of how paul throws himself down on Eutycus -how God throws himself down on Paul.

As members of the body we are to throw ourselves to the assistance of those who have run out of strength, to those who are sleeping, to those on the fringes. We are not to stand idly by.

Acts 20:10 NIV

10 Paul went down, threw himself on the young man and put his arms around him. “Don’t be alarmed,” he said. “He’s alive!”

Throw ourselves to the assitance of those who have run out of strenght.

As members of the body we are to throw ourselves to the assistance of those who have run out of strength, to those who are sleeping, to those on the fringes. We are not to stand idly by.

Falling out of Church lands us in the world.

Breaking of Bread.

They came together on the first day of the week to break bread. But they did not break bread until Eutychus is restored - as if God says we can’t do this without the whole body.

They do not break bread until Eutycus is restored - as if god says we can’t do this without the whole body.

As a jew knowing the parallel between the last supper (the disciples had spoen with paul) and the passover meal.

In the garden of Gethsemanie - disiples fall asleep in the garden - three times - Jesus says keep watch.

Paul might of thought of this - that the disciples could not keep awake, abandoned christ.

Paul may have thought about his attocities.

Parallel of how paul throws himself down on Eutycus -how God throws himself down on Paul.

They did not eat the bread until the body was together. After Eutychus was brought back to life they went upstairs again and broke bread.

There is a verse in Matthew at the meal we refer to as the last supper, where Jesus says

Matthew 26:29 NIV

29 I tell you, I will not drink from this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.”

Matthew

Just as Paul would not eat communion until Eutychus was with them, God is not willing to partake in this meal without you.

As we take communion together let us take time to remember Gods commitment to restore those who are exhausted and his desire to break bread with us. If we are on the fringes use this opportunity to move closer, if you are outside of the presence of God come to this table where the Lord is at the centre.

As

Come to this table, not because you must but because you may,

not because you are strong, but because you are weak.

Come, not because any goodness of your own gives you a right to come, but because you need mercy and help.

Come, because you love the Lord a little and would like to love him more.

Come, because he loved you and gave himself for you.

Come and meet the risen Christ, for we are his Body.

The same Paul how embraced Euthychus tells us of the breaking of bread.

It is all a matter of position

On the outside

1 Corinthians 11:23–26 NIV

23 For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, 24 and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.” 25 In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.” 26 For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.

1 Corin. 11

In the fresh air (out side of the presence)

A place of obvious danger

It is a matter of activity

It is easy to fall asleep watching the football on TV (receiving)

It is much harder to fall asleep when you are playing (participating)

It is a matter of comforability