FALLING AWAY

Delivered on Jan 15, 2017

                    
 
Acts 20:7-12
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.
 
A husband and his wife woke up one Sunday morning and the wife dressed for church.

It was just about time for the service when she noticed her husband hadn’t moved a finger toward getting dressed.

Perplexed, she asked, “Why aren’t you getting dressed for church?”

He said, “Cause I don’t want to go.” She asked, “Do you have any reasons?”

He said, “Yes, I have three good reasons. First the congregation is cold.

Second, no one likes me. And third, I just don’t want to go.”

The wife replied, wisely, “Well honey, I have three reasons why you should go.

First the congregation is warm. Second, there are a few people there who like you.

And third, you’re the pastor! So get dressed!”
 
If you can still remember what I said in our New Year service…When I mentioned that its 2017, its another year closer to the Lords return. And also another year closer to when we start seeing people fall away. For the past two Sundays…it has been the smallest attendance we have received. Yes, I know…given the fact that there was a holiday,and last week the weather. If you were here on both services, you would be concern. “where is everybody?”
 
Now…as you all know, ive never been a stickler when it comes to attendance. For whatever reason that you were not able to make it to church that is between you and the Lord. Whatever reason you tell me, I have to believe you, without judgment. After all the Jesus that lives inside you also hears what you are saying to me. It’s a scary thought…thinking that we started at around 50s, and now down to the 30s. in just one year! The reality still stands, this is Gods church, He will add, and He will take away.
Blessed be the name of the Lord!
The story in our selected text took place on a Sunday. The assembly that gathered together was not much different than what we have here today. In this assembly was a man named Eutychus who ...Sat in the window ...Fell out the window ...Died ...And was revived. That was a long service, it was mentioned there that…Paul “ kept on talking until midnight.”
 
I want to look at his story and preach on the subject “Falling Away”. You may be thinking …Why are you preaching to us about “Falling Away”? …We are here!!” That is true, and I am glad you are, but there are countless people who are members of this church who were once here every time the doors were opened and are now not attending for whatever reason. You can say that…its pointless, they wont be here to hear this message. That’s true! But since you are here, God wants you to hear it.
 
I have read a message one time in regards to church attendance. That the church keeps an attendance record…two actually…
 
 1) There is a list of “active members” 2) There is a list of “inactive members”
 
To me…its kind of weird having two lists. I mean given the fact that we are just a starting church, still small in membership. But two lists? If we were to use that two list attendance, which would you think would be bigger?
 
Those inactive members, if there is such a thing? Did not wake up one day and say “I think I will just quit going to church”. There will always be a reason why, and God knows each and every one.
 
As we consider the thought “Falling Away”, I want to look to verse 7 and see…
 
This is the gathering of Gods people… “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”.
 
Man…that is one long service. Notice if you will that this assembly met on Sunday , “upon the first day of the week”. Sunday is very important, to the New Testament church. Jesus was resurrected on a Sunday Morning. Sunday is “the Lord's day” …the Christian Sabbath.
 
I remember growing up, weekends, Sundays were chores day. Cut the grass, wash the car, home repair…ahh sports day. You name it, it hardly meant church! Sad but true! But that should only still be true, if you are an unbeliever. If you are here and you are saved you should be in church EVERY SUNDAY! If its work that is keeping you from attending …pray to God to fix your schedule. Don’t wait for the day that God takes that away. “God is a jealous God, Who’s name is Jealous”.
 
By then… I guarantee you…you will be here every Sunday praying for another job.
There is never a shortage of reasons for missing church but I want you to hear God speak
Hebrews 10:24-25
24 And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, 25 not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.
 
The word "Forsaking" means - “to desert”, “abandon” or “leave behind”
 
There are so many people today, those who carry the name of Christ, who have abandoned…

• The church ( worship )
• Their area of service in the Church
• Their family (parents not taking kids to church) Keep in mind, our kids will also need 
 to know the Lord, and also grow in their love for the Lord.
• And ultimately the Lord! You are forgetting Jesus Himself. Your commitment to Him,
  your Love for Him, your obedience to Him.
 
If you have done this, then it is a clear violation of God’s Word! This assembly met on Sunday and they had a long winded preacher. Paul was going to leave them the next day, so he preached all the way to midnight. This was his last visit and apparently he had much to say.These disciples met together and had a desire to hear the Word of God! Do you still have that same desire? Do you still desire everything about your God? Have you lost your first love?
 
We fail to realize what a privilege it is to be able to assemble together and worship the Lord! The time may come that we may be able to this anymore. But until then, meeting together for worship, is pleasing to our Lord. Its a command, there Hebrews 10.
 
A short story that I read from a message…
 
One preacher tells a story of an occasion where he preached in Russia. He said: “I walked into the sanctuary and it was completely packed. There were no pews because you can fit more people in the building standing up than sitting down. The interpreter said something in Russian to the congregation and they all began to put on their coats. I was confused as to why this was happening. Then the ushers began to raise the windows and outside the windows were 1,000 people standing in a foot of snow just to hear the Word of God”
 
Wow!!! I wonder what year this happened. And why the heart of worship changed from then to now? Look… “outside the windows were 1,000 people standing in a foot of snow just to hear the Word of God” Wow…we don’t even have to stand outside to worship. Look at all the seats we have here today. Someday…God willing, He will fill the seats. But for me,ill be happy to see the 50, once again. But…that is in Gods hands.
 
 
 
Going back to our previous text. This group gathered together to hear Paul preach, they had an intense desire to hear from God. But though there were many who were hanging on to every word, there was one who dozed off in the middle of the sermon. In verses 8-9 we see…
 
Acts 20:8-9
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.
 
Eutychus literally “fell out of church” The assembly met on the third floor. This is speculation but I believe that the house was full. Or else, why sit on the window sill? This was more than a regular service. It was Paul’s farewell message.
 
Eutychus was sitting on the windowsill. Verse 7 says “Paul was long in his preaching” - This text is encouraging. If Eutychus could fall asleep during a preaching by the Apostle Paul then I don’t feel so bad about those falling asleep when I preach!
 
So often we hear “I don’t have to go to church to be a Christian” ....I despise that statement. Justin Bieber made the same statement in one of his concerts. He said that, “you don’t have to go to church to be a Christian, same reason you don’t go to Taco Bell and become a taco”. That statement is an open rebellion against God’s Word! Have you ever seen anyone successfully live for God who doesn’t go to church? Then what body do you belong to?
 
Do you belong to Christ? Then follow His example. We see in the Gospels that it was important to Jesus that He went to The Father’s House regularly….Mary and Joseph took Jesus to the temple when he was 8 days old..
 
Luke 2:22
22 Now when the days of her purification according to the law of Moses were completed, they brought Him to Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord.
 
Are you still presenting yourselves to the Lord? Here…Jesus when He as twelve…
 
Luke 2:42
42 And when He was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem according to the custom of the feast.
 
We all know the story by heart, no one here is a stranger to the story of Jesus. But if you have become a stranger to Jesus, then how did that happen? Jesus will not let you go, or let you forget Him. Worship is important to Jesus.
 
If it was important to Jesus, shouldn’t we do the same? After all that God has done for us we ought to have a desire to worship him! Right!!!
When people get out of church they begin to decline spiritually. They begin to do things that they once wouldn’t do, they go places that they wouldn’t go, and they wind up out of God’s will and end up in a mess!
 
When you do not attend church…

1) You miss out on discipleship
2) You miss out on Christian fellowship
3) You miss out on worshiping your God, who gave you His all.
 
We all have loved ones who are supposedly “saved” and out of church. Just look at their life, remember where they once were and see where they are now. This is clear evidence of what happens when you begin to decline spiritually. Some of you don’t have to look at someone else all you have to do is look in a mirror and you will see one who is declining! You just need to be honest with yourself. See where you are lacking in your relationship with the Lord.
 
Notice that Eutychus fell “out of the window”. In order to fall out of the window he had to have been leaning out the window. Some of you are already leaning out of the church and it is only a matter of time before you fall.
 
Now I am not saying that you lose your salvation, if you’re truly saved? But your spiritual condition is basically dead if you don’t have the hunger to worship.
 
There is no life in it. You are beyond dozing and declining you are now at a point where you become a hindrance to the lost.You have gone from being a witness of Christ to a stumbling block. At this point your witness is damaged. You have no joy of your salvation. Outsiders will look at your testimony…so, that’s a christian, oh, I can do that too!
 
In the life of church there are some who attempt to attend every possible service. These people are considered the “core” of the church.

These are those who you can depend on to be faithful in:
* Attendance
* Time
* Talents
* Offerings
 
But what about the ones, who are slowly slipping away? “Falling Away” Should we just let them go? We try to reach out to them still, until they really want nothing to do with you anymore. You just hope and pray that they end up in church where the Lord will use them?
 
 
 
Acts 20:10-12
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.
 
Paul showed him compassion. I mean, of course…the guy just fell out the window, and you wont be concern. Of course you will. And that is how it should be with the church.
 
Yes…at times we will have a brother or a sister who is in a bad situation. And I really thank God for the Fil-Am church, that we are able to help them in their time of need. So far we have not neglected anyone right? Of course not. Some will need help and encouragement from time to time, and where will they find it? From you and I.
 
This assembly was delighted in the fact that their brother was restored. They had compassion on him; they loved him and rejoiced when he was brought up! I want you to notice that Eutychus was a priority to these people. It was after midnight when this happened and they remained until the break of day.I look forward to the opportunity to rejoice when those brothers and sisters who have “Fallen Away” come back to church.
 
So…where are you in your walk today?
 
1) Are you saved?
2) If so are you gathering regularly with God’s People
3) Maybe you have become apathetic toward church and the things of God.
4) Maybe you are a faithful church member, do you have compassion on those who have
  fallen?
 
Some of you may be like Eutychus, or know someone like him, who are dozing, declining and dying. Help them back. Some may be hanging out the window and there are some who have fallen. Eutychus was restored after the fall. If you have fallen you can be restored today! Make your walk right with the Lord today, start fresh. Its never too late. What ever it is that hindered your walk…your relationship with Him, make it right. Confess it to Him.
 
1 John 1:9
9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
 
Someone falling out of the window and dying didn’t even shorten Paul’s sermon. After Eutychus was restored they got back to business. This shows how important it is for God’s people to hear God’s Word. That is what needs to happen to many of the churches today.
 
 
We all, at one point or another, need to be restored. Join together with God’s people
Rejoice over what God has done, Listen… study and apply God’s Word to your life And remain faithful to the Lord who has saved you.
 
In Conclusion:
 
God’s grace is worth our daily devotion, our weekly attendance, and our financial contributions, our blood, sweat and tears to the work and mission of First Fil-Am Baptist Mission Church. This is the church that God formed. This is the body, and He is the Head of this church. And we are all called to be as One!
 
Hebrews 10:22-25
22 let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. 23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. 24 And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, 25 not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.