Just A "Little"

Have you been in a conversation  with someone that took longer than expected? Despite  the several signals you emitted to end the conversation, they just didn’t  get it, and instead, continued with an an entirely new subject. This was the case with Paul in Acts 20:7-9 (TPT).

“7 On Sunday we gathered to take communion and to hear Paul preach. Because he was planning to leave the next day, he continued speaking until past midnight. 8 Many flickering lamps burned in the upstairs chamber where we were meeting. 9 Sitting in an open window listening was a young man named Eutychus. As Paul’s sermon dragged on, Eutychus became drowsy and fell into a deep slumber. Sound asleep, he fell three stories to his death below.

Let’s zoom in to verse 9.

Eutychus did not just suddenly sleep, it started in stages. I imagine he was paying attention at first, but as time went by, he became drowsy. It must not have seemed like a big deal, possibly with the hopes that Paul would conclude his sermon soon especially since Paul was travelling the next day, but that did not seem to happen.

From being drowsy, he fell into a deep slumber. I have been in situations where my eyes are not cooperating with my desire to keep awake. The  fight against sleep seems like a lost battle, when eventually my eyes completely shut down until hours afterwards.

Eutychus eventually was sound asleep, meaning he was comfortably asleep. Little  did it occur to him that while sound asleep, he was going to drop down to his death three stories below.

This gives us a great picture of the different stages of spiritual death.

Spiritually On Fire  ---> Spiritual Drowsiness  ---> Spiritual Slumber ---> Spiritually Asleep ---> Spiritual Death

Proverbs 6:10-11 NLT paints a similar picture when it says

“ A little extra sleep, a little more slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest—then poverty will pounce on you like a bandit; scarcity will attack you like an armed robber”

Between a person that is spiritually on fire and spiritual drowsiness, it starts with a little sleep.  This is one of the most dangerous points for a believer because, it doesn’t seem like it is a big deal. I like how the Passion Translation words Proverbs 6:10-11

“If you keep nodding off and thinking, “I’ll do it later,” or say to yourself, “I’ll just sit back awhile and take it easy,”just watch how the future unfolds! By making excuses you’ll learn what it means to go without. Poverty will pounce on you like a bandit and move in as your roommate for life.”

It is “just” a little taking it easy and not reading the word of God for “only” two days out of 7 days of the week (at least, 5/7 still seems like a pass mark, right?).  Could it be that suggestion of taking some time off from praying and just taking it a bit easy, at least you have been praying for all these years. It could be a little “harmless flirting”- no one will get hurt from this. From a little here and there and before you know it, it has become something so great that it has become a stronghold and one has moved from being spiritually on fire to being spiritually dead. This is the power of consistency. Consistency could have either a positive or negative outcome. If we are consistent in putting into action spiritual practices, we will  obtain spiritual growth. If we are consistent in putting away spiritual practices, we would obtain spiritual death.

Remember that Eutychus was initially at the third level but the moment spiritual drowsiness and sleep set in, he fell from such a high point to a lower point. No one is above falling spiritually, but it takes a conscious decision to be consistent in putting spiritual practices into action  to ensure we jealously guard our spiritual walk with God. It is my prayer that if anyone of us is spiritually asleep, the Lord will wake us up and grant us the grace to be consistent in our walk with God in Jesus name amen!

Just “a little” can cost you a lot!

If you have noticed that your love or fire for God is close to empty or you have never had a relationship with Jesus Christ before, today is your special day. Please say this prayer

“Lord Jesus Christ, I believe you are the Son of God and I believe You died for me on the cross of Calvary. I know I am a sinner and today, I come to You to forgive me of all my sins and to make me a brand new creation. I accept You as my personal Lord and Saviour. Thank you Lord for forgiving me and making me born again, in Jesus name, Amen”.

Congratulations!!!! You are now born-again! (It simply means a new born baby in Christ and there is celebration in heaven right now because of YOU!)

If you made this decision, I will love to hear from you! Please leave a comment on this post or reach out to me at https://www.cccghq.org/contact/

By: Pastor Ibukun Adewusi