Ugh,gettin pretty old

[Sesshoumaru]

Satan always tried to keep me from gaining knowledge or wisdom in church.Everytime the pastor begins his'her sermon I always seem to be sleepy.Odd coinsidence?? nope,just Satan trying to keep me from learning God's word.And just of today we took communion in my church and me and my mom and my older brother arrived late.So she took a seat near the front with a few of my aunts and my bro and I sat in the back.There was this old dude who was sleeping...........in church sleeping in church.Man how low can people get?? then we get ready to ssit down as he is scooting over but as I sat down he says "I have to go to the bathroom" so I tell my brother that so he can be let out.Then I sit back down and this dude went into the aisle,turned around and sat back down on the very end and fell back alseep......... ok I at first was about to say something but realized it was just another attempt by Satan so I ignored it and focused my attention back on the sermon

[Mr. SmartyPants]

i understand that, it happens to me at times too. Luckily on friday nights, my youth group has a sermon by one of the pastors, and the guy is FUNNY. And we do fun stuff. So its never boring ^^ cuz hes like 30 and looks like some crack addict gang member. He looks funny. And he IS funny, and relates to kids a lot ^^

[CobaltAngel]

Yeah, I think you guys are right. Satan is a frickin punk, he'll try everything.

[Sesshoumaru]

that's an interesting way to put it.All I said is "In Jesus name I rebuke you Satan"

[EvilSporkofDoom]

what CobaltAngel said elicited a chuckle from me ^^; and yeah, I agree that it's not just coincidence.. I have that problem, too, as do many Christians, I think.

[Golden_Griff]

Yeah I'll admit. I get sleepy in church. As a matter of fact I felt rather drowsy today. But I said a prayer to the Lord to help me to stay awake so that I wouldn't miss anything going on I believe part of that has to do with the fact that I go to bed so late on Saturday nights (which I THOUGHT would have changed seeing that it's a new year ).

But Satan is a hardworking man, and he tries to get us in other ways. Sure, I managed to stay awake through the service, but then I found myself getting distracted by my thoughts. These crazy thoughts would come out of nowhere, and it would bother me because #1 sometimes it is stuff that I don't even want to think about and #2 it distracts me from praising and worshipping God's name. But once again, I prayed that God would help me to keep my focus on Him. Church time is His time. Particularly today, I had to push out of the way those thoughts about running home to play my Gamecube Of course they can get more serious than that sometimes

[Felix]

I don't reall have that problem because I work the power point at my church. I know what you guys mean, though.

[Rev. Doc]

Try not to be too hard on these folks. On any given Sunday I look out and can catch several dozing (which I don't take personally). Some of the people stayed up a little later than they should have. Some unknown perhaps to us are on medication that can make them sleepy and yet their commitment is such that they desire to be with God's people regardless. Many have worked hard throughout the week and still have not caught up on their rest.

A young man by the name of Eutychus was in a home where the apostle Paul was sharing. I love how the Bible states it:
"There were many lamps in the upstairs room where we were meeting. Seated in the 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." (Acts 20:7-11)

I'll let you read the rest. This story tells me a number of things:
1. There are some circumstances that can make us sleepy during worship (warmth and a preacher that doesn't know when to quit). It really has nothing to do with Satan.
2. Fall asleep in church and who knows what's going to happen.
3. God is in control.
4. Regardless of what they might do, love your brother or sister in the Lord. After Eutychus has fallen, died, and raised it says:
"The people took the young man home alive and were greatly comforted." (Acts 20:12)

They weren't critical because he had fallen asleep. They loved him too much for that. There will be a lot of things to distract you in worship. Yes, Satan may cause some of them, we ourselves may cause others. However, remember we are human. Even Jesus fell asleep in the middle of a storm and the disciples were critical of Him, "Don't you care that we are going to die?" Yes, He did care. And He had it all under control.

So when I see them sleeping while I preach my heart out I am just comforted in the fact that perhaps these people have come here for this hour to rest securely in the arms of the God they love because the storms of life have worn them out. I don't think any less of them. God loves them all the more and so do I.

[Mr. SmartyPants]

wow, thats really true rev doccy. I did forget that Jesus was asleep during a storm in a boat ^^

[Sesshoumaru]

Try not to be too hard on these folks. On any given Sunday I look out and can catch several dozing

Yeah well that is true and all but this dude in his prime was an insane drug fanatic and vulgar idiot who'd holla at women grown and young when they'd walk by him.

[Ashley]

Yeah well that is true and all but this dude in his prime was an insane drug fanatic and vulgar idiot who'd holla at women grown and young when they'd walk by him.

Isn't it best to let God judge this man's heart? Scriptures say that man looks at the outside (his former life, his past actions, his reputation) but God looks at the inside (his true feelings for repentenance, perhaps). We have no idea what's going on in that man's life; maybe he's struggling with more addictions or someone in his family died and he is having a hard time coping...there are a number of situations you just don't know about that should keep you from judging him like that. I think it best to heed Rev. Doc's advice and try to love him as your father in Christ.

As a personal note, I can think of one more reason to add to the list of why someone might be dozing in service. My mother works the overnight shift at a hospital in the most critical care unit: the cardiovascular recovery ward. These are the people with extremely delicate heart surgeries that have to be monitored every 30 minutes with a stack of paperwork. Usually Mom is also the overall charge, which means everyone goes to her and she's responsible for the unit as a whole. Ocassionally she works Saturday nights and is quite tired when she gets home, but the Lord is the first priority in her life. I've driven her to church with me and watched her fight staying awake during the sermon because it's that important to her, and then drive her home to make sure she gets some rest. To anyone else, she might just look inconsiderate or rude, but they have no idea what's going on in her life. What Rev. Doc was was incredibly true and just the kind of attitude we ALL need to have.

[Fsiphskilm]

My brother

[Nate]

Yeah, I think you guys are right. Satan is a frickin punk, he'll try everything.

*Coughs*

I'm gonna get slammed for this, but I'd like to point something out.

"Judge not, lest ye be judged."

We all know where Satan is going. HOWEVER, judgement is left to God and God alone, and we have no right to insult Satan. Want Biblical proof? Jude stated it is wrong to slander celestial beings (Satan included) and said,

But even the archangel Michael, when he was disputing with the devil about the body of Moses, did not dare to bring a slanderous accusation against him, but said, "The Lord rebuke you!" - Jude 1:9

If even an angel cannot say things against Satan, what right do we have? We are supposed to hate Satan, we are to hate him with all our being, but we cannot call him names, we cannot even judge him.

*Prepares to dodge tomatoes*

[true_noir_chloe]

Actually, Kae, you have spoken something I was dying to say. We have NO right to rebuke or call Satan names. Thank you for that Scripture too. I think there are other scriptures which tell us this.

So when I see them sleeping while I preach my heart out I am just comforted in the fact that perhaps these people have come here for this hour to rest securely in the arms of the God they love because the storms of life have worn them out. I don't think any less of them. God loves them all the more and so do I.

I'm so thankful for Rev. Doc's words of wisdom from the perspective of a preacher who looks at these sleepy heads. ^____^ I've cured my sleep problem by attending church on Friday evenings. I never fall asleep during the sermons now. I'm more of a night person, anyways.

[Mave]

This is my personal experience and it, by no means, necessarily applies to everyone.

1) I rarely give Satan credit for sleepiness and I doubt I ever will. I've been sleepy during sermons before but since last year, this has rarely occurs unless Mave chooses the unnecessary option to sleep around 4-5 a.m. on a Sunday morning. In such a case, I claim responsibility for I really ought to know better. If I do sleep later than usual, I'll attend the latest service at 11.30 a.m. and ensure I've been awake for at least an hour before going to church.

2) Also, eversince I went deeper into His word (last year?), I experience every sermon at church in a more refreshing way. Suddenly, things start to make more sense and I always learn something new. In such a situation, I find it very hard to sleep during a sermon anymore. How could one sleep when the messages become personal and you feel as if God is speaking right in front of you and directly to you? Feel free to disagree with me but I find it all exciting and honestly, I leave church saying, "God, I love church! I love it I love it!" <.< >.>

3) I rarely look around the congregation during a sermon or praise&worship so I guess I haven't noticed ppl sleeping during church...well, unless someone starts to snore then. But I do make it a point to never judge anyone who sleeps during church. I don't know why but I just don't feel right with it especially when I've done it myself before.

Just my two cents.

[Warrior 4 Jesus]

Sesshoumaru, no need to get on your high horse mate. He needs Jesus just like the rest of us. We're all sinners, but God's grace washes us clean!

Great post Reverand Doc!

Volt, Good to see you've returned safely!