After the riot in Ephesus, Paul went to the region of Macedonia: Philippi, Amphilpolos, Thessalonica, Berea, Apollonia, and Neapolis. And then he spent three months in the region of Greece: Cenchreae and Corinth. And after he left Greece, he went back to the region of Macedonia and sailed back to Troas, which was in the region of Asia. While Paul was in Troas, they gathered with the local believers to share in the Lord's supper on the first day of the week (Sunday). Lord's supper is a fellowship with the believers and remembering the suffering of Christ on the cross through communion. Paul preached until midnight that night because he was leaving the next day to return to Jerusalem. They were on the third floor with many people in the room. A young man was sitting at the window and fell asleep to his death while Paul was preaching. Paul went down, bent over to the young man's lifeless body, and took him to his arms, and the young boy came back to life. Afterward, they returned to the third floor, shared the Lord's supper, and ate together. Paul continued to share with them until dawn and left (Acts 20:1-12). (Third Missionary Journey Map).
One of the probable reasons that the young man fell asleep at the window was because there was not enough air circulation in the room. Although he was at the window, he might have been breathing the smoke from the candles and oil lamps. One of the lessons we can learn from this story is the people's passion and hunger to know more about the Lord and be in the community of believers. Church gatherings are supposed to be a place of worship. It is a place where we express our gratitude and love towards God and hear God's message through His Word to be equipped for good works. Our fellowship with other believers is important for our spiritual growth. We need to be around other believers for encouragement and accountability.
As believers, we need to go to church and fellowship with other believers to grow in our relationship with God (Hebrews 10:25). Believers who do not go to church and fellowship with other believers have a danger of doubting and walking away from the Lord. Daily devotions are good, but we need to be in the presence of other believers in the church and fellowship with other believers to grow in our relationship with the Lord.
Ask yourself these questions for application: (Think through carefully and meditate on the questions while answering them, and let the Spirit of God speak to you) Why do I need to go to church and have fellowship with other believers? What is the danger of not going to church and having fellowship with other believers? Do I go to church? Why not?
Write down all the worries you face today and lift them up to God.
Prayer:
Father in Heaven, please help me to go to church and have fellowship with other believers to continue to grow in my relationship with you. Please guard my heart against laziness or apathy from growing and fellowshipping with you. Do not let Satan win over my desires and passions, but may your Spirit continue to lead me to life and peace that can only be found in my Lord Jesus. In your name Jesus, I pray. Amen.
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