The Church in Acts: Part 4
Finally, Part 4 of what I learned about the early church while reading through Acts. This will highlight a few stories and sum up all of my posts.
They had some incredible things happen
When God is involved, incredible and truly awesome things happen. And truly, it is always unexpected. After all, God does what he wants (Psalm 115:3)! Some of these instances have been previously mentioned in more general terms, but they were some I really enjoyed and wanted to use to point out once again their way of life.
The church prayed without ceasing for Peter when he was imprisoned, and he was visited by an angel and freed. When he returned, they thought at first that he was a ghost. (Acts 12:1-17)
Some Jewish leaders who got mad at them "laid their hands on the apostles" and put them in prison. And angel came at night and opened the doors and freed them and told them to "tell the words of this life" to the people. (Acts 5:1820)
They stoned Paul...and he lived. (Acts 14:19-20)
They came across some guys who believed but weren't baptized, so they baptized them and their number was about 12. (Acts 19:5-7)
When some people tried to cast out a demon, they were not prepared, so the evil spirit attacked them. (Acts 19:13-16)
Eutychus (who fell far when he fell asleep while Paul was preaching in the night) died after his fall and he was raised from the dead. (Acts 20:10-12)
Paul had his capture prophesied to him, and he also gives instructions to those he leaves behind. (Acts 20:22 - Acts 21)
Paul was not harmed by the viper that bit him. (Acts 28:3-6)
Their ministry was fruitful and continued
Multitudes were added! All throughout Acts, you can read that multitudes were added. And praise the Lord for that! The church was growing. More names were being written into the Lamb's Book of Life. The apostles continued to return to places where they had preached before, where they had started churches before, to make sure they were growing, doing well, and most importantly, staying in the truth. And no matter what happened in their lives, God was always working in them and they always declared afterward what God had done, and told their testimonies. And John tells us in Revelation how important our testimonies are: "And they overcame him [Satan] by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death" (Revelation 12:11).
Hmm...you know, that sounds a lot like the early church, but this is talking about the end times. Why? Because the ways of the early church should be the ways of the Church today. We need to be in one accord. We need to receive the power of the Holy Spirit and use it was it was intended to be used. We need to connect with people and make sure everyone has enough. We need to live a lifestyle of prayer, joy, fasting, and passion for the truth. We need to live and share the truth of Jesus Christ with boldness, We need to not care what happens to us, as long as our lives and our mission is within the Spirit's direction and gives glory to God. We need to be willing. We need to be one for the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
They had some incredible things happen
When God is involved, incredible and truly awesome things happen. And truly, it is always unexpected. After all, God does what he wants (Psalm 115:3)! Some of these instances have been previously mentioned in more general terms, but they were some I really enjoyed and wanted to use to point out once again their way of life.
The church prayed without ceasing for Peter when he was imprisoned, and he was visited by an angel and freed. When he returned, they thought at first that he was a ghost. (Acts 12:1-17)
Some Jewish leaders who got mad at them "laid their hands on the apostles" and put them in prison. And angel came at night and opened the doors and freed them and told them to "tell the words of this life" to the people. (Acts 5:1820)
They stoned Paul...and he lived. (Acts 14:19-20)
They came across some guys who believed but weren't baptized, so they baptized them and their number was about 12. (Acts 19:5-7)
When some people tried to cast out a demon, they were not prepared, so the evil spirit attacked them. (Acts 19:13-16)
Eutychus (who fell far when he fell asleep while Paul was preaching in the night) died after his fall and he was raised from the dead. (Acts 20:10-12)
Paul had his capture prophesied to him, and he also gives instructions to those he leaves behind. (Acts 20:22 - Acts 21)
Paul was not harmed by the viper that bit him. (Acts 28:3-6)
Multitudes were added! All throughout Acts, you can read that multitudes were added. And praise the Lord for that! The church was growing. More names were being written into the Lamb's Book of Life. The apostles continued to return to places where they had preached before, where they had started churches before, to make sure they were growing, doing well, and most importantly, staying in the truth. And no matter what happened in their lives, God was always working in them and they always declared afterward what God had done, and told their testimonies. And John tells us in Revelation how important our testimonies are: "And they overcame him [Satan] by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death" (Revelation 12:11).
Hmm...you know, that sounds a lot like the early church, but this is talking about the end times. Why? Because the ways of the early church should be the ways of the Church today. We need to be in one accord. We need to receive the power of the Holy Spirit and use it was it was intended to be used. We need to connect with people and make sure everyone has enough. We need to live a lifestyle of prayer, joy, fasting, and passion for the truth. We need to live and share the truth of Jesus Christ with boldness, We need to not care what happens to us, as long as our lives and our mission is within the Spirit's direction and gives glory to God. We need to be willing. We need to be one for the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
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