Acts 2:42-47 “They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone kept feeling a sense of awe; and many wonders and signs were taking place through the apostles. And all the believers were together and had all things in common; and they would sell their property and possessions and share them with all, to the extent that anyone had need. 46 Day by day continuing with one mind in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they were taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved.”
Continuing Pastor Herk’s message, he points out that an army needs to have disciple. They need to drill and practice continually in order to maintain and increase their abilities. The Christian church is exactly the same way. We need to drill with worship, praise, prayer, Sunday School, fellowship and service. We need to practice with Bible Study, Small Group discussion, teaching and training to maintain and increase their ability. We’ll grow closer to the Lord and increase in numbers if we commit ourselves to discipline. One of these essential disciplines is Studying our Bibles. Humbling ourselves and praying daily is another essential discipline. Start the day with the prayer: “Here I am Lord. Send me for Your purposes into the mission field. Use me as You will.” We need to attend church, meeting together and staying plugged into the body of Christ as brothers and sisters in the family of God. We need to be around other Christians if we are going to thrive and gain spiritual maturity.
And we need to witness to others who do not know the Lord with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It is not too much for us to fulfill the Great Commission. Think how that would change this country if every Christians would witness to the love of God through Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sin unto salvation. Not all will receive your testimony to Truth, but many, many will. It is important to let people know the you are a Christian and invite people in your sphere of influence (friends, family, co-workers, acquaintances, and neighbors) to church. Encourage them to come experience the Lord’s love and mercy within local fellowship. It’s not about trends, fun, entertainment or club atmosphere, but a relationship with their Savior at the foot of the Cross. If your church is not a good fit for them, then encourage them to find a church near them that is a good fit, but if they do not have a church family, invite them to go to church with you. Imagine what your church would look like if every member and attender invited one now person to come on a regular basis. We need to be recruiting. We were not meant to stay to ourselves. God made us to fellowship with Him, to fellowship with other Christians and make disciples.
Ephesians 4:14-15 “As a result, we are no longer to be children, tossed here and there by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of people, by
craftiness in deceitful scheming; but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, that is, Christ.”
Christians can have “failure to thrive syndrome. When we accept Jesus Christ as our personal savior and Lord, we are spiritual newborns. Everybody needs Jesus and life changes to spiritual and emotional fullness when we meet Him. We cannot be left on our own. We’ll become victims of “failure to thrive syndrome”. God sightings in everyday events along our daily walk strengthen our faith as we are going where God is taking us. God saved each and every Believer for a reason, so where is He taking you? Are we going to let Him or fight to be on our own? Christians have to be adopted into a loving and living vital body of Believers if we are to thrive and grow. Christian television, CD’s, books, seminars and home Bible Studies are great supplemental sources for growing in Christ and His mission, but they are not the primary source; they are not the church family.
We have to study God’s holy Word. If we don’t read our Bible and ask the Holy Spirit to guide us, pray and fellowship with other Christians, we can be tossed here and there by waves of distractions and carried about by every wind of teachings, by the malice trickery of people, or by craftiness in deceitful scheming. This is happening in our day, so powerfully in this country. It has to be discouraging to see all that is going on in the world today. We have to stay plugged in. If we are not plugged into a loving Bible-based church family then we are not going to see the best that God has in store for us. We are a mighty army of Christian soldiers. The first century church in Acts 2:42-47, were firm and unwavering in their faith, fellowship and caring (reflecting Jesus in all that they said and did). Because they were so devoted to one another, the Lord added to the church daily of those who were being saved. They were a family of disciples, brothers and sisters in Christ. We nurture and encourage one another. We hold each other accountable to live n righteousness before the eyes of God and help each other grow in spiritual maturity.
1 John 1:3 says, “What we have seen and heard we proclaim to you also, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ.” Be part of the family of God and walk in the light of Jesus.
In Christ, Brian
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