Corona Devo 599

They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer... (44) All the believers were together and had everything in common. (46) Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, (47) praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.   ~Acts 2:42, 44, 46-47

Now those who had been scattered by the persecution...traveled...spreading the word only among Jews. (20) Some of them, however...went to Antioch and began to speak to Greeks also, telling them the good news about the Lord Jesus. (21) The Lord’s hand was with them, and a great number of people believed and turned to the Lord. ~Acts 11:19-21

These verses describe the birth of the "early” church.  These men and women had no Bible-education or Divinity degrees, but they did have the fire of God in their hearts and on their lips.  

We might read about them and think that they had it "all together" but I don't think that’s true.  They had been touched by the reality and power of Jesus and they were simply making efforts to share about him.  They didn’t "have it all together"...God did.  And God does. 

Do we feel the fire of Christ in our hearts today?  Are we willing to make efforts to share about Him with others..."Jews" and "Greeks" alike?  (Those that have heard of Jesus and those that have not.)  

This is (exactly) how the first believers-in-Christ propelled their efforts and grew their numbers, and our "growth-plan" is no different today.  

These early-church meetings, meals and life-changes are still occurring today, and if we are not a part of it, let's become a part of it.  After all, the money won't matter, the houses/cars/toys/degrees won't matter, the hobbies won't matter when we die.  And we will die.  What if we could share the secret to eternity (Jesus!) with anyone willing to listen?  And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved. (Acts 2:47).  In the end, those who were saved will be all that matters.  

So then, let's meet!  Let's devote (our)selves to the apostles’ teaching (Bible) and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread (meals together!) and to prayer... (46) They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts  ~Acts 2:42, 46

Let's meet in God's name!  

My brother and sister-in-law just had to buy a new (longer!) dining room table because their adult Bible study group has grown to over 20 people and they needed more room to meet and eat and talk about Jesus!  

We had a group of middle schoolers over the other day after school.  The Bible was taught by our 13 year old and there was fellowship, breaking of bread (or in this case, pizza), prayer, and there were glad and sincere hearts.  

This is Acts 2:42, 46 being lived out by normal people like you and me.  It doesn't have to be professional or mature.  It is the getting together and devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching (Bible) and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer (Acts 2:43) that matters, and God intervenes to do the rest...today, just as He did for the early believers in Acts.  

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Some of them, however...went to Antioch and began to speak to Greeks also, telling them the good news about the Lord Jesus. (21) The Lord’s hand was with them, and a great number of people believed and turned to the Lord. ~Acts 11:20-21

Let's spread the hope of Jesus with "Jew and Greek" alike!  Some people know all about Jesus but have never asked Him into their hearts.  And others have purposely chosen not to know Him.  But if we will live today as the early church did, then the Lord (will) add to their number daily those who were being saved.  (Acts 2:47)

We have a friend in his 60's who has lived his life as an atheist.  But very purposefully lately, he had family who began to speak to (him) also, telling (him) the good news about the Lord Jesus (Acts 11:20).  God's prototype explained in Acts was (is!) being lived out before this man and The Lord’s hand was with them, and (he) believed and turned to the Lord (Acts 11:21). 

I can't even type that without a huge smile covering my face and a “Hallelujah” escaping my lips!.  This man who did not know (or want to know or even acknowledge God) believed and turned to the Lord.

God's Word works.  And Jesus saves.  

And His action plan hasn’t changed in over 2,000 years and it's clearly scripted out for us to follow in Acts 2:42, 44, 46-47 and Acts 11:20-21.

Don't convince yourself that the early believers had it "all together".  They themselves did not "have it all together".  God did.  And God does. 

Let's meet in God's name! 

Let's study His word, enjoy a meal together and let our hearts become glad and sincere!  

And Lord, we boldly ask that your hand is with us, and a great number of people believe and turn to the Lord (Acts 11:21).  Amen.

Today, let's decide to devote ourselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer... (~Acts 2:42).

This is how the “church” was birthed and this is how the church will continue to change lives in God’s name..  

Start the Bible study.

Buy the longer table.

Invite the students over.

 

Blessings,

sarah     

https://sarahsundy04.blogspot.com