On Mission: Week 2 - Following God Together

On Mission – Following God Together

June 23, 2013

Acts 2:41-47

Those who believed what Peter said were baptized and added to the church that day—about 3,000 in all.  All the believers devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, and to fellowship, and to sharing in meals (including the Lord’s Supper), and to prayer.  A deep sense of awe came over them all, and the apostles performed many miraculous signs and wonders.  And all the believers met together in one place and shared everything they had.  They sold their property and possessions and shared the money with those in need.  They worshiped together at the Temple each day, met in homes for the Lord’s Supper, and shared their meals with great joy and generosity - all the while praising God and enjoying the goodwill of all the people. And each day the Lord added to their fellowship those who were being saved.

The disciples trusted the Holy Spirit.  They stepped out on faith and spoke the message of Christ.  God honored this.  In one day three thousand people became believers.  A great way for the church to start.  Not only did these people become believers, their lives changed.  They devoted themselves to learning the way of Jesus, spending time in community with other believers, sharing life with other believers, and to prayer.  They gave their lives over to God as disciples.  This wasn't casual.  It took a great deal of time, attention, and money.  They shared what they had.  They sold personal possessions for the good of the church.  They sacrificed in order to live out and proclaim the message of Christ.  The same Spirit and faith that led those first few disciples to step out now became the norm among this larger group of disciples that formed the first church.  It is this Spirit and faith that needs to still be the norm for any group that calls itself “church”. 

This devotion and sacrifice brought great things into the lives of these believers.  Praise, joy, a deep sense of awe, generosity, goodwill, and miracles became standard.  It wasn't easy being a believer, but it was worth it.  When being a believer becomes easy we miss something.  When deep devotion becomes casual attention we miss out.  What would it look like to stand in awe of God as these first believers did?  What would it feel like to worship and praise God as these first believers did?  What’s missing? 

The work of the Holy Spirit gave strength to these first believers.  There was something very attractive about their devotion and lives.  Every day the Lord added to their number.  Every day new faces believed and lives changed.  God at work.  God wants to do this with us.  Will we follow Him?