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If your hearing seems bad, it might be there are TOO MANY VOICES! Want to listen to just one and let the others fade into the background?
Join us in letting GOD’S VOICE be the one we hear most clearly! Taking a closer look at the Early Church is always a good thing to do. The Book of Acts in the New Testament reveals so much about how the Lord’s Church began on the Day of Pentecost, how it grew and how it struggled, and how those early believers began to turn the world upside down by the power of the Holy Spirit! In starting the “Finishing Well” ministry in April, I had 3 month long series planned…..FOLLOWING Well from Nehemiah 8, FINISHING Well from Hebrews 12:1-3, and FLOURISHING Well from Acts 2. And even though several churches in the area began an Acts 2 series right after Easter this year, I’d like to look at in perhaps with a different focus, so pardon my redundancy and déjà vu, but in all honesty, we’ve got to get this right and live it out as best we can! Years ago, in 2001 at Northside during the fall before we relocated the following summer, we did a whole 9-month midweek study on the Book of Acts, just so we’d know what a church was to “look like and act like” before we’d move to Charlestown Road! That fall 9-11 hit and rocked the nation and got the attention of the Church worldwide. Now in revisiting this powerful passage, let me mention a couple of things. First of all, I’d like to put our weekly devotion into a 5-day briefer model of giving you a passage for each weekday (Monday thru Friday). They’re all under the same heading, but different aspects of it. So here is the overall theme of the closing verses of Acts 2. This week will be looking at the “Apostles’ Teaching” as TEACHING TRUTH. Next week, their commitment to “Fellowship”. I’d like to call BEARING BURDENS. The following week we’ll let “the Breaking of Bread” be MAKING HOLY MOMENTS, and the final week of the Church being committed to “Prayer”, simply be called PRAYING OUR PRAYERS. So here we go. Take a moment and read this very familiar passage in Acts 2:42-47……now let’s look at a Monday thru Friday focus at perhaps what TEACHING TRUTH (being committed to the Apostles’ Teaching) might look like. And let’s see if we can use each one this week as a daily reminder of how challenging it must have been for the early Church leaders to faithfully hold on to this precious truth! May the Lord truly bless your week with His presence in ways you will joyfully celebrate at the end of each day! MONDAY…..the Apostles’ Teaching was about THE ESSENTIALS. In 1 Corinthians 15:3-4, Paul says he passed on this very important truth that had been passed on to him. It was simply the fact that Jesus DIED for our sins (just as the Scriptures indicated)…and that He was BURIED and RAISED FROM THE DEAD ON THE THIRD DAY (just as the Scriptures indicated). What can never be compromised is the absolute essence of the gospel, that Jesus died for our sins and was raised from the dead! And that it was according to Scriptures. Paul took the next few verses to reassure the Corinthians, Jesus was also seen by Peter, the Twelve, more than 500 of His followers at one time, then by James and all the Apostles and finally by Paul, who was considered himself the “least” of the apostles. Take a moment today and appreciate how Paul gave the people (and us) this special evidence of Jesus being seen by many, not few! And all that happened was a fulfilling of Scriptural Prophecy! PRAYER for the day…..
”Lord, don’t let my message of encouragement be focused on more “how to’s” than “He did’s”. Help me live in the power and promise of the resurrection and lovingly declare He is Risen! TUESDAY….the Apostles’ Teaching involved DECIDING PRIORITIES. In Acts 6:1-4, the believers are rapidly multiplying and yet there was a moment of discontent. An oversight of “meals on wheels deliveries” to the Greek-speaking widows and the apostles were tested to see if their priority of “the Ministry of the Word and Prayer” would get bumped or remain steady….and they passed with flying colors. They made sure the need was met, but never missed a beat of sharing the life-changing gospel being preached and taught in the context of “prayerful shepherding”. I believe the Apostles are “Elder-Types” if you will letting us see what spiritual shepherding looks like. And these apostles put the “big rocks in the jar first”, if you can recall that illustration of how to prioritize things in your life. Put the big rocks in the jar first or you’ll never get the sand in. Let the sand fill in the gaps as it’s put in later. PRAYER for Tuesday……
Lord, help me read Your Word before breakfast. Maybe WITH my coffee, but let my intake of Your inspired truth fill my mind before and throughout the day! May Your words to me be important enough for me to read and remember! WEDNESDAY….the Apostles’ teaching had to make the TOUGH CALLS. In Acts 15, take a look today to see how James in the Jerusalem Church had to patiently discuss with the other leaders….sense what the Spirit was telling them….and make a decision on how to advise some over-zealous Jewish believers who had accepted Jesus, they just wanted to make the Gentiles keep the Law for their salvation, something God made clear NO ONE COULD….except Jesus. So in verses 23-29 (take a moment to read them), he lets the troublemakers know they need to “back off” and he crafts a letter saying “it seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us (I love that phrase!) to lay no greater burden on the Gentiles than simply to not eat food offered to idols….don’t consume bold or he meat of strangled animals…and “Run Forrest, Run” from sexual immorality. He lovingly said if they would do these things, they would do well! Always remember that LEGALISTS hold too tightly what they need to hold loosely….and LIBERALS (theologically) hold too loosely what they need to hold tightly? These bad boys were the “legalists”. And James (the half brother of Jesus) gently but firmly straightened them out. PRAYER for Wednesday…..
Lord, I’m so grateful for those who have led so well and gone before us not only in Scripture, but in the churches we’ve got to be a part of! May we make similar “tough decisions” as we’re called upon to do so, by standing on Your Word and holding up Your “original intent” in our lives & our words to the culture around us! THURSDAY….the Apostles’ Teaching had a BURDEN OF PROOF that dug deep into Old Testament PROPHECY that was fulfilled by Jesus. The integrity of their teaching continues on in Acts 17 with the believers in Berea with Paul and Barnabas. What a commentary in verses 10-15 where we see those folks “listening eagerly to Paul’s message” and “searching the Scriptures day after day” to see if they were being told the truth! Notice in verse 12 that MANY more believers came to faith there! Now they’re going to have to go to multiple services or satellite campuses for sure! PRAYER for Thursday…..
Lord, let us become “Berean” in our pursuit of your truth. Let us be like Paul & Barnabas in faithfully speaking and relationally engaging. Help us tie the Old Testament prophecy to the New Testament fulfillment for people to see how carefully You spoke these thing long ago like the birthplace of Jesus being in Bethlehem (in Micah) and how it came to be! Help us go the extra mile in this, Lord! FRIDAY….the Apostles’ Teaching covered as much ground as possible and went for it when it had just ONE SHOT. O, for more time and space on this one! But let it suffice for you to read Paul incredible message to the people of Athens in Acts 17:16-34 (although the sermon kicks in at verse 22). Notice the highlights…..
I know the God you have as “unknown” / He made the world and has no needs / He made ALL the nations from ONE man (1 race) / He determines their timing and boundaries / His purpose was for them to seek after Him and find Him / your poets even acknowledge “we are His offspring” / He’s not an idol and He’s done overlooking such ignorance and demands repentance, has set a judgment day and proved who He’s appointed by raising Him from the dead! Only a few believed and joined the team than day. But what an amazing “1 Shot Sermon”! PRAYER for Friday….
Lord, your leaders were so committed to guarding the gospel and powerfully proclaiming it to everyone in a manner that would penetrate their heart best if their crowd was open to You. Help us to sense the opportunities You give us. Help us LISTEN to You as You speak to us about those you “put on our heart”. And help us SEE those that You “put in our path”! May You give us attentiveness to hear You….and the strength this day to serve You and represent You well! Love you guys. Hope it’s been a blessed week for you. Give me a little feedback anytime you want to if this daily “separation of devotion” helps…. or if one big shot works better for your focus. Bless you…and may His Kingdom come in our lives! gr
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