16/03/11

Directions to the Churches

Book of Acts


Luke recorded all the events connected to the early Church as to how they went about executing matters concerning the purpose of the Church and the process of doing that.

We will find more use of the word 'we' showing that things were done together like a body. We also get details of how this Body called Church works and the functioning of each part of this Body.

There were different Churches in various locations and the worked independently yet they were connected to each other and we see certain people like the Apostles, Prophets, Teachers and Evangelist being the connecting people between the various Churches.

Paul, Simon Peter, John, Barnabas, Luke, Mark, Silas, Philip etc. were not connected to any particular Church yet connected to all Churches. They were more concentrated on building new Churches and strengthening them. They were clear they were expanding the Kingdom of God and not building their own personal empires, nor did they think of the congregation to be milking cows like Church leaders today treat their Church congregations.

There was power in their words and this power was manifested by the Lord. When they meet the glory of God could be experienced even in the little things they did and this was because they did all things according to the design God has given in His Word. Like King David imitated the Heavens when he formed the first formal Church, the Apostles did the same; but David did in shadow of the Heavens and the Apostles did it according to Christ the physical manifestation of the unseen Heavens thus doing it in Spirit and Truth.

This structure gives us the flow of authority, the hierarchy in the Body of Christ and also shows how the head of the hierarchy works for everyone else being the servant of all even though being top in authority.

We need to take each and every sentence of these records, dissect them and understanding them, imitate it in our Churches so that the glory of God is seen in it. Even though there were immense persecutions during that time yet the Churches grew and overcame them.


[ Prayer Starter ]
Lord, You gave us in your Word directions of not only what to do but also how to do it. Your people are not following your instructions and therefore struggling in their everyday needs. The people of the world are not seeing the glory of You in theses Churches thus do not know You. Lord, redo everything by intervening in the every Christian Church and bring them all together as one Body with one purpose...

This prayer we make in Jesus' Name, Amen.


[ Reference Scripture ]
Acts 1:6-9
6 When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?
7 And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power.
8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
9 And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight.

Acts 2:44-47
44 And all that believed were together, and had all things common;
45 And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need.
46 And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart,
47 Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.

Acts 4:13-14
13 Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus.
14 And beholding the man which was healed standing with them, they could say nothing against it.

Acts 4:32-35
32 And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul: neither said any of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common.
33 And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all.
34 Neither was there any among them that lacked: for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the prices of the things that were sold,
35 And laid them down at the apostles' feet: and distribution was made unto every man according as he had need.

Acts 8:4-8
4 They therefore that were scattered abroad, went about preaching the word.
5 And Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and proclaimed unto them the Christ.
6 And the multitudes gave heed with one accord unto the things that were spoken by Philip, when they heard, and saw the signs which he did.
7 For from many of those that had unclean spirits, they came out, crying with a loud voice: and many that were palsied, and that were lame, were healed.
8 And there was much joy in that city.

Acts 8:14-19
14 Now when the apostles who were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them,
15 who, when they had come down, prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit.
16 For as yet He had fallen upon none of them. They had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.
17 Then they laid hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.
18 And when Simon saw that through the laying on of the apostles' hands the Holy Spirit was given, he offered them money,
19 saying, "Give me this power also, that anyone on whom I lay hands may receive the Holy Spirit."


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