Thursday, June 17, 2021
So those who accepted his message were baptized, and that day about 3,000 people were added to them. And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread, and to the prayers. Then fear came over everyone, and many wonders and signs were being performed through the apostles. Now all the believers were together and held all things in common. They sold their possessions and property and distributed the proceeds to all, as anyone had a need. Every day they devoted themselves to meeting together in the temple complex, and broke bread from house to house. They ate their food with a joyful and humble attitude, praising God and having favor with all the people. And every day the Lord added to them those who were being saved.
Two Special Gifts
In Acts Chapter 2 we see the beginning of two very special gifts that God gives us. The first is the Holy Spirit. It came just as Jesus promised in Chapter 1, and the second is the gift of the fellowship of believers – the church.
The Holy Spirit - Jews from every nation were gathered in Jerusalem to celebrate the feast of Pentecost. And suddenly there came from the sky a noise like a strong driving wind, and it filled the entire house in which they were. Then there appeared to them tongues as of fire, which parted and came to rest on each one of them. And they were all filled with the holy Spirit and began to speak in different tongues, as the Spirit enabled them to proclaim. Acts 2:2-4 The Holy Spirit came on them all as tongues of fire over the top of all of them! I imagine that was a pretty exciting time! This is the gift Jesus had promised the Disciples. The Holy Spirit is the presence of God in our lives. Jesus had to go so He gave us the Holy Spirit to be with us in His absence. Along with His presence, the Holy Spirit brings us power to do things, like witness, in the name of Jesus. When we have the Holy Spirit in our hearts, we will produce fruit – or evidence - of Him in our hearts. He will change us and the world around us will notice.
The First Church The very first church was made up of Jews in Jerusalem and then spread to others. Thousands of Jews that were there for the Pentecost heard the gospel and around 3000 of them were saved and joined together with the others. They actually sold their possessions and donated the money to the church for anyone who had need. They lived life together, all the while devoting themselves to the apostles teaching and to the fellowship as they met together daily. Every day more people were saved and joined their fellowship.
The church is the body of Christ of which we are all members, and He is the head. All of us are important to the work of the church and to the body. The church is more than just an institution - more than just a building. The church in Acts experienced life together, and the best churches today do the same. They learned together (equipping the saints) and they grew together. Most of all they walked alongside each other, prayed together and for each other, discipled each other, and lifted each other up when needed. They were there for each other - a spiritual family.
Another purpose as His church is to know Him and make Him known. Unified, we represent and reflect Him to the world. Together we can fulfill the Great Commission, because introducing others to Christ is the greatest purpose we have.
God takes each of us, with different personalities and gifts, and unifies us as a single body, and equips us to care for each other and reach the world. God never meant for us to live the Christian life alone, but rather surrounded by the loving community of the church, where we will discover our own purpose in life, and in the fellowship of believers.
