THEY TURNED THE WORLD UPSIDE DOWN!

We owe a great debt to the early church. They evangelized their world.  They took the great commission seriously (Matt 28:18-20).   Because of their faithfulness we have the gospel message today.

They faced the same challenges we face today.   Christians are a minority compared to the population of the world.  Christians are commissioned to reach the world with the gospel.  People are born at a much quicker rate than they are being born again.  Yet the early church accomplished great things without the advantages we have today.  They had the reputation of turning the world upside down!  (Acts 17:6).  What did those early Christians have that we need?

They were on fire for Jesus!  “And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them” (Acts 2:3).   This was evidence of the Holy Spirit working through them.  The effect of this evidence was souls were won to Jesus and churches were planted.

The world needs to see the church on fire!  It's not enough to be fundamental – we must be on fire!  It's not enough to be doctrinally sound – we may be sound asleep!  It's not enough to be preaching – we must be pleading.   It's not enough to be Bible believing – the Word of God must be burning deep within us! It's been said, “So afraid of wild fire, we have settled for no fire at all.”  We need to get the fire back in our lives and our churches!

The early church found true fellowship in Jesus (Acts 2:41-46). “...in fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers” (Acts 2:42).  Once divided, now they were bound together in love.  The basis of their fellowship was “the apostles doctrine”.  The apostles doctrine was, in a nutshell, Jesus Christ and Him crucified.  They based their fellowship on truth – they were real.  They celebrated the gospel in their daily lives.  Do we have that kind of fellowship?   If not, what are we going to do to achieve it?

These early Christians were fully surrendered to Jesus (Acts 4:18-20).  “For we cannot but speak...”  They couldn't help themselves – they had to speak the things they seen and heard.  They laid everything on the altar.  To some this meant financial loss.  To some this meant prison.  To some this meant martyrdom.   No wonder they were effective!

Today there are too many Christians trying to save their own lives.  As a result they actually lose their lives.  “For whosoever shall save his life shall lose it: and whosoever shall lose his life for My sake shall find it” (Matt 16:25).  You don't know life until you know Jesus!  They also lose their impact for Jesus

We need a true move of God!  We need a genuine move of the Holy Spirit!  We need a double dose of the Holy Ghost!   If we followed the example of the early church and the New Testament believers, I believe we would see that mighty move of God we so need in our day.

Do we long for the fire and fellowship of the early church?  Are we willing to make their kind of surrender – their kind of commitment - to receive this move of God?  Are you hungry for a mighty move of God?  Do you long for more?  Do you desire God to do His work in your life?

Let's do what we need to do to have the move of God we need to have.  Let's expect it!  If we will do that, truly, the best is yet to come!

Until next time...enjoy the journey!

Ray

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