The Growth of the Early Church
Satan tried to stop the early church from growing, but he could not do that, no matter what he tried. He caused the new believers to be persecuted by those outside of the church, and that was not effective. Then, he manipulated people and circumstances inside the church to cause division, but those efforts failed, as well. After all Satan could throw at the infant church, we read that they were not slowing down in their quest to obey the Lord Jesus Christ. (Acts 6:7) I believe we can learn from them what we should be doing today, as believers, to see our churches grow.
First, they were continuing to spread the Word of God all over Jerusalem by simple word of mouth. They had no other means to use, since there were no printing presses or other technological devices to help them. However, they we so bold in their witnessing and the proclamation of the Word of God, the apostles teaching, that the number of the disciples increased greatly in Jerusalem. Now, there were multitudes of believers. God was faithful to use the Word of God that was being spread verbally to convict hearts, and they were trusting Jesus by the droves. This did not just include the ordinary people, but a great many of the priests we becoming obedient to the faith. What a testimony! Not even the most devout Jewish priests who we serving in the Temple to fulfill the Old Testament law could withstand the power of the Word of God and the conviction of the Holy Spirit based on that Word. The same would be true today, if all believers spread the Word as completely, while we pray for God's Spirit to use it to draw people to Jesus. I pray that we will follow the example of the early church, because we so need for this to happen today in America.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Acts 7-9.
First, they were continuing to spread the Word of God all over Jerusalem by simple word of mouth. They had no other means to use, since there were no printing presses or other technological devices to help them. However, they we so bold in their witnessing and the proclamation of the Word of God, the apostles teaching, that the number of the disciples increased greatly in Jerusalem. Now, there were multitudes of believers. God was faithful to use the Word of God that was being spread verbally to convict hearts, and they were trusting Jesus by the droves. This did not just include the ordinary people, but a great many of the priests we becoming obedient to the faith. What a testimony! Not even the most devout Jewish priests who we serving in the Temple to fulfill the Old Testament law could withstand the power of the Word of God and the conviction of the Holy Spirit based on that Word. The same would be true today, if all believers spread the Word as completely, while we pray for God's Spirit to use it to draw people to Jesus. I pray that we will follow the example of the early church, because we so need for this to happen today in America.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Acts 7-9.