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Hear the devotional here: https://bit.ly/43V0e0u. View devotional here: https://bit.ly/446s763
42 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. 43 Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. 44 All the believers were together and had everything in common. 45 They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. 46 Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, 47 praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved. (Acts 2:42-47 NIV)
Happy Wednesday, dear Reader! May this be a special, joy-filled day for you. Remember you walk not alone, but with the Lord alongside you. Please be in prayer for Rev. John Fletcher that his results be those which brings our brother closer to healing! Pray for one another and pray for our world and its needs.
Here is the official definition of a local church by The United Methodist Church on the internet: The local church provides the most significant arena through which disciple-making occurs. It is a community of true believers under the Lordship of Christ. And just for fun, I asked my pastor friends on FaceBook to share their own defintions of what a local church is, but using wrong answers only. I am sure we will have some outrageous ones. Here are some early responses:
Someone wrote: To make believers feel comfortable in their faith... Another: To entertain the members while making them absolutely comfortable. And yet another: To serve MEEEE!
These are but the first of what I hope will be many and tonight as I record the audio podcast I can share more. Click on the link above to hear that podcast.
This passage is from the response of those 3.000 believers "cut to the heart" by Peter's sermon, who were baptized and became part of this church, a Christian expression or movement within Judaism. The description shows a model of what a good church should be all about. First, they took the teachings and preaching serious. They were devoted to this. They were devoted to fellowship; a time of building up and sharing with other believers to help support one another. They were serious about eating together. Yes, this had to be the birth of the potluck and covered dish expressions of pre-Covid Christan churches. And they were open to the movement of the Holy Spirit, and He was doing "many wonders and signs performed by the apostles." They were unified in faith and their belief allowed them to hold all things in common. The Spirit's movement was so strong that the believers sold their property and possessions so they could give money to anyone in need. And this local church was a daily event for them, not a one day a weekend thing. In their homes they invited each other to come and feast and their eating was done with "glad and sincere hearts." During their meals they praised God and gained favor of all people. And all these deeds allowed the church to grow, as verse 47 says, "And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved."
Do churches like that still exist? Dare I ask a hard question asking if God is truly invited in to govern and lead in all churches? What has changed in the local church that its power seems limited? Could tradition and status quo be stronger influences in the church that limit the Spirit's movement? The answer really is to pray on your own local church. Ask God to come in to the life of the church to lead and guide her to where she needs to be. Renounce and reject all forces or influences that seem to reign now such as tradition, customs, the rut that it may be in; and ask God to replace those with awesomeness and the openness to His presence and power. Pray for your pastor(s) and leaders and even ask what you could do to help in the leadership roles and responsibilities, and put on your seatbelt and let Jesus truly take the wheel!
PRAYER: Awesome God of signs and wonders, make new in us and in our churches that which will lead us towards You and Your desired goals for the church. We want to serve You with awe and we want to grow closer to each other as we seek to defeat the enemy of our souls. It is in Christ Jesus we pray, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! YOUR CALL TO ACTION: Be childlike in your awe about all things God.
Receive my blessings of joy and peace,
Pastor Eradio Valverde, Jr.
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