Acts 2: 42 And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers. 43 And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles. 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 favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.
What does this have to do with the health of the church? It’s spelled out. This was the infant church. The Day of Pentecost had just occurred and 3,000 were saved. When that day was over, the church had been birthed with the coming of the Holy Spirit. Sinners became children of God and the church was formed. They were a lively people with no fear or backwardness.
It had been 50 days since Jesus was crucified. The Last Supper was in this very room with the disciples. There they waited. The Feast of Pentecost arrived and God had a surprise. Those who refused to believe said the body of Jesus had been stolen. Many believed him to be 50 days dead. The followers faded away. We might feel half dead, but our Savior is full alive. The church is still what it used to be. The house of God isn’t dead; some people may be but not God’s church.
Don’t get it in your mind that the church is dying. We need to be alive in the Lord and helping others to be that way. The dead don’t know they are dead. The danger is that people die spiritually and don’t realize it. It’s easy to get in that mindset. People can weaken but the church doesn’t die. If I sense any deadness I need to check myself. What made the early church alive was that the world thought Jesus was dead but it didn’t matter what others said. It doesn’t matter what the news says or the government. God is still God and the church is still made up of his people. If we’re to do anything don’t deaden down. Liven up!
They were to tarry at Jerusalem and wait. They were at the beginning of the church age; we are at the end. The power is still here. We’re in the devil’s bullseye, but that’s better than being in his hip pocket. We are to be lights. We are responsible for the life Jesus gave us. The Bible says to set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. Don’t be a dying person. Be alive! We talk about people falling away, but it’s not God’s fault. He is still the same. There is no reason for a child of God to go down. I may be going down physically, but I don’t have to spiritually.
We’re on the verge of the return of Christ. Talk about a retirement! It will be like we’ve never known. Many tried to rub out the church but it could not be erased. The truth of Jesus Christ can’t be erased by the devil. Live the life. Verse 42 says they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers. When Pentecost was over they didn’t forget about the church until the next holiday. They continued in the doctrine and fellowship. What they heard on Sunday was taken with them on Monday. They found themselves in God’s house and took it home with them and house to house. You go with Jesus and he’ll go with you. It’s like life support everywhere you go. He’s a living God and the least we can do is liven up a little.
Lift each other up. Promote and trust the Word of God. Have faith in the Word. Study it. Be ready to live it. You’ll be alive in the Lord. We’re not what we used to be physically but we can be spiritually as young and alive as the day that we were saved. The time is coming when we’ll walk with God in white. There is joy in the Lord by being alive. Believe. Move. Be together.
The devil tries to cause us to lose faith in God, the church, and each other. We can’t help what others do, but we can help what we do. We’re going to believe something. Believe the truth. God has never given us reason to doubt him. God honors faith. Let’s be people who stick with God. We’re on the winning side and it’s the living side. From the graveyard of this world Jesus has brought us out raised to walk in newness of life…together. He’ll get us through.
We can’t save people but we can live the life and fan the flame God ignited in our heart. God will reach people through our witness. Just be alive!
Adwolfe Freewill Baptist Church 