God Gave Us Church

I am so very excited about what God is doing and will do through the ladies in our group and ministry. It takes unity and it takes intentionality. Being present, hearing God, and then doing.

And while I am so very excited about our ladies’ ministry, I think it is so very important that we talk about the church, and the role that church plays in our lives.

Act 2 - Jesus has ascended. Then the day of Pentecost came and they were filled with the Holy Spirit and were speaking in tongues and everyone understood in their own language. People heard Peter’s sermon and were pierced to the heart. And they asked what shall we do. And Peter answered in vs. 38 Repent and let each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.41: So then those who had received his word were baptized and there were added that day about three thousand souls.

Acts 2 is the beginning of the church that God established through Peter and the apostles.  Rewind to Matthew 16:18 where Jesus is talking to Peter - And I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it.

Do you think Peter remembered Jesus saying this as he watched all of these people respond?  It just makes me smile picturing Peter looking out over 3000+ people and hearing Jesus’ words again. Remember – Jesus is gone. You know how when someone we love is gone – and you remember something they said – and it brings this smile to your face?  I picture Peter – hearing this – and smiling. We did it Lord. You said it, and I didn’t really get it, but look at this!  I get it!! It wasn’t a parable – you meant it for real!!!

42 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread, and to prayer. 43 Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and signs were being performed through the apostles. 44 Now all the believers were together and held all things in common. 45 They sold their possessions and property and distributed the proceeds to all, as any had need.

They devoted themselves to what? They were hungry to hear and understand God’s word, and they enjoyed being together.  And everyone was filled with awe. It can be so easy to lose our sense of awe. How does that happen?  We stop being passionate about God.  What does a consuming passion for God look like?  And do you have that?  Or are you too comfortable to the point of complacency in your spiritual growth? Anything that we love can grow comfortable and complacent if we aren’t intentional in keeping it forefront – most important.  Marriage – job – health – friendship.  Our walk with God.

We fall into a rut. We don’t make it special.  Where are you?  Passionate?  Comfortable?  Rut? 

We often become routine about our faith. We become routine about going to church. We don’t deny Christ, but we don’t make Him special either.

Revelation 2:2-5 To the Church in Ephesus

2 I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance. I know that you cannot tolerate wicked people, that you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them false. 3 You have persevered and have endured hardships for my name, and have not grown weary. 4 Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken the love you had at first. 5 Consider how far you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place.

This church was serving, working hard, persevering, they were doing so many things right.  But they lost their passion – their fire – their first love. Christians need a place where their passion can grow, where it is encouraged, and where the passion of one person can ignite the passion of another.  

These believers acted in such a generous spirit that they didn’t think about what might be theirs, they just looked at what was needed and they did something about it. Do you do that? Do you look at the needs in this community and fulfill them? This is still God’s plan for meeting the needs of His hurting children.  Notice the Bible doesn’t mention who gave what or most. They just gave. 

I don’t think there is an expectation for any of us to actually sell everything that we own and give it to God – but there is an expectation of a willingness.  Are you willing?  Do you trust enough? The attitude of selflessness should be a mark of the Christian life. Since God owns everything, we should hold all things with an open hand, recognizing that everything we own actually belongs to God. Is your hand open?  Maybe a little? How willing are you?  

46 Every day they devoted themselves to meeting together in the temple, and broke bread from house to house. They ate their food with joyful and sincere hearts, 47 praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. Every day the Lord added to their number those who were being saved.

The early church members were also committed to meeting together – every day of the week.

Fellowship and unity must be intentional. We can’t just stumble our way into fellowship.  We don't just stumble into unity.  These believers did not gather out of a sense of duty. They met because they were delighted to do so. They experienced joy doing life together.

God has given us His Church. Through Christ God has bound us together as a family, a community of faith. This is our God-given support system, and it is intended to meet crucial needs in our lives.

It wasn’t easy to follow Christ in the first century, and it isn’t easy following Christ today, and truly living for Him. Discouragement. Temptation. Sin. Apathy. Failure. Materialism. Unbelieving family and friends. Doubts. Rejection. Unanswered questions. We face so many obstacles in our desire to live for the Lord.

God knows our struggles – and He gave us church.  We are not left on our own to fight the battles and carry out His will – He gave us each other.  Our community of faith is ESSENTIAL to our spiritual well-being.  We are better together.  We are stronger together. 

They were devoted.  Committed.  They loved each other.  They helped one another.  They fellowshipped together. They prayed together.  They did it with gladness and sincerity of heart, praising God.

John 13:35 By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."

They will know we are Christians by our love. 

While I am so very excited about this ladies' ministry - it will NEVER take the place of church.  God gave us church because He knows the role it plays in our lives. If you aren't plugged into a church, pray that God will lead you to His place for you.