Early Church
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October 09, 2011 |
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 "Everyone kept feeling a sense of awe; and many wonders and signs were taking place through the apostles. And all those who had believed were together and had all things in common; and they began selling their property and possessions and were sharing them with all, as anyone might have need. Day by day continuing with one mind in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they were taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved." (Acts 2:43-47)
For around 2,000 years since the Lord ascended into Heaven, countless churches have been established. Among the churches, a church did the ministry that was the most appropriate in the will of the Lord. It was the early church that disciples and apostles who were taught directly by Jesus founded. The works that proved the Lord was with the church took place, so it experienced explosive growth and revival even under severe persecutions. Moreover, it laid a foundation of evangelizing the whole world. Even today if there are churches that resemble the early church, the Lord will live with them and show them His great works. Let's take a look at the characteristics of the early church.
1. First of all, many wonders and miraculous signs took place through the Apostles
Acts 2:43 says, "Everyone kept feeling a sense of awe; and many wonders and signs were taking place through the apostles." 'Signs' are phenomena that cannot be performed with human abilities but can take place only by the power of the Almighty God. 'Wonders' refer to the power of God that controls weather.
'Wonders' include the works of power that make it rain in a long-lasting drought, change the course of typhoons and hurricanes, and even causes them to disappear. The healing works that cannot be performed with human ability like reviving the dead, allowing for the blind to see and the deaf to hear, and causing the lame to walk fall under the category of 'signs.'
Only through signs and wonders the Almighty God alone can perform can we prove that God is alive. Seeing and experiencing them, non-believers and those who have weak faith can believe in God and increase their faith.
Why, then, did many signs and wonders take place in the times of the early church? At the time, believers always lived lives filled with the Holy Spirit. They tried their best to follow the Lord's teachings taught by the apostles so that the great works of the Holy Spirit could occur.
Here 'the apostles' refer to those who have no will of their own, but serve and obey the Master with all their hearts. So, the apostles of the Lord cast off all forms of evil, became completely sanctified, accomplished the heart of the Lord, and fully performed the will of God like the Lord. They gained the recognition and love of God. They received the power from above and performed miraculous works.
If pastors were qualified like these apostles, amazing works would accompany them. As written in John 4:48, in this end time especially when knowledge has grown and sin and evil are so rampant, signs and wonders are much more necessary than any other times.
Astounding signs and wonders have taken place every day in Manmin Central Church since the founding of the church. The lame came to walk, the blind to see, the mute to speak, and the deaf to hear. Many people were healed of cancer, lung diseases, leukemia, AIDS, and other incurable diseases. Even one leg shorter than the other became lengthened and broken bones were set together and mended. Innumerable works of power have unceasingly unfolded in this church.
Since the early church also experienced such works, the faith of the members could grow up day by day. And they widely spread the news of the resurrection of the Lord and the works of the Holy Spirit. As a result, the church kept growing and members who have true faith gave glory to God. There were even members who performed the power of God, like Deacons Stephen and Philip.
2. The early church had all things in common and shared all properties and possessions amongst themselves.
The following verses 44-45 say, "And all those who had believed were together and had all things in common; and they began selling their property and possessions and were sharing them with all, as anyone might have need." This verse proves how abundant spiritual love was in early church. Because they were all brothers and sisters in the blood of Christ they didn't say, "This is mine! That's yours!" They practiced the love of the Lord in deeds and in truth. Their hearts were burning only with the hope for Heaven. They had no greed to store up properties on earth. They sold their possessions, shared them with the poor, and had all things in common.
Today materialism and selfishness are rampant in the world. It is not easy to find such believers as lived in early church days. But Manmin Central Church has taken after the early church. If you have true brotherhood in faith and throw away greed for properties, you can do it. Through the deeds of loving your neighbors as yourselves, you can spread the fragrance and light of the Christ. Through seeing your deeds, many souls can return to the Lord.
"Sharing properties and possessions with one another and having all things in common" doesn't mean only in finances. They also shared their hearts with each other. In the same way, you should not insist on your opinions but respect those of others. If they keep peace in all aspects, share all things with each other, and take care of others with loving care, then they can make their church beautiful in the sight of God.
3. The early church gathered in the temple of God with one mind every day.
Verse 46 says, "Day by day continuing with one mind in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they were taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart." "Breaking bread" doesn't mean they gathered to eat bread for food. It spiritually means that they gathered, and heard, learned and made the word of God their spiritual bread.
The members of the early church diligently heard and learned the word of God according to the teachings of the apostles. They dedicated themselves to praying in one mind to practice the word taught. That's why they gathered in the temple of God day by day. From its founding, Manmin Central Church has dedicated themselves to gathering in the temple of God. They've offered Sunday Morning Services, Sunday Evening Services, Wednesday Services, and Friday All-night Services to God. They also attend Daniel Night Prayer Meeting every night. Each mission also has service and prayer meetings. Since they dedicate themselves to gathering and praying in the church like this, they can receive the power from above and they can live by the word of God.
Today, many churches do not gather in the temple. Some churches even do not have sunrise services. Hebrews 10:24-25 reads, "and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another and all the more as you see the day drawing near." Churches have to devote themselves to gathering in the temple and praying with one mind. When churches continue to gather and pray, they can become churches filled with grace and truth in the powerful works of the Holy Spirit.
4. The early church praised God and had favor with all the people, and so the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.
Acts 2:47 says, "praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved." They praised God because they rejoiced always and gave thanks in everything. When you rejoice always, give thanks in everything, and spread the fragrance and the light of the Christ, you can have the favor from many people around you. Then, God also sends many souls to your church.
When you give out the fragrance of Christ, people will confess, "Oh! That person is a real Christian. I want to go to church and believe like he does!" It will be glory to God and He will lead many souls to your church. In the same way, when your church completely follows and does the will of God, He will be pleased, provide blessings and bring great revival.
Dear brothers and sisters, whoever accepts the Lord, repents, and receives forgiveness will receive the Holy Spirit and become God's children. When he lives by the word, he will also be set free from diseases and problems. He will eventually enter into Heaven. You say you believe in the Lord with your lips, but if you are still going through trials and having troubles it means that you do not live by the word. Instead, even after repentance, you still live in sins. This is because the enemy devil and Satan bring tests, hardship, and calamity to those who live in sins and darkness. But if they turn back from the sins and keep the word of God, all problems will be solved.
The early church members believed in the Lord and loved God more than anything. As written in 1 John 5:3, "For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments; and His commandments are not burdensome," we have to keep His commandments if we love God. If we keep them, God also will love us. In churches loved by God, signs and wonders take place like in the early church. The churches also can lead many souls to the way of salvation. The church members will also receive spiritual blessings, blessings of good health, financial blessings, and marital and family blessings. They will receive answers to whatever they pray and blessings will overflow.
I pray in the name of the Lord that you will possess such true faith, give glory to God, save many souls, and spread the gospel to the end of the earth by following the example of the early church that was established by the power of the Holy Spirit.
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