Guest Speaker Phil Ling is sharing today.
Acts 2:42-47 NIV – “They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need.
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, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.”
3 Snapshots of the Early Church
The Early Church in Jerusalem was described as being:
1) Devoted to Prayer
Acts 2:42 NIV – “They devoted themselves to the apostles teaching,fellowship, the breaking of bread and prayer.”
Acts 1:14 NIV – “They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers.”
James 5:16 The MESSAGE – “Make this your common practice: Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you can live together whole and healed. The prayer of a person living right with God is something powerful to be reckoned with.”
Examples of their Commitment to Prayer
Acts 2: Peter’s sermon at Pentecost was preceded by ten days of prayer.
Acts 4:23-30: When the church was attacked by its enemies –the believers prayed to God for help.
Acts 7:59: While being stoned, Stephen prayed his final words.
Acts 13: Through prayer God called Paul and Barnabas to take the gospel message to the Gentiles.
Acts 6:4-6: The leaders were devoted to prayer and prayed for the believers.
Acts 10: Cornelius “whose prayers and gifts to the poor came up as a remembrance before God.” Through Cornelius and his revelation to Peter, God showed he played no favoritism and offered salvation to the Gentiles.
Romans 8:26-27: The Holy Spirit guided their prayers.
Acts16:14-15: Women gathered to pray at the “place of prayer” where Lydia and her household were baptized and became Paul’s first converts in Europe and hosted the church at Philippi in her home.
Acts 21: In Ephesus, all the disciples and their wives and children bid Paul a final farewell on the beach and knelt to pray as he departed for Jerusalem.
Colossians 4:2 & 12: Paul encouraged believers to devote themselves to prayer. Epaphraswas “tireless in prayers” for his fellow laborers.
Ephesians 6:10-19: The Church at Ephesus was instructed to pray that the gospel would be declared fearlessly.
2) An Exciting Church
Acts 2:46 NIV – “Everyonewas filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles.”
3 Miraculous Supernatural Signs and Wonders
1) Supernatural Communication
Acts 2:4-6 NIV – “All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them. Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven. When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard them speaking in their own language.”
2) Miraculous Supernatural Healing
Acts 3:6-7 NIV – Then Peter said, “Silver and gold I do not have, but what I have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.” Taking him by the right hand, hehelped him up, and instantly the man’s feet and ankles became strong.”
3) Miraculous Supernatural Circumstances
Acts 12 – Peter’s Miraculous Escape from Prison
vs 7: Suddenlyan angel of the Lord appeared and a light shone in the cell. He struck Peter on the side and woke him up. “Quick, get up!” he said, and the chains fell off Peter’s wrists.”
3 Snapshotsof the Early Church
3) A Sharing Church
Acts 2:44 NIV – “All the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and good, they gave to anyone as he had need.”
