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Before we continue this week, let’s address two points from last week’s devotional. What does “church” really mean? First, I hope we are not naïve enough to believe it is a building with four walls. Next, let’s assume it is an institution. When I use the word institution it may connotes a bureaucratic system of doing things (e.g. prison, school, etc.). Well, this is precisely what I mean. I have been a member of churches that operate more by rules, regulations and traditions than by the inspiring of the Holy Spirit. In my opinion, this is tragic. If we look at the first mention of the church in the New Testament, we find a group of believers that did anything but follow rules, regulations and traditions. In fact, they were persecuted by a sect of Jewish leaders that did not want their current institution of church to be infringed upon. Those Jewish leaders had an agenda that kept everyone that was not on their level, beneath them in oppression and guilt from not “keeping the law” (of Moses). However, the believers of that day were commanded to wait on an in-filling of the Holy Spirit that would not only guide them in all truth (see John 16:13) but also give them tremendous power to spread the message of Christ to the nations in a way that was incomprehensible to them (see John 14:12). Now you tell me which picture of church was the most effective? For years these same Jewish leaders, criticized individuals for not keeping the traditions that they had been taught for years and years. But along came Jesus to revolutionize the way people viewed God in a three year ministry that birthed a whole generation of believers that were to be filled with the Holy Ghost! Who would want the old structure after having that available? It’s like going back to analog TV after watching TV in 1080dpi. This is the picture of church for which each believer should strive. Our mission should be like that of the early church--create more disciples of Christ. However, this was a very impossible task operating under the old structure and institution of the church.

Let’s look at scripture to see what this early group of believers possessed to set them apart? First, they had a fear of God. This was a reverential and healthy fear for God’s standard and His power. In Jesus’ grace-filled ministry he often challenged the “system” on adhering to God’s standard instead of just obeying the law. God’s standard was above the laws of Moses which the Jewish leaders claimed to live by. For example, Jesus’ teachings were aimed at the defiling thoughts that come out of a man’s heart even if he appeared to be outwardly “keeping the law”. Therefore, he taught to not even lust in your heart for someone that was not your husband/wife because that was the same as the physical act of adultery (see Matthew 5:27-28). That sounds like a higher standard to me. Jesus taught that we could fulfill this by accepting God’s grace (his ability and power to perform what we could otherwise not do) to walk according to the power of the Holy Spirit.

Next, they saw the movement of God. In Acts 2:44, we see an “open conduit of power” that the apostles possessed to perform miracles, signs and wonders. This channel of power attracted those hungry for God to this body of believers. This is a very debatable topic even today. Many claim that the signs and wonders of old are not for the church today because we have the Bible. I would like to believe that the early church’s faith was not apprehended by physical doubt of what God could do or not do and nor should ours. God is never constricted by time or space on what he is willing to do for a group of people that choose to believe in his power. It would be a ridiculous statement to say that God no longer performs signs and wonders because I have not witnessed them.

In order to see God move it requires that a body (of believers) be united in purpose and cause. In Acts 2:45, we see that the believers where together on “one-accord”. It has been my experience that this is one of the biggest deficits in churches today. The absence of common agenda among the body of believers creates a lot of the division and problems experienced in church. Once when the religious leaders came to Jesus, they claimed that he cast out demons because he was demon-possessed. He quickly refuted that claim by saying “a house divided against itself could not stand” (Mark 3:22-26). When will we as believers realize that our ultimate goal is to bring God’s kingdom way of doing things to Earth (see Matthew 6:10)? This should be our sole purpose and agenda in life. This will glorify God and add more disciples of Christ to the cause.

(to be continued…)

"Chip Shots from the Ruff of Life" from Tom Kelley

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