[Linux4christians] Tuesday - Acts 2:42-47

[dcolburn at bibleseven.com]

    Tuesday


      *Acts 2:42-47*



The Fellowship of the Early Believers

2:42 They were devoting themselves to the apostles' teaching and to 
fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.

2:43 Reverential awe came over everyone, and many wonders and miraculous 
signs came about by the apostles.

2:44 All who believed were together and held everything in common, 2:45 
and they began selling their property and possessions and distributing 
the proceeds to everyone, as anyone had need.

2:46 Every day they continued to gather together by common consent in 
the temple courts, breaking bread from house to house, sharing their 
food with glad and humble hearts, 2:47 praising God and having the good 
will of all the people. And the Lord was adding to their number every 
day those who were being saved.



      Prayer


Lord, You call the members of Your family into an intimate relationship 
with you and one-another, and interdependent relationship with 
one-another. May I invest in fellow believers so that we may be come 
more-faithful in caring for each other and growing together in You.



      Summary & Commentary


The fellowship among the early believers consisted of a pattern of 
disciplines; "... devoting themselves to the apostles' teaching", 
"...and to fellowship", "... to the breaking or bread", "and to prayer."


The apostles taught the message of Jesus as the fulfillment of prophesy 
in the context of the narratives of the Creation, Fall, and the history 
that followed.

[Note: Study of the Word of God, facilitated by those who have 
demonstrated Biblical knowledge and spiritual maturity is an important 
model for Christians.]


The fellowship of the believers is shown here as a continuous and 
intentional investment of energy and time.

[Note: Fellowship among believers built community, intimacy, and a sense 
of 'family' that went beyond the mere genetic or legal traditional family.]


For the early believers breaking bread together served both social and 
symbolic purposes.

[Note: Breaking bread has two possible meanings, one is the "Lord's 
Supper", also known as communion, as it is part of a special time of 
structured worship, and the other refers to a meal shared with others, 
not necessarily believers, especially in the common use of the term. In 
verse 2:42 it likely refers to a casual reenactment of the Lord's Supper 
whereas in 2:46 it likely refers to sharing a meal with others.]


Their investment of time and attention in prayer is an explanation of 
their intimacy with God and their power to endure suffering and 
experience the power of God's presence.

[Note: The pattern of prayer modeled by Jesus found early and important 
emphasis throughout the text of the New Testament texts. As the early 
believers studied under the apostles they learned about prayer 
throughout the history of prophets and other faithful servants of God 
and were reminded of prayer in the life of Jesus and His closest 
followers.]


"Reverential awe" for the power of God came upon them all as a result of 
these disciplines which was enhanced by "... many wonders and miraculous 
signs ... by the apostles."

[Note: Their faithfulness to the "Greatest Commandment" of Jesus created 
a spiritual environment where God's power flowed freely.]


"All who believed were together and held everything in common ..." so 
that resources were fully shared within the family of Christ.

[Note: This was at the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, not a mandate of 
the secular State, nor by the manipulative guilt-motivation of a 
charismatic human.]


"And the Lord was adding to their number every day those who were being 
saved."

[Note: Because of their faithfulness God was able to use them powerfully 
and trust them to disciple those whom He sent.]



      Interaction



        Consider

Consider your spiritual disciplines, do they include study, fellowship, 
breaking of bread, and prayer?


        Discuss

Do you take those disciplines "to the streets" among fellow believers, 
sharing resources, sharing meals, enjoying fellowship, praising God, and 
building good will?


        Reflect

As your fellowship matures is God sending more?


        Share

When have you experienced or observed an truly-intimate Christian 
fellowship?



      Faith in Action



        Prayer:

Ask the Holy Spirit to motivate you to be faithful to mature quickly 
through intentional discipline, dedicated fellowship, and service in His 
name so that He may bless your fellowship with others who may also share 
in His blessings and then go forth to multiply the model into similar 
fellowships.


        Action:

Today I will prayerfully review my daily and weekly disciplines in order 
to make study, fellowship, the breaking of bread, and prayer represent a 
non-negotiable core. I will also look at my calendar to assure that 
sharing resources, sharing meals, enjoying fellowship, praising God, and 
building good will are integral to it.


        Be Specific ______________________________________________________



    Wednesday's text will be:


      Acts 3



-- 

Draw nearer to the Lord and He will bless you,
Have an http://Ultrafidian.com Day!
David M. Colburn, DMin. MaCo
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Personal Site: http://bibleseven.com
Bible Resources: http://bible.org
Teacher's Verse: John 7:16
Defend free speech or lose your freedom.
I don't google I SEARCH! Yippy.com
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