How To Tell If Your Church Is Devoted To Jesus.

From its very foundation the Church that God established was devoted to certain things. Acts 2:42 tells us that, “They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.”

Their devotion was an example for us to follow. Hebrews 13:7 commands, “Remember your leaders, who spoke the Word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith.” Some might wonder what it means to be devoted to these things. If we remember their “way of life” and “imitate their faith,” we will understand what it means to be devoted.

THE EARLY CHRISTIANS WERE DEVOTED TO THE APOSTLES' TEACHING IN THAT:

They taught it in the temple.
Acts 5:25, “Then someone came and said, "Look! The men you put in jail are standing in the temple courts teaching the people."

They spread it all over Jerusalem.
Acts 5:28, "We gave you strict orders not to teach in this name," he said. "Yet you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and are determined to make us guilty of this man’s blood."

They taught it from home to home.
Acts 5:42, "Day after day, in the temple courts and from house to house, they never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Christ.”

They taught it every day.
Acts 5:42, "Day after day, in the temple courts and from house to house, they never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Christ.”

THE EARLY CHRISTIANS WERE DEVOTED TO FELLOWSHIP IN THAT:

They met in public worship to praise God.
Acts 2:46, "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”

They met together in each other's homes.
Acts 2:46, "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”

They met the physical needs of others.
Acts 6:1-7, " In those days when the number of disciples was increasing, the Grecian Jews among them complained against the Hebraic Jews because their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food. So the Twelve gathered all the disciples together and said, "It would not be right for us to neglect the ministry of the word of God in order to wait on tables. Brothers, choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will turn this responsibility over to them and will give our attention to prayer and the ministry of the word." This proposal pleased the whole group. They chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit; also Philip, Procorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas from Antioch, a convert to Judaism. They presented these men to the apostles, who prayed and laid their hands on them. So the word of God spread. The number of disciples in Jerusalem increased rapidly, and a large number of priests became obedient to the faith.”

They cared for each other in sickness.
Acts 9:36-41, " In Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha (which, when translated, is Dorcas), who was always doing good and helping the poor. About that time she became sick and died, and her body was washed and placed in an upstairs room. Lydda was near Joppa; so when the disciples heard that Peter was in Lydda, they sent two men to him and urged him, "Please come at once!" Peter went with them, and when he arrived he was taken upstairs to the room. All the widows stood around him, crying and showing him the robes and other clothing that Dorcas had made while she was still with them. Peter sent them all out of the room; then he got down on his knees and prayed. Turning toward the dead woman, he said, "Tabitha, get up." She opened her eyes, and seeing Peter she sat up. He took her by the hand and helped her to her feet. Then he called the believers and the widows and presented her to them alive.”

They cared for those who couldn't get out to the assembly.
Acts 24:23, "He ordered the centurion to keep Paul under guard but to give him some freedom and permit his friends to take care of his needs.”

THE EARLY CHRISTIANS WERE DEVOTED TO THE BREAKING OF BREAD IN THAT:

They all came together to partake
Acts 20:7, "On the first day of the week we came together to break bread. Paul spoke to the people and, because he intended to leave the next day, kept on talking until midnight.”

They did it on the first day of the week.
Acts 20:7, "On the first day of the week we came together to break bread. Paul spoke to the people and, because he intended to leave the next day, kept on talking until midnight.”

They met every first day of the week.
I Corinthians 16:2, "On the first day of every week, each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with his income, saving it up, so that when I come no collections will have to be made.”

When they took the communion, it was called "love feasts."
Jude 1:12, " These men are blemishes at your love feasts, eating with you without the slightest qualm— shepherds who feed only themselves. They are clouds without rain, blown along by the wind; autumn trees, without fruit and uprooted— twice dead.”

THE EARLY CHRISTIANS WERE DEVOTED TO PRAYER IN THAT:

They prayed constantly.
Acts 1:14, "They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers.”

They prayed during the day.
Acts 3:1, "One day Peter and John were going up to the temple at the time of prayer— at three in the afternoon.”
Acts 10:9, "About noon the following day as they were on their journey and approaching the city, Peter went up on the roof to pray.”

They prayed during the night.
Acts 12:12, "When this had dawned on him, he went to the house of Mary the mother of John, also called Mark, where many people had gathered and were praying.”
Acts 16:25, "About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them.”

They prayed in choosing new leaders.
Acts 1:24, "Then they prayed, "Lord, you know everyone’s heart. Show us which of these two you have chosen."
Acts 6:6, "They presented these men to the apostles, who prayed and laid their hands on them."
Acts 13:3, "So after they had fasted and prayed, they placed their hands on them and sent them off.”
Acts 14:23, "Paul and Barnabas appointed elders for them in each church and, with prayer and fasting, committed them to the Lord, in whom they had put their trust.”

It was a priority for the leaders to pray.
Acts 6:4, "and will give our attention to prayer and the ministry of the word."

They prayed during persecution.
Acts 4:29, "Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness.”
Acts 7:59, "While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit."
Acts 12:5, "So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was earnestly praying to God for him.”

They prayed for those needing physical healing.
Acts 9:40, "Peter sent them all out of the room; then he got down on his knees and prayed. Turning toward the dead woman, he said, "Tabitha, get up." She opened her eyes, and seeing Peter she sat up.”
Acts 28:8, "His father was sick in bed, suffering from fever and dysentery. Paul went in to see him and, after prayer, placed his hands on him and healed him.”

Prayer was given before going on journeys.
Acts 20:36, "When he had said this, he knelt down with all of them and prayed.”
Acts 21:5, "But when our time was up, we left and continued on our way. All the disciples and their wives and children accompanied us out of the city, and there on the beach we knelt to pray.”

When in danger prayer was their strength.
Acts 27:35, "After he said this, he took some bread and gave thanks to God in front of them all. Then he broke it and began to eat.”

They prayed for forgiveness after sinning.
Acts 8:22, "Repent of this wickedness and pray to the Lord. Perhaps he will forgive you for having such a thought in your heart.”

Truly they were devoted to the Apostle's doctrine, fellowship, the breaking of bread and prayer. Could the same description be given about you and your church? Are you devoted?

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