Better Together #2

Our Alaska Division theme for this program year is "Better Together" focussing on unity, supporting one another, and operating the body of the church God desires. Here are some devotional thoughts for your own consideration or use as a call to worship in your Corps this Holy season. Just my thoughts from my scripture meditation. Please use, change, alter as you see fit and meditate on the Word today.

For November 21, 2010

In Acts 2 we read of the Holy Spirit coming on the disciples as they were gathered together in prayer at Pentecost. Peter addressed the crowd of people gathered from near and far to proclaim the good news of Jesus and His Resurrection from the dead for our salvation. Peter told the crowd to repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of their sins. We know that about 3,000 were added to their number that day.

After the filling of the Holy Spirit, the preaching of the gospel, and the growing of our Lord’s church, we read this is what the believers did next…

Acts 2:42-47  ⁴² They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. ⁴³ Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. ⁴⁴ All the believers were together and had everything in common. ⁴⁵ They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. 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, ⁴⁷ praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.

The events prior to the Holy Spirit coming in a new way at Pentecost were that the believers waited together in prayer. The response to the Holy Spirit’s infilling was that those who called on the Name of Jesus met together for study, fellowship, sharing of meals, and the sharing of resources to all in need. God’s Word says they met together in the temple courts and in each other’s homes to praise God. The result of this union of God’s Holy Spirit and a united people seeking to put Him first was the daily growth of the Kingdom of God as people came to salvation.

Even this week as we make our plans to sit around the table with others from family, to those in our church, to serving those in need, we know it is God’s plan that in union with Him and in unity as a body of believers, we will see His Kingdom grow. Let’s praise and thank the Lord this week together.

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Live holy, preach Jesus!