Have we stopped God's Spirit breaking out

Have we stopped God's Spirit breaking out

Have we stopped God's Spirit breaking out

As we enter into an exciting season of celebration in Elim with
centenary events taking place across the regions, it is difficult not to
reflect on where it all began?

However, I don't mean 1915 and the birth of Elim or even the

development of the wider Pentecostal movement, but... where it all

began! When the Holy Spirit invaded our reality, the birth of the

church, the scattering of believers, where the 'church' began. Well, not

where exactly, but rather how?

Most Christians will be more than familiar with Acts 2:42 and will

have heard countless preaches on the first community of believers who

devoted themselves to teaching, fellowship, sharing of meals and prayer.

However, it was John Stott that reminded us; a church that focuses on

verse 42 and ignores verse 47 is somewhat lopsided.

"Each day the Lord added to their number all who were being saved".

The reality was that the early New Testament church was birthed in

evangelism. Individual and large groups encountered and responded to the

Good News of Jesus on a daily basis.

 The account in Acts also gives us insight into another essential

element in the life of the church that we cannot afford to loose. That

is, the relationship between miraculous encounter and evangelism. There

were miracles, signs and wonders when the Gospel was shared. Indeed,

Paul declares that he proclaimed fully the Good News about Christ

(Romans 15:18 & 19) through means of words and deeds "I will be bold

and speak only about what Christ has done through me to lead the

Gentiles to obey God. He has done this by means or words and deeds, by

the power of miracles and wonders and by the power of the Spirit of God.

And so... I have proclaimed fully the Good News about Christ".

Whether it was prison escapes, angel appearances, the sick raised to

their feet, limbs strengthened, sight, hearing or a sound mind restored,

it is almost impossible to separate the declaration from the

supernatural demonstration.

By Dave Newton.

Acts 2:42-47New International Version - UK (NIVUK)

The fellowship of the believers

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 favour of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.