Title: Traits of a History Making Community – Devoted to Fellowship
Text: Acts 2:
41 Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.
42 And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.
43 And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles.
44 And all that believed were together, and had all things common;
45 And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need.
46 And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart,
47 Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.
Introduction
A Christian is never to operate alone. When God calls you to a vision, He places you within a community to do so.
That is why; if you go through the bible, God always operate through the community.
When it was time to possess the promise land, God called Moses to lead a community out of Egypt. When Nehemiah had a vision of rebuilding the wall of Jerusalem, he raised up a community to do so. When David was in the wilderness, he raised up a community of fighting men who fought along side him.
On the Day of Pentecost, the day whereby Christianity will invade the nations, the Holy Spirit came upon the 120 in the upper room.
In Acts 2: 42, the early church was devoted firstly to the word of God. I shared with you regarding the word of God last week.
They were also devoted to fellowship. A history making community is one that is devoted to fellowship. Now the word fellowship here comes from the Greek word “Koinonia” and it paints for us a picture of a tightly knitted community, which cares for one and another, united in vision and purpose, influencing one another to pursue the things of God.
1. God has a purpose for you within the Community
You are never in a community or church by chance. It is God who place you within the community, so that you may fulfil His purpose.
I have been part of several churches. When I made a decision to go to another church, it was never a flippant decision. I considered it a major decision as I want to be in a community whereby God called me to be a part of.
I discovered that in every church that I had been part God, God did something in my life which otherwise would not have been fulfilled.
If you are here, God has a divine purpose for you. Don’t run away, don’t go around shopping for the most exciting and entertaining church, for in doing so you may terminate God’s purpose in your life.
Genesis 13:
10 And Lot lifted up his eyes and saw all the valley of the Jordan, that it was well watered everywhere-- this was before the LORD destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah-- like the garden of the LORD, like the land of Egypt as you go to Zoar.
11 So Lot chose for himself all the valley of the Jordan; and Lot journeyed eastward. Thus they separated from each other.
Lot’s calling was terminated when he chose to come out of a community which God has placed him in.
2. God uses the community to mature you spiritually.
a. You can’t grow apart from a community.
Matt 18
20 "For where two or three have gathered together in My name, there I am in their midst."
God’s presence is always there when you gather in a community. The Spirit of God causes us to grow spiritually.
b. You received encouragement and a positive influence in a community.
The community serves as a place of encouragement. When you are faced with difficulties, the community is a place where you can run to.
It is also a place of positive influence. You spur one another to pursue God.
c. You received acceptance in a community
When David was in the wilderness, the rejects of society came to him.
1 Samuel 22:
2 And everyone who was in distress, and everyone who was in debt, and everyone who was discontented, gathered to him; and he became captain over them. Now there were about four hundred men with him.
In this community, no matter what background you come from, no matter what institution you come from, you will always be accepted by this community.
Conclusion
1. Make a deliberate decision to make this community, your spiritual family. This means that you should develop a close relationship with your friends in your LG.
If you friends outside are negative influence, then you will have to extract yourself out from their influence and instead influence them to Christ instead. For that to happen you must grow spiritually first.
2. Be transparent and honest with your LG leaders and friends here. You can be honest with your struggles, your hurts, your pains, we are here to help you.
3. In a community, misunderstanding does arise. Iron sharpens iron. Don’t run away just because of a quarrel. Where there are human beings there will always be misunderstanding.
