Devotion to Christian Practises

Intro: As a teenager I devoted myself to slam dunking a basketball, It was accomplished. However, after 3 months of Basic and AIT I lost the ability because I left the devotion. We are called to be to devoted to something higher that B’ball, the Lord Jesus and His mission!Adoniram Judson once said “The motto of every missionary, whether preacher, printer, or schoolmaster, ought to be devoted for life.”

“Continually Devoting Themselves or as the KJV reads “Continued Steadfastly” this is the main verb. It means to keep on with devotion. Its continual loyal dedication to a person or an activity; CPS: As these early Christians were devoted to keeping three practices the Lord continued to add to their number, this is a lesson for us, as we seek to be used to grow the Kingdom of God.

I. We should be devoted to learning

The teacher was the apostles who lived with Jesus, were eyewitnesses of His ministry, teaching, wonders, death and resurrection. They were seasoned and prepared by the God man Himself! We must be devoted for life to their teachings!

ILL: Hoagy Carmichael, the story goes, once decided to take up golf. Lessons were arranged with an instructor. At the first session Carmichael was patiently shown the basics of the game: how to hold the club, How to stand, how to swing, etc. Finally, after a half hour of this, the instructor felt Carmichael was ready to drive a few toward the first hole. The ball was teed up. Hoagy stepped up to it, swung, then watched the ball sail down the fairway, bound onto the green and roll into the cup—a hole in one! The instructor was dumbfounded. Hoagy flipped the club to a caddy with a jaunty motion, then turned to the still speechless instructor. “OK,” he said casually, “I think I’ve got the idea now.” Golf isn’t something someone masters in 30 minutes, its takes lifelong devotion. We must be lifelong students of Jesus! Here are some things in which their teaching included.

A. How the O.T. Scriptures pointed to Jesus (25-28 {Ps 16:8-11})

B. The Person of Jesus (The purpose is not to know more about Jesus but to know Jesus more)

C. The Death of Jesus (The greatest crime known to man)

D. The Resurrection of Jesus (The greatest victory known to man) 5x in this chapter

E. The teachings of Jesus

1. The works of God (John 6:28)

2. The provisions of God (Matt. 6:33)

3. Laborers were needed for God (Matt. 9:37-38) CHRISTIAN WITNESS!

a. How to be saved (VERSE 21)(Romans 10:13)(Quoting Joel 2:32)

b. How you were to behave

ILL: *Guard your witness” How people perceive you matters!* Fredrick Nietzsches, was a German Philosopher, poet, and atheist. He was an ungodly and lascivious man, his greatest student in life was Adolf Hitler. Nietzsche looked at the church, considered Christianity and said, “If you want me to believe in your Redeemer, you’re going to have to look a little more redeemed.”

We no longer have apostles on earth but we have what they left behind, the N.T., let us be devoted to The Word of God, not so we can know more about Jesus but so that we can know Jesus more and grow into what He would have us to be, and to do the work He called us to do!

II. We should be devoted to fellowship

Fellowship - Koinōnia = close mutual association, to share or participate.

ILL: John Fawcett was a powerful preacher and writer; he pastored a poor little church in Wainsgate England. In 1773 he was called to a large influential church in London. As the wagons were being load with the Fawcett’s- few belongings it came time to say their farewells. During the goodbye’s Mary Fawcett began to cry, “John I cannot bear to leave!” “Nor can I,” he replied. “We shall remain here with our people.” The wagons were unloaded, and John Fawcett spent his entire 54 year ministry in Wainsgate. Out of that experience, Fawcett wrote the beautiful hymn, “blessed be the tie that binds.”

“Blessed be the tie that binds, Our heart in Christian love; The fellowship of kindred minds is like that to above”

There is a tie that binds us close together; it is the blood of Jesus. As these early Christians were devoted to one another we must be devoted to each other also. Spending time with each other and sharing amongst each other.

A. They shared in the same reverent fear of the Lord (They all were in awe) Vs. 43

B. They Showed Compassion to those in need. (Together they met the needs of those who were truly needy VS. 45, need chreia a lack of. (6:1)(This is not communism {what is thine is mine} but common-ism {What is mine is thine}!

1. It was totally voluntary (It was done out of love)

2. It was temporary. (Acts 11:27-30)(We show compassion by meeting the needs of the needy but being careful not to make the capable dependant!)(2 Thes. 3:10) People ought to work and allow God to provide through their labor

C. They were unified (of the same mind) *2nd most important thing!*

D. They spent time together

1. Breaking Bread (Meals)

2. Communion (In remembrance of Jesus)

3. Worship

a. Joy

b. Praise

E. They had fellowship with Jesus (Through their fellowship with each other)

Walk so close to Jesus that nothing can come between you, likewise, let’s walk so close with each other that nothing canc ome between us!

III. We should be devoted to prayer

D.L. Moody once said, Prayer is the fruit of all ministry. It has also been said that Prayer is the acid test of devotion. The apostles prayed, Jesus while on earth prayed, we must pray together as well. Paul tells us to Pray without ceasing (1 Thes. 5:17), Jesus tells us to always pray and never give up (Luke 18:1)!, in the context of this passage I can’t help but see corporate prayer, prayer was a part of the fellowship.

We have been dedicating Weds. night to Cooperate prayer and God is moving! I found myself going back to the old routine, teaching a little and praying a little but for the 1st time in 3 years I’m seeing clearly what must be done and God is opening doors to do it. So we must pray as we have been for the past month! As Donnie said Weds. prayer changes things! If we want to know what God wants for us we must pray, if we want to what God wants from us we must pray, If we want to make an impact in our community we must pray! If we are serious about Growing God’s kingdom we must pray!

ILL: Some years ago a young girl was very sick and not expected to recover. Because of her love for Jesus, she was troubled that she had not been able to do more for Him in her short life. Her pastor suggested that she make a list of people in their little town who needed Christ and pray that they might put their faith in Him. She took his advice, made a list, and prayed often for each person. Sometime later God began to stir a revival in the village. The girl heard of the people who were coming to Christ and prayed even more. As she heard reports, she checked off the names of those who had been led to the Lord. After the girl died, a prayer list with the names of 56 people was found under her pillow. All had put their faith in Christ—the last one on the night before her death. Such is the power of definite, specific, fervent prayer

Con: As The early Christians devoted themselves to these 3 things, learning, fellowship, and prayer… the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved!