Devoted for Life

After losing to the Pistons in the 1989 and 1990 playoffs, Michael Jordan hit the Gym immediately, dragging his teammates with him. Mike put on twenty pounds of muscle and spent countless hours shooting and working on his skills. Michael was already the leagues premier scorer, but that was’nt enough. In 1991 Micheal and the Chicago Bulls won the Championship, mostly because of Mike’s devotion to the game and to winning! In August of 1991 a Gatorade commercial came out, it had a catchy tune, “Sometimes I dream, that he is me. You’ve got to see that’s how I dream to be. I dream to move, I dream to groove like Mike, If I could be like Mike.” It showed kids and adults emulating Michael Jordan. Because of M.J. devotion The Bulls would win the championship again in 92 and 93, and after a brief retirement Mike lead the Bulls to Championship titles again in 96, 97, and 98. Michael Jordan’s devotion to the game of basketball was far beyond all others.

Devotion means to focus your time and energy to a person or an activity. We read in our text that the first Christian converts were a devoted people too. The Bible says there were Continued Steadfastly, or Continually Devoting. This verb means to keep on in continual devotion. They devoted their lives to learning, fellowshiping, and praying. Becasue of this “The Lord was adding to their number day by day. (47)” Because of their devotion lives were changed, souls were saved, and God was praised!

Be like Mike.... No, I want to be like these men and women! Imagine what our world would be like today if we were devoted like they were, imagine what Enigma would be like if we broke away from the destractions of life and devoted our lives to the Scriptures, to fellowship with other believers, and prayer! Then it could be said that through our devotion the Lord was adding to our number day by day those who are being saved!

CPS: We are all devoted to something but today I propose that we devote our lives to what these early Christians devoted their lives too and then we will see God work amongst us and bring change to the world around us.

I. Let’s devote our lives to learning the Word of God.

These early Christians continually devoted themselves to instruction in the Word. They were not like Christians today, content to meet an hour a week for services as usual, they met daily. Their faith was a day to day reality because the risen Christ was a living realty to them, and His resurrection power was at work in their lives. And, in order for them to know their God, their Savior, and His will for their lives they came to the Apostles who taught them what Jesus taught them.

The Apostles were the eyewitnesses of Jesus’ teachings and His works. These new disciples devoted their lives to these teachings! They didn't want the general idea they wanted all of Christ. Today we are satisfied with a survey of what Jesus did, just a little instruction.

ILL: One day the actor/musician Hoagy Carmichael decided to take up golf. Lesson were arranged with an instructor. At the first session Hoagy 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 Hoagy 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 the caddy then turned to the still speechless instructor. “Ok,: he said casually, “I think I’ve got the idea now.”

You can learn the game of golf in just 30 minutes, regardless of the success you may show at first, it takes life long dedication! So it is with the Scriptures! It takes the whole of life, may we never be satisfied with our relationship with Jesus and it is through the apostles’ doctrine that we come to know Christ and Grow in Him!

Can you imagine for just a moment what the apostles said about Jesus. Pretend you were sitting at their feet listening to they recount what Jesus said and did!

A. What Jesus Said.

1. His Identity.

2. His Story (O.T.)

3. His Purpose

a. Our Sin

b. His deliverance

4. His Plan (Heavenly Reign as it was first ment to be like)

5. Our Misson

B. What Jesus Did

His Miracles (Proof that He is who He says He is.)

His Death

His Resurrection

His Assention

Today there are no apostles, I don’t care what title people may give themselves. However, their doctrines, what they taught 2000 years ago are recorded on the pages of the N.T. So today, to be devoted to their teaching is to be devoted to the Holy Spirit Inspired, infallible, inerrant, completed Word of God the Bible. Today, many Christians are satisfied sitting under the Word of God when we must live in the Word of God. Are you devoted?

II. Let’s devote our lives to fellowship with the people of God.

These first Christians wee devoted to fellowship with one another. Fellowship mean close mutual association. Its the idea of spending time with each other, sharing in things and experiences, participating along with each other in acts of service and worship. Today when we think of fellowship we think of fried chicken, dumplings, corn pudding, peach cobbler at the church during homecoming on 5th Sunday. But these Christians experienced Christian life together becoming a unified people.

We are a people, the people of God and each person should be important to each other.

ILL: John Fawcett was a powerful preacher and writer, he pastored a poor little church in Wainsgate England. In 1773 he a large influential church in London called him to be their pastor. As the wagons were being loaded with their 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 thar experience, he 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.”

The early Christians were tied closely to each other by the blood of Jesus and His love for His people. They had common ground, Jesus! They didn't let the color of the carpet, the choice of music, and personal envy to break their fellowship.

A. They were united in Worship

1. In Awe (43)

2. In Remembrance (Communion, breaking bread… 46a)

3. In Meals (they spent time together)

B. They were united with compassion (44-45)

They met each others needs. This was not early day communism. Communism is: What is thine is mine. This was Common-ism: What is mine is thine!

It was Voluntary (done out of love)

It was temporary

They showed compassion by meeting the needs of the needy but being careful not to make the capable dependent! (2 Tes. 3:10).

C. They were united in mind (46a)

They thought a like, Jesus was the topic. They was excited about Jesus! Not football etc.....

Friends, we must be so devoted to Jesus that nothing comes between you and that nothing comes between us! Are you devoted?

III. Let’s devote our lives to praying the will of God.

These first Christians were devoted to prayer. It has been said, “Prayer is the acid test of devotion” Prayer is Communication with God. it comes from the root euchomia which means to wish. Here prayer is the noun proseuchē which means place of prayer.

Through out acts we see the apostles and the early Christians dedicated to corporate prayer. They prayed in the upper room (Acts 1:14), in temple (Acts 3:1), and they prayed in their homes (Acts 4:23). They were a people devoted to prayer and praying together!

D.L. Moody once said that prayer is the fruit of all ministry. In Acts, it was during prayer that Peter took his place as leader of the church. It was during a time of prayer that the Holy Spirit was poured out into the hearts of the believers, It was at the time of prayer, that Peter healed the man born lame in Acts 3 and that Peter preached his 2nd sermon and 2,000 men were saved. If the Gospel is the Power of God unto Salvation Prayer is the power of God unto ministry!

Jesus taught we should always pray and never give up praying (Lk. 18:1). Jesus taught the apsotles to pray “Our Father how art in heaven, hallowed by the name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is done heaven.”

Prayer is not man’s means to get his will done in heaven but God way of getting His will done on earth! Prayer is a powerful thing. Mary queen of Scotts once said. “I fear John Knox’s prayers more than an army of 10,000 men.

In my life it was through prayer that God called me to Ministry, called me to College (Tell?), called me too this church. It was praying God’s will that lead us to feed the kids yesterday! Prayer is powerful and devotion to it changes hearts and lives!

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.

If we see God move through 1 person’s prayer, what will He accomplish through a people, a church devoted to prayer! Are you devoted?

Con: We are all devoted to something. For Michael Jordan it was basketball, for some of you it may be fishing, football, or making money! For the early church it was Christ and pray that before we leave here today we too will be dedicated to Christ as we devote ourselves to His Word, to His people, and to praying His will.