Acts the Story Continues (3)
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The Gathering to Pray
The Gathering to Pray
Last week we talked about the power that Jesus said would come. The power is important because without it we would be like lion without teeth. We would know the way, we would understand the destruction of sin, but we wouldn’t have a way to either overcome the sin that entangles us nor would be have the ability to stay firm on the path God has set us. The Holy Spirit firmly plants us so that we can stand and he convicts us so that we will grow. With that we also see the formation of pattern. And the Pattern always seems to begin with Christ followers coming together.
Last week at our family meeting we discussed the desire to do more fellowship centered events. We talked about the re-starting of a women’s ministry. We discussed the rebirth of a men’s ministry as well as fellowship dinners. But there are key things that have to happen when Christ Followers come together. Being in the body of Christ everything we do has an underlying reason—and that’s to bring us closer to God. Our whole life’s journey is an attempt to grow closer to God.
I find it interesting and worth studying the fact that anytime God made a huge move in the midst of his disciples it was when two or three were gathered together in His name. I don’t believe, and feel free to correct me if I am wrong, that anything has ever been done by anyone other than Jesus when they stood alone.
So lets look at our scripture this morning and see what what I am talking about.
Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day’s journey away.
And when they had entered, they went up to the upper room, where they were staying, Peter and John and James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot and Judas the son of James.
All these with one accord were devoting themselves to prayer, together with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers.
We are going to spend the majority of our morning discussing one phrase.
With one accord
With one accord
What they were doing is important and we will discuss it but how they did it is of high importance.
And Herod and Pilate became friends with each other that very day, for before this they had been at enmity with each other.
This is why the power of the Holy Spirit is important. When we gather together in our own accord and in our own power Satan uses this time to stir trouble. Herod and Pilate came together, not to seek the will of God, but to seek their own desires.
There is Power in HOW and WHY we join together.
There is Power in HOW and WHY we join together.
Two people who formally hated each other were brought together to sow destruction. The idea isn’t to just come together. If that were the case than anytime football was played it would become a miraculous event. Thousand of people come together, usually to cheer for one team or another, but yet often times destruction is sown. People get into fights. Anger boils over. Thousands and Millions of Dollars are won and lost. now football isn’t bad or sinful, but it boils down to if you want to see God move there has to be a purpose for God to work in.
About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them,
Is a good example of Christians coming together for the purpose of Christ. We aren’t going to dive deep into this verse this morning because we will get to it, but the end result- was the power Paul and Silas summoned through praise and worship not only freed them from their chains, but ended up with the salvation of an entire family group.
Since we talked about power last week lets look at unity.
eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
Unity is the key to unlocking power. We know the havock one person can wreak, but when you get many people, who are of the same mind, with the same goals much more can be done. One person can destroy a house, an entire group can destroy a city. Understand when you gather many people, with many different backgrounds, and with many different opinions we must allow God’s Spirit to unity and peace.
In the book of Acts when people gathered together the saw Jesus ascend, they conducted business to further the reach of the gospel, they sought God and recieved the power of the Holy Spirit through the evidence of burning tongues of fire.
Paul later instructs that that when we come together we are to
What we do when we are together is just as, or even more so important than just coming together.
The disciples came together to pray together
complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind.
Joy, love, and single mindedness. Christ was clear that a house divided against itself will not stand. We also know that we cannot love people without first truly having the love of Christ. I know for a fact I get on some of your nerves. I am human and if we don’t contain the love of Christ we can get so wrapped up in why Pastor Sean is so annoying to be around that God doesn’t activate the power of the Spirit in our midst. We can come together for the sole purpose to pray, but allow our prayer time to end up as a Gossip session.
If we aren’t single minded in our pursuit to pray we will stray.
Even if 9 out of 10 of want to pray the one who doesn’t can leep a conversation going endlessly.
May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus,
And Peter tells us how to accomplish this
1 Peter
Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor.
Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart,
The only way to obtain unity with a purpose within the body of Christ is to be unified through the obedience of God’s word. Everything we do has to center around the obedience of God’s word. Apart from it the bible is clear—we can do nothing of eternal value.
It’s like that old hyme speaks
On Christ the Solid Rock I stand all other words are sinking sand.
All other words, actions, or deeds are swallowed up as though in quicksand. It won’t stand the test of time.
“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal,
but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.
For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
Unity begets treasure, which brings common day events and turns them into Heavenly treasures.
Don’t be common place—be a heavenly treasure. Doing the will of God when we come together in one accord to do the will of Christ.