The Witness that Builds the Family (Todays Take Away)
Acts 2:42 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. 43 Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. 44 All the believers were together and had everything in common. 45 Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he 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 favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.
The church was unified, magnified, and multiplied. It had a powerful testimony among the unsaved Jews, not only because of the miracles done by the Apostles, but also because of the way the members of the fellowship loved each other and served the Lord. The risen Lord continued to work with them and people continued to be saved.
Acts 1:8 tells us that the power of the Holy Spirit was given so that we could become witnesses.
8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
Many limit their understanding of being empowered to be a witness to just the act of testifying to unbelievers or lost people.
Witness – share what someone has seen or heard.
- The Witness of salvation
Acts 2:14 Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice and addressed the crowd: “Fellow Jews and all of you who live in Jerusalem, let me explain this to you; listen carefully to what I say.
- Boldness to witness (Before the Holy Spirit Peter denied Christ and also went back fishing, but now he stands with stability and confidence)
- Wisdom to witness (He also witnessed to them using the old testament that they were familiar with)
The Witness of fellowship
Ecc 4:9 Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work: 10 If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up! 11Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? 12 Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.
The Witness of discipleship
The Christians you meet in the Book of Acts were not content to meet once a week for “services as usual.” They met daily, cared daily, won souls daily, searched the Scriptures daily, and increased in number daily. Their Christian faith was a day-to-day reality, not a once-a-week routine.
Witness of attraction
Acts 2”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 favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.
Salvation taking place, fellowship taking place, discipleship taking place were the qualities in the early church that made the world around them want to be apart.