Monday 10 September, 2012

Ring a Christian friend today to encourage each him/her to apply what you have learnt from the Word.

 

Examining the Word of God

Read: Acts 2

 

In 1957, in an old, beat-up, blue Volkswagen Beetle, Brother Andrew crossed the border into the Soviet Union risking his own freedom, health and potentially his life with the mission to smuggle Bibles into Communist Europe. God’s provision and miraculous protection to Brother Andrew and others whom he has worked with has resulted in a ministry which continues to this day and has delivered millions of Bibles to believers in need. (www.opendoors.org.au).  Why would Brother Andrew risk so much to get the Bible to Christians? We see the answer right here in Acts 2: The Word of God is vital for the strengthening, building up, enabling and equipping of God’s church.

 

Have another look at Acts 2. Here, at the very birth of the church, how does the church begin? With the Holy Spirit enabled, God inspired preaching of the word of God by Peter. Right at the beginning of the church we see the word of God being preached and people responding by coming to know Jesus. This isn’t just a once off. See in Acts 2:42 that the church devoted themselves to the apostle’s teaching. Throughout history the true church has devoted itself to the preaching, the teaching and the application of God’s word.

 

Studying and applying the word of God is not just for Sonday though. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 reminds us that all Scripture is used by God for teaching, reproof, correction and training in righteousness. How can you apply what you have learnt about the church in Acts 2 today?

 

Spend 5 minutes and ring another Christian friend today to share what you have learnt from Acts 2 and encourage each other to apply the word.

 

Prayer:

Spend a few moments in adoration, confession and thanksgiving about God’s word and how it changes our lives before praying these and other prayer points. Write down what you pray.

 

Adoration:

 

Confession:

 

Thanks:

 

Supplication:

¨ Pray that you and others in the church would be stirred to study, understand and apply God’s word this week. Pray that as people in the Church study this week that the Holy Spirit would reveal how His word applies to their lives and how they might be transformed to be more like Jesus.

¨ Pray that the Word of God is taught faithfully in the church throughout the week in Cell Groups, Youth Group, Children’s ministries and on Sunday at church. Pray that the cell leaders and the leaders associated with the various ministries would be guided by the Holy Spirit as they prepare.