Lately God has had me adding the book of Acts to my daily Bible readings, as I mentioned before. I’ve always loved the book of Acts, but this time around it’s becoming so much more than an account of all the signs and wonders that occurred. For many seasons, the signs and wonders portion of the book have been so wonderful to me that I soaked and soaked in them. I let the stories fuel my fire to see God’s kingdom advance across the earth. I realized that signs and wonders are meant to lead people to the gospel. They are largely a tool for drawing hearts to a loving Father, but in this current season, I see so much more when I read Acts.
The apostles were relentless in their pursuit of Christ and spreading the gospel. They went into areas and preached, many times under heavy persecution. Yet, they stayed in those areas until ALL had heard the good news.
It makes me wonder, just how relentless are we? Admittedly, not nearly as much as the apostles.
In our comfort Christianity, where we are only bold when we go on organized mission trips, we lay low the rest of the time. We feel there are so many churches around that our testimony is largely unnecessary. But nothing could be further from the truth. In fact, what I’ve realized is that people are searching and searching for someone or a group that is true to the Word, all the while being honest about who they are. They aren’t looking for pretention. They are looking for something real.
The apostles didn’t appear to act like they were better than others. They didn’t strictly live off of aid because they were missionaries. They humbled themselves over and over again. They worked and made their own income in some instances. Paul made tents. And isn’t it interesting how the sweat from his brow while working a job to support himself, actually healed people. I propose that you don’t have to be a minister or the like, for God to use you in magnificent and ground-breaking ways. In fact, I believe we need fewer preachers and more working evangelists.
Church, it isn’t the preacher’s job alone to spread the gospel. It’s yours and mine too. And preachers, your working-class believers are not less than you because they don’t have church jobs. We need both. Without one, there isn’t the other.
It’s time to wake up to the fact that we are to share the gospel everywhere and at all times. It’s time for us to live like the apostles.
Prayer Moment: Today I simply want to challenge you to re-read the book of Acts. Take time and really process the words and actions of the apostles. Really put yourself in their situations and imagine what it would look like, then realize that we all pay a cost to walk with Jesus. If it costs nothing, it’s worth nothing really. He paid for us with His life. What are we willing to sacrifice?
God did extraordinary miracles through Paul, so that even handkerchiefs and aprons that had touched him were taken to the sick, and their illnesses were cured, and evil spirits left them. Acts 19:11-12
For two whole years Paul stayed there in his own rented house and welcomed all who came to see him. Boldly and without hindrance he preached the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ. Acts 28:30-31
365 Days in the Presence 