The Book of Acts God's
messages to the first Christian church includes these topics THAT ARE EVEN
APPLICABLE TODAY!
- The need to help the poor persons in
our own church midst... and in other churches
- The topic of persecution, a method God
uses to get God's people to do his will..
- Personal Repentance and the Resurrection
of the dead, the actual Gospel message preached firstly by the
Apostles..
On THE NEED OF
helping the poor persons, a direct social welfare
ministry
- A clear and definite weekly program was established to help the poor
persons starting in our church and elsewhere.
- This program consists of specific persons, deacons, being ordained to
look after the distribution of money to the poor persons..
- All of the believers were encouraged weekly to give their
excess money to this program to the poor people.. this donations
is not for the church building program..church debt reduction
program.. this is a separate clear program to help the poor persons.
- As usual Satan works hard encouraging disobedience, tangents to
divert God's people from doing God's will herein this area now too..
(Acts 6:1 KJV) And in those days, when the number of the
disciples was multiplied, there arose a murmuring of the Grecians against
the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily
ministration.
(1 Tim 3:10 KJV) And let these also first be proved; then let
them use the office of a deacon, being found blameless.
(1 Tim 3:13 KJV) For they that have used the office of a deacon
well purchase to themselves a good degree, and great boldness in the faith
which is in Christ Jesus.
(Acts 6:3 KJV) Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you
seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and
wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business.
(1 Cor 16:2 KJV) Upon the first day of the week let every one of
you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no
gatherings when I come. 3 And when I come, whomsoever ye shall approve
by your letters, them will I send to bring your liberality unto
Jerusalem.
(Acts 5:1 KJV) But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his
wife, sold a possession, 2 And kept back part of the price, his wife
also being privy to it, and brought a certain part, and laid it, at the
apostles' feet.3 But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine
heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the
land?
(2 Cor 8:2 KJV) How that in a great trial of affliction the
abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of
their liberality.3 For to their power, I bear record, yea, and beyond
their power they were willing of themselves; 4 Praying us with much entreaty
that we would receive the gift, and take upon us the fellowship of the
ministering to the saints.
(2 Cor 8:14 KJV) But by an equality, that now at this time your
abundance may be a supply for their want, that their abundance also may be a
supply for your want: that there may be equality:
(2 Cor 8:20 KJV) Avoiding this, that no man should blame us in
this abundance which is administered by us: 21 Providing for honest
things, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of
men.
(2 Cor 9:7 KJV) Every man according as he purposeth in his heart,
so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful
giver. 8 And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye,
always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:
9 (As it is written, He hath dispersed abroad; he hath given to the
poor: his righteousness remaineth for ever. 10 Now he that ministereth
seed to the sower both minister bread for your food, and multiply your seed
sown, and increase the fruits of your righteousness;) 11 Being
enriched in every thing to all bountifulness, which causeth through us
thanksgiving to God.12 For the administration of this service not only
supplieth the want of the saints, but is abundant also by many thanksgivings
unto God;
(1 Tim 1:6 KJV) From which some having swerved have turned aside
unto vain jangling;
(1 Tim 5:15 KJV) For some are already turned aside after
Satan.
(Heb 12:1 KJV) Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with
so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin
which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is
set before us,
I GIVE A SPECIFIC PORTION OF MY INCOME TO HELP, CLOTHE AND FEED
THE POOR PERSONS..
On
persecutions
- If you note firstly it was the leaders, the apostles who were
persecuted...
- Next you can note that the apostles were not persecuted but the
rest of the persons were..
- The apostles by being firstly persecuted were prepared to teach
others how to handle the persecutions..
- Persecution was allowed by God to get the whole church to get to know
and to move into God's will, which was even to spread the Gospel to others.
Instead of siting still and doing nothing.. God desires active Christians,
his people doing good works and going elsewhere Christians..
evangelcial missionary journeys too.
(Rom 15:4 KJV) For whatsoever things were written aforetime were
written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the
scriptures might have hope.
(1 Cor 14:3 KJV) But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to
edification, and exhortation, and comfort.
(2 Cor 1:3 KJV) Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus
Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort;
(2 Cor 1:4 KJV) Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we
may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort
wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.
(1 Th 5:14 KJV) Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are
unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all
men.
(Acts 7:52 KJV) Which of the prophets have not your fathers
persecuted? and they have slain them which showed before of the coming of
the Just One; of whom ye have been now the betrayers and murderers:
(Acts 22:4 KJV) And I persecuted this way unto the death, binding
and delivering into prisons both men and women.
(Acts 26:11 KJV) And I punished them oft in every synagogue, and
compelled them to blaspheme; and being exceedingly mad against them, I
persecuted them even unto strange cities.
(Acts 16:22 KJV) And the multitude rose up together against them:
and the magistrates rent off their clothes, and commanded to beat
them.
(Acts 22:19 KJV) And I said, Lord, they know that I imprisoned
and beat in every synagogue them that believed on thee:
WE ARE ALSO TO REGULARLY PRAY FOR OUR PERSECUTORS. TO PRAY
IN TIMES OF AFFLICTIONS, TO PRAY FOR OURSELVES AND OTHERS, TO PRAY TO KNOW
GOD'S WILL
(Mat 5:44 KJV) But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them
that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which
despitefully use you, and persecute you;
(Mark 13:33 KJV) Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not
when the time is.
(Luke 6:28 KJV) Bless them that curse you, and pray for them
which despitefully use you.
(Rom 8:26 KJV) Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities:
for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself
maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.
(Col 1:9 KJV) For this cause we also, since the day we heard it,
do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the
knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding;
(2 Th 3:1 KJV) Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of
the Lord may have free course, and be glorified, even as it is with
you:
(1 John 5:16 KJV) If any man see his brother sin a sin which is
not unto death, he shall ask, and he shall give him life for them that sin
not unto death. There is a sin unto death: I do not say that he shall pray
for it.
(Acts 9:31 KJV) Then had the churches rest throughout all Judaea
and Galilee and Samaria, and were edified; and walking in the fear of the
Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost, were
multiplied.
On the actual Gospel
message content preached to others, world wide firstly by the
Apostles..
Repentance and the certainty of the resurrection of the dead even
towards judgments... was the main message preached by the apostles.
(Acts 1:22 KJV) Beginning from the baptism of John, unto that
same day that he was taken up from us, must one be ordained to be a witness
with us of his resurrection.
(Acts 2:31 KJV) He seeing this before spake of the resurrection
of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell, neither his flesh did see
corruption.
(Acts 2:38 KJV) Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be
baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of
sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
(Acts 3:19 KJV) Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your
sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the
presence of the Lord;
(Acts 4:2 KJV) Being grieved that they taught the people, and
preached through Jesus the resurrection from the dead.
(Acts 4:33 KJV) And with great power gave the apostles witness of
the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all.
(Acts 5:31 KJV) Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a
Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of
sins.
(Acts 8:22 KJV) Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray
God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee.
(Acts 11:18 KJV) When they heard these things, they held their
peace, and glorified God, saying, Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted
repentance unto life.
(Acts 13:24 KJV) When John had first preached before his coming
the baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel.
(Acts 17:18 KJV) Then certain philosophers of the Epicureans, and
of the Stoicks, encountered him. And some said, What will this babbler say?
other some, He seemeth to be a setter forth of strange gods: because he
preached unto them Jesus, and the resurrection.
(Acts 17:30 KJV) And the times of this ignorance God winked at;
but now commandeth all men every where to repent:
(Acts 17:32 KJV) And when they heard of the resurrection of the
dead, some mocked: and others said, We will hear thee again of this
matter.
(Acts 19:4 KJV) Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the
baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on
him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.
(Acts 20:21 KJV) Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the
Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.
(Acts 23:6 KJV) But when Paul perceived that the one part were
Sadducees, and the other Pharisees, he cried out in the council, Men and
brethren, I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee: of the hope and
resurrection of the dead I am called in question.
(Acts 23:8 KJV) For the Sadducees say that there is no
resurrection, neither angel, nor spirit: but the Pharisees confess
both.
(Acts 24:15 KJV) And have hope toward God, which they themselves
also allow, that there shall be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just
and unjust.
(Acts 24:21 KJV) Except it be for this one voice, that I cried
standing among them, Touching the resurrection of the dead I am called in
question by you this day.
(Acts 26:20 KJV) But showed first unto them of Damascus, and at
Jerusalem, and throughout all the coasts of Judaea, and then to the
Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, and do works meet for
repentance.
Like I said the
message even to the first and last church.. The book of Acts.. There are many essential subjects covered
here.. including
- The role in the church of Apostles-
Elders and/or deacons.
-The experience of the baptism of the
Holy Spirit as defined in the book of acts.
- The restoration of the
tabernacle of David.. the Restoration in the church the method of
worshipping praise God in praises, songs
- The need to help the poor
persons in our own church's midst... and in other churches
- The topic of persecution, a method
God uses to get His people to do his will..
- Personal Repentance and the
Resurrection of the dead ,the actual Gospel message preached firstly by
the Apostles..
- and many other important
issues..