27th Mar 26 | 16:08
Studies by Book
02 Acts 05 12-16 MIRACLES, SIGNS AND WONDERS IN HIS CHURCH 02 Acts 05 12 Being in one accord
📖 Acts 05:12-16
02 – 06Apr2023 – *Being in one accord* - _Acts 05:12-16_ - MIRACLES, SIGNS AND WONDERS IN HIS CHURCH - Bible reading: _II Corinthians 04:10-11_
“Lord Jesus, teach us, as Your church, to be of one accord. In Your name, we pray. Amen.”
_Acts 5:12 And through the hands of the apostles many signs and wonders were done among the people. And *they were all with one accord* in Solomon's Porch._
The disciples were all with one accord as miracles, signs and wonders were taking place among them and through them. This fact of the church being of one accord was by itself a sign to the non-believers.
What we see in our world is discord. In the midst of this animosity, to see a group of people being of one accord was a great testimony to the risen Christ. *_Galatians 3:27-28 For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. (28) There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus._*
This is what the devil seeks to break in the church of Jesus. He sows discord among us. Knowing the plans and intentions of the enemy, we must deal with any root of bitterness that begins to emerge among us. *_Hebrews 12:14-15 Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord: (15) looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled;_*
As soon as we note the root of bitterness, let us take it to the Lord for immediate healing. We must not let these roots grow and take away the oneness in His body.
As the church of Jesus, we must intentionally, build oneness in the fellowship of His people. *_Philippians 2:3-4 Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. (4) Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others._*
To bring about the oneness, we must have the mind of Christ, for by our flesh we can do nothing. *_Philippians 2:5 Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus,_*
Repeatedly, we read that the early church experienced oneness. _Acts 1:14 *These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication*, with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers._
*_Acts 2:42 And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers._*
*_Acts 2:46 So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart,_*
*_Act 4:32 Now the multitude of those who believed were of one heart and one soul; neither did anyone say that any of the things he possessed was his own, but they had all things in common._*
We see in all of these verses the evidence of the church in one accord. This was the work of the Holy Spirit in them.
*For the Holy Spirit to operate in them and for the fruit of the Spirit to be displayed in them, they needed to be crucified with Christ.* This is the key. Unless the self in us is taken to the cross, daily, we cannot expect the life of Christ to be manifested in us.
*_II Corinthians 4:10-11 always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body. (11) For we who live are always delivered to death for Jesus' sake, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh._*
It is the Holy Spirit who enables us to take the self to the cross. We cannot put ourselves to death but we let ourselves be crucified with Christ.
Therefore, circumstances, situations, experiences, encounters and people will come into our life, which and who will challenge our ego. This is when the ego in us will seek significance, importance and recognition.
We must ask and be open to the Lord to alert us, to help us notice even in the immediate instant that it is our ego that is being threatened or wanting credit.
Instead of fighting the issue, it is important to note that, that is the precise moment to experience the Holy Spirit in us. We cannot deal with ourselves on our own. Allow the situation into the hands of the Holy Spirit and at that moment, we will experience the self in us being crucified with Christ.
Trying, resisting, or fighting our ego will only compound the matter. It is only by allowing the Holy Spirit to take over that situation that we will know what it is to be crucified with Christ. *It is in dying with Christ that we will also live with Christ.* *_II Timothy 2:11 This is a faithful saying: For if we died with Him, We shall also live with Him._*
It is in the fellowship of His church family that this dynamic can be experienced. When everyone in the church is of the same mind and we are all praying for each other to die with Christ and to live with Him, we will know oneness in His church.
```May we as His church learn to be in one accord.```