27th Mar 26 | 16:08
Studies by Book
02 Acts 05 12-16 MIRACLES, SIGNS AND WONDERS IN HIS CHURCH 05 Acts 05 13 Witnessing to Jesus as the early church
📖 Acts 05:12-16
05 – 14Apr2023 – *Witnessing to Jesus as the early church* - _Acts 05:12-16_ - MIRACLES, SIGNS AND WONDERS IN HIS CHURCH - Bible reading: _I Thessalonians 02:03-12_
“Lord Jesus, we pray that we will demonstrate Your character and nature through us so that people around us will know the cost of following You. In Your name, we pray. Amen.”
_Acts 5:13 *Yet none of the rest dared join them*, but the people esteemed them highly._
Though the church was out in public view and everyone saw the holiness of God in them, the people did not dare to join the church. There was the fear of God in people.
*Following Jesus, as His disciples, requires one to be set apart from the world.*
As multitudes followed Jesus, He made it known to them that following Him would be hard. The Lord made it known to them that they should know the cost of following Him. Discipleship to Christ would be a life set apart for God
_Luke 14:25-35 Now great multitudes went with Him. And He turned and said to them, (26) “*If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple. (27) And whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple.* (28) For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it— (29) lest, after he has laid the foundation, and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, (30) saying, 'This man began to build and was not able to finish.' (31) Or what king, going to make war against another king, does not sit down first and consider whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand? (32) Or else, while the other is still a great way off, he sends a delegation and asks conditions of peace. (33) *So likewise, whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple. (34) "Salt is good; but if the salt has lost its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? (35) It is neither fit for the land nor for the dunghill, but men throw it out. He who has ears to hear, let him hear!"*_
The early church was a display of the life of discipleship to Christ. This life was so evidently set apart from the world that people dared not join them.
Apostle Paul and his team demonstrated this life of being set apart to the people in Thessalonica.
_I Thessalonians 2:3-12 For *our exhortation did not come from error or uncleanness, nor was it in deceit*. (4) But *as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, even so we speak, not as pleasing men, but God who tests our hearts*. (5) *For neither at any time did we use flattering words, as you know, nor a cloak for covetousness—God is witness.* (6) *Nor did we seek glory from men, either from you or from others*, when we might have made demands as apostles of Christ. (7) But *we were gentle among you, just as a nursing mother cherishes her own children. (8) So, affectionately longing for you, we were well pleased to impart to you not only the gospel of God, but also our own lives*, because you had become dear to us. (9) For you remember, brethren, *our labor and toil; for laboring night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you, we preached to you the gospel of God*. (10) *You are witnesses, and God also, how devoutly and justly and blamelessly we behaved ourselves among you who believe;* (11) as you know how *we exhorted, and comforted, and charged every one of you, as a father does his own children, (12) that you would walk worthy of God who calls you into His own kingdom and glory*._
This was the substance of discipleship to Christ that was on display. They exhorted the people of Thessalonica that they should walk worthy of God.
*How did the people of Thessalonica respond to the message of Paul and his team?*
_I Thessalonians 1:5-6 For *our gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Spirit and in much assurance, as you know what kind of men we were among you for your sake. (6) And you became followers of us and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction*, with joy of the Holy Spirit,_
They received the word of God in much affliction for they knew the cost of following Jesus from the lives of Paul and his team.
This was the ministry of the early church. *They did not sugarcoat the word of God.* Their life was in alignment with His word. People watching them knew very clearly what it meant to be a disciple of Jesus and so they did not dare to join the church, easily. They counted the cost.
Is this the message of the church today? Is this how we are in presenting Christ to our people? Are they clearly aware of the cost of following Jesus from our lives and are they counting the cost and then joining the church with full understanding?
```May we have the same witness of Christ as the early church.```