Christian Unity Leads To Increased Spiritual Growth

Acts 2:42: They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles" teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and prayer.
43:Everyone kept feeling a sense of awe; and many wonders and signs were taking place through the apostles.
44: and all those who had believed were together and had all things in common;
45:and they began selling their properties and possessions and were sharing them with all, as anyone might have need.
46:Day by day continuing with one mind in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they were taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart,
47: praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved.

As I look back at this passage in Acts that was a testimony of what was going on in the early church, there is a common link that caused the church to become successful and have more believers being added to their numbers. Several times in Acts, people were being saved and it always happened when the church was united in purpose. They were all focused on the teachings of Christ.

I used to focus on end time prophecy about in the end times people were going to fall away from the faith, and even the very elect would be drawn away from the truth. When our church in Cambridge Springs got a new pastor, Clifford Cartwright, I decided it was time to change my attitude. I started by reading verses on how to encourage others and build up the church. One of the ways that I began doing this was to write a devotional to Pastor Cliff every week. One of those devotions in the beginning was about the verse that says God can do exceedingly abundantly more than we can think or imagine. I really believed that verse and trusted that we would see it fulfilled. Since that time we have seen God working in people's lives. Many of the new ministries that have been started our because people were devoting themselves to prayer and they began applying diligently those things that were taught during the Sunday service. And many of the people who come Sunday morning now stay until an hour or sometimes more to have fellowship with others after the service. And some of the people have specific needs that cannot be met by their own means, and many times when the people here of those requests, in short order, those needs are taken care of. It is so amazing what God is doing here.

It is good to come to prayer meeting on Wednesday night and hear the praises being raised up to God for the things He is doing in our midst. One of the newest ministries that is developing is the need for small group meetings, and many people have showed interest in opening their homes to Bible studies, and others have shown interest in leading them. I am excited about this opportunity, because it will be a great ministry tool to help disciple others and encourage them to grow in their faith. I will be helping get one started at my neighbor's house down the street on Wednesday evenings. I will miss gathering with those who regularly attend the prayer meeting at church. But as you look at what is really taking place, the sacrifice is worth it. Many of those people in the small groups in the homes, would not be able to go to the regular prayer meeting, but are still participating in fellowship, so instead of thinking of it as meaning that we are dividing the prayer group, we are really multiplying the number of believers who will be devoting their time in the study of the word and prayer.

As we continue to focus on Christ, the author and finisher of our faith, I also want to praise Him because He is working in people's lives as we are hearing of people wanting to be baptized in the near future (early to mid spring), and we are getting others who want to commit themselves to becoming church members, and just last Sunday we heard the Pastor as we bowed our heads and closed our eyes, as four people raised their hands as a witness that they responded to the gospel message of salvation. We are witnessing spiritual growth both individually and corporately as we continue in our journey united in purpose to disciple others and have others disciple us.