DON'T STOP PRAYING!

 

Psalm 109:4 (TPT)

Though I love them, they stand accusing me like Satan for what I’ve never done. I will pray until I become prayer itself.

There is a place in prayer where the one seeking God's face on a matter begins to feel calm and joy in their spirit, which cannot be explained physically with any form of experience. For that man or woman, something within makes them know that the prayer point has been answered and that they need no more attention in the spiritual realm but just patience for it to manifest in the realm of men. Before this understanding was made clear to me through the teachings of Pastor Chris and the in-person prayer meetings of Pastor Enoch, I used to stop praying on a matter once I was tired. I have always believed I didn't have to press on issues because I had all right in the heavens and on earth to command and see things come to pass (this is still true for certain kingdom truths). Then, If I start praying and minutes into the prayer, I sense that I am feeling sleepy, I would turn that prayer area into a hotel suite and comfortably find a relaxing sleeping posture to comfort my eyes. In my defence, I fell asleep in the presence of God. God saw me in His presence and allowed me to sleep.

Before I emphasise our need to spend time in the place of prayer till we receive our solution or answer from Wisdom, Jesus Christ, let me quickly share a painful but life-transforming experience that I may never forget. I have already shared how a friend from Bible school, Pastor James, helped me develop a love for long prayers while on campus. I have also shared how, during my Bible school days, I had the opportunity to lead the youth wing of my church. Well, this painful experience happened during that period. At Anagkazo, I had a daily schedule where I had to try to sleep before or after nine so I could wake up at midnight or an hour or two after midnight to pray and read for at least three hours. This schedule sometimes changes when I work on campus or when we have evening service or something special.

One day, after working so hard because of our usual rotational duties on campus, I went to sleep, hoping to skip the usual midnight prayer and study schedule. But this night was different. My eyes opened at the exact time, yet my body was too exhausted to move. "Why are my eyes opening when my body knows I am tired and need the rest to be effective at my work in the morning?" I thought. Well, I decided to close my eyes and hope to have that usual experience where we feel we are closing our eyes briefly only to wake up hours later. I did, and strangely, it was just for a few minutes. Now, because it was a period where I was helping out with the youth wing, I spent two out of at least three hours during my midnight schedule to pray for the youth members every day and hopefully get a word for those who needed it. It was challenging to stop praying for myself and concentrate on others, but the joy and fulfilment of hearing people say, "'Thank you, I needed to hear that.' 'Your word is a confirmation.' 'God bless you for the Word.'" was enough reward for my spirit. So, I stepped out of my room and went down the long staircase after wearing all types of clothing to shield me from the cold. Instead of walking to the prayer garden this time, I stopped at the open space in front of the restaurant. We mainly use that space when heading to the car park. I was too tired to walk long, so I prayed there.

This prayer session was different. I started to play my playlist and speak in tongues; immediately, I was led to pray for two particular youth members—one gentleman and one lady. I mentioned their names and continued speaking in tongues. Some minutes into the prayer, I realised the urge to pray more for this gentleman kept rising. As ignorant as I was then, I took it as one of those days when I needed to speak by faith and let God handle the rest. I quickly talked in faith (So I thought), and then I turned and started walking towards my hostel. Taking a few stairs, I was urged to return to the spot and continue praying. I was tired and couldn't take it anymore. But I obeyed and went back to pray. It was either Thursday or Friday. I tried to pray for extra minutes and returned to my hostel, hardening my heart against any leading. Long story short, I went home for Sunday Service only to be told that the gentleman had died either on that day or the day afterwards (I can't remember the exact day). Based on what I know today, that leading that evening was a PRAYER SOS. It wasn't as if the Lord needed me to perform some extraordinary wonders, but I was one of those selected by grace to support him in prayers and yet I chose to sleep. It took lots of talking from some close friends to shake the guilt off, but I knew the lesson had been learned. I was never going to allow anything to happen to any relative, friend, or whoever was close to me as long as I could pray for them. I will keep praying until I get that joy and calm in my spirit, no matter how I feel.

Based on this painful experience, I could relate to Pastor Chris and Pastor Enoch's teachings on the need to spend long hours in prayer on a particular matter, no matter how one feels, until one knows in one's spirit that the matter has been settled. How would you know? That was also my question then. But you will know when your prayer has been answered. You will know when you have that 'knowing'. The day I saw myself dancing like a madman after days and weeks of praying on a particular matter, I knew I had caught that insight. I didn't just have that 'knowing'; I had a dream that confirmed it and then received two random prophecies to verify it again. Brothers and sisters, this was Hebrews chapter 11, verse 1, playing out before me. It was more than head knowledge or vim at work; I had all the needed evidence to shame the devil each time he wanted to make me feel sorrow for a supposed "delayed response" from God.

Don't stop praying! You haven't prayed enough if you haven't encountered Wisdom for the needed solution. We don't measure the depth of our prayers by the hours spent; we measure it by the amount of wisdom we receive in our encounter with Wisdom each time we enter our prayer closets.

Remain in the blessings of God as you remain in Christ.

MD.

SHARE THE LINK

 

(Create or Join a Christian Community continuation)

1 Corinthians 1:11-13 (TPT)

[11] My dear brothers and sisters, I have a serious concern I need to bring up with you, for I have been informed by those of Chloe's house church that you have been destructively arguing among yourselves.

[12] Moreover, I need to bring this up because each of you is claiming loyalty to different preachers. Some are saying, "I am a disciple of Paul," or, "I follow Apollos," or, "I am a disciple of Peter the Rock," and some, "I belong only to Christ."

[13] However, let me ask you, is Christ divided up into groups? Did I die on the cross for you? At your baptism did you pledge yourselves to follow Paul?

During COVID-19, I sincerely couldn't stand the numerous church links I received from friends to join this teaching or that prayer meeting. It wasn't because I did not like or love a particular ministry or pastor but because my church also had online service, and I did not think it was right to abandon my online community to join another. For the few who persisted, I joined after our online service if theirs were still ongoing. Truthfully, the few services I joined blessed my life tremendously. A perfect example will be the online services of Pastor Enoch Boamah of CEYC Airport City. I cannot forget the numerous revelations and encounters I received during those ministrations. One that stood out for me was his teaching on Faith. From him, I understood that "Faith is not Vim." That first point scattered every understanding of Faith and led to my continuous study of the subject. I knew from that day that I needed to have grabbed in the spirit before I could speak publicly about anything. Be it anything I knew was my portion physically or spiritually, I needed to have spent time with God to have evidence in the spirit before coming out to speak of it. Based on that understanding, I knew my prayer session didn't have to end because I was tired. My prayer session had to end because I had encountered Wisdom, who had freely offered an answer or solution. Waiting in the place of prayer till I had an answer became the new normal. And those long hours of prayers gave way to several other insights that still hold me today.

Today, although we have reverted to going to church, I still cannot compare the level of spirituality I saw among Christians during the COVID-19 period to what it is now. Aside from my prayer sessions and church prayer meetings, I still remember the number of daily prayer meetings I would have to join because I had committed to this or that prayer community. It was a reasonable period for some people because they could proudly say they had a daily prayer and Word study life thanks to this or that church, community or friends. Some individuals gained insights into the Word of God from the ministers they chose to follow. Today, some people cannot stand the thought of receiving or joining a prayer link because they feel disloyal or unfaithful to their church. Yet, those links helped them have a consistent prayer life some years ago compared to the once-in-a-week prayer meeting at their church.

Fellow Christian brothers and sisters, we are all of the body of Christ. Why are you shunning another ministry only because it doesn't have your pastor as head or church name? I am always sad when people get furious because they received an Alpha Hour link, an NSPPD link, and Prophet Sarkodie's link, among many others. I understand if your spirit cannot connect with a particular ministry or minister based on an error in their theology. But I can't understand the hardness of your heart against other ministries or ministers because they are not of or from your church. The only recognisable name in Heaven is Jesus. Being a Church A or B member doesn't give you any special privilege or treatment in Heaven. Have we yet to read that we are all a part of a massive body of Christ? A ministry or minister may be a hand or leg in the body of Christ, but it does not make them robust or less potent because it is only in unity that the church can stand and conquer. If the Lord has asked a man of God to have a conference with six (6) pastors and three (3) singers, know for a certainty that each pastor and singer will manifest the move of God in that meeting differently. Each minister will uniquely speak or address a particular group, person, or situation by God's plan. No matter what you do or say, God has freely distributed His Grace to all His children. The man full of His Graces and the conduit and container of all is JESUS, not your pastor/shepherd/papa or my pastor/shepherd/papa.

Over the past decade, I have been enriched in various ways by the ministries of Pastor Benny, Pastor Joseph Prince, Bishop Dag, Archbishop Nicholas, Rev. Eastwood, Pastor Isaiah, Prophet Angel, Rev. Elvis, Prophet Sarkodie, Prophet Edem, Apostle Arome, Apostle Odoma, Apostle Orokpo, Apostle Suleman, Apostle Selman, E.M. Bounds, Pastor Bill Johnson, A. W. Tozer, Leonard Ravenhill, and many others. None of these men have any relation or connection to my church or spiritual father. However, I have learned from my spiritual father to always heed the Holy Spirit's guidance. When the Holy Spirit prompts me to read a book, listen to a message, or follow a man of God for a period, I obey without hesitation. Like many of you, if my spirit struggles with the content of a book or message, I know I don't have the clearance to engage with it at that moment. This has even happened with particular books in the Bible. For instance, in the past, I found it challenging to understand the book of Romans, Revelation, and Hebrews. But through prayer and obedience to the Holy Spirit, these books have opened up to me, revealing new insights and deepening my understanding of God's word.

Brothers and sisters, I love good teaching. Good teachings are the keys to success in the kingdom of light and darkness. The man or woman in the kingdom of light who understands the foundations of their faith in God is a walking danger or terror to the most advanced man or woman in the kingdom of darkness. The uniqueness of every man or woman of God is found in the aspect of Wisdom they encountered in their journies with God. Have you wondered why a man or woman of God thinks it is easy to operate in their giftings? It isn't a sign of pride. It is because Wisdom freely offered them the key to that gift. Most of these men are in ministry because they know and understand a particular secret in the kingdom. Based on their teaching, we are open to these mysteries and manifest these kingdom giftings consistently based on our understanding of that mystery. I don't join the meetings of particular churches or pastors to vet for possible new church communities in case the leadership of my church annoys me or I don't feel the environment any longer; NO! I only join these churches or pastors because I have been led to tap into grace or learn something from that ministry or person. For example, every student of Bishop Dag's bible school found a love for reading based on the structure of the curriculum, which was based on the study structure of a medical doctor, now a pastor. I visited EWC to taste their 48 hours of Word, prayer, and worship program. Have I ever felt the need to make it an annual experience? NO! When I needed to do it, the Lord created the urge, made the way and gave me the grace to stay in that church for 48 hours without feeling bored.

In summary, I know several people today who are Sunday church-going members, tithe-paying, and tongues-speaking, and who did not have a consistent prayer life until they joined one of these popular links. I believe these online prayer communities have been raised by God to help some people fight their way through corporate prayers. For others, it is an opportunity to open their lives to certain mysteries and encounters that have been their portion since the beginning.

Please, do not feel guilty! Whether it is Alpha hour, Commanding Your Morning, NSPPD, Halleluyah challenge or any other link that keeps you connected to God, join and build that relationship with God. On the day of judgment, what will matter is your knowledge of God, not your loyalty to your church. Your personal spiritual growth is your responsibility and should not be hindered by allegiance to a particular pastor, church, ministry or movement. Only Jesus is King and Lord. (to be continued)

Remain in the blessings of God as you remain in Christ.

MD.

NB: While genuine ministers are called to this movement of daily prayer meetings, charlatans have joined in muddying the water. Always be sensitive to the Spirit's leading when connecting to any link, reading any book, or listening to any message.

I KNOW YOU LOVE ME

 

2 Timothy 1:12 (NKJV)

For this reason, I also suffer these things; nevertheless I am not ashamed, for I KNOW whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day.

 

2 Timothy 1:12 (TPT)

The confidence of my calling enables me to overcome every difficulty without shame, for I have an intimate revelation of this God. And my faith in him convinces me that he is more than able to keep all that I've placed in his hands safe and secure until the fullness of his appearing.

 

 

I have yet to meet an older sibling who has never wished to be the last born. It must be because of the task of caring for younger siblings or the inability to tolerate their annoying characters. Although I have tried my best to act like I do not care about my younger siblings, I have failed to clarify that to one of my younger brothers. For reasons only known to him, he can confidently say anywhere that I love him no matter how strict I try to be or look. Whenever my little brother says that, he seems too serious for me to think he is playing. He is the only younger sibling who can boldly ask me for money or a favour, believing that I will never be able to say "No!" after repeatedly asking him to have me as a last option in the 'Older Sibling Duty'. It is always the audacity he gets to return, even when I have made it a lifelong duty to be a disappointment. Sometimes, when it becomes annoying, I have no other way than to give in.  

 

So, there was a day he had gone to make a bad deal and was being threatened spiritually. Although I have on several occasions advised him to build a personal relationship with the Lord and stop depending on the spirituality of those around him, he will always brush it off with this statement: "You are my covering." While he confidently says this, I wonder if this young man wants me to join our dad before my time. Anyway, he called me and narrated the story when the issue came up. After the briefing session, I asked him if he was expecting my sympathy or advice because I had none for him. Again, with that audacity, this gentleman tells me that he had already told the person that if the person tried him, he would have to deal with his big brother spiritually. At that juncture, I had to ask him to repeat himself. Again, with the same audacity, he repeated himself. After my silence for a minute, all he said before hanging up was, "I was only informing you so you can pray about it." I didn't know whether to call him and let him have a piece of my mind or trick him into meeting up with me, so I gave him a good beating.

 

As I sat there contemplating, all I could ask myself was, "How can one go and look for a boxing match and then have the audacity to write another person's name instead of theirs? Like, How! Is this boy God's lesson on patience for me? Why can't I disown him and live in peace since I can't bring myself to use him for blood money?"

At that moment, the Lord explained a kingdom truth most of us have failed to walk with — we live by faith, not sight. In other words, our walk with God cannot be predicated on how we feel but strictly on what God has said to us through His infallible Word. If we can't accept whatever He has already said concerning us in His Word, how can we believe the prophecies He shares with us through fellow believers, dreams and visions? My brother hasn't based my love for him on my mood or his; he always knows because he may have seen or heard something that may never change in his opinion. Based on that, he can boldly say anywhere that his brother has always gotten his back. I may not say it, but he still believes it. I may not seem like it, but he still believes it.

 

Fellow Christian brothers and sisters, your mood swings should never be a measuring tool in your walk with God. Who God is to us, what He has already done for us, what He wants from us, and many others have nothing to do with our feelings. When the Word says that our Heavenly Father loves us (Romans 5:8-11), it is and will never change, even when we don't feel it. When the Word says God is our protection (Psalm 46:1), it will never change, even when we think we are in the darkest situations. When the Word says that you are blessed with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ Jesus (Ephesians 1:3), it will never change, even when we think of a poor background or a generational lineage of poverty. With you in Christ, you are the exception to that generational order. When the Word says that you have been bought and washed by the blood of Jesus (Galatians 3:13-15), it is so and wouldn't change because you think your sin is the worst of all. When the Word says that you have been transferred from the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of light (Colossians 1:13), know for a fact that there is a massive gulf because these kingdoms and your feelings aren't enough reason to lose your Sonship title in the kingdom of light.

 

All I want you to do is hold on to whatever the Lord has already said about you in His Word. Speak what He has said, act on what He has said, and Live based on what He has said, and I can assure you that you will always be a terror to the kingdom of darkness. Get your Bible and find your rights in His kingdom. We live by His Word, not our feelings.

 

You are blessed because you are in Christ, not because you are good at being a Christian.

MD.

WHO ARE YOU PRAYING WITH OR FOR?

 

DON'T WALK ALONE (continuation)

Luke 22:31-32 (TPT)

"Peter, my dear friend, listen to what I'm about to tell you. Satan has obtained permission to come and sift you all like wheat and test your faith. [32] But I have prayed for you, Peter, that you would stay faithful to me no matter what comes. Remember this: after you have turned back to me and have been restored, make it your life mission to strengthen the faith of your brothers."

 

During a trying season, the Lord asked me not to walk alone, as I stated in the previous post. Although I could pray, it wasn't to the extent I had always wanted. Although I could still read and study the Bible, I knew it was again not to the level I had always wanted. But I was always happy I could find the right words to help those who contacted me with their problems. I was pouring out a lot, but I wasn't paying attention to the fact that nobody was pouring into me. Gradually, I realised that the desire to read/study my Bible, pray, and worship, among others, began to decline. I suddenly felt tired and bored when the thought of doing any of the above came to mind. I would start yawning when I felt like praying or reading the Bible, but when I took my phone to spend time on any social media platform, I would be up for hours. I couldn't understand it, but again, I didn't want the devil to feel special, so I never accepted it as an attack. During those periods, I finally accepted that you could spend days on YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok, and every single minute, you would be shown a new video. In other words, there is enough content to keep you distracted if you give in to the enemy. Anyway, I kept battling this whole idea of feeling sleepy the minute I wanted to pray or read the Bible for days until one day, I told myself I was going to spend time on social media when I felt like sleeping, and while at it, I would speak in tongues (please don't be tempted to try it). I prayed for hours, but truth be told, it was fruitless. I heard nothing. And as I always tell those around me, you can't spend time with God and not encounter Wisdom.

 

One day, I woke up and decided to practice one ritual the Lord taught me when battling with 15-30mins in His presence — conscious worshipping (Again, this is my ritual, not a doctrine). To practice conscious worshipping, I have a list of favourite songs, it could be at most five or ten, which I play in the background, yet instead of just playing in the background, I consciously sing along with the intention of dwelling on the songs' words. Finally, I sit quietly and listen when the songs have played, and I have sung them several times. During that conscious worshipping, I was directed to send a PRAYER SOS to selected friends in the faith. Wisdom had directed me to a solution, but I found it hard to make a list of people who could adhere to it immediately. For some people, I thought, the idea that I was requesting prayers would have sounded like a test or ploy to determine if they were praying, so I needed to know whom to send the PRAYER SOS. When I finally accepted the thought, I couldn't pinpoint particular Christian friends or loved ones to send the PRAYER SOS. After an hour or two, a few names came to mind, and I sent them a short message. Although they all replied in the affirmative that they would pray for me and let me know what the Lord was saying concerning the season, only a few returned with a Word from the Lord. (Please, always let people know if you cannot help them in prayer when they request a PRAYER SOS. No is still a sincere answer.) The few messages I received from these people were like a soothing balm to my soul, providing the relief and comfort I desperately needed. They encouraged me and helped me get back on track.

 

Romans 15:30 (TPT)

That's why I plead with you, because of our union with our Lord Jesus Christ, to be partners with me in your prayers to God. My dear brothers and sisters in the faith, with the love we share in the Holy Spirit, fight alongside me in prayer.

 

A specific message established a particular insight the Lord told me before that trying season. Reading that message, I could hear the Lord repeatedly telling me how much He loved me and was always with me. The word 'Emmanuel' had a different meaning from that day because I knew, based on that experience, that the Lord was always with me no matter what I was going through. Nothing was ever going to make me doubt that. I knew the Lord took me through that phase to make me understand why Apostle Paul constantly encouraged the community of believers he had around to pray with and for him. It was a humbling experience for me because I understood that no matter my spiritual maturity, I wasn't too old for prayers. Now, I request prayers from children, friends, pastors, etc. Pride makes us think we don't need the prayer of any other person except our pastors (I would touch on this another time). Humility in seeking help is a virtue we should all embrace, as it opens the door for the support and guidance we need in our faith journey.

 

Fellow brothers and sisters in the faith, no matter how 'spiritually matured' you think or know you are, don't fight that battle alone. Get yourself a Christian community, and request help when you need it. We were meant to help each other in the body of Christ. The Apostles who walked with Jesus knew this, practised it and taught their followers. Today, many are hiding behind a facade of 'Spiritus Paparitus' and slowly decaying, knowing that issues are weighing them down spiritually. Let us kill the pride and lean on each other. It is supposed to be our reality as Christians. We are not alone in our faith journey but part of a united body with a shared purpose.

 

Remain in the blessings of God as you remain in Christ.

MD.

 

 

NB: Each day, when a friend's name randomly pops into your mind, say a quick prayer and call them to check up. Let them know they came to mind, and you decided to check on them. It may look like a random act, but you just obeyed a PRAYER SOS from the Holy Spirit for them.

CREATE OR JOIN A CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY (Chapter 1)

 

I don't know why we, Christians, act ignorant of the reasons why we are losing most of our Christian brothers and sisters to occultic groups, to the point where these brothers and sisters who were once zealous for Christ and the things of His Kingdom are now bold enough to openly state that they would choose their occultic group at anytime or in any circumstance over their previous no matter the number of times they reincarnate (if there is anything like that).

 

I have always tried to imagine the Christian communities many of the first believers of old created or joined after accepting Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. We read the book of Acts, and based on teachings, we have been made to believe it is a "perfect picture" of what the "church" should be. Because the Apostles had not set off after their ascension of Jesus Christ to start a church, I have always believed that our concept of a "perfect church" was just a community of men and women who had one common denominator, their belief and acceptance of Jesus Christ as the Son of God, and sustaining that community with four principal pillars that they learned from the common denominator whom they lived with for three years.

 

Now, let's dramatise the first and second chapters of the Book of Acts. After witnessing Jesus effortlessly defying gravity without the Iron Man suit to ascend to heaven, the disciples' assignment was to return to Jerusalem and wait for the promise of the Heavenly Father—the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:8-11). While they walked, I can imagine the several stories they shared, reminiscing about the time they spent in person with the Son of God. John could smell Jesus as he remembered the several times he had his head on him. Thomas could finally put to rest the absurdity of Jesus' resurrection being a mere fable. He touched and felt the marks of His suffering. No one could tell him or them that they were dreaming or imagining things. They knew what they had heard, seen, touched and tasted concerning the begotten Son of God. And it was all joy. (Acts 1:11/1 John 1:1). As they approached Jerusalem, their minds were united in one purpose: To await the coronation of their Master. Their daily prayers were not to hasten Jesus's ascension and coronation, but to prepare themselves for the global revival they were about to lead with the promised Holy Spirit (Acts 2:33).

 

Acts 1:13-14 (NKJV)

[13] And when they had entered, they went up into the upper room where they were staying: Peter, James, John, and Andrew; Philip and Thomas; Bartholomew and Matthew; James the son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot; and Judas the son of James.

[14] These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers.

 

They kept praying until a particular day. This day felt no different until they heard a sound that was a bit different from the several days they had already been in prayer. The atmosphere felt unique this morning, but they thought nothing strange of it and kept praying. A few minutes later, they could hear themselves speaking a weird language, but they all had no urge to stop. It was as if a more substantial power had taken over them. They felt the need to keep on praying and not stop. They felt renewed, refreshed, rejuvenated, and equipped with more to keep on journeying in the place of prayer. Unbeknownst to them, this experience was happening to only them. Walking outside to listen to the views of those gathered upon hearing these strange sounds, one could have compared it to the closest charismatic church having their usual two-to-three-hour prayer sessions glorifying and seeking God in tongues. As the people, that is, those who are Jews by birth, Jews by association and Jews by practice from around the world, rushed to draw closer to the abode of the disciples for more information.

 

As the numbers outside increased, one could inaudibly hear murmuring here and there as if they were trying to feed on each other's opinions to give a perspective on whatever was happening. In the first instance, they didn't understand why a group of fellow Jews had decided to be secluded when the Pentecost Celebration (Leviticus 23) instructed by God through Moses was happening. With their Master dead, is this their new form of rebellion or new strategy to disrespect the elders? As some looked at this incident quizzically, one started shouting frantically, "I can hear them speaking my language." Then, looking towards a fellow citizen, it is confirmed. This was happening with every nationality. It was the first kind, and no one could understand it. Imagine attending a religious ceremony in China, only to see a group of Chinese who have never crossed their national borders to Ghana fluently speaking the history of Ghana to you in Ga, Ewe, Akan, Fante, and Hausa, among others, with parables only the elders in the communities back home could interpret. (I know that is possible in this era, but this is just an illustration). That is how surprising it was for them as this unfolded before them. "How were those who speak Galileans speaking to them in their native language about the wonderful works of God? What could this mean?" some asked as they kept their eyes on this spectacle. While a few were wondering if this was another strange plan of God to speak to them from the mountain as He did with their fathers at Mount Sinai, some were mocking the incident by saying, "They are full of new wine." As usual, they made that statement to quickly rubbish this unique experience that was more than a supernatural coincidence for some of these visiting Jews. Knowing God through history, they knew this meant something, yet they didn't have any of the great prophets of old to give a unique perspective to what was occurring. (Acts 2:5-13)

 

As if Peter could read their minds as Jesus did with them, he stood and began to give the perspective they were looking for by relating the occurrence to the prophecy of one of the prophets. I intend this article not to break down Apostle Peter's first message at an uninvited yet miraculous Homecoming conference for all Jews worldwide for ten or twenty points but to discuss the first community-building exercise initiated by the apostles after this powerful experience and timely message from the Holy Spirit.

 

Acts 2:41-42 (NKJV)

[41] Then those who gladly received his word were baptised; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them.

[42] And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers.

 

Acts 2:41-42 (AMP)

[41] So then, those who accepted his message were baptised; and on that day about 3,000 souls were added [to the body of believers].

[42] They were continually and faithfully devoting themselves to the instruction of the apostles, and to fellowship, to eating meals together and to prayers.

 

According to the Book of Acts chapter 1, verse 15, the scripture makes it explicitly clear that the number of people gathered with the disciples at the abode where they were praying and waiting for the Holy Spirit after the resurrection was one hundred and twenty (120). Now, I will also want to state with the authority of the scriptures that the disciples had not stated vocally or tried to insinuate they were starting a ministry after the resurrection of Christ. They were just a group of people who had accepted and believed that Jesus Christ was the Son of God. This was the common denominator among them. Aside from that, only a few were of the same mother and father, business, hometown, age, etc. The only thing that united them was someone they had accepted and believed as the Son of God, Jesus Christ. So, when Peter had finished delivering such a convicting message, those who believed and accepted Jesus Christ as the Son of God were baptised and added to the community whose only common denominator was Jesus Christ and nothing else.

 

Now, let me address my initial comment that the concept of the "church" used in some translations of Acts chapter 2, verse 42 isn't the same as the one we have today. For clarity, some translations were specific and said, "…three thousand souls were added to them (the body of believers)." In other words, they were added to them because they believed in the common factor/ denominator that had kept them together for three years. I know that the common denominator is the basis for every church that believes that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and has accepted Him as Lord and Saviour. However, although the common denominator was the first step of acceptance to the community, the sustenance of the community was based on a set of principles they had learned while following the common denominator, Jesus Christ, for three years — doctrine, fellowship, breaking of bread (eating meals together, not communion service) and prayers. I love how one translation puts it: "They spent their time learning from the apostles, and they were like family to each other. They also broke bread and prayed together." So, their concept of a "church" is a community of men and women who believe and accept Jesus Christ as the Son of God, the Saviour and Lord of all, while firmly holding onto the practice of constant teachings, fellowship, eating meals together and praying.

 

I can tell you that the reason why the many souls the "church," that is, you and I, have witnessed have failed to stay in the body of Christ purposefully pursuing God is because we have lacked these four structures — doctrine, fellowship, breaking of bread (eating together) and prayers — in a family-like setting. I am not talking about the family devotion that some of us have or had when we used to stay with our "over-religious parents." This is in no way belittling the place of home devotion among families. The "church" is meant to be a family setting. If not, why did Jesus come to draw our attention to a loving Heavenly Father who was once ignorantly known by many as a wicked being killing rebellious followers? Why would the "church" be called the bride of Christ? 

This is why some people have never felt the need to commit to any church, even though they have joined one or two departments. The only reason why some are still at their church, though they are not enjoying all these structures, is because they feel attached to their roles at their church because they may have been made to believe that service at church is the only way to succeed at the expense of their foremost need for a relationship with their Lord and Master Jesus. The minute these people lose their roles in that church, nothing makes them want to come to that church building. Immediately their only option to continue their weekly marking of Sunday attendance is to find another church that wouldn't remind them of the hurt from the previous church. (...to be continued)

 

Remain in the blessings of God as you remain in Christ.

MD.