Holy Spirit Power in Unity

“And when they heard this, they lifted their voices to God with one accord” -Acts 4:24 Satan, our enemy, fears the body of Christ and will work diligently to keep the saints away from the local church, and from what is written in Hebrews 10:24-25, “and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near,” it is apparently some believers were even then lax in worshipping together. Through the years, I have seen church attendance addressed in many ways: build new and better facilities so people will come, have more innovative and interesting programs which will appeal to the community, better preaching, better choir, etc. To me, these comments always seemed to miss the central truth about the church. It is not the pastor’s church or the congregation’s church; it is the church of Jesus Christ! All the sociological reasons about church attendance focused not on Christ but rather on the individual member. And, the Spirit of God empowers the church of Christ, not the church of self-interest.

REFLECTION: "But what does it say? 'The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart,' that is, the word of faith we are proclaiming: that if you confess with your mouth, 'Jesus is Lord,' and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with your heart you believe and are justified, and with your mouth you confess and are saved," (Romans 10:8-10). "That Sunday evening the disciples were meeting behind locked doors because they were afraid of the Jewish leaders. Suddenly, Jesus was standing there among them! 'Peace be with you,' he said. As he spoke, he showed them the wounds in his hands and his side. They were filled with joy when they saw the Lord! Again he said, 'Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I am sending you.' Then he breathed on them and said, 'Receive the Holy Spirit...,'" (John 20:19-22). In the book of Acts, God has revealed how Christ built His church. In the first five chapters, building programs, great choirs, user friendly attitudes are conspicuous by their absence. Of course choirs, functional buildings, and reaching out to the community are not wrong in themselves; but they are secondary, not primary. What is primary to the Lord building His church is the power of the Holy Spirit. Even after the disciples had seen Jesus risen from the dead, even after they were born again, the Lord told them to wait. He told His followers they would receive (future tense) power from on high when they were baptized with the Holy Spirit. The moment the Holy Spirit baptism came to the church, three thousand were born again. Soon after another five thousand men gave their life to the Lord (probably as many women, if not more, also came to Christ). The Lord has not changed, the Spirit of God is still anointing the local church, what you and I, the saints of God, need is to return faithfully to unity in the church. To lay down our preferences, honor, and opinions and let the Spirit draw us together. May it be so Lord.

Pastor Michael Heil

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, thank You for sending Your Holy Spirit to empower me and to lead me into all truth. I ask that You continue to fill me with Your Holy Spirit. Help me to always remember that it is all about You. In all that is said and done, all that matters is You. Let me always remember what Your Word says, "He that wins souls is wise." Lord, let Your children come together in one accord with one mind and one purpose to proclaim Your Good News of salvation and forgiveness of sins. Let change begin in me first, O God, and change my heart, making me more and more like You. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Linda A. Knowles