But Peter said, “Annanias, why has satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit…then Annanias hearing these words, fell down and breathed his last. So great fear came upon all those who heard these things” (Acts 5:3,5) The church of the early Christians, as recorded, was indeed a household of God. Every activities carried out was directed by the Holy Spirit. Things were done mutually, giving was sacrificial and there existed no discrimination ,or class distinction. (Acts 4:32-37) In those days, how dare you tell lies in the presence of God... the fear of God was in the heart of the people, and the result; the power and love of God grew among the people, signs and wonders abound, there was both quantitative and qualitative growth as people believed and became true worshippers of the Most High God, placing them in high esteem amongst everyon,e believers and non believers alike! …And the work of God progressed.(Acts 5:13) Looking at the numerous churches around today, can we still say there are churches like that of the people of Antioch? Do we still have leaders like the Apostles who spoke the Word undiluted and were not partial in their dealings with the people? Do we still have such a church filled with love for one another, where there is no categorization, division, tribalism, or that awful “holy than thou” attitude!(Galatians 5:13, Ephesians 4:2-6). The Bible says, “that He might present it to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that it should be holy and without blemish” (Ephesians 5:27)…this can only be achieved when love exists among the church and the church cleanses and girds itself daily with Word of truth, sanctifing itself by not just hearing that Word, but living it. Hatred, gossips, malice, selfishness, pride, enmity, envy, sexual immorality and others as mentioned in Galatians 5:19-21, are blemishes and stains that Jesus Christ is not expecting to find when He comes back and are hindrances to the long overdue and much awaited end-time Revival. Until we as a church mend our ways and sincerely go back to our first love (Jesus Christ) offering true worship to our God, there can not be an increase in number of converts and true believers, neither will end-time revival come...a revival so important in preparing the world for the return of the King. Let us as a church make restitution, so that our soul winning and reaching out to the lost may not be futile…our actions, reactions and attitudes to one another in the church(not only our local church ,but the universal church) is enough to bring in souls to the church and expand the kingdom of heaven… We can still have such a church as the early Christians! Certainly we can! “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches” (Revelation 3:22)
|
