Acts 5:12-16
New International Version 1984 (NIV1984)
12 The apostles performed many miraculous signs and
wonders among the people. And all the believers used to meet together in
Solomon’s Colonnade. 13 No one else dared join them, even though they
were highly regarded by the people. 14 Nevertheless, more and more men and women
believed in the Lord and were added to their number. 15 As
a result, people brought the sick into the streets and laid them on beds and
mats so that at least Peter’s shadow might fall on some of them as he passed
by. 16 Crowds gathered also from the towns around
Jerusalem, bringing their sick and those tormented by evil spirits, and
all of them were healed.
As I have thought about church
over the past few years I have come to a different conclusion than I did in the
past. For years I thought church was
where you took people so that they would hear about the Lord Jesus Christ but
in the past few years I have come to realize that church is not for the
un-churched but rather for the believers.
It was established to build one another up and teach one another the
ways of the Lord so we could go out into the public and proclaim Him to
others. Church is the last place most
unbelievers want to go and I have heard some say that if they entered the
church they would be struck down because of all the awful things that they had
done. As I read this scripture today, I
was one again convicted that church is not for the unbeliever but for the
believer.
Notice in verse 12 and 13, they
performed many miracles and wonders among the people but when they met
together, in a public place, no one dared to join them. Just as today, those who think they are
outsiders are afraid to walk into the doors of the church but they watch our
lives, ask for our prayers, and respect those who truly live for the Lord. Note also in verse 14 that even though they
were not attending the gatherings, the church was growing.
The point that is clear to me
today is this: If we want our churches
to grow, we need to go outside of the church and live our lives for the
Lord. We need to proclaim His love to
others outside of the church. We should
not be about inviting others to church to hear the Gospel, we need to be
sharing that Gospel to others outside the church walls. Ministry does not begin within the confines
of the church walls, it begins with sharing God’s love with others among the
people. We may not be as educated as a
pastor but we know how God changed our lives.
We need to share that with others, pray with them and for them, and
allow the Holy Spirit to work through us to reach them. I don’t know about you but I need the church
to help me grow, encourage me, and pray for me so that His will is the end
product in my life.
As you seek Him with all your
heart may you find that the Gospel is spread through you to others and may the
Church grow in numbers as we share with those around with whom we come into
contact with on a daily basis. May our
lives reflect His glory in all that we say and do.
Seeking Him with all my heart,
Sheila
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