More and More People Believed

Scripture: Acts 5:12-16

12 The apostles were performing many miraculous signs and wonders among the people. And all the believers were meeting regularly at the Temple in the area known as Solomon’s Colonnade. 13 But no one else dared to join them, even though all the people had high regard for them. 14 Yet more and more people believed and were brought to the Lord—crowds of both men and women. 15 As a result of the apostles’ work, sick people were brought out into the streets on beds and mats so that Peter’s shadow might fall across some of them as he went by. 16 Crowds came from the villages around Jerusalem, bringing their sick and those possessed by evil spirits, and they were all healed. (Acts 5:12-16 NLT)

In spite of Peter and John’s arrest and a night in jail, followed by a court appearance before the Jewish governing council and a stern warning from the High Priest Annas, who had orchestrated the crucifixion of Jesus, to stop preaching and teaching about Jesus, they continued. Peter and John replied to the council, “Do you think that God wants us to obey you rather than him? We cannot stop telling about the wonderful things we have seen and heard!”

The believers were meeting regularly in a Colonnade of the Temple. The apostles were performing miraculous signs and wonders among the people of the city. Crowds came from all over Jerusalem and the surrounding towns and villages bringing the sick and they were all healed! And more and more people believed and were brought to the Lord—crowds of both men and women.

The church was growing like crazy! First there were 120, then 3000 added, then 5000 men plus women and children, now “crowds of both men and women”! And they didn’t even have their own “campus”. To encourage church growth we tend to focus on comfortable seats in an air-conditioned auditorium, with plenty of convenient parking, an extensive children’s and youth ministry, and a top-notch worship band. As well as “great preaching and teaching” from the speaking team.

I’m not trying to be funny, friends. I know that comparing Acts 5 to our current situation is to some extent comparing “apples to oranges”. I love my church and I’m so thankful that we’re making a difference in our community by providing food to the hungry, housing to the houseless, assistance to people in crisis, and great ministry programs that actually help people. Let’s do our part, and let God do his part!

Prayer:

Father, Please help us to do the things Jesus did, cross lines that should be crossed, and not be more involved in marketing our wares than advancing the Kingdom of God.