The greater number of believers all agree the early Church had tremendous blessings and outpouring of the Holy Spirit, and many question; why don't we have this today?
We all know that God is not a respecter of persons. Therefore we should take a careful look at what they did that brought such a blessing. The answer is very clear.
The outpouring of the Holy Spirit is given when people pray.
In the very first chapter of the book of Acts we read.
“They all continued in one accord in prayer.” - Act 1: 14
Then the Holy Spirit was given.
Jesus had promised but the promise wasn't given without united prayer. They were told to wait. Waiting upon God is very important, but very difficult for a natural man to do, especially for those who have not experienced waiting for God to work. Faith works wonders. For those who believe the promise, waiting is made easier due to the joy of expectación of receiving the gift.
Throughout the book of Acts intercession becomes the norm.
In chapter four the religious leaders of the day were becoming concerned with the blessing of the Lord upon the preaching of the disciples and commanded them to no longer preach in the name of Jesus.
It then says:
“And when they heard that, they lifted up their voice to God with one accord, and said, Lord, thou art God, which hast made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all that in them is......”
Just like before.
“And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness. And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul.” Again it was united prayer that brought another historical moment.
Then in chapter six the 12 apostles, find the need to take a serious look at priorities. They had been accused by the Grecians for neglecting the widows. This is a serious charge, for they knew our Heavenly Father has high regard for widows and orphans.
The Apostle James even wrote.
“Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.” James 1: 27
“Therefore the twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto them, and said, It is not reason (incomprehensible) that we should leave the word of God, and serve tables.
Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business. But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word. And the saying pleased the whole multitude:”
Almost everyone had been directly or indirectly blessed by the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. They all knew this blessing had come about because of prayer. They were very reluctant to quit doing the very thing they knew had brought on this favor from the creator.
Nevertheless, the disciples took the accusation seriously and sought out seven spirit-filled men to look after the matter. (they would be hard to find in most congregations today)
“And the word of God increased, and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly, and a great company of the priests was obedient to the faith.” It appears that our Heavenly Father was more than pleased with their commitment to prayer and the word of God. The greatest need in the Church today is this same commitment to prayer and the word of God. Today people get (or give) just enough teaching and prayer to soothe the conscious but not enough to bring the multiplication of disciples. Our gracious and generous God is more than ready to pour out the Holy Spirit on those who truly hunger and thirst for it. Those who hunger and thirst do not just set back and complain but at the first opportunity they cry out to the one who can meet the need of their souls.
The presence of God is by far the greatest blessing, not just something He can give us, but, His presence, it's not just a gift of GOD but the loving indwelling, Christ, in you is your hope of glory. The men who had spent some years in the presence of the almighty knew how much we all needed Him. Therefore this became their gift to humanity to wait before Him and pray for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. Once we have been blessed with the same, then in return our greatest gift for others is the ability to pray this same blessing for them.
History confirms whenever men give themselves to prayer in one accord,
the heavenly blessing comes and it cannot come any other way.
Comments