May 3, 2014. DO YOU WANT YOUR CHURCH TO GROW? (3)

Saturday May 3

“They were all filled with the Holy Spirit.”            Ac 4:31 NKJV

DO YOU WANT YOUR CHURCH TO GROW? (3)

Inspire them. To be inspired is to feel motivated and excited about what you are doing. The story is told of a little boy sitting in church with his mother. On the platform behind the pastor were three flags; the little boy asked her about the first one. “That’s our nation’s flag,” she said. Then he wanted to know about the second flag. She whispered, “That’s the Christian flag.” Finally he asked about the third flag. Telling him to be quiet, she whispered, “That’s for those who died in the service.” Innocently he asked, “Which service did they die in, the morning or evening service?” Yes, your church should be a place of reverence and order, but it should also be alive with the power and presence of God. A sign on a little country store said it all: “There’s no place anywhere near this place, that’s anything like this place, so this must be the place!” That’s what God wants His church to be. You ask, “What was church like back in the days of the early apostles?” Distinctive! Dynamic! Demonstrative! “When they had prayed, the place where they were assembled...was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness.” According to the latest Barna poll, nowadays a “committed” church member is someone who attends church twice a month. Wow! The New Testament believers went every day. Furthermore, “They were all (every member) filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness.” Jesus is many things-but boring isn’t one of them. So let’s invite people, instruct them, and inspire them!

Taken from the Word for You Today Devotional