religiousaffections

October 5, 2009

Acts 1:8 says, “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

Boice, in his commentary says, “I do not sense that Christians today are always fully aware of how thoroughly that plan was carried out by the first generation of the church.” In his Apology, Tertullian wrote, “We are but of yesterday, and we have filled every place among you - cities, islands, fortresses, towns, market places, the very camp, tribes, companies, palace, senate, forum - we have left nothing to you but the temples of your gods.”

Adolf Harnack wrote of this mighty movement, “We cannot hesitate to believe that the great mission of Christianity was in reality accomplished by means of informal missionaries.” That was the secret. Every Christian - not just a formal order of missionaries - considered it his or her obligation to bear witness.

My soul is so deeply burdened this morning for such a move of God in our churches. Before “missional” was a popular word, the early Christians got it, Adolf Harnack got it. These unlearned men and women of the first Christian church heard the words of Christ and obeyed. So simple, but so hard! I pray for Covenant Life this morning - though we are small, may the gospel be on our lips and may the Holy Spirit use us mightily in Tampa and across the world.