Glowing in Holiness

Fellowship of Believers - Act 2:42-47

The Salvation Army's International Mission Statement says, "The Salvation Army an international movement is an evangelical part of the universal Christian Church. It message is based on the Bible. It's ministry is motivated by love for God. It's mission is to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ and meet human needs in his name without discrimination."

The church is a community of people separated from the world. We still live in this world, but we are not of it. Jesus prayed, My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but protect them from the evil one. They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. Sanctify them by the truth: your word is truth. (John 17 15-17). The values of God's Kingdom become our accepted values. Once we lived under the domination of sin and evil, but when we become Christians we are under Christ in Christ. We are to be a holy people.

The power of the world can be very threatening and we need the grace of God to enable us to live holy lives. The support and encouragement of fellow believers is vital. Community is not an option. We should embrace community, support the community of the church we belong to without attendance, participation, tithes and offerings.

We read in Acts of the Apostles that the Christians devoted themselves on the apostles' teaching, and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer (Act 2:42). So when we meet in church on Sunday or in the homes of fellow Christians during the week we are following an old tradition. We are to be a learning community of people.

A church without a teaching ministry cannot survive and be a vibrant church. We all need food to stay alive, and to do so spiritually we need spiritual food. All Scripture in God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work, 2 Timothy 3: 16-17. We need to be taught to be usable and useful in the community we are in and the world in which we dwell.

We are to be a united community of people. In Acts of the Apostles, we read that Christian believers meet in Upper Room - they were together, united in pray. We read that the church was unified (Acts 2:44) magnified (Acts 2:47) and multiplied (Acts 2:47).. praising God and enjoying the favour of the all the people. The Lord added to their number daily those who are being saved.

The unity in spirit within the church expresses itself in our willingness to share with others; in giving and receiving. They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching, and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer (Act 2:42). The early church had no church buildings. They met for fellowship in the houses of the people, by the riverside, or anywhere they could find a place.

Church revivals always begin with a group of individuals concerned enough to really pray. They are passionate enough about soul saving. They are willing to spend time and agonise in prayer. A praying church will result in a revived church. A church comes alive and meets challenges. Prayer is the life of the church. A church without serious effort to pray is a lifeless church. It can still carry on with activities, but is dead and does not bring glory to God. Hear the words of the Lord: Call upon me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know (Jeremiah 33:3). Let us be a holy, praying community of people.

Commissioner Lim Ah Ang (retired) - (Singapore, Malaysia, Myanmar.)