For this year, I was asking the Lord where He wants to lead the church. God gave me 3 words for the church aside from aggressively making disciples of all nations which I think should be a given for every church plant. One of the word was that our church would be like the Acts church.

When I get a word from God I really take it seriously. When God gave our church a word to move in generosity – we heeded the word and practiced it like never before. We have seen so many financial breakthrough as we move in generosity. So when He told us ( the pastoral team to move in the miraculous, I started studying the book of Acts and look at the pattern of God’s supernatural and sovereign hand of God moved in the early church.

So throughout this month, I’ll be blogging some of the insights and principles in the book of Acts that would help every pastor and church planter in leading the church of Christ.

Here is lesson number 1:

The Holy Spirit’s power and function.

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

Results of Acts 1:8 in the early church

1. More effectiveness in witness and ministry.

2. Effective proclamation of the gospel.

Matt. 28:19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,

3. Power for victory over sin

Acts 2:42 And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers.
Acts 2:43 Then fear came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles.
Acts 2:44 Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common,
Acts 2:45 and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need.
Acts 2:46 ¶ So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart,

4. Power for victory over Satan and demonic forces

Acts 16:16 Now it happened, as we went to prayer, that a certain slave girl possessed with a spirit of divination met us, who brought her masters much profit by fortune-telling.
Acts 16:17 This girl followed Paul and us, and cried out, saying, “These men are the servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to us the way of salvation.”
Acts 16:18 And this she did for many days.  But Paul, greatly annoyed, turned and said to the spirit, “I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.” And he came out that very hour.

5. Distribution of gifts for ministry

Acts 2:16 But this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel:
Acts 2:17     “And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God, That I will pour out of My Spirit on all flesh; Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, Your young men shall see visions, Your old men shall dream dreams.
Acts 2:18     And on My menservants and on My maidservants I will pour out My Spirit in those days;And they shall prophesy.