ESOCS Devotional 15 September 2022
TEXT: ACTS 2: 37 -47
MEMORY VERSE:
“Peter’s words pierced their hearts, and they said to him and to the other apostles, ‘Brothers, what should we do?’” Acts 2:37 NLT
0 And the apostles, when they had returned, told Him all that they had done. Then He took them and went aside privately into a deserted place belonging to the city called Bethsaida. 11 But when the multitudes knew it, they followed Him; and He received them and spoke to them about the kingdom of God, and healed those who had need of healing. 12 When the day began to wear away, the twelve came and said to Him, “Send the multitude away, that they may go into the surrounding towns and country, and lodge and get provisions; for we are in a deserted lace ”
Following Peter’s power packed sermon to the mammoth crowd on the Pentecost Sunday, those who believed, and were baptized were about 3,000 converts (vs. 41). Preaching the word of God is very important in the life of every believer. This is all the more important in the life a minister. Moreover, it is one major way of obeying the commandment of Jesus Christ in the Great Commission of Matthew 28: 19-20. However, effective handling of the word is of utmost importance, as this will determine its impact on the target audience. As we have seen in vs. 41, of our text above, just in one crusade programme, the church grew by the addition of 3,000 members, through Peter’s impressive sermon.
As recorded in Matthew 3: 5-8, and Luke 3: 1-14, John the Baptist was also such an effective handler of the word. The impact of his message on the entire Jewish community was awesome. His approach was so mature and powerful that people did not hesitate to give their lives over to God (Matthew 3: 5-6). John did not mince words, nor pamper them, even as they responded. He rather became harder on them by making such harsh statements as, “……. O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come; bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance.” (Matthew 3: 7-8).
Ironically, such hard and overbearing messages are hardly preached on our pulpits of today. Today’s pastors are rather afraid of losing their members, as we preach, with one eye on people’s pockets. John was very clear and exact, when he told them in Luke 3:9 that “the axe is laid unto the root of the trees; and that every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.” For John, there was no need for such fanciful and funny gimmicks as “You will prosper, or somebody shout Halleluyah!” It was strictly business.
Other notable effective ministers as recorded in the Holy Writ include:
- Jesus Christ, in Galelee and Judaea
- Stephen’s ministry to the Jews
- Philip, the Evangelist in Samaria
- Saint Paul in Asia, to mention but a few.
There were notable effects of their ministration on the people they ministered to, the church, the immediate community, and the world at large. I think its high time the church of today should rise up to the challenges of the time, as we confidently return to the core message of the church.
CHALLENGES: Would you rather water down the word to grow your church, or preach serious sermons to grow God’s Kingdom?
PRAYER POINTS: Lord Jesus, grant us the strong mind to become more serious with the preaching of the word of the Kingdom.
Read Other ESOCS Devotional here
FURTHER READING: Judges 6: 1-32; Nehemiah 1: 1-11; Matthew 10: 9-15.
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ESOCS Devotional 15 September 2022
