7 GREAT Things About The Church

I have been attending the Pentecost celebrations at Global Spheres Ministries (GOZ) Chuck Pierce's Church in North Dallas area. There has been a lot of talk about the Church in the Book of Acts, and the ministry of the Apostles and other 5-Fold leaders. The emphasis has been on the leaders of the Church equipping the SAINTS (all Believers) to do the work of the ministry (Eph. 4:12). This is modeled so wonderfully in the Book of Acts - I just want to note that when you look at all the miracles in this book that come from the Apostolic leaders...it accounts for 39...

The Believers and other leaders are accredited with 30 miracles! Almost as many!

We tend to think of big name leaders doing all the signs,wonders and miracles, but the greatness of the Church must surely be the power of God flowing in, and through the entire Body of Christ.

So...although this book is called The Acts of the Apostles, it is clear that the ministry of ordinary Believers such as you and I is just as significant as the great champions of the Church. We are called to do great things in the Kingdom of God.

In the Book of Acts, we can see that there are 7 GREAT things about the Church:

• Acts 4:33 They had GREAT power

• Acts 4:33 GREAT grace (charis/favor) was upon them all

• Acts 5:5, 11 A GREAT fear of God gripped their hearts

• Acts 6:8 They ministered with GREAT wonders

• Acts 8:1 They suffered GREAT persecution

• Acts 8:8 Even through days of great persecution, they had GREAT joy (15:3)

• Acts 14:1 ...and as a result, GREAT multitudes believed (17:4)

Book of Acts (Two)

Also, in the Book of Acts, we can see the greatness of the Church. Look at these principles that were great in the lives of early Believers:

The Believers Were Filled With:

4:33 Great power

4:33 Great grace

5:5, Great fear (of God)

6:8 Great wonders

8:1 Great persecution

8:8 Great joy (15:3)

14:1 Great multitudes believed (17:4)

Maybe we will also see great multitudes coming into the Kingdom if we are great in all those other areas as well. (Not that we want great persecution, but it surely made the early Church strong!)

Book of Acts Part 1: HERE

The Book of Acts

Lately I have been reading the Book of Acts. I have been interested to find all the instances of God's manifest presence in the lives of the early Believers. Here is what I have come up with:

In the Book of Acts, there are:

12  Occasions where small and large groups came to Christ

20  Different kinds of supernatural signs, wonders and unusual miracles

9    Healings and deliverances

21  Occasions where the Lord spoke directly to His people through prophetic words, words of knowledge or visions. One of these was through a prophetic act.

2    Instances of God’s audible voice

1    Trance

1   Occasion when Stephen’s face visibly changed (he looked like an angel). He also saw the glory of God

4   Occasions where the Holy Spirit came on people and twice they spoke in tongues

3   Occasions where they were supernaturally released from prison – an angel was involved in 2 of these

7  Occasions where an angel was involved in communicating to, or interacting with the disciples

4   Occasions where the boldness, wisdom and grace of the Believers was noted, and people were amazed

2   Died and were raised to life

3   Were killed by the wrath of God

Book of Acts Part 2: HERE