Good morning Lord Jesus, I begin my day in prayer breathing in your Spirit to form and transform my own.
"Now on that day a great persecution began against the church in Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were forced to scatter throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria......Now those who had been forced to scatter went around proclaiming the good news of the word." vs.1, 4.
I was almost excited when I read chapter 8. The early church in Jerusalem, was forced to scatter, to leave their congregation and the only "church" they knew. This scattering, caused them to proclaim and share the Gospel to new people, new neighbors, new communities and plant new churches. “The Church that was a location became a movement of God! Later in chapter 11 we will read:
"Now those who had been scattered because of the persecution that took place over Stephen went as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch" (11:19)
Those early disciples were forced to leave their "home church", this led to planting of other churches, including the great church in Antioch! The persecution and scattering the enemy meant to destroy the church, God used it to grow and further establish His church. I look back at what happened to us when ODC had to leave Inside Out Ministry’s building. We were saddened and angry. However, this “scattering” of us led to the launching of The Well house church, Kids of the Kingdom, Community Dinners, Monday night Worship, Limestone Flea Market service, and the Downtown Rescue Mission training and Worship Nights. The church was designed to be a movement. To scatter then gather, scatter then gather again. When the church is forced to leave its building and takes with it nothing but Jesus is when it is most effective.
I am learning that the church is at its best when it is fluid, underground, subversive, and countercultural. It is with the unknown, quiet, humble stealth acts that the church changes things.
Pray over your life, the life of your church and the life of your ministries. Have you been stuck, complacent, or comfortable in a season of huddling? When was the last time instead of being a location, you were part of the movement of God? Pray that the Holy Spirit will motivate you, give you the courage, and guides you into a new season of scattering. Pray God leads you, leads your church, and reveals to you your new “Phoenicia, Cyprus and Antiochs” in which to scatter and start new outreaches, ministries, churches and connections.
Please share what verses you dwelled on in Acts 8 and your thoughts or questions with us in the comment box below.
Pray over you commitment and participation in our 28 days of Acts.
28 Days of Acts
We are at the end of our second week of reading through the Book of The Act of The Apostles together. During this time I asked all of us as a church, as a family, as a community of faith to come together as we begin pray over a new revelation, a new manifestation of Jesus into the vision and ministries of our churches and our lives. I want us to dedicate ourselves to pouring ourselves into his word and prayer as we seek God’s will and direction for our lives. To aid us in this I am asking us to commit to one another and join together in these 5 things:
1. There are 28 chapters in Acts of Apostles, so we will read one chapter a each weekday for the next 28 weekdays.
2. If you are not in a Band group, start up or join one. A band group is the Wesleyan name for accountability groups of 2-3 people of the same sex that meet weekly. We need to both encourage and hold each other accountable to time in the Word, Prayer, and our daily walk with Christ and to discern what we hear Christ speaking into our lives.. Do not delay, pray to God who to ask you which one or two persons to invite to join you, and do it. Ne excuses, no delays.
3. Set aside just one hour a week (you can do more than one) away from distractions and spend that hour in solid prayer.
4. Fast one day a week in prayer.
5. Daily Lunch + prayer: Everyday when you sit down to lunch, you pray over your meal. After your prayer over the meal, add a 30 second prayer over yourself and your church and its ministries for God’s vision and leading.
I could use your financial support for One Direction Community and my family to jump down into the pits and help lift up those on the margins God has placed in my path I refuse to walk around. Please commitment to partner and support myself and One Direction community through setting up a monthly donation or a one –time gift by clicking the link below. Donation checks can be made out to ODC, PO Box 1293 Madison, Al 35758. Thank You! Thank You! .
