Devotion and Prayer: Foundations of the Early Church

In the book of Acts, chapter 2, verses 41 and 42, we find a profound description of the early church's life and priorities. These verses highlight the steadfastness of the 3,000 converts who, after hearing Peter's sermon on the day of Pentecost, devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching, fellowship, breaking of bread, and prayers. This passage is not merely historical; it is a blueprint for the church today. The urgency of understanding and living out this Christian Gospel cannot be overstated, especially in a world filled with uncertainty, change, and turmoil. [00:00:10]

The early church's devotion to the apostles' teaching underscores the importance of sound doctrine as the foundation for everything else. This teaching shapes the nature of fellowship, the significance of the Lord's Supper, and the practice of prayer. Prayer, in particular, is a vital test of our Christian profession. It is not merely about saying prayers or following rituals; it is about entering into the presence of God with boldness and assurance, made possible through Jesus Christ. [00:11:22]

Prayer is an expression of our need for God's mercy, strength, and guidance. It is a reflection of our relationship with God, a desire to commune with Him, and a recognition of our dependence on His grace. The early Christians prayed because they understood their need for forgiveness and help. They realized that apart from God, they were powerless. This realization drove them to seek God's presence continually. [00:35:29]

Prayer was not just a duty; it was a delight, a way to draw near to God and experience His love and protection. The message of the Gospel is that through Jesus Christ, we have access to God. He is the mediator, the way to the Father, and through Him, we can approach God with confidence. [00:39:33]

The order in which these things are put is very important. We don't read they continued steadfastly in the prayers and in Breaking of bread and in the fellowship and in the apostles Doctrine. No, no, it's the other way around: apostles' teaching, fellowship, breaking of bread, prayers. The order now, this isn't an accident. These writings are inspired, and they were put in this order by Luke, the historian, because this is the right order, and they must never be put in any other order. [00:11:22]

The apostles' teaching that determines the nature of the fellowship. If the world saw an extreme conservative and an extreme socialist on the same platform claiming they belong to the same party and Society, the world would think that it was the Jer of the century, and it would be right. But that's the sort of thing you see in the Christian church today. If you put fellowship before teaching, that's what you get. No, no, you've got to start with the teaching. [00:12:51]

The teaching controls the fellowship. The fellowship is of those who have Kindred Minds who believe the same things. And then when you come to the breaking of bread, well, what is that? Well, we saw last Sunday night it isn't that you try to work up some feelings. You know exactly what you're doing because of the teaching. The teaching dictates what happens at the Lord's Supper, the communion table. [00:13:24]

Prayer is the inevitable conclusion of a true Doctrine. They started with the apostles' teaching and Doctrine. It ends, it leads to prayer. I am not asking you, therefore, this evening in the first instance what you believe. I am asking you this: how much do you pray? What evidence is there of Prayer in your life? How does prayer count in your estimate? [00:39:33]

The Christian is a man who realizes his need of Mercy. He knows that he's a sinner. He knows that he's a failure. He feels unclean. He knows himself as nobody else can know himself. It's only the Christian who does know himself. Everybody else is fooling himself. Man thinks he knows. What does he know? What do you know about life? What do you know about yourself? [00:35:29]

The Gospel provides the only way to approach God. Through Jesus Christ, we have access to the Father. He is our mediator and advocate, and it is only through Him that we can enter into God's presence with confidence. You cannot find God by yourself. There is only one way. It is in Christ. It is through Christ. It is by the name of Christ. There's no other. [00:53:07]

Prayer is a reflection of our relationship with God. It is a way to commune with Him, express our dependence on His grace, and experience His love and protection. A true Christian delights in prayer, seeking to draw near to God continually. [00:39:33]

The early church's devotion to the apostles' teaching, fellowship, breaking of bread, and prayers serves as a model for the church today. This order is divinely inspired and should guide our priorities as Christians. Sound doctrine is foundational and shapes every aspect of our Christian life. [00:11:22]