The early church at Jerusalem was one happy church! (Acts 2:41,46; 5:41; 13:52). It was no ordinary joy – it was “great joy.” The joy of the believer who is in fellowship with the unseen Christ is “joy unspeakable and full of glory” (1 Pet. 1:8). It is a foretaste of the joy of heaven experienced by the saints in glory. This joy is contagious. The early church exported this joy to Samaria under the preaching of Philip. This abundant joy is often missing in our churches even where the truth is upheld. May God help us to recover it!
This joy experienced by the early church was the genuine work of the Holy Spirit. It was not something “worked up.” It manifested itself in an exuberance of praise, a spontaneity of worship, and an eagerness to spread the good news. Surely this is what Christ has purchased for every one of us!
Will you join me in praying that God will make our church a truly great church? We need the Spirit-wrought manifestations of great power, great grace, great fear, and great joy! The greatness of this church in Jerusalem can be traced to a ten-day prayer meeting of 120 people. May God burden us to seek His face!
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Bob Vradenburgh is the senior pastor of Friendship Baptist Church in Raleigh, North Carolina. He has spent 40 years in full-time Christian service: the first 20 years as a missionary and the past 20 years in the pastorate. Bob’s passion is the expository preaching of God’s Word,...
