F O O T H O L D
READING
70 SECRETS OF POWER
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PRAY Make me conscious of
your presence as I study the Scriptures
today, dear Lord.
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READ Acts 4:23-37.
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THINK Notice the apostles'
prayer in verses 29 and 30. Is there an
example we should follow?
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FOCUS Do you wonder just why
the early Church was so lively and grew so
quickly? Here are two of its
secrets:
1. PRAYER. Peter and John
went straight from the meeting with
the leaders to share the
news with their friends. This was the
natural thing to do, and we
do the same. But are we quick to do
the thing they did next?
Together, they shared it all with the
Lord. Note the background to
their praying:
TOTAL CONFIDENCE IN GOD. He
is the One who is in charge of all
things (24); who has spoken
through the Bible (25,26); who sent
Jesus Christ (27); and who
is in control even of his enemies'
actions (28).
TOTAL COMMITMENTS TO GOD.
They could have asked to be protected
against their enemies; they
could have asked for those enemies to
be destroyed; but they did
neither. Notice again what they asked
for (29,30).
2. CARE. They not only cared
about God and his word; they cared
about each other. They had a
plan of 'social action', and it
began by sharing their
possessions among each other.
However difficult it may be
to operate like this in church today,
there are still needy
members in every church. They need someone
to love them, teach them,
encourage them or give them
hospitality. In what way
could you show care to someone in your
Christian fellowship?
We live in a world of great
inequalities: what should we be doing
in response to 1 John 3:17,18?
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PRAY Pray for those who are
busy caring for human need around the
world through relief
organisations.
