April 29, 2008
-
Bible Reading: Acts – Some Questions the Church Should Be Asking
The Book of Acts is a wake-up call to the Church...Here are some of the questions I'm asking myself...I thought about writing them in first person plural, but decided upon first person singular...but they should be asked in both ways...
Have I tarried in prayer for the Holy Spirit to come upon me–or do I run ahead in the flesh?Am I filled with the Holy Spirit–or filled with self?
Do I continue steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine–or in hip doctrine?
Do I continue in fellowship–or prefer to be a lone ranger?
Do I continue in the breaking of bread–or do I neglect the ordinances and fail to exercise hospitality?
Do I offer constant prayer–or irregular prayer?
Do I have all things in common with the Body–or do I hoard what God has freely given?
Do I have all things in common with the Body–or am I too proud to share a need with the Body?
Do I continue in one accord daily–or is once a week all I want?
Do I give those in need the Good News of freedom through Jesus Christ–or do I only give them a few spare coins to feed their stomachs but leave their souls empty and in bondage to sin and self?
Do people see my boldness and realize I've been with Jesus–or do they only see me?
Do I trust God's hand and purpose in all things–or do I keep questioning and doubting Him?
Do I pray for boldness and for the hand of God to be outstretched to heal–or do I lack the faith to pray such dangerous prayers?
Do I give witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus with great power–or do I give witness from my own strength, if I give witness at all?
Do I speak the truth to the Holy Spirit–or have I lied?
Am I willing to obey God rather than men–or do I fear when man can do to me?
Do I teach, preach and proclaim Christ–or do I teach, preach and proclaim another gospel?
Do I hear the cries of those neglected–or do I neglect to hear those cries?
Am I full of faith–or full of doubt?
Is my face like the face of an angel–or like that of a demon?
Do I gaze into heaven and see the glory of God and Jesus–or do I keep focusing on fleeting earthly pleasures and possessions?
Do I wait for Jesus to tell me what I must do–or do I listen to my own voice?
Do I bear His Name–or am I only concerned about my own name?
Do I arise and go where Jesus calls me to go, doubting nothing–or do I remain where I am, enslaved by my fears and doubts?
Am I willing to arise and obey God's call and go wherever it might lead: the desert, to Jerusalem, or to "Corneliuses"–or do I remain where I am?
Do I preach the good news to all nations–or only to those like me or to those I like?
Do I beg to hear the Word of God–or do I cast it aside?
Do I truly accept that I must enter the Kingdom through many tribulations–or do I expect and demand a cushy trouble-free life?
Am I filled with Holy Spirit joy–or grim orthodoxy?
Do I strengthen others–or slap them down?
Do I attempt to put a yoke on other believers–or do I accept and receive them as brothers saved by grace as was I?
Do I pray and sing hymns to God in my "prison" times, or do I moan and groan, "Poor me"?
Do I have ears to hear the Macedonian call–or do I continue to be captivated by the world's siren song?
Do I search the Scriptures daily–or read the latest Christian self-help book? (Is Christian self-help actually an oxymoron?)
Does a world given over to idols provoke my spirit–or am I oblivious to the world around me?
Does a world given over to idols provoke my spirit–or am I so given over to my own idols that I don't even notice?
Do I turn the world upside down, cause a great commotion and disturbance in the world–or do I shrink back from taking a risk and remain safe and sequestered in my cozy castle of Christendom?
Am I bound in the Spirit to go where God wishes–or am I bound up by my own selfish desires and ambitions?
Do I keep back nothing that is helpful to build up the Body–or do I hide my light under a bushel and bury my talents in the ground?
Do I no longer count my life dear to myself–or do I seek to save my life?
Do I look to finish my race with joy–or do I grumble?
Do I run to complete the ministry which I received–or am I languishing on the side of the road and dangerously close to being disqualified?
Do I declare the whole counsel of God–or just part?
Am I willing to die for the name of the Lord Jesus–or do I seek to save my own skin?
Do I receive my brothers and sisters gladly–or do I harbor bitter unforgiveness and ill will?
Do I press on to lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus laid hold of me–or have I lost sight of the reason Christ appeared to me?
Have I been obedient to the heavenly vision–or disobedient?
Do I serve the God to whom I belong–or do I expect God to serve me?
Do I give thanks to God in the middle of the storm–or do I panic?
Do I redeem the time and continue to receive all who come to me, to preach and teach (even those places akin to Paul's "house arrest") and see where I am as ordained by God for the furtherance of the Gospel–or do I despise the place God has put me, become discontented and look to escape?
O LORD, I have heard thy speech, and was afraid:
O LORD, revive thy work in the midst of the years
in the midst of the years make known;
in wrath remember mercy.
Habakkuk 3:2
RSS feed