They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. 43 Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. 44 All the believers were together and had everything in common. 45 They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. 46 Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, 47 praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.32 All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own, but they shared everything they had. 33 With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And God’s grace was so powerfully at work in them all 34 that there were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned land or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales 35 and put it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to anyone who had need. The apostles performed many signs and wonders among the people. And all the believers used to meet together in Solomon’s Colonnade. 13 No one else dared join them, even though they were highly regarded by the people. 14 Nevertheless, more and more men and women believed in the Lord and were added to their number. 15 As a result, people brought the sick into the streets and laid them on beds and mats so that at least Peter’s shadow might fall on some of them as he passed by. 16 Crowds gathered also from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing their sick and those tormented by impure spirits, and all of them were healed. Acts 2:42-47, 4:32-35, 5:12-16
I talked in the last passage that signs of revival, or a move of the Holy Spirit appears to be happening like nothing I've seen since the Jesus Movement in the 70's. Let's look from these passages what are some of the signs.
1. New Converts. Great numbers of people were being converted. Today, I can look at twitter and pretty much every day see a new convert. Noah Lyles, an American track athlete just gave his life to Christ and was publicly baptized today.
2. Meeting together - they met together daily for prayer, eating, communion, hearing from the word. This is something that's lacking because of our busy schedules and technology. We text instead of talking and would rather binge shows than meet together. I was encouraged by my great niece and boyfriend who visited us and when I ask them what they do for fun they said that they pretty much meet with their Bible Study group every night and hang out. We need more of that.
3. Not motivated by money - they sold possessions and gave their money away so everyone's needs would be met. We've got a way to go because money makes the world go around. My friend Dana is the best example I know of not being motivated by money. He charges $20 an hour for handyman work and finishes jobs in half the time most people do. He lives modestly and plants gardens and gives food away to everyone. He would rather use his building skills to build a free ramp for a disabled person than take a job where he could make lots of money. When revival breaks out, we will see more of that.
4. Miracles - unexplainable healings, signs and wonders. Being a probable cessasionist, I have to see this one to believe it, but when revival truly breaks out, I believe we will see more of this. I think #2 and 3 are prerequisites especially as people engage together in prayer. I'm anxious to see this!
Mission trips are a microcosm of revivals and why they are so important for us to go on. We go spread the gospel and people get saved. We come back to our accommodations and discuss what God has done, sing, worship, pray, eat, read the word then go to our rooms without electronics and sleep, wake up and do it again. We bring clothes to give away so we return home with empty suitcases. I've actually seen miracles happen on these trips. I'm thinking that true revival will look like perpetual "mission trips" at home - a missional lifestyle.
I do believe I'm seeing the first signs of revival, but the later signs aren't there yet. Lord, bring revival in my lifetime and may it begin in my own life!
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