“Continued Steadfastly”
Minister’s School began last night in Lancaster PA - (land of confusing roads) for several hundred NJ - AG ministers and our guest speaker was the newly retired Assistant General Superintendent - and he blew us away.
Brother Charles Crabtrees presentation on the comparisions between the first century believers and the Pentecostal believers of the early 20th century was uncanny. Both groups were unashamed of the power of the Holy Spirit. Both groups were branded as “different”. Both groups it was noted were not all that formally educated - but lived and witnessed with power. Both groups knew the power started in the “throne room” and not in the board room. Both groups experienced unprecedented growth. It could be said of both as is quoted in Acts 2:47 - and the Lord added to their number daily those were being saved.
And what moved me was this is not happening today. Notice in the chart how many people recite some aspect of the sinner’s prayer - but how few of them actually become a part of the local church. I was challenged to realize we are missing it somewhere. Perhaps in what Brother Crabtee pointed out. In both the first century and early 20th century most people came to either the church or the Lord via a miracle! The supernatural was not the exception but the norm of the believers experience. Today it seems so many churches and believers act like their almost ashamed of the Holy Spirit.
Brother Crabtree shared a line that blew me away. He said many churches and preachers are preaching a “saving Jesus” but not a “supernatural Jesus”. Wow, so true, and there is a difference. He also mentioned the key to the supernatural in the early church was simply (Acts 2:42) they CONTINUED…THEY DIDN’T STOP WITH JUST SALVATION…BUT PRESSED ON.
Man I think we should go to school here. Miracles were the norm - because they didn’t stop at salvation - but everyday - they continued pressing in to the Word, Prayer and true fellowship. I’m about ready to go down to b-fast so I think I am going to start today to be a person who wants to continue steadfastly.
