Acts 2:43-47
Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. 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, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.
We often read about the reasons for or secrets behind the growth of the early church. Was it that people back then followed the word of God? Or was it their fellowship life? Did they pray more? After years in church ministry, I've discovered that none of these is the real reason. The true secret behind the growth of the early church was in 2:43: "Everyone was filled with awe." Why was everyone filled with awe? It's because God's presence was manifested. In the early church, everyone who attended the gatherings clearly felt the presence of God. Therefore, people were in awe, or more accurately "respectfully fearful," because everyone truly witnessed God's presence among them.
Acts 5 recorded that Ananias sold his property, kept part of the proceeds and gave the rest to the disciples. Disciples asked him whether that was everything from selling the property, and Ananias said yes. Then, Holy Spirit immediately struck Ananias to death right in front of the group of believers. Later, his wife came in and lied the same way, and she was also struck to death. This incident caused tremendous impact to the congregation because they really witnessed God's presence among them.
We thank God because He seldom manifests Himself that way, else it would be difficult for us to stand before Him. Why did God so that with the early church though? He was warning the church by demonstrating the effect from manifestation of His presence. 1 Corinthian 14:24-25 described the scene at the early church that when a unbeliever walked into the church, they would be convinced by the words of the prophets, and they fell down to worship God and exclaimed "God is really among you!" This is what we are missing in the church today. We have got everything - Meeting place, great music, great sermon, and everything's great, but we forget to seek manifestation of God's presence. In the early church, everyone was filled with awe, their number increased, and they were together in one accord before God. Not only did they have fellowship and worshipped God together, the Lord also gave them saved souls everyday. This is the lesson that the church today must learn again.
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