“And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.” Acts 2:46-47
Oh, that the Lord would add to our number day by day those who were being saved. Oh, that we would see the type of lines of people we see outside of concerts, and plays, and sporting events, every Sunday morning and every Sunday evening outside of all churches that proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Wouldn’t that be amazing?
Do we pray for God’s kingdom to expand? Do we pray that God would add into his body those who are His? Actually, we do quite often and may not even realize it. I still pray we grow in our desire to see the lost saved, but every time we pray for other churches and missionaries and new churches we are praying for these things.
Every first Friday of the month in the weekly thought I am discussing a different part of our church. Today’s topic is Home Missions:
“The Committee on Home Missions and Church Extension exists to help the presbyteries and congregations of the Orthodox Presbyterian Church start new Presbyterian and Reformed congregations throughout the United States, Canada, and the Caribbean. This simple statement of purpose gives clear direction to both the Committee and its staff about how biblical ecclesiology works itself out in the OPC. Church plants start in presbyteries and local congregations, and the Committee exists to serve and support the labors of these regional and local churches.”
“As they went on their way through the cities, they delivered to them for observance the decisions that have been reached by the apostles and elders who were in Jerusalem. So the churches were strengthened in the faith, and they increased in numbers daily.” Acts 16:4-5
Thirty-four churches received financial assistance from CHMCHE in 2018. Eight of these were new churches. There are a lot of other aspects to this part of the ministry of our church, but today I wanted to remind you to pray for congregations.
Not only with new churches, but also in existing churches we sometimes forget the aspect of spiritual warfare that Scripture speaks of. It is a struggle to plant churches and to keep existing churches going. Satan wants to divide congregations and leadership, and we need to continue to pray for Pastors and sessions and congregations that they would be unified for the glory of God.
I encourage you to turn to Ephesians 6:10-20 and read the entire section on the armor of God after you finish reading this, but I want to close with the first portion of that passage today:
“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.” Ephesians 6:10-12