Don't Let The Grass Grow Under Your Feet !!!

[israel-1]

THE RESULTS OF OBEDIENCE :

To understand the impact of the account of Acts 2:37 - 47 , we must
first go back and understand the fruit of obedience :

After the Lord Jesus was crucified, and arose, He appeared to His
Apostles and Disciples and gave them instructions to fulfill ( Acts
1:4,5 ... And being assembled together with them, commanded them that
they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the
Father, which ye have heard of Me. For John truly baptized with water ;
but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence).
Now I'm sure that those that gathered in the upper room, awaiting the
"promise" ( Acts 2:1-4 ) didn't fully realize what the impact of being
obedient was to bring. Sure, they had a little head knowledge, but what
was about to transpire was beyond their capability of fully
understanding, until they actually experienced it. Through this
experience, they was equipped to go forth in the Power of the Holy
Ghost, fulfilling this scripture in Zachariah 4:6 " Not by Might, nor by
Power, but by My Spirit, saith the Lord of hosts ". They had read
scriptures, and saw how that in times "before", God would anoint certain
men or women to accomplish His presence among men to instruct, and peep
into the mind of God, but the actuality of the Spirit of God being IN
them to fulfill His will and accomplish the spreading of the gospel, was
an event that would impact the world, and shatter the preconceived
notions of Gods mind. In Romans 11:34 we read : "For who hath known the
mind of the Lord ? Or who hath been His counselor ?:. FINALLY, through
the Spirit of God, we CAN know the mind of the Lord as seen in this
scripture : St. John 16:12,13 ... " I have yet MANY things to say unto
you, but ye cannot bear them now, Howbeit, when He, the Spirit of Truth
is come, He will guide you into all truth : for He shall not speak of
Himself, but whatsoever He shall hear, that shall He speak : and He will
shew you things to come ".
Sure, the disciples had spent time with Jesus, and saw the significance
of being led by the Holy Spirit, but now, it was time to experience
being totally LED by the Spirit of God. So, let's see how the Holy
Spirit motivated these, to be in the "will of God" ... :

1. Fellowship :
Acts 2:42 ... " And they continued steadfastly in the apostles doctrine
and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers". Saints, the
Spirit of God loves communion ! We can see the heart of God toward His
people, as we read this in Matthew 23:37 ... "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem,
thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto
thee, How often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a
hen gathereth her chicken under her wings, and ye would not ! ". So even
as the Lord God wants constant fellowship with His people, when the
Spirit of God enters, the attributes of His Spirit spill over into
believers to come together. We can better understand the importance of
this through this scripture : Matthew 18:20 ... "For where two or three
are gathered together in My name, there am I in the midst of them ".
Sure, we have fellowship with the Holy Ghost without being around other
believers, and, sometimes this is necessary ( as with the account of the
Apostle Paul, which went into the wilderness 14 years, to be taught of
God ), but there are things that are accomplished when we gather
together in fellowship with other believers. Read these scriptures prior
to verse 20 ...: Matthew 18:16 ..." But if he will not hear thee, then
take with thee one or two, or three witness that every word may be
established ". And again in Verses 18, and 19 ..." Verily I say unto you
Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven ; and
whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed i heaven. Again I say
unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching anything
that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of My Father which is in
heaven. "
So, we can see the importance of getting things done, through, the
fellowship of the Spirit of God, by the gathering of His saints. If a
person is an island to their-self, how can they be effectual in
administering the will and mind of God....?
Ya know, Satan will try to discourage fellowship. And you can see why...

2. Discipleship : The term disciple is derived from the New Testament
Greek word "μαθητής". www.htmlbible.com/sacrednamebiblecom/kjvstrongs/STRGRK31.htm....
, coming to English by way of the Latin discipulus meaning "a learner".
Disciple should not be confused with apostle, meaning ""messenger, he
that is sent"". www.htmlbible.com/sacrednamebiblecom/kjvstrongs/STRGRK6.htm#....
[3]While a disciple is one who learns from a teacher, a student, an
apostle is sent to deliver those teachings to others.

The importance of training disciples need to be acknowledged in this
church world . Be trained, then, train ! We can better understand this
by reading some of what Paul wrote to one of the disciples in his care
in 11 Timothy 2:15 ... " Study, to shew thyself approved unto God, a
workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the Word of
Truth ."
Too many go forth not knowing the scriptures, and are devoured by
religious minded persons which are still caught up in darkness
(ignorance). They get offended, and lose their drive, because of lack of
knowledge ( Hosea 4:a ..." My people are destroyed for lack of
knowledge " ). And, there are dire consequences of being rebellious to
being discipled , as we see in continued reading of this verse : "
Because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee that thou
shalt be no priest to Me ". Saints, that is a sad state to be in. If we
have been chosen of God to go forth, we ought also to go forth in
knowledge and understanding. In Acts Chapter 6, we read about the
disciples of Jesus, and what they were adamantly doing : vs. 2 ... "
Then the twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto them, and
said It is not reason that we should leave THE WORD OF GOD, and serve
tables ". Diligently seeking out Gods mind was a primary and fundamental
course of action. Note also, that those twelve were also making
disciples to go forth ( verse 1 ... And in those days, when the number
of the disciples was multiplied, ,,,) .
Do we see stagnant churches, sitting on their duff, and not MULTIPLYING
Nope ! They were about their Fathers business, TRAINING TO GO
FORTH...
Now the question is : Should we also learn, then train to go forth ... ?
If we want a mighty move of God we should...

3. Worship :

Another fruit of obedience to the Word of God is evident when we WORSHIP the Lord. Check out this definition : 1.
1. The reverent love and devotion accorded a deity, an idol, or a sacred
object.
2. The ceremonies, prayers, or other religious forms by which this love
is expressed.
3. Ardent devotion; adoration.

True worship can only come from a heart that is so full of Love there is
nothing else that can distract. It actually puts one in the presence of
God. Pride cannot find a place in true worship, because to have that
flow of love going both ways, we see how pitiful we are, no matter what
the calling or prestige. This cannot be accomplished with a carnal
outlook ! True worship is a spiritual exchange that goes beyond carnal
understanding and presentation. We read in John 4:23, 24 ... " But the
hour cometh, and NOW IS, when the TRUE worshippers shall worship the
Father in spirit and in truth : for the Father seeketh such to worship
Him. God is Spirit : And they that worship Him must worship Him in
spirit and in truth".
In reading Psalm 96:9 , we see that holiness is presented to be hand in
hand with worship : " O worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness :
fear before Him, all the earth ".
So as we go to the Father in love and gratitude, we should always have a
clean heart and a conscience that is not defiled. Being truthful, no
matter how decrepit you may esteem yourself, is a person " after Gods
own heart ".

4. Prayer :
Ya know, I just do not understand why so many of Gods children live a
defeated life, when we can reap a fruit of obedience to the scriptures
just by talking to God. Sure, sometimes it takes a while to get an
answered prayer, but that is where perseverance comes in, coupled with a
trust. Here is some of what the Lord Jesus has to say about prayer :
Luke 11:9-13 ... " And I say unto you, ASK, and it shall be given you.
SEEK, and ye shall find . KNOCK, and it shall be opened unto you. For
every one that asketh , receiveth. And he that seeketh, findeth . And to
him that knocketh, it shall be opened ". But there is much more we can
glean from prayer :
Prayer can keep us from temptation : Matthew 26:41 ... " Watch and pray,
that ye enter not into temptation . The spirit indeed is willing, but
the flesh is weak ".
Prayer can keep us filled with the Spirit : Luke 11:13 ... "If ye then,
being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much
more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask
Him " ?
Prayer can get things done : James 5:14-16 ... "Is any sick among you ?
Let him call for the elders of the church ; and let them pray over him,
anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord : And the prayer of faith
shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up ; and if he have
committed sins, they shall be forgiven him. Confess your "faults" one to
another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. THE EFFECTUAL
FERVENT PRAYER OF A RIGHTEOUS MAN AVAILETH MUCH " !

Also, we need to always consider the motive behind the prayers ! Matthew
23:14 ... "Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites ! For ye
devour widows houses, and for a pretence, make long prayer : therefore
ye shall receive the greater d**nation".

All four of these topics have a common thing : They are works of ACTION !
Continuing in these can produce great benefits ! Not being involved in
these will stagnate your walk with the Lord. Then, look down, because
you may have grass growing under your feet...