Whenever God moves, Satan is always close by. John 10:10 records Jesus saying: “10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”
 
Satan and his demonic realm want to steal your freedom putting you in slavery to sin and killing your potential so that you aspire for average and never fully follow Christ in every area of your life.
 
As the church was forming shortly after Jesus ascension, Satan was attempting to silence believers so they would stop making disciples. It didn’t work. The Holy Spirit continued to stir hearts motivating believers to destroy their old way of life so they could embrace their new faith. Their lives would never be the same. Luke writes: “18 Many of those who believed now came and openly confessed what they had done. 19 A number who had practiced sorcery brought their scrolls together and burned them publicly. When they calculated the value of the scrolls, the total came to fifty thousand drachmas. 20 In this way the word of the Lord spread widely and grew in power” (Acts 19:18-20).
 
You can’t follow Christ with your whole heart if you keep secrets. This is how you can break free from your past behaviors and step into a closer relationship with Jesus, here’s how. First, repent. What is it that you need to repent from? Porn, drugs, alcohol, addiction to whatever? Bad Netflix shows? The list of things that mess up our relationship with God is extensive so I suggest whatever God puts on your heart you deal with.
 
Second, clean your house of ungodly things. Don’t convince yourself that you should try to sell or use these things until they’re gone; just destroy it and get it off your property or out of your presence. Ask the Holy Spirit to shine in every area of your house.
 
Third, believe that God has a better plan for you. Believe that God wants to fill your life with goodness and joy. Believe that God will meet all of your needs. Peter writes: “8 Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. 9 Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings.” 1 Peter 5:8-9
 
Satan and his demonic realm are a believer’s real enemy. You might not be able to identify Satan in a crowd, but he is a real, viable, cruel, supernatural enemy that seeks to destroy you by leading his demons in attacks against you. His intent is to steal, kill, and destroy. He’s Powerful, but God is more powerful and Christians can tap into the power of God to fight against the enemy. Jesus was resurrected from the dead to prove that God is more powerful than Satan. The empty cross is an eternal reminder that God has more power than Satan, but that doesn’t mean he won’t put up a fight. Your best defense is to clean house and don’t let Satan get a foothold in any area of your life. If you need to repent, repent. Then remove what needs to be removed and believe that God’s way is the best way. You will be glad you did.  

​The one thing that every church should do is discipleship. In Matthew 28:19-20 Jesus said “Go and make disciples……” Discipleship is being a student of Jesus and teaching others about Christian doctrine, prayer, Christian living, and worship.  
 
Jesus modeled discipleship. Mark 1:16-22 reads:
 
“16 As Jesus walked beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. 17 “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.” 18 At once they left their nets and followed him. 19 When he had gone a little farther, he saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John in a boat, preparing their nets. 20 Without delay he called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men and followed him. 21 They went to Capernaum, and when the Sabbath came, Jesus went into the synagogue and began to teach. 22 The people were amazed at his teaching, because he taught them as one who had authority, not as the teachers of the law.”
 
Jesus made disciples who in turn made disciples. After Jesus ascension, the Holy Spirit came and the disciples made even more disciples, thousands of disciples. Discipleship is the process by which disciples grow in Christ and are equipped by the Holy Spirit to become more Christ-like. This process requires believers to respond to the Holy Spirit’s prompting to examine their thoughts, words and actions and compare them with the Word of God.
 
Four characteristics that identify disciples:
 
1. Have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. A disciple is a Christian. There are a lot of people who are trying to live the Christian life without being a Christian. They are trying to follow the teachings of Jesus without having the supernatural power to do so. You see, a non-Christian cannot be a disciple of Christ because they are not a child of God. Jesus says:
 
“5 Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit.” John 3:5
 
There is a barrier between us and God, and that barrier is sin. The reason Christ died for you and me is to tear down that barrier. Also, a non-Christian lacks the supernatural resources to be a disciple. You need the supernatural power of the Holy Spirit, who comes into your life when you’re saved. So first of all, a disciple is someone who has made that foundational decision to receive Christ as his Savior.
 
You can grow in biblical knowledge without having faith in Christ but you will never grow closer to Christ unless you have a personal relationship with him.
 
2. Have a growing relationship with Christ. To have a growing relationship with Christ means that you know God better today than you did a year ago. Your relationship with God is not static; it’s dynamic.
 
You grow by committing to attending church every week. For 2000 years believers have been gathering together for discipleship, encouragement, and to express love for one another.
 
Make time to read the bible every day. People who read their bible at least four times a week are 228% more likely to share their faith than someone who only reads the bible a few times a year.
 
Commit to joining a group. At Freshwater we have over 400 people who are currently in some type of growth group whether it’s a small group, celebrate recovery, or other group.
 
3. Strive to honor Christ in every area of life. Jesus said we are to teach disciples to observe all things He commanded us. A disciple of Jesus is intent on applying all of Christ’s commands to his life. Jesus said, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word . . . He who does not love Me does not keep My words” John 14:23–24.
 
God says to tithe, so disciples tithe honoring God with their finances. Jesus says to love our enemies so we do our best to love our enemies and see them like Jesus. Jesus tells us to forgive so we forgive. Jesus tells us to pray so we pray. Jesus says to be wise so we seek the Holy Spirit to lead and guide us in every single decision that we make. This is what it looks like to honor Christ with your life, to put biblical principles into practice in your life every day.
 
4. Be making new disciples. If you are truly a follower of Jesus Christ, then you will take seriously these final orders from Jesus: go into all the world and make disciples. Jesus made disciples and commanded his disciples to make disciples. That is the process of discipleship.

Did you know that the more you read the bible, the more you will experience personal transformation? Bible engagement transforms lives, specifically your life if you are willing to read it. According to the data, 42% of believers are more generous after reading the bible; 54% are more loving, and 56% are more engaged with their faith. When people were asked if they felt like they read it enough, 57% said they wish they read it more. This data reveals that reading the bible does make a difference, so you should read it on a regular basis.

I am often asked by new believers if they should start reading the bible at the beginning. While Genesis is a great book to read, it can be a bit confusing. Most people who start reading the bible in Genesis quit by the time they finish Deuteronomy. They get hung up on all the Levitical Laws and names and timelines. So my advice to new believers is to start with the Gospel of John. The Gospel of John explains the life and ministry of Jesus. It is easy to read and will help a new Christian wrap their hands around what it means to be a follow of Jesus. Then after they finish it, I offer to meet with them or connect to talk about what they read. From there I encourage them to read the Book of Acts because it gives the history of the church and introduces them to the work of the Holy Spirit.
Growing Christians also ask me how to read the bible. I suggest finding a reading plan online that they like or reading the bible from cover to cover in a year. This takes discipline, but it is worth it. Personally, I like reading through the bible once a year. I use the Youversion (online bible app) chronological one year reading plan. This plan helps me to see the scriptures unfold in chronological order. I highlight verses that stand out to me so that I can go back and reference them. I also like to read my hard copy of the bible. I write notes in the margins, use a highlighter to mark verses, and underline key passages. After using the same bible for more than a decade, it is full of my personal notes and highlights. I often reflect on what I wrote and find encouragement in seeing all the answered prayers.
If you are feeling stuck in your faith right now maybe it is because you need read the Bible more. Reading God’s Word is always spiritually refreshing. God is always revealing himself to us in new ways through His Word. You could read the bible a thousand times and still learn something new about God every time you read it.
The bottom line is that the more you read God’s Word, the more you will know about God, his ways, and his will for you. The Holy Spirit will bring biblical truth to life in you. And when you know God’s Word, you will be able to apply it to your life. The goal of every Christian should be to know God and we know God through His Word as it is written in the Bible. The Bible is not just an ancient book, it is God’s inspired Word given to you. So add bible reading to your calendar today. Make it part of your daily routine and see what God does in you and through you. You will be blessed for it.
​
(resources: stateofthebible.org, accessed 2/26/2019)    
​

​In Acts 16:11-15 Paul has been out on his missionary journey making disciples, planting churches, and strengthening existing ones. Silas and Timothy are with him. The three of them travel to the town of Philippi, a city with anywhere from 5-10 thousand residents. Even though the city was well known, there were very few Jewish people in it, not even the required number of married men to start a synagogue. Verse 11 picks up the story.
 
“11 From Troas we put out to sea and sailed straight for Samothrace, and the next day we went on to Neapolis. 12 From there we traveled to Philippi, a Roman colony and the leading city of that district of Macedonia. And we stayed there several days. 13 On the Sabbath we went outside the city gate to the river, where we expected to find a place of prayer. We sat down and began to speak to the women who had gathered there. 14 One of those listening was a woman from the city of Thyatira named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth. She was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to respond to Paul’s message. 15 When she and the members of her household were baptized, she invited us to her home. “If you consider me a believer in the Lord,” she said, “come and stay at my house.” And she persuaded us.”
 
Paul typically went to the synagogue to speak to people about Jesus. Since there wasn’t one in Philippi, he went outside the city to the river where he met a few women who gathered there for prayer. One woman at the river was named Lydia. Lydia owned her own business selling purple cloth, which was very expensive and labor intense to make. She was not Jewish but loved to worship God. Lydia believed Paul’s testimony about Jesus, put her faith in Christ, and was baptized. Lydia was Pauls’ first convert in Europe.
 
Lydia was a prosperous business owner who leveraged her resources for the glory of God. She welcomed Paul and the others into her home and cared for them while they were in her city. She used her influence as a business owner to help others to connect with Christ. By inviting the men to stay at her home she was letting everyone know she had become a believer in Jesus Christ. 
 
Years later Paul wrote the Philippian church, which he saw emerge from a handful of spiritually hungry women led by Lydia. He saw people who were far from God come near to Him and he was elated with what was happening there. Lydia was certainly one of the main reasons why the church grew. Paul writes: 
 
“Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus, To all God’s holy people in Christ Jesus at Philippi, together with the overseers and deacons: 2 Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 3 I thank my God every time I remember you. 4 In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy 5 because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, 6 being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” Philippians 1:1-6
 
You can use your influence for the glory of God like Lydia did. You have influence in your family, with your friends, at work, school, or at the gym. Generously give your resources. Give your time, talents, and treasure to impact others. God wants you to use all of them for His glory.
 
“I will set a sign among them, and I will send some of those who survive to the nations—to Tarshish, to the Libyans and Lydians (famous as archers), to Tubal and Greece, and to the distant islands that have not heard of my fame or seen my glory. They will proclaim my glory among the nations.” Isaiah 66:19
 
 
 

​As the New Year approaches, most people make a series of New Year’s resolutions. Some resolve to losing weight, lowering their stress, or sacking more money away for the future. All of these resolutions seem achievable and those who make them really do indent on following through with them. At the start of 2018 a study by Statista.com revealed the top five New Year’s resolutions made by Americans:
 
     53% resolved to save money
     45% resolved to lose weight or get in shape
     25% resolved to have more sex
     24% resolved to travel more
     23% resolved to read more books
 
These are all good resolutions, but in reality no matter what we resolve to doing, very few people actually follow through on their resolutions. In fact, Business Insider conducted a study revealing that 80% of New Year’s resolutions fail by the second week in February. That is a very high failure rate. I suggest that prior to making any New Year’s resolutions, you commit to five overarching principles that will help you make the right resolutions no matter what resolutions you are thinking about making. So before you make any list, consider making these five commitments first.        
 
1. Commit to the right things. One reason why we fail to follow through on our commitments is because we don’t commit to the right things. When you don’t commit to the right things you set yourself up for failure right from the start. Don’t commit to being the team manager if you don’t like managing. Don’t commit to volunteering at your kids school once a week if it puts too much stress on your family. We live in a complex, busy environment where everyone is asking for help all the time. You should only commit to doing the things that enhance your life and add value to the greater community. For example, you may get asked to commit to keeping the books for the kids team and get asked to make meals for struggling families. If you are an excellent cook, you should consider prioritizing cooking food for others once a month over keeping the books. Do what you are good at and trust that God will bring in others who are willing to use their gifts to shore up the areas where more volunteers are needed.             
 
2. Commit to realistic things. Don’t commit to going to the gym five days a week when your family life and work schedule makes this impossible. You might be able to rearrange your schedule for a week, but is it sustainable for six months? If it’s not, then change your expectations so you can follow through on your resolutions. And when it comes to saving you may be able to save 1% for the next three months then bump your savings up to 2% of your gross income. Gradually over time you can increase your savings to 5% or 10%, but don’t expect to save that much right away, especially if you have been living check to check for years. If your resolution is to lose weight, set realistic goals tied to how much weight you would like to lose. If your goal is to lose 12 pounds commit to losing 12 pounds over the course of three months that equals one pound a week, which is realistic.   
 
3. Commit to not feeling guilty for saying “no” when you need to say “no.” I remember back when I had small children living at home. They were in sports, did church activities, and had homework every night. My time for other commitments was limited due to my own family obligations. As my children have grown older, my nights have opened up simply because my kids are more independent now. If you can’t commit to do something, it’s OK to say no. And when you say no, don’t fret about it, focus on the right commitments you made.   
 
4. Commit to investing in yourself. I suggest investing in yourself on three levels: body, soul, and mind. Take care of your body whether it means getting enough rest, exercise, or eating right. And take care of your soul by connecting with Christ through praying often, reading the bible on a consistent basis, and attending church faithfully. Invest in your mind by reading intellectually challenging books, watching documentaries, and increasing your knowledge.  
 
5. Commit to building great relationships. I learned long ago that you can’t be close friends with everyone, but you can be close friends with one or two people. Most people have far more acquaintances than friends and that is OK, just don’t expect to have great friendships with dozens of people because good friendships take time and effort to build. Invest in those who you want to be friends with and who want to be closer friends with you. These are the relationships that should get priority.      
 
2019 can be your best year yet if you commit to applying the five guidelines we just covered. If you do, you can be one of the 20% that actually sees their New Year’s resolutions come to fruition. And in doing so, you will be happier, healthier, and more content. This is the whole reason we make New Year’s resolutions in the first place. May the LORD bless you as you step foot into 2019. May it be your best year yet!  
 
Resources:
https://www.statista.com/statistics/378105/new-years-resolution/, accessed 27 December 2018
https://www.businessinsider.com/new-years-resolutions-courses-2016-12, accessed 27 December 2018
      

Depression is a reality for millions of people around the world and very possibly for you or someone you love. Those who struggle with depression don’t like to talk about it with friends and heaven forbid actually get help from a stranger. Depression is sneaky. It never just pops up overnight, it slowly covers you like sunset shadows. You don’t realize how much it has affected you until darkness hinders your daily life. If you fight depression, you know exactly what I mean.   
 
I know this because I struggle with depression. Last year my life was going pretty well from all external accounts. My three teenage kids were doing fine, my marriage to my beautiful wife Kathi was strong, church was going good, yet I found myself in a dark place. There wasn’t any one single event that caused my decent into darkness, I just ended up there and it was hard. One particularly gray and gloomy day I stood in front of my bathroom mirror and had a conversation with myself. I asked myself if I were giving advice to someone struggling with depression, what would I tell them? The conversation I had with myself went like this:
 
“Are you struggling with depression John?”
“I am”
“John, are you exercising, eating right, and getting enough rest?”
“Yes, for the most part.”
“Have you shared how you feel with your close friends and wife?”         
“Yes, I have shared with others.”
“Then have you considered seeing a doctor who might be able to help you get through this?” 
I answered “No, I have not seen a doctor. Admitting my depression to a doctor would be very humbling.”
“So pride is what is keeping you from getting help?”
“Yes.”
 
I had to admit that my own pride was keeping me from taking the next step. So I prayed, asked God to forgive me, and made an appointment to see my doctor. At my appointment I confessed my feelings of darkness and shared that I don’t want to feel “blah” every day. She told me that my feelings were common and some people need to have medication to help our bodies compensate for whatever its lacking that causes feelings of chronic depression. So she gave me a prescription for antidepressants, and I have been taking them ever since. I am not sure if I will be on them forever, but they have helped me wrestle my way back out of the darkness I felt perpetually cloaked in. I am also eating right, exercising, and connecting with others about my emotional state on a regular basis.  
Depression is a form of mental illness. Suffering with a mental illness forces me to look past my present circumstances and cling to the eternal inheritance every believer will receive.  
 
If you are battling depression right now, get the help you need to fight back. You may need to have a conversation with yourself like I did. You may have to change your diet, start exercising, or lower your stress. You may need to open up to a friend, see a professional counselor, or visit a medical doctor. The Psalmist writes:
 
“I waited patiently for the Lord to help me, and he turned to me and heard my cry. 2 He lifted me out of the pit of despair, out of the mud and the mire. He set my feet on solid ground and steadied me as I walked along. 3 He has given me a new song to sing, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see what he has done and be amazed. They will put their trust in the Lord.” Psalm 40:1-3
 
Scripture tells us that we can and should always turn to God in our times of need. If you are fighting depression, turn to God and ask him for your next steps to help you fight back. There is nothing to be ashamed of, get the help you need. When I look back over my life it was in my darkest hours when I often felt the closest to Christ. Why? Because when Jesus is all you have that is when you realize that Jesus is all you need. And it’s in these times that I feel an immense sense of security anchored in the grace of God. You can have that same security by trusting God to help you fight your battles right now.   

Several months ago I facilitated the Holy Spirit conference at North Heights Church. One of the speakers preached on healing and we prayed for one another and several people did receive healing. Others did not. I have prayed for healing for my stomach problems for years and am still waiting for my miracle. Will God ever heal me this side of heaven?
 
When it comes to miracles, signs, and wonders, I would classify myself as a skeptic. Is it a miracle when you get a front parking spot at the mall? Is it a miracle when you get a dose of medicine to clear your infection? What is a miracle anyway? I admit that there is a lot of subjectivity when it comes to what we classify as a miracle.
 
God moved in the early church through miracles, signs, and wonders.
 
“12 The apostles performed many signs and wonders among 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..” Acts 5:12-15
 
How crazy is that? Peter’s shadow passing over someone brought them healing. That is awesome. But let’s pause for a minute and ask the deeper question. What are miracles and what purposes do they serve?
 
A miracle must be inexplicable to the laws of nature and therefore must have supernatural origins. The reality is that it’s absolutely imperative that we examine Scripture to understand what a miracle is and what their purpose is. First, what does the Bible teach about miracles?
 
Three central terms are used in the Bible to designate a supernatural event: (1) “miracle” (2) “sign” and (3) “wonder.” A miracle is not merely an event that was astonishing, incredible, extraordinary, or unusual. Miracles are not explainable by the laws of nature but that doesn’t mean that God doesn’t use natural things in a supernatural way. In Luke 5 Jesus told Peter to put down his fishing nets after a night of catching nothing. Within minutes the nets were so full they were about to break. The miraculous part of this event is that the fisherman were casting their nets in an area not known to have any fish at the wrong time of day and somehow there was a multitude of fish exactly where Jesus told them to cast their nets. This miracle didn’t break any laws of nature but it certainly isn’t explainable by natural laws.
 
In John 2 Jesus turned water into wine, that was supernatural. When Moses raised his hands and the Red Sea parted, that was a supernatural miracle that broke the laws of nature. Water just doesn’t part like that. The bible clearly reveals that some miracles seem to work with the laws of nature while others seem to completely oppose them.
 
Now that we understand what a miracle is, what purposes do they serve? There are three clear purposes for miracles. Miracles glorify God. Whenever God performed a miracle the beneficiaries and observers of the miracles generally responded by glorifying God. The second purpose is miracles validate Jesus message. Jesus performed signs and miracles to prove His divine identity and thereby authenticate His message. The third purpose of miracles is miracles make your faith stronger. Here is the consistent sequence represented in Scripture: Jesus would perform a miracle, teach about the kingdom of God, then people would believe because their faith was strengthened.
 
Does God still do miracles today? Some scholars believe that miracles are no longer needed to affirm our faith because we have the bible, but I think that makes God seem distant and disconnected from his creation. And I don’t think it’s theologically accurate. My faith has been strengthened by miracles.
 
I still don’t understand why God heals some people and lets others suffer. I guess it’s up to God’s providence as to whether or not he will do a miracle. I admit that sometimes I get discouraged when I pray for a miracle and nothing happens. The most difficult answer to prayer from God is silence. When heaven is silent I quickly begin to question if God really cares but the truth is that God does care, he just might be answering my prayer in a different way than I expect.
 
What if we begin to anticipate God answering our prayers and doing miracles? And what if we actually give him credit when it appears that something supernatural has occurred? God is still in the miracle business. When you pray, pray expecting God to move. What you believe shapes how you pray. And what you pray shapes you. Your miracle may still be in process.
​

​At the start of the book of Acts, the church is growing like crazy. The Holy Spirit has been moving among the new believers and the atmosphere is electric. Acts 2:43 tells us that many wonders and signs were done through the apostles and Luke goes into details about one of those wonders and signs that God was moving in powerful ways. Peter and John were going up to the temple at 3 in the afternoon like they always did for afternoon prayers according to their Jewish tradition. And by God’s divine providence a man crippled from birth is just arriving for his daily job of begging at the gate for money. Luke tells us the man is over 40 and has been set at the gate by family or friends for years.
 
Chances are that he was at the same gate when Jesus arrived in Passover. But he wasn’t healed then. If I were him I would have been discouraged. His legs were decrepit and folded underneath him. He would have known that Jesus was the healer so when Jesus passed by he must have thought he would have been healed. But he wasn’t.    
 
When he looks at Peter and John, Peter says: “6 “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.” 7 Taking him by the right hand, he helped him up, and instantly the man’s feet and ankles became strong.” Acts 3:6-7
 
God moved and people were amazed. This guy was older than many of the people standing around. They had seen him begging for years and now the same guy with the bad legs is dancing like he is auditioning for Jerusalem’s Got Talent.
 
The guy clung to Peter and John after his dance and all the commotion attracted a crowd. So Peter preached to them. He explained who Jesus is, that he is the Messiah, and that he came to heal, forgive, and save. Verse 16 records Peter saying:
 
“16 By faith in the name of Jesus, this man whom you see and know was made strong. It is Jesus’ name and the faith that comes through him that has completely healed him, as you can all see.” Acts 3:16
 
Peter made it clear that this man was healed by faith in Christ. God was moving. He was moving through the apostles and moving through the people. And when God moves the enemy fights back. All that good preaching caused the Pharisees who were inside the gate to get nervous so they arrested Peter and John. They were angry that the man was healed and that Peter and John would not stop speaking about Jesus.
 
You need to know that the same God that healed the crippled man and empowered the apostles still moves today. Because God still moves, seek a move of God in your life. Do you need wisdom? Boldness? Reassurance that you matter? Do you need spiritual healing? Emotional healing or physical healing? Pray with expectations for God to move. That is a faith filled prayer. Lifeless prayers are prayers with no expectation for God to move.
 
When God moves, expect others to be curious when God moves. The crippled man who received healing drew a crowd. Why? Because people want to see God move. We all long to see God move.
 
Some people will respond in faith. They will develop a thirst for God just because of what they have seen God do in you. Others will respond to God moving in your life like the Pharisees. They will opposes the work God has done in you. You can expect opposition when God moves.
 
Don’t give up on God because your miracle may still be in process. The man who received healing was 40. He had gone to the temple every day. How many times did that guy ask God to heal him? How many times did he pray that God would let him take just one step?
 
If you are seeking God and praying for Him to move in your life taking a step forward to have someone pray for you might be your first step of faith towards seeing God move in your situation. Your miracle may still be in process. Thirst for God to move in your life and when he does, boldly live for His glory.

​The church began to explode with growth on Pentecost when Peter preached to the masses about the resurrected Christ. As soon as he finished his message 3000 people came to faith and the church grew and grew from there. What did these new disciples do? They formed the early church and made disciples.
 
The church was started by Jesus to fulfill five distinct purposes that are revealed in Acts 2:42-46. And I believe that Freshwater can become healthier, stronger, and more effective by focusing on the five purposes of the church.
 
 Acts 2:42-47 shows us the first purpose of the church is to reach people for Christ. This happens when believers share their faith reaching out with the gospel. This is evangelism. The primary purpose of the church at all times and in all contexts is to bear witness to the work of Jesus Christ. The church has a mission to proclaim the incarnation, atonement, and exaltation of Jesus Christ to all people. This is not just a historical fact it is also a present reality. The same Jesus who took away the sins of the world by his death on the cross still takes away the sins of people today. He was crucified once for all and is raised again. The church lives out this reality and you live out this reality by practicing forgiveness, showing love, and living transformed lives. The best witness is a human soul transformed by the living God into a walking witness.
 
The second purpose of the church is to connect in relationship with other believers.  
The biblical word for connect is fellowship. Acts 2:42 says: “They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship.” The Greek word for fellowship is koinonia. The essential meaning of koinonia is: community, communion, joint participation, held in common, partnership, sharing and intimacy. In verse 46 we are told the believers ate together with glad and sincere hearts. Christians are called to belong not just believe.
 
Another purpose of the church is to equip believers to grow spiritually. In Acts 2:42 we read: “They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching….” This is discipleship. Discipleship is the process of helping people grow in their faith by becoming more like Christ in their thoughts, feelings, and actions. Spiritual growth happens by intention.
 
The fourth purpose is to serve others by ministering to them. When we serve one another we are demonstrating God’s love to others by meeting their needs in Jesus name. The church exists to minister to all kinds of needs: spiritual, emotional, relational, and physical. Every time you reach out to others in the name of Jesus you are ministering to them.
 
The last purpose of the church mentioned in Acts 2 is to honor Christ by living a lifestyle of worship.  Acts 2:42 tells us the early believers devoted themselves to the apostles teaching, the breaking of bread as in celebrating the Lord’s Supper or communion, and prayer. In verse 47 we read the believers were praising God. These are all acts of worship. It doesn’t matter if we are with a group of people or by ourselves.
 
We worship God when we reach out and witness to the world. We worship God when we connect with other Christians. We worship God when we grow in our faith. When we serve others and we worship when we are generous with what the LORD has blessed us with. Worship is a way of life not an hour in the week. Whenever we worship we are honoring God.   
 
What happened when the church fulfilled the five purposes? “everyone was filled with Awe.” Acts 2:43 “People got saved and the lord added daily to their number daily those who were being saved.” Acts 2:47
  
Jesus loves the church! He started the church, died for the church, was raised for the church, is glorified by the church, and will return for the church. I love the church because the church is God’s chosen method of reaching the world with the Gospel. As long as there are people living apart from Christ we have work to do. This is us, we are the church and we are called to raise the spiritual climate of the community. 

​The book of Acts is the story of the church. This is the story of us. Jesus started his church. He is the founder, CEO, leader, and King. He commissioned his disciples to make disciples. You and I are here, here and now, because other people throughout history took Jesus command to make disciples seriously. The church today is a continuance of the church that began way back in Jerusalem around 33 AD.
 
At the time of the book of Acts, Jesus had been recently crucified and resurrected from the dead. Person after person had seen Jesus alive, they had heard him speak, and the disciples had even had a chance to eat with him. Enough people had seen him that they were creating quite a buzz. Acts 1:9 tells us that Jesus ascended into heaven then several of the apostles walked back to Jerusalem which was about a mile away from the Mount of Olives.
 
Fifty days later the Feast of Weeks is being celebrated for God’s provision of blessing. The disciples gathered again in the upper room where they had eaten their last supper with Jesus. And this was when the Holy Spirit came to bless the people with the birth of the church.
 
Looking back to prophecy and forward to the promise of the Holy Spirit were Christ’s last words on earth before His ascension into heaven. Pentecost signals the beginning of the church age. This was the first time they heard the gospel with clarity for the first time. The Holy Spirit enabled them to have understanding and clarity about the Word of God. The power of the Holy Spirit had come and the church age had begun.   
 
The Bible reveals that the Holy Spirit is the third person in the Trinity. One God, three parts. The Holy Spirit is divine, He is fully God. He is eternal, omniscient, and omnipresent.
 
The Holy Spirit is a person the same as God the Father and God the Son Jesus Christ. This is a longstanding doctrine of Christian theology. The concept of a triune God is referred to as the trinity. The three are one yet distinct in form and function.
 
The Holy Spirit has three specific functions in the life of a believer. The Holy Spirit functions as a comforter. According to Romans 8:14-16 the Holy Spirit comes along side believers when they are down or need comfort. The Holy Spirit also functions as our counselor. The Holy Spirit is often referred to as a Counselor to guide us and direct us in our thoughts and in our actions to follow the will of God for our lives. Third, the Holy Spirit functions as our advocate. The Holy Spirit does more than just comfort and counsel us. The Holy Spirit actually gives us the courage to do what God calls us to do as our advocate. This means that the Holy Spirit enables us to live a righteous life in a world full of unrighteousness. He will give you the power to turn from darkness and flee from sin.
 
The Holy Spirit brings the Word alive in the life of believers. When the Holy Spirit came on the day of Pentecost, Peter preached and the Word of God resonated in the hearts of 3,000 people. Prior to this they may have been spiritually interested, but felt no conviction. They came from all different backgrounds and once the Holy Spirit came they all became one body of believers.
 
The Holy Spirit empowers believers to live a holy life. The Holy Spirit tugs on our heart to make the right decisions and act in accordance with God’s will and His ways. The Holy Spirit convicts us, it doesn’t condemn us.
 
The Holy Spirit enables believers to fulfill their holy calling. Once the Word of God becomes active in your life and you are empowered to live a holy life then you need to fulfill your holy calling. The Holy Spirit doesn’t call the equipped, He equips the called.  
                     
I believe that there is a God, that this God can be known through Jesus Christ, and that Jesus Christ sent the Holy Spirit to indwell the believer convicting of sin and helping them live a better life that brings glory to God. The Holy Spirit is part of the story of us. Without the Holy Spirit believers would not be empowered to preach the gospel and live it out.