We live in a shortcut society. It has leaked into church. The mentality is: ‘If we just do this… then we’ll just get that.’ But that’s not how the Kingdom of God works!
In Acts 2:40, Peter warns, “Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.”
Today, in our shortcut world, we make some changes to our ministries, our church services, and our buildings. But changing those things does not separate us from corruption.
How do we save ourselves from corruption? In the first century church, the believers “devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer” (Acts 2:42). They had devotion without shortcuts—they committed to teaching, fellowship, and prayer every day! Also, “every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts” (v. 46). These believers were born again and filled with the Spirit, but they stayed with the framework of their Jewish upbringing. They didn’t need to go somewhere else to have the signs, wonders, and miracles happen. Going to church matters.
In Acts 3, Peter and John go to the temple gate, and by the power of God, heal a lame beggar. The healed man can now enter the temple. As people are saved, the Kingdom and church family expands. No shortcuts will save us or bring us closer to God. We can shake off the corruption if we would just devote ourselves to teaching, fellowship, and prayer. Then revival will come.
40 With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, “Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.”
41 Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day.
42 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.
43 Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles.
44 All the believers were together and had everything in common.
45 They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need.
46 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,
47 praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.
1 One day Peter and John were going up to the temple at the time of prayer—at three in the afternoon.
2 Now a man who was lame from birth was being carried to the temple gate called Beautiful, where he was put every day to beg from those going into the temple courts.
3 When he saw Peter and John about to enter, he asked them for money.
4 Peter looked straight at him, as did John. Then Peter said, “Look at us!”
5 So the man gave them his attention, expecting to get something from them.
6 Then Peter said, “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. 8 He jumped to his feet and began to walk. Then he went with them into the temple courts, walking and jumping, and praising God.9 When all the people saw him walking and praising God,
10 they recognized him as the same man who used to sit begging at the temple gate called Beautiful, and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.
Questions:
Have you been trying to take any shortcuts in your relationship with God?
What can you do to save yourself from this corrupt generation?
What does devotion to God and the Kingdom look like? Be specific.
00:44We live in a shortcut society. We like fast food religion. We want to microwave revival. What’s the quickest way to get there?
03:47There’s no shortcut to saving yourself from corruption.
07:40The believers in Acts were Jewish people that stayed within the framework of what they grew up in, but they were born again and filled with the Spirit. The signs, wonders, and miracles would happen right where they grew up.
