Hi Newport Church Family,
We pray that you are experiencing Gods, grace, favor and provision.
Keys to Spiritual Vitality and Favor
When I visited Italy three years ago I noticed the letters “O P A” engraved into the stone walls of the basilicas and churches. The letter “P” had a horizontal line on the lower part of it’s vertical stem, which had the effect of combining the letter “P” with an upside down cross.
As I pondered the meaning of this symbol, it occurred to me that the “P” must have represented Peter, who had confessed that Jesus was the Christ, and to whom Jesus said “on this rock I will build My church.” I surmised that it was upside down because when Peter was executed for his faith, he asked to be crucified upside down, not deeming himself worthy to be crucified in the same way as Jesus, and I discovered that the letters “O P A” are an acronym for the Latin, “Ora Pro Animis” meaning, “Pray for souls.”
In many churches around the world St Peter’s Cross also includes two keys which symbolize that Jesus said to Peter, “I give to you the keys of the kingdom…”
Ever since then, Peter has been associated with the keys to the kingdom, which Jesus gives to all those who confess Him as Savior and Lord.
On the day of Pentecost, Peter who had denied Jesus only a few short weeks earlier, declared to the crowds in the streets of Jerusalem, the key to salvation, which was faith in the crucified and risen Christ.
Three thousand souls accepted Christ that day and the church was birthed in explosive power.
In the ensuing days we read that Peter and the Apostles taught the early church significant principles that were keys to them experiencing the fullness of that salvation, and to navigating their new life as followers of Christ.
Today we identify not only with their experience, but also with those same keys that unlock the promises and provision that God wants us all to experience.
So what were those keys?
They Devoted Themselves
This is what we read in Acts 2:42-47:
“They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who 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.”
“They devoted themselves” was one of the greatest keys to the spiritual life, strength and endurance that carried them through the multitude of changes and forceful opposition they encountered.
This was not something that was done for them, but something that they did for themselves. No one was devoted for them, they devoted themselves! They were not waiting for the Apostles to feed them or to constantly follow them up. They willingly, eagerly and enthusiastically devoted themselves!
As we navigate this season, with all of the challenges that it has brought and continues to bring, the example of the early church devoting themselves to God’s word, breaking of bread, prayer and gathering as a church is one that we can be sure will bring spiritual life, vitality and favor to us all.
This was the key to their vitality and to experiencing the favor of God.
Let’s make a decision devote ourselves, to feed ourselves from God’s word, to stay connected to the body, to stay engaged, involved, active, giving of ourselves, by ourselves, because we have devoted ourselves.
They Gathered Together
One of the great keys to the spiritual health and vitality of the early church was that they met together regularly in the Temple and from house to house in small groups. This was one of the ways that they developed and nurtured a culture of devoting themselves.
As much as we need to devote ourselves by ourselves, we also need each other, we need to encourage one another in our faith and in our journey.
We are better together because we were not created to do life alone!
This is what Oswald Cambers wrote in his book, “Biblical Psychology: Christ-Centered Solutions for Daily Problems”
“Beware of isolation; beware of the idea that you have to develop a holy life alone. It is impossible to develop a holy life alone; you will develop into an oddity and a peculiarism, into something utterly unlike what God wants you to be. The only way to develop spiritually is to go into the society of God’s own children, and you will soon find how God alters your set. God does not contradict our social instincts; He alters them.”
We must devote ourselves but we cannot and must not do that alone!
Every week we have life groups that meet, providing an environment where we can meet and encourage one another in our journey of faith.
If you are not in a small group can we encourage you to become a part of one, whether it’s a bible study or an interest group, it will be a source of great life and strength for you.
They Had a Spirit of Generosity
One of the hallmarks of the early church was their spirit of generosity. They shared what they had to make Jesus known and to help those in need.
Their sacrificial generosity was not only a key to the growth of the church but to the favor they experienced in their own lives and in the community at large.
As we devote ourselves and gather together with a spirit of generosity, we pray that each one of us will experience new strength, vitality and favor in every area of our lives and church.
God has given us the keys to the kingdom! Let’s use them and watch the doors that will open into new spheres of increased favor.
We look forward to seeing you tomorrow in our 10am service either in person or online. It won’t be the same with you!
We love and appreciate you all greatly,
Pastor Jonathan & Dianne Wilson
Senior Pastors