An Ancient Worship Movement by St. Thomas Church - HTML preview
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CHAPTER TEN
A MOVEMENT BEGINS WITH YOU!
“God has a purpose for each life. A work for all to do, and in His Kingdom there’s a plan no one can fill but you.” - Ada L. Wine
“If God is your partner, make your plans big!” - D.L. Moody
APOSTOLIC CHRISTIANITY IS a growing, vibrant Christianity. We see in the Book of Acts a tremendous vibrancy of the movement of the Holy Spirit. The Ancient Faith is not something to be only safeguarded as a deposit but also to be shared like a pearl of Great Price.593 The Holy, catholic,594 Apostolic Church is the jewel that reflects the glory of Christ in the earth.
Yet things grow old and sometimes stiffen and are not flexible anymore. We end up trusting in our own resources, money, and ideas rather than in the Holy Spirit of God who guides into all truth and leads people into Ancient Faith.
God loves to use broken and small things. He uses the child-like and those dependent on Him. He uses the weak so He can get greater glory. “Without oxen a stable stays clean.”595 God is looking to use the inexperienced and expects it could be a mess. He looks for the available and those willing to be used by Him. The earliest Apostles were unschooled simple fishermen!
The early Church was a growing movement of multiplying house Churches.596 God was adding to the number daily such as would be saved,597 and there were many being saved through the preaching of the Gospel. Radical evangelism was not an option in the early Church but the only logical response to the great offer of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Not just a few but all the disciples598 were gripped with the burden to reach the whole known world with this message of eternal life. Though all efforts were made, the early disciples’ true reliance was on the Spirit of God in their evangelism. There was a sovereign working of God’s Spirit drawing men to Himself.599 Such a working can happen when men allow God to build His Church so that great grace can be upon them. “With great power the Apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And God’s grace was so powerfully at work in them all.”600
Once God is given His rightful place in the Church and is fully reckoned and trusted, a move of His Holy Spirit is something that should be expected. The early Church did not try to work God down from heaven but simply waited before Him for active instructions.601 We have to remember ‘it’s never about me, it’s about Him.’ We are simply like the mule602 that Jesus rode into Jerusalem. God doesn’t use special personalities and gifted speakers, He uses available vessels.
As we look to the Book of Acts as our model, we see great growth of the Church in just a few days. Through the first 10 chapters of the Book of Acts we see continual references to the Church’s growth,603 adding disciples,604 and spreading605 the Word of God. God had the Church focused on making new disciples from all nations. He had just sacrificed His Son Jesus for all mankind. “As long as Jesus is kept in the front, the revival will never end.”606 Perhaps one of the main reasons why the Book of Acts movement never seemed to stop is that Jesus Himself was its message, its very reason, nothing else mattered.
Early Church Missions Movement
Together with direct instructions to share the way of salvation through His Son Jesus, He also put into the hearts of the Apostles the burden to go out preaching. Immediately, they felt led to share the Good News in the marketplace, in the temple, and abroad. The passion for souls brings opposition, especially where other religions and practices exist. It is not strange, therefore, that in the end, all the Apostles died martyrs’ deaths— except John—while spreading the Gospel not only in and near their homeland but also to remote countries. God desires all men to come to repentance.As we share the burden of the Lord, 468 we will feel the call to share the Gospel with many who have never even heard the Name of Jesus.
In the Book of Acts we see the Gospel verbally being proclaimed,607 calling men to repentance and belief in Jesus Christ,608 in His death and resurrection. It is no different in our day. The same verbal call must be made through written literature and preaching.
The call comes to us today to bring others new life and to fulfill the great commission from God.609 Many countries in our day are becoming extremely hostile to the Gospel and missionaries. Before the night comes in other countries, will we fulfill the task that God has given us? We need to pray as the disciples did when threatened with beatings and jail: “Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable Your servants to speak Your Word with great boldness. Stretch out Your hand to heal and perform signs and wonders through the Name of Your holy servant Jesus.”610
An Ancient Worship Movement Today?
Today’s Church is split into so many divisive elements that new doctrines and ideas are abounding. So many believers are yearning for something older, more sure, more stable. This search for something Ancient is one of the healthy steps many believers are taking in our day.
It is exciting that in our modern day you can be involved in helping promote the Ancient Faith of the Holy Apostles611 and Jesus Christ. You must have a willingness to enter in the narrow way of faith and humble your mind and heart to bend to Jesus Christ’s kingdom. The St. Thomas Church movement is just one small open door into the Apostolic Church. In our day, many evangelical believers are searching for this way forward.
When we speak of Ancient Worship, this term helps root us in what is fundamental (The Ancient Faith) and what is helpful culturally to apply in worship whether new or old (Ecclesiastical Tradition). How can something old mix with the new and still remain old or valid? We can think of it as the Old Traditions putting on new clothing but still are the same in their substance. New songs that express the old faith are important and gives the Church the ability to reach people who would not hear. These implementations of the modern should never in their character go against the virtue and sense of holy in the Church. Anything of worship in the Church most be holy612 and separate from the way the world expresses itself.
We call this a movement because anything that has the life and blessing of God on it is lively and grows.613 Just like a farmer planting seed in a field expecting a larger harvest. The faith of the Holy Apostles is much more fertile than this; it produces life (conversions)614 which should be expected. We are not here for ourselves but for others. Our small parish in a building or a home should not live for itself but to see others grow and know the Lord.
God Wants to Use You
You might not think yourself important or valuable, but in the plan of God and body of Christ you are indispensable.615 God desires to use each one of us to do things beyond our ability616 or strength which brings glory to Himself. We were each born to bring glory to the Holy Trinity617 through our good works prepared before the foundation of the world.618 Are you a young person? God can use you. He actually wants to change thousands or millions through your life. Are you an old person? God still has great plans to see Himself glorified through your obedience. “God is able in one moment to shift your life.” With God all things are possible.619
The early Church started meeting in the synagogue but also in homes. It was in these homes where the Church gained its momentum and stability to see multiple generations changed for the Gospel. Early believers, both men and women, opened their homes to the saints to have a liturgical worship service where Jesus Christ was glorified and, on the Lord’s Day,620 they celebrated the Eucharist. In these homes, altars were set up, and exclusive sacred spaces were created where divine worship occurred. As persecution raged,621 these believers quietly worshipped the Trinity and spread like leaven through the Roman Empire.
Do you own a home? God might be calling you to open it for others to worship Him. Many house churches were found to be larger, richer homes where a larger space could be exclusively set apart. We see baptismal fonts and other architecture carved into the very walls. Also, in the midst of great persecution, we could imagine in some cases that there were moveable altars where believers had to be more careful when conducting a worship service.
Even a layperson could have a part of their home set up with a wall cross, Holy Scriptures, etc. This type of home altar is a good way to start a discipline for prayer. It stands as a reminder to worship God and sanctifies your home for the Gospel.
Time Is Soon Ending
Before we know it, time itself will be ending.622 God came into time and space to manifest Himself to mankind and ultimately incarnated into flesh to redeem us from our sickness of sin. The coming of Jesus Christ into the world is the most pivotal and important event to ever happen. Each of our lives are running out, and soon we will be before Him who spoke the worlds into existence, who breathed into us life. Has our life made an eternal impact? Have we served the Lord in a way that we will hear, “Well done, good and faithful servant.”623
So much of what we spend our time and energy on will pass away and not matter at all. God is calling to you today to make your life have meaning for time and eternity. Time is soon ending. Before we know it, we will be before Jesus, looking into His face. Put your hands now into His nail-pierced hand and follow Him in obedience. Be a part of His Holy Church that brings glory to Him now.
Whether it is a St. Thomas Church624 or another Church, our prayer for you is that your life will bring glory to the Kings of kings. For His Kingdom will have no end.625
The peace of God, which passes all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in the knowledge and love of God,626 and of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord; and the blessing of God Almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, be among you, and remain with you always. Amen.
593 St. Matthew 13:45-46
594 In the beginning of Church history all Churches were called catholic. This word meant universal. This was inarguably how believers referenced at times their faith. It was a common universal faith, the same belief kept by many. Hence the word ‘catholic’ used in the early Apostles Creed.
595 Proverbs 27:7
596 Acts 12:24
597 Acts 2:47
598 Acts 8:4
599 Acts 16:14
600 Acts 4:33
601 Acts 13:2-3
602 St. Luke 19:35-36
603 Acts 2:41, Acts 2:47, Acts 4:4, Acts 5:14
604 Acts 6:1, Acts 6:7, Acts 9:31, Acts 9:42
605 Acts 8:4
606 George Jeffreys
607 Acts 8:5, 9:28, 17:13, 28:31
608 Acts 2:38
609 St. Matthew 28:18-20
610 Acts 4:29-30
611 Ephesians 3:5
612 Psalm 29:1-2
613 Acts 16:5
614 Acts 14:21
615 1 Corinthians 12:
616 2 Corinthians 1:9
617 2 Corinthians 13:14
618 Ephesians 2:10
619 St. Matthew 19:26
620 Acts 2:42, Acts 20:7
621 Acts 8:1-5, 2 Thessalonians 1:4
622 1 Peter 4:7
623 St. Matthew 25:23
624 We encourage you to explore the appendix of this book to learn more about the St. Thomas Church movement. You may also visit the website: https://thomas.church
625 St. Luke 1:32-33
626 Philippians 4:7