A Few Words about this Blog and the Acts 2:42 Model...
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Acts 2:42 tells us that the believers in the book of Acts grew in their newfound faith by continuing steadfastly in Doctrine , Fellowship , Breaking of Bread and Prayer . At Faith Apostolic Church we call this the “ 2:42 Model ”. We believe this cornerstone passage of scripture reveals the timeless model for spiritual growth that every Christ should embrace.

Spiritual growth is a priority. For it is only through a commitment to spiritual growth that we experience the fullness of God’s purpose in our lives. Whether we are a brand new Christian or a seasoned veteran of the faith, let us strive for continual growth in God. Acts 2:42 shows us how. It reveals the blueprint that every growth-minded Christian should apply to everyday life.

We believe God has directed our local church to model Acts 2:42 in every facet of life and ministry. We encourage every Christian to be diligent and steadfast in giving meaning time each day to the 4 pillars of discipleship found in the 2:42 model. Those pillars are:

Doctrine - We encourage spending meaningful time each day reading and studying the Word of God. We encourage faithful attendance to church services where the Word of God is taught.

Fellowship - We encourage active involvement in small groups that foster the building of relationships with other believers. We encourage believers to do something each day that nurtures and strengthens fellowship with the Body of Christ.

Breaking of Bread - We encourage regular participation in observing the Lord’s Supper and a daily lifestyle of “communion” with God through daily worship and praise

Prayer - We encourage spending meaningful time each day in prayer.

Our desire is that the “ 2:42 Model ” be more than a motto to say. We want it to be a model to live. Living the “ 2:42 Model ” means applying this timeless blueprint for spiritual growth to our life each day. As the new believers did I Acts 2, we will continue “ steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers .”


The 2:42 Plan and Consistency  
Wednesday, May 7, 2008, 06:48 PM
Acts 2:42 gives us God's timeless model for spiritual growth. The new believers in Acts continued steadfastly in the apostle's doctrine, fellowship, breaking of bread and prayer. We encourage every member of FAC to give meaningful time each day to these 4 pillars of discipleship.

The last few days I've been thinking a lot about the importance and value of consistency. The benefits from many disciplines in life are only realized through consistency. Spiritual benefits and blessings from disciplines like prayer and Bible study are really maximized when we are consistent in these activities.

Samuel told King Saul that "obedience is better than sacrifice." I've met people who get excited about prayer and want to have an "all-night prayer meeting!" I'm certainly not opposed to all-night prayer meetings, but the ironic thing is, such people are often ones who don't pray on a daily basis. They have little consistency in their prayer lives, but when excited by a sermon or Bible study on prayer, they suddenly want to pray all night. Praying all night is a great thing. However, I believe there is something better than praying all night - and that is praying consistently each day.

To pray all night would be a great sacrifice. But "obedience is better than sacrifice." It is better to be obedient to God's plan for daily, consistent devotion, than to neglect consistency and want to sacrifice by praying all night! Again, there is nothing wrong with praying all night or spending great lengths of time in Bible study, devotion or worship. But daily, consistent devotion is better than sporadic seasons of great sacrifice.

I encourage you to get in a habit of daily giving time to the pillars of Acts 2:42. The greatest blessings of the 2:42 Plan are experienced when we are consistent.


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Too Busy 
Thursday, February 21, 2008, 03:59 PM
I ran across an interesting passage of scripture the other day. In I Kings 20:40, the Bible says, "And as thy servant was busy here and there, he was gone." God's prophet was telling a sad story to the King about himself. Into the hands of this prophet was given the charge to safely keep a prisoner of war. To allow such a prisoner to escape was a crime of the gravest nature. His ONE duty was to guard that prisoner day and night. He was excused from every other duty but this one - to see that the prisoner did not escape to carry valuable information to the enemy.

But this prophet neglected his important duty and busied himself with unimportant and non-essential details. His sad, but honest confession was "while thy servant was busy here and there - he (the prisoner) was gone." While the prophet was busy here and there, the prisoner escaped! This prophet was busy but not with the most important things.

I pray that we don't become so "busy here and there" that we neglect what is really important. Let us not be so busy with the cares of life that we fail to give adequate time to things that really matter.

Giving meaningful, daily time to the Acts 2:42 Plan is something of upmost importance. What could be more important than the activities that result in our spiritual growth and maturity? Don't get so busy that you fail to spend time daily in God's Word, fellowship with other believers, worship and prayer. May these 4 tenets of the 2:42 Plan occupy a place of priority in your daily life.
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The 2:42 Plan in 2008 
Wednesday, January 16, 2008, 01:31 PM
It's hard to believe that we're already over half-way through the first month of 2008. It's still early enough, however, to still be thinking about the New Year.

I'm not usually one to put a lot of emphasis on "New Year's Resolutions", but I am a firm believer in re-aligning my priorities and re-defining my focus at the start of a new year.

The 2:42 Plan is God's timeless model for spiritual growth. I want to encourage you to stay committed and focused on the 2:42 plan throughout the New Year. I can only imagine where each of us would be spiritually at the end of 2008, if we were diligent each day in applying the 2:42 plan to our lives. Just think about how much we would grow spiritually if we gave meaningful time each day throughout 2008 to the 4 pillars of discipleship found in Acts 2:42.

Today is a great day to start good spiritual habits. Make a decision right now to spend meaningful time each day in the study of God's Word, in worship, in prayer and in strengthening your relationship with other believers.

If you will be diligent in giving meaningful time each day to these spiritual disciplines, by the end of 2008, you will be able to look back and see a year of incredible personal growth and progress.


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El Plan Dos Cuarenta y Dos 
Monday, November 26, 2007, 07:35 PM
I recently returned from a conference in Havana, Cuba. God has miraculously opened a door for us to minister in that communist country. During our 2 day conference there were over 100 people who were baptized in the Holy Ghost. The local pastors are calling it a "Cuban Pentecost".

A few days after the conference, I preached one night at the headquarters church a message entitled, "El Plan Dos Cuarenta y Dos" which in English means "The 2:42 Plan".

I shared with our dear Cuban brothers and sisters the 2:42 plan, which is God's Book of Acts model for spiritual growth. Over 100 people had received the Holy Ghost at the conference. But as we know, the baptism of the Holy Ghost is part of the new birth - it is just the beginning of our walk with God.

In Acts 2, there were 3120 people who received the Holy Ghost in one day. How did all of those new believers grow in their brand new faith? Acts 2:42 gives us the answer. They continued steadfastly in the Word, Fellowship, Worship and Prayer.

I was so excited to teach God's timeless model for spiritual growth to a church full of newly spirit-baptized Cuban saints. These precious people grabbed hold of "The 2:42 Plan" with great joy and excitement. They made a commitment to me during the message to spend time each day in God's Word, Worship, Prayer and Fellowship. By committing themselves to this apostolic model for growth, they are positioning themselves for continual spiritual maturing as God's apostolic church in Cuba.

God's Word is so amazing. It transcends time, cultures and nationalities. It is just as real and powerful to Cubans as it is to Americans. The 2:42 Plan is the path that Christians of all ages have followed on the journey to spiritual maturity.

I pray that each of us will continue in our daily commitment to "El Plan Dos Cuarenta Y Dos"!


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Living our Faith 
Wednesday, September 26, 2007, 12:32 PM
I struck up a conversation with a Jewish woman today. I was asking her about the difference between Sephardic, Orthodox, Reformed and Hasidic Jews. She said on one end of the spectrum you have the Hasidic and Sephardic Jews who are very traditional and diligently follow the tenants of the Jewish faith. On the other end of the spectrum are the Reformed Jews, which this woman termed, "Modern". She said these are the ones who just come to worship once or twice a year during major Jewish holidays. I said, " So they don't really live their faith on a day to day basis ." She said, " That's exactly right ."

Our conversation prompted me think about Christians who don't live their faith on a daily basis. Many people "profess" Christianity but they don't "live" Christianity. They come to church on Christmas, Easter or a few special occasions. They even claim to be "born again" yet their life is not much different than the life of an unbeliever. They are, at best, on the periphery of the Kingdom of God.

I'm not interested in just a "profession" of faith. I want to "live" the Christian life. Each and every day I want to emulate Jesus Christ and live as He lived. I want my life to be totally and radically transformed by the power of His Spirit. I earnestly desire to walk each day in an intimate relationship with Him. I want to daily be a conduit of His power, love and grace. My prayer is that His healing, deliverance and restoration flow out of my life to others like rivers of living water. Watered-down, secular, politically correct, impotent Christians will never change our world. Only Spirit-filled, fire-baptized, passionate believers who are walking in the power of the Holy Ghost and daily communion with Jesus will bring revival to our ailing society.

Acts 2:42 gives us the model for "living" our faith. Spending meaningful time each day in the Word, fellowship with other believers, worship and prayer is difference between one who simply "professes" Christianity and one who truly "lives" their faith.

Make a commitment right now. Make a decision today to live the "2:42 Model". Set aside time each day to engage in the 4 pillars of discipleship that are found in Acts 2:42.
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