The Character of the Believers
They are saved from their sins, separated from the world; they were always in fellowship with God, and with one another. Many of them were poor but they were always happy, without worry and anxiety. They have definite relationship with Christ. They go to church and regular bible studies, fellowships, prayers and soul winning were their hallmark. In their meeting days, bible studies, they assemble to study, learn, love, learn how to lean on God.
The lives of all their members glorify God, keep bible doctrines and preach to none members. They worship God together, care for others, especially their members. They were faithful at home, at work and prayerful at all time
Biblical Foundation and Spiritual Life
‘And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers’ (Acts 2:42).
‘Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you’ (Hebrews 13:17).
‘And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers. For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ’ (Ephesians 4:11-12).
‘Therefore they that were scattered abroad went everywhere preaching the word’ (Acts 8:4).
‘Let as many servants as are under the yoke count their own masters worthy of all honor, that the name of God and his doctrine be not blasphemed. And they that have believing masters, let them not despise them, because they are brethren; but rather do them service, because they are faithful and beloved, partakers of the benefit. These things teach and exhort’ (1Timothy 6:1).
‘Exhort servants to be obedient unto their own masters, and to please them well in all things; not answering again; Not purloining, but shewing all good fidelity; that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Savior in all things’ (Titus 2:9-10).
‘I will therefore that men pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting’ (1Timothy 2:8).
‘Pray without ceasing’ (1Thessalonians 5:17).
They Are Like A Family
‘Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named’ (Ephesians 3:15).
Like A Flock
‘Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood’ (Acts 20:28).
Like A Vineyard
‘For we are laborers together with God: ye are God’s husbandry, ye are God’s building’ (1Corinthians 3:9).
And A Nation
‘But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light’ (1Peter 2:9).
Each member’s life is determined by their spiritual experiences, love, faith, prayer life, knowledge and obedience. They do not joke with church attendance and their membership. Their members are saved from sin and they live new life
‘But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his’ (Romans 8:9).
‘Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness? But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine, which was delivered you. Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness. I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness’ (Romans 6:17-19).
Transformation and Persecution
They also preach to people, none members everywhere. When they came together to fellowship, they sing and clap hands. They pray and most times, speak in tongues. Once you join their group and hear their preaching during bible study, obey and accept Christ, your parents, neighbors, school people, office, market place will know. Everywhere you go, people will quickly know that you have joined the group. Your dressing, way of life, behavior, everything about you will immediately change. Your friends, relationships with others will change.
People will call you born-again, Scripture Union (S.U), and they will begin to persecute you, call you names. Your parents, helpers will deny you of your rights, try to stop you. They called this group, Pentecostals, born again, hand clappers or people who get drunk with American drugs or charms.
The second group is churchgoers or idol worshipers. Some of them go to church and worship idol. Others go to church but they do not worship idol or physically enter into shrines. They are not outright idol worshippers, they go to church but they do not have power over sin. They are not born again, though they are baptized and given Christian names. In their church, they do not clap hands, speak in tongue or carry bible like Pentecostals those days.
While Pentecostal members, believers or born again answer Christ’s call through hearing God’s words, repentance, confession and forsaking of their sins, the other group answer their own call by being baptized and belonging to their church. The Pentecostal of those days get born-again; forsake sin, Satan, self to follow Christ, the Savior. They turn away from darkness to walk in the light. They enter into narrow gate to walk in the narrow way. In their bible study times, they are instructed to walk worthy of their call of salvation. Their characters change as they become members of the body of Christ
‘I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called’ (Ephesians 4:1).
‘Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life’ (John 8:12).
‘Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life’ (Romans 6:4).
‘This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind, Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart: Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness. But ye have not so learned Christ’ (Ephesians 4:17-20).
‘Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel’ (Philippians 1:27).
‘Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample. (For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.)’ (Philippians 3:17-19).
‘That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God’ (Colossians 1:10).