LESSON TWO

LIFE AMONG THE FOLLOWERS

ACTS 2:43-47; 4:32-35

KEY VERSE: “Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common” (Acts 2:44).

When we left the apostles, on the Day of Pentecost, they were at the genesis of their MISSION to establish and grow or develop the Church of JESUS CHRIST. Peter had just completed his first sermon with THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT, “THE VOICE OF GOD” (2:14-40). “Then those who gladly received HIS WORD were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them” (v.41).

As our text for this study picks up where we left off, we find that there is a strange reaction to the “many signs and wonders…done through the apostles,” and that was one of “fear (that) came upon every soul” (v.43). However, while people were in awe of the apostles and their works, the next verses in our text (vv.44-47) tell us that the apostles were busy setting up and being about GOD’S MISSION. The ‘principles’ outlined in these verses are the ‘principles’ or guidelines for the CHURCH MINISTRY today.

First, we see that “all who believed were together, and had all things in common” (v.44). Second, the scripture says that they “sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need” (v.45). Next, they “continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, …ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart” (v.46). Afterwards, they were “praising GOD and having favor with all the people” (v.47a). And finally, the purpose of their MISSION was beginning to build upon its foundation established in verse 41, “And THE LORD added to the church daily those who were being saved.”

As we fast forward past Peter and John’s encounter with the man “at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful” (3:1-11); past Peter’s preaching in Solomon’s Portico (vv.12-26); past Peter and John’s arrest and address before the Sanhedrin (4:1-12), we pause long enough to take note of the “boldness of Peter and John…uneducated and untrained men” (v.13a). And further how the Sanhedrin “marveled” when “they realized that they (the apostles) had been with JESUS” (V.13b)

Finally after their prayer for boldness in verses 23- 31, we arrive at the remainder of our focal verses, 32-35. We find the apostles continuing as they started in Chapter 2:44-45, for verse 32 says, “Now the multitude of those who believed were of one heart and one soul; neither did anyone say that any of the things he possessed was his own, but they had all things in common.” We see further that with the apostles’ newly obtained POWER, “they gave WITNESS TO THE RESURRECTION OF THE LORD JESUS. AND GREAT GRACE WAS UPON THEM ALL” (v.33).

As this journey concludes, the text tells us that not any one of them wanted or “lacked” for anything, “for all who were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the proceeds of the things that were sold, and laid them at the apostles’ feet; and they distributed to each as anyone had need” (vv.34-35).

THE MISSION OF THE CHURCH: WE’RE ALL IN THIS…TOGETHER (Acts 2:43-45)

As we examine the lives of the apostles immediately after their “BAPTISM WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT, verse 42 says, “…they continued steadfastly in the apostle’s doctrine (teaching) and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers.” However, the response of those around them was “fear” (v.43). The verse continues to tell us that the “fear” was because of the “many signs and wonders (that) were done through the apostles.”

I propose that the “fear” was a result of the fact that the people did not understand what they were witnessing. They were not yet the recipients of THE BLESSING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. They just saw THE WORK. They were not ‘witnesses’ of the promise of THE COMING; thus, they did not ‘believe’ what they saw. They heard about JESUS having such POWER as displayed in their presence, but these “were uneducated and untrained men” (4:13). They did not have the FOUNDATION OF “BELIEVING” as did the apostles, who were eyewitnesses to THE WORD they preached. They did not fully understand as David in Psalm 111:10, “The fear of THE LORD is the beginning of WISDOM; a good understanding have all those who do HIS COMMANDMENTS.”

In spite of the “fear” of the ‘unbelievers,’ we find in the next verse that “all who BELIEVED were together, and had all things in common” (v.44). This is first and foremost the essential basis or foundation of THE MISSION OF THE CHURCH. Before the church proper can carry out GOD’S MISSION for THE CHURCH, all of the believers must be together and have all things in common. This was the necessity of the Baptism with THE HOLY SPIRIT (THE VOICE OF GOD), to enable them to lose their individual ‘voices’ of differences and speak with the “ONE VOICE OF GOD.”

The other precept by example for BELIEVERS was the fact that they “sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need” (v.45). If the church today would only make an attempt to carry out the true MISSION of THE CHURCH, as shown by the apostles, we would be able to alleviate all of the poor who are suffering at this present moment.

If we would at least carry out the ‘principle’ we, BELIEVERS, do acknowledge in Malachi 3:10, “Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be food in MY HOUSE, and try ME in this, says THE LORD OF HOSTS, If I will open up for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you such blessing that there will not be room enough to receive it.” While many, as I said, “acknowledge” I, there are far too many of those BELIEVERS who do not follow the principle.

If we don’t learn anything from the present crisis in our country today, we should realize and understand that “everyone” is affected by the tribulations and trials of a few. WE ARE ALL IN THIS…TOGETHER! Just as there is no separation of THE BODY OF CHRIST and ITS MEMBERS, there is no separation of America and its member states or cities or individual person. When a member of “the body” is injured, the entire body is affected.

The church should never function without caring or ministering to “anyone who has a need.” Form this is indeed THE TRUE MISSION OF THE CHURCH, as we have already studied from the TEACHINGS OF JESUS, “When you minister unto the least of MY BRETHREN, you have ministered unto ME” (Matthew 25:35-46).

SERVING THE LORD WITH GLADNESS (vv.46-47)

So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart” (v.46). This image of the daily lives of the apostles epitomizes the essence of CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP. While we are just accountable for tithes (10%) and offerings, in addition to a two-hour (please!) Sunday morning worship service, the early church members set a higher standard for BELIEVERS. We’ve already noted how they sold all they had and “divided them among all, as anyone had need” (v.45), but now they provide for themselves by cooking and eating from the same pot from “house to house” (v.46).

It is one thing to ‘give’ out of duty (tithes) and excess (offerings), but it is an entirely different creature who is able to give all that it has to benefit others and then be left to ‘pool resources’ to provide for itself. That is what the early church members did, the scripture says that they did it “with gladness and simplicity of heart” (v.46).

As I fore-stated, some BELIEVERS today begrudgingly give their tithes and feel that they have done GOD a favor. Some feel good about themselves because they throw in an “offering,” in addition to their tithes, and thus think that they should receive extra ‘favor’ from GOD. Even then many BELIEVERS are not “cheerful givers.”

The reason, I believe, they “eat their food with gladness,” is because they “gave their all with equal gladness” TO THE LORD. This is why they were able to “PRAISE GOD” and “have favor with all the people” (v.47a). When others see the CHURCH “serving THE LORD with gladness,” this is what draws them or “compels” them to come and be a part of THE CHURCH. This was evidenced in the final portion of verse 47, “and THE LORD added to the church daily those WHO WERE BEING SAVED.”

SHARING IN ALL THINGS (4:32-35)

Here once again, we find that HT BELIEVERS “were all of one heart and one soul…they had all things in common” (4:32). None of them “lacked, for all who were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the proceeds of the things that were sold, and laid them at the apostles’ feet; and THEY DISTRIBUTED TO EACH AS ANYONE HAD NEED” (vv.34-35). This is the epitome of the CHRISTIAN CHURCH, THE BODY OF BELIEVERS, to understand that “WE’RE ALL IN THIS…TOGETHER.” If one has and another does not have, GOD “compels” THE BELIEVERS to share all that he/she has with those in need not just what one has to spare.

I believe that the apostles reflected on and remembered the TEACHINGS OF JESUS in Luke 12 (cf. Matthew 6), when HE told them not to worry about their life, what they would eat; not about their body, what they would put on, “Life is more than food, and the body is more than clothing,” HE says (v.23).

I believe they remembered that JESUS taught that the birds “neither sow nor reap…and GOD feeds them” (V.24). They remembered that HE taught how the lilies grow but “neither spin nor toil, and that if GOD “so clothes the grass…how much more will HE clothe you “(v.28). Thus, they were taught not to “seek what you should eat or what you should drink, nor have an anxious mind. For all these things the nations of the world seek after, and your FATHER KNOWS that you need these things. But seek THE KINGDOM OF GOD, and all these things shall be added to you” (VV.29-31).

Finally, I believe that they remembered how JESUS taught them to “sell what you have and give alms; provide yourselves with money bags which do not grow old, a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches nor moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (VV.33-34).

THINK ABOUT IT!!!!

Spiritually Yours.

Rev. Chris Lowe, Sr. DD