Is the church today living up to the example of the Acts 2 church?
What happened that caused the character traits of the Acts 2 church?
Salvation converts the soul. When salvation occurs, there is a total commitment to Jesus Christ.
Baptism in the Holy Spirit on the other hand converts the man’s spirit. It takes that commitment to Jesus and retunes the spirit. Suddenly there is no desire for anything of this world. There is nothing that will now provide the substance to satisfy the man who now has his entire being washed out and replaced by the inflowing presence of God The Holy Spirit.
That explains what was first seen at Pentecost.
Acts 2:41-47
Act 2:41
Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there
were added unto them about three thousand souls.
Act 2:42 And they continued stedfastly in the
apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in
prayers.
Act 2:43 And fear came upon every soul: and
many wonders and signs were done by the apostles.
Act 2:44 And all that believed were
together, and had all things common;
Act 2:45 And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to
all men, as every man had
need.
Act 2:46 And they, continuing daily with one
accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their
meat with gladness and singleness of heart,
Act 2:47 Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.
What is the FIRST thing that is recorded of the 3000 saved and FILLED that day?
For some reason they:
- Were together (in common
agreement on all matters)
- Had all things in common
- Sold their possessions and
goods in order to care for
EVERY Man - AS EVERY MAN HAD NEED
WHY? Why did they do this?
Why was the first thing they thought to do was to sell their earthly possessions in order to mutually take care of each others “expenses”?
Did they suddenly find that their focus was now 100% of the time on the things of God and that their earthly possessions were not of any importance ?
Everything that was theirs, was God’s, so therefore, use it to meet the need!
Imagine what would happen to the body of Christ if at least this mentality existed. The sudden urge to be in God’s House every day – every hour! The sudden urge to fix every car in the congregation, to mow the lawn of every member, to repair every plumbing or mechanical breakdown in the homes of everyone in the congregation!
I doubt we will ever see men selling their FORD or CHEVY trucks to pay someone’s house morgage. However if we wanted to see 3000 added to the church daily, we better start thinking that way……….
Did God
give you the skills, training, education you have in order for you to own a
$500,000 House, 4 cars, Boat and the Cabin on the
WHAT IS REALLY IMPORTANT
If we consider that we have just established what is REALLY UNIMPORTANT to us: Earthly Goods and Possessions
Then what then is IMPORTANT?
The early church “continued daily in the temple in one accord” – They were in Church everyday AND they were in total Agreement!
Can that
ever happen in this day? Agreement (in one accord) can have a whole sermon
series on. However, it WAS a natural by
product and SIGN of the Baptism of an individual. The Holy Spirit can not be divisive against
itself!
How could God The Holy Spirit teach one doctrine to an individual and teach the opposing doctrine to another individual?
It therefore follows that there is NO WAY that two Holy Spirit filled men can have a disagreement!
Leaving that topic, it states they “continued daily in the temple”
It is difficult enough to get anyone to WANT TO come to church, let alone be there very long. Everyone wants to leave as soon as the church service is over because – “They have other things to do”.
Going on the premise that we established earlier…..that the individual “Baptised in the Holy Spirit” – no longer has any desire for “anything of this world”, then it is easy to pose the following question: What other things have they to do outside of being in God’s House?
CARE OF THE HOUSE OF GOD
If we are to be focused upon the time spent in God’s House, then it naturally develops into focusing upon the time we spend in care of God’s House.
As men, do we not take care of our homes, cars, possessions?
Then why are we not doing the same thing for the house of God?
Who is the
“Master” of the home? The Wife or the
Husband?
The Biblical Truth is that neither one is. The correct answer is GOD!
If God is the master of the home and men are spending so much time on its care, then why are men not spending as much time on the upkeep of God’s House – the church facility?
It should be an embarrassment for the child of God to hear any minister need to make a request from the pulpit for “volunteers” to help meet the physical needs of the church facility.
Why is it not taken care of as second nature to those endowed with the Holy Spirit?
A simple broken tree branch in the parking lot, a broken rain gutter, untrimmed trees, should cause this believer to stop a moment and look at the “House of his master” and think, what would the master of the estate EXPECT his SERVANT to do about it!
CARE OF THE BODY
So we now have the church congregation taking care of the Lord’s House (physical facilities). What about those that attend that House?
The early church at the time of Pentecost in Acts 2 saw 3000 added in one day. The church today seems to live with the idea that those 3000 were “saved and Baptised” and sent on their way home to never be heard from again! Someone better reread the Book of Acts. Those newly saved were taken care of. They were provided for. They were partaking of meals at the homes of the believers. Can you imagine the outpouring of care to meet the needs of that many new people. It was also done with the attitude of serving the Master himself – Jesus Christ.
