WHAT IS AN ACTS 2 CHURCH?

What caused the character traits of the Acts 2 church?

Is the church today living up to the example 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

“Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls. And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers. And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles.

And all that believed were together, and had all things common; And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need. 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, Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.”

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 other’s “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 mortgage.  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 Lake! Or did he REALLY give you all that knowledge to take care of HIS BUSINESS?

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 cannot 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 “Baptized in the Holy Spirit”; no longer has any desire for “anything of this world”.  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

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.

Written May 31, 2021 by WD Kemner for http://bibleswordfinal.blogspot.com/

Revised June 18, 2025 for https://bibleswordfinal.neocities.org/

Liberties: The Sheep or the Wolf?

A key word today is “liberties”.  Make sure your looking to see who’s definition of "Liberty" is being discussed.  Is it the liberties belonging to the Sheep or the Wolf?

President Abraham Lincoln does the best at explaining the difference:

From his Address at Sanitary Fair, Baltimore, Maryland on April 18, 1864:

“…The world has never had a good definition of the word liberty, and the American people, just now, are much in want of one. We all declare for liberty; but in using the same word we do not all mean the same thing. With some the word liberty may mean for each man to do as he pleases with himself, and the product of his labor; while with others the same word may mean for some men to do as they please with other men, and the product of other men's labor. Here are two, not only different, but incompatable things, called by the same name---liberty. And it follows that each of the things is, by the respective parties, called by two different and incompatable names---liberty and tyranny.

The shepherd drives the wolf from the sheep's throat, for which the sheep thanks the shepherd as a liberator, while the wolf denounces him for the same act as the destroyer of liberty…

Plainly the sheep and the wolf are not agreed upon a definition of the word liberty; and precisely the same difference prevails to-day among us human creatures, even in the North, and all professing to love liberty. Hence we behold the processes by which thousands are daily passing from under the yoke of bondage, hailed by some as the advance of liberty, and bewailed by others as the destruction of all liberty. Recently, as it seems, the people of Maryland have been doing something to define liberty; and thanks to them that, in what they have done, the wolf's dictionary, has been repudiated…”

(Collected Works of Abraham Lincoln. Volume 7 1809-1865.) (https://quod.lib.umich.edu/l/lincoln/lincoln7/1:665?rgn=div1;view=fulltext)

Dear Church, I Came To See You - A Story of God’s Blessing on the Christian or the Non-Christian?

Dear Church, I Came To See You

A Story of God’s Blessing on the Christian or the Non-Christian?

Matthew 25:35-39

For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’ “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’

Week to week I come in your doors.  I worship in your majestic buildings to this God you preach.  Looking for God I am often mesmerized by the lights and sounds from your stage. What a show and performance.  What grand pageantry; the instruments, the singers, better then anything seen on Broadway. I am captivated and held spell bound by the great oratory of the one you call Pastor.  I was even convinced once or twice of the many ways I could improve my life.

Then that day came.

I lost the job that I had given decades of service to.  With my spouse only working part-time, how do I provide for my family?

What great relief to be headed to Church today!   Surely, I can find the answers I need today.

“Dear Brother, so sad to learn about your lost job. Hope you know we are praying for you.”

Two months have gone by and still no prospects of a job.  Things get worse when the old kitchen stove breaks down and we cannot afford to buy one.   On Sunday, I share my need with my friend the Deacon. As he prays for God to provide for my family, I hear the prayers from the stage thanking God for meeting the building fund goal of $200,000.

What will we do?

Isaiah 41:17

When the poor and needy seek water, and there is none, and their tongue is parched with thirst, I the Lord will answer them; I the God of Israel will not forsake them.

Then the blessings start coming in!  From the church congregation?  You would think so, but no.  They come from the “world”.   Co-workers at my spouse’s part-time job start finding “excuses” to “miss work”.   Suddenly my spouse is working 5 days a week to fill in for them.  Bless them Lord!

“Dear Brother, how is the job hunt going?  By the way, we added your need to the Prayer chain”

“Today’s message is called:  ‘God’s Power to Provide’”

What a wonderful promise!  I am glad we had those non-Christians at my spouse’s job, so God could use them to help us and in turn they can be blessed by God.  

Proverbs 22:9  Whoever has a bountiful eye will be blessed, for he shares his bread with the poor.

Then one day, my spouse comes home excited. The boss at work wants to give us a stove!  A week later, co-workers handed us a gift totaling $200 in food and services for our children!  Within months, the same company offers my spouse a full time job.

Thank you Lord for your provisions through this employer!  Bless them exceedingly.

Dear church, the Lord will provide for his children whether or not you are too BUSY to hear the simple cries of help from his children.  There was a time in the book of Acts when the Apostles STOPPED their ministry to meet the needs of the Widows and Orphans.  It cost Stephen his life!  The church then was BLESSED because of what they GAVE and not what they were waiting at the altar to RECEIVE.

He wishes to work through his Bride the church but he will use whom he needs to accomplish his work.

Judgment begins at the House of God.

1 John 3:17

But if anyone has the world's goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God's love abide in him?

Written 2009

Revised 2013

WDK