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/

Why should I Submit?

 Believers will go to the altar and kneel in “submission” to God Almighty to place requests at His feet.

What happens after leaving the Altar and coming face to face with someone else and not being able to “kneel in submission”?

How easy it is to kneel in submission to the God of the Universe with whom there is no physical contact but the spouse standing next to you cannot obtain that same submission!

Believers are quick to tell someone that they do not deserve that same respect.  God wants to ask a question.  Did I not make them as I made you?  If they do not deserve it, then why should you?  If you cannot submit to one another, why should I look upon your selfish attempt to kneel at my altar as being anything more than an attempt to be a show before man!  You Hypocrite, even the Pharisee did a better job of role playing…

Where does God fit into all this?

Man does not submit to God.  He thumbs his nose up in defiance. He has the power to stand on his own two feet. Every man also has his own opinion.  The only thing important in this world is to make that opinion known to the world.

Women do not submit to men. They defy the direction and leading of their husbands and fathers in order to stand on their own two feet and to make their opinions heard.

Children do not submit to their parents.  They watch fathers not submitting, they watch mothers not submitting.  What are we expecting them to learn?  We model REBELLION and complain when the children rebel. What are they going to do? Submit to parental authority? Submit to God’s Authority?

Then the cycle begins all over yet again.  Those children grow physically into adults having learned nothing regarding submission. Each cycle producing a generation further away from God than the previous one.

Why is there an expectation that they will eventually submit to the authority of God?

I AM A SLAVE TO GOD MANIFESTO

What is your “Standard”?  What do you stand for?  Any idea what you believe? What would you die for?

A day is soon coming that WILL require every person to AGREE to a set “CODE of CONDUCT” that is approved by society, social media and ultimately governmental laws.  When that day occurs and you are forced to accept that “Code” or face consequences, what WILL YOU DO?  Will you then STAND for the laws of God or those of man?  When that choice suddenly dictates imprisonment, lack of right to purchase food, and even family not acknowledging you, it may be too late to suddenly find your backbone!  If there is no backbone in you now, what gives you the impression that you will suddenly find one when the noose is tightening around the neck?

I challenge everyone to write a “manifesto” of their own words.  DO NOT copy mine or anyone’s.  If you do, then it is not truly a manifesto, because you did nothing more than copy words from someone else’s heart and not your own. 

What is a manifesto? 

According to Merriam-Webster Dictionary:

“Manifesto: a written statement declaring publicly the intentions, motives, or views of its issuer”

 

I AM A SLAVE TO GOD MANIFESTO

I am not a Christian. That is a term created by the world to identify a particular group of people. The world can have it and label anything they want with that term. As is true with any term used to group people, this term “Christian” has come to identify a broad spectrum of beliefs and ideas.  It no longer has the same context it originally had when used in the first century. A term that once made the Apostle Paul proud would now be a term fit to describe the very people he was trying to reach with the words of Christ. 

I cannot find any reference to Jesus THE Christ telling anyone to first you must become a Christian and once you do that be willing to die for being called one. 

God did ask me if I was willing to do one thing.  Was I willing to give my life for the proclamation of HIS Word and for the Defense of the Name of HIS Son Jesus Christ?  I gave Him an answer.  It was an unconditional and fully bonded shout of YES SIR!  He called me to accept Him as the controller of my life, soul and spirit.  In making that pledge to Him, I have given away ALL RIGHTS and have subjected myself to his governing laws and rules.  If I did not want to be controlled in such a way then I would not accept and commit my life to Jesus Christ and HIS Father the God of the Universe!  I am not a Christian, but I AM a child of God and a follower and believer of EVERYTHING taught by His son Jesus Christ!  I have accepted and acknowledge before Him that Jesus died for my sins!

This commitment requires a bond, no simple pledge will suffice. It is a commitment that requires me to unconditionally waive all rights and beliefs.  I am placing myself into bondage to the God of the Universe!

I can already feel the weight of that yoke of burden.  How am I worthy enough to even attempt to claim the right to any opinion or belief that is not His? I just handed those rights over in order to make this bond!

A Christian cannot do what I just did. Christians have been seen coming and going, following the latest wave that provides what they want.  They are never able to put themselves into bondage to ONE Lord and Master. I feel free and comfortable denying I am a Christian. I will NEVER deny that I am a follower of Jesus Christ! He alone is my Master and I am in His service. I will speak and do ONLY that which he allows me to do.

I will attempt to live up to the faith that for centuries has caused HIS other followers who have gone before to be able to boldly stand; and for some to even give the ultimate price for the name of Jesus Christ. Those men and women who have followed Jesus Christ may be long gone but they are still impacting lives!

“Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven.”

ALL GLORY AND HONOR AND PRAISE TO THE ONE AND ONLY GOD OF THIS UNIVERSE WHO SACRIFICED HIS SON JESUS CHRIST SO THAT I WOULD LIVE AND THEN SENT THE HOLY SPIRIT TO BRING POWER UNTIL THE DAY OF HIS RETURN!

signed and dated November 2, 2020 by WD KEMNER