The Sharing of The Saints
Notes
Transcript
Spiritual Participation (v 32a)
Spiritual Participation (v 32a)
The early church had grown so much that they were no longer numbered.
The fast growth was a direct result of the action recorded in Acts 4:31.
31 And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness.
It as such a powerful testimony to see such a large group of people have such a spirit of unity that it is almost impossible to believe.
However this is exactly what Jesus wants the church to look like as He asked the Father for this in John 13:35
35 By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”
And also in John 17:21
21 that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me.
The first fellowship was an answer to that prayer both in position and practice.
The Basis of their fellowship was 2 pronged.
1.) They were preoccupied with ministering to each other.
They were so intent on meeting each others needs that they had no concern for gratifying their own desires.
Theirs was a humility stemming from seeing themselves in relation to Jesus Christ and others as more important than themselves. Phil 2:3
3 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.
2.) They were focused beyond themselves to reaching the lost world with the truth of the Gospel.
Their unity stemmed from focusing on those priorities Jesus had left:
selflessly loving each other and reaching the lost world.
Strong Preaching (v 33)
Strong Preaching (v 33)
This does not mean a preacher getting in the pulpit and yelling and screaming for an hour.
What this means is that the Apostles were filled with the Spirit and were preaching the death and resurrection of Christ.
Too many times the church as traded numbers for the gospel.
We must always speak the Gospels truth over everything else.
By doing this the Apostles had grace or favor:
1.) They had the approval of the people.
2.) They had the approval of God.
Sharing Practically (vv 32b, 34-35)
Sharing Practically (vv 32b, 34-35)
Some have pointed to this set of verses and used it a a model of early communism.
This however is not the case.
Many of the new church were pilgrims that had flocked to Jerusalem for Pentecost and had understandably wanted to stay to be under the teaching of the Apostles.
They needed a place to stay and needed a source of income, all of which takes time to set up.
Some of the new believers that based there in Jerusalem had things that they could sell to help other out or sell to them for homes and property.
Also some of the believers that lived in Jerusalem no doubt lost their Jobs due to their new found faith and had to basically reinvent themselves to support their families.
A Sample Person (vv 36-37)
A Sample Person (vv 36-37)
Joseph or as we will come to know him Barnabas was an example of this love and kindness that we are to show other believers.
He was a Levite which mean he comes from the line of Priests which shows that not all the religious leaders at the time were hostile to this new movement.
But if you look it says he was from Cyprus which means he was not established in Jerusalem.
But even though he was not from there he still sold his property and brought the money to the Apostles and used it to help the poor even though he could have used it to help himself or to buy a house there in Jerusalem.