All for One and One for All, Acts 4:32-37

If you are a Christian, you are a member of the biggest, most powerful, family on the planet.

Today we’re going to flip through our family photo album. Walk through our family room with walls full of family photos. We’ll admire, a portrait of our first ancestors, and consider the family resemblance.

32 Now the multitude of those who believed were of one heart and one soul;

The multitude, was probably 8-10,000, maybe, 11,791, the population of Sebring FL. They leaped from 120 to 3,000, then, 5,000, and that was just counting men.

They were a fast-growing family that couldn’t be ignored.

It was amazing because their Leader, Jesus, only months before had been publicly, mocked, flogged, beaten, and crucified. And recently two of His main men, were arrested just for claiming He was raised from the dead.

What’s even more amazing than their growth is their unity; of one heart, one soul.

In my house, there’s only two of us, and sometimes we can’t even… umm, never mind.

There were thousands of them, meeting and believing and beating as one heart, one soul.

Heart, (kardia); from where we get our word, cardio. Used over 800 times in Scripture, never once about the organ that pumps blood. Always, about character, inner self, intention.

Soul, (psuché); from where we get our word, psychology. It’s defined as, breath of life. Soul; mind, will, emotions; seat of affection.

The Church was a living breathing body with the same desire, will, passion and intention, to know, Jesus. Not just intellectually, but personally, intimately, intensely.

The early Church was a powerful, unstoppable force.

That’s who we, the Church, came from, our prototype, our example, who we’re supposed to look like.

Do we? Are we, of one heart and one soul?

Jesus prayed, five times in one prayer, in John 17, that we, His Church, would be one.

In Matthew 16:18, He said He’d build His Church and the gates of hell would not prevail against it.

That was a statement of offense, not defense. The gates of hell will not stand against the united, ever-charging offense of the Church.

 The word Jesus used translated into English as Church, is Ekklésia. It depicts an assembly of called out ones.

The Greeks understood Ekklésia to describe a group of people called out with the power and authority to make decisions about war, foreign policy, write and revise laws, approve or condemn the conduct of public officials.

So, with that being said, we can say:  

The original Divine design, purpose and calling of the Church, is a people called out by God, to rule and reign in His kingdom.

Just don’t confuse, His kingdom, with the world’s.

 God never changed His mind, regarding His first command; be fruitful and multiply, fill the earth, subdue it, and have dominion. Gen. 1:28.

In other words: Be His Ekklésia.

Okay, so, the Ekklésia, were of one heart, one soul…

…neither did anyone say that any of the things he possessed was his own, but they had all things in common.

When our priorities are right, our treasures are in heaven, not our bank, or backyard.

In God’s kingdom, there is always more than enough.

In man’s kingdom there is never enough. Jesus said, the poor you have with you always. Mattthew 26:11.

He also said:

Matthew 6:19-21
Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Where’s your treasure?

Growing and glowing in heaven?

Or rotting and rusting on earth?

My wife voluntold me to help someone clean up their yard. In so doing, I accidentally broke one of his old shovels. I was doing it as a favor, for free, it was an accident, so, the broken shovel was on him, right?

Maybe not.

I was doing it for more than a favor, more than for free, we were doing it as a witness for Jesus. 

So, the shovel was on me.

I brought him a brand new nice shiny shovel.

Where’s your treasure?

Our treasure is in heaven, not shovels.

On the other hand, I had a friend who borrowed my chainsaw. Brought it back, broken. A week or two later, he called. “Did you fix your chainsaw yet? I need to borrow it again.” 

Where’s your treasure?

If a friend accidentally scratches your car, what do you do?

Freak out? Call the police. Threaten to take them to court?

If so, you miss a grand opportunity to extend grace and forgiveness and deposit treasures in heaven. You throw away what may be an eternal friendship, for a thing that’s rotting and rusting.

Okay, now let’s pause to admire a powerful portrait.

Notice how the Artist drew the line, all things in common, after, one heart and one soul.

These lines define family. No longer, yours and mine, but us and ours. A reflection of family, of our family, our Church family, God’s family.

Jesus said, those who do the will of My Father, are my brother and sister and mother. Matt. 12:50.

This is a portrait of God’s family in its purest form, since the Garden of Eden.

Oh look, there’s another portrait, it may be a bit dusty, because it’s the very first family portrait ever. From way back when God brought the woman to the man, and the two became one flesh; of one heart and of one soul. Genesis chapter two closes by painting the purest, most innocent, intimate, perfect portrait of the very first family:  

And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and they were not ashamed. Genesis 2:23-25.

33 And with great power the apostles gave witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus…

Jesus said, when the Holy Spirit comes, you’ll receive Power to be My witnesses to the ends of the earth. Acts 1:8.

He was talking about our birthday. The birth of the Church.

That word, Power, mentioned over a hundred times in the New Testament is the Greek word, dunamis, meaning: (miraculous) power, might, strength. Whereby we get our word dynamite.

When you look in the mirror do you see, Power? Dynamite power? Or, do you see, worn? weary? worried? wounded?

Look deeper than feelings. Look beyond the worry lines, the weary eyes, the trembling chin…what do you see, down deep inside?

 If you’re born again and have invited the Holy Spirit to reside within, then, you’ll find behind the worn, weary, wounded soul, a Warrior radiating (dynamite) Power, just waiting to be called out to rule and reign in every area of your life.

 Perhaps you don’t see it, but make no mistake, the enemy does. You may look in the mirror and see a coward, but when the enemy of your soul looks at you, he sees a LION. Revelation 5:5.

And with great Power, He’s ready to roar with the resurrection Life of our Lord Jesus Christ!

…And great grace was upon them all.

The Greek word for “great” is where we get our word, mega.

Grace is unmerited favor.

Mega unmerited favor was upon them all.

King David understood this great favor when he wrote, “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me, all the days of my life. And I will dwell in the house of the Lord, forever.” Psalm 23:6.

David’s son, Solomon, wrote, Proverbs 3:3-4: Let not mercy and truth forsake you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart, and so find favor and high esteem in the sight of God and man.

Luke 2:52 tells us, Jesus waxed strong in Spirit and grew in favor with God and man.

Mega unmerited favor was upon them all.

 

34 Nor was there anyone among them who lacked;

They were of one heart and one soul, with one goal, to give witness to the resurrection of our Lord.

The result of that, is that no one lacked.

Jesus puts it like this:

Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these other things will be added unto you. Matt. 6:33.

Eternal Truth: In God’s kingdom there’s always more than enough.

Remember, this isn’t just a history lesson, it’s a look at HIStory, which includes you. These people are our ancestors, our family, our prototype, our example.

We too, can be of one heart, one soul, walking in mega Power, and mega grace, having no lack, with one goal, to give witness of our Lord Jesus Christ.

34 …for all who were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the proceeds of the things that were sold, 35 and laid them at the apostles’ feet; and they distributed to each as anyone had need.

Imagine the Lord decides to pour out His Holy Spirit on us, in such a way that folks all over town come running to see what's going on. Something like He did back then, on the day of Pentecost.

Imagine they flood this place, and 3,000 souls are saved in a day, and then, thousands more, day after day, and they’re so moved by the Lord’s Presence, they stay.

They’re part of our family; one heart, one soul.

With that many people, there’s bound to be lots of needs.

As a Church family, we do what we do; meet the need. Some, willingly, sell assets to help meet the need. (If the Church did today what we did back then, the government would loose its power over the people).

In that day, conversion to Christianity might mean losing your livelihood, and even your life (even today in many places).  

36 And Joses, who was also named Barnabas by the apostles (which is translated Son of Encouragement), a Levite of the country of Cyprus, 37 having land, sold it, and brought the money and laid it at the apostles’ feet.

Joses, or, Joseph, was nicknamed, Barnabas, because he was such an encourager.

Look close at our first Church family portrait; there’s Uncle Barney.

He’s in the back, putting everyone else before himself. He’s the one tying shoes, straightening ties, telling them all they look so great.

He notices some kids need shoes; others look hungry.

He has this land, on the island of Cyprus. He can’t think of anything he’d rather do than sell that land to help meet the needs of… family.

Smile for the camera. Click.

And just like that the chapter ends. It’s the perfect place to put the words, “And they all lived happily ever after. The end.”

Just like the very first family portrait we looked at in Genesis 2. They were both naked, the man and his wife, and they were not ashamed. And they all lived happily ever after. The end.

But the Bible is not a fairy tale.

And when we turn the page to Genesis chapter three, we see the words: “Now the serpent…” and sin enters the family and things go south from there.

The same thing happens when we cross the line into Acts 5. It opens ominously with the words, “But a certain man…” and sin enters the family and things go south from there.

That is for another day, Lord willing, in a week.

For now, let’s pray.

Lord Jesus, thank You for Your Word, that works, that never returns void. According the Your Word received today, we pray that we walk with You, in one accord, one heart, one soul. In mega Power, and mega grace, having no lack, with one goal, to boldly proclaim Your Holy Name. So that of all those You’ve given us, none are lost.

Thank You.

We love You, forever.

Amen.

 

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