Spurling Silver: One Accord, Acts 5:12-16

Acts 5:12
And through the hands of the apostles many signs and wonders were done among the people. And they were all with one accord in Solomon’s Porch.

There it is again, for the 5^th time so far in the book of Acts.

One accord, the Greek word is: homothumadon (hom-oth-oo-mad-on'). From, homo, meaning, same, and thymós, meaning, passion. Same passion, one accord, one mind, one heart, one soul, same goal.

They may look different, may have a different function, but they serve the same purpose, same passion; in one accord.

It started in Acts 1:14, after Jesus ascended to heaven, they ascended to the Upper Room, and continued with one accord in prayer and supplication.

Then Acts 2:1, ten days later, they were all in one accord, when the day of Pentecost had fully come, and suddenly their prayer meeting exploded with the sound of a Mighty Rushing Wind and, Tongues of Fire on each of them. The next thing you know 3,000 souls were saved.

After that, Acts 2:46, they continue daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.

And the next thing you know a forty-plus year old man, born lame, is leaping, running, jumping praising God; and a couple thousand more are saved.

Well, thousands of folks leaping, running, jumping from religion to praising Jesus, stirred jealous anger in the religious leaders. So, for that Good deed done to a helpless man, Peter and John were arrested.

They were commanded to no longer speak in the name of Jesus.

But they said, “Whether it’s right for us to listen to you, more than God, you decide, but we can’t help but speak about Jesus.” Acts 4:18.

Well, the authorities knew the arrest was a sham and to shut them up, they locked them up; so, they let them go with a warning to speak no more of this Jesus.

What’d they do?

Acts 4:24; they got, homothumadon of course—wouldn’t you?

They got together in one accord, and prayed for boldness to do exactly what the authorities told them not to do.

The Lord heard and the place shook and they were filled with the heart of the Lion of the tribe of Judah, and with one heart, one soul, one voice they boldly proclaimed the name of Jesus!

Now, just to be clear, being in one accord, is not a mindless echo chamber where everybody gets together, nods their heads and parrots the apostles.

No, committing to the Way, is a serious, soul exposing, life or death measure of integrity.

Just ask Ananias and Sapphira. They said one thing, did another, and fell down dead.

That sent the fear of God shivering up and down the spine of the Church. But the fear of God is a Good fear, that caused them to gather, not scatter.

Which is what they’re doing now, gathered with one accord, in Solomon’s Porch. Acts 5:12.

Each event we’ve seen so far in the action packed book of Acts, has had this one common denominator; homothumadon, one accord.

Notice the focus of the verse we just read. Through the hands of the apostles signs and wonders were done, among the people, and they (the people) were all with one accord, and they (the people), were all together in one place, Solomon’s Porch.

The spotlight is not on the signs, wonders, or hands of the apostles, but on the people, not the steeple.

When Jesus said, I will build My Church, the word He used referred to people.

Ekklésia. People called out to walk with Him, humbly, but boldly; rightly dividing and doing, His Word of Truth, with authority and conviction.

That, defines you, if you are a part of His Church, (Ekklésia).

The power of people coming together in one accord, in the name of Jesus, cannot be over stated. You won’t know this side of heaven, the power involved with you simply showing up for, Church in one accord; Ekklésia homothumadon.

In the longest recorded prayer of Jesus, five times He prays, earnestly that we, His Ekklésia, would be one.

Church isn’t speakers and singers, or stained glass and steeples, it’s, Ekklésia homothumadon; people in one accord, in One name, the name of Jesus.

Coming together, as one, in one name, sounds like something families do. A healthy functional family is God’s idea. His creation. His Divine design.

Jesus said our family, is not necessarily flesh and blood, but those who do the will of our Father. Matthew 12:50.

Family is the number one thing the devil tries to destroy.

Their family got together a lot. They met in small groups, house to house; they met in the Upper Room, and they often met at this place called Solomon’s Porch (colonnade, or portico).

It was a covered porch, (or walkway), on the east side of the temple. In Solomon’s day it was 30’ x 15’. Much longer in the days of Herod the Great, some say, over 800 feet.

Maybe we should do more of that. Not only getting together twice a week to have Church, but getting together often, to be Church, be family, be in one accord. Ekklésia homothumadon.

Psalm 133:1
How good and pleasant it is when brethren dwell together in unity.

¹³ Yet none of the rest dared join them, but the people esteemed them highly.

After the sudden death of Ananias and Sapphira, the fear of God not only shot through the Church, but rippled through, the rest, of the people.

There was a reverential fear that gave pause to, the rest; the uncommitted, the curiosity seekers, those who just showed up for the show, to be entertained, those just looking for free coffee and donuts, the social gospel country club seekers; they stopped coming.

That’s what happens when purity is preached and sin is exposed; the serious believers draw nearer, and, the rest, quit coming.

¹⁴And believers were increasingly added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women,

Added to the Lord, not to the apostles, not this or that religion, nor any denomination, or church roster.

People, coming to a Person, the Person, Jesus Christ.

Relationship, not religion.

Ekklésia homothumadon Yeshua. People, in one accord, with Jesus.

¹⁵ so that they brought the sick out into the streets and laid them on beds and couches, that at least the shadow of Peter passing by might fall on some of them.

Peter’s shadow was no different than yours. The shadow was a point of contact where people engaged their faith.

Like the woman with the issue of blood, said. “If I can just touch the hem of His garment, I will be healed.” She touched and was healed. Matthew 9:20-22.

The hem of Jesus’ garment did not have magical healing power. Others were touching Jesus, bumping into Him in the crowd. But this lady’s faith tapped into His healing Power.

Faith comes by hearing the Word (rhema: spoken Word) of Christ; Romans 10:17.

At some time, the lady heard the Word of the Lord spoken directly to her heart, and received, by God’s grace, a gift of faith. So, she knew, all she had to do was touch His hem, and she’d be healed.

Jesus told her the same thing He told many who were healed: “Your faith has made you whole.”

It’s all about Jesus. Not garments, or shadows. Not signs, wonders, miracles or healings; but hearing, Jesus, the Word became flesh.

Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of Christ; Romans 10:17.

¹⁶Also a multitude gathered from the surrounding cities to Jerusalem, bringing sick people and those who were tormented by unclean spirits, and they were all healed.

Imagine, the emergency rooms at Advent and Highland’s Regional are standing room only, the halls are lined with beds, no rooms to fit them in.

They hear something about this Man called Jesus. He died, but lives again. And as He healed on earth, He heals from heaven (He’s the same yesterday, today, and forever; Hebrews 13:8. Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven; Matthew 6:10).

Patients are dying where they sit in the waiting room. They’ve got to do something.

They load them up, haul them over to where they hear this Jesus will be (Matthew 18:20; where two or more are gathered in My name, there I’ll be).

You show up for Church and your parking spot is taken—everybody’s parking spot is taken. Not with cars, but wheelchairs. You walk inside and find the whole place is packed with hospital beds.

You’re trembling, thinking about leaving. But then, you remember some Words, and suddenly you have courage not your own, you reach out grab the first hand you see, and the words, “Medical training have I none, but what I do have, I give you, in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk.”

And you’re just as shocked as him, when he does rise up and walk.

As amazing as that is, it’s nothing, compared to what you see next.

You look until your eyes spill liquid joy as His Ekklésia, reaches out, speaks up, in one accord, one heart, one mind, one soul, with Jesus.

And Jesus does, what Jesus does.

One by one, they rise, from death, to Life.

If you wonder why we don’t do today, what they did back then. Consider this:

Foundation stones may look different, may have a different function, than finishing stones, but they serve the same purpose, same passion, are in one accord.

Now, please don’t miss the message. It’s not about miracles, it’s all about being in one accord, with Jesus.

Ephesians 4:11-13.

Let’s pray.

Lord Jesus, we agree with Your prayer. Please make us Ekklésia homothumadon Yeshua. Your people, in one accord, with You.

Thank You.

We look forward to seeing You, soon.

We love You, forever.

Amen.

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