In the book of Acts, we see the Church that Jesus built “up close and personal!” No one had a church growth manual; the New Testament hadn’t been written. It was all spontaneous. There was nothing that anyone could do to prepare or to stop it; they were thrust into a new life and new lifestyle instantaneously. All of a sudden, God came to town and took over…
PENTECOST FEVER
On the day of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit fell, Peter preached like the house was on fire – and 3000 people got saved! In an instant, the New Covenant was put into action on a grand scale with locals and those who were visiting Jerusalem for the feast. Suddenly, 3000 people come under the blood covenant cut when Jesus’ body was broken and His blood was shed. Instantly, they had a covenant with God – and with each other, too! BOOM! It happened just that fast; they were “ALL IN!”
Most of the New Testament letters are devoted to helping us live together under the Lordship of Jesus. And here, in the beginning, it looks like they are getting nearly everything right – without any coaching from Paul or Peter or James. We can take a lesson from the beginnings. Here’s how it looked…
(Act 2:42-47 NKJV) And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers. Then fear came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles. Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common, and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need. So continuing 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.
They early church was everything Jesus wanted. (John 17:20-21) They were ONE in very real and practical ways – loving each other and living a blessed life in unity. (Psalm 133) They were alive with teaching and joyous fellowship! Daily, believers were eating meals together and having the Lord’s Supper, praying together, and experiencing signs and wonders – with a true sense of community. They had communality, too, being one in lifestyle, praising God together and having favor with believers and non-believers alike. WOW!!
Doesn’t that sound amazing? It is. We have actually seen God do this in our day and age. This type of fellowship is definitely possible, if we are “ALL IN.” This can happen when we give ourselves first to the Lord and then to each other. (2Co 8:5) That’s the key…
Of course, what seemed like paradise developed a few snags along the way… but each of them only seemed to make the believers ALL IN. (e.g. Acts 4:29-31) Jesus used each problem to build the Church and propel it toward its destiny!
THE HONEYMOON IS OVER
When the Holy Spirit fell on Pentecost, people were there from all over – and many of them stayed. Imagine having an instant family of three thousand, many of whom were out of town guests (Acts 2:41) – and then the number men growing to 5,000! (Acts 4:4) What were these people going to eat? Where were they going to stay? We aren’t told all the details, but we are know that some of them sold lands and gave the money to the Apostles to distribute among the people, so they could eat! (Acts 4:32ff)
Following the example of others, a man name Ananias and his wife, Saphira sold some land, too. However, they kept back some of the money – which was fine – but they made it look like they gave it all. In other words, they wanted to look like they were ALL IN, but they really weren’t. They were lying about their commitment – unnecessarily! Hear what happened, when the Lord revealed it to Peter…
(Act 5:4-5 NKJV) While it remained, was it not your own? And after it was sold, was it not in your own control? Why have you conceived this thing in your heart? You have not lied to men but to God. Then Ananias, hearing these words, fell down and breathed his last. So great fear came upon all those who heard these things.
They didn’t need to sell anything, and they didn’t need to give away any part of it. People were free to follow the Lord in that regard. However, they were not free to look like they were ALL IN, but weren’t… Ananias and Saphira found out the hard way that God is not kidding about this covenant thing! Here’s the truth: We are vitally connected to the Lord – and when we lie to each other, we lie to Him – because we are one. God was going to protect the integrity of the Church. He was interested in truth in the inward parts and consistency in our actions. No hypocrites allowed in the Church Jesus built – under penalty of death! Now, that’s scary, huh? But it worked out well…
(Act 5:11-16 NKJV) So great fear came upon all the church and upon all who heard these things. 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. Yet none of the rest dared join them, but the people esteemed them highly. And believers were increasingly added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women, 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. Also 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.
ANOTHER SNAG
In the Church Jesus built, whatever “went wrong” only served to propel it further into the will of God. With all those people living a communal lifestyle, there had to be problems!
(Act 6:1 NKJV) Now in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplying, there arose a complaint against the Hebrews by the Hellenists, because their widows were neglected in the daily distribution.
This problem helped to develop the ministry of the deacon to ensure that the Apostles were free to do what they were called to do: be given to the Word of God and prayer. The deacons were spiritual men who would run the very practical, day-to-day business of the church.
So, the church developed, learning how to live with one another in the new life they shared. Of course, it wasn’t long until persecution came along, and the new believers fell right into will of God!
THE PROMISE OF PENTECOST – FULFILLED
(Act 1:8 NKJV) But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.
God’s will was not for the believers to stay in Jerusalem – but to be His witnesses throughout the known world. The true promise of Pentecost was the power of the Holy Spirit – and that was amply illustrated by the love the saints had for one another. They had the power to live the Great Commandment. (Matthew 22:37-40) However, the power of the Holy Spirit was not only given to fulfill the Great Commandment, but also the Great Commission. (Matthew 28:18-20) This happened, again, because of problems…
It wasn’t until Stephen was stoned that the saints began to fulfill the mandate to carry the gospel to the ends of the earth. When the religious “establishment” couldn’t withstand Spirit-filled deacon, they began to accuse the believers of sins against the Temple and the Law and changing the customs of Moses. Not good. Stephen was like a lightning rod for their anger. The longer he preached, the madder they got, and we all know what happened. How essential it is to be ALL IN, when the hard times come!
(Act 8:1 NKJV) Now Saul was consenting to his death. At that time a great persecution arose against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles.
Stephen’s death initiated a violent season of persecution on the fledgling Church. In it, we meet Saul, a young man who held the coats for those who were stoning Stephen. He would become a major player in the persecution – and also redemption of the Church. Even though hard times followed, again the problems proved to be the fuel to propel the Church into its calling. The Church Jesus built was filled with believers who were ALL IN and forged in the fires of affliction!
