“A Consecrated Life: Life as It’s Meant to Be”
Acts 2:42-47
A Federal office in California sent the following letter to a Social Security recipient: “We want to talk to you about a notification in our office that you are deceased. Please let us know if you are.” Now that’s a pretty grave letter! But it prompts a good question – “What does it mean to be alive?” What is life really meant to be like? A related question is, “What does a live church look like?” Even more to the point, what is the Christian life meant to be like? The previous verses in Acts, Chapter 2 have described the awe, wonder, and excitement of Pentecost – the coming with power of the Holy Spirit. 3,000 people had given their lives to Christ. Beginning in verse 42 we discover what the disciples did when the excitement of the day had ended – we catch a glimpse of what their life was like.
The first component the consecrated life is that the Christian needs to be ADDICTED TO LEARNING. “They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching…” They continued steadfast in their learning. The Holy Spirit had opened up a school with 3,000 kindergartners! But we cannot dismiss learning as something only for new Christians – the Bible is unequivocal about learning and growth. We are always to learn and grow. Learning is not a one time event or something that we do only in phase one of the Christian life. Learning is a continuous journey. We must keep our minds fresh and pliable. So the believers came together to study the apostles’ teachings about Jesus Christ. They did it daily. Continual education is not an elective; it is essential. IF WE DO NOT LEARN, WE DO NOT GROW. IF WE DO NOT GROW, WE STAGNATE. On July 5, 1926, President Calvin Coolidge spoke at an occasion observing the 150th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. At one point he said, “A spring will cease to flow if its source be dried up: a tree will whither if its roots be destroyed … we cannot continue to enjoy the result if we abandon and neglect the cause.” We can never learn all there is to learn of Christ. HE IS NOT A BODY OF TRUTH TO BE MASTERED; RATHER HE IS THE TRUTH THAT MASTERS US.
Listen to Jesus (John 15:5-8): "I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not remain in me, (does not continue to learn and grow) he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. If you remain in me and my words remain in you (continue to learn and grow), ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you. This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.” As proverbs 19:27 puts it: “Stop listening to instruction, my son, and you will stray from the words of knowledge.” WE MUST CONTINUE STEADFAST IN OUR LEARNING. Corot was a famous painter. At age 70, he said, “If God spares me for another ten years I think I may learn how to paint.” You know what most professional golfers do after completing a round in a tournament? They go and practice; it’s a constant part of their life. They know they have never arrived. Too often we Christians feel we have arrived – that there is no need to study anymore, to attend Adult Sunday School, as if we know all there is to know of Jesus. Yet Paul speaks of the un-searchable riches of Christ; if we learned for a thousand years we would never know all there is to know. Drink deeply of Jesus. Pursue a life of learning and study. Develop an addiction to learning.
The second component to life as its meant to be is that it is BUILT ON SHARING. Verse 42: “They devoted themselves …to the fellowship.” And 44-45: “All the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need.” A common theme throughout Acts is stated often by Luke; “And they were all together in one place…” THEY WERE OPEN AND IN TUNE WITH EACH OTHER BECAUSE THEY WERE OPEN AND IN TUNE WITH JESUS. He was the center of their lives, their conversations, their activities. As John wrote in his first letter (1:3) “We proclaim to you what ewe have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ.” When we recited the Apostle’s Creed a few moments ago, we said we believed in the holy Christian Church. Listen to how the Heidelberg Catechism defines that belief (Q & A 54): “I believe that the Son of God, through his Spirit and Word, out of the entire human race, from the beginning of the world to its end, gathers, protects, and preserves for himself a community chosen for eternal life and united in true faith. And of this community I am and always will be a living member.” We share with our brothers and sisters because of who God shared with us – His Son Jesus Christ. We do not choose each other – we are given to each other by God. What this means is that EVERYONE WHO BELONGS TO CHRIST BELONGS TO EVERYONE WHO BELONGS TO CHRIST. Our lives and possessions are not out own. Acts 4:31-35: “There were no needy persons among them. No one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they shared everything they had…There were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned lands or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales and put it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to anyone as he had need.” The needs of others had priority over their own personal wants; personal ‘rights’ were relinquished for the common good.
Here’s the principle: CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP IS CHRISTIAN CARING AND CHRISTIAN CARING IS CHRISTIAN SHARING. It is sharing Jesus Christ in word and deed. When that is the basis of a community or group, it is life as God intended it to be. In a day when people are overwhelmed with loneliness, overcome with selfishness, and undone by brokenness the fellowship of the church is a must. We must build relationships with other Christians. Be an active part of the church; participate in a small group. Fellowship exists when we share our problems and joys, when we remind each other of God’s grace, when we love each other enough to challenge each other’s errors and encourage each other to more faithful living. Establish some accountability for your life. Without this, you will be susceptible to doubts, temptation, ridicule, and discouragement – because Satan will do everything he can to take you away from Jesus.
The documentary The March of the Penguins follows the emperor penguins of Antarctica on their incredible journey through ice and snow to mating grounds up to 70 miles inland. Narrated by Morgan Freeman, this beautiful film captures the drama of these three-foot-high birds in the most inhospitable of environments. Once the males have reached the breeding grounds and have been given responsibility for the eggs, they override their competitive nature and form a team for the sake of survival. As a massive storm sets in, vicious winds pelt the penguins, which are huddled now in a single mass. As the view alternates from close ups of ice-caked penguins to panoramic shots of the huddled throng, Freeman narrates: “As the fathers settle into their long wait at the breeding grounds, the temperature is now 80 degrees below zero. That’s without taking into account the wind which can blow 100 miles per hour. Though they can be aggressive during the rest of the year, at this time the males are totally docile, a united and cooperative team. They brace against the storm by merging their thousand bodies into a single mass. They will take turns, each of them getting to spend some time near the center of their huddle where it’s warmer.” What a picture of the Church at her best. Build your life on sharing the fellowship of Christ.
The third component of this life is to be COMMITTED TO WORSHIP. “They devoted themselves to the … breaking of bread.” And verses 46-47: “Everyday they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God …” Worship was so much a part of their lives that even their meals became an act of worship. They could not eat bread or drink their wine without using the occasion to celebrate the Lord’s Supper. And they worshiped in the temple daily. So what is your commitment to worship? Never forget that WHEN WE STOP WORSHIPING GOD WE START WORSHIPING HUMANKIND. The early church recognized she needed help to remain strong out in the workaday world, to remain different than humankind. So worship became the beachhead from which they were launched to witness daily for Christ. If your neighbors judged you by where they saw you going most frequently, what would they say was important in your life? Golf? Soccer? Gardening? The Opera? It always amazes me that people who are part of, let’s say the Rotary Club have attendance requirements. Whenever they are on vacation they need to find a local Rotary Club to attend – regular attendance is not an option. Yet Christians, on the average, attend worship about twice a month – and seldom on vacation. We would not think about skipping a date or an appointment with a boss – but seldom hesitate about skipping dates and appointments with God and each other. And then we wonder why so many Christians have so little depth in their spiritual lives. We complain about Christians becoming too much like non-Christians and the church too much like the world. We have subtly begun worshiping humankind and become more human rather than been committed to worshiping God and becoming like Him.
But remember that WORSHIP IS NOT TO FOCUS ON US BUT ON GOD. We do not come here to be entertained, or to get pumped up (although that may happen), or to be healed (although that may happen); we come to glorify Jesus. In the fourth chapter of John’s Gospel Jesus strikes up a conversation, by a well, with a woman. As they talked about worship Jesus said, “Yet a time is coming and now has come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks.” God seeks us out to worship Him. He wants us here! It grieves God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit when we fail to worship. I often hear and mention what a privilege it is to live in a country where we are free to worship. How do you think He feels when we ignore and neglect Him? THE GREATEST THREAT TO THE CHURCH IS NOT FROM THE EVIL SATAN ON THE OUTSIDE – IT’S FROM LACKADAISICAL CHRISTIANS ON THE INSIDE. I repeat what I’ve said do often from this pulpit – every generation worships less than the one before; so what inheritance are we leaving the next generation? Be committed to worship – at every opportunity. Stem the tide and reverse the trend. Worship is not an option – it needs to be
the very core of your life.
The fourth component of life as it’s meant to be is that Christians are to be DEVOTED TO PRAYER. “They devoted themselves to…prayer.” The book of Acts is filled with scenes of prayer in the life of the early Christians. It is obvious that the witness they gave, and the miracles which resulted, came about because of their devotion to prayer. PRAYER WAS THE ONLY THING THE DISCIPLES ASKED JESUS TO TEACH THEM. And is it any wonder? God’s power is unlimited; His storehouse is full. Listen to the Bible: (Jer. 33:3): “Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.” (Matthew 7:7-8) “Ask and it will be given you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.” (Mark 11:24) “…Whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.”
These Christians of the early church spoke to God before they spoke to people; they went into God before they went into the world; the met the problems of life because they had first met with God. When we rely on organization we get what organization can do. When we rely on education, we get what education can do. When we rely on programs, we get what programs can do. When we rely on campaigns, we get what campaigns can do. When we rely on human ingenuity, we get what humans can do. But when we rely on prayer we get what God can do! And He can do it all! As someone aptly wrote, “The early church had no radio program, but they were tuned into a divine frequency. They had no television, but they had a clear channel to Glory. They had no telephone, but they had an open line to the Lord’s throne. They had no cars, but they moved faster on their knees. They had no airplanes, but they flew all over the world on the wings of prayer.”
And what happened? They “enjoyed the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.” PRAYERS WENT UP, POWER CAME DOWN, AND PEOPLE WENT OUT. And people were saved! Howard Hendricks once shared how he challenged a class of seminary students to each write down the names of 2-3 people whom, in their judgment, would never come to faith in Christ. Then they covenanted together to pray every day for those individuals. At the end of the semester 36 of those people they prayed for had accepted Christ, through no other contact but only by prayer. One of those 36 was his own father for whom he had prayed for 42 years! Be devoted to prayer.
May your life be addicted to learning, built on sharing, committed to worship, and devoted to prayer. Steven Jobs was the founder of Apple Computers. There came a point in time when the company was struggling and he approached John Sculley – who was head of one of the divisions of Pepsi Cola – to come on board and help lead them out of difficulty. Sculley kept resisting and Jobs kept persisting. Finally, Steven Jobs confronted John Sculley with a choice: “Do you want to spend the rest of your life selling sugared water, or do you want a chance to change the world?” Sculley went to Apple Computers. This is the challenge before you: do you want to just live and get by, or live life as it was meant to be? Do you want to just sit back and rejoice that you’re a Christian or be a part of changing lives and thereby changing the world? It’s up to you. Leave here and return to life as usual or do as the early Christians did: meet daily, worship daily, pray daily, search the Scriptures daily, win souls daily, and increase in numbers daily. I pray you will go forth and change the world.
