A Study of the Book of Acts
Sermon # 5
“WHEN THE SPIRIT REIGNED”
Acts 2:40-47
There seems to be some confusion today as to why the church exists. Win Arn , a church consultant, once surveyed members in about a 1,000 churches asking this question, “Why does the church exist?”
Ø 89% said, “The church’s purpose is to take care for my family’s and my needs.”
Ø 11% said the purpose of the church is to win the world to Christ.
“Charles Paul Conn tells of the time when he lived in
Atlanta. He noticed in the Yellow Pages, in the listing of restaurants, an entry for a place called the Church of God Grill. The peculiar name aroused his curiosity, and he dialed the number. A man answered with a cheerful, ‘Hello! Church of God Grill!” He asked how the restaurant had been given such an unusual name, and the man at the other end said, ‘Well, we had a little mission down here, and we started selling chicken dinners after church on Sunday to help pay the bills. Well, people liked the chicken, and we did such a good business, that eventually we cut back on the church service. After a while we just closed down the church altogether and kept on serving the chicken dinners. We kept the name we started with, and that’s Church of God Grill.”
I am afraid that this is what is happening to many churches today.
The closing verses of Acts chapter two describe the early church. It is presented as a model. It was not a perfect church, it had hypocrites in it and fought doctrinal error just as churches today. But the church in the book of Acts was a great church because it had focus. It knew that it should be doing something and knew what that something was. It had experienced the life changing power of Jesus and had also caught a vision of how that same power could change the lives of the people they knew. And they were doing something about it.
“And with many other words he testified and exhorted them saying, ‘Be saved from this perverse generation.’ (41) Then those that gladly received his word were baptized and that day about three thousand souls were added to them. (42) And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers. (43) Then fear came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles. (44) Now all who believed were together and had all in things in common (45) and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need (46) So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart (47) praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.”
Four things happened in the church where the Spirit reigned and they are keys to spiritual growth and maturity in the church of today.
I. WHERE THE SPIRIT REIGNED THERE WAS SOUND TEACHING (v. 42)
“And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine ……”
These new Christians under the reign of the Holy Spirit were hungry for God’s word. God designed the church to be a place where His word is proclaimed and explained. A commitment to the word of God is foundational to the growth and spiritual health of every church. The backbone of a healthy Christian life is teaching. Peter says, “Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation.” (1 Peter 2:2). Where the Spirit reigns, a love for God’s word reigns.
Christians should beware of churches where the people do not carry their bibles. Read your Bible. Mark it up. Each of us must make sure that sometime, somewhere in our week we are being taught.
II. WHERE THE SPIRIT REIGNED THERE
WAS SHARING FELLOWSHIP
“And they continued stedfastly in ….. fellowship,”
This kind of fellowship did not exist before the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. This the first use of the Greek word koinonia in the New Testament. Every time this word is used it denotes some kind of sharing – either sharing something with someone or sharing in something someone else is experiencing. The foundation of Christian fellowship is giving.
“(44) Now all who believed were together and had all in things in common (45) and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need.”
That they “had all things in common” does not, as some imagine, indicate communal living. The first Christian fellowship was not a commune, nor does the passage offer support for such a notion.
We can note several things about this practice:
(1) That this is not some form of primitive communism or
socialism is evident from the imperfect tense of both verbs translated “selling and sharing (which indicates that the selling and the giving were occasional, in response to particular needs, not once and for all.)
(2) The early believers did not sell everything as some have tried to say. Some still had houses as verse 46 indicates. The point is, the fellowship of the early church rested on a mutual generosity and sharing. Fellowship cost something in the early church. True fellowship costs!!!! The truth is, we will have fellowship only when we make it a practice to reach out to others and give them something of ourselves.
Illustration
“The Sunday School Teacher asked her eight eager 10 year olds if they would give $1,000,000 to missions. Yes, they all screamed! ‘Would you give $1,000?’ Again they shouted, ‘YES!’ ‘How about $100?’ ‘Oh, YES we would.’ They all agreed!! ‘Would you give just a dollar to the missionaries?’ she asked. The boys exclaimed ‘YES’ just as before except for Johnnie. ‘Johnnie,’ the teacher said as she noticed the boy clutching his pocket, ‘why didn’t you say ‘YES’ this time?’ ‘Well,’ he stammered, ‘I HAVE a dollar.”
(3) What actually happened was that personal property was sold “as anyone might have need.”
(4) Acts 5:4 indicates that such selling was purely voluntary. In 2 Corinthians 8:4 we see the Macedonian church begging for the privilege of participation in an offering, a contribution. Where the Spirit reigns, God’s people not only relate to the Word – they relate to one another in fellowship and sharing.
(5) In no other churches of Acts was this pattern of selling property repeated. While I do not see the Bible teaching that every Christian should sell his or her possessions, I do see it teaching that all that we have has been given by God and that we are merely stewards of it.
Many will be surprised at the link between giving and God’s blessing. Many have been blessed even in this life by giving. J. L .Kraft , head of the Kraft Cheese Corporation, who had given approximately 25 percent of his enormous income to Christian causes for many years said. “The only investment I ever made which have paid constantly increasing dividends, is the money I have given to the Lord. Pastors will do their greatest service in leading men to understand the truth of God concerning stewardship of time and money.”
John D. Rockfeller explained a great principle when he said, “I never would have been able to tithe the first million dollar I ever made if I had not tithed my first salary, which was $ 1.50 a week.
Other examples include John Wanamaker of Philadelphia, who from the beginning of his business career is said to have dedicated one tenth of his increase to the Lord. Likewise, William Colgate, the great soap and perfume manufacturer, rose to fame and wealth while consistently paying a tithe of his earnings into the gospel treasury. This he recognized as the minimum requirement designated by divine wisdom; and year by year as God prospered his efforts and multiplied his wealth, Colgate gladly gave far more than a tenth.
The real question is, “ What does our giving say about us?”
III. WHERE THE SPIRIT REIGNED THERE
WAS SPONTAEOUS WORSHIP (v. 42,46-47)
“And they continued stedfastly ….. in the breaking of bread,
and in prayers…. (46) So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart (47) praising God…”
When the Spirit reigns, the hearts of God’s people move up toward him and their relationship with him intensifies. Two words help us to understand worship, they are PREPARATION and PARTICIPATION. “If worship does not change us, it has not been worship. To stand before the Holy One of eternity is to change. Worship begins with holy expectancy; it ends in holy obedience.” - Richard Foster.
The problem is that: “Most middle-class Americans tend to worship their work, to work at their play and to play at their worship.”
In verse 47 they are described as having “glad and sincere hearts.” The Greek word translated “glad” indicates an exuberant, overflowing joy, a joy that simply has to be expressed. We have something to be excited about. We serve a Savior who loves us, a God who has forgiven us, a Lord who provides for our needs, a Savior who empowers us. When we think of all He has done for us, how can you not be excited and joyful. “Some churches have so successfully cultivated a somber mood that their sanctuaries resemble funeral parlors more than a place of celebration. Worship has the feel of a memorial service. If the gospel really is good news, when do we get to shout ‘Whoopee’? We should come to worship with the enthusiasm of one invited to a party, not the reluctance of one going to the dentist.” – Conrad Hyers
The only way I know not to be excited is either not to know Him or to have drifted away from Him. And before you leave here today you can make sure that neither of those situations is yours. If you don’t know Him, you can come to know Him today. If you have drifted away from Him, you can return to Him today.
At the same time these early Christians were dignified and reverent in their worship. It was balanced. Worship that includes both koinonia with God and with each other. Worship that was both formal and informal. Worship that is both joyful and reverent.
The outcome of these things was, “(43) Then fear came upon every soul, ….” The life of the early church was so genuine and powerful that everyone, both inside and outside the church, kept feeling a sense of awe. They were not awe struck of the church because of the buildings, the programs or any other refection of human ability, but by the supernatural character of its life.
“(43) …..and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles.” God attended the preaching of the apostles with miracles to confirm that they were indeed His messengers. With the death of the last apostle, the passing of the apostolic age, and the completion of the canon of Scripture, the need for such confirmatory signs ended. Today we can determine who speaks for God by comparing their teaching with God’s revelation in Scripture.
IV. WHERE THE SPIRIT REIGNED THERE
WAS SINCERE EVANGELISM (v 41, 47)
“(41) Then those that gladly received his word were baptized and that day about three thousand souls were added to them… …(47) And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.”
When the Spirit of the Lord reigns, God’s people relate to the world as they should. The church under the rule of the Holy Spirit is devoted to teaching, fellowship, and worship and evangelism flows forth as a result.
“There is a story told about a man who was accused of some wrongdoing and was brought before a judge. When the judge asked if he had an attorney to represent him, the man answered, ‘No, I can’t afford one.’ The judge replied, ‘Well, don’t worry about that. I’ll appoint a lawyer to represent you and I will choose a real good one.’ ‘I appreciate that, Judge.’ Answered the man. ‘But if you really want to appoint somebody to help me, what I need most is not a real good lawyer, but several real good witnesses”
The word evangelize (euaggelizo) means to announce good news to declare glad tidings of the gospel. It is never used to refer to a conference, rally or program.
God was at work through the people in order to bring people to Himself. These Christians were sharing with others and bringing people to faith in Christ. Perhaps we do not see more of God because we are not doing what they were doing – we are not really sharing Jesus with anyone. Keith Green said that the world was lost in darkness because the Church is asleep in the light!
I heard of a preacher who once began a sermon by saying, “The sad fact is that there are many people who are going to hell and most of you don’t give a damn. And what is even sadder is that you are far more concerned that I said damn than you are that these people are going to hell!” It is true.
The real problem for the church of today is that our culture is decidedly slanted against Christianity. When most of you were children our culture not only accommodated but also supported Christianity. Sundays were considered a day set-aside for worship. There were laws in place that mandated the closing of places of business on Sunday. In some places, even the public schools did not give homework on Wednesdays because they knew that churches had services on Wednesday evenings. Now the schools even have ball games on Wednesday nights and practices on Sunday afternoons. Twenty years ago Christians would not have stood for it and now they go along like so many blind sheep!
People hop from church to church, looking for that group which has the most to offer them. And when it is not convenient, they stay at home. When the weather permits, they go to the lake. I am not opposed to good times, but I am saying that we are not marked by the consistency and diligence of the early church. We need little or no excuse to “forsake the assembling of ourselves together” (Hebrew 10:25). We need little prompting to do things that are more immediately gratifying.
The result is that the level of involvement by Christian in the life of the church has declined. I have heard preachers joke that you have to give an announcement three weeks in a row of everyone to hear it, because about a third are here one week, a third the next and the third the next. And is any wonder we have trouble getting any momentum going.
For the Christian to fail to participate in the life of a local church is inexcusable. In fact, those who choose to isolate themselves are disobedient to the direct command of Scripture. Only when the Holy Spirit reigns can there be Sound Teaching, Sharing Fellowship, Spontaneous Worship and Serious Evangelism!
