THE BOOK OF ACTS – WHEN LIFE IS ABOUT GOD
Marks of Unity
Acts 4:32-37
INTRODUCTION:
A. Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity! David declared in Psalm 133:1
1. There is nothing better than a church, a group of brethren, who dwell together in unity.
2. Paul wrote to the Philippians, Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind (Phil 2:2)
a. He had seen the effects of a unified church
b. It was strong, it persevered, it kept the faith.
3. In Acts 4:32 we read: And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul:
4. Praise God! One in unity even in the midst of persecution!
B. This Unified Church
1. Was turning the world up-side down (Acts 17:6)
2. People were getting saved, right and left, even hundreds right and left!
3. The church saw the power of God at work and worked for God’s kingdom night and day!
C. Oh, that God’s Church Would Be Unified Once Again!
1. Think about it, what if we could say, Praise God: for the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved. Acts 2:47
2. Not just one a week, or one a month, or one a quarter or one a year; but daily!
3. Praise God – that would be exciting! Wouldn’t it?!
a. We would not have to beg people to come to church, we would have to beg then to hold church in their homes because there would not be enough room!
b. Now I saw some of your faces light up – you mean that is all we need to do to stay home for church on Sunday?
c. If we start winning them daily, we will start house churches, at least for a while! We will have to because of lack of room.
d. Praise God! Wouldn’t that be exciting!
D. Folk’s it is possible, we just need to be a unified, God glorifying body of Christ!
1. So how can we know if we are getting to that point?
2. I believe we can look at our passage for this morning and see at least four Marks of Unity within the church:
a. Great Humility
b. Great Power
c. Great Grace
d. Great Giving
3. I used the word “great” because that is what God meant the church to be!
E. We can’t help but be great if we will just become unified in the Lord and allow Him to do great things through us!
PRAY
As I read this text, not just our portion but the whole section I could not help but see that the church was of one mind and soul. This takes
I. GREAT HUMILITY: Acts 4:32 And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul: neither said any of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common.
A. Notice the Heart
1. They did not claim their own things as their own
2. They had all things common
3. Greed was not present – everyone helped to meet everyone else’s needs
4. They were living the two greatest commandments
a. Love the Lord God will all your heart, soul, mind, and strength
b. Love your neighbor as yourselves
5. Pride of having and shame of not having was not present
6. They lived as having one heart and one soul!
B. What is pride?
1. The primary Greek word used in the New Testament that is translated “proud” is hoop-er-ay’-fan-os and it means appearing above other, haughty, proud.
2. It is seen most vivedly in the parable of the Pharisee and the Publican found in Luke 18:9-14 where the Pharisee states, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. Luke 18:11
3. The idea being I’m better than everyone else
4. Of pride God’s word states:
a. The wicked in his pride doth persecute the poor: Psalm 10:2
b. The wicked, through the pride of his countenance, will not seek after God: Psalm 10:4
c. When pride cometh, then cometh shame: Proverbs 11:2
d. Only by pride cometh contention: Proverbs 13:10
e. The Lord will destroy the house of the proud: Proverbs 15:25
f. Pride goeth before destruction, Proverbs 16:18
5. Thank God there was not pride exhibited in that early church, only
C. Great Humility
1. One of the words used most in the N.T. is tap-i-nos’ meaning: base, cast down, humble, of low degree (estate), lowly.
2. In the parable sited previously it was said concerning the publican: he was, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. Luke 18:13
3. And listen to the words of our Lord in contrasting the two: I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted. Luke 18:14
4. The word of God has a lot to say concerning humility, as well:
a. James 4:6 But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.
b. 1 Peter 5:6 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:
c. Proverbs 16:19 Better it is to be of an humble spirit with the lowly, than to divide the spoil with the proud.
d. Proverbs 29:23 A man’s pride shall bring him low: but honour shall uphold the humble in spirit.
D. The church that is not divided by issues of pride is a church that has unity.
1. They are of one mind and spirit
2. They look out for each other and care for each other
3. In essence, they love one another!
A second mark of unity is
II. GREAT POWER: Acts 4:33, And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus…Please note two things:
A. First, Great Power
1. Power – Dunamis
2. The root word from which we get our word dynamite
3. We see this in the
a. 3000 being saved at one time (Acts 2:41)
b. The Lord adding souls daily (2:47)
c. 5000 saved in a day (Acts 4:4)
4. Add to this the healings that were going on and you see the great POWER of God at work in people’s lives
5. Would to God we would see that type of power today.
B. Second, The Witness
1. The power was not attached to some unknown or unidentifiable entity.
2. It was attached to the “witness” of the apostles especially in the witness of the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
3. What a powerful object of witness – the resurrection of Jesus Christ!
4. Listen to Paul expose on the subject found in 1 Cor. 15:12-23 Now if Christ be preached that he rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead? [13] But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen: [14] And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain. [15] Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God; because we have testified of God that he raised up Christ: whom he raised not up, if so be that the dead rise not. [16] For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised: [17] And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins. [18] Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished. [19] If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable. [20] But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept. [21] For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. [22] For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. [23] But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ’s at his coming.
5. The gospel of Jesus Christ is a wonderful and powerful thing
a. Yes Christ died for our sins and was buried, but He did not stay dead – He rose form the dead and now is alive forevermore!
b. Because of this we have hope, not only in this life but in the life to come as well!
6. This is the good news that God has sent us to be a witness to – don’t let the lost person get you side tracked on other issues, stick to the gospel
7. Romans 10:13-17 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. [14] How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? [15] And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things! [16] But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report? [17] So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
C. A church that is unified will be keeping first things first – the gospel is first and formost and its faithful powerful proclamation is a sign of unity!
A third sign of unity is
III. GREAT GRACE, Acts 4:33, …and great grace was upon them all.
A. This grace, considered in context, could take one of two forms or both
1. It could be that the citizens of Jerusalem saw their unity and selfless sacrifice to meet everyone’s needs and looked upon them with favor
2. Or it could mean they had God’s favor because they were preaching the word, the gospel, and loving each other.
B. In either case it is a wonderful thing
1. It was said of Jesus that he grew in favor with man and God (Luke 2:52)
2. When a church is in unity: preaching the gospel and meeting each others needs this same thing can happen now
3. What would happen if our community noticed that none of our members had to worry about daily needs, because they knew the church – the body of Christ – would see to it that they had what they needed?
Marks of unity: Great Humility; Great Power; Great Grace and finally
IV. GREAT GIVING: Acts 4:34-35 Neither was there any among them that lacked: for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the prices of the things that were sold, [35] And laid them down at the apostles’ feet: and distribution was made unto every man according as he had need.
A. The First Century Church was a Giving Church
1. They did not say to a neighbor in need, “This is mine, go get your own.”
2. They gave liberally to meet the needs of others for the furtherance of the gospel.
B. Let me first say this to you First Baptist church of Mascoutah
1. You are a giving church. One of the best I have seen in my 22 years of ministry
2. I commend you for that – many of you give sacrificially
3. But what about the others – you know who I am talking about.
- If the Lord is blessing us with 30-40% tithers (I’m guessing liberally because I do not know who does or does not tithe & the national average is 20% tithers) think of what He could do through us if we had 70 – 80 – or even 100% tithers!
4. This church, has been their for its members and has made house payments, utility payments, medical payments, vehicle payments, bought food, put on roofs, provided meals, provided for losses due to storms, sent folks on missions, and sent kids to camp.
5. This is to say nothing about many types of offerings for missions and needs for those outside the membership of this body.
6. This is a sign of unity because we look upon each other as family and love one another.
C. It is this selflessness that the gospel set’s in action.
1. God gave His all for us, so we should be willing to give all for others
2. If our petty wants over-ride the basic needs of others: members or not, then we will have a problem with unity!
3. The early church did not have that problem, and I hope we never do either.
CONCLUSION: In closing
A. And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul: neither said any of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common…. Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity! (Acts 4:32 & Psalm 133:1)
B. I pray God will continue to give us unity as a church
1. We need to continue to grow in each of these areas as a church so we might continue to be of one mind and one soul – in unity.
2. If you are having a problem in the home, you might consider looking at this model and making some adjustments
a. Do members deal with each other in humility?
b. Is it the purpose of each member to be a witness of the resurrection of Jesus Christ
c. Is grace active within the family unit?
d. Is each individual giving in every aspect of the relationship?
C. Let me finish by asking two probing questions:
1. Are each of us contributing to the unity of this church?
2. If not, why not start today?
