Unity And Obedience

Nobody could deny that the Day of Pentecost, as recorded in Acts 2, was one of the major days that stands out in the history of the world.

When we awaken to a new day, after a night’s sleep, we probably have a routine that we pretty much follow. Every day usually starts out pretty much like the day before. Maybe we make a pot of coffee, go out and get the paper, have a quiet time with the Lord, turn on the news, head for the shower, etc, etc. Whatever we do, we very likely begin our day like we began the one the day before. What we do not know, is what a day may bring forth.

This day, the Day of Pentecost, brought forth events that would change history forever. The Lord had told them that power was going to come upon them, but they had no idea of what He was talking about. He told them He was going to send a comforter who would be with them, and in them, but they didn’t know what he meant. They didn’t even know that what they were doing, in obedience to what Jesus had told them to do, “tarry in Jerusalem,” was setting up conditions for the greatest day of their life. Let’s look at the conditions they were setting up in order to receive the blessings that came on this day and the days following:

They were together, v1.

They were all in one place. It is not the will of the Lord that be like a football team that never gets out of the huddle, but the huddle is necessary! As we apply this text to a local church, it’s not too much to expect all of our people to come to the huddle. When people do not come to the huddle, we need to figure out why, as soon as possible.

We understand that no local church is right for everybody. The good thing is, that right here in our county, we have 15 sister churches, churches that share basically the same theology and polity, as we. Every church has a different personality, just as people do, and what every local church has to do is determine who they are to be, and what they are to do, in the Lord. Once we determine that, it is not to much to expect our people who identify with us, to come together when we meet.

They were in one accord, v1.

Somebody told me, “We don’t need all these different churches.” We not only need all of them, but we also need more to go with them. There are some people whose personality will just not fit with the personality of this church, and they are just not going to come here. There are some people who would just never be happy here, but it may be that they can be happy and serve the Lord in one of these other churches. The point is, the people who do identify themselves with a local church, need to diligently try to be in one accord with the people and ministry of that local church.

There is something that is revealed in the previous chapter, that is the reason for their being in one accord. They had been praying together for several days! An old cliche says, “The family that prays together stays together.” That’s true for a church family, as well.

They were filled with the Holy Spirit, v4.

In Acts 4:31, they were all filled with the Holy Spirit again! Believers are indwelt by the Holy Spirit when they believe, but they should be filled with the Holy Spirit again and again.

Being filled with the Holy Spirit does not mean that we get more of God, because it pleased God that in Christ all of the fulness of the Godhead dwells, and we are complete in Him. That’s Colossians, chapter 2. Being filled with the Holy Spirit does not mean that we get more of God, but it means God gets more of us! When that happens, we are in position for God to do some very powerful things through us. We are in position to be blessed!

They gave witness concerning Christ, v4.

Other tongues, in Acts 2, is clearly other languages. It is not clear that the tongue speaking of Acts 2 is the same as the tongue speaking of 1 Corinthians 14, but in Acts 2 it is intelligible languages, languages that these people had not learned on their own.

The thing to which I want to point your attention, is what they must have said. They must have said that Jesus, who had been crucified, was now risen from the dead, and that He is the Christ, the Son of God, the Savior. They must have said that if you will trust Him, He will save you.