Climbing into the Honda

 These were amazing days for the First Church of Jerusalem.  Thousands were coming to faith in Jesus.  

It seems like every time you turn around God is doing great miracles through the apostles.  

These believers have stood boldly for Christ when challenged by the Sanhedrin. They are so united in the Lord that people are selling property to meet every need.  

And then there was that ugly Ananias and Sapphira "incident."

Luke tells us that "many signs and wonders were regularly done among the people by the hands of the apostles" (v12).  "Signs and wonders" is an important biblical phrase.  

And it's not just limited to the NT.  It's the description given in the OT for the miracles/plagues God did through Moses while in Egypt.  

Peter quoted Joel 2:28-32 in his Pentecost sermon, noting that God said, "I will show wonders in the heavens above and signs on the earth below..." (Acts 2:19).

In other words, these words are a signpost to let us know that the Third Person of the Trinity is at work.  Don't forget that the Holy Spirit is the star of the show in Luke's second volume.  

The phrase "signs and wonders" appears a handful of times in the Gospels, but begins making regular appearances in Acts (Acts 2:43; 4:30; 6:8; 14:3; 15:12).

What's the purpose of the Holy Spirit working these signs and wonders?  The Apostle Paul tells us in 2 Corinthians.  "The signs of a true apostle were performed among you with utmost patience, with signs and wonders and mighty works" (2Cor 12:12).  

In other words, these were God's stamp of approval on His apostles.  They were clear indications to the people that these men were God's official representatives.

Once again they gathered under Solomon's Portico.  This was a covered porch on the outside of the Court of the Gentiles on the temple grounds.  

Dr. Luke writes that "they were all together" there.  This is the Greek word ‘ομοθυμαδον/homothumadon.  This adverb is sometimes translated as "in one accord" 

Did you know that all of the apostles could actually fit into a Honda?  In one Accord, get it?  When Dad Jokes meet Bible Jokes we know these are dark days.

One of Luke's absolute go-to terms is ‘ομοθυμαδον/homothumadon.  He uses it eleven times.  It is only found once outside of Acts (Rom 15:6).  

It carries the idea of being united with one mind and with one passion.  We must ask ourselves if we are united with one mind and one passion with other believers.  

Or are we busy pushing our own agenda at church?  Are we "one issue voters?"  

We can be so full of...well, ourselves.  Instead, let's set aside our personal agendas and and be filled with the Holy Spirit.  

Remember, this is Jesus' new command "that you love one another; just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.  By this all people will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another" (Jn 13:34-35).  

And this is Jesus' prayer for us.  He asked His Dad "that they may be one, even as We are one" (Jn 17:11).  

It's Paul's plea to the church at Philippi, "being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind" (Phil 2:2).

When we are submitted to Jesus and filled with His Spirit, we too are ‘ομοθυμαδον/homothumadon.  

This isn't up to anyone else.  It's up to you.  Yeah, I'm talking to YOU!  That's right, the one in the mirror.

One mind.  One passion.  One accord. 

Climb into the Accord.  There's room for one more!

©2011

Jay Jennings