Yours, Mine and Ours

There was tremendous fallout from Peter and John's trial before the Sanhedrin.  They had stood boldly against their charges to proclaim the name of Jesus (Acts 4:13).  

Ultimately, the council simply warned them to stop teaching and healing in His name, something which they openly ignored (Acts 4:18-20).  

These believers celebrated and then prayed for even more boldness to tell the world about Jesus (Acts 4:23-30).  God answered their prayer in an amazing and powerful way (Acts 4:31).

Their filling by the Holy Spirit resulted in incredible community.  It was brief glimpse of what church can be like.  "Now the full number of those who believed were of one heart and soul” (v32).  

Complete unity.  

This is what Paul encouraged the Philippians to be (Phil 2:1-11), "being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind."  

Throughout the NT, God calls His church to be unified in and through His Son (2Cor 13:11; 1Pet 3:8).

We much each ask ourselves if this is the condition of our church.  Is my church divided?  Is there a divided focus and mission?  

This doesn't mean that we can't disagree on different issues.  It doesn't mean that we agree perfectly on all things. 

Mark Driscoll refers to "open handed and close handed issues."  The must hold the essential doctrines of our faith with a closed hand.  

These are views on such things as the Person of God, Jesus, the Cross, salvation and the Bible.  We can't budge on these and we hold them tightly in a closed hand.  

Meanwhile, there are other doctrines on which we do not all agree and we hold those in an open hand.  These are things like worship style, the end times, communion and baptism.

The church of Jesus Christ must not be marked by division and bickering.  It must be noted for its unity and singularity of focus.  

One of the big reasons Paul wrote his stinging letter first letter to the church in Corinth was because of factions (1Cor 1:10-17).

The most obvious indication of this Spirit-filled unity in the First Church of Jerusalem is their willingness to share everything with other believers.  They were also open handed in how they viewed their possessions.  

"No one said that any of the things that belonged to him was his own, but they had everything in common” (v32).  They understood that what they had were all blessings from God.  

Yours, mine and ours.

They saw what they had as a way to show grace to others.  These early Christians understood that we are blessed to be a blessing to others.  

And it is a humbling example.  Too often we hold onto what God has given us with a kung fu grip.  

A couple of problems with that.  First, that's not God's design.  Second, it REALLY hurts when He pulls it from our fingers!  We are blessed to be a blessing.

Yours, mine and ours.

Luke tells us that the apostles told everyone about Jesus' resurrection "with great power" (v33).  This was the answer to their prayer for boldness.  

This isn't "kinda sorta special power."  It is MEGA power.  The original Greek describes it as δυναμει μεγαλη/dunamei megala.  

In other words, their testimony about Jesus' resurrection was "mega-dynamic!"  That's what happens when the Spirit of God gets ahold of your life.  Is your testimony "mega-dynamic?"

And don't forget that the empty tomb and the Risen Savior was an essential component of the apostles' teaching (Acts 2:24, 32; 3:15; 5:30; 10:40; 13:30-37).  

We must remember that very most important truth as we tell others about Jesus.  He is ALIVE!  He is RISEN!  And He is till alive today!  

They not only preached with great power but "great grace was upon them all” (v33).  This is χαρις τε μεγαλη/xaris te megala, or “ MEGA grace."  

This is "mega-grace" is a two-sided coin.  On one hand, God had blessed them with His unmerited and undeserved favor.  

On the other, the people of Jerusalem continued to be blown away by what was happening in and through this incredible new movement.

This is a very practical example of the "new command" that Jesus gave His disciples (Jn 13:34-35).  Our love for one another will demonstrate to the world "that you are My disciples."  

The watching world has its eyes on us.  What are they seeing?  Do they see us loving and caring for each other?  

Or do they see us name-calling and infighting?  Let them see our love.  Let them see our love IN ACTION!

Dr. Luke tells us that in the church "there was not a needy person among them" (v34).  Again, can the same be said of our churches today (especially in the US)?  

This isn't to say that our fellowships are to be Christian communes.  No, but it is a call for us to take a "me third" attitude (God first, others second, me third).  

If we saw each other through God's eyes, we would be generous and giving.  Pray that we see with His eyes.

Yours, mine and ours.

We see that these early church members leveraged their belongings, in particular their real estate, to take care of each other.  

They would sell their possessions and give the proceeds to the apostles (v35).  They trusted their leaders to make needed decisions.       

The good doctor then gives us a very practical example of someone who did just that (v36-37).  A guy named Joe.  An average Joe.  

But you may know him better by his nickname.  Barnabas.  This nickname means "son of encouragement."  

One way this Jewish native of the island of Cyprus encouraged his brothers and sisters was to sell a piece of property.  He gave the money to the apostles so they could distribute it to those in need.

One very important reason for this passage is to set up the story of Ananias and Sapphira which follows.  Keep that in mind as you read ahead in Luke's sequel.  Theirs is an example what NOT to do.  But that's for tomorrow.

Do you and I see what God has given us as a means to bless others.  Do we see these blessings as yours, mine and ours?    

©2011

Jay Jennings