The Spirit-filled Church, Part 2 (Acts 4:32-37)
Where: College Baptist Church
When: June 3, 2001
Why: To continue to consider the characteristics of the Spirit-filled church in Acts; to be encouraged that God can do a work in His church bringing about these qualities even though we often fall short of the standard in our own resources and strength.
Text: Acts 4:32-37
Introduction
The Spirit-filled church. Spirit-filled is an adjective, a descriptor. It describes a church in which a critical mass of the people committed to the life of the church are fully surrendered to God, absolutely committed to full and radical obedience to God's will as revealed in His Word. It is a church in which the people are filled with the Holy Spirit and He is working in them and through them in a way that brings about the fulfillment of the promise of Acts 1:8.
We consider the Holy Spirit and the characteristics of the Spirit-filled church because they are biblical. The Holy Spirit is the third person of the Trinity, GodHimself, and Son's promised gift to us. The Spirit-filled church is the church that is filled with and controlled by God through the third person of the God-head.
I think it's important to clarify the use of these terms because things come to mean different things to different people at different times in history. In this case, let's understand that to talk about the Holy Spirit and His role in the church is different than the understanding that some have in our contemporary setting that this represents a certain branch of the Christian church other than what we are. "Spirit-filled church" has become a catch-phrase for some to mean charismatic or Pentecostal. We thank God for the diversity of His body and for the unity that He brings in diversity. But when we use these terms in the context of teaching God's Word, let's not be thinking about a certain style of worship that is different than ours or a certain emphasis on how the gifts of the Holy Spirit should be used in the context of church worship. Let's know instead that we are trying to accurately reflect what the Bible teaches about the church and the work of the Holy Spirit in the church. If the terms make us stop and think, perhaps that's a good thing since it may draw us closer to understanding the essence of what God plans for us as His church here in Hillsdale County in the 21st century.
Transition
The nature of the church that is filled with the Holy Spirit is expansive and expulsive - it's not ingrown; it grows out. The characteristics that reflect the control of the Holy Spirit in the church are characteristics that move the church toward the lost. The love, the caring, the power are blessings to the church that in their nature are to be shared. They are a blessing to the church in itself but it is a blessing that in its nature cannot be kept to oneself. The Holy Spirit moves us beyond ourselves.
In Acts 3 we see this happening. Peter and John are moved by the Holy Spirit in compassion to trust God to heal the lame man in the temple. It radically changes his life and gets everyone's attention. The bold, spirit-empowered preaching of God's Word brings about dramatic results as many continue to place their faith in the resurrected Jesus of Nazareth.
But with it comes the overlooked promise - persecution. As we continue to study Acts, we will see that it was in God's purpose and perfect will that persecution - which was for the early Christians a deep personal identification with the sufferings of our Lord Jesus Christ - was the way God propelled His church beyond Jerusalem to the uttermost parts of the earth. As the church scattered it took the message. The commands and promises of Jesus to be witnesses to the end of earth were being fulfilled. "Christians could be found in all parts of the empire by 200" [Cairns, pp.93, 94].
As we consider the end of Acts 4, it's as if we are given a reprise. It's very much like the end of chapter 2. Our attention is drawn again to the nature of the life of the church.
In addition to the characteristics we noted in Acts 2 - it was a learning church, a fellowshipping church, a worshipping church, a praying church, a reverent church, a sharing church, a joyful church, and a welcoming church - we see in this reprise a focus on unity, God's grace, and the sharing love that typifies the Spirit-filled church.
Scripture reading
Acts 4:32-37. 32All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they shared everything they had. 33With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and much grace was upon them all. 34There were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned lands or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales 35and put it at the apostles' feet, and it was distributed to anyone as he had need.
36Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus, whom the apostles called Barnabas (which means Son of Encouragement), 37sold a field he owned and brought the money and put it at the apostles' feet.
They were a united church
Acts 4:32, 32All the believers were one in heart and hand.
Isn't this wonderful?! It seems to be the answer to Jesus prayer in John 17; 20 "My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, 21that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you, May they also be in us so that the world may be one as we are one: 23I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.
There was two aspects of their unity: they were united in heart and in soul.
1) They were united in heart, that is in their inner being and spirit. Kent Hughes says, "The church in Acts was united in the deepest part of its being. They shared an inarticulate bond, a great secret. They could sense a fundamental unity with other believers" [Hughes, R. Kent, Preaching the Word: Acts - The church Afire, (Westchester, IL; Crossways Books) 1998, c1996].
Have you ever noticed that quality when you meet with other Christians? Perhaps you've met someone for the first time and you don't know that much about them but something bonds you to them. You feel good with them. You feel as if you have something fundamental in common. Then you discover in the course of conversation that they are an earnest, like-minded, committed Christian. Ah. . . that's why you've felt this affinity with them. You are untied in heart.
2). They were united is soul, in mind. They had the same basic, mental focus about life [Hughes]. Their unity of heart also had a unity of purpose and intent.
This is pretty amazing considering the diversity in background and culture that they represented. Do you remember the description of the crowd in Acts 2:9-11. 9Parthians, Medes and Eleamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, 10Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome 11 (both Jews and converts to Judaism); Cretans and Arabs--we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!"
How can these things be? How can people be united in heart and mind when they are from such diverse backgrounds and . . . well, since people are people?
For one thing we need to remember that external unity isn't necessary for unity of heart. Certainly, this diverse group of Christians had a wide variety of tastes and opinions when it came to dress, food, customs . . . even politics. But their unity came from something even more fundamental. A.W. Tozer puts it this way: "Has it ever occurred to you that one hundred pianos all tuned to the same fork are automatically tuned to each other? They are of one accord by being tuned, not to each other, but to another standard to which each one must individually bow. So one hundred worshippers met together, each one looking away to Christ, are in heart nearer to each other than they could possibly be were they to become "unity" conscious and turn their eyes away from God to strive for closer fellowship" [Tozer, Pursuit of Holiness, as quoted by Hughes].
Unity in heart and mind is possible when we are all tuned to the same Holy Spirit.
They were an empowered church
Acts 4:33. 33With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus...
The apostles continued to testify to the resurrection - with great power. This is what was promised by Jesus in Acts 1:8. 8But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witness in Jerusalem, and in all Judas and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. They had a commission. They needed to be witnesses. They were given the power to do so.
When it says they had "great power" it is the same as saying "mega-power." It was major power, from which we get our English word dynamite.
They were an empowered truth. Their experience of God's presence and power fleshed out the truth given to the church in Ephesians 1:18-21. 18I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, 19 and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, 20which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at the right hand in the heavenly realms, 21far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come.
The Spirit-filled church was church that knew God's power and His power made them bold in testifying the truth and reality of the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
They were a graced church
Acts 4:33 . . . . and much grace was upon them all.
The Spirit-filled church is a graced church.
This reminds us that all that we are, all that happens in our lives that is worthy of praise to God rather than to ourselves, is of grace. It is God's unmerited favor to us. His grace is always being poured out in our lives.
Like power, this is mega-grace. Much grace. There is plenty of it.
They were a caring church
The grace they received was freely given to others.
1) They cared for each other's material needs.
Acts 4:32, 34-35. No one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they shared everything they had . . . 34There were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned lands or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales 35and put it at the apostles' feet, and it was distributed to anyone as he had need.
The love they had for each other was so tangible that it was freely expressed in personal sacrificial giving. It didn't happen every day, but from time to time those who owned land and homes even sold these valuable assets in order to meet the needs of their fellow Christians.
This may seem a bit radical to us, but this level of sacrificial giving was also modeled in other churches. Do you remember the Macedonian church? We read about them in 2 Corinthians 8:1-5,9. And now, brothers we want you to know about the grace that God has given the Macedonian churches. Out of the most severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity. For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability. Entirely on their own, they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the saints. And they did not do as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then to us in keeping with God's will... For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich.
Paul teaches that the joyful, sacrificial giving of the poor Macedonian was actually a demonstration of Christ-likeness.
2). They cared for each other spiritually.
Acts 4:36. 37. 36Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus, whom the apostles called Barnabas (which means Son of Encouragement), 37sold a field he owned and brought the money and put it at the apostles' feet.
There must be hundreds of unrecorded stories of the material and spiritual care that was a part of the early Spirit-filled church. What we have recorded is only the tip of the iceberg.
Here was a man known by name for his spiritual gift. He was an encourager, an exhorter. But the spiritual gift he had wasn't expressed only in words. He wasn't one of the people mentioned in James 2:4-7. 14What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him? 13Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. 16If one of you says to him, "Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed," but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? 17In the same way, faith by itself if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. Rather, this "Son of Encouragement" offered a true and sincere love. It was the love of which Jesus spoke: "A new commandment I give you; Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. All men will know that you are my disciples if you love one another" (John 13:34-35).
Wrapping it up
The Spirit-filled church. Great unity. Great power. Great grace. Great love. Great outreach.
It comes to mind that we could have two very different reactions when we consider the characteristics of the Spirit-filled church. We could be very inspired and encouraged. And I hope that this is the case. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever (Hebrews 13:8). He still is at work in His church. He still fulfills His promises to us. He pours out His grace upon us. He still fills the willing and open, repentant heart with His Holy Spirit.
It could also conceivably be very discouraging when we think about the characteristics of the Spirit-filled church. We may feel that we could never measure up to such a high example. We may feel judged. It may make us feel defensive.
But take heart. Have you ever considered that nearly all the books of the New Testament were written to churches that did not measure up to the example of this first, Spirit-filled church? Most of our New Testament Scripture is teaching, corrections, instruction, exhortation to churches in the process of becoming congregations that reflect these qualities. The church is in an ongoing "dance," if you will, with the Holy Spirit. He takes the lead. He teaches us and shows us our need, how to grow, things He wants changed. And we respond, keeping in step with His lead as He choreographs a beautiful reflection of His love for the world through our lives.
Let's take heart. Let's encourage one another. Let's spur one another on in growth and godliness. Let's pray for each other and for the continual and on-going filling of the Holy Spirit in our lives and our congregation. Let's reinforce our desire to be fully surrendered to God, absolutely committed to full and radical obedience to God's will as revealed in His Word.
Let's be confident that He who has promised is faithful (Hebrews 10:23) and that he who began a good work in (us) will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus (Philippians 1:6).
OUR FATHER, WE THANK YOU THAT THE HOLY SPIRIT, THROUGH LUKE THE APOSTLE, HAS GIVEN THIS BEAUTIFUL DEPICTION OF YOUR GREAT CHURCH. LORD, WE LONG TO BE PEOPLE WHO HAVE GREAT UNITY, GREAT GRACE, GREAT POWER, GREAT CARE, AND A GREAT OUTREACH TO THOSE WHO ARE LOST! LORD, PLEASE WORK IN OUR LIVES TO ACCOMPLISH THIS. IN JESUS' NAME, AMEN. [Hughes]
Resources
Cairns, Earle, Christianity Through the Centuries, (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan) c 1981.Hughes, R. Kent, Preaching the Word: Acts - The Church Afire, (Westchester, IL: Crossway Books) 1998, c 1996.
