11/06/2025
A CHURCH COMMUNITY WITH ONE HEART AND ONE SOUL
Have you ever imagine a church in our times receiving such characterization? A church community with one heart and one soul? Well let's go to the Acts of the Apostles.
Rev. James M. Kartee
Acts 4:32-36
We continue with our studies on Acts . We are still at the embryo and we have many more chapters to cover.
But look at the passage of Acts 4:32-36
In previous chapters, we covered the mighty work of the Holy Spirit in uniting the church, breaking language barrier, preaching the message of Jesus, of his death, resurrection, and ascension. Luke is a great writer. Of course, we need to remember that every book of the Old and New Testaments. Canon is dictated by the Holy Spirit to its human author. Luke the physician didn't write anything based on his human perception, but that every word was dictated by the Holy Spirit. Paul says in 2 Timothy 3:16 that all Scripture is given by inspiration of God and it is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.
Let's dissect the passage
Verse 32- The church now over five thousand believers was in one accord even in heart and soul. There was a commonality of everything they did.
Everything each individual believer own now become a collective ownership. No individual believer saw his possession as his sole ownership but as general ownership. So there was a singularity of the mind and the soul as well as their material possession. In this way love is expressed without border
Verse 33- The apostles continue to enjoy the power of the Holy Spirit which anointed their lips with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. They preached the resurrection of Jesus Christ. The Sadducees hated this message because they did not believe in the resurrection of the dead.
The Lord released a higher form of grace upon the apostles .
Verse 34. The church grew day by day yet they lacked nothing. Notably, those who had land and those who had possessions sold their properties and brought the money before the apostles for equal distribution. As many churches around the world nowadays suffer from dwindling intake of offerings and tithes, it can be said that indeed the Holy Spirit was at work in the hearts and souls of the believers.
Verse 35-36- As I mentioned earlier, the money accrued from sold properties were brought to the apostles. One notable example, was Joses, a Cyprian also known as Barnabas. The name Barnabas means son of encouragement. This Cyprian sold his land and brought in the entire money. This is honesty. All Christians must be honest in their dealings wherever they are. Honesty leads to trustworthiness. No one wants to trust a dishonest person.
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