All the believers were one in heart and mind. Acts 4:32a
When reading in the book of Acts, what do you see about the first New Testament believers? Is that the way the church looks today? Have we followed the example of our early brothers and sisters, who were following the example of Jesus?
Have we become spectators of the gospel rather than participators?
On the day of Pentecost the believers were filled with the power of the Holy Spirit, just as Jesus had promised. Ordinary, everyday, unschooled people. The scene was so amazing that those around the event – “wondered what this could mean?”
- Peter preached the gospel to the crowd and 3,000 were added to their number that day.
- After that the believers devoted themselves to the apostles teaching and to fellowship and the breaking of bread and to prayer.
- Many wonders and miraculous signs were done, and everyone was filled with awe.
- All the believers were together and had everything in common.
- Everyday they met together in their communities.
- They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God.
- The Lord continued to add to the number daily those being saved!
Acts 4:31 shows us when the believers were together that . . .
After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.
All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own, but they shared everything they had. Acts 4:32
Does the way we as believers live our daily lives in this day and age look anything like the early New Testament church?
Jesus taught us in Matthew 22:37-38
Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment.
But he continued in Matthew 22:39
And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’
Are these two greatest commandments of Jesus in your heart?
I believe God is calling us to something new. I believe it is already happening in the hearts of many. God is calling us to ‘Communities of the Heart’. Communities that love God with all their heart and all their soul and all their minds, with a true desire to love each other deeply from the heart. We MUST begin to share our lives, our hearts, and truly love one another. And most importantly, we MUST begin to care and fight for the hearts of those who have not yet been saved. This is the life Jesus died for us to live.
Communities of the heart can begin with just two devoted followers of Jesus. Two who are one in heart and mind – for the smallest expression of church is two!
Will you be one?