Acts 4:32-5:11

THE BOOK OF ACTS SPEAKS OF THE BEGINNINGS OF THE CHURCH. JESUS HAD DIED AND RISEN FROM THE DEAD. HE TAUGHT HIS DISCIPLES FOR 40 DAYS AND ON THAT 40TH DAY, HE ASCENDED INTO HEAVEN. THE APOSTLES WERE JOYOUS AND THEY WENT BACK TO JERUSALEM TO PRAY AND DO AS JESUS COMMANDED. THEY TARRIED THERE AND 10 DAYS LATER, THEY WERE ALL FILLED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT. FROM THAT POINT ON THE CHURCH WAS BORN AND IT GREW SUBSTANTIALLY EVERY DAY. THOUSANDS WERE COMING TO JESUS AND THESE BELIEVERS BEGAN MEETING TOGETHER. IN CHAPTER 4, THEY SUFFERED FOR THEIR FAITH IN JESUS AND WERE BEATEN AND PERSECUTED VIOLENTLY. IN ALL OF THIS…V31 - 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.

READ ACTS 4:32-37
Read Acts 4:32

Acts 2:1-2 When the day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. There is power in oneness - whether for good or for bad - The tower of Babel

Continue vs 32
The early church understood that God owns it all - 100% belongs to Him. We are just stewards of what He has given into our hands. Our giving and our living must reflect this truth. The mind set of too many in the church today is that as long as I give 10%, I am good. We sing the song, I surrender all to you - withholding nothing but then when God requires that 100%, we change our tune.

Read vs 33
Though the church was under severe persecution, yet the Bible declares that with great power they gave witness of the resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. And great grace was upon them all.

All the believers were of one heart and mind. THIS IS BECAUSE THE FIRST BELIEVERS WERE ALL UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. THEY WERE ONE WITH GOD! THIS IS THE MOST IMPORTANT ASPECT OF WHAT WE’RE READING BECAUSE EVERYTHING IN OUR LIVES DEPENDS UPON OUR ONENESS WITH GOD!

THEY SHARED ALL THAT THEY HAD NOT BECAUSE OF COMPULSION OR UNDER DUTY BUT BECAUSE THEY WERE ONE WITH GOD. This unity was a wonderful evidence of the work of God’s Spirit among them. Because of their unity, they regarded people more important than things.

ONE THING THAT WE HAVE TO LEARN IS THAT THIS KIND OF LOVE CAN NOT BE MANDATED OR GOVERNED BY MAN. THIS LOVE IS ONLY GIVEN BY THE PRESENCE OF GOD. AS AN EVIDENCE OF GOD’S PRESENCE…with great power (this power was evidenced by the way that they were giving and by the way that they were caring for others.) The Bible says - by this shall all men know that you are my disciples, if you have love one to another.

With great power the apostles gave witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And great grace was upon them all. Though they were suffering mighty for their faith, this great persecution did not diminish their love for God nor their love for one another!!!
SURELY GOD’S LOVE WAS WORKING IN THIS CHURCH. WHEN THEY LAID IT ALL AT THE APOSTLE’S FEET…IT WAS A SYMBOL OF THEM GIVING IT ALL TO GOD. THESE EARLY CHRISTIANS REALIZED THAT ALL THAT WE HAVE REALLY BELONGS TO GOD, NOT TO US! THIS IS NOT A MANDATE FOR US TO GIVE EVERYTHING BUT IT IS A DEMONSTRATION OF THE HEART.

MATT 6:21 - For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. THEIR HEARTS REFLECTED THAT THEY LOVED GOD MORE THAN ANYTHING!

Read vs 34 - 37

UNDERSTAND THAT DURING THIS TIME, THE CHURCH IS GROWING RAPIDLY - ACTS 2:47 SAYS THE LORD ADDED TO THE CHURCH DAILY THOSE WHO WERE BEING SAVED.

THIS DID NOT MEAN JUST THOSE RIGHT IN THE “NEIGHBORHOOD”, BUT WOULD HAVE INCLUDED THOSE TRAVELING NEAR AND FAR. THEY WOULD NOT HAVE REGULAR JOBS OR ANY SUBSTANTIAL MEANS OF SUPPORT - AGAIN THIS WAS BECAUSE THEY SURRENDERED THEIR LIVES TO CHRIST - NOT BECAUSE THEY WERE UNWILLING TO WORK.

AS OUR LESSON CONTINUES, WE READ ABOUT ONE PERSON IN PARTICULAR - BARNABAS - HE IS MENTIONED BECAUSE HE HAD A PARCEL OF LAND THAT HE SOLD AND GAVE ALL OF IT TO THE APOSTLES. AS HIS NAME EXEMPLIFIES…BARNABAS WAS AN ENCOURAGEMENT TO MANY PEOPLE AND HIS GENEROSITY AND LOVE AFFECTED MANY. DO WE SHARE THIS TYPE OF GENEROSITY AND LOVE FOR GOD? DOES IT SHOW IN OUR ACTIONS OR JUST IN OUR WORDS?

READ ACTS 5:1-2
After they saw the great generosity of Barnabas and how well he was respected, Ananias and Sapphira decided they wanted to receive the same respect. They sold the possession, and gave only a portion to the church, while implying that they sacrificially gave it all to the church.

THE ACTS OF ANANIAS IMPLIES IN SOME WAY THAT THE FULL PRICE OF THIS POSSESSION WAS PLEDGED TO GOD IN A PUBLIC WAY. IN DOING SO, THIS POSSESSION WAS NOW GOD’S AND NOT ANANIAS’. THEY WANTED THE IMAGE OF BEING GENEROUS WITHOUT ACTUALLY OR REALLY BEING GENEROUS!
THERE IS ANOTHER ACCOUNT LIKE THIS IN JOSHUA 7:21, WHEN ACHAN TOOK THE SILVER AND