From
Acts to Revelation
Part
11 – How to be Nothing
Pastor Bruce A. Shields
House
of Faith Church | www.PS127.org | www.TruthDigest.org
INTRODUCTION
Last week we talked about the Apostles
praying for strength during their time of persecution.
Peter and John had been held captive by the
Sanhedrin, and questioned about their involvement with the healing of a man who
was lame from birth. They gave all the credit to the Name of Jesus Christ.
They were threatened by the religious
leaders and priests to stop preaching and teaching about the Name of Jesus.
When they returned to their room in
Jerusalem, and shared this with the other Apostles and Disciples, they all
prayed for God to continue to give them strength through the Holy Spirit to
preach the Word of God boldly, regardless of persecution.
Today's scripture will give us insight to
the community of believer's, and how they took care of each other. We will also
see how a believer can quickly become “nothing”, simply by living selfishly.
This is the Word of God, and a warning to
all of those who live their lives in a selfish state, putting themselves, and
their desires, not just before God's, but before others in general.
We will see today, how the first church
LIVED the LOVE talked about in I Corinthians 13, and how we too should take
this example, and LIVE LOVE.
SCRIPTURE READING
Acts 4:32-37
32 All
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. 33 With
great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord
Jesus, and much grace was upon them all. 34 There 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 35 and put it at the apostles’
feet, and it was distributed to anyone as he had need.
36 Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus, whom the apostles called
Barnabas (which means Son of Encouragement), 37 sold a field he owned and
brought the money and put it at the apostles’ feet.
I.
THE BELIEVER'S WERE ONE
1. 4:32
And the multitude of them who believed were of one heart and of one soul
1. Speaks
of unity that can only be brought about by the Holy Spirit. Man's efforts to do
this will always fall short.
2. No one
was selfish with possessions
3. Community
/ Common
1. Many
who came to Christ lost their jobs because they were excommunicated from the
Synagogue. Many thrown out of their apartments. So others who did not suffer
these types of losses shared what they had.
2. And
they did so gladly!
4. This
was LOVE (I Corinthians 13) in action
1. Remember,
love is an action, not words.
2. “If I
speak with the tongues of man and angels...if I have the gift of prophecy and
understand all the mysteries, and all knowledge, and I have the Faith to move
mountains, but do not have charity, I AM NOTHING.” I Corinthians
13:1a;2
3. This is
love in action.
5. The
result of this love, 4:33b and great Grace was upon them all.
1. You
want God's grace in your life, or more of it? Stop living selfishly, and start
thinking about others.
2. Start
reading I Corinthians 13 first thing in the morning, and live it
for that day!
3. Put
others before yourself for a change.
II.
ABUNDANCE WAS SOLD AND DISTRIBUTED
1. Land
and Houses were sold, and the money given to the Apostles to distribute
1. This
money was NOT for the Apostles...we know they did not keep it, because we read
in scripture Peter telling others he had no gold or silver, and we also read in
scriptures, everything the Apostles had, they distributed as believer's had
need so that none would lack.
2. The
people were NOT told to do this, the people did this out of love
1. Remember
Acts 5, “a man named Ananias, together with his wife Sapphira,
also sold a piece of property. With his wife’s
full knowledge he kept back part of the money for himself, but brought the rest
and put it at the apostles’ feet.”
2. Peter
said, “Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have
lied to the Holy Spirit and have kept for yourself some of the money you
received for the land? 4 Didn’t it belong to you before it was sold? And after
it was sold, wasn’t the money at your disposal? What made you think of
doing such a thing? You have not lied to men but to God.”
3. They
didn't get in trouble with God for keeping some of the money, they got in
trouble with God for lying about giving it all!
4. The lie
was to make themselves look good to others...any time we try to make ourselves
look good to others, we are exalting ourselves, lifting ourselves up...this is
pride, and pride will always cause us to fall!
5. The
money given to the Apostles to help others, came from the love in the
believer's hearts, and for NO OTHER REASON, but LOVE!
6. 2
Corinthians 9:7 “Each man should give what he has decided
in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a
cheerful giver.”
3. This
distribution of the wealth to others may sound like Communism
1. But
only in theory, we know from history and examining communistic societies that
the people in power in Communist societies always took advantage of the poor,
and only became richer. We know Communism does not work. But this is God's Community.
III.
DISTRIBUTION ACCORDING TO NEED
1. The
Apostles took the money given to them, and distributed it among those in the
believer's community, as they had need, so that no one lacked.
2. We are
talking about “needs”, not wants...
3. The
Apostles did NOT use this money to live “high on the hog”
4. Scripture
tells us that Joseph of Cyprus, who was later named Barnabas (meaning son of
consolation), we see he was made an Apostle in Acts 14:14, sold
his land and gave the money to the Apostles for distribution as well.
IV.
MINISTERS OF THE GOSPEL BEWARE
1. There are
many who take the money of the Saints and build for themselves great empires
under the guise of spreading the Gospel.
1. They
build for themselves mansions, many times multiple mansions, in many cities.
2. They
have more cars, boats and planes than any one man could drive.
3. They
wear $1,000 suites, expensive jewelry, gold and diamonds, while God's people
starve.
2. And
where did they acquire this wealth for themselves?
1. Squeezing
it from the pockets of believer's in search of a healing, or a miracle, or a
blessing from God.
2. You
will never receive a healing, miracle or blessing from God by lining the pocket
of a self-serving minister of greed.
3. REAL
APOSTLES
1. Peter
and John told the lame man at the Temple gate, “Silver and Gold I have
none...”
2. Jesus
said in Matthew 8:20;Luke 9:58, “Foxes have holes and birds of
the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to
lay his head.”
CLOSING
The scriptures today have shown that we
need to be one in heart and soul as believer's.
We need to LIVE LOVE that we talk so much
about in Christianity.
We need to be ready to help take care of
other Christians who may have needs.
As we are told in the Word of God, I
Corinthians 13, we could have all gifts, and understand all mysteries,
but if we do not have charity...we ARE NOTHING.
