Sunday, January 8, 2012

From Acts to Revelation - Part 11: How to be Nothing


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.

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