Steadfast Unity | Spirit Filled Community, Pt. 4

Steadfast Unity | Spirit Filled Community, pt. 4

And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul: neither said any of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common. Acts 4.32

“We are so inclined in the West to think in terms of individualism and self-sufficiency that it is difficult to adjust our thinking – and therefore our actions – to grasp and enter into the discipline of true fellowship. When we enter into a fellowship with Jesus Christ, we enter into a new relationship with each other. Our relationship with Jesus and our relationship with one another can never be separated.”[1]

What does it truly mean to be in fellowship with each other?

What does it mean to be in unity?

We are going to turn now to how unity developed in the First Church.

Are we truly committed to each other, to each other’s needs, to each other’s burdens?

Are we truly one in unity, one Body of Christ?

I. ONE COMMITMENT

These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren. Acts 1.14

The word “continued” is the Greek word proskartereo. The root word pro means forward direction. The root kartereo means strong, steadfast, patient, endure. In other words it’s like bullheaded unity, steadfast unity.

Also the verb tense is one of continual action. In other words, it could be said these all kept on continuing with one accord in prayer. We have sayings in English that are close, “Just keep on keeping on!” The question is, what are you going to keep on committing to?

The Early Church had a stubborn commitment to prayer and each other. They kept renewing this commitment. What if we continually renewed our commitment to prayer and unity?

This continual commitment to prayer in unity preceded the baptism of the Holy Spirit.

II. ONE PASSION

And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. Acts 2.1

The words, “with one accord,” are actually all one term in the Greek. This is the same word used in Acts 1.14 and used numerous times in Acts. It can mean: having one mind. However, it also means: having one strong emotion, or one passion.

“A remarkable thing happened when the Holy Spirit came upon the disciples at Pentecost. During Jesus’ earthly ministry, they had been divided, confused, fearful, jealous of one another, and filled with boastful pride. Then, in obedience to their risen Lord – who told them not to leave Jerusalem until they received the power of the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:4-8) – they joined in prayer and waited together for his promise to be fulfilled. When the Holy Spirit came, there was an explosion of loving fellowship that would be seen and heard around the world. Three thousand people were converted in one day (Acts 2:41).”[2]

They gather, “in one place.” This was a real-time gathering. They were not a virtual community, but a real, living, praying community with one passion.

III. ONE BURDEN

And when they heard that, they lifted up their voice to God with one accord, and said, Lord, thou art God, which hast made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all that in them is. Acts 4.24 (verses 24-30 is the whole prayer)

“And when they heard that…” Peter and John had been captured and questioned by the Sanhedrin. They had been imprisoned and threatened for speaking in the name of Jesus. The Church was suffering its first persecution after the Cross.

At the point of their crisis, what did the First Church do?

“They lifted up their voice to God in one accord.” The word, “lifted up,” is used very literally in Scripture. It is used for carrying something, a burden. It’s the same word Jesus used when He said, “take up the cross,” Mark 10.21 (Mt. 16.24; Mk. 8.34; Lk. 9.23)

The Disciples were facing real persecution.

“It [Pentecost] fused the believers into one group, giving them a unity that they had not previously possessed, and it emboldened them to brave the perils of persecution (2:4; 4:8, 31; 6:8-15).”[3]

Does God allow real problems to arise, just so we will cry out to Him?

IV. ONE BODY

The believers “were of one heart and of one soul.” The term “heart” is kardia (Greek), not only the physical center, but the center of the inner man, one’s passion.

The term “soul” is psyche, the totality of the inner man, the vitality of life.

One is mia indicating a unified whole.

All of the multitude of them that believed had just one heart and soul. They had the same heartbeat, the same passion. They operated with the same life surging through their souls. Everything they did was in unison, including sharing their resources.

What is the result of the resurrection of Christ and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit?

Unity and Fellowship

There is a sharing of the Church community.

Origen links the unity of the Church in Acts 4.32 to Christ’s unity with the Father. He cites John 10.30; 17.22:

I and my Father are one . . . And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one:

“We worship, therefore, the Father of truth, and the Son, who is the truth; and these, while they are two, considered as persons or subsistences, are one in unity of thought, in harmony and in identity of will.”[4]

The mystery of the Trinity is that they are Three, yet One essence.

It is this same mystery that binds the Church together in unity. The Church is a living group, a Body that is bound to Christ. We are a living Body that is bound to each other.

We reflect the community of the Trinity, the Image of God, in our steadfast unity.

pic credit: jaefrench | 01.03.17 | pixabay

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notes:

Siang-Yang Tan and Douglas H. Gregg, Disciplines of the Holy Spirit: How to Connect to the Spirit’s Power and Presence (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1997), 161.
Ibid., 162.
Merrill C. Tenney, New Testament Survey (Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans, 1985), 240.
Origen, Against Celsus.VIII.XII