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Right Fear (3 of 9)
Series: Acts
Marion Clark
Acts 4:32-5:16
Introduction: Do you ever compare your church to others? Do you ever look around and say to yourself, ''I wish we were like them?'' That certainly is easy to do when we read about the early days of the church. There was excitement; there was harmony and love; there was fear. Fear? Yes, the right fear.
Text
Now the full number of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one said that any of the things that belonged to him was his own, but they had everything in common. 33 And with great power the apostles were giving their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all. 34 There was not a needy person among them, for as many as were owners of lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold 35 and laid it at the apostles' feet, and it was distributed to each as any had need. 36 Thus Joseph, who was also called by the apostles Barnabas (which means son of encouragement), a Levite, a native of Cyprus, 37 sold a field that belonged to him and brought the money and laid it at the apostles' feet.
The first clause presents the focal point. It is the dream of every pastor for his church: ''the full number of those who believed were of one heart and soul.'' How is this blessed harmony played out? The apostles continue their bold testimony to Jesus' resurrection, but there is a special blessing-great grace-that came upon everyone. Again, how did it manifest itself? ''There was not a needy person among them.'' The church member did not merely share with each other. Those with wealth in property sold that property so as to share the wealth with members who were poor.
Note the traits that Luke presents about this share-the-wealth system. First, it seems to be spontaneous. There is no record of the apostles teaching on the subject. They are preaching the resurrection; the church members are taking care of one another. This concern ...
Series: Acts
Marion Clark
Acts 4:32-5:16
Introduction: Do you ever compare your church to others? Do you ever look around and say to yourself, ''I wish we were like them?'' That certainly is easy to do when we read about the early days of the church. There was excitement; there was harmony and love; there was fear. Fear? Yes, the right fear.
Text
Now the full number of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one said that any of the things that belonged to him was his own, but they had everything in common. 33 And with great power the apostles were giving their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all. 34 There was not a needy person among them, for as many as were owners of lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold 35 and laid it at the apostles' feet, and it was distributed to each as any had need. 36 Thus Joseph, who was also called by the apostles Barnabas (which means son of encouragement), a Levite, a native of Cyprus, 37 sold a field that belonged to him and brought the money and laid it at the apostles' feet.
The first clause presents the focal point. It is the dream of every pastor for his church: ''the full number of those who believed were of one heart and soul.'' How is this blessed harmony played out? The apostles continue their bold testimony to Jesus' resurrection, but there is a special blessing-great grace-that came upon everyone. Again, how did it manifest itself? ''There was not a needy person among them.'' The church member did not merely share with each other. Those with wealth in property sold that property so as to share the wealth with members who were poor.
Note the traits that Luke presents about this share-the-wealth system. First, it seems to be spontaneous. There is no record of the apostles teaching on the subject. They are preaching the resurrection; the church members are taking care of one another. This concern ...
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