ONE IN HEART AND MIND

Acts 4:32-5:16

Key Verse: 4:32a

“All the believers were one in heart and mind.”

Today’s passage shows how the Holy Spirit protected the unity of all believers. Whenever I see our children playing on our church ground and people having sweet fellowship on Sunday afternoon I know in my heart that this is the paradise on earth. Our chapter started from a one or two bed room apartment and now it grew so large. Our Downey UBF is so small. It is less than one acre. But it is an amazing place on earth. Why do I feel that way? It is because it is the place where there is forgiveness. It is the place where we can come just as we are with all our weaknesses and still we do not feel condemned. Here we can experience the overflowing love of God. It is a miracle of miracles to see the kingdom of God on earth so visibly with our own eyes. 

I would be surely angry if someone came here and tried to destroy our small paradise on earth. The more I know the cost involved to build this small paradise the angrier will I be toward the person. I will probably shout to him, “Hey, do you know how much it cost to build this church? Do you know how many tears and how much blood was shed? Pay the same price first if you want to do such a terrible thing.” And I will do all I can do to protect our church.

The early church was also established by God for God’s purpose through the blood of Jesus. It was God who created it and it was God who protected it. It was like a new Garden of Eden. Today’s passage shows how God protected his church especially when the church was very young. It teaches us how we can qualify ourselves to live in the new Garden of Eden. 

The resurrection of the Lord Jesus (4:32-37)

In the previous passage the early church just overcame persecution against Peter and John through prayer. When they prayed they were filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly. Now according to Acts 4:32-37 the condition of the early church can be described in two ways.

First, all the believers of the early church were one in heart and mind.

Look at verse 32a. It reads, “All the believers were one in heart and mind.”

Here, the bible used the phrase ‘heart and mind.’ In the description of the believers’ community in chapter 2 of Acts, the bible does not use the same word. But in today’s passage it says clearly ‘one in heart and mind’. By overcoming the persecution through prayer all the believers became one in heart and mind all the more.

God created unity among believers in their hearts and minds. The complete unity is the work of the Holy Spirit. It is what God wants among all believers. Jesus said the same truth in John 17:23 “I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.” 

When there is unity in their hearts and minds it was expressed in unity of their financial life. Verse 32b says, “No one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they shared everything they had.” (v.32b)

There was ownership and it was honored. However, they just did not claim it. They shared everything they had with others.

Second, the resurrection of the Lord Jesus was the basis of the early church. Let’s read verse 33. “With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and much grace was upon them all.” 

Here, the point of the apostles’ message is the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. They must have preached that Jesus died for our sins according to the Scriptures and he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures. When they testified to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus they made sure of one thing. That is Jesus is the Lord. 

The word “Lord” means “ruler”. It means “one having power and authority over others”. 

When God raised Jesus from the dead he raised him as “the Lord”. He was ruling all the believers’ hearts and minds as the Lord. And that was the real reason why they were one in heart and mind. 

Sometimes we may hear people say “Well, Jesus is my Savior. But he is not my Lord yet.” Sometimes we may feel the same. However, we cannot separate Savior and Lord because Jesus saves us by becoming our Lord. He becomes our Savior and Lord at the same time.

On the cross Jesus paid the price of our sin by shedding his blood. Through his death we are forgiven. When he paid the price of our sin he purchased us. That is the reason why Jesus becomes our Savior and Lord at the very same time, and we cannot separate them. As soon as he saves us he also becomes our Lord. 

I heard one story which shows how Jesus became Savior and Lord of several young holigans. One pastor was helping several homeless youngsters. They were robbers and thieves. What they did was to go and steal from others’ houses. Then they used the money for drinking and sleeping with prostitutes. When their money was gone they went out and robbed again. The pastor wanted to help them by any means. But they kept repeating the same sin. He despaired about his powerlessness in trying to help them.

One day when the same thing happened he called them together. And he brought out one iron rod. Then he told them to hit him as hard as they could on his rear. He demanded them to strike him as hard as possible because he was responsible for their stealing. They cried out and begged him not to do such a thing, but he insisted.  So they were forced to strike him blow after blow. By mistake one blow hit his tail bone and he ended up rolling on the ground like a wounded animal in great pain. After this he laid in bed for a month. His back was permanently damaged. But later on he found that they no longer steal. When he went to find out the reason, their confession was “We did not believe that anyone loved us. But when we realized that you loved us we were changed. When we saw your agony in your face when you rolled on the ground out of pain it broke our heart. And we could not steal anymore.” The pastor taught the gospel by using his own body. Later one of them said to the pastor, “Now I can see why people repent when they meet Jesus who died on the cross and rose to life as the Lord.”

In the same way much grace was upon all the believers when the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord with great power.

If we look at Acts 4:32-37 we can see how much the Holy Spirit focused on nurturing all the believers. In Acts 4:32-37 we do not see that the apostles’ teaching was for unbelievers because there was no mention about unbelievers. It all talked about all the believers. The Holy Spirit focused on strengthening of all new believers planting the resurrection faith in them as they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching. 

 

In the believers’ community there were also no needy persons.

Verses 34 and 35 reads, “[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.”

From time to time there were people who made special offerings. I guess the amount of their special offering was larger than regular offering. Obviously their special offering was like a shower during a drought and it must have met the essential needs of many. 

One good example of a man who made a special donation appears in verses 36 and 37.  It reads, “[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.” 

 

Later in the book of Acts we see Barnabas more. However today we can say one thing. He was a man of encouragement. When apostle Paul was changed he was the one who introduced him to the apostles in the Jerusalem church although the leaders of the Jerusalem church were skeptical and doubtful about him. Later in the church of Antioch, Barnabas went to look for Paul and recruited him as a bible teacher. When Mark ran away during the world mission journey it was Barnabas who encouraged him continually until Mark became a powerful servant of God. All of this shows that indeed he was a Son of Encouragement. 

In our ministry there are many sons and daughters of encouragement. Once I was going to go to CIS, that is modern day “Russia”. One servant gave me about $3,000.00 saying that he got the money in a very unexpected way. It was not a small amount for him. When he freely gave it to me, my heart was moved. I still cannot forget it because it was so genuine and selfless offering. It was not even recorded in our church book.

Surely in the community of believers encouragement is essential because it binds the community together. Blaming one another and complaining only breaks the unity of heart and mind. And that is the reason why the Lord used Barnabas so preciously in his work.

You have not lied to men but to God. (5:1-11)

Now there was another man who also made a special offering. Look at verses 1. “[5:1] Now a man named Ananias, together with his wife Sapphira, also sold a piece of property.”

We can guess the reason why they made the offering. They wanted to look good. They wanted to be honored and recognized by others like Barnabas. Yet, there was one problem. The two loved money. The whole amount they received from the sale was too much to give. They wanted self glory, but they also wanted money. So what did they do? Verse 2 reads, “[2] 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.” 

When Ananias claimed it was the total price what did Peter say? Let’s read verses 3 and 4. “"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? 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." 

We do not know how Peter found out Ananias’ lying. But there was something more behind Ananias’ lying.

It was Satan who was working in the heart of Ananias when Ananias thought about lying. He had a choice at that time to reject the thought that came to him. Ananias should have cut off his evil thinking at the moment it appeared in his heart. But he did not. He allowed it to stay in his heart and he allowed it grow. It festered and poisoned him. As the result his heart was filled with Satan’s desire. His heart was not the dwelling place of the risen Lord Jesus anymore. Even though he was one of the members of the early church where the Holy Spirit had been working so powerfully Ananias allowed Satan to work in him. 

This is why Peter said, “How is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit?”

The offering was completely on a voluntary basis. No one told him “you must do it.” It was free will offering. He could offer as much as he wanted. Instead he lied.

Peter said to Ananias, “You have not lied to men but to God." Why did he say it when Peter himself was only a man? Was Peter exalting himself? No, he was a mere man before God. But he represents God before men. He was the leader established and appointed by the Holy Spirit. To tell a lie to Peter was like lying to the Holy Spirit. In another word lying to God himself.

According to Jesus, lying is Satan’s native langue. Jesus said in John 8:44 “You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father's desire. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.”

What happened when Peter rebuked Ananias? Verse 5a reads, “When Ananias heard this, he fell down and died.” What happened? He died. He died because he lied to the Holy Spirit.

When Ananias died, great fear seized all who heard what had happened. (v.5b) It was the fear of the Lord. Thank God! The believers realized at that time that their fellowship was not just a human gathering for their own personal gain. They found out that it is the place where Jesus dwells with his people through the Holy Spirit. 

God put the fear of him in the hearts of men so that they would not sin and break the unity that was so vital.

When Ananias died young men came forward and wrapped up his body and carried him out and buried him. 

About three hours later his wife came in without knowing what had happened. Then Peter asked her, "[8] Tell me, is this the price you and Ananias got for the land?" "Yes," she said, "that is the price." [9] Peter said to her, "How could you agree to test the Spirit of the Lord? Look! The feet of the men who buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out also." 

We do not know whose idea it was to keep the money whether it was Ananias or Sapphira. If it were the idea of Ananias, Sapphira should have objected to such a bad idea. She should have told him, “What are you talking about? Are you out of your mind?” But she agreed with him to keep some money for themselves. In doing so she tested the Spirit of the Lord. Together they wanted to see how much God would tolerate their sin. 

Verse 10 reads, “[10] At that moment she fell down at his feet and died. Then the young men came in and, finding her dead, carried her out and buried her beside her husband.”

What was the result?

Let’s read verse 11.

[11] Great fear seized the whole church and all who heard about these events. 

Whenever people read today’s passage most probably their first response is, “Isn’t God’s judgment a little too severe?” We lie many times. Who can then survive in a church if God judges us so severely? 

However we can say that Ananias was punished because he was working as Satan’s agent to break the unity. And breaking of the unity was not a small matter because he was waging a war against the Holy Spirit who dwelled among them. 

The Holy Spirit dwells in each believer’s heart. At the same time he dwells among believers who form one holy temple.  

Ephesians 2:19-22 reads, “[19] Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God's people and members of God's household, [20] built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. [21] In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. [22] And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit. 

The Holy Spirit cannot dwell in the place where unholy things exist. 

Because of the same reason Jesus had a communion together with his disciples but only after unrepentant Judas Iscariot left his disciples’ community. It was because Judas was influenced by Satan as John 13:2 reads, “the evening meal was being served, and the devil had already prompted Judas Iscariot, son of Simon, to betray Jesus.”

In the same way when Ananias’ heart was filled with Satan’s desire he was breaking the unity of all believers who were united by the same faith in the resurrection of the Lord Jesus through the Holy Spirit. And the spiritual battle was severe and critical at that moment.

The Holy Spirit created the believers’ community for the purpose of witnessing Jesus to the ends of the earth. And the place where the Holy Spirit established the believers’ community was in the heart of the lions den, that is, Jerusalem. It was the very place where they crucified Jesus. It was the place where the headquarters of Jesus’ enemies was. 

When God created his church in the heart of the enemy’s territory the picture of the early church in today’s passage was like Christ ruling amidst of his enemies.

Psalm 110:2 reads, “The Lord will extend your mighty scepter from Zion;

        you will rule in the midst of your enemies.”

Outside of their church their enemies were prowling around like roaring lions in order to devour them. Most of the 3000 or 5000 believers were all new believers. They were like spiritual infants, and they needed a lot of care and baby sitting and bible study and spiritual nourishment to become mature. 

So the Spirit had to protect them because they were young and fragile and it was a crucial time for them to grow. Only when they grew mature could they become powerful witnesses of Jesus to the ends of the earth. Only when the Lord dwells among them can they become witness of Jesus. And Ananias was working against the Holy Spirit as a Satan’s soldier.

We pray to double up our ministry within this year. How can we do it? And who can do this? The truth is no one can do it. But that does not mean that there is no solution. There is a solution, and the only solution for us is the presence of the risen Lord Jesus among us. When the risen Lord Jesus becomes our Lord and he leads us and uses us as his willing soldiers then we can do even greater things than Jesus did. He said so. However in order for Jesus to be with us and lead us we need to purge ourselves from all of our sin. We cannot give even one inch of our hearts for Satan because our hearts and minds are the dwelling place of our risen Lord Jesus. 

Young people today seek glory and money. All people do. Who does not? But when we do we cannot live in the sight of God. When we love money we cannot love God. We cannot serve two masters. When we seek human glory Jesus cannot be our Lord.

Our sin problem is personal. But as a member of the believing community our sin brings serious damage to the unity of community. So our sin is not really personal anymore. When our hearts are filled with sinful desire we wage war against the Holy Spirit who dwells among us. We become Satan’s soldier and we become a source of failure for all our church members. Believe it or not, this is what is happening when we do not repent our sins from our hearts. 

But if we repent our sins and become one in heart and mind the Lord Jesus will go out with us and give us victory after victory in our spiritual battles. And that was exactly what happened in the rest of the story.

III. More and more men and women believed in the Lord (5:12-16)

When the Lord purged the evil from them, the believers’ community was again united all the more with the risen Lord. Then there was a powerful healing and many new members were added.

Verses 12-13 reads, [12] The apostles performed many miraculous signs and wonders among the people. And all the believers used to meet together in Solomon's Colonnade. [13] No one else dared join them, even though they were highly regarded by the people.

The apostles’ miraculous power increased more and unbelieving people did not dare to join them even though they wanted to. It was because the fear of the Lord was upon them. They probably heard what had happened to Ananias and Sapphira. 

But even thought it was true, the risen Lord worked in the heart of many men and women. Verse 14 reads, “[14] Nevertheless, more and more men and women believed in the Lord and were added to their number.”

When their ministry grew in number their power was known to more people. And they brought the sick to them.

Verses 15 and 16 reads, “[15] As a result, people brought the sick into the streets and laid them on beds and mats so that at least Peter's shadow might fall on some of them as he passed by. [16] Crowds gathered also from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing their sick and those tormented by evil spirits, and all of them were healed.”

The Jerusalem streets where Peter passed by became like an open field hospital because they were filled with sick people on their beds and mats. They longed to be touched by even Peter’s shadow. It shows the healing power of the Lord through Peter, when he and all the believers were one with our Lord Jesus. It also shows people were in great need, and they came to receive healing.

The risen Lord Jesus revealed himself as the Lord by healing them all. Indeed it was the ministry by the risen Lord Jesus. 

Today we see how the Holy Spirit protected the unity of all believers because the unity is so vital for the Spirit to dwell among them as the Lord.  

One word: the risen Lord Jesus is among us.

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