Scripture - Acts 2:42-47 They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to the number daily those who were being saved.
Observation - Luke is describing here the simplicity of the faith and the life lived with God. He is depicting a functioning community of believers that are working in harmony with one another and concerned about the overall health of all constituents. After such and phenomenal outpouring of God's Spirit on the people as promised in the Gospels and by Joel the prophet, the people of God began to work in unity. Emphasis was placed on the apostles teaching and the signs and wonders performed by the apostles. It brought the people together with the same emphasis and the same focus - to see God's powerful hand moving in their lives.
Application - As a pastor I must always work at getting the people to be together and having a common focus and a common vision. Through the work of the Holy Spirit and the power of God's word - God wants us as a community of believers to want the same thing and be investing in the same goals. I love the last verse that says the Lord added to their number daily those that were being saved. I long for the day that we are adding to the church daily those that are being saved. To see the community I serve and to know that when my church devotes themselves to the apostles teaching and begins to works together to accomplish the vision - we will begin to see many saved for the Kingdom. It must become the top priority. To be together and have everything in common. That is the Goal.
Prayer - Father teach me how to lead...How to build community...How to work in such a way as to help us have common focus with common vision. God I know that in unity is strength and favor and in that we can build your great church.
