I have one simple question for my readers. How far do you think this rowing team would go if two or three paddled one direction while the rest paddled the opposite direction? Not to far, I am sure. If a rowing team is going meet their goal of reaching the finish line, the must work together. Their bodies, their limbs, their blade, everything must work together like clockwork if they are going to achieve their goal. when you talk to these rowers and ask what is the most important thing they have learned and what values they have taken away from this experience, they would tell you; trust, dedication, selflessness, determination, honesty, and commitment. Ultimately it is a transformational experience for them. Not only do they take something from an individuals perspective, but the spirit of teamwork transcends a person's ego. Learning to work together in such away is a demanding task and plays such a big role in the success of the team. The close proximity of one rower to another combined with each others need to move in exactly the same way, only serves to deepen their experience.
In Acts 4:32-37, All the believers were united in heart and mind. And they felt that what they owned was not their own, so they shared everything they had. The apostles testified powerfully to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus and God's great blessing upon them all. There were no needy people among them, because those who owned land or houses would sell them and bring the money to the apostles to give to those in need. For instance, there was Joseph, the one the apostles nicknamed Barnabas (which means, "son of encouragement"). He was from the tribe of Levi and came from the island of Cyprus. He sold a field he owned and brought the money to the apostles.
In order to get a true understanding of what I am about to share with you, let us go back to the day before this all took place. Starting in chapter 3 of Acts, we see the story about the first miraculous healing in Acts and the first since Jesus has ascended into the heavens. When Peter and John went to the Temple in Jerusalem for the 3 o'clock prayer service they came across a crippled beggar that had laid beside the Beautiful Gate. When Peter and John approached the gate the beggar asked them for some spare change. Peter looked at the man intently and said, "look at us." When the beggar heard this he looked eagerly at them expecting some change. I don't believe the beggar knew what was about to happen would change his life forever. But, Peter said, "I haven't any gold or silver to give you. But I will give you what I have, in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazarene, get up and walk."
When all the people in the Temple noticed this lame beggar up and walking they could no believe what they were seeing. Peter saw an opportunity to preach the gospel to all that would listen. Peter reminded them that they were all children of a prophet (we are too, in one way or another) and that meant they are included in the covenant of God (so are we, we just have to be willing to accept the free gift He has offered us). While Peter and John were witnessing to the people they were confronted by the priest, the captain of the Temple guard, and Sadducee's. These leaders were very upset that Peter and John were teaching of Jesus through the resurrection. Peter and John were arrested and taken to jail until the next morning when they saw the council, rulers and teacher of the religious laws. The leaders knew they could not punish Peter and John without causing an uproar with the people. Considering the number of believers was 5,000. The religious leaders told Peter and John they were free to leave, but they were not allowed to teach about Jesus or speak of Him any more. Peter replies, "do you think God wants us to obey you over Him? We cannot stop telling about everything we have seen and heard." The council then threatened them further and finally let them go.
Upon returning to the believers, they explained to them how the council, rulers, and teacher's of religious law had told them to never speak of Jesus again and threatened them. It was then the apostles and believers came together and lifted their prayers to God. When God heard them come in unity and lift their requests for boldness to preach His word and miracles through the name of Jesus, God heard their request. When God heard their cry to Him the meeting place shook and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit. All the believers were united in heart and mind. And they felt what they owned was not their own, so they shared everything they had. The apostles testified powerfully to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus and God's great blessing was on them all. There were no needy people among them, because those who owned land and houses would sell them and bring the money to the apostles to give to those in need.
These were brand new believers Christ, I believe. Babes in Christ, yet when the time came to pull together in a time of need they done so. I am a firm believer that had they not come together in prayer, they would not have been filled with the Holy Spirit. If Peter and John would have told the council, rulers, and teacher's oh religious law, "okay, we will never talk of Jesus again and we will get out of town, there would be no filling of the Holy Spirit. Like the rowers I mentioned at the beginning of the story, these believers had to come together as one. Their minds and hearts had to come together and work like clock work. These young believers had to learn trust, dedication, selflessness, determination, honesty, and commitment. If they would have had different ideas and went their separate ways, God could not have used them and the Holy Spirit probably would not have reigned down upon them. Jesus had just been crucified a short time ago and Christians were being persecuted, but this did not stop these new believers from believing and wanting to share God's word.
Today, if a Christian (believer) is threaten and told they better not say the name of Jesus then they usually tuck their tail and run. Where did our Christian values go? Where did the courage go? I hear the statement, "our country is going to hell in a hand basket." It is true, it started with taking prayer out of school, taking the Ten Commandments out of Government buildings, legalizing sin, giving in to same sex marriages and much more. Or did it start when we stopped walking in God's footsteps and listening to Him instead of man;s ideas. If we had listened to Him, then maybe prayer would be in schools, the Ten Commandments would be in place, sin would be sin and marriage would be between man and woman.
We as a nation have to come together, it does not matter what denomination you are. God is Father, Jesus died on the cross for our sins, Holy Spirit is our comforter, Sanctification comes from wanting to be more like Christ and the Bibles God's infallible word. We need to come together in unity, one mind and one heart. We need to develop a passion to reach the lost at whatever the cost. Like these believers in Acts 4, maybe we need to reminded what is ours we do not own. Maybe it is time we sacrifice and get rid of the junk in our lives that is getting in our way of seeing what God has for us. I am not saying go out and sell everything (that is between you and God), I am saying maybe we need to reevaluate our lives.
We need to learn what values are important, learn trust, dedication, selflessness, determination, honesty and commitment. When we learn these things then everything comes together like clockwork. Ultimately it would be a transformational experience for us. Not only would we take something from a individuals perspective, but the spirit of teamwork transcends a person's ego. Learning to work together in such away is a demanding task and would play such a big role in our success of reaching the lost. The close proximity to God, combined with each others need to move in exactly the same way, only serves to deepen our experience.