Have You Laid It All Out?

Trovel Emmanuel

Giving • Sermon • Submitted 2 years ago • Presented 2 years ago

Acts 4:32–37

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Acts 4:32–37 NASB95

And the congregation of those who believed were of one heart and soul; and not one of them claimed that anything belonging to him was his own, but all things were common property to them. And with great power the apostles were giving testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and abundant grace was upon them all. For there was not a needy person among them, for all who were owners of land or houses would sell them and bring the proceeds of the sales and lay them at the apostles’ feet, and they would be distributed to each as any had need. Now Joseph, a Levite of Cyprian birth, who was also called Barnabas by the apostles (which translated means Son of Encouragement), and who owned a tract of land, sold it and brought the money and laid it at the apostles’ feet.

Have You Laid It All Out?

Background/Intro

To really get why they did this we need to go back to the beginning.

We need to take notice of the character of the 3000

Acts 2:42 “They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.”

Devoted to “the” fellowship - This word is a noun with a prefix attached to it that is a definite article in the original language.

This devotion made it possible to achieve other things

Mainly, UNITY. Notice the “language of unity” between verse 44-46

We see three (3) things that helped foster such an attitude

Their sin moved them Acts 2:36

Their salvation motivated them Acts Acts 2:42

The saints needed them

This casue the people to have a fire for the Lord and devotion nothing can shift. Acts 4:32

This is exemplified when Peter and John are imprisoned and it

Our Text

In our text we will notice three things:

#1 - The Single-mindedness

Acts 4:32 “And the congregation of those who believed were of one heart and soul; and not one of them claimed that anything belonging to him was his own, but all things were common property to them.”

The oneness is not about trivial matters like what colour paint, or what type of lights. - Don’t fuss about the trivial things

The oneness began when they all obeyed the same Lord, then committed themselves to the same will (apostles’ doctrine [The Lord’s will] )

The same mind regarding who owned what they had

The same mind about how significant the need was

That’s why the were so willing to “Lay It All Out”

Let’s be clear, everyone in the chruch do not have the same mind - These brethren wanted the same things

Do we want the same things?

#2 - The Stewardship

This sits at the core (or very close to it) of STEWARDSHIP

IT’S NOT MINE

#3 - The Sharing

There was a willingness to meet the need of those who lacked

This emulates God, becasue God met our need when we lacked. He is not asking us to do something that He did not first exemplify in.

Romans 5:6 “For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly.”

The example we have is Barnabas, a Levite, from Cyprus

Barnabas a man of good words, but he acts

Barnabas a Levite land is difficult to attain, he sells his

Cyprus a place of good, fertile, and lucrative land, does not matter [It’s Not Mine]

Application of these principles

Who can we lay it all out for?

To the next level. Next Level Ministry.

For success there we need people that will “Lay It All Out”

The needy - [not limited to members of the church] - Mt 5:46-47. Lev 19:10. [even the OT supports the practice of taking care of needs of strangers]

The widow indeed - 1 Timothy 5:9–10.

The minister of the gospel - 1 Cor 9:9-14. To Paul this was a freedom [option], but to the church it was a responsibility [obligation].

It was his right. People never came to a man of God empty-handed

The Elder - 1 Timothy 5:17–18 “The elders who rule well are to be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who work hard at preaching and teaching. For the Scripture says, “You shall not muzzle the ox while he is threshing,” and “The laborer is worthy of his wages.””

The workers in the gospel - 3 John 5–8 “Beloved, you are acting faithfully in whatever you accomplish for the brethren, and especially when they are strangers; and they have testified to your love before the church. You will do well to send them on their way in a manner worthy of God. For they went out for the sake of the Name, accepting nothing from the Gentiles. Therefore we ought to support such men, so that we may be fellow workers with the truth.”