GAT (W. 2) - Acts 2:42-47
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Go And Tell (Week 2) Acts 2:42-47
Go And Tell (Week 2) Acts 2:42-47
Opener:
DL Moody, a world known evangelist, once said, “The world has yet to see what God can do through a man who is totally yielded to Him.”
what would you do for the glory of God if you knew it wouldn’t fail?
Write a book?
Start a non-prophet?
Be a godly husband/dad?
Whatever comes to mind, we have an invitaiton to be a part of something that can change the world - God’s church!
And here’s the thing, it’s totally worth all of our devotion.
In the early 1700s, a group of Christians called the Moravians gathered on a small estate in Germany.
Nothing about them looked impressive. They were ordinary farmers, craftsmen, and families.
But there was one thing they were committed to: devotion to prayer.
In 1727, they started a prayer meeting… and that prayer meeting didn’t stop for 100 years.
Day and night.
Year after year.
Generation after generation.
From that quiet little prayer room — with no social media, no stage lighting, no famous names — the Moravians sent out over 300 missionaries to preach the gospel all over the world.
Not because they were extraordinary.
But because they were devoted.
The world was changed because simple people practiced simple devotion over a long period of time.
Devotion may not be dramatic — but it is powerful.
Devotion may not be dramatic — but it is powerful.
This is …
Devote yourself to the things that draw you closer to Christ.
Devote yourself to the things that draw you closer to Christ.
Bottomline: A Spirit-filled life is worth your devotion.
Bottomline: A Spirit-filled life is worth your devotion.
Context leading into the text.
42 And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.
43 And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles.
44 And all who believed were together and had all things in common.
45 And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need.
46 And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts,
47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.
I want you to notice how cut and dry this text is.
Here’s what the disciples decided to do. Simplicity, devotion.
Devotion doesn’t have to be dramatic - but it is powerful.
Devotion doesn’t have to be dramatic - but it is powerful.
——————————————-
Acts 2:42 - And they devoted themselves [to persevere in an activity or cause to the point of devotion… to attend constatnly, continue steadfastly.] to the apostles teaching and the fellowship [KOINOIA - communion, Phil 1:5, 1 Cor 1:9, 2 Corin 6:14, Phil 3:10], to the breaking of bread and the prayers
Acts 2:43 - And awe [phobos - that which causes flight, fear, dread, terror] came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs [wonders is miraculous, signs is the same but to communicate they were in charge/the authority.] were being done through the apostles.
Acts 2:44 - And all who believed [pisteuo - faith, trust in Jesus] were together and had all things in common.
Being informs doing.
“Everyone kept feeling a sense of awe…”
v 46 - generous means simplicity.
———————————————-
1. Devoted to the Word
1. Devoted to the Word
42 And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.
You cannot be devoted to Jesus and casual about His Word.
You cannot be devoted to Jesus and casual about His Word.
a. They Sat Under the Word
a. They Sat Under the Word
Think about what just happened to them.
Pentecost has taken place, and they’re completely eaten up with Jesus!
They chose God’s voice as their foundation and authority.
the word can either be a catalyst in your life or cause you to be callous.
Spurgeon said the same sun that hardens the clay melts the sun.
A catalyst is a substance that increases the rate of a chemical reaction without itself undergoing any permanent change.
b. They Were Shaped by the Word
b. They Were Shaped by the Word
They didn’t just hear Scripture — they let Scripture form them.
Strong Statement:
The Spirit-filled life begins where the self-filled life ends — in submission to God’s Word.
In the 1800s, when telegraphs were the primary way to send messages, one office held interviews for a telegraph operator position.
The room was filled with applicants — all talking, filling out papers, waiting for the hiring manager to call them in.
Suddenly, one man stood up, walked straight into the back office, and came out a minute later with the job.
Everyone else was shocked.
“Why him?” they asked.
The manager replied:
“The whole time, I was sending a message over the telegraph system in Morse code that said:
‘If you can hear this message, come in — you’re hired.’
Most of you were so distracted by the noise around you that you never heard the call.
But he did.”
2. Faithful to Prayer
2. Faithful to Prayer
If the Word is how God speaks to us, prayer is where we speak back to Him.
And devotion means we don’t let the noise of life drown out the voice of God.
42 And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.
This wasn’t the first time they did this. Actually, it was a characteristic of the disciples after the resurrection.
Christians who are faithful to prayer extend an invitation to others to join them.
Christians who are faithful to prayer extend an invitation to others to join them.
14 All these with one accord were devoting themselves to prayer, together with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers.
It also wouldn’t be the last time they were faithful to pray.
32 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.
We must approach prayer with faith, too.
We must approach prayer with faith, too.
Don’t forget the time Peter was thrown in jail and the believers gathered to pray. After he was released and knocked on the door, the believers didn’t believe it was him and assumed
Faithful prayer grows and compounds throughout a believer’s life.
Faithful prayer grows and compounds throughout a believer’s life.
Find more references in Acts.
Acts 2 shows:
They prayed → and awe came upon every soul.
Acts 12 shows:
They prayed → but they struggled to believe what God actually did.
Which tells us something real and relatable:
We can be devoted in prayer, and still grow in awe.
Awe is something God deepens in us over time as we remain close to Him.
The early church didn’t just pray once. Prayer was their way of life.
But even then — even when they were devoted to prayer — they were still growing in awe.
The early church didn’t just pray once. Prayer was their way of life.
But even then — even when they were devoted to prayer — they were still growing in awe.
Think about Acts 12.
Peter is thrown into prison. The church gathers to pray. They pray earnestly, faithfully, persistently.
And while they’re praying, God sends an angel, breaks the chains, opens the gate, and sets Peter free.
Peter walks straight to the house where the believers are still praying. He knocks. And the servant girl, Rhoda, recognizes his voice and runs to tell the others.
And what do the believers — the same believers who were just praying for his release — say?
“You’re out of your mind.”
“That can’t be Peter.”
They were praying for a miracle…
and then were shocked when God actually did it.
Pause.
Isn’t that us?
We pray.
We ask God to move.
We ask Him to heal, restore, redeem, intervene.
But when He does… we’re surprised.
Not because God couldn’t do it…
but because our awe is still catching up to God’s ability.
Not because God couldn’t do it…
but because our awe is still catching up to God’s ability.
Where does awe come from?
His Word
Psalm 119:120
Psalm 119:120
“My flesh trembles for fear of you,
and I am in awe of your laws.”
Psalm 119:161
Psalm 119:161
“My heart stands in awe of your word.”
His presence
8 Let all the earth fear the Lord; let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him!
Prayer didn’t just change Peter’s situation. Prayer was changing the believers’ hearts.
They were learning — slowly, steadily, faithfully —
that God is actually as powerful as His Word says He is.
Prayer produces awe.
Not all at once.
But through proximity.
Through drawing near.
Through returning again and again and again.
Awe is the soul’s response to the reality of God.
It flows from seeing His holiness, hearing His Word, witnessing His power, and experiencing His presence.
Prayer positions us to see God.
The Word teaches us who He is.
And awe rises when the two come together.
3. Committed to One Another
3. Committed to One Another
42 And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.
43 And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles.
44 And all who believed were together and had all things in common.
45 And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need.
The early church wasn’t united because they were the same — they were united because they had the same Savior.
The early church wasn’t united because they were the same — they were united because they had the same Savior.
They didn’t share a personality type, background, preferences, or hobbies.
What they shared was Christ.
The One-Anothers…
Uniformity is based on similarity.
Unity is based on Jesus.
Uniformity says:
“We get along because we’re alike.”
Unity says:
“We belong because we’re in Christ.”
How to Teach It Simply
How to Teach It Simply
Uniformity is external.
Same music taste
Same style
Same stage of life
Same background
Unity is internal.
Same Savior
Same Spirit
Same mission
Same hope
Uniformity makes a community look connected.
Unity makes a community actually connected.
Redwood trees can grow over 300 feet tall.
Yet their roots are surprisingly shallow.
What keeps them standing is not depth — but interconnection.
Their roots spread outward and interlock with the roots of other redwoods.
One tree alone can’t withstand storms or wind.
But together they become one of the strongest forces in nature.
Their strength isn’t in being the same tree — it’s in being connected at the root.
Our root is Christ.
Our strength is unity.
Our fellowship is sacred.
4. United in Worship
4. United in Worship
46 And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts,
47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.
5. Engaged in Mission
5. Engaged in Mission
47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.
The early church did not try to be great — they simply stayed devoted. And the Spirit did the rest.
God isn’t asking you to do something dramatic — He’s asking you to be faithful.
And then land here:
Devotion is not about doing more — it is about giving Jesus your yes.
Pause. Let that breathe.
