Devoted Week 2

Devoted Week 2 "Awe and Radical Generosity" Acts 2:43-45 "And awe came upon every soul... And all who believed were together and had all things in common. And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need." Acts 4:32-35(esv) '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. And with great power the apostles were giving their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all. There was not a needy person among them, for as many as were owners of lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold and laid it at the apostles' feet, and it was distributed to each as any had need. ' ~The devotions of verse 42 weren't ends in themselves - they produced something: a community marked by holy awe and a generosity so radical it reordered people's relationship to their own possessions. 1. Awe as the atmosphere, not just an occasional feeling - "Awe came upon every soul" - a pervasive reverence, not isolated to dramatic moments. ○ Acts 2:43a - "awe" (phobos) describes the community's shared posture in response to God's evident presence. ○ Acts 5:11 - the same word describes the church's response after Ananias and Sapphira's judgment. 2. Signs and wonders through the apostles - God visibly confirmed this new community's message, not as a one-time miracle but an ongoing pattern. ○ Acts 2:43b - "many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles" - imperfect tense suggesting repeated activity. ○ Hebrews 2:3-4 - the author later reflects that God "bore witness" to the gospel by signs and wonders. ● Raise the question: "Why don't we see signs like Acts today?" - name it, don't dodge it. ● Two honest views: (1) sign gifts tied to the apostles/founding era, done their job once Scripture complete; (2) gifts continue, but even in Acts they cluster at turning points (Pentecost, gospel breaking into new territory) - not a constant backdrop. ● Don't settle the debate - land here: God is still sovereign, still hears prayer, still works - dramatically or quietly (changed hearts, provided needs, transformed lives). Don't let uncertainty kill expectancy. ● Pivot to v.43 - "awe came upon every SOUL," not just the ones who saw a sign. Awe was the shared posture of the whole community. ● Key point: awe is a response to who God is, not a reaction to spectacle. So it shouldn't be rarer for us than it was for them. ● What awe produced: NOT people pulling back in fear - people running toward each other. Together. Shared meals. Generous with possessions. Awe pulls people together and loosens their grip on stuff. ● the question: "If awe is missing from our life together - have the signs stopped, or have WE stopped reckoning with who's in the room?" 3. "All things in common" - a real, not merely symbolic, sharing of resources - This wasn't forced communism or a one-time liquidation; it was an ongoing willingness to treat personal property as available for the community's need. ○ Acts 4:34-35 - the fuller account: "there was not a needy person among them." 4. Generosity as evidence of transformed hearts, not law - Nowhere does the text describe this as a command or requirement - it flows from changed people, not compulsion. ○ Acts 5:4 - Peter's words to Ananias make clear the property and proceeds were his to keep or give. ○ 2 Corinthians 9:7 - "God loves a cheerful giver." Application Questions ● Does your relationship to your own possessions reflect "these are mine to hold loosely" or "these are mine to protect"? ● Where have you seen (or not seen) a community marked by genuine reverence/awe rather than either casualness or performative religiosity?