Life After the Harvest
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Introduction
Introduction
Jesus told His disciples that the harvest was plentiful but the workers are few and then told them to ask the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into His harvest field. Obviously they did what Jesus said to do because our church is evidence of that task fulfilled. In fact, 93 years ago on August 26, 1926, the first service was held in this building after it was constructed. Many of you had parents and grandparents that were part of that first service. In fact, I am certain that we could do a spiritual genealogy and trace our roots even further back to the time right after Jesus told his disciples to ask the Lord of the Harvest to send out workers.
The church, as described in the Book of Acts, demonstrated life after the spiritual harvest. Any one that has ever gardened or farmed knows that life after the harvest includes process, preparation and resowing. The same thing takes place in a spiritual harvest. We will always need to be about the Father’s business until Jesus calls us home or He returns to get us.
Until then, we need to be a church that thrives for the sake of the Kingdom of God! So how do we do just that? We see many characteristics in the Book of Acts that we would be wise to model today. Listen carefully as we read about some of those characteristics from .
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 their number daily those who were being saved.
As we examine this passage, let’s look at how the church was exemplified, unified, magnified, and multiplied.
The Church Exemplified (vs. 42-43)
The Church Exemplified (vs. 42-43)
We see in the first phrase of this passage that the people devoted themselves. The word devoted is a very interesting concept. It means to continue steadfastly. It is giving oneself continually. It is persevering and not growing faint.
Specifically, the people in the church devoted themselves to four activities. The four activities of the church included teaching, fellowship, breaking of bread, and prayer.
“They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching.”
Teaching is a process where the truth of scripture is brought out. In the early church, the apostles taught the truth of the scripture in what we have now as the Old Testament. They were led by the Holy Spirit.
But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.
John
and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
They were fulfilling part of the Great Commission:
John
In that day you will no longer ask me anything. I tell you the truth, my Father will give you whatever you ask in my name.
and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
I promise you as long as I am able to be your pastor, you will get sound teaching that is biblical, relevant and applicable.
“They devoted themselves to the fellowship.” Fellowship is from the word koinonia which means association, community, and joint participation. Fellowship happens when believers can sit together and enjoy the presence of each other’s company. We have great fellowship here at our church and it gets richer every time we gather together!
We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ.
1 John 1:3
“They devoted themselves to the breaking of the bread.” Some believe this was a reference what we know as the Lord’s Supper. Some think this was a time of fellowship where the people had a meal together. If you study the words used here to describe “the breaking of bread,” you can see there are many instances of these words being used in other places in the New Testament.
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,
On the first day of the week we came together to break bread. Paul spoke to the people and, because he intended to leave the next day, kept on talking until midnight.
Acts 20:
1 Corinthians
Is not the cup of thanksgiving for which we give thanks a participation in the blood of Christ? And is not the bread that we break a participation in the body of Christ?
1 Corinthians 11:23-25
For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.”
These men are blemishes at your love feasts, eating with you without the slightest qualm—shepherds who feed only themselves. They are clouds without rain, blown along by the wind; autumn trees, without fruit and uprooted—twice dead.
It was a Jewish custom to have bread and wine at the table. Many hold that at the end of a meal there was a time to remember the Lord and this was done so through the Lord’s Supper. It is safe to say that the breaking of the bread consisted of both participating in the Lord’s Supper as well as a type of fellowship meal. Nevertheless, we as a church would be wise to exemplify this as well.
“They devoted themselves to prayer.”
Prayer has always been a vital activity of the church. We see in that prayer the people were constantly in prayer.
They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers.
One day Peter and John were going up to the temple at the time of prayer—at three in the afternoon.
Indicates that there were also specific times of prayer which the people gathered to do so. It is evident in addition to private prayer, there were prayer services and prayer meetings held consistently in which the church gathered to pray. Jesus had given the apostles the example of prayer has it had been prominent in His life. Prayer especially emphasized unity heart and mind among the believers. Corporate prayer unites God’s people in commitment. This prayer included both men and women.
Verse 43 shows us that the people outside the church were in awe because of the wonders and signs that were done by the apostles. This reminds me that the church should a place where signs and wonders can be discussed for the glory of God.
Awe refers to a type of reverence that helps us recognize God’s power at work. When we acknowledge God’s power we are one step close to having a commitment of faith in Jesus. The more we recognize His power, the more we will be devoted to teaching, fellowship, the breaking of bread and prayer. This exemplifies the church. It also unifies the church.
The Church Unified (vs. 44-46)
The Church Unified (vs. 44-46)
In verses 44-46, we see what happens when a church is unified. They did worshiped together and had everything in common.
The church was unified in their giving. They put their possessions together to create opportunities to minister to those in need. We see evidence of this later on in .
All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they shared everything they had.
It is important to note here that this was not an expression of socialism or communism. These actions were voluntary and not mandated by a government. The goods were not commonly distributed but were given to meet the needs as they arose. This is a beautiful example of the church helping those in need. We are fortunate to be able to pull our resources together here to help those in need in our community. Over the past year we have been able to pay electric bills, buy groceries, help people with gas, help people with medical needs, and help with families with childcare and the ability to purchase diapers, just to name a few.
The church was unified in its worship. tells us that they continued to meet together in the temple courts, broke bread in their homes, and ate together with glad and sincere hearts. One of the things I love about our church is when we meet together and share a meal. I witness conversations among out people as they live out this idea of being glad and having sincere hearts.
We see an implication here that the worship was joyful and reverent. The New English Bible calls this “unaffected joy.” Since God sent His Son into the world and now given His Spirit, the church had plenty of reason to be joyful. This tells me that every worship service should be a joyful celebration of the mighty acts of a Mighty God! Our worship should never be dull. I am so thankful we have worship that is purposeful and meaningful.
This is
I also see from this passage that worship should be a daily affair. Sometimes logistics prevent us from being in this sanctuary on a daily basis, but we certainly can be about worship in our homes and even in our work places.
What a beautiful example of a church having the beauty of a structured service and the flexibility of a home meeting. The traditional and the spontaneous! The church needs both as it is unified!
When the church becomes unified, it becomes magnified!
The Church Magnified (vs. 47a)
The Church Magnified (vs. 47a)
Verse 46 continues into verse 47.
“They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people.”
because anyone who serves Christ in this way is pleasing to God and approved by men.
The word for favor is from the Greek word charis. It is the same word that is used for grace. When grace is practiced, it grows. If someone extends you grace, unless you are just a cold hearted individual, that grace will be magnified. When we couple that with the praise of our Father, we can experience sensational joy. This is better when we can experience it with other believers.
Anne Graham Lotz, in her book, Jesus In Me, shares the story of a young man who went off to college. He came home for Christmas break, and before returning to school, he went by to see his pastor. The pastor was delighted to see him. He invited him into his cozy study that had a warm fire crackling on the hearth. He peppered the young man with questions about school. His response was enthusiastic as he described his classes and his friends. Then the pastor inquired whether he had found a church to attend. The student looked down and the floor and replied, “No sir. I don’t feel the need to go to church anymore. My faith is strong enough without it, and with my studies and activities, I just can’t find the time.”
The old pastor quietly reached over and pulled a blazing log from the fire, leaving it on the hearth. Then he folded his hands and remained silent. Finally the young man thought the older gentleman had dozed off, so he cleared his throat as he rose to leave. The pastor was quickly alert, smiled and asked, “Did you think I had fallen asleep? I was just watching that log I pulled out of the fire. But now that I have removed it, the fire has gone out. Son, you are like that log. If you expect your faith to stay on fire, you need to be in fellowship with other believers.” (Excerpted from JESUS IN ME)
When we are unified with other believers, we are like that log in a fire. Our flame is magnified and we burn brightly. But away from the flame, we fizzle out. When the church is exemplified, unified, and magnified, it will be multiplied!
The Church is Multiplied
The Church is Multiplied
The last part of verse 47 in our text says, “And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.”
“The Lord” in this verse refers to Jesus Christ, the Glorified Head and Ruler of the Church. It is He that adds to the number of the church. It is He that draws all mankind into a relationship with the Heavenly Father. Our actions should always point others to Him. The church should be contagious. This church in Acts certainly was!
Ecclesiastes
Notice that this was an ongoing thing. The Bible says “The Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.” This tells me that salvation is an ongoing process. Sure there is the time you first believe, but you don’t believe and then say I am done. You need to continue in growth.
Go, eat your food with gladness, and drink your wine with a joyful heart, for it is now that God favors what you do.
For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.
1 Corinthians
For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what he already has?
Romans 10:9
That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain.
Notice the promise of salvation is associated with being part of the church. We do not have to go about this all alone. God’s design for us is being saved and added to the number of believers. The pronoun “their” is used here indicating a specific group. I am convinced that salvation and church membership should belong together.
Wonders were da
This passage shows us that wonders were done daily which reminds us that the acts of God never cease!
This passage shows us that worship was done daily which reminds us that the Praise of God is always!
This passage shows us that witness was done daily which shows us that actions for God should be ongoing!
People related to and supported the leadership of the teachers.
People related to each other in love.
People related to God in worship.
People related to the world in outreach.
So what does this mean for our church?
We don’t have to wait for the Holy Spirit to show up, we already have the Holy Spirit working in us and through us.
We have the friendliest church in town. All we have to do is keep inviting people here!
We have worship that is meaningful and purposeful.
What do we need?
We need more opportunities to gather outside these church building walls.
We need more group opportunities with more leaders to lead them.
We need to get stronger in outreach.