Unity and Disunity

Over the last few weeks we have really seen the importance of Christian Unity.

I hope I have done a sufficient job at helping you see the importance of our being with and encouraging one another to grow in Christ.

We saw in Chapter 2 how the early church loved one another, spent time with one another, and encouraged one another.

We saw last week that after Peter and John were “disciplined” by the Sanhedrin, how they immediately gathered with the other believers to pray for boldness.

And the Boldness comes from the Spirit of God, but is bolstered by fellowship with one another and prayer.

Today we will look at unity again in the early church (do you see a theme?)

However, it is going to be contrasted with a story of how unity is disturbed and may be destroyed.

Pray.

First, Let’s Look at how unity is established within the church life.

Now the full number of those who believed were of one heart and soul. Acts 4:32a

The Gospel Unifies

It says the full number of those were there. That would probably be upwards of 10,000 or more believers. We see the 5000 earlier in the chapter, but those were just the men being counted and many if not most of them would have been married.

So here we have the first mega church in Jerusalem. FBC Jerusalem.

And what’s interesting is they were of one heart and one soul.

Could you imagine a group of 10,000 being of one heart and one soul.

Unified. We have trouble being unified with our spouse/children/even some of us ourselves when it comes to united around something.

But here were these believers who were of one heart and soul.

They were unified around the Gospel. They were unified around the belief that Jesus was who he said he was. They were unified b/c they saw the importance in unity.

Unity is an important guide stone for the church. So we also need to find how we are going to be unified.

We should be unified around the Gospel. We should be unified around the gospel b/c Jesus is the great unifier.

So we find unity in Jesus. He is, after all, part of the perfect picture of unity found in the Holy Trinity. Father, Son, and Holy Spirit working together to bring about salvation, restoration, and reconciliation.

Here is the reality, we don’t create unity. We find our unity in Jesus. God has established unity in the person and work of Christ.

So if we have been called to union with Christ we should rest in our unity with one another.

And in a few minutes we are going to see what can encourage that unity and what will destroy it.

We didn’t create or establish unity, but like the sinful people we are we can definitely disrupt it.

So in order to steer the course in unity, we need to remember that the Grace of God is greater than our sin.

We need to hold on to the unifying message of Salvation.

That when we come to Christ we are given a new heart and a new spirit.

That he has made us a new creation. We are part of one big new family.

But we were all bought with the same price. We all recieved the same gift.

Not one of us is more important, special, or loved more than the other.

We are all unified around the fact that Jesus Loves Us that he died for us and that we are now part of this amazing fellowship with the king of the universe.

We also need to remember our unifying mission.

The church was never established to make much of any person, besides Jesus Christ.

This isn’t my church, this isn’t your church, this is our church with Christ and we have a mandate and mission that has been set before us.

If we are serious about that mandate/mission then we won’t have time/energy to quibble over the things that don’t really matter.

And what is our mission and mandate? Our mission and mandate is to tell the world about Jesus Christ.

To live a live that mimics his.

To lead other to the cross where they will find redemption.

Where they can find restoration.

Then when they submit to Jesus, we teach them, train them, and help them to make more disciples.

This mission should consume our energy. This mission should be our focus. We should have no time for disunity when we are fight to keep this mission moving forward.

These men and women were from all different backgrounds, different areas, and yet they were unified b/c of the Gospel. They were unified b/c of the belief in Jesus’ resurrection.

They didn’t rely on their natural affinities to unify them rather they held on to the belief and truth of JC and his gospel.

Through the gospel we are unified, but through our actions we live out and experience that unity.

Acts 4:32–37 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. Thus Joseph, who was also called by the apostles Barnabas (which means son of encouragement), a Levite, a native of Cyprus, sold a field that belonged to him and brought the money and laid it at the apostles’ feet.

Experience Unity Through Generosity

This short summary statement should remind of Acts 2:42-47.

It’s similar in wording and in presenting how the first church acted in light of their fellowship with one another.

However, this particular summary focuses more on the generosity of the believers.

These men and women shared everything that they had.

So much so, that they didn’t even view what they had as their own stuff, but rather “ no one said that any of the things that belonged to him was his own, but they had everything in common.”

They shared everything that they had.

Sharing runs counter to our very nature…Just take a minute and watch young children.

You don’t have to teach them to be stingy. You don’t have to teach them “mine.” It is instinctual.

You do have to teach them to share to be open handed with the things they have.

It doesn’t mean that it isn’t their toy but that it is good to share.

But if they don’t learn/practice sharing, 9/10 they will never do it.

It has to be modeled for them.

Likewise, we need to be open handed with what God has given to us.

Remember, It is all a gift. No matter how much blood, sweat, and tears you put into achieving what you have. It’s still a gift.

That is why we have to be open handed with it, b/c it isn’t our to begin with.

Look we’re about to talk about something very uncomfortable for a few minutes.

In fact, what we are about to talk about sometimes pushes people out of the church. It runs them off. It makes them angry.

We are going to talk about money.

I don’t want to assume that you have been taught about God’s expectations when it comes to giving to the church, so I want to take a moment to discuss it.

One of the most common standards that people adhere to is found in the OT.

It’s called a Tithe. Basically, this is a 10% donation/gift to the church and through giving it to the church you are giving it to the work of God.

For example, if you made $30,000/year then you would over the course of the year give $3,000 to the church.

Out of all that God has given you he wants you to give at least 10% back to him.

The NT never talks about this continuing to be the standard, rather the NT talks about generosity. Giving with a cheerful heart and giving sacrificially.

For some, 10% would be giving til it hurts. For others, it could be more. But the fact of the matter is God wants us to give to his mission.

He wants us to be open handed with the church body and with one another.

Generosity is a response to the grace that we have recieved.

Generosity is a mark of a healthy believer. Generosity is found in the heart of God.

God has been greatly generous towards us. He didn’t hold anything back. He gave generously so that we can be made whole.

We give out of the grace that we have recieved.

We have recieved that same great grace as these First Century Believers. We need to respond in kind.

I think that the 10% in the OT is a great starting place. I believe that it is a good first step to showing that you trust God to take care of you like he has promised.

I also believe that if you don’t give you don’t realize the grace that you have been given.

There needs to be an examination as to why you don’t give.

Why you hold on to the blessings you have recieved.

If you have been given greatly too you should recognize that you should be giving greatly as a response.

Also, if you aren’t being generous with money, its time you examine why?

One of the reasons that people don’t give is b/c they don’t know that it is expected of them.

Well, we just covered that so that excuse is null and void.

Another reason that people don’t give is b/c they are stretched too thin.

They have not been great at stewarding the finances that God has granted them so they are living a life stretched so thin financially that they feel like they are drowning.

I would like to offer you a word of encouragement.

There is grace in that. God has great grace for you.

But you also need to examine what has caused you to be in that position.

You can’t wait for that raise. You can’t wait for that car payment to stop. This isn’t a logistical issue.

It’s a Heart Issue.

Where is your treasure? Where your pocketbook goes so goes your heart.

Money, possessions, and things will never satisfy your soul.

But chasing after the heart of God will.

Get rid of the burdens of things that are stretching you too thin.

I am not saying that you cannot have things. I am not saying that you can’t be wealthy.

In fact, we will welcome those who are wealthy into our fellowship.

If you just look at this statement in Acts

Many were owners of Lands or houses.

If you are wealthy, it is a gift and grace of God.

But what do you do with it?

Luke doesn’t tell us that there were no wealthy among them, but that there were no poor. B/c the poor were provided for.

This is an idea that was revealed in the OT

Deuteronomy 15:4 ESV

But there will be no poor among you; for the Lord will bless you in the land that the Lord your God is giving you for an inheritance to possess—

Deuteronomy 15:7 ESV

“If among you, one of your brothers should become poor, in any of your towns within your land that the Lord your God is giving you, you shall not harden your heart or shut your hand against your poor brother,

Experience Unity Through Generosity

Wealth is not the enemy a greedy heart is the enemy.

Wealth is given to believers so that they can give it away to those in need.

We can’t live a life looking at the poor with disdain and apathy, especially if they are amongst us.

We have to love and be generous toward them.

“not a needy person among them”

If someone, is in our congregation and has a need. We should all be willing to step up and help them.

That would demonstrate unity. That would show the heart of God to a wicked world.

But in order to know the needs of the people in the church we need to be around them.

We need to be living in community.

It’s easy to be distant and greedy. But it is harder to be close and greedy.

The rich in the early church were held accountable.

They were sensitive to the needs of the congregation b/c they were with the congregation. They spent time with one another in prayer and fellowship.

Then when a need arises they were the first to jump on and help.

Not a governmental program. Not a food pantry. Not a para-church ministry.

The local congregation and it’s local believers stepped in and met the need.

The final reason that Christian people aren’t generous with money is because they are scared.

They are scared to give b/c they are scared that they will go with out.

We have an intense feeling of FOMO.

We want the newest phone. We want a nicer car. We want a bigger savings account so that we can live an awesome life in our retirement, but that runs contra to how God has called us to live.

We are called to live generously.

We should be afraid to give. We should be ready to give.

I get it money is a very personal thing to us.

But, the more you think of it as YOUR money, the more you will desperately try to hold on to it.

It’s not your money. It’s God’s money that he is allowing you to steward.

I am not suggesting that you sell everything you have and give it to the church.

I am not saying that you shouldn’t have a savings account, a retirement account, or some money for a rainy day.

God doesn’t say that you can’t have stuff either. But if your stuff is more important than obedience to Jesus. That’s a problem

If your stuff gets in the way of your generosity that’s a problem.

We are introduced to a man in this passage named Barnabas.

Barnabas was his nickname. His real name was Joseph. But he was known as Barnabas the “Son of Encouragement.”

I heard one preacher refer to him as having a “golden retriever personality.”

He was excited and willing to bring forth encouragement in any way that he could. Especially in the blessings that he had recieved.

Luke mentions Barnabas 23 times in the book of Acts. He plays a big role in helping spread the good news of Jesus.

He was a companion of Paul on his missionary Journeys.

We will talk more about Barnabas in the coming weeks, but just know that he lived out unity through generosity.

He was a wealthy man that owned land. He Sold that land and he gave it to the church.

He submitted it to the apostles and allowed for them to do with it how they saw fit.

It’s important that he just laid it at the apostles feet. He didn’t want recognition. He didn’t want praise. He wasn’t seeking the applaud of men.

He did what he did b/c he knew it would please the heart of God.

He did what he did b/c he was grateful for the grace he recieved.

He did what he did b/c he saw a need and wanted to make sure that people were provided for.

He did what he did b/c he recognized that this was a gift of God and God desired for him to give it away.

However, Luke wants us to see that the first church wasn’t perfect. Whenever you get people together it gets messy.

He sets before an example to follow in Barnabas and contrasts it with an example to avoid.

Acts 5:1–11 ESV

But a man named Ananias, with his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property, and with his wife’s knowledge he kept back for himself some of the proceeds and brought only a part of it and laid it at the apostles’ feet. But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back for yourself part of the proceeds of the land? While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, was it not at your disposal? Why is it that you have contrived this deed in your heart? You have not lied to man but to God.” When Ananias heard these words, he fell down and breathed his last. And great fear came upon all who heard of it. The young men rose and wrapped him up and carried him out and buried him. After an interval of about three hours his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. And Peter said to her, “Tell me whether you sold the land for so much.” And she said, “Yes, for so much.” But Peter said to her, “How is it that you have agreed together to test the Spirit of the Lord? Behold, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out.” Immediately she fell down at his feet and breathed her last. When the young men came in they found her dead, and they carried her out and buried her beside her husband. And great fear came upon the whole church and upon all who heard of these things.

Disunity because of Hypocrisy

Ananias and Sapphira are examples to avoid.

Remember, the selling of property was a completely voluntary act.

No one was forced or manipulated into giving.

They gave when they saw need and if so led by the grace and spirit they had been given.

However, Ananias and Sapphira sold and gave to gain something.

They wanted praise. They wanted admiration. They wanted to be cheered and looked upon with adoration.

They did not give out of conviction, but rather out of compulsion, out of evil desire.

They were determined to Lie to the Apostles, the people, and ultimately to God.

However, not only did they give, but they lied about the gift they gave.

God hates lying.

I don’t think we take this sin with as much weight as we should.

Lying runs contra to God’s very character.

He is the God of Truth. He loves the Truth. He hates deception.

Much like we don’t have to teach selfishness, we don’t have to teach someone to lie.

I remember the first time one of my kids lied to me.

It hurt my heart that they would do that. That they would see me as unworthy of their trust enough to lie to me.

Can you imagine how much more God is hurt and disgusted by our lies.

Many look at this story and shutter. How could God do something like this?

How is this fair? How is the okay?

But the truth is God is Holy. His Holiness will not be mocked.

There was a similar story that took place in Joshua 7.

The Israelites through God’s Mighty power had just overtaken Jericho. The walls had fallen and the promised land was theirs.

However, this man Achan had taken from Jericho for himself some of the spoils of war after God had commanded Israel to consecrate it all to Him.

Achan stole the treasure and hid it in his tent.

B/c of this sinful disobedience by Achan, Israel lost their next battle against a much smaller opponent. God has issued his judgement on the whole b/c of the sin of a few.

Achan was eventually found out and stoned b/c of his deception and theft.

Both stories represent a pause, hiccup, or disturbance in the victorious progress of God’s people.

God is on the move and working through his people and suddenly sin interrupts and needs to be exposed for the victory to continue.

This is how seriously God takes sin.

He is willing to stop progress in the first church to address it.

So what was the sin? “They Kept Back” from God v.3

Theft, embezzlement, pilfering from the Holy One.

They were under not edict, command, or impulse to sell their land and give it to the church.

Yet, they wanted to appear pious so they willingly tried to deceive everyone with their gift.

They were hypocrites. They wanted the praise without the sacrifice.

They wanted favor. They wanted the glory. They wanted the status

They wanted to appear righteous but in reality they had a wicked and twisted heart.

This is lying to not only the church, but more importantly to God.

God will not be mocked.

The consequence of their hypocrisy was death.

They mocked God and suffered the consequences.

Remember, back when we started this series and we talked about descriptive and prescriptive stories in Acts?

This is a descriptive event.

However, it must give us pause. It must attack our senses and we must remember that God is a holy God who will not allow his name to be tainted.

There are consequences for our sin.

Both personally and communally.

We have to recognize that our disobedience toward God will influence not just our lives, but the lives of those around us.

So if we as a church body want to impact this community we need to avoid hypocrisy.

We don’t have to pretend to be who we aren’t.

We need to rely on God to sanctify us and transform us one day at a time.

B/c when we pretend to be who we aren’t then we are lying and God hates lying.

Be open. Be Authentic. Don’t be afraid to open up and tell someone how you are really feeling.

Conclusion

So what do we need to take away from this?

We need to be gladly generous with the many blessings we have recieved.

What we have isn’t ours we are simply stewards of it.

Remember God gave his only son to die on the cross for our sins so we can have restoration and acceptance into his family.

We need to live with the same generosity.

We need to remember that God will not be mocked and that sin has consequences. Both in our personal lives and communally.

We need the gospel. We need to continually repent for our sins. Recognize the evil within us and ask for God’s help to overcome what holds us back from a deeper relationship with him.

If you don’t know Jesus, this story is a stark illustration of God’s holiness.

He cannot stand to be in the presence of Sin.

But he does offer forgiveness and an opportunity to turn around and joy him.

I plead with you that if you haven’t submitted your life to God do that now.

He is calling out to you? He is calling your Name? He is offering you forgiveness for your sins?

Will you answer him?