Unity
Notes
Transcript
Broke bread and had fellowship
Broke bread and had fellowship
Acts 2:42–47 (NKJV)
42 And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers. 43 Then fear came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles. 44 Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common, 45 and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need. 46 So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart,47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.
1. Individually making Christ the Center of our lives
2. One of the biggest things as a church that we do not do, is take care of each other/ love each other:
It could be because of several things ---- but what would happen if we had that encounter with the Holy Spirit as the disciples did in the upper room and then all that we can do is share the gospel with others. And because they hear and see our testimony in action - it causes them to come to the point of repentance. Once we come to the place of repentance - then we need to start being discipled and be a disciple maker.
One of the things in the scriptures that we see at the end of the Holy Spirit encounter chapter - Acts 2:42 - 46 is that we see that they continued steadfastly in the apostles doctrine and fellowship, in breaking of bread and in prayers.
1 Corinthians 6:19–20 (NKJV)
19 Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? 20 For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.
They had such a powerful encounter with the Holy Spirit that it caused them to want to be together in one accord (unity) and it caused them to become more like Jesus.
In fact the apostles were doing signs and wonders - miracles were happening. But it didn’t stop with the apostles - there was growth that happened with the new converts also. Why ---- Because it is mentioned twice that they not only were together in one accord in the temple (church) but they broke bread from house to house and they ate food with gladness and simplicity (humbleness, associated with a simple heart o sincere heart. They were amazed at God at awe of what was going on and then the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved. There was a sincerity. There was an outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon them (because of the unity that they shared).
BREAD -there is symbolism in bread - and the breaking of bread
It was to show the visible presence of the invisible God
Exodus 25:30 “30 Put the bread of the Presence on this table to be before me at all times.”
It represented the presence of the eternal one - Jesus - the perfect sacrifice.
Leviticus 24:5-9 “5 “Take the finest flour and bake twelve loaves of bread, using two-tenths of an ephah for each loaf. 6 Arrange them in two stacks, six in each stack, on the table of pure gold before the Lord. 7 By each stack put some pure incense as a memorial portion to represent the bread and to be a food offering presented to the Lord. 8 This bread is to be set out before the Lord regularly, Sabbath after Sabbath, on behalf of the Israelites, as a lasting covenant. 9 It belongs to Aaron and his sons, who are to eat it in the sanctuary area, because it is a most holy part of their perpetual share of the food offerings presented to the Lord.””
The priests were told speak to the Nazarites and how to handle them as they came before the throne of God. And one of the things that they were suppose to offer before the Lord and to give to the Nazirites is found in Numbers 6:17
Numbers 6:17 (NKJV)
17 and he shall offer the ram as a sacrifice of a peace offering to the Lord, with the basket of unleavened bread; the priest shall also offer its grain offering and its drink offering.
The priests (Aaron and his sons) were told to bless the people in this way
Numbers 6:22-27
Numbers 6:22–27 (NKJV)
22 And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying: 23 “Speak to Aaron and his sons, saying, ‘This is the way you shall bless the children of Israel. Say to them: 24 “The Lord bless you and keep you; 25 The Lord make His face shine upon you, And be gracious to you; 26 The Lord lift up His countenance upon you, And give you peace.” ’ 27 “So they shall put My name on the children of Israel, and I will bless them.”
To honor Him - to put Him in the center and then from their they were to bring a blessing onto the children of Israel. (today’s terms - the church)
2. But the people all they could do was grumble and complain. Didn’t see how God was going to fix their problem or even why he had brought them out of Egypt - just to wander - but in all honesty they placed themselves in the desert - what do I mean
a. They had only been brought out of Egypt - 40 days and they had sent 12 men to go and spy out the promised land. But 10 of those men came back with a negative report. They complained about the giants in the land and that they would be defeated
b. Two came back - Joshua and Caleb with a good report - a report that said we can take the land - they are nothing in comparison to who our God is.
c. All the people believed the report of the 10 grumbling and complaining spies.
d. God stepped in and at this point HE asked Moses will they ever believe me even after all the miracles that I have done for them.
e. Moses steps in - and basically because of Moses the people were not destroyed but over the next 40 years all those who were over 20 years old would die and they would not to get to enter into the promised land.
Their response was:
39 When Moses reported this to all the Israelites, they mourned bitterly. 40 Early the next morning they set out for the highest point in the hill country, saying, “Now we are ready to go up to the land the Lord promised. Surely we have sinned!” 41 But Moses said, “Why are you disobeying the Lord’s command? This will not succeed! 42 Do not go up, because the Lord is not with you. You will be defeated by your enemies, 43 for the Amalekites and the Canaanites will face you there. Because you have turned away from the Lord, he will not be with you and you will fall by the sword.” 44 Nevertheless, in their presumption they went up toward the highest point in the hill country, though neither Moses nor the ark of the Lord’s covenant moved from the camp. 45 Then the Amalekites and the Canaanites who lived in that hill country came down and attacked them and beat them down all the way to Hormah.
In Numbers 15 - you see that God gave specific ways that they were to bring their offerings before Him -
Some of which was a grain offering, sacrifice, olive oil (which represented His presence).
Bread is also used as showing hospitality.
Genesis 19:3 “3 But he insisted so strongly that they did go with him and entered his house. He prepared a meal for them, baking bread without yeast, and they ate.”
Exodus 16:7-10,13-14, 21 (NIV)
Exodus 16:21 (NIV)
21 Each morning everyone gathered as much as they needed, and when the sun grew hot, it melted away.
Jesus also referenced bread:
John 6:32–35 (NKJV)
32 Then Jesus said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, Moses did not give you the bread from heaven, but My Father gives you the true bread from heaven. 33 For the bread of God is He who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” 34 Then they said to Him, “Lord, give us this bread always.” 35 And Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst.
John 6:41, 50-51
50 But here is the bread that comes down from heaven, which anyone may eat and not die. 51 I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats this bread will live forever. This bread is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.”
26 While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take and eat; this is my body.”
23 For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, 24 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.” 25 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.” 26 For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes. 27 So then, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord. 28 Everyone ought to examine themselves before they eat of the bread and drink from the cup. 29 For those who eat and drink without discerning the body of Christ eat and drink judgment on themselves. 30 That is why many among you are weak and sick, and a number of you have fallen asleep.