Great Power

 DEVOTION

THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES

GREAT POWER

Acts 4:32-37

32 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. 33 With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and much grace was upon them all. 34 There were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned lands or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales 35 and put it at the apostles' feet, and it was distributed to anyone as he had need. 36 Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus, whom the apostles called Barnabas (which means Son of Encouragement), 37 sold a field he owned and brought the money and put it at the apostles' feet.

NIV

The New Testament church was far different than any church we are aware of today. First, to think that all of us believers are of one heart and mind is outlandish. We have so much division between the hundreds of Christian denominations that it would be nearly impossible for us to agree on all the same interpretations and doctrines. Then we have to consider just within one denomination and one local church.  Are we one in heart and mind? It is said that if two Jewish men were in a room, there would be three opinions. However, within a local congregation, the number of members would equal the number of opinions. However, we must all agree on some basic truths. We believe in the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. We believe Jesus lived among us, went to the cross to pay the price for our sins, was crucified and buried, and on the third day God raised him from the dead, and forty days later he ascended back to sit at the right hand of the Father, the place of honor. We believe Jesus is coming back for us. That is it in a nutshell, the truth of the gospel. It is hard to imagine that the New Testament church referred to in this portion of scripture had developed any further doctrines or rules and regulations, as churches today have done. We do not live in the same manner as this new church, because we claim possessions as our own. We do not share everything we have either, although some of us do tithe so our church can function, pay its bills, pay staff, support some missionaries, and keep to some form of a budget. We wonder whether we even avail ourselves of the great power the apostles had when they testified to the Lord's resurrection. How can we sell our lands and houses? When they sold their houses, where then did they live? It seems strange to think, but maybe they were thinking Jesus was coming right back, and they did not need anything, but just sat around worshipping together, waiting for Jesus. Yet they did share with each other; that is all we know is true. They loved each other; we know that was true. They loved Jesus and believed he was the Christ; we know that was true. Can we do any less? We love the Lord with our whole being, and we love each other. However, we still need the power to testify about the resurrection of Jesus. We tell each other, we hear it from the pulpits, we think the missionaries we support are testifying about the resurrection of Jesus, but are we telling the story in the streets where we live? Give us the power, Lord, anoint us with the Holy Spirit and fire that we might proclaim, testify with great power, the resurrection of Jesus.