The community that Jesus builds is a fellowship that is empowered by the Holy Spirit. The picture of the early believers in Acts 2:42-47 is an image of a community centered on Christ and linked together in fellowship. This united community was committed to meeting the needs of others and pursued God’s mission in the world.
Acts 2:42-47 (NIV)
They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who 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.
A Dynamic Movement
In Acts 1:8, Jesus had promised that the disciples would “receive power when the Holy Spirit comes,” and Acts 2:1-12 records the arrival of the Spirit at Pentecost. Peter declares that God will pour out His Spirit on all flesh (Acts 2:17). About three thousand people become followers of Jesus and “receive the gift of the Holy Spirit” (Acts 2:38, 41).
God poured out His Spirit in the context of community and Acts 2:42-47 is a concentrated description of that community. What is created and what happens does not occur apart from the work of the Holy Spirit. If we stress only their activities, we miss the profound unity and fellowship the believers shared through the Spirit. There is no dynamic movement, the glory of God is not expressed, and God’s message of salvation does not overflow into the world without the power of the Holy Spirit.
What kind of community would provide evidence that God is doing something?
Evidence: God’s Glory on Display
Everyone was in awe of what God was doing (Acts 2:43). The presence of God was evident in the believers. When God is in the room, people take notice. They were overwhelmed, not with the disciples, but with the glory of God, and they responded with awe and wonder.
Evidence: Dependence through Prayer
Prayer reminds us that we desperately need God with us. Their devotion to prayer magnified God by showing their dependence upon him.
Evidence: Spirit Inspired Generosity
The fellowship of followers is empowered by the Spirit to move past humanity’s selfish inclinations and be a community of caring and sharing (Acts 2:44-45). The Holy Spirit transforms them to practice radical generosity, being concerned about the human needs of food, shelter, and health.
Evidence: Unity and Fellowship
In John 17:20-23, Jesus prayed that believers would demonstrate a supernatural unity that would amaze the world. Jesus draws His community together, and the Holy Spirit welds it together (Acts 2:46).
The unity of the church in God is the supreme testimony to the truth of the claim that Jesus is God’s authorized emissary. The existence of such a community is a supernatural fact which can be explained only as the result of a supernatural cause.
Without the power of the Holy Spirit, the community that Jesus builds is unable to display evidence of the presence of God.
2 Corinthians 13:14 NIV
May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.