Jesus didn't begin a "marketing campaign" when He ascended into Heaven, no, He was making something new!
The new people of God are one (4:32-37), holy (5:1-11) and healed (5:12-16)
This passage is similar to Acts 2:32-37. Luke is emphasizing not WHAT they did but WHY they did it. They were all filled with the Holy Spirit. Luke is showing us that the promise of the Spirit has come.
We are supposed to be marked off not by birth but by re-birth in Christ. The purpose of the Christian is to display Christ to the watching world.
The defining mark of the Spirit is how you respond to Jesus - this is not about a feeling but fruit. To have the Spirit of God is to be united to Jesus.
They had everything in common, one heart, one soul; sharing everything with one another, they centered their lives around the church so that nobody among them would have any needs.
What is it like to be one with Christ's people? When one part suffers, the whole body suffers together.
Jesus is continually adding members to our body to love and watch over.
Prioritize and love your brothers and sisters more than your comfort.
Jesus didn't just save a tenth of our lives but our whole lives - giving to the church is an overflow and we should do such cheerfully, sacrificially and faithfully.
All that we have and are is from God so we should gladly give it back to Him.
The apostles didn't demand a certain amount, the people were simply moved out of the overflow of their hearts.
We have already received all that God has given us in Christ.
It is hard to love that which you give away.
Let us be a generous people because God is a generous God.
Ananias and Sapphira wanted to appear more sacrificial then they actually were, they let money capture their hearts and lead them to be deceptive.
We do not accurately comprehend the holiness and righteousness of God and because of this our sense of our own sin is entirely too dull.
"Do you think that the God of the universe should borrow your sense of justice to judge others by?" -PARAPHRASE from Francis Schaeffer.
Your sense of "right" or "wrong" is more wrong than it is right. God alone is truth!
God poured out His wrath upon His sinless Son so that we would be free.
Lowering the standard of justice will not remove your guilt and shame, only Jesus Christ will.
The way that the enemy will try to disrupt the unity of the church is through my flesh. May my faith not fail! Satan is seeking weak points to access. He will do this through our personal holiness and personal relationships. He longs to make us relationally insecure, for us to keep records of wrongs and hurts.
Prioritize the unity and holiness of the church over hurts, disappointments and expectations. (BARS)
Unrealistic expectations can wreak havoc, be not easily offended.
Fear God for He is zealous for the holiness of His church.
Jesus is the reigning king of God's restored kingdom, let us declare it! He has made us new, let us declare it!
Though we were sick and dead in our sins, we have been made new and healed through Christ Jesus.
"Jesus would have his mercy offered first to the chief of sinners." -PARAPHRASE from John Bunyan. Am I happy if the worst of sinners want in on Christianity?