Lechem Panim #138 "United In Heart And Soul” (Acts 4:32-35) Pastor Cameron Ury

Hello and welcome to Lechem Panim.

Tonto’s Forsaking— I don’t know how many of you have seen the old television show “The Lone Ranger”. If you have, you might remember one episode where [Tonto and the Lone Ranger were riding through a canyon together when all of a sudden both sides were filled with Native American warriors on horses, dressed for battle. The Lone Ranger turned to Tonto and asked, "What are we going to do?" Tonto replied, "What you mean 'we,' Whiteman?”] It’s amazing how adversity can drive people apart, isn’t it?

The Church’s Resolve Strengthened— Well you might expect that to happen at this point in the story of the book of Acts. You will remember that Peter and John have just been tried by the Sanhedrin, who command them to no longer teach or preach in the name of Jesus. And so for the first time the Church is facing political persecution. Now Peter and John resolve to continue to preach the Gospel of Christ because (as Peter had put it, and states again in 5:29 as well): “We must obey God rather than men.” Now that wasn’t a universal rejection of authority; but they understood that when authority and the Word of God are in conflict with each other, you always have to side with God. But one of the things that amazes me about this passage is that what you would think would happen at this point in the Church’s history doesn’t happen. You’d think that the Church would become divided on this issue. Who do we obey? Who do we follow? But what is so fascinating is that this persecution only serves to drive the Church together; together in prayer and together in unity. And the depth of this unity is truly profound. It says in…

Acts 4:32a (ESV)— 32 Now the full number of those who believed were of one heart and soul,

One— So the first thing that we see is that the Church has become one. But what does that look like?

Which One?— It has been said that [When a man marries a woman, they become one but the trouble starts when they try to decide which one.] And you know, there’s some truth to that. We often think that there could be peace and unity if everybody would think and act just like us. But let me tell you, in all honesty, if all the people of the world were like me, we’d be in trouble. And if all the people of the world were like you we’d also be in trouble. And a Church filled with people who are all trying to be like one another is destined for trouble as well. And actually, the Church’s central aim ought not to be to strive for unity with one another, but to strive to be at unity with Christ. It is in becoming like Jesus that we are consequently brought into unity with one another.

Tuned to The Same Fork— This is why A.W. Tozer once asked: [Has it ever occurred to you that one hundred pianos all tuned to the same fork are automatically tuned to each other? They are of one accord by being tuned, not to each other, but to another standard to which each one must individually bow. So one hundred worshipers [meeting] together, each one looking away to Christ, are in heart nearer to each other than they could possibly be, were they to become 'unity' conscious and turn their eyes away from God to strive for closer fellowship.] And you know, he’s right. If a congregation will commit to draw closer to Jesus as individuals, they will consequently find that they will also be more at one with each other.

One Heart & Soul— Now the text says that these believers were {(v.32)} of one heart and soul. And that phrase means more than just that they had something in common; or had a common bond in Christ Jesus. No, they were of one heart and soul. Now that language intrigues me.

καρδία— First that word “heart”. It is the Greek word (all you in the medical field know it well) “καρδία” (cardia) (like cardiology). But here it does not mean physical heart, or even just our emotions. No, the literal definition involves the mind, the character, the inner self, the will, our intentions; our very center. So they were united in mind (having the same mind of Christ), they were united in character (the holiness of God made real in their lives), they were united in the inner self in selfless agape love of God, and were even united in their will and intentions with one another. The very center of who they were was united one with another. Now what does it mean to be united with your brother or sister in Christ at that kind of level? And what implications does that have for how we think about the unity of the Church? What could a Church do that was united in Christ like that?

ψυχὴ— Now the second word also astounds me. It says that they were also one not just in their heart, but in their soul. And the Greek word used here for soul is “ψυχὴ” (psuché). And as I was looking up the meaning behind this word ψυχὴ, I was amazed to discover that the first phrase used to help to define this word “ψυχὴ” was the vital breath; the breath of life. In fact, it is from the very word that means "to breathe, blow”. And that harkens back to the very creation of mankind. “The soul is the direct aftermath of God breathing (blowing) His gift of life into a person, making them an ensouled being.” And in thinking about how God’s Holy Spirit is synonymous with His breath (that same Hebrew word “Ruach”) we see once again that the source of their unity of soul (or breath) was the very Spirit of God. They are united by the very breath of God. But “ψυχὴ” also refers to a person's distinct identity; who I am as an individual. So in a sense, in Christ, we become so one with one another in such a deep way that our very identities become intermingled; intertwined with one another, to the point where scripture even calls us one singular body.

Romans 12:5 (ESV)— 5 so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another.

Now every body has a head. And scripture teaches us that Christ Himself is the head.

Colossians 1:18 (ESV)— 18 And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent.

All-Encompassing Oneness— So as we come under the headship of Christ, we also become united with one another as we are together brought under His control. And this oneness was so profound, it encompassed every area of the lives of those in the early Church, beginning with their very possessions, wealth, and property. Look with me at verse 32…

Acts 4:32b (ESV)— and no one said that any of the things that belonged to him was his own, but they had everything in common.

Nothing Their Own— Now that phrase “no one” is so profound to me. You mean to tell me that there was not a single Christian convert who thought it appropriate to call anything his or her own? Everything; all of who they were was surrendered fully and completely to the body of Christ? I don’t know about you, but that is incredibly convicting to me.

“My”— It is amazing how much of our lives and culture is centered around the word “my”. You know, there were many words I had to spend a lot of time teaching my kids as they grew up; words like “thank you” or “please”. But you know, “my” was not one of them. They learned that word very quickly with little assistance from me. “That’s my stuffed bunny.” “That’s my cookie.” “My, my, my.” Now that’s pretty expected when it comes to young children, but as we mature there ought to be a growth into a new reality of seeing outside the walls of our own personal needs and wants. But I know adults; you know adults who are very difficult to be around because (unfortunately) they have never grown out of that self-centered way of living life. And relating with them can be extremely difficult, especially if that person has any kind of power over you. But you know I don’t think we ever really just grow out of that. That re-orientation of our hearts doesn’t just happen automatically. No, there has to come a point in our lives when we allow God to actually put that old self-centered self to death. That is what it really means when Jesus says to Nicodemus back in John 3 that he needs to be born again; and what He means when He says to His disciples that to follow Him they must take up their cross. To follow Jesus means to put to death our “my” way of doing life and experiencing an awakening into a brand new way of living; under a recognition that all of who we are (our hopes, our dreams, and our futures) and all that we have (our homes, our finances; all of that) belongs to God and are His to do with as He pleases. That is what happens when we allow ourselves to become turned outwards upon Him. And when that happens; when we become focused on Him, then what and who He values will become what and who we value as well. And as Jesus gave His life for the world, so also will we give of our time, our finances, and YES even our very lives to meet the spiritual and physical needs of those around us.

Complete Surrender— The question is, are we that surrendered? Does God have full control over my life; my time; my plans; and yes, even my finances? Does He truly have all of my heart and all of my soul. Power in our lives as individuals and power in the Church collectively is directly connected to the full surrender of all of who we are to Christ and to His Body. And we see the results of this played out in a really magnificent way, as it says in the following verses…

Acts 4:33-35 (ESV)— 33 And with great power the apostles were giving their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all. 34 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 35 and laid it at the apostles' feet, and it was distributed to each as any had need.

May we also, as children of God who are men and women who claim to be part of the body of Christ, be that sold out. And as we are sold out to Jesus, may we also find ourselves to be of one heart and one soul with one another. Let us do so. Amen.