Back To The First Century Church (Part 3, One Accord)

Acts 1:12-14, 2:1-4

"Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day’s journey. And when they had entered, they went up into the upper room where they were staying: Peter, James, John, and Andrew; Philip and Thomas; Bartholomew and Matthew; James the son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot; and Judas the son of James. These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers."

Acts 2:1-4

"When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them.  And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance."

One very important thing to take note of in every instance where the Lord God moved mightily in supernatural manifestations and works, was when the believer's gathered together with ONE ACCORD! One mind, one agenda, one goal, which is to experience the power and presence of God in their midst.

In the tower of babel the people set out with one mind and one language, to build a tower whose top touched the heavens, and they likely would have done it if God would not have stopped them. Pay close attention to what God said about the matter.

Genesis 11:5-6

"But the Lord came down to see the city and the tower which the sons of men had built. And the Lord said, “Indeed the people are one and they all have one language, and this is what they begin to do; now nothing that they propose to do will be withheld from them."

The power of unity is unmatched, the power of one accord and one mind amongst any group of people can bring about great change, but when the people of God come together with one accord, one heart, and one mind, God comes down!

Even with the Azusa street revival, William Seymour joined together with other believers praying for the same thing, for God to pour out His Spirit on them like the day of Pentecost.

"Moving into the home of Edward Lee, a janitor at a local bank, William Seymour began ministry with a prayer group that had been meeting regularly at the home of Richard and Ruth Asbery, at 214 North Bonnie Brae. Asbery was also employed as a janitor. Most of the worshippers were African-American, with occasional visits from European-Americans. As the group sought God for revival, their hunger intensified.

Finally, on April 9, Lee was baptized in the Holy Spirit with the evidence of speaking in other tongues. When the news of his baptism was shared with the true believers at Bonnie Brae, a powerful outpouring followed. Many received the Holy Spirit baptism as Pentecostal revival arrived on the West Coast. That evening would be hard to describe. People fell to the floor as if unconscious, others shouted and ran through the house. One neighbor, Jennie Evans Moore played the piano, something she did not have the ability to do before." (https://azusastreet.org/)

Acts 2:44-46

"Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common, and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need. 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,"

Acts 4:23-31

And being let go, they went to their own companions and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said to them. So when they heard that, they raised their voice to God with one accord and said: “Lord, You are God, who made heaven and earth and the sea, and all that is in them, who by the mouth of Your servant David have said ‘Why did the nations rage, And the people plot vain things? The kings of the earth took their stand, And the rulers were gathered together Against the Lord and against His Christ.’ “For truly against Your holy Servant Jesus, whom You anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the people of Israel, were gathered together to do whatever Your hand and Your purpose determined before to be done. Now, Lord, look on their threats, and grant to Your servants that with all boldness they may speak Your word, by stretching out Your hand to heal, and that signs and wonders may be done through the name of Your holy Servant Jesus.” And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness.

Every single time a group of believers get together with one accord something supernatural happens! God manifests Himself through signs and wonders, pouring out His Spirit, shaking the foundations and sending forth His angels. Truly when two or more are gathered together in the name of Jesus with one accord the Lord is right in the midst!

Acts 12:5-7

"Peter was therefore kept in prison, but constant prayer was offered to God for him by the church. And when Herod was about to bring him out, that night Peter was sleeping, bound with two chains between two soldiers; and the guards before the door were keeping the prison. Now behold, an angel of the Lord stood by him, and a light shone in the prison; and he struck Peter on the side and raised him up, saying, “Arise quickly!” And his chains fell off his hands."

Once again while Peter was held in prison, the disciples came together and prayed constantly for him and God answered their prayers by sending down His angel to get Peter out of the prison!

Acts 16:25-27

"But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone’s chains were loosed."

The unity of the faith and the oneness of heart and mind that the early disciples and the believers of the Azusa Street revival experienced, should be a desire of every 21st century Christian, because that is the best way to see a mighty move of God. When the believers have one accord then nothing that they propose to do will be withheld from them!

In His Service,

Tyrone

Become A Fool To Be Wise?

1st Corinthians 3:18 

"Let no one deceive himself. If anyone among you seems to be wise in this age, let him become a fool that he may become wise."

This is definitely a paradox! (a seemingly absurd or self-contradictory statement or proposition that when investigated or explained may prove to be well founded or true.) Oxford Dictionary

Paul went through the same process when he was first converted!

Philippians 3:5-8

"circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of the Hebrews; concerning the law, a Pharisee; concerning zeal, persecuting the church; concerning the righteousness which is in the law, blameless. But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ.  Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ"

Paul indeed became a fool (a person lacking in judgment or prudence) Merriam Webster. And he became one of the wisest and spiritually strong men in the first century! God used him mightily after he was humbled by his spiritual encounters with Jesus, the thorn in his flesh, and being taught by the Spirit God in the desert. 

Galatians 6:3

"For if anyone thinks himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself." 

So many paradoxes and humbling scriptures in the bible to help those who truly want to be followers of Christ understand what they must do in order to walk blameless in the sight of God. It doesn't matter your age or how many degree's or certificate's you may have. It doesn't matter what men may call you, or even if you pastor a big congregation of people, you can still be spiritually immature, disobedient, and deceived in your understanding of the scriptures!

It takes true humility and a emptying of self to really grow and become wise in the sight of God and His people. You have to count all that you learned in the world and the religious system, garbage, in order to learn the true wisdom of God that can change your eternity and anyone else's God uses you to serve.

You gotta let it all go NEO! Don't think you know everything there is to know about God, Jesus, the scriptures, life, or anything else, and don't consider yourself more highly than you ought!

Let all those who call upon the name of Jesus become fools for Him that we may become wise men and women of God!

In Jesus Name,

Tyrone