■ (5) They were COMM(UNITY) minded.
The believers were comm(unity) minded, with the emphasis on unity... oneness... solidarity.
Their hearts were knit together... one passion ☆ Acts 2:44 and 46...
The Scriptures say... One body, one Spirit, one hope, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God.
☆ Ephesians 4:4-6...
The phrase 'of one accord' is used 13x's in Acts. ☆ Philippians 2:2...
"Fulfil you my joy, that you be like minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.
☆ Psalm 133:1 and 3...
"Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!
... for there the LORD commanded the blessing, even life for evermore."
The believers of the early church were in sync with the Holy Spirit and in sync with each other.
That's when the Holy Spirit can do amazing things.
■ (6) COMMITMENT between the believers.
Commitment is loyalty, obligation, allegiance, faithfulness, responsibility... to one another.
The believers were deeply committed to each other with sincere devotion.
They were there for each other.
They were fellows in the same ship.
Commitment and unity go hand in hand. ☆ Acts 2:44...☆ Romans 12:10...
"Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love, in honour preferring one another."
☆ 1 Peter 1:22...
"See that you love one another with a pure heart fervently."
☆ Philippians 2:2-3...
"Fulfil you my joy, that you be like minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.
Let nothing be done through strife or vain glory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves."
■ (7) COMMUNION was a regular occurrence with the breaking of bread from house to house, constantly remembering Jesus and His finished work on the Cross... showing the Lord's death till He come.
☆ Acts 1:11.. ☆ Acts 2:42 and 46...
They continually reminded themselves....
• of the tremendous cost of God's salvation... remembering the Christ, the Cross, the Crucifixion and His Resurrection. The crucifixion of their Master would have been fresh in their minds.
• and that Jesus is coming again and to comfort each another with those words.
☆ 1 Corinthians 11:23-34... ☆ 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18...
☆ Acts 1:11... the angel at Christ's ascension said to the disciples..."You men of Galilee, why stand you gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as you have seen him go into heaven."
■ (8) CONTINUAL CONNECTION with the Father.
They continued steadfastly communing and connecting with God... prayer... prayer... and more prayer.
They prayed to know the mind of God in all the situations they faced.
☆ Acts 6:4...☆ Acts 13:2-3...☆ Acts 14:23...
Amazing stuff happens when the Christian prays...
☆ Acts 4:31... "And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spoke the word of God with boldness."
When persecution came... the Church prayed.
When problems arose... the Church prayed.
When the Apostles were imprisoned... the Church prayed.
Prayer is the powerhouse of God.
Prayer is the breath of man that moves the Hand of God.
The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.
It was important to seek, to pray and to know the will of God and the leading of the Holy Spirit in their lives... in the church's comings and goings as well as in outreach.
If you don't know... don't go!
■ (9) CONFRONTED necessary issues.
The believers were not afraid of confrontation and dealing openly and honestly with spiritual issues that needed addressing e.g. lying by Annanias and Sapphira; obeying God and not man with regard to the religious leaders of the Sanhedrin.
☆ Acts 13:10 ☆ Acts 5:3,9 ☆ Acts 5:29 ☆ Acts 24:25
Look at Stephen's preaching and what he said before he was stoned. He pulled no punches ☆ Acts 7
In his epistles to the churches, you will find Paul encouraging the saints and... when necessary, admonishing them if they were off the mark doctrinally (Colossians, Galatians), if there was sin in the camp (Corinthians) etc etc.
And... they boldly confronted the unbelievers with the Gospel. There was no soft soaping the Gospel.
They were not out to tickle the ears of the listeners.