As a congregation we are traveling through the book of Acts.  Here is a recent (8/30/10) entry in my devotional series on Acts.  If you want to follow the whole discussion, join us at http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=115079791853110

“Now the whole group of those who believed were of one heart and soul.”  Acts 4:32

Together they had seen God at work in powerful ways, they had seen their leaders arrested, they had been threatened, but they didn’t give up.  They prayed for boldness to keep taking the risk of following Jesus, and God showed up to fill them afresh with the Holy Spirit.  So what next?

Their shared experiences – both the powerful God moments and the times of fear and suffering – along with the filling of the Holy Spirit created a group that was united – “of one heart and soul.”  That shared experience brought out a connection and love for each other that was powerful.  People who have a shared vision and common experience are often brought together in powerful ways.  Those who are just there to get what they can but with no sense of something bigger than themselves often end up in conflicts with each other.

As a church, we need to stay focused on a vision bigger than us.  We need to stay focused on doing ministry together because as soon as we settle for just making church “what I want it to be for me” we lose unity, power and purpose.   The door knocking we are doing together has added a unity and energy that we had not had before the arrival of the Funks.  As we work together as a team and take risks of going out and inviting, I am certain we will grow in our unity and in our love for each other.  And as we grow in our unity and love, we will be more attractive to those who visit.

What happened in that atmosphere of unity?  People felt loved and valued.  The leadership could focus on the ministry they were called to do and not on confronting inner conflict.  And as a result, “With great power the apostles gave their testimony to the resurrection of Jesus, and great grace was upon them all.” (Acts 4:33)

Where is your faith focused?  On what you want and how you can get it for yourself, or on how God is calling you to trust him and take risks for the sake of being a blessing to others?  If it is on yourself, take some time to ask God for forgiveness and new focus.  When we have a church full of people who are seeking to trust God to take risks for the sake of blessing others and who are more interested in what they can give than what they can get, there will be unity and there will be power and grace.

Please pray for Incarnation or whatever church you are part of that God would give a fresh vision and unity in ministry so everyone would know they are valued and the power and grace of God can flow freely.