Life Together In The Local Assembly

Feature 3 – February 2021 – Grace & Truth Magazine

Life Together In The Local Assembly

Features Of A Healthy Assembly
Acts 2:41-47 tells us what a group of believers filled with the Spirit looks like and how they function together. Peter had just finished his sermon on the day of Pentecost. It is obvious from the response of the listeners that the Spirit had worked in their hearts and consciences, as “those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them [the fellowship of believers]” (v.41 NKJV ).

Let’s be careful to note who did the adding, as this is a very important point. It was not Peter’s preaching nor the church which added new members. Verse 47 plainly says, “the Lord added to the church.” While ministering before He gave His life on the cross, the Lord Jesus had stated, “I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it” (Mt. 16:18). Paul declared that one may plant, another may water, but it is God who gives the increase (1 Cor. 3:6-7). It is His work and His Church. He adds to it; we simply are to be faithful in proclaiming His Word.

It has been said that the proof of reality is continuance. This matter of continuing – meaning to go on, abide, persist or endure – is repeated throughout the New Testament. In the verses that close Acts 2 we see the reality of faith as these Christians walked in the Spirit. At least seven features marked them as they continued steadfastly, following together after the Lord. Let’s consider the seven points.

1. They Grew Spiritually Through The Teaching Of God’s Word (Acts 2:42)
The Word of God had a priority in this early assembly, and the believers there were committed to it. In that day the apostles’ doctrine was being received from the Lord, and the Holy Spirit used it to establish the Church (1 Cor. 3:10-11; Eph. 2:19-22).

The apostle’s doctrine has been preserved for us in the New Testament, and it is still used by the Spirit of God to build up the saints of God today. Presenting the apostle’s doctrine includes teaching and exhortation by one speaking before an audience of believers as well as Christians having a Bible study together. Such times are critical, for the local assembly will not be grounded if it is not built on the solid foundation of the Word (consider Jn. 1:1,14). There ought to be specific times for teaching by brothers gifted by the Holy Spirit who can rightly divide the Word of God (Acts 11:26; 2 Tim. 2:15). The Word should be preached regularly and souls strengthened, as the saints are exhorted to continue in the faith (Acts 14:21-22). Sometimes these two teaching meetings are combined.

In addition to these times there ought to be a time set aside in local gatherings for those led of the Lord to prophesy, speaking to the assembly for “edification and exhortation1 and comfort” (1 Cor. 14:3). Prophesying in 1 Corinthians 14 has to do with telling forth the mind of God rather than foretelling future events. Notice, too, this meeting of the local assembly is for two or three brothers to speak (v.29). The purpose in presenting God’s Word is not to gain more knowledge but for each believer to grow in his or her walk with the Lord.

2. They Became Warmer Through Fellowship (Acts 2:42)
The fellowship the assembly enjoyed was connected to the apostle’s doctrine. It means more than simply being together. The Greek word is koinonia and means “to have in common,” “partners” or “to share.” Those who have accepted Jesus Christ have Him in common; our fellowship together is with the Father and His beloved Son (1 Jn. 1:3). Think for a moment of the things we have in common or are the same for us as believers:

• Faith (vv.3-4, Ti. 1:4).
• Family (Jn. 1:12-13).
• Father (20:11-18).
• Feeling (1 Cor. 12:25-26).
• Focus (Phil. 2:1-5).
• Future (Jn. 14:1-3).

In the context of Acts 2 we see that they shared their goods together (vv.44-45). This was not redistribution of wealth, which is called socialism. What these believers did was a result of the Spirit of God within them, the Word of God being taught to them, and their hearts occupied with Christ. There was a real sense of belonging to God – no longer a part of this world. They had an eternal home and hope in common!

The idea of being saved but not gathering together with other believers has no place in true Christianity. As fellow believers we are to “consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching” (Heb. 10:24-25). This is the fellowship we are to enjoy together!

3. They Were Refreshed By Remembering The Lord (Acts 2:42)
Their practice to come together for the Breaking of Bread was in direct obedience to the instructions of the Lord Jesus Christ (Mt. 26:26-28; Lk. 22:19-20). Any time there is obedience to the Word of God, hearts will be refreshed. In the Breaking of Bread, this takes place among the believers present by being occupied with their Savior together – being reminded of who He is and what He has accomplished! Later we learn that the believers gathered together on the first day of the week for the Breaking of Bread (Acts 20:7).

This is such an important function of a local assembly that the apostle Paul reminded the Corinthians that he received a special revelation concerning the Breaking of Bread, calling it “the Lord’s Supper” (1 Cor. 11:20, see vv.23-26). He taught them that while the Breaking of Bread reminds us of what the Lord did on the cross, it also speaks of the fellowship we share together. “The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion [fellowship] of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion [fellowship] of the body of Christ? For we, though many, are one bread and one body; for we all partake of that one bread” (10:16-17). Related to this, it is important to keep in mind that the Lord called for self-examination and care (11:27-34).

What a refreshing blessing it is to remember our Lord Jesus Christ together.

4. They Were Empowered Through Their Dependence On The Lord (Acts 2:42)
The Church began in prayer together (1:14, 2:1) and it continued the same way.

Many gatherings of Christians today have given up the prayer meeting. Why are the times of gathering for prayer one of the poorest attended among the Lord’s people? Perhaps the answer is found in the message to the church at Laodicea. The Lord admonished them, “Because you say, ‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing’ – and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked” (Rev. 3:17). This is quite possibly much of our problem today. Prayer feels the need, recognizes we are not sufficient in ourselves to meet it, and cries out in dependence on the Lord.

The words “prayer,” “prayers,” “prayed,” “praying” and “pray” are found at least 29 times in Acts.2 At that time the local assembly prayed with persistency, intensity and unity. They prayed collectively as to their number, constantly as to their exercise, consistently as to the content, and always on the basis of God’s character. “Let us ... come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need” (Heb. 4:16). Collective prayer has been called the spiritual thermostat of the local assembly. Our coming together to pray will set the spiritual temperature for the edification and growth of the local saints.

5. They Recognized The Presence Of The Lord (Acts 2:43)
The word “fear” has the thought of “holy terror,” as related to the sense of the divine presence. This was the reaction of those who heard that the Lord struck Ananias and his wife dead for lying to the Holy Spirit (5:5,11). The term was used again when Jewish exorcists sought to call on the name of the Lord Jesus to cast out demons. Demons recognized Jesus’ authority and Paul’s authority in Christ. However, not recognizing any authority in these unbelievers, the demon attacked the exorcists and left them naked and wounded. The same fear came upon all who saw this take place (19:13-17).

The saints in the early church recognized the divine work of God. Today each gathering of the Lord’s people needs a fresh sense of the work and presence of the Lord in their midst (Mt. 18:20). The apostles demonstrated through many signs and wonders that their authority and power was from the Lord. God used these to give evidence that the apostles were indeed speaking on His behalf (Heb. 2:3-4). Since the time of the apostles is past and the Word of God is complete, we no longer need such evidence. We only have to compare what people say to the Scriptures to see if what is spoken matches what is written – the truth of the Bible.

6. They Were Strengthened Toward One Another (Acts 2:44-46)
When we read these verses in Acts 2 we see love and care being demonstrated among the saints. They genuinely looked to serve one another by meeting each other’s needs. Who but the Holy Spirit in them could produce such selfless care. The sharing and caring of the early saints crossed all lines and included ministering to physical and spiritual needs. This was a true ongoing act of love and was in keeping with what the Lord had told His disciples, “By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another” (Jn. 13:35).

This ministry included being in each other’s homes. “Breaking bread from house to house” (Acts 2:46) has the thought of having meals together. They were not content to meet once a week. Instead, they met daily and they cared daily for one another (v.46, 6:1-7). This shows that hospitality was very much a part of the early believers’ lives.

Hospitality was a vital function in the church and it caused great joy among the saints. There wasn’t envy, strife or any type of competition among them at this point. This is the meaning of the word “simplicity of heart” (v.46). The Greek word for this is used only here, and it comes from a word which means “free from rocks.” They were free from the rocks of envy, strife and competition. Oh, that this would be true among more believers today.

7. They Grew Larger Through The Heart Of Evangelism (Acts 2:47)
The result of the assembly’s testimony was that souls were saved. The gathering was growing! Look for a moment at the growth of the assembly in Acts. In Acts 1:15 there were 120 gathered. In Acts 2:41 there were 3,000 souls added to the Church, and in verse 47 we read that the Lord added more daily. In Acts 4:4 their number “came to be about five thousand” and there was more growth afterward (see 5:14, 6:7, 9:42, 11:21, 14:1, 17:4,12, 19:26, 21:20).

The point is not that we should be overly occupied with numbers, but we should see the Spirit of God was at work and there was active evangelism going on! “The Lord added ... daily” (2:47) indicates souls were being saved every day! Nothing in the assembly was hindering Him! What a challenge for our day. We know that we are living at the end of the day of grace, but we must remember He is the same – the Head of the assembly then and now – and the Spirit of God is still working. He is able to grow each local testimony as He desires, but we have to be in the right spiritual condition.

Concluding Thought
As we close, there is one principle I want to emphasize: edification equals multiplication. Follow this through in the history of the early Church. In Acts 2:41 they received the Word of God through the apostle Paul (edification) and they multiplied (v.47). We see this again in Acts 4:4, which says, “However, many of those who heard the word believed; and the number of the men came to be about five thousand.” Look at Acts 6:7, where we read: “Then the Word of God spread, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests were obedient to the faith.” Finally, Acts 9:31 tells us, “Then the churches throughout all Judea, Galilee, and Samaria had peace and were edified. And walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, they were multiplied.”

Growth is not simply about a set of points as we have seen here in Acts 2. It is a result of the Spirit of God at work, of souls being under the faithful preaching of God’s Word and applying it to their lives. It is about the love of Christ being expressed in very practical ways, meeting the needs of everyone in the local assembly. We cannot go back to the days of Pentecost, but we can learn what the Spirit of God has given us from that time period and move forward, putting the lessons to use in our day!

ENDNOTES
1. Edification means to build one up. Exhortation involves warnings and advice, appealing to the hearer.
2. Acts 1:14,24, 2:42, 3:1, 4:31, 6:4,6, 8:15,22,24, 9:40, 10:2,4,9,30-31,48 (KJV), 11:5, 12:5,12, 13:3, 14:23, 16:13,16,25, 20:36, 21:5, 22:17, 28:8

By Timothy P. Hadley