Acts 2:1 (ESV)
And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.
The devotion of the disciples was remarkable and serves as a commendable example for the present day church. We followed them through the whole progression of the ups and downs easing into the patient waiting in the upper room, devoting themselves in prayer. From Jesus’ resurrection to the ascension was forty days. They spent another week in the wait towards Pentecost. Pentecost derives from the Greek word, Πεντηκοστή (Pentēkostē) meaning “fiftieth”. Some call it “Feast of 50 days”. Pentecost is 50 days from Passover.
There is one element that has been emphasized again from where we left off in the past chapter. They were faithfully waiting and praying. When “…Pentecost was fully come”, they were still found “all in one accord in one place.” How lovely is this scenario! United as one body in one place. It was never about themselves any more having gone through all and being the witnesses of his death, resurrection and ascension. The vision and mission is bigger than just the self. Joy in the Lord bound them in a unified purpose. Focus was kept intact in the midst with their earnest desire to wait on God together. One accord is the beautiful expression of the church to a divided world.
The enemy knows very well how to attack the church. His central focus is always in causing dissension in the church. He knows too well that a united praying church is a killer for him and his evil tactics. If the church obeys his command explicitly, she can expect the mighty Pentecostal anointing.
The early church blazed the trail with a fiery passion in cultivating a strong community through being present and praying – together. Together they created a culture of tight commitment and tenacious courage. It is much needed in the present age. It takes every disciple of Christ to come to this agreement to form this culture. No one can stand alone. No one should stand alone.
Paul, the all time audacious apostle exhorts, “If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.” (Philippians 2:1-4)
The obvious manifestation of a unified body is the trademark of our Christian living – absolute joy. They began their journey to the upper room with great joy and that joy increased as they stood in unity.
Read Acts 1-2 again. Think and pray:
● What can we learn from these disciples?
● Follow their journey and single out the missing element in our church. What is missing that could strengthen the unity of our fellowship? How could you help in this strengthening?
We are in a “Passover era, not just Passover day” (Chuck Pierce, 2020), think with me…can you imagine the impact of the Pentecost we will experience if we collectively – still together in one place?
© Pr Selina Khoo Lim, Gateway City Church, Penang. 7 May 2020.