There is a physical law in our world of deterioration. Over time, things will wear down or wear out as they get older. A similar thing happens to institutions like the church. Over time various personalities and events began to change the church and cause separation and division. These things had not yet begun to happen in the book of Acts. We read about a church that was in unity and singleness of purpose. In particular, Bro. Hughes calls our attention to verse 32: “And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul.” This was a natural outcome of their mind and heart being focused on one thing, not the result of some campaign or set of rules. Something happened in that first century church that it changed he way they viewed things. They sold all they had and used the money to benefit the entire church. No need went unmet. They had gotten to the point where the things they had were not as important as the common good. They gotten to the point where they possessed their things, not the other way around. They realized that they owned nothing, they were simply stewards of it. The thing that unified them was their love for Him. We need to get to a place where our love for Him changes our attitude and opinion about each other. What moved their world was first a devotion to Him not a doctrine. It was their devotion that made their doctrine powerful. They were so in love with Him that it affected how the viewed each other, how they viewed things and how they viewed the world. We need to recapture that love for Him and allow it to change how we view the world.

There is a physical law in our world of deterioration. Over time, things will wear down or wear out as they get older. A similar thing happens to institutions like the church. Over time various personalities and events began to change the church and cause separation and division. These things had not yet begun to happen in the book of Acts. We read about a church that was in unity and singleness of purpose. In particular, Bro. Hughes calls our attention to verse 32: “And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul.” This was a natural outcome of their mind and heart being focused on one thing, not the result of some campaign or set of rules. Something happened in that first century church that it changed he way they viewed things. They sold all they had and used the money to benefit the entire church. No need went unmet. They had gotten to the point where the things they had were not as important as the common good. They gotten to the point where they possessed their things, not the other way around. They realized that they owned nothing, they were simply stewards of it. The thing that unified them was their love for Him. We need to get to a place where our love for Him changes our attitude and opinion about each other. What moved their world was first a devotion to Him not a doctrine. It was their devotion that made their doctrine powerful. They were so in love with Him that it affected how the viewed each other, how they viewed things and how they viewed the world. We need to recapture that love for Him and allow it to change how we view the world.

The bible has many stories of healings and other miracles. As great as everyone was, the purpose of everyone of these signs, and wonders was greater than the immediate display of power or healing. Jesus didn’t come to heal the lame and raise the dead. He did all that, but as wonderful as that is, the purpose of all the signs and wonders was to demonstrate HIs power and to show that He is the one true and living God. God has something greater than miracles, signs and wonders. He wants to save us! Something greater than being healed is being made whole. Something greater than deliverance is salvation.

The bible has many stories of healings and other miracles. As great as everyone was, the purpose of everyone of these signs, and wonders was greater than the immediate display of power or healing. Jesus didn’t come to heal the lame and raise the dead. He did all that, but as wonderful as that is, the purpose of all the signs and wonders was to demonstrate HIs power and to show that He is the one true and living God. God has something greater than miracles, signs and wonders. He wants to save us! Something greater than being healed is being made whole. Something greater than deliverance is salvation.

Communication has been a problem since the beginning. It is obvious that Adam and Eve had a communication problem. Our world has taught us to not listen. We build fences and walls to isolate ourselves from each other. The world at that time was just as isolated as we are or even more. The parable of the Good Samaritan illustrates this. The first century church broke down barriers between people. When we isolate ourselves from each other, we become distrustful of others. This is a protective mechanism. If we in the church are not careful, we can allow this isolation to keep us from reaching people. Fellowship cannot happen without letting people in. My ability to communicate defines my ability to fellowship. If we cannot talk to each other, we do not have the ability to connect with each other.

Communication has been a problem since the beginning. It is obvious that Adam and Eve had a communication problem. Our world has taught us to not listen. We build fences and walls to isolate ourselves from each other. The world at that time was just as isolated as we are or even more. The parable of the Good Samaritan illustrates this. The first century church broke down barriers between people. When we isolate ourselves from each other, we become distrustful of others. This is a protective mechanism. If we in the church are not careful, we can allow this isolation to keep us from reaching people. Fellowship cannot happen without letting people in. My ability to communicate defines my ability to fellowship. If we cannot talk to each other, we do not have the ability to connect with each other.

We have all lost things. The keys, the remote, a wallet, etc. No doubt if we lifted the couch cushions or under the bed, we would find some lost things. The parables that Jesus related about lost things give us hope. The parable of the prodigal son is depicts one who lost it all due to poor choices, but who was restored into good favor when he returned to his father’s house. The Father welcomes us home. Then there is the parable of the lost sheep. The shepherd left the ninety-nine, and went to look for the one. God is not willing that any should perish. The shepherd found the lost sheep and carried him home. God will come to where we are and restore us and help carry us home. The story from our text of the lost coin is rather short. Only two lines long. Historians tell us that the value of the coin was about a days wage. This story is a little different than the other two. The prodigal son and the sheep chose to wander off. The coin, however did not become lost outside. It did not become lost on it’s own. It was lost because if fell in a place that was unnoticed. It was lost right where it fell. Some of us are like the coin. We are in church every Sunday. We are in the house, but we still are lost. We are in the house, but we are not in His hand. What a tragedy to be lost in the house. The woman lit a lamp and swept the house until she found the coin. God will not stop searching until we are found. We may feel lost in the house, but there is someone searching. God has us right where He wants us. God has come today to sweep until He finds us where we are: Lost in the house.

We have all lost things. The keys, the remote, a wallet, etc. No doubt if we lifted the couch cushions or under the bed, we would find some lost things. The parables that Jesus related about lost things give us hope. The parable of the prodigal son is depicts one who lost it all due to poor choices, but who was restored into good favor when he returned to his father’s house. The Father welcomes us home. Then there is the parable of the lost sheep. The shepherd left the ninety-nine, and went to look for the one. God is not willing that any should perish. The shepherd found the lost sheep and carried him home. God will come to where we are and restore us and help carry us home. The story from our text of the lost coin is rather short. Only two lines long. Historians tell us that the value of the coin was about a days wage. This story is a little different than the other two. The prodigal son and the sheep chose to wander off. The coin, however did not become lost outside. It did not become lost on it’s own. It was lost because if fell in a place that was unnoticed. It was lost right where it fell. Some of us are like the coin. We are in church every Sunday. We are in the house, but we still are lost. We are in the house, but we are not in His hand. What a tragedy to be lost in the house. The woman lit a lamp and swept the house until she found the coin. God will not stop searching until we are found. We may feel lost in the house, but there is someone searching. God has us right where He wants us. God has come today to sweep until He finds us where we are: Lost in the house.

Bro. Hughes returns to his study from the book of Acts where we examine what the church at it’s best looks like. Returning to chapter 2, we notice the progression in verse 46 and 47. The events noted moved from one to another and they build upon each as they move to the next. First it says they were united in one accord. They were together with gladness and singleness of heart. They had one thing on their mind: They wanted to please the Lord in everything they could do. They were praising God in everything. Notice the outcome: They had favor with all the people and God added to the church daily. The church is at its best when she deals with adversity with anointing. We look at opposition as an opportunity not as a hindrance. The church is at its best when it lives and walks in the fear of God There are several references to this in Acts. There is something that is released in the Holy Ghost who has the fear of God to come over them. It opens opportunities in the supernatural that are not possible in the natural word. Fear in this context is not the one that we know as anxiety. It means great awe. It is not just awe of God, but a reverence and respect for God for who He is and every aspect of His character. Imagine what could be released if we lived a life in constant awe of God. We could, as did the first century church, change our world.

Bro. Hughes returns to his study from the book of Acts where we examine what the church at it’s best looks like. Returning to chapter 2, we notice the progression in verse 46 and 47. The events noted moved from one to another and they build upon each as they move to the next. First it says they were united in one accord. They were together with gladness and singleness of heart. They had one thing on their mind: They wanted to please the Lord in everything they could do. They were praising God in everything. Notice the outcome: They had favor with all the people and God added to the church daily. The church is at its best when she deals with adversity with anointing. We look at opposition as an opportunity not as a hindrance. The church is at its best when it lives and walks in the fear of God There are several references to this in Acts. There is something that is released in the Holy Ghost who has the fear of God to come over them. It opens opportunities in the supernatural that are not possible in the natural word. Fear in this context is not the one that we know as anxiety. It means great awe. It is not just awe of God, but a reverence and respect for God for who He is and every aspect of His character. Imagine what could be released if we lived a life in constant awe of God. We could, as did the first century church, change our world.