Acts 4:32-35. All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own, but they shared everything they had. 33 With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And God’s grace was so powerfully at work in them all 34 that there were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned land or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales 35 and put it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to anyone who had need.
The only thing that can truly unite our church in heart and mind is the gospel of Jesus Christ—His death for our sins and His resurrection for our eternal life. No strategy, program, or human effort can bring about the unity that only the gospel provides.
When the first church in Jerusalem continued to proclaim this gospel, the grace of God became visible everywhere. As a result, the believers were filled with joy and favor, and their communities were transformed. The Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved (Acts 2:47).
This same work of God can and will happen again if today’s church returns to the authentic gospel and proclaims it not with mere words but with power, with the Holy Spirit, and with deep conviction (1 Thessalonians 1:5). This was exactly what happened in the church of Thessalonica.
Though they received the message amid severe suffering, they welcomed it with the joy given by the Holy Spirit. Their lives bore unmistakable evidence of the gospel’s power. Their faith became known everywhere, and the Lord’s message rang out from them across entire regions (1 Thessalonians 1:6–8).
They didn’t merely agree with the gospel intellectually—they turned from idols, served the living and true God, and lived in expectation of Christ’s return. In the same way, if we receive and proclaim the gospel with this kind of Spirit-empowered conviction, God will move again in our generation.
The world around us is hurting and desperately needs the healing grace of God. But for that to happen, the church must rise to its calling. We must expose what Satan has done to all generations, especially our young generation—how he has confused their identity, numbed their hearts, and led them into despair. We must also confront the spiritual depravity that has spread through our culture and block the disasters and calamities that have come upon the world.
This is not the responsibility of governments or school systems. While they may play a role in shaping society, they do not hold the calling or the authority to bring about true spiritual transformation. That responsibility belongs to the church of Jesus Christ. Only the church has been entrusted with the gospel—the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes.
The Early Church understood this clearly. They embraced their divine calling to be salt and light in a dark and decaying world. They proclaimed the truth boldly, lived it out faithfully, and became a model for us to follow in every generation.
That is the kind of church we need today. A church that will remain faithful to the truth of the gospel in every circumstance. A church that is filled with the joy of the Holy Spirit. A church that places its faith in God alone. A church that will stand firm against the idols of this world. A church that will protect and proclaim the gospel until the return of Christ.
Prayer. Father, awaken Your church all over the world. Lead us back to the pure gospel. Fill us with the power of the Holy Spirit, and use us to proclaim the name of Jesus with boldness until He returns. In His mighty name we pray, amen.