Goodness Just-us!
I have been studying about the earliest Church recorded in the beginning part of Acts. It's amazing the similarities between the Hebrew people being brought out of Egypt and the very first original church. I have tons of notes on this, and if you'd like I can forward them to you. I'll share a few similarities to show the how the verses that you shared answered the question I've been praying about. Glory to God!
I've read that passage so many times and never put this together!
When the Hebrew people were brought out of Egypt, God was in their midst. He brought them out as one people. His chosen people and every single person, (including the strangers) were required to uphold HIS commandments. The result of those who did not obey was harsh! If one person sinned, the entire camp was affected. When the people complained against God and Moses God sent fiery snakes among them.
Numbers 21:5 And the people spake against God, and against Moses, Wherefore have ye brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? for there is no bread, neither is there any water; and our soul loatheth this light bread.
Numbers 21:6 And the LORD sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people; and much people of Israel died.
Numbers 21:7 Therefore the people came to Moses, and said, We have sinned, for we have spoken against the LORD, and against thee; pray unto the LORD, that he take away the serpents from us. And Moses prayed for the people.
Numbers 21:8 And the LORD said unto Moses, Make thee a fiery serpent, and set it upon a pole: and it shall come to pass, that every one that is bitten, when he looketh upon it, shall live.
John 3:14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up:
John 3:15 That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.
Jesus, the ultimate healer! The Great Physician!
(I'm really trying to keep this as short as I can.....)
Also in Numbers, remember Achan who took the spoils from the battle?
Joshua 7:24 And Joshua, and all Israel with him, took Achan the son of Zerah, and the silver, and the garment, and the wedge of gold, and his sons, and his daughters, and his oxen, and his asses, and his sheep, and his tent, and all that he had: and they brought them unto the valley of Achor.
Joshua 7:25 And Joshua said, Why hast thou troubled us? the LORD shall trouble thee this day. And all Israel stoned him with stones, and burned them with fire, after they had stoned them with stones.
It was a just judgment as that one sin affected the entire army in battle. They began to lose.
Joshua 7:4 So there went up thither of the people about three thousand men: and they fled before the men of Ai.
Joshua 7:5 And the men of Ai smote of them about thirty and six men: for they chased them from before the gate even unto Shebarim, and smote them in the going down: wherefore the hearts of the people melted, and became as water.
Joshua 7:6 And Joshua rent his clothes, and fell to the earth upon his face before the ark of the LORD until the eventide, he and the elders of Israel, and put dust upon their heads.
But then, there’s a point where something changes, as seen in several chapters, Isaiah and Jeremiah are two good examples. Almost everyone had corrupted themselves, and God sent prophets to turn their hearts back to Him. Rather than destroy them . Jeremiah prophecies to them that they will once again be taken into captivity.
No judgment or justice was taking place. So God judged and sent them back into captivity by King Nebuchadnezzar.
Righteousness was all but gone...nobody gave it a thought or even considered the events from the wilderness that God had repeatedly reminded them to remember.
(There are more examples, but I'm going to jump to the earliest part of the church.)
Acts 2:1 And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.
Acts 2:2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.
Acts 2:3 And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.
Acts 2:4 And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
Acts 2:5 And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven.
Acts 2:6 Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language.
Acts 2:7 And they were all amazed and marvelled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak Galilaeans?
Acts 2:8 And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born?
(skipping ahead to keep from making this more long than it is. Please read these complete chapters for yourselves.)
Acts 2:38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
Acts 2:39 For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.
Acts 2:44 And all that believed were together, and had all things common;
Acts 2:45 And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need.
Acts 2:46 And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart,
Acts 2:47 Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.
They were operating as one body by the Holy Spirit, and” had all things in common.” Very much like the Hebrew people when they were brought out of captivity.
We even see the result of one sin and the seriousness of it recorded in Ch. 5. Much the same as in the wilderness when one person sinned.
Acts 5:1 But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession,
Acts 5:2 And kept back part of the price, his wife also being privy to it, and brought a certain part, and laid it at the apostles' feet.
Acts 5:3 But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land?
Acts 5:4 Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God.
Acts 5:5 And Ananias hearing these words fell down, and gave up the ghost: and great fear came on all them that heard these things.
Acts 5:6 And the young men arose, wound him up, and carried him out, and buried him.
Acts 5:7 And it was about the space of three hours after, when his wife, not knowing what was done, came in.
Acts 5:8 And Peter answered unto her, Tell me whether ye sold the land for so much? And she said, Yea, for so much.
Acts 5:9 Then Peter said unto her, How is it that ye have agreed together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? behold, the feet of them which have buried thy husband are at the door, and shall carry thee out.
Acts 5:10 Then fell she down straightway at his feet, and yielded up the ghost: and the young men came in, and found her dead, and, carrying her forth, buried her by her husband.
Acts 5:11 And great fear came upon all the church, and upon as many as heard these things.
Ananias, and Sapphira did not "mortify the deeds of the flesh." If they were walking in by the Spirit they would not have lied, and as we see in the passage, the result of this followed.
Just like in the wilderness, God was with them, even leading them by night with a pillar of fire, and by day with a pillar of cloud.
We see all the mighty wondering in the first part of Acts, and in the wilderness there were mighty wonders taking place.
Now remember, The earliest church started after Jesus ascended into heaven. The disciples has all been filled with the Holy Spirit, all were speaking in tounges and were heard by the many different people from different nations with different languages who were there for the feast. Through this, Peter was able to testify to the people, and Three thousand were added to the church!
Acts 2:41 Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.
God was among them, working through them!
And the standards of obedience were high!
Something changed along the way, I haven't found clarity on why, but I am praying about this.
The church nolonger gathered or lived together as one. Then the churches were formed, perhaps it was because of the Gentiles being brought in, who did not understand the ways of God, (a grace period perhaps?) I don't know...
To me, this is a glimpse of restoration, and people coming together as one body, as John Ch. 17, shows.
1 Peter 2:5 Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.
The earliest church had grace, because Christ had asended into heaven. And the presence of God was among them.
John 14:26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.
Ananias and Sapphira were walking by the flesh when they lied, and they both died.
Sorry this is so long...I tried to keep it short....
