“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. 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 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 and put it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to anyone who had need.

“Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus, whom the apostles called Barnabas (which means ‘son of encouragement’), sold a field he owned and brought the money and put it at the apostles’ feet.” -Acts 4:32-37

The Power of Unity and Grace

Look at what the Spirit of God was doing in and through His people! They were given both mega power and mega grace to do what God had called them to do—birth the Church and preach the gospel. In the midst of Roman rule and the oppression of the religious, the believers loved deeply and gave generously. Material things were second to their love for one another and their love for the gospel. What a radical demonstration of love!

I just returned from taking a team of 15 to the poorest country in South America. As I interacted with our three national partners and saw their immense love for their people and a passion to transform this nation with the gospel, I also saw a great financial need for these missionaries. They have no way to raise funding in their country. The church is waning, and church resources are slim. As a result, these missionaries work several jobs and lean into a life on mission. The only barrier for these missionaries is a lack of funding to do what they need to do full-time. So I presented to our mission team, as they saw the massive fruit we had in just four days and the ripe harvest field, to help remove the barriers and get these missionaries funded. Jesus is coming soon. The window in this country is open to the gospel. In light of this passage, we have to help shoulder the load for those who are doing the work!

The reality for us today is we either send those who can go or we are the sent ones. There are no other options—these two forever remain.

“… the believers’ love for one another stemmed from their love for Christ. They understood that their material goods would fade away, but that their joy in the resurrected Christ would last forever. This is why they were able to let go of their ‘stuff’ so easily, even to the extent of selling off their property for the sake of the church (v.34). Our material gifts are from God and are to be used for his glory. The church in Acts understood this—all because they love Jesus more than what they owned.” -Albert Mohler, “Acts 1-12 For You”

Challenges Facing the American Church

One of the most profound issues in the Church in America is our passion and commitment to the great American dream and a distancing apathy for the Great Commission. We love our stuff. We love our comfort. And we love our self-preservation. You don’t see this reality anywhere in Acts up to this point (though this reality will pop its head up in Chapter 5). You see a selfless people, living in boldness and generosity, described by great power and great grace! Anyone who had need had their needs met financially and relationally. They lived and existed in the unity the Spirit of God was providing.

Why was the sacrifice of these believers so important to them? I wonder if it’s because they saw first-hand just a couple of months prior the greatest sacrifice of Jesus. I wonder if the love of Jesus hanging on the cross wrecked them so deeply that they couldn’t help but love to give it all away as God did with His own Son. A love so radical in the bloodied, suffering Jesus transformed them. Material worth held nothing in comparison with the worth of knowing Christ crucified for them individually and as a community on mission.

In the spirit of honoring Barnabas in verse 36, I want to give mention to three of my neighbors who know what I do for a living—raising up women to find their place in the Great Commission and taking them all over the world to bring the gospel—respond with the radical love that we are discussing. I wish I could list their names here to simply honor them. I asked recently for six people to immediately return with me to South America. One woman said, “I can’t go but I will pay for two to go in my place.” When I needed to fly my team to South Asia, one friend said, “I just received a large equity check this morning,” and immediately sent $18,000 to fly the team to this undisclosed country. Another woman couldn’t personally go to Latin America with me, so she paid for someone to go in her place. That’s radical love and radical generosity! And in that same word of honor, it would take pages to make mention of the ones who said, “I will go,” and so went no matter what it cost them!

“But why would God exempt us from the same sacrifice that He has required from His people throughout history? God will do anything—ask for anything—demand anything … to fulfill His purpose.” -Nik Ripkin, “The Insanity of Sacrifice”

Will you say, “Whatever I have is Yours, Lord, for Your purposes”?

Will you say, “I will give and I will go—however You call me”?

Will you say, “I will give You all of my life for Your life, Jesus”?

My friend is a doctor who has a private practice and leads many of our teams with me. She closes down her clinic for those 10 days, which greatly costs her since she is not able to see the 200 people per week she normally sees. But she knows that sharing the gospel all over the world is the most important thing she can do. There isn’t one business plan that would support her decision, but God continues to expand and grow her practice. Her sacrifice is worship, and it is obedience to the Lord. He takes care of the rest. I can’t wait to watch her at the throne, laying so many crowns at the feet of Jesus.

A Path Forward

It’s time for us to truly apply this portion of Scripture to those on the front lines who are taking the gospel to the ends of the Earth. It’s our joy and responsibility before the Lord to send them. It’s also our joy and responsibility to go with them if God so physically enables us. The Great Commission is not for a select few—it’s the calling of God on each one of His followers. But without the unity of believers supporting and sending one another like never before, we face an uphill battle like the three missionaries I mentioned at the beginning of this devotional. I pray for such radical love to be the hallmark of this Arise movement that no one would be hindered in finances or opportunity to go to the ends of the Earth with the gospel! Lord, pour out a revival of love on Your Church so that we would be marked with great grace unto generosity.

Let me close with this prayer from Nik Ripkin’s book, “The Insanity of Sacrifice”:

“Gracious and giving God, we cling so tightly to what You have given us. We tend to believe that we have earned all that we have. We tend to believe that we deserve to keep all that we have. Because of that, we are not always inclined to give it away. Even more, we spend a great deal of time and energy trying to figure out which needs are legitimate and what people might actually do with our gifts and who really does deserve our help. Forgive us for being selfish with what you have given us so freely. Teach us first to give ourselves to You completely and then to give to those in need. Empower us to give as much as we are able—and then to give even more.”

Resources for Deeper Study

Here is some recommended reading for you:

• “Sent” by Heather Holleman and Ashley Holleman
• “The Insanity of Sacrifice: A 90-Day Devotional” by Nik Ripkin
• “Letters to the Church” by Francis Chan
• “Gospel Privilege” by David Joannes

A Few Key Notes

• We are looking for women who will join us in Dallas to go and share the love of Christ and the gospel message with people who are longing for hope. At Dallas Harvest Day, we will teach you how to share the gospel and then go and evangelize together. Meet at La Victoria, 1605 N. Haskell Ave., Dallas, TX 75204, at 9 a.m. this Saturday, May 4. Tell us you’re coming by emailing [email protected].
• Join us May 27-29 for a time of prayer and intercession for the global Church and for revival in the nations. Sign up for a 30-minute time slot to cover the entire 72 hours in prayer.
• East-West invites you to learn more about the 10/40 Window during a limited time event called “Out of Darkness.” You’ll hear stories from missionaries who lived in the 10/40 Window, watch testimonies of lives that were changed, and have an opportunity to make an impact. The deadline to watch this virtual event has been extended for a limited time, so sign up today!