“These all with one mind were continually devoting themselves to prayer, along with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers.” (Acts 1:14, NASB95, emphasis mine)
“Day by day continuing with one mind in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they were taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved.” (Acts 2:46–47, NASB95, emphasis mine)
“And when they heard this, they lifted their voices to God with one accord and said, “O Lord, it is You who made the heaven and the earth and the sea, and all that is in them.” (Acts 4:24, NASB95, emphasis mine)
People who attend my Bible studies already know that I believe that homothumadon — one mind — is one of the most significant words in the New Testament. I have changed the Bible I am using for references today because the NASB is one of the only translations that consistently translates the word homothumadon. It is such an important word because every time it is used in the book of Acts, the Holy Spirit does something powerful. Conversely, when a church or ministry is not of one mind, it restricts the Spirit’s ability to do the powerful things He would like to do.
The first verse above is a reference to the disciples and other believers gathering together in one mind for prayer and fellowship. Immediately after this reference the day of Pentecost is recorded. The Holy Spirit caused the building they were in to shake, they were filled with the Holy Spirit, tongues of fire fell down on them, they began to speak in other languages, and 3,000 people came to the faith on that day. The second verse above shows us that the amazing growth of the early church didn’t destroy the one-mindedness that originally existed with the few. Even though the young church had thousands of believers, and more being added daily, they continued in homothumadon (one mind). This one-mindedness allowed them to boldly proclaim the gospel and daily grow the church. The third verse is the response of the young church to the overnight jailing of their two leaders Peter and John. That could have been enough to cause the young church to disintegrate, but it didn’t. The people remained of one mind and found the power to see God’s will beyond what their physical eyes could see. They remained in homothumadon and continued to boldly proclaim the gospel even amid hostile persecution.
So what about your church or ministry? Does homothumadon (one-mindedness) describe it? Is the Holy Spirit doing amazing things among you? If not, it’s time to repent from your individualism. It’s time to surrender to the will of God. It’s time to let Christ be the true head of His Church. It’s time to prayerfully become one in mind and purpose, and then watch what the Spirit of God will do.
Peace!
Pastor Tom
www.firmlyrooted.church
