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Our Calling Part II…..All Things Common


Our Calling
Part II…All Things Common

Acts 4: 24  So when they heard that, they raised their voice to God with one accord and said: "Lord, You are God, who made heaven and earth and the sea, and all that is in them,
25  "who by the mouth of Your servant David have said: ‘Why did the nations rage, And the people plot vain things?
26  The kings of the earth took their stand, And the rulers were gathered together Against the LORD and against His Christ.’
27  "For truly against Your holy Servant Jesus, whom You anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the people of Israel, were gathered together
28  "to do whatever Your hand and Your purpose determined before to be done.
29  "Now, Lord, look on their threats, and grant to Your servants that with all boldness they may speak Your word,
30  "by stretching out Your hand to heal, and that signs and wonders may be done through the name of Your holy Servant Jesus."
31  And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness.
32 ¶ Now the multitude of those who believed were of one heart and one soul; neither did anyone say that any of the things he possessed was his own, but they had all things in common.
33  And with great power the apostles gave witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And great grace was upon them all.
34  Nor was there anyone among them who lacked; for all who were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the proceeds of the things that were sold,
35  and laid them at the apostles’ feet; and they distributed to each as anyone had need.
36  And Joses, who was also named Barnabas by the apostles (which is translated Son of Encouragement), a Levite of the country of Cyprus,
37  having land, sold it, and brought the money and laid it at the apostles’ feet.

What is reality? What is truth? What Does God want us to do?

There are many truths that God has been showing us in the last few years.

Ø     One of these truths is what reality is and what it is not.
Ø     The term Spirit of truth whenever you read it in the scriptures can be translated Spirit of Reality.
Ø     If is not false, it is real…reality.
Ø     We need to ask ourselves, “Is all I am, all I know, and all I hold on to, really reality?”
Ø     If it were reality it would last forever remaining just as it is now.
Ø     What I think is real may only be an illusion.

One thing that I know is real is that CHRIST WILL HAVE A BODY. I think that the desire of us all is to see this happen, but before this happens there are some things that Christ desires of us.

Before we go any further there are some basic truths we need to realize.

Ø     Firstly, we can’t bring about the body of Christ by simply wishing it to happen
Ø     Secondly, we can’t bring it about at all.
Ø     Thirdly, only Christ can draw us to Him and only Christ can bring us to Himself.

GOD IS GOD…HE IS NOT A MAN… AND GOD WILL DO AS HE CHOOSES, NOT AS I WISH HIM TO DO.

Ø     It is too easy for us to determine that our will is God’s will
Ø     It is too easy for us to look around and let God know what He ought to be doing to help us grow as a fellowship.

We need to realize that there are some things that God has asked us to do.
God says that He will not have us unaware and unprepared as to what His will is. We had better get ready.

Acts 4: 24  So when they heard that, they raised their voice to God with one accord and said: "Lord, You are God, who made heaven and earth and the sea, and all that is in them,



 This body of believers were in prayer, in one accord, with one voice, praying as the spirit gave them boldness.
         
Acts 4:13 Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated and untrained men, they marveled. And they realized that they had been with Jesus.

This boldness only happens when we have a prayer life with God both as individuals and as a group, in one accord.

Ø     We have to share the words of God with boldness.
Ø     We have to allow the Holy Spirit to show us what to speak.
Ø     We cannot be restricted by doctrines and individual theologies.
Ø     We need to become one heart and soul, all facing the same direction, having all things in common.

Acts 4:29 And now, Lord, look upon their threatenings: and grant unto thy servants to speak thy word with all boldness,
30  while thy stretchest forth thy hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may be done through the name of thy holy Servant Jesus.
31 And when they had prayed, the place was shaken wherein they were gathered together; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spake the word of God with boldness.

Ø     There is a boldness that comes with having this relationship with the Lord.  
 Ø     There is a boldness that comes with walking Holy place
 Ø     There is boldness in eating of the hidden manna and the deep truths that the Holy Spirit reveals to us both individually and corporately.

We represent the Lord. We are called to be a Holy people set apart for good works in Him.

Ø     This is not something we can do ourselves.
Ø     Only the Holy Spirit knows how we can truly present God to man
Ø     Only the Holy Spirit can give us the boldness and wisdom to know which words God wants us to speak.
Ø     We are priests under the order of Melchizedek.
Ø     We are called to be a spokesperson between God and man.

This is why we want to be sure and do all God is telling us to do.

Ø     We only know what God is telling us to do through the Holy Spirit
Ø     And only then through prayer individually and corporately.

Acts 4: 31  And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness.

32 ¶ Now the multitude of those who believed were of one heart and one soul; neither did anyone say that any of the things he possessed was his own, but they had all things in common.

Really stop and think about these verses.

Ø     How much do we really want to become part of Christ’s body?
Ø     Are we willing to lay down all we have, all we are, for the sake of each other?
Ø     Are we playing a game? Saying “Let’s become part of His body, but only if I can still be who I am.”

This Body of believers became ONE HEART AND ONE SOUL

Ø     The desire of every member of this body was that of Christ.
Ø     Their desire was to know His heart.
Ø     Their desire was to be one with God and each other.
Ø     Their desire was no longer to gain for themselves the possessions to keep this old, fleshly nature happy, but their desire was focused heavenward and towards each other.

It is saying that I belong to Christ and you.

Ø     All I possess belongs to Christ and you.
Ø     I am not my own I belong to Christ and you.
Ø     These early believers had all things common.

Acts 2:46-47 tells us what God expects of His believers that call themselves the body of Christ

Acts 2: 46 So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart,
47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.

This body of believers met daily with one accord in the temple.

Ø     This body of believers moved as one.
Ø     Their lives were continually open before God and each other.
Ø     Their desire was to continually meet with one another under the anointing of the Holy Spirit in the presence of God.
Ø     They had a daily walk with God and when they met together, they were ready to be the living temple of God, together, as one body.

This Body of believers broke bread from house to house.

Ø     This can mean communion, remembering the Lord's body.
Ø     It also means the sharing of the spiritual food that the Holy Spirit gives to each of us daily.
Ø     We must stop allowing divisions of age or gender. It does not matter to God if we are senior or child, 1 or 100, man or woman.
Ø     We are ALL brothers and sisters in Christ and we all share the same blood of Christ flowing through this many member body.
Ø     The words of our children are just as much a key to our maturity in Christ as are the words of those that have taken years of bible studies, even more so.

This body of believers did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart.

Ø     The spiritual word or meat that you share feeds my spirit man and the spiritual word or meat that I share feeds your spirit man. This food will enable us to grow together
Ø     This spiritual word or meat will enable us to grow in singleness of heart towards each other
Ø     This spiritual word or meat will enable us to grow in singleness of mind towards Christ.

This body of believers was praising God and found favour with all the people.

Ø     This body worships Him with their songs
Ø     This body worships Him in their prayers
Ø     This body worships Him in their conversations
Ø     This body worships Him with their love and attitudes toward one another and others.
Ø     Watch your speech to people, especially concerning each other.
Ø     Treat each other with love and respect.
Ø     Allow the Holy Spirit to clean up your walk

And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.

God is interested in seeing others come to Christ and He is interested in seeing us come to spiritual maturity.

Ø     This is no game.
Ø     This is as real as it can get.
Ø     This is our promise.
Ø     This is who we are.

This is reality! This is truth! This is what God want us to do!

THIS IS OUR CALLING.

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