WITH GREAT POWER THE APOSTLES PREACHED “CHRIST RESURRECTED” & GOD’S GRACE WAS SO POWERFULLY AT WORK THAT THERE WAS NO NEEDY PERSONS AMONG THE EARLY CHURCH!
A thread
A thread
“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.”
Acts 4:32-35 NIV
Acts 4:32-35 NIV
We [the church] often lay claim to examples set by the early church led by the Apostles in scripture. That church was characterised by some things [of which two have been pointed out from the text above].
1. The preaching of the Gospel must be accompanied with GREAT POWER! Reading from Acts 1 up to 4 so far, “power” is not a figurative, relative nor subjective term.
The Spirit filled Peter to speak boldly, with convicting power that made his words cut deep into the heart of listeners.
The infilling of the Spirit was so potent it spilled through Peter’s words so craftily they could tell that these ordinary fisher men “had been with Jesus.”
The infilling of the Spirit was so potent it spilled through Peter’s words so craftily they could tell that these ordinary fisher men “had been with Jesus.”
With show upon show of great power great miracles have been wrought so far:
•several sessions of earth-shaking bouts of tongue speaking
•healing of a 40+ year old man crippled from birth
•several sessions of earth-shaking bouts of tongue speaking
•healing of a 40+ year old man crippled from birth
2. BY THE GRACE OF GOD there was not one needy person among them. Those blessed with wealth, property and possessions gave freely — not claiming “my money or my house.”
[Not Just 10% but well over] They brought great supply according to their ability and laid them at the Apostle’s [leader’s feet].
The leaders ENSURED that all supply was distributed across every need among them, so much so “there were no needy persons among them.”
The leaders ENSURED that all supply was distributed across every need among them, so much so “there were no needy persons among them.”
“God’s Grace” was powerfully manifest in this — that there was no needy among them.
Wealth in Kingdom is not for flexing — it’s for meeting needs. Even poor churches in bible times needed aid from other churches who could afford to. You are enriched to equip and aid others.
Wealth in Kingdom is not for flexing — it’s for meeting needs. Even poor churches in bible times needed aid from other churches who could afford to. You are enriched to equip and aid others.
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