Boldness and Sharing

[Lovekr07]

'On their release, Peter and John went back to their own people and reported all that the chief priests and the elders had said to them. When they heard this, they raised their voices together in prayer to God. “Sovereign Lord,” they said, “you made the heavens and the earth and the sea, and everything in them. You spoke by the Holy Spirit through the mouth of your servant, our father David: “ ‘Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain? The kings of the earth rise up and the rulers band together against the Lord and against his anointed one. ’ Indeed Herod and Pontius Pilate met together with the Gentiles and the people of Israel in this city to conspire against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed. They did what your power and will had decided beforehand should happen. Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness. Stretch out your hand to heal and perform signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus.” After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly. '



Acts 4:23-31

https://www.bible.com/bible/111/ACT.4.23-31



When they were released from prison, the told the other disciples what the religious leaders said about not preaching in the name of Jesus. Then they banded together to war in prayer over this issue against the preaching of the Gospel. They asked the Lord to consider their threats and to increase their boldness to preach the Gospel in the midst of opposition. They also asked that the Lord do miraculous signs through them to show that they are from God. God answered that prayer immediately and they then had boldness to speak the Word. Hallelujah! Lord, I pray that You will give us (Your church) the boldness to share You Gospel with others even in the midst of opposition and persecution.





'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

https://www.bible.com/bible/111/ACT.4.32-37

True believers are to be in unity with one another. This does not mean that we do not every have disagreements, but we are bound by godly love and we work through disagreements in a biblical manner. If anyone is struggling, we try to help them and not hurt them. We also should be known for how we share with one another. If anyone is in need, we know that it is our responsibility as a member of God’s household to help them if it is in our power to do so. If we do these things correctly, then there should not be anyone who is needy. When I think about it, this actually sounds similar to socialism. I do not think it means that everyone earn the same wage, but that those who are more wealthy are able to exercise more generosity. God blesses people to be a blessing, not to live an extravagant lifestyle and have expensive possessions. It is not wrong to have some of this, but I think the idea is that if there is someone in need, those who have more should be willing to put their own agendas and desires aside to help. Lord, if You one day decide to bless me with more, I pray that I will exercise generosity. I also pray that Your church will follow You model in Acts.

 

[follower]

https://www.bible.com/bible/111/ACT.4.32-37

True believers are to be in unity with one another.

"He who gives up his wealth is a happy man, whereas he who is reluctant to partwith it is a sad person. This statement is always true.Those who are greedy of material things dwell in sorrows. May the newly savedChristian seek happiness by laying aside all and following the Lord."

"Acts 4:32-35Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon the earth, where moth and rust consume, and where thieves break through and steal: but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth consume,

and where
thieves do not break through nor steal: for where thy treasure is, there will thyheart be also. The lamp of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thywhole body shall be full of light. But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall befull of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is thedarkness!

No man can serve two masters:

for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to one, and despise the other.Ye cannot serve God and mammon."

"If the church is not a consecrated church, she has no right to speakof consecration. If she is not separated from the world, she is not entitled tomention baptism or separation. If the brethren do not sell all and follow the Lord,what good is it to instruct young believers to sell all? God’s children need to livein the way wherewith they wish to help others.

This does not rule out the possibility that some of God’s specially chosen souls may yet walk in this way even though the church does not take such a position, but it does mean it will be
impossible for the most to go along.

Should most of the brethren be wholly
abandoned to God, it will be easier for newcomers to do likewise.

But if we do not give all, how can we expect beginners to lay their all on the altar? For thispath of selling all to be carried through,

the local assembly itself must be strong
in this respect.

The Lesson of the Young Ruler
Let us start with the example of the young ruler in Luke 18. He was a man of good conduct, not a bad person before God.

He had kept all the commandments and had shown due respect to the Lord Jesus by calling Him agood teacher.

And the Lord Jesus considered him quite precious, for to meet such a person was rare.

Looking upon him, Jesus loved him.However, the Lord set down one requirement. If anyone desires to serve Him, hemust be perfect. Notice what the Lord said: “If thouwouldst be perfect. . . . One thing thou lackest yet” (Matt. 19:21; Lk.18:22).

In other words, the Lord wants those who follow Him to follow Him
perfectly, not lacking in anything. People cannot follow God if they have solved ninety and nine of their problems but have yet one problem unsolved. To followGod demands the whole being.It must be all or not at all.Indeed, this young ruler had kept the commandments from his youth up. He habitually feared God.

Yet he lacked one thing. He needed to sell all his property and distribute the proceeds to the poor; then the way would be clear for him to come and follow the Lord."

 

[Lovekr07]

Amen! I very much appreciate your thoughts.