The Church of old
Acts 2;44-47 NIV
44 All the believers were together and had everything in common. 45 They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. 46 Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, 47 praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.
Bad and hard times like the depression like covid even in the Bible brings people together. Hard times bring people closer, unites us and we are more willing to step out and help others with the little that we do have and come together. We live in a culture in the world that it’s all about me. My problems. My situations, my financial needs, my businesses that I’m trying to promote. Even in relationships what’s in it for me? What can I benefit from it?
That’s why discouragement comes because it’s not moving quick enough it’s not going the way we want it to go. Where God brings people in our lives for 5 reasons- for a test, to grow/ mature, to minister, Kingdom Purpose or Kingdom marriage. Earlier topics the Lord has had us discuss inner healing which is why we see so much rampant pride, resentment , bitterness and unforgiveness. Because of the lack of healing. All the things that we taught on If you missed those messages ,very powerful ,please go back. That is not our message today.
But as you listen to those messages and move forward now we need to look at a different subject. We need to look at where the Lord is trying to get the church. First and foremost intimacy- he’s trying to get our attention. Then he’s trying to get us to repent on our knees in prayer and submission. Then lastly which is what we are talking about today is trying to bring the church together as one in unison.. how many of us are guilty of trying to promote our own businesses yet when it comes to when we shop even if it’s online we tend to shop Target we tend to Shop JCPenney’s Macy’s big name multi-million companies Amazon oh my goodness we’re all guilty of it including me. But the Lord called us to treat others the way we want to be treated. We find that in Matthew 7:12. He’s trying to get us back to the church of old where they shared what they had with each other. They were all one. If a brother or sister needed something they got it. Nobody was in need! So why do we promote our businesses yet we don’t shop other people’s businesses on a regular basis?
I know many people do shop with me and am forever grateful! But do we do it really on a regular basis or do we do so occasionally and then go back to Amazon and then go back to Target and then go back to JCPenney’s go back to the high name businesses but we have to get to the root of it don’t we? Why do we do it? Is it because we feel more secure deep down that if there’s a problem I can send it back I know for a fact I’ll get my money back I know for a fact I’ll get a replacement one is it fear is it deep-rooted fear that you’re going to lose out on money if it gets broken and you can’t return it?
Is it reluctant because it’s not a high-end company that you can hold them accountable? We need to get to the root of why we constantly everyday decide, including me, to go to Amazon millionaire companies that we keep as millionaires yet only sewing into small businesses occasionally.
Matthew 7:12 NIV
12 So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.
Which leads me to
Romans 12:5 NIV
5 so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.
God is calling us as his body to Unite link arms come together as one. He is calling us to do that spiritually, even emotionally with the healing process but now with this whole covid thing He’s calling us to do it financially just like the Church of old. I was watching one of Dr Duprees lessons on Thursday and he was talking about the Asian community-in every city there’s a Chinatown. He was talking about how they flourish and how they sustain themselves. Do you know every town has a Chinatown?
Do you know they’ve never gone out of business? Do you know how they flourish? The Asian community links arms ,will only shop and eat at Asian stores they support each other to the point of I’m not going to eat and Shop anywhere else except their community so that dollar that was spent that same dollar will be spent inside the grocery store and they will support one another in their community.
The same goes for Jewish culture, they thrive and flourish because they support one another they State they not only sow occasionally but they only shop in their community and because they linked arms unite and do that the Jewish culture is very rich. So why is it Christians can we not do the same? For most of us convenience and ease is a big one.
Are we just sidetracked and deceived because Amazon is cheap and has everything? Is it because we think oh we’re not God and God will supply for her needs? We need to get to the root of it because when we do and we actually stand up unite and not only sow but shop from one another refusing to shop Amazon me included refusing the shop Target and do the small businesses is when we will see our Christian Community flourish and in the time of covid really need it people are in desperate times right now financially but really children of God do we really need to stay there?
Do we really need to be there or can we unite? Link arms support our own community and flourish together as one body? Not in competition not in comparison not in jealousy and hatred but Agape brotherly sacrificial love for our own community? And when we truly do that is when we will see our Christian Community stand-up unite and flourish in all ways spiritually, emotionally, mentally and financially. And even deeper than that, we need to talk about the elephant in the room. In this time of pandemic the Lord has really utilized this time to give the saints of God entrepreneurship opportunities. With the ones that grabbed hold of those opportunities trying to grow their own business. At the same time trying to share it with others whether it is for the betterment of their health, financial situations, etc. That leads me to the story of the man with the flood.
He was praying to the Lord to save him. A row boat came by. The man said no thank you, I know my God will save me! Then a motorboat came by saying I will save you! Come on! The Man said no thank you the Lord will save me. Then the water got so high it covered the house. God sent a helicopter. The man said no! convinced the Lord will come save him. The man went to heaven upset at God and said why didn’t you save me?
The Lord replied I sent a row boat, a motorboat and a helicopter! What more did you expect?! We often pray for the Lord to heal our hearts, yet when He gives people the ideas to write the book as a tool to help people do not grab hold and use it. When we pray for better finances and poverty to stop holding us He sends people to give opportunities as a way out. with Health issues, feeling fatigued and fitness goals He gives people the tools we need. But are we listening? Are we paying attention? Are we so skeptical it wont work for us? We can no longer stay stuck in insanity. ( Insanity means doing the same thing over and over again expecting a different result.Look at the people that are trying to share it… are they God’s representative? Do they have a passion to help people? Do they exhibit the character and heart of God?
Lord Jesus we come into your presence as humbly as we know how as you sons and daughters. We are asking for forgiveness. Wash us ,cleanse us, purify us Lord. Show us those opportunities again Jesus. As you do, give us your eyes to see, ears to hear ,a heart to receive and feet of faith to move in it! To those opportunities we may have picked up and because they didn’t have overnight success. Give us the strength to pick it back up again moving forward with you. We love you Lord, we trust you that you have us safe in your hands protecting us all the way through the ups and downs of life in Jesus name amen God bless you