HEAVENLY INCLINED...: LIFE IN THE CHRISTIAN COMM'UNITY': ACTS 4:32-37...

Thanksgiving for the LORD's Favor

Psalms 138 (A Psalm of David)
1/ I will praise thee with my whole heart: before the gods will I sing praise unto thee.
2/ I will worship toward thy holy temple, and praise thy name for thy loving-kindness and for thy truth: for thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name.
3/ In the day when I cried thou answeredst me, and strengthenedst me with strength in my soul.
4/ All the kings of the earth shall praise thee, O LORD, when they hear the words of thy mouth.
5/ Yea, they shall sing in the ways of the LORD: for great is the glory of the LORD.
6/ Though the LORD be high, yet hath he respect unto the lowly: but the proud he knoweth afar off.
7/ Though I walk in the midst of trouble, thou wilt revive me: thou shalt stretch forth thine hand against the wrath of mine enemies, and thy right hand shall save me.
8/ The LORD will perfect that which concerneth me:
thy mercy, O LORD, endureth for ever: forsake not the works of thine own hands... AMEN!!!

One CANNOT earn GRACE, it is HIS own ESSENCE; a gift, still, IF one claims to be IN HIS GRACE, we ARE to, or, OUGHT to, be reflections of that GRACE! 2 CORINTHIANS 6:1, tells us not to take HIS GRACE in vain! This means, living in LOVE, morality, ethics, virtue, righteousness, and, spiritual improvement, TOWARDS, spiritual maturity, WHILE, visibly BEING as LIGHTS, beaming OF *GOD*, beckoning the world, TO THE LIGHT! Righteousness MEANS, conduct in conformity with *GOD'S* WILL, and, "Be HOLY because I AM HOLY!", therefore, indicating that knowledge, wisdom, and, effort, DO, apply TO the righteous!!! NEVER forget, we were grafted in, and, if we do not bear fruit, as a dead branch, we will be pruned out, just as were, the natural branches!!!

We are not saved by works, instead, works PROVE HIM in us: they identify HIS own...

IF I claim ONENESS with *GOD*, through CHRIST JESUS, I am DEAD TO THE WORLD, THUS, LIVING as HIM, which is, hopefully, witnessed IN, and, THROUGH, my every thought, action, and, reaction; MEANING, I am, THROUGH CONSCIOUS application OF THE WORD, HIS COMMANDS, HIS WILL, REFLECTING righteousness, not, merely, FAITH! I become, the TRULY FRUITFUL branch, of THE VINE, the TRUE member of THE BODY/THE CHURCH, CHRIST JESUS, and, TESTIFY, then, GLORIFY, BOLDLY, BY my thoughts, actions, and, reactions, HIS name, because, HE IS WORTHY, and, IN HIS LOVE, has SHOWN me, how I OUGHT to exist, to which, I eagerly, adapt, and, comply!!!

MATTHEW 5:48...
So be perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect

1 PETER 1:14-16...
14/ Like obedient children, do not act in compliance with the desires of your former ignorance
15/ but, as he who called you is holy, be holy yourselves in every aspect of your conduct,
16/ for it is written, "Be holy because I (am) holy."

ROMANS 12:2...
Do not conform yourselves to this age but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and pleasing and perfect.

Conduct, in conformity to *GOD'S* WILL, marks the righteous; it is NOT because of guilt, or, ancient Laws, but, because of LOVE; LOVE for *GOD*, self, then, others! CHRIST JESUS gave us Commandments to live by, of which, the first is to LOVE *GOD*, with all of your mind, heart, and, soul; the second is, to LOVE one another!

LOVE COMPELS us to LIVE IN HIM, through conduct which conforms to *GOD*; in other words, morality, ethics, doing good, and, being good, and, ever striving to improve the spirit! It is about REFLECTING THE TRUTH, for ALL to bear witness to, FOR, and, TO HIS GLORY, RADIANTLY SHINING OF HIS POWER, GRACE, and, MERCIES!!!

It IS ALL ABOUT LOVE, baby, all about LOVE!!!

MATTHEW 4: 17...From that time on, Jesus began to preach and say, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand."

JOHN 14:15..."If you love me, you will keep my commandments.

NOTE: I do not intend to preach, rather to reach; to stir up, awaken, to inspire, and, bring forth, in discussion, that which is, perhaps, dormantly existing in the heart of hearts, thus, little, or, no, sugar coatings, just THE WORD of *GOD*, the TRUTH, along with some of my thoughts. And truth is, I am reminding myself always, as I practice these reminders, in the best of my abilities, and capacities, while RELYING on THE LORD to lead me on that narrow PATH---> MATTHEW 7: 14: "For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it... TO *GOD* BE ALL GLORY...

LIFE IN THE CHRISTIAN COMM'UNITY': ACTS 4:32-37...

ACTS 4:32-37...

32/ The community of believers was of one heart and mind, and no one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they had everything in common.

33/ With great power the apostles bore witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great favor was accorded them all.

34/ There was no needy person among them, for those who owned property or houses would sell them, bring the proceeds of the sale,

35/ and put them at the feet of the apostles, and they were distributed to each according to need.

36/ Thus Joseph, also named by the apostles Barnabas (which is translated "son of encouragement"), a Levite, a Cypriot by birth,

37/ sold a piece of property that he owned, then brought the money and put it at the feet of the apostles.

[32-37] This is the second summary characterizing the Jerusalem community. It emphasizes the system of the distribution of goods and introduces Barnabas, who appears later in Acts as the friend and companion of Paul, and who, as noted here (Acts 4:37), endeared himself to the community by a donation of money through the sale of property. This sharing of material possessions continues a practice that Luke describes during the historical ministry of Jesus (Luke 8:3) and is in accord with the sayings of Jesus in Luke's gospel (Luke 12:33; 16:9, 11, 13).

The comm'UNITY' of believers was of one heart, and, one mind! Their FOCUS was upon the teachings, the GOSPEL of CHRIST, their LORD, and, SAVIOUR; NOTHING else mattered to them, than to FURTHER LOVE, PEACE, HOPE, and, SALVATION for ALL they came encountered! They WORKED HIS WORD, throughout their lives! They WERE IN ACCORD with HIM, and, WORSHIPPED HIM THROUGH their thoughts, actions, and, deeds! They BORE worthy FRUIT TO GLORIFY THE VINE, CHRIST JESUS! They UPHELD HIM, the BODY OF THE CHURCH, BY having one heart, and, one mind, RELYING upon HIS teachings, NOT the perceptions, and, doctrines of Mankind!!!

They took CARE of one another, in COMPASSION, KINDNESS, PATIENCE, TOLERANCE, UNDERSTANDING, more, and, their worldly goods, because LOVE IS THE LAW, and, because they are NOT bound to worldly goods, or, matters, instead to their LORD, *GOD*, CHRIST JESUS! There was NO needy person among them, and, great FAVOUR was ACCORDED to them ALL!!!

Seems to have worked so well for them! Though, all was not perfect, because of certain individuals, as is the case with all generations: read ACTS 5...

LOVE IS THE LAW! LOVE is without self, selfishness, self-inclination! LOVE is PERFECT, and, IS for the GOOD of ALL! LOVE does NOT seek it's own interests! LOVE NEVER FAILS, even though people fail it!!!

COMM'UNITY' implies, and, reiterates UNITY, in that, each person of said comm'UNITY' shares common values, and that, which UNITES them, as they co-exist, and, interact, as in THE BODY of THE CHURCH, CHRIST...

ONENESS with *GOD*/CHRIST, is FOUNDED, and, GROUNDED, SOUNDLY ON LOVE, and so, LOVE MUST BE THE LAW, in thought, action, and, deed, to FULFILL THE WILL of *GOD*, TO, and, FOR HIS GLORY, FOREVERMORE!!!

REV. LWINSOR © 2012

BIBLICAL, and/or, other references marked BOLDLY IN COLOURS