“Lord Jesus, please fill us with the fullness of Your Holy Spirit.
We desire to be those who are generous, giving and sharing with one another. In Your name, we pray. Amen.”
Acts 2:44-45 Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common, (45) and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need.
There was togetherness in the early church. We get the idea that they often met in the temple and from house to house and nurtured this togetherness. Acts 5:42 And daily in the temple, and in every house, they did not cease teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ.
There was gladness and delight amongst them and they led uncomplicated and uncluttered lives. 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,
How we wish that this could be so, amongst us, today. The key is to believe. Belief is what we learn from children. Children demonstrate for us, uncomplicated lives because they believe that their caregiver is responsible for their needs.
We have our eternal caregiver, yet, we in His church, are not free of anxiety and worry. The reason is, we do not believe Him but we choose to believe what our situations tell us.
The early church was also concerned and shared in meeting the needs of one another. Acts 4:32 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.
There was a wonderful expression of giving and sharing that prevailed in the early church. This was evidence of the baptism of His Holy Spirit. This is the nature of God, for He gives us richly.
I Timothy 6:17 Command those who are rich in this present age not to be haughty, nor to trust in uncertain riches but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy.
His character is to give of Himself and that is what must be seen in us as His image bearers. II Corinthians 8:9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich.
Acts 4:34-35 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.
In the early church, there was no lack. This is an important feature. We live in a world full of lack. The rich are getting richer and the poor, are poorer. This disparity is caused because of man’s selfishness.
Whereas, in His church, the evidence of the baptism of His Holy Spirit is that selfishness is removed and it is replaced with genuine love and concern for one another, which leads people to give and share their resources.
Job is an example of a man filled with the Spirit of God.
Job 31:16-22 “If I have kept the poor from their desire, Or caused the eyes of the widow to fail, (17) Or eaten my morsel by myself, So that the fatherless could not eat of it (18) (But from my youth I reared him as a father, And from my mother’s womb I guided the widow); (19) If I have seen anyone perish for lack of clothing, Or any poor man without covering; (20) If his heart has not blessed me, And if he was not warmed with the fleece of my sheep; (21) If I have raised my hand against the fatherless, When I saw I had help in the gate; (22) Then let my arm fall from my shoulder, Let my arm be torn from the socket.
The principle of God is that it is the generous man, who prospers. Proverbs 11:24-25 There is one who scatters, yet increases more; And there is one who withholds more than is right, But it leads to poverty. (25) The generous soul will be made rich, And he who waters will also be watered himself.
The spirituality that the Lord desires in us is living out the life of a generous spirit. Isaiah 58:7-11 Is it not to share your bread with the hungry, And that you bring to your house the poor who are cast out; When you see the naked, that you cover him, And not hide yourself from your own flesh? (8) Then your light shall break forth like the morning, Your healing shall spring forth speedily, And your righteousness shall go before you; The glory of the LORD shall be your rear guard. (9) Then you shall call, and the LORD will answer; You shall cry, and He will say, ‘Here I am.’ “If you take away the yoke from your midst, The pointing of the finger, and speaking wickedness, (10) If you extend your soul to the hungry And satisfy the afflicted soul, Then your light shall dawn in the darkness, And your darkness shall be as the noonday. (11) The LORD will guide you continually, And satisfy your soul in drought, And strengthen your bones; You shall be like a watered garden, And like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail.
Let us be filled with His Holy Spirit more and more to be generous people.