Hope everyone had a Great CHRIST-mas and good New years as well...
Looking forward to a great new year of ministry..
The Battle is what Unites Us
Sharing some thought from my biblestudy this past week with our STS team at Campbell….
We are doing our STS study through Acts and we just finished Chapters 3-4…
I just wanted to share some thoughts from chapter 4.
Acts 4:23-35
23 On their release, Peter and John went back to their own people and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said to them. 24 When they heard this, they raised their voices together in prayer to God. "Sovereign Lord," they said, "you made the heaven and the earth and the sea, and everything in them. 25 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? 26 The kings of the earth take their stand and the rulers gather together against the Lord and against his Anointed One.' 27 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. 28 They did what your power and will had decided beforehand should happen. 29 Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness. 30 Stretch out your hand to heal and perform miraculous signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus." 31 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. 32 All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they shared everything they had. 33 With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and much grace was upon them all. 34 There were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned lands or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales 35 and put it at the apostles' feet, and it was distributed to anyone as he had need.
Everyone is looking to develop this kind of community among believers… they early church had it-
BUT…..
It was the result of a focus, concentration, and direction toward meeting the mission. The Apostles were about making disciples and bringing the Gospel of Jesus Christ to EVERYONE. They set the stage and set the face and the direction to focus on this mission- everyone who bought in and threw their lot in with them- understood this AND they wanted this too. Therefore, everyone looked after each others’ needs because they saw the mission as being the most important- so they looked out for each other- so that each one could continue with a focus on the mission.
Also…the banding together and engaging in this mission together is what built the foundation for the community as well. Its amazing too- to see and experience the building of trust- which is the mortar that holds the community together is built through the working together in ministry and in our pursuit of Jesus Christ… together, with each other.
It even solves a lot of conflict that unfortunately plagues every group of people- even those in churches, even those involved in ministries such as ours…
Jim Downing, one of the great leaders of the Navigators ministry, wrote in his book, Living Legacy, “Although the Navigator family was exceptionally close, there were some wounded souls who felt like they were outsiders and second-class citizens. They were only healed as they banded together and bonded in new spiritual battles, of which there was an abundance of opportunity.” (Living Legacy 2007 Navpress)
Community was built through the focus on Christ’s Mission.
The Engagement in the Mission builds Trust
Trust is built among people in the community that CHOOSE to focus on the Mission of Christ together with those who are engaged in it.
So…
Are you engaged in the Mission?
Are you battling along with others who are engaged in the Mission?
