Yesterday, I wrote about Common-ism and felt that I had covered the material as best that I could, or more correctly, as closely as I could to where I felt the Spirit was leading.  However, all last evening I kept feeling that I had left part out. That I had not finished what I was supposed to say. The writing was incomplete somehow.  So let’s continue and see what the ending is…

                First let’s look at the Common-ism as a community.  Inside this community of believers we are told that all were of One Mind and One Heart. Now does that mean they all thought the same thing about all the issues in life? Or that they never had an issue with another? No. Let’s look at what we are talking about here.  In Acts chapter 2, they added 3000 believers to their community.  Now this is a number that includes men, women and children. Then, in Acts 4, the number grows to 5000 men alone…not including the women and children (NLV).  Okay, so with all these people involved in the new Common-ism community can we honestly say there would not be differences of opinion when we talk about matters of material world? I can honestly say that there were differences and issues that arose. If not then why would the Apostles appoint 7 godly men to oversee the care of the Widows and Orphans? For more on that look at Acts chapter 6 starting from verse 1 and following.  No, there will always be issues that arise between humans due to our own wants and desires.

                So what exactly does Oneness mentioned in Acts 4 mean? This is addressing the oneness in belief and purpose. You see they were sitting at the feet of the Spirit filled Apostles of Christ. They were receiving the indwelling Spirit of our God. They all understood that no matter what their differences were carnally, they all shared the same faith, the same hope and most importantly the same love for each other. Yes, issues would arise between them, but they also submitted to their leaders and allowed them to solve the problem through love and understanding. This is displayed in Acts 6, when the Apostles appoint the 7 godly men to oversee the handling of the widows and orphans. Read verse 5. The Whole group was pleased. The Oneness that is discussed is an oneness that we submit ourselves to the word and the leaders of our community. That we love each other, no matter what, and this is borne out by our obedience and support of all the community.

                A final note about Oneness, these individuals did not take their fellows to the courts of the State. They allowed their community leadership to handle disputes and lived with the decisions. Why would that be? How can you remain in Oneness with division from within? If you are biting and clawing and fighting with each other, then the State community will see and what is different from the lives they are already living? Nothing. I would never join a community that was as bad as I was already experiencing in the world. What would be the point? That is also why the Apostles spoke so harshly about slander and gossiping. We are to build each other up in all things.

                Next let’s talk about possessions and ownership. Here is where the rubber meets the road. I have a personal challenge with this. You see in Acts 4 when they say that they held all things in common. They are saying that your house, whether worth $20,000 or $20 million dollars, does not belong to you…say what? Yup. Your home is not yours. It belongs to the Lord, your God and is only on loan to you. Your Lexus or Mercedes…not yours! It belongs to the Lord as well. Your wife and children…also a loan! Look at it this way; you were born into this world naked and alone. Your mother gave birth to you and loved you, but you did not own her nor did she own you. She was given you as a blessing from our Lord. You will leave this world in the same manner that you arrived in it; naked and alone. You will not be able to take your home, your favorite car or other items with you when you go to be with our Father. All you will have is the book of your life and it will be opened for our Father to read back to you. Will it be filled with your having hoarded all the blessings that He bestowed upon you to share with others or will it be a sweet aroma of blessings extended to others? This is the example that we see in Acts 4, where they sold their homes and land and then brought the money to the Apostles to be used for the good of all, and in that way ALL the Needs of the believers were met.

                Finally let’s look at how we are blessed by the Father.  A wise lady once broke it down to me this way; hold out your hand. Keep the fist closed and try to put a $1 bill into it. You cannot. In the same way, if you take what our Father gives to you and hold tightly to it you will never experience the other blessings that Father would love to give you. However, if you open that fist and hold your hand out flat…the dollar bill easily lays in it. So to with the blessings our Father gives. If you hold them in common as those did in Acts 4, then Father will be able to open wide the floodgates of His blessings upon you and all those you extend His blessings to. This is what Jesus was describing in Luke 6:38, “Give and you will receive. Your gift will return to you in full-pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, running over, and poured into your lap.” Father promises to meet all our needs and more if we will only be faithful servants and trust him to fulfill our needs. This is my major struggle. I continually find that I close my hand and hold tightly to the blessings that Father bestows upon me. It is a struggle each time I attempt to open my hand. Yet, that is what we are called to do, and one of the most important lessons we learn from Acts 4. It was one of the most important methods of spreading the Good News of Christ to the world. The care taken of all the believers through their Common-ism was so very desirable that 1000’s of individuals came to know our God in a short time. When was the last time that you saw 1000’s saved at one time? I can honestly say that I have never witnessed such an event. Yet, it happened not once but multiple times. We talk about how to expand the Church but do not live a ‘life of expansion’ because we will not open our hands to our Father. I am slowly learning this lesson and I hope that you will consider it as well. “Father, forgive my unbelief and greed. I know that you are a loving Father and will care for me in all my needs. Yet, I continually hoard your blessings. I ask that you send your Spirit to help me recognize any opportunity to bless others with your gifts and that I will trust you to always be there. I ask this in Jesus Name. Amen”