Enjoying Everyday

When we look at the early church as recorded in the Book of Acts, we find a Christianity that is pure, heartfelt, powerful and seemingly foreign to what is practiced today. For instance, "And with many other words he testified and exhorted them, saying, “Be saved from this perverse generation. Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them. And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers. Then fear came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles. Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common, and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need. 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, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved." (Acts 2:40-47)

Now many church leaders would have you believe that this was due to culture or even special grace upon the early church because they needed it. They would have you believe that most of these things are not for the so called "modern church" of today, but is this true. Well it would be if the Lord Jesus, the builder of the church, (Matthew 16:18) made adjustments so that the church could adapt to the various cultures of the world and not the culture of the Kingdom of God. It would be if He was no longer a God of miracles, signs and wonders, as well as one who changes (Malachi 3:6; Hebrews 13:8) or make adjustments to accommodate man. But the truth is, He does not do such things. It is man who continues to do the same since the fall from the Garden, oppose God's Word. 

So with that said, do you know anyone who would like to be apart of the Christianity that we see as revealed in Acts 2:40-47? I'm sure that most every believer would. They lived from day to day eating their food with gladness and simplicity of heart. What a way to live. Gladness here means; rejoicing that displaces worry and gloom and fills the mind with joy. Simplicity of heart means; having a satisfied, sincere, thankful and pure heart desiring the things of God and not the things of the world. Wow, what a way to enjoy the abundant life that Jesus gave His life for. (John 10:10) Unfortunately many believers today look at the early church and somehow think that their world was problem and trial free, that life was just simple and carefree. This kind of thinking is far from the truth.

The early church faced more opposition than believers in the USA have ever faced, yet they had gladness and simplicity of heart. The main reason for this kind of lifestyle is because they took their Christianity very seriously. When they confessed the Lordship of Jesus Christ, they understood that all of their rights, opinions and views were freely forfeited to Christ their King. The Apostle Paul reveals this very thing to the church at Corinth, "For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God's." (I Corinthians 6:20) We must also keep in mind that the first converts were Jews. This meant that those who confessed Jesus as Lord and took Him as Savior, would face complete rejection by the religious leaders and family members for making such a decision. They would be treated as though they were dead (See John 9)

In the beginning of Acts chapter two, it was the Day of Pentecost and we find Peter preaching Christ and exhorting the people to "Be saved from this perverse generation". Today the world is still very much perverse but God's Word still stands as a guiding light to truth. Jesus said, "If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." (John 8:31-32). Paul tells us, "So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." (Romans 10:17) Gladness and simplicity of heart comes to anyone whose foundation is the Word of God and responds to it through faith. Not a general or unspecified faith in Christ, but a directed faith the Jesus perfectly reveals the Father's will in actions, attitudes, words and commands, knowing that God's will has not changed and Jesus is the one and only Savior. (Acts 4:12) That is, "that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation." (Romans 10:9-10)

Solomon said it this way, "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths." (Proverbs 3:5-6) I believe this is the way that that believers in the early church lived. What they experienced should be experienced in the lives of believers today today. All it takes is faith. So, take some time, read, meditate and let your faith arise on the above passage (Acts 2:40-47) allowing the Holy Spirit to lead us all to the glory of the early church and then move us into greater things. Let's ask the Holy Spirit to lead into the realm of gladness and simplicity of heart. Amen... 

Let's Get Happy

Do you know anyone who would like to live from day to day eating their food with gladness and simplicity of heart? Well Acts 2:46 tells us that the early church lived this way. When we look at the depth of this we see that gladness means; Rejoicing that displaces worry and gloom and fills the mind with joy. Simplicity of heart means; Having a satisfied, sincere, thankful and pure heart desiring the things of God and not the things of the world.

Unfortunately many believers today look at the early church and somehow think that their world was problem and trial free, that life was just simple and carefree. This kind of thinking is far from the truth. The early church faced more opposition than believers in the USA have ever faced, yet they had gladness and simplicity of heart. The main reason for this kind of lifestyle is because they took their Christianity very seriously. When they confessed the Lordship of Jesus Christ, they understood that all of their rights, opinions and views were freely forfeited to Christ their King! The Apostle Paul reveals this very thing to the church at Corinth, "For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God's."
(I Corinthians 6:20) We must keep in mind that the first converts were Jews. This means that they would face disfellowship by the religious leaders and family members who feared the religious leaders (See John 9)

On the Day of Pentecost (Acts 2) Peter preached Christ and exhorted the people to "Be saved from this perverse generation". Today the world is still very much perverse but God's Word still stands as a guiding light to truth. Jesus said, "If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you FREE." (John 8:31-32). Paul tells us, "So then FAITH comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." (Romans 10:17) Gladness and simplicity of heart comes to anyone whose foundation is the Word of God and BELIEVES! This is not a general or unspecifed faith in Christ, but a directed faith the Jesus perfectly reveals the Father's will in actions, attitudes, words and commands and God's will has not changed. What they experienced in the early church should be experienced today! All it takes is faith.