Acts 2:44 Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common.

 

The people who made up the First Church of the Lord Jesus Christ were predominately Jews. The Synagogue was the center of the Jewish culture in those days. All their social activities, fellowship, work and entertainment was all centered at the Synagogue. They were (and still are) a people unified by their faith and the Jewish culture and Law.

 

Therefore, those Jews who chose to follow Jesus were immediately excommunicated from the Synagogue. This meant they were completely banished from their family and thought of as dead. They were barred from any and all functions and benefits they had known their whole lives.

 

The Synagogue was also the school so the children of any Christ-followers were immediately removed. These people were also evicted from their homes if they rented from a Jew. In addition, if they worked for a Jew they were fired from their job.

 

Their faith in Christ cost them everything in the natural. They were banished from society. That’s why they stuck together and helped each other. They had to and the Commandment of Jesus to “Love one another” took on a whole new and much deeper meaning.

 

Knowing this, when we read Acts 2:44 we get a better sense of what the First Church Christians were about. Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common.

 

Some people read this Passage to mean that God promotes socialism or communism but the simple fact is, believers at that time lived together and helped each other out of pure necessity. They had to stick together and pool their resources or they would not have survived.

 

Jesus spoke of the persecution His followers were endure. The believers of the First Church really were persecuted. Over the years since that time, believers have always been persecuted. Christians are being persecuted today all around the world. Muslims who accept Christ suffer the very same persecution as Jewish believers did back then. Actually, Jews who accept Christ today are treated much the same way.

 

This is all the work of Satan and the demonic spirit of religion. In the 17th Chapter of John, Jesus prayed for His followers to be united. He knew what was going to happen. He knew those who chose to believe in Him and follow Him would be persecuted. Therefore, they had to love one another and help each other. The same is true today and as time goes on, it seems as though it’s happening again right here in America. Love your fellow Christian. Help each other. Stick together. The time is coming when we will have to do this. Let us do it now.

 

 

God is about to……….turn the tide

 

I love you all,         Doreen

 

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