Sharing Among Believers - Acts 4:32-37 - Comments by Mike Kines

The scripture in Acts 4:32-37 shows believers sharing and supporting one another. Christianity is not communism, but it is communal when practiced in a spirit-filled church. Christians should not just be political activists, but should serve the Lord, pray, be filled with the Holy Spirit, and boldly share the word of God. Our faith should be accompanied by practical action in helping others. Good works are important and should be done for all, especially fellow believers. The scripture we are looking at today is Acts chapter 4 verses 32-37, sharing among believers. This was actually a spontaneous movement in the hearts of God's people to support the ministry and to take care of their brothers and sisters in Christ. Communism does not work because those who claim to redistribute wealth do not love Jesus. They do not love their comrades. It is not love that controls them but cold ideology. Christianity is not communism. It is, but it is communal if it is a real spirit-filled church. People get confused about that and think that Christianity is some type of political ideology. And this is, I see a danger in the world today that sometimes the church and Christians give the wrong impression. We are some type of a political activist, but I think it's, nothing could be further from the truth. Christians are not political activists, but we are service to the Lord and we are to humble ourselves, to pray, to be filled with the Holy Spirit and to share the word of God boldly. Here are some points to consider. The early church were not communist, but they were communal. This was not an ideology, but it was a spontaneous expression of practical love for brothers and sisters in Christ and also support for the work of the ministry. And this leads to my next thought here, which is our faith needs to be coupled tightly together with practical action of helping people. So many times we get into this abstract Christianity where it's all about systems of theology and Bible doctrine, and we forget that this needs to have some type of practical effect upon our lives. We need to express God's love in practical ways to other people. And we'll look at some more scriptures along those lines. A well-rounded body of believers will contain consistent proclamation of the gospel accompanied by spontaneous love of the brethren expressed in practical helps. I got some scriptures here that deal with good works. Ephesians chapter 2 verse 10 says, For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. And also Galatians chapter 6 verse 10. As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith. Amen. The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord make his face to shine upon you. The Lord give you peace.