Devoted?

Acts 2:⁴² “All the believers devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, and to fellowship, and to sharing in meals (including the Lord’s Supper), and to prayer” (emphasis added).

The mistake religious people make is, they think God operates emotionally but He does not. Kingdom people know that God operates by principles. People think if they fast, pray, roll on the floor and weep, God will be moved to answer. The truth is that all that should provide power to back up your obedience to the principle. If you have no obedience to principle, nothing happens! That is why we devote a lot of time to teach people about God’s principles. Yes, we believe in the miraculous; we have God Will Do It Again services three times a year – deliberately. But you cannot live in the wilderness forever, where you close your eyes and manna falls from heaven. Yes, God does miracles but beyond that God wants you to be a miracle worker. When you operate His principles, you bring to birth His miracles and you do not need to run from pillar to post. However, a person’s well-being is found in the common good (common well-being) of the entire community. Ps.122:⁶ “Pray for peace in Jerusalem. May all who love this city prosper.” Seek the common good. The mistake corrupt leaders make is they think that they can seek personal good and it will be well with them. It cannot be well with them. I am not cursing anybody; if personal well being is in the common good, can it be well with them? Jer.29:⁷ “And work for the peace and prosperity of the city where I sent you into exile. Pray to the Lord for it, for its welfare will determine your welfare.” When you are part of the community, it is your duty to pray for the good of that community because the welfare of the community determines your welfare. If you are part of a local church, it is in your interest to pray for your church. As God expands, blesses and anoints the church, guess what happens to you? You pray for the country you are in (1Tim.2:1-2).

How was this common wealth for community implemented in the early church? “All the believers devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, and to fellowship, and to sharing in meals (including the Lord’s Supper), and to prayer” (emphasis added). “…devoted themselves” implies that they had common ground and they were sold out to it. They had common ground; perhaps their values and they devoted and sold out to it. For you to be part of the common wealth, you must be sold out to the common ground. Common ground precedes common wealth.

Prayer: Father, I declare that it is well with this Nation and her leaders. It is well with the Church and church leadership. It is well with my church and my leaders, in Jesus Name. Amen!