Yesterday started like any other day, I found myself sitting in my chair awaiting the end of the work day so I can go outside and be with the Lord.
I go home drop off my things (including my phone!) and make my way towards a scenic spot I checked out earlier. With bible in hand I continue my reading of Acts.
And then it hit me…
I have been pleading with the Holy Spirit ever since training camp to intercede. I wasn’t quite sure what I needed to be broken of or grieve, I just knew something wasn’t right. Each step I took closer to God was met with the devil clawing at my ankles reeling to lure me back into my old ways..
Early in Acts Peter preaches to the people of Israel brining as many as 3,000 to the Lord. You know what happens next.. They form a community!
Acts 2:42-47
The Fellowship of the Believers
42 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. 43 Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. 44 All the believers were together and had everything in common. 45 They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. 46 Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, 47 praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.
I look around the landscape surrounding me (yep the picture below is my rough summer) and notice nature in perfect harmony. No one plant, animal, or landscape is alone. Every detail of nature is related and in relation with its surroundings. If God created nature to be this way then why would man be any different?
As a college aged guy I felt pretty comfortable with my lifestyle. I was social, had friends, and as far as I was concerned I knew the Lord.
The Lord shook me of all I thought I knew of his intentions. Acts was written in what I believe a very intentional way. The people came to Christ and THEN they formed a community. They did not just become friends but they joined together and lived life together.
Community is not optional.
I realized that my loneliness and isolation was a self-inflicted wound brought on by the devils lies.
“You’re man enough”
“People wouldn’t like the real you”
“You can do this on your own”
God used nature and his word to teach me how he intended us to live. Community is more than friendship, it's a lifestyle. Friends spend time with each other and have many things in common but community is intentional. Community fights for one another to break down any feeble walls you may put up against God. Community is there for you through all seasons of life.
The community God has provided me is right in front of me. My W squad is the answer to the lies I have believed for far too long.
In Acts Chapter 5 the story of Ananias and Sapphira is told. The married couple sold their land but did not give all they had to their fellow Christian community.
Acts 5
3 Then Peter said, “Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit and have kept for yourself some of the money you received for the land? 4 Didn’t it belong to you before it was sold? And after it was sold, wasn’t the money at your disposal? What made you think of doing such a thing? You have not lied just to human beings but to God.”
Ananias and Sapphira each fell to the ground and died due to the conviction of their impure hearts. My challenge to you is to sell out. Wherever your community is, give it all you have! If you don’t have a community, ask the Holy Spirit for provision. We are not meant to live this life without a community to encourage us in our walk with Christ. As sons and daughters of Christ the world hates us. Our ways are not their ways and we are called to support each other.
