“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.” (Acts 2:44, 45 NKJV)
Sometimes, we are too familiar with some words such that we lose their intended meaning when we use them. One of such words is “Fellowship”. We use it a lot, but most times not in its biblical meaning. After the first outpouring of God’s Spirit and Peter’s Pentecostal preaching, the Christians began to live in a Spirit-empowered way (Acts 2:41–47). This included not only signs and wonders, corporate prayer, and devotion to the apostles’ teaching, but a radically new lifestyle of serving and sharing. This fellowship is founded on unity. They loved their fellow Christians more than they loved their possessions, they were willing to part with their possessions to meet others’ needs (Acts 2:44). Whenever someone was in need, those who had more sold their belongings and landed properties to meet the needs of others (2:45).
The kind of Fellowship being described in Acts 2:42 is more than only chatting after a church service. It is more than saying, “it is well” when one needs to pay his rents but could not afford to do so. It is not by saying “God will provide” when an hungry man approaches us for help. It is getting deeply involved in each other’s lives and needs. Where did the early Christians learn to serve one another in this way? Only the Holy Spirit could have given them the power to make this kind of sacrifice for the Kingdom. The most prominent aspect of His fruit in the life of His children is love (Galatians 5:22). Jesus’ teaching and example showed them how love should be concretely expressed. Having received these inspirations, they believed them and it reflected in their way of life.
The hearts of the people were made up to carry out anything as they were led by the Holy Spirit. They were ready to fulfill the plan and purpose of God no matter the cost. Because the Holy Spirit was in charge, the flesh could not rule them. How often has believers of today surrendered themselves to the promptings of the flesh such that many no longer see the guidance of the Spirit as the priority? Deception is everywhere even in the body of Christ. Many have been deceived and duped by those who are supposed to be members of the body of Christ.
Beloved, the kind of fellowship we are called into as God’s ambassadors is as exposed and explained in Acts of the Apostles, Chapter 2. We are called and have been chosen to spread Christ’s love to nations by touching the lives of those we encounter in life. Definitely, any attempt to depend on the arm of flesh will fail. Only the power of God can enable us. Truly, we serve God when we serve one another. God has always asked His people to look out for one another’s interest. When we are blessed more than our brethren, we need to see if there is some way that we can help them improve their lot in life. By doing so, we make the whole congregation stronger, and put them in a better position to help one another in the future, as well as help others in the community who are in need. This is how we prove the love of God. What positive steps have you taken about the less privileged in the church of God? May we never disappoint our God, provider and redeemer in Jesus Name.
Have a blissful week.
Your brother and friend
Clement Iwuoha