Let’s quickly recap parts 1 and 2 that the Lord intended for Equality! Yes, it was in His original blueprint design, but equality flows from His heart and is His heart. For Father’s heart is always towards us, and for us, that we may know Him, ourselves and others in the true sense of who we are as Children of God.
Let’s get in the Word, last portion of scripture.
Acts 4:32-34
“All the believers were one in mind and heart. Selfishness was not a part of their community, for they shared everything they had with one another. The apostles gave powerful testimonies about the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great measures of grace rested upon them all. Some who owned houses or land sold them and brought the proceeds before the apostles to distribute to those without. Not a single person among them was needy”.
Wow, doesn’t this sound great, to be in a room with believers who loved God with all their being, and were one in thinking and heart – their delight and desire was to be with God and each other. Amazing right, competition, rivalry, jealousy, comparison, FOMO, neediness or poverty, was not a problem or issue, it was that all wanted to be there, and received the same measure of grace to and on all.
This portion of scripture is not a parable but a story about people sharing what they had to meet the needs of others! Does this sound like equality to you?
Sounds awesome and like the best place to be and that nothing could go wrong right!
However in Chapter 5 we meet a man named Ananias and his wife, Sapphira who sold their farm. But conspired together to secretly keep back for themselves a portion of the proceeds of sale. Well God being God revealed their secret to Peter and the result was they both dropped dead. (Have a read and remember in Acts 5:1-11)
Does this sound like equality to you?
The continual question is does this sound like equality to you? Does this sound fair? Does this sound right, Is this just? Ooh going leave that with you for Jesus to speak to your heart about Ananias and Sapphira and their story.
Challenge Time:
Take a moment and think about which of the 3 portions of scripture spoke the most to you in that it challenged your thinking to consider a new view.
Now you’ve got the scripture portion, make some time, grab your journal, and ask God the following with transparency, vulnerability and honesty of heart:
1. God, why did that particular scripture prickle me?
2. What was about it that challenged me?
3. God is there anything more You are wanting to show me about that scripture? (Record what He says and shows you)
4. God if there is anywhere that a lie has embedded in me, would you reveal that to me? (Wait and record what He says),
5. God, what truth would you like to replace it with? (Wait & record what He says)
6. Choice Time – if you want that lie gone, then maybe pray a prayer like, Father I choose to lay down the lie that was holding me back (say what He revealed you) and I choose to pick the truth so that I can move forward into greater freedom and trust in You. (say what He revealed to you)
7. Thank Him for the Truth, Life and Love that He is and pours out into and over you.
Over the next few parts we will be looking at the Trinity of Love, Justice & Mercy within Free Will. Wow, ever heard them referred to as that? We’ll start with the leg of Love.
Father, thank You that You are the same yesterday, today and forever, that Your desire and delight is to simply have us ‘come be with You’ and You come be with us. Would you help us to be brave and vulnerable about the prickles we have, so that the gems You have put in there we would find, and enable us to live out Equality here on earth. In Jesus name. Amen.
Craig and Winnie Patten
Itinerate Pastors / Apostolic Leaders
Encounter Ministries
