Snoopy Approaches Acts
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unsafe
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So this is what God really says verse 13 to 17 ===Posting God"s word
14 You ·did not want [L disowned; rejected] the One who is holy and ·good [righteous] but asked Pilate to give you a murderer [C Barabbas; Luke 23:18] instead.
15 And so you killed the ·One who gives [Author/Source/Ruler of] life, but God raised him from the dead. We are witnesses to this.
16 It was faith in [L the name of] Jesus that made this ·crippled [lame] man ·well [strong]. You can see this man, and you know him. He was made completely well because of ·trust [faith] in ·Jesus [L the name of Jesus], ·and you all saw it happen [in front of you all]!
17 “·Brothers and sisters [or Brothers; C fellow Jews], I know you did those things to Jesus because neither you nor your leaders [rulers] understood what you were doing.
Acts 3:13-17 Exp Bible
13 The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the God of our ·ancestors [forefathers; fathers], ·gave glory to [has glorified/honored] Jesus, his ·servant [or child]. But you handed him over to be killed. Pilate decided to let him go free, but you ·told Pilate you did not want [L disowned; rejected] Jesus.14 You ·did not want [L disowned; rejected] the One who is holy and ·good [righteous] but asked Pilate to give you a murderer [C Barabbas; Luke 23:18] instead.
15 And so you killed the ·One who gives [Author/Source/Ruler of] life, but God raised him from the dead. We are witnesses to this.
16 It was faith in [L the name of] Jesus that made this ·crippled [lame] man ·well [strong]. You can see this man, and you know him. He was made completely well because of ·trust [faith] in ·Jesus [L the name of Jesus], ·and you all saw it happen [in front of you all]!
17 “·Brothers and sisters [or Brothers; C fellow Jews], I know you did those things to Jesus because neither you nor your leaders [rulers] understood what you were doing.
BetteTheRed
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It's also interesting that only in Luke's account of the crucifixion do we encounter one of Jesus' final phrases as "forgive them for they know not what they do", and I hear a parallel in this phrasing of Peter's.
paradox3
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Acts 4:1-22
www.biblegateway.com
Peter and John are speaking and they are approached by the priests, the commander of the temple guard and the Sadducees.
The group is angry because Peter and John are preaching the resurrection of the dead in Jesus. So the two men are seized and placed in jail overnight.
At their trial, the authorities are impressed with their boldness and they cannot deny the healing of the lame man or other miraculous signs.
Peter and John are released because of the crowd. But they are ordered not to speak or teach in the name of Jesus. The religious authorities do not want this to spread.
Bible Gateway passage: Acts 4:1-22 - New English Translation
The Arrest and Trial of Peter and John - While Peter and John were speaking to the people, the priests and the commander of the temple guard and the Sadducees came up to them, angry because they were teaching the people and announcing in Jesus the resurrection of the dead. So they seized them...
Peter and John are speaking and they are approached by the priests, the commander of the temple guard and the Sadducees.
The group is angry because Peter and John are preaching the resurrection of the dead in Jesus. So the two men are seized and placed in jail overnight.
At their trial, the authorities are impressed with their boldness and they cannot deny the healing of the lame man or other miraculous signs.
Peter and John are released because of the crowd. But they are ordered not to speak or teach in the name of Jesus. The religious authorities do not want this to spread.
GordW
Church-Geek-Oramus
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ANd given that there is a strong tradition that the same person/community wrote both Luke and Acts it might say something about the theology of tghe person/community -- though the idea of forgiveness seems deep within the entire Jesus tradition.
unsafe
Well-Known Member
We can see in this chapter ---Just how preaching the truth and healing can get you in trouble -----
This commander of the temple was like a policeman is today ---this person was there to keep order in the temple ----
AI
the "Captain of the Temple" was a high-ranking Levite officer who commanded the Temple guard and was responsible for maintaining order within the Temple complex. This officer was second in authority to the High Priest.
I say --------So the disciples were preaching THE Truth to people and healing the lame man ruffled the feathers of High Priest and Sadducees and the commander -----who came and arrested them ----
Their preaching did not go on deaf ears -----many had a heart change and received the message -----which brought the saved number to 5,000 ----remember it was 3,000 the day of Pentecost ---so the Church is growing here ----inspite of the disruption ------
The sadducees did not believe in the afterlife --so they would have been extremely annoyed at this preaching ----
Interesting read ----
AI
AI Overview
Yes, the Sadducees did not believe in the afterlife. They were a Jewish sect during the Second Temple period who rejected the idea of resurrection, immortality of the soul, and the existence of angels, according to historical sources.
Literal Interpretation of the Torah:
The Sadducees adhered strictly to the written Torah and did not accept the oral traditions that were central to the Pharisees' beliefs.
Focus on the Present Life:
The Sadducees' focus was on the here and now, particularly the rituals and practices of the Temple, and they did not emphasize or believe in a future life or spiritual realm.
I say ------So we see these people assembled and had the Disciples in their midst ---verse 5
5 Then on the following day, their magistrates and elders and scribes were assembled in Jerusalem,
They were inquiring about what power and authority they had to heal the lame man -----
Verse 7 -AMP ------By what sort of power or by what kind of authority did [such people as] you do this [healing]?
Then we see Peter who is filled with the Holy Spirit start Preaching to these people ----speaking boldly and confidently ----he is showing no intimidation here in front of his court ---
verse 8 AMP
8 Then Peter, [because he was] filled with [and controlled by] the Holy Spirit, said to them, Rulers of the people and members of the council (the Sanhedrin),
Then Peter says if they are being put on trial for doing a good deed by healing a lame man ---then let this be known -----that is was through the power and authority of Jesus Christ that this man was healed -----whom they crucified and whom was despised and rejected by them ----God's words not mine -----
----Posting the scripture here -----
10 ;Let it be known and understood by all of you, and by the whole house of Israel, that in the name and through the power and authority of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, Whom you crucified, [but] Whom God raised from the dead, in Him and by means of Him this man is standing here before you well and sound in body.
11 This [Jesus] is the Stone which was despised and rejected by you, the builders, but which has become the Head of the corner [the Cornerstone].
12 And there is salvation in and through no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by and in which we must be saved.
I say ----We see how these leaders react to Peter and John here -----they saw the boldness that Peter spoke with and came to the conclusion that they were unlearned and untrained as they had no schooling in learning scripture -----
13 AMP -----Now when they saw the boldness and unfettered eloquence of Peter and John and perceived that they were unlearned and untrained in the schools [common men with no educational advantages]
I say ------This is the same today in this world -----if you don't go to a Seminary School and be ordained------ which is a farce in my opinion -------then you are deemed unfit to preach in any Church ----yet they allow worldly people being taught in their worldly Schools by worldly people and deeming the laying on of worldly hands as one acceptable to preach in their worldly Church Building --
No need for the Holy Spirit to be indwelled in the person to teach -just get hands laid on you -at the end of your so called training and your ready to Preach --God's Spiritual word ----
read all for yourselves if interested =====
The Bible teaches that all believers in Christ are priests in their own right. The main passage that deals with the priesthood of all believers is 1 Peter 2:5–9: “You also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. . . . But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light” (ESV).
I say ------so we see that they couldn't contradict what had happened as the lame man was standing with them ------Yeah !
So they confer among themselves and give them a stern warning ------and Peter and John tell them that they must listen to God not them ---
The rulers threaten them again to no avail as they let them go cause they had nothing to convict them with -----
God Promises to Protect His true Children
This commander of the temple was like a policeman is today ---this person was there to keep order in the temple ----
AI
the "Captain of the Temple" was a high-ranking Levite officer who commanded the Temple guard and was responsible for maintaining order within the Temple complex. This officer was second in authority to the High Priest.
I say --------So the disciples were preaching THE Truth to people and healing the lame man ruffled the feathers of High Priest and Sadducees and the commander -----who came and arrested them ----
Their preaching did not go on deaf ears -----many had a heart change and received the message -----which brought the saved number to 5,000 ----remember it was 3,000 the day of Pentecost ---so the Church is growing here ----inspite of the disruption ------
The sadducees did not believe in the afterlife --so they would have been extremely annoyed at this preaching ----
Interesting read ----
AI
AI Overview
Yes, the Sadducees did not believe in the afterlife. They were a Jewish sect during the Second Temple period who rejected the idea of resurrection, immortality of the soul, and the existence of angels, according to historical sources.
Literal Interpretation of the Torah:
The Sadducees adhered strictly to the written Torah and did not accept the oral traditions that were central to the Pharisees' beliefs.
Focus on the Present Life:
The Sadducees' focus was on the here and now, particularly the rituals and practices of the Temple, and they did not emphasize or believe in a future life or spiritual realm.
I say ------So we see these people assembled and had the Disciples in their midst ---verse 5
5 Then on the following day, their magistrates and elders and scribes were assembled in Jerusalem,
They were inquiring about what power and authority they had to heal the lame man -----
Verse 7 -AMP ------By what sort of power or by what kind of authority did [such people as] you do this [healing]?
Then we see Peter who is filled with the Holy Spirit start Preaching to these people ----speaking boldly and confidently ----he is showing no intimidation here in front of his court ---
verse 8 AMP
8 Then Peter, [because he was] filled with [and controlled by] the Holy Spirit, said to them, Rulers of the people and members of the council (the Sanhedrin),
Then Peter says if they are being put on trial for doing a good deed by healing a lame man ---then let this be known -----that is was through the power and authority of Jesus Christ that this man was healed -----whom they crucified and whom was despised and rejected by them ----God's words not mine -----
----Posting the scripture here -----
10 ;Let it be known and understood by all of you, and by the whole house of Israel, that in the name and through the power and authority of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, Whom you crucified, [but] Whom God raised from the dead, in Him and by means of Him this man is standing here before you well and sound in body.
11 This [Jesus] is the Stone which was despised and rejected by you, the builders, but which has become the Head of the corner [the Cornerstone].
12 And there is salvation in and through no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by and in which we must be saved.
I say ----We see how these leaders react to Peter and John here -----they saw the boldness that Peter spoke with and came to the conclusion that they were unlearned and untrained as they had no schooling in learning scripture -----
13 AMP -----Now when they saw the boldness and unfettered eloquence of Peter and John and perceived that they were unlearned and untrained in the schools [common men with no educational advantages]
I say ------This is the same today in this world -----if you don't go to a Seminary School and be ordained------ which is a farce in my opinion -------then you are deemed unfit to preach in any Church ----yet they allow worldly people being taught in their worldly Schools by worldly people and deeming the laying on of worldly hands as one acceptable to preach in their worldly Church Building --
No need for the Holy Spirit to be indwelled in the person to teach -just get hands laid on you -at the end of your so called training and your ready to Preach --God's Spiritual word ----
read all for yourselves if interested =====
Is the priesthood of all believers biblical? | GotQuestions.org
Is the priesthood of all believers biblical? Does the New Testament teach that there should be a formal priesthood?
www.gotquestions.org
The Bible teaches that all believers in Christ are priests in their own right. The main passage that deals with the priesthood of all believers is 1 Peter 2:5–9: “You also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. . . . But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light” (ESV).
I say ------so we see that they couldn't contradict what had happened as the lame man was standing with them ------Yeah !
So they confer among themselves and give them a stern warning ------and Peter and John tell them that they must listen to God not them ---
The rulers threaten them again to no avail as they let them go cause they had nothing to convict them with -----
God Promises to Protect His true Children
paradox3
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I knew the Sadducees didn't believe in resurrection of the dead. I was not aware they adhered strictly to the written Torah.
I knew they were very tied to practices in the Temple and it was the Pharisees who were taking religion out to the local synagogues.
Were the Sadducees really not interested in the spiritual realm? I find this hard to believe because the Torah is all about getting right with God.
I think they basically disappeared after the destruction of the second temple. Makes sense if their whole lives were centered there.
The Pharisees, I guess, were more adaptable and figured out how to do Judaism with no temple. Outreach was already part of their game plan so it might not have been a huge stretch.
I knew they were very tied to practices in the Temple and it was the Pharisees who were taking religion out to the local synagogues.
Were the Sadducees really not interested in the spiritual realm? I find this hard to believe because the Torah is all about getting right with God.
I think they basically disappeared after the destruction of the second temple. Makes sense if their whole lives were centered there.
The Pharisees, I guess, were more adaptable and figured out how to do Judaism with no temple. Outreach was already part of their game plan so it might not have been a huge stretch.
Mendalla
Happy headbanging ape!!
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Interestingly, I think that when The Ancients podcast did a series on the Essenes, they talked about The Essenes being an offshoot of the Sadducees who rejected the temple as it then stood. I'd have to find that one again. I think that series was sometime last year.
But basically any Jewish group tied to the temple materially or spiritually was done after 70AD. That left the ancestor of modern synagogue-based Judaism (which included the Pharisees) and Christianity, which eventually split with Judaism as the mission to the Gentiles came to dominate.
unsafe
Well-Known Member
I think if you do some research you will find that the Sadducees didn't believe that the soul left the body when you died --they believed the soul perished with the body -so they didn't believe in an afterlife ---The Pharisees believed that the soul left the Body and was taken to an afterlife ----
I think this comes up later on down the road in Acts -----
paradox3
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Acts 4:23-31
www.biblegateway.com
After their release, Peter and John report to the other believers everything the high priests and elders told them.
They pray to God with one mind. They ask God to pay attention to the threat they live under. And to grant them courage to speak the message of Christ.
They trust God to heal and bring about miraculous signs and wonders through the name of Jesus.
The place were they assembled is shaken and they are filled with the Holy Spirit. They begin to speak the word of God courageously.
Bible Gateway passage: Acts 4:23-31 - New English Translation
The Followers of Jesus Pray for Boldness - When they were released, Peter and John went to their fellow believers and reported everything the high priests and the elders had said to them. When they heard this, they raised their voices to God with one mind and said, “Master of all, you who made...
They pray to God with one mind. They ask God to pay attention to the threat they live under. And to grant them courage to speak the message of Christ.
They trust God to heal and bring about miraculous signs and wonders through the name of Jesus.
The place were they assembled is shaken and they are filled with the Holy Spirit. They begin to speak the word of God courageously.
unsafe
Well-Known Member
This is an important statement to get ----cause true believers are to be in one mind with Christ --
in other words All true believers are to think like Christ and not have different mindsets ----
Just the the Pharisees and the Sadducees ---they were of 2 mindsets -----
One believed in the the after life the other one didn't ---there was confusion and division there ---they were after the one God but had different views -----this can cause distention ---fear and anger as they are preaching their different beliefs
This is the same today with so many different Denominations all preaching their different mindsets about what they believe -----they are not in one mind with Christ ---they are in their own mindsets preaching what they think ---not what Christ thinks -----they are Not in One Mind With Christ
BetteTheRed
Resident Heretic
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I have a couple of problems with your points here, unsafe.
Firstly, your criticism of the two major streams of ancient Judaism (the Essenes seem more of a minor sect) seems odd given that Christianity appears way more likely to the "sin of schism"... Even today, Judaism has only three major streams where Christianity has an uncountable number of denominations.
Secondly, I think that an argument could be made that any religion that is largely centred in love, life and the golden rule is "of one mind with Christ", as that seems to have been foremost in Jesus's heart and mind according to what has been passed down to us.
unsafe
Well-Known Member
BetteTheRed -----the Disciples had the indwelling of the Holy Spirit and this is the only way one can have one mind with Christ according to Scripture NOT ME -------
Without Christ dwelling in you your mindset is of the World ---Again according to Scripture not Me ------
so if you have a problem with this ----take it up with AI not me
AI
AI Overview
The idea that unbelievers do not have the "mind of Christ" is a theological concept, particularly within Christian theology, that suggests non-believers lack the spiritual understanding and perspective that comes from faith in Jesus Christ. This concept often stems from interpretations of 1 Corinthians 2:14, which states that natural, or non-spiritual, people do not accept the things of the Spirit of God because they are spiritually discerned.
unsafe
Well-Known Member
We see in today's scripture that after John and Peter were released they told their group what was said to them -----then the group raised their voices which showed Power and authority and stated their case -----
‘The kings of the earth took their stand [to attack],
And the rulers were assembled together
Against the Lord and against His Anointed (the Christ, the Messiah).’
29 And now, Lord, observe their threats [take them into account] and grant that Your bond-servants may declare Your message [of salvation] with great confidence
I say ----so here we see they are asking God to take an account of their threats ----and allow His Servants to declare God's message with Great confidence ---while healing and signs and wonders are conducted through the name and power of Jesus -----
So here they acknowledge that it is Jesus who heals and does the signs and wonders not them ---
Then then prayed and the place shook and they were Filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak God's word boldly and with courage
I say -------This is such an eye opening here for the Ministers of today who are trying to preach without the indwelling of the Holy Spirit ----How the Holy Spirit empowers a person to Preach His word to others with Strength --courage and Boldness -----
This Group is of One Mind --One Spirit and One Church and one Family ----
‘The kings of the earth took their stand [to attack],
And the rulers were assembled together
Against the Lord and against His Anointed (the Christ, the Messiah).’
29 And now, Lord, observe their threats [take them into account] and grant that Your bond-servants may declare Your message [of salvation] with great confidence
I say ----so here we see they are asking God to take an account of their threats ----and allow His Servants to declare God's message with Great confidence ---while healing and signs and wonders are conducted through the name and power of Jesus -----
So here they acknowledge that it is Jesus who heals and does the signs and wonders not them ---
Then then prayed and the place shook and they were Filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak God's word boldly and with courage
I say -------This is such an eye opening here for the Ministers of today who are trying to preach without the indwelling of the Holy Spirit ----How the Holy Spirit empowers a person to Preach His word to others with Strength --courage and Boldness -----
This Group is of One Mind --One Spirit and One Church and one Family ----
paradox3
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Acts 4:32-37
www.biblegateway.com
The group of believers are of one heart and mind. They are giving their testimony to the resurrection of Jesus and grace is upon them.
There is no one needy in the group. Everything is held in common. Anyone who holds lands or houses sells them off and contributes the profits.
Bible Gateway passage: Acts 4:32-37 - New English Translation
Conditions Among the Early Believers - The group of those who believed were of one heart and mind, and no one said that any of his possessions was his own, but everything was held in common. With great power the apostles were giving testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great...
There is no one needy in the group. Everything is held in common. Anyone who holds lands or houses sells them off and contributes the profits.
unsafe
Well-Known Member
So today we see again the believers are of one Heart and one Mind ---as they all shared in the infilling of the Holy Spirit --there was great harmony and and a strong showing of unity and Agape here among the believers -----
This was important as they were trying to add to their members and had to all be on the same page and wave length to show that they were unified under one God and one Spirit and one mind----they were all strong in their faith and commitment to preach the Gospel of Salvation with strength and boldness ----
Most Clergy today do not preach the Gospel with strength nor confidence --they preach a wishy washy Gospel in a doubtful voice ---in my view
It is important to note here that they were of one mind and Heart as far as their possessions goes as well ----and shared what proceeds the selling of their possessions brought in ---so we see that they were not in bondage to their possessions --
They realized that God own everything -----Humans own nothing ----as God gives all humans the ability to earn money and by earning His money they can buy what is needed to sustain themselves ---We Humans are just Stewards of what God has enabled us to get ---
We can't personally claim none of of what we have -----
The Apostles understand this concept ---and are united in Providing what funds needed to grow the Church and help the less fortunate ------
We see there was not a needy person among them -----they were all looked after -----trusting God to provide their needs ----
Jesus once told them -----in Luke 9
Amplified Bible
And He said to them, “Take nothing for your journey [that might encumber you]—neither a walking stick, nor bag, nor bread, nor money; and do not even have two tunics apiece.
We see 2 things here ----1 this group had overcome being in bondage to what people have to say to them or about them ----2 ---they are also free from possession bondage -----
1--- I call it being free from people bondage ---this is a huge step in ones growth journey in their Faith walk with Christ -----relying on peoples approval so people won't judge them of what they do and say or wear which keeps them in bondage and shackled to approval addiction ----we need to please God and get His approval only -----not the approval of people ---
I say -----I am so there myself and it is so Freeing ----
2 Possession bondage is another yoke people have -----i can't get rid of that --it has emotional meaning to me ----so tied up on a thing that they are fused to it when they don't own it in the first place ---
The young ruler comes to mind ----so attached to his possessions he couldn't see his way clear to do away with the THINGS he was so ties to ---all our possessions will still be in this world when we die ---no good to us then --
When Possessions become your god you are yoked and shackled with them ----when you can let go of that ---again it is so Freeing---
The early church community was so committed to serving God and in building a strong Church and today we see such a decline in the body of Christ ---
The enthusiasm --the strength and boldness and courage of these Apostles Preaching the Truth of the New Covenant has dwindled out in today's world cause the Holy Spirit is far from many who sit in the pulpits today -----
Our Churches are closing and the attendance is dwindling ---and God predicted this would happen in the last last days ----God Has a Plan and it is is playing out as I type this ---
Today the Churches need money just as they did when Jesus walked this earth and here when the Church was being formed ----all donations here were given without receipts ---they trust God to look after them ----today people get receipts and submit it to the government to get some of their donation back ---there is no trust in God to look after them fully and completely ----
The fear of not having enough money grips people today -----they need the reassurance of that receipt to pass in --before they give to the Church or Charity ---- in my view ----
This was important as they were trying to add to their members and had to all be on the same page and wave length to show that they were unified under one God and one Spirit and one mind----they were all strong in their faith and commitment to preach the Gospel of Salvation with strength and boldness ----
Most Clergy today do not preach the Gospel with strength nor confidence --they preach a wishy washy Gospel in a doubtful voice ---in my view
It is important to note here that they were of one mind and Heart as far as their possessions goes as well ----and shared what proceeds the selling of their possessions brought in ---so we see that they were not in bondage to their possessions --
They realized that God own everything -----Humans own nothing ----as God gives all humans the ability to earn money and by earning His money they can buy what is needed to sustain themselves ---We Humans are just Stewards of what God has enabled us to get ---
We can't personally claim none of of what we have -----
The Apostles understand this concept ---and are united in Providing what funds needed to grow the Church and help the less fortunate ------
We see there was not a needy person among them -----they were all looked after -----trusting God to provide their needs ----
Jesus once told them -----in Luke 9
Amplified Bible
And He said to them, “Take nothing for your journey [that might encumber you]—neither a walking stick, nor bag, nor bread, nor money; and do not even have two tunics apiece.
We see 2 things here ----1 this group had overcome being in bondage to what people have to say to them or about them ----2 ---they are also free from possession bondage -----
1--- I call it being free from people bondage ---this is a huge step in ones growth journey in their Faith walk with Christ -----relying on peoples approval so people won't judge them of what they do and say or wear which keeps them in bondage and shackled to approval addiction ----we need to please God and get His approval only -----not the approval of people ---
I say -----I am so there myself and it is so Freeing ----
2 Possession bondage is another yoke people have -----i can't get rid of that --it has emotional meaning to me ----so tied up on a thing that they are fused to it when they don't own it in the first place ---
The young ruler comes to mind ----so attached to his possessions he couldn't see his way clear to do away with the THINGS he was so ties to ---all our possessions will still be in this world when we die ---no good to us then --
When Possessions become your god you are yoked and shackled with them ----when you can let go of that ---again it is so Freeing---
The early church community was so committed to serving God and in building a strong Church and today we see such a decline in the body of Christ ---
The enthusiasm --the strength and boldness and courage of these Apostles Preaching the Truth of the New Covenant has dwindled out in today's world cause the Holy Spirit is far from many who sit in the pulpits today -----
Our Churches are closing and the attendance is dwindling ---and God predicted this would happen in the last last days ----God Has a Plan and it is is playing out as I type this ---
Today the Churches need money just as they did when Jesus walked this earth and here when the Church was being formed ----all donations here were given without receipts ---they trust God to look after them ----today people get receipts and submit it to the government to get some of their donation back ---there is no trust in God to look after them fully and completely ----
The fear of not having enough money grips people today -----they need the reassurance of that receipt to pass in --before they give to the Church or Charity ---- in my view ----
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