He Is so Good

When we read the book of Acts soon we learn about the birth of the Church on that day of Pentecost and how immediately a community of grace and love was born. It’s evident that the apostles and church members were not in the business of launching a new religion or establishing a new corporation or organization. They were simply responding to the lead of the Holy Spirit who drew them into a life of prayer and into a community life. Luke in Acts chapter 4 gives us an example of their prayers:

Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness. Stretch out your hand to heal and perform signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus.” After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly. (Acts 4:29-31)

Additionally, Luke tells us about the new community life of the Ekklesia:

All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own, but they shared everything they had. With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And God’s grace was so powerfully at work in them all that there were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned land or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales and put it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to anyone who had need. (Acts 4:32-35).

Most times we read these verses too fast and don’t realize that such a community was really a new revolutionary concept for their times. Kindness and generosity were not abundant virtues in Judaea or the rest of the known world. Poor people were doomed and there were no such provisions as modern social insurance and government help for the least favoured. The church started as a real community of love and generosity. Love that was an active reflection of God’s love nature. Naturally, as time passed by and this new community of faith grew up in members and complexity an efficient administrative structure was needed. The same Holy Spirit inspired the leaders to organize a team of managers, or deacons, as we call them in church language, to carry on with the physical aspects of the administration of the church. You can read that in chapter 6. You also can see that for these positions they chose some members who were “known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom” (Acts 6:3). These deacons were not of a lesser kind than the apostles. Their faith, love and courage were as strong and powerful as those of the original 11 disciples. You can see in chapter 7 the inspired testimony of Stephen, the first martyr of the newborn Church as an example.

I’m bringing these passages up because even though times have changed dramatically and the Church has grown up in complexity and keeps learning more and more about many practical things, the two initial dynamics that established and consolidated the Church from the beginning are still essential. I’m talking about prayer and community. Prayer kept the leaders and all believers connected to the Source of love, wisdom and power, and also kept them connected with one another. Prayer is essential not just for our individual spiritual health but also for the health of the congregations and the Church as a whole.
Regarding community, the Holy Spirit of God, is the Spirit of love, but love cannot be expressed and cannot grow in isolation. Therefore, the immediate need for the praying believers is a community where God’s love can be shared. A community where light, healing and the testimony of Jesus are needed, and that is practically everywhere. Ideally, that community continues to be nourished by prayer and mutual expressions of love among members. Those expressions may range from a kind word, to giving one’s belongings to the needy, to even sacrificing one’s life for another person. But nothing of that can be accomplished by flesh power. It has to come from the overflow of the Holy Spirit who flows from us towards the immediate community. The family and then the church are ideal communities. But the will of God and the intent of the Holy Spirit doesn’t stop at the family and the church.
Let me stress that community is not always equivalent to what we know as “church.” Many believers and many of our church members live by themselves and far away from our local GCI congregations. That doesn’t mean that they can’t have a community life. Once we mentally and emotionally break the barriers of separation that the world wants to impose on us (i.e.: race, religion, denominations, gender, etc.) then we are free to reach out into all kinds of communities where Christ is needed and the Holy Spirit is leading us to. I heard of a church member who managed to gather many of his neighbours at the local pub to sing hymns and praises to God on Sundays afternoon. Others are volunteering at the food bank, or at the community centre, or at the school. Some others serve on the board of directors at their condominiums or organize social activities at work. A community doesn’t have to look religious to be blessed by the Holy Spirit who dwells in us. Think of Daniel serving the government in Babylon, Joseph serving others in prison, Jesus making that great wine at a wedding…

Our Triune God is Community in a way that we still cannot totally grasp, and our community life is a reflection of that attribute of God. Our churches are blessed gatherings where we can be nurtured by prayer, worship, and mutual encouragement and support. But we are called to deploy into the world out there carrying the abundance of life and love and light that God provides for us at church. We are called to bring healing, wisdom, peace, service, and all those gifts and blessings of the Spirit that are so needed out there. We are called to support, promote and encourage peaceful, meaningful and fruitful communities wherever we might be and wherever the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of communion, leads us to.

I know that most probably I’m preaching to the choir and you already are involved in one or many ways with the community around you. I just want to encourage you to continue doing it and see the connection between community, the person God has made you to be and our triune God who is the first cause for all communities.

Let’s celebrate all this as we come together this Sunday to worship our loving God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. See the information at the bottom and feel free to share it with those who are seeking a place for spiritual rest, comfort and growth. Laura and I send you our love and gratitude for your continuous support, encouragement and prayers on our behalf. Let’s keep praying for one another.

In Christ’s love,

Alvaro.