Lesson 350

(Lesson 350)(07-30-12) Acts 4:29-37, "And now, Lord, behold their threatenings: and grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word, By stretching forth thine hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may be done by the name of thy holy child Jesus. And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness. And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul: neither said any of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common. And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all. Neither was there any among them that lacked: for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the prices of the things that were sold, And laid them down at the apostles' feet: and distribution was made unto every man according as he had need.] And Joses, who by the apostles was surnamed Barnabas, (which is, being interpreted, The son of consolation,) a Levite, and of the country of Cyprus,] Having land, sold it, and brought the money, and laid it at the apostles' feet."

In this lesson, the Apostles prayed for strengthening after which the ground shook. They then established a Christian commune, each surrendering everything they owned, and dividing the goods as they were needed.
The key to the success of this first commune, was it's common want to serve the purpose of the gospel of our redeemer.
There is much political discussion today about whether or not we as Christians, should be our brother's keepers, and whether we should give of what we have to support the needs of those less fortunate. As it pertains to those of us who are indeed Christian, we, by this very lesson, are indeed our brothers keepers. (The lame man healed by the Holy Ghost through Peter and John is an excellent example.)
Jesus said that our giving would cost us nothing but would only increase our wealth, He promised that those of us who give all will receive one hundred times what we gave. Mark 10:29-30, "And Jesus answered and said, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the gospel's, But he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life."
Wouldn't it be a wonderful thing if there were enough concentrated fervent prayer so as to make the ground to shake?~~