Acts 4 – Spirit-Filled Community

The Book of Acts is a call out of our individuality & independence, and dare I say sometimes “isolation” – to come together around Jesus, the one who is greater than anything that divides us. The quality & sustainability of our current reformation in the “church” will be determined by what we reform around and I pray it is only Jesus.

We see it in Acts 2 and again in 4, the early church…SPIRIT-FILLED BOLDNESS, supernaturally empowered voices to proclaim Jesus in a way culture around them could hear it.

They served one another, united – laying down their lives, possessions and time…breaking convenient models of life, where their comfort and rights were no longer the most important things they possessed. 

Detaching from selfishness and living for others, beyond and outside themselves. This is what a radical, Jesus centered, Spirit-filled community looks like. There is a sense of belonging, purpose, and timing. 

Following Jesus created a bond, a commonality that exploded when the Holy Spirit was poured out.

SPIRIT-FILLED COMMUNITY tears down differences and draws people together (Acts 2:44; 4:32).

We take an immense amount of joy in our Living Waters community because we are intentional about being a people of different perspectives and backgrounds who come together around Jesus! Navigating our differences challenges us to be refined, as iron sharpens iron, not to conformity but to be a transformative community that is a target for fresh outpourings of God’s Spirit.

QUESTION: Do you have a community where you can meet with other believers and allow the walls of your life to come down?

IN SPIRIT-FILLED COMMUNITY “me and my” disappear.

The early followers of Jesus shared everything they had for the greater good and care for others,  selling their possessions and giving to those in need. They understood the risk and counted the cost of living that way, and still chose radical generosity! When we live with open hands we never know what God will do with all we make available to Him! He isn’t looking for our ability; he’s looking for our availability!

QUESTION: Do you have a community that challenges you to give the best of what you are, the best of what you have to see the best come about for others?

IN SPIRIT-FILLED COMMUNITY, we live within a sense of awe and wonder.

The believers in Acts sensed they were a part of something bigger than themselves and were willing to adjust their lives to capture the moment to the fullest. Awe and wonder drove them together while simultaneously advancing the Kingdom and growing the Church.

Let’s retain a sense of joy and awe at what God is doing in our midst, in our day, in this community called Living Waters. There is much ahead, but if we are so future-focused, we will forget to take joy in today and to engage what God is doing right now!

Question: Have you lost that sense of wonder at what God’s doing?