The above sounds a lot like the below...
God calls us to different ministries. One of which is tewardship.
You ask people to be like the early church.....who then will be entrusted with the power and responsibility of the apostles to be faithful stewards of the blessings God provides?
Many people can give a person a fish...,how many people will take the time to teach them to fish?
God's calling to His people is MORE than jusT MORALISTIC good deeds.
Jesus told his disciples two different things concerning coin purses. Do you know the scriptures and WHY JESUS told them at first to travel without a coin purse or change of clothes and then later to carry a change of clothes, coin purse and sword?
Following the Holy spirit means listening not to a set formula given to all people but walking the unique path that God wants us to walk at a specific moment in our lives.
It's more than reading Bible stories and applying them to our lives...,it's praying and listening to God and following the paths He has made straight for us to walk.
In conclusion, if God calls you to sell all and become a missionary, then do it. If God calls you to be a faithful steward and give as you can at home, then that is good too.
Pray and follow God's leading,
Don't jump off cliffs to "prove" that you are a child of God. Instead follow Him and rest in His love.
IF THESE PEOPLE REALLY HAVE THIS SAVING FAITH, THEN I CHALLENGE THEM TO SELL THEIR POSSESSIONS TO BE GIVEN TO THE POOR OR THE “CHRISTIAN CHAT”, OUT OF LOVE AND COMPASSION AND OF OBEDIENCE TO GOD WITH ALL HONESTY AND INTEGRITY.
The above sounds a lot like the below...
Luke 4
“If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down from here, 10for it is written,
“‘He will command his angels concerning you,
to guard you,’
11and
“‘On their hands they will bear you up,
lest you strike your foot against a stone.’”
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+++Ariel, did Jesus sound like the devil(tempter) as well when he commanded(suggested) the same to the young man?
This proves my point that you and your cohorts would not accept that “faith without works is dead” because you don’t want to follow the commandments that would compromise your self interest
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???Following the Holy spirit means listening not to a set formula given to all people but walking the unique path that God wants us to walk at a specific moment in our lives.
It's more than reading Bible stories and applying them to our lives...,it's praying and listening to God and following the paths He has made straight for us to walk.
In conclusion, if God calls you to sell all and become a missionary, then do it. If God calls you to be a faithful steward and give as you can at home, then that is good too.
Pray and follow God's leading,
Don't jump off cliffs to "prove" that you are a child of God. Instead follow Him and rest in His love.
+++++++++++++++++++++
+++What is this unique path if it’s other than Jesus and how do you listen to God other than through the Word of God written in the scriptures?
How can you liken “obedience to God” from “jumping off cliffs”?
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+++Luke 22:35-38 Then Jesus asked them, “When I sent you without purse, bag or sandals, did you lack anything?” “Nothing,” they answered. He said to them, “But now if you have a purse, take it, and also a bag; and if you don’t have a sword, sell your cloak and buy one. It is written: ‘And he was numbered with the transgressors’; and I tell you that this must be fulfilled in me. Yes, what is written about me is reaching its fulfillment.” The disciples said, “See, Lord, here are two swords.” “That is enough,” he replied.
+++Matthew 6:24-25,31-34 “No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money. Do Not Worry “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
+++Romans 11:33-36 Doxology Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out! “Who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counselor?” “Who has ever given to God, that God should repay him?” For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be the glory forever! Amen.