All Things Common

Chapter Four

Now we come to the New Covenant and find that the principles of giving are the same. The character of the individual, as well as, the gift being offered to God is one. But now we have the formation of another political society called The Church. It is the manifestation of the Kingdom of God on the earth. Its citizens are spiritual beings who take no thought for the things of this world.

St. Matthew 6:31-34

31 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?

32(For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.

33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

34 Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.

Now this is the foundational mindset of a true Son of God. It is the mind of Christ. To have any other mind concerning the cares of this life is to destroy any possibility of walking in the Spirit. I know that most of the saints hate to receive a teaching on contentment and self-denial, but without such teachings you might never know the things that forbid you the journey to the Spirit.

Jesus made a very bold statement during His pilgrimage here on earth. He said,

St. Mark 8:34-38

34 And when he had called the people unto him

with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.

35 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel's, the same shall save it.

36 For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?

37 Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?

38 Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.

Clearly, it is the will of the Master for His disciples to depend solely on the Lord for their existence. This is the criteria for following Him. But where is He leading us? Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me (St. John 14:6). Self-denial is the way to the Father. It is the walk in the Spirit.

Why do we seem so shocked at the concept of this self-denial walk of Faith? If we simply look at the beginning of the Church we will find that it is the Church and not God who strayed from this principle.

Acts 4:31-35

31 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.

32 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.

33 And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all.

34 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,

35 And laid them down at the apostles' feet: and distribution was made unto every man according as he had need.

Is this not the answer to the prayer Jesus prayed in the 17th chapter of St. John? “Father make them one, as we are one.” These saints were all of one mind, one heart and one Spirit. They were of one Body. They nurtured that part of the Body that needed nurturing, clothed that part that needed clothing and they fed that part that needed feeding. They had no private possessions. They had become one in the Lord. Needs, possessions, nor lack were unable to separate them.

What are we, as ministers to do with these scriptures? Most leaders in the Body pretend that they do not exist for it is hard for them to believe that the saints will ever willingly receive such a doctrine. “So what do we do with it, Bible Teachers International? Do we pretend as well?” God forbid. It is our responsibility to preach the Gospel as written. It is the Lord’s responsibility to increase the seeds we plant and water. We will therefore, not only minister these Truths, but will endeavor to bring the people of God to living in these precepts. For without self-denial, there is no journey to the Spirit.

I John 3:16-19

16 Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.

17 But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?

18 My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.

19 And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him.

According to John, the love of God is manifest in the opening of our bowels of mercy for those in need. However, let us not miss the 19th verse. “And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him.” It is by fulfilling this commandment of love that we come to know that we are of the Truth and that our hearts are confident before Him.

I John 3:20-23

20 For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things.

21 Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God.

22 And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight.

23 And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment.

We must love the way the commandment of love was given. It is then that we are able to ask and receive from Him. Many have been very presumptuous to take this passage out of the context within which it is written.

The asking and receiving doctrine is rooted and grounded in the fellowship of giving. It is not a principle that stands alone without the benefit of Godly character and commandment. In spite of the Faith and Prosperity teachings use of the passage, it is not profitable to believe that you can ask and receive from the Lord without first having the heart to meet the needs of others with whatever little substance you may possess. Neither is it profitable to think that you will be able to proceed in spiritual development or ministry wherein the gift of God is working consistently through you.

I John 3:24

And he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us.

Look closely at this last verse. If we keep this commandment then we dwell or walk in Him and He in us. However, if the soul refuses to allow Christ, the Spirit of God, to abide (be made manifest) in the flesh, then the soul itself is left in the darkness pursuing the things of this world.