Thursday, June 24, 2021 Submitted by Donnie O’Fallon
Peter said to her, “How could you conspire to test the Spirit of the Lord? Listen! The feet of the men who buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out also.” Acts 5:9
Joy and Victory Comes by Believing and Obeying
As we have been reading through Acts as a church, we have seen how the infant Church of God was aflame by the Anointing Spirit of God upon these new believers. We are told in earlier chapters of Acts that, “And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.” The message of the Gospel was being preached and people were responding. The church was ministering to its members needs by some selling property, giving the proceeds of the sale to God through the Church of Jesus Christ and the distribution of needs to individuals by Peter, the church’s leader. (See ACTS 4:32-37) They had all things common, and they shared life together.
One couple who was a part of the early church was Ananias and Saphira. (ACTS 5:1-11) They seemed to be doing as others were doing – but not really. They pretended to a greater degree of Christian devotedness than they really possessed! It was a tremendously evil thing in the sight of God. They lied about the money when Peter asked, but the Spirit of the Living God knew, and they immediately fell dead. At that moment, the “CARRYING COMMITTEE,” did their job, they carried out the corps of one and then the other. I am glad that Committee no longer functions in the church. How about you?
We are told Ananias, “Sold a possession and kept back a part of the price.” The point is this - the Spirit of our unselfish God, was working in such powerful way in early believer. They gave as needs were revealed, and they held everything they had as a trust from God to be used as a blessing to other people. We have come to know this as “Reciprocity.” Reciprocity is the mutual dependence on the action and influence of others toward one another. Here is how it works! When, I have a need in my life, and you see that need, then out of the abundance that God has blessed you with, you give to meet that need in my life. Reciprocally, when I see you or someone else with another need, I am to give as God has blessed me, to meet yours or other’s need. It is a “pay-it-forward” lifestyle.
The basic theme of the signs and wonders in Acts was that God was at work in the hearts and lives of His children and the church. God is dynamic, not static, He is always on the move. God had just sent His Holy Spirit at Pentecost. These new believers were answering the impulse of love, learning to walk in the light and they were being energized by His Spirit. What God is showing us in this text is that He was dealing with the sin of idolatry and hypocrisy as revealed in actions and attitudes of Ananias and Saphira. This story teaches us about how important truth is to God, and how hypocrisy is like wearing a mask. God held them accountable for their attitudes, their activity, and their actions as he does with all his children. Remember - lies comes from “the father of all lies,” Satan, who sought to kill the fire of the church. Gods Spirit prevailed. He came to convict men of sin, righteousness, and judgement. The Spirit of God shines a light on the truth in our world, in our lives, and in our hearts.
“We are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey Him,” (Acts 5:32).
