Wednesday, May 7th - Acts 5

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At this juncture in the life of the early church, God did something to remind everyone of just how serious being His disciple truly is. Far from being an event that drove people away from the church, God’s judgment on Ananias and Sapphira served to galvanize, clarify, and actually promote the growth of the church.

INSIGHTS

The sin of this couple wasn’t that they didn’t give the church all their possession. Rather, Peter charged Ananias in this way: “You have not lied to men but to God.” Later, he echoes the same idea to Sapphira: “Why is it that you have agreed together to put the Spirit of the Lord to the test?” This was not a sin against the church, but against God Himself. It’s not hard to fool the church…but it’s impossible to sneak one past the Lord.

“And all the more believers in the Lord, multitudes of men and women, were constantly added to their number…the people from the cities in the vicinity of Jerusalem were coming together.” Amazing regional growth, not is spite of, but because of, the seriousness of the cost of obededience. I remain convinced that the church today will grow when we clarify to the world that God demands an absolute, extraordinary sacrifice from His children!

“Go, stand and speak to the people in the temple the whole message of this Life.” Go, don’t stay. Stand, don’t shrink back. In the temple, not hidden in a back room somewhere. The whole message, not just the attractive parts. And, all this in the face of persecution. “We must obey God rather than men.” We must go.

“If this plan or action is of men, it will be overthrown. But if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them; or else you may even be found fighting against God.” God calls us to speak out. If we are presenting the actual truth, and doing so in the power of the Spirit, it won’t be able to be overthrown!

CHALLENGES

Three quick questions for your reflection today:

1. Are you making promises to God that you’re not keeping?

2. When was the last time you spoke the whole message of Christ?

3. Is God doing something through you, or are you just trying to do things in your own strength, and labeling it with Jesus’ name?

And a reminder question from yesterday…have you been with Jesus?

Uh oh…communion controversy ahead! Can’t these church women just get along?

See you tomorrow - an don’t be surprised if we need your help ushering.

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