DIGGING DEEP NO 1046 SPIRITUAL GROWTH AND SATAN’S ATTACKS Acts 5:42

“Day after day, in the temple courts and from house to house, they never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Messiah.” Acts 5:42

How often do you experience spiritual or emotional highs? Why don’t such times last? You may even ask,” I’m trying to follow Jesus. Why does life seem so hard? The Jerusalem church did go through hard times despite following Jesus. The church experienced hard times because they followed Jesus. The people and churches God uses will face problems. God strengthened His people and spread the gospel through every problem the church experienced. Jesus promised, “I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.”

            These chapters in the book of Acts will show us how Jesus kept His promise. Acts 4:32-5-10

Generous Lives-

When the Sanhedrin released Peter and John from prison the church rejoiced. They praised God’s sovereign power over their enemies. They did not ask for safety, but for strength to share the gospel boldly. God answered so powerfully that the meeting place shook. The Holy Spirit filled the church freshly. As at Pentecost, God’s grace and power visibly marked all the believers. The marks of the Holy Spirit’s work amongst them included:

UNITY- All the believers were one in heart and mind. Acts 4:32. Before the cross, Jesus prayed for His people’s unity. John 17:20-23. The Jerusalem church demonstrated God’s answer.

GENEROSITY- They shared everything they had. God held nothing back when He gave His Son for them. They now held nothing back from Him. They gave themselves totally to Jesus and to one another. 2 Corinth 8:5

Bold Witness- With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. No threats could keep them from telling others of the living Lord Jesus.

Love, not Law, fueled their generosity. – God had lavished love and grace on them. How could they not love one another lavishly? They responded to God’s grace so selflessly that no one lacked anything. God gave them the desire and ability to meet every need that arose. Those who owned land and houses sold them. The church distributed the money to anyone who had a need.

            Luke gives us the example of Joseph, a Levite from the island of Cyprus. He sold a field and put the money at the apostles’ feet. The apostles called him Barnabas or son of encouragement. More than money, Barnabas gave himself freely, first to Christ and then to others. We meet Barnabas again when Saul came to faith in Christ. Saul had mercilessly persecuted the church. Only Barnabas risked befriending the man who, as the apostle Paul, would bring the gospel to the Gentiles. Later, God used Barnabas to restore John Mark to useful ministry.

Deadly Deception -Acts 5:1-10

A married couple in the church, Ananias and Sapphira, also sold a piece of property and put the money at the apostles’ feet. In every outward way, they seemed like Barnabas. Inwardly they differed radically. They coveted Barnabas’ reputation but refused to pay the price of self-sacrifice. They conspired to keep back for themselves part of the money. Sin threatened to enter the church through this couple when in the New Testament, they decided to keep back some of their proceeds from the land they sold and lied to the Holy Spirit. Similarly in the Old Testament soon after God’s people entered the Promised Land, the sin of a man named Achan threatened the whole community. Achan took plunder that belonged to God. His family conspired with him to hide the theft. To protect the nation, God swiftly judged Achan and his family. Ananias pretended to give all the money from the sale of his property to the apostles. To protect the church, God gave Peter special insight to discern Ananias’ lie. Peter exposed four aspects of the threat to the church.

Satan’s part- How is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you lied to the Holy Spirit? Acts 5:3. Satan hates God and His people. But Satan and his demons have no power apart from what God permits. Peter later gave this warning. 1 Peter 5:8-9

Individual responsibility- You have lied…. No one can make us sin. Our own wrong desires drag us away. Ananias and Sapphira sinned individually. Each failed to help the other turn from sin to God. Our faithful God assures us ‘He will not let us be tempted beyond what you can bear. 1 Corinth 10:13.

The nature of sin- Didn’t it belong to you? After it was sold wasn’t the money yours? The lie threatened church unity and purity. God who gave His Son for us says, ‘Give not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.”

The one sinned against- You have lied to the Holy Spirit. You have not lied just to human beings but to God. All sin resists God’s loving purpose and has eternal consequences. ultimately, believers cry out with David. Against you, you only have I sinned. Psalm 51:1-4. Will you make David’s prayer your own today?

Conclusion- God calls us to live transparently as His holy people.

Would you ask the Lord to fill you with the Holy Spirit today to help you live a life that fully pleases God in all things?