Night is Coming; Bring Glory to Your Name

So Jesus says in John 9:3-5 in regards to the man born blind from birth,

"Neither this man nor his parents sinned but this happened so that the work of God might be displayed in his life. As long as it is day, we must do the work of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work. While I am in the world, I am the light of the world."

Night is coming, when no one can work. That's an important sentence. I do not live as though night is coming. Lord, bless me with the understanding that Your Gospel is a sweet, but urgent, message. And would urgency not turn into fear or hurriedness, but action. Active, rather than passive, action.

Jesus, You are the light of the world. And You are still in the world. Please stay in the world a little longer. Bless people who are outside of You with opportunities to come to faith. Hear the prayers of Your people, who intercede on behalf of those who do not know You. Call people to intercede for New York City, for victims of slavery, for the poor. Break the hearts of Christians in America for what breaks Yours. For those who claim to see, but who are actually blind, please give them sight. Show them their blindness and direct them to You.

For those who are blind, suffering, in pain (emotional, physical, spiritual, mental), deaf to the truth, Call and Shout! Break through their deafness. Shatter darkness and wash away blindness. Give multiple opportunities for second birth Lord, out of Your patience and love and the depth of Your kindness. I pray this would not be a kissup prayer. You are really patient and supremely loving, and so kind. You desire for ALL to know Christ! So please heal. Hearts, bodies, minds Jesus! In the Name of Jesus, the Name that CONQUERED Death. Display the work of God in the lives of those who are hurting and need help. Bring glory to Your Name even through the sin and the pain. Prove true the love of those who follow You; deepen our love for You Father. Draw us close to You.

Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. Amen.

2:01 pm

Acts 5

Acts 5: 1-16

Ananias and Sapphira

¹ Now a man named Ananias, together with his wife Sapphira, also sold a piece of property. ² With his wife’s full knowledge he kept back part of the money for himself, but brought the rest and put it at the apostles’ feet.

³ Then Peter said, “Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit and have kept for yourself some of the money you received for the land? ⁴ Didn’t it belong to you before it was sold? And after it was sold, wasn’t the money at your disposal? What made you think of doing such a thing? You have not lied just to human beings but to God.”

⁵ When Ananias heard this, he fell down and died. And great fear seized all who heard what had happened. ⁶Then some young men came forward, wrapped up his body, and carried him out and buried him.

⁷ About three hours later his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. ⁸ Peter asked her, “Tell me, is this the price you and Ananias got for the land?”

“Yes,” she said, “that is the price.”

⁹ 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.”

¹⁰ At that moment she fell down at his feet and died. Then the young men came in and, finding her dead, carried her out and buried her beside her husband. ¹¹ Great fear seized the whole church and all who heard about these events.

The Apostles Heal Many

¹² The apostles performed many signs and wonders among the people. And all the believers used to meet together in Solomon’s Colonnade. ¹³ No one else dared join them, even though they were highly regarded by the people. ¹⁴ Nevertheless, more and more men and women believed in the Lord and were added to their number. ¹⁵ As a result, people brought the sick into the streets and laid them on beds and mats so that at least Peter’s shadow might fall on some of them as he passed by. ¹⁶ Crowds gathered also from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing their sick and those tormented by impure spirits, and all of them were healed.

______________________________________

Observation

Ananias's sin was against God (verse 3, 4).

What was his sin? Lying to the Holy Spirit (verse 3, 4).

Fear seized the church and all who heard about what happened (verse 5, 11).

Death was the price for not telling the truth. (verse 5, 10). In being dishonest, they were testing the Spirit of the Lord (verse 9).

No one else dared join the believers in Solomon’s Colonnade though they were highly regarded by the people and more men and women believed in the Lord and were added to the believers' number (verse 13, 14; these two verses need to be reconciled for me).

Sapphira had the opportunity to speak for herself. She was not struck down because of the sin of her husband. She died because of her own sin (verses 7-10).

The apostles were still performing miracles and still healing after this event (verse 12, verse 16).

Interpretation

God is good, but He is also still God. There are consequences for people in the Church who do not honor Him.

The sin of Ananias and Sapphira was presenting a sacrifice before the Lord that was not their all/best. Then they lied and claimed that it was their all. God does not take our second-best. Oh no sir.

The apostles were still healing and performing signs. God was still with them.

Perhaps the death of Ananias and Sapphira served as a reminder to the people that though God has been merciful, He is still God.

Sapphira was held accountable for her own sin. She was given a chance to repent.

Is this a difference in God's interaction with us from the Old Testament to the New Testament? Each is responsible for his/her own actions/sins, not the sins of their forefathers/families?

It is foolish to lie, especially in the Church, in front of God's people. Ananias and Sapphira lied to God's people.

Moreover, by not bringing all the money they made from selling the land, they undermined community.

- Undermined community by:

1. Lying to the community

2. Not bringing their all to God

Questions:

1. Why was it that no one dared to join the believers in Solomon’s Colonnade (verse 13)?

2. What does it mean to test the Spirit in this context? Ananias and Sapphira did it in a way that dishonored God. What are the differences between testing the Spirit in a way that strengthens our faith in and trust in God and testing the Spirit in a way that does not bring glory?

3. Why was death their punishment?

4. Why the strike of fear in the Church? What kind of fear of the Lord was it?

5. This incident was an illustration of God's wrath. But as God's people, aren't we no longer under the wrath of God? What made Ananias and Sapphira unique?

Application

I need to bring my best to God and be honest with Him. Not bringing my best/ALL is a sin against the Holy Spirit.

I cannot undermine community by lying or by not giving my all. In my life right now, that looks like being honest and talking to Stephen about what God has told me to talk to him about.

_______________________________________

Lord, help me to fear You. In the way that I should. I pray that my fear of You would be a righteous fear, a holy fear and not a fear that immobilizes me. May I give you my ALL; I pray that I would not sin against the Holy Spirit by giving You less than my best and calling it my best, less than my all and calling it my all. May I know who I serve and understand the great offense it is for me to not give You my all. Lord, please reconcile for me the many parts of Your character; Your mercy, grace, and love, but also Your wrath and expectations of me. Have Your way in my heart, in my life, and in my Spirit Holy God. In the Name of Jesus the Christ I pray, Amen.

Lord, may I not undermine community by lying or by not giving my all. May my aim be to build up community, not to subvert it or subvert the plan that You have for it. Lord, give me the courage to be honest and to give You my all. Give me the strength to take the risk to be vulnerable with community. Guard against even the unconscious undermining of community. Make my spirit so aware of how I serve You. May I be intentional with all the I do in the Name of Jesus Christ. Please keep me blameless at Your coming Lord Jesus, as You have promised in Your word to do. Hallelu Yah. This I pray in Your Name Jesus, Amen.

Acts 4 Continued

Acts 4:23-37

The Believers Pray

²³ On their release, Peter and John went back to their own people and reported all that the chief priests and the elders had said to them. ²⁴ When they heard this, they raised their voices together in prayer to God. “Sovereign Lord,” they said, “you made the heavens and the earth and the sea, and everything in them. ²⁵ You spoke by the Holy Spirit through the mouth of your servant, our father David:

“‘Why do the nations rage
and the peoples plot in vain?
²⁶ The kings of the earth rise up
and the rulers band together
against the Lord
and against his anointed one.^[b]’^[c]

²⁷ Indeed Herod and Pontius Pilate met together with the Gentiles and the people of Israel in this city to conspire against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed. ²⁸ They did what your power and will had decided beforehand should happen. ²⁹ Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness. ³⁰ Stretch out your hand to heal and perform signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus.”

³¹ After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.

The Believers Share Their Possessions

³² All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own, but they shared everything they had. ³³ With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And God’s grace was so powerfully at work in them all ³⁴ that there were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned land or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales ³⁵ and put it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to anyone who had need.

³⁶ Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus, whom the apostles called Barnabas (which means “son of encouragement”),³⁷ sold a field he owned and brought the money and put it at the apostles’ feet.

Footnotes:

b. Acts 4:26 That is, Messiah or Christ

c. Acts 4:26 Psalm 2:1,2

__________________________________________

Observation

When Peter and John came bad with news of the threats and warnings of the chief priests and elders, the first response of the people was to pray (verse 24).

When the people pray, they start by recognizing who God is. They tell God that He is Sovereign and Creator (verse 24).

When the people pray, they quote Scripture a.k.a., God's own words (verses 25-26).

When the believers pray, they do not ask for deliverance from danger or even protection. They pray for God to enable them to preach with boldness (verse 29).

The believers asked for boldness and God gave it to them (verse 31).

As the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, much grace was upon them all (verse 33).

Joseph was mentioned specifically. Moreover, he was called Barnabas/"Son of Encouragement." I wonder why the specific mention of this man, especially since he was not the only one to sell his own land (verse 36-37).

I assume that the believers gave willingly since they were in one heart and mind (verse 32). So willingly that no one was in need (verse 34).

Even as though believers were living in this deep community, they were not in a

bubble. The gospel continued to be preached (verse 33).

Interpretation

The believers use God's own words in their prayer. This supports their petition to God.

The believers acknowledge who God is. This is not only a way of praising His name, but recognizing how big is the God whom they are praying to.

Knowing/quoting God's word back to Him not only supports petition but helps in understanding God's will and plan. In verses 27-28, the people talk about what God's plan was/how what God intended was fulfilled. By knowing His word, they knew His plan, which allowed them to pray in His will.

God heard them. And He not only heard them, He granted them His spirit that would enable them to do exactly what they asked - speak God's word with boldness.

The believers prayed with faith and expectation (faith was evident in how quickly they went into prayer when the apostles reported to them what had happened with the chief priests and elders. Expectation was evident in the nature of their requests (verse 30)).

Question:

Was grace upon the all believers (verse 33) because the apostles testified to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus with great power, or is the grace independent of the apostles' actions?

Hmmm. Perhaps the latter. So what role does the mention of God's grace on the people play in the meaning of this verse? Maybe to preach requires grace? Wonder wonder...

No one was in need among the believers because "No one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they shared everything they had" (verse 32). For there to be a community where everyone's needs are met, people must be willing to give up what they have for the benefit of their fellow man/woman (verse 34). Also a matter of sharing (verse 32).

Application

In my prayers, I should start by telling God who He is, not only as praise to Him, but also for me to understand who I am talking to (He is big enough to answer my prayers and also He is a holy God that deserves reverence).

I need to know scripture so that:

1) I can quote God's words back to Him and "remind Him" of His words/promises to me (side revelation, not really drawn from this passage of scripture).

2) Support my petitions to Him with His very own words.

3) PRAY IN HIS WILL because I have a better understanding of His word, therefore having a better understanding of His character and plan.

In praying in His will, I should pray with faith and in expectation.

I should pray for God to enable me to press forward in spite of threats and opposition. The prayer should not always be that God delivers me from the situation (In a lot of Psalms, though, the psalmist asks for deliverance from trials. Thought to revisit).

The body of believers is supposed to give sacrificially. No one among us should have need. What ways can I give and sacrifice so that my brother or sister in Christ may not be in need?

The members of the church should be of one heart and mind (verse 32). Am I united with my church brothers and sisters in heart and mind?

I am to live in deep community with my brothers and sisters, however, this does not mean stay in Christian bubble. As I take care of those who I in Christ, I am to reach out to those who are not yet in Christ. I should invite them to be a part of the community of believers.

I should strive to be a "Son of Encouragement" (Barnabas). My love should shine through my actions (sacrificial generosity, seeking to meet needs of my Christian community, other ways) to the point where I can be called a "Daughter of Encouragement." My character should shine through, and also develop, the more I live in community. Hallelujah.

_____________________________________________

Sovereign Lord, You are the Maker of Heaven and Earth. You are the Ancient of Days, the Alpha and the Omega, the One who is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow. THANK YOU for loving me and caring to have anything to do with me. I praise You Lord for having incredible patience and focus that You are able to bring into fruition the plan that You have for mankind. Lord, I am grateful to You for continuing to lead me back to You every time I stray. Thank You for reminding me of how sweet You are each time I read and study Your word. Thank You for feeding my spirit, it has been starving these past days. Holy Spirit, thank You for reaping so much out of this passage! And I also thank You that what You are teaching me is actually staying with me and not leaving my mind and heart. Thank You for growing me through these lessons and even just the discipline reading Your word everyday. Praise Yahweh! Praise the God who Is all that Is! Thank You Lord for the example of these believers from the early church and for this raw model of what the church is supposed to be and do. May the churches of today bring honor and glory to Your name as this one did! Thank You Father, Son, Holy Spirit, I praise You. Please be with me as I go about the rest of the day and week and as I go to church on Sunday. May I die to my flesh and bring honor and glory to Your name. In the name of Jesus the Christ I pray, Amen.