April 20, 2024
Pastor Darin Youngberg
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Daily Bread Sept. 12, 2017
Posted on Tuesday, September 12, 2017 by Bro_D
Acts 5:1-2 But a man named Ananias, with his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property, (2) and with his wife's knowledge he kept back for himself some of the proceeds and brought only a part of it and laid it at the apostles' feet.
“sold ‘A’ piece of property” --- Back in the 4th chapter, the church was selling their land, their homes, their possession and bringing all the proceeds …. The text implies that Ananias not only held back a portion of the proceeds, he also held back on what he sold. He and his wife wanted to be a part of this great movement …. They wanted the special attention, they wanted people to think highly of them…. They may have even believed the LORD would bless them because they had given such a “wonderful” gift ---- read the next few verses and you find out!
As I read these verses today, the thought of devotion came to mind. Which group was devoted? The believers in chapter 4 or Ananias and his wife? At first, I thought it was the disciples…. But as I thought about it, both are showing devotion. The believers are devoted to their Faith Family, while Ananias & his wife are devoted to themselves. The believers are possessed by the Spirit of God, Ananias & his wife are filled with satan. I remember my pastor saying that if you are looking for the praise of men in your service, then you ain’t serving the right god. He also said, if all you do while you “serve” is gripe, moan and complain, you ain’t serving the right god. He then would remind us that he wasn’t telling us to quit serving, he was telling us to change our attitude. Sometimes, this attitude is expressed when we say things like, “I gotta look out for me and mine…” – that’s exactly what Ananias and his wife were doing. It’s also on display in 1 Cor.11 – where Paul admonishes the church because of their behavior during the Lord’s Supper--- they are all about serving themselves—making sure they are filled with best food and best drink --- look at what Paul says is the result of their selfishness --- 1 Corinthians 11:30 That is why many of you are weak and ill, and some have died.
It shouldn’t amaze me, but it does …. How quickly my attitude can change --- how easily my heart can turn sour. How easily I can turn into a self-centered goob! As we read the New Testament we see the believers went thru great trials & great persecution --- some faded away, but many endured and triumphed! I think the secret to success is found in verses 5 & 11 --- “great fear”. Great fear causes one to consider their actions. It is not a bad thing to have a great fear of the LORD – this fear is way more than a reverent “awe” --- Mathew 10:28 tells us we are to literally tremble at the fact that God has the power to destroy both the body and the soul. Both Ananias & his wife did not have this fear and it cost them their life.
In Acts 5: 12-13 there was great fear among the unchurched – they realized the seriousness of being a part of the Body of Christ. Today, being a part of the church doesn’t seem to carry as much “weight”. Today, church is one ingredient of many that we add to our lives --- we give some time to it, we give some of our resources to it. We participate when it is convenient – the church quickly becomes second fiddle when there are things we enjoy more.
I am certainly very, VERY glad that the LORD has not done an “Ananias” to me or a “Sapphira” to my wife – for that matter, to anyone else I am fond of--- cuz each and every one of us have done what they did …. But I can’t help think…. What if? SO this morning, I am checking my devotion ---- praying the LORD to show me my heart – what have I devoted myself to ---- who am I devoted to…