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Good morning friends who are walking the 150 days of Summer 2019 journey with me, reading 1 chapter of God’s Word daily… Today, Monday May 6, let’s dig into Acts 5.
It appears the events of Acts 3 – 8 probably happened within a fairly short period of time, probably weeks, maybe a few months at most. I think it’s fair to call it a ‘firestorm’ of spiritual activity which was shaking Jerusalem as a Spiritual center for Judaism throughout the Roman Empire. The Holy Spirit of God was doing what Jesus promised… thousands of Jews were coming face to face with the powerful reality of the Resurrected Jesus Christ and all the implications of who He was, and what He had said and done during his 3 year ministry.
Even more striking was the bold, miracle working power of the Holy Spirit seen in Jesus followers, especially the Disciples, now called “Apostles” (sent ones) who were saying and doing the things Jesus had said and done, and thousands of Jews were repenting of their sin, trusting Jesus to save them, being baptized and gathering regularly to be taught by the Apostles what they had learned from Jesus.
Remember… there were no ‘church buildings’, no Bibles, no Seminaries, no Sunday Schools, no Christian radio or TV or publications! This was all word of mouth, face to face, and the spiritual thirst of more than 5000 people in Jerusalem was unquenchable. They simply couldn’t get enough!
Now yesterday we took note of Acts 4:17 and the efforts of the religious leaders to STOP this “Spiritual Tsunami” and we saw God’s response (4:31-37).
Now notice this…Satan must ALWAYS oppose God, God’s people and God’s purposes…therefore the lies & cheating of Ananias & Sapphira. Please understand the issue here is the cancer of prideful, selfish lying to God and God’s people…and God responded, dealing with it strongly, especially because it was Satanic in its source (5:3). The purity of the launch of this spiritual movement was essential. It could not be contaminated while still just beginning.
Notice in 5:17-42 another, even more intensive persecution of the Apostles by the religious leaders determined to stop this “Jesus movement”. Do you see the back and forth here, almost like a military battle? Satan & Jesus are battling for the birth of the Church!
Look closely at 5:29-39, especially vs. 38,39. This my friends remains a vital truth today, all around the world. God calls us, His people, to look closely at ‘churches’ to see…is ‘their purpose or activity of human origin’ or is it ‘from God’? Can you look beyond the marketing, beyond the man made strategies, beyond the ‘charismatic leader’ who attracts a crowd… and look deeply into the DNA of a ‘church’ to look for the genuine, authentic work of God? What is the evidence you are looking for? What do you see in Acts 3,4,5? Do you see it in your church?
I’m writing this now from Lancaster County, PA where I’m meeting today with dear retired missionaries who have settled here. They served all over the world in the 50’s – 90’s and now are living out their final years before going home to Jesus. I hope to encourage them, learn from them, and help them finish well. Lord willing I’ll be home in Fla., tonight. It’s been a great ‘missions trip’, thanks for praying for me, These chapters we are reading together are really very powerful aren’t they!?
Remember… Ramadan begins for 1 BILLION Muslims today! Fasting from sunup to sundown, desperately calling out for Allah to hear them and respond to their cry. God will send more visions & dreams of Jesus to Muslims in the next 30 days, then all the other 11 months combined! Will you join me in praying for 1 million Muslims to trust Jesus this month?
Pastor Doug Anderson 262.441.8785
“Let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, with our eyes fixed on Jesus…” (Heb. 12:1,2)
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