After some thought, I decided to break up Acts 5 into two blog postings. The first 10 verses talk of Ananias and Sapphira’s donation to the apostles while the rest of the chapter talks about the persecution Peter and the others endure for preaching the Gospel and reminding the Jewish authorities of how they conspired to have Jesus crucified.

(NOTE: Please keep in mind that reminding the authorities of this was probably done only as a way of trying to get them to understand the Gospel. Jesus made it very clear in the Gospels that His death on the cross was necessary to pay for mankind’s sins. He willingly gave His own life).

With that, let’s talk about verses 1-10.

This passage has been widely misinterpreted. Some say that Ananias and Sapphira were struck down by God for being tightwads and withholding from God for the total amount of money they received from land they’d sold. Not true. God’s discipline came because they said the money they gave was the total amount even when it wasn’t.

Let’s say they sold five acres of land for 100 shekels of gold. They chose to keep 50 shekels of gold for themselves while giving 50 to the church. But they then tell the church that 50 shekels was all they received for the land.

Honestly, if they’d just said, “We sold the land for 100 shekels of gold but wanted to keep 50 shekels and give you 50 shekels,” I don’t think Peter and the others (God included) would’ve had a problem with it. But Ananias and Sapphire probably looked at all the people selling items and giving it all to the church and didn’t want to humiliate themselves by admitting they’d kept some of the money.

So, Ananias was struck down by God and Sapphira was also when her story matched her husband’s.

Was this the work of an angry, brutal God? No, I see it as the work of a God who wanted to ensure that dishonesty and corruption didn’t become standard fare in the early church.

Richard Zowie has been a Christian since 1981 and has been a professional writer since 2000. Post comments here or e-mail him at richardstwoshekels@gmail.com.

Acts 5:3-5a, 9-10a
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? 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 to men but to God.” When Ananias heard this, he fell down and died…Peter said to her, “How could you agree to test the Spirit of the Lord? Look! The feet of the men who buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out also.” At that moment she fell down at his feet and died.

The believers were all one in heart and mind and shared everything they had with each other. Those that had land and property sold them and brought the money to the apostles to use in the community and no one lacked anything. This is not something we can do today because we are worried how we will manage before we can worry about even our own family, forget our family in Christ. The issue highlighted in today’s passage is not just about sharing all we have with each other but about lying to the Holy Spirit. Is that an issue we face?

I have had severe difficulty dealing with lying because I lied for no reason most of my life and the Lord had to scrape it out of me in very painful ways. I am still tempted to lie about things just to sound ‘cool’ or to get away from a situation and the consequences are often dire. In the passage above, it talks about lying to the Holy Spirit and to God and this might sound alien to you but it’s really not. What Ananias and Sapphira did might have seemed like self-preservation but to the Lord, it was a break of trust. We are reminded today that we are not people of this world but God’s chosen ones and our lives are a living testimony of God`s saving grace. Therefore, we need to seek ways to glorify God and not to shame him or we will face his wrath!

In His Loving Service,
Vineet

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Everything rises and falls on leadership.

This is Super Bowl week and leadership is a great point of discussion. Most people see the quarterback, the most visible player on the team, and automatically assume that they are the leader of the team.  The majority of the time that is true. Other players will take their cue from the quarterback, in their work ethic, their confidence, their approach to the game and their performance on game day. Yet, when the quarterback is having an off day or gets injured or is just not performing well, if the team is going to win, others have to pick up their game.  Ultimately it is a team game. Quarterbacks don’t win games, teams win games.  Peyton Manning and Drew Brees are great quarterbacks, but they are only involved with one-third of the game. They play offense, not defense or special teams.

A church is similar, in some ways, to a football team.

As a Christian, I happen to believe that everything rises and falls on God, humbling ourselves to the realization that it is He who ultimately has the power to make the world go ’round.  But God chooses to work through leaders, people that He chooses for certain roles at certain times.  Now don’t stop reading because you don’t think you are a leader. Every Christian, no matter what station in life, is used by God to be a leader at some point.  We will get into that a little more here in a minute.

Leadership in the church is a fine balance between authority and humility. Those who can walk that tightrope reflect the understanding that no person is truly a leader unto themselves, but is a follower placed in a position of leading others. That may not make sense to some, but when we think though this in light of the Kingdom of God, it makes perfect sense.

First, it is the Kingdom of God. God is the King, everyone else is, well, not the King.

Second, since we are not the King, then we all are servants of the King, taking our cue, our direction from Him.

Third, the King is the one who passes out the rewards for His people who follow His direction.

 Let’s think through our sports analogy here. For the teams playing in the Super Bowl, there is only one goal, win. Defeat the other team, send them home losers, hoist up the trophy and be champions. For one team, they will do that this week. They will take home the Lombardi Trophy and be proclaimed as NFL champions.  The team leaders are those who help them get there- the ones who make the key plays, the crucial catches, the right play calls, the big hit. Those are the players that will make the highlight reel.

The church is not much different. Our leaders are those that help the church achieve the goal- expand the Kingdom, make disciples of all nations, love God and love our neighbor. No matter what position you play, you can be on the highlight reel. We play as team and our goal is not to win a game but please the King.

Listen to Jesus, our leader, as He talked about how important it was to Him to please the Father…

John 8
²⁸ Then Jesus said to them, “When you lift up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am He, and that I do nothing of Myself; but as My Father taught Me, I speak these things. ²⁹ And He who sent Me is with Me. The Father has not left Me alone, for I always do those things that please Him.”

Jesus was the unquestioned leader of His disciples, yet He tells them, I do what I do to please the Father… always. He exercised authority, He led people, but yet was forthright that He was submitting Himself to the Father. The dynamic, powerful leader was a follower. That is the tightrope for any Christian leader, we have to lead, but at the same time, be aware that more than a leader we are to be a follower. Every Christian is called, as Jesus called His disciples to ‘Follow Me’, to be a person who submits themselves to the leadership of God. God then places you in a position of ministry somewhere in someway within the Kingdom, not necessarily where you choose or what you want to do, but where God desires to use the gifting and skills that He has placed within you.

The church has struggled with the issue from the beginning. Men wanting to insert their own leadership, as if they were actually in charge. The early church struggled with those who wanted to change the way people were saved, “they must be circumcised”. What did the church do?  They sought the leadership of the Holy Spirit. James concludes the matter by saying…

Acts 15
²⁸ For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things

Good to the Holy Spirit… and to us. God first, His leadership determining the theology for the church.

Paul was a powerful and strong leader of the early church. He set out on missionary journeys, faced death, confronted demons, healed the sick… and yet he was submissive to and sensitive to the direction God was giving him…

Acts 16
⁶ Now when they had gone through Phrygia and the region of Galatia, they were forbidden by the Holy Spirit to preach the word in Asia. ⁷ After they had come to Mysia, they tried to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit did not permit them. ⁸ So passing by Mysia, they came down to Troas. ⁹ And a vision appeared to Paul in the night. A man of Macedonia stood and pleaded with him, saying, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” ¹⁰ Now after he had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go to Macedonia, concluding that the Lord had called us to preach the gospel to them.

Notice that Paul tried to do what he wanted to do.  He wanted to go Bithynia, but God said “no”.  Could Paul have just gone anyway, I’m sure he could have. Would he have had the full power and blessing of God that he had enjoyed to this point, no. 

Church leaders come in many shapes and emerge at different times. The pastor, the deacon, the teacher, the committee chairperson are all recognized leaders with positions.  Yet, the Christian who does not hold a position within the church, but has a spiritual influence on their co-workers or neighbors or family members, is still a spiritual leader to the people they influence. The Christian who no one may know by name, is quiet in their mannerisms, yet has held a running conversation with the little lady at the pharmacy counter about Christ… they are a spiritual leader to that person.

Look at some examples…

* God uses Ananias to lead Paul- he prays for him, and Paul receives his sight again. Who was Ananias?  Who knows? But I am sure that Paul remembers his influence fondly. (Acts 9) That is spiritual leadership.

* God uses a young woman to teach his disciples about love- she pours an expensive bottle of perfume and Jesus says that what she did will be remembered forever. By example she leads the disciples, the “leaders” of the early church, to understand devotion and love. That is spiritual leadership.

* God used a prostitute to help Israel achieve military victory- Rahab gives aid to the spies of Israel and ultimately is remembered as a person of great faith. (Joshua 2, Hebrews 11)  That is spiritual leadership.

The idea that only the positional leaders within the church are leaders, the corporate model of looking at the church, has weakened the church as a whole. When only a handful of people are capable, gifted and responsible, then the body as a whole suffers.  Going back to our football analogy, what would happen if the rest of the team stopped playing to watch the quarterback play?  First, the defense, the “enemy” would eat him up. Secondly, who would he have to help him?  Who would block for him? Who would catch his beautiful spirals?  Result=defeat.

The same is true for the church. If we do not each take personal responsibility for being the leader God has designed us to be, then the whole church suffers. Your spiritual leadership, whether it is within the church or at your workplace, is crucial for the body of Christ to be effective. I have come to believe that it is one of the key reasons our churches have become less effective at reaching our communities and our world. 

We are fast to allow others to be responsible for doing all things to lead the church. The pastor is charged with equipping the body for ministry and shepherding the flock, but he is not the only spiritual leader. If the church sits back and says “let the pastor do it”, the body suffers, because we, as a group, have stopped following Christ and lean on one person to do the job of many. On the flip side, if the pastor stops equipping the body and tries to do all the leadership, then he stops leading people to follow Christ and calls them to follow him, and the body as a whole suffers.

If we are going to reverse many of the negative trends the church is facing, it will not come simply because we put together another program. The church has to use all of its’ people, and each Christian has to realize that they are a leader, feel the calling God has given them to be a leader in some place, in some way.

Everything does rise and fall on leadership, but it is not us looking to someone else to lead so we can sit back. It is each of us rising to the role of leadership that God has called us to so that the effectiveness of the Kingdom does not fall. Each person is important to the work of the Kingdom, and God intends to use each person to accomplish His work by following His leadership.

So what place of leadership, what role of leadership, what position of influence has God called you to… to be the Kingdom leader He desires you to be?

Acts of the Apostles 9:1-22

Saul, still breathing murderous threats against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, that, if he should find any men or women who belonged to the Way, he might bring them back to Jerusalem in chains.

On his  journey, as he was nearing Damascus, a light from the sky suddenly flashed around him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” He said, “Who are you, sir?”

The reply came, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. Now get up and go into the city and you will be told what you must do.”

The men who were traveling with him stood speechless, for they heard the voice but could see no one. Saul got up from the ground, but when he opened his eyes he could see nothing; so they led him by the hand and brought him to Damascus. For three days he was unable to see, and he neither ate nor drank.

There was a disciple in Damascus named Ananias, and the Lord said to him in a vision, “Ananias.” He answered, “Here I am, Lord.”

The Lord said to him, “Get up and go to the street called Straight and ask at the house of Judas for a man from Tarsus named Saul. He is there praying, and in a vision he has seen a man named Ananias come in and lay his hands on him, that he may regain his sight.”

But Ananias replied, “Lord, I have heard from many sources about this man, what evil things he has done to your holy ones in Jerusalem. And here he has authority from the chief priests to imprison all who call upon your name.”

But the Lord said to him, “Go, for this man is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before Gentiles, kings, and children of Israel, and I will show him what he will have to suffer for my name.”

So Ananias went and entered the house; laying his hands on him, he said, “Saul, my brother, the Lord has sent me, Jesus who appeared to you on the way by which you came, that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” Immediately things like scales fell from his eyes and he regained his sight. He got up and was baptized, and when he had eaten, he recovered his strength.

He stayed some days with the disciples in Damascus, and he began at once to proclaim Jesus in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God. All who heard him were astounded and said, “Is not this the man who in Jerusalem ravaged those who call upon this name, and came here expressly to take them back in chains to the chief priests?” But Saul grew all the stronger and confounded the Jews who lived in Damascus, proving that this is the Christ.

The Daily Path: The story of St. Paul’s journey to Damascus always leaves me marveling about how God goes about business. Time and again we read about how the most unlikely become his dedicated servants.

Perhaps overlooked amidst the awe of this account is the courage displayed by Ananias.

“Ring. Ring.”

“Hi, God. How’s the family? Glad to hear it. What can I do for you?”

“You want me to WHAT? Saul? THE Saul? The guy who’s running around killing people like ME? Boss, are you feeling okay today?”

“Alright, alright. I hear you. Just checking. I’ll do what you ask.”

“And, uh… you’re sure he’s on board with this instrument thing? Right. Okay. Mmm, hmm. Gotcha. I’ll head down to Straight Ave. right away and take care of the matter. I’ll call you when it’s taken care of. What’s that you say? Oh yeah, I guess I don’t need to call back. You’ll already know.”

I think we all have to display a little of that Ananias courage when living our faith. We may not get hauled off in chains if we express our beliefs and spirituality, but I’ve experienced times when I have kept my faith hidden so as to avoid “persecution” of those I would call friends and associates.

“What do you mean you can’t go to the game? Church? When did you become a holy roller?”

“A blog about being Catholic? Ooooh, you gonna preach to me?”

“Why is religion suddenly so important to you? It never mattered before!”

Perhaps picking up the phone when God calls is the easy part. The next step presents the biggest challenge. That’s when accessing a little of the radical grace inside of us becomes so important. The name I took at Confirmation was “Paul”. Perhaps I should have selected Ananias.

Room to Chat: Father, help me to always accept what you ask and have the courage to comply.

Tuesday Re-mix – This is a popular post from last year, updated and resubmitted for your consideration and comments.

With all the recent news from the Sports world about Tiger Woods and the Chris Henry tragedy, and with church and political leaders continuing to behave badly in very public ways,  “accountability” seems to be on the forefront of people’s minds.  It seems we all believe that accountability, as a concept, is a good thing.  All of us are for it, even would insist on it…as long as it applies to someone else.  But let somebody suggest that perhaps we ourselves (i.e., you or I) might benefit from a little more accountability in our lives and suddenly it’s a nasty idea, ill-conceived, feels judgmental, and who are they to make such a suggestion anyway?  I suppose it is just a matter of perspective.

In my line of work as a church mediator, I talk and teach quite a bit about Christian accountability.  It may well be the most common subject I address.  Scripture is replete with references to it.  As Christians, we really are to be involved in one another’s lives.  Think about Nathan/David, Paul/Peter, Paul/Timothy, Peter/Ananias/Saphira, and the list goes on and on.  Think about Matthew 18, Galatians 6:1, Philippians 4, I Corinthians 5, James 5, and the list goes on and on and on.

But, interestingly, even though the Bible talks a great deal about the concept of accountability, I haven’t found an English translation yet that actually uses the word “accountability”.  In that way, it is much like the word “evangelism”…lots of scriptural support for it, but the word isn’t actually used in scripture.

And so, this leads to my quagmire.  Maybe you can help.

What better word can we use to describe the process by which I allow other Christians to ask me hard questions about my life in order to grow me?  It should be a word that encompasses unconditional love as the only correct motive for confronting someone.  It should include the notion that we simply cannot become the Christian God wants us to become without the help of friends who love us enough to tell us the truth about what they see in us.  And there is an element of discipline in it as well.  There is the aspect of “iron sharpening iron”.  There is the reality that we do not hold one another accountable to a set of rules…rather, we hold each other accountable to a relationship with God.  And there is the reality that accountability (or whatever we end up calling it) always works best when we pull it up around ourselves as opposed to imposing it upon an unwilling person.

So, if “accountability” is a word with too much negative connotation, if it doesn’t communicate these ideas well enough, if we’re looking for a word or phrase that is more positive, perhaps more alluring, what might it be?  Because when I suggest to church leaders that perhaps they would benefit from letting me come and teach about “accountability”, I get some pretty negative looks back in my direction.

Can you help me out?  Got a better word?

“Ananias,” Peter asked, “why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back part of the proceeds of the land? While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, were not the proceeds at your disposal? How is it that you have contrived this deed in your heart? You did not lie to us, but to God!” Acts 5:3-4

Do you still remember this sad tale of Ananias and Sapphira, his wife? In the days of the Apostles, the members of the church willingly give up what they have among them, distributing to the poor, and helping each other.

This applies in today’s present churches when members voluntarily give whatever they have to help themselves.

Ananias and his wife, Sapphira have this piece of property they agreed to sell and give the money to the church. Yes, they succeeded in selling it off but when the time came for them to give the money, Ananias thought otherwise, concluding with his wife that they best they should do was to keep part of the money they generated from their sale.

Well, they did and came, smiling pretentiously to Peter, thinking that he will not know. Thank God for the divine gift of the Holy Spirit that helps us to discern easily.

Peter revealed everything to Ananias as you read in the above verse.

The result was Ananias died instantly after hearing Peter’s scolding. Shortly his wife, Sapphira came looking for her husband, and on hearing Peter announcing her husband’s misdeed plus his death, she too fell and died.

Today, many people don’t just die naturally though you may think they died that way. Do you know how many people had sinned secretly in such way as Ananias when it comes to giving to churches and God? Today, these people are paying in one devastating way or the other.

Listen, if you are not capable of giving to the churches or to the service of God, please, I plead with you; DO NOT OFFER TO DO IT!  It is better you announce that you can’t than for you to put yourself in unnecessary chaos.

No one forces or can force you to donate to God’s service. In fact, none of the Apostles forcibly asked Ananias to sell his piece of property. He himself decided with his wife’s consent upon this.

If they had given up all the money they generated from the sale, I bet, they would have incurred tremendous blessings upon their lives instead of that sudden death they got as result of lying.

You can lie to your fellow human being and get away with it BUT what about God? Can you get away with lying to God?

You will notice the two lessons in this verse above;

1)   Don’t promise to God and the churches what you cannot do, I mean what you are absolutely and totally incapable of fulfilling.

2)   Avoid lying in whatever occasions you find yourself. You are to show the true image of Christ in you. Lying only brings you further pains, chaos plus headaches. Just make sure your ‘YES’ is basically your YES. No one will kill you or put dagger to your neck in order for you to give.

I pray you won’t end up your life and those of your family’s, like those of Ananias, and his wife, Sapphira in Jesus mighty name, amen.

Peace!

Princess Ayelotan

©2009 All Rights Reserved

www.princessayelotan.com

Acts Chapter 24 tells us that Ananias followed Paul to Caesarea with his lawyer, Tertullus. There, they brought false charges against Paul under Roman law. The charges were as follows:

1. Disturbing the peace (being a pest by preaching the only way to true peace).
2. Sedition by leading an illegal religion (being a true Christian).
3. Profaning the temple (being friends with Gentiles).

The Jews were afraid of a revival, but they wanted the Romans to fear a riot.

This was Paul’s summation:

Or else let these same here say, if they have found any evil doing in me, while I stood before the council, Except it be for this one voice, that I cried standing among them, Touching the resurrection of the dead I am called in question by you this day. And when Felix heard these things, having more perfect knowledge of that way, he deferred them, and said, When Lysias the chief captain shall come down, I will know the uttermost of your matter.

Acts 24:20-21

He brought up the Resurrection, which forced the Pharisees’ hand, and we see that Felix had some knowledge of “the Way.”

Paul was given certain liberties, but he was chained to a new Roman guard every six hours. Talk about a “captive congregation!” For two years he witnessed for the Lord in Caesarea as a prisoner.

He also got a chance to preach to Felix and Drusilla. Before them, he explained a fact of life that we don’t often call by its real name anymore.
We tend to call it mistakes, weaknesses, tendencies, faults, errors, immaturity, or illness. But its real name is sin. Felix was convicted and he trembled, but he decided to procrastinate. Procrastination is one of Satan’s greatest tools. Felix thought Paul was his prisoner, but Felix was really the prisoner.

By Chapter 25 Felix had put the high priest, Jonathan, to death. The new high priest was Ishmael. Festus had replaced Felix as governor. Festus had to report to Marshall Dillon. (Sorry, I grew up watching Gunsmoke, and couldn’t resist!) Ishmael and the Jewish council revived the plot to kill Paul, so they wanted him returned to Jerusalem for his trial. They were going to kill him on the way there. However, Paul – as a Roman citizen – applied to Caesar Augustus (who we know as Nero), so he had to be protected and taken to Rome.

The last “King Herod” (Agrippa) shows up (possibly in an incestuous relationship with his sister, Bernice), and he and Festus decide that Herod will examine Paul. But Paul turned into the judge and proclaimed the Truth to Festus, Herod, Bernice, and everyone else in attendance. This is the longest of Paul’s sermons recorded in the Bible. It is found in Acts 25:32 – 26:32. Here is a loose outline of it:

1. Paul used to be very religious.
2. His eyes were opened by the Light.
3. His ears were opened by the Word.
4. He obeyed the Word.
5. He began his new life by seeing a vision and hearing a voice, but he had continued faithfully as a willing slave – even when things seemed impossible.

Festus accused Paul of being “beside himself,” and King Agrippa mocked him. However, we must wonder if this mocking was covering up an inside struggle when he said:

…Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian.

Acts 26:28 (emphasis added)

Do you know somebody who thinks they are too wicked to be a Christian?

Paul was officially declared not guilty, but still had to be sent to Rome by virtue of his appeal to Caesar. Chapter 27 shows that Satan very badly wanted to keep Paul out of Rome. Paul had already survived plots to kill him, riots, arrests, two illegal trials, and now a shipwreck!

Paul advised that they wait in Fair Havens for safer sailing after the winter, but the Roman captain listened to the pilot and the owner – the “experts.” (Warren Wiersbe says that an “expert” is a regular “spurt” under pressure.) These experts were under pressure to deliver grain and make money.

Even in Acts 28, Satan is still not done – he sends a snake to bite Paul on Malta! When Paul doesn’t die, he is tempted in the area of pride by people who want to worship him. Satan is pulling out all the stops.

For two years Paul was chained to Roman soldiers in Rome, witnessing, preaching, and being used to write Philippians, Ephesians, Colossians, and Philemon. He was probably released, and he probably went to Spain where he was used to write I and II Timothy, and Titus. He was arrested again in A.D. 67, and tradition says he was beheaded. The Gospel he preached and lived so passionately lives on, and it always will.

Here’s a recap of lessons on Acts:
1. Powerful Changes
2. The Power of the Resurrection and of the Holy Ghost
3. In One Place in One Accord
4. For the Ladies…
5. Acts and the Apostles: Activated, Authorized, Audible, and Accountable
6. From Power to Proclamation to Prayer *
7. The Blessing and the Cost of an Honest Report
8. Exposing the Enemy and Going Forth with the Truth
9. Changing Names and Calling Names
10. Preaching, Pressing, and Pushing On
11. The Life of a Missionary: Having a Fit, Making a Tough Choice, and Singing in Jail
12. Don’t Get Caught Up the Creek Without Your Oars
13. Varied Results
14. Insincerity, Inaccuracy, or Incompletion?
15. Promoted with Straight A’s
16. Conscious of the Conscience
17. The More You See, the Better You Look
18. The Backstroke

*most read post in series

In Acts Chapter 22 the Apostle Paul is telling the story of how he went from being the lost, hell-bound Saul of Tarsus, to being the saved, Heaven-bound man of God. Having been struck blind on the road to the Damascus by the overwhelming glory of Christ Jesus Himself, Paul is taken to a devout Jewish man named Ananias. We pick up the story in Verse 13:

…Brother Saul, receive thy sight. And the same hour I looked up upon him. And he said, The God of our fathers hath chosen thee, that thou shouldest know his will, and see that Just One, and shouldest hear the voice of his mouth. For thou shalt be his witness unto all men of what thou hast seen and heard.

Acts 22:13-15 (emphasis added)

In these three verses there are five references to the gift of sight. Saul had received a great gift from the Lord – the ability to see again. However, that gift was not given just for the purpose of being a gift. It was a gift given for a reason. The reason was so that Saul could see the Just One, Jesus Christ, and then tell others about Him, and so that others might see Him, too.

Eyesight is one of the greatest earthly gifts of God there is. However, we have an amazing ability to receive earthly gifts from God, and then make those gifts, rather the Giver of those gifts, the objects of our attention, affection, and even adoration.

The same can be said of spiritual gifts. Have you been given the gift of being able to be forgiving? Then, rejoice! But do not think of yourself as an expert on forgiveness, and revel in pride over how forgiving you can be. Think of forgiveness as a gift given to help you understand how much it cost God, and how much He must have loved you, to forgive you. Forgiveness is a gift that removes a barrier so that you can see God better!

Have you been given the gift of victory over sin to the extent where you are able to live a more pure and holy life? Then, rejoice! But do not think of yourself as an authority on personal purity and holy living. Think of purity and holiness as a gift which allows you into the intimate presence of the Pure and Holy God, so that you may see Him better! (Matthew 5:8)

Have you been given the gift of spiritual insight? Then, rejoice! But do not rejoice that you have become the person that people seek out when they have spiritual questions or problems, and do not expect the praise or compensation of men, when you are able to help them. Instead, think of spiritual insight as a way to better know God!

Thus saith the LORD, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches: But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the LORD which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the LORD.

Jeremiah 9:23-24

Ahora al anochecer el fatídico pronostico y temor ya nos ha alcanzado, llueve, llueve, sigue lloviendo y seguirá lloviendo. La lluvia propicia el encuentro, el debate, el refugio, la búsqueda del contacto, el anhelo de la piel, la suavidad de la lana, el calor de la lumbre, la infusión caliente, la mirada perdida en un oscuro cristal mojado y frío al tacto. Hoy el cielo retumba y en su cansancio le sustituye el viento, relevado en turno inmortal por el infinito batir de las olas contra los graníticos escollos que al estallar forman la mas blanca. Turno tras turno, los elementos no cesan en su acompasado martillear digno sonido de la fragua del ingenioso Hefesto, de no ser por el frío húmedo que hace que al respirar se acompase un vaho que se torna del tibio al gélido. Templo el lar, sacrifico al benefactor fuego los trozos del anciano roble, que levantan ascuas para hacer estallar la húmeda corteza del pino. Arranco mi instrumento de escritura que ha de enviar las señales que conforman una libreta de rutas, mientras el sistema operativo calienta su estructura, mientras tanto ensueño en pinceladas las evocaciones de nuestra invitada de hoy. Evocaciones provocadas por el común nombre que los profanos le asignan . Evoca pues mi penumbroso recuerdo en primer lugar una laberíntica escalera en llamas, una escalera que comunica el escritorio con la misteriosa y abundante biblioteca, a la que se accede subiendo por esa laberíntica escalera por la que solo se puede acceder mediante el conocimiento, solo el conocimiento revela el conocimiento en el laberinto. Unos peldaños llenos de humo y fuego, en el que un fraile franciscano acompañado por un imberbe novicio pretende salvar el conocimiento, situado en el nivel superior de una torre medieval. Una torre enclavada en un monasterio emplazado sobre un elevado cerro, un monasterio cautivo de una alta muralla, un amurallamiento cuartelero, desde cuyas almenas la caridad alimenta el hambre de los despojados con despojos. Un incendio provocado, que sera relatado por Adso de Melk , pupilo en aquel entonces de Guillermo de Baskerville. Un incendio acaecido por estas fechas hace unos siglos en una poderosa abadía italiana cuyo nombre omitiré a posta. Solo diré que en ese incendio desaparecieron obras maestras y únicas de Aristóteles , Virgilio, Agustín de Hipona, Orígenes, Hypatia y tantos otros . Libros que alguna hora fueron salvados de ruina de la biblioteca que era iluminada por la isla de Pharos. Fueron tales las perdidas que la mas necia y orgullosa bibliotecaria se torna en sumisa plañidera descarnada con un humilde pesar. Los trágicos y funestos hechos ocurridos en la misteriosa abadía relatados por Adso de Melk , fueron recopilados y novelados por el semiotico italiano Umberto Eco en una singular obra posteriormente llevada al cine.
La segunda evocación a la que me recuerda nuestra invitada a la bitácora, me transporta a un universo de aromas, de colores, de tacto. Aromas como el humo del tabaco turco especiado con manzana, el clavo, el cardamomo, la canela, el regaliz, la pimienta, el curry, agua de rosas y un largo sin fin. Colores como el índigo, el pan de oro, el cobre pulido, el azafrán, el verde esmeralda, el agua marina, los nácares, así como el mas basto arco iris inimaginable por la pupila. Los tactos del cuero curtido y pulido, la seda de Cypango, la porcelana de Tokoname, la lana de Cachemira perdiéndose así en la mas suaves caricias. Un lugar que bien podría ser el fastuoso zoco de Damasco, esa ciudad que tiene a orgullo el ser la ciudad mas antigua continuamente habitada donde hace 6500 años los humanos comenzamos a intentar civilizarnos. Donde religiones cristianas como la católica conviven con griegos ortodoxos, melquitas y jacobitas así como con musulmanes sunnis, chiitas, alauís y drusos. Una ciudad donde se pueden las huellas del tiempo y de las culturas que allí habitaron son visibles y habitables, puedes vivir en un foro romano , visitar una de las iglesias mas viejas de la humanidad la capilla de Ananías aquel que convirtió a Saulo de Tarso en Pablo. Una ciudad donde hay que descalzarse para entrar en un templo arameo , posteriormente latinizado, reconvertido a templo cristiano, actualmente una de las mayores mezquitas de la humanidad y con toda posibilidad la mas hermosa. Un templo de templos , un lugar sacro desde que los humanos discernieron entre lo sacro y lo profano, un templo mausoleo que custodia un cráneo decapitado que en su día fue ofrecido en bandeja de plata a la pérfida Salomé la Idumea. Un templo rodeado del mas voraz y regateador comercio existente, pujante en su laberíntico zoco donde se pueden encontrar todas las mercancías imaginables,de ritmo marcado por los buriles de las forjas. Un zoco donde el gremio de los plumistas y floristas, tiene pasado ,presente y futuro. En una húmeda maceta hermana del barro en el que la humanidad coció sus primeros ladrillos podemos encontrar a nuestra invitada de hoy creciendo en lozanía y vital esplendor . Crece la Malvaceae que nos ocupa hoy hasta los cuatro metros de altura con porte erguido y ovalado, cuando el invierno es duro su hoja cae. Gusta de terrenos bien drenados y ricos en humus con frescura en sus raíces y una exposición soleada . Introducida en Europa desde las cruzadas primeramente cultivase con fines medicinales a fin de su poder para cicatrizar ulceras y llagas tanto corporales como del alma, hoy en día esta siendo investigado como anticancerígeno. Yo únicamente lo cultivo con fines ornamentales y en días como hoy con alerta de temporal me alegra las pupilas mi rosa de Siria cuyo nombre veraz es Hibiscus syriacus. Post dedicado a Ari antaño marino sirio, hoy tabernero gallego en la ciudad en la que nadie es forastero.

Acts 9:15
But the Lord said to Ananias, “Go! This man [Saul of Tarsus] is my chosen instrument to carry my name before the Gentiles and their kings and before the people of Israel.”

Usually, the story of Ananias is used to illustrate the unwilling messenger who is obedient ultimately and delivers the message of God. Courageous Ananias spurns reason and goes to the appointed house to lay hands on the most notorious anti-Christ of the time, Saul of Tarsus. I believe he went with fear and trembling, but he went with faith.

One thing, however, that Ananias does not really do: he doesn’t tell Saul the whole story. Oh yes, Ananias lays hands on Saul who then receives his sight. And this laying on of hands brings the anointing of the Holy Spirit. But Ananias does not drop the bomb that Saul (eventually changed to Paul) would be the one to carry the name of Jesus to the Gentiles. This would have been a huge deal–a shock!

At this point in the story, the Gentiles were not anywhere in the equation. Ananias was really the first to hear and record this fact: the Son of God manifested for everyone, not just the Jews.

That is no less true today.

The way of Christ is not a mandate but an opportunity. It’s far-fetched and far-reaching. It’s not about race, nationality, or religion. God is sovereign and His Son no less so.

Oh, if we could just walk the essence of His message. Truly, the lion and the lamb could live together.

All these men knew full well the command of the Lord Jesus to preach the Gospel and then baptize those who believed the message.  Each of these men had received definite instructions from the Lord to go to certain places, meet certain people and tell them about Jesus.

It is certainly not reasonable for us who are far removed in time, and lack so much in power, to question their understanding of the words of Jesus.  We would all be well advised to be less prone to argue and more diligent to give earnest heed to their testimony.

Hebrews 2:1 Therefore we must give the more earnest heed to the things we have heard, lest we drift away.

2 For if the word spoken through angels proved steadfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just reward,

3 how shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation, which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed to us by those who heard Him,

4 God also bearing witness both with signs and wonders, with various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit, according to His own will?

There are many today who do not quite believed what Jesus had to say, so of course they are not diligent to do what He said to do.  It was the same during the time He was here on earth.  In fact, many religious experts of that day missed the message entirely.  THeir hearts and minds were so taken up with debate and their theological reasoning that their spiritual senses were deadened.

Luke 7:29 And when all the people heard Him, even the tax collectors justified God, having been baptized with the baptism of John.

*rejected God’s purpose for themselves (NIV)

Some Jews from Asia had seen Paul in the temple at Jerusalem.  They accused him of defiling the temple and stirred up a crowd who wanted to kill him.  This  is his testimony to them.

Acts 22: 6 “Now it happened, as I journeyed and came near Damascus at about noon, suddenly a great light from heaven shone around me.

7 And I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?’

8 So I answered, ‘Who are You, Lord?’ And He said to me, ‘I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom you are persecuting.’
9 “And those who were with me indeed saw the light and were afraid, but they did not hear the voice of Him who spoke to me.

10 So I said, ‘What shall I do, Lord?’ And the Lord said to me, ‘Arise and go into Damascus, and there you will be told all things which are appointed for you to do.’

11 And since I could not see for the glory of that light, being led by the hand of those who were with me, I came into Damascus.
12 “Then a certain Ananias, a devout man according to the law, having a good testimony with all the Jews who dwelt there,

13 came to me; and he stood and said to me, ‘Brother Saul, receive your sight.’ And at that same hour I looked up at him.

14 Then he said, ‘The God of our fathers has chosen you that you should know His will, and see the Just One, and hear the voice of His mouth.

15 For you will be His witness to all men of what you have seen and heard.

16 And now why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord.’

The message concerning baptism is very clear.  remember that Jesus had said to him, “Arise and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.? Acts 9:6 Being baptized was part of the instruction he received from Ananias.  Paul did not put it off.  “and he received his sight at once; and he arose and was baptized.” Acts 9:18 The record of the Scripture shows that he was a willing “witness to all men of what he had seen and heard.” Acts 9:15 As he later told King Agrippa, “I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision.” Act 26:19

Although he did not personally baptize very many lest they should say they had been baptized in the name of Paul; he faithfully taught about it.  I Corinthians 1:13-17 We will note some examples from the record of his ministry, and later from his letters to the churches.  In every case he was careful to see that the new believers were baptized.

In the ninth chapter of Acts, verses 1 through 31, we find the account of the conversion of Saul and some of the events that followed soon after.

We have already talked about how the Holy Spirit spoke through Peter on the day of Pentecost.  Also, He was with Philip at Samaria and with the Ethiopian eunuch.  In all these events, as soon as the people believed on the Lord Jesus, they were baptized in water.

The same thing happened to Saul after Jesus spoke directly to him from heaven and then in a vision to Ananias.  It was the same message He gave when He was on earth: Believe and be baptized!

Acts 9:3 As he journeyed he came near Damascus, and suddenly a light shone around him from heaven.

4 Then he fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?”

5 And he said, “Who are You, Lord?” Then the Lord said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.  It is hard for you to kick against the goads.”

6 So he, trembling and astonished, said, “Lord, what do You want me to do?” Then the Lord said to him, “Arise and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”

Saul went without food or water for three days after being led by the hand into the city of Damascus.  meanwhile, the Lord was speaking to a disciple named Ananias about Saul.  He revealed to Ananias that Saul was a chosen vessel and what he must do.

10 Now there was a certain disciple at Damascus named Ananias; and to him the Lord said in a vision, “Ananias.” And he said, “Here I am, Lord.”

11 So the Lord said to him, “Arise and go to the street called Straight, and inquire at the house of Judas for one called Saul of Tarsus, for behold, he is praying.

12 “And in a vision he has seen a man named Ananias coming in and putting his hand on him, so that he might receive his sight.”

13 Then Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much harm he has done to Your saints in Jerusalem.

14 “And here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on Your name.”

15 But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen vessel of Mine to bear My name before Gentiles, kings, and the children of Israel.

16” For I will show him how many things he must suffer for My name’s sake.”

17 And Ananias went his way and entered the house; and laying his hands on he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you came, has sent me that you may receive your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.”

18 Immediately there fell from his eyes something like scales, and he received his sight at once; and he arose and was baptized.

19 So when he had received food, he was strengthened. Then Saul spent some days with the disciples at Damascus.

After this dramatic experience Saul was a completely changed man.  Instead of persecuting the believers he was preaching to the Jews that Jesus was the Son of God.

20 Immediately he preached the Christ in the synagogues, that He is the Son of God.

21 Then all who heard were amazed, and said, “Is this not he who destroyed those who called on this name in Jerusalem, and has come here for that purpose, so that he might bring them bound to the chief priests?”

22 But Saul increased all the more in strength, and confounded the Jews who dwelt in Damascus, proving that this Jesus is the Christ.

Some years later, Saul, who was now called Paul, told some of the events of his conversion on two different occasions.  The first was before an angry mob in Jerusalem.  The next was when he gave his defense before King Agrippa.

“I am the Lord your God who brought you up out of Egypt. Open your mouth wide and I will fill it (Psalm 81:10).”

The land of Virginia to which I have now moved is steeped in history. It is the home of many of America’s Founding Fathers. 

Several Virginians participated in the Constitutional Convention in 1789 that formed the United States.  But what people don’t necessarily realize is the doubt that accompanied this convention.  George Washington was elected president of the convention, but he almost didn’t attend. His brother was sick, he was also ill, and he needed to manage his estates at Mount Vernon.  In addition, many people thought the convention might fail and Washington had to think long and hard about having his name associated with it.

George Mason was disappointed with the results of the convention.  He wanted a bill of rights to protect citizens from the same kind of tyranny Americans experienced under the British.  Mason had written a similar document for Virginia, and although his ideas were eventually used to create the Bill of Rights Americans enjoy today, at first his proposals were not accepted.

Thankfully the fathers of our country persevered. They were the best minds on government of the day, and they kept at it until they came up with a “more perfect union”.   The key man in bringing that about was Virginia’s James Madison.

The Bible has its own James Madison.  Paul describes Ananias as a highly respected Jew and a devout observer of the law of God.  He was instrumental in bringing Paul to Christ and giving him a mission.  Perhaps Paul was a bit reluctant or dazed after he heard the pronouncements of Ananias regarding the salvation offered to Paul and the words about his life’s purpose because Ananias said to him, “What are you waiting for? Get up, be baptized and wash your sins away, calling on His name (Acts 22:14-16).”

For the sake of all Christians, it was a good thing Ananias was there to put Paul in the right direction. Paul was the greatest Christian mind of all time and wrote a good part of the New Testament.

We too can’t either believe or accept the overwhelming blessings God offers us. But we all need to know God  is just waiting to dump a truckload of His love, care, compassion and generosity on us. What are we waiting for? It’s time to grasp this truth and act on it.

Source: National Archives Constitution site

Acts 5:3a
Then Peter said, “Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit…”

Whoa! Ananias is not the only one who is doing this. Oh forgiving God, be merciful to me.

These are the dangerous internal lies, the lies to myself. These are the lies that no one may ever know I have said or thought. These are the traps within that prevent me from having an unfettered relationship with God.

Give or don’t give, but don’t pretend to give.

In my mind, Ananias and Sapphira held back some of the money and laid the rest at the Apostles’ feet for several reasons: to appear totally committed to the gathered believers, to copy Barnabas, and to protect their personal interests. In the end, it was a lack of trust.

Forgive me for holding back a tithe for fear of not having enough to pay bills… forgive me saying I will help someone and then not show up… forgive me for saying I will pray for someone and then not do it… forgive me for justifying my mistakes and passing the blame to others in my mind… forgive me for lying to the Holy Spirit.

If you, O LORD, kept a record of sins,
O Lord, who could stand?
But with you there is forgiveness;
therefore you are feared.
I wait for the LORD, my soul waits,
and in his word I put my hope.
My soul waits for the Lord … [Psalm 130:3-6a]

Thanks be to God.

And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the LORD.  And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the LORD had respect unto Abel and to his offering:  But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell. And the LORD said unto Cain, Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen? If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him. (Genesis 4:3-7, KJV)

It would seem this would be a simple question with no answer: Why was Cain’s offering not acceptable? Why did God “not respect” Cain’s offering? Looking only at the passage (as so many Bible critics do), there is absolutely no reason given why Cain’s offering causes God to intimate that Cain “does not well.”

However, if you look at the whole passage, you see that Cain brought “of the fruit of the ground” while Abel “brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof.” The passage does not mention anything about Cain’s offering being special. He does not bring of the firstfruits of the ground. In other words, it appears that Cain put little thought into his offering.

The passage also does not indicate that this was any kind of “sacrifice” to God. This was, rather, an offering, probably to worship God. While God wants us to worship Him, He wants our offerings to be given freely, not grudgingly.

So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver. (2 Corinthians 9:7)

When David began plans for the temple of God that his son Solomon was to build, the Bible says that

Then the leaders of families, the officers of the tribes of Israel, the commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds, and the officials in charge of the king’s work gave willingly. They gave toward the work on the temple of God five thousand talents and ten thousand darics of gold, ten thousand talents of silver, eighteen thousand talents of bronze and a hundred thousand talents of iron. Any who had precious stones gave them to the treasury of the temple of the LORD in the custody of Jehiel the Gershonite. The people rejoiced at the willing response of their leaders, for they had given freely and wholeheartedly to the LORD. David the king also rejoiced greatly.(1 Chronicles 29:6-9)

To translate, the leaders gave 190 TONS of gold, 380 TONS of silver, 675 TONS of bronze, and 3,750 TONS of iron. Gold recently traded at $1,000 per OUNCE. So, in today’s dollars, the gold itself would have been worth $6.2 BILLION, “given freely and wholeheartedly to the LORD.”

On the other hand, consider Ananias and Sapphira from the book of Acts.

But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession, ² And kept back part of the price, his wife also being privy to it, and brought a certain part, and laid it at the apostles’ feet. ³ But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land?  ⁴ Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God. ⁵ And Ananias hearing these words fell down, and gave up the ghost: and great fear came on all them that heard these things. ⁶ And the young men arose, wound him up, and carried him out, and buried him. ⁷ And it was about the space of three hours after, when his wife, not knowing what was done, came in. ⁸ And Peter answered unto her, Tell me whether ye sold the land for so much? And she said, Yea, for so much. ⁹ Then Peter said unto her, How is it that ye have agreed together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? behold, the feet of them which have buried thy husband are at the door, and shall carry thee out. ¹⁰ Then fell she down straightway at his feet, and yielded up the ghost: and the young men came in, and found her dead, and, carrying her forth, buried her by her husband.” (Acts 5: 1-10)

This couple was not killed because they kept some of the money from God. As Peter said, after the property was sold, the money was still under the couple’s power…they could do whatever they wanted to do with it. They were killed because they lied to God about the money. In other words, they did basically what Cain had done all those centuries before…they didn’t think about God when providing an “offering.” Instead, they thought first of themselves.

Most churches believe that people are required to give a tithe, or ten percent, of their income to the church (or to the “work of the Lord”). There are many arguments about tithing: do we tithe on gross or net income? Do we tithe on gifts we receive? Do we tithe on tax refunds?

While I believe that tithing is important and that it is required of God, these questions cause tension and even dissent in the church. Kind of makes it hard to be a “cheerful giver” when you’re stressed about all the nuances involved.

So what is the right answer? I don’t know. But I know that I can (and do) ask God what he wants me to give. And if I’m giving based on anything but a wholehearted desire to serve God, then am I really giving to God at all, or am I cheating him?

What do you think? I’d love to hear your thoughts (just be nice!).

God Bless.

Regular Joe

Can you imagine getting drunk Saturday night and then going to church the next morning? Can you imagine rolling out of a bed you share with your live-in lover, getting dressed, and going to church? Can you imagine attending a Sunday night service with beer on your breath? Can you imagine refusing to pay a bill you owe and then trying to worship with the person to whom you owe it?

As a pastor, I’ve had church members do these things. Each time I was left to wonder about the mentality that could create such a situation. I’m sure that Ananias and Sapphira would have some thoughts on this subject. They lied about their level of commitment to the Lord and were struck dead after bringing their offering to the apostles (Acts 5:1-11). Nadab and Abihu would have some thoughts too. They were devoured in flames as they attempted to perform their priestly duties while under the influence of alcohol (Leviticus 10:1-11).      

The hard, cold truth is that if God still imposed such high standards for worship, we’d be seeing a lot of funerals in our churches. The current status quo reminds me of the worshippers of Amos’ day. Even though the northern kingdom of Israel was wicked to the core, the people still faithfully attended their worship services at Bethel and Gilgal. Amos sarcastically mocked these “worship” services by saying, “Come to Bethel and transgress. At Gilgal, multiply transgression” (Amos 4:4).

Far too many Christians seem to have the idea that sprinkling church attendance onto their sins makes those sins more acceptable. A rotten egg is still a rotten egg no matter how much sugar you pour on it. Oh, sure, going to church might ease your conscience and make you feel better about yourself. But God isn’t impressed or amused. Honestly, you can attend a hundred different services in a hundred different churches, but you won’t do any real business with God until you repent of those sins that characterize your life Monday through Saturday.

1 Samuel chapter 15 will preach. God spoke through Samuel and commanded King Saul to utterly destroy the Amalekites. That meant every man, woman, child, ox, sheep, camel, and donkey. But Saul didn’t do that. Instead he took Amalek’s king as a prisoner of war and spared the best of the sheep, oxen, fatlings, and lambs.

When Samuel came out to see Saul, Saul said, “I have performed the commandment of the Lord.” With words dripping of sarcasm, Samuel said, “What then is this bleating of the sheep in my ears and the lowing of oxen which I hear?” Saul answered that he planned to offer them as sacrifices to God. But Samuel told him, “Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than to sacrifice, and to heed than the fat of rams.”

Samuel was teaching Saul that no amount of “worship” can make up for rank disobedience. You can “play church” all you want, but God will never ignore the fact that He hears the bleating of sheep and the lowing of oxen in your life. As Saul described the spectacular sacrifices he was going to offer up as “worship,” Samuel might as well have said to him, “I’m sorry, I can’t hear you because the fruits of your disobedience are drowning out your voice.”

1 Peter 4:17 says: “For the time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God…” Peter wrote those God-inspired words sometime between A.D. 63-65. That is over nineteen centuries ago! If he could truthfully make that statement in his day, how much more so can we make it today?

Maybe it’s the pastor coming out in me, but I’m tired of Christians who live like hell through the week and then sing the joys of heaven on Sunday. I’m tired of them coming to church to learn more Bible when they flatly ignore the book’s most basic commandments and moral principles. And I’m definitely tired of having to explain the wrongness of the situation to them. If I have to tell you what the problem is, THAT’S part of the problem!

Our churches have become infected with ”sloppy grace.” We’re so scared that somebody will quit, or that somebody else will think poorly of us for letting them quit, that we just wink at all kinds of blatant sin. This, of course, kills our testimony and credibility with outsiders. You see, when personal holiness became optional in the lives of church members, we lost our power. Lost people don’t need another club or organization to join, even if it’s a religious one. They need for the church to be different. They need for it to be what it’s supposed to be. They need for it to be holy ground.  And as things stand now, it isn’t. We’ve got far too much bleating of sheep and lowing of oxen for that.

Text: Ephesians 1:1b

         Acts 9 opens to pounding hooves that have beaten against the earth for six straight days.  The rider of this exhausted, dust-saturated horse is a notorious assassin who is “still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord.”  Zealous Saul, infamous for his hatred and violence against those who believe in Jesus, is on one of his death-missions when all his plans go haywire!  Right as he was nearing Damascus, “suddenly a light shone around him from heaven.”  The killer falls off his horse and hits the ground like a sack of rocks.  This is the moment when our man is introduced to Jesus…and the course of his life is drastically altered.  Permanently. 

         However, this transformation is not unique to Saul.  The simple truth is that Jesus changes lives.  To know Jesus personally is to be transformed into His likeness, to be changed from the inside out.  The pulse of your old life flatlines as your heart begins to beat anew with Jesus.  “It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me (Gal. 2:20).”  His desires become your own.  His words consume your speech.  His story, your history.

         Perhaps you have never met Jesus personally.  Saul would be the first to tell you that Jesus is for real; that He died to be your Savior; and that He is alive and in pursuit of your heart. 

         Now, having met Jesus, the risen Messiah, Saul needs someone to come along side of him, to help and encourage him in this new phase of life.  The curtains have just fallen in act one of Saul’s life, but now the stage is black (literally).  Saul needs a friend to guide him to part two.  This friend would be Ananias.  Despite his murderous reputation (v.13-14), Saul was about to experience what it felt like to be the recipient of “love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you (Matthew 5:44).”  The Bible says that Ananias found Saul, laid hands on him, prayed for him, and then called him “brother”!

         Perhaps there is a lesson or two here for us…  One that comes to mind is to be careful of casting judgment on others.  It is likely that Ananias had long-since written off Saul as “the enemy”, all the while Jesus had written Saul as “a chosen vessel.”  Jesus never wrote off Saul just as He never wrote off Jonah or Rahab or Moses or David or…or… or.  Satan thought he had an ace up his sleeve with this passionate assassin, but the King of Hearts was still the winning hand.  Just as a blacksmith molds a vessel for a particular purpose, so God had skillfully molded Saul’s life for a particular purpose: to carry the name of Jesus Christ to “Gentiles, kings, and the children of Israel (v.15).” 

         Is there a certain person in your life whom you have given up for lost?  A friend, family member, a certain government official?  Don’t relinquish your hopes for them just yet.  Remember, the trophies are handed out at the finish line…not before.  And you just might be “the friend” that leads this unlikely person to Jesus in part two of their life!

         That brings us to Ephesians 1:1a: “Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ…”.  This verse reminds me of my highschool basketball days when the announcer would give the starting lineup.  “And now the starting lineup for the Redstorm, at guard, a 6’2 senior…Jeremiah Knoop.”   (Team, position, height and name.) 

         The exact same stats are here in verse 1.  “Paul”; so far we know his name.  Now, any guesses on what his name means?  “Little” J  So now we also know his height!  His position is “an apostle”.  And Paul’s team…“of Jesus Christ.”  And just as the athlete “puts on” his jersey so spectators know his team, so Paul “put on the Lord Jesus Christ” (Romans 13:14), so that when others looked at him, they saw Jesus.

         What about me?  Is it impossible to miss Jesus when people look at me?  And what will be said of me when my time on the court is over?  Will I have represented my team well?

         …One day, on a broken road to Damascus, a man known as Saul met Jesus.  And as a result…his life was never the same.  He exchanged his old jersey for a brand new one.  One that read “Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ.”

Acts 5:1-11

There had been a great generous spirit within the early church which supported the people and the work of the gospel of Jesus Christ.  Some may in fact have given out of jealousy and envy; like the ones we see in chapter 5 (4:32-37).

TWO IN THE CHURCH SOLD A POSSESSION OF LAND, THEN LIED ABOUT THE AMOUNT (Acts 5:1-2).  There was no pressure for anyone to give.  Barnabas one who sold all he had and gave to the Church was blessed by the Lord for doing so, but that was not his reason for giving.  I am sure he had a pure motive, which would and did glorify God.

The only pressure which Ananias and Sapphira experienced was the pressure of envy, or jealousy.  These two things can bring ruin into a life and a church.  It can also be the ruin of many a family, a business, a city, or any other government.  The attitude of these two was probably “Keeping up with the Joneses” as is the problem with people of two thousand and eight.

This couple had saw an opportunity to express themselves, receive a few accolades from the others, and keep back part of the proceeds from the sale for themselves; maybe put it back for gaining interests, or a rough, rainy period or something like that.  There was nothing wrong with the only giving a portion of the proceeds to the church; what was wrong was their deceit in the giving, and declaring that they were giving it all to the church; when they did not.  They, Ananias first, lied to the Spirit of God.

SPIRITUAL DISCERNMENT THROUGH THE APOSTLE PETER CONFRONTS THE SINNING ANANIAS (vv. 3-4).  Spiritual discernment is greatly needed in our postmodern era.  We have lying teachers and “prophets” and I use the term “prophets” loosely.  These are ‘prophets’ of doom in the future, leading people into the fires of eternal torment.

We are not told what gave Peter a clue to the lie.  It was by the Spirit  of God definitely, however, there are sometimes clues people give to telling lies, if we have the discernment to make that determination.  Have you ever been told, “You’re not even a good liar”?  That is really a compliment.  That would be something someone says to you after you have made a statement in jest, or “Pulling the leg” as I have often heard said.  I am not questioning whether the Spirit of God was the discerner of the eventful lies, but wondering what Ananias did that gave Peter a heads up.

It would seem that Peter is wondering how a man can lie to God, and think that God would not know.  One thing is for certain, we see that the Spirit of God is upon and within Peter and all the apostles through this event.

Every Christian is to use the gift of discernment.  We can discern whether a word is from God.  We can discern whether the words a man or woman speaks is from God or the contents of their own thoughts and heart.  We can discern whether seeming miraculous events are of God or manipulations of things, thoughts, and torments of men.  We must practice spending time with God in His written Word, in prayer and when God leads in fasting.  We must also practice the principles of godliness, holiness, righteousness in life.  When one is saved these things become the desires of our hearts.

Spiritual discernment does no good if it does not confront that which is wrong and evil.  That is what Peter did on this day which would change the Church for years to come.  What if Peter, even though the Spirit had revealed this sin of Ananias to him, would have overlooked the sin, received the gift, and never said a word to Ananias?  Don’t you love “What ifs”?  Peter did confront it.  He didn’t have any other choice before God.  It was not Peter who struck him down.  It was in fact the power of the Spirit of God.

UPON HEARING HIS SECRET WAS OUT, REVEALED BY THE SPIRIT OF GOD, ANANIAS DIES A SPEEDY DEATH IS CARRIED AWAY AND BURIED (vv. 5-6).  Something we might very well consider at this point is that the Church being new, had much to learn, concerning sin in their lives.  Lying is not good, and never is when you lie to God.  There are other times in the Bible where God judges immediately due to sinful behavior.  Take these for example:  the sons of Aaron – Nadab and Abihu (Leviticus 10:1-3); then you have Ahio escorting the Ark of the covenant back to Jerusalem who was slain on the spot for touching the Ark (2 Samuel 6:1-10).  Both of these events were the beginning of a new era; a new time of hope.  During those times God’s people still must learn to remember that you cannot violate the holiness or the law of God.  The message concerning Ananias and Sapphira is the same.  Just because we are in the New Testament does not negate God’s wrath upon disobedience to His Law, nor His holiness.

THE CONSPIRIACY OF THE LIE IN SAPPHIRA IS DISCOVERED AND JUDGED (vv. 7-10).  There was a deliberate act to deceive.  There was a conspiracy between a husband and wife, and that conspiracy was against God.  Who would dare conspire against God?  A hypocrite.  Do you think that God does not know your heart and mind?  He knows, O, man the very hairs of your head.  He knows, O, woman every thought that you think no one else knows.  God knows.

This is clearly a planned act to deceive.  It is clearly a planned act to lie and conspire against the Church, the apostles, and especially against God.  I wonder how far they really thought they would get with this “little lie”.  Who will it hurt if we keep part of it for ourselves?  Will it hurt anyone?  Yes!  It will hurt someone.  It will, first of all, hurt the liar.  It will hurt their fellowship with God, with the church family, it will hurt the ministry of the church, and repercussions will go on and on.  God will judge sin.  As Moses has written, “Be sure your sin will find you out”

AN EARLY JUDGMENT IN THE CHURCH LETS US KNOW THAT GOD WILL STILL JUDGE SIN (v. 11).  It is written elsewhere is the New Testament, “It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.” (Hebrews 10:31), and “For our God is a consuming fire.” (Hebrews 12:29).

Those who can read the New Testament and come away with the idea of God being only a god of love without wrath, comes away with a false deity who is powerless, and unworthy of worship.  It is in the gospels we learn of His great love and His wrath.  It is through His divine Son Jesus Christ we learn of that love and wrath.

It was Jesus who bore His wrath for our redemption.  He paid the price that should have been ours to pay.  Our paying the price of our sin would have meant eternal torment, eternal separation from the Creator, eternal wrath by His own hands.

These early believers had on display the wrath of God against lying to Him.  Though the two liars thought they were just deceiving the church, they were in fact lying to God, and He took vengeance on them,  and it brought the “fear of God” on the church.  Do churches do themselves, the people who sin, or God any favor by refusing to deal with sinful behavior by those who are members of their church?  It really only continues to invite sinful behavior within the church.  It is a sin for the church, the pastor and congregation not to deal with, and discipline for confession, repentance and restoration of that member.

It is still a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.  He is still a consuming fire.   Maybe this early judgment upon members of the church is only unique to remind us of God’s holiness and power; and that we cannot fool Him.  Maybe it should cause us to realize that even if we are His, He will not let us get away with sin.

-Tim A. Blankenship

These are study notes for a sermon preached at Carr Lane Baptist Church on October 19, 2008.

If you’re in the sandals of Ananias, what will you do? Run away? Ignore what you just heard? Rebuke God’s voice?

Looking at Ananias’ account in Acts chapter 9, he sure was in a tough situation.

For one, the Lord Jesus, in a vision, appeared to Ananias, commanding him to go to Saul, who was staying in a house in Straight Street.

If I were to recreate the scene in the 21st Century setting, it probably would have gone something like this…

Click the link for more…http://richavady.com/2009/09/12/following-ananias-footsteps/

These are some of the presents I got for Teachers’ Day. The first gift I got was from Yu Min, a little girl I kinda adore because she’s mature for her age but still very child-like she gave me a pink flower like one of those in the pictures. Then, Nigel and Nicole gave all the teachers a Lock-Lock tupper ware, nicely wrapped and pasted with a photo of the two siblings. Nigel is one good natured P4 boy and very much one of the most obedient. The same goes to Nicole, whom I think will grow up to be a beautiful girl  their cousin, Miki gave us a photo display holder cum mirror set. Miki always has her hair tied up in two small pony tails.. like mickey/minnie mouse really.

The supervisor gave Miss Lim and I got a day off on 31st Aug and the centre was closed on 1st Sep so we didn’t get to celebrate teachers’ day together with the kids (because Mr Tan was gonna be around). When we went back on 2nd Sep, we received some of the belated presents from the children  Thanks children~~ Eunice and Weiqi gave me a pink and purple flowers respectively and Eunice even packed along some small goodies — a red pen, notebook and sticky pad. The sisters; Xin Yu and Si Yu gave me a clothes peg specially decorated. I had tuition with Meiyi on 1st Sep and she gave me a handmade card. I’ve already tutored her for 2 and a half years, so when she is sec 3 it will be our 4th year. Wow!