Heads up for the Summer series

The following will be the scriptures for the Summer series on Revelation and God's calling for the Church we are to be. Read on your own to prepare or use this like any other post for comments or questions on the sermons.

Week 1 June 15 2008

Rev 1:9-20

9 The Patmos Vision

I, John, your brother and fellow partaker in the tribulation and kingdom and perseverance which are in Jesus, was on the island called Patmos because of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus. 10 I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and I heard behind me a loud voice like the sound of a trumpet, 11 saying, " Write in a book what you see, and send it to the seven churches: to Ephesus and to Smyrna and to Pergamum and to Thyatira and to Sardis and to Philadelphia and to Laodicea."

12 Then I turned to see the voice that was speaking with me. And having turned I saw seven golden lampstands; 13 and in the middle of the lampstands I saw one like a son of man, clothed in a robe reaching to the feet, and girded across His chest with a golden sash. 14 His head and His hair were white like white wool, like snow; and His eyes were like a flame of fire. 15 His feet were like burnished bronze, when it has been made to glow in a furnace, and His voice was like the sound of many waters. 16 In His right hand He held seven stars, and out of His mouth came a sharp two-edged sword; and His face was like the sun shining in its strength.

17 When I saw Him, I fell at His feet like a dead man. And He placed His right hand on me, saying, " Do not be afraid; I am the first and the last, 18 and the living One; and I was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of death and of Hades. 19 "Therefore write the things which you have seen, and the things which are, and the things which will take place after these things. 20 "As for the mystery of the seven stars which you saw in My right hand, and the seven golden lampstands: the seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches.

NASU

Week 2 June 22 2008

Rev 2:1-7

"To the angel of the church in Ephesus write:

The One who holds the seven stars in His right hand, the One who walks among the seven golden lampstands, says this:

2' I know your deeds and your toil and perseverance, and that you cannot tolerate evil men, and you put to the test those who call themselves apostles, and they are not, and you found them to be false; 3 and you have perseverance and have endured for My name's sake, and have not grown weary. 4'But I have this against you, that you have left your first love. 5'Therefore remember from where you have fallen, and repent and do the deeds you did at first; or else I am coming to you and will remove your lampstand out of its place — unless you repent. 6'Yet this you do have, that you hate the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. 7' He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, I will grant to eat of the tree of life which is in the Paradise of God.'

NASU

Week 3 June 29 2008

Rev 2:8-11

"And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write:

The first and the last, who was dead, and has come to life, says this:

9'I know your tribulation and your poverty (but you are rich), and the blasphemy by those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. 10'Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to cast some of you into prison, so that you will be tested, and you will have tribulation for ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life. 11' He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He who overcomes will not be hurt by the second death.'

NASU

Week 4 July 6 2008

Rev 2:12-17

"And to the angel of the church in Pergamum write:

The One who has the sharp two-edged sword says this:

13'I know where you dwell, where Satan's throne is; and you hold fast My name, and did not deny My faith even in the days of Antipas, My witness, My faithful one, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells. 14'But I have a few things against you, because you have there some who hold the teaching of Balaam, who kept teaching Balak to put a stumbling block before the sons of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols and to commit acts of immorality. 15'So you also have some who in the same way hold the teaching of the Nicolaitans. 16'Therefore repent; or else I am coming to you quickly, and I will make war against them with the sword of My mouth. 17' He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, to him I will give some of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, and a new name written on the stone which no one knows but he who receives it.'

NASU

Week 5 July13 2008

Rev 2:18-29

"And to the angel of the church in Thyatira write:

The Son of God, who has eyes like a flame of fire, and His feet are like burnished bronze, says this:

19' I know your deeds, and your love and faith and service and perseverance, and that your deeds of late are greater than at first. 20'But I have this against you, that you tolerate the woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, and she teaches and leads My bond-servants astray so that they commit acts of immorality and eat things sacrificed to idols. 21' I gave her time to repent, and she does not want to repent of her immorality. 22'Behold, I will throw her on a bed of sickness, and those who commit adultery with her into great tribulation, unless they repent of her deeds. 23'And I will kill her children with pestilence, and all the churches will know that I am He who searches the minds and hearts; and I will give to each one of you according to your deeds. 24'But I say to you, the rest who are in Thyatira, who do not hold this teaching, who have not known the deep things of Satan, as they call them — I place no other burden on you. 25'Nevertheless what you have, hold fast until I come. 26' He who overcomes, and he who keeps My deeds until the end,TO HIM I WILL GIVE AUTHORITY OVER THE NATIONS; 27 AND HE SHALL RULE THEM WITH A ROD OF IRON,AS THE VESSELS OF THE POTTER ARE BROKEN TO PIECES, as I also have received authority from My Father; 28 and I will give him the morning star. 29' He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.'

NASU

Week 6 July 20 2008

Rev 3:1-6

3:1 Message to Sardis

"To the angel of the church in Sardis write:

He who has the seven Spirits of God and the seven stars, says this: ' I know your deeds, that you have a name that you are alive, but you are dead. 2'Wake up, and strengthen the things that remain, which were about to die; for I have not found your deeds completed in the sight of My God. 3'So remember what you have received and heard; and keep it, and repent. Therefore if you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what hour I will come to you. 4'But you have a few people in Sardis who have not soiled their garments; and they will walk with Me in white, for they are worthy. 5' He who overcomes will thus be clothed in white garments; and I will not erase his name from the book of life, and I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels. 6' He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.'

NASU

Week 7 July 27 2008

Rev 3:7-13

7 Message to Philadelphia

"And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write:

He who is holy, who is true, who has the key of David, who opens and no one will shut, and who shuts and no one opens, says this:

8' I know your deeds. Behold, I have put before you an open door which no one can shut, because you have a little power, and have kept My word, and have not denied My name. 9'Behold, I will cause those of the synagogue of Satan, who say that they are Jews and are not, but lie — I will make them come and bow down at your feet, and make them know that I have loved you. 10'Because you have kept the word of My perseverance, I also will keep you from the hour of testing, that hour which is about to come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth. 11' I am coming quickly; hold fast what you have, so that no one will take your crown. 12' He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he will not go out from it anymore; and I will write on him the name of My God, and the name of the city of My God, the new Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God, and My new name. 13' He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.'

NASU

Week 8 August 3 2008

Rev 3:14-22

14 Message to Laodicea

"To the angel of the church in Laodicea write:

The Amen, the faithful and true Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God, says this:

15' I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot; I wish that you were cold or hot. 16'So because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of My mouth. 17'Because you say, " I am rich, and have become wealthy, and have need of nothing," and you do not know that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked, 18 I advise you to buy from Me gold refined by fire so that you may become rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself, and that the shame of your nakedness will not be revealed; and eye salve to anoint your eyes so that you may see. 19' Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline; therefore be zealous and repent. 20'Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with Me. 21' He who overcomes, I will grant to him to sit down with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne. 22' He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.'"

NASU

Week 9 August 10 2008

Rev 4

4:1 Scene in Heaven

After these things I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven, and the first voice which I had heard, like the sound of a trumpet speaking with me, said, " Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after these things." 2 Immediately I was in the Spirit; and behold, a throne was standing in heaven, and One sitting on the throne. 3 And He who was sitting was like a jasper stone and a sardius in appearance; and there was a rainbow around the throne, like an emerald in appearance. 4 Around the throne were twenty-four thrones; and upon the thrones I saw twenty-four elders sitting, clothed in white garments, and golden crowns on their heads.

5 The Throne and Worship of the Creator

Out from the throne come flashes of lightning and sounds and peals of thunder. And there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God; 6 and before the throne there was something like a sea of glass, like crystal; and in the center and around the throne, four living creatures full of eyes in front and behind. 7 The first creature was like a lion, and the second creature like a calf, and the third creature had a face like that of a man, and the fourth creature was like a flying eagle. 8 And the four living creatures, each one of them having six wings, are full of eyes around and within; and day and night they do not cease to say,

"HOLY, HOLY, HOLY is THE LORD GOD, THE ALMIGHTY,WHO WAS AND WHO IS AND WHO IS TO COME."

9 And when the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to Him who sits on the throne, to Him who lives forever and ever, 10 the twenty-four elders will fall down before Him who sits on the throne, and will worship Him who lives forever and ever, and will cast their crowns before the throne, saying,

11 " Worthy are You, our Lord and our God, to receive glory and honor and power; for You created all things, and because of Your will they existed, and were created."

NASU

Last week I said concerning Revelation 1:4 that I found no quarrel with the idea that the seven spirits could be angelic beings. In spite of this I have found little to back me up on this and much more evidence to suggest as I believed before, that this sevenfold Spirit, is none other than the Holy Spirit. The most concise argument to this effect I found in the Geneva Bible and include it here.

"Rev 1:4
That is, from the Holy Spirit who proceeds from the Father and the Son. This Spirit is one in person according to his subsistence: but in communication of his power, and in demonstration of his divine works in those seven churches, perfectly manifests himself as if there were many spirits, every one perfectly working in his own church. Which is why in Rev 5:6 they are called the seven horns and seven eyes of the Lamb, as if to say, as his most absolute power and wisdom. In Rev 3:1 Christ is said to have those seven spirits of God , and in Rev 4:5 it is said that seven lamps burn before his throne, which also are those seven spirits of God . That this place ought to be so understood, it is thus proved. For first, grace and peace is asked by prayer from this Spirit, which is a divine work, and an action incommunicable in respect to God. Secondly, he is placed between the Father and the Son, as set in the same degree of dignity and operation with them, besides, he is before the throne, as of the same substance with the Father and the Son: as the seven eyes and seven horns of the Lamb. Moreover, these spirits are never said to adore God, as all other things are. Finally, this is the power by which the Lamb opened the book, and loosed the seven seals of it, when no one could be found among all creatures by whom the book might be opened Rev 5:1-10"
(from Geneva Notes, PC Study Bible formatted electronic database Copyright © 2003 Biblesoft, Inc. All rights reserved.)

Blessed be God who reveals His truth to us in His Word. We would be lost to our own fickle imaginations without it.

In Christ,
Mark

Revelation Series for Summer

Taking a break from Acts, I want to spend some time on the first part of Revelation this Summer and look at the Letters to the Seven Churches. The goal will be for our church to mine from these Scriptures the call of God for the kind of Church we are to be. We'll begin this week with the introduction in Revelation 1.

Revelation 1:1-8

The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show to His bond-servants, the things which must soon take place; and He sent and communicated it by His angel to His bond-servant John, 2 who testified to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, even to all that he saw. 3 Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of the prophecy, and heed the things which are written in it; for the time is near.

4 Message to the Seven Churches

John to the seven churches that are in Asia: Grace to you and peace, from Him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven Spirits who are before His throne, 5 and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To Him who loves us and released us from our sins by His blood — 6 and He has made us to be a kingdom, priests to His God and Father — to Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen. 7 BEHOLD, HE IS COMING WITH THE CLOUDS, and every eye will see Him, even those who pierced Him; and all the tribes of the earth will mourn over Him. So it is to be. Amen.

8 "I am the Alpha and the Omega," says the Lord God, " who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty."

NASU

Rev 1:1-8 Exposition

The Revelation of Jesus Christ,

Do not treat the book of Revelation as any kind of cryptic book of predictions. It does prophesy future events in its content as the past present and future are in the hand of the sovereign God. Yet it is not some book of shadowy secrets to be opened by adepts to gain knowledge kept from ordinary men. It is first and foremost “The Revelation of Jesus Christ” and since it says “which God gave Him to show his bond-servants,” we can assume that it is Jesus' revelation, that is the Revelation made by Jesus Christ. This is a contrast to a revelation of the person of Jesus. Again by necessity, just as prophetic warnings and predictions occur by necessity, the book also includes some revelations of the person of Christ, but none which are new and in any differ from the rest of Scripture. We are not meeting a Jesus any different than the one pictured for us in the Gospels.

which God gave Him

The message is God's own given through Jesus Christ.

to show to His bond-servants,

The book is shown by Jesus to the church, “his bond-servants” those who serve him and are bound to him. This accurately pictures the church which is called to serve the cause and Word and good news of Christ and is bound to Him by gracious election and by personal response and baptism. Our obligation to Him is one of gratitude for all he has done for us.

the things which must soon take place

The book is a gift to the church, not for hiding but for revealing “the things which must soon take place.” It's purpose is to strengthen the church to endure in faith in times of tribulation which came upon the church and will always face her until the end. It is a word of hope for us that we can and shall persevere.

and He sent and communicated it by His angel to His bond-servant John,

As the “Revelation of Jesus Christ” the book has Jesus as its Author, “His angel” as the author's messenger, true to the name “angel”, and John as its faithful transcriber as John too is Christ's “bond servant”. This is not John's own creative writing, the bond servants of Christ are not called to creativity or originality concerning our message but to faithful transmission of God's own Word.

2 who testified to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ,

John writes in the third person of himself as this kind of faithful witness, testifying truly to the Word of God as well as the testimonial account of Jesus. John's goal is to be faithful to the revealed Word of God as well as the accounts of Jesus' words and deeds.

even to all that he saw.

John is also testifying to the vision which he was given to see. The words “all that he saw” is from the Greek hosa meaning “all of the things” rather than giving us the sense of him telling these things to all the people which he saw. This tells us that we are about to read an account of a vision.

3 Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of the prophecy, and heed the things which are written in it; for the time is near.

We are blessed by this account. It is a gift to the church and one too precious to be neglected as it often is for its difficulty. Taking into account its purpose as a revelation from God to the church and a gift with a blessing, unlocks much of what seems hidden and makes study of it worthwhile, encouraging the reader to bear with and trust in God with those things which are hard to understand. We are told the blessing is for those who “read” and “heed”. One does not receive any magical “blessing” for reading alone, but the gift or blessing is for those who read and pay attention to and obey what is writted and faithfully apply what is there. We are additionally warned that the time is near. Certainly the early church would need these words to endure the early tribulations of persecution which were coming. Likewise the church in every age needs these words to be assured of God's sovereign control of their situation and struggles and of Christ's ultimate victory. The church in the days of the final tribulation described herein will need these words to survive to the end. We do not know the day or hour of Christ's return, but these passages give us hope and reason to endure.

4 John to the seven churches that are in Asia:

John now begins to address his immediate audience, not the general “bond-servants” of Christ, but the specific seven churches of Asia Minor (called Asia in John's day). These as we will see are messages of encouragement, warning, rebuke, correction, and praise, to the specific gathered bodies of believers in those seven places, which have application to any and all churches at all times when they find in these letters something which describes them.

Grace to you and peace, from Him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven Spirits who are before His throne,

First a greeting from the letter's true author, not John, but God, who is described as eternal, “who was and is and is to come. Also from the seven spirits or “sevenfold spirit” depending on the translation, before His throne. This I believe points to none other than the Holy Spirit, but should you wish to believe it is some angelic creatures who add greeting, I would not quarrel since the point is the same, that the message and greeting comes from none other than the throne of God and no lesser place.

5 and from Jesus Christ,

Encouraging me to believe that the seven spirits are the Holy Spirit made manifest with the perfect number seven and perhaps alluding to the nature of the Spirit, the same Spirit who rested on Jesus as in Isaiah 11:2

2 And the spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD;

KJV

Even as I underline these attributes, one might debate whether these are six or seven. Yet the point is that it is possible that the Spirit, of whom additional attributes could be Holiness (as He is the “Holy” Spirit) or eternity (as He is the Spirit of the LORD, which is the Hebrew name of God, “I am”, the eternal” etc.) my point is that to see the Sevenfold Spirit as the Trinity completing Holy Spirit would be appropriate as the greeting already includes the Father, as well as the Son Jesus Christ.

the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth.

Jesus is here described by His attributes, “the faithful witness” who reveals the Father, the resurrected “firstborn from the dead”, and the “ruler of the kings of the earth” demonstrating His Lordship and echoing the proclamation of the Church, “Jesus is Lord”.

To Him who loves us and released us from our sins by His blood —

Jesus' name is not said without praise as John breaks mid-sentence to Praise His works. Jesus; “ loves us and released us from our sins by His blood”. The choice of Christ to love his bond-servants the church, and to forgive our own unloving disobedience is displayed here as part of a list of reasons for praise. The cross and His Blood were His means of accomplishing what He willed for us and demonstrating his love and gracious forgiveness while remaining perfect in justice and holiness.

6 and He has made us to be a kingdom, priests to His God and Father —

Not only have we received His love and forgiveness but also we have been elevated, no longer just servants owing Him a debt of gratitude but also his kingdom citizens and priests who are now able to serve His God and Father in worship.

to Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.

The result of these things is unlimited praise equal to that of The Father Himself and due only to God, therefore unreservedly declaring Jesus to be God as well. This praise ascribes to Him glory, and “dominion” lordship, and rulership, not only now but also for eternity, Not for a mere season but always.

7 BEHOLD, HE IS COMING WITH THE CLOUDS, and every eye will see Him, even those who pierced Him; and all the tribes of the earth will mourn over Him. So it is to be. Amen.

Here we are reminded of what was revealed by the angels at the mount of Ascension; Acts 1:11

11 Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.

KJV

and by Jesus Himself , Matt 24:30

30 And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.

KJV

Jesus own Word of promise are repeated here to assure the church of the truth of His promise even as His return seems delayed and the church prepares to endure suffering and tribulation.

8 "I am the Alpha and the Omega," says the Lord God, " who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty."

Our final assurance is in the eternity of God. There is no changing or defeating God or what he has purposed. This is good news for if our future and even our end is secure in God's hand then whatever we may face, mistreatment, imprisonment, suffering, or even death, we may know that our end is secure. God is, and exists without end existing also in our present. God was, and therefore was present in the past bringing all things about to fulfill His purpose. God is to come, and will not disappear leaving us to our own ends. God is Almighty, no to be defeated, thwarted, disappointed, frustrated, or out maneuvered. Therfore what have we to fear. As Romans 8:31 tells us.

What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us ?

KJV

In Christ and on the Shepherd's Path,
Mark

Sunday Preview, Text

Acts 7:35-60

35 "This Moses whom they disowned, saying, 'WHO MADE YOU A RULER AND A JUDGE?' is the one whom God sent to be both a ruler and a deliverer with the help of the angel who appeared to him in the thorn bush. 36 " This man led them out, performing wonders and signs in the land of Egypt and in the Red Sea and in the wilderness for forty years. 37 "This is the Moses who said to the sons of Israel, 'GOD WILL RAISE UP FOR YOU A PROPHET LIKE ME FROM YOUR BRETHREN.' 38 "This is the one who was in the congregation in the wilderness together with the angel who was speaking to him on Mount Sinai, and who was with our fathers; and he received living oracles to pass on to you. 39 "Our fathers were unwilling to be obedient to him, but repudiated him and in their hearts turned back to Egypt, 40 SAYING TO AARON, 'MAKE FOR US GODS WHO WILL GO BEFORE US; FOR THIS MOSES WHO LED US OUT OF THE LAND OF EGYPT — WE DO NOT KNOW WHAT HAPPENED TO HIM.' 41 " At that time they made a calf and brought a sacrifice to the idol, and were rejoicing in the works of their hands. 42 "But God turned away and delivered them up to serve the host of heaven; as it is written in the book of the prophets, 'IT WAS NOT TO ME THAT YOU OFFERED VICTIMS AND SACRIFICES FORTY YEARS IN THE WILDERNESS, WAS IT, O HOUSE OF ISRAEL? 43'YOU ALSO TOOK ALONG THE TABERNACLE OF MOLOCH AND THE STAR OF THE GOD ROMPHA, THE IMAGES WHICH YOU MADE TO WORSHIP. I ALSO WILL REMOVE YOU BEYOND BABYLON.'

44 "Our fathers had the tabernacle of testimony in the wilderness, just as He who spoke to Moses directed him to make it according to the pattern which he had seen. 45 "And having received it in their turn, our fathers brought it in with Joshua upon dispossessing the nations whom God drove out before our fathers, until the time of David. 46 "David found favor in God's sight, and asked that he might find a dwelling place for the God of Jacob. 47 "But it was Solomon who built a house for Him. 48 "However, the Most High does not dwell in houses made by human hands; as the prophet says:

49'HEAVEN IS MY THRONE,
AND EARTH IS THE FOOTSTOOL OF MY FEET;
WHAT KIND OF HOUSE WILL YOU BUILD FOR ME?' says the Lord,
'OR WHAT PLACE IS THERE FOR MY REPOSE?
50'WAS IT NOT MY HAND WHICH MADE ALL THESE THINGS?'

51 "You men who are stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears are always resisting the Holy Spirit; you are doing just as your fathers did. 52 " Which one of the prophets did your fathers not persecute? They killed those who had previously announced the coming of the Righteous One, whose betrayers and murderers you have now become; 53 you who received the law as ordained by angels, and yet did not keep it."

54 Stephen Put to Death


Now when they heard this, they were cut to the quick, and they began gnashing their teeth at him. 55 But being full of the Holy Spirit, he gazed intently into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God; 56 and he said, "Behold, I see the heavens opened up and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God." 57 But they cried out with a loud voice, and covered their ears and rushed at him with one impulse. 58 When they had driven him out of the city, they began stoning him; and the witnesses laid aside their robes at the feet of a young man named Saul. 59 They went on stoning Stephen as he called on the Lord and said, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit!" 60 Then falling on his knees, he cried out with a loud voice, "Lord, do not hold this sin against them!" Having said this, he fell asleep.
NASU

Sunday May 18, 2008

Acts 7:9-34

9 "The patriarchs became jealous of Joseph and sold him into Egypt. Yet God was with him, 10 and rescued him from all his afflictions, and granted him favor and wisdom in the sight of Pharaoh, king of Egypt, and he made him governor over Egypt and all his household.

11 "Now a famine came over all Egypt and Canaan, and great affliction with it, and our fathers could find no food. 12 "But when Jacob heard that there was grain in Egypt, he sent our fathers there the first time. 13 "On the second visit Joseph made himself known to his brothers, and Joseph's family was disclosed to Pharaoh. 14 "Then Joseph sent word and invited Jacob his father and all his relatives to come to him, seventy-five persons in all. 15 "And Jacob went down to Egypt and there he and our fathers died. 16 "From there they were removed to Shechem and laid in the tomb which Abraham had purchased for a sum of money from the sons of Hamor in Shechem.

17 "But as the time of the promise was approaching which God had assured to Abraham, the people increased and multiplied in Egypt, 18 untilTHERE AROSE ANOTHER KING OVER EGYPT WHO KNEW NOTHING ABOUT JOSEPH. 19 "It was he who took shrewd advantage of our race and mistreated our fathers so that they would expose their infants and they would not survive. 20 "It was at this time that Moses was born; and he was lovely in the sight of God, and he was nurtured three months in his father's home. 21 "And after he had been set outside, Pharaoh's daughter took him away and nurtured him as her own son. 22 "Moses was educated in all the learning of the Egyptians, and he was a man of power in words and deeds. 23 "But when he was approaching the age of forty, it entered his mind to visit his brethren, the sons of Israel. 24 "And when he saw one of them being treated unjustly, he defended him and took vengeance for the oppressed by striking down the Egyptian. 25 "And he supposed that his brethren understood that God was granting them deliverance through him, but they did not understand. 26 " On the following day he appeared to them as they were fighting together, and he tried to reconcile them in peace, saying, 'Men, you are brethren, why do you injure one another?' 27 "But the one who was injuring his neighbor pushed him away, saying, 'WHO MADE YOU A RULER AND JUDGE OVER US? 28'YOU DO NOT MEAN TO KILL ME AS YOU KILLED THE EGYPTIAN YESTERDAY, DO YOU?' 29 "At this remark,MOSES FLED AND BECAME AN ALIEN IN THE LAND OF MIDIAN, where he became the father of two sons.

30 "After forty years had passed,AN ANGEL APPEARED TO HIM IN THE WILDERNESS OF MOUNT Sinai, IN THE FLAME OF A BURNING THORN BUSH. 31 "When Moses saw it, he marveled at the sight; and as he approached to look more closely, there came the voice of the Lord: 32' I AM THE GOD OF YOUR FATHERS, THE GOD OF ABRAHAM AND ISAAC AND JACOB.' Moses shook with fear and would not venture to look. 33 "BUT THE LORD SAID TO HIM, 'TAKE OFF THE SANDALS FROM YOUR FEET, FOR THE PLACE ON WHICH YOU ARE STANDING IS HOLY GROUND. 34' I HAVE CERTAINLY SEEN THE OPPRESSION OF MY PEOPLE IN EGYPT AND HAVE HEARD THEIR GROANS, AND I HAVE COME DOWN TO RESCUE THEM;COME NOW, AND I WILL SEND YOU TO EGYPT.'

NASU

Acts 7:9-34 exposition

9 "The patriarchs became jealous of Joseph and sold him into Egypt. Yet God was with him,

This is the summary of all that follows. No matter what catastrophe occurs God remains in control and those who love God may trust that God is with them. We are assured of this in Romans 8:28

And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God , to those who are called according to His purpose. NASU

The question for those who would be faithful to God's Word then is not one of is God in control but will we believe, and will we live like we believe, that God's promise that He is with us, is true.

10 and rescued him from all his afflictions, and granted him favor and wisdom in the sight of Pharaoh, king of Egypt, and he made him governor over Egypt and all his household.

God has many means at His disposal to accomplish His purposes. To attempt to describe them all here would be an unwise use of this time as whole books could and have been written on the subject. To accomplish His purpose with Joseph several are however, quite visible. The first is Divine permission. God permitted the sinful conspiracy of Joseph's brothers in order to place Joseph where God's purposes would be accomplished. God built into Joseph a character that made Him successful in all he did elevating him in Potiphar's house, and even after disgrace due to the selfish and lustful then spiteful conspiracies of Potiphar's wife, Joseph's character elevated his position in the prison. God intervened directly with Spiritual gifts of interpretation of dreams thus giving him audience with Pharaoh. His character and administrative skill (also called in the New Testament a Spiritual gift) elevated him again to the second position of authority in Egypt. God's hand is seen underneath all of this at times leading (interpretation of dreams), at times intervening (Pharoah's dreams), sometimes equipping (Joseph's character and administrative skills), and other times permitting actions which while sinful and morally accountable (Potiphar's wife's lust, the brothers' conspiracy) or catastrophic (the famine); all the while accomplishing God's purposes.

11 "Now a famine came over all Egypt and Canaan, and great affliction with it, and our fathers could find no food.

God sets the stage to reunite the brothers now that Pharaoh's dreams have come to prophetic fruition. The brothers find themselves, and their father's household, without food in Canaan, and must travel to Egypt where Joseph's management of Egypts food supply has prepared Egypt to endure. The point here is that God may use affliction to drive us from a comfortable place to the place of His will.

12 "But when Jacob heard that there was grain in Egypt, he sent our fathers there the first time.

The brothers are sent to Egypt to buy food.

13 "On the second visit Joseph made himself known to his brothers, and Joseph's family was disclosed to Pharaoh.

Joseph, after the brothers are forced to return with Benjamin, Jacob's only remaining son by Rachel, (Jacob assuming Joseph to be dead), makes himself known to his brothers and offers them this forgiveness, recorded in Gen 45:4-8

4 Then Joseph said to his brothers, "Please come closer to me." And they came closer. And he said, "I am your brother Joseph, whom you sold into Egypt. 5 "Now do not be grieved or angry with yourselves, because you sold me here, for God sent me before you to preserve life. 6 "For the famine has been in the land these two years, and there are still five years in which there will be neither plowing nor harvesting. 7 " God sent me before you to preserve for you a remnant in the earth, and to keep you alive by a great deliverance. 8 "Now, therefore, it was not you who sent me here, but God; and He has made me a father to Pharaoh and lord of all his household and ruler over all the land of Egypt. NASU

Likewise after Jacob died forgiveness is offered again, the brothers fearing revenge, Joseph shows us that He understood God's role in permitting their conspiracy and his own misfortunes. Gen 50:19-21

But Joseph said to them, "Do not be afraid, for am I in God's place? 20 "As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to bring about this present result, to preserve many people alive. 21 "So therefore, do not be afraid; I will provide for you and your little ones." So he comforted them and spoke kindly to them. NASU

Only a perspective of understanding God's gracious and good will could allow Joseph to offer forgiveness of this degree.

14 "Then Joseph sent word and invited Jacob his father and all his relatives to come to him, seventy-five persons in all.

Their reconciliation accomplished another purpose, namely the repentance of the brothers. Should God not permit is to sin in ways we can sensibly experience the consequences, we would never know our sinful condition and never confess and repent. We would go to Hell believing we deserve Heaven. Once Joseph made himself known and forgave (as God makes Himself known and forgives) he reunited the family and brought them into the safety of Egypt.

15 "And Jacob went down to Egypt and there he and our fathers died.

Jacob and his household moved to Egypt, into Goshen, to live during the famine.

16 "From there they were removed to Shechem and laid in the tomb which Abraham had purchased for a sum of money from the sons of Hamor in Shechem.

In hope of God's promise to give them the land of Canaan, their bodies are removed back to the land from which they had been displaced by famine. Abraham, had purchased this land in the same hope that it would be, as God has promised, a land for his descendants.

17 "But as the time of the promise was approaching which God had assured to Abraham, the people increased and multiplied in Egypt,

Recall that God did not just promise Abraham endless blessing and happiness but that the road to the promise would be marked with suffering for his descendants. Gen 15:13-16

God said to Abram, "Know for certain that your descendants will be strangers in a land that is not theirs, where they will be enslaved and oppressed four hundred years. 14 "But I will also judge the nation whom they will serve, and afterward they will come out with many possessions. 15 "As for you, you shall go to your fathers in peace; you will be buried at a good old age. 16 "Then in the fourth generation they will return here, for the iniquity of the Amorite is not yet complete." NASU

After a season of peace and increase there arose another time when God's people would be tested by suffering in order to see with gratitude God's preserving and guiding hand. In the meantime the Israelites did increase in number preparing a great number of people to be broughtout of Egypt compared to the 75 who entered Egypt to join Joseph.

18 until THERE AROSE ANOTHER KING OVER EGYPT WHO KNEW NOTHING ABOUT JOSEPH.

The pharaohs should have passed down, not only the stories of their kings, but also of the way in which God had preserved them through a great famine. A nation forgets God's providence to its own peril as we shall see in Egypt. We cannot afford to take credit for greatness and increase and claim it was our own skill which gained our blessings. Egypt's rulers not only forgot gratitude to God but even to the people through whom God's preservation had come.

19 "It was he who took shrewd advantage of our race and mistreated our fathers so that they would expose their infants and they would not survive.

When man forgets God anything is possible. Without God human nature will take any action which seems practical to achieve what it believes to be good ends. Pharaoh saw the growing numbers of Hebrews as a threat to his own race and nation so he proposed history's first “final solution” requiring the killing of all male Hebrew babies at birth to bring an end to the line of the people who he saw as a threat.

20 "It was at this time that Moses was born; and he was lovely in the sight of God, and he was nurtured three months in his father's home.

For reasons known only to God, Moses was given favor and permitted to live. Some may consider God cruel to allow some to live while other die. Yet can we not also marvel at God's favor in allowing a few of us to live? The tragedy of death in our world is a consequence of our sinful condition. That we live at all is due to God's grace. Consider how many children are lost to abortion, miscarriage, death in birth and infancy. Consider how vulnerable a human baby is. That any of us survive is something of a miracle. Moses, living in a time where male children were ordered to be killed, yet through God's favor he lived and survived first at home and then in the house of Pharoah.

21 "And after he had been set outside, Pharaoh's daughter took him away and nurtured him as her own son.

With no other option but to place moses in a basket at the edge of the Nile, hidden in the weeds, his mother entrusted Moses' care to God. She did not comply with the ungodly order to kill her child but instead hid her child and and was found by none other than Pharaoh's own daughter who chose, knowing full well that this was a Hebrew baby, she chose to adopt him as her own. Moses' own mother became his nurse and Pharaoh's daughter became his mother. No doubt God's hand can be seen in the “fortunate circumstances” of his finding.

22 "Moses was educated in all the learning of the Egyptians, and he was a man of power in words and deeds.

He was blessed to receive an education and life unlike his Hebrew brethren. Hebrews 11 in the “Hall of fame of faith” tells of his early life this way. Hebrews 11:23-27

By faith Moses, when he was born, was hidden for three months by his parents, because they saw he was a beautiful child; and they were not afraid of the king's edict. 24 By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter, 25 choosing rather to endure ill-treatment with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin, 26 considering the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt; for he was looking to the reward.

NASU

The advantages Moses gained in Egypt were not able to keep him from following God's leading. No blessings of position, wealth or lifestyle should keep us from forsaking it all if Christ so calls.

23 "But when he was approaching the age of forty, it entered his mind to visit his brethren, the sons of Israel.

Walking among the Hebrew slaves for whatever reason the inspired writer tells us Moses chose to “visit” his brethren and thus begin his own path to owning his place as one of God's people.

24 "And when he saw one of them being treated unjustly, he defended him and took vengeance for the oppressed by striking down the Egyptian.

Taking action on his own without having yet met God at the burning bush, Moses stuck and killed an Egyptian slave master.

25 "And he supposed that his brethren understood that God was granting them deliverance through him, but they did not understand.

According to the inspired writer of Acts and indeed the inspiration of Stephen's words to the council we are informed that in some way Moses had a sense of his calling before receiving and understanding it directly. Following Stephen's defense we begin to see how the case is being built which will follow in the latter half of Stephen's speech, which shows how the Hebrews would misunderstand and reject the prophets' ministries and ultimately reject them as well as the Christ Himself.

26 " On the following day he appeared to them as they were fighting together, and he tried to reconcile them in peace, saying, 'Men, you are brethren, why do you injure one another?'

Attempting to Lead his brethren in righteousness he intercedes in a fight between two Hebrews.

27 "But the one who was injuring his neighbor pushed him away, saying, 'WHO MADE YOU A RULER AND JUDGE OVER US?

Even as Moses calls them “brothers” also pointing to their need to live as brethren and not quarrel, he is rejected by these men who valued their quarrel more than righteousness .

28'YOU DO NOT MEAN TO KILL ME AS YOU KILLED THE EGYPTIAN YESTERDAY, DO YOU?'

Further, they reject Moses on account of his own sin in murdering the Egyptian, thereby rejecting the Truth because of the faults of the messenger. May we avoid this error and never reject what is true from God's Word simply because God uses flawed messengers. The Word remains true.

29 "At this remark, MOSES FLED AND BECAME AN ALIEN IN THE LAND OF MIDIAN, where he became the father of two sons.

Moses had little choice but to flee, his sin having been found out. This was God's own plan however placing Moses in a position to hear anew God's own call and plan for him. In the meantime Moses continued life as he was able, marrying and fathering children.

30 "After forty years had passed,AN ANGEL APPEARED TO HIM IN THE WILDERNESS OF MOUNT Sinai, IN THE FLAME OF A BURNING THORN BUSH.

Now eighty when His former life would have seemed almost forgotten God now appears to Moses having, according to God's own timing, chosen this moment to call Moses to do what Moses sensed a calling to do forty years before. Often God's timing of our call is much later than we would imagine. We must not reject it because it would seem too late.

31 "When Moses saw it, he marveled at the sight; and as he approached to look more closely, there came the voice of the Lord:

32' I AM THE GOD OF YOUR FATHERS, THE GOD OF ABRAHAM AND ISAAC AND JACOB.' Moses shook with fear and would not venture to look.

God reveals Himself to Moses as the God of his fathers. Moses shows Holy fear in response, certainly not expecting to encounter Almighty God in the wilderness while tending sheep as a a foreigner and an old man.

33 "BUT THE LORD SAID TO HIM, 'TAKE OFF THE SANDALS FROM YOUR FEET, FOR THE PLACE ON WHICH YOU ARE STANDING IS HOLY GROUND.

Moses response was fear, yet God instructs him in something better than fear, reverence. True worship is not in the mode of our own response to God but in the reverent response which God calls for. We cannot please God with whatever we choose to offer, but will please God always with obedience in even something as simple as Moses removing his shoes. The point here is that as we encounter God, He instructs us in worship and righteousness.

34' I HAVE CERTAINLY SEEN THE OPPRESSION OF MY PEOPLE IN EGYPT AND HAVE HEARD THEIR GROANS, AND I HAVE COME DOWN TO RESCUE THEM;COME NOW, AND I WILL SEND YOU TO EGYPT.'

Having endured eighty years of life as both a prince and a wilderness dwelling shepherd Moses is informed that God's plans have included all Moses personally and the Hebrews as a people have experienced and that now is God's time for their release. Moses is to be the instrument chosen by God for this task. We may never expect God's timing or path to make perfect sense to us. Our is to obey and in the end to see how God works all things out according to His perfect plan and for our good. I'll finish with a reminder from Romans 8:28

And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God , to those who are called according to His purpose. NASU

In Christ and on the Shepherd's Path,

Mark

Sunday 4-13-08- Freed to Proclaim

Acts 5:12-21a

12 At the hands of the apostles many signs and wonders were taking place among the people; and they were all with one accord in Solomon's portico. 13 But none of the rest dared to associate with them; however, the people held them in high esteem. 14 And all the more believers in the Lord, multitudes of men and women, were constantly added to their number, 15 to such an extent that they even carried the sick out into the streets and laid them on cots and pallets, so that when Peter came by at least his shadow might fall on any one of them. 16 Also the people from the cities in the vicinity of Jerusalem were coming together, bringing people who were sick or afflicted with unclean spirits, and they were all being healed.

17 Imprisonment and Release

But the high priest rose up, along with all his associates (that is the sect of the Sadducees), and they were filled with jealousy. 18 They laid hands on the apostles and put them in a public jail. 19 But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the gates of the prison, and taking them out he said, 20 "Go, stand and speak to the people in the temple the whole message of this Life." 21 Upon hearing this, they entered into the temple about daybreak and began to teach.

NASU

Acts 5:12-21a Exposition

12 At the hands of the apostles many signs and wonders were taking place among the people; and they were all with one accord in Solomon's portico.

God continued to bless the Apostles with the power through the Holy Spirit to prove the gospel they proclaimed with “many signs and wonders” These were done publicly so that they began to draw both positive and negative attention as we shall see. Meanwhile the believers were “in one accord” and continuing to meet together publicly in the section of the temple known as Solomon's portico. This was where Jesus in John 10:23 and following was when he declared “I and the Father are one.” It is also where Peter had delivered his second sermon. The word for “one accord” can mean one passion, and associate with breathing hard. There may be an intentional connection between breath and the common analogy of the Spirit as wind or breath, yet the word (homothumadon) is adequately translated “one accord, or in agreement. Certainly the work of the Spirit drew them together into agreement and gave them a passionate sort of unity that allowed the church to grow so rapidly. We likewise should ask for the Spirit to give us unity of Passion for Jesus and His Gospel. It is obvious that this sort of unity is not accomplished by a watered down, least common denominator message designed not to offend. If it were it would not have aroused the passionate responses from friends and foes alike.

13 But none of the rest dared to associate with them; however, the people held them in high esteem.

Lukewarmness and compromise belonged on the outside of the group of believers among those who were afraid for their reputation or indeed their safety's sake to associate with the believers. Yet the conduct of the growing church led none to declare them scandalous.

14 And all the more believers in the Lord, multitudes of men and women, were constantly added to their number,

As a result more and more people came to believe and join with the church. The means of growth seems to be a passionate unity, and the power of the Spirit. This by no means discounts the clear preaching of the gospel which we have seen undergirds all of the apostles' actions and indeed in their prayer at the end of chapter four provided the reason for their desire for the Spirit's power and boldness.

15 to such an extent that they even carried the sick out into the streets and laid them on cots and pallets, so that when Peter came by at least his shadow might fall on any one of them.

Here we see a couple of developments. The church begins to be a place where people come to receive help. Also those on the outside begin to associate the power with the person of Peter as though it was association with him that could heal them. The world misunderstands Christian leaders sometimes making them celebrities and assuming of them more power than they themselves have. Not understanding the Spirit they look to the men themselves. Positively, it is this interest in coming to the church for help that provides the believers and especially the apostles the opportunity to proclaim the gospel to them.

16 Also the people from the cities in the vicinity of Jerusalem were coming together, bringing people who were sick or afflicted with unclean spirits, and they were all being healed.

Notice the church does not turn them away but does what it is able for them, not judging their motives, but caring for those who were indeed in one way or another “afflicted” and healing them. So also we should do what the Spirit empowers us, either naturally or even supernaturally, to do for those who come to us. This means using the resources at our disposal, and always prayer, to help those who come to us in need.

17 But the high priest rose up, along with all his associates (that is the sect of the Sadducees), and they were filled with jealousy.

Now arises certain men whose worldly and religious power is threatened by this new movement. It is no coincidence that some of these were Sadducees who denied the resurrection and any supernatural aspect to the Jewish faith. Certainly this new movement with its healing and proclaiming of a resurrected messiah flew in the face of their education, teaching, and thus their position and power.

18 They laid hands on the apostles and put them in a public jail.

Unable to resist the apostles with reason, evidence, or any legitimate means of persuading the people not to follow the apostles, they resorted to the use of their civil authority and physical force and jailed them. The gospel may not be dis-proven by any legitimate means and therefore those who proclaim it will often be resisted by illegitimate force and abuse of worldly authority.

19 But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the gates of the prison, and taking them out he said,

God's authority is greater and God has the means at his disposal to allow His mission to succeed even when resisted by natural and seemingly irresistible means. I n this case an angelic messenger is sent not on;ly to provide physical release but also a clear instuction as to what should be done with their freedom.

20 "Go, stand and speak to the people in the temple the whole message of this Life."

The apostles are directed by the Word of God through this angel to return to their task of publicly telling people about the life that is given to them by the Gospel. They are to proclaim the whole message, avoiding any possible temptation to limit their speech to what would not offend and they are to do so publicly not in secret.. This I believe clarifies the purpose of their release. It was not for their safety, or so that they may be free to go into hiding. It was so that God's message could continue to be delivered. Likewise are we delivered from sin and death and given forgiveness and eternal life. It is not so we may live in fear of sin, nor should we willingly continue to sin. It is not so that we may retreat into the safe walls of Christian sub culture and seclude ourselves from society. We have been freed to proclaim the Life given through the gospel. Anything less is an improper use of our new freedom.

21 Upon hearing this, they entered into the temple about daybreak and began to teach.

As we should, so the apostles obeyed. Some would question the need for preaching, believing that people do not wish to hear it or claiming that God may save those he has predestined with or without our efforts. Any such teaching is un-Biblical and a rejection of our calling. If for no other reason we must proclaim the gospel because we are commanded to. We cannot call God, Lord or even God, and willfully do other than God commands. So regardless of whatever outcome we may imagine we are called to proclaim the Gospel.

Sermon for Sunday 4-6-08

Acts 4:32-5:11

And the congregation of those who believed were of one heart and soul; and not one of them claimed that anything belonging to him was his own, but all things were common property to them. 33 And with great power the apostles were giving testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and abundant grace was upon them all. 34 For there was not a needy person among them, for all who were owners of land or houses would sell them and bring the proceeds of the sales 35 and lay them at the apostles' feet, and they would be distributed to each as any had need.

36 Now Joseph, a Levite of Cyprian birth, who was also called Barnabas by the apostles (which translated means Son of Encouragement), 37 and who owned a tract of land, sold it and brought the money and laid it at the apostles' feet.

Acts 5

5:1 Fate of Ananias and Sapphira

But a man named Ananias, with his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property, 2 and kept back some of the price for himself, with his wife's full knowledge, and bringing a portion of it, he laid it at the apostles' feet. 3 But Peter said, "Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back some of the price of the land? 4 "While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, was it not under your control? Why is it that you have conceived this deed in your heart? You have not lied to men but to God." 5 And as he heard these words, Ananias fell down and breathed his last; and great fear came over all who heard of it. 6 The young men got up and covered him up, and after carrying him out, they buried him.

7 Now there elapsed an interval of about three hours, and his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. 8 And Peter responded to her, "Tell me whether you sold the land for such and such a price?" And she said, "Yes, that was the price." 9 Then Peter said to her, "Why is it that you have agreed together to put the Spirit of the Lord to the test? Behold, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out as well." 10 And immediately she fell at his feet and breathed her last, and the young men came in and found her dead, and they carried her out and buried her beside her husband. 11 And great fear came over the whole church, and over all who heard of these things.

NASU

Acts 4:32-5:11 Exposition

And the congregation of those who believed were of one heart and soul; and not one of them claimed that anything belonging to him was his own, but all things were common property to them.

Following the rapid growth of the new believers in the wake of the Apostles' and the church's newfound, Spirit-filled boldness, the church is found to be in agreement of unity. They are described as a plethos or a multitude, signifying their number, so it is remarkable to find this unity; of “one heart and one soul”, living as valuing each other as much as each ones own self. Naturally this unity led to a changed view of possessions, no longer viewing goods as “mine” and “yours” but treating their goods as community property. Not in a socialistic sense of control but in a sense that they valued their community and their mission over their personal needs and wants. They were now a part of something bigger..

33 And with great power the apostles were giving testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and abundant grace was upon them all.

Their prayer in the previous section continued to be answered: The Apostles preached and displayed the ongoing power of God; They stayed to the message for which they had been threatened, namely, the resurrection of Jesus Christ; God continued to allow them to experience His Charis from which we get Charisma to mean both giftedness and grace. In short they were experiencing the gifts of God while they were letting loose of the things which they might have claimed to “own”.

34 For there was not a needy person among them, for all who were owners of land or houses would sell them and bring the proceeds of the sales

The church may have seen poverty but those in the body were not permitted to remain in need because from the resources of the community they willingly shared to provide for others as though for their own selves. Recall they were after all “of one heart and soul”. We would not allow our own selves to be in need for long before attempting to provide for ourselves. They treated others needs as though it was their own need. How this was done was by those who had houses and lands selling these holdings and releasing the money from the sales. To follow we shall see that this was a specific work of the Holy Spirit but it makes us accountable now top at least consider what God would have us do with our own holdings. If we are to be led by the Spirit, then any decision concerning our possessions should seek the calling of God.

35 and lay them at the apostles' feet, and they would be distributed to each as any had need.

The apostles now emerge as leaders being the closest to Jesus and now seeming to qualify as elders, entrusted by the people, to make decisions concerning the distribution of goods to those in need. It would seem that their position as spiritual leaders here qualifies them to be practical leaders and decide best what the Spiritual duty requires.

36 Now Joseph, a Levite of Cyprian birth, who was also called Barnabas by the apostles (which translated means Son of Encouragement),

Here is our first sight of Barnabas who will emerge among the leaders and earlier missionaries of the church. His character as “Son of encouragement” will emerge as well throught this episode and through the chapters to follow. The word for “encouragement” can also mean “Consolation and is the Greek parakleeseoos of the same root as the title paraklete which is given by Jesus to the Holy Spirit when the Spirit is called “Comforter”. Barnabas may be closely associated with the work of the Holy Spirit in his life by this title.

37 and who owned a tract of land, sold it and brought the money and laid it at the apostles' feet.

He is identified as one of those who sold his land and brought the proceeds to be shared.

But a man named Ananias, with his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property,

2 and kept back some of the price for himself, with his wife's full knowledge, and bringing a portion of it, he laid it at the apostles' feet.

The picture here is one of deception. Placed alongside the description of Barnabas' and the other's sharing of their proceeds, the mention that Ananias wife had “full knowledge” and the way in which the portion was “laid at the Apostles' feet” like the others indicates something amiss in their choice to withhold a portion. See too Peter's words to see this is something other than a generous gift that merely happened to be less than what others had brought.

3 But Peter said, "Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back some of the price of the land?

Ananias' action is seen as inspired by Satan and a lie to the Spirit, an attempt at deception, perhaps even a pretending or a faking of the Holy Spirit's work through its similarity to the genuine work in those who did not withhold. The following verse will show more.

4 "While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, was it not under your control? Why is it that you have conceived this deed in your heart? You have not lied to men but to God."

Ananias did not sin until he chose to act deceptively with his gift. The Land was his, the money was his. It is clear that he was free by the Peter's understanding to do with it as he wished, yet he conceived in his heart a plan to give as though he were giving more. Our deceptions, we can learn are not just to men but also when done before God who knows all, are attempts to deceive God or to disregard God's full knowledge of not only our actions but our motivations.

5 And as he heard these words, Ananias fell down and breathed his last; and great fear came over all who heard of it.

Peter has not harshly judged Ananias or unjustly accused him. Not a hand was raised against him, yet God, in whose hand is all life, confirms the truth of Peter's words when Ananias falls dead. God has not changed as some would estimate, between the Testaments. The same God who loved and forgave David in the Old Testament, also took the life of Ananias and Sapphira in the new. As in the days of the Exodus when God swallowed up may of the Israelites in the desert for their disobedience, demonstrating His very real and holy wrath toward sin, so God again shows it in this episode. One cannot be sure why in this case God chose to act in such a way, except that God is sovereign and all He does is right. The results of His actions are shown to follow. “A great fear came over all who heard of it”. Those who saw would not consider it lightly to attempt any similar deception. We should never believe God to be weak or sin to be excusable.

6 The young men got up and covered him up, and after carrying him out, they buried him.

There is little to say here except the body was dealt with as needed. As for the soul of Ananias and soon Sapphira, nothing is said. We are given insufficient evidence to know if they are in heaven or hell. Such is the problem with those who die having a life of questionable witness. Those who live are robbed of any assurances concerning their loved one. All we have is to trust in God's Goodness, Justice and Holiness. Certainly more comfort is available when a person dies a believer, living a consistent witness in striving toward a holy life until his or her last day.

7 Now there elapsed an interval of about three hours, and his wife came in, not knowing what had happened.

Sapphira appears now the body having been removed three hours ago. She does not know of her husbands fate and perhaps a congratulation from Peter for her and Ananias' generosity. We cannot know for certain, but what is sure is that she from ignorance of her husbands fate continues the deception.

8 And Peter responded to her, "Tell me whether you sold the land for such and such a price?" And she said, "Yes, that was the price."

Peter questions her specifically, providing her the opportunity to either show ignorance, had she been uninformed of her husband's business affairs, or to choose to tell the truth. Instead she adds to her previously silent complicity to the lie with her own active attempt at deception.

9 Then Peter said to her, "Why is it that you have agreed together to put the Spirit of the Lord to the test? Behold, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out as well."

Peter again confronts the lie and points to the fact again that the issue is deception and now adds that they conspired together to test the Spirit of the Lord. It was not enough to lie but also they did so in a way that showed contempt for the very real work of the Spirit in driving the generosity of those around them. Peter prophetically announces that she will be likewise carried out.

10 And immediately she fell at his feet and breathed her last, and the young men came in and found her dead, and they carried her out and buried her beside her husband.

Again God confirms the justice of this indictment in taking her life as well. She too is taken and buried.

11 And great fear came over the whole church, and over all who heard of these things.

The result of the fear among believers and other who heard was to allow all to know that the Spirit, like the Father, was not to be toyed with, treated deceptively, or invoked without due reverence. Fear of God, is the beginning of wisdom, as it says in Proverbs, and leads us into due reverence and worship. Our dealings with God in all areas of life should include due reverence.