NO PERFECT CHURCHES

You only have to read Acts 5 & 6 to discover this. There are no perfect churches. Instead of being filled with the Spirit, Ananias and Sapphira were filled with selfishness & pride. The Spirit had produced spiritual unity (cf Acts 4). Now, Satan threatens to weaken unity with duplicity &  deceit. Their lives are a sober warning to the church today. If the Spirit isn’t filling and controlling you, something and someone else surely is. In God’s design, it served as a wake up call for the church and the world. Internal pressure was matched and exceeded by external intimidation. The people of God refused to compromise the Word of God. The supernatural blessing and fruit which the church experiences here is a direct result of their previous prayer (4.29-30). The disobedience of Ananias and Sapphira and the duress of the Sanhedrin could have distracted the young church & left them feeling defeated. It did not. The church continued to make disciples from house-to-house.

Use these questions to read, reflect, and live out Acts 05 this week:

Acts 5v1-11
What does sin cost you?

Acts 5v12-16
How was the gospel advancing in Jerusalem?

Acts 5v17-21
What was the church commanded to speak?

Acts 5v21-26
What does the miracle say about the gospel & God’s kingdom?

Acts 5v27-32
What is required to please God rather than men?

Acts 5v33-42
How does their response to suffering compare with our reaction to it?

The Small Groups will study Acts 04 beginning July 22. David Winchell will be preaching out of Acts 5 this weekend. Pray for him as he prays and prepares.