According to our modern sensibilities, Peter and John and the First church have a measly chance with the crowds. They’re preaching in the holy places of aggressively opposed religious institutions, they’re telling crowds that they’re guilty of crucifying Jesus, people are literally dying at their fellowship for their unholiness. No wonder there is fear in joining them… But more than ever believers were added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women!

There was a way for Ananias and Sapphira to have their cake and eat it too, but the route they decided to take was to pump up their own image of holiness at the expense God’s dignity. This is the Sovereign God, the One who came from heaven to our fallen earth, and allowed His Body to be broken and HIs blood to be shed, and God allowed Himself to die on our behalf, and yet here Ananias and Sapphira are posing as worshippers!

There was a way for Ananias and Sapphira to have their cake and eat it too, but the route they decided to take was to pump up their own image of holiness at the expense God’s dignity. This is the Sovereign God, the One who came from heaven to our fallen earth, and allowed His Body to be broken and HIs blood to be shed, and God allowed Himself to die on our behalf, and yet here Ananias and Sapphira are posing as worshippers!

Conflict can produce within the Christian a question of God’s sovereignty. Because here’s the logic: (A) I profess God to be all-knowing, all-powerful, and all-good.(B) If bad things happen in a world that I believe is to be governed by this God, what does that mean about His power, or His goodness? Are there ramifications, are there implications on His power or His character?

Conflict can produce within the Christian a question of God’s sovereignty. Because here’s the logic: (A) I profess God to be all-knowing, all-powerful, and all-good.(B) If bad things happen in a world that I believe is to be governed by this God, what does that mean about His power, or His goodness? Are there ramifications, are there implications on His power or His character?

The name of Jesus upsets some. The name of Jesus saves all for those willing to accept Him, and for those who are saved, the name of Jesus compels believers to persist!

The name of Jesus upsets some. The name of Jesus saves all for those willing to accept Him, and for those who are saved, the name of Jesus compels believers to persist!

We hear the timelessness of the Word of God that to this day, the Jews still stumble over Jesus. “Psh. Messiah! Nope, He doesn’t fit the list.” And to this day, Gentiles, most relevant Gentiles being Americans, it’s folly. “Old stories. Dead Jew. Sin is a relative term.” Folly. Nevertheless, Jesus is the Messiah.

We hear the timelessness of the Word of God that to this day, the Jews still stumble over Jesus. “Psh. Messiah! Nope, He doesn’t fit the list.” And to this day, Gentiles, most relevant Gentiles being Americans, it’s folly. “Old stories. Dead Jew. Sin is a relative term.” Folly. Nevertheless, Jesus is the Messiah.

Let us not cite the shortness of our lives as reason to believe that God wants us to live crippled lives. The salvation God offers heals cripples. Overcomes disabilities. The salvation God offers puts lame men on their feet today. The salvation God offers is a present thing.