Daily Devotional Pt. 2 For Saturday, April 27, 204

Yesterday we began looking at intent and motives. I raised this question yesterday because that seems to be the big question before the U.S. Supreme Court in regards to former President Trump. Sometimes we all can have the purest intentions and motives but somewhere along the way loose them. A good example of this is the movie Spiderman-2 with Toby McQuire:

“In Spider-Man 2, Dr. Otto Octavius (Alfred Molina) dreams of creating a machine to produce renewable nuclear fusion energy for the world. The dream turns to a nightmare when the machine malfunctions, fusing multi-tentacled arms to his body and transforming Octavius into a sinister villain bent on destruction.

Meanwhile, a discouraged Peter Parker (Tobey Maguire) has hung up his Spider-Man costume after heroism has left him broke, failing in school, and without Mary Jane (Kirsten Dunst), the woman he loves.

In the climactic scene, Doc Ock kidnaps Mary Jane and Peter re-emerges as Spider-Man in order to save her. Spider-Man struggles with Doc Ock in intense hand-to-hand combat, while in the background the nuclear reactor spins out of control. The reactor emits a brilliant light as it sucks in debris, cars, buildings, and jeopardizes Mary Jane.

Over the sound of rushing wind and crushing metal, Spider-Man begs Doc Ock to shut down his deadly invention. Doc grabs Spider-Man by the throat with one of his tentacled arms and says, “No!”

Struggling to speak, the super hero reminds Doc Ock of his original dream. Speaking from experience, Spider-Man pleads, "Sometimes to do what is right, we have to be steady and give up the thing we want the most, even our dreams.” His words strike a chord, and Doc Ock disconnects the exploding experiment and drags it to a watery grave, giving up his life for what is right” (Source: Spider-Man2 (Columbia, 2004); written by Alvin Sargent, Alfred Gough, Miles Millar, Michael Chabon, directed by Sam Raimi).

Yesterday you read Acts 5:1-11 as the backdrop for the devotional today. If have not read it, please take your Bible and read it or you can go to this direct link to yesterdays’ devotional: https://southsidebaptist101.tithelysetup.com/blog/daily-devotional-for-friday-april-26-2024

In the Scripture we may a similar story in the New Testament with a married couple named Annas and Sapphira that involves intent and motives. Now having read Acts 5:1-11 yesterday, now read below the context for this in Acts 4:32-37:

“All the believers were united in heart and mind. And they felt that what they owned was not their own, so they shared everything they had. (33) The apostles testified powerfully to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and God’s great blessing was upon them all. (34) There were no needy people among them, because those who owned land or houses would sell them (35) and bring the money to the apostles to give to those in need. (36) For instance, there was Joseph, the one the apostles nicknamed Barnabas (which means “Son of Encouragement”). He was from the tribe of Levi and came from the island of Cyprus. (37) He sold a field he owned and brought the money to the apostles” (NLT).

It seems that both Ananias and Sapphira initially had intended to sell some land they had and to give all of the money to the church at Jerusalem. But that is not what they finally did. In the end, when the time came, they gave the money to the church in Jerusalem with the appearance of giving all of the proceeds of that sale to the Lord’s work. With the early church growing due to the preaching of the Gospel, these early Christians did not claim ownership over any of their possessions. They saw everything belonging to God and to the work of God through the church. 

In Acts 5:4, Peter’s words to Ananias was to remind him that selling of property and giving the proceeds to the church was strictly voluntary. If had been by force or by coercion, then there would be nothing to commend. The selling of property and the money given to the church was so that the basic needs of people could be met: food, clothing, and etc. Acts 5 shows us that the money was given with no conditions and left to the disciples to decide how it should be used. Ananias and Sapphira saw this as an opportunity to make a double profit: they would gain spiritual prestige and still make some money on the side.

Withholding some of the money for their own use was not their sin, as Peter clearly states in Acts 5:4. Nowhere does the Bible or the Book of Acts show believers who sold land were expected or required to give all the proceeds to the church. Pastor and author John MacArthur writes this:

“Their sin was lying about it. That sin was but the outward manifestation, however. The deeper, more devastating sin was hypocrisy based on a desire for spiritual status. They desired the approval of men for their sacrificial act and to be thought of as members of those most spiritually noble” (Source: John MacArthur, The MacArthur New Testament Commentary, “Acts,” p. 152).

There was no sin condemned more by Jesus than the sin of hypocrisy — religious people attempting to flaunt a spiritual maturity or superiority they did not possess. Read Jesus’ words in Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18; Matthew 15:7; Matthew 22:18; Matthew 23:13-36; Luke 12:1, and Matthew 24:51). The Apostle Paul states that any sin against the fellowship of believers is a sin against Christ Himself. Look at 1 Corinthians 8:12, “Thus, sinning against your brothers and wounding their conscience when it is weak, you sin against Christ” (ESV).

One of the truths I love about God’s Word the Bible is that it hides nothing about the faults and sins of those heroes of faith. Though Moses was defiant against Pharaoh, his defiance against God is told also and his punishment was not to be able to lead the Hebrews into the Promise Land. David is called “a man after God’s own heart” but the Bible reveals how David was at times a man after his own heart with Bathsheba and the murder of Uriah. The Bible shows Peter denying Jesus 3 times and then preaching Jesus faithfully after the Resurrection. 

From Acts 1-4, the portrayal of the church has been very positive until we get to Acts 5. From the coming of the Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost to the growth of the church it has been almost a fairytale story until we get to Acts 5. Acts 5 teaches us the no church is perfect since the church is made of of imperfect members. satan loves to bring scandal to God’s church through us. Even the Apostle Paul wrote that the sins of Christians were a greater burden to him than opposition from unbelievers.  Look at the table below (i.e., I apologize the web site would not copy this from my Word Processor in the table format I had it originally. I hope you can make sense of it):

Acts Chapters 4-5 show that believers, filled with the Holy Spirit, can be instruments of the devil and sometimes death is God’s punishment. So, what does this say to us today in the modern church? If Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow, could such judgment and punishment from God occur today (Take your Bible and read 1 Corinthians 11:27-32)?  I would like to share some words of application from pastor and author Chuck Swindoll on this:

1. “First, their act (Ananias and Sapphira” was premeditated. It wasn’t a mistake. They did not have poor accounting of their transaction. They colluded together to perpetuate a fraud in the name of the Holy Spirit.
2. Second, their sin was motivated by pride. They wanted to appear generous like their peers. They weren’t willing to say, “Peter, as we bring this sum of money, we bring it for the glory of God, for His purpose only. We want you to know that we received more than this, but we’ve kept the rest for our own needs. We don’t want to give you the impression that we’re in any way in the same league as others. But here’s a portion of the money; use it as you like.” That’s being honest. That’s humility.
3. Third, we have a responsibility to maintain personal integrity. This means we must make truth a priority in our lives and we must cultivate a lifestyle of transparency and authenticity — which is the opposite of hypocrisy as Ananias and Sapphira did. Take your Bible and read David’s words in Psalm 139:23-24 and Psalm 51:10. We all have to ask ourselves, “What is our motive?” 
4. Fourth, we have a responsibility to maintain a clear conscience. Take your Bible and read David’s words in Psalm 32:2-4.
5. Fifth, we have a responsibility to be authentic. Take your Bible and read the Apostle Paul’s words in Romans 14:7.  The sin of hypocrisy is not just a sin against ourself; it is a sin against the whole body of Christ and the Lord Himself. This is why the Lord places us in community so that we would hold each other accountable and encourage one another” (Source: Charles R. Swindoll, Swindoll’s Living Insights New Testament Commentary, “Acts, pp. 99-100).

Questions To Consider

1. Where would you say you are hypocritical in your spiritual walk with Christ? Why?
2. Where would you say you need more authenticity and transparency in your Christian life? Why?
3. What does this story in Acts 4-5 say to you about your own walk with Christ and why?
4. Why do you think some Christians struggle with authenticity and transparency?
5. Who in the body of Christ are you accountable to today? If not, why?

Scripture To Meditate On: Ecclesiastes 5:4-6, “When you make a vow to God, do not delay to fulfill it. He has no pleasure in fools; fulfill your vow. (5) It is better not to make a vow than to make one and not fulfill it. (6) Do not let your mouth lead you into sin. And do not protest to the temple messenger, “My vow was a mistake.” Why should God be angry at what you say and destroy the work of your hands?” (NIV).

Prayer To Pray: “Dear Jesus, I do not want to make vows to You and then break them. I do not want to be guilty of the sin of hypocrisy, inauthenticity and non-transparency. I know I cannot hide anything from You. Help me to be a person of Christlike integrity and character so that I honor You and bring no shame to Your church.  I ask this in Jesus’ name, Amen!”

I love you Southside! — Pastor Kelly