June 7
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Today's passage in Acts is fascinating and an incredible testimony to the power of the Holy Spirit in the life of the early church. First there is a very amazing story about Ananias and Sapphira. In this time the Apostles were holding every thing in common, sharing all of their possessions. This was based upon mutual trust and honesty. Ananias broke this bond of the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, holding back his own portion. Now the main point here I think is that it is very serious to put yourself against the work of the Holy Spirit, lying to yourself, others, and to the Holy Spirit himself. I think the point of this story is that we have a portrait of the kingdom of God, those who work against the kingdom will perish. But then we have an amazing story of the apostles in persecution, arrested for breaking the rule given them to not preach in the name of Jesus. They could not resist but telling others. Yet, one of the Pharisees, in a moment of wisdom, said that they shouldn't kill the men since they might be from God. If they are from God then no one will be able to stop them. How true... finally they go away rejoicing because they were persecuted for the faith. Incredible. May God give us such boldness and conviction.
That's the kind of no-matther-what, no-matter-who faith that we all need to live by.
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