IIT UBF - University Bible Fellowship at IIT

Daily Bread

More and More Believed in the Lord

Date: Feb. 10, 2019

Passage

Acts 5:1-16 (ESV)

But a man named Ananias, with his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property, and with his wife’s knowledge he kept back for himself some of the proceeds and brought only a part of it and laid it at the apostles’ feet. But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back for yourself part of the proceeds of the land? While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, was it not at your disposal? Why is it that you have contrived this deed in your heart? You have not lied to man but to God.” When Ananias heard these words, he fell down and breathed his last. And great fear came upon all who heard of it. The young men rose and wrapped him up and carried him out and buried him.

After an interval of about three hours his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. And Peter said to her, “Tell me whether you sold the land for so much.” And she said, “Yes, for so much.” But Peter said to her, “How is it that you have agreed together to test the Spirit of the Lord? Behold, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out.” 10 Immediately she fell down at his feet and breathed her last. When the young men came in they found her dead, and they carried her out and buried her beside her husband. 11 And great fear came upon the whole church and upon all who heard of these things.

12 Now many signs and wonders were regularly done among the people by the hands of the apostles. And they were all together in Solomon’s Portico. 13 None of the rest dared join them, but the people held them in high esteem. 14 And more than ever believers were added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women, 15 so that they even carried out the sick into the streets and laid them on cots and mats, that as Peter came by at least his shadow might fall on some of them. 16 The people also gathered from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing the sick and those afflicted with unclean spirits, and they were all healed.

Daily Bread

Key Verse: 5:14

1. Great fear seized the whole church (1-11)

Ananias and his wife Sapphira saw the respect that Barnabas had received from his giving. They wanted the same, yet without any sacrifice. After selling a field, they pretended they were offering the whole amount. It was their deceit and the fact that they thought they could lie to God that was so wrong, not the amount they gave. Peter called them out on it; he did not want the yeast of hypocrisy to spoil the loving spirit in this young community. He must have been surprised when they dropped down dead. This was a critical moment for the church as it developed. God acted quickly and firmly, to preserve his honor and the church's purity.

2. No one else dared join them (12-16)

God confirmed the authority of the apostles through many signs and wonders they performed. All the believers met together in Solomon's Colonnade yet no one else dared to join them. They had a marvelous reputation among the people but perhaps because they lived such faithful and sacrificial lives people were afraid of such commitment. Nevertheless, people were still added to their number.

Prayer: Prayer: Lord, help me to live in your sight and fear you

One Word: Live before God not men

Daily Bread

David Praises God

1 Chronicles 17:16-27

Key Verse: 17:26

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