THE STORY OF JESUS: Acts 5:1-11
“Great fear seized the whole church and all who heard about these events.” (Acts 5:11)
This story is scary… I would experience great fear too.
At first it seems God kills this couple, but the passage doesn’t say this.
In the context, Satan fills their hearts; maybe Satan kills them too?
Like when he kills the pigs to scare people away from Jesus! (Luke 8:26-39)
I see this story as Satan’s way of trying to stop the kingdom message.
Jesus has defeated the deceiver, but the deceiver can still lie.
I see this as another time where Satan leads people to their own deaths.
Listening to Satan’s lies will always result in some kind of dying.
It was their own sin that trapped, chained and ruined them.
Where is the deceiver tricking or scaring you away from life in God?
Where is your heart being filled with doubt, or fear, or selfishness?
The enemy doesn’t care how he stops God’s work in us, so long as he stops us.
Don’t let this story frighten or drive you from Jesus…
It actually shows you how much we need His help and protection!
What do you sense the Lord saying to you?
PRAYER
Lord, Satan is defeated, and we can resist him, if we want to. But he is still a good liar, and his words are very convincing. Use this story to scare me towards You, not away from You!
There are two kinds of people in the ‘church.’ And we can not tell the difference. We can only see what is on the outside but God can see what is on the inside. We can not fool God. He sees right through us to our very core. It is what is on the inside what counts.
Whole-hearted thanksgiving to Thee I will bring
In praise of Thy marvelous deeds I will sing;
In Thee I will joy and exultingly cry,
Thy name I will praise, O Jehovah, Most High.
Refrain
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, let the earth hear His voice!
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, let the people rejoice!
O come to Jehovah, declare ye His fame,
And give Him all honor, for just is His name.