Read Acts 4
Highlights:
Faithfulness in persecution (Acts 4:1-12). Disciples warned not to preach (4:13-18). How to combat threats (4:19-20,23-31; 5:29-32). Death by lying to Holy Spirit (5:1-11). Results of prayer, and . . . the ministry of the Word (6:4). A deacon full of faith and the Holy Spirit (6:1-6).
Loyalty to the Lord and love for one another permeated the first Church. The multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul: neither said any of them that ought (any) of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common. . . . as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the prices of the things that were sold, And laid them down at the apostles' feet: and distribution was made unto every man according as he had need (Acts 4:32,34-35). Undoubtedly, this was a great encouragement to the congregation because most Jews who confessed Jesus as the Messiah had probably lost their jobs.
Ananias and his wife Sapphira also sold a piece of property; but, they gave only a part of the proceeds to the Church while implying they were giving everything just as others had done (5:1-2). The property was theirs to dispose of as they chose. All giving was voluntary (5:4). No one was required to sell his property or to share his wealth, but, the "generous gift" of Ananias and Sapphira was a lie to the Holy Ghost (Spirit) (5:3; Rev. 21:8; Jer. 17:9).
The problem today is even more serious, not because Christians keep part of the proceeds of a sale, but because many refuse to give even a tithe (10%) of their income, the minimum that God requires for the ministry of His Word. Tithing is not an option; it is a debt we owe. God rightfully owns all that He created, but He only requires us to return to Him one-tenth of what He has entrusted to us, thereby acknowledging that we are only stewards (managers) of His property.
This principle was demonstrated by Abraham over 500 years before the Law was given (Gen. 14:20; Heb. 7:1-2). Later, the Law stated: All the tithe (tenth portion) of the land, whether of the seed of the land, or of the fruit of the tree, is the Lord's: it is holy (sacred, set apart) unto the Lord (Lev. 27:30).
The Holy Spirit also directed Luke to write that you can't outgive God, who said: Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal (measure anything) it shall be measured to you again (Luke 6:38).
Thought for Today:
Ye that love the Lord, hate evil: He preserveth the souls of His saints; He delivereth them out of the hand of the wicked (Ps. 97:10).
Word Studies:
5:2 being privy to it knowing of it, she helped plan the deception; 6:11 suborned influenced to do wrong, bribed.
Cross References:
For Acts 4:11: See Ps. 118:22. Acts 4:25-26: See Ps. 2:1-2.
Prayer Needs:
Pray for International Broadcasts sponsored by A Family That Loves Jesus • Staff: Jennifer Cunningham • Government Officials: Sen. Saxby Chambliss (GA) and Rep. Silvestre Reyes (TX) • Country: Guyana (705,000) on the northeastern coast of South America • Major languages: English and Amerindian dialects • The government is becoming increasingly Marxist, radical, and atheistic • 36% Hindu; 28% Protestant; 10% Roman Catholic; 9% Muslim • Prayer Suggestion: Praise the Lord for His loving-kindness and faithfulness (Ps. 138:2).
Memory Verse for the Week: Luke 14:33