Acts 5:1-11 - God the Holy Spirit

Acts 5:1-11
But a man named Ananias, with his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property, 2 and kept back some of the price for himself, with his wife’s full knowledge, and bringing a portion of it, he laid it at the apostles’ feet. 3 But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back some of the price of the land? 4 While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, was it not under your control? Why is it that you have conceived this deed in your heart? You have not lied to men but to God.” 5 And as he heard these words, Ananias fell down and breathed his last; and great fear came over all who heard of it. 6 The young men got up and covered him up, and after carrying him out, they buried him.

7 Now there elapsed an interval of about three hours, and his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. 8 And Peter responded to her, “Tell me whether you sold the land for such and such a price?” And she said, “Yes, that was the price.” 9 Then Peter said to her, “Why is it that you have agreed together to put the Spirit of the Lord to the test? Behold, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out as well.” 10 And immediately she fell at his feet and breathed her last, and the young men came in and found her dead, and they carried her out and buried her beside her husband.11 And great fear came over the whole church, and over all who heard of these things.

Message: God the Holy Spirit

Time: Clearly written by Luke, this book follows the lives of Peter and then Paul after Jesus' ascension into heaven. The book was completed about 62 AD as Paul sat in prison. It provides an account of the growth of the Church and spread from Jerusalem, from a small group of frightened believers in Jerusalem transformed into an empire-wide movement of people who had committed their lives to Jesus Christ, and it should help us to be bold and have zeal in our walks with God.

What the Lord is Saying:

As I think and study about the doctrine of God, there remains this view of God as exhibited in three persons of the Godhead who share the essence of God. Three persons, not in the same way we think of persons with separate bodies, but three entities that have distinctive roles and yet share the same essence or substance - God the Father, the Son, the Holy Spirit.

In this account in Acts Ananias and Sapphira (members of the Jerusalem church) sell a piece of property and keep back a portion of the proceeds for themselves rather than surrendering the full proceeds to the church. What stands out in this story today is Peter's remark that Ananias has spoken a lie to the Holy Spirit and later also spoken You have not lied to men but to God. Thus, there seems to be a reference here equating the Holy Spirit with God. This is a tragic story as this lie ends up killing Ananias and Sapphira.

There are a couple of other scriptures mentioned in this devotion. 2 Peter 1:21 speaks of how the words of scripture came to be: for no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God. Yet, the Old Testament also says that the word of the Lord came from Lord Yahweh. But the Holy Spirit was involved. John 14:16 refers to the Holy Spirit as another helper, a title also given of Jesus. Clearly there are connections here and the Spirit will be studied further.

In my reading of the book, the Forgotten God by Francis Chan I believe the work of the Holy Spirit is more clearly reflected and defined.

Promise: Jesus gave us another Advocate or Helper like Himself to be with us after he ascended to Heaven.

Prayer: Thank you for your revealing yourself God in the works of the Father, Son, and Spirit. Help me to better understand these persons of You and how all of you make up the 1 God. Thank you for these devotions and giving them to me to help me better understand you.

Note: I follow the readings from the Tabletalk Magazine devotional. 2017 is a study of key biblical doctrines with January being about the doctrine of God.