After an interval of about three hours the wife of Ananias, Sapphira, came in, not knowing what had happened to her husband. 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." 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. And great fear came upon the whole church and upon all who heard of these things.
(Acts 5:7-11)
Sovereign God:
I am surprised that some American evangelicals
have not canonized her as "St. Sapphira,"
Submissive as she was to her husband
in God's chain of command.
Ah yes, faith functions through authority,
the hierarchy Gothard taught:
From God to pastor, pastor to husbands,
husbands to wives,
wives to children and grocery clerks;
Or post-Biblical socialists
who could beatify Sapphira
as the first of many females
victimized by white patriarchy.
It's easy to see how a Spanish church
contextualizes the Gospel,
easy to recognize the African style,
but when it comes to hardy American
middle class values,
contextualization seems to vanish
into hot air.
Marketing strategies, fake chains of command,
the glory of individual freedom
at the expense of Soveriegnty,
altar calls and manipulated emotion,
the Gospel according to Charles Finney,
so easily distort the truths of Scripture
through the prism of our culture
and blind us to transforming grace.
Sapphira was a wife whose scoundrel husband
was no excuse for her prevarication.
Submission to his authority
was still rebellion against God's Spirit.
Forgive us for self-justification,
those of the order of St. Sapphira,
convincing ourselves that we have a way
around Your righteous demands
by claiming an exemption of our culture.
By making the Gospel about my subjective witness
and not Your historic cross and resurrection;
By making the church about membership
and not sacrifice;
By making of Your Son an ending to our prayers
and not the rightful Sovereign King
of every breath, of every synapse.
Forgive us when we lie to You,
You who govern sky and sea,
Help us find the truth for living
on the altar of your mercy.
Sweep away each pretense of self-righteousness
masquerading as adherance to some lesser norm.
Transform our minds with heavenly wisdom,
to Jesus let us be conformed.
Amen.
>
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. None of the rest dared join them, but the people held them in high esteem. And more than ever believers were added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women..
(Acts 5:12-14)
Blessed God and Father of our Lord Jesus:
How we thank you for the gift of Your Spirit
moving men and women to hear Your call
and to respond to Your Gospel of grace.
How awesome is Your power that in those early days
mere on-lookers dared not affiliate,
not after hearing news
of two fresh burial plots
for those who plotted lies to You.
Those who dared come out of the shadows
were truly called by Christ (John 15:16),
not curious seekers,
not religious merchandisers,
not social folks looking for connections,
not lovers of pageantry and pomp.
This is hard for we egalitarians to hear,
but here goes anyway --
Christianity is not for everyone,
but saves only those You call.
We have no bandwagon on which to jump;
each must walk the way of Calvary.
How do we pray for multitudes of uncalled believers
who try to take Your Kingdom by force (Luke 16:16),
by force of self-determination,
by force of family tradition,
by force of unregenerate will;
by force of humanitarian effort;
they who find church more to their liking than Christ,
who respond to sights and sounds
confusing goosebumps with your Spirit?
Thank You for assurance given in Your Holy Word
that we may know our effectual calling,
by the gift of the Holy Spirit
that feels no condemnation for sin
that does not drive us to Your grace
and yeild the fruit of true repentence (I John 3:19-22),
that delights to do Your will
and makes no excuse for unrighteousness.
We are assured of Your Spirit's hold
by the sacrificial love that binds us
one to another in agape fellowship (I John 3:16-17).
Your assurance is not provided
by ritual piety or works of Law.
Those first believers, just like us,
were not added to a movement,
did not follow Peter or Paul,
but they were added to the Lord,
the universal gathering
of all the called-out ones.
We bless You for the signs and wonders
poured out upon our Gatherings:
answered prayer,
hope restored,
healing of heart and mind and body,
gifts galore,
grace out-poured.
We ask that you would send to our Gatherings
those You are calling to Yourself,
those in transition, those disappointed
by the pretense of religious sham,
those who need the benediction
of Holy Comfort,
those who might never darken
doors of organized religiosity.
Open our hearts to receive whomever
You may send to us to love.
Help us not to give preference
to those who appear to us more acceptable (James 2:1-7).
We need not fear Your holy wrath,
with false assurance from below.
Give to rich and poor alike
a seat in Solomon's portico.
There may we learn and be assured
that when we fail or doubt your grace,
You are ever faithful, Lord.
At Your table You hold our place.
Amen.
And more than ever believers were added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women, 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. The people also gathered
from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing the sick and those afflicted with unclean
spirits, and they were all healed.
(Acts 5:14-16)
Blessed Jesus:
To have been there and seen the growth
of Your Church in those early weeks
would have surely given confidence
that You could do anything.
Signs and wonders testified
of Your presence as You promised
working through the common clay
of Your apostles every day.
But wherever faith abounds
superstition makes its rounds.
Ancient folk-wisdom decreed
that heroes cast their character
where their shadows fell.
Parents brought their children
to victory parades in hope
the shadow of the conqueror
would bless their babes with success and fame.
Your Word does not say Peter's shadow healed,
but only that the pagans thought so.
But healing happened
in the shadow of Pentecost;
Demonic power was broken
in the shadow of the empty tomb;
People shared as each had need
in the shadow of Mount Beatitude;
Joy surprised midst tribulation
in the shadow of Golgotha.
So, we bring our intercessions
to You, Lord, trusting You to act
In ways beyond our imagination
supplying even secret lack.
For Paul and Val,
for Marie and kids,
For Rebecca's father,
for Sonam and the brothers.
For Becky and Nurse Cathy,
for Dan and Candace,
For Nathan, Faith, and Jason
for Julie and Dave,
for Guambianos of the faith,
and for our fellowships
that we might prove the measure
of Your growing love and faithfulness.
Our earthly heroes are saints and martyrs
who keep Your faith until the end.
No shadow falls from our Cynasure, (James 1:17)
Jesus, Savior and undying Friend.
Amen.
But the high priest rose up, and all who were with him (that is, the party of the
Sadducees), and filled with jealousy they arrested the apostles and put them in the public
prison. But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the prison doors and brought them
out, and said, "Go and stand in the temple and speak to the people all the words of this
Life." And when they heard this, they entered the temple at daybreak and began to teach.
(Acts 5:17-21)
Heavenly Father, Prison-Breaker:
They're baaack!
Jealous Sadduccees and priestly sycophants
again apprehend the Apostles
and toss them unceremoniously
in the public hoosegow,
conspiring to end once and for all
this talk of atonement,
resurrection, and Life.
This Life!
Your Life cannot be caged
in seplechres or prison bars.
Angels lurk nearby the faithful
springing them without alarm.
How sad we picture messengers from heaven,
(angel simply means messenger)
as chubby cherubs sprouting feathers
rather than real people
breaking fetters.
Could we not be Your angels sent
at times with good news
of Life, This Life?
I should know -- I met one yesterday.
Driving an airport shuttlebus.
No halo, just a gimme cap,
No wings beneath his shirt,
just muscle toned by hefting bags
for travelers like me
encumbered by too much to handle.
He saw me tethered to my oxygen,
breathing hard when finally on board.
And as we drove away he asked,
"Are you a believer in the Lord?"
Taken somewhat by surprise,
"yes, I am," I replied.
"Well, Jesus heals you," he declared.
My first reaction in the flesh
was something like, "Hey, buddy, not so fast.
I accept this death sentence in my chest.
These lungs aren't going to last."
But I did not retort or offer exegesis.
I just listened to him praise Jesus.
Just listened as he spoke,
and in a moment became aware
that God's Spirit was truly there;
speaking faith, peace and freedom,
opening one small prison door.
I felt no earthquake at this release,
only the bouncing of the bus,
as we shared the joys of life,
This Life!
So helps us all to be such angels
who, flesh and blood, their flesh deny,
and listen first to Heaven's call,
to share the wonder and supply
of life, This Life!
Amen.
And someone came and told them, "Look! The men whom you put in prison are standing in the temple and teaching the people." Then the captain with the officers went and brought them, but not by force, for they were afraid of being stoned by the people.
And when they had brought them, they set them before the council. And the high priest questioned them, saying, "We strictly charged you not to teach in this name, yet here you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and you intend to bring this man’s blood upon us." But Peter and the apostles answered, "We must obey God rather than men. The God of our fathers raised Jesus, whom you killed by hanging him on a tree. God exalted him at his
right hand as Leader and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. And we are witnesses to these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him." When they heard this, they were enraged and wanted to kill them.
(Acts 5:25-33)
God and Father of our Lord Jesus:
Yes, Peter did intend
to bring Christ's blood upon these men,
First to feel the pangs of guilt
but then to know their sins forgiven.
Thank you for lessons of faith
you unfold from Your written Word
about the power of Your Spirit
filling the world with witnesses
to Your Gospel, here proclaimed
in less than fifty words.
Called to obey your Sovereign Law,
we, imbued by self-righteous rage,
crucify Your Love and Grace,
crushed beneath the downward pressure
of human depravity.
But faithful to the covenant
cut with Father Abraham
You bless the world,
and make a Kingdom (Genesis 12:1ff)
of those Messiah calls to repentance
and forgiveness of deep sin.
Executed as a criminal,
hung on a tree, the sign of curse,
yet God raised Him from the dead,
revealed His plan,
showed Satan's hand,
made Jesus Leader, Pioneer,
Earth's only Savior, Strong Redeemer,
Ascended and Exulted Man,
King of creation,
Spirit Bequether
to his new community
empowered to obey
the self-same Law that once condemned
now sanctifies those called of Christ.
Help us follow where You lead us,
Keep us faithful to the end;
With Your promises you feed us,
Precious Savior, Holy Friend.
Amen.
When the Sanhedrin heard that the Christians had escaped their prison and returned to preaching in the Temple, they were enraged and wanted to kill them. But a Pharisee in the council named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law held in honor by all the people, stood up and gave orders to put the men outside for a little while. And he said to them, "Men of Israel, take care what you are about to do with these men. For before these days Theudas rose up, claiming to be somebody, and a number of men, about four hundred, joined him. He was killed, and all who followed him were dispersed and came to nothing. After him Judas the Galilean rose up in the days of the census and drew away some of the people after him. He too perished, and all who followed him were scattered. So in the present case I tell you, keep away from these men and let them alone, for if this plan or this undertaking is of man, it will fail; but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them. You might even be found opposing God!" So they took his advice, and when they had called in the apostles, they flailed them and charged them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. Then they left the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name. And every day, in the temple and from house to house, they did not cease teaching and preaching Jesus as the Messiah.
(Acts 5:33-42)
Wise and Wonderful God:
We know Gamaliel speaks for himself
and not for You in this regard.
Many movements men have mounted
succeed without Your benediction,
While others fail that bore Your truth --
Essenes and Puritans come to mind.
The order of St. Gamaliel
sits the fence and waits to see
how the courage shown by others
succeeds or fails posthumously.
Patience is indeed a virtue
wisdom waits to gather truth,
but the Message lay before him:
a dead man come back to life
bearing God's imprimatur
of life and healing and Messiahship.
Does Gamaliel not know
these Christians number a majority
in the Temple, in all Jerusalem?
Does Gamaliel not see
these People of the Way
have grown so great in number and influence
the Council cannot act its murderous will?
This is not patience virtuous
but vascillating cowardice;
willful blindness in the face
of overwhelming evidence,
posturing uprightness on dilemma's fence.
We confess we'd rather watch
the Humptys fall
from the fence on which we perch
than be counted on at all.
Inertia claims our courage,
expediency our witness.
Solitary self-righteousness
is our religious fitness.
But this much from Gamaliel is true,
what God proposes He will do;
what God approves He empowers
and on earth nothing can intervene.
Thank you Lord that you have called us
to stand on history's winning side
not as pious spectators
but as chastened from sin's pride.
We share Your pain, carry our cross,
for some Barabas set scott free
and rejoice in all our sufferings
that we may meet You in adversity.
Amen.
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