IN TODAY’S WORLD SOLID FAITH WITH COURAGE IS REQUIRED TO DECLARE YOUR TRUE POSITION IN YESHUA! PETER IN HIS DAY STATED WHEN TOLD NOT TO SPEAK OF THE RESURRECTION OF CHRIST HE STATED IT IS BETTER TO OBEY GOD RATHER THAN MAN!

SPIRITUAL FOUNDATION!

Acts 5:29
[29]Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men.

OBSERVATION!

All my research points to one thing the original 12 Apostles preaching was about the wonders of Yeshua’s resurrection!

Acts 17:3 KJV
Opening and alleging, that Christ must needs have suffered, and risen again from the dead; and that this Jesus, whom I preach unto you, is Christ.

My question then is why does today’s Assemblies place so much importance and detailed attention to Yeshua’s birth?

I ponder how it is that the power bestowed upon the Apostles is not being leveled at the greatest miracle ever to be available to mankind!

COMMENTARY OFFERED BY MATTHEW HENRY (1664-1714).

We are not told what it was that the apostles preached to the people no doubt it was according to the direction of the angel–the words of this life but what passed between them and the council we have here an account of for in their sufferings there appeared more of a divine power and energy than even in their preaching.

OBSERVATION!

Matthew 5:8-9 KJV
Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God. [9] Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.

The disciples were very holy, and heavenly, and seemed to be all exceedingly good but there were hypocrites among them, whose hearts were not right in the sight of God, who, when they were baptized, and took upon them the form of godliness, denied the power of godliness, and stopped short of that.

2 Timothy 3:5 KJV
Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.

There is a mixture of bad with good in the best societies on this side of heaven, tares will grow among the wheat until the harvest

2. It was the praise of the disciples that they came up to that perfection which Christ recommended to the rich young man–they sold what they had, and gave to the poor but even that proved a cloak and cover of hypocrisy which was thought the greatest proof and evidence of sincerity

3. The signs and wonders which the apostles wrought were hitherto miracles of mercy but now comes in a miracle of judgment, and here is an instance of severity following the instances of goodness, that God may be both loved and feared.

COMMENTARY OFFERED BY MATTHEW HENRY (1664-1714).

Observe: The sin of Ananias and Sapphira his wife. It is good to see husband and wife joining together in that which is good, but to be confederate in evil is to be like Adam and Eve, when they agreed to eat the forbidden fruit, and were one in their disobedience.

Now their sin was, 1. That they were ambitious of being thought eminent disciples, and of the first rank, when they were not true disciples they would pass for some of the most fruitful trees in Christ’s vineyard, when really the root of the matter was not found in them.

They sold a possession, and brought the money (as Barnabas did) to the apostles’ feet, that they might not seem to be behind the very chief of believers, but might be applauded and cried up, and stand so much the fairer for preferment in the church, which perhaps they thought would shortly shine in secular pomp and grandeur.

Note, It is possible that hypocrites may deny themselves in one thing, but then it is to serve themselves in another they may forego their secular advantage in one instance, with a prospect of finding their account in something else.

OBSERVATION!

What is revealed in these words given forth by Matthew Henry (1664-1714) explains the shortcomings of many in today’s Assemblies! Our Lord’s call to do a deep discerning assessment of our hearts and correct what may be out of sorts is the Lord’s way of placing His Grace before all to make right what may be hidden before he closes the door!

Luke 13:25 KJV
When once the master of the house is risen up, and hath shut to the door, and ye begin to stand without, and to knock at the door, saying, Lord, Lord, open unto us; and he shall answer and say unto you, I know you not whence ye are:

Matthew Henry (1664-1714) states: Ananias and Sapphira would take upon them a profession of Christianity, and make a fair show in the flesh with it, and so would mock God, and deceive others, when they knew they could not go through with the Christian profession.

It was commendable, and so far it was right, in that rich young man, that he would not pretend to follow Christ, when, if it should come to a pinch, he knew he could not come up to his terms, but he went away sorrowful. (Robert’s comment: Many in today’s Ecclesia believe as Ananias and Sapphira)

Ananias and Sapphira pretended they could come up to the terms, that they might have the credit of being disciples, when really they could not, and so were a discredit to discipleship. Note, It is often of fatal consequence for people to go a greater length in profession than their inward principle will admit of

That they were covetous of the wealth of the world, and distrustful of God and his providence: They sold their land, and perhaps then, in a pang of zeal, designed no other than to dedicate the whole of the purchase-money to pious uses, and made a vow, or at least conceived a full purpose, to do so but, when the money was received, their heart failed them, and they kept back part of the price, (Acts 5:2), because they loved the money, and thought it was too much to part with at once, and to trust in the apostles’ hands, and because they knew not but they might want it themselves though now all things were common, yet it would not be so long, and what should they do in a time of need, if they should leave themselves nothing to take to?

They could not take God’s word that they should be provided for, but thought they would play a wiser part than the rest had done, and lay up for a rainy day. Thus they thought to serve both God and mammon–God, by bringing part of the money to the apostles’ feet, and mammon, by keeping the other part in their own pockets as if there were not an all-sufficiency in God to make up the whole to them, except they retained some in their own hands by way of caution-money.

Their hearts were divided, so they were found faulty, Hosea 10:2. They halted between two if they had been thorough-paced worldlings, they would not have sold their possession and, if they had been thorough-paced Christians, they would not have detained part of the price.

OBSERVATION!

Mark 12:42 KJV
And there came a certain poor widow, and she threw in two mites, which make a farthing.

Here I place before you words of wisdom which should bring a light of discovery for use in your assessment of your walk and personal relationship with Yeshua and Yahewa!

Matthew Henry(1664-1714) explains Mark 12:44. Now many would have been ready to censure this poor widow, and to think she did ill why should she give to others, when she had little enough for herself?

Charity begins at home or, if she would give it, why did she not bestow it upon some poor body that she knew?

What occasion was there for her bringing it to the treasury to be disposed of by the chief priests, who, we have reason to fear, were partial in the disposal of it?

It is so rare a thing to find any that would not blame this widow, that we cannot expect to find any that will imitate her, and yet our Saviour commends her, and therefore we are sure that she did very well and wisely.

If Christ saith, Well-done, no matter who saith otherwise, and we must hence learn, 1. That giving alms is an excellent thing, and highly pleasing to our Lord Jesus, and if we be humble and sincere in it, he will graciously accept it, though in some circumstances there may not be all the discretion in the world.

2. Those who have but a little, ought to give alms out of their little. Those who live by their labour, from hand to mouth, must give to those who need, Ephesians 4:28.

3. It is very good for us to straiten and deny ourselves, that we may be able to give more to the poor to deny ourselves not only superfluities, but even conveniences, for the sake of charity.

OBSERVATION!

When we can cheerfully provide for others, out of our own necessary provision, as the widow of Sarepta for Elijah, and Christ for his five thousand guests, and trust God to provide for us some other way, this is worthy.

Bottom line here is to recognize the importance of being an obedient servant surrendered to God’s will willing to sacrifice for those trapped in darkness who would be freed by our sharing what Yeshua’s resurrection holds for them! But we cannot share what we have not surrendered and sacrificed for!

If our hearts are not right with our Lord then our walk is in vain and to please man instead of Yeshua!

Know this those who share the glory of Yeshua’s resurrection and share the light of life are placing before our Lord’s throne the greatest sacrifice known to the saints the surrendering of their whole being as that sacrifice!

Robert a humble obedient servant to Yeshua and his Father in heaven Yahewa. And all of God’s children say Amen and Amen in the name of Jehovah our creator and provider of all things righteous and Holy!