The coming of the Holy Spirit as recorded in Acts was just as important as the coming of Jesus.
We've been considering the staying power of the early church and now we're following the church as it grows from former Jewish congregations to now congregations made up mostly of gentiles, or non-Jews.
We read about Barnabas in Acts 4 and his generous gift after selling some land. And then in Acts 5 comes the shocking story of Ananias and Sapphira: Satan had already begun to weasel his way into peoples' hearts and tergiversation wasn't far behind. They literally dropped dead after lying to "the Holy Spirit" and the congregation; God just wouldn't allow evil in his baby church.
Paul tells the early church in Galatia: "For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery" (Gal. 5:1). How will we use that freedom? To be a Barnabas or an Ananias and Sapphira? The choice is clear.
Lord, help us guard our hearts and stay true to you.
