27th Mar 26 | 16:08
Studies by Book
01 Acts 05 01-11 THE FEAR OF GOD IN HIS CHURCH 02 Acts 05 01-02 Perfecting holiness
📖 Acts 05:01-11
acts
02 – 18Mar2023 – *Perfecting holiness* - _Acts 05:01-11_ - THE FEAR OF GOD IN HIS CHURCH - Bible reading: _II Corinthians 06:16-07:01_
“Lord Jesus, we are caught up with external action that we forget that You are calling us to perfect holiness. Please have mercy on us. In Your name, we pray. Amen.”
_Acts 5:1-2 But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession. (2) And he kept back part of the proceeds, his wife also being aware of it, and brought a certain part and laid it at the apostles' feet._
We see that the growth of the early church was their walk in His Spirit but soon the activity of the flesh appeared.
The flesh lusts against His Spirit and we must all be conscious of this struggle. As His people, realising the nature of the flesh, we must seek to be vessels of honour, sanctified and useful for the Master. _II Timothy 2:20-21 But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay, some for honor and some for dishonor. (21) Therefore *if anyone cleanses himself from the latter, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified and useful for the Master*, prepared for every good work._
*To be prepared for His good work, we must be sanctified.*
It is the word of God that reveals to us the will of God in all matters, which we apply in the enablement of His Holy Spirit. _James 1:18 *Of His own will He brought us forth by the word of truth*, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of His creatures._
We are aware that if we are not pursuing the fulfilment of His word in our lives, we will succumb to the flesh. Therefore, we seek to apply His word in us by His Holy Spirit. *_Psalms 119:9-11 How can a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed according to Your word. (10) With my whole heart I have sought You; Oh, let me not wander from Your commandments! (11) Your word I have hidden in my heart, That I might not sin against You._*
The Scriptures is for our growth in our walk in His Spirit. *_II Timothy 3:16-17 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, (17) that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work._* The good works of God takes place in His church because we are being cleansed by His word and by His Spirit.
We obey the truth through His Spirit for by the flesh we cannot please God. _I Peter 1:22-23 Since *you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit* in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart, (23) having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever,_
*The Lord is purifying His church for good works.* This is the ongoing activity in His church. The devil’s strategy is to get us caught up in external action without being cleansed from within. This is what happened with Ananias and Sapphira.
_Malachi 3:2-5 "But who can endure the day of His coming? And who can stand when He appears? For *He is like a refiner's fire And like launderers' soap. (3) He will sit as a refiner and a purifier of silver; He will purify the sons of Levi, And purge them as gold and silver, That they may offer to the LORD An offering in righteousness.* (4) "Then the offering of Judah and Jerusalem Will be pleasant to the LORD, As in the days of old, As in former years. (5) And *I will come near you for judgment*; I will be a swift witness Against sorcerers, Against adulterers, Against perjurers, Against those who exploit wage earners and widows and orphans, And against those who turn away an alien—Because they do not fear Me," Says the LORD of hosts._
The judgement of the Lord is of the heart. _I Corinthians 4:5 Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord comes, *who will both bring to light the hidden things of darkness and reveal the counsels of the hearts*. Then each one's praise will come from God._
As His church, realising the peril of the flesh, we purge out the old leaven. *_I Corinthians 5:7-8 Therefore purge out the old leaven, that you may be a new lump, since you truly are unleavened. For indeed Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us. (8) Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, nor with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth._*
*The Lord is calling us to perfect holiness in His fear.* _II Corinthians 6:16-II Corinthians 7:1_ And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God. As God has said: "I WILL DWELL IN THEM AND WALK AMONG THEM. I WILL BE THEIR GOD, AND THEY SHALL BE MY PEOPLE." (17) Therefore "COME OUT FROM AMONG THEM AND BE SEPARATE, SAYS THE LORD. DO NOT TOUCH WHAT IS UNCLEAN, AND I WILL RECEIVE YOU." (18) "I WILL BE A FATHER TO YOU, AND YOU SHALL BE MY SONS AND DAUGHTERS, SAYS THE LORD ALMIGHTY." (II Corinthians 7:1) Therefore, having these promises, beloved, *let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God*._
Will we give ourselves as His church to perfect holiness in His fear?