27th Mar 26 | 16:08
Studies by Book
01 Acts 05 01-11 THE FEAR OF GOD IN HIS CHURCH 06 Acts 05 03-04 Remain in the safety of our High Priest
📖 Acts 05:01-11
06 – 22Mar2023 – *Remain in the safety of our High Priest* - _Acts 05:01-11_ - THE FEAR OF GOD IN HIS CHURCH - Bible reading: _Hebrews 04:14-16_
“Lord Jesus, we thank You that You are our High Priest to give us victory over the temptations of the devil. In Your name, we pray. Amen.”
_Acts 5:3-4 But Peter said, "*Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit* and keep back part of the price of the land for yourself? (4) While it remained, was it not your own? And after it was sold, was it not in your own control? Why have you conceived this thing in your heart? You have not lied to men but to God."_
We continue to see the activity of evil one in the lives of Ananias and Sapphira. We have not yet come to the role of this couple in this sin.
The devil is active and aggressive, seeking whom he may devour. _I Peter 5:8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour._ All of humanity are his enemies, for all creation is God’s and the devil is against God and all of his creation.
The devil watches for those who have no understanding of the word of God and are also not seeking to understand the word. They are the ones who are easy prey to the devil. He ensures that the word of God sown in their life does not bear fruit.
_Matthew 13:19 When *anyone hears the word of the kingdom, and does not understand it, then the wicked one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart*. This is he who received seed by the wayside._
The devil’s agenda is to steal, kill and destroy. _John 10:10 The thief does not come *except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.*_ Jesus has come to give us abundant life. We are to have the fullness of life in Christ but when we, as the church of Jesus, live defeated lives then we are robbed of the abundant life that the Lord has provided for us.
As His church, we must be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. We overcome him by fully functioning in the armour of the Lord.
*_Ephesians 6:10-13 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. (11) Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. (12) For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. (13) Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand._*
Each piece of the armour has a deep understanding and it is important to dwell on the different parts of the armour of God. Nevertheless, *let us not lose sight of the purpose of being fully active in the armour of God. The purpose is that we may stand against the deceptions of the devil.*
*_Ephesians 6:14-18 Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, (15) and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; (16) above all, taking the shield of faith with which, you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. (17) And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; (18) praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints—_*
When we are operating in the full armour of God, we are able to stand against the devil, not only individually, but as His church. This is a crucial principle that we must put in place.
The Lord reaches out to us to give us His aid as we face the onslaught of temptations from the devil. *_Hebrews 2:16-18 For indeed He does not give aid to angels, but He does give aid to the seed of Abraham. (17) Therefore, in all things He had to be made like His brethren, that He might be a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. (18) For in that He Himself has suffered, being tempted, He is able to aid those who are tempted._*
Jesus has undergone temptations and has overcome them so that He can aid us as we are tempted. He is our great High Priest who steps into our predicament to aid us. *_Hebrews 4:14-16 Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. (15) For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. (16) Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need._*
```May we be always in the safety of our High Priest to overcome temptations.```