CAC LIVING WATER DAILY DEVOTIONAL FOR JULY 25, 2022 : TOPIC – BEAUTY OF A DISCIPLINED CHURCH (I)
CHRIST APOSTOLIC CHURCH THE LIVING WATER
DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE
DATE: Monday, July 25, 2022
TOPIC: BEAUTY OF A DISCIPLINED CHURCH (I)
READ: Acts 5:1-11
[1] But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession,
[2] And kept back part of the price, his wife also being privy to it, and brought a certain part, and laid it at the apostles’ feet.
[3] But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land?
[4] Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God.
[5] And Ananias hearing these words fell down, and gave up the ghost: and great fear came on all them that heard these things.
[6] And the young men arose, wound him up, and carried him out, and buried him.
[7] And it was about the space of three hours after, when his wife, not knowing what was done, came in.
[8] And Peter answered unto her, Tell me whether ye sold the land for so much? And she said, Yea, for so much.
[9] Then Peter said unto her, How is it that ye have agreed together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? behold, the feet of them which have buried thy husband are at the door, and shall carry thee out.
[10] Then fell she down straightway at his feet, and yielded up the ghost: and the young men came in, and found her dead, and, carrying her forth, buried her by her husband.
[11] And great fear came upon all the church, and upon as many as heard these things.
MEMORISE:
So great fear came upon all the church and upon all who heard these things (Acts 5:11).
EXPOSITION
As the Church took off, the devil, father of lies and deceit (Jn. 8:44), tried to infiltrate its ranks with falsehood from the beginning. It did something similar when priesthood was divinely instituted in Israel. ‘Thank God he failed (Lev. 10:1ff). Satan occupied the hearts of Ananias and Sapphira to love the praise of men than doing God’s work right. God didn’t waste time in nipping such a killer instinct in the bud through His accredited servant (Acts 5:1-10).
Now, the effects. First, the fear of the holy God (cf. Prov. 1:7) was instilled in the members (v. 11). It is clear that you don’t mess with the justice of God, hence the chastity. Godly discipline instils chastity and decency among God’s people. It closes door against looseness and
laxity. Christians and churches that lack godly discipline are all around today. Just look at the shame they inflict on Christ’s body by their carefree, careless, undisciplined attitudes, actions, dressing, speeches, etc. God save us!
Moreover, it fostered unity of purpose, in that the true fear of God, i.e. reference for His holiness, bound the disciples together as one in Christ (v. 12). The presence and risks of unnecessary deviations and deviants were reduced to the barest minimum, and that gave room for God to do His signs and wonders among them (v. 12a).
God works tremendously among His people when they are disciplined and orderly (cf. 1 Cor. 14:34,40). How disciplined are we in our private lives and church activities? Can God be happy with the way some of us conduct Our services disjointedly and disorderly? Let us not expect His moves where we are disorganised. The Holy Spirit is never disorganised. He waited to put things in order before eventually coming upon the disciples at Pentecost, on the 10th day of their waiting (Acts 2:1ff).
PRAYER POINT:
1. Lord, help me to be disciplined in all I do.
2. Lord Jesus, visit our churches to deal with every attitude of discipline pervading the lives of leaders and the led.
3. O Lord, punitively deal with those bringing in strange fire into Your Church, everywhere, globally.
HYMN FOR THE DAY:
CAC GHB 389
1. Revive Thy work, O Lord,
Thy mighty arm make bare;
Speak with the voice that wakes the dead,
And make Thy people hear,
Revive Thy people hear,
While here to Thee we bow;
Descend, O gracious Lord, descend!
O come and bless us now.
2. Revive Thy work, O Lord,
Create soul-thirst for Thee
And hung’ ring for the Bread of Life,
O may our spirits be.
3. Revive Thy work, O Lord,
Exalt Thy precious name;
And, by the Holy Ghost, our love
For Thee and Thine inflame.
4. Revive Thy work, O Lord,
Give pow’r unto Thy word;
Grant that Thy blessed Gospel may
In living faith be heard.
5. Revive Thy work, O Lord,
And give refreshing showers
The glory shall be all Thine own,
The blessing, Lord, be ours.
Amen.
EXTRA READING FOR TODAY:
Isaiah 6-9
AUTHOR
C. A. C. Worldwide
Remain blessed