The Holiness of God

Leviticus 1

Acts 5

Food for Life:

Leviticus 1

The Book of Leviticus reveals the holiness of God and His expectation of redeemed people. It shows us how impossible it is to please God without faith in the person and Lord Jesus Christ. It reveals to us our need for a Savior, The Savior. Genesis revealed the beginnings of human history, Exodus reveals the redemption of Israel, Leviticus the expectation of a redeemed people toward a Holy God....Leviticus 1 - the burnt offering.
"God thank You that You revealed to us our need for a Savior, our need for Jesus. Thank You that we aren't expected to offer burnt sacrifices, as Jesus Christ was the Perfect Sacrifice. Thank You for giving us the Holy Spirit so that we may be empowered by Him to fulfill Your expectation of us, Holy Lord."

Acts 5
Talk about the Holiness of God!

Annanias and Sapphira kept back some of the price from a piece of property they sold. Annanias with his wife's full knowledge, laid a portion of the price of the property at the Apostles feet, pretending it was the full price. Peter said, "Annanias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back some of the price of the land?" (5:3) Husband and wife then breathed their last....they lied to the Holy Spirit (notice that Peter didn't say 'why did you lie to me?' - they were misrepresenting themselves as doing the Lord's bidding...they lied to Go) and their consequence was death.

The whole church respected and feared the apostles after this and after many "signs and wonders were taking place among the people... And all the more believers in the Lord, multitudes of men and women, were constantly being added to their number" (5:12). And even tho' the people held the apostles in high esteem, they didn't associate with them....they saw Annanias and Sapphira breath their last!

Peter and the other apostles were thrown in jail for....preaching and being used of the Holy Spirit to perform miracles...the religious leaders and the politicians were afraid their power was being usurped. A wise one of the bunch, Gamaliel, counseled them not to try and stop them however. He said, "...if this plan or action is of men, it will be overthrown; but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them; or else you may even be found fighting against God"(5:38,39).

"God, I pray we would be filled so with the Holy Spirit that we would have confidence in You such that we know our plans and actions would succeed, regardless of human obstacles. Give us ears to hear and eyes to see Lord. Let us be those who it is said of, "they have been with Jesus; God is with them."

vs41: "So they went on their way from the presence of the Council, rejoicing that they had been considered worthy to suffer shame for His name." Wow, I cannot remember (ever?) walking away from suffering (being flogged??), rejoicing b/c I was found worthy by God to suffer shame for His name! There have been times, when I have felt shamed/been mocked/labeled and by God's grace have been able to see from the Lord's perspective - thank Him and prayed. I felt more humbled; can't say I've actually rejoiced. How about you? "Lord, help us to recognize when we are suffering from our own actions and when we are suffering for Christ's sake. Give us eyes to see Lord, hearts to know and understand...help us to rejoice in affliction. In these last days, when all around us (perhaps we ourselves at times) are folks loving what You created instead of loving You."