QT 09/05/2024 Thursday Acts 5. Hypocrisy versus honourable suffering. 虚伪, 与光荣的苦难

QT 09/05/2024 Thursday Acts 5. Hypocrisy versus honourable suffering.
READ & LISTEN here
https://www.esv.org/Acts+5/

LISTEN TO Acts 5
https://www.biblegateway.com/audio/mclean/esv/Acts.5

Hypocrisy is a very serious sin (Acts 5:1-11). While Ananias and Sapphira were not obliged to sell their land, the hypocrisy portrayed Ananias & Sapphira in BETTER light than reality. Perhaps, the two of them wanted to be known to be as generous as others who had given to the church (Acts 4:32-37).

This hypocrisy amounted to lying "to God" (Acts 5:4) and testing the Spirit (Acts 5:9).

APPLICATION: Do your best to eradicate hypocrisy. Do not overstate your own good deeds. Hey, is there a need to mention it at all?

Jealousy is powerful. It can cause a person to (a) Arrest Jesus' messengers (5:18); (b) Jail believers (5:18); (c) Hold "religious meetings" to oppose gospel messengers (5:21b); (d) Use force against evangelists (5:26); (e) Prohibit orthodox teaching about Jesus (5:28,40); (f) Become enraged and embarked on MURDER (5:33) and (g) Flogging others for no reason (5:40).

REFLECTION: Are you jealous of anyone or anything?

Suffering dishonour for the name of Christ need not negate being joyful.

Despite the ill treatment received by the apostles, they rejoiced because "they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name" (Acts 5:41).

APPLICATION: Suffering disgrace due to one's own folly and sin does not surprise anyone. But rejoice if you have been "dishonoured" just because you stand for what it means to be Christ-like. Continue  "teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Christ" (Acts 5:42).

星期四2024年5月9日 今日读经：使徒行传5章. 充满勇气。
http://m.bbintl.org/bible/ncv/Act/5/
听音频使徒行传5章
https://www.bible.com/bible/41/act.5.cnvs

虚伪是很严重的罪(徒5:1-11)。虽然亚拿尼亚和撒非拉并没有义务把田产卖了，但亚拿尼亚和撒非拉的虚伪更为人所见。或许，这两个人希望人们知道，他们也和教会的其他人一样，乐善好施(徒4:32-37)。

这种虚伪等同于“欺骗神”(徒5:4)和试探主的灵(徒5:9)。

应用：尽量把虚伪铲除掉。不要夸耀你自己的善行。试想想，有向人提起的必要吗？

嫉妒是很厉害的。它会导致一个人去(a)逮捕耶稣的使者(5:18);(b)让信徒被关押(5:18);(c)召开“宗教会议”来抵抗福音使者(5:21b);(d)用武力对付传道人(5:26);(e)禁止关于耶稣的正统教导(5:28,40);(f)变得愤怒并展开谋杀(5:33)和(g)毫无理由地鞭打人(5:40)。

反思：你对别人存有嫉妒之心吗？

为基督的名的缘故受到羞辱并不一定否定喜乐。

使徒们虽然遭到了不好的对待，他们却“算是配得为主的名受辱”而欢欢喜喜(徒5:41)。

应用：为自己的过错和罪受到羞辱并不令人感到意外。但如果你因为为了活出基督的样式而受到羞辱，你应当喜乐。继续地“施教，传讲耶稣是基督”(徒5:42)。