Behold The Mercy And Severity of The LORD Day 6

 

As I read my daily reading today, The Lord highlighted to me the story of Ananias and Sapphira. I saw it in a way that was clearer, more real, more applicable to The Church today and the days ahead. 

Are we seeing the whole picture of what The Grace of God is? 

Is it in Gods mercy that The Power that was demonstrated and present in the Early Church, has not been manifested and released today?

Have we been too light on SIN. Has the Grace message been so tainted by The Worlds idea of love that we have offended The Holy Spirit?

The Last Days are upon us. We must realize that much of what is being allowed and winked at in The Church, in the name of Grace, will cause judgement and pain during the heat of a Great Outpouring.

I am not speaking about the recent non-sense that has been called revival. I am talking about the Last Days of The Age of Grace, where the Latter rain, pours down greater than The Former Rain. The time ordained before the world began, before time began.

Please consider the following scriptures. Notice how Great Grace was upon them all, yet, a severe judgement came to those who transgressed that grace. 

Great Grace was upon them all, but persecution still came as a result.

This is real, we must teach Grace and Truth. The Mercy AND The Severity of The LORD!!! 

Prepare the people for both The Great Power and the very real natural pain that may come as a result.

There is an urgency in my heart about this. The people are not ready. Too many have an image of God that is false and a Lie.

There is another thing that The Lord highlighted to me. There is great significance that the first person named in the offering was a Levite. Joses was from the line of the Levitical Priesthood. His offering, I believe was a stamp on what was going on. 

A Levite offering up a sacrifice of sorts. The next verses describe how God responded to a foul offering being brought into that Holy Place.

Luke 13:1-5

New Living Translation (NLT)

A Call to Repentance

 About this time Jesus was informed that Pilate had murdered some people from Galilee as they were offering sacrifices at the Temple. “Do you think those Galileans were worse sinners than all the other people from Galilee?”Jesus asked. “Is that why they suffered?  Not at all! And you will perish, too, unless you repent of your sins and turn to God.  And what about the eighteen people who died when the tower in Siloam fell on them? Were they the worst sinners in Jerusalem?  No, and I tell you again that unless you repent, you will perish, too.”

Romans 11:22

Amplified Bible (AMP)

Then note and appreciate the gracious kindness and the severity of God: severity toward those who have fallen, but God’s gracious kindness to you—provided you continue in His grace and abide in His kindness; otherwise you too will be cut off (pruned away).

ACTS 4:32-37

New King James Version (NKJV)

Now the multitude of those who believed were of one heart and one soul; neither did anyone say that any of the things he possessed was his own, but they had all things in common. 

And with great power the apostles gave witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And great grace was upon them all. Nor was there anyone among them who lacked; for all who were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the proceeds of the things that were sold, and laid them at the apostles’ feet; and they distributed to each as anyone had need.

And Joses,who was also named Barnabas by the apostles (which is translated Son of Encouragement, a Levite of the country of Cyprus, having land, sold it, and brought the money and laid it at the apostles’ feet.

Acts 5:1-21

New King James Version (NKJV)

But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession. 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. 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? 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.”

Then Ananias, hearing these words, fell down and breathed his last. So great fear came upon all those who heard these things. And the young men arose and wrapped him up, carried him out, and buried him.

Now it was about three hours later when his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. And Peter answered her, “Tell me whether you sold the land for so much?” She said, “Yes, for so much.”

Then Peter said to her, “How is it that you have agreed together to test the Spirit of the Lord? Look, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out.” Then immediately she fell down at his feet and breathed her last. And the young men came in and found her dead, and carrying her out, buried her by her husband. So great fear came upon all the church and upon all who heard these things.

 And through the hands of the apostles many signs and wonders were done among the people. And they were all with one accord in Solomon’s Porch.  Yet none of the rest dared join them, but the people esteemed them highly. 

 And believers were increasingly added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women, so that they brought the sick out into the streets and laid them on beds and couches, that at least the shadow of Peter passing by might fall on some of them. Also a multitude gathered from the surrounding cities to Jerusalem, bringing sick people and those who were tormented by unclean spirits, and they were all healed.

 Then the high priest rose up, and all those who were with him (which is the sect of the Sadducees), and they were filled with indignation,  and laid their hands on the apostles and put them in the common prison.  But at night an angel of the Lord opened the prison doors and brought them out, and said,  

“Go, stand in the temple and speak to the people all the words of this life.”

 And when they heard that, they entered the temple early in the morning and taught. But the high priest and those with him came and called the council together, with all the elders of the children of Israel, and sent to the prison to have them brought.