2 One evening David got up from his bed and walked around on the roof of the palace. From the roof he saw a woman bathing. The woman was very beautiful, 3 and David sent someone to find out about her. The man said, “She is Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam and the wife of Uriah the Hittite.” 4 Then David sent messengers to get her. She came to him, and he slept with her. 2 Samuel 11:2-4. 

Like Clarice being asked by Hannibal, “What is his nature? What does this man do that you seek?” Clarice answers, “He kills women.” Hannibal responds, “No, that is incidental… What needs does he serve by killing?” 

We read about the story of David and Bathsheeba and think that David needed to fulfill a sex drive but that was incidental since he already had several wives and concubines. Instead, his nature was to covet. He was King and had everything and yet like Saul there was a thirst for more. “Don’t your eyes seek out the things you want?” 

Adultery was the byproduct of lust which was the byproduct of a deeper corruption of David’s heart which was to have what did not belong to him. His eyes were trying to fill a heart that was not content. 

We too are corrupted by the lies that are in our heart. We forget that we have all we need in Christ. Our need is for truth not lies. Our need is for healing from brokenness. Our desire is only fully satisfied in God. When we find this may we sing these words with David in Psalm 84: 

Better is one day in your courts 

than a thousand elsewhere; 

I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God 

than dwell in the tents of the wicked. 

For the LORD God is a sun and shield; 

the LORD bestows favor and honor; 

no good thing does he withhold 

from those whose walk is blameless. 

LORD Almighty, 

blessed is the one who trusts in you.

Pastor Aaron

Our text today is from Acts 5:1–4 (ESV): 5 But a man named Ananias, with his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property, 2 and with his wife’s knowledge he kept back for himself some of the proceeds and brought only a part of it and laid it at the apostles’ feet. 3 But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back for yourself part of the proceeds of the land? 4 While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, was it not at your disposal? Why is it that you have contrived this deed in your heart? You have not lied to man but to God.” 

In the early church we see this same scenario repeating itself with greed for additional gain followed by a lie to cover up the gain. Peter even calls out Ananias on it and asks why lie because it was at his disposal to begin with. 

Why do you living in a land of plenty want more? I spent my Saturday on the intercostal looking at yachts so big they had room for helicopters and cars. I found myself thinking about how much it would take to own a boat for my family. Today, I find myself embarrassed by these thoughts wondering why I need one more toy in my life. In a land of plenty, why do I need more? 

Somewhere I am not fully satisfied with what I have. Just like the Israelites who left Egypt and kept grumbling about slavery being better in Egypt than the freedom of the wilderness, I too find myself thinking that other things will bring more fulfillment to my life than my relationship with Christ. It first seems to begin with pride that I believe I am better than I deserve and ends with trying to move monuments and money to support the idea of myself. Owning stuff is not a bad thing. Believing it is owed to me because of my existence is another matter. 

Pastor Aaron

Success can go to our heads and we begin believing that we are special and pride slips into our lane like a blinding light. This happened to King Saul when he went from nothing to King of Israel. After a major victory against the Philistines and then the Amalekites we read the following story. 

1 Samuel 15:12–15 (ESV): 12 And Samuel rose early to meet Saul in the morning. And it was told Samuel, “Saul came to Carmel, and behold, he set up a monument for himself and turned and passed on and went down to Gilgal.” 13 And Samuel came to Saul, and Saul said to him, 

“Blessed be you to the LORD. I have performed the commandment of the LORD.” 14 And Samuel said, “What then is this bleating of the sheep in my ears and the lowing of the oxen that I hear?” 15 Saul said, “They have brought them from the Amalekites, for the people spared the best of the sheep and of the oxen to sacrifice to the LORD your God, and the rest we have devoted to destruction.” 

Has this happened to you? The victory was so sweet or the reward so great that it needed to be memorialized. Sounds good when someone else is doing it for you because they can see the greatness in you but what about when you see it in yourself and you need to let everyone else know about it. Most likely pride has slipped into your lane and blinded you with your own success. 

Thomas Aquinas said of pride: “Inordinate self-love is the cause of every sin … the root of pride is found to consist in man not being, in some way, subject to God and His rule. “A proud man is always looking down on things and people; and, of course, as long as you are looking down, you cannot see something that is above you.” 

If we spend our lives looking down on others, we will forget to look up to the one who made us. It is in the looking up that we are able to see the next mountain to climb. King David who came after King Saul and was considered the greatest king of Israel wrote in Psalms 121, “I lift my eyes to the hills – where does my help come from? My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth.” 

Pastor Aaron

Acts 2:16-21 reminds us what was spoken by the prophet Joel:

“‘In the last days, God says,
    I will pour out my Spirit on all people.
Your sons and daughters will prophesy,
    your young men will see visions,
    your old men will dream dreams.

Even on my servants, both men and women,
    I will pour out my Spirit in those days,
    and they will prophesy.

I will show wonders in the heavens above
    and signs on the earth below,
    blood and fire and billows of smoke.

The sun will be turned to darkness
    and the moon to blood
    before the coming of the great and glorious day of the Lord.

And everyone who calls
    on the name of the Lord will be saved.’

This pouring out has happened at Pentecost and it continues to happen to all who accept Jesus as Lord and Savior then follow him and his ways. The Holy Spirit fills us with power and purpose. He empowers believers with the ability to overcome challenges, persevere through difficult times, and live a life of love, joy, and peace. This power is not limited to miraculous abilities, but also includes the strength to resist sin, make wise decisions, and live a life that reflects the character of Jesus. 

The Holy Spirit helps us discover our unique spiritual gifts and talents, and guides us how to use them to serve God and others. This purpose is not just about what we do, but also about who we become as we follow this guidance.

As one devotional writer stated, “You can’t have a friendship with someone when you keep calling him “it.” Many people don’t have fellowship with the Holy Spirit because they view the Holy Spirit as a force instead of a friend. They see Him as a power, not as a person. Jesus never referred to the Holy Spirit as “it” but always as “He.” The Holy Spirit is a person.”

The Holy Spirit wants to have fellowship with us. True to the upside down ways of God’s kingdom, the deepest fellowship is found through sincerest surrender. Surrendering allows us to hear the Holy Spirit’s voice more clearly, leading to a greater understanding of His guidance. Surrendering involves trusting in God and obeying His commands, leading to a deeper dependence on Him and a closer relationship with Him. By surrendering our lives to the Holy Spirit, we align ourselves with God’s purpose and experience the joy, peace, and strength that come from walking in His will. 

Only one job out of many, the Holy Spirit provides hope. Notice, Scripture doesn’t say that he provides happiness. Happiness is happenstance or circumstantial and it is NOT the ultimate goal for Christians. Happiness comes and goes with the ups and downs of life; we need something more stable, and that stability is sourced through the power and comfort of the Holy Spirit. 

Now what?

Jesus appears for 40 days to hundreds of people, continuing to fulfill hundreds of prophecies and encourage his followers. Peter is reinstated and the disciples are challenged to rise up. Jesus then ascends and gives a call to go and make disciples. 

Yet, before they go, they are told to wait. Waiting feels long. Waiting is hard. Waiting often feels empty. Waiting has purpose. This waiting was 10 days of preparation and anticipation; a time of obedience and prayer. Then it happened – God fulfilled another promise as the Holy Spirit was poured out and the disciples moved in power. 

The amazing thing is that this power isn’t limited to the book of Acts and the early Church; it dwells in all believers! The Holy Spirit empowers us, guides us, and enables us to live a life pleasing to God.

Let’s take a moment to wait today. This waiting refers to trusting in God’s timing, His promises, and His overall plan, even when things are uncertain or difficult. It’s about actively engaging with God through prayer, worship, and seeking His presence. The life, hope and joy of a believer doesn’t end with the Easter celebration; it only just begins! Let’s wait with joyful anticipation today as God stirs something new within us!

Long before I was actually able to walk the Camino de Santiago in Spain, I was captured by the concept of a spiritual journey that had a different destination than the starting point. This may be a less comforting metaphor for some. Each day of a journey can be very different and there is no reassurance about what is next. On the road traveling companions come but they also go, mountains must be climbed with valleys in between, and there is no neat and tidy way to proceed. Sort of like the life Jesus called his disciples to choose.

God loves you. Go in peace and share his love with the world.
(Advent Church Blessing)

We began to use this blessing at Advent as a way of connecting our worship with our mission. As we leave worship we are sent to carry out our mission to share God’s love with the world. As you walked out the center aisle you also were reminded to “Attempt Great Things for God” on the sign in the ceiling of the narthex. Both drive home the point that worship is not the destination but the beginning of a believer’s journey. Worship is not  only a hospital for wounded sinners, it is a pit stop for those who are running the race of discipleship. Going to church is not your weekly duty, it is the way that you get filled up for the duty of loving the world all week long.