Outpouring of the Spirit

In times like these it is easy to become overwhelmed with anxiety and worry. We can get caught up in the day-to-day stresses of life and the uncertain economy that we forget althogether God's abundant blessings and presence in our lives. Perhaps like me, you have also noticed a pattern in life as well. In my experience, there are times when everything seems to fall apart, while other times everything seems to come together positively. The old cliche "when it rains it pours" comes to mind, and can be taken either positively or negatively.

In studying the book of Acts in recent days, I have seen this pattern scripturally. Very often, when there is an outpouring of the Holy Spirit (positive) it is soon followed by an attack from Satan(negative). This is a pattern found in Acts and elsewhere in scripture, but my lived experience in faith also fits this pattern. Times of blessing and deep connection to God are followed by times of internal and external attacks which threaten our faith and work for Christ.

As the Christian church began through the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost, the apostles shared with all who were gathered the Good News of Jesus' life, death, and resurrection. When Peter proclaimed the gospel that day, through the power of the Holy Spirit, over 3,000 people were baptized and came to faith. This new community of believers gathered together and "devoted themselves to the apostles; teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers." (Acts 2:42) On two occassions (2:44, 4:32) the community was said to have had all things in common and were of "one heart and soul." This is a tremendous example of Christian unity and community made possible through the outpouring of the spirit.

It doesn't take long however for Satan to attack the nascent Christian movement. Soon after the community began sharing all things together and forsakening private land ownership, two of the members go their own way, succumbing to the temptation of greed.

But a man named Ananias, with the consent of his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property; with his wife’s knowledge, he kept back some of the proceeds, and brought only a part and laid it at the apostles' feet. "Ananias," Peter asked, "why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back part of the proceeds of the land? While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, were not the proceeds at your disposal? How is it that you have contrived this deed in your heart? You did not lie to us but to God!" Acts 5:1-4

Ananias and Sapphira were not required to sell the property and share it with the community, so it isn't that they owned property that was the issue. The issue was their deception. They purported themselves to be examples of generosity for the community when in reality, they only wanted to be seen as generous by others. Peter asks Ananias why Satan has filled his heart, how has he allowed himself to be so easily tempted away from God. The attack of Satan comes soon after a moment of great unity and genuine genorsity within the community of faith.

This is an ongoing pattern in Acts and is one I have seen in my ministry as well. Satan does not want the church to be succesful, Satan does not want individuals to have a strong faith or serve Christ faithfully. Satan will use whatever trick possible to lure and tempt us away from our true purpose and identity. The greatest threats we face will be after we have been most faithful. Put another way, we will be most strongly attacked when we are most faithful to Christ.

The question then shifts to how can we protect or prepare ourselves for such attacks? For me, the knowledge that these attacks are constant and present, that these attacks come both from within and outside the faith community, gives great power. Peter is aware of and on the look-out for Satan. When he sees Satan at work in Ananias he names it and challenges it. We too must keep our eyes and ears opens for the attacks we will face. If we are faithful to God, it is not a matter of if we will be attacked, but when. I pray when the attacks come your way, you will rely upon the power and presence of the crucified and risen Christ.