I. The Context: Revival Meets Reality

• Acts 5 opens with God purifying the church before expanding it.

• Purity is not the enemy of power, purity is the pathway to power.

• The Spirit deals with deception before releasing demonstration.

II. The Story of Ananias and Sapphira (Acts 5:1-11)

A. The Sin

• Not withholding money, but pretending full devotion.

• Wanting reputation without surrender.

• Choosing image over integrity.

• Agreeing with Satan’s whisper instead of the Spirit’s conviction.

B. The Judgment

• They lied to the Spirit, not to Peter.

• God purges hypocrisy early to protect the church's foundation.

• The fear of the Lord falls on the entire community.

C. Core Truths

• God sees hidden motives.

• Holiness matters in the New Testament church.

• Revival cannot coexist with deception.

• God will not build His kingdom on spiritual performance.

III. The Power of the Early Church (Acts 5:12-16)

A. Signs and Wonders Increase

• After purification, power begins to flow.

• Unity in Solomon’s Portico becomes the stage for miracles.

B. The Tension in the Crowd

• The people admire the church but also fear joining casually.

• The fear of the Lord repels the casual but draws the hungry.

C. Peter’s Shadow

• Not magic; it signifies a surrendered vessel.

• The atmosphere around a holy life impacts others.

D. Kingdom Breakthrough

• Crowds bring the sick and oppressed from surrounding towns.

• Every person is healed or delivered, not just some.

E. Core Truths

• Holiness releases authority.

• Expectation draws miracles.

• The mission of Jesus continues through His people.

• God moves through purified, unified vessels.

IV. The Unifying Message of Acts 5:1-16

• God cleanses before He empowers.

• The fear of the Lord restores spiritual clarity, weight, and awe.

• Integrity is not optional in a Spirit filled life.

• Revival requires surrender, not performance.

• Miracles are not random; they are birthed from a purified people.

V. Practical Steps for Applying Acts 5

1. Practice Ruthless Honesty With God

• Invite Him to expose motives and hidden places.

• Stop performing prayer and start confessing truth.

2. Guard Integrity as a Daily Discipline

• Tell the truth in small things.

• Resist exaggeration, image building, or spiritual posturing.

3. Examine Your Desire for Approval

• Ask: what am I doing to be seen rather than to be surrendered?

• Identify where image has replaced intimacy.

4. Pursue Unity in the Body

• Reject gossip, jealousy, and silent rivalry.

• Align with mission rather than personalities.

5. Cultivate the Fear of the Lord

• Reverence, not terror.

• A healthy weightiness that shapes decisions and attitudes.

6. Become a Vessel, Not a Performer

• Availability over impressiveness.

• Pray: Lord, flow through me however You desire.

7. Raise Your Expectation of God

• Pray bold prayers.

• Bring needs into the presence of God with faith.

• Believe God can move through ordinary moments.

8. Position Yourself Near the Fire

• Lean into environments where the Spirit is at work.

• Surround yourself with believers who carry His presence.

9. Let God Address the Hidden Places

• Identify the internal “Ananias spaces.”

• Let the Spirit confront the lie so He can fill you with truth.

10. Step Into the Mission of Jesus

• Heal, pray, serve, speak truth, love boldly.

• Recognize Acts is not history only; it is a blueprint.

**VI. Devotional Challenge:

“Let God Into the Place You Hide”**

Key Heart Questions

• Where am I pretending?

• What am I protecting that God wants to purify?

• What image am I maintaining that is costing me His presence?

• What lie must die so God can release power through me?

Call to Action

• Lay down the mask.

• Surrender the hidden thing.

• Let the fire that exposes also refine.

• Step into the kind of honesty that makes the shadow of your life a conduit for His glory.