The Family Altar Audio Devotional - Day 168

But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession, And kept back part of the price, his wife also being privy to it, and brought a certain part, and laid it at the apostles' feet. But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land? Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God. And Ananias hearing these words fell down, and gave up the ghost: and great fear came on all them that heard these things. (Acts 5:1-5) 91 Notice. As they moved on, we find that Lot saw the opportunities for a—a fatted cattle. Many see the opportunities of a fatted pocketbook. Many sees the opportunities of a better social standing. He saw the possibilities of a few extra dollars. He saw the possibilities of being the mayor of the city. Being a stranger, and a pretty smart man, as he was, “Maybe I will become the chief man of the city.” He saw the possibility because they were laying before him. But he did not see the fire that was to destroy the land. He did not reconcile himself, that the land was full of sin, and God had to destroy it. 92 And, today, people try to reconcile themselves by saying, “Are you…?” I’ll say, “Are you a Christian?” 93 They say, “I’m an American.” That has no more to do with it than try to say to a crow he was a frog. It has nothing to do with it. [Brother Branham claps his hands one time—Ed.] 94 She’s going to be destroyed, because God is just. And if America gets by with her sins, the just and sovereign, holy God will be duty bound to—to resurrect Sodom and Gomorrah and apologize to them for burning them up, because of their sin; if He let’s us get by with it. 95 If He lets you get to Heaven on your injustice works, He’ll have to raise up Ananias and Sapphira and give them another opportunity. He certainly would. But He’s just. Ananias saw his money. Peter saw Christ. 96 Oh, my! Lot didn’t see the destruction of his children in that place. 97 Many of you, today, holding around these old formal creeds and things, you don’t see the juvenile delinquency and the destruction of your children. You don’t see your daughter in a prostitute house. You don’t see your son a drunkard, or at a card table somewhere. 98 “Because she’s well-watered.” And sin is not touched. He didn’t see his wife, the head of all the societies, turned to a pillar of salt, when he was looking. He didn’t see him escaping only by the edge of his teeth, to a little city somewhere, for his life. He didn’t see that, because he only looked at what he saw in front of him. 99 But, Abraham, he didn’t notice the well-watered land, for he lifted up his eyes and saw the tomorrow, for he would inherit all things. The real Christian today lifts up his eyes and sees the promise of Christ: “Blessed are the meek for they shall inherit all things. They shall inherit the earth.” The real Christian, by faith, looks up and sees that. Call him what you want to. He lifted up his eyes. And when he did that, God said, “Abraham, walk through the land, she’s all yours.” By faith, Abraham did this; the same faith that Moses had. 100 It was wrote by one commentator, that said this. I thought it was the most beautiful words. That Abra-… “Moses took the best of the world and put it in one scale; and the worst of religion, and put it in the other scale; and the worst of religion out-weighed the best of the world.” 58-0720m - "By Faith, Moses" Rev. William Marrion Branham ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Order your own copy of the Family Altar at http://store.bibleway.org