If the Spirit-filled self-proclaimed apostles of the 21st century desire that we would all take part in the prosperity of Pentecostal blessings then I might suggest a short study in Acts 5 to see how far their meetings fall short.
‘Sell All Thou Hast’
The chapter begins with a giving problem. This is something that prosperity preachers can relate to as they seem to always have a problem with people not giving enough.
The remnant church of Israel sold everything they had and gave all to the poor in order to participate in the kingdom ministry. Jesus had taught them this:
“…sell all that thou hast, and distribute unto the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven…” – Luke 18:22
Yet, Ananias and Sapphira purposed to hold back a part of their possession and laid only the remainder at the apostles feet (Acts 5:1-2). Preachers take note! Jesus told them to sell everything. Then he said bring them to the apostles feet.
Laid at the Apostles’ Feet
Peter and the apostles did not collect the revenue from all of the possessions of their followers merely because they were men with vision. Neither was it because they were men of God ordained to reap the rewards of apostleship in private jets and many (earthly) mansions.
No, Jesus again gave authority for this act directly to these twelve men. As the earthly kingdom was to come to Israel, these apostles would be set up as the judges of the twelve tribes. They do not need any more than twelve.
Twelve then, still twelve today, and they are all dead. No one assumes their position; the kingdom has been postponed.
Meanwhile, Jesus gave Peter and the twelve the authority of kingdom judgment and great supernatural power to do it right.
“And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” – Matthew 16:19
The judgment extended by the Lord to the apostles even included sins.
“Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained.” – John 20:23
Peter’s Judgment
To would-be Pentecostal church members, Ananias and Sapphira, attempted to deceive the Holy Ghost by keeping back what the Lord instructed them to sell.
Instead of remaining ignorant of this corruption inside the remnant church of Israel, Peter by the Holy Ghost power is able to perceive the lie, point it out, and make an immediate judgment upon it. If their power is true, I suggest the prosperity preachers go and do likewise as it is evident there is corruption among your ranks.
This judgment was the first example of the coming judgment of the kingdom where the Lord will rule with a rod of iron (Rev 19:15). These branches of the true vine were displaying the kingdom authority to bring swift judgment on the Earth and preserving righteousness (Jer 23:5).
Slain in the Spirit
Even though present day “apostles” also claim to slay people in the Spirit, their fraud is revealed when the meeting is over and the cast takes a unison bow. That is, those slain get up and walk out!
“ … and the young men came in, and found her dead, and, carrying her forth, buried her by her husband.” – Acts 5:10
This is more than a healing ministry, this is a ministry of justice, and those convicted are left dead! They would not enter into the kingdom.
The lesson to the remnant church of Israel was to recognize the authority of the Lord as given to his twelve apostles until he returned. They were immediately accountable for their sins against God and had no further recourse if they operated against the Holy Spirit (Heb 10:29).
Those who would be obedient to the commandments would overcome.
Dead to the Law
Praise the Lord that the mystery of Christ was subsequently revealed to our Apostle Paul who teaches us, that we are not to sell our possessions (2 Thess 3:10). Nor are there any apostolic feet to lay gifts in front.
In this dispensation the Lord has provided for us all spiritual blessings in heavenly places, but not all physical blessings in earthly places. We walk in the dispensation of God’s grace and not by the Pentecostal new testament (Eph 3:1-3).