This Week\’s Sunday Lesson, \”Let The Truth Rest In Your Heart\”, 9/13/2015

 

LET THE TRUTH REST IN YOUR HEART

 

Acts 4:34-5:10

 

BE GENEROUS

V:34-35. \” There were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned lands or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales  and put it at the apostles\’ feet, and it was distributed to anyone as he had need.\”

1. The early church grew at a rapid rate.
2. The effectiveness of the Apostle\’s preaching of the Gospel was evidence by the

growing numbers.

1. People who believed in Jesus were from all financial levels.
2. There were some rich and some poor.
3. There were families, single men and women and widowers.
4. There were some who had more than they needed and some who had

less than they needed to survive.

1. Members of the growing Church of Jesus Christ had the spirit of generosity.
2. They took it upon themselves to provide for their own.
3. They considered themselves, one big family.
4. Some sold land and houses to provide for the needy among them.
5. Their love for one another was shown in their generosity.
6. They put their resources in a common pot and allowed the apostles to

take responsibility for the distribution.

1. They trusted the leaders of the Church to do the right thing.

 

V:36-37. \” Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus, whom the apostles called Barnabas (which means Son of Encouragement), 37 sold a field he owned and brought the money and put it at the apostles\’ feet.\”

1. The generosity of some individuals stood out more than others.
2. Not only did Barnabas have a generous spirit, but he was a devoted missionary for

Christ.

1. Barnabas teamed up with the Apostle Paul in the spread of the Gospel to the

Gentiles.

1. According to the Easton Bible Dictionary, Paul and Barnabas were companions in

the  school of Gamaliel.

1. There are probably good reasons why the Apostles changed his name from Joseph to

Barnabas.

1. As per the meaning of his name, Barnabas encouraged others in the spread of

the Gospel.

1. Barnabas used what God blessed him with to serve others.

 

YOU CANNOT LIE TO GOD

Chapter 5

V:1-2. \” Now a man named Ananias, together with his wife Sapphira, also sold a piece of property. 2 With his wife\’s full knowledge he kept back part of the money for himself, but brought the rest and put it at the apostles\’ feet.\”

1. Nothing good comes from lies and deceptions.
2. The wages of sin is death.
3. For some, death comes sooner than others.

 

1. There was no command for members of the Church to sell what they had.
2. The selling of possessions to support the Church was voluntary.
3. The Church was under the guidance of the Holy Spirit.
4. Any desire to deceive the leaders of the Church was a sin against the Holy Spirit.
5. Each believer is given the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.
6. Ananias and His wife Sapphira sold property, but lied about the amount they received.
7. The property was theirs to give or to keep.
8. They were free to give all or a portion of the selling price to the Church.
9. They gave a portion of the amount they received to the Church but lied that

it was the total amount received.

1. The Church needs good role models, but is hurt by lies and deceptions.
2. The Church is empowered by the Holy Spirit to spread the truth.
3. We are not given the Holy Spirit to lie or to deceive others to promote

the Gospel.

1. Lies and deceptions are Satanic acts.

 

SATAN IS THE FATHER OF LIES

V:3. \” Then Peter said, \”Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit and have kept for yourself some of the money you received for the land?\”

1. Any Act of sin comes from the influence of Satan.
2. Money is dear to the heart of most people.
3. To give up money for the unselfish reasons to help others in need is an act

of love.

1. Ananias was not totally devoted to the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
2. He wanted the appearance of Holiness by deception.
3. We may be able to deceive man, but we can never deceive God.
4. What is done in the dark, God can bring to the light for all to see.
5. It was God who revealed Ananias\’ deception to Peter.

 

V:4. \” Didn\’t it belong to you before it was sold? And after it was sold, wasn\’t the money at your disposal? What made you think of doing such a thing? You have not lied to men but to God.\”

1. There was no command to sell the property.
2. There was no command to give the proceeds to God.
3. Giving to the Church is certainly commendable.
4. It was the lie about the amount of the gift that made it a curse to Ananias.
5. It was the evil in Ananias heart that caused him to lie to God.
6. Perhaps it was a desire to look good before others that caused him to lie.
7. One\’s pride can lead to lies and deceptions.
8. God hates the proud.
9. Pride can easily be our down fall.

 

THE COSEQUENCES OF LIES AND DECEPTION

V:5. \” When Ananias heard this, he fell down and died. And great fear seized all who heard what had happened.\”

1. Public knowledge of Ananias sin was so heavy upon him that he died.
2. God does not tell us whether Ananias had a heart attack or whether He

struck him dead.

1. The fact is that his deception caused the anger of God which led to his death.
2. We can be here today and gone same day.
3. We must remember that there is no guarantee that we will lives past the next

moment.

1. Life and death is always in the hands of God.
2. When the evil that we do influence other believers to do evil, we can expect

the vengeances of the Lord.

1. This was a critical stage in the growth of the Church.
2. The Church did not need evil role models.

 

V: 6. \” Then the young men came forward, wrapped up his body, and carried him out and buried him.\”

1. This is a warning from God that intentional evil will not be tolerated in the Church

for any long period of time.

1. They carried the body out of the congregation.
2. The dead should not be found in the congregation of the living.
3. Christ came that we might have life.
4. Dead influences have no place in the Church.
5. We need to always be truthful to our Lord and Savior.
6. Jesus came to separate us from the evil in our lives.

 

This is one of those cases where I don\’t understand the actions of God.

My ignorance says the punish was harsh. What do you think?

 

God\’s ways are not my ways and God\’s thoughts are not my thoughts.

God can do what He wants to do and it will work out for our good.

 

1. Notice the effect on the congregation. There was fear among them.
2. Perhaps God was serving us notice to be careful how we treat His Word.
3. I suspect others were careful not to lie to the Apostles

 

THE EVIL YOU CRAVE CAN AFFECT OTHERS

V:7-8 \”About three hours later his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. 8 Peter asked her, \”Tell me, is this the price you and Ananias got for the land?\” \”Yes,\” she said, \”that is the price.\”

1. Ananias being the head of the household affected the faith of his wife.
2. His wife agreed to the deception and the lie.
3. It is the job of the husband to lead his wife into the righteousness of the Lord.
4. As heads of the household, men can lead their families down a path of destruction.
5. God\’s first human institution was marriage.
6. God gave Adam His first command and put him in charge of His creation.
7. Even though Eve was deceived by Satan first, God did not curse the first marriage

until Adam disobeyed His command.

1. We are all held accountable for our own sins.
2. Sapphire, the wife was given a chance to tell the truth about the sales price

of the land.

1. It was her decision to claim the lie as the truth.

 

YOU ARE RESPOSIBLE FOR YOUR SINS

V:9-10. \” Peter said to her, \”How could you agree to test the Spirit of the Lord? Look! The feet of the men who buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out also.\” 10 At that moment she fell down at his feet and died. Then the young men came in and, finding her dead, carried her out and buried her beside her husband. \”

1. Peter holding the key to the kingdom of God, announced the judgment of the Lord

against Sapphire.

1. She was given the chance to confess her sin and to ask for forgiveness.
2. She chose the lie over the truth.

 

1. Everything in Bible is given as an example for us to live by.
2. When we reject the truth, we reject God.
3. When we reject the truth, we chose hell.

 

LET THE WORD OF TRUTH BE YOUR GUIDE

 

Rev. M. Mitchell

Asst Pastor of Greater Macedonia Baptist Church