LESSON 22

BE SURE YOUR SINS WILL FIND YOU OUT!

Acts 5:1-11 King James Version (KJV)

5 But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession, ² 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. ³ 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? ⁴ 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. ⁵ And Ananias hearing these words fell down, and gave up the ghost: and great fear came on all them that heard these things. ⁶ And the young men arose, wound him up, and carried him out, and buried him. ⁷ And it was about the space of three hours after, when his wife, not knowing what was done, came in. ⁸ And Peter answered unto her, Tell me whether ye sold the land for so much? And she said, Yea, for so much. ⁹ Then Peter said unto her, How is it that ye have agreed together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? behold, the feet of them which have buried thy husband are at the door, and shall carry thee out. ¹⁰ Then fell she down straightway at his feet, and yielded up the ghost: and the young men came in, and found her dead, and, carrying her forth, buried her by her husband. ¹¹ And great fear came upon all the church, and upon as many as heard these things.

1.   SOLD A POSSESSION V. 1-2

Ø  Kept back part

Ø  Wife agreed to this subterfuge

Ø  Brought part – as if this were the whole amount

2.   PETER QUESTIONS ANANIAS V. 3-4

3.   GAVE UP THE GHOST (SPIRIT) V. 5

4.   THREE HOURS LATER, WIFE LIES AND DIES V. 7-10

5.   GREAT FEAR ON THE WHOLE CHURCH V.11

GOD STILL HAS THIS POWER, BUT HIS MERCY SAVES US.

HOWEVER HE CAN STILL EXERCIZE THIS JUDGEMEN IF HE SEES IT NECESSARY.

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LESSON 21

THE MINISTRY OF SHARING

Acts 4:34-37 King James Version (KJV)

³⁴ Neither was there any among them that lacked: for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the prices of the things that were sold, ³⁵ And laid them down at the apostles' feet: and distribution was made unto every man according as he had need. ³⁶ And Joses, who by the apostles was surnamed Barnabas, (which is, being interpreted, The son of consolation,) a Levite, and of the country of Cyprus, ³⁷ Having land, sold it, and brought the money, and laid it at the apostles' feet.

Acts 4:34-37 Common English Bible (CEB)

³⁴ There were no needy persons among them. Those who owned properties or houses would sell them, bring the proceeds from the sales, ³⁵ and place them in the care and under the authority of the apostles. Then it was distributed to anyone who was in need. ³⁶ Joseph, whom the apostles nicknamed Barnabas (that is, “one who encourages”), was a Levite from Cyprus. ³⁷ He owned a field, sold it, brought the money, and placed it in the care and under the authority of the apostles.

1.   NO LACK V. 34a

2.   PRACTICE OF PROVISION V. 34b-35

Ø  Owners would sell items or real estate

Ø  Bring proceeds from sale

Ø  Place them in the care and under the authority of the apostles

Ø  Distributed to any one in need (benevolence ministry)

Ø  NO NEED FOR A GOVERNMENT WELFARE SYSTEM!

3.   ONE MAN’S EXAMPLE V. 36-37

Ø  Joses (Joseph) called Barnabas (one who encourages)

Ø  Levite from Cyprus

Ø  Owned a field, sold it and brought the money to the apostles for distribution

SHOULD WE (THE CHURCH OF TODAY) DO ANY LESS?

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LESSON 20

GREAT POWER COMES TO THE CHURCH

Acts 4:29-33 King James Version (KJV)

²⁹ And now, Lord, behold their threatenings: and grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word, ³⁰ By stretching forth thine hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may be done by the name of thy holy child Jesus. ³¹ And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness. ³² And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul: neither said any of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common. ³³ And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all.

1.   PRAYER FOR BOLDNESS & POWER V. 29-30

2.   HOUSE SHAKING PRAYER V. 31

3.   UNITY OF THE MULTITUDE V.32a

4.   THEY HAD ALL THINGS COMMON V. 32b

5.   WITNESSING POWER & GREAT GRACE V. 33

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LESSON 19

THE CHURCH’S RECOGNITION OF GOD’S PLAN

Acts 4:23-28 King James Version (KJV)

²³ And being let go, they went to their own company, and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said unto them. ²⁴ And when they heard that, they lifted up their voice to God with one accord, and said, Lord, thou art God, which hast made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all that in them is: ²⁵ Who by the mouth of thy servant David hast said, Why did the heathen rage, and the people imagine vain things? ²⁶ The kings of the earth stood up, and the rulers were gathered together against the Lord, and against his Christ. ²⁷ For of a truth against thy holy child Jesus, whom thou hast anointed, both Herod, and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of Israel, were gathered together, ²⁸ For to do whatsoever thy hand and thy counsel determined before to be done.

Acts 4:23-28 Common English Bible (CEB)

²³ After their release, Peter and John returned to the brothers and sisters and reported everything the chief priests and elders had said. ²⁴ They listened, then lifted their voices in unison to God, “Master, you are the one who created the heaven, the earth, the sea, and everything in them. ²⁵ You are the one who spoke by the Holy Spirit through our ancestor David, your servant: Why did the Gentiles rage, and the peoples plot in vain? ²⁶ The kings of the earth took their stand and the rulers gathered together as one against the Lord and against his Christ. ²⁷ Indeed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with Gentiles and Israelites, did gather in this city against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed. ²⁸ They did what your power and plan had already determined would happen.

1.   THE REPORT V. 23

2.   THE CHURCH’S REACTION V. 24

3.   CLARIFYING THE ISSUE V. 25-27

4.   DECLARING WHAT REALLY HAPPENED V. 28

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