WEBVTT

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 Acts 4, 32.

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 Now the full number of those who believed were of one heart and soul.

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 And no one said that any of the things that belonged to him was his own,

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 but they had everything in common.

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 And with great power, the apostles were giving their testimony

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 to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus.

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 And great grace was upon them all.

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 There was not a needy person among them,

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 for as many as were owners of lands or houses sold them

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 and brought the proceeds of what was sold

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 and laid it all at the apostles' feet.

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 And it was distributed to each as any had need.

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 Thus Joseph, who was also called by the apostles Barnabas,

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 which means son of encouragement, a Levite, a native of Cyprus,

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 sold a field that belonged to him and brought the money

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 and laid it at the apostles' feet.

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 But a man named Ananias with his wife Sapphira

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 sold a piece of property.

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 And with his wife's knowledge, he kept back for himself

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 some of the proceeds and brought only a part of it

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 and laid it at the apostles' feet.

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 But Peter said,

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 Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart

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 to lie to the Holy Spirit

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 and to keep back for yourself part of the proceeds of the land?

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 While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own?

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 And after it was sold, was it not at your disposal?

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 Why is it that you have contrived this deed in your heart?

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 You have not lied to men, but to God.

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 When Ananias heard these words,

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 he fell down and breathed his last.

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 And great fear came upon all who heard of it.

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 The young man rose and wrapped him up

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 and carried him out and buried him.

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 After an interval of about three hours,

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 his wife came in, not knowing what had happened.

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 And Peter said to her,

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 Tell me whether you sold the land for so much.

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 And she said,

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 Yes, for so much.

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 But Peter said to her,

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 How is it that you have agreed together

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 to test the Spirit of the Lord?

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 Behold, the feet of those who have buried your husband

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 are at the door and they will carry you out.

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 Immediately she fell down at his feet

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 and breathed her last.

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 When the young men came in,

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 they found her dead.

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 And they carried her out

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 and buried her beside her husband.

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 And great fear came upon the whole church

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 and upon all who heard these things.

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 This is God's holy and authoritative word.

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 Troy Polamalu is a two-time Super Bowl champion

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 with the Pittsburgh Steelers.

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 He was inducted into the Football Hall of Fame last year.

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 And he is a vocal Christian

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 who has spoken often of how the humility and sacrifice

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 that the Christian life requires

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 has helped him in his football career.

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 And he says that football likewise requires

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 a selflessness in the name of greater good.

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 When he was voted the most valuable player

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 on his team one year,

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 he said, quote,

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 I've never been a fan of individual awards

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 because football is such a team sport.

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 There's so many things that goes into making plays.

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 It's about teammates trusting one another

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 and working together.

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 When an individual plays selfishly

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 in an attempt to keep the spotlight on himself,

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 the team inevitably suffers.

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 That's why there are players in various team sports

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 who are exceptionally talented

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 and have stellar individual stats,

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 and yet when you add them to a new team,

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 that team curiously gets worse, not better.

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 That's because these players lift themselves up

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 at the expense of others

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 rather than humbling themselves

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 and making personal sacrifices

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 in the service of the team.

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 In Acts 4, 32 to 5, 11,

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 we see a similar dynamic in play.

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 We are given a positive example of Barnabas

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 who makes personal sacrifices

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 for the sake of the church,

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 and we're also given a negative example

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 of Ananias and Sapphira

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 who seek to elevate their personal standing

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 within the church using deceit.

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 And the main point of this passage

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 is that the filling of the Holy Spirit

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 enables the church to bear witness to Jesus

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 with one heart and soul.

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 We're going to first look at the unity of the church

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 filled by the Spirit,

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 and then we're going to look at the duplicity

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 of those filled by Satan.

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 First, we see a wonderful picture

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 of the unity of the church filled by the Spirit.

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 It says in verse 32,

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 Now the full number of those who believe

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 were of one heart and soul.

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 The full number of believers

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 refers to the multitude.

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 It's the same word that's sometimes translated

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 congregation.

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 It's a reference to the gathered church.

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 And they were of one heart and one soul.

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 The many, the multitude, were one.

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 The heart, in Jewish understanding,

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 is the effective center of a person,

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 the seed of one's thoughts,

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 the seed of one's emotions, intentions.

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 Proverbs chapter 4, verse 23,

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 says that from the heart flows the springs of life.

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 The heart, in other words,

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 is the source of our words and actions,

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 all that we do.

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 Similarly, the soul, in Jewish understanding,

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 refers to the life and vitality of a person.

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 Together, the words heart and soul

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 refer to the totality of your inner self.

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 When you put your heart into something,

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 when you put your heart and soul into something,

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 it doesn't mean that you're just putting

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 a part of yourself into it.

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 It means you're putting all of yourself into it.

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 So likewise, the first Christians

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 were of one heart and soul.

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 They were united in their purposes and priorities.

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 They were of one mind.

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 And one tangible evidence of this unity

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 was that they shared what belonged to them,

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 their possessions.

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 It says in verse 32,

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 And no one said that any of the things

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 that belonged to him was his own,

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 but they had everything in common.

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 The full number was one,

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 and no one selfishly refused to share

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 what belonged to him or her.

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 What was one's own was held in common.

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 So we could call this common ownership.

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 But this is not a socialistic community

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 where private ownership is abolished.

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 People still own things,

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 and those things are at their disposal,

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 as we will see clearly in Peter's conversation with Ananias.

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 But nobody insists that his things are his own.

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 Meaning he doesn't keep those things to himself,

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 but freely shares them voluntarily.

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 So perhaps common use is a more accurate description

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 than common ownership of property.

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 I've personally seen many of you do this

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 for one person or another in our church,

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 whether it's sharing or giving away

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 an unused phone or headphones

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 or to someone who had need of it,

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 or whether it's sharing your drill,

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 your tent,

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 your car,

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 or even your house

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 with someone who has need.

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 So the early church likewise shared everything in common.

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 They also had a common message.

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 Verse 33 says,

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 And with great power the apostles were giving their testimony

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 to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus,

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 and great grace was upon them all.

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 This is the common mission that God's people were driven by,

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 to give their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus.

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 Bearing witness to the fact that Jesus died for our sins

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 and was raised from the dead

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 and now reigns at the right hand of the Heavenly Father.

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 That's the church's mission.

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 We must never lose sight of that mission.

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 In the book entitled Mission Drift,

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 The Unspoken Crisis Facing Leaders, Charities, and Churches,

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 Peter Greer and Chris Horst

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 contrast originally Christian organizations

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 that drifted from their mission.

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 Like Harvard University,

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 Child Fund,

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 and YMCA.

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 To organizations that stayed true

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 to their explicitly Christian mission and values.

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 Like Taylor University,

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 and Compassion International.

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 And they argue that this mission drift

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 happens slowly and gradually,

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 almost imperceptibly.

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 They call it in one of their chapters,

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 Death by Minnows.

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 They write,

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 quote,

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 Too often the passions of the first generation

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 become the preferences of the second

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 and are irrelevant to the third generation.

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 The authors of that book originally set out,

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 according to their own testimony,

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 to write the book thinking that mission drift

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 was an organizational issue.

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 But in the course of their research and writing,

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 they changed their hypothesis

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 and concluded that the mission drift

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 is not an organizational problem,

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 but a human problem.

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 Quote,

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 Individuals foiled by pride and sin

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 and allured by success.

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 They're the ones who drive mission drift.

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 They continue,

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 quote,

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 Pride leads us to adopt

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 the wrong definition of success.

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 When we begin to see our priority

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 as a growing ministry

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 instead of a faithful one,

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 we sow the seeds of drift.

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 As we go through the book of Acts

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 and as we've seen already

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 in the first four chapters,

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 it's tempting to try to replicate

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 the explosive growth

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 and visible success

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 of the early church.

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 It's tempting to try to replicate

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 that using the various techniques

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 and strategies

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 and values of the modern world,

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 but instead of fixating

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 on what works

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 from our limited human perspective,

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 we need to focus on

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 what the Lord has commanded us.

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 The Lord has commanded us

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 to bear witness to His life

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 and death and resurrection,

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 to make disciples of all nations.

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 Our goal isn't a large,

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 successful church,

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 but a church that faithfully

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 bears witness to Jesus.

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 The church in Acts 4

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 did not lose sight of this mission,

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 and their ministry was attended,

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 it says,

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 with great power

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 and great grace,

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 according to verse 33.

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 The power is the power

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 of the Holy Spirit,

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 which has been mentioned

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 numerous times in Acts,

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 and it refers to the power

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 with which God performed

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 many miracles through the apostles

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 to corroborate the message

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 that they were proclaiming,

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 the gospel that they were proclaiming.

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 The grace similarly refers

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 to the grace of God.

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 In Acts chapter 11,

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 verse 21 to 23,

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 it says that,

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 So this is the grace of God

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 to see what was happening,

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 and it says that,

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 when he came and saw the grace of God,

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 he was glad,

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 and he exhorted them all

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 to remain faithful to the Lord

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 with steadfast purpose.

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 So this is the grace of God

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 that is in view

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 when it says here in Acts 4.33

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 that grace,

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 great grace was upon them all.

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 Grace is the favor of God.

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 It is his favorable disposition

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 and blessing toward his people,

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 which is evidenced in many people

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 turning to faith in the Lord.

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 Whenever the church experiences

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 great revival in history,

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 when the gospel is boldly proclaimed

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 and many people repent of their sins

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 and believe in Jesus

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 and God's power is displayed

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 in signs and wonders,

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 whenever such revivals break out in history,

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 it's always the result of great power

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 and great grace of God.

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 In other words,

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 the source of such revival

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 is the filling of the Holy Spirit.

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 Remember what we learned

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 from the preceding passage last week.

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 It said in Acts 4.31,

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 and when they had prayed,

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 the place in which they were gathered together

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 was shaken,

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 and they were all filled

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 with the Holy Spirit

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 and continued to speak

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 the Word of God with boldness.

00:13:06.860 --> 00:13:08.840
 The ongoing revival we see here

00:13:08.840 --> 00:13:10.300
 in verses 32 to 37

00:13:10.300 --> 00:13:12.020
 is a result of that filling

00:13:12.020 --> 00:13:12.879
 of the Holy Spirit

00:13:12.879 --> 00:13:16.340
 in response to the concerted prayers

00:13:16.340 --> 00:13:16.960
 of the church.

00:13:16.960 --> 00:13:22.000
 On a static, you know,

00:13:22.360 --> 00:13:22.980
 pond,

00:13:24.060 --> 00:13:26.180
 boats can go all kinds of directions, right?

00:13:26.240 --> 00:13:28.259
 Depending on which way people are rowing,

00:13:28.600 --> 00:13:29.780
 depending on which direction

00:13:29.780 --> 00:13:31.180
 the wind is blowing.

00:13:31.940 --> 00:13:33.379
 People are all doing their own thing

00:13:33.379 --> 00:13:34.620
 on such a pond.

00:13:35.300 --> 00:13:37.460
 But as soon as you put those boats down

00:13:37.460 --> 00:13:39.900
 on the rapids,

00:13:39.899 --> 00:13:44.019
 they all start going down

00:13:44.019 --> 00:13:45.059
 in the same direction

00:13:45.059 --> 00:13:48.159
 in the irresistible flow of the river.

00:13:50.279 --> 00:13:51.639
 In the same way,

00:13:51.759 --> 00:13:54.039
 people who are doing different things

00:13:54.039 --> 00:13:56.459
 and living for different reasons,

00:13:56.860 --> 00:13:57.879
 when they come under

00:13:57.879 --> 00:14:00.079
 the mighty torrent of the Holy Spirit,

00:14:00.459 --> 00:14:01.519
 they all start flowing

00:14:01.519 --> 00:14:02.439
 in the same direction.

00:14:04.840 --> 00:14:06.600
 The many become one.

00:14:06.600 --> 00:14:09.300
 And that's what's happened here.

00:14:10.440 --> 00:14:11.519
 And once again,

00:14:11.700 --> 00:14:13.800
 Luke tells us in verses 34 to 35,

00:14:14.259 --> 00:14:16.259
 one obvious evidence of this unity

00:14:16.259 --> 00:14:17.980
 is the way they generously

00:14:17.980 --> 00:14:20.480
 and sacrificially give to one another.

00:14:21.720 --> 00:14:22.920
 Luke returns to this theme

00:14:22.920 --> 00:14:24.120
 because he wants to give us

00:14:24.120 --> 00:14:25.159
 two examples of this,

00:14:25.259 --> 00:14:26.519
 specific examples of this.

00:14:27.340 --> 00:14:29.460
 We saw earlier that they share

00:14:29.460 --> 00:14:30.560
 the things that they owned,

00:14:31.340 --> 00:14:32.500
 but that's not all they did.

00:14:32.560 --> 00:14:34.100
 They also sold the things

00:14:34.100 --> 00:14:34.740
 that they owned

00:14:34.740 --> 00:14:36.279
 to give away the proceeds

00:14:36.279 --> 00:14:37.779
 to their Christian brothers and sisters

00:14:37.779 --> 00:14:39.100
 who needed them.

00:14:39.919 --> 00:14:41.879
 So he says in verses 34 and 35,

00:14:42.080 --> 00:14:43.720
 there was not a needy person among them,

00:14:44.000 --> 00:14:45.720
 for as many as were owners

00:14:45.720 --> 00:14:46.539
 of lands or houses

00:14:46.539 --> 00:14:47.919
 sold them and brought the proceeds

00:14:47.919 --> 00:14:48.759
 of what was sold

00:14:48.759 --> 00:14:50.240
 and laid it at the apostles' feet.

00:14:50.580 --> 00:14:52.159
 And it was distributed to each

00:14:52.159 --> 00:14:53.720
 as any had need.

00:14:54.879 --> 00:14:56.419
 There was no needy person.

00:14:56.659 --> 00:14:57.000
 Why?

00:14:57.639 --> 00:14:59.519
 For as many as were owners

00:14:59.519 --> 00:15:00.320
 of lands or houses

00:15:00.320 --> 00:15:01.580
 sold them and gave the proceeds

00:15:01.580 --> 00:15:02.759
 to distribute it to each

00:15:02.759 --> 00:15:04.320
 as any had need.

00:15:04.740 --> 00:15:06.480
 Any who had need

00:15:06.480 --> 00:15:08.580
 was satisfied

00:15:08.580 --> 00:15:10.139
 because the many who had

00:15:10.139 --> 00:15:11.320
 generously gave.

00:15:12.100 --> 00:15:14.360
 Whenever there was someone with need,

00:15:15.159 --> 00:15:16.259
 someone with means

00:15:16.259 --> 00:15:17.919
 rose to meet that need.

00:15:19.000 --> 00:15:20.680
 The landowners and homeowners

00:15:20.680 --> 00:15:22.259
 did not insist on keeping

00:15:22.259 --> 00:15:23.580
 their properties to themselves.

00:15:25.600 --> 00:15:26.799
 They could have said,

00:15:27.019 --> 00:15:28.560
 well, do you know how hard

00:15:28.560 --> 00:15:30.279
 I work to save up for this house?

00:15:30.279 --> 00:15:34.360
 Do you know how many years

00:15:34.360 --> 00:15:35.559
 of backbreaking labor

00:15:35.559 --> 00:15:36.419
 it took me to buy

00:15:36.419 --> 00:15:37.379
 this parcel of land?

00:15:40.100 --> 00:15:41.740
 They were entitled to that.

00:15:43.240 --> 00:15:44.500
 The land was deeded

00:15:44.500 --> 00:15:45.120
 to their name.

00:15:46.120 --> 00:15:47.860
 But instead of selfishly

00:15:47.860 --> 00:15:49.000
 insisting on their right,

00:15:49.740 --> 00:15:51.539
 they sacrificially surrendered

00:15:51.539 --> 00:15:53.100
 their right for the sake

00:15:53.100 --> 00:15:54.699
 of their fellow church members.

00:15:54.700 --> 00:15:57.020
 I said earlier

00:15:57.020 --> 00:15:57.720
 that this is not

00:15:57.720 --> 00:15:58.980
 a socialistic community

00:15:58.980 --> 00:15:59.960
 where private ownership

00:15:59.960 --> 00:16:00.780
 is abolished.

00:16:01.460 --> 00:16:02.640
 But it's also true

00:16:02.640 --> 00:16:03.300
 that this is not

00:16:03.300 --> 00:16:04.860
 a capitalistic community

00:16:04.860 --> 00:16:06.060
 where private ownership

00:16:06.060 --> 00:16:07.420
 is prized and guarded

00:16:07.420 --> 00:16:09.000
 and where the desire

00:16:09.000 --> 00:16:10.740
 to increase one's own capital

00:16:10.740 --> 00:16:12.800
 governs all commercial dealings.

00:16:15.500 --> 00:16:16.540
 It's like comparing

00:16:16.540 --> 00:16:17.400
 apples and oranges

00:16:17.400 --> 00:16:18.660
 because the early church

00:16:18.660 --> 00:16:19.700
 functioned

00:16:20.600 --> 00:16:21.840
 not as an economy

00:16:21.840 --> 00:16:23.840
 but as a family.

00:16:28.680 --> 00:16:29.700
 The clause,

00:16:29.940 --> 00:16:30.560
 there was not

00:16:30.560 --> 00:16:32.000
 a needy person among them

00:16:32.000 --> 00:16:33.580
 echoes an Old Testament

00:16:33.580 --> 00:16:35.160
 ideal within the family of God.

00:16:35.920 --> 00:16:37.160
 The word needy

00:16:37.160 --> 00:16:38.120
 occurs only once

00:16:38.120 --> 00:16:39.160
 in the entire New Testament

00:16:39.160 --> 00:16:39.700
 right here.

00:16:40.320 --> 00:16:41.100
 And it's the same word

00:16:41.100 --> 00:16:41.759
 that occurs

00:16:41.759 --> 00:16:43.240
 in the ancient Greek translation

00:16:43.240 --> 00:16:44.820
 of Deuteronomy chapter 15

00:16:44.820 --> 00:16:45.500
 verse 4

00:16:45.500 --> 00:16:46.740
 where it says,

00:16:46.920 --> 00:16:47.720
 but there will be

00:16:47.720 --> 00:16:49.360
 no needy person

00:16:49.360 --> 00:16:50.040
 among you.

00:16:50.039 --> 00:16:52.219
 Acts 4.34

00:16:52.219 --> 00:16:53.159
 is a fulfillment

00:16:53.159 --> 00:16:55.199
 of that word.

00:16:57.079 --> 00:16:58.120
 This command

00:16:58.120 --> 00:16:59.480
 in Deuteronomy

00:16:59.480 --> 00:17:00.500
 is given in the context

00:17:00.500 --> 00:17:01.179
 of directions

00:17:01.179 --> 00:17:02.860
 about the sabbatical year,

00:17:03.039 --> 00:17:03.959
 a year of rest.

00:17:04.779 --> 00:17:05.579
 Jewish lenders

00:17:05.579 --> 00:17:06.539
 were permitted

00:17:06.539 --> 00:17:07.220
 to exact

00:17:07.220 --> 00:17:08.220
 what was owed to them

00:17:08.220 --> 00:17:09.759
 from their borrowers

00:17:09.759 --> 00:17:10.879
 if those borrowers

00:17:10.879 --> 00:17:11.819
 were foreigners.

00:17:12.819 --> 00:17:13.399
 However,

00:17:13.680 --> 00:17:14.619
 they were forbidden

00:17:14.619 --> 00:17:16.039
 from exacting

00:17:16.039 --> 00:17:16.940
 what was owed to them

00:17:16.940 --> 00:17:18.460
 from their fellow Jews.

00:17:18.460 --> 00:17:21.180
 And when the sabbath year

00:17:21.180 --> 00:17:21.720
 came,

00:17:21.819 --> 00:17:22.480
 the seventh year

00:17:22.480 --> 00:17:23.360
 of rest came,

00:17:23.660 --> 00:17:24.400
 they were commanded

00:17:24.400 --> 00:17:25.319
 to forgive

00:17:25.319 --> 00:17:26.519
 any outstanding loan

00:17:26.519 --> 00:17:28.160
 of their Jewish brethren.

00:17:29.500 --> 00:17:30.340
 So it says

00:17:30.340 --> 00:17:31.440
 in Deuteronomy 15

00:17:31.440 --> 00:17:31.900
 verse 2,

00:17:32.019 --> 00:17:32.840
 every creditor

00:17:32.840 --> 00:17:33.600
 shall release

00:17:33.600 --> 00:17:34.380
 what he has lent

00:17:34.380 --> 00:17:34.980
 to his neighbor.

00:17:35.319 --> 00:17:36.660
 He shall not exact it

00:17:36.660 --> 00:17:37.220
 of his neighbor,

00:17:37.340 --> 00:17:38.079
 his brother,

00:17:39.019 --> 00:17:40.360
 because the Lord's release

00:17:40.360 --> 00:17:41.220
 has been proclaimed.

00:17:41.220 --> 00:17:47.860
 This is how family works.

00:17:50.339 --> 00:17:51.740
 I recently received

00:17:51.740 --> 00:17:52.600
 a check

00:17:52.600 --> 00:17:53.940
 for serving

00:17:53.940 --> 00:17:54.620
 on jury duty.

00:17:55.620 --> 00:17:56.720
 It's not much

00:17:56.720 --> 00:17:58.279
 and the tax

00:17:58.279 --> 00:17:59.120
 is already taken out.

00:18:00.220 --> 00:18:01.000
 But it's money

00:18:01.000 --> 00:18:01.799
 that I earned

00:18:01.799 --> 00:18:02.319
 with the work

00:18:02.319 --> 00:18:02.900
 that I did

00:18:02.900 --> 00:18:03.940
 and the check

00:18:03.940 --> 00:18:04.839
 had my name on it.

00:18:06.519 --> 00:18:07.220
 But it really

00:18:07.220 --> 00:18:07.700
 doesn't matter

00:18:07.700 --> 00:18:08.180
 in the end

00:18:08.180 --> 00:18:09.100
 because it all goes

00:18:09.100 --> 00:18:09.740
 into the family

00:18:09.740 --> 00:18:10.400
 bank account.

00:18:12.019 --> 00:18:12.600
 In fact,

00:18:12.660 --> 00:18:13.299
 I told Hannah

00:18:13.299 --> 00:18:13.980
 that I'm giving

00:18:13.980 --> 00:18:14.720
 my jury check

00:18:14.720 --> 00:18:15.059
 to her

00:18:15.059 --> 00:18:16.160
 to use as she desires

00:18:16.160 --> 00:18:16.980
 since she had to work

00:18:16.980 --> 00:18:17.900
 extra hard at home

00:18:17.900 --> 00:18:18.900
 to make sure

00:18:18.900 --> 00:18:19.799
 I can go to jury duty

00:18:19.799 --> 00:18:21.180
 and then do church work

00:18:21.180 --> 00:18:21.799
 at night

00:18:21.799 --> 00:18:23.319
 and weekends

00:18:23.319 --> 00:18:25.079
 because I wouldn't have

00:18:25.079 --> 00:18:25.920
 been able to serve

00:18:25.920 --> 00:18:26.600
 on that jury

00:18:26.600 --> 00:18:27.799
 if it weren't for her.

00:18:28.819 --> 00:18:29.720
 Some of the money

00:18:29.720 --> 00:18:30.180
 undoubtedly

00:18:30.180 --> 00:18:30.779
 will end up

00:18:30.779 --> 00:18:31.779
 going to our kids

00:18:31.779 --> 00:18:34.440
 who are net negative

00:18:34.440 --> 00:18:36.259
 on our account.

00:18:38.200 --> 00:18:39.180
 They don't contribute

00:18:39.180 --> 00:18:40.120
 to our family's earning

00:18:40.120 --> 00:18:40.759
 in any way.

00:18:41.220 --> 00:18:42.019
 In fact,

00:18:42.059 --> 00:18:42.799
 they're quite a drain.

00:18:44.240 --> 00:18:45.200
 But that's how

00:18:45.200 --> 00:18:45.960
 families work.

00:18:47.140 --> 00:18:48.160
 They take care

00:18:48.160 --> 00:18:49.160
 of each other's needs.

00:18:52.440 --> 00:18:53.319
 They share

00:18:53.319 --> 00:18:54.240
 what belongs

00:18:54.240 --> 00:18:55.240
 to them

00:18:55.240 --> 00:18:56.740
 with one another.

00:18:58.019 --> 00:18:58.799
 So it is

00:18:58.799 --> 00:18:59.500
 within the family

00:18:59.500 --> 00:18:59.940
 of God.

00:19:00.759 --> 00:19:01.360
 The church

00:19:01.360 --> 00:19:02.360
 is the family

00:19:02.360 --> 00:19:02.819
 of God.

00:19:03.319 --> 00:19:04.100
 Church is not

00:19:04.100 --> 00:19:04.980
 a worship service

00:19:04.980 --> 00:19:05.700
 that you attend

00:19:05.700 --> 00:19:06.440
 or a building

00:19:06.440 --> 00:19:07.480
 that you enter into.

00:19:07.480 --> 00:19:09.000
 it's a congregation

00:19:09.000 --> 00:19:10.579
 of believers

00:19:10.579 --> 00:19:11.360
 as it says

00:19:11.360 --> 00:19:12.059
 in chapter 4

00:19:12.059 --> 00:19:12.940
 verse 32.

00:19:13.420 --> 00:19:14.279
 The full number

00:19:14.279 --> 00:19:15.059
 or congregation

00:19:15.059 --> 00:19:15.640
 the multitude

00:19:15.640 --> 00:19:16.900
 of those who believed

00:19:16.900 --> 00:19:18.099
 were of one heart

00:19:18.099 --> 00:19:18.660
 and soul.

00:19:19.120 --> 00:19:19.519
 The church

00:19:19.519 --> 00:19:20.240
 is a gathering

00:19:20.240 --> 00:19:21.339
 of people

00:19:21.339 --> 00:19:22.279
 a community

00:19:22.279 --> 00:19:22.880
 of followers

00:19:22.880 --> 00:19:23.700
 of Jesus Christ

00:19:23.700 --> 00:19:24.720
 who meet together

00:19:24.720 --> 00:19:25.380
 for prayer

00:19:25.380 --> 00:19:25.960
 and teaching

00:19:25.960 --> 00:19:26.819
 and the breaking

00:19:26.819 --> 00:19:27.279
 of bread

00:19:27.279 --> 00:19:27.660
 who live

00:19:27.660 --> 00:19:28.759
 closely enough

00:19:28.759 --> 00:19:29.339
 to know

00:19:29.339 --> 00:19:30.220
 each other's needs

00:19:30.220 --> 00:19:31.120
 and who love

00:19:31.120 --> 00:19:31.720
 each other enough

00:19:31.720 --> 00:19:32.319
 to meet

00:19:32.319 --> 00:19:33.360
 those needs

00:19:33.359 --> 00:19:34.139
 as they arise.

00:19:36.219 --> 00:19:37.179
 And I want to commend

00:19:37.179 --> 00:19:37.779
 many of you

00:19:37.779 --> 00:19:38.459
 who have done this

00:19:38.459 --> 00:19:39.199
 within our church

00:19:39.199 --> 00:19:39.579
 as well.

00:19:40.659 --> 00:19:41.139
 Some of you

00:19:41.139 --> 00:19:41.500
 have used

00:19:41.500 --> 00:19:42.319
 your own money

00:19:42.319 --> 00:19:42.799
 to pay

00:19:42.799 --> 00:19:43.799
 for another member's

00:19:43.799 --> 00:19:44.959
 medical expense

00:19:44.959 --> 00:19:46.240
 or housing expense.

00:19:50.439 --> 00:19:51.019
 Note that

00:19:51.019 --> 00:19:51.539
 at this point

00:19:51.539 --> 00:19:52.259
 in the book of Acts

00:19:52.259 --> 00:19:52.699
 the church

00:19:52.699 --> 00:19:53.319
 did not have

00:19:53.319 --> 00:19:54.299
 its formal structure

00:19:54.299 --> 00:19:55.219
 with the elders

00:19:55.219 --> 00:19:56.000
 and the deacons

00:19:56.000 --> 00:19:57.259
 as specified

00:19:57.259 --> 00:19:58.740
 in 1 Timothy chapter 3.

00:19:59.639 --> 00:20:00.379
 At this point

00:20:00.379 --> 00:20:00.759
 there's still

00:20:00.759 --> 00:20:01.599
 only one church

00:20:01.599 --> 00:20:02.240
 in all the world

00:20:02.240 --> 00:20:02.719
 the church

00:20:02.719 --> 00:20:03.219
 in Jerusalem

00:20:03.220 --> 00:20:04.500
 and the apostles

00:20:04.500 --> 00:20:05.200
 functioned

00:20:05.200 --> 00:20:05.700
 as the elders

00:20:05.700 --> 00:20:06.460
 of that church.

00:20:07.140 --> 00:20:07.700
 This is why

00:20:07.700 --> 00:20:08.380
 people bring

00:20:08.380 --> 00:20:09.100
 the proceeds

00:20:09.100 --> 00:20:10.220
 of what was sold

00:20:10.220 --> 00:20:10.579
 and laid

00:20:10.579 --> 00:20:11.600
 at the apostles' feet.

00:20:12.799 --> 00:20:13.299
 The apostles

00:20:13.299 --> 00:20:13.940
 being leaders

00:20:13.940 --> 00:20:14.500
 of the church

00:20:14.500 --> 00:20:15.480
 had a fuller picture

00:20:15.480 --> 00:20:16.500
 of the various

00:20:16.500 --> 00:20:17.600
 needs within the church

00:20:17.600 --> 00:20:18.900
 and by having them

00:20:18.900 --> 00:20:19.440
 coordinate

00:20:19.440 --> 00:20:20.160
 the distribution

00:20:20.160 --> 00:20:20.700
 of funds

00:20:20.700 --> 00:20:21.240
 they made sure

00:20:21.240 --> 00:20:22.059
 that every need

00:20:22.059 --> 00:20:22.559
 was met

00:20:22.559 --> 00:20:23.339
 and that there

00:20:23.339 --> 00:20:23.860
 wasn't any

00:20:23.860 --> 00:20:24.960
 reduplication

00:20:24.960 --> 00:20:25.559
 of efforts

00:20:25.559 --> 00:20:26.680
 with several people

00:20:26.680 --> 00:20:27.279
 trying to meet

00:20:27.279 --> 00:20:28.100
 the same need

00:20:28.100 --> 00:20:29.900
 not knowing

00:20:29.900 --> 00:20:30.759
 that it was already met.

00:20:30.759 --> 00:20:33.240
 This is what

00:20:33.240 --> 00:20:33.599
 we do

00:20:33.599 --> 00:20:34.400
 as a local church

00:20:34.400 --> 00:20:34.759
 as well

00:20:34.759 --> 00:20:35.359
 when we take up

00:20:35.359 --> 00:20:35.740
 offerings

00:20:35.740 --> 00:20:36.819
 for a collective fund.

00:20:37.319 --> 00:20:38.119
 It's what we did

00:20:38.119 --> 00:20:39.119
 at our members meeting

00:20:39.119 --> 00:20:39.759
 last Sunday

00:20:39.759 --> 00:20:41.160
 when we established

00:20:41.160 --> 00:20:42.079
 the benevolence fund

00:20:42.079 --> 00:20:42.980
 for future deacons

00:20:42.980 --> 00:20:43.500
 to allocate

00:20:43.500 --> 00:20:45.700
 to those who are in need.

00:20:49.180 --> 00:20:50.279
 Having made his point

00:20:50.279 --> 00:20:50.879
 about the unity

00:20:50.879 --> 00:20:51.519
 of the church

00:20:51.519 --> 00:20:52.319
 and how they met

00:20:52.319 --> 00:20:53.359
 one another's needs

00:20:53.359 --> 00:20:54.740
 Luke now gives us

00:20:54.740 --> 00:20:56.119
 two specific examples

00:20:56.119 --> 00:20:57.319
 a positive one

00:20:57.319 --> 00:20:58.039
 and a negative one.

00:20:58.039 --> 00:20:59.839
 We see the positive example

00:20:59.839 --> 00:21:01.559
 in verses 36 to 37.

00:21:02.220 --> 00:21:02.859
 Thus Joseph

00:21:02.859 --> 00:21:03.940
 who was also called

00:21:03.940 --> 00:21:04.639
 by the apostles

00:21:04.639 --> 00:21:05.420
 Barnabas

00:21:05.420 --> 00:21:06.159
 which means

00:21:06.159 --> 00:21:07.099
 son of encouragement

00:21:07.099 --> 00:21:08.359
 a Levite

00:21:08.359 --> 00:21:09.680
 a native of Cyprus

00:21:09.680 --> 00:21:11.099
 sold a field

00:21:11.099 --> 00:21:12.039
 that belonged to him

00:21:12.039 --> 00:21:12.859
 and brought the money

00:21:12.859 --> 00:21:13.319
 and laid it

00:21:13.319 --> 00:21:14.279
 at the apostles feet.

00:21:15.119 --> 00:21:16.139
 This brother's name

00:21:16.139 --> 00:21:16.859
 was Joseph

00:21:16.859 --> 00:21:18.759
 but we know him

00:21:18.759 --> 00:21:20.259
 by his more famous nickname

00:21:20.259 --> 00:21:21.139
 which the apostles

00:21:21.139 --> 00:21:21.819
 called him by

00:21:21.819 --> 00:21:22.519
 Barnabas

00:21:22.519 --> 00:21:24.019
 which means

00:21:24.019 --> 00:21:25.180
 son of encouragement.

00:21:25.460 --> 00:21:26.319
 He's one of the most

00:21:26.319 --> 00:21:27.859
 prominent believers

00:21:27.859 --> 00:21:28.659
 in the book of Acts.

00:21:28.740 --> 00:21:29.399
 His name occurs

00:21:29.399 --> 00:21:30.079
 again and again

00:21:30.079 --> 00:21:33.559
 and we'll encounter him

00:21:33.559 --> 00:21:34.240
 many times

00:21:34.240 --> 00:21:35.219
 and it's not surprising

00:21:35.219 --> 00:21:36.419
 for that reason

00:21:36.419 --> 00:21:37.059
 that the apostles

00:21:37.059 --> 00:21:38.139
 had a special nickname

00:21:38.139 --> 00:21:38.619
 for him.

00:21:39.419 --> 00:21:40.819
 And what a great nickname

00:21:40.819 --> 00:21:42.879
 son of encouragement.

00:21:44.419 --> 00:21:45.659
 To refer to someone

00:21:45.659 --> 00:21:46.879
 as a son of something

00:21:46.879 --> 00:21:48.759
 is an idiomatic way

00:21:48.759 --> 00:21:49.399
 in Hebrew

00:21:49.399 --> 00:21:50.219
 to describe

00:21:50.219 --> 00:21:51.139
 the character

00:21:51.139 --> 00:21:51.799
 of a person

00:21:51.799 --> 00:21:52.899
 and because

00:21:52.899 --> 00:21:54.039
 the Greek New Testament

00:21:54.039 --> 00:21:54.619
 is influenced

00:21:54.619 --> 00:21:55.539
 written by Jews

00:21:55.539 --> 00:21:57.159
 it reflects that influence.

00:21:57.160 --> 00:21:58.820
 So a son of

00:21:58.820 --> 00:22:00.480
 Ephesians 5, 6

00:22:00.480 --> 00:22:01.880
 calls disobedient people

00:22:01.880 --> 00:22:03.420
 son of disobedience.

00:22:04.040 --> 00:22:04.400
 So then

00:22:04.400 --> 00:22:05.940
 a son of encouragement

00:22:05.940 --> 00:22:06.740
 is someone

00:22:06.740 --> 00:22:07.800
 who is often

00:22:07.800 --> 00:22:09.100
 given toward

00:22:09.100 --> 00:22:10.360
 encouraging others.

00:22:11.400 --> 00:22:12.660
 If encouragement

00:22:12.660 --> 00:22:13.480
 had a son

00:22:13.480 --> 00:22:14.400
 it would look like

00:22:14.400 --> 00:22:14.900
 Barnabas.

00:22:16.000 --> 00:22:17.440
 The word encouragement

00:22:17.440 --> 00:22:19.060
 means to exhort

00:22:19.060 --> 00:22:20.380
 and embolden

00:22:20.380 --> 00:22:21.340
 another person

00:22:21.340 --> 00:22:22.640
 in his or her belief

00:22:22.640 --> 00:22:23.840
 or course of action.

00:22:23.839 --> 00:22:26.679
 The same word

00:22:26.679 --> 00:22:27.059
 is used

00:22:27.059 --> 00:22:28.059
 later in chapter 9

00:22:28.059 --> 00:22:28.519
 verse 31

00:22:28.519 --> 00:22:29.699
 to refer to the comfort

00:22:29.699 --> 00:22:31.279
 of the Holy Spirit.

00:22:32.079 --> 00:22:32.699
 He's a son

00:22:32.699 --> 00:22:33.959
 who gives comfort

00:22:33.959 --> 00:22:34.480
 to others

00:22:34.480 --> 00:22:35.599
 brings encouragement

00:22:35.599 --> 00:22:36.259
 to others.

00:22:38.480 --> 00:22:39.559
 We see him

00:22:39.559 --> 00:22:40.419
 doing this often

00:22:40.419 --> 00:22:41.459
 throughout the book of Acts.

00:22:42.500 --> 00:22:43.319
 When Paul

00:22:43.319 --> 00:22:44.359
 returned to Jerusalem

00:22:44.359 --> 00:22:45.439
 after his conversion

00:22:45.439 --> 00:22:46.980
 the apostles

00:22:46.980 --> 00:22:48.000
 were wary of him

00:22:48.000 --> 00:22:49.139
 knowing his reputation

00:22:49.139 --> 00:22:49.759
 as a fierce

00:22:49.759 --> 00:22:50.359
 persecutor

00:22:50.359 --> 00:22:50.939
 of the church.

00:22:50.940 --> 00:22:53.000
 However,

00:22:53.140 --> 00:22:54.000
 it's Barnabas

00:22:54.000 --> 00:22:54.940
 who personally

00:22:54.940 --> 00:22:55.740
 takes Paul

00:22:55.740 --> 00:22:56.720
 by his hand

00:22:56.720 --> 00:22:58.200
 and introduces him

00:22:58.200 --> 00:22:59.240
 to the apostles

00:22:59.240 --> 00:23:00.039
 assuring them

00:23:00.039 --> 00:23:00.720
 that he has

00:23:00.720 --> 00:23:01.740
 genuinely converted

00:23:01.740 --> 00:23:02.580
 and that he's safe.

00:23:03.860 --> 00:23:04.660
 In Acts chapter 9

00:23:04.660 --> 00:23:05.380
 verse 27

00:23:05.380 --> 00:23:07.140
 When a new church

00:23:07.140 --> 00:23:07.820
 begins to take

00:23:07.820 --> 00:23:09.380
 shape in Antioch

00:23:09.380 --> 00:23:10.220
 the apostles

00:23:10.220 --> 00:23:10.980
 send who?

00:23:11.220 --> 00:23:11.820
 Barnabas.

00:23:12.259 --> 00:23:12.980
 They're to encourage

00:23:12.980 --> 00:23:14.000
 them and build them up.

00:23:15.380 --> 00:23:16.340
 Acts 11

00:23:16.340 --> 00:23:17.460
 22-26

00:23:17.460 --> 00:23:19.299
 And then

00:23:19.299 --> 00:23:20.080
 when those same

00:23:20.079 --> 00:23:21.199
 Christians in Antioch

00:23:21.199 --> 00:23:22.299
 hear a prophecy

00:23:22.299 --> 00:23:23.500
 that anticipates

00:23:23.500 --> 00:23:24.079
 a famine

00:23:24.079 --> 00:23:25.079
 throughout Judea

00:23:25.079 --> 00:23:26.359
 they send relief

00:23:26.359 --> 00:23:27.199
 by the hand

00:23:27.199 --> 00:23:28.279
 of Barnabas.

00:23:29.960 --> 00:23:30.980
 When Paul

00:23:30.980 --> 00:23:32.079
 insists on not

00:23:32.079 --> 00:23:33.240
 taking John Mark

00:23:33.240 --> 00:23:34.179
 along with him

00:23:34.179 --> 00:23:34.759
 on their missionary

00:23:34.759 --> 00:23:35.279
 journey

00:23:35.279 --> 00:23:37.000
 being unwilling

00:23:37.000 --> 00:23:38.019
 to give Mark

00:23:38.019 --> 00:23:38.859
 a second chance

00:23:38.859 --> 00:23:39.679
 because Mark

00:23:39.679 --> 00:23:40.960
 had deserted them

00:23:40.960 --> 00:23:42.039
 in one leg

00:23:42.039 --> 00:23:42.500
 of the journey

00:23:42.500 --> 00:23:43.039
 previously

00:23:43.039 --> 00:23:45.019
 it's Barnabas

00:23:45.019 --> 00:23:46.099
 who insists

00:23:46.099 --> 00:23:46.980
 on giving Mark

00:23:46.980 --> 00:23:47.759
 a second chance

00:23:47.759 --> 00:23:49.019
 is in Acts chapter 15

00:23:49.019 --> 00:23:50.059
 verse 37-40

00:23:50.059 --> 00:23:53.059
 Paul virtually admits

00:23:53.059 --> 00:23:53.819
 later in his life

00:23:53.819 --> 00:23:54.740
 that Barnabas was right

00:23:54.740 --> 00:23:56.980
 because in 2 Timothy 4-11

00:23:56.980 --> 00:23:57.980
 he asks Timothy

00:23:57.980 --> 00:23:59.200
 to get Mark

00:23:59.200 --> 00:24:00.160
 and bring him with you

00:24:00.160 --> 00:24:01.160
 for he's very useful

00:24:01.160 --> 00:24:02.039
 to me in my ministry.

00:24:03.920 --> 00:24:04.759
 So Joseph

00:24:04.759 --> 00:24:05.940
 was a godly man

00:24:05.940 --> 00:24:07.079
 who was often

00:24:07.079 --> 00:24:08.220
 encouraging other believers

00:24:08.220 --> 00:24:09.440
 and building up the church

00:24:09.440 --> 00:24:10.500
 so he was nicknamed

00:24:10.500 --> 00:24:11.279
 Barnabas

00:24:11.279 --> 00:24:13.180
 and fittingly

00:24:13.180 --> 00:24:13.779
 Barnabas

00:24:13.779 --> 00:24:14.920
 sold a field

00:24:14.920 --> 00:24:15.940
 that belonged to him

00:24:15.940 --> 00:24:16.819
 and brought the money

00:24:16.819 --> 00:24:18.180
 to and laid it

00:24:18.180 --> 00:24:19.099
 at the apostles' feet

00:24:19.099 --> 00:24:20.579
 so that it might be used

00:24:20.579 --> 00:24:21.480
 to meet the needs

00:24:21.480 --> 00:24:22.059
 of the saints.

00:24:24.220 --> 00:24:25.259
 While Levites

00:24:25.259 --> 00:24:26.099
 were not given

00:24:26.099 --> 00:24:26.940
 an inheritance

00:24:26.940 --> 00:24:28.039
 in the land of Israel

00:24:28.039 --> 00:24:29.379
 by this time

00:24:29.379 --> 00:24:30.420
 Israel was not

00:24:30.420 --> 00:24:31.139
 a theocracy

00:24:31.139 --> 00:24:32.019
 governed by

00:24:32.019 --> 00:24:32.899
 the Mosaic law

00:24:32.899 --> 00:24:33.779
 rather they were

00:24:33.779 --> 00:24:34.660
 a conquered nation

00:24:34.660 --> 00:24:36.119
 subjects of the Roman Empire

00:24:36.119 --> 00:24:36.960
 and so under

00:24:36.960 --> 00:24:38.279
 these changed circumstances

00:24:38.279 --> 00:24:38.980
 it appears

00:24:38.980 --> 00:24:40.700
 Levites also owned land.

00:24:42.000 --> 00:24:43.019
 So Barnabas

00:24:43.019 --> 00:24:43.559
 a Levite

00:24:43.559 --> 00:24:44.539
 sold his land

00:24:44.539 --> 00:24:46.160
 and donated

00:24:46.160 --> 00:24:47.599
 it to the church.

00:24:48.799 --> 00:24:49.839
 But lest you think

00:24:49.839 --> 00:24:50.440
 that this is

00:24:50.440 --> 00:24:51.940
 just an idealized

00:24:51.940 --> 00:24:52.539
 depiction

00:24:52.539 --> 00:24:53.980
 of the early church

00:24:53.980 --> 00:24:55.000
 Luke gives us

00:24:55.000 --> 00:24:55.980
 a negative example

00:24:55.980 --> 00:24:56.440
 as well.

00:24:57.440 --> 00:24:58.180
 The early church

00:24:58.180 --> 00:24:59.039
 was not perfect.

00:25:00.019 --> 00:25:00.779
 Wherever the spirit

00:25:00.779 --> 00:25:01.160
 of God

00:25:01.160 --> 00:25:02.339
 is powerfully at work

00:25:02.339 --> 00:25:03.559
 Satan always tries

00:25:03.559 --> 00:25:04.399
 to do his worst.

00:25:06.500 --> 00:25:07.579
 And we see this

00:25:07.579 --> 00:25:08.759
 beginning in chapter 5

00:25:08.759 --> 00:25:10.279
 says in verses 1-2

00:25:10.279 --> 00:25:11.819
 but a man named

00:25:11.819 --> 00:25:12.559
 Ananias

00:25:12.559 --> 00:25:13.319
 with his wife

00:25:13.319 --> 00:25:13.859
 Sapphira

00:25:13.859 --> 00:25:15.259
 sold a piece

00:25:15.259 --> 00:25:15.819
 of property

00:25:15.819 --> 00:25:17.339
 and with his wife's

00:25:17.339 --> 00:25:17.700
 knowledge

00:25:17.700 --> 00:25:18.440
 he kept back

00:25:18.440 --> 00:25:18.899
 for himself

00:25:18.899 --> 00:25:19.759
 some of the proceeds

00:25:19.759 --> 00:25:20.779
 and brought only

00:25:20.779 --> 00:25:21.559
 a part of it

00:25:21.559 --> 00:25:22.259
 and laid it

00:25:22.259 --> 00:25:23.299
 at the apostles' feet.

00:25:24.359 --> 00:25:25.119
 It's clear

00:25:25.119 --> 00:25:25.740
 that Ananias

00:25:25.740 --> 00:25:26.299
 and Sapphira

00:25:26.299 --> 00:25:27.099
 were part of

00:25:27.099 --> 00:25:27.879
 the Christian community

00:25:27.879 --> 00:25:28.379
 in Jerusalem.

00:25:28.819 --> 00:25:29.480
 They knew

00:25:29.480 --> 00:25:30.059
 who the apostles

00:25:30.059 --> 00:25:31.119
 were and they knew

00:25:31.119 --> 00:25:31.779
 that it was common

00:25:31.779 --> 00:25:32.619
 practice to sell

00:25:32.619 --> 00:25:33.220
 one's property

00:25:33.220 --> 00:25:34.119
 and bring the proceeds

00:25:34.119 --> 00:25:34.859
 to the apostles

00:25:34.859 --> 00:25:35.660
 to be distributed

00:25:35.660 --> 00:25:37.000
 to those who are in need.

00:25:37.000 --> 00:25:39.480
 But Jesus also taught us

00:25:39.480 --> 00:25:40.539
 in Matthew 13

00:25:40.539 --> 00:25:41.440
 24-30

00:25:41.440 --> 00:25:42.920
 that among God's people

00:25:42.920 --> 00:25:43.980
 there will always be

00:25:43.980 --> 00:25:45.579
 weeds mixed in

00:25:45.579 --> 00:25:46.380
 with the wheat

00:25:46.380 --> 00:25:48.880
 and that it will not

00:25:48.880 --> 00:25:49.420
 be possible

00:25:49.420 --> 00:25:50.539
 to separate them out

00:25:50.539 --> 00:25:52.059
 until the last day

00:25:52.059 --> 00:25:53.000
 the judgment day.

00:25:54.579 --> 00:25:55.779
 So it's possible

00:25:55.779 --> 00:25:56.559
 that Ananias

00:25:56.559 --> 00:25:56.980
 and Sapphira

00:25:56.980 --> 00:25:58.160
 were not genuine believers.

00:25:59.279 --> 00:25:59.680
 Considering

00:25:59.680 --> 00:26:00.900
 the divine judgment

00:26:00.900 --> 00:26:02.339
 that befalls them later

00:26:02.339 --> 00:26:03.619
 I think it's possible

00:26:03.619 --> 00:26:04.059
 that they were

00:26:04.059 --> 00:26:05.039
 not true Christians.

00:26:05.039 --> 00:26:09.379
 But Peter

00:26:09.379 --> 00:26:10.559
 prophetically sees

00:26:10.559 --> 00:26:11.059
 right through

00:26:11.059 --> 00:26:12.200
 Ananias and Sapphira's

00:26:12.200 --> 00:26:12.539
 deception

00:26:12.539 --> 00:26:13.720
 and he asks Ananias

00:26:13.720 --> 00:26:14.779
 a series of questions

00:26:14.779 --> 00:26:15.899
 in verses 3-4.

00:26:16.680 --> 00:26:17.119
 Ananias,

00:26:17.180 --> 00:26:17.819
 why has Satan

00:26:17.819 --> 00:26:18.779
 filled your heart

00:26:18.779 --> 00:26:20.059
 to lie to the Holy Spirit

00:26:20.059 --> 00:26:21.139
 and to keep back

00:26:21.139 --> 00:26:21.659
 for yourself

00:26:21.659 --> 00:26:22.619
 part of the proceeds

00:26:22.619 --> 00:26:23.220
 of the land?

00:26:23.779 --> 00:26:24.700
 While it remained

00:26:24.700 --> 00:26:25.319
 on sold

00:26:25.319 --> 00:26:25.859
 did it not

00:26:25.859 --> 00:26:26.980
 remain your own?

00:26:27.659 --> 00:26:28.700
 And after it was sold

00:26:28.700 --> 00:26:29.159
 was it not

00:26:29.159 --> 00:26:30.079
 at your disposal?

00:26:30.720 --> 00:26:31.619
 Why is it that

00:26:31.619 --> 00:26:32.519
 you have contrived

00:26:32.519 --> 00:26:33.480
 this deed in your heart?

00:26:33.480 --> 00:26:35.319
 You have not lied

00:26:35.319 --> 00:26:35.920
 to man

00:26:35.920 --> 00:26:36.880
 but to God.

00:26:38.880 --> 00:26:39.920
 Peter's questions

00:26:39.920 --> 00:26:40.960
 reveal exactly

00:26:40.960 --> 00:26:41.680
 what Ananias

00:26:41.680 --> 00:26:42.200
 and Sapphira

00:26:42.200 --> 00:26:42.819
 did wrong.

00:26:43.420 --> 00:26:43.940
 First,

00:26:44.160 --> 00:26:45.960
 they had no obligation

00:26:45.960 --> 00:26:47.079
 to sell their piece

00:26:47.079 --> 00:26:47.539
 of land.

00:26:49.140 --> 00:26:50.059
 Peter says,

00:26:50.259 --> 00:26:51.160
 while it remained

00:26:51.160 --> 00:26:51.819
 on sold

00:26:51.819 --> 00:26:52.559
 did it not

00:26:52.559 --> 00:26:53.700
 remain your own?

00:26:55.380 --> 00:26:56.319
 There was no

00:26:56.319 --> 00:26:57.160
 church policy

00:26:57.160 --> 00:26:57.819
 demanding that

00:26:57.819 --> 00:26:58.720
 everybody relinquish

00:26:58.720 --> 00:26:59.339
 their property

00:26:59.339 --> 00:27:00.599
 and bring it

00:27:00.599 --> 00:27:01.160
 to the apostles.

00:27:01.160 --> 00:27:03.440
 it was theirs

00:27:03.440 --> 00:27:04.160
 to do with it

00:27:04.160 --> 00:27:05.180
 whatever they pleased

00:27:05.180 --> 00:27:05.759
 and yet

00:27:05.759 --> 00:27:09.160
 he sold

00:27:09.160 --> 00:27:09.660
 they decided

00:27:09.660 --> 00:27:10.240
 to sell it.

00:27:12.660 --> 00:27:13.140
 Second,

00:27:13.519 --> 00:27:14.820
 after selling it

00:27:14.820 --> 00:27:16.040
 Ananias and Sapphira

00:27:16.040 --> 00:27:16.759
 did not have

00:27:16.759 --> 00:27:17.400
 the obligation

00:27:17.400 --> 00:27:18.100
 to donate

00:27:18.100 --> 00:27:19.320
 any or all

00:27:19.320 --> 00:27:19.980
 of the proceeds

00:27:19.980 --> 00:27:20.740
 to the church.

00:27:21.680 --> 00:27:22.519
 Peter says,

00:27:22.620 --> 00:27:23.519
 and after it was sold

00:27:23.519 --> 00:27:24.160
 was it not

00:27:24.160 --> 00:27:25.279
 at your disposal?

00:27:25.960 --> 00:27:26.480
 You could have

00:27:26.480 --> 00:27:27.420
 kept 100%

00:27:27.420 --> 00:27:28.140
 of the proceeds

00:27:28.140 --> 00:27:28.800
 for yourself

00:27:28.799 --> 00:27:29.740
 or you could have

00:27:29.740 --> 00:27:30.720
 kept 80%

00:27:30.720 --> 00:27:31.399
 of the proceeds

00:27:31.399 --> 00:27:32.019
 for yourself

00:27:32.019 --> 00:27:32.799
 and then donated

00:27:32.799 --> 00:27:34.180
 20% to the church.

00:27:34.579 --> 00:27:35.559
 Nobody would have

00:27:35.559 --> 00:27:36.599
 faulted you for it.

00:27:37.059 --> 00:27:37.599
 You could have

00:27:37.599 --> 00:27:38.359
 done whatever you

00:27:38.359 --> 00:27:38.980
 wanted with the

00:27:38.980 --> 00:27:40.019
 proceeds from the sale.

00:27:40.119 --> 00:27:41.440
 It was your money.

00:27:43.079 --> 00:27:43.839
 The problem

00:27:43.839 --> 00:27:45.000
 was not that

00:27:45.000 --> 00:27:45.960
 Ananias and Sapphira

00:27:45.960 --> 00:27:47.119
 withheld part

00:27:47.119 --> 00:27:47.899
 of the proceeds.

00:27:48.319 --> 00:27:49.139
 The problem

00:27:49.139 --> 00:27:49.720
 was that they

00:27:49.720 --> 00:27:51.159
 withheld the proceeds

00:27:51.159 --> 00:27:52.480
 while lying

00:27:52.480 --> 00:27:53.759
 that they were

00:27:53.759 --> 00:27:54.720
 donating all

00:27:54.720 --> 00:27:55.419
 of the proceeds.

00:27:55.420 --> 00:28:00.259
 The problem

00:28:00.259 --> 00:28:00.980
 was not

00:28:00.980 --> 00:28:01.640
 that they

00:28:01.640 --> 00:28:02.279
 were cheap.

00:28:03.560 --> 00:28:04.580
 Even donating

00:28:04.580 --> 00:28:05.440
 a part of the proceeds

00:28:05.440 --> 00:28:05.860
 would have been

00:28:05.860 --> 00:28:06.400
 very generous.

00:28:07.240 --> 00:28:07.920
 The problem

00:28:07.920 --> 00:28:08.400
 was not

00:28:08.400 --> 00:28:08.680
 that they

00:28:08.680 --> 00:28:09.460
 were withholding

00:28:09.460 --> 00:28:09.800
 what they

00:28:09.800 --> 00:28:10.259
 had already

00:28:10.259 --> 00:28:11.279
 dedicated to God.

00:28:11.759 --> 00:28:12.380
 The money

00:28:12.380 --> 00:28:12.860
 was theirs

00:28:12.860 --> 00:28:13.620
 to dispose of

00:28:13.620 --> 00:28:14.240
 as they wish.

00:28:14.860 --> 00:28:15.539
 The problem

00:28:15.539 --> 00:28:15.940
 was that

00:28:15.940 --> 00:28:16.900
 they lied

00:28:16.900 --> 00:28:17.640
 to God.

00:28:20.180 --> 00:28:20.940
 And why

00:28:20.940 --> 00:28:21.279
 would they

00:28:21.279 --> 00:28:21.860
 do something

00:28:21.860 --> 00:28:22.460
 like this?

00:28:23.800 --> 00:28:24.100
 Well,

00:28:24.140 --> 00:28:25.000
 because Joseph

00:28:25.000 --> 00:28:27.539
 had recently

00:28:27.539 --> 00:28:28.460
 donated all

00:28:28.460 --> 00:28:29.400
 of his proceeds

00:28:29.400 --> 00:28:30.460
 from the sale

00:28:30.460 --> 00:28:31.240
 of his land

00:28:31.240 --> 00:28:33.380
 and the apostles

00:28:33.380 --> 00:28:33.980
 and the rest

00:28:33.980 --> 00:28:34.559
 of the church

00:28:34.559 --> 00:28:35.819
 loved him.

00:28:41.299 --> 00:28:42.000
 They even

00:28:42.000 --> 00:28:42.319
 gave him

00:28:42.319 --> 00:28:42.900
 a nickname.

00:28:44.420 --> 00:28:45.400
 They called him

00:28:45.400 --> 00:28:46.079
 Barnabas,

00:28:46.460 --> 00:28:47.519
 son of encouragement.

00:28:49.279 --> 00:28:50.099
 Ananias' name

00:28:50.099 --> 00:28:51.240
 means the Lord

00:28:51.240 --> 00:28:52.380
 has shown favor,

00:28:53.380 --> 00:28:54.059
 but the favor

00:28:54.059 --> 00:28:54.720
 of God

00:28:54.720 --> 00:28:55.579
 shown in Jesus

00:28:55.579 --> 00:28:56.339
 wasn't enough

00:28:56.339 --> 00:28:56.740
 for him.

00:28:57.599 --> 00:28:58.059
 He wanted

00:28:58.059 --> 00:28:59.039
 man's favor.

00:29:00.299 --> 00:29:00.980
 He wanted

00:29:00.980 --> 00:29:01.960
 man's acclaim.

00:29:03.639 --> 00:29:04.700
 He wanted

00:29:04.700 --> 00:29:05.379
 to be

00:29:05.379 --> 00:29:07.099
 a beloved

00:29:07.099 --> 00:29:09.599
 of the apostles.

00:29:09.599 --> 00:29:11.719
 I want

00:29:11.719 --> 00:29:12.159
 to call

00:29:12.159 --> 00:29:12.559
 me

00:29:12.559 --> 00:29:13.359
 a son

00:29:13.359 --> 00:29:14.139
 of generosity.

00:29:16.139 --> 00:29:16.539
 Maybe

00:29:16.539 --> 00:29:17.039
 you can

00:29:17.039 --> 00:29:17.500
 be called

00:29:17.500 --> 00:29:18.119
 the daughter

00:29:18.119 --> 00:29:18.879
 of hospitality,

00:29:19.079 --> 00:29:19.379
 Sephira.

00:29:21.899 --> 00:29:22.299
 Oh,

00:29:22.379 --> 00:29:22.980
 but I really

00:29:22.980 --> 00:29:23.459
 want some

00:29:23.459 --> 00:29:24.000
 of that money

00:29:24.000 --> 00:29:24.339
 too.

00:29:25.539 --> 00:29:25.779
 Hey,

00:29:25.819 --> 00:29:26.079
 I've got

00:29:26.079 --> 00:29:26.519
 an idea.

00:29:27.639 --> 00:29:28.219
 Since we

00:29:28.219 --> 00:29:28.779
 got a great

00:29:28.779 --> 00:29:29.519
 deal on this

00:29:29.519 --> 00:29:29.839
 sale,

00:29:30.059 --> 00:29:30.740
 we can just

00:29:30.740 --> 00:29:31.259
 give a part

00:29:31.259 --> 00:29:31.799
 of the proceeds

00:29:31.799 --> 00:29:32.139
 and it will

00:29:32.139 --> 00:29:32.799
 still look

00:29:32.799 --> 00:29:33.719
 like we are

00:29:33.719 --> 00:29:34.279
 giving away

00:29:34.279 --> 00:29:34.839
 the entirety

00:29:34.839 --> 00:29:35.480
 of our profit.

00:29:36.339 --> 00:29:37.019
 This way

00:29:37.019 --> 00:29:37.599
 we can have

00:29:37.599 --> 00:29:38.279
 the best

00:29:38.279 --> 00:29:39.439
 of both worlds,

00:29:40.099 --> 00:29:40.839
 a sterling

00:29:40.839 --> 00:29:41.500
 reputation

00:29:41.500 --> 00:29:42.240
 in the church

00:29:42.240 --> 00:29:43.299
 and sparkling

00:29:43.299 --> 00:29:44.159
 riches at home.

00:29:46.199 --> 00:29:46.980
 How about

00:29:46.980 --> 00:29:47.659
 that idea?

00:29:51.699 --> 00:29:52.559
 But nothing

00:29:52.559 --> 00:29:53.240
 can be hidden

00:29:53.240 --> 00:29:54.459
 from the all-knowing

00:29:54.459 --> 00:29:55.480
 and all-seeing

00:29:55.480 --> 00:29:55.839
 God.

00:29:56.699 --> 00:29:57.679
 God is light

00:29:57.679 --> 00:29:58.139
 and in him

00:29:58.139 --> 00:29:59.159
 there is no

00:29:59.159 --> 00:30:00.039
 darkness at all.

00:30:00.119 --> 00:30:00.480
 If we say

00:30:00.480 --> 00:30:01.079
 we have fellowship

00:30:01.079 --> 00:30:01.619
 with him

00:30:01.619 --> 00:30:02.519
 and yet walk

00:30:02.519 --> 00:30:03.519
 in the darkness,

00:30:04.079 --> 00:30:04.699
 we lie

00:30:04.699 --> 00:30:05.139
 and do not

00:30:05.139 --> 00:30:06.079
 practice the truth.

00:30:06.079 --> 00:30:08.039
 every single

00:30:08.039 --> 00:30:08.899
 person in the

00:30:08.899 --> 00:30:09.679
 universe stands

00:30:09.679 --> 00:30:11.079
 completely exposed

00:30:11.079 --> 00:30:11.740
 before the

00:30:11.740 --> 00:30:12.359
 light of God.

00:30:13.720 --> 00:30:14.399
 So God

00:30:14.399 --> 00:30:15.619
 reveals Ananias

00:30:15.619 --> 00:30:16.399
 and Sapphira's

00:30:16.399 --> 00:30:17.099
 duplicity to

00:30:17.099 --> 00:30:17.919
 Peter and

00:30:17.919 --> 00:30:18.500
 Peter gets

00:30:18.500 --> 00:30:19.079
 right to the

00:30:19.079 --> 00:30:19.480
 heart of the

00:30:19.480 --> 00:30:19.720
 issue.

00:30:21.039 --> 00:30:21.679
 Twice he

00:30:21.679 --> 00:30:22.139
 repeats the

00:30:22.139 --> 00:30:22.779
 word heart.

00:30:22.980 --> 00:30:23.399
 He says in

00:30:23.399 --> 00:30:23.960
 verse 3,

00:30:24.379 --> 00:30:24.839
 Ananias,

00:30:24.939 --> 00:30:25.359
 why has

00:30:25.359 --> 00:30:26.220
 Satan filled

00:30:26.220 --> 00:30:27.159
 your heart

00:30:27.159 --> 00:30:27.980
 to lie to

00:30:27.980 --> 00:30:28.259
 the Holy

00:30:28.259 --> 00:30:28.579
 Spirit?

00:30:29.039 --> 00:30:29.399
 And again

00:30:29.399 --> 00:30:30.079
 in verse 4,

00:30:30.079 --> 00:30:30.799
 why is it

00:30:30.799 --> 00:30:31.220
 that you have

00:30:31.220 --> 00:30:31.980
 contrived this

00:30:31.980 --> 00:30:32.960
 deed in your

00:30:32.960 --> 00:30:33.539
 heart?

00:30:33.759 --> 00:30:34.539
 You have not

00:30:34.539 --> 00:30:35.439
 lied to man

00:30:35.440 --> 00:30:36.360
 but to God.

00:30:37.620 --> 00:30:38.600
 We see both

00:30:38.600 --> 00:30:39.779
 Satan and

00:30:39.779 --> 00:30:40.820
 Ananias' own

00:30:40.820 --> 00:30:41.740
 sinful flesh

00:30:41.740 --> 00:30:42.460
 at work here.

00:30:43.039 --> 00:30:43.640
 Satan has

00:30:43.640 --> 00:30:44.259
 filled his

00:30:44.259 --> 00:30:45.360
 heart and

00:30:45.360 --> 00:30:46.160
 Ananias has

00:30:46.160 --> 00:30:46.799
 contrived

00:30:46.799 --> 00:30:47.360
 the misdeed

00:30:47.360 --> 00:30:47.880
 in his own

00:30:47.880 --> 00:30:48.240
 heart.

00:30:49.559 --> 00:30:49.900
 And notice

00:30:49.900 --> 00:30:50.580
 the contrast

00:30:50.580 --> 00:30:51.180
 between this

00:30:51.180 --> 00:30:51.820
 description of

00:30:51.820 --> 00:30:52.940
 Ananias and

00:30:52.940 --> 00:30:53.380
 the description

00:30:53.380 --> 00:30:53.680
 of the

00:30:53.680 --> 00:30:54.380
 believers early

00:30:54.380 --> 00:30:55.100
 in chapter 4

00:30:55.100 --> 00:30:55.779
 verse 31,

00:30:56.000 --> 00:30:56.720
 where he said

00:30:56.720 --> 00:30:57.140
 that they were

00:30:57.140 --> 00:30:58.000
 all filled

00:30:58.000 --> 00:30:58.759
 with the

00:30:58.759 --> 00:30:59.559
 Holy Spirit.

00:31:00.539 --> 00:31:01.080
 When the

00:31:01.080 --> 00:31:01.559
 church is

00:31:01.559 --> 00:31:02.340
 filled by the

00:31:02.340 --> 00:31:02.900
 Holy Spirit,

00:31:03.019 --> 00:31:03.740
 there is unity.

00:31:03.740 --> 00:31:03.819
 unity.

00:31:04.660 --> 00:31:05.079
 But when

00:31:05.079 --> 00:31:05.660
 its members

00:31:05.660 --> 00:31:06.400
 like Ananias

00:31:06.400 --> 00:31:06.920
 are filled

00:31:06.920 --> 00:31:07.740
 instead by

00:31:07.740 --> 00:31:08.259
 Satan,

00:31:08.440 --> 00:31:08.700
 there is

00:31:08.700 --> 00:31:10.339
 duplicity and

00:31:10.339 --> 00:31:11.099
 disunity.

00:31:13.279 --> 00:31:13.960
 Earlier in

00:31:13.960 --> 00:31:14.539
 chapter 4,

00:31:14.599 --> 00:31:15.160
 verse 32,

00:31:15.480 --> 00:31:15.900
 it said the

00:31:15.900 --> 00:31:16.460
 believers were

00:31:16.460 --> 00:31:17.500
 of one heart,

00:31:17.920 --> 00:31:18.759
 but Ananias and

00:31:18.759 --> 00:31:19.380
 Sapphira were

00:31:19.380 --> 00:31:20.279
 not one of

00:31:20.279 --> 00:31:20.799
 them because

00:31:20.799 --> 00:31:21.319
 they let

00:31:21.319 --> 00:31:21.900
 Satan fill

00:31:21.900 --> 00:31:22.460
 their hearts.

00:31:23.039 --> 00:31:23.539
 So their

00:31:23.539 --> 00:31:24.180
 hearts were

00:31:24.180 --> 00:31:24.759
 divided,

00:31:25.859 --> 00:31:26.519
 double-minded.

00:31:28.960 --> 00:31:29.680
 Brothers and

00:31:29.680 --> 00:31:29.980
 sisters,

00:31:30.359 --> 00:31:31.359
 be watchful of

00:31:31.359 --> 00:31:31.779
 your heart.

00:31:35.379 --> 00:31:36.019
 When your

00:31:36.019 --> 00:31:36.779
 heart is full

00:31:36.779 --> 00:31:37.539
 of envy of

00:31:37.539 --> 00:31:38.139
 another church

00:31:38.139 --> 00:31:38.459
 member,

00:31:39.399 --> 00:31:40.039
 when your

00:31:40.039 --> 00:31:40.859
 heart is full

00:31:40.859 --> 00:31:41.839
 of rivalry,

00:31:43.119 --> 00:31:43.599
 when your

00:31:43.599 --> 00:31:44.159
 heart is full

00:31:44.159 --> 00:31:45.139
 of desire for

00:31:45.139 --> 00:31:46.039
 man's approval

00:31:46.039 --> 00:31:46.899
 or acclaim,

00:31:47.299 --> 00:31:47.699
 when your

00:31:47.699 --> 00:31:48.219
 heart is full

00:31:48.219 --> 00:31:49.000
 of pride that

00:31:49.000 --> 00:31:49.659
 thinks it can

00:31:49.659 --> 00:31:50.479
 hide things

00:31:50.479 --> 00:31:51.119
 from God,

00:31:51.979 --> 00:31:52.799
 that is not

00:31:52.799 --> 00:31:53.459
 the work of

00:31:53.459 --> 00:31:54.139
 the Holy Spirit

00:31:54.139 --> 00:31:54.779
 but the work

00:31:54.779 --> 00:31:55.240
 of Satan.

00:31:58.439 --> 00:31:59.339
 Such attitudes

00:31:59.339 --> 00:32:00.219
 are destructive

00:32:00.220 --> 00:32:00.980
 to the church,

00:32:01.059 --> 00:32:01.519
 it sows

00:32:01.519 --> 00:32:02.460
 discord.

00:32:04.079 --> 00:32:04.920
 When we see

00:32:04.920 --> 00:32:05.400
 one another

00:32:05.400 --> 00:32:06.019
 not as

00:32:06.019 --> 00:32:06.720
 teammates,

00:32:06.880 --> 00:32:07.299
 members of

00:32:07.299 --> 00:32:07.779
 the same

00:32:07.779 --> 00:32:08.500
 family of

00:32:08.500 --> 00:32:08.700
 God,

00:32:08.759 --> 00:32:09.180
 but as

00:32:09.180 --> 00:32:09.880
 competitors,

00:32:11.220 --> 00:32:12.200
 when we are

00:32:12.200 --> 00:32:12.759
 out to gain

00:32:12.759 --> 00:32:13.519
 glory for

00:32:13.519 --> 00:32:14.519
 ourselves rather

00:32:14.519 --> 00:32:15.059
 than for

00:32:15.059 --> 00:32:15.519
 God,

00:32:16.059 --> 00:32:17.019
 we begin to

00:32:17.019 --> 00:32:18.279
 act independently

00:32:18.279 --> 00:32:20.160
 instead of

00:32:20.160 --> 00:32:21.259
 interdependently

00:32:21.259 --> 00:32:21.799
 as we should.

00:32:25.079 --> 00:32:26.160
 Different parts

00:32:26.160 --> 00:32:27.160
 of the same

00:32:27.160 --> 00:32:28.380
 body vying

00:32:28.380 --> 00:32:29.319
 for prominence

00:32:29.319 --> 00:32:29.960
 instead of

00:32:29.960 --> 00:32:30.500
 each doing

00:32:30.500 --> 00:32:30.939
 its part

00:32:30.939 --> 00:32:31.220
 for the

00:32:31.220 --> 00:32:31.659
 benefit of

00:32:31.659 --> 00:32:31.980
 the whole.

00:32:34.019 --> 00:32:34.619
 It's not

00:32:34.619 --> 00:32:34.939
 the way

00:32:34.939 --> 00:32:35.279
 it's meant

00:32:35.279 --> 00:32:35.599
 to be.

00:32:39.299 --> 00:32:39.859
 Do you

00:32:39.859 --> 00:32:40.399
 struggle with

00:32:40.399 --> 00:32:40.939
 envy when

00:32:40.939 --> 00:32:41.259
 you see

00:32:41.259 --> 00:32:41.879
 another brother

00:32:41.879 --> 00:32:42.399
 or sister

00:32:42.399 --> 00:32:42.879
 in the church

00:32:42.879 --> 00:32:43.679
 enjoying the

00:32:43.679 --> 00:32:44.200
 favor of

00:32:44.200 --> 00:32:44.939
 other members

00:32:44.939 --> 00:32:45.419
 and or

00:32:45.419 --> 00:32:46.159
 the leaders

00:32:46.159 --> 00:32:46.480
 of the

00:32:46.480 --> 00:32:46.779
 church?

00:32:49.059 --> 00:32:49.619
 Do you

00:32:49.619 --> 00:32:50.240
 feel tempted

00:32:50.240 --> 00:32:50.919
 to do

00:32:50.919 --> 00:32:51.740
 good deeds,

00:32:51.919 --> 00:32:52.539
 to serve

00:32:52.539 --> 00:32:53.179
 diligently,

00:32:53.359 --> 00:32:54.179
 to speak

00:32:54.179 --> 00:32:54.980
 knowledgeably,

00:32:55.039 --> 00:32:55.740
 or to give

00:32:55.740 --> 00:32:56.619
 generously,

00:32:56.879 --> 00:32:57.740
 not primarily

00:32:57.740 --> 00:32:58.339
 out of your

00:32:58.339 --> 00:32:58.779
 love for

00:32:58.779 --> 00:32:59.299
 God and

00:32:59.299 --> 00:32:59.579
 for his

00:32:59.579 --> 00:33:00.000
 people,

00:33:00.279 --> 00:33:00.819
 but out

00:33:00.819 --> 00:33:01.019
 of your

00:33:01.019 --> 00:33:01.720
 desire for

00:33:01.720 --> 00:33:02.299
 recognition?

00:33:06.259 --> 00:33:06.700
 That's

00:33:06.700 --> 00:33:07.400
 what Ananias

00:33:07.400 --> 00:33:07.880
 was doing.

00:33:09.980 --> 00:33:10.640
 And God

00:33:10.640 --> 00:33:10.960
 would not

00:33:10.960 --> 00:33:11.480
 stand for

00:33:11.480 --> 00:33:11.660
 it.

00:33:13.640 --> 00:33:14.400
 It says in

00:33:14.400 --> 00:33:15.059
 verses 5 to

00:33:15.059 --> 00:33:15.339
 6,

00:33:15.380 --> 00:33:16.000
 when Ananias

00:33:16.000 --> 00:33:16.500
 heard these

00:33:16.500 --> 00:33:16.819
 words,

00:33:16.880 --> 00:33:17.279
 he fell

00:33:17.279 --> 00:33:18.220
 down and

00:33:18.220 --> 00:33:18.799
 breathed his

00:33:18.799 --> 00:33:19.180
 last.

00:33:19.819 --> 00:33:20.279
 And great

00:33:20.279 --> 00:33:20.980
 fear came

00:33:20.980 --> 00:33:21.400
 upon all

00:33:21.400 --> 00:33:21.880
 who heard

00:33:21.880 --> 00:33:22.180
 of it.

00:33:22.779 --> 00:33:23.200
 The young

00:33:23.200 --> 00:33:23.920
 man rose

00:33:23.920 --> 00:33:24.539
 and wrapped

00:33:24.539 --> 00:33:25.039
 him up and

00:33:25.039 --> 00:33:25.539
 carried him

00:33:25.539 --> 00:33:26.099
 out and

00:33:26.099 --> 00:33:26.700
 buried him.

00:33:27.740 --> 00:33:28.359
 Peter neither

00:33:28.359 --> 00:33:29.220
 condemns nor

00:33:29.220 --> 00:33:30.500
 curses Ananias,

00:33:30.579 --> 00:33:31.099
 yet God

00:33:31.099 --> 00:33:32.019
 himself brings

00:33:32.019 --> 00:33:32.640
 down this

00:33:32.640 --> 00:33:33.160
 spontaneous

00:33:33.160 --> 00:33:33.640
 judgment,

00:33:34.660 --> 00:33:35.319
 and Ananias

00:33:35.319 --> 00:33:35.920
 falls down

00:33:35.920 --> 00:33:36.440
 and breathes

00:33:36.440 --> 00:33:37.079
 his last.

00:33:38.160 --> 00:33:38.720
 Maybe he

00:33:38.720 --> 00:33:39.240
 died of a

00:33:39.240 --> 00:33:39.660
 heart attack

00:33:39.660 --> 00:33:40.240
 at the shock

00:33:40.240 --> 00:33:40.759
 and shame

00:33:40.759 --> 00:33:41.120
 of being

00:33:41.120 --> 00:33:41.700
 exposed in

00:33:41.700 --> 00:33:42.220
 public like

00:33:42.220 --> 00:33:42.480
 that.

00:33:42.920 --> 00:33:43.480
 We can't

00:33:43.480 --> 00:33:43.839
 know for

00:33:43.839 --> 00:33:44.099
 sure,

00:33:44.460 --> 00:33:45.039
 but what we

00:33:45.039 --> 00:33:45.680
 do know is

00:33:45.680 --> 00:33:46.039
 that this

00:33:46.039 --> 00:33:46.380
 was an

00:33:46.380 --> 00:33:46.779
 act of

00:33:46.779 --> 00:33:47.059
 divine

00:33:47.059 --> 00:33:47.400
 judgment.

00:33:49.779 --> 00:33:50.579
 The result

00:33:50.579 --> 00:33:50.900
 of that

00:33:50.900 --> 00:33:51.539
 judgment was

00:33:51.539 --> 00:33:52.539
 great fear

00:33:52.539 --> 00:33:53.079
 among all

00:33:53.079 --> 00:33:53.400
 those who

00:33:53.400 --> 00:33:53.799
 heard it.

00:33:54.279 --> 00:33:55.079
 Great power

00:33:55.079 --> 00:33:55.720
 and great

00:33:55.720 --> 00:33:56.339
 grace were

00:33:56.339 --> 00:33:56.740
 upon the

00:33:56.740 --> 00:33:57.079
 church in

00:33:57.079 --> 00:33:57.700
 verse 33,

00:33:57.740 --> 00:33:58.460
 and this

00:33:58.460 --> 00:33:59.059
 inspires

00:33:59.059 --> 00:33:59.980
 great fear

00:33:59.980 --> 00:34:00.839
 among all

00:34:00.839 --> 00:34:01.120
 those who

00:34:01.120 --> 00:34:01.539
 hear of

00:34:01.539 --> 00:34:01.900
 the mighty

00:34:01.900 --> 00:34:02.299
 acts of

00:34:02.299 --> 00:34:02.579
 God.

00:34:04.579 --> 00:34:05.480
 Verse 7

00:34:05.480 --> 00:34:05.799
 says,

00:34:05.880 --> 00:34:06.240
 After an

00:34:06.240 --> 00:34:06.680
 interval of

00:34:06.680 --> 00:34:07.339
 about three

00:34:07.339 --> 00:34:07.759
 hours,

00:34:07.920 --> 00:34:08.219
 Ananias'

00:34:08.320 --> 00:34:08.920
 wife came

00:34:08.920 --> 00:34:09.179
 in,

00:34:09.739 --> 00:34:10.440
 not knowing

00:34:10.440 --> 00:34:11.260
 what had

00:34:11.260 --> 00:34:11.699
 happened.

00:34:12.579 --> 00:34:13.099
 This is

00:34:13.099 --> 00:34:13.500
 ironic.

00:34:14.900 --> 00:34:15.400
 Early in

00:34:15.400 --> 00:34:16.079
 verse 2,

00:34:16.719 --> 00:34:17.239
 a slightly

00:34:17.239 --> 00:34:18.000
 different form

00:34:18.000 --> 00:34:18.579
 of the same

00:34:18.579 --> 00:34:19.179
 word to

00:34:19.179 --> 00:34:20.320
 know was

00:34:20.320 --> 00:34:20.679
 used to

00:34:20.679 --> 00:34:21.059
 tell us

00:34:21.059 --> 00:34:21.940
 that Ananias,

00:34:22.280 --> 00:34:22.820
 with his

00:34:22.820 --> 00:34:23.539
 wife's

00:34:23.539 --> 00:34:24.340
 knowledge,

00:34:24.699 --> 00:34:25.360
 kept back for

00:34:25.360 --> 00:34:25.860
 himself some of

00:34:25.860 --> 00:34:26.320
 the proceeds

00:34:26.320 --> 00:34:26.700
 and brought

00:34:26.700 --> 00:34:27.240
 only a part

00:34:27.240 --> 00:34:27.620
 of it and

00:34:27.620 --> 00:34:28.039
 laid it at

00:34:28.039 --> 00:34:28.400
 the apostles'

00:34:28.579 --> 00:34:28.720
 feet.

00:34:29.800 --> 00:34:30.539
 At that

00:34:30.539 --> 00:34:30.920
 time,

00:34:31.240 --> 00:34:31.940
 it was only

00:34:31.940 --> 00:34:32.820
 Sapphira who

00:34:32.820 --> 00:34:33.539
 was in the

00:34:33.539 --> 00:34:34.500
 know, so

00:34:34.500 --> 00:34:34.880
 to speak.

00:34:35.840 --> 00:34:36.539
 Only she

00:34:36.539 --> 00:34:37.579
 was aware of

00:34:37.579 --> 00:34:38.300
 her husband's

00:34:38.300 --> 00:34:39.079
 ploy, or so

00:34:39.079 --> 00:34:39.660
 she thought.

00:34:40.579 --> 00:34:41.220
 But now,

00:34:41.320 --> 00:34:42.160
 Sapphira is the

00:34:42.160 --> 00:34:43.519
 only person who

00:34:43.519 --> 00:34:44.380
 is not in the

00:34:44.380 --> 00:34:44.620
 know.

00:34:45.660 --> 00:34:46.539
 Peter knows,

00:34:46.840 --> 00:34:47.260
 the young

00:34:47.260 --> 00:34:47.640
 man who

00:34:47.640 --> 00:34:48.039
 carried out

00:34:48.039 --> 00:34:48.519
 Ananias'

00:34:48.680 --> 00:34:49.480
 corpse knows,

00:34:49.480 --> 00:34:51.019
 and of

00:34:51.019 --> 00:34:51.619
 course God

00:34:51.619 --> 00:34:52.940
 knows, but

00:34:52.940 --> 00:34:53.980
 Sapphira herself

00:34:53.980 --> 00:34:54.719
 does not

00:34:54.719 --> 00:34:55.360
 know what

00:34:55.360 --> 00:34:55.860
 has happened.

00:34:57.119 --> 00:34:58.019
 May this be a

00:34:58.019 --> 00:34:58.539
 warning to

00:34:58.539 --> 00:34:59.199
 those of us

00:34:59.199 --> 00:34:59.840
 who think

00:34:59.840 --> 00:35:00.340
 that we can

00:35:00.340 --> 00:35:01.019
 hide things

00:35:01.019 --> 00:35:01.719
 from God

00:35:01.719 --> 00:35:02.699
 and get

00:35:02.699 --> 00:35:03.300
 away with

00:35:03.300 --> 00:35:03.639
 sin.

00:35:05.400 --> 00:35:06.240
 We might

00:35:06.240 --> 00:35:07.139
 deceive man,

00:35:07.320 --> 00:35:08.039
 but we can

00:35:08.039 --> 00:35:08.840
 never deceive

00:35:08.840 --> 00:35:09.460
 the all-knowing

00:35:09.460 --> 00:35:09.740
 God.

00:35:12.500 --> 00:35:13.420
 If you think

00:35:13.420 --> 00:35:13.760
 you know

00:35:13.760 --> 00:35:14.300
 something that

00:35:14.300 --> 00:35:14.820
 God doesn't

00:35:14.820 --> 00:35:15.300
 know in

00:35:15.300 --> 00:35:15.920
 truth, you're

00:35:15.920 --> 00:35:17.039
 the one who

00:35:17.039 --> 00:35:17.699
 doesn't know

00:35:17.699 --> 00:35:18.159
 what God

00:35:18.159 --> 00:35:18.519
 knows.

00:35:19.480 --> 00:35:21.980
 Peter asks

00:35:21.980 --> 00:35:22.519
 Sapphira in

00:35:22.519 --> 00:35:22.920
 verse 8,

00:35:23.019 --> 00:35:23.639
 tell me whether

00:35:23.639 --> 00:35:24.240
 you sold the

00:35:24.240 --> 00:35:24.920
 land for so

00:35:24.920 --> 00:35:25.260
 much.

00:35:26.119 --> 00:35:26.900
 It's possible

00:35:26.900 --> 00:35:27.599
 that Peter was

00:35:27.599 --> 00:35:28.099
 at this point

00:35:28.099 --> 00:35:28.840
 unaware that

00:35:28.840 --> 00:35:29.619
 Sapphira was

00:35:29.619 --> 00:35:30.480
 Ananias'

00:35:30.599 --> 00:35:30.980
 partner in

00:35:30.980 --> 00:35:32.159
 crime, in

00:35:32.159 --> 00:35:32.800
 which case he's

00:35:32.800 --> 00:35:33.199
 trying to

00:35:33.199 --> 00:35:33.619
 determine

00:35:33.619 --> 00:35:34.240
 Sapphira's

00:35:34.240 --> 00:35:35.079
 knowledge and

00:35:35.079 --> 00:35:35.579
 role in the

00:35:35.579 --> 00:35:35.800
 matter.

00:35:36.440 --> 00:35:37.119
 If Peter

00:35:37.119 --> 00:35:37.780
 already knew

00:35:37.780 --> 00:35:38.599
 prophetically that

00:35:38.599 --> 00:35:39.280
 Sapphira was

00:35:39.280 --> 00:35:39.820
 part of the

00:35:39.820 --> 00:35:40.460
 ploy, then he

00:35:40.460 --> 00:35:41.240
 is here offering

00:35:41.240 --> 00:35:42.159
 her a second

00:35:42.159 --> 00:35:43.119
 chance to

00:35:43.119 --> 00:35:44.000
 repent and

00:35:44.000 --> 00:35:44.420
 tell the

00:35:44.420 --> 00:35:44.820
 truth.

00:35:45.320 --> 00:35:46.240
 Is the money

00:35:46.240 --> 00:35:46.599
 that your

00:35:46.599 --> 00:35:47.260
 husband dropped

00:35:47.260 --> 00:35:47.900
 off earlier

00:35:47.900 --> 00:35:48.679
 today really

00:35:48.679 --> 00:35:49.159
 the full

00:35:49.159 --> 00:35:49.639
 amount that

00:35:49.639 --> 00:35:50.119
 you received

00:35:50.119 --> 00:35:50.460
 for the

00:35:50.460 --> 00:35:50.819
 sale of

00:35:50.819 --> 00:35:51.279
 your land?

00:35:52.500 --> 00:35:53.239
 And Sapphira

00:35:53.239 --> 00:35:53.839
 responds,

00:35:54.059 --> 00:35:54.759
 yes, for

00:35:54.759 --> 00:35:55.299
 so much.

00:35:57.579 --> 00:35:58.219
 And Peter

00:35:58.219 --> 00:35:59.019
 says, how

00:35:59.019 --> 00:36:00.099
 is it that

00:36:00.099 --> 00:36:00.399
 you have

00:36:00.399 --> 00:36:01.399
 agreed together

00:36:01.399 --> 00:36:02.279
 to test the

00:36:02.279 --> 00:36:02.639
 spirit of

00:36:02.639 --> 00:36:02.980
 the Lord?

00:36:04.279 --> 00:36:04.899
 Behold, the

00:36:04.899 --> 00:36:05.500
 feet of those

00:36:05.500 --> 00:36:05.940
 who have buried

00:36:05.940 --> 00:36:06.599
 your husband are

00:36:06.599 --> 00:36:07.239
 at the door and

00:36:07.239 --> 00:36:07.819
 they will carry

00:36:07.819 --> 00:36:08.359
 you out.

00:36:08.920 --> 00:36:09.779
 Immediately she

00:36:09.779 --> 00:36:10.399
 fell down at

00:36:10.399 --> 00:36:10.859
 his feet and

00:36:10.859 --> 00:36:11.259
 breathed her

00:36:11.259 --> 00:36:11.679
 last.

00:36:12.179 --> 00:36:12.500
 When the

00:36:12.500 --> 00:36:12.899
 young men

00:36:12.899 --> 00:36:13.500
 came in,

00:36:13.679 --> 00:36:14.139
 they found

00:36:14.139 --> 00:36:14.779
 her dead and

00:36:14.779 --> 00:36:15.219
 they carried

00:36:15.219 --> 00:36:15.859
 her out and

00:36:15.859 --> 00:36:16.599
 buried her beside

00:36:16.599 --> 00:36:17.079
 her husband.

00:36:17.079 --> 00:36:20.279
 And once

00:36:20.279 --> 00:36:20.719
 again, the

00:36:20.719 --> 00:36:21.299
 result is

00:36:21.299 --> 00:36:22.139
 great fear

00:36:22.139 --> 00:36:23.460
 that came upon

00:36:23.460 --> 00:36:23.940
 the whole

00:36:23.940 --> 00:36:24.360
 church and

00:36:24.360 --> 00:36:24.860
 upon all

00:36:24.860 --> 00:36:25.199
 those who

00:36:25.199 --> 00:36:25.579
 heard of

00:36:25.579 --> 00:36:26.079
 these things.

00:36:27.420 --> 00:36:27.739
 Why does

00:36:27.739 --> 00:36:28.480
 God act with

00:36:28.480 --> 00:36:29.619
 such severe

00:36:29.619 --> 00:36:30.519
 immediate

00:36:30.519 --> 00:36:31.179
 judgment of

00:36:31.179 --> 00:36:31.920
 Ananias and

00:36:31.920 --> 00:36:32.279
 Sapphira?

00:36:34.179 --> 00:36:34.960
 Verse 3

00:36:34.960 --> 00:36:35.480
 says that

00:36:35.480 --> 00:36:36.619
 Ananias lied

00:36:36.619 --> 00:36:37.079
 to the Holy

00:36:37.079 --> 00:36:37.420
 Spirit.

00:36:37.900 --> 00:36:38.440
 Verse 4

00:36:38.440 --> 00:36:38.940
 says that

00:36:38.940 --> 00:36:39.579
 he lied

00:36:39.579 --> 00:36:40.099
 not to

00:36:40.099 --> 00:36:40.460
 man but

00:36:40.460 --> 00:36:40.900
 to God.

00:36:41.239 --> 00:36:41.519
 Similarly,

00:36:41.639 --> 00:36:42.099
 verse 9

00:36:42.099 --> 00:36:42.480
 says that

00:36:42.480 --> 00:36:43.019
 Ananias and

00:36:43.019 --> 00:36:43.799
 Sapphira agreed

00:36:43.799 --> 00:36:44.719
 to test the

00:36:44.719 --> 00:36:45.179
 spirit of the

00:36:45.179 --> 00:36:45.419
 Lord.

00:36:45.879 --> 00:36:46.519
 That's the

00:36:46.519 --> 00:36:47.199
 crux of

00:36:47.199 --> 00:36:47.579
 the matter.

00:36:48.799 --> 00:36:49.480
 Lying to

00:36:49.480 --> 00:36:50.539
 God, or to

00:36:50.539 --> 00:36:50.940
 put it another

00:36:50.940 --> 00:36:51.819
 way, testing

00:36:51.819 --> 00:36:52.659
 God is a

00:36:52.659 --> 00:36:53.559
 serious offense.

00:36:56.159 --> 00:36:57.339
 First, Ananias and

00:36:57.339 --> 00:36:57.679
 Sapphira were

00:36:57.679 --> 00:36:58.639
 lying to God.

00:36:58.699 --> 00:36:59.339
 They lied to

00:36:59.339 --> 00:36:59.859
 Peter and the

00:36:59.859 --> 00:37:00.899
 apostles, but

00:37:00.899 --> 00:37:01.719
 Peter says that

00:37:01.719 --> 00:37:02.319
 in doing so,

00:37:02.379 --> 00:37:02.759
 they have not

00:37:02.759 --> 00:37:03.719
 lied to man but

00:37:03.719 --> 00:37:04.339
 to God.

00:37:05.199 --> 00:37:05.779
 Peter's not

00:37:05.779 --> 00:37:06.419
 claiming to be

00:37:06.419 --> 00:37:06.739
 God.

00:37:07.139 --> 00:37:07.559
 He's rather

00:37:07.559 --> 00:37:08.379
 speaking like

00:37:08.379 --> 00:37:09.019
 Jesus does

00:37:09.019 --> 00:37:10.239
 later in Acts

00:37:10.239 --> 00:37:10.759
 chapter 9,

00:37:10.839 --> 00:37:11.339
 verse 4.

00:37:11.819 --> 00:37:12.659
 The risen Jesus

00:37:12.659 --> 00:37:13.599
 says to Saul who

00:37:13.599 --> 00:37:14.519
 was persecuting the

00:37:14.519 --> 00:37:15.539
 church, Saul, Saul,

00:37:15.659 --> 00:37:16.239
 why are you

00:37:16.239 --> 00:37:17.579
 persecuting me?

00:37:18.659 --> 00:37:19.280
 Because the

00:37:19.280 --> 00:37:19.880
 church is the

00:37:19.880 --> 00:37:21.000
 body of Christ and

00:37:21.000 --> 00:37:21.659
 Christ is the

00:37:21.659 --> 00:37:22.179
 head of the

00:37:22.179 --> 00:37:22.579
 church.

00:37:23.119 --> 00:37:23.920
 The church is the

00:37:23.920 --> 00:37:24.599
 temple of the

00:37:24.599 --> 00:37:25.519
 very spirit of

00:37:25.519 --> 00:37:25.840
 God.

00:37:26.000 --> 00:37:26.980
 To persecute the

00:37:26.980 --> 00:37:27.539
 church, then it's

00:37:27.539 --> 00:37:28.420
 to persecute Christ

00:37:28.420 --> 00:37:28.900
 himself.

00:37:29.559 --> 00:37:30.320
 And in trying to

00:37:30.320 --> 00:37:31.320
 deceive the church

00:37:31.320 --> 00:37:31.619
 and its

00:37:31.619 --> 00:37:32.440
 representatives,

00:37:33.800 --> 00:37:34.739
 Ananias sought to

00:37:34.739 --> 00:37:35.619
 deceive God

00:37:35.619 --> 00:37:36.239
 himself.

00:37:39.179 --> 00:37:40.340
 When children are

00:37:40.340 --> 00:37:41.559
 little, it's

00:37:41.559 --> 00:37:42.539
 patently obvious

00:37:42.539 --> 00:37:42.960
 that they are

00:37:42.960 --> 00:37:43.280
 lying.

00:37:44.519 --> 00:37:45.159
 That's the case

00:37:45.159 --> 00:37:45.480
 with some

00:37:45.480 --> 00:37:46.119
 adults too,

00:37:46.259 --> 00:37:47.039
 but especially

00:37:47.039 --> 00:37:47.619
 with very young

00:37:47.619 --> 00:37:47.940
 children.

00:37:49.619 --> 00:37:50.519
 So it's almost

00:37:50.519 --> 00:37:51.159
 cute when a

00:37:51.159 --> 00:37:52.039
 parent catches a

00:37:52.039 --> 00:37:52.579
 child doing

00:37:52.579 --> 00:37:52.860
 that.

00:37:53.739 --> 00:37:54.860
 But the case of

00:37:54.860 --> 00:37:55.519
 Ananias and

00:37:55.519 --> 00:37:56.440
 Sophia is far

00:37:56.440 --> 00:37:57.059
 worse than

00:37:57.059 --> 00:37:57.340
 that.

00:37:58.599 --> 00:37:59.880
 It's absurd

00:37:59.880 --> 00:38:01.480
 to think that

00:38:01.480 --> 00:38:02.519
 one can deceive

00:38:02.519 --> 00:38:03.380
 the omniscient

00:38:03.380 --> 00:38:03.739
 God.

00:38:06.539 --> 00:38:07.400
 In fact, to

00:38:07.400 --> 00:38:08.199
 lie to him is

00:38:08.199 --> 00:38:08.739
 to make a

00:38:08.739 --> 00:38:09.539
 mockery of him.

00:38:10.559 --> 00:38:11.159
 You don't

00:38:11.159 --> 00:38:12.519
 really see all

00:38:12.519 --> 00:38:13.300
 that I do,

00:38:13.400 --> 00:38:13.739
 do you?

00:38:14.519 --> 00:38:15.360
 You don't

00:38:15.360 --> 00:38:16.259
 really know

00:38:16.259 --> 00:38:16.900
 everything I

00:38:16.900 --> 00:38:17.619
 know, do

00:38:17.619 --> 00:38:17.860
 you?

00:38:19.480 --> 00:38:20.480
 You're not

00:38:20.480 --> 00:38:21.619
 really God,

00:38:21.840 --> 00:38:22.619
 are you?

00:38:27.480 --> 00:38:28.300
 Ananias and

00:38:28.300 --> 00:38:29.159
 Sapphira lied

00:38:29.159 --> 00:38:30.360
 to God, and in

00:38:30.360 --> 00:38:31.000
 doing so, they

00:38:31.000 --> 00:38:31.380
 were also

00:38:31.380 --> 00:38:32.139
 testing God.

00:38:33.179 --> 00:38:34.599
 When the

00:38:34.599 --> 00:38:35.340
 Israelites tested

00:38:35.340 --> 00:38:36.019
 God in the

00:38:36.019 --> 00:38:37.119
 wilderness, God

00:38:37.119 --> 00:38:37.759
 called it

00:38:37.759 --> 00:38:39.119
 rebellion in

00:38:39.119 --> 00:38:39.900
 Psalm 78.

00:38:39.900 --> 00:38:41.720
 to test God

00:38:41.720 --> 00:38:42.119
 in this

00:38:42.119 --> 00:38:43.000
 instance is to

00:38:43.000 --> 00:38:43.940
 know that

00:38:43.940 --> 00:38:44.559
 something is

00:38:44.559 --> 00:38:45.360
 wrong, but

00:38:45.360 --> 00:38:45.860
 to do it

00:38:45.860 --> 00:38:46.639
 anyway in

00:38:46.639 --> 00:38:47.740
 defiance of

00:38:47.740 --> 00:38:48.380
 God, to

00:38:48.380 --> 00:38:49.700
 test him, to

00:38:49.700 --> 00:38:50.280
 see whether

00:38:50.280 --> 00:38:51.460
 God is really

00:38:51.460 --> 00:38:52.240
 serious about

00:38:52.240 --> 00:38:52.880
 his prohibition

00:38:52.880 --> 00:38:53.720
 or not, to

00:38:53.720 --> 00:38:54.599
 test it to see

00:38:54.599 --> 00:38:55.180
 whether God

00:38:55.180 --> 00:38:55.720
 will really

00:38:55.720 --> 00:38:56.860
 react or

00:38:56.860 --> 00:38:57.280
 not.

00:39:00.420 --> 00:39:01.200
 Sorry for all

00:39:01.200 --> 00:39:02.160
 the parenting

00:39:02.160 --> 00:39:02.680
 analogies here,

00:39:02.780 --> 00:39:04.360
 but there comes a

00:39:04.360 --> 00:39:04.960
 moment in

00:39:04.960 --> 00:39:05.740
 parenting when

00:39:05.740 --> 00:39:07.079
 you realize that

00:39:07.079 --> 00:39:07.780
 your toddler is

00:39:07.780 --> 00:39:08.420
 not the innocent

00:39:08.420 --> 00:39:09.119
 angel that you

00:39:09.119 --> 00:39:09.579
 thought he or

00:39:09.579 --> 00:39:10.679
 she was, but a

00:39:10.679 --> 00:39:11.639
 willful, sinful

00:39:11.639 --> 00:39:12.400
 human being like

00:39:12.400 --> 00:39:13.039
 the rest of us.

00:39:15.019 --> 00:39:15.880
 We have a

00:39:15.880 --> 00:39:16.460
 plant in our

00:39:16.460 --> 00:39:17.359
 house whose

00:39:17.359 --> 00:39:18.279
 leaf is poisonous

00:39:18.279 --> 00:39:19.139
 to humans if

00:39:19.139 --> 00:39:19.960
 you consume it.

00:39:20.639 --> 00:39:21.359
 It's fittingly

00:39:21.359 --> 00:39:22.039
 called a snake

00:39:22.039 --> 00:39:22.400
 plant.

00:39:23.960 --> 00:39:24.900
 And of course,

00:39:25.079 --> 00:39:26.619
 our toddler likes

00:39:26.619 --> 00:39:27.579
 to crawl over to

00:39:27.579 --> 00:39:29.219
 this plant, rip

00:39:29.219 --> 00:39:29.900
 off the leaves,

00:39:29.980 --> 00:39:30.639
 and try to eat

00:39:30.639 --> 00:39:30.859
 it.

00:39:32.679 --> 00:39:33.539
 One time, she

00:39:33.539 --> 00:39:34.099
 was trying to do

00:39:34.099 --> 00:39:35.019
 exactly this as I

00:39:35.019 --> 00:39:35.799
 was watching her,

00:39:36.699 --> 00:39:37.460
 and I looked her

00:39:37.460 --> 00:39:38.079
 in the eyes and

00:39:38.079 --> 00:39:38.519
 told her,

00:39:38.519 --> 00:39:40.679
 no, you

00:39:40.679 --> 00:39:41.599
 can't eat that,

00:39:41.800 --> 00:39:42.320
 no.

00:39:43.639 --> 00:39:44.239
 And then she

00:39:44.239 --> 00:39:45.199
 looked at me very

00:39:45.199 --> 00:39:46.179
 intently with a

00:39:46.179 --> 00:39:46.980
 serious look on

00:39:46.980 --> 00:39:48.239
 her face, and I

00:39:48.239 --> 00:39:49.460
 knew she understood

00:39:49.460 --> 00:39:50.739
 exactly what I was

00:39:50.739 --> 00:39:51.179
 telling her.

00:39:53.800 --> 00:39:54.820
 And then after a

00:39:54.820 --> 00:39:55.539
 few seconds of

00:39:55.539 --> 00:39:56.340
 staring me down

00:39:56.340 --> 00:39:57.699
 and as if daring

00:39:57.699 --> 00:39:58.619
 me to do

00:39:58.619 --> 00:39:59.500
 something about it,

00:39:59.539 --> 00:40:00.420
 she began to

00:40:00.420 --> 00:40:01.440
 test me by

00:40:01.440 --> 00:40:02.199
 proceeding to

00:40:02.199 --> 00:40:02.840
 rip off the

00:40:02.840 --> 00:40:03.099
 leaf.

00:40:03.099 --> 00:40:06.059
 I got even

00:40:06.059 --> 00:40:06.659
 closer to her

00:40:06.659 --> 00:40:07.059
 and told her

00:40:07.059 --> 00:40:08.000
 again, no.

00:40:09.079 --> 00:40:09.920
 And this time,

00:40:09.980 --> 00:40:10.519
 she knew she

00:40:10.519 --> 00:40:11.139
 couldn't get away

00:40:11.139 --> 00:40:11.500
 with it.

00:40:12.019 --> 00:40:12.839
 So she looked at

00:40:12.839 --> 00:40:13.259
 me with the

00:40:13.259 --> 00:40:13.759
 saddest little

00:40:13.759 --> 00:40:14.279
 face and started

00:40:14.279 --> 00:40:14.659
 crying.

00:40:17.860 --> 00:40:18.420
 Thankfully, she

00:40:18.420 --> 00:40:19.119
 doesn't do that

00:40:19.119 --> 00:40:19.420
 anymore.

00:40:19.839 --> 00:40:20.599
 She hasn't tried

00:40:20.599 --> 00:40:21.059
 it since.

00:40:21.940 --> 00:40:22.779
 Doing the wrong

00:40:22.779 --> 00:40:23.759
 thing unknowingly

00:40:23.759 --> 00:40:24.559
 is one thing,

00:40:25.319 --> 00:40:26.019
 but to do it

00:40:26.019 --> 00:40:26.880
 knowingly,

00:40:27.579 --> 00:40:28.259
 willfully,

00:40:28.260 --> 00:40:32.040
 that's something

00:40:32.040 --> 00:40:32.420
 else.

00:40:33.340 --> 00:40:34.460
 That's hubris,

00:40:35.580 --> 00:40:36.240
 defiance,

00:40:37.220 --> 00:40:37.680
 rebellion,

00:40:38.520 --> 00:40:39.620
 and it must be

00:40:39.620 --> 00:40:40.060
 addressed.

00:40:42.240 --> 00:40:42.860
 And Ananias and

00:40:42.860 --> 00:40:44.000
 Sapphira agreed

00:40:44.000 --> 00:40:45.240
 together to test

00:40:45.240 --> 00:40:45.940
 the spirit of the

00:40:45.940 --> 00:40:46.160
 Lord.

00:40:46.620 --> 00:40:47.180
 And that's a

00:40:47.180 --> 00:40:47.980
 serious offense

00:40:47.980 --> 00:40:49.360
 because God is

00:40:49.360 --> 00:40:50.560
 not someone to be

00:40:50.560 --> 00:40:51.420
 trifled with.

00:40:52.400 --> 00:40:53.620
 He's not someone

00:40:53.620 --> 00:40:54.280
 you can treat

00:40:54.280 --> 00:40:55.040
 lightly.

00:40:58.260 --> 00:41:00.880
 I love this

00:41:00.880 --> 00:41:02.840
 illustration from

00:41:02.840 --> 00:41:03.560
 The Chronicles of

00:41:03.560 --> 00:41:03.960
 Narnia,

00:41:04.520 --> 00:41:05.200
 The Lion, the Witch,

00:41:05.260 --> 00:41:05.920
 and the Wardrobe.

00:41:07.140 --> 00:41:07.860
 When Mr. Beaver

00:41:07.860 --> 00:41:08.840
 is talking to

00:41:08.840 --> 00:41:10.420
 Susan, Mr. Beaver

00:41:10.420 --> 00:41:11.500
 says, Aslan is a

00:41:11.500 --> 00:41:13.420
 lion, the lion,

00:41:13.620 --> 00:41:14.440
 the great lion.

00:41:15.720 --> 00:41:17.080
 Oh, said Susan,

00:41:17.540 --> 00:41:18.680
 I thought he was

00:41:18.680 --> 00:41:19.140
 a man.

00:41:20.120 --> 00:41:21.680
 Is he quite safe?

00:41:23.240 --> 00:41:24.360
 I shall feel rather

00:41:24.360 --> 00:41:25.140
 nervous about meeting

00:41:25.140 --> 00:41:25.660
 a lion.

00:41:27.720 --> 00:41:28.240
 Safe?

00:41:28.780 --> 00:41:29.600
 said Mr. Beaver.

00:41:30.320 --> 00:41:31.520
 Who said anything

00:41:31.520 --> 00:41:32.380
 about safe?

00:41:33.380 --> 00:41:34.420
 Of course he isn't

00:41:34.420 --> 00:41:34.880
 safe.

00:41:35.820 --> 00:41:36.920
 But he's good.

00:41:38.520 --> 00:41:39.560
 He's the king,

00:41:39.680 --> 00:41:40.260
 I tell you.

00:41:43.420 --> 00:41:44.420
 God's the king.

00:41:45.560 --> 00:41:46.680
 He is holy.

00:41:48.560 --> 00:41:50.160
 He sits enthroned

00:41:50.160 --> 00:41:51.420
 far above the

00:41:51.420 --> 00:41:51.720
 heavens.

00:41:56.500 --> 00:41:57.360
 And yet we

00:41:57.360 --> 00:41:58.160
 sometimes think

00:41:58.160 --> 00:41:59.120
 that God is

00:41:59.120 --> 00:41:59.980
 someone who

00:41:59.980 --> 00:42:00.539
 will put up

00:42:00.539 --> 00:42:01.780
 with endless

00:42:01.780 --> 00:42:02.740
 indignities

00:42:02.740 --> 00:42:03.880
 at our own

00:42:03.880 --> 00:42:04.840
 sinful hands

00:42:04.840 --> 00:42:07.700
 and never

00:42:07.700 --> 00:42:08.260
 respond.

00:42:11.980 --> 00:42:12.980
 God is the king.

00:42:15.800 --> 00:42:16.800
 If this instance

00:42:16.800 --> 00:42:17.559
 of divine judgment

00:42:17.559 --> 00:42:18.620
 makes you uneasy,

00:42:18.740 --> 00:42:19.420
 you're not alone.

00:42:19.980 --> 00:42:20.900
 That's in fact

00:42:20.900 --> 00:42:21.620
 the appropriate

00:42:21.620 --> 00:42:22.280
 response.

00:42:22.740 --> 00:42:23.500
 That's why

00:42:23.500 --> 00:42:24.500
 twice we are told

00:42:24.500 --> 00:42:25.760
 that great fear

00:42:25.760 --> 00:42:26.540
 came upon all

00:42:26.540 --> 00:42:26.860
 those who

00:42:26.860 --> 00:42:27.340
 heard this

00:42:27.340 --> 00:42:27.800
 incident.

00:42:29.680 --> 00:42:30.120
 Later,

00:42:30.240 --> 00:42:30.880
 chapter 5,

00:42:31.020 --> 00:42:31.580
 verse 13,

00:42:31.660 --> 00:42:31.860
 it says,

00:42:31.980 --> 00:42:32.420
 none of the

00:42:32.420 --> 00:42:33.100
 rest there

00:42:33.100 --> 00:42:33.880
 joined them,

00:42:33.960 --> 00:42:34.360
 the church,

00:42:34.560 --> 00:42:35.200
 but the people

00:42:35.200 --> 00:42:35.860
 held them in

00:42:35.860 --> 00:42:36.540
 high esteem.

00:42:37.020 --> 00:42:37.440
 Unbelievers

00:42:37.440 --> 00:42:38.080
 who observed

00:42:38.080 --> 00:42:38.580
 the kinds of

00:42:38.580 --> 00:42:38.920
 things that

00:42:38.920 --> 00:42:39.380
 were happening

00:42:39.380 --> 00:42:40.000
 in the church

00:42:40.000 --> 00:42:41.080
 realized that

00:42:41.080 --> 00:42:41.940
 God is holy,

00:42:42.100 --> 00:42:42.940
 that his church

00:42:42.940 --> 00:42:43.860
 is sacred,

00:42:43.860 --> 00:42:44.380
 so they were

00:42:44.380 --> 00:42:45.340
 careful around

00:42:45.340 --> 00:42:45.760
 the gathering

00:42:45.760 --> 00:42:46.260
 of believers.

00:42:46.800 --> 00:42:47.620
 They did not

00:42:47.620 --> 00:42:48.140
 treat them

00:42:48.140 --> 00:42:48.880
 irreverently

00:42:48.880 --> 00:42:49.640
 or flippantly.

00:42:49.740 --> 00:42:50.260
 They treated

00:42:50.260 --> 00:42:50.760
 the church

00:42:50.760 --> 00:42:51.940
 with respect.

00:42:52.600 --> 00:42:53.080
 They didn't

00:42:53.080 --> 00:42:53.840
 saunter over

00:42:53.840 --> 00:42:54.460
 to a church

00:42:54.460 --> 00:42:54.840
 gathering

00:42:54.840 --> 00:42:55.220
 like a

00:42:55.220 --> 00:42:55.640
 cackling

00:42:55.640 --> 00:42:56.420
 spectator

00:42:56.420 --> 00:42:56.680
 at a

00:42:56.680 --> 00:42:57.059
 carnival.

00:42:58.059 --> 00:42:58.680
 They wouldn't

00:42:58.680 --> 00:42:59.519
 dare to do

00:42:59.519 --> 00:42:59.880
 that.

00:43:03.400 --> 00:43:04.200
 When we see

00:43:04.200 --> 00:43:04.820
 a terrifying

00:43:04.820 --> 00:43:05.620
 act of judgment

00:43:05.620 --> 00:43:06.100
 like the one

00:43:06.100 --> 00:43:06.539
 we see here

00:43:06.539 --> 00:43:07.100
 in this passage,

00:43:07.220 --> 00:43:07.660
 we need to

00:43:07.660 --> 00:43:08.320
 be reminded

00:43:08.320 --> 00:43:09.180
 that God

00:43:09.180 --> 00:43:09.920
 is a holy

00:43:09.920 --> 00:43:10.820
 God who

00:43:10.820 --> 00:43:11.820
 hates sin

00:43:11.820 --> 00:43:12.800
 and judges

00:43:12.800 --> 00:43:13.320
 sinners.

00:43:16.240 --> 00:43:17.019
 Even if you

00:43:17.019 --> 00:43:17.519
 don't receive

00:43:17.519 --> 00:43:18.360
 immediate judgment

00:43:18.360 --> 00:43:19.120
 like Ananias

00:43:19.120 --> 00:43:19.700
 and Sapphira,

00:43:19.880 --> 00:43:20.760
 every sinner

00:43:20.760 --> 00:43:22.240
 will receive

00:43:22.240 --> 00:43:23.300
 ultimate judgment,

00:43:23.300 --> 00:43:24.539
 on the final

00:43:24.539 --> 00:43:25.300
 judgment day

00:43:25.300 --> 00:43:25.980
 when Christ

00:43:25.980 --> 00:43:26.480
 returns.

00:43:28.360 --> 00:43:29.420
 God created

00:43:29.420 --> 00:43:30.220
 all of us

00:43:30.220 --> 00:43:31.120
 for His glory

00:43:31.120 --> 00:43:32.300
 to obey Him

00:43:32.300 --> 00:43:33.039
 and to represent

00:43:33.039 --> 00:43:33.480
 Him,

00:43:33.720 --> 00:43:34.140
 but we have

00:43:34.140 --> 00:43:35.180
 all defied

00:43:35.180 --> 00:43:35.720
 His authority,

00:43:35.880 --> 00:43:36.680
 rebelled against

00:43:36.680 --> 00:43:37.000
 Him,

00:43:37.340 --> 00:43:37.860
 and that's

00:43:37.860 --> 00:43:38.360
 what we call

00:43:38.360 --> 00:43:38.680
 sin.

00:43:40.660 --> 00:43:41.320
 And apart

00:43:41.320 --> 00:43:42.200
 from divine

00:43:42.200 --> 00:43:42.780
 intervention,

00:43:42.980 --> 00:43:43.600
 we are all

00:43:43.600 --> 00:43:44.519
 liable to the

00:43:44.519 --> 00:43:45.340
 same punishment

00:43:45.340 --> 00:43:46.060
 that befell

00:43:46.060 --> 00:43:46.800
 Ananias and

00:43:46.800 --> 00:43:47.200
 Sapphira,

00:43:48.140 --> 00:43:48.580
 death.

00:43:50.340 --> 00:43:50.980
 And physical

00:43:50.980 --> 00:43:51.780
 death is just

00:43:51.780 --> 00:43:52.700
 a symptom of

00:43:52.699 --> 00:43:53.679
 spiritual death,

00:43:55.000 --> 00:43:55.919
 our separation

00:43:55.919 --> 00:43:56.599
 from God.

00:43:57.319 --> 00:43:57.839
 And if we

00:43:57.839 --> 00:43:58.559
 don't repent

00:43:58.559 --> 00:43:59.419
 of our sins

00:43:59.419 --> 00:44:00.000
 and receive

00:44:00.000 --> 00:44:00.799
 forgiveness from

00:44:00.799 --> 00:44:01.460
 God for our

00:44:01.460 --> 00:44:01.659
 sins,

00:44:01.719 --> 00:44:02.239
 we will be

00:44:02.239 --> 00:44:03.539
 punished with

00:44:03.539 --> 00:44:04.119
 the second

00:44:04.119 --> 00:44:04.539
 death,

00:44:05.439 --> 00:44:05.839
 eternal

00:44:05.839 --> 00:44:06.619
 separation from

00:44:06.619 --> 00:44:06.859
 God.

00:44:08.339 --> 00:44:09.159
 But it's

00:44:09.159 --> 00:44:10.139
 precisely because

00:44:10.139 --> 00:44:10.960
 God's judgment

00:44:10.960 --> 00:44:12.099
 is so real

00:44:12.099 --> 00:44:14.000
 that God's

00:44:14.000 --> 00:44:15.019
 mercy is also

00:44:15.019 --> 00:44:15.839
 so real.

00:44:15.840 --> 00:44:16.840
 sin.

00:44:16.840 --> 00:44:19.160
 You don't

00:44:19.160 --> 00:44:19.960
 feel that

00:44:19.960 --> 00:44:21.240
 God's mercy,

00:44:21.340 --> 00:44:21.960
 the power of

00:44:21.960 --> 00:44:22.079
 it,

00:44:22.140 --> 00:44:22.519
 until you

00:44:22.519 --> 00:44:23.280
 have felt

00:44:23.280 --> 00:44:24.280
 viscerally

00:44:24.280 --> 00:44:25.519
 the impending

00:44:25.519 --> 00:44:25.920
 doom,

00:44:26.039 --> 00:44:26.519
 the threat

00:44:26.519 --> 00:44:26.980
 of God's

00:44:26.980 --> 00:44:27.260
 judgment.

00:44:27.260 --> 00:44:27.460
 it.

00:44:29.100 --> 00:44:30.080
 We can't

00:44:30.080 --> 00:44:30.840
 save ourselves

00:44:30.840 --> 00:44:31.800
 from Ananias

00:44:31.800 --> 00:44:32.480
 and Sapphira's

00:44:32.480 --> 00:44:32.960
 fate because

00:44:32.960 --> 00:44:33.540
 that's what we

00:44:33.540 --> 00:44:34.240
 all deserve.

00:44:35.040 --> 00:44:36.100
 But God in

00:44:36.100 --> 00:44:37.060
 mercy sent

00:44:37.060 --> 00:44:37.720
 His only

00:44:37.720 --> 00:44:38.140
 Son,

00:44:38.300 --> 00:44:38.600
 Jesus,

00:44:38.600 --> 00:44:39.500
 to die on

00:44:39.500 --> 00:44:39.980
 the cross

00:44:39.980 --> 00:44:40.960
 for our

00:44:40.960 --> 00:44:41.380
 sins.

00:44:42.420 --> 00:44:43.060
 We should

00:44:43.060 --> 00:44:43.340
 have been

00:44:43.340 --> 00:44:45.000
 exposed in

00:44:45.000 --> 00:44:45.660
 all our

00:44:45.660 --> 00:44:47.060
 nakedness of

00:44:47.060 --> 00:44:47.560
 sin and

00:44:47.560 --> 00:44:48.020
 shame.

00:44:48.500 --> 00:44:49.140
 But instead,

00:44:49.320 --> 00:44:50.180
 Jesus hung

00:44:50.180 --> 00:44:50.620
 naked on

00:44:50.620 --> 00:44:51.120
 the cross,

00:44:52.380 --> 00:44:54.460
 exposed in

00:44:54.460 --> 00:44:54.980
 shame,

00:44:55.960 --> 00:44:56.480
 bearing our

00:44:56.480 --> 00:44:56.719
 sin.

00:44:58.880 --> 00:44:59.760
 We should

00:44:59.760 --> 00:45:00.079
 have been

00:45:00.079 --> 00:45:00.940
 punished for

00:45:00.940 --> 00:45:01.559
 our willful

00:45:01.559 --> 00:45:02.300
 rebellion against

00:45:02.300 --> 00:45:02.699
 God, but

00:45:02.699 --> 00:45:03.099
 instead,

00:45:03.440 --> 00:45:04.059
 Jesus, the

00:45:04.059 --> 00:45:04.679
 perfectly

00:45:04.679 --> 00:45:06.300
 obedient Son,

00:45:06.699 --> 00:45:07.119
 bore the

00:45:07.119 --> 00:45:07.820
 punishment for

00:45:07.820 --> 00:45:08.920
 our treason and

00:45:08.920 --> 00:45:09.780
 endured the

00:45:09.780 --> 00:45:10.679
 just wrath of

00:45:10.679 --> 00:45:11.119
 God, His

00:45:11.119 --> 00:45:11.500
 Father.

00:45:12.860 --> 00:45:13.340
 And having

00:45:13.340 --> 00:45:13.860
 paid the

00:45:13.860 --> 00:45:14.559
 price, Jesus

00:45:14.559 --> 00:45:15.280
 rose in

00:45:15.280 --> 00:45:16.320
 victory from

00:45:16.320 --> 00:45:17.559
 the dead so

00:45:17.559 --> 00:45:18.380
 that all those

00:45:18.380 --> 00:45:18.880
 who put their

00:45:18.880 --> 00:45:19.940
 trust in Him

00:45:19.940 --> 00:45:21.019
 might be

00:45:21.019 --> 00:45:22.280
 forgiven and

00:45:22.280 --> 00:45:23.320
 reconciled to

00:45:23.320 --> 00:45:23.559
 God.

00:45:23.559 --> 00:45:26.699
 so that we

00:45:26.699 --> 00:45:27.340
 might no longer

00:45:27.340 --> 00:45:27.880
 be under

00:45:27.880 --> 00:45:28.799
 God's judgment,

00:45:29.559 --> 00:45:30.039
 but under

00:45:30.039 --> 00:45:31.199
 His mercy.

00:45:33.340 --> 00:45:34.179
 If you're not

00:45:34.179 --> 00:45:34.820
 yet a believer

00:45:34.820 --> 00:45:35.219
 in Jesus

00:45:35.219 --> 00:45:36.000
 Christ, if

00:45:36.000 --> 00:45:36.279
 you're not

00:45:36.279 --> 00:45:36.920
 yet a part

00:45:36.920 --> 00:45:37.159
 of the

00:45:37.159 --> 00:45:38.119
 church, the

00:45:38.119 --> 00:45:38.920
 congregation of

00:45:38.920 --> 00:45:39.519
 God's people,

00:45:40.039 --> 00:45:40.759
 then now is

00:45:40.759 --> 00:45:41.299
 your chance.

00:45:42.059 --> 00:45:42.699
 Because there

00:45:42.699 --> 00:45:43.219
 is no turning

00:45:43.219 --> 00:45:43.880
 back after

00:45:43.880 --> 00:45:44.219
 death.

00:45:45.659 --> 00:45:46.159
 Notice the

00:45:46.159 --> 00:45:46.960
 finality with

00:45:46.960 --> 00:45:47.880
 which Ananias

00:45:47.880 --> 00:45:48.480
 and Sapphira's

00:45:48.480 --> 00:45:48.940
 death is

00:45:48.940 --> 00:45:49.500
 described.

00:45:50.279 --> 00:45:50.719
 Ananias,

00:45:50.840 --> 00:45:51.559
 breathe his

00:45:51.559 --> 00:45:52.000
 last.

00:45:52.000 --> 00:45:53.559
 Sapphira,

00:45:53.739 --> 00:45:54.599
 breathe her

00:45:54.599 --> 00:45:55.480
 last.

00:45:56.199 --> 00:45:56.820
 Once we

00:45:56.820 --> 00:45:57.440
 draw our

00:45:57.440 --> 00:45:58.219
 last breath

00:45:58.219 --> 00:45:59.059
 and expire,

00:45:59.260 --> 00:45:59.679
 there can be

00:45:59.679 --> 00:46:00.300
 no turning

00:46:00.300 --> 00:46:00.860
 back to

00:46:00.860 --> 00:46:01.159
 God.

00:46:05.840 --> 00:46:06.820
 So turn to

00:46:06.820 --> 00:46:07.539
 Jesus today

00:46:07.539 --> 00:46:09.820
 and receive

00:46:09.820 --> 00:46:10.579
 His mercy

00:46:10.579 --> 00:46:11.179
 rather than

00:46:11.179 --> 00:46:11.519
 judgment.

00:46:13.500 --> 00:46:14.420
 For those of

00:46:14.420 --> 00:46:14.800
 us who are

00:46:14.800 --> 00:46:15.440
 already members

00:46:15.440 --> 00:46:15.940
 of the church

00:46:15.940 --> 00:46:16.360
 of God,

00:46:16.519 --> 00:46:17.119
 let's pray

00:46:17.119 --> 00:46:18.239
 continually

00:46:18.239 --> 00:46:20.500
 and seek

00:46:20.500 --> 00:46:21.039
 the filling

00:46:21.039 --> 00:46:21.480
 of the Holy

00:46:21.480 --> 00:46:21.860
 Spirit.

00:46:22.000 --> 00:46:23.579
 who enables

00:46:23.579 --> 00:46:24.280
 us to bear

00:46:24.280 --> 00:46:24.880
 witness to

00:46:24.880 --> 00:46:26.239
 Jesus with

00:46:26.239 --> 00:46:26.760
 one heart

00:46:26.760 --> 00:46:27.139
 and soul.

00:46:31.280 --> 00:46:31.820
 Let's

00:46:31.820 --> 00:46:32.880
 respond to

00:46:32.880 --> 00:46:33.400
 this message

00:46:33.400 --> 00:46:34.199
 by praying.

00:46:34.460 --> 00:46:34.960
 God.

00:46:55.119 --> 00:46:56.960
 Godcue the

00:46:56.960 --> 00:46:57.679
 God,

00:46:57.679 --> 00:46:57.919
 God,

00:46:57.919 --> 00:46:58.399
 God,

00:46:58.399 --> 00:46:59.319
 God,