4-21-2014 Acts 5:1-11
S. 1
But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession, 2 And
kept back part of the price, his wife also being privy to it, and brought a
certain part, and laid it at the apostles' feet. 3 But Peter said, Ananias, why
hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part
of the price of the land? 4 Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after
it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing
in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God. 5 And Ananias
hearing these words fell down, and gave up the ghost: and great fear came on
all them that heard these things. 6 And the young men arose, wound him up, and
carried him out, and buried him. 7 And it was about the space of three hours
after, when his wife, not knowing what was done, came in. 8 And Peter answered
unto her, Tell me whether ye sold the land for so much? And she said, Yea, for
so much. 9 Then Peter said unto her, How is it that ye have agreed together to
tempt the Spirit of the Lord? behold, the feet of them which have buried thy
husband are at the door, and shall carry thee out. 10 Then fell she down
straightway at his feet, and yielded up the ghost: and the young men came in,
and found her dead, and, carrying her forth, buried her by her husband. 11 And
great fear came upon all the church, and upon as many as heard these things.
O. God
deals with hypocrisy and lying in the church. Sin was not overlooked, covered
up, coped with or set aside. There was direct immediate result seen by all. How
do modern religions explain this “punishment”?
Were these two people “unsaved”? Clearly this sin did not hurt anyone
else or even cause hardship. God’s standards are high and his actions are fair.
Modern religion must be wrong in their teachings concerning sin and its
consequences!
A. Sin
must be my enemy and I must avoid sin at all cost. I am not alone in my fight against
sin. God has provided three companions to aid me in recognizing sin and
conquering it, my conviction, his word and the Holy Ghost. Conviction; God
breathed life into me and I became a living soul with knowledge of right and
wrong. His Word; the Bible is filled with examples if sin, those who failed and
God’s blueprint for building a life free of sin and the Holy Ghost; The Spirit
of God to live inside us and “empower” us in the overcoming of sin. God’s design is revealed to mankind in and
through his Son, Jesus. Jesus laid down his “God-ness”, became a man and lived
as a human. Jesus never sinned. Jesus died on the Cross. Jesus rose from the
dead. Jesus is living proof of the love of God for sinning man and “proof” that
sin can be eliminated.
P. Father;
forgive my sin, fill me with the Holy Ghost and direct me in my fight to
destroy sin by revealing your truth about sin. Open my mind to your Word that “religion
made by man” will not lead me into wicked deception and folly. Amen.
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