This Congregation meets at: 5:00 PM on the last Sunday of the MONTH. Sunday Bible Class at 10:00 am. Sunday Worship Service at 11:00 am. Sunday Night Worship service at 6:00 pm. Wednesday Night Bible Class at 7:00 pm. 5:00 PM on the last Sunday of the MONTH. Please be so kind to turn off your cell phone. Let’s be reverent. We are worshipping God.

39th lesson

Romans 15:4 (NKJV) 4 For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope.

1 Corinthians 10:11 11  Now all these things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages have come.

James 5:17... 17 Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain; and it did not rain on the land for three years and six months.

Daniel

Sapphira the accomplice lier.

Acts 4:32 Now the multitude of those who believed were of one heart and one soul; neither did anyone say that any of the things he possessed was his own, but they had all things in common.

Acts 4:36-37 And Joses, who was also named Barnabas by the apostles (which is translated Son of Encouragement), a Levite of the country of Cyprus, [37] having land, sold it, and brought the money and laid it at the apostles' feet.

Then we have a man who lie to God the Holy Spirit, and was striken dead by God trhough Peter.

Acts 5:1-2,7-11 [1] But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession. [2] And he kept back part of the proceeds, his wife also being aware of it, and brought a certain part and laid it at the apostles' feet. [7] Now it was about three hours later when his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. [8] And Peter answered her, "Tell me whether you sold the land for so much?" She said, "Yes, for so much." [9] Then Peter said to her, "How is it that you have agreed together to test the Spirit of the Lord? Look, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out." [10] Then immediately she fell down at his feet and breathed her last. And the young men came in and found her dead, and carrying her out, buried her by her husband. [11] So great fear came upon all the church and upon all who heard these things.

We have now a second person dead by the hand of the Lord in a span of three hour? In this case a woman. In this case Sapphira. WHY?

Sapphira – What She Did Right She was a Christian She followed him into his punishment (Acts 5:10) The church was in its infancy – still new (Acts 2) She purposed in her heart to give Sapphira was a believer Acts 2:44 She & Ananias wanted to be a part of the gift (Acts 5:1-2) She worked as a team with her husband They sold a piece of land to help the church (Acts 5:3) They were both a part of the church Acts 2:47 Listen please, no one asked that from them, it was their own personal choice just to be seen by men. Matt 6:1-4 She was aware of what he did with their gift (Acts 5:2)

Sapphira – What She Did Wrong She lied to her brethren, and to God God wants us to give for the sake of giving, not for reward She & Ananias conspired to lie (Acts 5:2, 9) Matthew 6:2, Matthew 23:5 God HATES lying (Pro 6:16-19; Rev 20:8) But they did not give according to what Paul says in 2 Cor 9:6-7 She did right things with wrong motivations Giving is really serious, because we must have the right motive in our hearts. Gal 6:9-10. God wants our actions AND our hearts Matthew 15:8, John 4:24 If you heart is crooked don’t give, it can backfire on you very quick. Ecl 5:4-5 She wanted to be recognized for her goodness Proverbs 6:16-19 16 These six things the Lord hates, Yes, seven are an abomination to Him: 17 A proud look, A lying tongue, Hands that shed innocent blood, 18 A heart that devises wicked plans, Feet that are swift in running to evil, 19 A false witness who speaks lies, And one who sows discord among brethren. Matthew 15:8 ‘These people draw near to Me with their mouth, And honor Me with their lips, But their heart is far from Me. John 4:24 24 God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.” Matthew 6:2 Therefore, when you do a charitable deed, do not sound a trumpet before you as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory from men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward.

Sapphira – Consequences She Faced She lost her husband He gives us so much time to change our ways (2 Pet 3:8-9) Ananias paid for his sin with his life (Acts 5:5) She died in her sin Sapphira may not have known it, but she had become a widow She was struck dead when she maintained her lie (Acts 5:10) She wasted an opportunity to repent We, too, will die, if we do not turn from wickedness (John 8:24) Peter gave her the chance to turn from her sin v 8. After that Judgement is at the door. 2 Cor 5:10 God wants us ALL to repent (Acts 17:30) Acts 17:30 Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent, 2 Pet 3:8-9 But, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. 9 The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us,[b] not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. John 8:24 Therefore I said to you that you will die in your sins; for if you do not believe that I am He, you will die in your sins.” (**Story of man who did not believe this story, as “HIS” God, the God of the NT was loving, and not vengeful)

Sapphira – Lessons Learned The early church learned from the sin of Sapphira What actions are we doing that are wrong? The young men who carried her out (Acts 5:10) What kinds of consequences are we facing? Great fear came upon all who heard (Acts 5:11) What lessons are we teaching future generations? If we were a chapter in the NT, what lesson would future classes learn from us? Don’t close your heart to the Lord and His Word, change your ways and don’t died like Sipphira, in her sins. What things are we doing right?