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Bro. Otis Fisher
We're at chapter 5 in the book of Acts, but a certain man Named Ananias with Sapphira his wife sold a possession Now of these unhappy people where we lose track of them when they buried them. This is the only account that we have of them to and kept back part of the price his wife also being privy to and To it and brought a certain part and laid it at the Apostles feet.
They didn't trust God totally they pretended to bring all of the money just As the others had perhaps thinking that since it all belonged to them they could do whatever they desired. And they could up to the point where they acted as though that was all of it.
They were under no obligation to sell any of their possessions While they pretended to act under the influence of the Holy Spirit. They were lying and you can't fool the Holy Spirit but Peter. Now he had no advanced advance information on this.
This is the way the Lord Gives to his own the words to say Peter was in a very responsible position. But Peter said Ananias why has Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost and To keep back part of the price of the land.
Now at that time they believed that when a man Did evil he was excited to do it by the influence of an evil spirit. Do we still believe that today? No, then what excites you to do evil? Well, he's right.
But it threw me off track. What about it David? That's right. If there be no devil as some wish Then Peter would not have expressed himself in this fashion. Whilst 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 lied unto God. Notice in verse 3 He says you lied unto the Holy Ghost in verse 4. He says you lied unto God. What's the difference.
David, that's right the verb used Here is by the Greek writers to signify Prolonging and that's a good word. What's it mean Greg? All right. It's part of public money Prolonging so we find the sale here was made up of property belonging to the public.
Which makes it even worse? Now was it wrong David to keep back part of the money? Good answer. Did Peter cause his death David? Another good answer and Ananias hearing these words had a heart attack and died.
Fell down dead and great fear came upon them. That heard these things. Can't you imagine? The fear. Now Greg why did God do this? Alright Virg, why doesn't God do it today? David what would the local church be like if he did?
Well, but that's right, this is the first appearance of sin in the local church. It's also a warning for us to not repeat it. Six and the young men arose wound him up carried him out and buried him. They wound him up tight.
Why a young man David don't you find it amazing the spirit of lying Could abide in the first church and it was about the space about the space of three hours after when his wife not knowing What was done came in.
Now his wife comes. I don't know. She'd been to hairdressers, I guess. And Peter answered. And said unto her tell me Whether ye sold the land for so much and she said yes, we sold it for so much. Now we find here Peter putting her Mary Ann there's a package on the front pew for you.
Don't forget it. We find Peter putting her in a position right quick. But whether she was going to lie or not now Peter didn't know what was going to happen to her husband until after it happened. Do you think that's right Greg?
But he now knows what's going to happen to his wife. You see how this woman and her husband had been preserved for this very end. Can you see that I hope so. Then Peter said unto her how is it that she 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 also. So the Holy Spirit and the Spirit of the Lord are one in the same thing. Then fell she down straightway at his feet and Yielded up the ghost and the young men came in and found her dead and carried her Forth buried her beside her husband, but No.
Now David was it by Peter's words that she died. Greg, how about it verge? How about it? David did she did he pray? So that she would die was it because Her remorse that she died. It was by the immediate Judgment of God the judgment of God.
Is he still in the judging business? And great fear came upon all of the church and upon as many as heard these things this judgment answered the end for which it was inflicted. A deeply religious fear came into each mind all of a sudden.
There was no more hypocrisy and deception. If those who had lied to God in their churches were to drop down dead. Today there'd be a lot of funerals 12 and by the hands of the Apostles were many signs and wonders wrought among the people and They were all with one accord in Solomon's porch.
That's a wonderful thing. If we could be of one accord it'd be great. And of the rest there's no man joined himself to them, but the people magnified them. So These men seemed to have something special and they didn't attract very many joiners.
And believers Were the more added to the Lord of multitudes both of men and women. In so much that they brought forth the sick into the streets and Laid them on beds and couches that at the. At the least the shadow of Peter passing by Might overshadow some of them.
Now it is my considered belief That they've slipped into what we have today. We find here the very same thinking that is present in our world today. No place does it say that Peter's shadow healed anyone.
So don't ever say that it did. But the puny mind of man has capitalized on this verse and are now worshiping Relics, I saw a room at a convent Enormous room that was lined with relics. They worshipped the relics.
At the far end was somebody in a glass Enclosed. Well, I can't say coffin because you could see the body. I Didn't go down to it. They think that just the shadow or the relic has magical powers to it.
There came also a multitude out of the cities roundabout into Jerusalem Bringing sick folks and them which were vexed with unclean spirits and they were healed everyone. But not just the shadow falling on them the so-called faith healers of today never Never healed all of the sick.
Have you ever wondered why they're not in the hospitals healing sick? Well, I could get into a long discussion of that. Well, let's go for a little bit. Verge, what do you think of a faith healer? That sets up a tent.
Attracts Mostly the poor. And Heals them. I Think you're right. I'm sure I've told you but I've got to repeat it again years ago in Tulsa. We were living across the road and down one house from B's oldest sister and She was a Holy Roller.
I don't know how else to explain it. But they were having a revival and she kept after me until I went. It was Oral Roberts is who it was. And after he had wore himself out preaching he was going to heal everybody.
Just line up. The rest of you bow your heads and close your eyes and I did. He sat in a chair on the platform and they would come up. I never will forget a Folding chair wooden chair that all of a sudden he grabbed his chair and hopped over.
He says there goes one. There goes another. Bringing the devils out of these people it was almost comical and I didn't believe one bit of it, but he's Grown quite quite rich. Let's get back to our lesson.
Then the high priest rose up. And all they that were with him which is the sect of the Sadducees and Were filled with indignation. Now, what is a Sadducee? All right. David they're known for something else.
They were sad you see. They didn't believe in afterlife. But they were very powerful in the Jewish nation. So never did any good work go on. But it would meet with opposition even today. If the truth of the Bible ever Gets a firm hold on today's Church membership, it would be over them.
Malice of most preachers. But the enemies of Christ in the gospel are a torment to themselves 18 and laid their hands on the Apostles and put them in the common prison now. The Sadducees rose up voiced their opinion.
Had the soldiers go out and take the Apostles and put them in a common prison. Greg, what does it mean common prison? And why why did they specify a common prison? All right. You're right except on one point.
They didn't put the rich political prisoners there when they had to arrest one. They put them in an elite. Setting these were the common ordinary Hardcore prisoners, but the angel an angel of The Lord by night opened the prison doors.
I thought I'd skipped the verse, but I guess I haven't but the angel of The Lord by night opened the prison doors and brought them forth and said go stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of life.
Now we have here the first historical great jailbreak this act of God was. Well, why was it sinned? Why why we know what's going to happen? Well, let's read it and we'll find out. And when they heard that they were entered into The temple early in the morning and taught.
But the high priest came and they that were with him and called the council together and all of the space All of the Senate of the children of Israel and sent them to the prison. To have them brought forth now this act of God Was sent to confer Confirm the fact that they were Acting in according to his will and that they were under the continual care of him.
They were to return to the temple the most public place in the country. They were to speak to the people that came there to worship according to the law. Many times he sends us back to the very place In which we found trouble.
But never be tricked into thinking that. Just because I'm having trouble that means I'm in his will. You're in his will all right, but your thinking is wrong and that alone puts you out of his will. This is according to thinking.
They were sent to tell those that desire to know the truth the people not the preachers. Also notice they were set free to work not free to go home. And when they heard that they entered into the temple early in the morning and taught the high priest came and they that were with him and called the council together and All of the Senate of the children of Israel and sent to the prison to have them brought.
But when the officers came and found them in Not in the prison they returned and told so saying the prison truly found we shut with all safety and the keepers standing without before the doors but Opened and found no man.
They found them gone. They were just like it'll be on the rapture morning. I won't be here. Mm-hmm. People will be missing here on earth and there will be no explanation. It appears that the officers alone had the keys to the prison.
Now, what do you think? They found nothing wrong. The guards were still at their appointed places the doors bolted, but nobody inside. What would you think David yes extremely. It appears that they alone had the keys to the prison now.
They found nothing wrong. The guards were still at their appointed position the doors Appointed position at the doors they have listened to their preacher and Believe he was telling them the truth. But they have never heard this therefore they say what you say Cannot be true.
Even if the Bible proves it is true the modern-day preacher then came one and told them saying behold the men whom you put in prison are Standing in the temple and teaching the people but the Lord is finished with his surprises.
Here comes someone telling them that these very men that you locked up Forbid to speak in his name anymore. At this very moment or in the temple speaking in the name of Jesus. What do you think? Then went the captain with the officers and Brought them without violence or they feared the people.
Yes, they should have been stoned they very carefully go and get the disciples. They don't march in and arrest them because of what David the officer is very careful not to stir up the people they feared their own life and When they had brought them they set them before the council and the high priest asked them saying Did not we straightly command you that you should not teach in this name and Behold you have filled Jerusalem With your doctrine and Intend to bring this man's blood upon this us.
You speak in such a way of this man as to make the people think that we have killed him an innocent man. You'll bring his blood down on us 29. Then Peter and the other Apostles answered and said we ought to obey God Rather than men.
What do you think of that statement? I wonder how many of us could say that. Sitting here we say sure you may get the chance our command. Yes. That's right. Our command came from a much higher source than you and We dare not disobey we cannot but speak the truth.
The God of our fathers raised up Jesus whom you slew and hanged on a tree. Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a prince and a savior or to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins and we are his witnesses of these things and So is also the Holy Ghost and God hath given to them that obey him that believe in him.
Now even if your preacher Demands that you stop teaching from the Bible and tells you that you must use the standard quarterly. You'll find that you have no choice except to teach the Holy Word Directly from his persecution of the Bible teacher Has always been.
It has always started from within the church body here on earth. Trouble is to not to keep for himself man. Truth is not to be kept to yourself. Man is but the steward of the holy truth. Oh Him if he does not teach it completely 33 when they heard that they were cut to the heart and took counsel to slay them.
When they heard what Greg? What did he say? Well, why didn't they kill these disciples? All right. What was the real reason behind it? They were cut to the heart. Literally they were sawed through but not from remorse.
But with spite malice and revenge they were being accused of murder. Their first impulse was to kill these men. Then stood there up one in the Council of Pharisee Named Gamaliel a doctor of the law Had in reputation among all the people and commanded to put the Apostles Forth a little space.
In other words, you take them out of the outer room because what I say I want to say to the people here. Now Gamaliel Means the reward of God the son of a rabbi Grandson of the famous rabbi Helia. When the Apostles were brought before the council charged with preaching the resurrection of Jesus as Azaleas.
Pharisee Gamaliel counseled moderation and calmness by reference to well-known events. He advised them to refrain from these men. If their work or counsel was of man, it would Come to nothing. But if it was a word of God of the council could not destroy it and Therefore ought to be on their guard lest they Should be found fighting against God.
Now, where was Paul during all of this time? I'm lost sight of him. He was one of the Apostles 35 and said unto them ye men of Israel Take heed to yourselves what you intend to do as touching these men.
For before these days rose up fetus Boasting himself to be somebody to whom a number of men about 400 Joined themselves who was he was slain and all as many as obeyed him Were scattered and brought to Mott Theodos the name of a insurgent mentioned in Gamaliel's speech Luke's account at the head of About 400 men.
He was probably one of the insurrectionary chiefs or fanatics. By whom the hand the land was overthrown. At the last in the year of Herod's reign. To get back to our lesson. After this man rose up Judas of Galilee in the day of taxing and drew away much people.
After him he also perished and all even as many as obeyed him were dispersed. Judas the father of the Essenes a man who claimed to be the king of the Jews surnamed the Galilean Who at the time of the census of Quanarius?
Excited the revolt in Galilee. That's all part of secular history. And now I say unto you Refrain from these men and let them alone. For if this counsel or this work be of men It'll come to naught now David here's a man one of them.
What do you think about his speech? Well, let's hear a little more of it. But if it be of God you cannot overthrow it. Best happily you be found even to fight against God and to him they agreed. And when they had called the Apostles and beaten them.
They commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus and they let them go. They had to beat them a little bit and they departed from the presence of the council rejoicing and they were Counted worthy to suffer shame for his name and daily in the temple and in every house.
They cease not to teach and preach Jesus Christ. Considered it their duty to attend to public worship. No one who claims to be a Christian can do so as they do not attend to their public worship. And as their creator I'm sorry.
That's all the chapter 5. Is there anything we've got about five or ten minutes. Fill us in David. Well, I figure you'll do that at church on this passage. I have often wondered. What would happen to me if I Was faced with something like this I don't think I will ever be but you'll never know and none of us really know what we would do.
Hope that we would do as Peter did. Stand up for the truth, but it may come to this country that your wife is Taken from you your children taken from you. They'll let you live, but we'll put your eyes out.
The last thing you see will be your children being killed. Greg dismisses, please.