Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1892-08-11
THEY LIED UNTO GOD.
LESSON VII, THIRD QUARTER, INTER-
NATIONAL SERIES, AUG. ID.

u, Il, Il.
documentary by tho Rcv. ID. NJ.
Stcarns.
!. But n certain man named Ananias.
with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession"
We have been reading of two noble, faith
full followers OF Jesus who were ready to
die for Him, and glad to suffer for Him if
only lie might be glorificd, but we have
now sad contrast in the story of these
two who while protesting faithfulness to
Jesus Christ were not sincere at heart,
but while outwardly serving Him were
serving themselves also. Many had sold
their possessions and had honestly given
all to God; their new hopes and joys had
made earthly possessions seem valueless
except as they might do good with them
and thus lay up treasure in heaven (Math.
vi, 20, q; Luke xviii, %; Tim. vi, 11,1sl.
q 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" There is an old command to this
effect, walk before me, and be thou sin
cero" Gen. xviii |, margin). Thou shalt
be sincere with the Lord thy God" Deut.
xviii, 49, margin). And it is also written
Cursed be he that doeth the work of the
Lord Jesus kept back nothing when He
gave Himself for us; He completely emp
tied Himself and humbled himself even
unto death (Phil. ii, 5-S).
3. but Peter said, Ananias, why hath
satan filed thine heart to lie to the Holy
Ghost, and keep back part of the price OF
the land?' God desires truth even in the
inward parts (Ps. Ii, g and He has said,
'IIe that worketh deceit shall Lot dwell
within my house; he that tclleth lies shall
not tarry in my sight" (Ps. ci, =. Con-
trast "filled with the Spirit" and filled
with satan" or filled with Indignation or
envy" Chapter ", 81; " 3, ~. The only
way for a believer is to be filled with the
Spirit and then all else will be crowded
out. This command (kph. V, ls) is bind
ing upon ALL and to neglect it is to be
guilty Of disobedience.
4. while it remained was it not thine
own? And after it was sold. was it not in
thine own power? Why hast thou con-
ceved this thing in thine hearty Thou
hast not lied unto men but unto Cod"
God does not need our possessions for
THE earth is the Lords and the fulness
thereof" ops xiv, y, but He is graciously
pleased to accept that which we cheerfully
and sincerely give unto Him and use it for
His glory. All that we have lie has given
TOT us, and what we give Him is only His
own q Chron. XXX, IA, lG). Observe in
Peters question, "Why hast thou con
ceivedf" that Auanias was responsible for
allowing satan to intrude these thoughts
upon him. There are two forces always
working with us-satau and the Holy
Siprt-one "A liar, the other the Spirit of
Truth, but neither can ill US except we
welcome them.
nj inc 49, Z
fell down and gave up the ghost, and
great fear came on all them that heard
these things" If the hand Of God were
thus laid on all liars and deceivers in the
church today there would surely come
great fear on many people. When we con
slider that we are not our own, but that
these bodies even have been bought by
His blood for His service Il Cor. vi 70, 2O),
and then remember how we keep back
hands and feet and eyes and ears and
voice for our own pleasure, and that all
this is simply lying unto God, why is it
that we 2,c not airaidf
i. "AnTthe young men arose, wound him
up and carried him out and buried him. Z"
Thus they disposed OF his body, the house
in which he had lived and lied; but W hat
OF Ananias, the person who had occupied
that body? We know that there is such a
fire Il Pet iv, is; Cor iii, l5) But when
we read of the portion appointed to all
liars (Rev xxi, s., we cannot have much if
any ground for expecting to see either
Ananias or Sapphire in the kingdom of
God.
:. "And it was about the space of three
hours after when his wife, not knowing
what was done, came in" Three hours "A
widow, but ignorant Of the fact How
long they had jOurneyed together in these
mortal bodies we do not know, but his has
ended and hers is about to, though she is
all unconscious of it. Perhaps she had
come seeking him, wondering why he de
laycd to return home. 1t is sad story,
and is written to teach us to be sincere
with God
S. And Peter answered unto her Tell
me whether ye sold the land for 50 muchf
And she said, Yea, for 50 much" How
one wishes that Peter might have been led
to encourage her to tell the truth, but per
haps it. would have been in vain. The
heart is 50 desperately wicked and deceit
ful above all things tJer. xvii, o. that even
in this enlightened age both man and
women have been known TO swear before
God and man to tell the whole truth and
nothing but the truth, and then deliber-
ately lie. Yet God in His long suffering
has graciously allowed them to live on if
pcrchance they might repent.
g. Then Peter said unto her, How is it
that We have agreed together to tempt the
Spirit Of the IordY' Compare this verse
with verses and and see the unity of
the Trinity, but particularly clear proof
that the Spirit is God, for lying to the
Holy Spirit is called lying unto God.
Behold the feet of them which have
buried thy husband are at the door, and
shall carry thee out" This is startling
and awful. The announcement of her hus-
bands death is for the first time made
known To- her and in the same breath she
is told that she, too, shall Instantly die,
and she does. Sentence is pronounced and
execution takes place in the same mo-
ment. 1t is the hand OF God Compare
chapters xii, o. and Jer. xviii, lG, II.
10. Then fell she down strai2htway 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" Ia the morning they are in