The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1897-02-03
SABBATH SCHOOL
INTERNATIONAL LESSON FOR
FEBRUARY Z.
Lesson Text: "True and False Civ
lug" Acts w., 32-37; W, Ill
Golden Text: 1 Samuel
xvi, documentary.

80. "And the multitude OF them that be-
| lieved were OF one heart and OF one SOUL" 1t
was a whole hearted surrender to Christ of
all they were and all they had; full reeog-
milton that they were not their own, but
bought with price to be a special people
unto the Lord q Cor. vi, 10, 90; Titus H.,
| 14). This was as truly the work Of the Holy
| Spirit as was the boldness of Peter and John
| before the council, or their boidness in verse
| 81. Imagine the financial condition Of the
| churches and missionary societies II all
| Christians would say. "Whatever the Lord
wants of me or mine He is welcome to, for
all am and have is surely His"
3S. "And with great power gave the
| Lord Jesus and great grace was upon them
| ALL" The grace was the grace of God, and
the power was the Spirit OF God. "Not by
might, nor by power. but by My Spirit, saith
the Lord of Eosts" Czech. iv.. 81.
"a, 80. "Naither was there any among them
| that lacked. Distribution was made to every
| man according as he had need" It Is the
| Lords plan that those who are His and serve
Him should lack no good thing (Ps. lxxxiv.,
II; Math. vi. 80; Phil. iv., 10; Luke Kill, 35).
Make thou His service thy delight;
He'll make thy wants Ills care.
In this case the supply came from the
willing contributions of those who, having
property, sold it and brought the proceeds
to the apostles. When the tabernacle was
built, the superabundant supply came from
the willing offerings Of the people (Ex.
xXxvi.. sd; but whether In these ways, or
by ravens, or by increase Of oil or meal, God
will supply His peoples need.
36, 81. "And Joses, having land, sold 1t
and brought the money and laid 1t at the
apostles feet" Here is one example OF the
many who did thus. His other name, Barn
abas (son OF consolation), was certainly true
of him when he stood by Saul at the time
the other disciples were afraid Of him.
(Acts ix., &c, 27).
Chapter ", 1, 2. "But a certain man
named Ananias, with sapphira, his wife,
sold possession and kept back part Of the
price" These were professedly followers Of
Christ and perhaps really 80; but, like 80
many to-day, they were not whole hearted
In service. They saw others selling property
and giving the proceeds to the apostles for
the general good. and they seemed to do
like the others. not thinking that God saw
their hearts and their dishonesty. They did
not act upon the precept, "Whatsoever ye
do, do it heartily as to the Lord, and not
unto men," Nor did they think Of the eyes
of the Lord beholdipg the evil and the good
(Col. ILL.,, %; Prov. xv., 81.
Os
satan filled thine heart to lie to the Roly
Ghost?" When any one receives Christ, the
Holy Spirit is given to instruct, guide and
control in all things that life. and when
there Is complete submission to the Spirit
there will be q life greatly to the glory OF
God, but when the old life-the flesh, the
carnal mind-which still remains in the be-
lever is allowed to have it's evil way-for 1t
is only evil-thcn the Spirit is greved (Eph.
w., 29-32).
4. "Thou hast not lied unto men, but
unto God" Here is proof Of the oneness
of the Father and the Spirit; to lie to the
one Is to lie to the other. The property was
Ananias's and the proceeds OF the properly
when sold were his also, and he was at lib
erty to give to God all or part or none with
out committing sin, but to profess to give
all and yet give only part was lie. We
are saved freely through Christ without
money or price. We are then to remember
that we are bought with q price, the precious
His service (Rom. xii, y, but 1t must be
honestly and cheeriully done to be accepted.
s, 6. "And Ananias, hearing these words.
fell down and gave up the ghost" Instant
death for lie. This seems very severe, but
it was evidently, in the sight OF God, neces-
sary discipline for the believers. cannot
conclude that this man and his wife were
out and out hypocrites and lost souls with
out concluding that all who to-day keep
back part OF the price are also lost souls, and
II tha. be 80 what a list OF professors are
lost. II all such should be cut of as these
two were, there would not be undertakers
enough to see to the burylng.
7. "And it was about the space OF three
hours after when his wife, not knowing what
was done, came in." Sho did not know that
she was q widow; she did not know that her
guilt had been found out; she probably came
looking for her husband. She came know
ing in her heart that she was acting lie as
to the price OF the property, but not know
ing Gods displeasure with such conduct.
What a contrast there Is in this mot know
ing to the "not knowing" OF Abraham in
Reb. Xi., g.
8. And Peter answered unto her, Tell
me whether ye sold the land for so much9
And she said, Yea. for so much" An
other lie. the Spirit grleved. loss incurred.
Tho devil is tho father OF lies, and thus
early in the history of the church he got in
some of his devilish work. BE did some
Of the same kind.1 mean lying.througn
Abraham and Sarah, Isaac and Rebekah,
jacob and Rachel. and if he never accom-
plished any through you. my friend, you
have great reason to praise God Tor His
grace which has kept you.
Q. .'1'hen Peter said unto her, How Is 1t
that ye have agreed together to tempt the
Spirit of the Lord2" What CONSERVATION
must have seized her as she heard the expo
sition of her guilt, and in Peters next words
the tidings that her husband was dead and
buried. and that she must die too! What an
awful illustration Of the words in Mum.
xxxii., 23-"Be sure your sin will fnd you
out" May We keep in mind that God de-
sires truth in tho inward parts, and let our
hearts be saying, 20 Lord, thou hast searched
me and known me" (Ps. H., 6; cxxxix., y.
TO- Then fell she down straightway at his
feot and yielded up the ghost" Another ex-
ample of Gods hatred Of deceit and lying.
Those who make q practice OF lying have
reason to fear lest they finally find them
selves in Rev. xxi. s. These two may have
been given to this sin ere they became mum
bered with the followers OF Christ, and this
may have been the first outbreak since con-
version.
IL. "And great fear came upon all the
church, and upon as many rs heard these
things" We are to serve the Lord with fear
and rejoice with trembling, and also to work
out our own salvation with fear and tremb-
ling (Phil. H., l2), not q fear of being lost.
but a fear of grieving the Holy splrit.-L"s-
son Helper.