Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1909-02-04
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INTERNATIONAL LESSON COM.
MENTS FOR FEBRUARY 2.

Subject: True and False Brotherhood,
Acts 4:S2.5:11 - Golden Text:
Prov. 12:22-Commit Verses 80,
33-Commentary on the Lesson.
TINIE.-3O A. D. or later. PLACE.
Jerusalem.
EXPOSITION i. A Spirit-filled
Church, 4:32-37. Some time has
passed since Pentecost, perhaps a
year or more, but still the unity and
love of the early church abide. 1t
was deep seated and permanent. Its
origin is shown in the Immediately
preceding verse, they were all filled
with the Holy Ghost" This Is the
spirit of genuine Christianity In every
age. The form of expression may diff
fer, even as it did in the early church,
for we find no community of goods
outside Jerusalem, but no true Chris
tian regards aughtof the things which
he possesses as his own Il Jno. 3:14,
II, 18). And with great power gave
the Apostles witness of the resurrec-
ton of the Lord Jesus" Here was
another result of being filled with the
Holy Ghost There is much witness
ing to 1.-The resurrection of the Lord
Jesus" in these days, but is it with
great power?" There Is evidently
nothing more needed by the individ-
ual believer and the church than a
new filling with the Holy Ghost. that
there may again be love, unity and
power. The word translated gave"
in this verse occurs forty-seven times
in the N. T., and always has in it the
thought of giving something due.
Their witness to the resurrection of
the Lord Jesus" was something the
Apostles owed to the world, and 1t is
something every one who knows Jesus
Christ owes to the world, to give
their witness to Him from. 1:14,
15). Great grace was upon them
ALL" 1t Is not said whether 1t was
Gods favor or mans favor that was
upon them. 1t seems, therefore, to
imply both (cf. Luke 2-52). The rea-
son why great grace was upon them
all" was because love and self-sacri-
fee abounded. No man looked upon
his own interests. but every man on
the things Of others" comp. Cor.
OF, 8; Phil. AIS, 19). According
as any one had need" Not according
to distinguished abilities or notable
services, but according to need. That
s the Christian principle Of distribu-
lion.
II. A Devil.nlled Hypocrite, VS.. l.
II. 1t is an exceeding fair picture
we have been looking on up to this
point, but the serpent again enters
Eden. Up to this point the church's
1anger had been priRipally from
without, but now it faces the greater
peril of foes within. No wonder God,
who loves His church, death with
his matter with stern hand. The
atmosphere Of love and entire conse-
,ration in which the deed of Ananias
was done, made it the more unpar-
ionable. The same language Is used
in describing his action and that OF
Barnabas. up to certain point. But
what a difference: the one the deed
If self-forgetting love. the other the
The early church was not perfect
tJno. S:44. But the lie of Ananias
was more than an ordinary lie. He
had seen the whole hearted love Of
Barnabas fcf. CHI. 4:36. 80. how he
had literally brought all that he had
and laid 1t at the apostles feet. He
had seen the admiration the conse-
Grated Barnabas had awakened in the
apostolic company. He decided to
gain the same applause for himself,
but without paying the full price.
He. too. sold a possession. but Sc
GREETED part of the price and brought
the rest with the intent to deceive the
church. The Holy Spirit guided the
early church and the attempt to de-
ceive the Spirit-guided church was an
attempt to deceive the Spirit Himself.
This presumption brought swift and
awful judgment. Ananias fell dead
the moment his sin was uncovered,
an awful warning to all who attempt
to deceive God Not all lying can be
called lying to God. But when there
is false pretence of entire consecra-
ton. when something is knowingly
held back for self. that Is lying to
God; for conservation is not unto
men. but unto God. Peters question
Is very solemn, why hath Satan filled
thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost?"
1t implies that while the plan had
originated with Satan, Ananias was
none the less responsible, that he had
given place to Satan and permitted
him to fill his heart. The fact that
the sin originated with Satan did not
lessen but aggravated his guilt. He
had entered into partnership with the
devil. And that is what every liar Is
doing, every teacher of error instead
of the truth of God Il Jno. 2:22). In
chapter four we see tho true disciples
Spirit-filled tch. ADD. here we see
Ananias devil-filled. The heart that
Is opened to the Holy Spirit He will
fill. The heart that Is opened to Sa-
tan he will All. The one who pre-.
tends to an entire conservation that
does not exist Is tempting the Spirit
of the Lord" 1t Is a dangerous thing
to do. 1t may not bring physical
death In every instance-indeed 1t
will not in many: for God gives an
illustrative example OF His feeling to-
ward certain sins las. e. g.. in the
case Of Achan and here) then does
not again visit with immediate judg.
ment, but there will be great loss
none the less. The effect in this case
was most salutary. Those who were
thinking Of joining the church for
mercenary motives were held back
from so doing Would that the Spirit
were present in such power In the
church to-day that hyEocrites would
"srprd 1t with terror.