The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1916-02-17
LESSON FOR FEBRUARY 20
CHRISTIAN BROTHERHOOD.
.EssoN TExT-Acts t:s2,5:is.

The Sanhedrin had tried threaten
ing upon the disciples and this is gen.
orally pretty weak business. But
their threat meant danger and the dis
ciples were not unduly pulled up over
their deiverance. With all their be-
ieving friends they prayed and In re-
sponse the Holy Spirit came upon
them In still further measure
(4:23.3l).
|. The Spirit-Filled Believers, 4:32.
81. The two sections of this lesson
are really one end are designed to
bring out sharply the contrast be-
tween the Holy Spirlt.filled church
and an OWL spirit.filled man. The
communism OF the early church was
ta) Christian communion !see 2:4D;
and II was (b) for a special occasion;
tc) II was benevolent-each had ac-
cording to his needs" (4:34. 35I: td)
It was voluntary (5:4l. and lei 1t rec
ognized the right to private property
tsee 5:4. 81. He. the Holy Spirit. does
bring that unity. that altruism. those
active social relations and services OF
which Pentecostal communism is ths
type. Unity and love are seen In gen
uine Christianity in all ages. but the
forms Of their expression may differ.
The power OF the Holy Spirit was
manifested. not merely in love and
unity which It produced. in the broth
erhood thus evidenced. but also In the
testimony given for the Lord Jesus
Christ, with great power gave the
apostles witness to the resurrection
of the Lord Jesus" There is much
witness to the resurrection Of the
Lord Jesus Christ in our day. but not
always with great power" When we
are filled with the Holy Spirit It is Of
Jesus. and especially of his resur-
rection. that we will bear witness.
Another result OF being filled with the
Holy Spirit was that grace was upon
all. Grace" means favor. We are
not told whether It was Gods favor
or mans favor that was upon them.
1t seems to imply both tsee Luke
2.52). No man looked upon his own
interests. but every man or the
things OF others" Distribution was
made according as each had need. not
according to his ability. not according
to his notable service. The pre-eni-
nent illustration OF Christian love In
the brotherhood at Jerusalem was
Barnabas. II we had more OF such
today we would have less OF union
labor troubles and missionary deficits.
We do we'll to consider carefully the
six distinguishing features OF this
early church: G) A praying church
H:24-3O). t2) Spirit.flled chu'ch
(3D. t3) a united church 1927. tn q
witnessing church 1887. (5l a minis
tering church ga. S5). (6l a multiply
ing church t36. 37.
u. The Devil.Possessed unbeIiever,
5, t-16. Barnabas had received great
praise for what he Lad done at the i'm
pulse OF the Holy Spirit In his life. II
is an exceedingly fair picture. but the
scene of the early church had been
from foes without. now II faces the
greater peril OF foes within. And when
this great question. regarding the de-
ity and personality OF the Holy Spirit.
is first brought to light God. through
his church. dealt with II In stern
manner. The devil Is always present
ing his limitations OF everything good
and holy Ananias and Sapphira were
not willing to make a like sacrifice.
They. too. sold possession" but
they secreted a part OF the price and
brought the rest with the intent to de-
ceive the church. The Holy Spirit
quickly informed the church OF this
hypocrisy and. Spirit-guided. they
were not deceived. For Ananias to
lie in the atmosphere of love and con-
secraton engendered by the Holy
Spirit made his crime the more unpar-
donable The same words are used In
describing his actions as those used
In describing the actions OF Barnabas
up to certain point. But what a diff
ference we see subsequently. In the
case OF Barnabas his act was a deed
OF self-forgetting love; In the case OF
Ananias II was one OF calculating hy-
pocrisy. We thus see that the early
church was not as perfect as some
would have US imagine II to be. To
pretend to a full conservation which
he did not possess Is thus resealed,
and for us to pretend to a consecra-
tion we do not possess Is to lie TO the
Holy Ghost In the case Of Ananias
and Sapphira It brought swift and aw-
ful judgment. Peters question seems
to imply that the plan had originated
with Satan. but Ananias was none the
less responsible. for he had given
place TO Satan and permitted him to
"fil his heart" The fact IL his sin
originated with Satan. but that did not
lessen-but rather aggravated-his
guilt, for he had entered into partner
ship with the devil. and this is what
every liar is doing John 9:44. ! John
222l. The heart that Is open to the
Holy Spirit he will fill; the heart that
is open to Satan he will Gil. The one
who pretends to an entire consecra-
tion. which docs not exist. is tempt
Ing the spirit Of the Lord" ". 81. and
II is dangerous thing to do II may
not bring physical death. for God gives
us other examples OF his dealings
towards sin. but there will be the ultI-
mate judgment that comes upon all
liars and deceivers
The second section OF this para
graph tvv. l2-l6) ~ record OF what
the resulyR of this yindicaiinn of Tho