The Madison journal. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1888-current, 1920-01-24

LESSON TEXT-Acts 5:1-l6.
GOLDEN TEXT-Lying lips are abomi-
nation to the Lord but they that deal
truly are his delight.-Prov. l2:22.
ADDITIONAL MATERIAL-Ex. @:l6;
Prov. Ill; Matt. 6: "a; Gal. 6:7. S; Eph
Ais, ., 30.
PRIMARY TOPIC-Telling the Truth.
JUNIOR TOPIC - Two Disciples and
What Became of Them.
INTERMEDIATE AND SENIOR TOP
IC-The Folly and Sinfulness of Lying.
In this lesson we see the new com.
munity now called 1.-THE church" ".
III indicated. In the bOldnesS OF
Peter and John we see that the break
with Judaism has come-the authority
of the Sanhedrin is repudiated with
the determination on the part of the
disciples to be led by the Holy Spirit.
1t is for this reason that the body now
gets the name Church" Since the
break has come it must be shown to he
a holy body; it must have recognition
as being sacred. The sanctity of the
tabernacle is transferred to the new
body, which Is Gods dwelling place
(Eph. 2:19-22). The church itself, as
well as the people about, did not know
this until Gods judgment burst forth.
I. characteristics of the Primitive
Church (4:31-35).
1. 1t was a praying church ". 81.
For every want annd every need they
betook themselves to God in prayer.
.. 1t was a Spirit-filled church ".
81. A praying church is a Spirit-filled
church. The Spirit is given in an
swer to prayer duke :13).
8. 1t was a church which had great
holiness in preaching the Word of
God ". 81. The minister in Spirit
filled church will not offer an apology
for the Bible, but will fearlessly
preach 1t.
4. 1t was a united church ". 32).
They were "of one heart and one
soul"
5. It was a charitable and generous
church ". 32). AS needs arose sup
plies were given from common fund.
6. Its ministers had powerful tes-
llHiOllS W. ooJ.
Z. 1t was church whose member
ship exhibited unblemished characters
". 33). For great grace was upon
them ALL"
II. The Sin of Ananias and Sapphire
wv. LID.
1. Its occasion wv. /, y. This was
their hypocritical imitation of the gen.
erous act of Barnabas "a SO. 80. Be
cause of the peculiar distress of the
early church when the open rupture
was made with Judaism. the members
| for q time had q community of
goods" This was not universal moi
permanent: some continued to own
their own homes. as for example John
which to entertain Christians. Ananlas
kept back q part of the money re-
ceived for his land while pretending to
have brought it all. His wife was a
partner in it. They wanted the honor
| of generosity without paying the price
.. The judgment (vv. 3-10). Ananias
allowed satan TO fill his heart and lied
to the Holy Ghost in keeping back q
part of the price of the land. 1t was
most likely an acted lie. They were
or having sold 1t. TO bring any of the
money and place II in the common
fund. Peter declared that they were
absolutely free to do as they pleased
with it. Love Of praise is causing
many today to make the same dread
full mistake. People are walking in
the way of Ananias and Sapphire
when they make q profession of re
ligion for temporal gain and pleasure
or even preaching sermons not theil
own. Frequently men preach the ser
mons of Moody and Spurgeon without
giving credit Physical death was Wis
'ted upon Ananias and Sapphira for
their sins. God Is passing judgment
upon many today for their sins q Cor
II :27-30). The mysterious deaths ot
men and women about us may be &C
counted for in this way.
III. The Effect wv. 11-16).
| l.. Y
md upon all who heard of thest
things ". ~. Irreverence is an out
standing sin of this age. The churcl
I should be recognized as holy-the yer!
dwelling place of the Most High God.
9. Multitudes of men and wOmer
we're added to the Lord ". 14). This
caused the fame of Peter to be spread
Ear and wide, so that the people were
onxious to come under his shadow
We're the holiness of the body o
Christ recognized. there would b'
many coming for pardon and saliva
ton.
3. The hypocrites did not dare f
join ". 49,. It Is interesting to not'
hat this vindication of the holmes
Vt the church did not deter any bu
hypocrites from joining it. Nothin'
unhallowed nor any unregenerate per
Il IL VT