Roanoke Rapids herald. [volume] (Roanoke Rapids, N.C.) 1914-192?, 1920-01-23

LESSON TEXT-ActS Oils.
GOLDEN TEXT-Lyng lips are abomi-
nation to the Lord; but they that deal
truly are his delght.-Prov. l2:22
ADDITIONAL MATERIAL-Ex. @:16'
Prov HI; Matt, 9: "a; Gal. 6:1. s; Eph
4:l5, Is, 80.
PRIMARY TOPIC-T Telling the Truth.
JUNIOR TOPIC - Two Disciples and
Wat Became of Them
INTERMEDIATES AND SENIOR TOP
IC-The Folly and Sinfulness of Lying.
In this lesson I'VE see the new COM
munity now called 1.-THE church" ".
~ indicated. In the holiness 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.
II is for this reason that the body now
gets the name Church" Since the
break has come Il must be shown to be
a holy body; II must have recognition
as being sacred The sanctity of the
tabernacle Is transferred to the new
body, which is Gods dwelling place
Eph. 2:l9-22). The church itself, as
well rs the people about, did not know
this until Gods judgment burst forth
|. Characteristics Of the Primitive
CHURCH (4:3l-3j).
|. 1t was praying church ". 81.
For every want annd every need they
betook themselves to God in prayer.
2. 1t was Spirit filled church ".
81. A praying church is Spirit-filled
church. The Spirit Is given in an
swer to prayer duke :10.
g. 1t was church which had great
holiness In preaching the Word OF
God ". BY. The minister in Il Spirit.
filed church will not offer an apology
for the Bible, but viii fearlessly
prearh IT,
4. II was n united church ". BY.
They were "of one heart and one
soul"
3. II was n charitable and generous
church (v. 32) AS needs arose sup
plies were given from common fund.
G. Its ministers had powerful tes-
tlmony ". 33).
7. 1t was church whose member
ship exhibited unblemished characters
". 33). For great grace was upon
them ALL"
n. The Sin Of Ananias and Sapphire
wv. 1-1D.
1. Its occasion wv. I, p. This was
their hypocritical Imitation of the gen.
erous act of Barnabas a $50, 81. Be
cause of the peculiar distress Of the
early church when the open rupture
was made with Judaism. the members
for time had "a community of
goods" This was not universal NOT
permanent; some continued to own
their own homes, as for example John
Marks mother, who used her home In
which to entertain Christians. Ananias
kept back part of the money re-
ceived for his land while pretending to
have brought 1t all. His wife was a
partner in it. They wanted the honor
Of generosity without paying the price.
2. The Judgment wv. 3-10). Ananias
allowed satan to fiji his heart and lied
to the Holy Ghost In keeping back
part of the price of the land. 1t was
most likely an acted lie. They were
not under obligation to sell their land |
or having sold It, 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
full mistake. People are walking in |
the way Of Ananias and Sapphlra |
when they make profession of re.
|lgion for temporal gain and pleasure; |
or even preaching sermons not their
own. Frequently men preach the SER
mons of Moody and Spurgeon without
giving credit. Physical death was WIS.,
tied upon Ananlas and Sapphira for
heir sins. God Is passing Judgment
mon many today for their sins Il Cor.
II 81 30). The mysterious deaths of
men and women about us may be ac-
counted for In this way.
III. The Effect wv. 11-16).
/. Great fear came upon the church
md upon all who heard of these
hings ". ~. Irreverence Is an out
standing sin of this age. The church
should be recognized as holy-the very
lwellng place of the Most High God.
.. Multitudes Of men and women
we're added to the Lord ". 14). This
'aused the fame Of Peter to be spread
mr. and wide. so that the people were
lnxious to come under his shadow.
We're the holiness of the body OF
rhrlst recognized. there would be
many coming for pardon and saliva
lon.
3. The hypocrites did not dare to
DIN ", 1877. II Is interesting to note
hat this vindication of the holiness
# the church did not deter any but
lypocrItes from Joining 1t. Nothing
nor any unregenerate per-
ION has a place in the church. This
lpplies to our offerings as well as to
,,,t. pnrcnn