New Mexico state record. (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1914-19??, 1920-01-23
LESSON FOR JANUARY rs
PETER STANDS UP FOR TRUTH
AND HONESTY.

LESSON TEXT-Acts 5:1-16.
TEXT-Lying lips are abomi-
nation to the Lord: but they that deal
truly are his delight-Prov. 1922.
ADDITIONAL MATERIAL-Ex. @:l6;
Prov. HI: Matt. 6: "a; Gal. 90. s; Eph.
4:l5, Is. 20.
PRIMARY TOPIC-Telling the Truth.
JUNIOR TOPIC Two Disciples and
What Became of Them.
INTERMEDIATES SENIOR TOP
lC-The Folly and Sinfulness of Lying.
In this lesson we see the new com
munity now called 1.-THE church" ".
ID indicated. In the boldness of
Peter and John we see that the break
with Judaism has cOme--the authority
of the S%anhedrin is rcpudiated 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 be
a holy body il must have recognition
as being sacred. The sanctity of the
tabernacle is transferred to the new
body, which is Gods dwelling place
tEph. 2:l9-22). The church itself, as
well as the people about, did not know
this until Gods judgment burst forth.
/. Characteristics of the Primitive
Church a :3l-35.
]. 1t was n praying church ". 81.
For every want amid every need they
betOOk themselves to God in prayer.
>. 1t was a Spirit-flled church ".
: 81. A praying church is a Spirit-filled
church. The Spirit Is given in an
swer to prayer duke II ;13).
3. 1t was a church which had great
holiness in preaching the Word OF
God ". 81. The minister in a Spirit
filed church will not offer an apology
for the Bible, but will ~fearlessly
preach il.
4. 1t was n united church ", 32).
They were "Of one heart and one
soul"
5. 1t was n charitable and generous
church ". 32). As needs arose sup
plies were given from Il Common fund.
9. Its ministers had a powerful tes-
timOny ". 33).
I. II was a church whose member
ship exhibited unblemished characters
". 33). For great grace was upon
them ALL"
u. The Sin Of Ananias and Sapphire
wv. I'D.
I. Its occasion wv. l. y. This was
their hypocritical imitation OF the gen
erOus act Of B%arnabas q :3G, 80. Be
cause OF the peculiar distress OF the
early church when the open rupture
was made with Judaism. the members
for a time had a Community Of
goods" This was not universal nor
permanent; some continued to WI
their own homes. ms for example John
Marks mother. who used her home in
which 10 entertain Christians. Ananlas
kept back n part Of the money re-
ceived for his land while pretending to
have brought II all. His wife was a
partner In II. They wanted the honor
OF generosity without paying the price.
>. The Judgment wv. 3-10). AnaniaS
allowed satan to MI his heart and lied
10 the Holy Ghost in keeping back a
part Of the price of the land. Ii was
m,e,t likely an acted lie. They were
not under obligation TO sell their land.
or having sold II, 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 Sapphlra
when they make n profession Of re-
Iigion for temporal gain and pleasure
or even preaching sermons not their
own. Frequently men preach the SER
mons OF Moody and Sturgeon without
giving credit. Physical death was WIS.,
tied upon Ananias and Sapphirn for
their sins. God Is passing judgment
upon many today for their sins q Cor.
II :27-30). The mysterious deaths Of
men and women about us may be ne
counted for In this way.
~. The Effect wv. 11-1G).
!. Great fear came upon the church
and upon all who heard Of these
things ". ~. Irreverence is an out
standing sin OF this age. The church
should he recognized rs holy-the very
dwelling place Of the Most High God.
.. Multitudes of men and women
were added 10 the Lord ". 14). This
caused the fame Of Peter to he spread
far and wide. 50 that the people were
anxious TO come under his shadow.
Were the holiness OF the body of
Christ recognized. there would he
many coming for pardon and saliva
ton.
2. The hypocrites did not dare to
ioin ". 1877. 1t is Interesting to note
that this vindication of the holiness
Of the church did no deter any hut
from Joining IT. Nothing
unhallowed nor any u~nrecenerat per
has a place In the church. This
applies TO our offerings as well as to
our person.