Hello and welcome to another
"3ABN Sabbath School Panel"
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I'm Jill Morikone and we
are so excited that you have
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taken time from your day
to sit down us as we open
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up the word of God
and study together.
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We are on the third
lesson of of this quarter
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on the Book of Acts and
I don't know about you all,
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and you at home, but
I've already been blessed
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by this study together.
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I want to introduce our
panel to you at this time...
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Sitting next to
me, Pastor John Dinzey,
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Sister Mollie
Steenson, Sister Shelley Quinn,
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and Pastor CA
Murray, and it's a privilege
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to open up the word of
God with each one of you.
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I feel almost as if I'm sitting
at your feet as you share
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on each one of your
days and just learn what God,
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through His word
is going to share.
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So we are excited
about the lesson today.
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Before we go any further,
we want to go to the Lord
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in prayer and ask for
His anointing as we open up
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His word and Mollie,
would you pray for us today?
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Holy Father, We
come before you in the
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name of Jesus.
Lord, we praise You and
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we thank You for Your
presence that we sense
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so strongly here.
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Thank You Lord for
sending Your Holy Spirit
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to give us the power to
bring forth Your word, Father,
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that it will go forth
and it will accomplish
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what You would
have it accomplish.
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Now Lord, we commend
our lives into Your hands;
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we commend everything that
You would have us say or do
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into Your hands and Lord,
to the best of our ability,
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we yield to You that
we'll just be vessels of honor
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in Your kingdom
today. In Jesus name... Amen
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Amen, we're on Lesson #3
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of our study of
the Book of Acts.
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"Life in the Early
Church," and I just want to
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encourage you... You
can go to the website:
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ABSG.Adventist.org
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and you can
download your own copy
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of the "Adult Bible
Study Guide" or we just call it
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"The Sabbath School Quarterly,
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and you can
follow along with us.
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That website once
again is: ABSG.Adventist.org
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and you can follow along
or we always encourage you
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here at 3ABN to visit your local
Seventh-day Adventist Church,
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and they will give you a
quarterly, will welcome you in
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to study of the word of
God of the Book of Acts.
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If you think about the
Book of Acts, it really follows
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the 30 years following Jesus'
resurrection and ascension
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to heaven, that was in AD
31, and it goes all the way
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to the expansion,
really the explosion
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of the early church -
through the end of Paul's
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first imprisonment which would
be AD 62, so it covers those
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30 years of pivotal church
growth and church history.
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The Book of Acts -
really you can divide into eight
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different sections
and the first section,
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the first three
lessons we have been studying
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to me fall under
the first section,
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that is "A Church is Born."
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We look at Jesus
ascending to His Father.
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We look at the disciples
in the upper room praying
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for the outpouring
of the Holy Spirit.
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We look at Pentecost
and what took place there.
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And what the new
church structure looked like,
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and the early
growth of the church.
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Part #2 is - "The
Church is Persecuted and Grows"
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In that section, we look
at "Stephen and Phillip,"
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and the
"Conversion of Saul of Tarsus."
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The third section is
"Peter and the Beginning
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of Gentile Christianity,"
and the gospel as it began to
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go to the Gentiles."
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And then, of course, we
have "Paul's First Missionary
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Journey" -
that's #4, then we have
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"The Jerusalem
Council," it's called in Acts 15
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where the issue of the Gentile
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Christians need
to be circumcised?"
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And then the next
section would be "Paul's Second
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Missionary
Journey," then "Paul's Third
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Missionary Journey,"
and the final section is
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"Paul's Final Journey"
as he went from Jerusalem,
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Caesarea and then all the
way to Rome as a prisoner.
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It's kind of the
breakdown of the eight sections
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of the Book of Acts
and right now, this week,
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we're looking at
the Early Church.
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Last week, we talked
about Pentecost and Peter,
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and that sermon and 3,000 people
being added to the church.
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My day is Sunday, we will
look at teaching and fellowship,
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but before we do
that, we always like to read
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our memory text together.
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So our memory text is
found in Acts 2:46-47.
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Let's read it and you at
home, read with us as well.
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"Every day they continue to meet
together in the temple courts.
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They broke bread in their
homes and ate together with glad
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and sincere hearts, praising
God and enjoying the favor
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of all the people."
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Now my day on Sunday,
we're really going to look at
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the details of the early
Christian Church or you say
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the characteristics that
comprised the believers there
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right after this
great sermon Peter preached
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and the birth of the new church.
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That's found in Acts 2.
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We want to encourage
you to turn to Acts 2.
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We're looking at 42 through 47.
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Before we read that, you
know when I was growing up,
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I always thought that the
church in Acts 2 was to be a
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type of symbol or a type of
prototype for what the church
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down through the ages
is supposed to look like,
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and I still believe that.
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Having said that though,
as I studied a little deeper,
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the church in Acts 2
had a need for some maturity
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as well and you can see as
we go through the Book of Acts,
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you can see the
church maturing as it were.
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If you think about there were
120 believers in the upper room
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and then Peter had the great
sermon and 3,000 were baptized.
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So what does that mean?
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That means less than 4%
of the church at this time,
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in Acts 2:42, were
mature Christians of any sort.
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Less than 4% had come
through Jesus' crucifixion,
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and the
resurrection and ascension.
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Now maybe they had
observed it from a distance,
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but they weren't
Christians at that time.
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Less than 4% had really
sat underneath the teaching
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of Jesus while He
walked on this earth.
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And so in the early church,
we will see here that they
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gathered DAILY for
study which is incredible!
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As we go later throughout
Acts, we begin to see that
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they gathered weekly on the
Sabbath and you can see that.
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We see this early
church here is dependent,
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not dependent, but they get
everything from the apostles.
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As we move into
Acts 6 and beyond,
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the leadership is
spread out from the apostles
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then it moves to deacons
and others within the church.
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We see the church here
selling possessions and placing
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proceeds at the apostles' feet.
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Later in Acts 6, they develop
a better way of distribution
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of those who had
money to those who need it,
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and had needs within the church.
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We see here that the
church is still comprised of
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Jewish people and not
only that, they believed it was
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to be composed of
only Jewish people.
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Later, as we go
through Acts, we see that
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the gospel is to go to
the Gentile world as well.
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We see here that the church
is well-respected and esteemed.
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Later, the church is
going to be persecuted.
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So you see what
happens as we progress
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through the Book of Acts.
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Let's look at the
eight characteristics
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of the early church...
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Those eight characteristics
are found in these verses.
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We at Acts 2, we'll
start on verse 42...
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"And they continued... ...
now they is the 3,000 people
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who were just baptized,
that is the verse before
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the 3,000 added to the 120
believers in the upper room...
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...and they continued
steadfastly in the apostles'
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doctrine and fellowship
in the breaking of bread
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and in prayer."
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Now right there
in that first verse,
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we have four characteristics
already of the early church.
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It says, "They
continued steadfastly."
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Steadfastly in the
Greek means to continue to do
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something with intense
effort; to devote oneself to;
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to keep on; to persist; to give
constant attention to something.
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So I think Luke is
telling us that the disciples,
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the new believers, the
church, were not just...
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"Okay, they're giving themselves
to Apostles' doctrine,
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just a little bit of Bible
reading and just a little bit
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of spending time in the
temple, and just a little
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bit of fellowship," but it
says "steadfastly, they devoted
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themselves to this.
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They were focused,
Brother Johnny, on this mission.
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So what were the
eight characteristics
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that they were so focused on?
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First it says, "In
the apostles doctrine."
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Now "doctrine" can mean
several different things.
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In this instance, it's
referring specifically to
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the act of
teaching or instruction.
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So they devoted
themselves, as it were, sitting
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underneath the tutelage
of the apostles - who were
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much more mature
Christians who had come through
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that journey with
Jesus and sat at His feet,
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who had experienced that
outpouring of the Holy Spirit.
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So the teaching, as you
look through the Book of Acts,
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the teaching in
Peter's sermon in Acts 2;
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the teaching in Stephen's
sermon in Acts 6 or is it 7,
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7 I believe; the teaching of
Paul's first recorded sermon,
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in Acts 13... they all
center on Jesus; Jesus' life,
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Jesus' ministry, the fulfillment
of the Old Testament prophecies,
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and the life ministry,
death, burial and resurrection
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of the Lord Jesus Christ.
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So, the new church focused
on, of course, many other
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doctrines, but specifically
on the Lord Jesus Christ.
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The 2nd characteristic
besides focused on the
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apostles'
teaching is fellowship.
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They continued in fellowship.
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The word for
fellowship is "koinonia,"
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and that means "a
joint participation,
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an intimate bond of fellowship."
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Have you ever noticed that you
can have brothers and sisters
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in the church that you
feel closer connected with them
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than maybe even blood
family than people who
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you are actually related too?
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What is that? That's "koinonia."
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That is this intimate fellowship
that comes as the result of
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the same focus on
the Lord Jesus Christ,
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the same
mission, the same goals,
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the same unity in
the church, so the early
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Christian Church had
koinonia, they had fellowship
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with one another.
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The 3rd characteristic
it said, "In the breaking
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of bread," and then you see
this as well down in verse 46.
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It talks about "They broke
bread from house to house."
00:11:00.29\00:11:03.66
So Luke breaks it down
even more at that point.
00:11:03.73\00:11:05.89
I think the breaking of bread,
now of course, we know this can
00:11:05.93\00:11:08.60
symbolize communion
and the breaking of bread,
00:11:08.63\00:11:11.07
but I think in
addition to that, it symbolizes
00:11:11.10\00:11:14.20
they actually went
to each other's homes,
00:11:14.24\00:11:16.00
and they shared meals together,
that was that "koinonia"
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as it were, not only
the spiritual fellowship,
00:11:20.78\00:11:23.75
but physical fellowship as well.
00:11:23.81\00:11:26.05
You ever notice when you
go to someone's house to eat,
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you get to know them
a lot better - you know,
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you just find out who
they are and how they live.
00:11:30.99\00:11:33.82
It's much more intimate
than just passing in the church.
00:11:33.86\00:11:37.83
So they had that
breaking of bread together.
00:11:37.86\00:11:40.06
The 4th thing is prayers,
"They continued steadfastly
00:11:40.10\00:11:43.70
in the apostles' doctrine,
fellowship, breaking of bread,
00:11:43.73\00:11:46.77
and in prayers and I think
this referred to both private
00:11:46.80\00:11:50.34
and corporate prayers...
they continued in that.
00:11:50.37\00:11:53.41
Next verse, verse
43... "Then fear came upon
00:11:53.44\00:11:56.51
every soul, and many
wonders and signs were done
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through the apostles."
00:12:00.62\00:12:02.28
Now the fear in this
case meaning reverent awe
00:12:02.32\00:12:04.92
came upon people and
why did this reverent
00:12:04.95\00:12:07.36
awe come upon them?
00:12:07.39\00:12:08.79
Little wonder, I mean - can
you imagine if you lived in that
00:12:08.82\00:12:12.09
time and the... you
know, there was big news
00:12:12.13\00:12:15.20
about Jesus being crucified,
and then just a few days
00:12:15.23\00:12:18.37
later, 50 days right?
... the outpouring of the
00:12:18.40\00:12:21.80
Holy Spirit and to see
that take place...when they had
00:12:21.84\00:12:26.14
never seen something
like that take place before.
00:12:26.17\00:12:28.68
So people were amazed at what
was going on and then miracles
00:12:28.71\00:12:32.45
and signs and
wonders began to happen.
00:12:32.48\00:12:35.38
In Mark 16, we won't look
it up, but if you look it up,
00:12:35.42\00:12:38.49
Mark 16:17-18, this is just
after Jesus' great commission
00:12:38.52\00:12:42.26
in Mark... "Jesus says, "And
these signs will follow those
00:12:42.29\00:12:46.26
who believe: In My name,
they will cast out demons;
00:12:46.29\00:12:49.36
they will speak
with new tongues;
00:12:49.40\00:12:51.17
they will take up serpents;
and if they drink anything
00:12:51.20\00:12:54.10
deadly, it will by
no means hurt them;
00:12:54.17\00:12:56.14
they will lay hands on the
sick and they will recover."
00:12:56.17\00:12:59.61
So the miracles and
signs that took place, I know
00:12:59.64\00:13:02.91
Brother Johnny will talk
about one of those miracles
00:13:02.94\00:13:04.91
taking place in the
New Testament Church.
00:13:04.95\00:13:07.52
The 6th characteristic
is in the next verse, 45,
00:13:07.55\00:13:11.62
"and sold their possessions
and goods and divided them
00:13:11.65\00:13:13.76
among all as anyone had need."
00:13:13.79\00:13:15.92
So they shared things in common.
00:13:15.96\00:13:20.10
When someone had a
need, they sold that property,
00:13:20.13\00:13:24.33
possession whichever
they had and shared it with
00:13:24.37\00:13:26.63
those people in need.
00:13:26.70\00:13:28.10
#7, Next verse, "So
continuing daily with one accord
00:13:28.14\00:13:33.21
in the temple, breaking
bread from house to house,
00:13:33.24\00:13:35.31
they ate their food
with gladness and simplicity
00:13:35.34\00:13:37.55
of heart, praising God
and having favor with all
00:13:37.61\00:13:40.38
the people. And the Lord
added to the church daily
00:13:40.42\00:13:43.05
those who were being saved."
00:13:43.08\00:13:45.12
So #7 is they prayed to
God, they were joyful in
00:13:45.15\00:13:49.86
their Christian experience.
00:13:49.89\00:13:51.99
And #8, there was
consistent growth from the Lord.
00:13:52.03\00:13:55.53
The Lord added
daily to the church
00:13:55.56\00:13:57.50
those who were being saved.
00:13:57.53\00:13:59.07
So when I think
of the early church,
00:13:59.10\00:14:00.84
I see a joyful people,
willing to learn and be taught
00:14:00.87\00:14:04.31
from the word of
God and the apostles.
00:14:04.34\00:14:06.78
I see a loving, caring
people who enjoyed fellowship
00:14:06.81\00:14:10.45
with each other and freely
shared with those in need.
00:14:10.48\00:14:14.05
I see a holy
people who spent time in
00:14:14.12\00:14:16.72
prayer and praise to God.
00:14:16.79\00:14:18.99
And finally, I see a
humble people through whom God
00:14:19.02\00:14:22.02
could work miracles and
grow the church into a mighty
00:14:22.06\00:14:25.76
army that could
change the world.
00:14:25.79\00:14:27.96
And Johnny!
Amen, praise the Lord!
00:14:28.00\00:14:30.17
Well, I have the joy
of talking about Acts 3,
00:14:30.23\00:14:34.80
or at least some portion of it.
00:14:34.84\00:14:36.34
And so this is what
we call "Monday's part"
00:14:36.37\00:14:41.28
in the Sabbath School Lesson,
and again, we encourage you
00:14:41.31\00:14:44.21
to download the Sabbath School
Lesson - it is absolutely free,
00:14:44.25\00:14:47.92
or you may want
to visit one of the
00:14:47.95\00:14:49.72
Seventh-day Adventist Churches
to get one and they will be
00:14:49.75\00:14:53.12
glad to share one with you.
00:14:53.15\00:14:54.56
And so I would like to
read to you from Acts 3
00:14:54.59\00:14:58.53
because this is a
WONDERFUL story and now Acts 3
00:14:58.56\00:15:02.56
begins with Peter and
John went to the temple
00:15:02.60\00:15:06.94
at the 3 o'clock hour to pray,
and, of course, this indicates
00:15:06.97\00:15:10.97
that they continued
following some of the things
00:15:11.01\00:15:13.24
they were doing before.
00:15:13.27\00:15:14.61
The early Christian Church
followed many of the things
00:15:14.64\00:15:17.55
that were done - it
was a good practice to go
00:15:17.58\00:15:19.71
to prayer at 3
o'clock at the temple.
00:15:19.75\00:15:21.92
So, this opportunity,
when they went, there was a man
00:15:21.95\00:15:27.16
sitting by the door
asking for alms, asking for
00:15:27.19\00:15:32.86
some type of help
because of his condition,
00:15:32.89\00:15:36.73
and I love this story.
00:15:36.77\00:15:38.97
And I would like to begin
reading to you in verse 3,
00:15:39.00\00:15:42.17
who seeing Peter and John
about to go into the temple,
00:15:42.20\00:15:45.14
asked for alms. And
fixing his eyes on him,
00:15:45.17\00:15:49.31
with John, Peter
said, "Look at us."
00:15:49.34\00:15:52.41
So he gave them his
attention, expecting to receive
00:15:52.45\00:15:55.45
something from them... Oh,
these guys are gonna help me.
00:15:55.48\00:15:57.99
And then Peter said,
"Silver and gold I do not have,
00:15:58.02\00:16:03.96
but what I do have, I give you:
00:16:03.99\00:16:06.43
In the name of Jesus Christ
of Nazareth, rise up and walk."
00:16:06.46\00:16:10.97
WOW, what a message he received,
better than any amount of
00:16:11.00\00:16:16.30
money he could receive that day,
"In the name of Jesus Christ,
00:16:16.34\00:16:19.57
rise up and walk."
00:16:19.61\00:16:21.31
Boy, I wonder what he
thought when he heard that.
00:16:21.34\00:16:24.05
He said, "Wait a minute,
he's just asking me to "get UP."
00:16:24.08\00:16:28.15
And so this is a marvelous
thing, let's continue reading.
00:16:28.18\00:16:31.25
"And he took him by the
right hand and lifted him up,
00:16:31.29\00:16:34.49
and immediately his feet and
ankle bones received strength.
00:16:34.52\00:16:38.83
So he leaping up, stood and
walked and entered the temple
00:16:38.86\00:16:44.03
with them - walking,
leaping, and praising God.
00:16:44.07\00:16:47.30
And all the people saw
him walking and praising God.
00:16:47.34\00:16:50.01
Then they knew that it
was he who sat begging alms
00:16:50.07\00:16:53.98
at the Beautiful
Gate of the Temple;
00:16:54.04\00:16:55.38
and they were filled
with wonder and amazement
00:16:55.41\00:16:57.78
at what happened to him."
00:16:57.81\00:17:00.38
And this is a marvelous miracle,
one of the miracles that really
00:17:00.45\00:17:04.35
kind of caught the attention
of some of the leaders...
00:17:04.39\00:17:08.46
And so there are some things
that we need to learn from here,
00:17:08.49\00:17:12.49
and I have to kind of
hurry because time seems to
00:17:12.53\00:17:14.36
go on high gear when
you're talking about the Lord.
00:17:14.40\00:17:17.93
In verses 12-26, we see
an outline of the message
00:17:17.97\00:17:24.37
that Peter gave because
people saw this miracle,
00:17:24.41\00:17:27.68
and then they were all
looking at them amazed,
00:17:27.71\00:17:30.25
and you know, there's a
tendency for that sometimes...
00:17:30.28\00:17:33.21
when somebody preaches or
God uses somebody for a miracle,
00:17:33.25\00:17:36.58
that people begin to
think, "That person is special,
00:17:36.62\00:17:39.39
that person," and so some
glory begins to go to the person
00:17:39.42\00:17:43.66
and if that person is
not centered in the Lord,
00:17:43.73\00:17:45.63
some deviation from
the Lord will take place.
00:17:45.66\00:17:49.40
BUT, notice what
Peter said in Acts 3:12...
00:17:49.43\00:17:54.90
"And when Peter saw
it, he responded to the
00:17:54.94\00:17:58.44
people; "Men of Israel,
why do you marvel at this?
00:17:58.47\00:18:01.51
Or why look so intently at
us, as though by our own power
00:18:01.54\00:18:05.35
or godliness we had
made this man walk?"
00:18:05.38\00:18:09.58
And so he begins to
preach to them a sermon...
00:18:09.62\00:18:13.49
The God of Abraham and
Isaac, by Jesus Christ...
00:18:13.52\00:18:17.06
that's how this man is
walking... through Jesus Christ,
00:18:17.09\00:18:20.13
the power of Jesus Christ.
00:18:20.16\00:18:21.46
And he tells them that you have
crucified Him and God the Father
00:18:21.50\00:18:26.10
raised Him from the dead and so
00:18:26.13\00:18:28.44
we have here
some powerful things.
00:18:28.47\00:18:30.21
I'm just gonna go
through some of the verses...
00:18:30.24\00:18:32.14
In verse 15, he says, "And
you killed the Prince of life,
00:18:32.17\00:18:35.18
whom God raised from the dead,
of which we are witnesses."
00:18:35.21\00:18:38.25
In verse 18, he says, "But those
things which God hath foretold
00:18:38.28\00:18:42.02
by the mouth of all his
prophets...notice this...
00:18:42.05\00:18:44.32
that the Christ would
suffer, He has thus fulfilled."
00:18:44.35\00:18:48.06
In verse 19, he says, "Repent
therefore and be converted,
00:18:48.09\00:18:51.36
that your sins
may be blotted out."
00:18:51.39\00:18:53.29
Look at verse 21, "Jesus
Christ who was at the right
00:18:53.33\00:18:56.53
hand of the Father, whom
heaven must receive until
00:18:56.56\00:18:59.03
the times of restoration
of all things which God has
00:18:59.07\00:19:02.74
spoken by the mouth
of all His holy prophets
00:19:02.77\00:19:04.91
since the world began."
00:19:04.94\00:19:06.27
Verse 22, he takes him to Moses,
00:19:06.31\00:19:08.21
"For Moses truly
said to the fathers."
00:19:08.24\00:19:10.68
And verse 24, "Yes, and
all the prophets from Samuel
00:19:10.71\00:19:15.18
and those who follow,
as many as have spoken,
00:19:15.22\00:19:17.45
have foretold of these days."
00:19:17.52\00:19:19.62
So what does Peter do?
00:19:19.65\00:19:21.02
Peter puts them on
the firm foundation of the
00:19:21.06\00:19:23.49
Holy Scriptures, helps them
to understand what has happened
00:19:23.56\00:19:27.30
is a fulfillment of
prophecy and he is building on
00:19:27.36\00:19:32.13
truth that they already knew.
00:19:32.17\00:19:34.77
And I want to say
that in every age,
00:19:34.80\00:19:36.81
there's an unfolding of truth.
00:19:36.84\00:19:38.67
And I say, "An unfolding
of truth," because this
00:19:38.71\00:19:41.41
is what was really happening.
00:19:41.44\00:19:43.35
Jesus Christ came, lived a
perfect life, died on the cross
00:19:43.38\00:19:48.08
for us and rose again from the
dead to become our High Priest.
00:19:48.12\00:19:53.66
And this is a message
that was building on what the
00:19:53.69\00:19:57.33
Jews already had.
00:19:57.36\00:19:59.09
God had told them
to build a temple.
00:19:59.13\00:20:00.90
God had told them
about the animal sacrifices,
00:20:00.93\00:20:03.33
and this is
what now... remember,
00:20:03.37\00:20:05.97
John the Baptist says,
"Behold the Lamb of God which
00:20:06.00\00:20:09.07
taketh away the
sin of the world."
00:20:09.10\00:20:11.14
So, messages were being given
to them so that they understood
00:20:11.17\00:20:15.44
there is coming an unfolding
of truth because in every age,
00:20:15.48\00:20:20.52
there's an unfolding of truth.
00:20:20.58\00:20:21.92
It doesn't change
the truth from the past.
00:20:21.95\00:20:24.82
It builds on it! Amen!
00:20:24.85\00:20:26.39
See, that's what we have today.
00:20:26.42\00:20:28.96
There's an unfolding of truth
that had built on the old truth,
00:20:28.99\00:20:32.09
but it makes it brighter, makes
it a more complete message.
00:20:32.13\00:20:38.80
And this is what we
have... Jesus Christ came,
00:20:38.83\00:20:41.67
lived a perfect life,
became the Lamb of God,
00:20:41.70\00:20:45.51
was crucified, rose
again, and now He is
00:20:45.54\00:20:49.31
ministering in
heaven as our High Priest,
00:20:49.34\00:20:51.85
and this is what the
Jews had to understand
00:20:51.88\00:20:54.15
from the sacrificial
system, that Jesus Christ
00:20:54.18\00:20:57.22
would be their High Priest.
00:20:57.25\00:20:58.72
Now, there were some
points to the message that
00:20:58.75\00:21:01.39
Peter gave and this
is what has characterized
00:21:01.42\00:21:03.76
a lot of the preaching
of the early Christians...
00:21:03.83\00:21:05.63
#1, Jesus was the
suffering Messiah, Acts 3:18.
00:21:05.66\00:21:09.63
God had
resurrected Him. Acts 3:15
00:21:09.66\00:21:11.47
Jesus was exalted
in heaven. Acts 3:13
00:21:11.50\00:21:16.50
He will come again. Acts 3:20
00:21:16.54\00:21:19.77
And #5, Repentance is necessary
for the forgiveness of sins.
00:21:19.81\00:21:25.68
And so this is what the message
that the disciples were giving.
00:21:25.71\00:21:30.25
And, of course, as you continue
reading in the New Testament,
00:21:30.29\00:21:34.32
you see later that the Book
of Hebrew comes and it's just
00:21:34.36\00:21:39.69
an unfolding of truth and
it's a marvelous, marvelous
00:21:39.73\00:21:43.13
message for each
and every one of us.
00:21:43.16\00:21:45.63
So, what do we preach today?
00:21:45.67\00:21:49.87
Today, we have to
give the same message...
00:21:49.94\00:21:52.57
Jesus Christ is the
Messiah; Jesus Christ came,
00:21:52.61\00:21:56.68
lived a perfect life,
died for us and He is our
00:21:56.71\00:22:00.98
High Priest in
heaven; and Jesus Christ
00:22:01.02\00:22:05.09
is coming again.
00:22:05.12\00:22:06.45
These are the elements of the
Seventh-day Adventist Church,
00:22:06.49\00:22:08.26
and Jesus Christ is always in
the center of all the doctrine.
00:22:08.29\00:22:12.89
Amen! Amen! If
Jesus Christ is not in the
00:22:12.93\00:22:15.00
center of your
doctrine, then you have to look
00:22:15.03\00:22:16.93
at that and ask
yourself, "Is it founded on
00:22:16.97\00:22:19.23
the Scripture, because
when you look at the Scripture,
00:22:19.27\00:22:21.64
it all points to Jesus as
our Messiah, our wonderful
00:22:21.67\00:22:25.27
High Priest.
00:22:25.31\00:22:26.64
And so, I want to encourage
our viewers to continue
00:22:26.68\00:22:30.45
to search the Scriptures;
in them there is truth
00:22:30.51\00:22:33.62
for life; in them
there is truth that we need
00:22:33.68\00:22:36.65
for today and I want
to quote from a book by
00:22:36.69\00:22:42.86
Sister Ellen G. White,
"Gospel Workers," p. 156-157
00:22:42.89\00:22:46.39
In this paragraph it talks
about the Three Angels Messages
00:22:46.43\00:22:51.00
and it says, "The great center
of attraction, Christ Jesus,
00:22:51.03\00:22:55.14
must not be left out.
00:22:55.17\00:22:56.50
It is at the cross of
Christ that mercy and truth
00:22:56.54\00:23:00.11
meet together and righteousness
and peace kiss each other.
00:23:00.18\00:23:04.15
The sinner must be led to
look to Calvary with the simple
00:23:04.18\00:23:07.88
faith of a little child.
00:23:07.92\00:23:09.25
He must trust in the
merits of the Savior, accepting
00:23:09.28\00:23:12.35
His righteousness,
believing in His mercy."
00:23:12.39\00:23:15.32
And so, the Christian Church
was... I want to add this too
00:23:15.36\00:23:19.53
because the Christian
Church was started by Jews.
00:23:19.56\00:23:23.10
God used the Jewish people
to start the Christian faith,
00:23:23.13\00:23:27.60
and it is really a
building on something that God
00:23:27.64\00:23:32.04
had already taught the Jewish
people - that were supposed to
00:23:32.07\00:23:35.88
be a light to the world.
00:23:35.91\00:23:37.55
And we want to leave
this message with you because
00:23:37.61\00:23:41.22
the disciples
preached this message,
00:23:41.25\00:23:44.52
we must continue preaching this
message and Jesus said, again,
00:23:44.55\00:23:47.69
"And this gospel of the
kingdom must be preached
00:23:47.72\00:23:49.89
in all the world for a
witness unto all nations,
00:23:49.92\00:23:52.53
and then the end shall come."
Look at what's going on...
00:23:52.56\00:23:54.63
It is easier to preach
the gospel now than ever.
00:23:54.66\00:23:57.57
What are we doing right here?
00:23:57.63\00:23:58.97
We are preaching the
gospel to radio and television,
00:23:59.00\00:24:01.54
and the internet
- millions of people
00:24:01.57\00:24:03.71
can watch at the same time.
00:24:03.74\00:24:05.07
The message is going forth
and prophecy is being fulfilled.
00:24:05.11\00:24:09.41
Amen, Amen, Amen!
00:24:09.44\00:24:10.95
You know, Johnny, the
most amazing thing about truth
00:24:10.98\00:24:13.72
... now you said it -
Truth builds on prior truth.
00:24:13.75\00:24:18.02
Truth doesn't do
away with past truth.
00:24:18.05\00:24:20.16
But you know what truth will do?
00:24:20.19\00:24:22.89
Exposed past error. Exactly!
00:24:22.92\00:24:25.06
And you know, that's
what when Christ came,
00:24:25.09\00:24:28.50
and the true gospel was
being taught, past error was
00:24:28.53\00:24:32.77
being exposed and that's
what the people didn't like
00:24:32.80\00:24:35.64
was for past error... Yes
00:24:35.67\00:24:37.17
Now today, I've got Tuesday,
00:24:37.21\00:24:40.28
and it's, "The
Rise of Opposition."
00:24:40.34\00:24:43.11
Let me ask you this...
When someone is experiencing
00:24:43.14\00:24:49.52
great success,
what does it seem like
00:24:49.55\00:24:53.32
always arises in that?
00:24:53.36\00:24:56.69
Opposition! It's
going to be opposition.
00:24:56.73\00:24:59.29
The devil doesn't like it.
00:24:59.33\00:25:01.33
But what is that
opposition usually triggered by?
00:25:01.36\00:25:04.07
I'm going to use
the word "jealousy."
00:25:04.10\00:25:06.63
Yes, okay - the
opposition came - now this is
00:25:06.67\00:25:10.51
going to surprise us
all... from the Jewish leaders,
00:25:10.54\00:25:14.81
the religious folk, the
high priest and his associates
00:25:14.84\00:25:19.51
most of whom were Sadducees.
00:25:19.55\00:25:21.72
The high priest
was also the president
00:25:21.75\00:25:25.05
of the Sanhedrin Council.
00:25:25.09\00:25:27.06
Now, we're going to talk about
the Sanhedrin Council and we
00:25:27.09\00:25:31.09
will do that several times
in this study this quarter,
00:25:31.13\00:25:34.50
and Sadducees and Pharisees,
and so I wanted to just
00:25:34.56\00:25:39.07
kind of lay a little picture
of something that we would
00:25:39.10\00:25:42.10
understand - well, here
in the United States anyway.
00:25:42.14\00:25:45.17
The Sanhedrin is kind
of like our Supreme Court.
00:25:45.21\00:25:49.28
The Sanhedrin was to the
Jewish faith - was kind of
00:25:49.31\00:25:52.85
like our Supreme Court.
00:25:52.88\00:25:54.58
The Sadducees and
Pharisees were kinda like
00:25:54.62\00:25:57.35
Republicans and Democrats.
00:25:57.39\00:25:59.29
Now do Republicans and
Democrats ever cross swords?
00:25:59.32\00:26:03.09
Do they ever agree on anything?
00:26:03.12\00:26:04.73
Well see, the
Sadducees and the Pharisees
00:26:04.76\00:26:06.73
didn't agree on
a whole lot either.
00:26:06.76\00:26:08.60
And the high priest
was the president of the
00:26:08.63\00:26:12.30
Sanhedrin Council...
so that's kind of what
00:26:12.33\00:26:15.40
we're talking about here, okay.
00:26:15.44\00:26:17.77
The Sadducees didn't
believe in the resurrection,
00:26:17.81\00:26:22.64
and Peter and John's teaching.
00:26:22.68\00:26:24.88
What were they teaching?
00:26:24.91\00:26:26.25
The resurrection of the
Lord Jesus Christ and that just
00:26:26.28\00:26:29.18
disturbed them greatly.
00:26:29.22\00:26:30.89
The Pharisees... I
believe you mentioned once CA,
00:26:30.92\00:26:35.76
that there were about
6,000 Pharisees in a population
00:26:35.79\00:26:40.10
of about 30,000
people, so that would make
00:26:40.13\00:26:42.93
one-fifth of the
population were Pharisees.
00:26:42.96\00:26:45.77
But now that was more
like the general populace,
00:26:45.80\00:26:47.87
am I right in
that? In Jerusalem.
00:26:47.90\00:26:49.60
In Jerusalem, yes.
00:26:49.64\00:26:50.97
Now the Sadducees, they
were more the higher echelon,
00:26:51.01\00:26:54.94
maybe that's what they were.
00:26:54.98\00:26:57.01
Okay, so we see that
opposition is coming,
00:26:57.05\00:27:01.42
and I wanted to start reading.
00:27:01.45\00:27:03.15
I'm going to start in Acts
4, we'll start with verse 1.
00:27:03.18\00:27:06.89
It says, "Now as they spoke
to the people... and what we're
00:27:06.92\00:27:10.06
talking about here is
Peter and John as they're
00:27:10.09\00:27:13.09
speaking to the people.
00:27:13.13\00:27:14.56
The priest, the captain of
the temple and the Sadducees
00:27:14.60\00:27:18.57
came upon them, being greatly
disturbed that they taught
00:27:18.60\00:27:22.77
the people and preached in Jesus
the resurrection from the dead.
00:27:22.80\00:27:27.81
And they laid hands on
them... that doesn't sound like
00:27:27.84\00:27:31.55
something I would
want to happen to me...
00:27:31.58\00:27:34.02
and put them in
custody until the next day,
00:27:34.05\00:27:37.09
for it was already evening.
00:27:37.12\00:27:38.59
However, many of those
who heard the word believed;
00:27:38.62\00:27:42.06
and the number of the
men came to be about 5,000."
00:27:42.09\00:27:47.30
So, is the early
church receiving great success
00:27:47.30\00:27:51.97
at the preaching
of Peter and John?
00:27:52.00\00:27:55.30
Of course it is... why?
00:27:55.34\00:27:56.67
Because they're
preaching the word of God.
00:27:56.71\00:27:58.27
All right now, verse
5... "And it came to pass,
00:27:58.31\00:28:02.18
on the next day, that their
rulers, elders and scribes,
00:28:02.21\00:28:06.85
as well as Annas the high
priest, Caiaphas, John and
00:28:06.88\00:28:11.22
Alexander, and as many
as were of the family of the
00:28:11.25\00:28:14.29
high priest, were gathered
together at Jerusalem...
00:28:14.32\00:28:17.59
Now listen to this...
and when they had set them
00:28:17.66\00:28:20.83
in the midst, they asked,
"By what... and here is a clue,
00:28:20.86\00:28:26.13
by what power or by what
name have you done this?"
00:28:26.17\00:28:31.27
You know what
they're interested in?
00:28:31.31\00:28:32.84
That power... they're
interested in the power.
00:28:32.87\00:28:35.91
Their concern
was the power because
00:28:35.94\00:28:38.88
if they have power and
you don't, what do they want?
00:28:38.91\00:28:43.92
They want that
power, and if you can't
00:28:43.99\00:28:46.22
control it, what
do you want to do?
00:28:46.25\00:28:47.99
You want to kill it!
00:28:48.02\00:28:49.49
Okay, now chapter 4:8...
"Then Peter... and I just love
00:28:49.52\00:28:56.30
Peter... here he goes again,
filled with the Holy Spirit
00:28:56.33\00:29:00.67
said to them... now
he's talking to the religious
00:29:00.70\00:29:04.27
leaders, he said to
them, "Rulers of the people
00:29:04.34\00:29:07.64
and elders of Israel,
"If we this day are judged
00:29:07.68\00:29:11.75
for a good deed done to
a helpless man... now what
00:29:11.78\00:29:15.52
are they talking about here?
00:29:15.55\00:29:16.92
It's that lame
man, isn't it, Johnny?
00:29:16.95\00:29:19.62
That went jumping and
dancing and praising God
00:29:19.65\00:29:23.32
right in the temple.
00:29:23.36\00:29:25.06
"If we this day are
judged for a good deed done to a
00:29:25.09\00:29:29.93
helpless man, by what
means he has been made well,
00:29:29.96\00:29:33.47
let it be known to you all,
and to all the people of Israel
00:29:33.54\00:29:38.01
that by the name of
Jesus Christ of Nazareth...
00:29:38.04\00:29:41.78
now look who he's
talking to, whom you crucified
00:29:41.81\00:29:45.85
... but who God
raised from the dead,
00:29:45.88\00:29:48.48
by Him this man
stands here before you whole.
00:29:48.52\00:29:51.89
This is the "stone which
was rejected by you builders,
00:29:51.92\00:29:57.79
and which has become
the chief cornerstone."
00:29:57.83\00:30:00.63
Peter did not mince
words, he laid it out for them.
00:30:00.70\00:30:04.30
Nor is there salvation in
any other, for there is no other
00:30:04.33\00:30:10.37
name under heaven given among
men by which we must be saved?
00:30:10.41\00:30:15.11
Now verse 13, "Now when they
saw... now who is the "they?"
00:30:15.98\00:30:21.35
It's the leaders, it's
the Sadducees, the Pharisees,
00:30:21.38\00:30:24.82
the high priest - when
they saw the boldness of
00:30:24.85\00:30:28.72
Peter and John, and perceived
that they were uneducated,
00:30:28.76\00:30:32.49
and untrained
men, they marveled.
00:30:32.53\00:30:35.06
And they realized that
they had been with Jesus.
00:30:35.10\00:30:39.63
And seeing the man who had
been healed standing with them,
00:30:39.67\00:30:43.17
they could say
nothing against it.
00:30:43.54\00:30:46.27
But when they had commanded
them to go aside out of the
00:30:46.31\00:30:49.98
council, they
conferred among themselves,
00:30:50.01\00:30:52.78
saying, "What
shall we do to these men?
00:30:52.81\00:30:55.28
For, indeed, that a
notable miracle has been done
00:30:55.32\00:30:59.22
through them is evident to
all who dwell in Jerusalem,
00:30:59.25\00:31:03.22
and we cannot deny it.
00:31:03.26\00:31:04.83
But so that it spreads no
further among the people...
00:31:04.86\00:31:08.66
what's their objective?
So that it spreads no further
00:31:08.70\00:31:12.27
among the people, let
us severely threaten them
00:31:12.30\00:31:15.80
that from now on they
speak to no man in this name.
00:31:15.84\00:31:20.34
So they called them and
commanded them not to speak
00:31:20.38\00:31:24.55
to or teach in
the name of Jesus."
00:31:24.58\00:31:28.25
Now we're going to see the rest
of that story in just a minute.
00:31:28.28\00:31:30.95
But right now, I want
you to go to Matthew 10.
00:31:30.99\00:31:35.09
Matthew 10, we're going
to start with verse 16...
00:31:35.12\00:31:38.46
Jesus calls His twelve
apostles together and gives them
00:31:38.49\00:31:43.03
power to minister
and some instructions.
00:31:43.06\00:31:45.87
So this is Matthew, before
Jesus is exalted, He gives
00:31:45.90\00:31:50.74
instructions to the apostles.
00:31:50.77\00:31:53.51
So he says, "Behold I send
you out as sheep in the midst
00:31:53.54\00:31:57.38
of wolves. Therefore, be
wise as serpents and harmless
00:31:57.41\00:32:01.82
as doves. But beware of men
for they will deliver you up
00:32:01.85\00:32:06.22
to councils and scourge you in
their... what's that next word?
00:32:06.25\00:32:09.69
Synagogues. Synagogues!
00:32:09.72\00:32:11.36
Now is this people outside
the church or inside the church?
00:32:11.39\00:32:15.00
Inside the church.
Outside the church they
00:32:15.03\00:32:16.36
didn't have synagogues.
00:32:16.40\00:32:17.73
Jesus is warning them
about the religious folk...
00:32:17.77\00:32:21.14
saying, " You will be brought
before governors and kings
00:32:21.17\00:32:24.07
for My sake, as a testimony
to them and to the Gentiles.
00:32:24.11\00:32:27.58
But when they deliver you
up, do not worry about how
00:32:27.61\00:32:31.45
or what you should speak;
for it will be given to you
00:32:31.48\00:32:34.72
in that hour what you
should speak for it is not
00:32:34.75\00:32:38.29
you who speaks, but
the Spirit of your Father
00:32:38.32\00:32:41.29
who speaks in you."
00:32:41.32\00:32:43.89
So let me ask you this...
00:32:43.93\00:32:46.03
What did those
religious leaders really fear?
00:32:46.06\00:32:49.06
It wasn't James and John,
was it? Not James and John,
00:32:49.10\00:32:53.90
John and Peter...
It wasn't them because
00:32:53.97\00:32:56.84
what they said about them
is, "We perceive them to be
00:32:56.87\00:32:59.47
uneducated and untrained men."
00:32:59.51\00:33:02.24
So they were out to destroy
something, to stop something.
00:33:02.28\00:33:06.21
Their fear was for the
message and the power that
00:33:06.25\00:33:10.49
went with that message.
00:33:10.52\00:33:12.02
They feared the
message of a risen Savior,
00:33:12.05\00:33:15.49
and they feared the
people changing their allegiance
00:33:15.52\00:33:19.09
from them to the
message of our Lord and Savior
00:33:19.13\00:33:22.73
Jesus Christ who
brought them HOPE for a future,
00:33:22.76\00:33:27.40
and deliverance - the
opposition was about power...
00:33:27.44\00:33:31.67
Who had the power over
the hearts of the people.
00:33:31.71\00:33:34.64
They were trying to
protect their power...
00:33:34.68\00:33:38.25
that's called self-protection.
00:33:38.28\00:33:40.78
Now this is Peter
and John's final words...
00:33:40.82\00:33:45.12
Acts 4:19-20, "But Peter and
John answered and said to them..
00:33:45.15\00:33:49.82
talking to the religious
leaders, "Whether it is right
00:33:49.86\00:33:53.19
in the sight of God to
listen to you more than to God,
00:33:53.23\00:33:56.53
you judge. For we
cannot but speak the things
00:33:56.60\00:34:00.57
which we have seen and heard."
00:34:00.64\00:34:02.54
Amen, amen and amen!
00:34:02.57\00:34:04.84
Oh I love their BOLDNESS!
00:34:04.87\00:34:08.11
I think you got a
little Peter in you too,
00:34:08.14\00:34:10.48
a little cayenne as
CA would say. Ha, ha, ha.
00:34:10.55\00:34:14.02
Okay, I have Wednesday's
lesson, and this is a story that
00:34:14.05\00:34:20.99
in many people, it
raises eyebrows, and some people
00:34:21.02\00:34:24.36
are concerned about.
00:34:24.39\00:34:25.73
So we're going to be talking
about Ananias and Sapphira.
00:34:25.76\00:34:28.70
I'd like to back up
just a little in Scripture,
00:34:28.73\00:34:30.93
and give you some context.
00:34:30.97\00:34:33.60
In Acts 4:32 is
where we'll begin...
00:34:33.64\00:34:36.47
"Now the multitude of those
who believed were of one heart
00:34:36.50\00:34:40.24
and soul; neither did anyone
say that any of the things
00:34:40.28\00:34:43.41
he possessed was his own,
but they had all things in
00:34:43.45\00:34:46.31
common. And with great
power the apostles gave witness
00:34:46.35\00:34:49.82
to the resurrection of
the Lord. And great grace
00:34:49.85\00:34:53.52
was upon them all.
Nor was there anyone
00:34:53.56\00:34:56.59
among them who lacked;
for all who were possessors
00:34:56.62\00:35:00.13
of lands or houses sold
them, and brought the proceeds
00:35:00.16\00:35:02.73
of the things that
were sold, and laid them at
00:35:02.76\00:35:04.70
the apostles' feet; and
they distributed to each one
00:35:04.73\00:35:08.34
as anyone had need.
And Joses, who was also
00:35:08.37\00:35:12.11
named Barnabas by the
apostles which is translated
00:35:12.14\00:35:15.24
"Son of Encouragement,"
a Levite of the country of
00:35:15.28\00:35:19.05
Cyprus, having land, he
sold it, he brought the money
00:35:19.08\00:35:23.08
and laid it all at
the apostles' feet."
00:35:23.12\00:35:27.16
So the generosity of Barnabas
is being brought out there,
00:35:27.19\00:35:31.76
but this was a
voluntary action, it was not
00:35:31.79\00:35:35.20
compulsory for them to do this.
00:35:35.23\00:35:37.73
Likely they believed that the
outpouring of the Holy Spirit
00:35:37.77\00:35:42.10
meant that Jesus'
second coming was going to be
00:35:42.14\00:35:46.41
soon and they knew that
God would provide everything
00:35:46.44\00:35:49.71
that they needed -
that's what they believed.
00:35:49.74\00:35:51.61
But as you said, the
opposition had started
00:35:51.65\00:35:54.42
from without and so these people
were taking care of one another.
00:35:54.45\00:35:59.42
So Acts 5:1... now just remember
this, this is an abbreviated
00:35:59.45\00:36:05.99
account - when you think
you've got 30 years in these
00:36:06.03\00:36:09.93
few chapters of Acts, everything
is an abbreviated account.
00:36:09.96\00:36:14.14
So Luke is going to tell
us about Ananias and Sapphira.
00:36:14.17\00:36:18.31
"But a certain man, Acts
5:1, a certain man named Ananias
00:36:18.34\00:36:23.35
with Sapphira, his wife, sold
a possession and he kept back
00:36:23.38\00:36:26.55
part of the
proceeds. His wife also being
00:36:26.58\00:36:29.98
aware of it and he
brought a certain part
00:36:30.02\00:36:32.65
and laid it at
the apostles' feet.
00:36:32.69\00:36:35.12
But Peter said, "Ananias,
why has Satan filled your heart
00:36:35.16\00:36:39.76
to lie to the Holy Spirit
and keep back part of the price
00:36:39.79\00:36:44.43
of the land for yourself?"
00:36:44.47\00:36:45.80
So what happened here is
the Holy Spirit is revealing
00:36:45.83\00:36:50.47
to Peter that there
is a conspiracy because
00:36:50.51\00:36:54.78
Ananias and Sapphira are
coming forward and they're
00:36:54.81\00:36:57.88
acting like - "We're giving
it all, we're giving it all,
00:36:57.91\00:37:01.42
we're so sacrificial."
00:37:01.45\00:37:02.98
And they were doing
it, you know, trying to
00:37:03.02\00:37:06.15
get the acclaim and you
can read in the story, you know
00:37:06.19\00:37:10.16
they wanted to
be seen as generous.
00:37:10.19\00:37:13.66
But Peter recognized...
first let me say this...
00:37:13.73\00:37:18.40
Can Satan tempt the
hearts of believers - - or fill
00:37:18.43\00:37:22.84
the hearts of believers?
00:37:22.87\00:37:24.21
Obviously he did here,
he filled their hearts with
00:37:24.24\00:37:26.78
pride, deceit, duplicity,
and so what happened...
00:37:26.81\00:37:32.25
Peter recognizes their
hypocrisy, and you know,
00:37:32.28\00:37:37.42
I have to say that
hypocrisy is the sin of...
00:37:37.49\00:37:41.86
hypocrisy is still a
cancer in the church today,
00:37:41.89\00:37:46.29
would you agree? Yes
00:37:46.33\00:37:48.06
So here we've got...
they're trying to do something
00:37:48.10\00:37:53.23
and make it look
like something else.
00:37:53.30\00:37:55.10
The Holy Spirit leads
Peter, and we've got to
00:37:55.14\00:37:58.31
make this point... God
knows everything we do.
00:37:58.34\00:38:01.58
You know, I hear people
talking about "secret sins,
00:38:01.61\00:38:04.85
secret sins," there's no
such thing as a secret sin.
00:38:04.88\00:38:08.65
Psalm 69:5 says, "O
God, You know my foolishness;
00:38:08.68\00:38:12.99
And my sins are
not hidden from You."
00:38:13.02\00:38:15.29
So continuing in Acts
5:4... Here he had said to them,
00:38:15.32\00:38:22.60
"Why has Satan filled
your heart so that you lie
00:38:22.63\00:38:26.94
to the Holy Spirit,
hold back part of it,"
00:38:26.97\00:38:28.87
And in verse 4, he
said, "While it remained,
00:38:28.90\00:38:31.24
was is not your
own? And after it sold,
00:38:31.27\00:38:33.78
was it not in your own control?"
00:38:33.81\00:38:36.01
There was no requirement
for the couple to give all
00:38:36.04\00:38:38.48
of the proceeds, whatever
belonged to them was theirs.
00:38:38.51\00:38:43.12
It did not belong to the
church, but after they sold
00:38:43.15\00:38:46.42
the proceeds, it was up to
them to decide what to do...
00:38:46.45\00:38:49.02
So their sin wasn't in
keeping part of the money,
00:38:49.06\00:38:53.43
their sin was in lying about it
and pretending to give it all.
00:38:53.50\00:38:58.60
So continuing in verse
4... Oh this is important.
00:38:58.63\00:39:02.40
"Why had you conceived
this thing in your heart?
00:39:02.44\00:39:06.11
You had not lied
to men, but to God."
00:39:06.14\00:39:11.31
I think this is a very
important text about the
00:39:11.35\00:39:14.05
Deity of the Holy Spirit
when he says, "You've not lied
00:39:14.08\00:39:17.55
to men, but to God," and
he has already asked him,
00:39:17.62\00:39:21.46
Hey, why are you
lying to the Holy Spirit?
00:39:21.49\00:39:25.29
"Then Ananias, verse
5, hearing these words,
00:39:25.33\00:39:28.13
fell down and
breathed his last."
00:39:28.16\00:39:30.10
So great fear came upon all
those who heard these things."
00:39:30.17\00:39:34.54
See the stunning
result of their hypocrisy...
00:39:34.57\00:39:38.97
They were
immediately struck down.
00:39:39.01\00:39:41.74
We'll see his
wife leaves as well.
00:39:41.78\00:39:43.78
And, you know,
perhaps it could have been
00:39:43.85\00:39:46.01
psychological fear
that, you know, the exposure
00:39:46.05\00:39:49.48
that overcame him
perhaps, he could have had a
00:39:49.52\00:39:51.75
heart attack, but no
less it was ordained of God
00:39:51.79\00:39:54.92
because we're going to see
this repeated in just a moment.
00:39:54.96\00:39:57.69
God was surgically
removing the sin of hypocrisy
00:39:57.73\00:40:03.33
because this could
have affected the entire
00:40:03.37\00:40:05.97
new community and
undermined the Holy Spirit's
00:40:06.00\00:40:09.47
work in the
early Christian Church.
00:40:09.50\00:40:11.71
So this is an exceptional
case of swift, divine judgment.
00:40:11.74\00:40:18.45
It reminds me of Acts
12:23 where King Herod was
00:40:18.48\00:40:22.85
being hailed as God and
he did not give God the glory
00:40:22.88\00:40:29.56
and he also keeled over.
00:40:29.59\00:40:32.29
But it was unique
circumstances, judgment came
00:40:32.33\00:40:39.97
because they lied to the
Holy Spirit and to the church,
00:40:40.00\00:40:43.04
and here God is
working all these miracles...
00:40:43.07\00:40:46.81
I mean, we're
seeing the presence of God
00:40:46.84\00:40:48.98
in such a major way that
I think God had to show them
00:40:49.01\00:40:53.85
right away - sin
has consequences.
00:40:53.88\00:40:58.09
So it says in verse
6... "And the young men arose
00:40:58.12\00:41:01.22
and wrapped him up in
linen... wrapped him up would be
00:41:01.26\00:41:06.16
the linen grave clothes...
carried him out and buried him.
00:41:06.19\00:41:08.36
Now it was about three
hours later when his wife
00:41:08.40\00:41:10.63
Sapphira comes in,
not knowing what happened
00:41:10.67\00:41:12.53
and Peter asks her,
Hey, what's going on?
00:41:12.57\00:41:17.27
Or she asks is what
happened and Peter answered...
00:41:17.31\00:41:20.48
"Tell me whether you
sold the land for so much?"
00:41:20.54\00:41:22.88
And she said, Yeah,
that's how much we sold it for.
00:41:22.91\00:41:25.71
And you know what happened?
00:41:25.75\00:41:27.22
Here she is,
she's a co-conspirator
00:41:27.28\00:41:29.78
getting caught in the
same lie as her husband.
00:41:29.82\00:41:32.09
And Peter says, "How
is it that you have agreed
00:41:32.12\00:41:35.36
together to test
the Spirit of the Lord?"
00:41:35.39\00:41:37.49
Look, the feet of those
who have buried your husband
00:41:37.53\00:41:41.03
are at the door, and
they will carry you out."
00:41:41.06\00:41:43.50
That's the shortest Jewish
funeral there ever was, right?
00:41:43.53\00:41:47.90
It was just three
hours later, but immediately
00:41:47.94\00:41:51.91
she fell down at his
feet and breathed her last.
00:41:51.94\00:41:54.51
And the young men
came in, found her dead,
00:41:54.54\00:41:56.78
carried her out, they
buried her by her husband."
00:41:56.81\00:41:59.45
So Peter has explained her
sin as the same as the husband.
00:41:59.48\00:42:07.36
It's lying to God, to
the Holy Spirit who is God.
00:42:07.39\00:42:11.03
It is hypocrisy and he
later wrote in 1 Peter 4:17,
00:42:11.06\00:42:17.67
"It is time for judgment to
begin at the house of the Lord."
00:42:17.70\00:42:22.14
I think judgment begins
here because God didn't want
00:42:22.17\00:42:26.27
this new church to be
infected with hypocrisy.
00:42:26.31\00:42:30.91
So "great fear," verse 11
says, came upon all the church
00:42:30.95\00:42:35.28
and upon all who
heard these things."
00:42:35.32\00:42:37.59
So the church was in
fear, the city was in fear,
00:42:37.62\00:42:41.26
the power of God...
and this is not all the
00:42:41.29\00:42:43.69
details - perhaps God
gave them a chance to repent,
00:42:43.73\00:42:49.50
but we gotta know that
sin is serious and their sin
00:42:49.53\00:42:53.37
was from totally
selfish motivations,
00:42:53.40\00:42:56.00
it was deliberate, it
was calculated and they were
00:42:56.04\00:43:00.41
trying to get prestige,
popularity and influence.
00:43:00.48\00:43:05.01
But you know we
have to remember this...
00:43:05.05\00:43:07.88
Peter also wrote in 2 Peter
3:9, "The Lord is not slack
00:43:07.92\00:43:13.66
concerning His promises,
as some count slackness,
00:43:13.69\00:43:16.73
but He is longsuffering
toward us, not willing that
00:43:16.76\00:43:21.06
any should perish, but that
all should come to repentance."
00:43:21.10\00:43:25.43
So God is gracious and
His punishment is often
00:43:25.47\00:43:29.74
delayed in His patience.
00:43:29.77\00:43:32.94
But here's a quote
from the Quarterly...
00:43:32.97\00:43:35.58
"The bottom line is that,
from the beginning to end,
00:43:35.61\00:43:38.41
they had acted sinfully,
and sin is a serious matter
00:43:38.45\00:43:41.72
in God's eyes, even if
He does not always punish it
00:43:41.75\00:43:45.62
immediately. In fact, that
punishment is often deferred
00:43:45.65\00:43:50.39
should constantly remind
us of how gracious God is."
00:43:50.43\00:43:59.50
Well done Shelley. Amen!
00:43:59.53\00:44:01.17
And it leads into
Thursday's lesson which is
00:44:01.20\00:44:05.31
"The Second Arrest."
00:44:05.34\00:44:07.11
I want to read something from
the Sabbath School Quarterly,
00:44:07.18\00:44:13.01
I'm going to step
back for just a moment.
00:44:13.05\00:44:14.62
It says, "If the apostles
could be used to bring God's
00:44:14.65\00:44:18.22
judgment on sin, as in
Ananias and Sapphira' s
00:44:18.25\00:44:21.59
case, they could also be used to
bring God's grace on sinners."
00:44:21.62\00:44:27.40
This dunamis that was
given to them was a power to
00:44:27.40\00:44:32.97
keep the church pure.
00:44:33.00\00:44:35.80
We need to remember
this is a pure institution.
00:44:35.84\00:44:40.34
This is the "white
horse" of Revelation 6.
00:44:40.38\00:44:42.91
Before the red horse, the
black horse, the pale horse,
00:44:42.94\00:44:45.61
this is a church
that has moved forward
00:44:45.65\00:44:48.92
conquering and to conquer.
00:44:48.95\00:44:50.75
These are people who
are on fire for the Lord.
00:44:50.79\00:44:54.52
They are zealous for the Lord.
00:44:54.56\00:44:56.32
They are sharing things,
they're seeing miracles happen.
00:44:56.36\00:44:59.79
God is guiding His church and
it's a wonderful institution...
00:44:59.83\00:45:03.97
There is "koinonia"
which is fellowship.
00:45:04.00\00:45:06.07
There is "diakonia"
which is teaching and doctrine.
00:45:06.10\00:45:09.00
They are married
together, preaching is going on.
00:45:09.04\00:45:12.61
Teaching is going on and
daily people are coming to this
00:45:12.64\00:45:16.38
new institution.
00:45:16.41\00:45:17.75
They are coming to church,
they're coming to the Lord.
00:45:17.78\00:45:19.91
Now, of course, 1
Peter 4:12, tells me,
00:45:19.95\00:45:22.15
"Think it not strange concerning
00:45:22.18\00:45:23.89
the fiery trial
which is to try you."
00:45:23.92\00:45:25.62
You know, something
good is going on to somebody
00:45:25.65\00:45:28.89
who has a problem with that.
00:45:28.92\00:45:30.36
So, the Jewish
leaders as Mollie well said,
00:45:30.43\00:45:34.93
and we've all sort of
brought this out, really had a
00:45:34.93\00:45:37.70
problem with what was going on.
00:45:37.73\00:45:40.30
And if you can't join
it, you try to kill it.
00:45:40.34\00:45:44.34
But there's such
energy and such love...
00:45:44.37\00:45:47.88
You know 1 John
1:7 comes to me...
00:45:47.91\00:45:50.81
"If we walk in the
light as He is in the light,
00:45:50.85\00:45:53.31
we have fellowship."
00:45:53.38\00:45:55.58
You know, that's what you
got and the blood of Christ
00:45:55.62\00:45:57.49
cleanses us from all sin."
00:45:57.55\00:45:58.95
And that's what's
happening in this church.
00:45:58.99\00:46:00.39
There is elan There is cache.
00:46:00.42\00:46:02.99
There is this love;
there is this oneness;
00:46:03.02\00:46:05.89
there is this unity;
there is this growth,
00:46:05.93\00:46:08.50
and this would have
been a wonderful time
00:46:08.53\00:46:11.73
to be a member of
the church of God.
00:46:11.77\00:46:13.34
And there is this constellation
of miracles, you know.
00:46:13.37\00:46:18.57
Let's go to Acts 5, I
want to read verses 12-16...
00:46:18.61\00:46:23.55
I won't have time to
go through all of this...
00:46:23.58\00:46:25.08
I'm going to read
a little quickly...
00:46:25.11\00:46:26.45
Acts 5:12, and I'm
in the New King James...
00:46:26.48\00:46:29.25
"And through the hands of
the apostles, many signs of
00:46:29.28\00:46:32.89
wonders were
done among the people.
00:46:32.92\00:46:35.16
And they were all with
one accord in Solomon's Porch.
00:46:35.19\00:46:38.56
"We're together in this
thing," yet none of the rest
00:46:38.59\00:46:42.46
dare join them, but the
people esteemed them highly."
00:46:42.50\00:46:45.97
We'll get to that
in just a moment...
00:46:46.00\00:46:47.34
The believers were
increasingly added to the Lord,
00:46:47.40\00:46:50.61
multitudes of both men and
women, so that they brought
00:46:50.67\00:46:53.94
the sick out into the
streets and laid them on beds
00:46:53.98\00:46:56.95
and couches, that at least
the shadow of Peter passing
00:46:57.01\00:47:01.25
by might fall on some of them."
00:47:01.28\00:47:03.02
Now that was a "belief,"
like the angel troubling
00:47:03.05\00:47:05.75
the water," it was
that kind of thing.
00:47:05.79\00:47:07.29
It was a belief,
it wasn't really so.
00:47:07.32\00:47:09.19
But they believed
that if the shadow of Peter
00:47:09.22\00:47:11.59
could pass on them,
they would be healed.
00:47:11.63\00:47:12.96
Also a multitude gathered
from the surrounding cities of
00:47:12.99\00:47:16.87
Jerusalem bringing sick
people and those who were
00:47:16.90\00:47:20.24
tormented by unclean
spirits and praise God,
00:47:20.27\00:47:23.61
they were all healed."
00:47:23.64\00:47:26.61
So there was attention
to this powerful preaching a
00:47:26.68\00:47:30.85
co-respondent healing ministry
that could not be denied.
00:47:30.88\00:47:34.75
You've got a person who
is lame one day and tomorrow
00:47:34.78\00:47:37.12
he's walking,
something is happening.
00:47:37.19\00:47:38.55
You can't deny
that, he is blind one day,
00:47:38.59\00:47:40.79
and the next day he is
seeing, something is happening
00:47:40.86\00:47:43.19
that could not be denied.
00:47:43.22\00:47:44.59
And Acts 5:16 tells us...
"They all were healed." Amen!
00:47:44.63\00:47:48.90
Here is another
incidence of the Lord performing
00:47:48.93\00:47:53.23
specific miracles
to launch the gospel.
00:47:53.30\00:47:57.87
God was
confirming this new movement
00:47:57.91\00:48:01.88
with signs and
wonders and it had to be
00:48:01.91\00:48:04.08
because there were those
of the sect of the Sadducees,
00:48:04.11\00:48:07.35
of the sect of the
Pharisees, who simply would not
00:48:07.38\00:48:09.92
accept this new faith.
00:48:09.95\00:48:13.15
So now, they get a bunch of
people to tell a bunch of lies,
00:48:13.19\00:48:19.96
and they're thrown in
prison for the second time.
00:48:20.03\00:48:24.50
Now this is what
you gotta love...
00:48:24.53\00:48:26.47
This just shows you that God
will take care of His people.
00:48:26.50\00:48:30.91
When the angel
escorts them out of prison,
00:48:30.94\00:48:34.84
he doesn't say - "Get
out of Dodge," he says,
00:48:34.88\00:48:38.88
"Go right back to the synagogue
and continue preaching."
00:48:38.91\00:48:42.22
Now that's - to use a
Jewish word we were talking
00:48:42.25\00:48:44.65
about a little before the
show, that's "chutzpah." Yes
00:48:44.69\00:48:46.49
Yeah, you gotta have
nerve... "Let's go right back
00:48:46.52\00:48:48.76
to the synagogue and
start preaching again."
00:48:48.79\00:48:51.76
And so when they go
to the jail to find them,
00:48:51.79\00:48:54.10
the doors are
locked, the guards are there,
00:48:54.10\00:48:56.40
everything is as it was before,
so they should be in their cell.
00:48:56.43\00:49:00.57
Well, they went to
cell, nobody's there.
00:49:00.60\00:49:02.54
Well where are they?
They're in the synagogue,
00:49:02.57\00:49:05.04
and they're preaching...
00:49:05.07\00:49:06.51
"Well, didn't we
tell you not to preach
00:49:06.54\00:49:08.91
anymore in this name?"
00:49:08.94\00:49:10.38
And one of the very first
texts I learned, Acts 5:29...
00:49:10.41\00:49:13.65
"It is better rather to
obey God rather than man."
00:49:13.68\00:49:17.25
That's right. Amen!
So they're preaching
00:49:17.32\00:49:18.65
in the power of the
Lord, and, of course,
00:49:18.69\00:49:20.82
the Sadducees - these
are the priestly elite,
00:49:20.89\00:49:25.79
these are the true aristocrats,
making a little more money,
00:49:25.83\00:49:28.76
Want a little more
detente with the Romans.
00:49:28.80\00:49:30.87
These are the guys
that are at the top,
00:49:30.90\00:49:32.70
don't believe in miracles,
don't believe in divine
00:49:32.73\00:49:36.04
interposition - they
don't believe in miracles,
00:49:36.07\00:49:39.74
they don't believe in
angels, and don't believe in
00:49:39.77\00:49:42.14
the resurrection.
00:49:42.18\00:49:43.55
And when you have
these kinds of miracles,
00:49:43.58\00:49:45.35
you gotta have all three. Yes!
00:49:45.38\00:49:48.15
Somebody got them
out of that prison;
00:49:48.18\00:49:49.82
somebody got them
back to the synagogue,
00:49:49.85\00:49:52.22
and the prison is still locked,
so there's a miracle there,
00:49:52.25\00:49:55.16
you know, and it had to
happen at the hand of an angel.
00:49:55.19\00:49:57.53
So you're kind of anti-Sadducee.
00:49:57.56\00:50:00.00
That's very sad-you-see,
well you didn't get it...
00:50:00.03\00:50:02.80
Laughter...Anyway,
this sure is very sad...
00:50:02.83\00:50:06.20
But what is interesting
is that it begins to dawn
00:50:06.23\00:50:10.61
on many of these Jewish
leaders, there must be something
00:50:10.67\00:50:13.84
behind this, you know, there
must be something behind this.
00:50:13.88\00:50:17.21
We need to be careful
and so in Acts 5:34 and on,
00:50:17.25\00:50:22.05
Gamaliel begins to speak.
00:50:22.08\00:50:23.95
Now Gamaliel, interestingly
enough, is a well-respected
00:50:23.99\00:50:26.59
Pharisee, but he's part of the
Sanhedrin, so there were some,
00:50:26.62\00:50:31.59
Mollie, Pharisees among
that group of church leaders
00:50:31.63\00:50:35.86
called "the
Sanhedrin," and I thought your
00:50:35.90\00:50:39.20
allusion was very, very well.
00:50:39.23\00:50:40.94
That it's kinda like
a... you're in there for life,
00:50:40.97\00:50:42.97
they don't change,
you gotta be a father
00:50:43.00\00:50:45.51
or you gotta have children,
you gotta have a male heir.
00:50:45.54\00:50:47.84
Just a long list of
things before you can become
00:50:47.88\00:50:49.84
part of that
group, but Gamaliel is
00:50:49.88\00:50:52.68
well-respected and
he speaks up for that,
00:50:52.71\00:50:57.59
in fact and says,
"You know, there's gotta
00:50:57.62\00:51:00.76
be something going on here."
00:51:00.79\00:51:02.12
We have had many
people over the past,
00:51:02.16\00:51:05.16
and I won't read it all
because I'm looking at my
00:51:05.19\00:51:07.40
time here... who made themselves
00:51:07.50\00:51:10.03
out to be
something, who developed among
00:51:10.07\00:51:12.73
themselves a little following,
but when they passed on,
00:51:12.77\00:51:16.97
so did their following pass on.
00:51:17.01\00:51:19.54
So we've had people over
the years who have pretended
00:51:19.57\00:51:23.71
to be something
great, and their greatness,
00:51:23.75\00:51:26.08
and their following,
their haverim died with them.
00:51:26.11\00:51:30.25
So we need to be careful
because if this Jesus "thing"
00:51:30.29\00:51:37.23
and I'll use that terminology,
is nothing, it will die,
00:51:37.29\00:51:40.93
but if it is of God,
we don't want to be in a
00:51:40.96\00:51:44.93
position of standing
against a movement of God.
00:51:44.97\00:51:48.97
So the Spirit is working
even there and they were ready
00:51:49.00\00:51:53.07
to put Peter to death,
Herod had already killed James,
00:51:53.11\00:52:01.02
and he realized that the
Sadducees, Pharisees more
00:52:01.05\00:52:04.22
likely liked that,
kind of curry favor...
00:52:04.29\00:52:06.99
"So now let's
put Peter to death,"
00:52:07.06\00:52:08.39
but God wasn't
ready for Peter to die.
00:52:08.42\00:52:10.26
So the light is going on
in Gamaliel's mind at least,
00:52:10.33\00:52:13.26
"We better be careful here
because something is working
00:52:13.29\00:52:16.63
behind this that's
not normal and not usual."
00:52:16.67\00:52:20.10
Did Herod kill James or was that
00:52:21.04\00:52:22.60
John the Baptist
is what you're saying?
00:52:22.64\00:52:24.21
No Herod killed
James. Did he kill James?
00:52:24.27\00:52:25.74
I was thinking...
Yeah, you got several Herods.
00:52:25.81\00:52:27.84
I thought it was Herod Agrippa.
00:52:27.88\00:52:29.21
You got several Herod
Agrippa's too, by the way.
00:52:29.24\00:52:31.21
Agrippa I, there are two
Agrippa's. Yeah, Agrippa I.
00:52:31.25\00:52:33.48
It was Agrippa I.
00:52:33.52\00:52:34.92
So he did that in
killing James and now
00:52:34.95\00:52:39.29
he wants to take on
Peter, but the Lord is
00:52:39.32\00:52:43.63
not ready for Peter to go.
00:52:43.69\00:52:45.26
So the light comes on
and they realize that we need
00:52:45.29\00:52:50.10
to be careful, so
they changed their plan.
00:52:50.13\00:52:52.63
And it's that way, if
something is of the Lord,
00:52:52.67\00:52:56.17
God is going to take care
of His own. That's right. Amen!
00:52:56.20\00:52:58.47
You know, and we even can see
that then and we can see it now.
00:52:58.51\00:53:01.31
If it's of God, God is
pretty good at being God.
00:53:01.34\00:53:06.51
He does this very,
very well. Praise the Lord!
00:53:06.55\00:53:08.38
He has done it
well for 7,000+ years,
00:53:08.42\00:53:10.59
so we can rest in Him that
even though there is trouble,
00:53:10.62\00:53:14.36
we know that the program
of God, the church of God
00:53:14.39\00:53:17.13
will go on conquering
and to conquer. Amen! Amen!
00:53:17.16\00:53:20.00
Amen, thank you so much pastor.
00:53:20.03\00:53:22.00
You know, when I think about
the apostles in particular,
00:53:22.03\00:53:26.07
at the early church - you
think about Peter and John,
00:53:26.10\00:53:29.40
and what they were like at
Jesus with the crucifixion.
00:53:29.44\00:53:33.38
And you think
about them being afraid
00:53:33.44\00:53:35.21
and how they
turned and fled. Yes!
00:53:35.24\00:53:37.21
And the difference in
them here in the early church,
00:53:37.25\00:53:40.68
that difference is the
work of the Holy Spirit. Amen!
00:53:40.72\00:53:43.95
The Holy Spirit took men who
were afraid, wanting to hide,
00:53:43.99\00:53:49.22
and made them bold to
stand up and to speak for God.
00:53:49.26\00:53:53.36
It's an incredible
thing, the early church,
00:53:53.40\00:53:55.66
to see the miracles
taking place, the preaching,
00:53:55.70\00:53:58.70
and the fellowship,
and praise the Lord!
00:53:58.73\00:54:01.17
My heart and soul has
been encouraged just hearing
00:54:01.20\00:54:04.21
the lesson and what we
want to do at the end is we'll
00:54:04.24\00:54:06.51
go down and give each one
of you a couple of moments
00:54:06.54\00:54:09.31
to share a closing thought about
your day, Brother Johnny...
00:54:09.34\00:54:12.95
Well this - some call it
a new faith, but it's really
00:54:12.98\00:54:18.75
an unfolding
that has taken place.
00:54:18.79\00:54:22.89
When you look back in
the beginning, Adam and Eve,
00:54:22.92\00:54:27.00
there was just a certain
amount of truth that they
00:54:27.03\00:54:28.80
were able to
comprehend. Absolutely!
00:54:28.83\00:54:30.17
Jesus, Himself, said to
the disciples, "I have many
00:54:30.23\00:54:32.73
things I want to share with you,
00:54:32.77\00:54:34.20
but you cannot bear them now."
00:54:34.24\00:54:35.77
So God does not show truth that
the people are not ready for,
00:54:35.80\00:54:39.44
and the time had come to
reveal to them that all of these
00:54:39.47\00:54:42.94
shadows of sacrifices all
pointed to Jesus' crucifixion.
00:54:42.98\00:54:47.08
Absolutely! Amen! Thank you.
00:54:47.12\00:54:48.45
And you know, I shared
about the rise of opposition,
00:54:48.48\00:54:51.55
but what did the
rise of opposition want?
00:54:51.59\00:54:54.16
What was it opposed to?
00:54:54.22\00:54:55.56
It was opposed to the
success of this early church,
00:54:55.59\00:54:59.39
and so sometimes
opposition isn't a bad thing.
00:54:59.43\00:55:03.70
Sometimes that opposition...
because what did the
00:55:03.77\00:55:06.30
opposition do to
the early church?
00:55:06.33\00:55:08.37
It forced it to continue
to grow and what is it...
00:55:08.40\00:55:12.84
"Sometimes the purest
water is that water that forced
00:55:12.87\00:55:16.38
through solid rock?"
00:55:16.41\00:55:17.98
Sometimes just the resistance
that we get makes us stronger.
00:55:18.01\00:55:21.92
You know, a butterfly that's
in a cocoon - if you open up
00:55:22.65\00:55:27.56
that cocoon and let
that little butterfly out,
00:55:27.59\00:55:29.79
is it ever going to be
a beautiful butterfly? No.
00:55:29.82\00:55:31.93
How many of you want to be
a beautiful butterfly? Amen!
00:55:31.96\00:55:34.20
We may have to go
through some opposition,
00:55:34.30\00:55:36.67
but we will
persist, and "He that endures
00:55:36.73\00:55:39.00
to the end, shall be saved."
00:55:39.03\00:55:42.10
I just want to make a
point to what Johnny is saying
00:55:42.14\00:55:44.27
because you're on my favorite
topic - is that all of God's
00:55:44.31\00:55:48.68
covenants are just a progressive
revelation of His plan of
00:55:48.71\00:55:52.98
salvation - each one
builds on the others,
00:55:53.01\00:55:55.98
so you're very
accurate in what you're saying.
00:55:56.02\00:55:58.59
My day I guess with Ananias
and Sapphira, the one thing
00:55:58.62\00:56:04.43
that I would say is -
just remember there are no
00:56:04.46\00:56:06.93
secrets sins, God
knows it all. Amen!
00:56:06.96\00:56:10.07
Amen, I want to make up
a quick correction because
00:56:10.10\00:56:12.40
Herod did kill James,
that is found in Acts 12,
00:56:12.43\00:56:16.34
but it happened a little
later after Peter's second
00:56:16.37\00:56:19.07
time in prison - Peter spent
a lot of time in prison. He did!
00:56:19.11\00:56:23.04
Several times... Yeah
several times in prison.
00:56:23.08\00:56:24.85
But Herod did kill
James in an attempt to
00:56:24.88\00:56:28.22
curry favor with the Jews,
00:56:28.25\00:56:29.75
and tried to kill Peter, but
again, he was let out of prison.
00:56:29.78\00:56:35.26
But I think the overall point
is this - that God takes care
00:56:35.29\00:56:37.96
of His own and God
takes care of His church,
00:56:37.99\00:56:40.53
and we have NO fear
because we know that the Lord
00:56:40.60\00:56:44.23
is the head and we can follow
Him in safety and in confidence.
00:56:44.27\00:56:47.44
Amen! Amen, thank you so
much Pastor CA, Shelley, Mollie,
00:56:47.50\00:56:51.44
and Brother Johnny,
thank you for sharing your
00:56:51.47\00:56:53.78
heart and from the word of God.
00:56:53.84\00:56:56.28
It's incredible to me
to see how God had His hand
00:56:56.31\00:57:00.28
over the brand new
baby church, as it were,
00:57:00.35\00:57:03.08
and how He grew that church
and poured His Spirit upon it,
00:57:03.12\00:57:07.12
and as it multiplied,
the members multiplied
00:57:07.19\00:57:10.76
and the gospel was
spread around the world...
00:57:10.79\00:57:12.59
That is a picture of what
He wants to do with the church
00:57:12.63\00:57:16.26
in these last days.
00:57:16.30\00:57:17.93
He wants to pour His
Spirit out upon each one of us
00:57:17.97\00:57:21.57
that the gospel
can go to the world.
00:57:21.60\00:57:23.54
We will see you next time as
we look at the life of Peter.
00:57:23.61\00:57:26.98
Join us then...
00:57:27.01\00:57:28.34