Welcome back to the
3ABN Sabbath School Panel.
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We're in the
middle of our study,
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and Pastor John
Dinzey, you want to pick it up
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with Tuesday's lesson? Yes!
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This is an interesting
lesson in Tuesday's lesson,
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and the title for this
lesson is "Unity of Fellowship"
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"Unity of Fellowship"
and this lesson brings us to
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continuing in Acts 2 and
I praise the Lord it was a
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blessing to hear
Pastor Lomacang as he went
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through the different contrasts
between Babel and the Day of
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Pentecost and Babylon.
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We continue with Unity of
Fellowship and I'd like to
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bring to you and
start with Acts 2:38.
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Acts 2:38... "Then Peter
said to them, "Repent, and let
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every one of you be baptized
in the name of Jesus Christ
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for the remission of
sins; and you shall receive
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the gift of the Holy Spirit.
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For the promise is to
you and to your children,
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and to all who are afar
off, as many as the Lord
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our God will call."
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And with many other
words he testified and exhorted
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them, saying, "Be saved
from this perverse generation."
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Question... Do we have a
perverse generation today?
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Yeah. Yes, we do!
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So this that Peter was
preaching in that day...
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we are preaching again
today, "Repent and let every one
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of you be baptized in the
name of the Lord Jesus Christ."
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And the same thing
that happened then,
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will happen now - you
will receive the gift of the
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Holy Spirit.
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Now, I'd like to continue
with verse 40, we did verse 40.
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We have a perverse generation
today and I don't know
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it seems like this
generation is the worst...
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I mean it's like Satan
has been waiting for this time
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to pour out his old arsenal
of corruption in the world,
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corruption is everywhere
you look and this is why
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God's people need to look
at the unity that was there
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among the believers right
after the Day of Pentecost
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after the Holy
Spirit was poured out.
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There is an example here
for us to follow and let's
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consider some of
these Scriptures...
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Let's move into verse
41... "Then those who gladly
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received His word
were baptized and that day
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about 3,000 souls were
added to them." Praise the Lord!
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Now the percentage of
believers increased dramatically
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after this sermon that Peter
preached under the guidance
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and power of the Holy Spirit,
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and what they did,
we need to duplicate.
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What did they do?
What was Peter doing
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before this sermon was preached?
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He was in prayer, they
were all together of one accord,
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and the Holy
Spirit was poured out.
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There was confession of
sin; there was a humbling
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of one another and that's why
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the Holy Spirit
could be poured out.
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They prepared themselves for the
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blessing that Jesus
Christ had said. Amen!
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Now Jesus says, "Tarry ye
in Jerusalem," wait for the
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promise of the Father.
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They were not just to
wait in idleness; they were to
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wait in an expecting waiting
and watching unto prayer,
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and this is what they
did, and this is why this
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marvelous experience took place.
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Verse 42, and it
says... "And they continued
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steadfastly in the apostles'
doctrine and fellowship,
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in the breaking of
bread and in prayers."
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Now we had Jill tell us
some wonderful things about the
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need for prayer and I ask you...
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Do we need prayer today? Yes!
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Prayer is needed!
It's a... I don't know...
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Perhaps I can say,
"We're in a much more desperate
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situation and condition in
this world than ever before.
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All around us are signs telling
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us that Jesus Christ is
coming soon, and I like what
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Sister White says - that
there's going to be a revival
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of primitive godliness
such as has not been seen
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since apostolic times...
maybe we'll have a chance
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to look at the quote later
on to tell you where that is,
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but what was going on
here is a marvelous experience.
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I think this was a time
when angels marveled to see the
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unity among the
believers that was taking place.
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"They continued steadfastly
in the apostles' doctrine and
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fellowship in the breaking
of bread, and in prayers."
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Let's go to Matthew 28,
because the disciples were
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doing exactly what
Jesus told them to do.
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In Matthew 28, verses 18-20,
and Pastor Lomacang could you
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help us with the
great commission? Sure!
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Matthew 28:18-20, here it is.
And the word of the Lord reads
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as follows, new Bible,
here we are... "And Jesus came
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and spoke to them saying,
"All authority (or all power)
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has been given to Me
in heaven and on earth.
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"Go therefore and make
disciples of all nations,
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baptizing them in the name
of the Father and of the Son
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and of the Holy Spirit, teaching
them to observe all things
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that I have commanded
you; and lo, I am with you
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always, even to the
end of the age." Amen!"
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Thank you very much.
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And so we see here that
the disciples were teaching
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the people the things
they had learned from Christ.
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And it says
there, "They continued
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steadfastly in the
apostles' doctrine."
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They were
learning from the apostles.
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The disciples were with
Jesus 3-1/2 years and, oh,
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they had such an experience
as they shared... "Tell us
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again, what were the
miracles, what did He say?"
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And so the disciples
were sharing these things
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and as if their attention
was riveted - they continued
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steadfastly in the
apostles' doctrine - that is the
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doctrine of Jesus Christ because
that what the disciples knew,
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the doctrine that Jesus
Christ presented to them.
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And so the changes that
took place were marvelous.
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They continued steadfastly
in doctrine and fellowship.
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There's the word "fellowship"
that comes in and in the
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breaking of
bread and in prayers.
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This is an experience
which they had which somewhat
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continues today, but not in
the magnitude that took place
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at that time because when
you see the words "breaking
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of bread," it's not that they
were just breaking the bread,
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it was a meal they
were partaking of."
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Now, the scholars look
at these things and they
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ask themselves... "Well,
wait a minute, are they talking
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here about the communion
supper or were they talking
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about they were
having just a meal?"
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It could be both - communion
supper and also fellowship
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because it also
talks about house-to-house.
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Now look at the Scripture,
it says, "breaking of bread
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and in prayers."
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Prayer was one of
the elements that brought
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God's people together
during the times of the
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outpouring of the Holy
Spirit and prayer is what will
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bring us together
today. Yes. That's right.
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This is desperately
needed and any time you have a
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time of week of prayer and you
actually spend time IN prayer,
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you will find that the
people will continue to come.
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The people will
continue to come.
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As they present their
needs before the Lord,
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it just brings us together
to pray for one another,
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and this is something
that should be done often.
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And I'd like to point to
you also the next verse...
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Verse 43... "Then fear
came upon every soul and many
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wonders and signs were
done through the apostles.
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You know what
happens when fear takes place
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is that people run away,
but this was a godly fear;
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a godly fear that brought
them together - not one that,
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"Oh no, I'm getting
out of here because this is
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something - I
can't handle this."
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This was fear, fear of the
Lord that brought them together
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and the Lord worked marvelous
signs and wonders through them.
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Now it says here in verse
44... "Now all who believed were
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together, and had
all things in common..."
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And I want to stop a
moment and talk about the
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Thompsonville Seventh-day
Adventist Church because
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we have a wonderful
church here... and I'm not even
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looking at the time,
oh I see we have only
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a minute and 25
seconds for my portion...
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The Thompsonville Seventh-day
Adventist Church is a family
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of believers that
really - we help one another;
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there's fellowship here
and this is something that is a
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blessing to people and, you
know, it's interesting that we
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have seen people come
to the Thompsonville Church
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from far away and they
stop here for some reason...
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I don't know who told them
that, we here, are a people that
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love the Lord and
also help one another.
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God was at work in every
heart and the people held things
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in common it says
there, and notice what it says
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in verse 45... "And all sold
their possessions and goods,
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and divided them among
all, as anyone had need."
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Perhaps we can conclude
this portion by saying...
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When God's people
pray together and they know
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one another's need, it seems
like the Lord impresses them
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that "Hey, this person
has a need - he is your fellow
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believer, I have blessed
you... you also bless them."
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And this is something that will
bring God's people together,
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this is something that will
create a unity - bring a unity
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that is desperately needed
in these times that we live in.
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Amen! Amen and Amen!
Thank you for laying that,
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you perfectly
laid the foundation...
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Just before you begin, Shelley,
Pastor Dinzey made a reference
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and we're going to
give that time to you.
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That was from "Great
Controversy," p.464.,
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about primitive
godliness. Thank you very much.
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Thank you for
finding that Pastor John.
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Yes, Amen!
00:10:08.47\00:10:10.77
So we know that this powerful
sermon because Peter was
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speaking in the
power of the Holy Spirit.
00:10:16.44\00:10:18.58
The Holy Spirit
then was poured out on...
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and how many were
converted from his sermon?
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Three thousand!
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But then as we go
on down to verse 47,
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it says that the people
were together praising God,
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having favor with all
the people and the Lord
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added to the church daily
those who were being saved.
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So we see that there is
expediential church growth
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and probably most of
these people were foreigners
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from, you know, they
were coming in for this
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Feast of Pentecost and
there were probably vast throngs
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of them who stayed by to hear
the teaching of the apostles.
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They wanted to hear
Jesus' words and this created
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an urgent need; I mean,
they were there longer than
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what they thought they were
going to be - they didn't bring
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the provisions for all of that.
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So here we've got the people
now, as you say... that it says,
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"Some sold their property,"
It was not compulsory,
00:11:17.31\00:11:20.94
I want to just make that clear,
this was a voluntary action;
00:11:20.98\00:11:24.28
private property had not been
abolished, but the Christians
00:11:24.31\00:11:29.15
regarded their positions
as being at God's disposal.
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I mean they wanted to use
their possessions according
00:11:34.32\00:11:38.43
to God's will - so they're
selling them to give relief
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for the needy and, obviously,
there is a continued time
00:11:42.40\00:11:47.64
of urgent need.
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Look then, if we jump forward,
he continues talking about this
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in Acts 4:32, he says...
"Now the multitude of those
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who believed, were of
one heart and one soul;
00:11:58.95\00:12:01.48
neither did anyone say
that any of the things he
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possessed was his own,
but they had all things
00:12:03.92\00:12:06.25
in common. And with great
power the apostles gave witness
00:12:06.29\00:12:10.99
to the resurrection of the
Lord Jesus. And great grace
00:12:11.03\00:12:17.40
was upon them all.
00:12:17.43\00:12:18.97
Nor was there anyone
among them who lacked anything
00:12:19.00\00:12:24.57
for all who were possessors
of lands or houses sold
00:12:24.61\00:12:28.34
them, and brought the
proceeds of the things
00:12:28.38\00:12:31.11
that were sold, and laid
them at the apostles' feet;
00:12:31.15\00:12:33.42
and they distributed to
each as anyone had need."
00:12:33.45\00:12:37.69
So most of these
events seemed to have occurred
00:12:37.72\00:12:40.79
very soon after Pentecost
and the custom of sharing
00:12:40.82\00:12:44.99
things also began then,
but this was a work of God.
00:12:45.03\00:12:51.33
It says, "...great
grace was upon them all."
00:12:51.37\00:12:55.87
So God had filled
them with the Holy Spirit;
00:12:55.90\00:12:59.34
He filled them with His
essence of love, others-centered
00:12:59.37\00:13:03.91
love and with one heart and
soul, they just had immense love
00:13:03.95\00:13:10.72
for each other and the result,
complete unity is the natural
00:13:10.75\00:13:18.39
outgrowth of love. Amen.
00:13:18.43\00:13:21.30
So as they are doing this,
the richer church members who
00:13:21.33\00:13:26.57
own some property would
sell for the poor so that nobody
00:13:26.60\00:13:30.87
lacked any essentials.
00:13:30.91\00:13:33.21
But now within this
context, we are now going to be
00:13:33.24\00:13:37.11
introduced by Luke to Barnabas
and to a husband and wife team,
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Ananias and Sapphira.
00:13:44.39\00:13:46.76
So he tells us in verse
36 and 37 that Barnabas...
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and by the way, his name
that was given to him actually
00:13:53.26\00:13:59.83
translates "son
of encouragement...
00:13:59.87\00:14:02.00
So Barnabas is a mighty man
of God, full of the Holy Spirit.
00:14:02.04\00:14:06.37
He sells a piece of land and
he brings it - the whole price,
00:14:06.41\00:14:10.61
he lays it at the foot of
the disciples as benevolence
00:14:10.65\00:14:15.48
to be used for the others there.
00:14:15.52\00:14:18.55
But now we've got in Acts 5:1-11
and I always like to remind
00:14:18.59\00:14:24.69
people - this is an
abbreviated account.
00:14:24.73\00:14:28.26
When you think the Book of
Acts covers the first 30 years,
00:14:28.30\00:14:32.50
and I like to call it -
"the Acts of the Holy Spirit,"
00:14:32.53\00:14:34.97
but the first 30 years of
the history of the church...
00:14:35.00\00:14:40.28
So now we're going to
get an abbreviated account
00:14:40.31\00:14:43.08
about Ananias and Sapphira.
00:14:43.11\00:14:45.18
It's not all the details.
00:14:45.21\00:14:47.42
Acts 5:1, it says... "A
certain man named Ananias
00:14:47.45\00:14:51.92
with Sapphira, his wife,
sold a possession and he kept
00:14:51.95\00:14:55.76
back part of the proceeds,
his wife also being aware of it,
00:14:55.79\00:15:00.36
(they had devised this
plan together - they were
00:15:00.40\00:15:03.77
plotting it)... he brought
a certain part, he laid it at
00:15:03.80\00:15:07.64
the apostles' feet. But
Peter said... (now let me...
00:15:07.67\00:15:12.44
before we go
forward... when he and his wife
00:15:12.47\00:15:16.34
brought this part to
lay at the apostles' feet,
00:15:16.38\00:15:21.55
they were coveting the
same type of reputation of
00:15:21.58\00:15:29.66
generosity that
Barnabas had. Yes
00:15:29.69\00:15:35.00
They wanted to act like...
"Look at what we're doing,
00:15:35.03\00:15:40.10
we're going to give you
all of this for the people,
00:15:40.14\00:15:44.64
the poor people.
00:15:44.67\00:15:46.01
So they put it before and the
Holy Spirit lets Peter know...
00:15:46.04\00:15:51.55
He gives him discernment
of what's going on and Peter
00:15:51.58\00:15:56.52
says,) in verse 3... "Ananias,
why has Satan filled your
00:15:56.55\00:16:02.16
heart to lie to the
Holy Spirit and keep back
00:16:02.19\00:16:07.23
part of the price of
the land for yourself?"
00:16:07.26\00:16:10.07
So was it... could you say that,
yes, it was selfishness and
00:16:10.10\00:16:15.47
covetousness that they
wanted to keep that? Yes
00:16:15.50\00:16:18.54
But I think that the
most important part is that
00:16:18.57\00:16:21.88
they were coveting the
acclaim of being generous,
00:16:21.91\00:16:26.92
and what happened is - it opened
their heart to be influenced
00:16:26.95\00:16:31.99
by Satan and led them to lie
to the Holy Spirit - how sad!
00:16:32.02\00:16:38.43
So he continues in
verse 4, this is Acts 5:4...
00:16:38.46\00:16:43.33
"While it remained, was it
not your own and after it sold,
00:16:43.37\00:16:47.80
was it not in your own control?"
00:16:47.84\00:16:50.67
So we see that there was
no requirement for the couple
00:16:50.71\00:16:53.94
to give all of the
proceeds. It was up to them,
00:16:53.98\00:16:57.08
and it belonged to them; it
didn't belong to the church;
00:16:57.11\00:17:01.08
they could have done if they
sold that and they could have
00:17:01.12\00:17:03.65
come and said, "Hey, I'm
going to give 25% to the church;
00:17:03.69\00:17:06.62
I'm going to give 50%,"
there was no problem there.
00:17:06.65\00:17:09.62
They were lying though
because they were saying,
00:17:09.66\00:17:13.26
"We're giving it all."
00:17:13.29\00:17:14.86
So what we see here
is hypocrisy, selfishness
00:17:14.90\00:17:20.77
and greed crept in and
listen to what he says,
00:17:20.80\00:17:24.64
continuing in verse 4, Peter
is talking to Ananias and he
00:17:24.67\00:17:27.68
has just got through
saying, "Why did you let Satan
00:17:27.71\00:17:30.41
influence you to
lie to the Holy Spirit?"
00:17:30.45\00:17:32.75
And then he said, "Why
have you conceived this thing in
00:17:32.78\00:17:36.52
your heart?" Oh
Peter is just... his heart
00:17:36.55\00:17:39.69
is broken and he said,
"You have not lied to men,
00:17:39.72\00:17:45.83
but to God."
00:17:45.86\00:17:48.13
So this to me is a
very important Scripture,
00:17:48.16\00:17:52.13
a text that proves the
deity of the Holy Spirit.
00:17:52.17\00:17:55.90
And you know what? I
just gotta say something...
00:17:55.94\00:17:58.31
There is no such thing as
secret sin... none whatsoever.
00:17:58.34\00:18:02.38
Psalm 69:5 says...
"God, You know my foolishness,
00:18:02.41\00:18:06.68
and my sins are
not hidden from You."
00:18:06.72\00:18:09.62
So then it says,
"Ananias hearing these words,
00:18:09.65\00:18:12.79
fell down and breathed his last.
00:18:12.82\00:18:15.12
Great fear was upon all
who heard these things."
00:18:15.16\00:18:18.69
So the stunning result of
this sin of hypocrisy, of lying
00:18:18.73\00:18:24.53
to God, trying to covet
this acclaim for being generous,
00:18:24.57\00:18:29.97
is that God surgically
removed the cancer of sin,
00:18:30.01\00:18:34.08
and I think this was important
because if the early church
00:18:34.11\00:18:38.18
had been infected by this
sin, it would have undermined
00:18:38.21\00:18:43.55
what the Spirit was doing.
00:18:43.59\00:18:45.59
So divine judgment was
swift and this was a unique
00:18:45.62\00:18:51.33
circumstance because God
had just founded the church
00:18:51.36\00:18:56.00
and it is growing... I
mean they're all watching the
00:18:56.03\00:18:59.93
miracles of the apostle,
but the bottom line is this...
00:18:59.97\00:19:03.10
Ananias and Sapphira acted
sinfully - sin is a serious
00:19:03.81\00:19:09.18
matter in the eyes of God
and their punishment was swift,
00:19:09.21\00:19:13.85
but what we need to
be thankful for is that
00:19:13.88\00:19:17.72
our God often defers
punishment and we just need...
00:19:17.75\00:19:23.06
you know, I pray all the
time, "Lord, make me quick to
00:19:23.09\00:19:27.13
recognize when I'm not
pleasing You, even quicker
00:19:27.16\00:19:31.93
to repent and to
receive Your forgiveness...
00:19:31.97\00:19:36.37
And that's what I hope that
you are praying for as well.
00:19:36.40\00:19:40.11
You know Shelley, you mentioned
the attributes that were
00:19:40.14\00:19:48.05
an outcropping with
Ananias and Sapphira...
00:19:48.08\00:19:52.99
covetousness, greed,
hypocrisy and selfishness.
00:19:53.02\00:19:59.66
Now where did Peter say
that these attributes had been
00:19:59.69\00:20:05.53
conceived? You
conceive them where?
00:20:05.57\00:20:08.80
Conceive them in your heart,
so, Shelley, you're showing us
00:20:08.84\00:20:13.88
they had a heart problem.
Yes There was a heart problem!
00:20:13.91\00:20:17.95
Now let me ask
you... What is the opposite
00:20:17.98\00:20:21.18
of covetousness, greed,
selfishness and hypocrisy?
00:20:21.22\00:20:26.05
What would be
the opposite of that?
00:20:26.09\00:20:28.02
Love and truth.
Love, truth, generosity
00:20:28.06\00:20:32.19
and benevolence.
00:20:32.23\00:20:33.56
I'm looking at
"Remember the Poor."
00:20:33.60\00:20:35.66
The poor -
generosity and benevolence,
00:20:35.70\00:20:40.67
and we're seeing that the
opposite of... how many of you
00:20:40.70\00:20:45.41
want to have
generosity and benevolence as an
00:20:45.44\00:20:47.71
outcropping of your heart?
00:20:47.74\00:20:49.41
But we're seeing the opposite
of that was in the early
00:20:49.44\00:20:53.15
church - it was in
Ananias and Sapphira,
00:20:53.18\00:20:56.02
and it was a heart condition.
00:20:56.05\00:20:59.85
So there is in the
Scripture that Jill will tell me
00:20:59.89\00:21:02.82
I tried to use in
almost every one of the lessons
00:21:02.86\00:21:06.86
that I teach, it's Psalm
139:23, you thought I was going
00:21:06.90\00:21:11.10
say 1 John 1:9. I wasn't sure!
00:21:11.13\00:21:13.57
Psalm 139:23, I want to
start with this, but I think
00:21:14.67\00:21:19.41
we'll probably end with
it too, and that just says...
00:21:19.44\00:21:22.64
Remember what problem did
Ananias and Sapphira have...
00:21:22.68\00:21:26.25
They had a heart problem.
00:21:26.28\00:21:27.62
"Search me O God and
know my what...? Heart!
00:21:27.65\00:21:31.79
Search me O God and
know my heart, try me and
00:21:31.82\00:21:34.26
know my thoughts
goes ahead and says...
00:21:34.29\00:21:36.83
See if there be a any evil in me
00:21:36.86\00:21:39.16
and lead me in the
path that is everlasting."
00:21:39.19\00:21:41.03
So how many of us want today,
for God to look into our heart.
00:21:41.06\00:21:44.73
O Father, look into my
heart, see if You see hypocrisy,
00:21:44.77\00:21:49.47
covetousness,
greed or selfishness.
00:21:49.50\00:21:53.07
In the early church, the
sharing of their resources
00:21:53.11\00:21:58.21
with those less fortunate was
a tangible expression of their
00:21:58.25\00:22:04.62
unity - they were in
such unity, and Pastor Johnny,
00:22:04.65\00:22:09.39
you mentioned the Seventh-day
Adventist Church - this
00:22:09.42\00:22:14.56
Thompsonville Church and
our benevolent fund, you see...
00:22:14.60\00:22:20.10
Pastor John, we help
many people every year,
00:22:21.94\00:22:24.74
Johnny, you alluded to that.
00:22:24.77\00:22:26.78
I was head of the finance
committee for several years,
00:22:26.81\00:22:30.38
and as such, I was privy to
some confidential information.
00:22:30.41\00:22:35.22
I didn't know how much
each individual person gave,
00:22:35.25\00:22:38.65
but I knew what our church
did in the benevolent area
00:22:38.69\00:22:45.49
of the church and I was
always amazed and blessed
00:22:45.53\00:22:49.96
to see the content of the
hearts because this is the
00:22:50.00\00:22:55.24
content of the hearts
of the members in their
00:22:55.27\00:22:59.91
concern for others
and their generosity
00:22:59.94\00:23:03.31
and their benevolence.
00:23:03.35\00:23:04.68
We are part, here at the
Thompsonville Seventh-day
00:23:04.71\00:23:08.82
Adventist Church of a
loving church that's full of
00:23:08.88\00:23:13.05
unity, the
outcropping of their heart
00:23:13.09\00:23:16.32
is to help other people.
00:23:16.36\00:23:18.43
And we see such
generosity, don't we see this
00:23:18.46\00:23:23.47
in that early
church in Jerusalem.
00:23:23.50\00:23:26.30
And not only that, not
just the more affluent Jewish
00:23:26.33\00:23:31.11
members, but also those
that weren't as affluent,
00:23:31.14\00:23:35.64
they still wanted to help.
00:23:35.68\00:23:37.58
Remember the lady, in
her giving to the Lord,
00:23:37.61\00:23:42.38
how much did
she give? Two mites.
00:23:42.42\00:23:44.39
She gave 2 mites, but
you know what? Jesus saw it.
00:23:44.42\00:23:48.19
And what did He say about her?
00:23:48.22\00:23:50.69
She gave more than...
see it's not - we say this
00:23:50.73\00:23:53.90
quite often, it's not equal
giving, it's equal sacrifice.
00:23:53.93\00:23:58.77
That again is an issue of
the heart... it's an outcropping
00:23:58.80\00:24:03.41
of our heart.
00:24:03.44\00:24:05.67
And something that
the Apostle Paul did...
00:24:05.71\00:24:09.58
was he contacted the
churches that were in Macedonia,
00:24:09.61\00:24:15.48
and Achaia to make contributions
to the poor in Jerusalem.
00:24:15.52\00:24:20.32
Now these were Gentile churches
and you know what the Gentile
00:24:20.36\00:24:25.53
churches did? They
took up offerings as well,
00:24:25.56\00:24:30.47
and sent them to
Jerusalem to help the people
00:24:30.50\00:24:35.47
that were there and
that is encouraging.
00:24:35.50\00:24:38.27
There were cultural differences,
00:24:38.31\00:24:40.71
there were ethnic differences,
but all knew and they were
00:24:40.74\00:24:45.21
new Gentile converts,
had grasped the truth that
00:24:45.25\00:24:49.52
they were all in Christ.
00:24:49.55\00:24:51.39
We are what? We
are one in Christ,
00:24:51.42\00:24:54.86
and as one body, if
one part of the body hurts,
00:24:54.89\00:24:59.49
you know what?
The whole body hurts!
00:24:59.53\00:25:01.83
Okay, benevolence...
what is benevolence?
00:25:01.86\00:25:05.23
It's helping those in
need, and again, I'm looking at
00:25:05.27\00:25:09.74
"Remember the Poor."
00:25:09.77\00:25:12.04
An outward and
practical expression of love
00:25:12.07\00:25:15.81
for those who
are less fortunate.
00:25:15.84\00:25:17.91
It's an... again I'm
going to use this terminology
00:25:17.95\00:25:21.52
"it's an
outcropping of our heart,"
00:25:21.55\00:25:24.22
and we've already asked
God to look into our heart.
00:25:24.25\00:25:27.09
If there's any Ananias and
Sapphira "ish" things in our
00:25:27.12\00:25:30.86
hearts - Oh God, show me
that, allow me, give me a spirit
00:25:30.89\00:25:35.40
of repentance and
cleanse me, Oh God.
00:25:35.43\00:25:39.17
Sharing our earthly
goods with others strengthens
00:25:39.20\00:25:43.67
our bond with
them and it unifies us.
00:25:43.71\00:25:47.24
Now, I expect that many
of us have been on both sides
00:25:47.28\00:25:53.42
of the aisle - we have been
able to help others, praise God,
00:25:53.45\00:25:59.89
and it truly is more
blessed to give than to receive,
00:25:59.92\00:26:04.89
but I'll just have to speak
for myself, I've also stood
00:26:04.93\00:26:09.80
in a position
where I needed help.
00:26:09.83\00:26:12.40
You know what Jesus
says in Matthew 26:11...
00:26:12.43\00:26:17.47
He said, "The poor
will always be with us."
00:26:17.51\00:26:22.31
But you know what?
It's not the same poor!
00:26:22.34\00:26:24.75
But it doesn't have
to be the same poor.
00:26:26.31\00:26:28.22
Because there are times
when Hal and I were in college,
00:26:28.25\00:26:32.15
we were poor as church
mice, I guess I can say that,
00:26:32.19\00:26:36.73
and we needed help.
00:26:36.76\00:26:39.29
And one of the things that
might want to stop you from
00:26:40.40\00:26:43.00
getting help if you're in need,
if your children are hungry,
00:26:43.03\00:26:46.23
if your children need
the basics - you're not going
00:26:46.27\00:26:49.50
to be too proud to ask for help.
00:26:49.54\00:26:52.14
But thank God, as
you are obedient to God,
00:26:52.17\00:26:56.41
and as He blesses you,
then that puts you in a
00:26:56.44\00:27:00.08
position to be a help to others.
00:27:00.12\00:27:03.52
And something that
we see around here...
00:27:03.55\00:27:07.76
when we're able to help others,
there are times that I never
00:27:07.79\00:27:11.26
want my right hand to know
what my left hand is doing...
00:27:11.29\00:27:14.76
Are you all in
agreement with that? Yes
00:27:14.80\00:27:16.87
You never want people to thank
you... or "Oh, you are such a
00:27:16.90\00:27:20.64
blessing," no, you want
to tell people, "Praise God,
00:27:20.67\00:27:23.41
from whom all
blessings flow." Amen!
00:27:23.44\00:27:25.21
The only reason I have anything
to help you with is because
00:27:25.24\00:27:30.11
God has blessed me.
00:27:30.15\00:27:31.61
I want to read
this Scripture to you,
00:27:31.65\00:27:34.02
it's 2 Corinthians 9:8-11,
and it says... "And God is able
00:27:34.05\00:27:40.06
to make all grace abound towards
you, that you always having
00:27:40.09\00:27:44.43
all sufficiency in all
things, may have an abundance
00:27:44.46\00:27:48.06
in every good work.
00:27:48.10\00:27:49.43
As it is written:
"He has dispersed abroad,
00:27:49.46\00:27:53.60
He has given to the
poor; His righteousness endures
00:27:53.64\00:27:57.51
how long? Forever.
Now may He who supplies
00:27:57.54\00:28:01.74
seed to the sower, and bread
for food, supply and multiply
00:28:01.78\00:28:06.21
the seeds you have sown
and increase the fruits of your
00:28:06.25\00:28:10.69
righteousness, while you
are enriched in everything
00:28:10.95\00:28:14.62
in all liberality, which causes
thanksgiving through us to God."
00:28:14.66\00:28:19.89
So where do our blessings
come from in the first place?
00:28:19.93\00:28:22.86
They come from God!
Thank God from whom all
00:28:22.90\00:28:25.93
blessings flow!
00:28:25.97\00:28:27.47
And I just want to read
this to you in Luke 6:38...
00:28:27.50\00:28:32.17
"Give and it shall be
given unto you, good measure,
00:28:32.21\00:28:36.41
pressed down, shaken together
and running over, will men
00:28:36.44\00:28:41.35
put into your bosom,
for with the same measure
00:28:41.38\00:28:44.45
... for with the same measure...
let me underline that...
00:28:44.49\00:28:47.46
underline that in your Bible...
with the same measure that
00:28:47.49\00:28:50.49
you use, it will be
measured back to you.
00:28:50.53\00:28:53.66
So let's ask God today,
once again... "Search me O God,
00:28:53.70\00:28:58.13
look into my heart." If
there is anything in your
00:28:58.17\00:29:00.94
heart that is unlovely and
unlike God, let's ask Him to
00:29:00.97\00:29:04.97
purify and cleanse our
hearts so we can have a
00:29:05.01\00:29:08.54
heart of generosity!
Amen, Amen! Very good!
00:29:08.58\00:29:12.95
Thank you so much, Mollie,
what an incredible study,
00:29:12.98\00:29:14.88
each one of you
has put into this!
00:29:14.92\00:29:16.89
I know my own heart has
been blessed as we look at the
00:29:16.92\00:29:19.65
experience of unity
in the early church.
00:29:19.69\00:29:22.62
I love the early church because
they had that passion for
00:29:22.66\00:29:26.23
God; they had
that oneness of spirit;
00:29:26.26\00:29:28.50
they had
humility; they had prayer;
00:29:28.53\00:29:30.77
they had that coming together
and it was all for the purpose
00:29:30.80\00:29:34.30
of spreading the gospel
of evangelism. That's right.
00:29:34.34\00:29:36.67
I want to give each one of
you a moment to share something
00:29:36.71\00:29:39.64
regarding your day or
something about the lesson,
00:29:39.67\00:29:41.54
Pastor John...
00:29:41.58\00:29:42.91
Well, mine was from Babel
to Pentecost and I would say
00:29:42.94\00:29:46.55
clearly, God is not the author
of confusion but of peace,
00:29:46.58\00:29:50.85
as in all the churches of the
saints - if there's confusion
00:29:50.89\00:29:54.29
in your church, pray for the
Spirit of God to come into your
00:29:54.32\00:29:57.59
personal life -
that you can be the seed
00:29:57.63\00:30:00.36
where confusion can be
banished and the Spirit of
00:30:00.40\00:30:03.57
God can be uplifted. Amen.
00:30:03.60\00:30:05.83
I would like to share
from Psalm 133:1, it says...
00:30:05.87\00:30:10.84
"Behold how good
and how pleasant it is
00:30:10.87\00:30:14.38
for brethren to
dwell together in unity."
00:30:14.41\00:30:17.31
It is God's desire for
God's people, God's family
00:30:17.35\00:30:20.48
to be united, be in
unity and it is pleasant.
00:30:20.52\00:30:25.52
And it attracts
others that are not believers
00:30:25.55\00:30:29.22
to see unity and love among us.
00:30:29.26\00:30:32.16
There's a thought formulating
in my mind and I don't think
00:30:32.19\00:30:34.96
it's quite there yet,
but it just occurred to me
00:30:35.00\00:30:38.30
that as Ananias and
Sapphira came and lied before
00:30:38.33\00:30:43.30
the apostles - trying to
get the acclaim of generosity,
00:30:43.34\00:30:48.54
they were lying to the
Holy Spirit and I just want
00:30:48.58\00:30:50.91
to encourage you...
if you're doing something
00:30:50.95\00:30:53.72
in the church trying
to... if you covet a claim,
00:30:53.75\00:30:57.09
if you covet recognition
or you're making it...
00:30:57.12\00:31:01.26
If I lied to my pastor,
I'm lying to the Holy Spirit.
00:31:01.29\00:31:06.39
I mean that's really
kind of scary, isn't it?
00:31:06.43\00:31:09.40
So, of course, we know not
to lie, but be very cautious.
00:31:09.43\00:31:13.64
Just a quote from Sister White:
00:31:13.67\00:31:15.80
"There benevolence testified
that they had not received
00:31:15.84\00:31:20.28
the grace of God in vain."
00:31:20.31\00:31:22.04
Our benevolence, that
issue of our heart, shows us
00:31:22.08\00:31:25.61
that we are in right
relationship with God.
00:31:25.65\00:31:27.88
What an incredible study!
00:31:27.92\00:31:29.28
Thank you Pastor
John, Pastor Johnny, Shelley
00:31:29.32\00:31:31.89
and Mollie and we thank you
for joining us here at home.
00:31:31.92\00:31:35.36
Next week, we'll be going to
lesson #6... "Images of Unity"
00:31:35.39\00:31:39.69
Join us then.
00:31:39.73\00:31:41.06