1 00:00:00,650 --> 00:00:02,430 I'd like for us this morning to look 2 00:00:02,430 --> 00:00:04,690 again in the book of Acts, chapter 5, 3 00:00:06,010 --> 00:00:12,280 and we'll read the first eleven verses of 4 00:00:12,280 --> 00:00:13,220 chapter 5. 5 00:00:15,650 --> 00:00:19,730 But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira 6 00:00:19,730 --> 00:00:24,310 his wife, sold a possession, and he kept 7 00:00:24,310 --> 00:00:27,210 back part of the proceeds, his wife also 8 00:00:27,210 --> 00:00:30,090 being aware of it, and brought a certain 9 00:00:30,090 --> 00:00:32,470 part and laid it at the apostles' feet. 10 00:00:33,790 --> 00:00:37,670 But Peter said, Ananias, why has Satan filled 11 00:00:37,670 --> 00:00:40,870 your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit 12 00:00:40,870 --> 00:00:44,070 and keep back part of the price of 13 00:00:44,070 --> 00:00:45,430 the land for yourself? 14 00:00:47,020 --> 00:00:49,350 While it remained, was it not your own? 15 00:00:50,290 --> 00:00:52,690 After it was sold, was it not in 16 00:00:52,690 --> 00:00:53,670 your own control? 17 00:00:54,630 --> 00:00:56,850 Why have you conceived this thing in your 18 00:00:56,850 --> 00:00:57,250 heart? 19 00:00:57,250 --> 00:01:00,590 You have not lied to men, but to 20 00:01:00,590 --> 00:01:00,990 God. 21 00:01:02,510 --> 00:01:05,490 Then Ananias, hearing these words, fell down and 22 00:01:05,490 --> 00:01:06,690 breathed his last. 23 00:01:07,670 --> 00:01:10,730 So great fear came upon all those who 24 00:01:10,730 --> 00:01:11,750 heard these things. 25 00:01:12,750 --> 00:01:15,210 The young man arose and wrapped him up, 26 00:01:15,370 --> 00:01:17,130 carried him out, and buried him. 27 00:01:18,550 --> 00:01:21,050 That was about three hours later when his 28 00:01:21,050 --> 00:01:23,530 wife came in, not knowing what had happened, 29 00:01:23,530 --> 00:01:29,030 and Peter answered her, Tell me whether you 30 00:01:29,030 --> 00:01:30,910 sold the land for so much? 31 00:01:31,590 --> 00:01:33,870 And she said, Yes, for so much. 32 00:01:34,750 --> 00:01:37,590 Then Peter said to her, How is it 33 00:01:37,590 --> 00:01:39,990 that you have agreed together to test the 34 00:01:39,990 --> 00:01:40,930 Spirit of the Lord? 35 00:01:42,310 --> 00:01:45,010 Look, the feet of those who have buried 36 00:01:45,010 --> 00:01:48,350 your husband are at the door, and they 37 00:01:48,350 --> 00:01:49,530 will carry you out. 38 00:01:50,390 --> 00:01:53,550 Then immediately she fell down at his feet 39 00:01:53,550 --> 00:01:55,370 and breathed her last. 40 00:01:55,990 --> 00:01:58,670 And the young man came in and found 41 00:01:58,670 --> 00:02:02,410 her dead, and carrying her out, buried her 42 00:02:02,410 --> 00:02:03,510 by her husband. 43 00:02:04,870 --> 00:02:08,110 So great fear came upon all the church 44 00:02:08,110 --> 00:02:12,430 and upon all who heard these things. 45 00:02:14,390 --> 00:02:19,910 Now, what we have read this morning indeed 46 00:02:19,910 --> 00:02:24,330 is a startling revelation of just how serious 47 00:02:24,330 --> 00:02:26,210 it is to lie to God. 48 00:02:28,530 --> 00:02:32,250 And I think it would help us to 49 00:02:32,250 --> 00:02:35,190 understand this to go back into that fourth 50 00:02:35,190 --> 00:02:39,130 chapter and pick up at that thirty-first 51 00:02:39,130 --> 00:02:46,650 verse where we read that after Peter and 52 00:02:46,650 --> 00:02:51,130 James and John and some of the others 53 00:02:51,130 --> 00:02:56,690 had met together with the other believers, they 54 00:02:56,690 --> 00:03:01,430 had, of course, discovered that persecution and trial 55 00:03:01,430 --> 00:03:02,590 was on its way. 56 00:03:03,670 --> 00:03:06,250 Everything was running so smoothly. 57 00:03:07,730 --> 00:03:10,170 Men and women filled with the Spirit of 58 00:03:10,170 --> 00:03:16,670 God were proclaiming a message, and results were 59 00:03:16,670 --> 00:03:18,730 absolutely fantastic. 60 00:03:19,590 --> 00:03:22,310 The Lord was adding to the church daily 61 00:03:22,310 --> 00:03:25,450 all of those that believed, and the Body 62 00:03:25,450 --> 00:03:28,370 of Christ, the church was just growing by 63 00:03:28,370 --> 00:03:29,310 leaps and bounds. 64 00:03:30,590 --> 00:03:32,990 But then the opposition appeared. 65 00:03:33,850 --> 00:03:38,450 Satan is always alert, and when he sees 66 00:03:38,450 --> 00:03:43,090 men and women responding to the divine invitation 67 00:03:43,090 --> 00:03:46,290 to be reconciled to God through our Lord 68 00:03:46,290 --> 00:03:49,610 Jesus Christ and his sacrifice that he made 69 00:03:49,610 --> 00:03:52,250 for sin, Satan gets busy. 70 00:03:52,250 --> 00:03:55,130 He's got to do something to try to 71 00:03:55,130 --> 00:03:59,210 stifle the free flow of that glorious message 72 00:03:59,210 --> 00:04:02,070 in the world in which we live today. 73 00:04:03,530 --> 00:04:08,050 Well, they went to their own, and they 74 00:04:08,050 --> 00:04:10,410 had a prayer meeting, as we mentioned last 75 00:04:10,410 --> 00:04:10,750 week. 76 00:04:12,690 --> 00:04:15,890 Now, they didn't pray that their persecutors and 77 00:04:15,890 --> 00:04:18,570 their attackers would be silenced. 78 00:04:19,029 --> 00:04:20,170 That wasn't their prayer. 79 00:04:20,170 --> 00:04:22,090 It was one of the things that was 80 00:04:22,090 --> 00:04:25,190 so striking about what we read last week. 81 00:04:25,590 --> 00:04:26,850 They didn't pray for that at all. 82 00:04:28,790 --> 00:04:31,430 They prayed very positively and said, Lord, give 83 00:04:31,430 --> 00:04:34,470 us boldness to speak the Word of God. 84 00:04:37,320 --> 00:04:40,140 You know, we are always praying, Lord, take 85 00:04:40,140 --> 00:04:42,760 care of those that are abusing us. 86 00:04:43,420 --> 00:04:48,040 Take care of those that are causing the 87 00:04:48,040 --> 00:04:50,140 work of the Lord to be hindered in 88 00:04:50,140 --> 00:04:50,580 some way. 89 00:04:50,580 --> 00:04:51,840 Take care of them. 90 00:04:53,660 --> 00:04:55,980 You know, if I learn anything from this 91 00:04:55,980 --> 00:04:59,660 thought that is presented here, we need to 92 00:04:59,660 --> 00:05:02,420 stay on a good, high, positive note. 93 00:05:03,440 --> 00:05:06,120 Lord, I know you can take care of 94 00:05:06,120 --> 00:05:06,800 the opposition. 95 00:05:06,980 --> 00:05:08,360 I don't have any doubt about that. 96 00:05:09,000 --> 00:05:10,000 I know you can. 97 00:05:11,600 --> 00:05:15,160 But my prayer is that you would give 98 00:05:15,160 --> 00:05:19,940 me the courage, the boldness that I need 99 00:05:19,940 --> 00:05:22,220 to be a good witness for the Lord 100 00:05:22,220 --> 00:05:23,100 Jesus Christ. 101 00:05:25,300 --> 00:05:27,380 And you know, with that positive note ringing 102 00:05:27,380 --> 00:05:30,340 in our hearts, I'm not concerned about the 103 00:05:30,340 --> 00:05:30,900 opposition. 104 00:05:32,280 --> 00:05:36,180 God can take care of the opposition, but 105 00:05:36,180 --> 00:05:38,520 just keep my heart and soul in tune 106 00:05:38,520 --> 00:05:39,880 with your will. 107 00:05:39,880 --> 00:05:42,620 Oh, Lord, may I be filled with the 108 00:05:42,620 --> 00:05:45,100 Spirit of God and speak with holy boldness 109 00:05:45,100 --> 00:05:47,300 the truth of the Word of God. 110 00:05:49,340 --> 00:05:51,560 That's what they prayed for, and that's what 111 00:05:51,560 --> 00:05:52,060 they got. 112 00:05:54,040 --> 00:05:55,840 They preached with boldness. 113 00:05:56,280 --> 00:05:59,400 It was accompanied by signs and wonders, miracles. 114 00:06:01,380 --> 00:06:02,460 People were healed. 115 00:06:04,300 --> 00:06:06,240 Oh, there was a mighty movement of the 116 00:06:06,240 --> 00:06:08,920 Spirit of God in and through the membership 117 00:06:08,920 --> 00:06:12,480 that made up the body of Jesus Christ, 118 00:06:12,600 --> 00:06:13,760 that infant church. 119 00:06:14,440 --> 00:06:18,800 It had power, but it had something else. 120 00:06:20,020 --> 00:06:21,360 It had purity. 121 00:06:22,420 --> 00:06:23,240 It was pure. 122 00:06:24,300 --> 00:06:27,200 It was undefiled by all of the things 123 00:06:27,200 --> 00:06:32,360 that Satan, the wrecker, the spoiler, would seek 124 00:06:32,360 --> 00:06:34,280 to bring into that fellowship. 125 00:06:35,760 --> 00:06:38,320 Beloved, before we finish this morning, we're going 126 00:06:38,320 --> 00:06:41,540 to be reminded that that indeed today is 127 00:06:41,540 --> 00:06:42,160 a threat. 128 00:06:43,700 --> 00:06:46,280 It's a threat to the individual and to 129 00:06:46,280 --> 00:06:48,500 the corporate body of Christ. 130 00:06:49,240 --> 00:06:53,320 When we allow sin in our own hearts 131 00:06:53,320 --> 00:06:59,580 and it's unconfessed and it's not forsaken, something 132 00:06:59,580 --> 00:07:00,320 happens. 133 00:07:01,100 --> 00:07:03,320 The Spirit of God is grieved. 134 00:07:04,900 --> 00:07:08,640 Deep sorrow is inflicted upon the Spirit of 135 00:07:08,640 --> 00:07:13,000 God that engulfs us, that would fill us, 136 00:07:13,580 --> 00:07:17,140 and as a result, we lose our power. 137 00:07:19,450 --> 00:07:21,310 And little wonder in the world today that 138 00:07:21,310 --> 00:07:23,110 men and women, when they hear the name 139 00:07:23,110 --> 00:07:26,930 Christian, they no longer sit up and take 140 00:07:26,930 --> 00:07:27,390 notice. 141 00:07:27,390 --> 00:07:31,490 This has become something that you speak so 142 00:07:31,490 --> 00:07:34,970 casually about, Christian nations. 143 00:07:35,770 --> 00:07:40,710 In the realm of Christian profession, there's anything 144 00:07:40,710 --> 00:07:42,930 and everything you want to think of today. 145 00:07:44,190 --> 00:07:45,890 One of the things you can be sure 146 00:07:45,890 --> 00:07:49,370 of, it has been defiled and corrupted because 147 00:07:49,370 --> 00:07:50,770 of the presence of sin. 148 00:07:53,360 --> 00:07:57,520 They prayed and they received holy boldness to 149 00:07:57,520 --> 00:07:58,640 speak God's Word. 150 00:07:59,370 --> 00:08:03,940 They performed miracles through God's Holy Servant, through 151 00:08:03,940 --> 00:08:06,440 the name of Jesus Christ, the Son of 152 00:08:06,440 --> 00:08:06,900 God. 153 00:08:07,740 --> 00:08:09,920 Stop preaching in that name. 154 00:08:10,460 --> 00:08:12,420 Stop teaching in that name. 155 00:08:12,860 --> 00:08:14,940 Those were the warnings that were given to 156 00:08:14,940 --> 00:08:15,200 them. 157 00:08:16,310 --> 00:08:18,420 Don't do anything in that name. 158 00:08:19,580 --> 00:08:20,860 They hated that name. 159 00:08:20,980 --> 00:08:23,060 They hated the person of the Son of 160 00:08:23,060 --> 00:08:23,260 God. 161 00:08:23,320 --> 00:08:25,480 They had crucified the Lord of glory. 162 00:08:26,140 --> 00:08:28,060 Little wonder they didn't want to hear His 163 00:08:28,060 --> 00:08:28,540 name. 164 00:08:30,050 --> 00:08:34,580 We're talking about spiritual leaders in the nation 165 00:08:34,580 --> 00:08:35,140 of Israel. 166 00:08:35,980 --> 00:08:37,840 They didn't like that name. 167 00:08:38,880 --> 00:08:41,260 Just don't do anything in that name. 168 00:08:44,640 --> 00:08:48,300 But you know, Peter said, is it better 169 00:08:48,300 --> 00:08:52,100 to obey God or to obey man? 170 00:08:53,020 --> 00:08:55,280 We must do what we have to do. 171 00:08:56,020 --> 00:09:00,440 We have indeed been mandated, commissioned of God 172 00:09:00,440 --> 00:09:04,040 to be a witness of Jesus Christ in 173 00:09:04,040 --> 00:09:04,620 this world. 174 00:09:05,020 --> 00:09:07,500 We cannot stop what we're doing. 175 00:09:08,500 --> 00:09:10,800 We don't want to, but we can't stop. 176 00:09:11,920 --> 00:09:13,820 We're going to do what God has willed 177 00:09:13,820 --> 00:09:14,420 us to do. 178 00:09:15,000 --> 00:09:16,920 And that was holy boldness. 179 00:09:20,630 --> 00:09:21,830 That's what we need today. 180 00:09:22,370 --> 00:09:24,830 That confirmation in our own hearts and souls 181 00:09:24,830 --> 00:09:27,190 that what we're doing, we're doing for God. 182 00:09:28,330 --> 00:09:30,610 And God empowers us to do it. 183 00:09:31,790 --> 00:09:33,410 And we have the Word of God. 184 00:09:34,710 --> 00:09:36,090 And it's so clear. 185 00:09:36,350 --> 00:09:37,130 It's so simple. 186 00:09:38,290 --> 00:09:39,450 There's a message here. 187 00:09:40,370 --> 00:09:42,850 A message of God's grace and love. 188 00:09:44,010 --> 00:09:45,910 Well, as a result, that place where they 189 00:09:45,910 --> 00:09:47,950 were praying, they had a little earthquake there. 190 00:09:48,030 --> 00:09:49,190 It kind of shook things up. 191 00:09:50,170 --> 00:09:52,090 It says the place in which they were 192 00:09:52,090 --> 00:09:53,470 praying, it was shaken. 193 00:09:54,410 --> 00:09:55,550 Things moved about. 194 00:09:56,190 --> 00:09:58,470 But the important thing, I think, is to 195 00:09:58,470 --> 00:10:01,250 remember that they were filled with the Spirit 196 00:10:01,250 --> 00:10:01,810 of God. 197 00:10:02,270 --> 00:10:03,090 That's so important. 198 00:10:05,190 --> 00:10:08,490 I don't think last Sunday, or when I 199 00:10:08,490 --> 00:10:11,010 made mention of that, that that could be 200 00:10:11,010 --> 00:10:11,830 said too often. 201 00:10:11,890 --> 00:10:13,390 If you're going to do anything for the 202 00:10:13,390 --> 00:10:15,370 glory of God, you must do it God's 203 00:10:15,370 --> 00:10:15,690 way. 204 00:10:17,230 --> 00:10:19,250 You must do it in the power of 205 00:10:19,250 --> 00:10:20,350 the Spirit of God. 206 00:10:20,350 --> 00:10:25,180 And you know, there's no lack of the 207 00:10:25,180 --> 00:10:26,000 Spirit of God. 208 00:10:27,600 --> 00:10:30,020 When the Spirit of God indwells a believer, 209 00:10:31,160 --> 00:10:34,100 he comes in all of his fullness. 210 00:10:36,150 --> 00:10:41,370 Any concept of a person being partially filled 211 00:10:41,370 --> 00:10:44,630 with the Spirit of God is not in 212 00:10:44,630 --> 00:10:46,490 harmony with what the Scriptures teach. 213 00:10:47,530 --> 00:10:49,810 You have all of the Spirit of God, 214 00:10:49,910 --> 00:10:50,210 beloved. 215 00:10:50,210 --> 00:10:52,610 And what is needed is for Him to 216 00:10:52,610 --> 00:10:56,700 have all of us, for Him to have 217 00:10:56,700 --> 00:11:01,380 such complete control over our being that we 218 00:11:01,380 --> 00:11:03,220 will be fruitful for God. 219 00:11:04,260 --> 00:11:07,400 We will be channels of blessing to the 220 00:11:07,400 --> 00:11:08,600 world in which we're living. 221 00:11:09,520 --> 00:11:14,080 That requires being filled with the Spirit of 222 00:11:14,080 --> 00:11:14,400 God. 223 00:11:15,840 --> 00:11:18,020 If you let sin come into your life, 224 00:11:18,060 --> 00:11:20,500 as it does in this instance, he will 225 00:11:20,500 --> 00:11:21,420 be grieved. 226 00:11:21,760 --> 00:11:24,760 He will be overcome with great sorrow. 227 00:11:26,000 --> 00:11:29,120 But because of the purity of the local 228 00:11:29,120 --> 00:11:32,300 church, and as an example for those in 229 00:11:32,300 --> 00:11:34,220 that day, and for you and I to 230 00:11:34,220 --> 00:11:37,160 look very carefully at this morning, lying to 231 00:11:37,160 --> 00:11:38,860 God is serious business. 232 00:11:39,480 --> 00:11:43,660 Defiling or corrupting in any way one's own 233 00:11:43,660 --> 00:11:46,940 personal life, once you become the property of 234 00:11:46,940 --> 00:11:48,920 God, is serious business. 235 00:11:50,040 --> 00:11:51,380 It's serious business. 236 00:11:56,640 --> 00:11:58,460 You know, one of the things that the 237 00:11:58,460 --> 00:12:01,720 Spirit of God does, verse 32 says, The 238 00:12:01,720 --> 00:12:04,060 multitude of those that believed were of one 239 00:12:04,060 --> 00:12:05,160 heart and one soul. 240 00:12:05,900 --> 00:12:08,360 It's a wonderful thing to see God's people 241 00:12:08,360 --> 00:12:11,140 gathered together, and they are of one heart 242 00:12:11,140 --> 00:12:12,080 and one soul. 243 00:12:12,080 --> 00:12:16,720 That oneness that is expressed in the oneness 244 00:12:16,720 --> 00:12:18,660 of the body of Jesus Christ, to see 245 00:12:18,660 --> 00:12:21,720 God's people loving and caring for each other 246 00:12:21,720 --> 00:12:24,800 the way that they should, it's a fulfillment 247 00:12:24,800 --> 00:12:26,580 of our Lord's command. 248 00:12:27,120 --> 00:12:31,340 That commandment that says, I'll beseech you, brethren, 249 00:12:31,480 --> 00:12:34,460 I'll preach to you, brethren, that you love 250 00:12:34,460 --> 00:12:36,760 one another the same way I loved you. 251 00:12:38,080 --> 00:12:41,140 And I hope and trust that you understand 252 00:12:41,140 --> 00:12:43,220 the manner in which He loved you and 253 00:12:43,220 --> 00:12:43,940 He loved me. 254 00:12:44,700 --> 00:12:48,440 He loved us even unto the death, the 255 00:12:48,440 --> 00:12:50,600 shameful death of the cross. 256 00:12:52,060 --> 00:12:55,480 You say, you mean that as believers in 257 00:12:55,480 --> 00:12:58,380 Jesus Christ we should love each other that 258 00:12:58,380 --> 00:12:58,580 way? 259 00:12:58,680 --> 00:12:59,060 Yes. 260 00:12:59,640 --> 00:13:00,360 That's what He said. 261 00:13:00,360 --> 00:13:05,380 And you know, that mark, if it's indelibly 262 00:13:05,380 --> 00:13:09,520 impressed upon our activities as individuals and members 263 00:13:09,520 --> 00:13:13,720 in the local assembly, others will take note 264 00:13:13,720 --> 00:13:16,400 that we are truly disciples of Jesus Christ. 265 00:13:18,780 --> 00:13:21,380 True discipleship can be marked out by how 266 00:13:21,380 --> 00:13:24,220 much we love those that are in the 267 00:13:24,220 --> 00:13:25,080 family of God. 268 00:13:26,560 --> 00:13:28,720 And it was being expressed here. 269 00:13:29,780 --> 00:13:32,140 Oh, it was something beautiful to see. 270 00:13:33,180 --> 00:13:34,320 They loved each other. 271 00:13:35,520 --> 00:13:38,280 They were indeed of one heart and one 272 00:13:38,280 --> 00:13:38,720 soul. 273 00:13:40,300 --> 00:13:42,580 Neither did anyone say that any of the 274 00:13:42,580 --> 00:13:45,700 things he possessed was his own, but they 275 00:13:45,700 --> 00:13:49,260 had all things in common. 276 00:13:50,660 --> 00:13:52,940 In other words, they shared everything they had. 277 00:13:53,680 --> 00:13:55,960 If there was someone hungry, he didn't stay 278 00:13:55,960 --> 00:14:01,020 hungry long because another member recognized that and 279 00:14:01,020 --> 00:14:03,040 did what he had to do to remedy 280 00:14:03,040 --> 00:14:04,040 that situation. 281 00:14:05,700 --> 00:14:09,640 Someone didn't have enough clothing to wear, that 282 00:14:09,640 --> 00:14:11,320 situation was remedied. 283 00:14:12,460 --> 00:14:13,520 Couldn't pay his rent. 284 00:14:14,880 --> 00:14:15,640 He had a need. 285 00:14:15,760 --> 00:14:18,560 Whatever that need was, it was addressed immediately. 286 00:14:18,560 --> 00:14:21,780 Well, that's oneness in the body. 287 00:14:23,440 --> 00:14:25,280 We read in the Scripture that when one 288 00:14:25,280 --> 00:14:27,400 member in the body of Jesus Christ suffers, 289 00:14:27,520 --> 00:14:28,460 we all suffer together. 290 00:14:30,600 --> 00:14:31,800 It's not true today. 291 00:14:33,240 --> 00:14:34,740 It's not true today, beloved. 292 00:14:35,980 --> 00:14:38,460 I know a lot of God's people today 293 00:14:38,460 --> 00:14:39,340 that are suffering. 294 00:14:41,360 --> 00:14:42,380 And do you know what? 295 00:14:44,650 --> 00:14:46,010 There are a lot of God's people that 296 00:14:46,010 --> 00:14:46,890 don't even care. 297 00:14:47,710 --> 00:14:49,090 They don't even pray for them. 298 00:14:49,930 --> 00:14:52,830 They don't show any interest, any care for 299 00:14:52,830 --> 00:14:53,150 them. 300 00:14:54,890 --> 00:14:56,510 How tragic that is. 301 00:14:57,070 --> 00:15:00,930 How far we have departed from the perfect 302 00:15:00,930 --> 00:15:04,770 will of God concerning the fellowship of believers 303 00:15:04,770 --> 00:15:08,630 in Jesus Christ, if there's a need. 304 00:15:10,030 --> 00:15:12,870 So often people ask me, I want to 305 00:15:12,870 --> 00:15:13,430 do something. 306 00:15:13,470 --> 00:15:14,410 What can I do? 307 00:15:16,980 --> 00:15:17,920 You can pray. 308 00:15:19,740 --> 00:15:23,620 Have you ever tried loving your fellow believer 309 00:15:23,620 --> 00:15:26,520 the same way Jesus Christ, the Son of 310 00:15:26,520 --> 00:15:27,320 God, loved you? 311 00:15:28,000 --> 00:15:28,960 Have you ever tried that? 312 00:15:33,000 --> 00:15:34,900 That's a challenge to every one of us 313 00:15:34,900 --> 00:15:35,980 in this room this morning. 314 00:15:38,240 --> 00:15:41,520 Our Lord would have us to love each 315 00:15:41,520 --> 00:15:44,020 other the same way He loved us. 316 00:15:44,120 --> 00:15:44,760 I'll tell you what. 317 00:15:44,760 --> 00:15:49,960 But there wouldn't be any in the fellowship 318 00:15:49,960 --> 00:15:56,240 of God's people that were hurting and feeling 319 00:15:56,240 --> 00:16:03,070 alienated and feeling left out if they had 320 00:16:03,070 --> 00:16:06,130 that assurance from God's people, from God's family, 321 00:16:06,770 --> 00:16:09,990 that they were loved dearly by the family 322 00:16:09,990 --> 00:16:10,530 of God. 323 00:16:12,930 --> 00:16:15,430 The greatest of all gifts is love. 324 00:16:17,340 --> 00:16:20,240 All other gifts may fail and pass away, 325 00:16:20,940 --> 00:16:23,500 but love endures forever. 326 00:16:25,120 --> 00:16:27,860 What a challenge to you and to me. 327 00:16:31,030 --> 00:16:33,910 The Spirit of God so kindly reminds us 328 00:16:33,910 --> 00:16:38,170 again of the necessity and the importance of 329 00:16:38,170 --> 00:16:38,910 the resurrection. 330 00:16:39,730 --> 00:16:43,130 When you read in that thirty-third verse, 331 00:16:43,250 --> 00:16:54,030 it says, And 332 00:16:54,030 --> 00:16:57,350 I want to say this because it's so 333 00:16:57,350 --> 00:16:57,790 important. 334 00:16:58,390 --> 00:17:01,670 You know, if Jesus Christ, the Son of 335 00:17:01,670 --> 00:17:04,450 God, is not a risen Savior, we ought 336 00:17:04,450 --> 00:17:06,130 to all pack up and go home right 337 00:17:06,130 --> 00:17:06,470 now. 338 00:17:07,910 --> 00:17:11,329 If He's still in a tomb and He's 339 00:17:11,329 --> 00:17:14,050 not a resurrected, glorified Savior at the right 340 00:17:14,050 --> 00:17:17,369 hand of God, our faith and everything that 341 00:17:17,369 --> 00:17:19,530 we say we believe is a sham. 342 00:17:20,329 --> 00:17:23,390 And we are, of all men, most miserable. 343 00:17:23,770 --> 00:17:28,050 We're just playing a silly game if Jesus 344 00:17:28,050 --> 00:17:31,130 Christ is not a risen, glorified Savior. 345 00:17:31,810 --> 00:17:33,110 Don't forget that. 346 00:17:33,870 --> 00:17:37,870 He is a risen, glorified Savior at the 347 00:17:37,870 --> 00:17:38,970 right hand of God. 348 00:17:41,440 --> 00:17:44,040 And the Spirit of God was quick to 349 00:17:44,040 --> 00:17:47,900 remind us that with great power, that holy 350 00:17:47,900 --> 00:17:51,740 boldness, isn't it wonderful that when you tell 351 00:17:51,740 --> 00:17:54,860 someone about the truth of the gospel of 352 00:17:54,860 --> 00:17:57,460 Jesus Christ, you have that opportunity of telling 353 00:17:57,460 --> 00:18:00,680 them, He loved us, He died for us, 354 00:18:00,700 --> 00:18:03,480 He was buried, but He arose from the 355 00:18:03,480 --> 00:18:03,780 dead. 356 00:18:04,860 --> 00:18:07,160 Oh, what a mighty victory for God! 357 00:18:07,260 --> 00:18:10,600 It was God's seal of approval upon all 358 00:18:10,600 --> 00:18:13,480 that the Son of God had done in 359 00:18:13,480 --> 00:18:15,620 perfect accord with the will of God. 360 00:18:16,380 --> 00:18:20,180 So perfectly fulfilling that will, accomplishing all that 361 00:18:20,180 --> 00:18:23,000 God had entrusted Him to do to provide 362 00:18:23,000 --> 00:18:25,420 salvation for poor sinners. 363 00:18:29,140 --> 00:18:31,140 There is quite a bit mentioned in Scripture 364 00:18:31,140 --> 00:18:32,420 about the resurrection. 365 00:18:33,840 --> 00:18:36,780 And again, without that resurrection, without the divine 366 00:18:36,780 --> 00:18:41,100 power that accompanies the resurrection, the Apostle Paul 367 00:18:41,100 --> 00:18:43,660 prayed, O that I might know Him, the 368 00:18:43,660 --> 00:18:48,160 power of His resurrection, the fellowship of His 369 00:18:48,160 --> 00:18:50,880 sufferings being made conformable unto His death. 370 00:18:51,860 --> 00:18:54,280 Paul wanted to know something about the power, 371 00:18:54,680 --> 00:18:55,780 resurrection power. 372 00:18:55,780 --> 00:18:59,280 Well, listen, we are new creatures in Christ 373 00:18:59,280 --> 00:18:59,740 Jesus. 374 00:19:01,120 --> 00:19:03,460 New creations in Christ Jesus. 375 00:19:04,320 --> 00:19:06,260 A man that is born again, a woman 376 00:19:06,260 --> 00:19:08,160 that is born again into the family of 377 00:19:08,160 --> 00:19:08,540 God. 378 00:19:08,840 --> 00:19:10,500 You are a new creation. 379 00:19:11,540 --> 00:19:13,700 You are God's new creation. 380 00:19:16,140 --> 00:19:18,740 No longer dead in trespasses and sin. 381 00:19:19,620 --> 00:19:22,520 No longer just marked out by all of 382 00:19:22,520 --> 00:19:26,660 the defilement that is associated with being lost 383 00:19:26,660 --> 00:19:30,840 and dead in trespasses and sin. 384 00:19:31,320 --> 00:19:34,320 Alive unto God through our Lord Jesus Christ. 385 00:19:34,380 --> 00:19:35,680 How wonderful that is! 386 00:19:37,300 --> 00:19:42,080 O things pass away, behold, all things they 387 00:19:42,080 --> 00:19:43,480 become new. 388 00:19:46,210 --> 00:19:49,370 There is that passage in Colossians chapter 3 389 00:19:49,370 --> 00:19:54,150 that encourages believers, If you are indeed redirected 390 00:19:54,150 --> 00:19:57,370 with the Lord Jesus Christ, think upon heavenly 391 00:19:57,370 --> 00:19:58,330 things. 392 00:20:00,030 --> 00:20:01,730 And you know, very often we have to 393 00:20:01,730 --> 00:20:02,730 be reminded of that. 394 00:20:02,810 --> 00:20:06,790 We become so earthly minded and we concern 395 00:20:06,790 --> 00:20:08,930 ourselves with so much that is a part 396 00:20:08,930 --> 00:20:11,350 of this world that we are living in. 397 00:20:12,270 --> 00:20:14,090 We don't have time to think about God. 398 00:20:14,090 --> 00:20:16,190 We don't have time to think about these 399 00:20:16,190 --> 00:20:18,890 things that are indeed so special and so 400 00:20:18,890 --> 00:20:23,370 precious and so profitable for us as believers 401 00:20:23,370 --> 00:20:25,450 in the Lord Jesus. 402 00:20:28,220 --> 00:20:30,960 But these closing verses of that fourth chapter 403 00:20:30,960 --> 00:20:36,000 from verse 34 down through 37, the need 404 00:20:36,000 --> 00:20:37,120 of all was supplied. 405 00:20:37,340 --> 00:20:38,280 There was no poverty. 406 00:20:39,360 --> 00:20:40,940 There was no want here. 407 00:20:41,860 --> 00:20:43,720 The person had a need. 408 00:20:44,560 --> 00:20:47,500 Other members of the body responded immediately. 409 00:20:48,740 --> 00:20:52,160 It's like those white corpuscles in your body. 410 00:20:52,560 --> 00:20:55,880 I'm told that they fight infection and all 411 00:20:55,880 --> 00:20:57,580 that sometimes attacks the body. 412 00:20:57,740 --> 00:21:02,640 And you have a point of attack by 413 00:21:02,640 --> 00:21:04,140 some virus or something. 414 00:21:04,540 --> 00:21:07,440 Those white corpuscles, they rush right to that 415 00:21:07,440 --> 00:21:07,880 area. 416 00:21:09,600 --> 00:21:11,720 Well, we're in the body of Christ. 417 00:21:13,040 --> 00:21:15,120 And when there's a need by one member, 418 00:21:15,360 --> 00:21:17,600 all the other members are attracted to it. 419 00:21:17,660 --> 00:21:19,760 And they attack that problem. 420 00:21:20,920 --> 00:21:22,520 And they solve that problem. 421 00:21:23,520 --> 00:21:25,860 And, of course, there's blessing. 422 00:21:27,500 --> 00:21:29,620 The only thing about it, it only lasted 423 00:21:29,620 --> 00:21:30,680 for a brief time. 424 00:21:31,780 --> 00:21:32,840 Isn't that sad? 425 00:21:33,660 --> 00:21:38,440 Something that starts out so beautiful, empowered by 426 00:21:38,440 --> 00:21:40,440 the Spirit of God, the fulfillment of the 427 00:21:40,440 --> 00:21:43,200 will of God, so perfectly being carried out, 428 00:21:43,520 --> 00:21:46,180 and it is such a brief duration. 429 00:21:49,170 --> 00:21:51,930 In fact, the chapter that we've read this 430 00:21:51,930 --> 00:21:59,410 morning introduces us to the cause of the 431 00:21:59,410 --> 00:22:03,410 problems that were soon to arise and would 432 00:22:03,410 --> 00:22:10,030 indeed permeate even that special, special thing that 433 00:22:10,030 --> 00:22:14,610 God had created by His Spirit through faith 434 00:22:14,610 --> 00:22:16,050 in our Lord Jesus Christ. 435 00:22:17,710 --> 00:22:21,410 Chapter 5's, But, tells you why. 436 00:22:21,810 --> 00:22:23,910 But, But. 437 00:22:24,830 --> 00:22:29,670 That chapter seems to set the scene for 438 00:22:29,670 --> 00:22:33,310 a change that takes place. 439 00:22:35,260 --> 00:22:38,560 From the beautiful picture of the Holy Spirit 440 00:22:38,560 --> 00:22:41,680 filling and working in the hearts to the 441 00:22:41,680 --> 00:22:43,700 record of Satan's work. 442 00:22:44,460 --> 00:22:45,580 That's what we're told. 443 00:22:47,720 --> 00:22:50,980 The question is put to Ananias. 444 00:22:51,460 --> 00:22:53,980 Why has Satan filled your heart? 445 00:22:57,020 --> 00:23:01,140 I have to conclude that at that point 446 00:23:01,140 --> 00:23:03,800 in time, Ananias wasn't filled with the Spirit 447 00:23:03,800 --> 00:23:04,260 of God. 448 00:23:06,970 --> 00:23:08,650 Because had he been, he would have been 449 00:23:08,650 --> 00:23:11,610 fortified against this satanic attack. 450 00:23:13,190 --> 00:23:15,590 It shows you how easy you can get 451 00:23:15,590 --> 00:23:16,810 out of touch with God. 452 00:23:20,010 --> 00:23:22,270 And the Spirit of God so jealously guards 453 00:23:22,270 --> 00:23:23,130 over us. 454 00:23:25,330 --> 00:23:26,430 Walk in the Spirit. 455 00:23:26,770 --> 00:23:28,390 Let your life be controlled. 456 00:23:29,230 --> 00:23:31,410 Be yielded to the control of the Spirit 457 00:23:31,410 --> 00:23:31,810 of God. 458 00:23:31,810 --> 00:23:33,310 And you will not fulfill the lust of 459 00:23:33,310 --> 00:23:33,790 the flesh. 460 00:23:34,330 --> 00:23:36,230 This man wasn't filled with the Spirit of 461 00:23:36,230 --> 00:23:36,530 God. 462 00:23:37,590 --> 00:23:39,570 And the lust of the flesh took over. 463 00:23:40,930 --> 00:23:43,490 Oh, how defiling it really was. 464 00:23:47,660 --> 00:23:52,920 It was to indeed hinder the work of 465 00:23:52,920 --> 00:23:56,800 the Spirit of God from working in the 466 00:23:56,800 --> 00:23:59,600 hearts of His people. 467 00:24:00,680 --> 00:24:03,760 This record of Satan's work of evil. 468 00:24:05,330 --> 00:24:07,730 That word, but, again. 469 00:24:07,850 --> 00:24:08,950 It speaks of failure. 470 00:24:09,290 --> 00:24:11,270 It speaks of a decline. 471 00:24:12,550 --> 00:24:14,810 You see, what Satan wasn't able to do 472 00:24:14,810 --> 00:24:17,910 by attacking from without, he had them thrown 473 00:24:17,910 --> 00:24:18,950 in prison. 474 00:24:20,170 --> 00:24:22,910 He had the opposition mounted against him. 475 00:24:22,970 --> 00:24:23,770 It wasn't working. 476 00:24:24,250 --> 00:24:25,610 It wasn't working at all. 477 00:24:26,850 --> 00:24:31,470 Later we'll discover that in Jerusalem, persecution and 478 00:24:31,470 --> 00:24:36,070 trial resulted in those Christians going everywhere, carrying 479 00:24:36,070 --> 00:24:37,850 with them the message of the gospel of 480 00:24:37,850 --> 00:24:38,230 Christ. 481 00:24:39,290 --> 00:24:42,630 The outward attack, the frontal attack wasn't working. 482 00:24:45,060 --> 00:24:46,020 And you remember this. 483 00:24:46,040 --> 00:24:46,980 Satan is no dummy. 484 00:24:48,260 --> 00:24:49,240 He is no dummy. 485 00:24:51,290 --> 00:24:52,070 What does he do? 486 00:24:52,270 --> 00:24:55,110 Well, if it won't work this way, I'll 487 00:24:55,110 --> 00:24:56,010 try another way. 488 00:24:56,050 --> 00:24:56,570 What does he do? 489 00:24:56,570 --> 00:24:58,310 He goes within. 490 00:24:59,610 --> 00:25:00,150 Within. 491 00:25:00,450 --> 00:25:01,690 He infiltrates. 492 00:25:03,290 --> 00:25:08,430 He comes in as an angel of shining 493 00:25:08,430 --> 00:25:09,010 light. 494 00:25:09,630 --> 00:25:12,250 We were reminded of this just recently. 495 00:25:13,470 --> 00:25:16,410 So often people think they've had an encounter 496 00:25:16,410 --> 00:25:17,150 with the Lord. 497 00:25:18,010 --> 00:25:21,670 They speak of seeing Jesus in all of 498 00:25:21,670 --> 00:25:22,250 His glory. 499 00:25:23,650 --> 00:25:26,330 They may have just gotten a glimpse of 500 00:25:26,330 --> 00:25:28,490 Satan, the angel of shining light. 501 00:25:31,760 --> 00:25:35,000 It also reminds us that Satan has his 502 00:25:35,000 --> 00:25:36,380 ministers of righteousness. 503 00:25:38,060 --> 00:25:40,620 And they perform his bidding and they do 504 00:25:40,620 --> 00:25:41,240 his will. 505 00:25:42,000 --> 00:25:46,040 So here is an infiltration tactic that Satan 506 00:25:46,040 --> 00:25:46,640 employs. 507 00:25:48,080 --> 00:25:50,560 Can't hurt them from attacking them from without. 508 00:25:50,780 --> 00:25:51,540 We'll get within. 509 00:25:52,260 --> 00:25:53,960 We'll do our work on the inside. 510 00:25:56,180 --> 00:25:58,240 He enters the flock and begins his work 511 00:25:58,240 --> 00:25:58,540 within. 512 00:25:59,840 --> 00:26:02,380 He uses two believers to start out. 513 00:26:04,040 --> 00:26:05,360 Ananias and Sapphira. 514 00:26:06,800 --> 00:26:09,980 I have to believe that what they did, 515 00:26:10,060 --> 00:26:10,980 they did ignorantly. 516 00:26:12,660 --> 00:26:17,040 I don't think in the vaguest moment in 517 00:26:17,040 --> 00:26:19,340 which they were thinking about this that they 518 00:26:19,340 --> 00:26:21,360 realized the seriousness of what they were fixing 519 00:26:21,360 --> 00:26:21,760 to do. 520 00:26:23,260 --> 00:26:25,840 They were going to pretend they were going 521 00:26:25,840 --> 00:26:27,340 to lie to God. 522 00:26:31,620 --> 00:26:35,580 And you know, what happened is such a 523 00:26:35,580 --> 00:26:39,340 shocker that I trust that it will arrest 524 00:26:39,340 --> 00:26:41,320 every one of us this morning and cause 525 00:26:41,320 --> 00:26:42,460 us to think very seriously. 526 00:26:43,880 --> 00:26:48,400 The next time that I have an encounter 527 00:26:48,400 --> 00:26:53,840 with the Lord, when I have that which 528 00:26:53,840 --> 00:26:57,360 I have claimed was my total best that 529 00:26:57,360 --> 00:27:00,140 I'm giving to Him, any circumstance in which 530 00:27:00,140 --> 00:27:03,160 I'm dealing with the Lord, and I pretend 531 00:27:03,160 --> 00:27:05,120 that I'm giving it my best when I'm 532 00:27:05,120 --> 00:27:10,200 not, all this complete commitment to the Lord, 533 00:27:11,400 --> 00:27:15,420 and it's all a show, there wouldn't be 534 00:27:15,420 --> 00:27:17,220 any of us in this room this morning 535 00:27:17,220 --> 00:27:19,720 as believers in Jesus Christ, I'm convinced of 536 00:27:19,720 --> 00:27:23,100 this, at some point in life, somewhere along 537 00:27:23,100 --> 00:27:26,160 the way, even if we've been self-deceived 538 00:27:26,160 --> 00:27:27,600 to the point that we didn't even know 539 00:27:27,600 --> 00:27:30,080 what was happening, we have lied to God. 540 00:27:31,980 --> 00:27:34,100 And it's only by His mercy and grace 541 00:27:34,100 --> 00:27:37,340 that He didn't strike us dead, just like 542 00:27:37,340 --> 00:27:39,760 He did Ananias and Sapphira. 543 00:27:41,080 --> 00:27:43,060 If that grips our hearts and we are 544 00:27:43,060 --> 00:27:46,540 aware of the seriousness of this business of 545 00:27:46,540 --> 00:27:53,260 lying to God, pretending, pretension and hypocrisy, we 546 00:27:53,260 --> 00:27:55,640 can speak of Pharisees and indeed we come 547 00:27:55,640 --> 00:27:56,600 down hard on them. 548 00:27:58,460 --> 00:28:00,700 Our Lord said some hard things about them 549 00:28:00,700 --> 00:28:07,340 and we say, that Pharisee, that hypocrite, you 550 00:28:07,340 --> 00:28:09,280 know when you're pointing that old finger out 551 00:28:09,280 --> 00:28:11,760 there and you're singling out those Pharisees and 552 00:28:11,760 --> 00:28:14,760 those hypocrites, that big thumb just comes right 553 00:28:14,760 --> 00:28:15,960 back and hits you in the eye and 554 00:28:15,960 --> 00:28:17,320 says, you may be the biggest one of 555 00:28:17,320 --> 00:28:17,680 all. 556 00:28:20,790 --> 00:28:24,070 Don't be judgmental in that sense. 557 00:28:24,610 --> 00:28:27,610 Just positively say, I want to be sure 558 00:28:27,610 --> 00:28:32,250 that I am absolutely truthful with God. 559 00:28:33,090 --> 00:28:34,750 What He asks me to do, I'll do 560 00:28:34,750 --> 00:28:35,950 it and I don't make excuses. 561 00:28:36,230 --> 00:28:40,760 The very moment you make an excuse, you 562 00:28:40,760 --> 00:28:42,400 are drawing a fine line. 563 00:28:43,180 --> 00:28:47,200 You may be right on the threshold of 564 00:28:47,200 --> 00:28:48,560 telling a lie. 565 00:28:51,480 --> 00:28:52,960 It would be much better to say, Lord, 566 00:28:53,060 --> 00:28:54,380 I don't want to do it and I'm 567 00:28:54,380 --> 00:28:55,720 not intending to do it. 568 00:28:56,840 --> 00:28:58,760 I don't have any appetite for those things. 569 00:29:00,420 --> 00:29:02,800 So often we make appeals and we say, 570 00:29:03,200 --> 00:29:04,980 you know, if you'd help us with the 571 00:29:04,980 --> 00:29:08,140 Iwana club, you'd help us with this or 572 00:29:08,140 --> 00:29:11,380 become involved or whatever. 573 00:29:13,320 --> 00:29:15,960 And some people are very, very open about 574 00:29:15,960 --> 00:29:18,220 it and they say, no, I'm not going 575 00:29:18,220 --> 00:29:19,260 to help with the Iwana. 576 00:29:19,920 --> 00:29:22,880 I have no inclination whatsoever to help with 577 00:29:22,880 --> 00:29:23,180 the Iwana. 578 00:29:23,180 --> 00:29:27,040 Praise the Lord, that openness, that frankness. 579 00:29:28,620 --> 00:29:30,100 Others say, I'll pray about it. 580 00:29:30,120 --> 00:29:31,600 And I have no more intention of praying 581 00:29:31,600 --> 00:29:35,940 about it than their puppy dog. 582 00:29:37,180 --> 00:29:38,300 That's the truth. 583 00:29:40,340 --> 00:29:42,080 And God hears it and God knows it. 584 00:29:43,560 --> 00:29:47,300 The seriousness of this dreadful sin in this 585 00:29:47,300 --> 00:29:50,580 passage has to be impressed upon our hearts 586 00:29:50,580 --> 00:29:51,220 this way. 587 00:29:52,800 --> 00:29:55,240 I know there's an account in the Old 588 00:29:55,240 --> 00:29:55,680 Testament. 589 00:29:56,540 --> 00:30:00,560 It's found in Joshua chapter 7 about Achan 590 00:30:01,280 --> 00:30:04,700 and that experience at Ai for the children 591 00:30:04,700 --> 00:30:08,280 of Israel in which a man did something 592 00:30:08,280 --> 00:30:10,680 that he wasn't supposed to do. 593 00:30:11,020 --> 00:30:16,440 God had very forcefully said, don't take any 594 00:30:16,440 --> 00:30:17,280 of the spoils. 595 00:30:17,280 --> 00:30:21,080 And you know, that man, no doubt, he 596 00:30:21,080 --> 00:30:24,680 just looked upon some things that looked real 597 00:30:24,680 --> 00:30:25,080 good. 598 00:30:25,480 --> 00:30:27,820 Some garments and a wedge of silver and 599 00:30:27,820 --> 00:30:28,080 whatever. 600 00:30:28,680 --> 00:30:30,020 It wouldn't be in hire and I'm just 601 00:30:30,020 --> 00:30:30,900 going to take this. 602 00:30:31,060 --> 00:30:31,900 Nobody will know. 603 00:30:32,600 --> 00:30:33,640 But God knows. 604 00:30:34,460 --> 00:30:36,340 Do you know it cost that poor man 605 00:30:36,340 --> 00:30:37,020 his life? 606 00:30:37,400 --> 00:30:40,420 It cost him the lives of all of 607 00:30:40,420 --> 00:30:43,080 his family and everything that he had was 608 00:30:43,080 --> 00:30:44,100 stoned. 609 00:30:44,100 --> 00:30:48,380 And the account in Scripture is that that 610 00:30:48,380 --> 00:30:53,820 monument to his failure and to his act 611 00:30:53,820 --> 00:30:56,540 of lying to God, that will be there 612 00:30:56,540 --> 00:31:00,440 as a monument and something to remind us 613 00:31:00,440 --> 00:31:03,840 of the seriousness of disobeying the Lord. 614 00:31:07,280 --> 00:31:10,940 Let that truth kind of grip us and 615 00:31:10,940 --> 00:31:13,000 say, I'm going to examine what I do 616 00:31:13,000 --> 00:31:15,420 in the future with my life as a 617 00:31:15,420 --> 00:31:15,780 believer. 618 00:31:16,740 --> 00:31:19,180 When it comes to that moment of commitment, 619 00:31:19,440 --> 00:31:21,620 saying I will or I won't, I'm going 620 00:31:21,620 --> 00:31:23,400 to be very careful what I say. 621 00:31:25,550 --> 00:31:30,170 I Corinthians chapter 6, I think, gives us 622 00:31:30,170 --> 00:31:33,330 some pointed instructions along this line. 623 00:31:33,410 --> 00:31:34,770 I think it will serve to bring it 624 00:31:34,770 --> 00:31:35,410 into focus. 625 00:31:36,630 --> 00:31:40,930 It says, Or do you know that your 626 00:31:40,930 --> 00:31:43,150 body is the temple of the Holy Spirit 627 00:31:44,460 --> 00:31:47,340 who is in you, whom you have from 628 00:31:47,340 --> 00:31:49,780 God, and you are not your own? 629 00:31:51,220 --> 00:31:53,460 Verse 20 says, For you were bought at 630 00:31:53,460 --> 00:31:54,080 a price. 631 00:31:55,760 --> 00:31:58,300 Therefore glorify God in your body and in 632 00:31:58,300 --> 00:32:00,040 your spirit, which are God's. 633 00:32:01,900 --> 00:32:10,020 Now, did you know, did you know that 634 00:32:10,020 --> 00:32:12,220 you as a believer in Jesus Christ are 635 00:32:12,220 --> 00:32:13,840 indwelt by God's Spirit? 636 00:32:15,420 --> 00:32:19,260 Do you know that anything that you let 637 00:32:19,260 --> 00:32:22,380 come into your mind, your heart, your soul, 638 00:32:22,660 --> 00:32:26,300 become a part of your being that is 639 00:32:26,300 --> 00:32:28,460 impure and unholy? 640 00:32:29,800 --> 00:32:32,800 It defiles that temple. 641 00:32:32,800 --> 00:32:39,660 Now, for those that would teach and defile 642 00:32:39,660 --> 00:32:42,240 the family of God and the body of 643 00:32:42,240 --> 00:32:45,020 Christ through false teaching, that comes as a 644 00:32:45,020 --> 00:32:45,800 strong warning. 645 00:32:48,050 --> 00:32:50,430 Because the Word of God would tell us, 646 00:32:50,970 --> 00:32:53,330 and if you read in that 15th verse 647 00:32:53,330 --> 00:32:56,790 or the 16th verse, Do you not know 648 00:32:56,790 --> 00:32:58,750 that you are the temple of God and 649 00:32:58,750 --> 00:33:00,570 that the Spirit of God dwells in you? 650 00:33:02,010 --> 00:33:04,750 If anyone defiles the temple of God, God 651 00:33:04,750 --> 00:33:06,110 will destroy him. 652 00:33:06,110 --> 00:33:08,770 For the temple of God is holy, which 653 00:33:08,770 --> 00:33:09,710 temple you are. 654 00:33:10,030 --> 00:33:10,330 Listen. 655 00:33:11,590 --> 00:33:13,930 The body of Jesus Christ, God's Son, indwelt 656 00:33:13,930 --> 00:33:15,830 by the Spirit of God, is holy in 657 00:33:15,830 --> 00:33:16,670 the sight of God. 658 00:33:17,150 --> 00:33:20,130 He doesn't want anything to defile that temple. 659 00:33:23,080 --> 00:33:26,160 Oh, how careless, how indifferent we are sometimes 660 00:33:26,160 --> 00:33:28,920 to what we allow to come into our 661 00:33:28,920 --> 00:33:29,700 lives. 662 00:33:32,060 --> 00:33:33,400 I'll tell you one of the things that 663 00:33:33,400 --> 00:33:35,860 to me becomes more and more alarming is 664 00:33:35,860 --> 00:33:38,060 what we receive through the eye gate by 665 00:33:38,060 --> 00:33:39,620 looking at a stinking television. 666 00:33:41,200 --> 00:33:44,060 That thing is going to corrupt and defile 667 00:33:44,060 --> 00:33:46,760 every one of us if we don't do 668 00:33:46,760 --> 00:33:47,720 something about it. 669 00:33:49,040 --> 00:33:50,140 You say, what do you want to do, 670 00:33:50,180 --> 00:33:51,160 burn all the televisions? 671 00:33:51,260 --> 00:33:54,920 No, I want God's people to wake up 672 00:33:56,240 --> 00:33:58,960 and to realize that what's coming in through 673 00:33:58,960 --> 00:34:01,660 that eye gate, what you are viewing, those 674 00:34:01,660 --> 00:34:05,340 movies, is that defiling stuff that they are 675 00:34:05,340 --> 00:34:06,760 just sending out. 676 00:34:07,080 --> 00:34:10,179 They're just bombarding homes, families. 677 00:34:10,760 --> 00:34:13,520 Little boys and little girls are being raised 678 00:34:13,520 --> 00:34:15,080 on a die of filth. 679 00:34:18,650 --> 00:34:19,889 How defiling it is. 680 00:34:19,949 --> 00:34:21,929 How it must grieve the Spirit of God. 681 00:34:25,980 --> 00:34:28,060 All purpose to pray about that and to 682 00:34:28,060 --> 00:34:29,320 do something about it. 683 00:34:31,250 --> 00:34:32,989 We are bought at a great price. 684 00:34:33,110 --> 00:34:36,010 Ananias and Sapphira, you were purchased with the 685 00:34:36,010 --> 00:34:37,650 precious blood of the Lord Jesus. 686 00:34:38,389 --> 00:34:41,150 You were incorporated into the body of Jesus 687 00:34:41,150 --> 00:34:44,330 Christ through that new birth. 688 00:34:44,690 --> 00:34:46,489 You were indwelt by the Spirit of God. 689 00:34:46,810 --> 00:34:49,230 Yes, they were believers in the Lord Jesus, 690 00:34:49,650 --> 00:34:51,590 yet they lied to God. 691 00:34:53,310 --> 00:34:55,010 God says, I'm going to see to it 692 00:34:55,010 --> 00:35:00,050 that this sends fear into the hearts of 693 00:35:00,050 --> 00:35:03,950 those that would behold such an act and 694 00:35:03,950 --> 00:35:06,430 realize that God does not for a moment 695 00:35:06,430 --> 00:35:07,930 look upon sin lightly. 696 00:35:09,090 --> 00:35:10,250 They drop dead. 697 00:35:12,620 --> 00:35:14,800 1 John 5, 16 tells us that we 698 00:35:14,800 --> 00:35:17,500 can send a sin unto death. 699 00:35:19,450 --> 00:35:21,250 I think there are many, many of God's 700 00:35:21,250 --> 00:35:24,470 people that have gone home to heaven prematurely 701 00:35:24,470 --> 00:35:29,090 because they didn't realize the seriousness of defiling 702 00:35:29,090 --> 00:35:31,230 that which God calls holy. 703 00:35:32,450 --> 00:35:33,610 Lying to God. 704 00:35:35,310 --> 00:35:37,950 Corrupting the purity of the body of Christ. 705 00:35:38,670 --> 00:35:40,110 It's serious business. 706 00:35:40,370 --> 00:35:43,270 It must be dealt with in a manner 707 00:35:43,270 --> 00:35:46,770 that impresses this upon the minds of every 708 00:35:46,770 --> 00:35:48,070 believer. 709 00:35:51,600 --> 00:35:58,100 Well, the but bears out to us the 710 00:35:58,100 --> 00:36:00,200 threat and what happened. 711 00:36:01,480 --> 00:36:03,440 But one thing was accomplished. 712 00:36:04,360 --> 00:36:07,340 In verse 11, it closes with, Great fear 713 00:36:07,340 --> 00:36:09,540 came upon all the church. 714 00:36:10,080 --> 00:36:11,200 Listen first. 715 00:36:12,140 --> 00:36:14,540 Fear came upon all the church. 716 00:36:15,960 --> 00:36:17,900 Beloved, that's where we want to start. 717 00:36:18,160 --> 00:36:21,240 Let's get some awe and wonder in our 718 00:36:21,240 --> 00:36:24,140 souls about our God and how He looks 719 00:36:24,140 --> 00:36:24,780 upon sin. 720 00:36:28,700 --> 00:36:30,420 We laugh at sin. 721 00:36:32,040 --> 00:36:34,500 We're entertained by sin. 722 00:36:35,940 --> 00:36:38,320 And yet God hates sin. 723 00:36:39,580 --> 00:36:42,260 And He says it's sin that's defiling. 724 00:36:42,800 --> 00:36:44,920 It's sin that's robbing you of your power. 725 00:36:46,300 --> 00:36:47,660 And we laugh at it. 726 00:36:48,080 --> 00:36:49,460 We're amused by it. 727 00:36:51,440 --> 00:36:52,660 We like it. 728 00:36:56,510 --> 00:36:57,750 God is merciful. 729 00:36:58,970 --> 00:37:01,170 God is gracious not to strike us dead. 730 00:37:02,730 --> 00:37:04,130 Take us home to heaven. 731 00:37:04,130 --> 00:37:09,070 But there was a great sense of God's 732 00:37:09,070 --> 00:37:13,110 attitude toward all sin, and especially that which 733 00:37:13,110 --> 00:37:15,090 would defile the body of Christ. 734 00:37:15,910 --> 00:37:17,530 Do you remember a little leaven will leaven 735 00:37:17,530 --> 00:37:18,430 the whole loaf? 736 00:37:19,290 --> 00:37:21,990 Well, it started with Ananias and Sapphira. 737 00:37:22,850 --> 00:37:26,150 A little way down the road, no longer 738 00:37:26,150 --> 00:37:32,230 this very strict, this very drastic measure of 739 00:37:32,230 --> 00:37:33,550 striking people dead. 740 00:37:33,550 --> 00:37:36,030 But power was gone. 741 00:37:39,100 --> 00:37:42,760 The enemy infiltrated the body of Christ. 742 00:37:43,760 --> 00:37:46,840 He learned how to work and manipulate God's 743 00:37:46,840 --> 00:37:47,120 people. 744 00:37:47,440 --> 00:37:49,760 He knows how to manipulate and work you 745 00:37:49,760 --> 00:37:54,950 and me so that we are no longer 746 00:37:54,950 --> 00:37:59,610 any value as far as being a bold 747 00:37:59,610 --> 00:38:03,270 spokesperson for our Lord Jesus Christ. 748 00:38:06,600 --> 00:38:08,080 The message is so clear. 749 00:38:09,740 --> 00:38:12,080 Let us bow in a word of prayer. 750 00:38:14,430 --> 00:38:17,730 Our Father in heaven, send within each of 751 00:38:17,730 --> 00:38:19,810 our hearts this morning, by the power of 752 00:38:19,810 --> 00:38:21,530 the Spirit of God, a deep sense of 753 00:38:21,530 --> 00:38:24,690 reverence for your holiness. 754 00:38:26,530 --> 00:38:28,490 Oh, the Word of God says, Be holy 755 00:38:28,490 --> 00:38:29,390 like your holiness. 756 00:38:29,470 --> 00:38:35,270 Lord, too often we find ourselves very comfortable 757 00:38:35,270 --> 00:38:35,950 with sin. 758 00:38:36,510 --> 00:38:38,810 We have looked at Ananias and Sapphira. 759 00:38:40,090 --> 00:38:43,770 These two dear ones long ago went to 760 00:38:43,770 --> 00:38:45,830 be with the Lord because they took lightly 761 00:38:45,830 --> 00:38:46,550 sin. 762 00:38:46,910 --> 00:38:48,230 They lied to God. 763 00:38:49,570 --> 00:38:51,790 Oh, we pray thee this morning, speak to 764 00:38:51,790 --> 00:38:52,550 our hearts. 765 00:38:53,710 --> 00:38:56,470 Remind us that to be sanctified and separated 766 00:38:56,470 --> 00:38:58,650 from all that is a part of the 767 00:38:58,650 --> 00:39:01,230 defiling things in this world is so necessary 768 00:39:01,230 --> 00:39:03,670 if we are to have power with thee. 769 00:39:04,550 --> 00:39:06,170 Speak to our hearts this morning. 770 00:39:07,450 --> 00:39:10,310 Send us away from this place different people 771 00:39:10,310 --> 00:39:13,070 from what we came into this room. 772 00:39:14,790 --> 00:39:19,210 Oh, our God, cleanse us as we confess 773 00:39:19,210 --> 00:39:20,710 and forsake all sin. 774 00:39:21,590 --> 00:39:24,070 For we ask this in the precious name 775 00:39:24,070 --> 00:39:25,090 of the Lord Jesus. 776 00:39:25,970 --> 00:39:26,230 Amen. 777 00:39:28,030 --> 00:39:30,210 Our brother has a verse of a hymn.