Sharing Love in Truth

Acts 4:32-5:11

Good Morning St Peter and Good morning to all of our guest on the line this morning. God is still Good, and God is still in control. Please don’t be dismayed about the things that are going on in our world, God will take care of all of that.

He wants you and I to focus on serving him and he will take care of the rest.

Thank you Sis Hardmon for that introduction.

Thank you __________for the scripture.

Thank you __________for the prayer.

As sis Hardmon has said our lesson is entitled “Sharing Love in Truth”

And upon first hearing the title, I thought that’s the only way that LOVE can be shared and that’s in Truth.

People cannot change truth, but truth can change people.

Let me say that again

People cannot change truth, but truth can change people.

God’s word is the truth. And if we live by his word, we can express true love to all that we meet.

This lesson teaches us that there are people in our neighborhoods, in our communities, and in our cities, that do not have what they need to carry on their every day lives. Just for example: Have you seen the long lines for people trying to get food. I saw this morning, where Tyler Perry is again trying to help as many as he can.

We need to do our part as well. You maybe saying right now, I don’t have enough to help anybody. God has blessed us all with something that we can share with somebody else. Maybe its not material things that you have. Maybe you’ve got good skills, but we all can help somebody along this journey. We all can show LOVE and share Love in truth.

There ought to be a Godly love among us as believers.

Designer clothes can be recognized by their trademark. You can recognize Versace, and Gucci by their design. You can recognize sport apparel by their images on the clothing, Nike, Under Armour.

Even with people, Your know a policeman when you see one, and you know a doctor in a hospital when you see one.

Well likewise, God has a way that you and I should be recognized in this evil world. He has given each of us an image that we should wear wherever we go. Jesus said: "By this shall all men know that you are my disciples, that you love one another."

When we show our love to one another, it demonstrates to the world who we are and whose we are.

This lesson is divided in two parts. Part one is “Truthful Sharing: Acts 4:32-37 and Part two is “Counterfeit Sharing” Acts 5:1-11

Lets get into the lesson.

Sis Lena Lewis is our reader for the morning. Thank God for her. We want to share the reading in LOVE

Sis Lewis, would you please read the first part, verses 32-37

At the beginning of Acts chapter 4

· Peter and John were speaking to the people, and ended up being arrested (vv. 1-4)

· The apostles boldly testify to Christ. (vv. 5-14)

Verse 13: “When they saw that Peter and John were not afraid and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were shocked and they took note that they had been with Jesus.” [1]

· Peter and John refuse to be silenced. The church leaders didn’t know what to do with them so they just threaten them and let them go (vv. 15-22)

The best answer to threats is prayer

· The believers unite in prayer and praise. (vv. 23-31)

"they lifted up their voice to God with one accord" (v. 24).

They didn’t ask for protection from the church folk, or help in hiding them so that they could not be founded, instead they asked for boldness.

"and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost" (v. 31).

The prayer meeting was so strong, that God called an earthquake and shook the whole building.

We come to our scripture for this morning in vs 32

XXVI. "And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul" (v. 32).

XXVII. They were Overpowered with God’s power

XXVIII. "with great power" (v. 33).

XXIX. Their sermons were not just about a portion of the scriptures, but they lifted the name of Jesus.

XXX. "gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus" (v. 33). “if I be lifted up, I’ll draw all men unto me.

XXXI. God’s blessings, God’s love was plentiful, look at what it says

XXXII. "and great grace was upon them all" (v. 33).

XXXIII. They gave sacrificially to one another

XXXIV. "as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the prices of the things that were sold, and laid them down at the apostles' feet" (v. 34, 35).[2]

I. THE LAND THEY FURNISHED

II. "But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession" (v. 1).

III. THE LOVE THEY FOSTERED

IV. "And kept back part of the price, his wife also being privy to it" (v. 2).

V. THE LIE THEY FLAUNTED

VI. "and brought a certain part, and laid it at the apostles' feet … thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God" (vv. 2, 4). cf. vv. 3, 8.

VII. THE LEADER THEY FACED

VIII. "But Peter said" (v. 3). cf. v. 8.

IX. THE LAWLESSNESS THEY FOLLOWED

X. "why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost?" (v. 3) cf. v. 9.

XI. THE LORD THEY FOUGHT

XII. "thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God … ye have agreed together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord?" (v. 4, 9).

XIII. THE LIFE THEY FORFEITED

XIV. "And Ananias hearing these words fell down, and gave up the ghost … Then fell she down straightway at his feet, and yielded up the ghost" (vv. 5, 10).

XV. THE LOT THEY FILLED

XVI. "And the young men … carried him out, and buried him … and, carrying her forth, buried her by her husband" (vv. 6, 10).

XVII. THE LOCALE THEY FRIGHTENED

XVIII. "And great fear came upon all the church, and upon as many as heard these things" (v. 11).

XIX. THE LITTLE THEY FOUND

XX. This is the only conclusion that can be drawn from the preceding verses. The hypocrite is looking for so much, but finds so little.[3]