1 00:00:00,760 --> 00:00:07,080 Speaker 1: Let us pray. But Peter said Annaeus, why hath Satan 2 00:00:07,160 --> 00:00:10,360 Speaker 1: filled thine heart to lie to the Holy ghost and 3 00:00:10,400 --> 00:00:12,639 Speaker 1: to keep back part of the price of the land. 4 00:00:13,400 --> 00:00:19,439 Speaker 1: Acts five three. Heavenly Father, as you begin to increase 5 00:00:19,560 --> 00:00:24,279 Speaker 1: my life and multiply the blessings around me, I pray 6 00:00:24,320 --> 00:00:29,320 Speaker 1: that you would keep my integrity steadfast and my motives pure. 7 00:00:31,240 --> 00:00:34,760 Speaker 1: Whatever you require of me to show my diligence and 8 00:00:34,840 --> 00:00:39,320 Speaker 1: obedience to you, I will not cut corners so that 9 00:00:39,400 --> 00:00:43,000 Speaker 1: I may gain more through deceitful actions than I would 10 00:00:43,080 --> 00:00:48,160 Speaker 1: by living a righteous and holy life. I denounce all 11 00:00:48,240 --> 00:00:51,559 Speaker 1: greedy and selfish motives that would try to cloud my 12 00:00:51,680 --> 00:00:56,680 Speaker 1: mind and my decisions. Because I am a person of 13 00:00:56,760 --> 00:01:02,200 Speaker 1: character and integrity. My yes will be yes, and why 14 00:01:02,320 --> 00:01:07,080 Speaker 1: no will be no. I will not be lukewarm and 15 00:01:07,240 --> 00:01:12,240 Speaker 1: vacillate to and fro like the waves of the sea. Instead, 16 00:01:13,240 --> 00:01:17,600 Speaker 1: I will remain consistent and strong, like the Rock of 17 00:01:17,680 --> 00:01:23,080 Speaker 1: Jesus Christ. You can trust me with much because I 18 00:01:23,120 --> 00:01:31,600 Speaker 1: am faithful and little. Bring on the increase in Jesus' name. Amen, 19 00:01:34,160 --> 00:01:37,720 Speaker 1: Thank you for praying with me today. Continue listening for 20 00:01:37,800 --> 00:01:41,200 Speaker 1: an incredible Bible story brought to you by Bible in 21 00:01:41,280 --> 00:01:42,200 Speaker 1: a Year dot. 22 00:01:42,000 --> 00:01:52,960 Speaker 2: Com, Anonius, and Sapphira. 23 00:01:53,960 --> 00:01:57,320 Speaker 3: In our last story, Peter and John boldly healed a 24 00:01:57,400 --> 00:02:01,360 Speaker 3: man who had been lame since birth. People were astonished, 25 00:02:01,720 --> 00:02:04,080 Speaker 3: but Peter assured them that they did not heal from 26 00:02:04,080 --> 00:02:07,920 Speaker 3: their own strength, but from the spirit of Jesus. Now 27 00:02:07,960 --> 00:02:11,280 Speaker 3: we see the church growing and sharing in all things, 28 00:02:11,680 --> 00:02:15,360 Speaker 3: but some greed lingers in the new Church, greed that 29 00:02:15,440 --> 00:02:18,840 Speaker 3: will not be tolerated. Inspired by the Book. 30 00:02:18,880 --> 00:02:25,080 Speaker 4: Of Acts, Jack Graham here with today's episode of the 31 00:02:25,120 --> 00:02:29,119 Speaker 4: Bible in a Year podcast. In yesterday's episode, we heard 32 00:02:29,160 --> 00:02:32,560 Speaker 4: of Peter and John's boldness to preach the gospel even 33 00:02:32,560 --> 00:02:36,359 Speaker 4: when facing opposition and intimidation from the religious leaders of 34 00:02:36,400 --> 00:02:39,880 Speaker 4: the day. God was working through them to grow his church, 35 00:02:40,320 --> 00:02:43,080 Speaker 4: and because of their willingness to step out and obey 36 00:02:43,160 --> 00:02:47,320 Speaker 4: God rather than human authority, thousands and thousands more came 37 00:02:47,360 --> 00:02:51,200 Speaker 4: to Christ. Today we'll see how sin is a presence 38 00:02:51,280 --> 00:02:54,240 Speaker 4: even in the life of early Christians. We'll see how 39 00:02:54,320 --> 00:02:58,320 Speaker 4: swiftly God dealt with one couple's deceit as an example 40 00:02:58,360 --> 00:03:02,640 Speaker 4: to others that God is serious about sin. So let's 41 00:03:02,639 --> 00:03:04,400 Speaker 4: listen now to the word of God. 42 00:03:06,680 --> 00:03:09,840 Speaker 3: The hearts and souls of those who believed were becoming one. 43 00:03:10,360 --> 00:03:14,560 Speaker 3: A genuine community of people that loved selflessly was being formed. 44 00:03:15,120 --> 00:03:17,839 Speaker 3: Every person who was added to the church looked out 45 00:03:17,880 --> 00:03:21,080 Speaker 3: for their neighbor. As they learned more about the character 46 00:03:21,160 --> 00:03:24,160 Speaker 3: of Jesus, their actions began to look more like his. 47 00:03:25,000 --> 00:03:28,040 Speaker 3: Everything they owed they offered up to be shared among 48 00:03:28,080 --> 00:03:31,520 Speaker 3: each other. No need was left unmet by the family 49 00:03:31,560 --> 00:03:35,480 Speaker 3: of God. The apostles preached the words of Jesus and 50 00:03:35,600 --> 00:03:41,440 Speaker 3: proclaimed his life, death, and resurrection. Widows were given protections, 51 00:03:41,760 --> 00:03:45,160 Speaker 3: orphans were given homes, and the lonely were given a community. 52 00:03:45,840 --> 00:03:49,080 Speaker 3: Every day, the Lord met more needs through the generosity 53 00:03:49,120 --> 00:03:53,000 Speaker 3: of the followers of Jesus. However, not all were willing 54 00:03:53,040 --> 00:03:56,040 Speaker 3: to lay down their selfish ambitions for the sake of others. 55 00:03:56,680 --> 00:03:59,600 Speaker 3: There were a few who desired to be seen as good, 56 00:04:00,080 --> 00:04:04,000 Speaker 3: but maintained the deep sin within their hearts. A man 57 00:04:04,080 --> 00:04:08,160 Speaker 3: named Anonius was plagued with this very illness. He and 58 00:04:08,240 --> 00:04:11,480 Speaker 3: his wife Sapfhora, sold a piece of their property and 59 00:04:11,520 --> 00:04:14,400 Speaker 3: gave the money to the Apostles. They gave half of 60 00:04:14,440 --> 00:04:18,239 Speaker 3: what they earned, but claimed to give it all. Peter 61 00:04:18,400 --> 00:04:22,719 Speaker 3: noticed this. He noticed that Anonius and his wife desired 62 00:04:22,760 --> 00:04:25,720 Speaker 3: the praise of good deeds with none of the sacrifice. 63 00:04:26,240 --> 00:04:30,000 Speaker 3: This was something God would not tolerate, especially while the 64 00:04:30,080 --> 00:04:33,640 Speaker 3: church was in its infant stage. Peter held the bag 65 00:04:33,680 --> 00:04:37,080 Speaker 3: of coins in his hand from Anonius. He sighed and 66 00:04:37,120 --> 00:04:41,760 Speaker 3: shook his head. Anonius, Peter said, why have you allowed 67 00:04:41,839 --> 00:04:44,240 Speaker 3: Satan a place in your heart to lie like this? 68 00:04:45,000 --> 00:04:47,560 Speaker 3: You did not have to sell your land, You did 69 00:04:47,560 --> 00:04:50,480 Speaker 3: not have to give anything away. But here you are 70 00:04:50,600 --> 00:04:53,919 Speaker 3: lying about what you did sell. You have lied to me, 71 00:04:54,520 --> 00:04:59,200 Speaker 3: the Church and God. As Peter spoke these things, Anonius 72 00:04:59,200 --> 00:05:02,400 Speaker 3: fell down at his his feet out and breathed his last. 73 00:05:03,120 --> 00:05:06,240 Speaker 3: His body was taken away and buried, and a healthy 74 00:05:06,320 --> 00:05:10,400 Speaker 3: fear came on all of the people. Only three hours 75 00:05:10,400 --> 00:05:13,800 Speaker 3: had passed, and Safforah, the wife of Anonius, had not 76 00:05:13,920 --> 00:05:16,760 Speaker 3: heard what happened. She came to Peter with a humble 77 00:05:16,839 --> 00:05:20,480 Speaker 3: image and holy attitude, but Peter saw right through it. 78 00:05:21,040 --> 00:05:23,480 Speaker 3: He held the coins in his hand from her husband 79 00:05:23,520 --> 00:05:26,599 Speaker 3: and said, did you sell your land for this much? 80 00:05:27,080 --> 00:05:30,159 Speaker 3: Saffora looked at it, knowing it wasn't the full amount, 81 00:05:30,200 --> 00:05:34,040 Speaker 3: and nodded her head. Peter rubbed his head. It grieved 82 00:05:34,080 --> 00:05:37,480 Speaker 3: him to see Safforah, lie so boldly. Why is it 83 00:05:37,520 --> 00:05:40,880 Speaker 3: that you do this? Why lie? What have you to gain? 84 00:05:41,640 --> 00:05:44,320 Speaker 3: The feet of those who buried your husband will carry 85 00:05:44,440 --> 00:05:48,560 Speaker 3: you out as well. And as Peter spoke these words, 86 00:05:49,000 --> 00:05:54,200 Speaker 3: Saffora dropped dead in front of him. 87 00:05:54,839 --> 00:05:59,000 Speaker 4: We begin today's reading with a beautiful picture of Christian community, 88 00:05:59,240 --> 00:06:03,599 Speaker 4: the Church. The believers in Jerusalem gathered frequently to support 89 00:06:03,640 --> 00:06:06,320 Speaker 4: and strengthen one another, and to share with all who 90 00:06:06,400 --> 00:06:09,520 Speaker 4: had need, and most of all, to proclaim the Gospel. 91 00:06:10,279 --> 00:06:13,680 Speaker 4: This community of faith was drawn together because of their 92 00:06:13,720 --> 00:06:17,080 Speaker 4: deep love for Christ and for one another. The community 93 00:06:17,120 --> 00:06:20,040 Speaker 4: of Christ's followers stood out in a greater community as 94 00:06:20,040 --> 00:06:24,159 Speaker 4: an example of generosity and selflessness, drawing more and more 95 00:06:24,200 --> 00:06:28,240 Speaker 4: people to Jesus every single day. The Church is multiplying, 96 00:06:28,360 --> 00:06:32,200 Speaker 4: It is becoming a multitude. It is a beautiful picture 97 00:06:32,200 --> 00:06:34,680 Speaker 4: of what is possible when God's people live with the 98 00:06:34,720 --> 00:06:38,040 Speaker 4: heart of Christ, loving God and loving each other, just 99 00:06:38,080 --> 00:06:41,919 Speaker 4: as Jesus commanded us. And yet, in the midst of 100 00:06:41,920 --> 00:06:45,000 Speaker 4: this great grace and the growth of the Church, sin 101 00:06:45,279 --> 00:06:48,880 Speaker 4: still showed up, as it does today. When we come 102 00:06:48,920 --> 00:06:51,680 Speaker 4: to faith in Christ, we are freed from the power 103 00:06:51,800 --> 00:06:54,000 Speaker 4: and penalty of sin, but as long as we live 104 00:06:54,040 --> 00:06:56,479 Speaker 4: on this earth, sin will be a presence that we 105 00:06:56,600 --> 00:06:59,719 Speaker 4: deal with. We will deal with temptation, and in today's 106 00:06:59,720 --> 00:07:02,800 Speaker 4: read we discover the sin that tried to make its 107 00:07:02,839 --> 00:07:05,360 Speaker 4: way into the church through a husband and wife named 108 00:07:05,400 --> 00:07:11,320 Speaker 4: Anonius and Sophia. With all the generosity going around, these 109 00:07:11,360 --> 00:07:14,080 Speaker 4: two wanted to experience some of the glory of being 110 00:07:14,160 --> 00:07:18,600 Speaker 4: the generous ones. They wanted recognition for their good deeds 111 00:07:18,600 --> 00:07:21,680 Speaker 4: and their generosity, so they sold a piece of property 112 00:07:21,720 --> 00:07:23,680 Speaker 4: that they owned and gave some of the money to 113 00:07:23,720 --> 00:07:26,119 Speaker 4: the apostles for the work of Christ and the Church. 114 00:07:26,680 --> 00:07:29,680 Speaker 4: The problem is, while they said they were giving it all, 115 00:07:29,720 --> 00:07:32,440 Speaker 4: they kept some of the money for themselves, and they 116 00:07:32,560 --> 00:07:36,760 Speaker 4: lied to God and the Church. It was Antonius, the husband, 117 00:07:36,760 --> 00:07:38,760 Speaker 4: who sold the land and kept some of the money 118 00:07:39,040 --> 00:07:43,000 Speaker 4: and then deceived the apostles, he thought, but Sephirah had 119 00:07:43,040 --> 00:07:47,040 Speaker 4: full knowledge, so they both were guilty. When Anonayus gave 120 00:07:47,040 --> 00:07:49,280 Speaker 4: the money to the apostles, Peter said to him and 121 00:07:49,320 --> 00:07:54,280 Speaker 4: Acts five verses three through four, Antonius, why has Satan 122 00:07:54,360 --> 00:07:56,720 Speaker 4: filled your heart to light of the Holy Spirit? And 123 00:07:56,760 --> 00:07:59,200 Speaker 4: to keep back for yourself part of the proceeds for 124 00:07:59,280 --> 00:08:02,760 Speaker 4: the land. While it remained unsold. Did it not remain 125 00:08:02,880 --> 00:08:05,560 Speaker 4: your own? And after it was sold, was it not 126 00:08:05,760 --> 00:08:09,560 Speaker 4: at your disposal? Why is it that you have contrived 127 00:08:09,560 --> 00:08:12,400 Speaker 4: this deed in your heart? You have lied not to 128 00:08:12,520 --> 00:08:17,360 Speaker 4: man but to God. When he heard these words, Anonius 129 00:08:17,560 --> 00:08:21,360 Speaker 4: died on the spot. His wife, Sephirah came later, and 130 00:08:21,400 --> 00:08:24,000 Speaker 4: Peter asked her how much they sold the land, for 131 00:08:24,680 --> 00:08:27,800 Speaker 4: she did not know that Anonius was dead, but it 132 00:08:27,920 --> 00:08:31,360 Speaker 4: was an opportunity for her to tell the truth. Unfortunately, 133 00:08:31,760 --> 00:08:35,480 Speaker 4: she also lied, and when her lie was revealed, she 134 00:08:35,720 --> 00:08:38,719 Speaker 4: also died and was carried away to be buried with 135 00:08:38,800 --> 00:08:44,800 Speaker 4: her husband. Serious stuff. What is the message here? Anonius 136 00:08:44,800 --> 00:08:48,240 Speaker 4: and Sephirah were an example to the early church, and 137 00:08:48,280 --> 00:08:51,080 Speaker 4: we learned that because of what happened to them, great 138 00:08:51,200 --> 00:08:54,680 Speaker 4: fear came upon the church, and all who heard it 139 00:08:54,760 --> 00:08:58,240 Speaker 4: is reminded that while there is grace and forgiveness in Christ, 140 00:08:58,760 --> 00:09:01,920 Speaker 4: God is still serious about sin and will not allow 141 00:09:02,040 --> 00:09:05,960 Speaker 4: sin to corrupt his people. Anonias and Saphia may have 142 00:09:06,000 --> 00:09:09,640 Speaker 4: thought their little deception really wasn't hurting anyone. After all, 143 00:09:09,679 --> 00:09:12,760 Speaker 4: they did give a sum of money to help other believers, 144 00:09:13,280 --> 00:09:16,720 Speaker 4: but they neglected to think about how their actions offended 145 00:09:16,760 --> 00:09:21,679 Speaker 4: God that our sin always grieves God and defiles our 146 00:09:21,679 --> 00:09:25,600 Speaker 4: relationship with him. Lying to God and testing the Holy 147 00:09:25,640 --> 00:09:29,120 Speaker 4: Spirit is nothing to play with. God wanted to be 148 00:09:29,200 --> 00:09:32,440 Speaker 4: clear about this with the early Church. He wanted his 149 00:09:32,559 --> 00:09:36,840 Speaker 4: church to be pure and therefore powerful. Likewise, we also 150 00:09:36,960 --> 00:09:40,640 Speaker 4: need to be serious about sin, not only our own sin, 151 00:09:40,960 --> 00:09:44,320 Speaker 4: but sin in the church. There must be discipline in 152 00:09:44,400 --> 00:09:48,240 Speaker 4: the face of deceit, and in the church we must 153 00:09:48,280 --> 00:09:51,800 Speaker 4: never do anything that would somehow hinder the spread of 154 00:09:51,800 --> 00:09:56,640 Speaker 4: the Gospel. Dear God, we know that sin grieves your 155 00:09:56,640 --> 00:10:00,679 Speaker 4: heart and is a destructive force in the lives believers 156 00:10:00,720 --> 00:10:03,400 Speaker 4: and the church. So help us to be on guard 157 00:10:03,440 --> 00:10:06,680 Speaker 4: against every attempt by the enemy to hinder the work 158 00:10:06,720 --> 00:10:09,960 Speaker 4: of Christ and his Church around the world. May our 159 00:10:09,960 --> 00:10:13,280 Speaker 4: hearts be pure as we give and serve and live 160 00:10:13,320 --> 00:10:18,360 Speaker 4: for you in Jesus' name. Amen, Thank you for listening 161 00:10:18,400 --> 00:10:21,640 Speaker 4: to Today's Bible in a year. I'm pastor Jack Graham 162 00:10:21,640 --> 00:10:24,880 Speaker 4: from Dallas, Texas. You can download the prey dot com 163 00:10:24,880 --> 00:10:28,240 Speaker 4: app and make Bible study in prayer the priority of 164 00:10:28,280 --> 00:10:32,320 Speaker 4: your life. And if you appreciate this podcast, please share 165 00:10:32,320 --> 00:10:35,320 Speaker 4: it with someone else. I also want to encourage you 166 00:10:35,360 --> 00:10:39,160 Speaker 4: to go to Jack Graham dot org. That's Jack Graham 167 00:10:39,240 --> 00:10:42,640 Speaker 4: dot org for we have resources that are free and 168 00:10:42,679 --> 00:10:45,600 Speaker 4: available for you so that you may know Christ and 169 00:10:45,800 --> 00:10:47,880 Speaker 4: grow in Him. God bless you. 170 00:10:53,080 --> 00:10:56,880 Speaker 1: This episode is sponsored by Meta Share, an innovative healthcare 171 00:10:56,920 --> 00:11:02,360 Speaker 1: solution for Christians to save money without sayne grificing quality. 172 00:11:02,440 --> 00:11:04,800 Speaker 1: Welcome to the Pray News podcast, where hope is our 173 00:11:04,840 --> 00:11:09,199 Speaker 1: only bias. Each day, we'll unpack the most prominent stories 174 00:11:09,240 --> 00:11:12,800 Speaker 1: happening in the news and offer a Christian perspective. We 175 00:11:12,880 --> 00:11:15,400 Speaker 1: won't shy away from the hard topics, and we won't 176 00:11:15,400 --> 00:11:19,040 Speaker 1: dilute the hopeful message of Christ. This is more than 177 00:11:19,040 --> 00:11:21,160 Speaker 1: a daily brief on the news. It's a way to 178 00:11:21,200 --> 00:11:25,640 Speaker 1: be informed and transformed. 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