1 00:00:00,760 --> 00:00:07,040 Speaker 1: Let us pray. But Peter said Annius, why hath Satan 2 00:00:07,120 --> 00:00:10,320 Speaker 1: filled thine heart to lie to the Holy ghost and 3 00:00:10,400 --> 00:00:12,600 Speaker 1: to keep back part of the price of the land. 4 00:00:13,400 --> 00:00:19,480 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 --> 00:00:43,040 Speaker 1: I may gain more through deceitful actions than I would 10 00:00:43,040 --> 00:00:48,120 Speaker 1: by living a righteous and holy life. I denounce all 11 00:00:48,200 --> 00:00:51,559 Speaker 1: greedy and selfish motives that would try to cloud my 12 00:00:51,680 --> 00:00:56,640 Speaker 1: mind and my decisions. Because I am a person of 13 00:00:56,760 --> 00:01:02,160 Speaker 1: character and integrity. My yes will be yes, and min 14 00:01:02,280 --> 00:01:07,039 Speaker 1: no will be no. I will not be lukewarm and 15 00:01:07,200 --> 00:01:12,240 Speaker 1: vacillate to and fro like the waves of the sea. Instead, 16 00:01:13,200 --> 00:01:17,560 Speaker 1: I will remain consistent and strong, like the rock of 17 00:01:17,640 --> 00:01:23,080 Speaker 1: Jesus Christ. You can trust me with much because I 18 00:01:23,120 --> 00:01:31,560 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 00:01:37,760 --> 00:01:41,200 Speaker 1: an incredible Bible story brought to you by Bible in 21 00:01:41,240 --> 00:01:42,200 Speaker 1: a Year dot. 22 00:01:42,000 --> 00:01:55,720 Speaker 2: Com, Anonius, and Sapphira. In our last story, Peter and 23 00:01:55,840 --> 00:01:59,440 Speaker 2: John boldly healed a man who had been lame since birth. 24 00:02:00,160 --> 00:02:03,400 Speaker 2: People were astonished, but Peter assured them that they did 25 00:02:03,400 --> 00:02:06,200 Speaker 2: not heal from their own strength, but from the spirit 26 00:02:06,240 --> 00:02:10,119 Speaker 2: of Jesus. Now we see the Church growing and sharing 27 00:02:10,240 --> 00:02:14,280 Speaker 2: in all things, but some greed lingers in the New Church, 28 00:02:14,880 --> 00:02:18,840 Speaker 2: greed that will not be tolerated. Inspired by the Book. 29 00:02:18,840 --> 00:02:24,240 Speaker 3: Of Acts, I'm so glad you've joined us on the 30 00:02:24,280 --> 00:02:27,760 Speaker 3: Bible in a Year podcast today. But before we get 31 00:02:27,800 --> 00:02:30,320 Speaker 3: to today's episode, I want you to know that I 32 00:02:30,360 --> 00:02:34,280 Speaker 3: would absolutely love to send you my daily devotional that 33 00:02:34,360 --> 00:02:38,440 Speaker 3: will give you fresh encouragement every single morning and day 34 00:02:39,120 --> 00:02:41,600 Speaker 3: from the moment we wake up to the moment our 35 00:02:41,639 --> 00:02:45,360 Speaker 3: head finally hits the pillow. There are thousands of things 36 00:02:45,440 --> 00:02:48,760 Speaker 3: demanding our attention, but it's in the midst of all 37 00:02:48,880 --> 00:02:51,400 Speaker 3: this crush and hustle and bustle that you and I 38 00:02:51,560 --> 00:02:54,919 Speaker 3: need peace and truth in God's Word. That's why I 39 00:02:54,960 --> 00:02:58,160 Speaker 3: want to help you spend time each day growing in 40 00:02:58,240 --> 00:03:02,080 Speaker 3: God's life giving, life changing Word by sending you my 41 00:03:02,280 --> 00:03:08,360 Speaker 3: free daily email devotional PowerPoint Today. So visit Jagraham dot 42 00:03:08,440 --> 00:03:12,240 Speaker 3: org to sign up for your PowerPoint Today devotional. That's 43 00:03:12,360 --> 00:03:18,880 Speaker 3: Jagraham dot org Jack Graham dot org. In yesterday's episode, 44 00:03:18,880 --> 00:03:21,320 Speaker 3: we heard of Peter and John's boldness to preach the 45 00:03:21,400 --> 00:03:26,000 Speaker 3: gospel even when facing opposition and intimidation from the religious 46 00:03:26,080 --> 00:03:29,160 Speaker 3: leaders of the day. God was working through them to 47 00:03:29,240 --> 00:03:32,360 Speaker 3: grow his church, and because of their willingness to step 48 00:03:32,400 --> 00:03:36,120 Speaker 3: out and obey God rather than human authority, thousands and 49 00:03:36,240 --> 00:03:40,200 Speaker 3: thousands more came to Christ. Today we'll see how sin 50 00:03:40,520 --> 00:03:43,240 Speaker 3: is a presence even in the life of early Christians. 51 00:03:43,520 --> 00:03:47,240 Speaker 3: We'll see how swiftly God dealt with one couple's deceit 52 00:03:47,600 --> 00:03:51,560 Speaker 3: as an example to others that God is serious about sin. 53 00:03:52,240 --> 00:03:54,520 Speaker 3: So let's listen now to the word of God. 54 00:03:56,800 --> 00:04:00,000 Speaker 2: The hearts and souls of those who believed were becoming one. 55 00:04:00,480 --> 00:04:04,640 Speaker 2: A genuine community of people that loved selflessly was being formed. 56 00:04:05,240 --> 00:04:07,920 Speaker 2: Every person who was added to the church looked out 57 00:04:07,960 --> 00:04:11,160 Speaker 2: for their neighbor. As they learned more about the character 58 00:04:11,280 --> 00:04:14,280 Speaker 2: of Jesus, their actions began to look more like his. 59 00:04:15,080 --> 00:04:18,159 Speaker 2: Everything they owed they offered up to be shared among 60 00:04:18,200 --> 00:04:21,640 Speaker 2: each other. No need was left unmet by the family 61 00:04:21,680 --> 00:04:25,599 Speaker 2: of God. The apostles preached the words of Jesus and 62 00:04:25,680 --> 00:04:31,520 Speaker 2: proclaimed his life, death and resurrection. Widows were given protections, 63 00:04:31,839 --> 00:04:35,280 Speaker 2: orphans were given homes, and the lonely were given a community. 64 00:04:35,920 --> 00:04:39,160 Speaker 2: Every day, the Lord met more needs through the generosity 65 00:04:39,240 --> 00:04:43,120 Speaker 2: of the followers of Jesus. However, not all were willing 66 00:04:43,160 --> 00:04:46,159 Speaker 2: to lay down their selfish ambitions for the sake of others. 67 00:04:46,800 --> 00:04:49,640 Speaker 2: There were a few who desired to be seen as good, 68 00:04:50,160 --> 00:04:54,080 Speaker 2: but maintained the deep sin within their hearts. A man 69 00:04:54,200 --> 00:04:58,280 Speaker 2: named Annonius was plagued with this very illness. He and 70 00:04:58,320 --> 00:05:01,839 Speaker 2: his wife Sapforah, sold peace of their property and gave 71 00:05:01,880 --> 00:05:04,640 Speaker 2: the money to the apostles. They gave half of what 72 00:05:04,720 --> 00:05:09,200 Speaker 2: they earned, but claimed to give it all. Peter noticed this. 73 00:05:09,760 --> 00:05:13,400 Speaker 2: He noticed that Anonius and his wife desired the praise 74 00:05:13,440 --> 00:05:16,839 Speaker 2: of good deeds with none of the sacrifice. This was 75 00:05:16,880 --> 00:05:20,719 Speaker 2: something God would not tolerate, especially while the church was 76 00:05:20,720 --> 00:05:24,320 Speaker 2: in its infant stage. Peter held the bag of coins 77 00:05:24,320 --> 00:05:29,560 Speaker 2: in his hand from Anonius. He sighed and shook his head. Anonius, 78 00:05:29,680 --> 00:05:32,919 Speaker 2: Peter said, why have you allowed Satan a place in 79 00:05:33,000 --> 00:05:33,760 Speaker 2: your heart to. 80 00:05:33,680 --> 00:05:34,360 Speaker 3: Lie like this? 81 00:05:35,120 --> 00:05:37,640 Speaker 2: You did not have to sell your land, You did 82 00:05:37,640 --> 00:05:40,600 Speaker 2: not have to give anything away. But here you are 83 00:05:40,720 --> 00:05:44,000 Speaker 2: lying about what you did sell. You have lied to me, 84 00:05:44,640 --> 00:05:49,280 Speaker 2: the Church and God. As Peter spoke these things, Anonius 85 00:05:49,320 --> 00:05:53,320 Speaker 2: fell down at his feet and breathed his last. His 86 00:05:53,400 --> 00:05:56,760 Speaker 2: body was taken away and buried, and a healthy fear 87 00:05:56,920 --> 00:06:01,080 Speaker 2: came on all of the people. Only three hours had passed, 88 00:06:01,440 --> 00:06:04,839 Speaker 2: and Safforah, the wife of Anonius, had not heard what happened. 89 00:06:05,320 --> 00:06:08,520 Speaker 2: She came to Peter with a humble image and holy attitude, 90 00:06:08,920 --> 00:06:12,080 Speaker 2: but Peter saw right through it. He held the coins 91 00:06:12,080 --> 00:06:14,880 Speaker 2: in his hand from her husband and said, did you 92 00:06:15,000 --> 00:06:18,400 Speaker 2: sell your land for this much? Saffora looked at it, 93 00:06:18,720 --> 00:06:21,280 Speaker 2: knowing it wasn't the full amount, and nodded her head. 94 00:06:21,839 --> 00:06:25,280 Speaker 2: Peter rubbed his head. It grieved him to see Safforah 95 00:06:25,320 --> 00:06:28,200 Speaker 2: lie so boldly. Why is it that you do this? 96 00:06:28,880 --> 00:06:32,279 Speaker 2: Why lie? What have you to gain? The feet of 97 00:06:32,279 --> 00:06:35,880 Speaker 2: those who buried your husband will carry you out as well. 98 00:06:36,839 --> 00:06:41,120 Speaker 2: And as Peter spoke these words, Saffora dropped dead in 99 00:06:41,120 --> 00:06:44,640 Speaker 2: front of him. 100 00:06:44,920 --> 00:06:49,080 Speaker 3: We begin today's reading with a beautiful picture of Christian community. 101 00:06:49,320 --> 00:06:53,719 Speaker 3: The church. The believers in Jerusalem gathered frequently to support 102 00:06:53,720 --> 00:06:56,479 Speaker 3: and strengthen one another and to share with all who 103 00:06:56,520 --> 00:06:59,599 Speaker 3: had need, and most of all, to proclaim the Gospel. 104 00:07:00,400 --> 00:07:03,800 Speaker 3: This community of faith was drawn together because of their 105 00:07:03,839 --> 00:07:07,200 Speaker 3: deep love for Christ and for one another. The community 106 00:07:07,200 --> 00:07:10,120 Speaker 3: of Christ's followers stood out in a greater community as 107 00:07:10,160 --> 00:07:14,280 Speaker 3: an example of generosity and selflessness, drawing more and more 108 00:07:14,280 --> 00:07:18,360 Speaker 3: people to Jesus every single day. The Church is multiplying, 109 00:07:18,440 --> 00:07:22,280 Speaker 3: It is becoming a multitude. It is a beautiful picture 110 00:07:22,320 --> 00:07:24,800 Speaker 3: of what is possible when God's people live with the 111 00:07:24,800 --> 00:07:28,120 Speaker 3: heart of Christ, loving God and loving each other, just 112 00:07:28,200 --> 00:07:32,000 Speaker 3: as Jesus commanded us. And yet in the midst of 113 00:07:32,040 --> 00:07:35,119 Speaker 3: this great grace and the growth of the Church, sin 114 00:07:35,400 --> 00:07:38,960 Speaker 3: still showed up, as it does today. When we come 115 00:07:39,000 --> 00:07:41,760 Speaker 3: to faith in Christ, we are freed from the power 116 00:07:41,880 --> 00:07:44,080 Speaker 3: and penalty of sin, but as long as we live 117 00:07:44,160 --> 00:07:46,640 Speaker 3: on this earth, sin will be a presence that we 118 00:07:46,680 --> 00:07:49,840 Speaker 3: deal with. We will deal with temptation, and in today's 119 00:07:49,920 --> 00:07:52,920 Speaker 3: reading we discover the sin that tried to make its 120 00:07:52,920 --> 00:07:55,480 Speaker 3: way into the church through a husband and wife named 121 00:07:55,480 --> 00:08:01,440 Speaker 3: Anonius and Sapphirah. With all the generosity going of these 122 00:08:01,440 --> 00:08:04,200 Speaker 3: two wanted to experience some of the glory of being 123 00:08:04,240 --> 00:08:08,720 Speaker 3: the generous ones. They wanted recognition for their good deeds 124 00:08:08,720 --> 00:08:11,760 Speaker 3: and their generosity. So they sold a piece of property 125 00:08:11,840 --> 00:08:13,800 Speaker 3: that they owned and gave some of the money to 126 00:08:13,840 --> 00:08:16,239 Speaker 3: the apostles for the work of Christ and the Church. 127 00:08:16,760 --> 00:08:19,760 Speaker 3: The problem is, while they said they were giving it all, 128 00:08:19,800 --> 00:08:22,560 Speaker 3: they kept some of the money for themselves, and they 129 00:08:22,680 --> 00:08:26,880 Speaker 3: lied to God and the Church. It was Antonius, the husband, 130 00:08:26,880 --> 00:08:28,840 Speaker 3: who sold the land and kept some of the money 131 00:08:29,160 --> 00:08:33,120 Speaker 3: and then deceived the apostles, he thought, but Sephirah had 132 00:08:33,160 --> 00:08:37,120 Speaker 3: full knowledge, so they both were guilty. When Anonius gave 133 00:08:37,160 --> 00:08:39,400 Speaker 3: the money to the apostles, Peter said to him and 134 00:08:39,440 --> 00:08:44,400 Speaker 3: Acts five, verses three through four, Antonius, why has Satan 135 00:08:44,440 --> 00:08:46,800 Speaker 3: filled your heart to light of the Holy Spirit? And 136 00:08:46,840 --> 00:08:49,320 Speaker 3: to keep back for yourself part of the proceeds for 137 00:08:49,360 --> 00:08:52,880 Speaker 3: the land? While it remained unsold, did it not remain 138 00:08:52,960 --> 00:08:55,679 Speaker 3: your own? And after it was sold, was it not 139 00:08:55,840 --> 00:08:59,760 Speaker 3: at your disposal? Why is it that you have contrived this, 140 00:08:59,800 --> 00:09:02,520 Speaker 3: dear eat in your heart? You have lied not to 141 00:09:02,600 --> 00:09:07,439 Speaker 3: man but to God. When he heard these words, Anonius 142 00:09:07,679 --> 00:09:11,440 Speaker 3: died on the spot. His wife, Sephirah came later, and 143 00:09:11,520 --> 00:09:14,079 Speaker 3: Peter asked her how much they sold the land, for 144 00:09:14,800 --> 00:09:17,920 Speaker 3: she did not know that Anonius was dead, But it 145 00:09:18,000 --> 00:09:21,439 Speaker 3: was an opportunity for her to tell the truth. Unfortunately, 146 00:09:21,840 --> 00:09:25,600 Speaker 3: she also lied, and when her lie was revealed, she 147 00:09:25,840 --> 00:09:28,840 Speaker 3: also died and was carried away to be buried with 148 00:09:28,880 --> 00:09:34,880 Speaker 3: her husband. Serious stuff. What is the message here? Anonius 149 00:09:34,880 --> 00:09:38,320 Speaker 3: and Sephirah were an example to the early Church, and 150 00:09:38,360 --> 00:09:41,160 Speaker 3: we learned that because of what happened to them, great 151 00:09:41,280 --> 00:09:44,800 Speaker 3: fear came upon the church, and all who heard it 152 00:09:44,880 --> 00:09:48,320 Speaker 3: is reminded that while there is grace and forgiveness in Christ, 153 00:09:48,880 --> 00:09:52,040 Speaker 3: God is still serious about sin and will not allow 154 00:09:52,120 --> 00:09:56,080 Speaker 3: sin to corrupt his people. Anonius and Sophiah may have 155 00:09:56,120 --> 00:09:59,679 Speaker 3: thought their little deception really wasn't hurting anyone. After all, 156 00:09:59,720 --> 00:10:02,880 Speaker 3: they did give a sum of money to help other believers, 157 00:10:03,400 --> 00:10:07,200 Speaker 3: but they neglected to think about how their actions offended God. 158 00:10:07,800 --> 00:10:12,479 Speaker 3: That our sin always grieves God and defiles our relationship 159 00:10:12,559 --> 00:10:16,120 Speaker 3: with him. Lying to God and testing the Holy Spirit 160 00:10:16,800 --> 00:10:19,600 Speaker 3: is nothing to play with. God wanted to be clear 161 00:10:19,679 --> 00:10:22,880 Speaker 3: about this with the early Church. He wanted his church 162 00:10:22,920 --> 00:10:27,240 Speaker 3: to be pure and therefore powerful. Likewise, we also need 163 00:10:27,280 --> 00:10:30,720 Speaker 3: to be serious about sin, not only our own sin, 164 00:10:31,080 --> 00:10:34,440 Speaker 3: but sin in the church. There must be discipline in 165 00:10:34,480 --> 00:10:38,320 Speaker 3: the face of deceit and in the Church. We must 166 00:10:38,360 --> 00:10:41,880 Speaker 3: never do anything that would somehow hinder the spread of 167 00:10:41,920 --> 00:10:46,719 Speaker 3: the Gospel. Dear God, we know that sin grieves your 168 00:10:46,760 --> 00:10:50,200 Speaker 3: heart and is a destructive force in the lives of 169 00:10:50,240 --> 00:10:53,120 Speaker 3: believers and the church. So help us to be on 170 00:10:53,240 --> 00:10:56,520 Speaker 3: God against every attempt by the enemy to hinder the 171 00:10:56,559 --> 00:11:00,080 Speaker 3: work of Christ and his Church around the world. Your 172 00:11:00,120 --> 00:11:03,360 Speaker 3: hearts be pure as we give and serve and live 173 00:11:03,440 --> 00:11:08,160 Speaker 3: for you in Jesus' name. Amen. Thank you for listening 174 00:11:08,200 --> 00:11:11,640 Speaker 3: to today's Bible in a Year podcast. I'm Jack Graham 175 00:11:11,679 --> 00:11:14,480 Speaker 3: from Dallas, Texas, and before we go, I want you 176 00:11:14,520 --> 00:11:16,320 Speaker 3: to know that I would love to send you my 177 00:11:16,480 --> 00:11:20,920 Speaker 3: daily devotional to give you fresh encouragement every single day. 178 00:11:21,360 --> 00:11:23,920 Speaker 3: So visit Jack Graham dot org to sign up for 179 00:11:23,960 --> 00:11:28,560 Speaker 3: your PowerPoint Today devotional. That's Jack Graham dot org.