"A Simple Presentation into The Book of ACTS" - Chapter #5 - Bro. John "Ernie" Perez

Bro. Ernie continues our study on "A Simple Presentation into The Book of ACTS", Chapter 5.  A world on edge can make faith feel fragile—until you watch the early church stand tall. We gather around the table to read Acts 5 with open Bibles and open hearts, tracing how integrity, reverence, and Spirit-led courage turn pressure into breakthrough. From campus awakenings to global headlines, we ask what actually forms a resilient church and why the fear of the Lord may be the power we’ve been missing.

We start by grounding our moment in God’s sovereignty over leaders and nations, then revisit the stunning chain of events from Acts 3 and 4: a public healing, public pressure, and a prayer meeting that ignites boldness. Barnabas steps forward as a living picture of Spirit-led generosity, not compulsion. That sets the stage for the jarring story of Ananias and Sapphira, where the issue isn’t money but motive—using a gift to gain status and lying to God. The result is sobering, yet it purifies the community and opens space for signs and wonders that reach the streets and spill into surrounding cities.

Opposition escalates. The apostles are jailed, an angel frees them, and the command is clear: go back and speak “all the words of this life.” That’s the pulse of apostolic faith—delivered to proclaim, not to disappear. We talk honestly about costly obedience, the difference between decisions and discipleship, and how healthy churches turn enthusiasm into formation. Hospitality, shared provision, and older believers training younger ones become not side projects but the way we grow a durable people whose lives actually change.

If you’re longing for a church that carries both holiness and healing, this conversation will steady your steps. Listen, share with a friend who wants more than slogans, and subscribe so you never miss future studies through Acts. And if something stirred you today, leave a review and tell us where you’re ready to take your next faithful step. (Recorded 10/14/2025)

Ways to Give at www.m3mi.org...Thank you for your seed!  :)

Transcript

SPEAKER_02 0:40

I'm your hello, Sister Dem, and I'm going around the table again with Brother Emily.

SPEAKER_00 0:46

How are you? Good morning. I'm okay. Thank you.

Falling Away And Ingathering

SPEAKER_02 0:49

Sister Anne. Good morning. Sister Pemity. Hello. Sister Audia. Good morning. Sister Tammy. Hi. And Sister Sandy. Hey, welcome everybody. Thank y'all for being around the table. We're we've been doing this study on a simple presentation into the book of Acts. And uh Brother Ernie has been uh just going in a little at a time because I think it's so essential uh where we're at um as a church, as a body of believers, that we're just becoming apostolic in our learning. And and I think it I think it's just been uh amazing. Do you want to just kind of what would you say right now and where we're at? Because this is uh what are we, October the 14th, 2025 is when we're taping this, and so much is going on in the world. Um where where would where do you see the body of Christ right now?

SPEAKER_00 1:46

Um well I I think we have a long way to go to be like the Lord, but I think there's a lot of good things happening in in the USA. Um seems to be a lot of campus revival going on on college campuses. We're grateful for that. Um I see things all the time where people are receiving the baptism of the Holy Ghost, so I'm grateful for that. I realize that um society at large is not running to Jesus, but yet at the same time, there is a large group that is running to Jesus. Exactly right, which is very hopeful. So it's almost like a great falling away and a great ingathering is taking place simultaneously. And so I think it's real important. I'm really excited about um what's happened uh with the war uh between Israel and Hamas. And uh I I I would caution Christians uh take the time to rejoice in this, give glory to God. But but but remember the scripture says Paul told warn the Thessalonian church when men cry peace and safety, yeah, then sudden destruction comes, and the world keeps turning toward the direction of Jesus Christ, splitting the eastern sky. So um we'll thank God for the for the peace that we have and and for the uh victories right now in Israel and for what's going on. I think we should revel in that and give God all the glory. But it's like we got to sleep with one eye open.

Leaders, Nations, And God’s Sovereignty

unknown 3:18

Always.

SPEAKER_02 3:19

You know it's you know, can we just take a moment to just thank the Lord for the 20 that did 20 that that did make it home?

SPEAKER_00 3:28

In Jesus' name.

SPEAKER_02 3:30

I mean, and you just feel that when you see, right? Because it was the hand of God that just protected them. I mean, it's sad that there was 250 or so that were kidnapped, but only 20 came back, but 20 came back. Yes, and and I know that God's gonna use that for his glory.

SPEAKER_00 3:48

I I think we should remember throughout history uh God has used nations to get his will done. And really it's it's like God sees the future and he knows the character, he knew who Judas was and what he would do. So Jesus couldn't be born and couldn't come until Judas was here. And and um the the scripture says, uh Book of Daniel says, Nebuchadnezzar, my servant. Yeah so Nebuchadnezzar was used by God, Cyrus was used by God, Artaxerxes was used by God, and God knows the character uh of the leaders uh in the world, and I think all he has to do in his divine wisdom is let things unfold the way they're supposed to. And then he uses that uh for his glory, for his plan to come to fruition. So it's not a matter of uh who's uh politically steering the boat. That can't phase us. It's got to be: are we walking with Jesus? That's got to be the key. Um not who's running the UN, not who's uh the prime minister of another country, not who's the president of our country, and I love our country. But what's really important is what are we hearing from Jesus and are we following that? Because earthly leaders come and go, but Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. And so we need to um we need to rejoice in in what's happened and give God the glory. And then we need to worship uh with our whole heart on Jesus, but understanding the devil still walks about as a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour. And uh, you know, unfortunately for us, the devil's not lazy.

SPEAKER_02 5:59

Say that.

Be Ready Today, Not Someday

SPEAKER_00 5:59

You know, Christians are, but but but the devil is not lazy, and he he's always at work, so you can bet he's frustrated. If it looks like prophecies are coming to pass in Israel, Satan and his armies are frustrated. If it looks like prophecies being fulfilled in the USA, in the UK, in South America, Satan is disturbed and his armies are disturbed and they're uncomfortable, and they're gonna act out. But that just tells us we're getting closer to the second coming of the Lord Jesus, and we want to be ready for him. And don't get caught up in as soon as I see the Antichrist, I'm gonna get right.

SPEAKER_02 6:47

Yeah, I think it's a little too late.

SPEAKER_00 6:49

Yeah, or you know, I'm going pre-trib, I'm going mid-trib, I'm going at the end of the tribulation. If a bus hits you today, none of that will matter. Jesus has come. Yeah. So be ready today. And if you're ready today, then it doesn't matter when the Lord comes. Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 7:06

And you know, here's the thing. I just want to address this real quick because a lot of people want to say uh Trump doing this is the Antichrist. And um, no, because he definitely does not fit what the scripture says who Antichrist or the spirit of the Antichrist is.

SPEAKER_00 7:21

So his detractors think a lot of things, but we following Jesus.

SPEAKER_02 7:26

God's gonna use whomever, like you say, for the entire He's gonna use, I mean, whether it's Trump or another Republican, you know, sorry to say, it's gonna they're gonna be used, and God's gonna get the glory because Biden and Obama were president when they were supposed to be for the good of the nation and of the church.

SPEAKER_00 7:43

Yeah. And they've come and they've gone. Now we have to adjust to this one. And when he's gone, we have to adjust to the next one.

Transition To Acts Study

SPEAKER_02 7:50

That's right. That's right. So, all right, so we're gonna get into our study now, into uh uh chapter five, a simple presentation into the book of Acts. Go ahead, brother.

Recap Of Acts 3–4

Ananias And Sapphira: The Heart Issue

Fear Of The Lord And Signs

Crowds Healed And Opposition Rises

Arrest, Angelic Release, Bold Obedience

Real Conversion And Costly Discipleship

Spirit-Led Generosity Versus Obligation

Community Care And Quiet Provision

Prosperity, Contentment, And Focus

Discipleship Beyond Decisions

SPEAKER_00 8:02

All right, so we're gonna have a little recap here about our last lesson. Um, we've closed out lesson number four. Uh we we read uh the last verses of Acts chapter four. We saw Peter and John were arrested in the latter half of the chapter. Uh, we saw they were investigated by the high priest Caiaphas and his father-in-law Annas, the former high priest. Other names mentioned as relations to Annas and Caiaphas are John and Alexander, with an untold number of more relatives being present and involved. And they took this legal action against the apostles because of the miracle that occurred in Acts chapter 3. A man who was over 40 years old, uh lame from birth, was healed in the name of Jesus. And he was a very well-known individual because he sat daily outside one of the gates of the temple. There he begged for close to 40 years. He was a fixture in the temple community. So his healing caused a great deal of dismay and frustration for Annas and Caiaphas because these were the men who paid those that were guarding the tomb of Jesus to lie about the resurrection when they knew he was risen from the dead. Remember, the guard reported to these men what they had seen. And so if you just want to make a note, that was in Acts chapter 28, 1 through 15. Now Matthew records that these priests, along with elders, whom we don't know, unnamed, paid large money to the guards to successfully bribe them to lie. They would tell everyone that Jesus' disciples came and stole his body. They had to be paid large money because if they were ever found derelict of duty, they would be killed. They would be executed. Now, they knew that Jesus was truly risen from the dead, and they couldn't deal with Jesus when he was alive. Now he's risen from the dead. This is problematic for them. They can't stand it. Remember, in Acts chapter 1, he showed himself alive for 40 days by many infallible proofs. Besides, when he appeared to the apostles, there were many infallible proofs, Luke says. So it was undeniable that he was risen from the dead. But they were peddling this lie about Jesus because they didn't want to admit that they crucified the Lord. So it appears that Annas and Caiaphas and their inner circle have begun to believe their own lie. Now, unable to intimidate the disciples into silence, they could only marvel at the miracle of the lame man healed in the name of Jesus. And still they can continue to threaten the apostles with legal action, more legal action, unless the apostles agreed to no longer preach in the name of Jesus. But we know there's no other name given among men under heaven whereby we must be saved, but the name of Jesus. Say that name, Jesus. So upon the release, the apostles gathered with believers to testify to all that had happened after the arrest. As a result, there was a powerful Holy Ghost prayer meeting. The boldness of the believers then became even stronger, greater. Their testimony for Christ spread like wildfire, and scriptures that you have heard over and over again, and you probably will continue in this study from Luke 24, 46 through 49, and Acts 1 and 8. Those scriptures being fulfilled as we read. Many believers sold their possessions and brought the proceeds to the apostles for distribution to the needy believers. This was not a reaction to any apostolic teaching. This was a spontaneous response to the Holy Ghost that produced beautiful fruit. We will watch this movement of generosity unfold and fulfill its purpose. And as you uh go through your walk with Christ, eventually you're going to read the book of Romans and you're going to find that as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the children of God. These people were being led by the Spirit. We learned about a man named Joseph. This man so encouraged and consoled the apostles, they gave him the nickname Barnabas, which means son of consolation or son of encouragement. And you can read about the gift Barnabas demonstrated in 1 Corinthians 14 and 3. It's the gift of prophecy. Later in our study, we will see Barnabas, the prophet, function also as an apostle. And so you'll want to pay attention. If you're reading ahead, you'll want to study Acts chapter 14 to see that. In particular, what verses 1 through 4 and then verse 14. Take note, Barnabas is considered by Luke at this point to be an apostle. Just not one of the 12 original apostles that Jesus chose during his earthly ministry. So we close out chapter 4 looking at one example of generosity that believers demonstrated, and it's in the life of Barnabas. He has property in Cyprus, which is believed to be like modern-day Beverly Hills or the Hamptons of today. He sold that property and brought the money and laid it at the disciples' feet, just as many of the believers had. We'll stop today at verse 20. But a certain man named Ananias with Sapphira, his wife, sold a possession and kept back part of the price, his wife also being privy to it, and brought a certain part and laid it at the apostles' feet. But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to give back part of the price of the land? Whilst it remained, was it not thine own? And after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? Why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart that thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God? And Ananias, hearing these words, fell down and gave up the ghost, and great fear came on all them that heard these sayings. And the young men arose, wound him up, and carried him out, and buried him. And it was about the space of three hours after when his wife, not knowing what was done, came in. And Peter answered unto her, Tell me, whether ye sold the land for so much. And she said, Yea, for so much. Then Peter said unto her, How is it that ye have agreed together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? Behold, the feet of them which bury thy husband are at the door and shall carry thee out. Then fell she down straightway at his feet, and yielded up the ghost. And the young men came in and found her dead, and carrying her forth, buried her by her husband. And great fear came upon the church, and upon as many as heard these things. And by the hands of the apostles were many signs and wonders wrought among the people, and they were all with one accord in Solomon's porch. And of the rest durst no man join himself to them, but the people magnified them. And believers were the more added to the multitudes, both of men and women, insomuch that they brought forth the sick into the streets and laid them on beds and couches, that at least the shadow of Peter passing by might overshadow some of them. There came also a multitude out of the cities round about unto Jerusalem, bringing sick folks with them, and them which were vexed with unclean spirits, and they were healed, every one. Then the high priest rose up, and they that were with him, which is the sect of the Sadducees, and were filled with indignation, and laid their hands on the apostles, and put them in the common prison. But the angel of the Lord, by night, opened the prison doors and brought them forth, and said, Go stand and speak in the temple to the people, all the words of this life. So looking at the verses that we just read through, uh, in particular, we would say um verses one through uh two, one and two, but a certain man named Ananias and his wife Sapphira sold the possession and kept back part of the price. And they brought it and laid it at the apostles' feet. Why was this done? It appears that Ananias and his wife Sapphira have possibly noticed the gift of Barnabas that we closed out chapter four with. And they knew that Barnabas was a man of reputation among the apostles. Therefore, he would be of note among the church. He would be a well-known figure. Perhaps they thought we're going to be like Barnabas and we're going to be recognized. We're not sure, but they decided to lie about their offering. And they wanted everybody to see, evidently, about the big offering they gave. So whatever the motivation had, they had they sold the property. However, they decided we're not going to give all the proceeds. They had determined to give a part of the profit to help the needy believers. Maybe they couldn't afford to give it all. Maybe they thought about their situation and determined it was not wisdom to give it all. Possibly they decided, like I talked about earlier, we want to be recognized like Barnabas, and then determined to pretend they gave all in an attempt to make themselves known among the apostles. That doesn't appear to have worked out well for them. Looking at verse 3, but Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost and keep back part of the price of the land? Peter understood that for whatever reason they were lying. Now, that means they did not believe God would notice or even care. What's important, what I want us to see there, is that unbelief is at the core of their decision to deceive and to lie. They don't believe God cares. They don't believe God will notice. And so they determined to try to deceive the apostle Peter, not understanding that all this giving was happening at the prompting of the Holy Ghost. The apostles didn't say, Bring this money. The Spirit moved through the church and they rose to the occasion and followed God. And if you'll look quickly with me in the book of Hebrews, chapter 3, I want you to take note of something. Speaking of the people who left Egypt, the Jews who left Egypt, went through the Red Sea, etc., but they didn't all make it to the promised land. Why? Verse 19 says, So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief. The root of all the trouble that Israel had was they let their circumstances make them not believe God. They let their struggles make them not believe God. They let their pain, their disappointments make them believe God is not paying attention. God is always paying attention and always working out his plan. And it is incumbent upon us, no matter what our circumstances are, to believe that God is in control. Unbelief. Undid Ananias and Sapphira. So Peter asked them why they thought they could deceive or lie to God. You see, the apostle is not representing himself. We said this was not an apostolic doctrine, it was a move of the Holy Ghost. Romans 8 and 14 tells us, as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are the children of God. Now, he recognizes and confirms. Peter does. The decision for how much to give was not the issue. Verse 4, whilst it remained, was it not thine own? After it was sold, was it not thine in thine own power? Why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? Thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God. Ananias, you thought you'd jump in this thing and make a name for yourself. You're not lying to a man. You're lying to God. So he recognizes and confirms the decision was not the issue. The issue was the gift was being used as carnal leverage to obtain favor with men. He was not giving from the heart, out of a love for God, not even out of the prompting of the Holy Ghost, because he saw what other people was doing, he and his wife, and said, Let's do this, but we won't give like they're given. Both he and his wife had ulterior motives. Now, the time it took the apostle to speak what the Spirit revealed to him, this was the only space God gave Ananias to repent as far as we can see. Do you know God is the righteous judge? You know, how can we accuse God of not knowing what he's doing? Can we accuse God of doing unrighteously? Never. So this was done. This was part of apostolic ministry. It's it's stunning. Verse 5, and Ananias hearing these words fell down and gave up the ghost, and great fear came on all them that heard these things. And the young men arose and wound him up and carried him out and buried him. When the apostle finished what he said, Ananias fell down, graveyard dead. Then great fear or a deep reverence, an overwhelming sense of awe came over everyone who heard the story. Proverbs 9 and 10, the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. We can't mock God and get away with it. So the young men arose, wound him up, carried him. Verse 7, and it was about the space of three hours after, when his wife, not knowing what was done, came in. And Peter answered unto her, Tell me, whether ye sold the land for so much. And she said, Yea, for so much. Then Peter said unto her, How is it that ye have agreed together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? Behold, the feet of them which have buried thy husband are at the door and shall carry thee out. You brought the same judgment on yourself that your husband brought on himself. Peter knew it. He knew she was about to die. You know what's scary about that to me? What's sobering? That was apostolic ministry. We say we want apostolic ministry in our midst. Let us be sure we know what that is. Because the apostle Peter was functioning under the anointing of his apostleship. And as a result, these two people fell down dead. Their only space for repentance is while he was talking to them. And there is no indication. The next thing we see after Ananias is buried, about three hours later, his wife comes. She has no clue to her husband's feet. When Peter asks her about the price of the land sold. Remember, this question is asked to clarify why this gift is this specific amount. And her answer supports that she and her husband decided together to lie about the amount given. You know, you can't lie to God. It it just won't work. I I caught myself uh probably a month ago in my office praying and repenting. And and as I was, I was making an excuse to God for why I was in the situation I was at. And then it just dawned on me. You're making an excuse to God. You think you're moving him? You think he's saying, I'm glad to hear your excuse, son. Give me more. No, he was looking for repentance. It's not, Lord, I'm sorry I I said that, but he said this first. You're not responsible for the other person's actions, you're responsible for your own. So saying, well, Lord, I would have never done it if they hadn't, that's not gonna fly. We decided to do it. Repentance means I take ownership for my errors. I may not be able to make restitution for every one of them. Some of them may be too big for that. But I can be repentant. I can admit, confess your sins to God, and He is faithful and just to forgive us and to do what? Cleanse us from all unrighteousness. This was not part of Ananias and Sapphira's thinking. And what does 1 Timothy 5 and 22 tell us? I've got a note here about that. So I'm gonna turn to it and make sure that I don't misquote anything. 1 Timothy chapter 5, verse 22. Lay hands suddenly on no man, neither bar be partaker of other men's sins. Keep thyself pure, Sapphira. You didn't have to agree. But because you did, you became partakers of this attempt to deceive God. You joined in the unbelief that God won't know, God won't see, God won't care. Now, verse 9. Then Peter said unto her, How is it that ye have agreed together to do this thing? Peter's question causes me to imagine a certain inflection in his Speech. I imagine there is elevated volume in his words. There is a look of puzzlement on his face as he says, How is it that ye have agreed together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? Behold, the feet of them which have buried thy husband are at the door and shall carry thee out. I'm so glad I've never had to look at someone and say, You're about to die for the sin you've committed. You know, a good study for you is 1 John chapter 5 about what type of sins to pray over? You'd study over that and pray over that. That's not in this lesson. I just dropped that in for free. I'm not taking up an offering anyway, so you can have it. Now, how on earth could both you and your husband together think you could lie to and successfully deceive God? You will now join your husband in the graveyard. That's also apostolic authority. Just as much as healing. I don't ever want the Lord to move through me that way. But you know, if he moves through any one of us that way, we have to obey. With ministry comes responsibility. Don't think to yourself, I'm going to be an apostle, I'm going to be a prophet, you're going to lay that label on yourself and fool God. Boom, she fell down, graveyard dead. And we read similar words from verse 5. And great fear came on all the church. As many as heard these things. Yeah, I can easily believe that. Especially the boys who picked up Ananias and picked up Sapphira. When Peter said, Come and get them, they I could just, yes, sir. They was on it like white on rice. They would, there was no, uh, do I have to do this? Uh, should can we get somebody else? No, no, I just want to be used by God to not kill somebody. Now, let's look at verse 12. And great fear came upon all the church, and upon as many as heard these things. This fear is not like panic. As a result of this, subsequently the apostles began to be used in great manifestations and multiple signs and wonders. There was deep reverence and respect and awe of God, produced faith in God, resulting in the miracles that Jesus prophesied in Mark chapter 16, verse 15 through 20. You remember that? You shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover. In my name, he said. Now this is happening. So far, it's happening from the apostles' hands. But as we progress through the book, we're going to see that begins to spread. And it's going to be not just the apostles who are used by God in glory. Now, verse 13. Well, let me finish 12. And by the hands of the apostles were many signs and wonders wrought among the people. And they were all with one accord in Solomon's porch. They were going back to the place where they were arrested. They were not deterred from prayer. They were not deterred from testimony. Verse 13. And of the rest durst no man join himself to them, but the people magnified them. That caught my attention. Durst no man join himself to them. In other words, a bunch of people didn't start hanging out with Peter and saying, Can you help me become an apostle? After they seen that? No, we'll we'll pray with you, brother, but we'll we'll leave that office to you. We'll come, we'll listen to you teach, we'll preach, but I mean we don't we don't need to be involved in trying to do what you're doing. Great fear came upon them, and durst no man join himself to him. Nobody wanted to hang out and become an apostle. Who wants to have people die because you had a conversation with them? And really it goes beyond that, but that's what it looks like, right? Also, verse 14. And the believers were the more added to the Lord, multitudes, both of men and women, insomuch that they brought forth sick into the streets and laid them on beds and couches, that at least the shadow of Peter passing by might overshadow some of them. There came also a multitude out of the cities round about unto Jerusalem, bringing sick folks and them which were vexed with unclean spirits, and they were healed every one. Now people will debate whether or not that means all the people that were laid out on the street on the couches were healed. But there's no debate about all those multitudes that came from all those cities filled with demons, vexed by spirits with all kinds of sickness and palsies, and they were healed. And what motivated people to take their friends and loved ones and put them on a couch and lay them on the curb and lay them in the street, hoping for Peter's shadow to pass by? What kind of anointing was flowing from his life that even unbelievers were bringing people out and laying them in the street so that Peter's shadow might pass over them? That that kind of everybody was bringing multitudes from cities. So that means it goes beyond people who believed. Multitudes. Jerusalem was getting overrun. No wonder Caiaphas and Annas were not so happy. All their plans were going up in smoke. Now understand this. Caiaphas, the high priest and Annas, his father-in-law, and all their peers, see this miraculous wave of healing and deliverance. They are indignant, of course, they are irked, they are angered, they they're filled with disdain. How about they are irate and enraged? Because of what happened in Matthew 28, 11 through 15, where they paid the guards to lie about Jesus' resurrection. Because of what is said. Look, in in John chapter 12, the verses of 9 through 11, you know, that's about Lazarus. They were worried about Lazarus because he is risen from the dead. And they said, What are you going to do with him? We get look kill him. Kill him again. Listen, sin is insanity. If we let sin take control of us, it will drive us to do the most stupid, heinous, evil, irresponsible, crazy things. I remember when myself and another young man held a kid up to a tree and put an Arkansas toothpick to his lower abdomen and said, You can't sell bad dope here. And he wasn't even the seller. We were sending the message to the seller. I'm sitting with a friend of mine. I'm not saved at the time, obviously. And he he looks over and he says, There's an arc. I said, Yeah, there, oh boy, that's not good. He said, if he comes over here, we'll have to kill him. And I said, We're not doing anything. He said, I got a cocaine-coated straw in my wallet. And you know, we just said it just so nonchalantly. Oh, well, we had to kill him. How stupid can a person be? Now I'm confessing. But that was BC before Christ. So once again, now we get to uh verse 18 or 17. The high priest rose up and all they that were with him, which is of the sect of the Sadducees. Remember, they were the ones who do not believe in the resurrection or in angels. They were filled with indignation. They was out of their ever-loving minds, and laid their hands on the apostles and put them in the common prison. But the angel of the Lord by night opened the prison doors and brought them forth and said, Go stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this life. So once again the apostles are arrested. Remember, these people know they paid for the lie. And it's not like they're years removed from it. It's more than likely the year of the crucifixion. They're not that far from that day of Pentecost. They know they lied. They know they lied about God. Talk about unbelief driving you to do crazy, stupid things. This is why we cannot entertain unbelief in our lives. At this time, we only know that the twelve apostles were arrested. I believe they are experiencing the fulfillment of Jesus' words in the Gospel of St. John, chapter 15, verses 18 through 21. The night of the Last Supper, Jesus is talking with them, and he says, If the world hate you, you know that it hated me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love his own. But because you are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. Remember the word that I said unto you. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also. You know what that means? If they murder me, guess what they'll do to you. You know, one thing we don't find as we read through the book of Acts now. You just look in these first few chapters and the message that we've heard, two messages now we've heard Peter preach, and and then uh there's the teaching again, the third morning and in the temple. Here, where are they saying, raise up your hand and say, I believe. Where is that said? Where does the early church say that? There isn't abuse of Romans 10, confess with your mouth and believe in your heart. That's a true story. But it means that you find the place of repentance and it's demonstrated in Acts chapter 2, verse 37. Clearly. It doesn't mean that if you raise your hand and say, I believe that you can go out and live like the devil and consider yourself redeemed. Well, you might do that, but will Jesus consider you redeemed? Still loving the lie, still loving the gossip, still loving to hate, still stealing, still sexually immoral, impure, still going on and then call yourself his disciple. You don't find that in the book of Acts. When people come to Christ, their life changes. Not they reach perfection, but they start growing in the right direction. They start growing in the word of God, they start growing in the spirit, they start understanding my life has to change. And like sincere babes, they desire the sincere milk of the word. Now, they're all twelve put in prison. This is great. But the angel of the Lord in the middle of the night brings them out to freedom. Don't you know they were so glad to be delivered? Because they didn't know what was next. They didn't know how severe the beatings would be, or would they be executed, or would their property be confiscated? All they knew was they were up for legal action and it could be bad. And then the angel, after he delivers them, says, Go back to the scene of the crime and continue the activity for which they arrested you. Go back to the temple and continue to testify who Jesus is and what he's done for you. You brought me out of prison to send me back to where they arrested me and tell me to do the same thing. Jesus is far more desperate for the world to be saved than we are. Think about it. Going to the cross was such a radical demonstration of love in order that we might be saved. He wants us to be saved more than we ever wanted to be saved. His love for us is so much greater than the love that we could ever give him. And as the early church is sinking its roots in the ground and beginning to sprout branches and leaves and produce fruit, it is changing its environment. We want to be that church that changes the environment that we live in. And as we continue through this book, you watch the apostles. Wherever they go and preach, there's one of two results. In our lingo, we say it's either riot or revival. There was either a great ingathering of souls, or there was a great persecution, and sometimes there was both. So let's let's pray that we can become this church, and let's continue to watch them as they grow in grace and the understanding of their mission, and they begin to live out their calling, because it's what we want to become, also. We want to follow that pattern, and we want to begin to live out that same calling. Everybody say in Jesus' name.

SPEAKER_01 46:30

In Jesus' name.

SPEAKER_00 46:31

Amen.

SPEAKER_02 46:35

I love this lesson. And let me tell you why, because I I've heard people talk about how oh, the apostles were just trying to get everybody's money, you know, and so when they didn't bring all their money, they got killed because they didn't bring all their money, and it and they missed the point of it. The point was the fact that they lied um to the Holy Ghost, to the Holy Spirit. And so, I mean they lied to God. I mean, I mean, that's and I think that that had they not had that not happened to them, what precedence would that have set for the church going forward? So it's not that God needs all of our money, but God needs all of our heart so that so that the intent of our heart is seen, right?

SPEAKER_00 47:19

Didn't the psalmist say that he owns the cattle on a thousand hills? This world belongs to God and the fullness thereof. God said through the psalmist, if I was hungry, do you think I would ask you? If I had a need, do you think I would ask you for it? God has no need of anything. And I I think it's important as we we see this giving there to remember that there were disciples, brand new disciples from all over the world at Pentecost, and they had come long enough to celebrate unleavened bread, Pentecost, sheaf of first fruits, eight days, and go home. But now they've been redeemed. Yeah. And some of them were from all over Judea and all over the world, and they did not have enough root with what had happened. They had to have a place to stay, they had to have time to be discipled. And it's it's always thrilled me that the apostles never said, give us money.

SPEAKER_01 48:20

Right.

SPEAKER_00 48:21

But the church knew instinctively by the prompting of the Spirit that this is our business. We need to handle this.

SPEAKER_02 48:31

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 48:32

You know, I'm I I know it it's custom and culture in in the modern day church for tithe to be given uh to the ministry so that they can live of the ministry and possibly not have to work a secular job. But it is not a New Testament law, it is an Old Testament example.

SPEAKER_02 48:56

Yes.

SPEAKER_00 48:57

And when Abraham set the example of tithing to Melchizedek, there was no law. Right. He did it out of a grateful heart.

SPEAKER_01 49:08

Right.

SPEAKER_00 49:09

Moses put it in the law because God wanted the Levites to be taken care of so they could dedicate their life to the ministry. Jesus no place said, Be sure you apostles collect tithes. Right. But we you you'll find references in the New Testament, examples used about tithing. It's it is a good principle. We we give tithe, we don't pay tithe.

SPEAKER_01 49:35

Right.

SPEAKER_00 49:36

You can't twist my arm to get me to get you don't have to. I love Jesus.

SPEAKER_01 49:40

Right.

SPEAKER_00 49:40

And I see the example was tithing. It's no big deal for me to follow the example. But the example for me is not the law of Moses, it's the heart of Abraham.

SPEAKER_02 49:53

Yeah, because if you actually go back and study um tithing after the fact, it wasn't they didn't give just 10%.

SPEAKER_00 50:04

They gave a lot more.

SPEAKER_02 50:05

Yeah, because the scripture says they brought all that they had and put it together and lived off of it, right?

SPEAKER_00 50:12

Yeah, they they they they did more than bring the tithe. They sold sold their stuff. There was there was a certain number of the disciples living near Jerusalem, around Jerusalem. Believers, when they got into this thing, looked up and said, We got to handle this. We went to a church where that happened. Yeah, and and uh it was during the oil field boom, and suddenly everything cratered. This is in the uh early 80s, late 80s, and people were out of work, welders out of work, roughnecks out of work. Um oh, it was terrible. And I got a phone call one night, and and Mama was talking with a lady from the church, and she's asking her, What are y'all having for supper? Mama said, Well, we got this and we got that. And so they talk a little bit. Lay say, You got any of this? She says, Yes. She said, Well, bring all you got to the house. And the saints, pastor never said, do this. It never came over the pulpit. The saints begin to touch one another and make sure your kids are getting a full meal tonight. We got four families, five families in this house. Everybody brought in and it was a regular thing for probably five or six months.

unknown 51:32

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 51:33

Yeah. Until people began to get employed again.

unknown 51:38

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 51:38

Pastor never said one word. As a matter of fact, when it started happening, he didn't know it. Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 51:44

He wasn't even buyer.

SPEAKER_00 51:45

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 51:46

You know, because I can remember as a kid, you know, and and when growing up, there wasn't ever like food pantries or and and there was, you know, sometimes the commodity truck would come into town or whatever. But but I can remember that if somebody had a need, the church did a pounding is what it was called. And everybody would give what they had. Give what you can afford. And then that took care of the family the other family or the other families, you know, uh in time. And so I think that that's so important that we see where we're at. We can't say we just want this part of the book of Acts, but we don't want that part of it.

SPEAKER_00 52:24

You know, there is a time when there has to be Book of Acts giving. And you see how Peter took up an offering so that he could have a Cadillac chariot. Did you see that? Yeah, I did. I missed it.

SPEAKER_02 52:37

I missed it. You missed it.

SPEAKER_00 52:38

You weren't paying attention. You didn't see where Peter and John rode up to the temple in a brand new Mercedes Cadillac?

SPEAKER_01 52:46

Yeah. Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 52:47

No, in a chariot that looked, you know, with eight doors and seven horses. Look, some Christians are going to be blessed like that. Yeah. They're gifted, they have an entrepreneurial spirit. They got the great business minds. As long as they remember the Lord Jesus, why shouldn't they prosper? Yeah. But if you're not in that group, it doesn't mean God won't prosper you. You'll just prosper differently. Yeah. If you can't see the blessings of God in your life, I recommend you pray more and you listen more.

SPEAKER_02 53:23

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 53:25

Because it doesn't matter if you have much or if you have little. What matters is Jesus the focus of your life?

SPEAKER_02 53:33

Right, right, right. I love that. I love that. And we can go into whole big old another lesson on that. But uh but we won't. We're we're at the end of our of our uh our talk today. And you know, I just want to thank you all for coming and being a part of of this study because it's so imperative as we're stepping into doing the actual apostolic work, um, is learning what what they actually did then and begin to apply that to ourselves and see ourselves doing what they did that worked so that we can go out and disciple other people. I was just having a conversation with one of our sisters, and we were talking about it's so exciting to see people get saved, and it's so exciting that the numbers on Sunday grow, and it's so exciting to see people get baptized. But where's the discipleship after that, you know? And and so that's where our calling is. That's why we have simple discipleship filter, because that's what we feel like is this imperative after those initial steps. And then, like you say, not the raising my hand thing, but because there's an actual conversion going on that that Jesus penetrates your life and changes you from the inside out. And we and we when that begins to happen, it's our job. Because you know, Titus and and and others in scripture talk about how the older ones are supposed to help teach the younger ones, you know. You're not saying I'm older, are you? Well, just a little, just a little, just a little. But anyway, it's our responsibility, you know, it's all of our responsibilities. Whether we have a title or not, we're all minus ministers, right?

SPEAKER_00 55:12

Amen.

SPEAKER_02 55:13

Um, so anyway, it's a good study. Thank you so much. Thank y'all for being here, everybody around the table. Say hi. Say bye because we're leaving. Okay. Um, but we always end with this go. Show some love.

SPEAKER_01 55:26

Love, show some love.

Closing Blessing And Listener CTA

SPEAKER_02 55:34

Hey, SCU family. If you've enjoyed this podcast today, would you please like, follow, and share our podcast link? We would love to hear your feedback and your podcast topic suggestions. To do this, simply go to the website at www.m3m.