January 24, 2016

Sunday School
Acts 4:1-37 & 5:1-42
Peter and John come before the Council: Ananias and Sapphira

• The Council did not like that Peter and John healed the lame man in the name of Jesus and that thousands had heard about the miracle, so they had them arrested.
• The Council demanded the two disciples tell by what was the lame man healed.
• Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, "Are we being questioned for doing a good deed?"
• "The stone that you builders rejected has now become the cornerstone." v11
• "There is salvation in no one else! There is no other name in all of heaven for people to call on to save them." v12
• The Council could not punish the disciples because the many people who had gathered would not have been pleased. So the Council commanded that the disciples never again speak or teach about Jesus.
• But Peter and John replied, "Do you think God wants us to obey you rather than Him? We cannot stop telling about the wonderful things we have seen and heard." v19-20
• The believers united and lifted their voices in prayer.
• After they prayed (see vs24-30) the building where they were meeting, shook and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit. And they preached God's message with boldness.
• All the believers were of one heart and mind. They sold what they owned feeling that it was not theirs to begin with.
• The apostles gave powerful witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus and God's great favor was upon them all. 
• There was no poverty among them because people who owned land or houses sold them and brought the money to the apostles to give to others in need.
• Ananias and Sapphira sold some property, took some of the money to the apostles but claimed it was the full amount.
• Peter said, "Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart? You lied to the Holy Spirit and you kept some of the money for yourself. The property was yours to sell or not sell, as you wished. And after selling it the money was yours to give away. How could yo do a thing like this? You weren't lying to us but to God."
• When Ananias heard the last words, he fell to the floor dead.
• Later his wife Sapphira came to Peter. When Peter questioned her about the amount, she lied as well. 
• Peter said, "How could the two of you even think of doing a thing like this, conspiring together to test the Spirit of the Lord? Just outside the door are the young men who buried your husband, and they will carry you out too."  Instantly she fell to the floor dead.
• The apostles continued to perform many miraculous signs and wonders among the people. When word came to the high priest and his friends, the Sadducees, they reacted with violent jealousy. They had the apostles arrested and jailed but an angel of the Lord came at night and opened the fates of the jail and released them.
• The apostles entered the Temple and began teaching. When the high priest and officials convened the high council and sent guards to retrieve the apostles. But the guards reported that the jail was locked with guards outside. All were perplexed.
• When the apostles were found and brought before the council Peter told them, "We must obey God rather than human authority. The God of our ancestors raised Jesus from the dead after you killed Him by crucifying Him. Then God put Him in the place of honor at His right hand as Prince and Savior. He did this to give the people of Israel an opportunity to turn from their sins and turn to God so their sins would be forgiven. We are witnesses of these things and so is the Holy Spirit, who is given by God to those who obey Him."
• A Pharisee named Gamaliel, spoke with the council privately and persuaded them to leave the apostles alone when he recounted the stories of Theudas and Judas of Galilee. The council wisely took his advice.

Sermon

2 Corinthians 3:12-18 - Therefore, since we have such a hope, we are very bold. v13 We are not like Moses, who would put a veil over his face to prevent the Israelites from seeing the end of what was passing away. v14 But their minds were made dull, for to this day the same veil remains when the old covenant is read. It has not been removed, because only in Christ is it taken away. v15 Even to this day when Moses is read, a veil covers their hearts. v16 But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. v17 Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. v18 And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord's glory, are being transformed into His image with every-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.

Subject: "I have Been Changed"

• We are no longer bound by the law.
• We are new creatures in Christ.
• Because of the blood of Jesus, we are changed.
• A Christian is transformed spiritually through Jesus.
• A change on the inside reflects on the outside.
• Behavioral modification as compared to spiritual transformation:

Why does God place His Spirit in us?

1. For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline. Timothy 1:7
2. Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you. 1 Peter 5:7
3. But the person who is united to the Lord becomes one spirit with Him. 1 Corinthians 6:17
4. May He grant you out of the rich treasury of His glory to be strengthened and reinforced with mighty power in the inner man by the Holy Spirit [Himself indwelling your innermost being and personality]. May Christ through your faith dwell in your hearts! May you be rooted deep in love and founded securely on love. Ephesians 3:16-17

• The Holy Spirit has to dwell in us.
• We must be follower in Christ.
• Take my yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart and you will find rest for your souls.  Matthew 11:29
• Christ came to fulfill the law.
• The law brings death but grace brings life everlasting.
• Liberty is where God is.
• We are counted righteous because of Jesus.
• Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus  Philippians 2:5

Announcement: Founder's Day scheduled for February 11-13 in Waxahaxhie, Texas. Joshua Chapel AME Church is the hosting church.  Host Pastors: Revs. Tyronda and Lish Burgess. 

The meeting will convene at Southwestern Assemblies of God University, Hagee Communication Center, 1200 Sycamore St. Waxahachie, TX.  

Speakers expected are Bishop John Hurst Adams; Rev. Dr. Ronnie Brailsford; Rev. Dr. Michael Bell, Sr.; and Rev. Stephen Green. 

Click Link for more information.