Heart Problems Series

12-year-old girls were beginning to use lipstick and would put it on in the bathroom. then they would press their lips to the mirror leaving dozens of little lip prints. Every night the maintenance man would remove them and the next day the girls would put them back. Several memos were posted about this without effect..

Finally principal called all the girls to the bathroom and met them there with the maintenance man.

She explained that all these lip prints were causing a problem for the custodian who had to clean the mirrors every night. To demonstrate how difficult it was to clean the mirrors, she asked the maintenance man to show the girls just how hard it was. The custodian took out a long-handled squeegee solemnly dipped it in the nearest toilet bowl, and scrubbed at the mirror. There was complete silence in the room. Since then, there have been no lip prints on the mirror. There are Teachers ... and then there are Educators.

What we need today is an education - and this story is the one to do it!

AC 5:1-12 Now a man named Ananias, together with his wife Sapphira, also sold a piece of property. 2 With his wife’s full knowledge he kept back part of the money for himself, but brought the rest and put it at the apostles’ feet. 3 Then Peter said, "Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit and have kept for yourself some of the money you received for the land? 4 Didn’t it belong to you before it was sold? And after it was sold, wasn’t the money at your disposal? What made you think of doing such a thing? You have not lied to men but to God."

5 When Ananias heard this, he fell down and died. And great fear seized all who heard what had happened. 6 Then the young men came forward, wrapped up his body, and carried him out and buried him. 7 About three hours later his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. 8 Peter asked her, "Tell me, is this the price you and Ananias got for the land?"

"Yes," she said, "that is the price."

9 Peter said to her, "How could you agree to test the Spirit of the Lord? Look! The feet of the men who buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out also." 10 At that moment she fell down at his feet and died. Then the young men came in and, finding her dead, carried her out and buried her beside her husband. 11 Great fear seized the whole church and all who heard about these events. 12 The apostles performed many miraculous signs and wonders among the people. And all the believers used to meet together in Solomon’s Colonnade.

What could create such trauma as to drop over dead?

Did they die? Was it symbolism - removed from the fellowship?

Life and Death meant different things in the Bible - to us it is merely biological - focus on ME

Matt 7:14 But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.

Matt. 10:39 Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.

John 3 Nicodemus you must be born again

Eternal Life - not merely a body that never dies - but eternal community - oneness

JN 14:6 Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life

Unity with Jesus and God is everything! Life is more than eating and breathing and sleeping and working!

Life was to be significantly involved in community - community mattered more than individual

Death not merely the end of life - the absence of animation or breathing

Cain - death sentence = exile not physical death

Death was exile - banishment. Lepers, demon possessed - exiled - to live among tombs was reminder that they were dead.

Sin Kills - mangles the soul - it’s hard to mend a mangled body - but only God can heal a mangled soul

Having said that - I believe that they died physically because of heart failure - they realized what they gave up

What did they give up?

Let me give you some background

AC 4:32-36 All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they shared everything they had. 33 With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and much grace was upon them all. 34 There were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned lands or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales 35 and put it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to anyone as he had need.