Acts Series Chapter 5 Part 1, reveals the story of Ananias and Sapphira, while 1 Peter, Isaiah, and Joshua highlight God’s call to honest and faithful living. Through accounts of hidden sin and divine refinement, this lesson warns against hypocrisy, stresses the importance of heartfelt repentance, and encourages believers to walk uprightly. God refines through trials and expects purity, integrity, and surrender, promising His presence and spiritual victory to those who are sincere in heart.
Acts Series Chapter 5 Part 1: How to Remove Sin from Camp
Audio
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Scriptures used in this lesson:
Acts 5:1-5, 1 Peter 1:6-7, Isaiah 33:12-17, Isaiah 48:10, Isaiah 48:11, Joshua 7:1, Joshua 7:6-8, Joshua 7:18, Joshua 7:21-26,
(The first part of this lesson is lost. Hopefully, it will be found and added in the coming days.)
Acts Series Chapter 5 Part 1: How to Remove Sin from Camp
The Sin of Ananias and Sapphira
Acts 5:1-5
1 But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession,
2 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.
3 But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land?
4 Whiles 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? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God.
5 And Ananias hearing these words fell down, and gave up the ghost: and great fear came on all them that heard these things.
Acts Series Chapter 5 Part 1: How to Remove Sin from Camp
The Trial and Refining of Faith
1 Peter 1:6-7
6 Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations:
7 That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:
Who Will Dwell With the Holy?
Isaiah 33:12-17
12 And the people shall be as the burnings of lime: as thorns cut up shall they be burned in the fire.
13 Hear, ye that are far off, what I have done; and, ye that are near, acknowledge my might.
14 The sinners in Zion are afraid; fearfulness hath surprised the hypocrites. Who among us shall dwell with the devouring fire? who among us shall dwell with everlasting burnings?
Acts Series Chapter 5 Part 1: How to Remove Sin from Camp
15 He that walketh righteously, and speaketh uprightly; he that despiseth the gain of oppressions, that shaketh his hands from holding of bribes, that stoppeth his ears from hearing of blood, and shutteth his eyes from seeing evil;
16 He shall dwell on high: his place of defence shall be the munitions of rocks: bread shall be given him; his waters shall be sure.
17 Thine eyes shall see the king in his beauty: they shall behold the land that is very far off.
Refined By God’s Fire
Those who follow God will be refined like gold, made even purer than perishable gold. The process is not always easy, but it is necessary for growth. God looks for people who live righteously, speak honestly, and stay away from corruption and evil.
Acts Series Chapter 5 Part 1: How to Remove Sin from Camp
God promises to provide for such people. They will have protection, daily bread, and water. These are not just physical promises, but also spiritual ones for all who walk uprightly.
Those who endure God’s refining fire and allow themselves to be cleansed will see the King in His beauty. This refers to seeing God’s glory. The kingdom promised to them is not limited by distance; it stretches far and wide. According to scripture, the entire earth is encompassed in this vision.
Refined in the Furnace of Affliction
Isaiah 48:10
10 Behold, I have refined thee, but not with silver; I have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction.
Acts Series Chapter 5 Part 1: How to Remove Sin from Camp
Isaiah 48:10 explains that God refines people, but not through a literal furnace like gold and silver are refined. The refinement is spiritual. God chooses people and refines them through affliction, not by forcing them into real flames. This process is about transformation and growth, not physical suffering.
Chosen Through Transformation
Many are called by God, but only a few are chosen. This is because not everyone is willing to let God work in their hearts. Many people hold on to their faults, their sins, or past issues. They resist letting God remove what is harmful inside. The Bible teaches that although God’s call extends widely, only those who allow themselves to be transformed will experience the fullness of what God has promised. This theme connects with earlier scripture, illustrating that being chosen entails surrender and a willingness to be transformed by God.
Acts Series Chapter 5 Part 1: How to Remove Sin from Camp
God’s Glory Is Not Shared
Isaiah 48:11
11 For mine own sake, even for mine own sake, will I do it: for how should my name be polluted? and I will not give my glory unto another.
God works in the lives of believers for his own sake, not for personal gain or comfort. He refines, corrects, and burns away what is wrong so that his name is not polluted. If sin is not addressed, it can spread and corrupt the entire group, as illustrated by the story of Ananias and Sapphira.
Acts Series Chapter 5 Part 1: How to Remove Sin from Camp
The Goal: Christ, Not Self
Spiritual battles can originate from both within and without. Sometimes attacks are open, but often they are subtle or internal. People may face harsh words or criticism, but the goal is for Christ to be seen, not personal pride. No one should take glory away from God. Actual change only comes when the inner faults are burned away and the good is allowed to shine through.
The Reality of Spiritual Trials
There is a false idea that life will always be easy and full of blessings for believers in Christ. The reality is that God leads through seasons, including difficult times. Evil forces do not always cause these times. God’s authority is greater than any opposition. Nothing can happen without his permission, as shown in the story of Job.
Acts Series Chapter 5 Part 1: How to Remove Sin from Camp
The Sin Was Hypocrisy, Not Wealth
In Acts 5, the sin discussed was not about possessing or accumulating wealth. People were not wrong for owning land or goods, nor for selling their property to make a profit. Many believers are businesspeople, and using their resources for gain was not condemned. Their sin was not in keeping money for themselves, because their offerings were voluntary, not required by commandment. Their sin was about lying to the Holy Spirit.
The real problem was hypocrisy. Some acted as if they gave everything, but they had not. They gave the appearance of complete sacrifice while hiding the truth. This was a lie to God, and it allowed evil to enter the community. The sin was not directed at people, but against God himself.
Acts Series Chapter 5 Part 1: How to Remove Sin from Camp
The Withdrawal of God’s Spirit
The passage emphasizes that, where hypocrisy continues, God’s Spirit will withdraw. When sin is allowed to remain, spiritual life suffers. In many churches, the lack of the Holy Spirit’s presence is not a mystery—it is a result of tolerated sin. God gives opportunities for self-judgment and correction, but if these are ignored, he intervenes directly. God will not allow anyone to remain in leadership while living in hypocrisy or outright sin.
The Sin of Achan and Hidden Disobedience
Joshua 7:1
1 But the children of Israel committed a trespass in the accursed thing: for Achan, the son of Carmi, the son of Zabdi, the son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, took of the accursed thing: and the anger of the LORD was kindled against the children of Israel.
Acts Series Chapter 5 Part 1: How to Remove Sin from Camp
Joshua chapter seven tells the story of Israel after the victory at Jericho. The people were given clear instructions to leave certain things alone and set aside the gold and silver for God’s treasury. However, a man named Achan broke these instructions and took some of the forbidden items for himself. The object takes was referred to as the accursed thing.
Achan was from the tribe of Judah, which means praise. The story points out that even those associated with praise can fall into sin. Not all praise is genuine or aligned with God’s truth. There can be praise that looks right on the outside but is false within. When Achan took what was forbidden, it was a spiritual failure that angered God.
The Impact of Hidden Sin
Because of this disobedience, Israel faced defeat when they tried to conquer the city of Ai. The presence of hidden sin had a profound impact on the entire community. God revealed to Joshua that there was sin in the camp. This incident serves as a warning to avoid false praise and to obey God fully.
Drop down to verse six.
Acts Series Chapter 5 Part 1: How to Remove Sin from Camp
Joshua 7:6-8
6 And Joshua rent his clothes, and fell to the earth upon his face before the ark of the LORD until the eventide, he and the elders of Israel, and put dust upon their heads.
7 And Joshua said, Alas, O Lord GOD, wherefore hast thou at all brought this people over Jordan, to deliver us into the hand of the Amorites, to destroy us? would to God we had been content, and dwelt on the other side Jordan!
8 O Lord, what shall I say, when Israel turneth their backs before their enemies!
Joshua responded to Israel’s defeat by mourning and seeking God. He and the elders humbled themselves before the Lord, showing deep sorrow. God spoke, revealing the real reason for Israel’s trouble. The people had sinned by taking what was forbidden and hiding it among their own possessions.
Acts Series Chapter 5 Part 1: How to Remove Sin from Camp
The Need for Purification
When sin is present and unconfessed, spiritual victory is lost. Prayers are hindered, and spiritual battles are lost. Sin affects not just one person but the whole community. God made it clear that his presence would not stay with them if they did not remove the hidden sin. Every member and every household must be sanctified. God would examine every tribe, family, and individual until the guilty one was found.
Symbolically, this process applies to churches and families today. Sin cannot be ignored or covered up; it must be removed. If it is not dealt with, God’s presence will leave, and there will be defeat. The consequence for deliberately hiding sin was judgment by fire, which served to protect the spiritual health of the whole group.
Acts Series Chapter 5 Part 1: How to Remove Sin from Camp
God’s Method of Exposure and Judgment
Joshua 7:18
18 And he brought his household man by man; and Achan, the son of Carmi, the son of Zabdi, the son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, was taken.
Joshua went through each family and tribe, searching for the one who had committed the sin. The guilty person came from the tribe of praise, i.e., Judah. This story serves as a reminder that even spiritual leaders and believers are not immune to temptation.
Consequences for Leaders and Believers
Many pastors, preachers, and evangelists fall into sin. God always gives them a chance to repent and be restored. They can allow God’s Spirit to burn away what is wrong. If they refuse, though, the hidden sin eventually becomes known. It is exposed to their family and to the church.
Acts Series Chapter 5 Part 1: How to Remove Sin from Camp
Public Exposure and Loss of Authority
If sin is not dealt with privately, it becomes a public issue. When sin is exposed, it damages trust and influence. God will not let anyone bring shame on his name or take glory for themselves. If open sin is ignored, both the individual and the community will face judgment, losing spiritual authority and respect.
The Final Lesson: Purity Within
Joshua 7:21-26
21 When I saw among the spoils a goodly Babylonish garment, and two hundred shekels of silver, and a wedge of gold of fifty shekels weight, then I coveted them, and took them; and, behold, they are hid in the earth in the midst of my tent, and the silver under it.
22 So Joshua sent messengers, and they ran unto the tent; and, behold, it was hid in his tent, and the silver under it.
Acts Series Chapter 5 Part 1: How to Remove Sin from Camp
23 And they took them out of the midst of the tent, and brought them unto Joshua, and unto all the children of Israel, and laid them out before the LORD.
24 And Joshua, and all Israel with him, took Achan the son of Zerah, and the silver, and the garment, and the wedge of gold, and his sons, and his daughters, and his oxen, and his asses, and his sheep, and his tent, and all that he had: and they brought them unto the valley of Achor.
25 And Joshua said, Why hast thou troubled us? the LORD shall trouble thee this day. And all Israel stoned him with stones, and burned them with fire, after they had stoned them with stones.
26 And they raised over him a great heap of stones unto this day. So the LORD turned from the fierceness of his anger. Wherefore the name of that place was called, The valley of Achor, unto this day.
Acts Series Chapter 5 Part 1: How to Remove Sin from Camp
Achan admitted that he took a beautiful garment, two hundred shekels of silver, and a gold bar, and he hid them in his tent. Joshua’s men found the hidden items and brought them before everyone. Joshua, with all Israel, took Achan, his family, and everything he owned and destroyed them in the valley of Akor. The punishment was severe, but it was God who demanded it, not the enemy.
Hidden Sin Must Be Removed
The story uses the hidden treasure in the tent as a picture. Everyone tries to hide things in their lives that they do not want others to see. It could be secret sins or attitudes. The teaching is clear: sin must be removed. If it stays, God will bring it to light, because He will not let hidden things remain forever. Each person is like a tent, a temple of the Holy Spirit. God wants the inside pure.
Acts Series Chapter 5 Part 1: How to Remove Sin from Camp
The Call to Honest Self-Examination
The message is to deal honestly with God. Stop hiding what needs to be removed. God may use the things that bother or frustrate you to help you grow. Parents and church members are placed in your life for your good. The focus should not be on the faults of others, but on personal responsibility and growth. It ends with a prayer of thanks for God’s truth and presence.
Acts Series Chapter 5 Audio
Acts Series Chapter 5 Audio
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Acts Series Chapter 5 Part 2 Audio
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