May 2, 2010
Morning Service

Acts 5

 

Review:

1.       Jesus said in Matt. 16:18;  “I will build my church and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.”  He also told Peter that He would give unto him the keys to the kingdom of God.

2.      The thought comes to my mind of just how blessed we truly are that God has preserved for us His Word that allows us to build our faith on all these things that happened to the early church.

3.      He has allowed us to see, through the eyes of faith,

·         His DBR. 

·         His ascension,

·         His last instructions to His Apostles,

·         the promise of the outpouring of His Spirit upon all flesh,

·         Peter’s first, second, and third sermons where he uses the keys to the kingdom to unlock the doors of salvation to the Jews. 

·         The beginning of His church in chapter two on the first Pentecost after the resurrection,

and I am looking forward to many other glorious events that happened to the early church, here in this marvelous letter written by Luke, by direct inspiration from God Almighty, to us, the church in this 21^st century. 

4.      The way I figure it the church is 1977 years old, and the church should be like its creator, the same yesterday, today, and forever.  The gates of hell have tried to destroy it, but to no avail, and never will. 

5.      Jesus is soon to return and take us away with Him to glory, and there shall we ever be with the Lord.

 

Just how really wonderful is this that God has allowed us to be partakers of His wonderful plan?

 

We finished with this in chapter four;

 

Act 4:32-37 KJVR  And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul: neither said any of them that aught of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common.  (33)  And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all.  (34)  Neither was there any among them that lacked: for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the prices of the things that were sold,  (35)  And laid them down at the apostles' feet: and distribution was made unto every man according as he had need.  (36)  And Joses, who by the apostles was surnamed Barnabas, (which is, being interpreted, The son of consolation,) a Levite, and of the country of Cyprus,  (37)  Having land, sold it, and brought the money, and laid it at the apostles' feet.

• One writer said this;  There can be no more striking demonstration of union and love than to say of more than five thousand suddenly drawn together that they had one soul! And this union they evinced in every way possible - in their conduct, in their prayers, and in their property. How different would have been the aspect of the church if the union had continued to the present time!
• But it was not God’s will, or we would have.  The church has gone through many a difficult time, but has not fallen, and never will.

 

Let’s begin chapter five with the idea of selling our lands, and dividing them among each other.

 

Act 5:1-11 KJVR  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)  While 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.   (6)  And the young men arose, wound him up, and carried him out, and buried him.  (7)  And it was about the space of three hours after, when his wife, not knowing what was done, came in.  (8)  And Peter answered unto her, Tell me whether ye sold the land for so much? And she said, Yea, for so much.  (9)  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.  (10)  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.  (11)  And great fear came upon all the church, and upon as many as heard these things.

• It appears that Ananias came back to the Apostle, and told him that the amount of money that he gave him was what he received for selling his land and it wasn’t.  He tried to hold back a certain amount for himself.  The sins here were covetousness, and lying.
• Then shortly after Ananias had fell over dead, his wife Sapphira came in and Peter confronted her with this lie, and ask why they had agreed together to lie to the Holy Ghost, and she fell over dead.

 

The number one thing that we should learn from this story is that we should never try to lie to God.  In this case it was giving to the Lord’s work.  There are many ways of lying to God, just don’t lie.

 

Today, we as Christians, know that we as disciples of Christ, have the responsibility to give to the Lord’s work.

Many denominations teach that tithing is the proper way to give to the church’s work.  It is a good systematic way of giving, but one will not be sent to hell if you don’t tithe.  This was actually told to me at one time.  I confronted the Pastor and told him that this was not a teaching of the N.T. church, and he told me, “well it may not be, but we have done it so long this way, we are not about to change now.”  This was one of only many teachings that I was seeing that wasn’t lining up with God’s word, so I moved on and kept searching for the church that Jesus said He would build.

Tithing is a very good and acceptable way to give to the Lord’s work, but this concept comes from the O.T. teachings, and actually if one looks closer at the way they were taught to give, they actually gave over 30% to God’s work under the O.T. laws.

The reason I say that it is a good and acceptable way to give is what the Apostle Paul says;  “2Ti 3:16 KJVR  All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:  all scriptures means O.T. as well as N.T.  however, one must rightly divide the Word.  It’s a good way to set your giving, but God has a better way for the N.T. church.

GIVING IN THE NEW TESTAMENT CHURCH:

Remember what Peter told Ananias;  You didn’t have to say that you would give this money to the church.  There were no instructions that said you had to do this, it was strictly voluntary.  This goes along with the teaching of giving in the N.T.   If you notice, the times that Paul discusses giving, it is concerning ministering to the poor saints in Jerusalem, and the support of the ministry. 

• So ministering to the needs of the poor saints would be one of the main reasons that the early church was expected to give.

1Co 16:2-3 KJVR  Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come.  (3)  And when I come, whomsoever ye shall approve by your letters, them will I send to bring your liberality unto Jerusalem.

2Co 9:1 KJVR  For as touching the ministering to the saints, it is superfluous for me to write to you:

The principal for giving:

2Co 9:6-7 KJVR  But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.  (7)  Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.

• Another reason for giving:  Support of the Ministry.  In the O.T. it was for the support of the Levitical tribe that took care of the things of the Temple.

1Co 9:6 KJVR  Or I only and Barnabas, have not we power to forbear working?  Read the whole chapter.

• And today since we meet together in a common place of worship, we have the upkeep, and the responsibilities that goes along with this.

 

I think we can all see what I am talking about.  The main thing that I want to encourage you to do, do not lie to God.  Give as you have been prospered.  God doesn’t expect you to give beyond taking care of your worldly needs, but then God doesn’t expect you to have worldly needs that exceeds His expectations.  Paul said,

1Ti 6:6-11 KJVR  But godliness with contentment is great gain.  (7)  For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.  (8)  And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.  (9)  But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition.  (10)  For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.  (11)  But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.

NEVER LIE.

Rev 21:8 KJVR  But the fearful, and unbelieving, and abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.

NEVER LIE.