June 1, 2014
Evening Service

The church has begun to take shape as the “Lord added” believers daily to it.  It has grown from about 120 on the day of Pentecost to over 8,000 souls in a very short time.  God is moving and lives are being drastically changed.  The Spirit is moving people to sell their possessions and give all the money to the apostles for distribution to those with needs.  We first meet Barnabas as he sells some land and lays all of it at the apostles’ feet. People are “sold out” in their new found relationship with their Creator. Life is perfect, but only for a very short season.  Conflict comes, not as persecution this time, but from sin working inside the camp of believers.

Peter called our adversary “a roaring lion” that seeks those he can “devour.” (I Pet 5:8)  He will not take this great movement of God lying down.  He is our enemy and will take whatever means necessary to derail the newly founded church (and us) as we build up steam to take the gospel message to the whole world.

Act 5:1-6  And a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession.  (2)  And he kept back part of the price, his wife also knowing, and brought a certain part and laid it at the apostles' feet.  (3)  But Peter said, Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart for you to lie to the Holy Spirit, and to keep back part of the price of the land?  (4)  While it remained, was it not your own? And after it was sold, was it not in your own authority? Why have you conceived this thing in your heart? You have not lied to men, but to God.  (5)  And hearing these words, Ananias fell down and breathed his last. And great fear came on all those who heard these things.  (6)  And the younger ones arose, wound him up, and carrying him out, they buried him.

·         We are not certain what motivated Ananias to do this for sure.  Most likely it was to receive the praise of men for their generosity.  We do know who put the idea in his heart, Satan (vs 3). 

·         They were under no obligation to sell anything, nor were they under any obligation to give it all to the apostles.  The sin came in the deception (lie) of giving all when they held back a portion.

·         Before we cast stones, we too must look at ourselves.  Are we giving the appearance that we have given all to God, but secretly hold back a portion of ourselves that we refuse to surrender?

·         Next we see sin is like cancer, it spreads and affects others around us as well.

 

Act 5:7-11 And it was about the space of three hours afterward, when his wife (not knowing what was done) came in.  (8)  And Peter answered her, “Tell me whether you sold the land for so much?” And she said, “Yes, for so much.”  (9)  Then Peter said to her, “How is it that you have agreed together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? Behold, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door and they will carry you out.”  (10)  Then at once she fell down at his feet and breathed her last. And the younger ones found her dead, and, carrying her out, buried her beside her husband.  (11)  And great fear came on all the church and on as many as heard these things.

 

·         Sin is not to be taken lightly.  This is the first blatant sin recorded in the new church era.  Peter stated that they had not “lied to men, but to God.”

o   Do you understand that about sin?  It is not towards those who lie, steal, or cheat from but it is God who we sin against.

·         God sets the tone quickly that sin will be followed by chastening, for the good of all.  It may seem to us to be a little drastic, but God is powerfully at work establishing His church with the outpouring of grace but yet, He acts just as powerfully establishing Himself as Head of that church.

·         Notice the reaction that occurred.  “So great fear came upon all the church and upon all who heard these things.”  Fear or reverence of God is the beginning of wisdom (Pro. 1:7).  We need to realize that God will not reward disobedience.  Though our salvation remains intact, He has so much greater things planned for us and sin only detours us from the path He has prepared follow.

·         We need to praise God that He does not deal with us as he did with Ananias and Sapphira.  He will chastise us in the hope that we will repent and return to the straight and narrow path.

 

 

We need to also take note that Peter again steps forward and uses the keys given to him to pronounce such a judgment upon this couple.  Jesus has transferred His authority to His apostles and they, in turn, will transfer that authority on to the leadership of the church.  Paul wrote this to the Corinthians concerning someone who refused to repent.

 

1Co 5:3-5  For as being absent in body but present in spirit, I indeed have judged already as though I were present concerning him who worked out this thing;  (4)  in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when you are gathered together, with my spirit; also, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ;  (5)  to deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, so that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.

·         Again the purpose of these actions is to bring about repentance and forgiveness in the lives of believers.  Our battle with sin is a continual reminder to us that we NEED a Savior; we can NOT do this on our own. 

 

So does our enemy succeed?  Do sin and the consequences of it derail the church?  No way!

 

Act 5:12-16  And many miracles and wonders were done among the people by the hands of the apostles; and they were all with one accord in Solomon's Porch.  (13)  And of the rest no one dared to join himself to them, but the people magnified them; (14)  and more believing ones were added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women;  (15)  So as to carry out the sick into the streets and place them on cots and mattresses, so that at least the shadow of Peter passing by might overshadow some of them.  (16)  And also a multitude came from the cities around Jerusalem, bringing sick ones, and those being tormented by unclean spirits, who were all healed.

 

 

·         God does not give up on His plan.  He continues the work He began with “many miracles and wonders.” Notice ALL were healed; not some, not many but ALL.

·          Think of the many things God allows the early church to “see and hear.”  Their faith is being built up in the fact that “He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him (Heb. 11:6).”   They will need that faith in the near future to overcome the trials that lie ahead of them.  He still does the same for us.  Allowing us to go through a growing stage in our faith, knowing that in the future we will need it.

 

We have seen tonight that God does not take sin lightly.  He acted quickly and swiftly to set the tone of fear and reverence in the church.  We sin not against men, but against God.  He wants to keep us from falling into complacency in our walk with Him by allowing sin to dwell within us.

 

Romans 13:11-12  This also, knowing the time, that it is already time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed.  (12)  The night is far spent, the day is at hand; therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light.

·         Stay on the straight path that God has set before us.  “Cast off the works of darkness (sin).   Don’t let your eyes wander to the right or left and don’t get complacent, and fall asleep at the wheel.  Our “salvation is nearer now than when we first believed.”

 

Lord, may we never take sin lightly and always be ready to put our faith into action.