Ananias and Sapphira

Intro

It can be dangerous to travel on Highway 75 (and other roads) this time of year

Talk about driving to Rosenort; remembering huge concrete “ramp”

The early church has been experiencing (mostly) smooth sailing so far

HS sent as promised; thousands coming to faith in Jesus; local authorities just gave them a “finger wag”

But this changes in Acts 5, when we encounter the story of Ananias and Sapphira

First real “negative” account in Acts (certainly not the last!)

Also one of the most difficult accounts for us to understand

Still some valuable and important lessons in the midst of a difficutl story

In order to make sense of what happens to Ananias and Sapphira, we need to know what was going on in the church at the time

Read Acts 4:32-37.

The Church of Christ is Unified

In particular, what is true about the church?

Acts 4:32 makes 2 audacious claims; the first being that “the full number of those believed were of one heart and soul”

The Church of Christ is Unified

Luke describes this as being of one heart and soul

Talk about certain players being the ‘heart and soul’ of a team… that’s all I ever brought to the table

Used in Acts in much the same way; refers to the inner being (not just of individuals but of the corporate church)

They were one at the centre of their being

Of course, this type of unity is not a mere human construction, but a work of God

This work was always part of God’s plan for His covenant people

Cf. Ezekiel 11:19-20.

The connection can be drawn; the church is the new covenant community in Jesus Christ (part of God’s eternal plan)

In this new covenant community, God gives His people one heart and new Spirit… sound familiar?

More specifically, the “new heart” is Jesus Christ

I find it fascinating that Luke can declare the “full number of those who believed” were unified in this way

Everyone?! Really?! You get 2 people in a room and you have 3 different opinions. How can this pervasive unity exist?

Because this isn’t about thinking alike, or even being committed to each other. It is about the fact that what the church has in common is far greater than what they have different

The short (Sunday School - yet correct) answer is Jesus. The bond of Jesus pulls us tighter than our differences pull us away

Cf. Ephesians 4:1 - 6.

Is this type of unity expressed at SBF?

Talk briefly about COVID experience; keeping the bond of unity at a higher priority than strong differences

The Church of Christ is Generous

The second incredible claim in Acts 4:32 is that - along with this undivided unity - the church was incredibly generous; the church of Christ is generous

“and no one said that any of the things that belonged to him was his own, but they had everything in common”

Bunch of communists!… true communal living

The reason for living this way was to take care of those in need

In fact, they fixed the problem! “There was not a needy person among them...”

More than just a good, ethical idea, this was another signal that the church was the new covenant community in Christ

Cf. Deuteronomy 15:4-5.

The church is now carrying out the task associated with God’s covenant people

One heart and no poor; always God’s expectation of His people

Of course, Jesus Himself made it abundantly clear that caring for the needy in the church was His command

Cf. Matthew 25:34-40.

“The least of these my brothers” is a direct reference to other believers (can be attributed to all in need)

Take care of each other, be generous to each other, and you do it directly for Jesus

Jesus is our one heart; Jesus is our generosity

This generosity knew no bounds; people were selling off their property and giving the proceeds to the church! (v. 34-35)

This flies in the face of our individualistic society today

The worst thing we can do is write off this level of generosity as something that is completely unattainable and move on (that was then, this was now)

If the signs and wonders are still for today, so to are the commands and expectations

What level of generosity do we show in our lives? In our church?

No; you don’t need to go and sell your house. No, we are not required to communal living

But we should be challenged to approach EVERYTHING we have as God’s and use it to bless others

Share my conviction after not letting Diana borrow my van; story about my parents taking in pregnant young woman

How generous can we be?

Maybe not quite as generous as Barnabas

The prime example of what is happening; sells a field and gives all the money to the apostles/church

The Church of Christ is Holy

Now we get to Ananias and Sapphira

They are part of the community; they see Barnabas’ generosity; they have property as well

But when they bring the proceeds to the apostles, they keep back some for themselves

Spoiler alert: This turns out to be an unwise decision

Read Acts 5:1-4.

What was the sin issue?

Not that he kept some money back

He could have kept the entire land for himself (not obligated to sell)

He could have kept a portion of the funds

The sin issue was that he LIED; claimed to have given all the funds when only part

Worse yet, Peter declares, “You have not lied to man but to God” (v. 4)

Peter was given discernment by the Spirit; it was to the Spirit that the offense was made

And then… it gets all Old Testament

Read Acts 5:5-6.

Wait, what?! He lies to God (which is bad, I know) and then God strikes him dead? God still smites people in the New Testament?

If you are unsettled by this, you are not alone; “And great fear came upon al who heard of it” (v. 5)

This is supposed to be fearful and unsettling

The story continues:

Read Acts 5:7-11.

Sapphira, unaware of her husband’s demise, chooses not to come clean but to condemn herself in keeping up the story

She then shares her husband’s grisly fate

There are a number of clues in the story that help us understand

“breathed one’s last” = expsycho = used only 3 times in the NT: Twice here and once again in Acts 12:21-23 (read bookmark)

In both instances, there was a direct challenge to God

Herod did not “give God the glory”

Ananias and Sapphira “tested the Spirit”

Like the Israelites “tested God” in the wilderness; lack of trust and open rebellion

This was their real sin (not the lie, but the heart behind it)

What this story tells us is that the new covenant community of Christ is functioning like the Temple itself

Strike down dead stories: guardian of the ark touched it when it wobbled and struck dead (2 Sam. 6:6-9)

Only the high priest could enter the holy of holies one day a year, taking all sorts of precautions

The church of Christ is the Temple, as Peter later declares

Cf. 1 Peter 2:5.

If the church - the new covenant community of Christ - is the Temple, than the church must be holy; the church of Christ is holy

Cf. 1 Peter 1:15-16.

Do you think Peter was remembering Ananias and Sapphira when he wrote these words?

We are called to be holy, but just like our unity and generosity, this is soley a work of God

Don’t be scared to mess up or misstep! Don’t look over your shoulder! That is not the point

Instead, allow Jesus to continue to from you into His image as He makes you holy

Holiness must be taken seriously, when understood with amazing grace

If we watch with excited fascination as the early church does wonderful healings, stands up to the bullying authorities, makes converts to right and left, and lives a life of astonishing property-sharing, we may have to face the fact that if you want to be a community which seems to be taking the place of the Temple of the living God you mustn’t be surprised if the living God takes you seriously, seriously enough to make it clear that there is no such thing as cheap grace. (N.T. Wright)

Conclusion

Here is the list: The church is unified, generous and holy

Do we see these things to be true at SBF?

What role can you play in helping this be true at SBF?

Pray