The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly
Notes
Transcript
Please turn to Acts 4:32…Acts 4:32 - 5:11...
And I want to set some mood music to our reading…do you ever do that..
every good Bible passage…needs a good sound track....
so here we go.
(if you are online—you will not be able to hear it)
That song was written by Elevation and Hillsong Worship....
No—that song “The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly...” was made popular by a Clint Eastwood western film…in 1966
and I think that song is appropriate for today’s text...because…in our minds…we are going to see some of the good, the bad, and the ugly of the early church.
Let’s stand...
and here in this 1st section…we have a description of the good—what early church life was like for this almost 5,000 plus group in the early church.
and we are going to see 2 characteristics—of the early church life—that challenge us...
32 All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own, but they shared everything they had.
33 With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And God’s grace was so powerfully at work in them all
34 that there were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned land or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales
35 and put it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to anyone who had need.
36 Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus, whom the apostles called Barnabas (which means “son of encouragement”),
37 sold a field he owned and brought the money and put it at the apostles’ feet.
Characteristic #1 of the Early Church — a Generous Community...
you might say “radically” generous...
b/c they were so united to Christ and to one another—that they were open to sharing all their possessions with each other.
vs. 34 — there were no needy persons among them!
this is actually a fulfillment of the OT...
4 However, there need be no poor people among you, for in the land the Lord your God is giving you to possess as your inheritance, he will richly bless you,
the OT Israelites never got there..
the NT Israel — the church is getting there…b/c they are so united to Jesus and filled with the Holy Spirit
and people were so radical that they would sell their land and houses—big ticket items—give the money to the apostles to distribute to those in need.
this was so attractive that people were drawn to this—they will know you are Christians by your love for one another...
Let’s think about how this applies to us.
what it is not...
—not Christian communism—some out there theologians have argued that. no, the early church wasn’t forced to do this. people still owned lands and houses. you could still own private property—we see the early church often meeting in people’s houses.
but think about...
what it is...
radical, caring generosity for one another within the church family…that the world takes notice of—that meets big needs.
so it’s worth asking the question here at FMC…are we radically generous---
how often do we see people in need and turn away—or hope that somebody will help them?
how often does our desire for the American dream—consume us—and perhaps limit how generous we can be?
as we think about giving—there are a couple of ways we can motivate you to give:
guilt—I could say “You know—you have so much…others have so little…give...” “You know you should give more...” we as pastors are great at that..but look at vs.33
look at verse 33..
33 With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And God’s grace was so powerfully at work in them all
the answer is grace...
not only are we forgiven of our sins b/c of the radical grace of Jesus—He lived the life I failed to live and died the death I deserve on the cross—but God’s grace is radically poured into us—so that when God sees us—it’s just as if I have never sinned, and just as if I have done everything Jesus has done.
we don’t guilt ourselves into giving—we grace ourselves...
the Apostle Paul says it like this...
9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich.
Jesus Christ, the supreme being, owns all things, the entire universe, yet he humbled himself, became poor and homeless and died naked and bleeding on the cross, so I would become rich.
Where would I be if Jesus wasn’t generous towards me? where would I be if Jesus only tithed 10% of his blood and life? He gave it all...
when I do that, it melts my heart towards giving—not just $ but time, energy, and resources.
there are a couple of practical ways you can do this:
organically - you see a need—you pray about it, talk about it, consider it, and decide what to do. and no one has to know about it. you don’t have to post on social media that you gave to the needy—in fact—don’t. a couple of Wednesday nights ago in our Acting Up Series—Willa K. spoke with the single again ministry to widows, Andy and Abby Lehman with the Life Together ministry at Swiss Meadows, Emili Marling—with Emili’s closet in Albany. Emili’s husband said something that struck me… He said, “if you have extra clothes in your closet, give them to someone who doesn’t. If you have an extra coat hanging in your closet that you haven’t worn in a while, give it to someone who doesn’t.” don’t overcomplicate it...
Brand Liechty spoke recently about how she and Shauna Smith help organize meals for people—especially families who have had babies recently
another way you can do it...
through the church—giving to the church
give to projects like the giving tree that was announced for Robyn Moore’s ministry in Kenya…or when we raised money for Ukraine generators…for Yarik’s home church… or the Missionary Christmas offering...
it’s amazing—some of our SS classes even take collections for people in their class--
another way you can give...
One of the things that you may not realize is that there are 3 different funds or boxes that you can give to. If you give a check to First Missionary Church in person or online—and don’t designate it…it goes towards our General Budget (box), which pays for our “in-house ministries—our utilities, maintenance, supplies, our staff)
the Missions box or budget is another fund you can give to. to do this you must designate it with an offering envelope or online you can designate it—and this goes to support over 30 missionaries locally and globally.
but the last box—you may be unaware of and fund—is the Christian Aid Fund. You can designate your money towards this fund too.
and this fund goes to help people in our church and community in need with practical things like rent, utilities, marriage counseling or therapy. this fund is overseen by a team of people. if someone is in need they or you can fill out an application, and the team discusses and decides how much to give—not by giving it directly to the person but by paying the bill directly. and let me tell you—this team has done an outstanding job. we have gotten tons of requests and helped lots of people in practical ways. this is a great way to give.
so we must not guilt ourselves into—but must grace ourselves into generosity—not just money, but time and talents...
for Characteristic #2, let’s read the next passage… and stand
let’s read
1 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 just to human beings 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 some 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 conspire to test the Spirit of the Lord? Listen! 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.
and welcome to First Missionary Church
we may consider this that bad and the ugly…but hold that thought until later..
the 2nd characteristic we see is a community that takes sin seriously.
now, what is your reaction to this?
let me tell you some common ones...
“This is shocking!”
“Why would God do this?”
“Does the punishment really fit the crime?” “Is God getting out of hand here?”
“isn’t this the god of the OT—b/c we read in the OT—that God’s fire came out and consumed a couple of priests when they offered unauthorized fire before the Lord…—Leviticus 10
and in Numbers 16—we read that some people rebelled against God and Moses’ leadership, so God had the ground open up and swallow them.
so I don’t like this view of God....it seems unfair...
and does it mean that this could happen to me?
Let’s have some FAQ’s…I have 4...
FAQ #1 What was Ananias and Sapphira’s sin… (why was God so offended)
let’s look at what it was NOT...
the sin is NOT the fact that they did not give all of the sale to the apostles. vs. 4 makes this clear.
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 just to human beings but to God.”
they were not required to even sell it in the first place, and when they did, they were not required to give it all to the apostles and for the needy—they didn’t have to...
so what was the sin?
but look at vs. 3
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?
Acts 5:4 (last part)
Acts 5:4 (NIV)
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 just to human beings but to God.”
what is their sin? they lied…to the Holy Spirit…who is God
vs. 9 says it in another way
Acts 5:9 (NIV)
9 Peter said to her, “How could you conspire to test the Spirit of the Lord? Listen! The feet of the men who buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out also.”
vs. 9 - to test the Spirit of the Lord...
that kind of language of testing the Spirit of the Lord—reminds us of in the OT—when God led the Israelites out of slavery in Egypt—miraculously—sending the 10 plagues, parting the Red Sea—in Exodus 17—we are told that the nation of Israel put the Lord to the test…they are thirsty—there is no water, we are hungry—you brought us out to die.
and the people grumbled against Moses and the Lord—they had just seen the Lord’s mighty provision—and yet they doubt God. how quickly they forget. the Psalms says they regularly put God to the test…testing God is doubting Him after seeing His incredible provision…it’s not believing God is enough...
and similar here in Acts—God has moved in powerful ways in the early Church, and now this couple is putting God to the test.
Having God is not enough for them…they need the reputation and recognition
but why is this so bad? i mean…they still gave $ to the church..the church benefited…the Christian Aid Fund increased...
remember—they are making it LOOK like they gave it all…when in reality they didn’t...
at the core of their sin is this: Pride and hypocrisy. they are playing a part—making it look like they are more spiritual or devoted than they actually are. if you study the words of Jesus He has strong words to say against hypocrisy—just read Matthew 23. when he preached against the religious leaders—the Pharisees
I can only imagine that as A and S watched everything going on—people giving generously—and being recognized…that they wanted the reputation and recognition more than actually giving and serving the Lord.
the opposite of this is Barnabas—he is known as being encouraging and generous— maybe they thought “Look at him…he is getting all the recognition and perks...” this will help our social status in the eyes of the community…and God won’t have it...
this is so easy to do—many church historians have noted that in genuine times of renewal and revival—you always have Ananias and Sapphira—people who want the appearance of godliness rather than godliness…who want the power of revival without the sacrifice…who want the reputation of being with God than actually God. who want the reputation for praying without being prayer warriors.
I think we have this temptation today perhaps more than ever—social media compounds it. it’s not wrong to share on social media every time you do something good—but when we pray—do we have to post it on social media? #prayer... when we give—do we have to post it? when we serve or help someone—do we have to share it on Instagram? what is our heart motivation for doing so? am I genuinely encouraging someone or do I want people to see how devoted I am?
i think this is the core issue of pride and hypocrisy—and to go even deeper—here it is: THEY WANTED THE GLORY FOR GIVING THIS GIFT, RATHER THAN GOD GETTING THIS GIFT.
the text mentions in 5:3
Acts 5:3 (NIV)
3 Then Peter said, “Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart
we think of demonic activity as obvious and occult—like but Satan influenced them here.
Satan was an angel—but his primary sin—was wanting the glory for Himself more than God—and that…that pride…that glory seeking..led to his downfall.
this is why pride and hypocrisy is of the devil....of the pit of hell
God is so glorious—meaning He is in another category all by Himself—worthy of worship—He will not share it—and He knows that we need Him and His glory—that’s how He made us...
FAQ #2 Why did God judge them right then and there by striking them dead? Why so immediate? why not just discipline them—why death?
look at 5:2
Acts 5:2 (NIV)
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.
that language of “Kept back...” is also used in the OT in the story of Joshua and the Israelites. we read in Joshua 7:1 that after God led the Israelites to victory over Jericho—the walls came down…and the Israelites were to destroy everything, but one man kept back part of the spoils of war—his name was Achan.
and b/c of that Israel lost their next battle—until they dealt with Achan.
Scholar FF Bruce says it like this--the story of Ananias is to the book of Acts what the story of Achan is to the book of Joshua. In both instances, an act of deceit interrupts the victorious progress of the people of God.” (so I think that because of this unique time in the history of God’s people--God had to do something right away)
My professor in Trinity, DA Carson said, “this is the danger of revival.” People want the reputation for godliness more than godliness or God himself. He even says “that is not uncommon for more judgment to fall in times of genuine reformation and revival.” He even goes on to say--that “God’s judgment can even be a mark of grace.” God can use this to get a culture or in that case, the church’s attention to the seriousness of sin to get them back on track.
great fear spread—we learn in vs. 14—the church actually grew from this as it was purified.
FAQ #3 Will God strike me dead right away if I sin? (can this happen to me?)
what do you think church?
what do we want the answer to be?
I think most likely he will not b/c we don’t see this that often in the NT...
but later in the book of Acts…we see this happen
23 Immediately, because Herod did not give praise to God, an angel of the Lord struck him down, and he was eaten by worms and died.
immediately! God struck down King Herod b/c He wanted the glory just like Ananias and Sapphira...
in 1 Corinthians 11—we read the church at Corinth—was abusing the Lord’s Supper—communion. People were getting drunk…it was bad! and Paul says this:
29 For those who eat and drink without discerning the body of Christ eat and drink judgment on themselves.
30 That is why many among you are weak and sick, and a number of you have fallen asleep.
he is saying that one of the reasons some of you are sick and some of you have died—is because God has brought his judgment upon you for abusing the Lord’s Supper and abusing others at the Lord’s Supper. God won’t have it.
but I don’t think this is the normal way—instead—he often wants to use us—in each other’s lives for sharpening one another, holding each other accountable...
1 Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted.
15 “If your brother or sister sins, go and point out their fault, just between the two of you. If they listen to you, you have won them over.
Carson quote?
FAQ #4 Is this really the bad and the ugly?
invite worship team up..
Certainly Ananias and Sapphira’s sin is ugly here—the early Church had problems…just like we do…so from a human perspective yes--
but from God’s perspective…maybe not.
this idea of God judging immediately is terrifying...
but there are others way God can judge.
24 Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another.
God can give his judgment by taking his hands off—and giving us over to our sin…just saying “You want this…here you go...”
3x it says that God gave them over to their sin.
one of the worst judgments we can experience is God giving us over—not intervening or at least disciplining us…b/c it leads to such a downward spiral and so many disastrous consequences.
when God intervenes in a remarkable way like this--it can stop a culture or church from sinning. it can be thus an act of grace to keep more sinning from happening. it can produce awe and holiness and purity in the church....
I am struck by these 2 passages…a church generously caring for one another, and a church taking sin seriously...
it is very gracious—generous—lots of Christian Aid happening....
and also disciplining…not just this-this was unusual—but graciously holding each other accountable, pushing each other to follow Christ. hopefully that is happening here all the time with one another. part of one-anothering...
both grace and truth...
if we want to be a person or even a church that is not about us being the glory getters—but glory givers...
and it all comes from looking at the one who was full of grace and truth—Jesus Christ.
and in his supreme act of love for us on the cross—we see both the grace of God—He loved us so much he gladly died for us—and the discipline and wrath of God—sin is so bad He had to die for us---there was no other way. at the cross—grace and truth, mercy and discipline me.
showing our God.
there’s nothing bad or ugly about this God—who takes our sin so seriously, he has to judge it—we want that kind of God who is going to do something about sin and injustice in the world
and we want a God who gives us his grace and a chance to know Him and forgive—we have Him—at the cross… This is our God
6 And he passed in front of Moses, proclaiming, “The Lord, the Lord, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness,
7 maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin. Yet he does not leave the guilty unpunished; he punishes the children and their children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation.”
that kind of God—is the God we serve. This is our God!!