Acts 5:1-11

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Before our reading today I want to challenge you in your commitment to Christ.

What is truly more important to you today?

I it Christ and the ultimate mission of redemption, or is it your own individual motives or missions

Acts 5:1–11 ESV

But a man named Ananias, with his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property, and with his wife’s knowledge he kept back for himself some of the proceeds and brought only a part of it and laid it at the apostles’ feet. But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back for yourself part of the proceeds of the land? While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, was it not at your disposal? Why is it that you have contrived this deed in your heart? You have not lied to man but to God.” When Ananias heard these words, he fell down and breathed his last. And great fear came upon all who heard of it. The young men rose and wrapped him up and carried him out and buried him. After an interval of about three hours his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. And Peter said to her, “Tell me whether you sold the land for so much.” And she said, “Yes, for so much.” But Peter said to her, “How is it that you have agreed together to test 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.” Immediately she fell down at his feet and breathed her last. When the young men came in they found her dead, and they carried her out and buried her beside her husband. And great fear came upon the whole church and upon all who heard of these things.

The story of Ananias and Saphira at times seems cruel and difficult to grasp.

As we look a this scripture a little more I think that you will find it to be both understandable and applicable in your own life

acts 5:1 and 5:2 says

Acts 5:1–2 ESV

But a man named Ananias, with his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property, and with his wife’s knowledge he kept back for himself some of the proceeds and brought only a part of it and laid it at the apostles’ feet.

In short Ananias and his wife had a possession in which they sold and chose to keep a portion of the money they received from the item

Now the issue at hand was not that they failed to give the full sum of money

They had no obligation to to give up that money as a donation

the true issue at hand was that they had sinned in pretending to honor Christ with the entire sum of the profits while instead of upholding some for themselves.

It would be to a similar situation as if you were to write a check to this church for half of the money you possessed yet you pretended and expressed that it was all that you had.

It would be a big deal because you would have just lied to the church and more importantly you lied to God about something you had done for him

Similarly for Ananias and Sapphira the sin in which they committed was that they wanted to promote themselves and receive attention for their generosity and ploy for attention and it did not work

Acts 5:3–5 ESV

But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back for yourself part of the proceeds of the land? While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, was it not at your disposal? Why is it that you have contrived this deed in your heart? You have not lied to man but to God.” When Ananias heard these words, he fell down and breathed his last. And great fear came upon all who heard of it.

Though we may see this sin as a minor affair it certainly was not

This was a big deal because it was a betrayal of Jesus and it made the image of the community very bad.

The issue here is a heart issue

An issue in which deception was the means to attention

If I say I have given this to the Lord but keep it for my own I can look good and have the money

Not only is that deceptive but it shows a heart that follows the devil rather than Christ

The the big deal is when Ananias heard these questioning words from Peter the word of the scripture says “He gave up the ghost”

Meaning he died on the spot

Now something we must not forget his wife Sapphira was certainly in compliance and agreement of this plan.

the most ironic part is that for three hours Sapphira went about her daily business before coming in completely unaware of what was taking place.

She is given one final opportunity to make it right yet she makes it much worse

Sapphira in verse 8 once again denied what had happened

See she didn’t know of her husband

and finally in verses 9-10

Acts 5:9–10 ESV

But Peter said to her, “How is it that you have agreed together to test 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.” Immediately she fell down at his feet and breathed her last. When the young men came in they found her dead, and they carried her out and buried her beside her husband.

Yet again we find that just as her husband. Her attempt for attention, greed and inability to be truthful ultimately leads us to her death.

So now we are reported to by Luke in Acts 5:111

Acts 5:11 ESV

And great fear came upon the whole church and upon all who heard of these things.

Essentially God made a point out of Ananias and Sapphira

So today church i encourage that we take stock of their example

Due to the overwhelming push of sin in todays world it is easy to faulter

Just as scripture teaches us in so many places that the devil is there present ready to make us stumble and fall

Often we say that History is used as a guide to the future

Here we have soem scriptural history and truth that God is a wrathful and vengeful God.

He certainly will not stand for sin.

Ananias and Sapphira were two people who above all else wanted to be a made a big deal out of

Oh look what they did

They gave this money to Christ

yet they didn’t want to make the sacrifice of the money itself

Many of us could certainly find ourselves falling in sin just as easily

Today as i try to continue with the message of sharing the gospel through the apostles example let us not fall into sin when trying to do so.

Christ does not tolerate sin and he will not begin to do so.

church today our decisons have consequences

when we sin their will be consequences

we can rest assured in following this example and knowing that though Christ is a Christ of love and mercy e is also one of judgement and wrath.

So today I want to take note that out of all the wrongs that Ananias and Sapphira had committed, all the sins they had done. Maybe the most significant issue was wanting the attention for themselves.

Let us point back to Christ today and faithfully follow his example.