Snakes Among the Saints

Welcome

Good morning and welcome to church!

[Reminder church business meeting]

We are continuing our series in the Book of Acts this morning. In this series we are looking at the early church and comparing it to the church we have today. Part of our goal here is to see if we can have a more biblically authentic church or why things sometimes look a little bit different in the church today than they did at the very beginning.

Let me set the stage by going back to the end of last week’s passage. We were talking about the unity of the church and the way that members of the early church were selling their possessions and donating them so that the other members who had a need could be provided for through the benevolence of the church as a whole.

A unified church is a blessing where all the saints work together to provide for everyone and everything works like a well oiled machine.

However… That is not always the case in the church—neither then nor now.

You know that on Wednesday evenings we have a Bible study, in which we discuss Sunday’s passage and work on applying it to our church and making sure that everyone in the church understands the message from Sunday. This week we had three teachers from last Wednesday night’s discussion that all asked the same question independently and all got exactly the same answer.

The English adult class, the Spanish adult class, and the youth were all asked this question: Do you think this church is unified? All three classes said No, this church is not unified.

Why is that? Why can we not get united as a church? I’ve been preaching here almost two years now and I think we’ve preached unity consistently. Hardly a week goes by that it is not mentioned in some way. Even so, as hard as we attempt to promote and build unity we are still not a unified church.

[hard hat]

We have a difficult passage to cover today. That’s the thing about preaching through a book of the Bible. You can’t just skip the hard parts and focus on the things people like to hear.

As we study Acts 5 today, we’re going to look at a passage that some pastors will avoid preaching because it is just too uncomfortable. But I’m not most pastors. Maybe I’m dumber than some, maybe I’m still too green. But, for a hard message, I figured I’d need a hard hat. So, I hope that you brought your helmets as we’re going to enter into a passage of scripture where we might find some falling rocks.

Last week we read—and barely touched on—this passage at the end of chapter 4 that talked about a donation that was brought to the church...

Now, I told you last week that this is not a prescriptive text that was designed to teach us that we should emulate this practice in the church today. I don’t want anybody selling a piece of property and bringing the proceeds here to lay it at my feet.

Let’s go back to the end of the passage from last week in order to set up the passage for this week. We see a similar donation take place, but with a very different result. Let me read the passage from Acts 5 and then we’ll study it and look for the meaning...

Acts 4:36–37 CSB

36 Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus by birth, the one the apostles called Barnabas (which is translated Son of Encouragement), 37 sold a field he owned, brought the money, and laid it at the apostles’ feet.

This was a benevolent act that Joseph was giving to the church so that they could care for the members of the church...

Acts 4:34 CSB

34 For there was not a needy person among them because all those who owned lands or houses sold them, brought the proceeds of what was sold,

I’ll remind you that this was an act of love in a unified church that was caring for every member. It is into this environment of the church being and doing exactly what God wanted from them and for them that we see Ananias and Sapphira appear.

Let’s read today’s text...

Acts 5:1–11

1 But a man named Ananias, with his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property. 2 However, he kept back part of the proceeds with his wife’s knowledge, and brought a portion of it and laid it at the apostles’ feet. 3 “Ananias,” Peter asked, “why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and keep back part of the proceeds of the land? 4 Wasn’t it yours while you possessed it? And after it was sold, wasn’t it at your disposal? Why is it that you planned this thing in your heart? You have not lied to people but to God.” 5 When he heard these words, Ananias dropped dead, and a great fear came on all who heard. 6 The young men got up, wrapped his body, carried him out, and buried him. 7 About three hours later, his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. 8 “Tell me,” Peter asked her, “did you sell the land for this price?” “Yes,” she said, “for that price.” 9 Then Peter said to her, “Why did you agree to test the Spirit of the Lord? Look, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out.” 10 Instantly she dropped dead at his feet. When the young men came in, they found her dead, carried her out, and buried her beside her husband. 11 Then great fear came on the whole church and on all who heard these things.

[pray]

Benevolence Problems

I was telling our Wednesday night class about some of the crazy stories I have experienced in trying to help people in need. Usually when this happens it is because the person who is asking is in no way affiliated with the church and quite often has no church connection whatsoever. I have had people approach me in public asking for a handout, as many of you may have experienced from time to time.

I told you last week about the guy driving off on me while I was pushing his truck to the gas station.

I also recall one fellow who approached me one day as I was walking into Whataburger for breakfast. He was asking for groceries and when I drove over to meet him at Walmart, I couldn’t find him anywhere after about 15 minutes of looking.

I have had people ask for money or items for donation. Sometimes when you help them they show up again the following week asking for another handout.

I had one guy pray with me that God would impress on me to buy him some white socks and underwear.

I had another guy that I helped with Christmas groceries promise to bring me some tamales, which never showed up.

I have often had people promise me that they would be at church, most of whom I never saw again.

I’ve had people promise to pay me back, though I usually never see another penny.

Let me just say that helping people can be a tricky business. People can be hard to help sometimes.

But also there are times that people come into the church wanting to make a donation, but they want to do it in their own way with their own stipulations on the donations. This kind of giving can sometimes be problematic for the church.

In the church office, we call this designated giving. Sometimes long time members of the church want to bless one particular ministry that they love. Other times, they have the habit of being controlling with their gifts. This can sometimes become a burden for the church when the church needs flexibility with the donation rather than having their hands tied.

I know of one church here in the Valley that had a significant amount of money that had been designated many years ago to the puppet ministry—except the church no longer had a puppet ministry. This was something that they probably had 40-50 years ago that is no longer in fashion. However, they had money tied up in the designated giving fund with no way to free it up for use in a more effective way for active ministries of the church.

I heard the story told of another man, who was doing quite well in business, who donated an expensive grand piano to the church. But later, when his business fell on hard times, came back to the church to ask them to return the money so that he could settle his debts.

Speaking of giving, I received a report this week that giving has been down at the church for the first quarter. With the departure of a few giving families and the tough economy that we have—coupled with the significant expense of building a new building, consistent giving to our church is at a critical point right now. So, as a humble request from the Stewardship Committee, please consider your giving and provide for the ministries that we have here in our church.

Our text today is not about designated giving, but it was problematic giving. Any time that we try to lie to God or cheat God out of something there’s a problem.

I. Ananias & Sapphira had a Benevolence Problem

It is not hard to see that Ananias and Sapphira had a benevolence problem. They had likely been present on several occasions where others had sold property and made a donation to the church by laying the proceeds at the feet of the apostles.

They were likely present when Barnabas gave the gift of the funds that he received from the sale of the property. And the text does not say that Ananias and Sapphira were jealous of Barnabas or that they wanted to get some accolades for making a similar donation, but most preachers would likely draw that conclusion.

Acts 5:1

1 But a man named Ananias, with his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property.

This text is clearly connected to Barnabas’ giving as we can see at the very beginning of chapter 5, verse 1, when we see the word “But.”

Barnabas’ gift was not problematic, but honored God and apparently got the attention of others in the church. The story of Ananias and Sapphira is told as an opposite example of one who did not give to God in a way that honored him, but was intended to honor themselves.

Ananias and Sapphira acted out of hypocrisy—which is to say that their actions did not match how they were representing themselves. Perhaps they wanted to be seen as Barnabas was seen. Perhaps they were jealous. The word hypocrisy, means “to pretend” or “to play a part”—as an actor in a play.

Jesus called the scribes and Pharisees hypocrites...

Matthew 23:13–15

13 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! You shut the door of the kingdom of heaven in people’s faces. For you don’t go in, and you don’t allow those entering to go in. 15 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! You travel over land and sea to make one convert, and when he becomes one, you make him twice as much a child of hell as you are!

He called them this because he could see that they were taking the law and holding it over people like a weapon, primarily so that they could be seen by others as authorities and honoring themselves before God. Let’s look back at how he setup those strong statements about the Pharisees...

Matthew 23:1–7

1 Then Jesus spoke to the crowds and to his disciples: 2 “The scribes and the Pharisees are seated in the chair of Moses. 3 Therefore do whatever they tell you, and observe it. But don’t do what they do, because they don’t practice what they teach. 4 They tie up heavy loads that are hard to carry and put them on people’s shoulders, but they themselves aren’t willing to lift a finger to move them. 5 They do everything to be seen by others: They enlarge their phylacteries and lengthen their tassels. 6 They love the place of honor at banquets, the front seats in the synagogues, 7 greetings in the marketplaces, and to be called ‘Rabbi’ by people.

This is the essence of hypocrisy and both Ananias and Sapphira were acting in a way to get the attention of the other believers so that they might be seen as important and influential in the church.

Principle: Ambition and power struggles are indicators of a deeper issue in the church.

While we might be a little bit more subtle and sometimes we even believe our own lies, we can sometimes be hypocritical with others. Any time we deliberately deceive others by trying to make them think we are more spiritual or better than we actually are, we are being hypocritical.

But let’s be clear, hypocrisy is deliberate deception. But also let me say, that even if you are living a lie and believing your own lie, often there will be others who can see through your act and discern who you are by your character.

II. Ananias’ Hypocrisy was Premeditated Sin

Ananias specifically set out—with his wife’s knowledge—to defraud the church...

Acts 5:2

2 However, he kept back part of the proceeds with his wife’s knowledge, and brought a portion of it and laid it at the apostles’ feet.

Sometimes God will give people discernment about your actions, even if you think you are very good at concealing them. This gift of discernment is a spiritual gifting from the Holy Spirit. Apparently Peter had the gift of discernment in this moment because he called out Ananias for his sinful act of hypocrisy.

Acts 5:3–6

3 “Ananias,” Peter asked, “why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and keep back part of the proceeds of the land? 4 Wasn’t it yours while you possessed it? And after it was sold, wasn’t it at your disposal? Why is it that you planned this thing in your heart? You have not lied to people but to God.” 5 When he heard these words, Ananias dropped dead, and a great fear came on all who heard. 6 The young men got up, wrapped his body, carried him out, and buried him.

Ananias’ sin here was not holding back part of the proceeds but lying about his intentions. Ananias’ lies were making a mockery of God.

Galatians 6:7

7 Don’t be deceived: God is not mocked. For whatever a person sows he will also reap,

Do you believe that last statement? “For whatever a person sows he will also reap.”

Mocking God is any act of disrespect, disdain, or deception. This act is undertaken by those who have no fear or respect for God. This could also be seen in a denial of his existence. Mockery is a display of an attitude that lacks honor and is often displayed through ridicule, scoffing, or defiance.

The Bible classifies mockery of God as the action of a fool. It can be easy to spot mockery in the public marketplace. But when mockery of God enters the halls of the church, it is truly tragic.

When you come to church in a display of honoring God, but you don’t fully engage or expect for him to meet you here and change you, then you are in danger of mocking God.

Charles G. Finney, a preacher in the 1800s, wrote about the effects of mocking God: "To mock God is to pretend to love and serve him when we do not; to act in a false manner, to be insincere and hypocritical in our professions, pretending to obey him, love, serve, and worship him, when we do not. . . . Mocking God grieves the Holy Spirit, and sears the conscience; and thus the bands of sin become stronger and stronger. The heart becomes gradually hardened by such a process."

This goes beyond bringing your gifts to church. This goes so far as to your actions or your lack of actions. If you coming to church just to please your spouse or you come and sleep through the message or scroll through TikTok on your phone during the Sunday School lesson, then you are mocking God. If you are going to be a fully involved saint, then go all in and give God everything you’ve got within you.

It wasn’t just Ananias that lied to God, but his wife, Sapphira, as well. They were both complicit in their lie...

Acts 5:7–10

7 About three hours later, his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. 8 “Tell me,” Peter asked her, “did you sell the land for this price?” “Yes,” she said, “for that price.” 9 Then Peter said to her, “Why did you agree to test the Spirit of the Lord? Look, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out.” 10 Instantly she dropped dead at his feet. When the young men came in, they found her dead, carried her out, and buried her beside her husband.

…not only did they lie together, but they died and were buried together.

Let’s be clear that lies are sinful...

Oliver Wendell Holmes wrote, “Sin has many tools, but a lie is the handle which fits them all.”

What happens when Satan is active in the church?

When Satan is working in the church, it’s a serious matter.

Acts 5:3

3 “Ananias,” Peter asked, “why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and keep back part of the proceeds of the land?

Pastor Warren Wiersbe wrote...

The Bible Exposition Commentary Chapter Five: Beware of the Serpent! (Acts 4:32–5:16)

If Satan cannot defeat the church by attacks from the outside, he will get on the inside and go to work (Acts 20:28–31). He knows how to lie to the minds and hearts of church members, even genuine Christians, and get them to follow his orders.

Luke writes a warning to the church in his farewell section of the book of Acts...

Acts 20:28–31

28 Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has appointed you as overseers, to shepherd the church of God, which he purchased with his own blood. 29 I know that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock. 30 Men will rise up even from your own number and distort the truth to lure the disciples into following them. 31 Therefore be on the alert, remembering that night and day for three years I never stopped warning each one of you with tears.

It is the job of the pastor and the deacons, as well as all the leadership of the church to protect the church from the wolves—the deceivers and mockers and the agents of Satan, who are in our midst.

The Work of the Enemy in the Church

There are a few things to recognize here about the work of the enemy in the church:

When Satan is attacking you, it’s generally because he’s trying to stop the work of God from taking the church or ministry to the next level.

Lies are meant to distort the truth and confuse the saints.

Hypocrisy undermines the work of the church and drives people away from engaging with God.

Ambition and the grasping for power in the church will destroy the church.

Much of the teaching in the New Testament warns us of false teaching and wolves in the body of the church. We would do well to heed these warnings and not to let our guard down in the church today.

The sin of Ananias and Sapphira had three aspects;

instigated by Satan

motivated by pride (focus on the self)

directed against the church

We don’t have much indication about Ananias and Sapphira outside of this account. As far as they are presented, we think they were believers. Yet, how can a believer be so given over to their sin that they would commit such an act to deserve instant death?

There are only a couple of possibilities here:

They were not believers but operating within the body of believers.

They were believers but had been given over to their sin and acting contrary to the leadership of the Spirit.

Most conservative scholars tend to believe that Ananias and Sapphira were saved. Their story is told within the context of “all the believers” sharing what they had in common. They were acting as if they were a fully integrated part of the group and they were punished as though they were fully accountable for their sinful action.

Let’s be clear here that even believers and active members of the church can be drawn into sinful behavior and bold and flagrant sin against God and others in the body of believers.

And let’s not forget that our actions have consequences. Sinful actions always have consequences. In this case the consequence of Ananias and Sapphira’s sin was death.

Now, that doesn’t mean that God is going to strike you dead if you hold back the tithe. But let me tell you, he won’t bless you either. We cannot define the consequences for your mockery of God. That is up to him.

III. Fear of the Lord Means Proper Respect

These deaths served a purpose that sometimes escapes us today.

This is not just some Old Testament incident where someone broke some obscure law and was punished by God. This is a first-century, post-Calvary incident regarding supposed believers in Jesus Christ, who made a sinful and secret decision and took an action that mocked God. They were called out by the apostle Peter, who had the authority to discipline this sin.

However, the lesson to learn here is that fear of the Lord is a proper position for us to take with God even still today.

Acts 5:11

11 Then great fear came on the whole church and on all who heard these things.

Fear here is not some divine hammer over our heads, rather it is a respect and an honor for God, knowing that we worship him and hold him in high esteem, but we must also recognize that we can be punished by God should we decide to act on sinful desires and compulsion.

The Lord sees the heart (1 Sam 16:7), he hates sin, he wants for his church to be pure and blameless, and God will not be mocked. The Apostle John wrote in his Revelation a letter to the Church of Thyatira, as dictated to him by Christ...

Revelation 2:23

23 I will strike her children dead. Then all the churches will know that I am the one who examines minds and hearts, and I will give to each of you according to your works.

Conclusion

God does not want a weak and apathetic church that refuses to do his work.

Nor does he want an ambitious and power hungry church that is eager win over the attention and accolades of everybody else.

God wants for us to be a New Testament church. One that proclaims the gospel message. One that ministers to and cares for our fellow man. And one that is ready to hold people accountable and encourage every member to do the good works that the Father has put before us to accomplish.

What is the point of this passage? What should you take away from this message?

Be aware of your motivations and how your actions either honor or mock God and others in the assembly of believers. Check your ambitions and limit your grasp for power. So, bottom line: Don’t be a snake.

If we want to be a united church, let’s all get on the same page and work together like God designed the church to do.

[Take your hat]