Holding Back from God
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Intro
Intro
31 And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness.
32 And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul: neither said any of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common. 33 And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all. 34 Neither was there any among them that lacked: for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the prices of the things that were sold, 35 And laid them down at the apostles’ feet: and distribution was made unto every man according as he had need. 36 And Joses, who by the apostles was surnamed Barnabas, (which is, being interpreted, The son of consolation,) a Levite, and of the country of Cyprus, 37 Having land, sold it, and brought the money, and laid it at the apostles’ feet.
1 But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession, 2 And kept back part of the price, his wife also being privy to it, and brought a certain part, and laid it at the apostles’ feet. 3 But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land? 4 Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God. 5 And Ananias hearing these words fell down, and gave up the ghost: and great fear came on all them that heard these things. 6 And the young men arose, wound him up, and carried him out, and buried him. 7 And it was about the space of three hours after, when his wife, not knowing what was done, came in. 8 And Peter answered unto her, Tell me whether ye sold the land for so much? And she said, Yea, for so much. 9 Then Peter said unto her, How is it that ye have agreed together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? behold, the feet of them which have buried thy husband are at the door, and shall carry thee out. 10 Then fell she down straightway at his feet, and yielded up the ghost: and the young men came in, and found her dead, and, carrying her forth, buried her by her husband. 11 And great fear came upon all the church, and upon as many as heard these things.
12 And by the hands of the apostles were many signs and wonders wrought among the people; (and they were all with one accord in Solomon’s porch.
Context:
Chapter 1
8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
Power from the Holy Ghost
To witness
In Jerusalem, Judaea, Samaria and the uttermost parts of the earth
**After Jesus died on the cross, rose from the grave and ascended to Heaven… He finished what needed to be done for salvation…
However, He came to seek and to save that which was lost…
When He ascended, he commissioned us to finish what He started in evangelizing the whole world...
**Emphasis of a missions focus… the Holy Ghost was never given to harbor inside and keep silent… it was for boldness in a witness here and across the entire world!**
Chapter 2
Pentecost came and the Holy Ghost came on all saved…
No permanent indwelling until this day…
Peter’s sermon with 3,000 souls added… great revival…
3,000 saved… baptized and joined the church…
***Unity in the Spirit…. in doctrine… in ministry…
41 Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls. 42 And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers. 43 And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles. 44 And all that believed were together, and had all things common; 45 And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need. 46 And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, 47 Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.
Chapter 3
Peter heals a lame man at the gate beautiful…
6 Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk.
Chapter 4
Outside opposition…
1 And as they spake unto the people, the priests, and the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees, came upon them, 2 Being grieved that they taught the people, and preached through Jesus the resurrection from the dead. 3 And they laid hands on them, and put them in hold unto the next day: for it was now eventide. 4 Howbeit many of them which heard the word believed; and the number of the men was about five thousand.
From 3,000 souls to now 5,000 souls…
Revival busting out of every place and the work of God flourishing with the power of the Holy Ghost…
While thousands were being saved, baptized and added to the church… there was an outward opposition trying to stop the work from continuing…
Not just outside opposition, but outside questioning… (5-12)
“By what power did you heal the lame man?” - “By Jesus, the one whom you crucified…” ***BOLD****
What did the opposition see?
13 Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus.
Boldness… unlearned… ignorant… marvel…. “they had been with Jesus.”
Vs. 16 - “What shall we do to these men?”
Vs. 17 - “Let’s threaten them to stop speaking in Jesus’ name.”
24 And when they heard that, they lifted up their voice to God with one accord, and said, Lord, thou art God, which hast made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all that in them is:
Despite outward opposition with direct command to quit speaking the name of Christ, they found themselves “lifting their voice to God in one accord.”
The church turned persecution into progress…
Vs. 29 they ask for boldness and immediately they get it in verse 31…
Those who believed were of one heart and one soul… (same page, same goal)
No one said, “What’s mine is mine.” They had “all things common…”
It’s like the teen yard sale, but with all of the stuff you still want…
No one lacked… the work of God is too important to lack because of something as silly as money...
The people had an open hand mentality and sold their land…
When God gets your heart, he gets your stuff too…
Great revival… thousands saved… thousands baptized… thousands added to the church… the work is flourshing… outside opposition stands guard, but gets trampled by the power of the Holy Ghost… all the people were of one soul and one mind… they were in “one accord”… people were giving everything they had for the work of God…
Then…
1 But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession, 2 And kept back part of the price, his wife also being privy to it, and brought a certain part, and laid it at the apostles’ feet. 3 But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land? 4 Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God. 5 And Ananias hearing these words fell down, and gave up the ghost: and great fear came on all them that heard these things. 6 And the young men arose, wound him up, and carried him out, and buried him. 7 And it was about the space of three hours after, when his wife, not knowing what was done, came in. 8 And Peter answered unto her, Tell me whether ye sold the land for so much? And she said, Yea, for so much. 9 Then Peter said unto her, How is it that ye have agreed together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? behold, the feet of them which have buried thy husband are at the door, and shall carry thee out. 10 Then fell she down straightway at his feet, and yielded up the ghost: and the young men came in, and found her dead, and, carrying her forth, buried her by her husband. 11 And great fear came upon all the church, and upon as many as heard these things.
12 And by the hands of the apostles were many signs and wonders wrought among the people; (and they were all with one accord in Solomon’s porch.
They sold a possession (no problem there)
Wanted to give only some to the work (no problem there)
Don’t promise God something and only give Him part…
1. They “kept back part…”
1. They “kept back part…”
25 And there went great multitudes with him: and he turned, and said unto them, 26 If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple. 27 And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple. 28 For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it? 29 Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him, 30 Saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish. 31 Or what king, going to make war against another king, sitteth not down first, and consulteth whether he be able with ten thousand to meet him that cometh against him with twenty thousand? 32 Or else, while the other is yet a great way off, he sendeth an ambassage, and desireth conditions of peace. 33 So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.
Jesus teaches the requirements of being one of His disciples is to count the cost…
There is a cost involved…
You cannot be His disciple if you’re keeping back part…
Either give everything you’ve committed to God or quit calling yourself a disciple!
Either give everything you’ve committed to God or quit calling yourself a disciple!
Here’s the problem…
The selling of their goods and laying it at the apostles feet wasn’t a command or requirement…
It began because the church was in unity in spirit, doctrine and ministry because they realized how important the work of God truly was…
But they sold the possession and became pretenders….
They pretended like they were all in, but they kept back part…
I’m sure they wanted to look like Barnabas from the end of Chapter 4, who had land, sold it and brought the money to the apostles feet…
Have you promised God something, but are keeping back part?
Have you “given God your life” but conspired in your heart to only give him part?
Have you commited something to God, but kept back part?
Are you keeping back part?
1. They “kept back part…”
1. They “kept back part…”
2. They “brought a certain part…”
2. They “brought a certain part…”
Ananias and Sapphira did bring part a “certain part…”
We tend to get in the mode of sifting and picking through what we want God to have…
We have revival in our hearts… offer God everything… keep part back and bring God only “a certain part.”
In the Old Testament when someone brought an animal sacrifice to the temple, it had to be their best…
21 And if there be any blemish therein, as if it be lame, or blind, or have any ill blemish, thou shalt not sacrifice it unto the Lord thy God.
God’s not interested in our leftovers…
1. They “kept back part…”
1. They “kept back part…”
2. They “brought a certain part…”
2. They “brought a certain part…”
3. The Work of God Continued without them
3. The Work of God Continued without them
12 And by the hands of the apostles were many signs and wonders wrought among the people; (and they were all with one accord in Solomon’s porch. 13 And of the rest durst no man join himself to them: but the people magnified them. 14 And believers were the more added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women.) 15 Insomuch that they brought forth the sick into the streets, and laid them on beds and couches, that at the least the shadow of Peter passing by might overshadow some of them. 16 There came also a multitude out of the cities round about unto Jerusalem, bringing sick folks, and them which were vexed with unclean spirits: and they were healed every one.
God killed the fakers Ananias and Sapphira and guess what happened next? His work continued…
What happened with Ananias and Sapphira:
It was satan motivated…
It was deception conspired…
This wasn’t commanded or required…
Money was not the issue… deceit was…
What have you promised God?
Faith promise missions giving is right around the corner… just a few weeks we will make commitments to God for our missions giving…
Have you committed your time, effort or ability?
Have you kept back part from what you promised God?
Quit pretending like you’re giving a whole when you’re only giving a half…