The Tale of Two Givers

Intro

Opening Illustration

TITLE: The Tale of Two Givers

The Big Idea: "God loves His Church too much to let hypocrisy poison its power."

Intro: Opening Illustration

The "Potemkin Village" Strategy In the late 1700s, Grigory Potemkin, a Russian minister, reportedly wanted to impress Empress Catherine the Great during her visit to Crimea. Legend says he erected "hollow" villages—beautifully painted facades of houses and shops that looked thriving from the river where her boat passed. From a distance, it looked like a prosperous, happy kingdom. But behind the painted boards, there was nothing but empty fields and poverty.

This is the danger of the "Tale of Two Givers." We can spend our entire lives painting a facade of "Great Charity" and "Great Unity" for the world to see, while the reality of our hearts is hollow. Today, we’re going to see that God isn’t interested in the facade; He is the God of the heart.

Acts 4:32–5:11 ESV

32 Now the full number of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one said that any of the things that belonged to him was his own, but they had everything in common. 33 And with great power the apostles were giving their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all. 34 There was not a needy person among them, for as many as were owners of lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold 35 and laid it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to each as any had need. 36 Thus Joseph, who was also called by the apostles Barnabas (which means son of encouragement), a Levite, a native of Cyprus, 37 sold a field that belonged to him and brought the money and laid it at the apostles’ feet. 1 But a man named Ananias, with his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property, 2 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. 3 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? 4 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.” 5 When Ananias heard these words, he fell down and breathed his last. And great fear came upon all who heard of it. 6 The young men rose and wrapped him up and carried him out and buried him. 7 After an interval of about three hours his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. 8 And Peter said to her, “Tell me whether you sold the land for so much.” And she said, “Yes, for so much.” 9 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.” 10 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. 11 And great fear came upon the whole church and upon all who heard of these things.

Pray

1. Great Unity (Acts 4:32) 

Acts 4:32–33 ESV

32 Now the full number of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one said that any of the things that belonged to him was his own, but they had everything in common. 33 And with great power the apostles were giving their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all.

The Exegesis: The "power" (dynamis) here isn’t just miracles; it’s the power of the resurrection. The apostles weren't just telling stories; they were living proof of a new reality. Note that this power is linked to "one heart and soul"—the power was fueled by their unity.

The Application: Power in the church today isn't found in better branding or bigger budgets, but in the collective testimony of a unified body. Ask: "Is our unity a loud enough witness for the world to notice?"

The Redwood Forest The giant Redwoods of California are the tallest trees in the world, yet their root systems are surprisingly shallow. You’d think a high wind would blow them right over. The secret to their strength is that their roots grow outward, intertwining with the roots of the trees around them. They form a massive, invisible network underground. When the storm hits, one tree doesn’t have to stand on its own; it is held up by the entire forest. This is the dynamis(power) of the early church. Their "one heart and soul" wasn't just a sentiment; it was a root system that made them unshakeable.

2. Great Testimony (Acts 4:33) 

Acts 4:33 ESV

33 And with great power the apostles were giving their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all.

The Exegesis: The Greek charis (grace) here likely refers to "favor" from both God and the surrounding community. God’s favor was "upon them all," creating a magnetic community.

The Application: Grace isn't just a doctrine we believe; it’s a culture we inhabit. Does our church feel like a "gracious" place to an outsider, or a legalistic one?

The Neon Sign vs. The Lighthouse A neon sign screams for attention; it exists to advertise itself. But a lighthouse exists to save lives. It doesn't need to shout; its very presence in the darkness changes the environment for everyone around it. When "great grace" was upon the apostles, the church didn't have to "sell" the Gospel like a product. Their community was so magnetically different—so full of charis—that the world couldn't help but look toward the light. Is our church a neon sign trying to be "relevant," or a lighthouse being "revelatory"?

3. Great Charity (Acts 4:34-37) 

Acts 4:34–35 ESV

34 There was not a needy person among them, for as many as were owners of lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold 35 and laid it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to each as any had need.

The Exegesis: Luke notes "there was not a needy person among them." This wasn't state-mandated communism; it was voluntary, Spirit-led redistribution. The focus is on the elimination of lack through the surplus of others.

The Application: Generosity is the natural byproduct of a heart that truly believes in the Resurrection. If Jesus is alive, our "stuff" loses its grip on us.

Acts 4:36–37 ESV

36 Thus Joseph, who was also called by the apostles Barnabas (which means son of encouragement), a Levite, a native of Cyprus, 37 sold a field that belonged to him and brought the money and laid it at the apostles’ feet.

The Exegesis: You’ve introduced Barnabas here. He is the "Son of Encouragement." This acts as a literary foil for Ananias and Sapphira. Barnabas brings the full amount with a pure heart; he represents the "Great Sacrifice" that brings life.

The Application: Everyone needs a Barnabas. How can we move from "tipping" God to "sacrificing" for the brothers and sisters?

The Dead Sea vs. The Sea of Galilee In Israel, the Jordan River flows into two different lakes. The Sea of Galilee is full of life, fish, and greenery because it has an inlet and an outlet—water flows in and water flows out. But the Jordan also flows into the Dead Sea. Because the Dead Sea has no outlet, the water evaporates, leaving behind harsh minerals that kill everything. Barnabas was like the Sea of Galilee; he understood that he was a straw, not a cup. God’s blessings were meant to flow through him to the needy, keeping his own spirit fresh and alive.

4. Great Duplicity (Acts 5:1-4) 

Acts 5:1–4 ESV

1 But a man named Ananias, with his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property, 2 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. 3 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? 4 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.”

The Exegesis: The word for "kept back" (enosphisato) in 5:2 is the same word used for Achan’s sin in the Septuagint (Joshua 7). This isn't just about money; it’s about sacrilege. They wanted the reputation of Barnabas without the sacrificeof Barnabas.

The Application: Confront the "performance" culture. We often lie by pretending to be more spiritual, committed, or generous than we actually are. This is "faking the Spirit."

The Counterfeit Diamond A "cubic zirconia" looks identical to a diamond to the untrained eye. It sparkles under the same lights and sits in the same gold setting. But under a jeweler’s loupe, the truth is revealed. The diamond is formed through intense heat and pressure over time; the zirconia is a mass-produced imitation. Ananias and Sapphira wanted the "setting" of a spiritual giant like Barnabas without the "pressure" of the sacrifice. They were "faking the Spirit," offering a glass heart while claiming it was a diamond.

5. Great Consequence (Acts 5:5-10)

Acts 5:5–10 ESV

5 When Ananias heard these words, he fell down and breathed his last. And great fear came upon all who heard of it. 6 The young men rose and wrapped him up and carried him out and buried him. 7 After an interval of about three hours his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. 8 And Peter said to her, “Tell me whether you sold the land for so much.” And she said, “Yes, for so much.” 9 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.” 10 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.

The Exegesis: Peter makes it clear: the sin wasn't that they kept some money (it was theirs to keep!), but that they lied to the Holy Spirit. The cost of introducing hypocrisy into the brand-new, fragile community was death.

The Application: Unconfessed sin and hypocrisy aren't just personal issues; they are toxic to the community. Sin costs us our intimacy with God and our integrity within the body.

The Surgeon’s Scalpel If a doctor finds a malignant tumor in a patient, he doesn't "tolerate" it out of politeness. He cuts it out. He knows that if that small cluster of cells is allowed to stay, it will eventually consume the entire body. We often think God was "harsh" with Ananias and Sapphira, but God was acting as a Great Physician. The early church was a brand-new body; the "cancer" of hypocrisy at the very start would have poisoned the DNA of the church for generations. God loved the Church too much to let the infection spread.

6. Great Reverence (Acts 5:11)

The Exegesis: This is the first time the word "Church" (ekklesia) is used in Acts. The "Great Fear" isn't a terror of a mean God, but a profound reverence for a holy God who dwells among His people.

The Application: We have a tendency to "tame" God. This passage reminds us that God is good, but He is not "safe." A healthy church has a healthy "fear of the Lord"—a weightiness regarding His presence.

The High-Voltage Wire Electricity is a profound gift. It lights our homes, cooks our food, and powers our lives. But you don't treat a high-voltage power line with casual indifference. You treat it with "fear"—not a terror that makes you run away, but a reverence that makes you follow the safety protocols. The "Great Fear" in Acts 5 wasn't the fear of a tyrant; it was the realization that the Holy Spirit is real and present. When we realize God isn't a "concept" but a "Consuming Fire," we stop playing games and start living with weightiness.

Closing

Points:

Great Unity

Great Testimony

Great Charity

Great Duplicity

Great Consequence

Great Reverence

The Mirror Test Close with the thought that we all have a little bit of Barnabas and a little bit of Ananias inside us. The difference is what we do with our "hidden" parts. Barnabas brought his field; Ananias brought his lie. Today, God isn't asking for your "property"—He's asking for your honesty.