Keeping up appearances

Bottom line

The early church was defined by power and purity, and we need to get back to that.

Opening Line

This morning I want to kick things off with a little story. It is called The Necklace. It is a French story, so forgive me if I butcher the names.

Introduction

To begin the story, we meet a girl by the name of Mathilde Loisel. She is a beatiful woman, born into a modest, middle class family, but is utterly consumed by a desire to appear wealthy and sophisticated.

One day, her husband secures on invitation to a high-society ball, but she refuses to go with a lavish outfit. She borrows what appears to be a stunning diamond necklace from a wealthy friend, Madame Forestier.

At the ball, Mathilde is an absolute hit, the exact image of glamour she always wanted to be. However, upon returning home, she discovers the necklace is gone. Terrified of admitting the truth and ruining her image, she and her husband hide the loss. They secretly replace the necklace with a replica worth 36,000 francs - a staggering sum that forces them into crushing debt.

To pay off the debt, they sell everything and spend 10 years performing backbreaking labor. The strain destroys Mathilde’s youth, beauty, and health.

Years later, the hardended Mathilde runs into Madame Forestier and confesses why her life was ruined. Her friend is horrified and reveals that the original necklace was cheap costume jewelry made of glass, worth at most 500 francs. A decade of poverty was suffered entirely to preserve a fake image.

Main Point

George MacDonald rightly said,

Jon Courson’s Application Commentary Chapter 5

“Half the misery in the world is caused by people trying to look rather than trying to be.”

Why it matters

Isn’t that the truth? So many people simply trying to create an image, look like something they’re not. Next to consumerism, I would say that keeping up appearances is one of the biggest reasons our nation is drowning in debt. I acknowledge that in our current economy that is not necessarily the case, but there are a lot of people driving vehicles they can’t afford, living in homes they can’t afford, and living a lifestyle they simply can’t keep up.

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If we’re honest, this mindset sneaks into the church. There is a lie that you can’t be honest about what is going on in your life or someone might think less of you. You can’t be honest about your struggles, so you put on the mask and pretend you’ve got it all together. Is anyone here willing to admit that you don’t have it all together? I will! I may be the pastor, but I’m just as messed up as the next guy, and Jesus is constantly having to work things out in me.

As we’ve been going through the book of Acts, and you are going to see it again, the church is defined as being united. What if they weren’t just united in mission and purpose, but in a shared understanding that they were all sinners in need of a savior? What if they unity and the love was built on transparency? Think about the people in your life that you are the closest to? Are they the ones that you keep at arms length, or are they the ones you bring in close and they see you for who you really are? Maybe it is time to drop the mask.

Scripture

We pick things up in the book of Acts in chapter 4, starting in verse 32. Remember last week, Peter and John were brought in the council and told to stop preaching in the name of Jesus. Here is what happens next.

Acts 4:32–35 NLT

All the believers were united in heart and mind. And they felt that what they owned was not their own, so they shared everything they had. The apostles testified powerfully to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and God’s great blessing was upon them all. There were no needy people among them, because those who owned land or houses would sell them and bring the money to the apostles to give to those in need.

There were no needy people among them

All the believers were united in heart and mind. They loved each other deeply. This isn’t just another social gathering or another community. This is really starting to feel like a family, right. Oh, so and so has a need, well I have property, let me sell it and help meet the need.

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It is not done our of compulsion or obligation. It is deep love shared among all, and out of compassion they are willing to do whatever it takes to make sure everyone is taken care of.

Along with the extreme generosity, the apostles continue to preach, but now with even more power. Last week we talked about how they prayed for boldness, and now we see the boldness on full display.

Acts 4:36–37 NLT

For instance, there was Joseph, the one the apostles nicknamed Barnabas (which means “Son of Encouragement”). He was from the tribe of Levi and came from the island of Cyprus. He sold a field he owned and brought the money to the apostles.

Luke brings our attention to Barnabas. Now it needs to be clear, Barnabas is not exceptional in what was happening in the early church; he was an example of what has happening regularly. He sold a field, and brought the full amount to the apostles to ensure that the needs of the church were met. Cool.

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Now one of the patterns you are going to see in Acts is Luke likes to bring up a positive example, and balance it with a negative one. Cue a fairly popular story in Acts, Ananias and Sapphira.

Acts 5:1–2 NLT

But there was a certain man named Ananias who, with his wife, Sapphira, sold some property. He brought part of the money to the apostles, claiming it was the full amount. With his wife’s consent, he kept the rest.

So what is going on here? Ananias, with the consent of his wife, is bringing a part of the proceeds from the sale of their property, but claiming that it is the full amount. Why did they do that? To keep up appearances.

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Maybe they felt pressured as a couple that had the resources to sell and help out. Who knows. We don’t know the ins and outs of what got them here. Maybe they couldn’t actually afford to sell that property, so they needed to keep some back. We don’t know anything beyond what Luke tells us. And now watch what happens.

Acts 5:3–6 NLT

Then Peter said, “Ananias, why have you let Satan fill your heart? You lied to the Holy Spirit, and you kept some of the money for yourself. The property was yours to sell or not sell, as you wished. And after selling it, the money was also yours to give away. How could you do a thing like this? You weren’t lying to us but to God!” As soon as Ananias heard these words, he fell to the floor and died. Everyone who heard about it was terrified. Then some young men got up, wrapped him in a sheet, and took him out and buried him.

Peter doesn’t pull his punches. It was your property to do with it what you wanted. It was your money to give or to keep. What were you hoping to gain by lying about it?

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But the bigger issue is who they are actually lying to. What Ananias is seeing as a small fib to keep up appearances, Peter is telling him that he is lying to God himself. In Psalm 51, David says something similar when he confesses that he has sinned against God and God alone.

Ananias is so gripped by Peter’s words that he dies. Cue Sapphira.

Acts 5:7–11 NLT

About three hours later his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. Peter asked her, “Was this the price you and your husband received for your land?” “Yes,” she replied, “that was the price.” And Peter said, “How could the two of you even think of conspiring to test the Spirit of the Lord like this? The young men who buried your husband are just outside the door, and they will carry you out, too.” Instantly, she fell to the floor and died. When the young men came in and saw that she was dead, they carried her out and buried her beside her husband. Great fear gripped the entire church and everyone else who heard what had happened.

Can’t you see it. Ananias left Sapphira at the house to drop off their donation to the Apostles, and she was probably expecting him to come back right away. Three hours pass, and she’s probably out here looking for him. Instead of running into her husband, she finds Peter.

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But if you think about it, this can be a really hard story to digest. Much of the New Testament teaching about God is that he is gracious and forgiving, but this is none of those things. In fact, Ananias’ name actually means, God is gracious. This story feels very much like the Old Testament version of God where God is judge, jury and executioner, and God’s judgment can be very quick. Now the whole church is gripped with fear, isn’t that a bad thing?

So let me unpack this for you.

1. Grace does not give permission to sin.

Romans 6:1–2 NLT

Well then, should we keep on sinning so that God can show us more and more of his wonderful grace? Of course not! Since we have died to sin, how can we continue to live in it?

Romans 6:15 NLT

Well then, since God’s grace has set us free from the law, does that mean we can go on sinning? Of course not!

Galatians 5:13 NLT

For you have been called to live in freedom, my brothers and sisters. But don’t use your freedom to satisfy your sinful nature. Instead, use your freedom to serve one another in love.

Ananias’ name would have been a constant reminder that God is gracious, and maybe on some level he and his wife were hoping that if someone found out what they did, they would receive grace. But you have not been saved from sin to keep on sinning. You have been saved by grace from sin so that you can live in freedom from sin.

2. Ananias didn’t ‘just lie’

If this was simply about fudging the numbers a bit, it really wouldn’t be that big of a deal. But we’re not talking about fudging the numbers. By lying to the apostles about the amount, Ananias was compromising the transparent sincerity, the unity, and the integrity of the church. It wasn’t just a sin against the leadership; he had sinned against God himself, and the whole body.

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Why? Because who all knew the truth about how much the property had been sold for? Ananias, Sapphira, and the guy who bought it. What is one thing that seems to travel faster than the speed of light? Word travels fast. “Did you hear, Ananias sold property for this much and gave it all to the church.” The guy who bought it. “No he didn’t, he sold it for this much because that what I paid.”

When you see it in those terms, it is reminder that God loves the church and will do what he needs to to ensure that it remains the spotless bride he is coming back for.

We’ve seen this quick judgment of sin before in Scripture. In Leviticus 10, Nadab and Abihu, sons of the high priest Aaron, take their sensors and offer unauthorized fire before the Lord. As result, fire comes out from the tabernacle and consumes both of them. Why? Because God had given specific instructions about how the priests were supposed to serve, and by not following it, they could have led the people of Israel astray. The other example is Achan in the story of Joshua. After Jericho falls, Achan took some of the treasure that was supposed to be destroyed. As a result, the nation of Israel lost the next battle they entered into. One man sins, it impacted the whole community.

Ananias sinned, and it could have impacted the whole community of faith that was just nicely getting off the ground. So, God dealt with it swiftly.

Acts 5:12–16 NLT

The apostles were performing many miraculous signs and wonders among the people. And all the believers were meeting regularly at the Temple in the area known as Solomon’s Colonnade. But no one else dared to join them, even though all the people had high regard for them. Yet more and more people believed and were brought to the Lord—crowds of both men and women. As a result of the apostles’ work, sick people were brought out into the streets on beds and mats so that Peter’s shadow might fall across some of them as he went by. Crowds came from the villages around Jerusalem, bringing their sick and those possessed by evil spirits, and they were all healed.

No one else dared to join them. What is going on in that statement? One commentator put it this way. Up until chapter 5, the church was the in place to be. They were the people to hang out with. Everyone loved each other, they were generous with each other. Why wouldn’t you want to hang out with these people.

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But then the story of Ananias and Sapphira starts getting around, it becomes a reminder that this is a community with really high standards. For the believers, it reminds them that they are called to purity, that they serve a God who is both gracious and just. For those outside the community, it lets them know that the church has high standards and can be trusted. Their integrity is restored, and the city holds them in high regard.

But the church doesn’t stop growing. The apostles are still preaching Jesus crucified, and people are still coming to faith. They are coming to the Lord in crowds. People are coming in from the surrounding villages with their sick hoping to be healed.

Now I just want to comment on the whole Peter’s shadow thing. In the gospel’s, we read about people flocking to Jesus, hoping to just touch the hem of his cloack and they will be healed. Then Jesus says his followers will do even greater works then he did. Cue Peter’s shadow.

When you read something like this, it is easy to assume that Peter was somehow special and had the supernatural ability to heal on a scale no one else could. But who is it that is actually healing the people? God. It is the Holy Spirit dwelling inside Peter. The same Holy Spirit that dwells inside you and me, and there is not different levels of the Holy Spirit. Its not like our new believers have a version of the Holy Spirit that has training wheels and when you’re ready, the training wheels come off.

It is not that Peter is somehow radiating God’s Spirit in a special way. It actually says more about the people. The same way we lay hands on someone, annoint them with oil, or touching the hem of Jesus’ cloak. It is a touch point for faith, blessing, and healing to be released. It is the faith of the people.

Transition to Application

At the start of the story, you saw the believers doing what they could to help those in need. At the end of the story, you see God entering the story, helping those in need. Both come as a result of love and compassion.

Main To Do

Why did the early church love each other so deeply? Because they were with each other all the time. They really truly got to know one another. Church wasn’t just a social outing; it was a family gathering. They were becoming so connected to one another then when a need popped up, they didn’t even think about if they were going to help, just how they were.

This summer, I gave you the Summer Habit. Hear God’s Word, Assemble in Fellowship, Break Bread, Intercede for one another, and do it Together.

This morning we are going to break bread together. But you go about your week, and as you make an effort to gather, I encourage you to really get to know each other. Drop the mask, stop pretending everything is ok, and really invite people into your life. Pray for each other, and try to help each other out. Take it beyond surface connection.

Why it matters

If the goal is to return to the kind of community the early church enjoyed, then it is going require us really opening up and letting people in. But the result is not only a richer community, but a deepening of your faith. You pray differently when you really care for the person you are praying for. You believe for greater things when the person is family. But as you pray in these ways, your faith begins to grow, because you begin to come into greater alignment with God’s heart.

Closing Line

Discussion Questions

What stood out from the message?

In what ways can we foster transparency and honesty within our church community?

How does the story of Ananias and Sapphira encourage us to evaluate our own lives regarding honesty and integrity?

What steps can we take to ensure that we are supporting one another genuinely, rather than just keeping up appearances?

In what areas of your life do you feel tempted to present a false image instead of your true self?

Have you ever felt pressure to appear a certain way among your friends? How does this relate to Mathilde’s story?