Empowered Part 7

Illustration: On our honeymoon ... some external pressures ... forgotten key, lost bag, etc. These things seemed to draw us closer. Real problems began when sin began to show itself from within.

Up to this point in Acts, it has almost been a honeymoon phase. Even experiencing opposition they are drawn closer together (4:32-47)

Then we see the real danger. Opposition from within the church.

[Review story]

God’s response to Ananius and Sapphira is really extreme. Why would God do this?

Main Idea: Even the smallest resistance to the cross is detrimental to the church.

First of all, we need to remember that God is a holy and righteous God.

What does this mean? The Bible goes to great lengths to teach us the character and nature of God.

We are taught:

God is the all powerful creator and sustainer of the universe.

God is sovereign over everything that happens in the universe.

God is Holy— “other”; “perfectly righteous”

Examples:

Mt. Sinai — fire, smoke, threat of death

Tabernacle—Temple

Nadab and Abihu (Lev. 10:1-7)

Uzzah touching the Ark of the Covenant ()

The point is: God is so holy, perfect, righteous that He cannot abide sin even in its smallest forms. (This is what we see here in Acts 5)_

Ephesians 5 ESV

Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. But sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints. Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving. For you may be sure of this, that everyone who is sexually immoral or impure, or who is covetous (that is, an idolater), has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. Therefore do not become partners with them; for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true), and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord. Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. For it is shameful even to speak of the things that they do in secret. But when anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible, for anything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says, “Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.” Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ. Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Savior. Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit in everything to their husbands. Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish. In the same way husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church, because we are members of his body. “Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church. However, let each one of you love his wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband.

Ephesians 5 ESV

Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. But sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints. Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving. For you may be sure of this, that everyone who is sexually immoral or impure, or who is covetous (that is, an idolater), has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. Therefore do not become partners with them; for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true), and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord. Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. For it is shameful even to speak of the things that they do in secret. But when anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible, for anything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says, “Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.” Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ. Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Savior. Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit in everything to their husbands. Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish. In the same way husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church, because we are members of his body. “Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church. However, let each one of you love his wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband.

Ephesians 5:25–27 ESV

Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish.

Jesus loves the church enough to die for her

Even though the church is not perfect — “so he might present her … without spot or wrinkle”

Jesus definitely married an ugly bride, but he loves her nonetheless (Illustration: ?? ) Ugly dog?

We’ve basically answered the question of why God might have struck Ananias and Sapphira dead.

But what was it about their particular sin that would have caused this?

This is not about the money

This is not just about lying

God does strike down everyone who sins … even in the church (Illustration: lightening bolt)

What is going on here is an example of resistance to the gospel—and how serious this can be, especially in a fragile new church.

The real problem for Ananias and Sapphira wasn’t that they messed up and lied. It was when they were confronted about it—and continued to lie about what they had done. In other words, they refused to repent and own up to their sin even after they were confronted .

Put simply: they refused to go to the cross and maintained their self-righteousness.

Instead of owning their guilt and need of the cross and receiving the forgiveness and righteousness that was paid for by Jesus’ blood, they held to their own false righteousness born in deceit.

— “get behind me Satan!”

“Resistance to the cross is to be in league with the enemy” — Tim Keller

What does this mean?

Ananias and Sapphira were ultimately resistant to the cross. Why? 1) They treasured their reputations more that Jesus. 2.) They treasured their possessions greater than Jesus.

We saw this last week: — Gospel transformation is evidenced in placing Jesus as the Savior and Lord of our lives.

Mark 8:34–38 ESV

And calling the crowd to him with his disciples, he said to them, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel’s will save it. For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul? For what can a man give in return for his soul? For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him will the Son of Man also be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.”

It also means stepping into the “way” of the cross:

—Paul counts everything he has accomplished “loss” that he may 1) Gain Christ 2) Be “found in Him” (forgiven, righteous, resurrected) 3) share in his sufferings

Philippians 3:8–10 ESV

Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith— that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death,

Personal: Are you resistant to the gospel?

What is Jesus worth to you?

Are you found in him?

Are you “taking up your cross”?

As a church:

We need to recognize people that are resisting the gospel (In their rebellion or religion)

In their rebelion.

In their “religion”

Empowered Part 7

Introduction

1. God is Holy-Righteous

God Loves the Church

Simple Resistance is Serious

Conclusion