Sin in the church

TITLE:  Watch out for sin in the church

TEXT:  5:1-16

Objective:  We must realize we are in a continual battle for the life of the church.  Our arch enemy, satan will try to bring persecution from without and sin within.  Both must be dealt with properly.

1.  Communion:

1.  Self examination

2.  Bread

3.  Cup

2.  Worship Team—“Oh, Lord You’re Beautiful”

3.  Read Acts 5:1-16

4.  How does satan work in your life and in our church

5.  What does God say about satan?

      a.  liar

      b.  thief

      c.  contrast between Jesus and satan.

John 10:10 ESV The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.

6.  satan’s deception

      a.  Deception within

      b.  Persecution without

I.  The church community  Acts 4:32‑37

A.  Taking care of one another

1.  Meeting financial needs

2.  Meeting the needs of food, clothing, shelter

B.  Taking care of encouragement needs.  v. 36

C.  Result of taking care of one another  v. 33

1.  Great Grace was upon them all

2.  There was no lacking

3.  People were greatly encouraged

II.     What Deception is in your life? 

Jeremiah 17:9 ESV The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?

Here we see Satan operating as the serpent, using believers within the assembly to hinder the work of the Lord.

A.  Their deception (vv. 1–2).

      1.  Reputation and pride

            a.  Others brought in their donations

            b.  Jealousy—Others are getting praised

      2.  They could have given that amount.

      3.  What was their sin?

            a.  Hypocrisy—trying to appear more spiritual than they were

            b.  Pride—Wanting credit for more than they were willing to give

            c.  Wanting others to see them as spiritual

      4.  We can get by with it?

            Choices have consequences

B.     The Leader’s discovery (vv. 3–4).

      1.  Spiritual discernment

            a.  Being able to see through fluff

            b.  Peter obeying God

Matthew 16:19 ESV “I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”

      2.  Nothing had been mentioned openly

            a.  Sin starts in the heart

            b.  James 1:14-16 ESV 14 But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. 15 Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death. 16 Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers.

            c.  Luke 6:45 ESV The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil, for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.

      3.  They had lied to the Holy Spirit—to the church

C.     The deaths (vv. 5–11).

      1.  Not normal church discipline

            a.  Pastor and church investigate a matter

            b.  Give opportunity for repentance and forgiveness

            c.  seek to restore the erring ones

      2.  Leaders spoke out

            a.  Peter spoke directly to him

            b.  He died on the spot

            3. Compare with the sin of Achan

                  a.  after Jericho

                  b.  Hid his sin

                  c.  What did Achan steal

Joshua 7:20-21 ESV 20 And Achan answered Joshua, “Truly I have sinned against the Lord God of Israel, and this is what I did: 21 when I saw among the spoil a beautiful cloak from Shinar, and 200 shekels of silver, and a bar of gold weighing 50 shekels, then I coveted them and took them. And see, they are hidden in the earth inside my tent, with the silver underneath.”

                  4.  Tried to hide his sin from God

                  5.  God killed him

                        a.  No mourning

                        b.  Great fear

D.     The testimony (vv. 12–16).

      1.  Unity in the assembly and therefore multiplication

      2.  The world is looking for a place that is authentic. 

      3.  They are looking for a place of true love

            --not some awful deception

            --not some shallowness

            --True concern and care for one another

      4.  Membership increased—

Acts 5:13 ESV None of the rest dared join them, but the people held them in high esteem.

III.  satan is still opposing the church

      A.  From among yourselves, harm will come

Acts 20:29-30 ESV 29 I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; 30 and from among your own selves will arise men speaking twisted things, to draw away the disciples after them.

“The greatest danger the church faces today is not so much opposition from without, but sin from within. This is why it is important to seek God’s guidance in receiving new members and in disciplining those who stray. “  Wiersbe

IV.  Some keys to the establishment of the church in Jerusalem

A.  The leaders took responsibility in dealing with problems in the church.

B.  The devotion to the truth—Growth and purity

C.  Unity and sincerity of their faith.

      1.  Threatened by religious activity without inner integrity

      2.  God brought about severe discipline

D.  God’s work is always interrupted by man’s devices

Lessons:

1.  We have many who are in need of encouragement

2.  We should be willing to help another family in time of need

3.  Wounded heart

‑‑dries the bones

‑‑Causes death

‑‑isolation

4.  How does satan hinder you?

      Is it possible to let satan get hold in your life?

      If he does, how do you respond?

5.  Can you resist the devil?

MEMORIZE

James 4:7-8 ESV 7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.