Lying is dying
Notes
Transcript
Handout
Sermon Tone Analysis
A
D
F
J
S
Emotion
A
C
T
Language
O
C
E
A
E
Social
Common Good or looking good?
Common Good or looking good?
George McDonald wrote:
“Half of the misery in the world comes from trying to look, instead of trying to be, what one is not.”
Jesus called this type of action hypocrisy and strongly warns against it for it has it’s consequences.
In a time the church has just been born and had all things in common (Act2:44-45, 4:32-35) the common good for all people was the norm. Not by command but by heart and soul.
44 And all those who had believed were together and had all things in common; 45 and they began selling their property and possessions and were sharing them with all, as anyone might have need.
And all those who had believed were together and had all things in common;
People sold land and possessions for the common good, to help brethren
32 And the congregation of those who believed were of one heart and soul; and not one of them claimed that anything belonging to him was his own, but all things were common property to them. 33 And with great power the apostles were giving testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and abundant grace was upon them all. 34 For there was not a needy person among them, for all who were owners of land or houses would sell them and bring the proceeds of the sales
And the congregation of those who believed were of one heart and soul; and not one of them claimed that anything belonging to him was his own, but all things were common property to them.
Act4:
35 and lay them at the apostles’ feet, and they would be distributed to each as any had need.
The generosity was exampled by Barnabas
36 Now Joseph, a Levite of Cyprian birth, who was also called Barnabas by the apostles (which translated means Son of Encouragement), 37 and who owned a tract of land, sold it and brought the money and laid it at the apostles’ feet.
But this will easily be contrast with our passage today and the example they had that was for the early church and for us today.
Hypocrisy was alive and well in the Jewish leadership, and it cropped it’s head in the early church. Hypocrisy is a deliberate deception, trying to make people think we are more spiritual than we really are. you will clearly see that in our passage today, it is an example and a warning to the church then and today.
Even in the early church there were imperfect Christians; But as William Barclay puts it “The Bible refuses to represent an idealized picture of anything.”
Eventhough we see judgment in this passage, deadly judgment we can still find encouragement to walk the walk.
Failure to be diligent is a sin against God
Failure to use our talents is a sin against God
Failure in truth, in other words to lie, is a sin against God
Speaking of a lie. Oliver Wendell Holmes wrote
“Sin has many tools, but a lie is the handle which fits them all.”
Just one more point before getting to our passage. God judges sin severely at the start, beginning, of a new period. As seen:
Nabad and Abihu (Lev10) at start of the Jewish age under the law
Achan (Jos7) at start of the time in the promised land
Ananias and Sapphira (Act5:1-11) start of Christian age
I. The Story
I. The Story
1 But a man named Ananias, with his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property, 2 and kept back some of the price for himself, with his wife’s full knowledge, and bringing a portion of it, he laid it at the apostles’ feet.
Act5:1-2
So going along with the previous text here enter Ananias and Sapphira and their gift. We can tell from this in v.2 they kept back a portion of what they sold for themselves. Look at another version that words it a little different. Be sure to look at (Act4:34 too to see the common practice of the time and reason)
2 He brought part of the money to the apostles, claiming it was the full amount. With his wife’s consent, he kept the rest.
No commentator that I consulted disagreed that they implied they gave all, or the full amount. It was common practice in the new fellowship, which cost many everything (expand on this; loss of family, job, inheritance) they gave so there was no one in need (Act4:34)
34 For there was not a needy person among them, for all who were owners of land or houses would sell them and bring the proceeds of the sales
In making a few observations in this portion of the passage
They were intending to deceive the Apostles, not considering was trying to deceive God
They gave impression they gave the full amount, so looked good (both are hypocrisy aren’t they?).
This is reminiscent of the hypocrisy Jesus denounced (Mt23)
II. Judgment on Ananias
II. Judgment on Ananias
3 But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back some of the price of the land? 4 “While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, was it not under your control? Why is it that you have conceived this deed in your heart? You have not lied to men but to God.”
5 And as he heard these words, Ananias fell down and breathed his last; and great fear came over all who heard of it. 6 The young men got up and covered him up, and after carrying him out, they buried him.
Looking at the text we see:
Ananias sin was the energized, empowered by Satan (v.3)
Peter challenges Ananias about the lie (v.3-4)
Peter calls the lie a lie to God and judgment follows (v.4-5)
________________________below for handout only jump over this______
Looking at the text you see
______ entered Ananias heart to ________ (v.3)
The lie was considered to the __________ ________(v.3)
It was also a lie to _________ (v.4)
________________back to the sermon now_______________________
This was not a physical attack by Satan but a spiritual attack and we need to remember to keep our spiritual armor on (Eph6:10-18) This is written to believers not to unbelievers, we need to be careful for this attack was spiritual and it came within the church not from outside the church. We need to be diligent in how we stand and where we stand so we stay united and protected.
Their sin was motivated by pride - we also know God hates pride (Pro8:13)
13 “The fear of the Lord is to hate evil; Pride and arrogance and the evil way And the perverted mouth, I hate.
Where the church is praising God for the generosity of the believers to meet the need of everyone, pride can slip in and man tries to take the glory that is only due to God (Mt6:1-4; Jn5:44; Isa4:12-15; Gen3:1ff)
1 “Beware of practicing your righteousness before men to be noticed by them; otherwise you have no reward with your Father who is in heaven. 2 “So when you give to the poor, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, so that they may be honored by men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full.
3 “But when you give to the poor, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4 so that your giving will be in secret; and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you.
God give us all that we have, when we give we need to give for His glory alone (Jn5:44)
44 “How can you believe, when you receive glory from one another and you do not seek the glory that is from the one and only God?
Pride
It was pride that turned Lucifer into Satan (Isa14:12-15)
12 “How you have fallen from heaven, O star of the morning, son of the dawn! You have been cut down to the earth, You who have weakened the nations! 13 “But you said in your heart, ‘I will ascend to heaven; I will raise my throne above the stars of God, And I will sit on the mount of assembly In the recesses of the north.
14 ‘I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.’ 15 “Nevertheless you will be thrust down to Sheol, To the recesses of the pit.
It was pride that caused the first sin (Gen3)
It is pride that opens the door to every other sin, we need to be diligent to protect our character and not our reputation. Don’t let pride come in.
Their sin was directed against the Church and God
As believers they were also deceivers they wanted to look good and were able to lie to the spirit (v.3) and tempt the Spirit (v.9) and that means they had the Spirit they really were believers, they really were the church
Peter and his discernment protected the church (v.3, 9)
The church is the pillar of the truth (1Tim3:15)
15 but in case I am delayed, I write so that you will know how one ought to conduct himself in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and support of the truth.
The church is God’s temple (1Col3:16)
The church is God’s temple (1Cor3:16)
16 Do you not know that you are a temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?
1COr3:16
The church is God’s army (2Tim2:1-4)
The church is God’s army (2Tim2:1-4)
The church is safe as long as we keep the deceiver outside the church.
So Ananias had the right actions, in part, but with deception so we know the wrong heart and Jesus had addressed that too (Mt15:8)
8 ‘This people honors Me with their lips, But their heart is far away from Me.
This is not church discipline per se but personal judgment by God
It is not good to all into the hands of the living God (Heb10:30-31)
30 For we know Him who said, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay.” And again, “The Lord will judge His people.” 31 It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
The end result for Ananias, death to him fear to all the people who heard this.
5 And as he heard these words, Ananias fell down and breathed his last; and great fear came over all who heard of it.
A couple more observations on Ananias and this judgment
Lying to the apostles was lying to the Holy Spirit, because the apostles were inspired by the Holy Spirit
13 “But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come.
Peter clearly shows, states the deity of the Holy Spirit as God (v.4)
III. Judgment on Sapphira
III. Judgment on Sapphira
7 Now there elapsed an interval of about three hours, and his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. 8 And Peter responded to her, “Tell me whether you sold the land for such and such a price?” And she said, “Yes, that was the price.”
9 Then Peter said to her, “Why is it that you have agreed together to put the Spirit of the Lord to the test? Behold, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out as well.”
Act5
10 And immediately she fell at his feet and breathed her last, and the young men came in and found her dead, and they carried her out and buried her beside her husband. 11 And great fear came over the whole church, and over all who heard of these things.
From the Text
From the text we can see:
Confronted by Peter (vv.7-9)
3 hours later, her husband is dead, unbeknownst to her and Peter asking her questions he already knows the answer to, giving her the opportunity to be truthful.
Did you agree with her husband out of submission or deception?
By her answer she was testing the Spirit
She was warned, did not adhere and God passed the judgment
Sapphira falls dead (vv.10-11)
Same men took her dead body and buried it with her husband
No professional mourners, no fanfare, no funeral with kind words, just a paupers burial
The end result was the same, fear overcame all who heard this
Some observations
She tested God; we are told not to test the lord they God (Mt4:7)
The sin was not the money, it was the lying, it was their money in the first place; not robbing money, but robbing glory that was due to God.
Godly fear swept through the church going from great power and grace (Act4:33) to great fear (Act5:11)
May we always remember to serve and give to God in acceptable and reverent manner for God is a consumer fire
28 Therefore, since we receive a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us show gratitude, by which we may offer to God an acceptable service with reverence and awe; 29 for our God is a consuming fire.
(conclusion) - - - - may we remember this too, how we receive the Word and what we do with it.
13 For this reason we also constantly thank God that when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men, but for what it really is, the word of God, which also performs its work in you who believe.
Sin has to be dealt with by the Words of the Lord or the words of the inspired apostles
20 “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who receives whomever I send receives Me; and he who receives Me receives Him who sent Me.”
Jn
Lead to invitation
(insert Invitation slide)