Sermon Tone Analysis

Introduction

In this section of Acts we will encounter three attacks that were set on the early church, we will find out what they were and how the church was able to come off victorious.

Before we go into these attacks, first we must make a connection between boldness supplied by the Holy Spirit and how it relates with ministry.

What is the basic mark of being filled with the Spirit?

Boldness

Acts

1

The work of the Spirit is the opposite of the spirit of fear.

If the opposite of the work of the Spirit is fearfulness, then the mark of a spirit-filled life would of course be fearlessness.

But how does the Holy Spirit make us fearless in our witnessing?

reveals that the basis of possessing boldness is having the assurance that we ourselves are indeed the children of God.

This assurance was the same of Christ in His ministry when at the beginning the Father declared from heaven “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”

It is a deep assurance of the Father’s love for us personally through Christ that gives us Spirit-boldness to witness for Him.

This boldness was revealed in two forms:

Boldness in word.

; .

Boldness in deed. .

The generosity of the early believers in sharing their goods and wealth was an evidence of being filled with the Spirit.

They had no fear in giving for they had all things in common and they believed that God would supply all their needs.

They had no fear of lacking a personal financial “cushion” for their own emergencies.

They had no fear of their gifts being used inappropriately.

They had no fear of having less disposable income for their own comforts and pleasure.

How do we see word-witness and deed-witness relate in the early church?

Acts 4:

The great power of the apostles witness follows verse 32 of economical sharing and verse 31 “speaking the word of God with boldness.”

The apostles talked of the power of Christ’s resurrection, while the church embodied and demonstrated the reality of Christ’s resurrection with newness of heart, life, and relationships.

In we see several men chosen to lead in the churches practical ministry to the poor widows.

This ministry was one of the churches ministry of practical giving and service to the material needs of people.

As soon as this ministry is strengthened in , Luke adds, “and the word of God increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly.

What we see here is that when there are practical actions of Christians for people in need, at the same time is demonstrated the truth and power of the gospel to change selfish hearts and to unselfish ones, and therefore many people believed in the words of the gospel spoken by the apostles.

These verses in even reveal that many priests were obedient to the faith.

Why?

Possibly because their hearts were convicted and melted when they saw these poor believers doing the work that God had enjoined Israel and especially the priests to do in defending the rights of the poor and unfortunate.

The relationship between word and deed are extremely close.

The preaching of the word produces faith, which in turn produces good works toward those in need.

On the other hand, practical ministry to others in need are evidences which God uses to open the hearts of people to the gospel (as seen in the works of healing in the ministry of Jesus and the disciples.

So the word-ministry leads to deed-ministry, and the deed-ministry leads to word-ministry.

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First Attack - Hypocrisy

Contrast to , where there was not only giving, but willing hearts, especially as seen in Barnabas (son of consolation/encouragement).

Ananias and Sapphira’s acts was in marked contrast to that of Barnabas for a few reasons, but the greatest contrast was their covetousness, not so much for the money, but for esteem and honour among the early believers.

Their sin boiled down to hypocrisy, and false piety.

It is quite possible that there is no greater sin to hurt the work and witness of the church than that of hypocrisy.

There is no more common complaint than “there are so many hypocrites in the church.”

G.K. Chesterton was reputed to have said, “the greatest argument against the truth of Christianity is the lives of Christians.”

Mahatma Gandhi was shrewd enough to tell missionaries: “I like your Christ; I do not like your Christians.

Your Christians are so unlike your Christ.”

This is perhaps the number one thing that has made Gandhi reject Christianity!

People will say, “if the gospel is true - How is that so many supposed Christians are so dishonest and cruel?”

Spiritual pride and hypocrisy are greater sins to be feared by the church than sins that are usually met with swift discipline and expulsion such as murder, and adultery.

If Ananias and Sapphira were allowed to continue their hypocrisy and gain advantage and esteem among the early Christian church, they may well have corrupted the church with their false values and made the church a legalistic place.

How can we fall into the same trap?

The real issue was that they were posing to be these “spiritual giants”, while the whole time they were actually struggling with sins of pride and covetousness.

If they had come into the church confessing their sins and struggles, surely help and sympathy would have been provided.

Remember that it was not that long ago that the disciples themselves had struggled with these same sins!

The real heinous character of hypocrisy is a refusal to humble itself in confession and repentance.

And so we can fall into the same trap as Ananias and Sapphira if we come into the community of God without a willingness to be humble of our frailties and willingness to be held accountable by our brothers and sisters.

How can we avoid this trap?

Informally, by being accountable to others.

Formally, by upholding church discipline as a means to save those who have committed open sins, and also to serve as a warning to other believers.

We are to do this in the manner presented:

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Second Attack - Persecution

1. Acts 5:12:42

Third Attack - Division & “Burn Out”