Honey What Does Smote Mean?

Acts 4:32-5:11

Outside / Inside / Upside-down

Secular:

Trojan Horse

City of Troy…

• Great city
• Great Army
• Great Weapons

Withstood many attacks

From many a worthy adversary!!

How do you bring it down??

The Trojan Horse…

• Get the enemy within the walls
• Gut the strength
• Gut the support

* ATTACK FROM WITHIN

Biblical:

Acts 3: 32 All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they shared everything they had.

 33 With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and much grace was upon them all.

 34 There were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned lands or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales

 35 and put it at the apostles' feet, and it was distributed to anyone as he had need.

 36 Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus, whom the apostles called Barnabas (which means Son of Encouragement),

 37 sold a field he owned and brought the money and put it at the apostles' feet.

NIV Acts 5:1 Now a man named Ananias, together with his wife Sapphira, also sold a piece of property.

 2 With his wife's full knowledge he kept back part of the money for himself, but brought the rest and put it at the apostles' feet.

 3 Then Peter said, "Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit and have kept for yourself some of the money you received for the land?

 4 Didn't it belong to you before it was sold? And after it was sold, wasn't the money at your disposal? What made you think of doing such a thing? You have not lied to men but to God."

 5 When Ananias heard this, he fell down and died. And great fear seized all who heard what had happened.

 6 Then the young men came forward, wrapped up his body, and carried him out and buried him.

 7 About three hours later his wife came in, not knowing what had happened.

 8 Peter asked her, "Tell me, is this the price you and Ananias got for the land?" "Yes," she said, "that is the price."

 9 Peter said to her, "How could you agree to test the Spirit of the Lord? Look! The feet of the men who buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out also."

 10 At that moment she fell down at his feet and died. Then the young men came in and, finding her dead, carried her out and buried her beside her husband.

 11 Great fear seized the whole church and all who heard about these events.

Personal:

Doug Hogarth was an amazing and Godly man. He served as a deacon, as the chair of many committees and faithfully attended not only Sunday service, but Men’s Bible study, served in Youth programs, sang with a quartet in his younger days and faithfully attended the church’s business meetings.

His wife Norma suffered a series of strokes… yet her husband faithfully brought he to service. A couple of years ago they celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary…

Doug was a walker… 6-7 miles a day. He ate well. Took care of himself… an amazing man of 86. Then one day he found out he had cancer. The dreaded disease that turns the body against itself…. He died two weeks later…

Bridge:

No matter how strong we are on the outside…

Satan wants the church to be eaten away… he wants a cancer to destroy God’s hope for the world… the bride of Christ.

In a very real way we must… as a church… be united in spirit, mission and purpose!!

Body:

The church had already been attacked from the outside!!

1) OUTSIDE
Peter questioned on Pentecost…

Acts 2:12 Amazed and perplexed, they asked one another, "What does this mean?" 13 Some, however, made fun of them and said, "They have had too much wine." {13 Or sweet wine} 14 Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice and addressed the crowd: "Fellow Jews and all of you who live in Jerusalem, let me explain this to you; listen carefully to what I say.

Peter responded… in the power of the Spirit of God

1 Peter 3:15 15 But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect,

• We have to be ready with the answers
• We have to be willing to stand up
• We have to be willing to defend the outer walls
• God’s word is strong
• God’s is the answer

Peter and John COMMANDED at the Sanhedrin

Acts 4: 17 But to stop this thing from spreading any further among the people, we must warn these men to speak no longer to anyone in this name." 18 Then they called them in again and commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. 19 But Peter and John replied, "Judge for yourselves whether it is right in God's sight to obey you rather than God. 20 For we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard." 21 After further threats they let them go. They could not decide how to punish them, because all the people were praising God for what had happened.

• We have to be ready with the answers
• We have to be willing to stand up
• We have to be willing to defend the outer walls
• Divinity of Christ
• The Authority of Scripture
• The Exclusivity of Christ
• The Holy Trinity
• Withstand persecution
• Refute unhealthy doctrine
• Support and encourage one another

2) INSIDE

** Murphy’s Law is if something can go wrong it will…

** A version of that is when things are going too well expect a change…

Acts 3: 32 All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they shared everything they had. 33 With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and much grace was upon them all.  34 There were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned lands or houses sold them, brought the money from the sale 35 and put it at the apostles' feet, and it was distributed to anyone as he had need.

• Solid in faith
• One heart and One mind
• One in purpose and mission
• Solid teaching (apostle’s)
• Resurrection
• Gospel
• Hope
• Solid Fellowship
• Keeping in Strong
• Financially
• Physically
• As well as Spiritually
• NO WEAKNESS RIGHT?

Why just look at Joseph a Levite from Cyprus, whom the apostles called Barnabas, 37 sold a field he owned and brought the money and put it at the apostles' feet.

• See how it works… Solid Faith, Solid Teaching, Solid Fellowship
• Bring your gifts…
• Bring your talents…
• Bring your resources…

- and the church functions well

We see the model for personal growth, for strength, for godly fellowship…

But Satan is not giving up…

A strong and powerful church interferes with his mission!!

The destruction of souls, the misery of the lost, the wretchedness of this world is challenge by a healthy church influencing its world!!

The solution: THE TROJAN HORSE

Evil that enters the core of the Spiritual Stronghold

Introduce Annanias and Saphira…

They wanted to belong…

They wanted to live the church thing…

There was some serious benefits

• Good Community
• Meals together
• Support
• Loving environment
• Good Material gain
• No social assistance
• Good medical plan
• Care for widows, the sick…
• Low entrance fee…
• Give a little
• Expect a lot
• Before anyone gets crazy…
• Not about how much
• It is about being committed
• It is about “surrendering all”
• It is about being truthful
• It is honesty before God!!
• The web of evil that was concocted between this husband and wife was prideful.
• Their motive was wrong
• Their heart was wrong
• It is not dues at a country club…
• … it costs everything… good stewardship

The local church when it is healthy is invincible!!

• Solid Faith
• Solid Teaching
• Solid Fellowship
• Good Community
• Good Physical Care

Conclusion:

Satan will try the Outside

• World view
• Me first
• About Choice
• Persecution
• Physical trials
• Monetary Trials

Satan will also try Inside… with more painful and far-reaching success.

• Worldview
• Me First (instead of God and Others)
• About Choice (instead of Scripture, truth and obedience)
• Evil tongued gossip, slander, divisivness
• Physical and Spiritual trials
• Monetary trials
• False prophets
• Goat… vs. sheep (False followers)

What does smote mean…

            It is God’s judgement… immediate and very symbolic of his dim view of those who would serve as Satan’s Trojan Horse amongst his saints!!