Undone
Notes
Transcript
Highest highs and lowest lows.
Highest highs and lowest lows.
PRAY
READ
1 But a man named Ananias, with his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property,
2 and with his wife’s knowledge he kept back for himself some of the proceeds and brought only a part of it and laid it at the apostles’ feet.
3 But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back for yourself part of the proceeds of the land?
4 While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, was it not at your disposal? Why is it that you have contrived this deed in your heart? You have not lied to man but to God.”
5 When Ananias heard these words, he fell down and breathed his last. And great fear came upon all who heard of it.
6 The young men rose and wrapped him up and carried him out and buried him.
7 After an interval of about three hours his wife came in, not knowing what had happened.
8 And Peter said to her, “Tell me whether you sold the land for so much.” And she said, “Yes, for so much.”
9 But Peter said to her, “How is it that you have agreed together to test the Spirit of the Lord? Behold, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out.”
10 Immediately she fell down at his feet and breathed her last. When the young men came in they found her dead, and they carried her out and buried her beside her husband.
11 And great fear came upon the whole church and upon all who heard of these things.
The lie
The lie
It was a half-truth.
Surely it’s not a big deal.
Who will know.
The whole Truth and nothing less
The whole Truth and nothing less
Jesus said in:
6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
Truth is wrapped in the identity of God. He is the creator of all that is and it exists against the backdrop of who he is. Anything that is against God, or denies God, or remakes God is a lie.
In this passage, a husband and wife decide to lie to the church. But, Why did they lie. Peter says to Ananias in verse 4:
4 While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, was it not at your disposal? Why is it that you have contrived this deed in your heart? You have not lied to man but to God.”
and he says to Sapphira, after asking her directly how much the field was sold for, only to hear her tell the same lie:
9 But Peter said to her, “How is it that you have agreed together to test the Spirit of the Lord? Behold, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out.”
The only reason for the lie is that they wanted everyone to think highly of them. They were likely trying to get the same praise that was recieved by Barnabas in chapter 4:
36 Thus Joseph, who was also called by the apostles Barnabas (which means son of encouragement), a Levite, a native of Cyprus,
37 sold a field that belonged to him and brought the money and laid it at the apostles’ feet.
Luke records this event and the general atmosphere of generosity in the church right before the account of Ananias and Sapphira. It appears that they wanted a pat on the back and a little mad money.
Why’d they do it?
Recognition,
envy,
selfishness.
Wouldn’t they still be generous if they gave 75% of the price?
How does this compare to our attitude toward giving?
Instead they lie. But they lie, according to Peter, to the Holy Spirit. They believe that their lie will go unnoticed which shows a complete disregard for God and who he is.
Surely it’s not a Big Deal
Surely it’s not a Big Deal
Why does God hate lying?
It goes against his character. All deceit is an affront to who God is.
The first lie was how Satan drew Adam and Eve into sin.
44 You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies.
45 But because I tell the truth, you do not believe me.
46 Which one of you convicts me of sin? If I tell the truth, why do you not believe me?
3. In the end, every lie is a denial of who God is. It then leads to the rejection of what God has taught. This leads to the rejection of Jesus. That leads to death.
21 I write to you, not because you do not know the truth, but because you know it, and because no lie is of the truth.
22 Who is the liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is the antichrist, he who denies the Father and the Son.
23 No one who denies the Son has the Father. Whoever confesses the Son has the Father also.
In the end, every lie is a big deal.
Who will know?
Who will know?
God does not look on the outside but searches the content of our hearts.
7 But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.”
God is searching for people who worship in spirit and truth.
23 But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him.
24 God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.”
Conclusion
Conclusion
Like Achan — He kept things devoted for destruction.
10 The Lord said to Joshua, “Get up! Why have you fallen on your face?
11 Israel has sinned; they have transgressed my covenant that I commanded them; they have taken some of the devoted things; they have stolen and lied and put them among their own belongings.
12 Therefore the people of Israel cannot stand before their enemies. They turn their backs before their enemies, because they have become devoted for destruction. I will be with you no more, unless you destroy the devoted things from among you.
What did Achan keep?
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.”
What was the result of his greed and deceit?
36 men fell in battle
He, his family, and all his wealth were destroyed.
Why such a strong reaction?
Joshua was leading the people of Israel into the promised land. God was going to protect them but they could not fall into pride and refuse to trust Him. This was a warning to the people to submit themselves to God.
Ananias and Sapphira brought sin into the church at a critical time of it’s growth. God would fulfill his plans but sin would disrupt those plans.
We must take sin seriously.
Ask yourself these questions:
Is there anything in my life that I keep hidden from others and I am presuming on God’s love and grace?
If not death, are there other consequences to your sin?
What ministry is going undone because of your sin?
What to do if you have sin you are holding onto?
9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
16 Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.
25 Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another.
I encourage you to meditate on Ephesians 4 this week.