Be a Barnabas

Spiritual Deception

The other day I decided to Google the phrase “Christians are...” It took Google .55 seconds to tell me what my suspicions already thought. Much of the American culture would finish that phrase with, “Christians are hypocrites.”

A hypocrite is a person who pretends to have virtues, moral or religious beliefs, principles, etc., that he or she does not actually possess. The origin of the word comes from ancient Greeks and Romans. Back then the word hypocrite simply meant “play-acting.” Over time it morphed into a derogatory term for people who are deceptive.

The reason why many of our neighbors feel justified in calling Christians hypocrites is because the church does not always looked like the church. The Church is meant to reflect the piety and passion of Jesus-His morality, His virtue, His compassion, His mission to redeem the earth. And yet, the Church has been caught in immorality, lacking piety, abusive, and in some cases has been insatiably greedy. As a matter of fact, I would contend the church most looks like the world with its appetite for wealth.

Consider for a moment the Christian ministries that have the loudest voice in the culture: Joel Osteen, Kenneth Copeland, Joyce Meyers, Paula White (who is one of President Trumps Spiritual Advisers), Benny Hinn, Pat Roberson, Franklin Graham, Rick Warren, Jesse Duplantis, and Creflo Dollar. If you add up all of these Christian leaders/pastors net worth it would amount to over $600 million dollars, with some estimates closer to 1 billion dollars. That is only a few of the protestants. If you add the Catholic Church, its well over 30 Billion dollars. That is approximately more than the GDP of 86 countries as of 2019.

Many of these Christian leaders, not all of them, have been rightly criticized for their luxurious lifestyle at the expense of their parishioners. For example, Creflo Dollar “has been criticized for his lifestyle and possessions, including two Rolls-Royce cars, a private jet, and million-dollar homes in Atlanta and Manhattan. He made the headlines several years back when his Gulfstream jet ran off the runway. He appealed to his congregation and created a website for donations, and his ministry board was able to acquire a new one." Kenneth Copeland has justified his reason for owning three private jets because he would be surrounded by demonic forces on commercial planes.

The world looks at this and sees it as odd. It should be odd to anyone who has read the bible, or least payed any attention to Jesus’ teachings. Jesus taught things like, ““Watch out and be on guard against all greed because one’s life is not in the abundance of his possessions (Luke 12:15).” He also said, “don’t worry about your life, what you will eat; or about the body, what you will wear. 23 For life is more than food and the body more than clothing (Luke 12:22-23), and “ 33 Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Make money-bags for yourselves that won’t grow old, an inexhaustible treasure in heaven, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. 34 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also (Luke 12:33-34).”

Jesus came down hard on the Pharisees because, “14 The Pharisees, “were lovers of money.Luke 16:14-15).” He went on to tell them you cannot serve two masters. You cannot severe God and money. So, how can you say you love God, your treasure God, and yet your heart is infatuated with wealth? Your life is a living portrait of Greed. So much so, even the world is appalled by your lust. This is hypocrisy. Spiritual deception. And Jesus makes it clear that this kind of “play-acting” Christianity is not acceptable in the New Testament Church. God is so serious about this that he had to make an example out of Ananias and Sapphira in Acts 5:1-11.

This morning, God will show us His expectations of being genuine in the faith, especially with regard to your possessions. Having wealth is not the issue. The Lord gives and the Lord takes away at his good pleasure. Remember, Paul said it was the “love of money that is the root of all evil (1 Timothy 6:4), not money itself. Its what our hearts do with money that matters. The question that comes to me is

How do I live genuine Christ-centered life that prioritizes the Kingdom of God with my possessions?

In Acts 4:36-5:11, we have two examples, one positive and one negative, showing us what genuine faith looks like with worldly possessions, and what hypocritical faith looks like with worldly possessions. Spirit-empowered Christians prove their faith is genuine with their worldly possessions by clinging to the kingdom of God while holding loosely the kingdom of the world.

The Kingdom of God vs The Kingdom of the World

There is a lot of ways to look at the bible’s view of the world. On the one hand, the bible says God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son (John 3:16). That is he loves his image bearers and his creation so much that he did what was necessary to redeem it all. On the other hand, it says that we are not to love the world because it is passing away (1 John 2:16-17). When I speak of the world this morning, I am speaking of the latter in 1 John 2:16-17. I am speaking about loving the broken nature of the world. John says, “16 For everything that belongs to the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride in one’s lifestyle—is not from the Father, but is from the world.” The lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of one’s lifestyle sums up a life committed to the instantly gratifying wealth and prosperity of this world, which John says is not of the Father and is perishing.

The kingdom of God, on the other hand, is the place where God’s authority and rule is exercised and obeyed and enjoyed. The bible is clear that God rules over all heaven, earth, and hell. There is no domain where God’s authority and desire will not be exercised. And yet, when Jesus came to earth he said, “The time is fulfilled, the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent and believe the gospel (Mark 1:15).” When Jesus came to earth he brought the kingdom of God with Him. What does that mean?

It means that we live in an “already/not yet” tension with God’s kingdom. Yes, God rules with absolute authority right now, however, his authority and rule is challenged by Satan’s presence. Satan contradicts God’s values, morals, and virtues, and tries to get God’s image bearers to do the same. So he blinds them to the truth and seduces their heart to love the things of this world, such as health, wealth and prosperity.

When Jesus came on the scene, He confronted Satan’s rule by casting out demons, healing the sick, and feeding the hungry. In doing so, he ushered in a taste of what God’s kingdom will be like when Satan is defeated. Jesus conquered Satan’s grip on humanity by going to the cross and being raised from the dead, now providing a way for God’s kingdom to be enjoyed now and in the future by all who place their faith in Jesus Christ. Furthermore, he left a promise that one day he will return to gather his people, defeat Satan once and for all, and restore all of heaven and earth to its rightful place with a new heavens and anew earth. With that promise he gave the church a mission to joyfully advance His kingdom by making much of Jesus in the Church, Community, and Home, winning the hearts of people to Jesus’s rule. People are very important to God. God is not as concerned about your possessions, your wordly prosperity, but he is concerned about your heart and your eternity. Which is why the kingdom of God, right now, is more about people than it is possessions. Jesus wants to have authority and rule in the hearts of people, and he wants to use our life and possessions to accomplish it. When we think about the kingdom of God this morning, we need to think about Jesus ruling in the hearts of men, women, and children. That is where the kingdom of God is advanced right now, and that is where the mission of the church aims all of its resources.

Barnabas: The example of a genuine Spirit-empowered Christian (Acts 4:36-38)

Barnabas proves he is a genuine spirit-empowered Christian by the way he prioritizes People over Possessions.

In Acts 4:36-37, Barnabas gives us a clear picture of who rules his heart. In verse 37, he “37 sold a field he owned, brought the money, and laid it at the apostles’ feet.” Barnabas had purposed in his heart to give to the ministry of the apostles. This was no mere act of kindness for humanities sake. It was a deliberate sacrifice for the kingdom of God. He gave all the proceeds to the apostles so that the needs of the church could be met and that the apostles could keep preaching. Where do I get that?

If you look at the early church, one of the distinctive marks of genuine faith in Christ was a commitment to the collective good of the church at great personal sacrifice . Look at Acts 2:44-47,

Acts 2:44–47 HCSB

Now all the believers were together and held all things in common. They sold their possessions and property and distributed the proceeds to all, as anyone had a need. Every day they devoted themselves to meeting together in the temple complex, and broke bread from house to house. They ate their food with a joyful and humble attitude, praising God and having favor with all the people. And every day the Lord added to them those who were being saved.

Once again, in Acts 4:32-35

Acts 4:32–35 HCSB

Now the large group of those who believed were of one heart and mind, and no one said that any of his possessions was his own, but instead they held everything in common. And the apostles were giving testimony with great power to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was on all of them. For there was not a needy person among them, because all those who owned lands or houses sold them, brought the proceeds of the things that were sold, and laid them at the apostles’ feet. This was then distributed for each person’s basic needs.

What you see in the early church is a commitment to what Jesus taught in Luke 12:33-34,

Luke 12:33–34 HCSB

Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Make money-bags for yourselves that won’t grow old, an inexhaustible treasure in heaven, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Christians demonstrate or prove their heart treasures Christ by the way they hold on loosely to their wordly wealth. The issue is not about how much money you have, its about how your heart feels about it. Spirit-empowered Christians are thankful to God for what he provides for them, and are ready, and eager to spend it advancing His kingdom, the rightful rule of Christ in the hearts of men, women, and children.

I’m not heavily involved in Rick Warren’s ministry, but I can appreciate this about him. His net worth is approximately twenty-five million dollars. However, he only lives on ten percent of it. He donates ninety-percent of his income toward kingdom minded charities and works. He once said in an interview with Forbes magazine, “I drive a 12-year-old Ford, have lived in the same house for the last 22 years, bought my watch at Wal-Mart, and I don’t own a boat or a jet.” You could be critical and say, “Well, he still lives on 2.5 million dollars.” Yes, that is true. But consider this, he lives in California, 2.5 million dollars does not go that far. Secondly, if you were him, would you voluntarily live on ten percent of your income?

Something else you notice about Barnabas is how he lived his life. Barnabas was not committed to the American Dream, nor was he enthralled with the prosperity gospel. He spent his Life on mission for the Kingdom of God. He always puts the kingdom of God first with his possessions (Acts 4:37) and with people. He was the first to acknowledge Paul as a genuine disciple (Acts 9:26-31) and proved it by supporting Paul’s ministry financially ( 1 Corinthians 9:6). He spent most of his life as a missionary with Paul (Acts 13-15), and preaching and encouraging the brothers and sisters (Acts 11:23-24). Barnabas’ real name was Joseph, but because he was such an encouragement to the church, he was nicknamed Barnabas, which means “Son of Encouragement.”

When I ask myself, “What inspires Barnabas to prioritize the kingdom of God over his worldly possessions?,” I’m convinced by looking at his life that Jesus was his treasure. Barnabas loved what Jesus loved. He was concerned about the things Jesus was concerned about. He lived to store up treasures in heaven, even at great personal sacrifice to himself on earth. Jesus did the same thing.

The bible says, “Though He was rich, for your sake He became poor, so that by His poverty you might become rich (2 Corinthians 8:9).” Jesus left his throne, his wealth, his prosperity in heaven, and took on flesh. He was born into poverty, coming to earth in a barn, placed in a feeding trough, and grew up a carpenters son. the bible says Isaiah 53:2-3,

Isaiah 53:2–3 HCSB

He grew up before Him like a young plant and like a root out of dry ground. He didn’t have an impressive form or majesty that we should look at Him, no appearance that we should desire Him. He was despised and rejected by men, a man of suffering who knew what sickness was. He was like someone people turned away from; He was despised, and we didn’t value Him.

Jesus, the King of all heaven and earth, Philippians 2:6-8,

Philippians 2:6–8 HCSB

who, existing in the form of God, did not consider equality with God as something to be used for His own advantage. Instead He emptied Himself by assuming the form of a slave, taking on the likeness of men. And when He had come as a man in His external form, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death— even to death on a cross.

Jesus did not treasure his wealth and prosperity. He treasured you, and me, and he treasured doing His Father's will, advancing His kingdom. Satan came to try to defer Him from that in the wilderness (Matthew 4). Jesus told him get lost. I value my Father, and his will for me, even if it is costly, over your worldly goods. The cross is proof of that.

John Piper once said, “Two of the effects of believing in Jesus are that the heart is loosened in relationship to things and tightened in its relationship to people.” That is, when Jesus is your treasure, He frees your heart from the love of this world, which is perishing, and aims you heart to love what he loves, which produces treasures in heaven that will be kept for you forever. What does Jesus love? He loves redeeming, restoring, and reconciling sinners to God and each other for all eternity. And he says a life that pursues this aim, this mission, to joyfully advance His kingdom, is a well lived life. A life of genuine love for Him, of genuine faith in His redemption of the world. Barnabas is an example of a genuine Spirit-filled Christian, and he proves it by the way he holds on loosely the possessions of this world.

Listen to the writer of Hebrews 13:5-6

Hebrews 13:5–6 HCSB

Your life should be free from the love of money. Be satisfied with what you have, for He Himself has said, I will never leave you or forsake you. Therefore, we may boldly say: The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?

What/Who does your heart treasure? If you say, “My heart treasures Jesus,” does your money spending reflect it? If it don't then you run the risk of hypocrisy.

Ananias & Sapphira: The example of hypocritical Satan-filled religion (Acts 5:1-11)

In Acts 5:1, we are introduced to Ananias and Sapphira. Interestingly enough, Sapphira means “beautiful” in Aramaic and Ananias means “God is gracious” in Hebrew. Unfortunately, there is no beauty in their deception and God’s grace turns to judgment in the face of their sin.

Ananias and Sapphira were part of the early church. It is likely they had seen Barnabas sell his property and give all the proceeds to the apostles. Such an act of piety did not go unnoticed by God’s people. In Acts 5:2, Ananias and Sapphira decide they would sell their land and give the money to the apostles as well, at least that is what they would say they would do. In fact, they would lie about how much money they received for the property in order to keep some for themselves.

Peter confronts Ananias about this deception in Acts 5:3

Acts 5:3 HCSB

Then Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and keep back part of the proceeds from the field?

Satan “put into” Ananias’s heart the desire to lie to the Holy Spirit. That is what Satan is, he is a liar. He filled Ananias heart with the lure of money, and Ananias heart’ took the bait. This has happened before. Satan filled Judas’ heart with the lure of money, and Judas sold Jesus out for 30 pieces of silver. Do you remember Achan in Joshua 7? Joshua and the Israelites just conquered Jericho. God told His people that no one is to take any of the spoil from the victory. Achan decides to take two hundred shekels of silver and a bar of gold weighing fifty shekels (Joshua 7:21). Because of this, Israel would suffer great loss in their impending battle, and Achan and his family would be destroyed.

Paul’s warning that the love of money is the root of all evil should ring like five alarm fire in our hearts, especially those in the church. For he says, “Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs (1 Timothy 6:10).” And grief is coming to Ananias and his wife.

Peter explains an important point. He makes sure Ananias realizes that his sin is not the money. He says, “Look, it was your land to do what you wanted. Furthermore, if you wanted to only give half the money or even less, that was your prerogative (Acts 5:4-5).” Peter makes it clear that having money is not the issue, or even how much you decide to give. The issue for Ananias and Sapphira was that they lied to the Holy Spirit. They deceived the church. In short, they were being hypocrites. They wanted to appear as devote as Barnabas, but in fact they were acting like Judas, betraying the very Son of God. Their love of money exposed what they really treasured, the kingdom of this world.

1 John 2:16-17

1 John 2:16–17 HCSB

For everything that belongs to the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride in one’s lifestyle—is not from the Father, but is from the world. And the world with its lust is passing away, but the one who does God’s will remains forever.

John Milton in his epic poem “Paradise Lost” says, ““For neither man nor angel can discern hypocrisy, the only evil that walks invisible, except to God alone.” John Milton Ananias and Sapphira’ s hypocrisy was made visible when God sentenced both of theme to death.

Grace was given to Sapphira. Peter asked her if they had sold the property for the same amount Ananias said. At this point she could have confessed and repented of her sin. Grace would have been available. But instead, she continues the ruse, and suffers the same consequence as her husband.

Why did God act so decisively?

Acts 5:6, 11, explains why God acted so swiftly and decisively on Ananias and Sapphira. Acts 5:5,

Acts 5:5 HCSB

When he heard these words, Ananias dropped dead, and a great fear came on all who heard.

Acts 5:11

Acts 5:11 HCSB

Then great fear came on the whole church and on all who heard these things.

Kent Hughes points out that the first burial in the Christian community was that of a hypocrite. God made it very clear that lying to the Holy Spirit, blatant hypocrisy would not be tolerated in the church.

If God will not tolerate deception or hypocrisy, why are their so many today? Why hasn’t he killed all of them the way he did Ananias and Sapphira? There are a few things to consider. First, this was no small deceit. They lied to God as if he were no different than any other human being. Second, the church was young. It was pivotal that in its early stages that it remained focused and pure. Their sin was blatant and deceptive. It would have led many astray. God had to show He was serious about sin and the church’s credibility. Finally, there is the matter of His sanctifying discpline.

I don’t know if Ananias and Sapphira were genuine believers. The text said Satan filled their heart. That does not necessarily mean he ruled it. They could have been new believers or very naive. Either way, the bible teaches that God’s people are susceptible to sin even after they are saved. We are a broken people who are living out our new redemption. Sometimes God’s discipline is severe on his children. I think about Paul’s admonishment to the Corinthian church about the Lord’s supper. Some of them were abusing the Lord’s supper and taking it in a sinful manner. Paul says in

1 Corinthians 11:30 HCSB

This is why many are sick and ill among you, and many have fallen asleep.

God sent a loud and clear message to the church then and today. Do not live in hypocrisy. God is not happy with the church when it plays the hypocrite, and how we use our wealth in this world sends a loud message about what we truly value and love. You worship what you love.

The warning with Ananias and Sapphira reminds me of one of Aesop’s fables. He wrote about a time when beasts and birds engaged in war. the bat tried to belong to both parties. When teh birds were victorious, he would wing around telling that he was a bird; when the beasts won a fight, he would walk around them assuring them that he was a beast. But soon his hypocrisy was discovered and he was rejected by both beasts and the birds. He had to hide himself, and now only by night can he appear. Should the world look at the church with such scorn by t we hoard our wealth? Do we make it difficult for the world to take us seriously about the Great Commission with how we spend pour money? And at the same time, God will not tolerate your hypocrisy in His church. Ananias and Sapphira prove that God will deal with it when and how he sees fit.

Conclusion

The founder of McDonalds was an evangelical Christian. According to Os Guinness at Lausanne II in Manila (July 1989), he once said: “I believe in God, my family, and McDonalds. But when I go to the office I reverse the order.” Oh Christian, let this not be said of us. Of all the people in the world, we should be the most generous with our possessions. Jesus came to give us life, and to give it to us abundantly. We have been forgiven of our sins and given new life and peace with God. Because of Jesus’s love for us, he who was rich became poor for our sake. He emptied himself becoming like us so that we can become like him having eternal riches. He promises us that we will inherit a kingdom that will never perish. We will be given a new heaven and a new earth that will be filled with splendor and glories treasures that moth and rust cannot touch. Be a Barnabas. Live a Spirit-empowered life that proves Jesus is worth treasuring with a genuine faith that uses your worldly possessions to joyfully advance the kingdom of God by making much of Jesus in the Church, Community, and Home.