Untitled Sermon

Prayer brings power to serve

Acts 4:32–37 ESV

Now the full number of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one said that any of the things that belonged to him was his own, but they had everything in common. And with great power the apostles were giving their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all. There was not a needy person among them, for as many as were owners of lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold and laid it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to each as any had need. Thus Joseph, who was also called by the apostles Barnabas (which means son of encouragement), a Levite, a native of Cyprus, sold a field that belonged to him and brought the money and laid it at the apostles’ feet.

So in this first section we see Luke giving another summary just as he did in Acts chapter 2. (2:42,44-45). And in that summary we seen similiar things taking place.

42 says they devoted themselves to the apostles teaching and fellowship, and breaking bread with one another and prayer. 44 says these believers had all things in common. 45 tells us they were selling their possessions and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. So similar things those in chapter4 is taking place among these believers.

now as the book points out, and where we ended last week.

Question: In the section just before this one what just happened among this believers?

prior to this we see the apostles have just prayed and God answered their prayer with them being filled with Spirit.

To be filled with the Holy Spirit is to be energized and controlled by the third person of the Godhead in such a way that under the acknowledged lordship of Jesus Christ the full presence and power of God are experienced. Spirit-filling leads to renewal, obedience, boldness in testimony

Question: What else do we see this spirit filling leading to?

verse 32 says they were of one heart and soul, and no one said that any of the things belonged to him was his own, but they had everything in common. These spirit filled believers submitted to the Lordship of Christ in such a way that they recognized whatever they owned belonged to God. Including their very lives this is why they could speak with so much boldness, they didn’t fear man. vs 33 says with great power they were giving their testimony of the resurrection of Christ, and great grace was upon them. the empowering of the Holy Spirit lead to all these things. They didnt count what belonged to them as their own thats why when they saw God’s people had needs, what they do? they freely gave their possessions up to meet those needs.

We see in these verses a sharing community. i mean incredible sharing. They cared for one another’s need. they sold their property/possessions and they laid them at the apostles feet.

We are introduced to Barnabas and his selfless gift. And we’ll see more of him in later chapters in acts. In contrast to this mans generousity we’ll see Ananias and Sapphira and they way they gave. So these believers laid their gifts at the Apostles feet.

Question: What does this act of laying the proceeds of the sale at the Apostles feet show us? It recognized their authority. And there overseeing of the needs of God’s people. But were going to see in the next chapter, one of these duties of meeting the needs of the people be delegated to others.

Now it does not say that this kind of sharing was a requirement of the fellowship, and not all gave up all of their possessions to the church. Some Christians continued to own their own homes and those became meeting places for the church (12:12; 16:15, cf. Rom. 16:3–5), but Luke tells how much the church cared for the needs of its community through sacrificial gifts to the church. For parallels to 4:33, see also 2:47 and 5:42. The wording in 34 is similar to the command of Deut. 15:4 and consciously aware of the commands in Deut. 15:10–11. This may be Luke’s attempt to show that Scripture was being fulfilled, or at least obeyed, in the apostolic community.

So things seem to be relatively well so far early on. The Church seems to be hitting on all cylinders. Incredible love and sharing amongst the believers here is going on. But then something bad happens amongst them. Let’s continue.

Acts 5:1–11 ESV

But a man named Ananias, with his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property, 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. 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? 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.” When Ananias heard these words, he fell down and breathed his last. And great fear came upon all who heard of it. The young men rose and wrapped him up and carried him out and buried him. After an interval of about three hours his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. And Peter said to her, “Tell me whether you sold the land for so much.” And she said, “Yes, for so much.” 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.” 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. And great fear came upon the whole church and upon all who heard of these things.

So immediately this section starts off with a But, letting us know something changes. And that something is the first sin recorded in this new testament Church.

We see the sin and death of Ananias and his wife Sapphira. So they sold a piece of land and brought some of the proceeds to the apostles as a gift for the poor;

Question: So what was the wrong that they commited here? because selling your property and giving some to the poor in the church would seem like a good thing right, but what was wrong about it?

they pretended to have donated the entire amount (Acts 5:1–2), for which God’s subsequent judgment was death (vv. 5–10).

Ananias’ gift-giving, rather than being motivated by the Holy Spirit, it was motivated by self-glory. They wanted the honor just without the sacrifice. They presented this gift to the apostles and really utimately to God. Their essentially saying here God theres everything, we’ve given it all to you. As if God isnt all knowing. The thing is they could of gave that same gift and not lied about it. It was theirs to give or not to give. But for self glory the pretended to give all of the proceeds. They allowed Satan to influence them to work agaisnt God. Satan tried to work against God by attacking his people physcally with the arrest and God delivered them and know his seeking to work in a spiritual way. He wants to attack the church by having beliviers with bad motives and corrupt hearts. he is the liar of liars and wants us to follow him down to destruction. But what Satan found out is that this attack led to the Church being even more empowered and stronger. and to the church growing more than ever we’ll see.

We see in this account a working against the Spirit. Now prior as we’ve seen, the Spirit has been working mightely through these believers. And now Ananias and his wife Sapphira chose to work against the Spirit. This act they commited is essentially denying the Spirit’s work among these body of believers. Their sin was literally lying to God. This also supports what we believe in the truine God. This passage helps us to know that the Holy Spirit is GOD!!!! These believers here are reminded of God’s holiness. And that God is serious about the purity of his Church.

As Holy Spirit indwelled believers this should i believe lead us all to repentance because what incredible grace and mercy have we been shown when we have worked against the Spirit’s leading in our lives, how many times have we chose to walk after the flesh and not after the Spirit? How many times have we lied with the Spirit of God inside of us and God has not dropped us dead right where we are. Undeserved grace and mercy we’ve been shown daily. i believe this should lead us to pray as these believers did so the Spirit would continuly fill us to do what is pleasing to God.

Question: Any old testament stories this account might make you think of?

The Lexham Bible Dictionary Old Testament Connections

The story of Sapphira and her husband forms parallels with several Old Testament accounts, most notably the story of Achan. In Joshua 7:1, Achan held back what was devoted to Yahweh at Jericho, a sin that resulted in death for him and his family (Josh 7:25–26). In Acts 5:2, Luke uses the same word for “kept back” (νοσφίζομαι, nosphizomai) as the Greek translation of Josh 7:1, suggesting that he might have been alluding to Achan (Bruce, Acts, 102–03). According to Pervo, Sapphira’s actions may also parallel those of Adam and Eve—another couple deceived by Satan (Acts 5:3) into taking something belonging to God

English Standard Version Chapter 5

12 Now many signs and wonders were regularly done among the people by the hands of the apostles. And they were all together in Solomon’s Portico. 13 None of the rest dared join them, but the people held them in high esteem. 14 And more than ever believers were added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women, 15 so that they even carried out the sick into the streets and laid them on cots and mats, that as Peter came by at least his shadow might fall on some of them. 16 The people also gathered from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing the sick and those afflicted with unclean spirits, and they were all healed.

English Standard Version Chapter 5

17 But the high priest rose up, and all who were with him (that is, the party of the Sadducees), and filled with jealousy 18 they arrested the apostles and put them in the public prison. 19 But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the prison doors and brought them out, and said, 20 “Go and stand in the temple and speak to the people all the words of this Life.” 21 And when they heard this, they entered the temple at daybreak and began to teach.

Now when the high priest came, and those who were with him, they called together the council, all the senate of the people of Israel, and sent to the prison to have them brought. 22 But when the officers came, they did not find them in the prison, so they returned and reported, 23 “We found the prison securely locked and the guards standing at the doors, but when we opened them we found no one inside.” 24 Now when the captain of the temple and the chief priests heard these words, they were greatly perplexed about them, wondering what this would come to. 25 And someone came and told them, “Look! The men whom you put in prison are standing in the temple and teaching the people.” 26 Then the captain with the officers went and brought them, but not by force, for they were afraid of being stoned by the people.

27 And when they had brought them, they set them before the council. And the high priest questioned them, 28 saying, “We strictly charged you not to teach in this name, yet here you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and you intend to bring this man’s blood upon us.” 29 But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men. 30 The God of our fathers raised Jesus, whom you killed by hanging him on a tree. 31 God exalted him at his right hand as Leader and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. 32 And we are witnesses to these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him.”

33 When they heard this, they were enraged and wanted to kill them. 34 But a Pharisee in the council named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law held in honor by all the people, stood up and gave orders to put the men outside for a little while. 35 And he said to them, “Men of Israel, take care what you are about to do with these men. 36 For before these days Theudas rose up, claiming to be somebody, and a number of men, about four hundred, joined him. He was killed, and all who followed him were dispersed and came to nothing. 37 After him Judas the Galilean rose up in the days of the census and drew away some of the people after him. He too perished, and all who followed him were scattered. 38 So in the present case I tell you, keep away from these men and let them alone, for if this plan or this undertaking is of man, it will fail; 39 but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them. You might even be found opposing God!” So they took his advice, 40 and when they had called in the apostles, they beat them and charged them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. 41 Then they left the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name. 42 And every day, in the temple and from house to house, they did not cease teaching and preaching that the Christ is Jesus.

English Standard Version Chapter 6

6 Now in these days when the disciples were increasing in number, a complaint by the Hellenists arose against the Hebrews because their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution. 2 And the twelve summoned the full number of the disciples and said, “It is not right that we should give up preaching the word of God to serve tables. 3 Therefore, brothers, pick out from among you seven men of good repute, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we will appoint to this duty. 4 But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.” 5 And what they said pleased the whole gathering, and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolaus, a proselyte of Antioch. 6 These they set before the apostles, and they prayed and laid their hands on them.

7 And the word of God continued to increase, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests became obedient to the faith.