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APRIL 24, 2022
STUDY NOTES
ACTS 5:1-11
BIBLE TEACHER: CLIFTON JONES
DON’T LIE TO GOD
INTRODUCTION
In our day this passage is not a popular choice among preachers for a Sunday morning sermon
There are several reasons why, one is, it does not parallel with the prosperity preaching of today
It is one of the best explanations of 1 John 5:16-17 that we find in the NT
Which we studied this past Wednesday night, the subject of the “Sin Unto Death”
The willful, continuing to live in a known sin, failing to repent of sin can lead to the sin unto death
Another subject that is not popular in our day, but needs to be preached in our day
As Christians we are called to a life of holiness, 1Pe 1:16 Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am
holy.
God will not allow His children to continue to live in unconfessed sin (Hebrews 12:3-11)
God will first discipline the Christian who does not repent of their sin, if they do not repent and confess
There comes a time when God can no longer allow His children to live in sin and refuse to repent,
1Jn 5:16 If any man see his brother sin a sin which is not unto death, he shall ask, and he shall give him
life for them that sin not unto death.
There is a sin unto death: I do not say that he shall pray for it.
The sin unto death is a premature physical death, the removal of an ungodly testimony before others
There are many examples in scripture, Acts 5:1-11, Ananias and Sapphira, is one of those examples
Ananias and Sapphira had several spiritual failures, many Christians today fail spiritually before God
Material possessions have always been a strong attraction for people, wealth is a priority of life today
Even Christians often have a problem with putting God first, before money and personal possessions
The early church was willing to give of their worldly goods to minister to those in need (Acts 2:45)
They were willing to sell their land and houses and give their money to those in need (Acts 4:34-35)
Barnabas was an example of those who sold land and gave the money to those in need (Acts 4:36-37)
Acts 5 begins with a couple who sold land and gave money to the church, but what was their motive?
Ananias and Sapphira attempted to imitate Barnabas, but they were seeking personal recognition
There is a great contrast between their giving and the results of those identified in chapter 4, Act 4:33
And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was
upon them all.
Great grace did not fall upon Ananias and Sapphira, but a great judgment of the hand of God did
Act 5:1 But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession,
“But” presents the contrast of the previous examples, the difference was within their motives
There was a man by the name of Barnabas who sold land and gave the money to the church, Act 4:37
Having land, sold it, and brought the money, and laid it at the apostles' feet.
Barnabas is an example of a man being led by the Holy Spirit, Act 4:31 And when they had prayed, the
place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and
they spake the word of God with boldness.
The evidence of their being filled with the Spirit is found in Acts 4:32-37
Now we are told of “a certain man named Ananias,” an example of a man being led by Satan
The meaning of the name “Ananias” was “Jehovah is Gracious,” he did not live up to his name
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“With Sapphira his wife,” her name came from the Hebrew word translated “sapphire”
Her parents named her probably hoping that she would be beautiful in appearance and spirit
This passage does not refer to her appearance, but it does speak of her character, it is not beautiful
Together they “sold a possession,” they had land but evidently, they sold only a portion of their land
They were more concerned about their own personal “wants” and “wishes” than the “needs” of others
They had an ego problem, they were seeking personal recognition, they had an “I” problem
Notice the position of “I” in prIde, and in sIn, “I” is the center of both, a great problem of our day
They wanted the same kind of attention that was given to Barnabas and the early church
But they did not have the same kind of heart as Barnabas and the early Christians, do we have it today?
They were professed believers and members of the church at Jerusalem, they should represent God
If you are united with a local congregation of Christians, you supposedly represent Christ in your life
It was difficult for them to get “self” out of the way so that others could see Jesus in them
Act 5:2 And kept back part of the price, his wife also being privy to it, and brought a certain part,
and laid it at the apostles' feet.
God allows us the freedom to make our personal choices, they did not have to sell the land, why did they?
They did not have to give all-of the money collected for the land to the church, they had a choice
Why did they “keep back part of the price,” the original language indicates the truth of their decision
In the original language “kept back” referred to keeping something which belongs to another
It also had the meaning of to embezzle or to steal, their decision was against God’s will for them
The original is very strong language identifying that they were holding out on God and they knew it
Ananias and Sapphira had agreed upon their choice, they were equally guilty of their actions
They did not have to give any of the money to the church, but they “brought a certain part”
They wanted that “certain part” to identify them before the church, Jesus has a word about that,
Mat 6:2 Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do
in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men.
Verily I say unto you, They have
their reward.
Mat 6:3 But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth:
Mat 6:4 That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee
openly.
(Ananias and Sapphira were rewarded openly, not the way God wanted or the way they wanted)
Their sin is not fully explained until we get to the next verse
Act 5:3 But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to
keep back part of the price of the land?
Peter knew what had been done, how did he know, no person had given Peter a report of their actions?
The Spirit of God gave Peter the “spirit of discernment” (1 Corinthians 12:10)
Which is the ability to distinguish, diagnose, understand, identify, and make a correct judgment
It is not that difficult for Christians to distinguish between what Satan is doing and what God is doing
Which is indicated by Peter’s question, “Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart” (easy to see)
Jesus said that Satan is a liar, Joh 8:44 Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will
do.
He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him.
When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.
Satan was the one who tempted Ananias and Sapphira, Jas 1:14 But every man is tempted, when he is
drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.
Their decision and the result of their decision is fully explained in, Jas 1:15 Then when lust hath
conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.
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They had listened to Satan, they obeyed Satan instead of God, James warns us, Jas 1:16 Do not err, my
beloved brethren.
(Don’t fall for Satan’s lies)
James speaks to the “brethren,” he is concerned about our daily Christian life
He warns us, do not be deceived by the temptations of sin, don’t be led astray from the right path of life
Christians must keep in mind our relationship with God and with one another
Satan will fill your heart with selfishness, jealousy, envy, love of money, and unbelief toward God
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