Serve Sacrificially

Acts 4:34–37 KJV 1900

Neither was there any among them that lacked: for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the prices of the things that were sold, And laid them down at the apostles’ feet: and distribution was made unto every man according as he had need. And Joses, who by the apostles was surnamed Barnabas, (which is, being interpreted, The son of consolation,) a Levite, and of the country of Cyprus, Having land, sold it, and brought the money, and laid it at the apostles’ feet.

Introduction

What do these images seem to be doing?

How convincing is the movement in the illusions?

Our eyes see by taking “pictures” of the world around us and sending them to our brains in rapid succession. Between each “shot” our eyes make microscopic shifts, meaning each “shot” is slightly off-center from the previous one. The microscopic movements of our eyes are apart of God’s design. They keep the pictures refreshed and allow us to see movement and view the world without interruption. When we look at the illusions, our shifting eyes are taking the shots that are slightly off-center from each other. As our eyes move from shot to shot, our brain think they perceive movement. Our eyes are fooling our brains.

In this lesson, a married couple tried to fool the apostles into thinking they perceived something that wasn’t true. They thought they got away with it. But God has perfect vision, seeing even our hearts. He used the deceptive couple and the apostles’ experience with persecution to teach us the importance of sacrificial service. This lesson should encourage us to take advantage of opportunities to serve God sacrificially.

Sacrificial Service Starts with Respect

Respectful Servants

How were people in the early Church providing for their needy members? By selling their properties and donating the money.

God regularly added people to the Jerusalem church. As their number grew, so did the members’ needs. The early believers demonstrated their compassion by sharing with the needy. Some, like Barnabas who we spoke about last week, whose name means, “son of encouragement,” for his genuine generosity. He and other gave out of honest, spirit-filled hearts. They feared God, meaning they respected Him and wanted to please Him above all others.

Disrespectful Servants

Ananias and Sapphira were among those who sold property and donated money. Their motives, though, were not pure. They didn’t respect God.

Acts 5:1–4 KJV 1900

But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession, 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. 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? Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God.

What motivated Ananias to lie about his offering? He wanted the freedom to use some of the money selfishly while gaining the applause for giving all the money sacrificially.

Ananias and Sapphira weren’t as interested in helping their fellow believers in need as there were helping themselves. They loved applause, even if they didn’t deserve it. By angling for a pat on the back, they turned spirituality into a show rather the Holy Spirit’s work in their hearts. When they lied to the church about their donation, they lied to God the Holy Spirit. Peter made sure both of them understood God wasn’t fooled by their show. They had committed a serious sin and ended up paying the highest price for the sin. Both of them dropped dead after sticking to their lies.

Acts 5:5–10 KJV 1900

And Ananias hearing these words fell down, and gave up the ghost: and great fear came on all them that heard these things. And the young men arose, wound him up, and carried him out, and buried him. And it was about the space of three hours after, when his wife, not knowing what was done, came in. And Peter answered unto her, Tell me whether ye sold the land for so much? And she said, Yea, for so much. Then Peter said unto her, How is it that ye have agreed together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? behold, the feet of them which have buried thy husband are at the door, and shall carry thee out. Then fell she down straightway at his feet, and yielded up the ghost: and the young men came in, and found her dead, and, carrying her forth, buried her by her husband.

Why do you think God gave them the death penalty instead of a less severe punishment?

By swiftly judging Ananias and Sapphira, God communicated up front that church life involved genuine faith and service. The Jewish leaders lived before men as if they were on stage. They faked their service and holiness to hide their corrupt, selfish hearts. God held the genuine believers in the church to a much higher standard. The church go the message loud and clear.

Acts 5:11 KJV 1900

And great fear came upon all the church, and upon as many as heard these things.

God’s discipline of Ananias and Sapphira resulted in great fear coming upon the whole church. Such fear was a reverent respect and awe for God. Believers who genuinely fear God recognize they can’t fool God by acting Spiritual. The serve God to please God.

That the fear of God feel on the church after demonstrated that many in the church has the same disrespect for God and selfish motives as the fallen couple.

Sacrificial Service Leads to Joy

Persecuted Servants

After Peter and John were charged by the leaders to quit preaching in the name of Jesus, they went back to the temple and continued performing miracles and teaching Christ.

Acts 5:12–16 KJV 1900

And by the hands of the apostles were many signs and wonders wrought among the people; (and they were all with one accord in Solomon’s porch. And of the rest durst no man join himself to them: but the people magnified them. And believers were the more added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women.) Insomuch that they brought forth the sick into the streets, and laid them on beds and couches, that at the least the shadow of Peter passing by might overshadow some of them. There came also a multitude out of the cities round about unto Jerusalem, bringing sick folks, and them which were vexed with unclean spirits: and they were healed every one.

God showed His power through the apostles to authenticate their message of Salvation. So many people responded that Peter couldn’t address them all. That led to people bringing the sick to lay in the streets in hopes of Peter’s shadow passing over them and bringing them physical healing. God honored their faith in Him and saved them from both their physical problems and their sins.

The apostles’ miracles also led people from surrounding cites to bring their sick to see them. Their presence signaled that the gospel and the church had begun to spread outside of Jerusalem.

The Jewish leaders were angered and stirred to jealousy by the apostles’ popularity and influence. They had the apostles arrested and imprisoned. In the night, an angel of the Lord went to the prison and freed them. The angel told them to return to preaching the gospel at the temple. The angel called their message the words of life in verse 20. “life” likely refers to Jesus. He called Himself the “life.”

John 14:6 KJV 1900

Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

Acts 5:21–26 KJV 1900

And when they heard that, they entered into the temple early in the morning, and taught. But the high priest came, and they that were with him, and called the council together, and all the senate of the children of Israel, and sent to the prison to have them brought. But when the officers came, and found them not in the prison, they returned, and told, Saying, The prison truly found we shut with all safety, and the keepers standing without before the doors: but when we had opened, we found no man within. Now when the high priest and the captain of the temple and the chief priests heard these things, they doubted of them whereunto this would grow. Then came one and told them, saying, Behold, the men whom ye put in prison are standing in the temple, and teaching the people. Then went the captain with the officers, and brought them without violence: for they feared the people, lest they should have been stoned.

Early the next morning, the apostles returned to the temple and began to preach again. The high priest and the leaders thought the apostles were still in jail. When the leaders finally located them, they arrested them carefully, for fear of being stoned by the crowd who had gathered to listen to the apostles.

Standing before the Jewish leaders, Peter once again refused to comply with their command to quit preaching in the name of Jesus. He told them that though they killed Jesus, Jesus was resurrected and sitting at God’s right hand, offering forgiveness to everyone.

Acts 5:27–32 KJV 1900

And when they had brought them, they set them before the council: and the high priest asked them, Saying, Did not we straitly command you that ye should not teach in this name? and, behold, ye have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this man’s blood upon us. Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men. The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew and hanged on a tree. Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins. And we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him.

What gave the apostles the courage to obey God rather than the Jewish council? What did they believe about God? They believed God is sovereign, all-powerful, and gracious. No matter what the council choose to do to them they would trust God.

Acts 5:33 KJV 1900

When they heard that, they were cut to the heart, and took counsel to slay them.

Because Peter and the rest of the apostles didn’t flinch when threatened again, the council knew their only hope of shutting them down was to kill them. Gamaliel, a member of the Pharisees, advised the council to calm down and gain some perspective. He used examples of others who claimed to be the Messiah but proved to be mere men. They were all eventually killed. Gamaliel advised the leaders to just wait. He said if Jesus was the Messiah, he counseled, them they would be fighting against God. The council wisely followed his advice, though they were sure the apostles would eventually come to nothing.

Acts 5:40 KJV 1900

And to him they agreed: and when they had called the apostles, and beaten them, they commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go.

The Jewish leaders beat the apostles in the attempt to deter them from returning to the temple to preach.

Pleased Servants

Acts 5:41 KJV 1900

And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name.

The apostles rejoiced that they were counted worthy of suffering dor Jesus, meaning their suffering demonstrated their obedience to God. If the apostle hadn’t been beaten, it would have meant that they had caved to the council’s threats and promised to stop teaching about Christ.

Hebrews 12:1–2 KJV 1900

Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Jesus had recently endured the cross to make the apostles’ salvation possible. Jesus’ suffering led to joy too. All sacrificial service eventually brings joy, both in this life and certainly for all eternity.

Acts 5:42 KJV 1900

And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ.

While the council waited to see what would happen, the apostles continued to teach and preach Christ in the temple and from house to house.

Sacrificial Service Brings about Unity

Divided Servants

Acts 6:1–2 KJV 1900

And in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplied, there arose a murmuring of the Grecians against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily ministration. Then the twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto them, and said, It is not reason that we should leave the word of God, and serve tables.

As the church numbers grew, so did the diversity within the body of believers. Most notably, the church included Jews from both Israel and other regions. Many of those from outside Israel spoke Greek and used Greek translation of the Old Testament rather then the Hebrew Scriptures. Beyond that, the two groups had different opinions about Judaism and experienced unequal levels of care. The differences threatened church unity. In the incident Luke recorded, those distributing food to the needy were overlooking the Greek-speaking widows.

Acts 6:2 KJV 1900

Then the twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto them, and said, It is not reason that we should leave the word of God, and serve tables.

Though the apostles couldn’t take time away from teaching and preaching to take to take care of the widows. they did take time to find a solution lest the church become further divided. Their swift action helped demonstrate that all believers are equal in Christ regardless of their background.

Devoted Servants

The apostles tasked the church members with electing seven men from among them to oversee for the needy in the church. The seven men were called and still called deacons.

Acts 6:3–4 KJV 1900

Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business. But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.

What qualifications did the apostle require for the chosen men? They had to have a good reputation, be full of the Holy Spirit, and be wise.

Addressing and solving the underlying tensions between the two groups required, patient, godly, Spirit-led men. They did more than pass out food and make sure there was enough for everyone. The church’s future unity depended on their work. Since ever member of their church was one in Christ, a division would hurt and hinder Christ’s testimony and become a huge distraction for the apostles.

Acts 6:5–6 KJV 1900

And the saying pleased the whole multitude: and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Ghost, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolas a proselyte of Antioch: Whom they set before the apostles: and when they had prayed, they laid their hands on them.

The believers selected seven qualified men. The apostles commissioned them through the laying on of hands. The deacons’ ministry averted a great rift between the two Jewish groups and allowed the gospel to progress.

Acts 6:7 KJV 1900

And the word of God increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly; and a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith.

The deacons deserve a lot of credit for the continuing growth of the gospel. Their devotion to Christ helped shore up the Jerusalem church and keep it from being crippled by disagreements.