WELCOME TO FELLOWSHIP

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Donald Garrison
5 years ago
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1 WELCOME TO FELLOWSHIP

2 PRAYER REQUESTS

3 THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES The Church of Jesus on Mission Empowered by the Spirit

good fortune creates a false sense of security.

4 Every once in a while, we need something to shock us into reality. When things are going well, it's easy to coast along without a worry as good fortune creates a false sense of security. If we're not careful, we can drift off course or fail to see the warning signs of disaster ahead. Chuck Swindoll

But there was a certain man named Ananias who, with his wife, Sapphira, sold some property. He brought part of the money to the apostles, claiming it was the full amount.

5 But there was a certain man named Ananias who, with his wife, Sapphira, sold some property. He brought part of the money to the apostles, claiming it was the full amount. With his wife s consent, he kept the rest. Then Peter said, Ananias, why have you let Satan fill your heart? You lied to the Holy Spirit, and you kept some of the money for yourself. The property was yours to sell or not sell, as you wished. And after selling it, the money was also yours to give away. How could you do a thing like this? You weren t lying to us but to God! As soon as Ananias heard these words, he fell to the floor and died. Everyone who heard about it was terrified. Then some young men got up, wrapped him in a sheet, and took him out and buried him. Acts 5:1-6(NLT )

About three hours later his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. Peter asked her, Was this the price you and your husband received for your land? Yes, she replied, that was the price.

6 About three hours later his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. Peter asked her, Was this the price you and your husband received for your land? Yes, she replied, that was the price. And Peter said, How could the two of you even think of conspiring to test the Spirit of the Lord like this? The young men who buried your husband are just outside the door, and they will carry you out, too. Instantly, she fell to the floor and died. When the young men came in and saw that she was dead, they carried her out and buried her beside her husband. Acts 5:7-10(NLT )

7 Great fear gripped the entire church and everyone else who heard what had happened. Acts 5:11(NLT )

The story of the deceit and death of this

historian; he did not suppress this sordid

It throws light on the interior life of this

8 The story of the deceit and death of this married couple is important for several reasons. It illustrates the honesty of Luke as a historian; he did not suppress this sordid episode. It throws light on the interior life of this Spirit-filled community; it was not all romance and righteousness. It is also a further example of the strategy of Satan. John Stott

This episode reveals that God was working dramatically in the church's early days in judgment as

9 We might conclude from what precedes that the church was a sinless community at this time. Unfortunately this was not the case. There were sinning saints in it. This episode reveals that God was working dramatically in the church's early days in judgment as well as in blessing. Luke did not idealize his portrait of the early church but painted an accurate picture, "warts and all." Tom C onstable

10 THE PROPERTY PRINCIPLE Everything you own belongs to you and you can do anything you want with it. Acts 5:1

11 Now a man named Ananias, together with his wife Sapphira, also sold a piece of property.... Didn t it belong to you before it was sold? And after it was sold, wasn t the money at your disposal? Acts 5:1, 4 (NIV)

12 THE PARTNER PRINCIPLE The plans of a husband and wife should be carefully considered. Acts 5:2

13 With his wife s full knowledge he kept back part of the money for himself, but brought the rest and put it at the apostles feet. Acts 5:2 (NIV)

It is used in the Greek translation of the OT for Achan s sin in Joshua 7.

14 kept back (νοσφίζω) This is a word used for financial fraud of all sorts, especially embezzlement. It is used of secretly taking a large sum of money that has been entrusted to you. It is used in the Greek translation of the OT for Achan s sin in Joshua 7. The word is used only twice in the NT (here and Titus 2:10 for stealing), which is likely an indication that Luke is wanting us to think about Achan.

15 THE PROBLEM OF THE PASSAGE A disregard for God and your commitments will be dealt with in the church. Acts 5:3-10

Then Peter said, Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit and have kept for yourself some of the money you received for the land?

16 Then Peter said, Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit and have kept for yourself some of the money you received for the land? Didn t it belong to you before it was sold? And after it was sold, wasn t the money at your disposal? What made you think of doing such a thing? You have not lied just to human beings but to God. Acts 5:3-4 (NIV)

The same verb is used in the command, Be filled with the Spirit (Eph.

17 The verb translated filled is eplērōsen (ἐπλήρωσεν), from plēroō (πληρόω), which here has the idea of control or influence. The same verb is used in the command, Be filled with the Spirit (Eph. 5:18). Ananias, a believer, was influenced by Satan, not the Spirit! Stanley D. Toussaint

18 When Ananias heard this, he fell down and died. And great fear seized all who heard what had happened. Then some young men came forward, wrapped up his body, and carried him out and buried him. Acts 5:5-6 (NIV)

19 One cannot trifle with God with impunity (being exempt from punishment). David Garland

20 About three hours later his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. Peter asked her, Tell me, is this the price you and Ananias got for the land? Yes, she said, that is the price. Acts 5:7 8 (NIV)

21 Peter said to her, How could you conspire to test the Spirit of the Lord? Listen! The feet of the men who buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out also. At that moment she fell down at his feet and died. Then the young men came in and, finding her dead, carried her out and buried her beside her husband. Acts 5:9-10 (NIV)

22 To test the Holy Spirit is to see how much one can get away with before He judges; it means to presume upon Him, to see if He will preform His word, or to stretch Him to the limits of His judgment (cf. Deut. 6:6; Matt. 4:7) Stanley D. Toussaint

23 Lying to the Holy Spirit is a sin that Christians commit frequently today. When Christians act hypocritically by pretending a devotion that is not theirs, or a surrender of life they have not really made, they lie to the Holy Spirit. If God acted today as He did in the early Jerusalem church, undertakers would have much more work than they do. Tom C onstable

24 "WHAT MADE YOU THINK OF DOING SUCH A THING?" God doesn't care. God will not notice. I'll take care of it later. The rules don't apply to me..

25 THE PATTERN PRINCIPLE Leaders and people who are setting the course must live with the highest level of integrity. Acts 5:11

26 Great fear seized the whole church and all who heard about these events. Acts 5:11 (NIV)

27 Today when Christians sin against the body, they lose their peace, the body loses its power, and the blessing of God is withheld. But God does not always show His full feelings about it publicly. Ajith Fernando

28 THE PATTERN PRINCIPLE Adam and Eve (Genesis 3) Cain (Genesis 4) The flood generation (Genesis 6) Nadab and Abihu (Leviticus 10) Achan (Joshua 7) Uzzah (2 Samuel 6) Ananias and Sapphira (Acts 5) The Lord s Supper ( 1 Corinthians 15) A sin unto death (1 John 5:16)

29 We should not interpret the fact that God rarely deals with sinners this way as evidence that He cannot or should not. He does not do so out of mercy. He dealt with Ananias and Sapphira, Achan, Nadab and Abihu, and others severely when He began to deal with various groups of believers. He did so for those who would follow in the train of those judged, in order to illustrate how important it is for God's people to be holy (cf. 1 Cor. 10:6). Furthermore, God always deals more severely with those who have greater privilege and responsibility (cf. Luke 12:48; 1 Pet. 4:17). Tom C onstable

30 LIVING ON MISSION The church is full of imperfect people; get used to it. You have the freedom to use your possessions as a steward of God. Satan can influence you to live in ways that do not please God. Stop pretending. God is not fooled. Neither is anyone else. God will deal with your sin, one way or another. A little dose of the fear of the Lord is not all bad.

This judgment indicates, however, how serious sin is to God and how gracious God is in often

31 In sum, this is a difficult passage because the judgment against Ananias and Sapphira is instantaneous and direct. This judgment indicates, however, how serious sin is to God and how gracious God is in often deferring such judgment. Most sin is not treated so harshly, but at this early stage, such a divine act serves to remind the community of its call to holiness and its loyalty to God. Darrell Bock

32 LIVING ON MISSION The church of Jesus Christ, empowered by the Holy Spirit, keeps its commitments and learns from the lives of others.

33 THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES The Church of Jesus on Mission Empowered by the Spirit

Church without hypocrisy!

Acts 5:1-16 Church without hypocrisy! Church built on Testimony (all Christians are called to be witnesses not to church but to Jesus), Church built on His presence and power (the Body of Christ breathes