Ananias, Sapphira, & Church Discipline Today

INTRODUCTION

• We will discuss the need to respect Church Leadership and will minutely examine church discipline for today.

• What about the attitude, "Well, I'm anointed too…?" In the scriptural context, this was talking about "top-tier leadership."

I. THEIR INITIAL PROBLEM – A PLOT TO DECEIVE

A. FROM THE TEXT...

1. Ananias and Sapphira sold a possession and brought "a portion of the proceeds" to the apostles. The sin was not in keeping back a share but in the deception that they were bringing it all. – Ac 5:1-2

a. From the context, we know that they intended to deceive the Apostles and leave the impression that they had given the total proceeds to the Church.

b. Pride will destroy you every time.

B. THE DEATH OF ANANIAS

1. Peter challenges Ananias – Ac 5:3-4

a. Why has he allowed Satan to enter his heart to lie to the Holy Ghost?

1) The land and proceeds from the sale all belonged to him and his wife to do whatever they wanted.

b. He has not lied to men but to God!

2. Ananias drops dead – Ac 5:5-6

a. Upon hearing the words of Peter, Ananias drops dead and young men carry him out of the presence of the apostles.

b. Great fear (reverential trust) came upon all who heard.

3. The relationship of the apostles to the Holy Spirit

a. Lying to the apostles was like lying to the Holy Spirit because they were operating under the unction of the Holy Spirit - cf. Jn 16:13

II. THE DEATH OF SAPPHIRA

A. FROM THE TEXT...

1. Peter confronts Sapphira – Ac 5:7-9

a. Sapphira enters three hours later, unaware of her husband's death, and lies about the amount just like her husband had, and she is struck dead for lying to the Holy Ghost.

b. Why did she agree with her husband to test the Spirit? Those who buried her husband carried her out too.

2. After Sapphira's death, great fear (reverential trust) came upon the people towards the Holy Spirit and the apostles. – Ac 5:10-11

• Special Notes

o In this, Sapphira was accountable to the Apostles and the Holy Ghost.

o The Holy Spirit exposed her conspiracy with her husband to lie to the Holy Ghost, costing her her life.

o Using the excuse of being in submission to her husband would not work. She had lied to the Holy Ghost. (The spirit of deception will cost you every time.)

B. Lying to the apostles was like lying to the Holy Ghost and is considered a serious offense against Him, even today!

1. Study the OT stories of Nadab & Abihu for similarities – Lev 10:1-3

2. Both incidents occurred at the beginning of their respective dispensations

a. Nadab and Abihu were struck down just as the Law of Moses began.

b. Ananias and Sapphira were struck down just as the Church began.

c. Both make the point: God's Word and His spokesmen must be taken seriously.

III. CHURCH DISCIPLINE AS OUTLINED IN THE SCRIPTURES

A. Jesus and His apostles taught church discipline.

1. Mt 18:15-17

2. 1Co 5:1-13

3. 2Th 3:6-15

* Of course, church discipline is different today. Church discipline calls for withdrawal from the one who refuses to repent, not death. The purpose is so the spirit they are of doesn't spread to the rest of the congregation. - cf. Mt 18:17; 1Co 5:13; 2Th 3:6,14

B. Church discipline can have a positive effect on the community.

1. Respect for the Apostles (no one dared try to join them) - cf. Ac 5:11,13-14

2. One effect of such discipline is to preserve the purity of the Church - 1Co 5:6-8

CONCLUSION

• What is our attitude towards those in top-tier leadership today? (King Saul was trying to kill David, but David would not touch "the anointed leader of Israel")

• The story of Ananias and Sapphira teaches us that God-appointed, top-tier leadership in God's Church is to be taken seriously.

• Lord, help us have the right attitude toward our leaders today! May we please You in our interactions with them.

Psalms 24:3-5

3. Who shall ascend into the hill of the LORD? or who shall stand in his holy place?

4. He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully.

5. He shall receive the blessing from the LORD and righteousness from the God of his salvation.