All Things Common
Acts Chapter 4:32-5:11
We are continuing on in our study of the early church as it is revealed to us in the Book of Acts, and I have really enjoyed just spending some time with these incredible examples and fantastic followers of Christ!
The early church was not perfect, they had their flaws and weaknesses, but God was working mightily through them to transform this world by His power – an amazing thing to see!
As we look in our Bibles in Acts chapter 4 today, we see some INCREDIBLY FAITHFUL DISCIPLES!
1) THE FAITHFUL DISCIPLES
Acts 4:32-37 32And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul: neither said any of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common. 33And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all. 34Neither 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, 35And laid them down at the apostles’ feet: and distribution was made unto every man according as he had need. 36And Joses, who by the apostles was surnamed Barnabas, (which is, being interpreted, The son of consolation,) a Levite, and of the country of Cyprus, 37Having land, sold it, and brought the money, and laid it at the apostles’ feet.
It is amazing to see how God has blessed this church in our passage today.
Acts 2:41 41Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.
Acts 4:4 4Howbeit many of them which heard the word believed; and the number of the men was about five thousand.
They have grown in absolutely incredible ways – yet in their prosperity and growth, they have not lost what it is that God desired for them to do.
Acts 2:42-45 42And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers. 43And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles. 44And all that believed were together, and had all things common; 45And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need.
Acts 4:32 32And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul: neither said any of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common.
They were able to do what so many churches are not able to do today – see amazing increase and yet remain check it out: 1) of ONE HEART and 2) of ONE SOUL.
NOTICE WHAT ELSE THEY CONTINUED TO DO: Acts 4:33 33And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all.
Just as we saw earlier in Acts 1:8 when Jesus told them that “they would be witnesses”.
They are still following the plan that God gave them - the plan that He desires for us to follow today!
IT IS SO IMPORTANT THAT THE CHURCH STAY TRUE TO THE MISSION THAT IT WAS GIVEN!
The Word of God mentions one of these incredible believers by name, actually by two names:
Acts 4:36-37 36And Joses, who by the apostles was surnamed Barnabas, (which is, being interpreted, The son of consolation,) a Levite, and of the country of Cyprus, 37Having land, sold it, and brought the money, and laid it at the apostles’ feet.
JUST A LITTLE FUN FACT HERE: Barnabas’ name wasn’t Barnabas – it was Joses.
But because of how incredible this man was – because of his incredible heart, life, and godly testimony, the apostles gave him a different name – Barnabas (the son of consolation – encouragement).
IS IT ANY WONDER GOD USED THIS MAN IN INCREDIBLE WAYS?
IF THOSE THAT WE ARE CLOSE TO US WERE TO GIVE US A NEW NAME, WHAT WOULD IT BE?
MEGA-STOMA (Loud mouth) MAKROTHUMOS (Patient one) DOTES (Giver)
You might ask someone close to you this week – see what they say!
Really in this early church – things just seem to be going too good to be true – don’t they?
This is like heaven on earth – Utopia!
Then it happens – the first blemish mentioned on the early church. We must remember that these people were made out of the same stuff that we are – and right on the heals of Barnabas being commended for his incredible generosity and life – we find some imposters – some deceivers attempting to be something they are not!
Acts 5:1-6 1But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession, 2And 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. 3But 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? 4Whiles 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. 5And Ananias hearing these words fell down, and gave up the ghost: and great fear came on all them that heard these things. 6And the young men arose, wound him up, and carried him out, and buried him.
Coming just after the end of chapter four we see this happen – almost as a continuum – note the first word: BUT: We just looked at an excellent example set for us in Barnabas, and now we will see a terrible one.
2) THE FUTILE DECEPTION
We do not know much about Ananias and Sapphira – this is the only passage in which we find them mentioned.
But God teaches us an incredible TRUTH in this passage.
GOD HATES HYPOCRISY – HE ALWAYS HAS!
The one sin Jesus criticized the religious leaders of His day about most – HYPOCRISY!
Matthew 23:13-15, 25-30 13But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye neither go in yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in. 14Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye devour widows’ houses, and for a pretence make long prayer: therefore ye shall receive the greater damnation. 15Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is made, ye make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves. 25Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess. 26Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first that which is within the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be clean also. 27Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men’s bones, and of all uncleanness. 28Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity. 29Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! because ye build the tombs of the prophets, and garnish the sepulchres of the righteous, 30And say, If we had been in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partakers with them in the blood of the prophets.
SEVEN TIMES HE CRITICIZES THEM FOR SEEKING TO BE SOMETHING THEY WEREN’T.
GOD HAS ALWAYS WANTED US TO BE REAL!
WE NEED TO BE HONEST WITH OURSELVES, WITH OTHERS, AND MOST OF ALL WITH GOD!
WE CANNOT BE THE WITNESSES THAT GOD DESIRES US TO BE – WE CANNOT HAVE RELATIONSHIPS WITH EACH OTHER THAT GOD DESIRES FOR US TO HAVE (THE KIND OF RELATIONSHIP THAT THIS PASSAGE IS TALKING ABOUT) UNLESS WE ARE WILLING TO BE HONEST AND REAL WITH EACH OTHER!!!
None of us are perfect – we all have our flaws – it is God who desires to work in and through us (in spite of our flaws) to accomplish His plan with our lives!
PLEASE DON’T MISS THIS ONE THING ABOUT ANANIAS AND SAPPHIRA:
The judgment of God did not fall on them because they GAVE TOO LITTLE.
Acts 5:3-4 3But 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? 4Whiles 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.
2 Corinthians 9:6-7 6But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully. 7Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.
They could have kept every penny – the judgment fell because of their deceit and dishonesty!!
Galatians 6:7-8 7Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. 8For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.
The judgment of God fell because they BOTH made a fatal decision.
3) THE FATAL DECISION
Acts 5:7-11 7And it was about the space of three hours after, when his wife, not knowing what was done, came in. 8And Peter answered unto her, Tell me whether ye sold the land for so much? And she said, Yea, for so much. 9Then 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. 10Then 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. 11And great fear came upon all the church, and upon as many as heard these things.
They were in on this together – it was something that they planned to do as a couple – probably hoping to receive the accolades that Barnabas received.
Instead of receiving COMMENDATION,
They received CONDEMNATION!
You can fool SOME of the people ALL of the time, and ALL of the people SOME of the time, but you can’t fool GOD – ANY OF THE TIME.
When we will be real and honest with each other and real and honest with GOD; that is when He will lift us up!
James 4:10 10Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.
1 Peter 5:6 6Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:
Matthew 23:12 12And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.
SO, HOW ABOUT US TODAY?
ARE WE HONEST WITH GOD? ARE WE HONEST WITH EACH OTHER?
ARE WE HONEST WITH OURSELVES?
I THINK WE WILL FIND TODAY, AS WE ARE OPEN AND HONEST WITH EACH OTHER;
WE WILL DEVELOP RELATIONSHIPS WITH ONE ANOTHER LIKE THIS EARLY CHURCH HAD.
AS WE ARE ABLE TO WALK IN INTEGRITY RATHER THAN HYPOCRISY; GOD WILL WORK IN OUR LIVES SHAPING US INTO THE INDIVIDUALS HE DESIRES FOR US TO BE.
SHAPING OUR CHURCH INTO THE BODY HE DESIRES IT TO BE.
LETS PRAY TODAY AND ASK GOD TO WORK IN OUR LIVES – REVEALING ANY HYPOCRISY, SIN, OR DECEPTION IN OUR LIVES – THAT HE WOULD PURGE AND CLEANSE US.
