Getting Our Attention
Scriptures: Acts 4:32-5:11; I Corinthians 5:1-7; 2 Peter 2:21
Introduction:
After Jesus rose from the dead and ascended to His Father, He left His disciples with some work to do. They were responsible for establishing His New Testament Church. To accomplish this task, they needed the Holy Spirit (as do we) operating within them and the people needed to be awaken out of their slumber as it related to having a true relationship with God. In other words, I believe that God desired to get their attention in a major way so that they would understand that a change had come. Today, when we look at some of the things going on in our country and in the world – the legalization of immoral behavior, the increase in doctrinal error in the church, the lack of holiness in the church, etc. – some are asking “Where is God? Why isn’t He doing something as He did in the early New Testament Church? In the Bible some people were judged and then died because of their sins. Why aren’t we seeing this happening today? Where is the judgment against sin?”
Many Christians believe that God is not judging us because we are under grace. For them, grace allows them to do what they want to do and still make it to heaven. But the truth of the matter is we are being judged every day by the standard that God has spelled out in the Bible. And that standard has not changed; neither has God. (I read an article two weeks ago by a theologian who said the Church had it totally wrong as it relates to hell. He said Socrates had it right in that hell was not a place of eternal punishment but what a person would experience when they stood before a righteous and loving God and come to understand how they had rejected Him in life. They would be remorseful and coming to a full awareness of how much God loved them their hearts would finally be broken being filled with shame. After this experience their loving God would forgive them and allow them into heaven.) If this is true, is there really a need for anyone to accept Christ on this side of heaven? Why not do whatever you want to do and then just repent when you stand before God because ultimately you will get into heaven regardless according to this thinking? If we get a second chance when we stand before the throne of God, why bother living a righteous life now? However, if this is not true, why are we so desensitized to sin and its results?
If it is true that we are being judged every day according to God’s holy standard then why aren’t people experiencing judgment when they sin? Why is God withholding judgment? This morning we are going to look at two examples of judgment for sin. The first one is found in Acts chapter five and involves the apostle Peter. The second is found in First Corinthians chapter five and involves the apostle Paul.
I. Ananias and Sapphira
The record we are about to read is probably one of the most referred to passages in all of the New Testament about judgment in the early church. It’s the account of Ananias and Sapphira.
We pick the story up in Acts chapter four beginning with verse thirty-two. We’re not going to read verses thirty-two through thirty-seven, but I encourage you to read them when you get home. The believers were in agreement about what God expected of them including the need to take care of each other. Those who had more than they needed, sold their excess and gave the money to the apostles, who distributed it to those in the church who had need. The passage says the people who had “possessions” sold them to meet the needs of those who were less fortunate in the church. Let me give you an example. One camel is a possession. Two or more camels are “possessions”. Today we would replace “camels” with “cars.” They were more concerned about their brothers and sisters than material gain and attention. Remember the apostles did the distributing. Something to think about: if you have more than one car would you be willing to give it to one of your brothers or sisters if they needed it? This is what we’re seeing in Acts chapters four and five.
Now let’s read Acts 5:1-11. “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? While 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.’ 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. And great fear came upon all the church, and upon as many as heard these things.”
After talking about the believers and their attitudes toward helping those who needed assistance in chapter four, Acts chapter five begins with the word “But.” We know that what we are about to read will be different than what we just read. The first two verses say that Ananias and Sapphira sold a possession but didn’t give all of the money from the sale to the apostles. Let me give you this example in today’s terms that will make sense to you. Ananias and Sapphira had a parcel of land they were going to sell and then give all of the proceeds to the church. The key word here is “all”. They told the apostles they could probably get about $100,000 for the land. Well, after putting an ad in the paper a wealthy businessman evaluates the land and realizes it is prime real estate. He sees enough space to accommodate a mini-mall, a movie theatre and high rise office buildings. He meets with Ananias and Sapphira and offers them $500,000 for the land. Can you imagine the look on their faces? They were being offered five times the amount they thought they would get from the sale. They look at each other and smile. In their minds, not only will they be able to give the apostles the $100,000 they had guessed the land would sale for but they would have money left over. In fact, they could give $200,000, twice what they had promised, to the church and still have money for themselves. In their minds it was a win-win for everyone. Have you ever thought like that? Have you ever decided to sell something so that you could give the proceeds to the Church and having sold it kept back part of the proceeds because you received more for the item than your expected? That of course was your choice, but in this case their goal was to make the disciples believe that they had only received what they were giving them versus the total of what they received. Let me continue with the story.
So after depositing the $500,000 check, Ananias writes a personal check for $200,000 to the church. When he meets with Peter, Ananias says, “Peter, God is so good. Remember I told you we may get $100,000 for the land? Look at this Peter – $200,000! See how God has blessed us and how we’re able to bless the church? Isn’t it wonderful Peter?” But Peter looks at Ananias and asks him why he was lying to the Holy Ghost? Notice Ananias wasn’t lying to Peter but to the third person of the Godhead. Whenever we sin, we sin against God as it is His rules that we are breaking even if we hurt our fellowman in the process. So when we lie to one another, we’re sinning against God, not the person we lied to. We need to understand this. Now some of you are sitting here thinking: “I don’t understand. What is the problem? Ananias is giving the church twice as much as he had said he would give. Why wouldn’t it be okay for him to keep a little for himself?”
The problem: Ananias lied. He said they would sell the land and bring all the proceeds to the apostles to use for those in the church who had needs. But instead of bringing all the money he brought some of it. The issue was not the amount that they had promised to give. The issue was the deceit that had been working in Ananias and Sapphira’s heart. What do you mean Pastor? Do you honestly believe that Ananias and Sapphira didn’t tell others in the church how God had blessed them? They may have even taken some of their closest church buddies out for an expensive meal using some of the money. So when Peter receives the check for $200,000 when it should have been for $500,000 don’t you think there were people in attendance who knew that Ananias and Sapphira had promised to give all of the proceeds to the church? I believe that this is very possible and that there were some people sitting there who knew what they did and probably told them that they would do the same thing if it were them.
Continuing with the story, Peter tells Ananias “The money was yours so why didn’t you just tell me that you sold the land for $500,000 and that you and Sapphira were giving the church $200,000 instead of $100,000? That would have been okay because at least you would have been honest. But you decided to lie and make it appear to the church that you were giving all of the money that you received from the sale of the land.” Peter’s words convicted Ananias and he died on the spot.
Now, I want you to picture this in your mind. You came to church and heard Peter deliver a powerful message. Afterwards Ananias asks Peter if he could come up and give a testimony. You know how things turn out. So you’re sitting there in disbelief. Ananias has just dropped dead in church. You hear grasps and whispers throughout the congregation. Then Peter stands up and looks at two of the deacons (Willis and Stacey). He motions for them to come to front of the sanctuary and says “I want you to take Ananias out and bury him.” Willis and Stacey look at each other in disbelief at what happened to Ananias. They have on their Sunday best and Peter has just asked them to go bury Ananias. What would Willis and Stacey be thinking about now? Are they thinking we didn’t come to church for this and we’re not going to do it? Or are they thinking, “Yes sir! Whatever you say, Peter!” Can you see them thinking that if they refused they too could be next in line to be carried out?
While Willis and Stacey are burying Ananias, Sapphira comes in. Can you imagine what went through the minds of the members as she entered the door? Can you see the ushers trying to stop her and warn her about Ananias, but she is so focused on getting to Peter that she ignores them? Can you see the people as they hold their breaths when Peter asks her how much did they get for the land? Can you see them muttering to themselves “Sapphira, please don’t lie. Please don’t lie. Say $500,000?” Can you see members in the choir stand trying to get her attention to tell her not to lie? “Please say to Peter that you sold the land for $500,000.” However, that is not what she did. As Willis and Stacey walked through the door they heard Peter say to her “the feet of them which have buried thy husband are at the door, and shall carry thee out.” They stop in the middle of the aisle as they watch Sapphira fall to the floor dead. As she hit the floor, they looked up at Peter and then at each other. Without saying a word, they pick up Sapphira and walk out the door.
The passage ends with “And great fear came upon all the church, and upon as many as heard these things.” I would guess so. Now the question: why did judgment fall on Ananias and Sapphira? I believe that when the people are named in the New Testament it’s because they have a voice in the lives of church members. I believe, without any additional Scriptural proof, but just my personal belief, that both Ananias and Sapphira were influential voices in the early church and they had resources. They had the ability to lead people away from the Apostle’s doctrine and that’s why judgment was passed upon them and they died early. Again, it was an act of love on God’s part as it was possibly better for them to die now versus falling out with the Apostles later and attempting to undo what they were doing. Again, I do not know, but there is a reason why this story was included in the Scriptures and more importantly, why they actually died for doing something we have all done in our lifetime. I also believe that this story serves as a warning to us about God’s expectations even though we are not falling down dead immediately when we lie. God’s position on deceit is the same as it was when this story happened. Let’s examine one additional story from the book of First Corinthians.
II. A Son Having His Father’s Wife
In First Corinthians chapter five, the apostle Paul addresses an issue raised by believers in the church at Corinth. Some were beginning to accept ungodly and unholy behavior as not being sinful or immoral. This chapter contains the record of a son being intimate with his father’s wife. Yes, you heard me – a son has been in bed with his father’s wife and some in the church didn’t have a problem with it. My only hope is that his father’s wife was his stepmother. Let’s look at the record in First Corinthians 5:1-7.
“It is reported commonly that there is fornication among you, and such fornication as is not so much as named among the Gentiles, that one should have his father's wife. And ye are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he that hath done this deed might be taken away from among you. For I verily, as absent in body, but present in spirit, have judged already, as though I were present, concerning him that hath so done this deed, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when ye are gathered together, and my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, to deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus. Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump? Purge out therefore the old leaven that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us.”
Here in this chapter Paul is dealing with fornication (by definition, fornication is sex outside of marriage.) It was a problem in the church at Corinth. He says “It is reported commonly …” In other words this sinful behavior was becoming more and more acceptable in the church. Can you imagine a son sleeping with his mother like his father sleeps with her and it not be an issue with people in the Church? What about the father? The passage is silent about him but if the church knew about it don’t you think he did too? While we may be shocked by this passage – at least I hope you are – it’s not all that different from what we’re seeing in society today. Sexual immorality is rampant in our country and in the world and today (even though we all have a history) it’s becoming the norm and fully acceptable in the Church. For example, this past week two lesbians married another lesbian in Massachusetts. The third woman is pregnant by a sperm donor. When the baby is born he or she will have three mommies. Is this really all that different from what we’re reading here in I Corinthians? And many Christians, including those who stand in the pulpit, are like the Corinthian believers – they are accepting this ungodly behavior as being okay because they are living by a standard other than the Bible.
Another example: In a recent Christian Mingle survey more than 60 percent of the Christians who responded say they reject the idea of waiting until marriage to have sex. One young lady said "Even though I knew it was wrong, I continued to have sex outside of marriage. Why? Because when you're single you don't want to be lonely." I hope you are seeing the true issue here – people are making decisions based on their emotions. Our emotions will never agree with the Bible. If you are born again then you will know when you are living and behaving contrary to the life of God on the inside of you. The three lesbians gave no indication that their behavior was wrong while the young lady who responded to the survey did. Based on what I’ve told you so far and what you know from the Bible, do you believe that anyone can get into heaven believing that what they do is right regardless of if it goes against the word of God?
Here in I Corinthians the believers didn’t have a problem with what the son was doing. Paul says they were “puffed up”. Their pride was causing them to accept this sinful behavior. In verse three Paul tells the believers that he has “judged” the situation. In other words, he’s telling the people that his judgment does not agree with their judgment. He then tells them that the next time they meet for church services to “deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.”
Now, I want to make sure that you understand what Paul is saying. It would be better for this person to die now so that he can still make it to heaven than to continue in sin and ultimately spend an eternity in the lake of fire. Do you see the love in this? Now we know that the Lord is speaking through Paul. Remember 2 Peter 2:21 says “holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost”? The Lord is saying that “I love him so much that I would rather he die while he still had his salvation because if he doesn’t die now he will die in sin and go to the lake of fire.”
There are two more things you need to see in this passage. First, by telling the people to deliver or surrender the person sleeping with his father’s wife to Satan, Paul is letting us know that it is possible to live the type of sinful lifestyle that can cause us to lose our salvation. Don’t miss this point. Second, in verse six Paul says “Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump?” He’s talking about doctrine here. Remember Jesus told the disciples to beware of the leaven (doctrine) of the Pharisees in Matthew 16:11-12? The doctrine that was beginning to spread was the fact that they could live a sinful lifestyle and still go to heaven. Paul is making it abundantly clear that this is not the case. He says “Purge out therefore the old leaven.” In other words, “return to Godly standards because if you don’t you may be turned over to Satan and die early too.” In this example we see that the judgment was related to the believers beginning to accept wrong doctrine as a way of life. Had this wrong doctrine become engrained in the lives of the people many more would have either died prematurely and gone to heaven or lived a life of sin that would cost them their salvation and condemned them to an eternity in the lake of fire.
Conclusion
Some of you are thinking, “Pastor, I understand the message this morning but you still haven’t told us why we are not seeing more judgment for sin.” From my reading of scripture, I don’t think there is anyone on earth right now today walking in enough truth and love for God’s love to flow through them like Peter and Paul. Remember Ananias and Sapphira died and they probably made it into heaven even though they died as a result of their sin. Paul said that the man in I Corinthians 5 should be turned over to Satan (possibly resulting in his death) so that his spirit could be saved. In other words, his possible early death could have kept him from totally rejecting God and losing his new found salvation. This is how much God loved them. Ideally, God wants everyone to have a chance to change what needs to be changed before they stand before Him in judgment.
So let me go back to the title, “Getting Our Attention.” What will it take for God to get our attention about our lifestyle? If you saw someone struck down dead before you because they lied, would you stop lying because you were a Christian? If you heard (and verified beyond a doubt) that a young man in the Church was sleeping with his step-mother, would you whisper behind his back telling others or would you bring them both before the Church leadership so that it could be dealt with? What will it take for God to get our attention so that we return to His standard for living versus accepting as normal what the world defines as normal?
There was a time when slavery was accepted as normal in this country. The slave was told that it was God’s will for him/her to be in slavery and therefore they should not complain or desire to be freed. Eventually this way of living was abandoned because it became unacceptable. Well if you look closely at what is happening today in our society, God’s plan for how we should live is becoming unacceptable by the world and Christians are following right along with them. God’s decree about how we should live is becoming extinct. Everything is acceptable as long as it falls within the “acceptable” definitions of the world. Lying is acceptable as long as you get away with it and, if by chance you get caught, just ask for forgiveness. If a pastor takes actions against someone in the Church who is living outside of God’s will, then that pastor is judging and forgetting about his or her sins as a youth. We are lowering our standards to the point where we will not have a standard.
I was talking with my brother last week and he suggested that I get some “Just for Men” and cover up some of my grey hair. I told him that I was married and did not need to look any younger as I had worked hard for my grey hair. But as I thought about today’s message, I realize that this is what we are doing with God’s word. We read it but we try to color (change) those areas that we do not like. We brush those areas with a different color that makes it more likeable to others. Don’t you realize that we cannot do that? Regardless of how we interpret, change or color His word, His word still means exactly what it says. It’s is like buying a branded product versus a generic. There are some things that I eat that I will not buy a generic form of it. I like that particular brand and nothing else will do. Well God’s word is His brand. You can try and get a generic version of it, whether it comes through the world, how you choose to interpret it, or what you hear coming from some religious leaders. What we need to know is that there is no generic form of God’s word that should be acceptable to any Christian.
When Ananias and Sapphira fell dead before the Church for lying, that got everyone’s attention and fear came upon the Church. That fear was in the form of understanding that God meant business. What will God have to do today in our life to get our attention?
Until next time, “The Lord bless you and keep you. May the Lord make His face shine on you and be gracious to you. May the Lord lift up His countenance on you and give you peace.” (Numbers 6:24-26)
