SERMON OUTLINE:
(1). A contrast worth noting (vs 1-2).
(2). A pair as bad as each other (vs 1-2).
(3). A charge of deceit and lying (vs :3-4,9).
(4). A warning they will never forget (vs 11).
(5). A ministry back on track (vs 12-16)
SERMON BODY:
Ill:
• One summer morning in the 1920s,
• A Scotsman named Arthur Ferguson was casually standing in London's Trafalgar Square.
• His eyes fixed upon some obviously wealthy American tourists,
• Who were admiring the statue of Admiral Lord Nelson and the column it rested on.
• Sudden Ferguson had an idea,
• And he put his remarkable selling ability to work,
• And "sold" Nelson's column to the American for about £6000!
• Realising he was onto a winner,
• Ferguson went on to sell the famous clock Big Ben taking a £1,000 down payment.
• He also took a £2,000 for a down payment from another American tourist,
• As a down payment on Buckingham Palace.
• By the time justice caught up with him,
• Ferguson had added the Eiffel Tower & the Statue of Liberty to the list of his amazing "sales"!
• He spent several years in prison for his remarkable deceptions.
• TRANSITION: Well, that story is quite amusing,
• And we can smile because none of us were his victims,
• It is true to say nobody likes being conned, ripped off,
• And if we do not like it,
• Then we should not be surprised to find that God also does not like it!
• We have been reminded in our songs of worship that the God of the Bible,
• Is a Holy God, he does not like lies and he does not like deceit and hypocrisy!
• But sadly, deceit and hypocrisy are found in todays Bible passage.
(1). A contrast to note (vs 1-2).
“Now a man named Ananias, together with his wife Sapphira, also sold a piece of property. 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.”
• The N.I.V. begins verse 1 with the word ‘now.’
• Most other English translations prefer the word, ‘but.’
• Remember that chapter breaks, and verse numbers were only added for quick reference,
• They are not there in the original text,
• They were added for our convenience,
• So that we can quickly zoom in on a phrase or passage.
• So, verse 1 of this chapter is in many ways linked to chapter 4 verse 36-77.
“Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus, whom the apostles called Barnabas…
sold a field he owned and brought the money and put it at the apostles’ feet.”
Note:
• This incident of Ananias and Sapphira is not an interruption in the flow of the book,
• Rather, it is an integral part of the narrative.
• Ananias, has just seen what Barnabas did and the way people reacted to his generosity,
• That he and his wife thought, “I want some of that recognition!”
• So they decide to do the same thing, that is sell a property.
• The big difference is,
• Their actions are motivated by a completely different spirit than that of Barnabas.
• Barnabas was moved by the Holy Spirit to do this act of selflessness,
• And for that he won much praise and favour from God and men,
• Ananias and Sapphira are moved by a different spirit, a spirit of selfishness,
• Their motivation is envy or jealousy or pride,
• A very different motivation to Barnabas.
Remember that the amount that they give is insignificant,
• The principle is always better to give a smaller amount from a genuine heart,
• Than to give a lot from a resentful or a deceitful heart.
• Or better still, to give generously from a genuine heart!
• The spirit behind the gift is as important as the gift itself.
• God allows every Christian to, ‘decide in his own heart’ what he or she should give.
• Quote: 2 Corinthians chapter 9 verse 7.
“Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.”
Application:
• It is encouraging to note that most of us will not be an apostle Peter or a John.
• We might not be able to perform miracles or preach great sermons,
• Or see hundreds or thousands coming to Christ.
• But each one of us can be a Barnabas, we can be encouragers,
• We can be ‘cheerful givers.’
• Or as one translation puts it, ‘one who gives gladly.’
(2). A pair as bad as each other (vs 1-2).
“Now a man named Ananias, together with his wife Sapphira, also sold a piece of property.
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.”
Joke:
• I just read that in England and Wales 249,793 people got married in the UK last year.
• Now that statistic bothers me! 249,793 people got married,
• Shouldn’t that be an even number?
• TRANSITION: Finding the right partner is so important,
• Had Ananias or Sapphira been a better partner to one another,
• This whole incident would not have happened!
• You would have expected one of them to correct the other,
• (Joke: All the men here are thinking, ‘Yes! Happens in my marriage!’)
• You would have expected one of them to pull the other in the right direction,
• And say, “What we are planning is wrong, we need to be sincere and honest!”
• But sadly, instead of one partner positively correcting the other,
• They both go along with the plan, and so they both fail badly!
Application:
• While none of us are perfect,
• It is good that we can ‘push and pull’ each other in the right direction.
Ill:
• If you have read the Dr Doolittle stories or seen the film,
• It contains a strange creature which is described as, “The rarest animal of all”.
• (Photo on screen) Anyone know what this creature is called?
• Author Hugh Lofting called the creature a ‘pushmi-pullyu’
• (pronounced "push-me—pull-you").
• It is a "gazelle/unicorn cross" with two heads (one of each) at opposite ends of its body.
• And when Dr. Dolittle sees it, he stares at it in amazement.
• The animal says, "Stop staring at me!"
• Dr. Dolittle apologized. "Oh, I am so sorry. I didn’t mean to be rude,"
• "Which head do I talk to?"
• The two headed creature responds, "I listen," said the first head.
• "And I speak," said the second head.
• (Joke: there are a few husbands out there making their own applications of this story!)
• TRANSITION: The creature of course can only move forward,
• If the two heads push and pull in the same direction.
• Christian marriages need that approach,
• We push and pull each other towards the things of Christ!
• And not like Ananias or Sapphira who pulled each other away from the things of Christ!
• Now I have given you the skeleton of an idea,
• You can put the flesh on how that applies in your situation.
Note:
• I think this story is included here,
• Because it brings practical reality into the book of Acts.
• Acts chapter 4 verse 33 is an important verse,
• It is a great summary of the early chapters of Acts.
“With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and much grace was upon them all.”
• We read that verse and we think, ‘Everything in the garden is rosy.’
• It’s a picture of a wonderful community of God’s people.
• And as we read it, we think if only my Church was like that!
• And that is one reason I think DR Luke includes this story.
• He records it to remind his readers that the early Church:
• Was made up of real people just like you and me,
• Not everything was perfect because people are not perfect!
• Recording this incident shows to us the readers,
• That this is an accurate and historical account of the first century Christian Church.
• Experiencing God in a supernatural way, growing at an incredible rate,
• But also prone to human error, because it was made up of forgiven but flawed people.
(3). A charge of deceit and Lying (vs :3-4 & 9).
“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.’”
“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.’
Ill:
• If I was to ask you the top ten crimes that take place in the UK,
• I would imagine lying and deceit would not make your top ten list!
• It is a very common crime and with internet fraud and identity theft,
• And people scamming one another out of large sums of money,
• Lying and deceit is rapidly rising as a major crime.
Note: Many people view this story as ‘over the top.’
• For many people the story sounds judgmental, harsh, cruel, and they argue,
• “Shouldn’t God give Ananias and Sapphira a chance to repent?”
• “Shouldn’t God show grace and mercy and forgiveness to Ananias and Sapphira?”
Remember the context of this story.
• The Church has only recently been born,
• The Holy Spirit has been given,
• God is starting a brand-new work,
• A work that will be global and affect all parts of the world,
• A work that will be timeless in that it will shape the next 2,000 plus years.
• So we could say that God is laying down the foundations, he is setting out the standards,
• He is making sure that his Church starts off the way he intends,
• Before humans try to influence it in other ways.
Personally, I think the big lesson the first Church must learn is this.
• As well as being the Holy Spirit of the miraculous and supernatural,
• The Holy Spirit is first and foremost ‘Holy!’
• (I always say, “There is a clue in his name!”)
• And the Church was about to learn that he will not be mocked by human sin!
• He is holy and he is good, but he will not be trifled with.
• This member of the Godhead will not be mocked.
Ill:
• We see in the Old Testament when God was doing something new,
• It was often accompanied by a reminder of his holiness.
• e.g., #1: The ten commandments (Exodus chapter 10 verse 10).
• God told the people through Moses, to wash their clothes and be ready,
• And that if anyone who touches the mountain will die.
• e.g., #2: The story of Uzzah and the Ark of the Covenant,
• (2 Samuel chapter 6 verses 1-7 & 1 Chronicles chapter 13 verses 9-12).
• As the ark was being transported, the oxen pulling the cart stumbled,
• And a man named Uzzah stuck out his hand to steady the ark.
• And God’s anger burned against Uzzah and He struck him down and he died.
• Uzzah’s punishment does appear to be extreme for what we might consider to be a good deed. But again, the people were reminded that God is a holy God.
• e.g., #3: The story of Achan is to the book of Joshua.
• (Joshua chapter 22 verses 19b–20)
• Quote: The British biblical scholar F.F. Bruce writes,
“The story of Ananias is to the book of Acts what the story of Achan is to the book of Joshua. In both narratives an act of deceit interrupts the victorious progress of God’s people.”
• After the victory of the Israelites at the battle of Jericho,
• Joshua ordered that all of the goods and the wealth of the city were to be devoted to the Lord.
• The people could keep nothing for themselves.
• But in Joshua chapter 7 verse 1 we read,
“But the Israelites acted unfaithfully in regard to the devoted things; Achan, the son of Carmi of the tribe of Judah, took some of them. So, the Lord’s anger burned against Israel.”
• As a result of this crime Israel was defeated in their next battle.
• When the sin of Achan was later discovered he,
• Like Ananias and Sapphira in our study, he was punished by being put to death.
• The Lord will not be mocked. He will not tolerate sin.
• We seem to see that holiness revealed especially at the start of a brand-new work.
Quote: George McDonald writes:
“Half of the misery in the world comes from trying to look,
instead of trying to be, what one is not.”
• Jesus called that practice, “Hypocrisy,”
• Which simply means “wearing the mask” or “playing the actor.”
• We may not live up to all our ideas,
• But that is because we are flawed sinful people.
• But hypocrisy is when we deliberately try to deceive people,
• By trying to make people believe we are something that we are not.
• That was the problem for Ananias or Sapphira,
• They were putting on a show, they were wearing a false mask,
• They were pretending to be genuine but all the time they were frauds!
• This was a premeditated act of deception.
• It was not a simple mistake or oversight,
• They had planned to deceive the apostles and the Church right from the start.
Note:
• Ananias means, ‘God is gracious’, but he was about to learn that God is also ‘holy’.
• Sapphira means ‘beautiful,’ but her heart was ugly with the sin of deception.
Quote: An old black preacher from the South of America once said,
“Be what you is, not what you ain’t;
’cause if you ain’t what you is, you is what you ain’t.”
• In other words, don’t be a fake or a hypocrite.
• It is far easier to be who you are, than to live a lie!
(4). A warning they will never forget! (vs 11)
“Great fear seized the whole church and all who heard about these events.”
Ill:
• Someone has said that the Church today worships,
• “Father, Son and Holy Buddy”
• The point they are making is that we misuse our intimacy with God,
• To mean we can almost treat him how we want,
• Many Christians, have or want God as a buddy on their terms.
• Sorry folks, that is not going to happen!
• The sooner we learn that the better!
• The sooner we learn that,
• The sooner we may experience some of the power of the Holy Spirit like these folk.
• “The fear of the Lord”
• Means we are to live with an attitude of respect, a response of reverence and wonder.
• It is the only appropriate response to our Creator and Redeemer.
Note:
• Now I am glad our study this morning does not conclude with Ananias and Sapphira,
• Although we all need a spiritual ‘wake-up’ call at times!
• Our study concludes with this extra verse 12-16,
• So, let us look briefly at them.
(5). A ministry back on track (vs 12-16)
“The apostles performed many signs and wonders among the people. And all the believers used to meet together in Solomon’s Colonnade. No one else dared join them, even though they were highly regarded by the people. Nevertheless, more and more men and women believed in the Lord and were added to their number. As a result, people brought those who were ill into the streets and laid them on beds and mats so that at least Peter’s shadow might fall on some of them as he passed by. Crowds gathered also from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing those who were ill and those tormented by impure spirits, and all of them were healed.”
Before this sad incident, the early Church was unified, magnified and multiplied!
Question:
• Would the attacks of the evil one derail the Church?
• Or would they overcome his hindering ways?
Answer: The answer is they overcame the attacks of the evil one!
• Look at verse 12: the people are still unified – “all the believers meeting together.”
• Look at verse 13: the people are still magnified – “highly regarded.”
• Look at verse 14: the people are still multiplied – “More & more men & women believed.”
Note:
• Dr Luke mentions ‘women ‘believing’,
• This is something he carries over from his gospel.
• e.g., He tells us it was women who financially supported the ministry of Jesus.
• (Luke chapter 8 verses 1-3)
• (Mary Magdalene, Joanna, the wife of Chuza, Herod’s business manager, Susanna & others)
• Dr Luke is not afraid to go against the cultural grain,
• Long before the modern women’s movement,
• The 19th-century Bible commentator Alfred Plummer,
• Called Luke’s Gospel the “Gospel of Womanhood.”
Note: The phrase “both men and women” will occur frequently in the book of Acts:
• So, look out for it!
• You will notice that women as well as men prayed (chapter 1 verse 14),
• Women as well as men believed (chapter 5 verse 14),
• Women as well as men were baptized (chapter 8 verse 12),
• Women as well as men were imprisoned (chapter 8: verse 3, chapter 22 verse 4),
• Women as well as men and were persecuted (chapter 9 verse 2).
• And there are also other references to specific women involved in other ways,
• Just as there are specific references to men doing certain roles in the Church.
• Dr Luke goes against the culture of his day,
• And shows how women are valued by God and were key people in the early Church.
Note:
• Just as there were special judgements at the beginning of Church history,
• i.e. Ananias and Sapphira
• So, there were special miracles in the book of Acts.
• God worked supernaturally through the apostles (vs 15-16)
• Even the shadow of Peter falling on someone was able to heal people,
• (Not sure anyone one claims that ability today!)
• Now God can and still does perform miracles today,
• Let me give you an example.
Ill:
• Many of you know Ivor Cooper UK evangelist with the Christian organization ‘Counties’,
• He has run holiday clubs and missions at our own Church.
• He was invited for a few weeks to work alongside a Church in Indonesia.
• Most areas of Indonesia are dominated by Islam and evangelism is forbidden.
• Ivor asked one of the Church leaders how come their Church was growing,
• He replied, people come to us sick, they ask us to pray for them.
• We pray for them in “Jesus’ name” and God heals them,
• Then they come back and believe in Jesus!
• No fuss, no whipping up crowds with hours of repetitive emotional singing etc.
• Just seeing a need, meeting the need and glorifying Jesus!
• TRANSITION:
• Miracles in the book of Acts seem to me to be a lead into evangelism,
• People are healed, that ‘sign’ helps them discover Jesus.
SERMON AUDIO:
https://surf.pxwave.com/wl/?id=eM1x3dnOFgH5MDlOwyFRUNbblvzZE223
SERMON VIDEO:
https://youtu.be/ZehxkYt73Mw
