Sermon: The Spirit of Truth In Full Manifestation
Scripture: Acts 5:1-11” 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. 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. Great fear gripped the entire church and everyone else who heard what had happened.”
Introduction: It is hard to read the story of Ananias and Sapphira without your eyes becoming wide open with astonishment. In John 16:13, Jesus said to his disciples, “But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come.”
The Church of God, filled with the Holy Spirit and power was experiencing tremendous growth and unity. Observers could see genuine demonstrations of unity and love among these new believers. This new movement was the talk of the town. Even the religious leaders were impressed by the momentum of this new sect. yet as with any new, fast-growing movement, problems will surface. Acts 4 ends with the touchy story of Barnabas, a devout, dedicated Christian, who sold a parcel of land and lay the money at the apostles’ feet to help provide for the needy members of this new society. It is such a blessing to have that kind of concerned person within the church. Our gifts of finances, service, and participation are a part of our worship to God. We should give because we love God, love His people, and support His righteous cause. God could do His work alone; He needs nothing from us yet welcomes our acts of worship because it is good for us and good for others. It is more blessed to give than to receive. Acts 5 follow the Barnabas story. Immediately after Barnabas’ act of pure worship, we find the contrasting actions of a man named Ananias who also came to worship. Deception had grip his heart and his worship was impure and polluted. Now the Church must face a new threat that sought to pollute the worship of the church and hinder its progress.
In Acts 5:1-11, we read how the couple sells a piece of land and gives a portion of the proceeds to the church while claiming to give the entire proceeds. Both the husband and the wife are killed by God in the church after they presented the gift. Up to this point, we have witness the Holy Spirit transforming the lives of ordinary men who able to preach, heal, deliver, and set people free. Multitudes had been added to the church. Peter was the new spokesman and people loved to hear what he had to say. This lesson reveals the Spirit of Truth in full manifestation. Acts 9:31 describes the church this way, “Then had the churches rest throughout all Judaea and Galilee and Samaria, and were edified; and walking in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost, were multiplied.” Over and over, until now, the church had been walking in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, today we learn what it means to walk in the fear of the Lord. To say the least, the story is sobering, and the lessons fill us with shock and awe.
Yet, the Bible says in 2Timothy 3:16-17, “That all Scripture is inspired by God and is profitable for teaching, for rebuking, for correcting, for training in righteousness.” So, what does the story teach us? First, when we share the whole Gospel, it will teach, rebuke, correct and train people in righteousness. The whole Gospel message should be shared with grace and truth held together. Grace alone may tolerate sin, truth alone may be harsh and abusive. Peter shared the whole gospel message, and the church multiplied. The Spirit of Truth in full manifestation in the church teaches at least three lessons from Ananias and Sapphira story.
1. The Spirit of Truth In Full Manifestation Sees Everything.
There is no tricking God. God is omniscient—He knows every thought and every action. This reality should humble each of us. Undoubtedly, there are words we said, thoughts upon which we dwelled, and actions we’ve taken that we know do not align with God’s design and desire for us. And He is very aware of each of them, including how we think about and use financial resources.
The story of Ananias and Sapphira is not the first time we see God demonstrating He knows what transpires in our checking accounts. In Luke 21:1-4, we find Jesus and the disciples outside the temple treasury. Jesus watches the rich hand over numerically large gifts to the temple. Yet, it is the widow who gave two coins who Jesus said provided the largest gift. He knew the financial details of the rich and the widow. He recognized that the widow’s gift was everything while the rich’s gifts were proportionally small to their resources.
God does not just see the money we give. He also sees the money we hold and use for other purposes. He knows about both the tithe and the other 90%. God sees everything.
2. The Spirit of Truth In Full Manifestation Knows Everything.
The Holy Spirit knows what we give and why we give. Giving should not be done for earthly praise. Why did Ananias and Sapphira act as if they were giving the entirety of the sale proceeds? God had not commanded them to do this. They may have been desirous of the recognition received by Barnabus for a similar gift. They may have watched the praise and attention he garnered and longed for the same attention.
In Matthew 6, Jesus warns about generosity motivated by earthly praise—”Thus, when you give to the needy, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by others.” God does not find pleasure in this type of giving because it is driven by a love for self rather than a love for God and others.
Ananias and Sapphira may have been driven by earthly praise. Their gift may have not represented a sacrifice but a transaction. They simply exchanged money for the praise and admiration of others. And it is from this story we learn your giving should not be done for earthly praise.
3. The Spirit of Truth In Full Manifestation Understands Everything.
It’s not only about our words and outward actions, it’s all about the heart. Ananias and Sapphira did not die because they took a portion of the sale proceeds for themselves. Peter makes this clear by saying, “Didn’t it belong to you before it was sold? And after it was sold, wasn’t the money at your disposal?” (Acts 5:4). The problem was not about possession, before or after the sale. Ananias and Sapphira were not obligated to give all or even a portion of the proceeds.
And God will not kill you if you decide to sell your home and give most of the proceeds to the church and keep a portion for yourself. In fact, such a decision could be considered an example of sacrificial generosity. Likewise, God does not kill those who keep a portion of their paycheck for themselves to pay bills and save for the future. Scripture teaches that such a decision can be wise. So, why did they die? Peter’s words to the couple tell us. First, Peter told Ananias, “You have not lied just to human beings but to God” (Acts 5:4). Next, we read Peter’s question to Sapphira, “How could you conspire to test the Spirit of the Lord?” (Acts 5:9).
The issue was not about finances. The finances were merely a symptom of something far more significant. Ananias and Sapphira’s problem were found deep in their hearts. They were attempting to deceive God in a likely attempt to gain man’s praise. God saw the desire to deceive in their hearts and deemed death as the rightful punishment.
Now, does this mean that every time a person tries to deceive God, the result is immediate death? No. But it does teach us that God cares about our hearts. The disposition of our heart is of far more consequence to God than the amount of money placed in an offering plate. He desires trust in Him with all areas of our lives, including our money, and seeks His praise alone. The disposition of our heart is of far more consequence to God than the amount of money placed in an offering plate.
So, what do we do with these lessons learned from Ananias and Sapphira? First, we recognize that we cannot hide anything from God. We cannot fool Him; we cannot make Him think we are somebody we are not. We should approach Him with unrestrained honesty. Second, generosity should be driven by a desire to receive praise from God rather than man. The pursuit of man’s praise can corrupt the heart and lead a person to give in a manner that does not please God. The pursuit of God’s praise will mold the heart to look more like Christ and cause a person to give in a manner that pleases Him.
Finally, we should recognize that our God does not desire our checkbook but our heart. God does not tell us to give because He needs resources. He tells us to give because biblical generosity is indicative of a heart devoted and trusting in Him. We give, not out of an obligation, but as an opportunity to demonstrate our trust in Him and be a part of His mission. Ananias and Sapphira is not a fun, uplifting story. But we should pay close attention to it nonetheless and learn from its lessons.
Deception is not harmless; Lying is not a small thing because the judgment of God is sure. This judgment of God within the church allowed the church to refocus on God’s holiness and His righteous standard. God is a god of Justice and mercy. If it was not for the Lord’s mercy, we would all be consumed. Let this lesson remind us that temptation will come. The temptation to deceive and be deceived has been present in the world since the beginning. Sin entered the garden through deception. Honesty and truth allow the Holy Spirit to flow freely within the Church. Three things we should do with this message:
(1) Let us be clothed with humility and love, living sober, watchful lives, so we can overcome temptation and glorify God. Keeping pride, lust, boasting and vainglory out of our life.
(2) Let us live in love with God, with one another, building up one another and blessing one another. Keeping all jealousy, envy, and strife out of our hearts.
(3) Let us keep growing in the fear of the Lord and in the Comfort of the Holy Ghost. Embracing both His grace and His Truth. Abiding in His word and holding up His standard.
Ac 9:31 “Then had the churches rest throughout all Judaea and Galilee and Samaria, and were edified; and walking in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost, were multiplied.” Amen.
