12-year-old girls were beginning to use lipstick and would put it on in the bathroom. then they would press their lips to the mirror leaving dozens of little lip prints. Every night the maintenance man would remove them and the next day the girls would put them back. Several memos were posted about this without effect..
Finally principal called all the girls to the bathroom and met them there with the maintenance man.
She explained that all these lip prints were causing a problem for the custodian who had to clean the mirrors every night. To demonstrate how difficult it was to clean the mirrors, she asked the maintenance man to show the girls just how hard it was. The custodian took out a long-handled squeegee solemnly dipped it in the nearest toilet bowl, and scrubbed at the mirror. There was complete silence in the room. Since then, there have been no lip prints on the mirror. There are Teachers ... and then there are Educators.
What we need today is an education - and this story is the one to do it!
AC 5:1-12 Now a man named Ananias, together with his wife Sapphira, also sold a piece of property. 2 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. 3 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? 4 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 to men but to God."
5 When Ananias heard this, he fell down and died. And great fear seized all who heard what had happened. 6 Then the young men came forward, wrapped up his body, and carried him out and buried him. 7 About three hours later his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. 8 Peter asked her, "Tell me, is this the price you and Ananias got for the land?"
"Yes," she said, "that is the price."
9 Peter said to her, "How could you agree to test the Spirit of the Lord? Look! The feet of the men who buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out also." 10 At that moment she fell down at his feet and died. Then the young men came in and, finding her dead, carried her out and buried her beside her husband. 11 Great fear seized the whole church and all who heard about these events. 12 The apostles performed many miraculous signs and wonders among the people. And all the believers used to meet together in Solomon’s Colonnade.
What could create such trauma as to drop over dead?
Did they die? Was it symbolism - removed from the fellowship?
Life and Death meant different things in the Bible - to us it is merely biological - focus on ME
Matt 7:14 But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.
Matt. 10:39 Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.
John 3 Nicodemus you must be born again
Eternal Life - not merely a body that never dies - but eternal community - oneness
JN 14:6 Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life
Unity with Jesus and God is everything! Life is more than eating and breathing and sleeping and working!
Life was to be significantly involved in community - community mattered more than individual
Death not merely the end of life - the absence of animation or breathing
Cain - death sentence = exile not physical death
Death was exile - banishment. Lepers, demon possessed - exiled - to live among tombs was reminder that they were dead.
Sin Kills - mangles the soul - it’s hard to mend a mangled body - but only God can heal a mangled soul
Having said that - I believe that they died physically because of heart failure - they realized what they gave up
What did they give up?
Let me give you some background
AC 4:32-36 All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they shared everything they had. 33 With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and much grace was upon them all. 34 There were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned lands or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales 35 and put it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to anyone as he had need.
36 Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus, whom the apostles called Barnabas (which means Son of Encouragement), 37 sold a field he owned and brought the money and put it at the apostles’ feet.
They desecrated the fellowship - betrayed the community, not only of others but of the Holy Spirit
What were you thinking! You didn’t just lie to us - you lied to the Holy Spirit
In this new Kingdom had a new life, a new song, a new language and new family and new purpose.
AND They threw out pure heaven for momentary fame - No wonder the very realization of all they forfeited slew them.
What if you had the choice between 5 minutes of international fame or a lifetime of relatively obscure but deeply satisfying community?
Contrast Barnabus with Annanias and Sapphira
Went from faithful and generous to envious and possessive Come on - Is holding back a crime?
Core problem not selfishness but lying - posturing - image management
Does this make my hips look big? Hair color, botox - implants
Who were these two lying to primarily? God - like David - Against you and you alone have I sinned
Lying to the community and to the HS was enough to drain the life out of them. It’s not nice to fool mother nature, but it is disastrous to deceive the church. Lying to God and one another should drain the life out of us, Being exposed for our hypocrisy is devastating
Unlike the attitude today - I’m going to Hell and it’s fine with me - so what!
What has happened to a healthy fear of God?
Lay out the Facts
1 - No secret will be forever hid - no sin forever covered
Luke 12:1-3 "Be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. 2 There is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known. 3 What you have said in the dark will be heard in the daylight, and what you have whispered in the ear in the inner rooms will be proclaimed from the roofs.
2 - There is always a reward for giving
Matt. 6:1-4 "Be careful not to do your `acts of righteousness’ before men, to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven. 2 "So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. 3 But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4 so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.
Luke’s writings are filled with stories about money - Luke 7 Debtors, Luke 10 Good Samaritan, Luke 12 Rich fool, Luke 16 unjust steward and Rich man and Lazarus, Luke 18 rich ruler Luke 19 Zaccheaus
Wealth was not seen as a sign of Divine approval, but rather a warning - Danger - be careful,
People complain that churches talk too much of money, makes me squirm like pulling slivers from my hand, but if I don’t pull the sliver
Part of the reward for giving comes in the accomplishment of the mission - $20 goes far
3 - Our Treasure and our heart are inseparably connected
Matt. 6:19-21 Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
What I don’t like about money is that it betrays me - I can fool anyone with bible talk, knowledge of the scriptures. But you ask my family - I am cheap (I prefer thrifty)
I can pretend about my feelings (phony cheery voice on the phone) and not let others know how I am doing on the inside. I can hide most of my sins and temptations fears and insecurities. But if anyone audits my spending (and I know that one day God will) they will know where my heart truly lies
We fear an audit by the IRS more than one by God.
It will be obvious what kind of giver I am, do I give regularly in secret as well as in worship - cheerfully and without regret? Do I give my first and best or only what’s convenient. I can mask my lack of spirituality by giving only when it is visible or when I can have plenty left over. What do I do if I find in my wallet a %5 and a $50 - a $10 or a $100. Do I search out secret ways to bless God’s children? Do I look at my paycheck and find the biggest number to calculate the offering of my tithe?
4 - This is not a passage about giving everything
Levite Barnabus would not own property in Jerusalem, his family inheritance was to care for the Temple and he would live in homes owned by the nation of Israel. The property he sold was land in Cyprus - which he no longer needed now that he was working full time in the service of Jesus.
Gift giving is voluntary - prompted by the Holy Spirit
Intended to match needs with resources.
We will always be able to find more needs - watch commercials
God’s power can heal the sick, raise the dead, save the lost, release the grip of possessions. The same miraculous power that made the lame man walk prompted Barnabus to sell his property.
5 - Lying is so commonplace we don’t feel the tentacles of death
Lying is so pervasive - weight on Drivers license Dad said he’s not home - OK I lied, so what!
It is a sad thing - backbiting, lying, deceit, political manipulation are so common in the world that we don’t bat an eye when it enters the church. It wasn’t always that way. As a result we experience death! No Kidding! Do you see Acts 4:32-35 happening in churches often?
6 - True Community has a high Price
You can’t experience it without commitment -
100 commitment units - 10 for entertainment, 30 for work, 10 for golf, 10 for family sports activities, 10 for the night out with the guys, 10 to watch TV sports, 5 for the wife, 5 for Sunday morning worship, 5 to teach Friendship Village - what’s left? As a result - when we find out that it costs 30 for a satisfying experience in spiritual community, we have overspent, and there Isn’t enough left - so we go without.
We over commit to meaningless or lesser things and haven’t the commitment left. It Isn’t a matter of want to - we have just spent our commitment resources.
The key issue for the church is not growth but health -
Healthy churches have conflict, but it grow because of it.
Unhealthy churches are filled with conflicts, spiritual carnality, leaders who are more interested in control than allowing the Holy Spirit to lead. The focus of toxic churches is inward. They are ingrown, lack vision, lack passion for souls, are comfortable, apathetic and satisfied to play church.
Unhealthy churches are characterized by five deadly diseases.
1. Toleration of known sin — gossip, carnality, and critical spirit. Healthy churches practice the Biblical principles found in Matthew 18:15-17.
a. Lack of reproductive ministries. Healthy churches have a plan to equip members for ministry. Leaders are mobilized according to the teachings found in Ephesians 4:11-16 and 2 Timothy 2:2.
b. Unhealthy churches are content with the status quo. Healthy churches have a compelling passion for Kingdom growth and recommitted to carrying out the Great Commission of Matthew 28:19-20.
c. Prayers turned inward = selfish church. Healthy churches prayer is turned outward. They pray with a deep passion for lost people who need Jesus.
d. Overly organized for the size of church. Healthy churches have a simple organization with a focus on having time for ministry and not attending more meetings.
Randy Frazee writes, " God intends the church, not to be one more bolt on the wheel of activity in our lives, but the very hub at the center of one’s life….."
