Leadership Magazine carried a story about 4 young men, Bible College students, who were renting a house together. One Saturday morning someone knocked on their door. And when they opened it, there stood this bedraggled-looking old man. His eyes were kind of marbleized, & he had a silvery stub of whiskers on his face.
His clothes were ragged & torn. His shoes didn’t match. In fact, they were both for the same foot. And he carried a wicker basket full of unappealing vegetables that he was trying to sell. The boys felt sorry for him & bought some of his vegetables just to help him out. Then he went on his way.
But from that time on, every Saturday he appeared at their door with his basket of vegetables. As the boys got to know him a little bit better, they began inviting him in to visit a while before continuing on his rounds.
They soon discovered that his eyes looked marbleized, not because of drugs or alcohol, but because of cataracts. They learned that he lived just down the street in an old shack. They also found out that he could play the harmonica, & that he loved to play Christian hymns, & that he really loved God.
So every Saturday they would invite him in, & he would play his harmonica & they would sing Christian hymns together. They became good friends, & the boys began trying to figure out ways to help him.
One Saturday morning, the story says, right in the middle of all their singing & praising, he suddenly said to them, "God is so good!" And they all agreed, "Yes, God is so good." He went on, "You know why he is so good?" They said, "Why?" He said, "Because yesterday, when I got up & opened my door, there were boxes full of clothes & shoes & coats & gloves. Yes, God is so good!" And the boys smiled at each other & chimed in, "Yes, God is so good."
He went on, "You know why He is so good?" They answered, "You already told us why. What more?" He said, "Because I found a family who could use those things, & I gave them all away." (www.sermoncentral.com)
Can you imagine what it would be like to be that generous despite your own needs? To be that caring, and generous, and helpful? More than that, can you imagine what it would be like to be a part of a church that was filled with people like that?
In our text today, we see that this was what the early church in Jerusalem was like. However, we also see that this church wasn’t perfect, that it also had its hypocrites and those that were greedy and selfish. And we see the reaction of God towards both of these attitudes.
As we examine this passage were not just going to analyze it, but we are going to see how to apply it to where we are today in our personal lives and in our church lives. We are going to see what it takes to construct a church of greatness and what it takes to destruct a church of greatness.
I. Pursuing a Helping Atmosphere
When we consider this church in Jerusalem, we are automatically hit with the fact that they were occupied with ministering to both those that were inside the church, and those that were outside. They had balance. There was an effort to care for everyone. There was an effort to help every one. When a person walked in among them, they knew right up front that they were in the midst of a helping atmosphere.
This is how we need to be. The Bible reveals that those without Christ are helpless and hopeless, and will remain that way until we as believers take the message of Jesus to them where they are. That is our mission, our mandate, and our objective.
But at the same time, we are aware that once a person is a believer, that that is not the end of all problems. We still go through difficult times - times of sickness, sorrow, failure, loss. And in these times we need one another. As Galatians 6:2 says, “to bear one another’s burdens.”
This early church had this balance. So, can we - but how? Notice how the passage begins.
“And the congregation of those who believed were of one heart and soul…” (4:32a)
They were united. So much so it says they were one in heart are soul. They were knit together in the way they acted, in the way they felt, in the way they thought. This doesn’t mean they didn’t have differences in opinions. It does mean, however, that they were able to get the wrinkles out so that they could come together and maintain the helping atmosphere.
While studying this passage, what Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 12 immediately came to mind. “For even as the body is one and yet has many members, and all the members of the body, though they are many, are one body.” (v.12)
“But now, God has placed the members, each one of them, in the body, just as he has desired. And if they were all one member, where would the body be? But now there are many members, but one body.” (vv.18-20)
“That there should be no division in the body, but that the members should have the same care for one another. And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; if one member is honored all the members rejoice with it. Now you are Christ’s body, and individually members of it.” (vv.25-27)
What Paul was calling the Corinthian church to was what this church in Jerusalem already had. They operated as one body. They were all on the same page.
If you have been saved, then you are a part of the body of Christ here at First Baptist Church. Yes, we are individuals, made up of different personalities, experiences, tastes, and opinions. But we are also one. We need one purpose, one aim, one rallying point. Something that exceeds our differences. Something that is greater than having to get our own way.
This Church had it. We need it. But what is that “Something”? I’ll put it like this so that you can remember it.
Our purpose is to Exalt the Savior by Evangelizing the Sinner and Equipping the Saints. We are here for no other reason!!
Because they were all committed to that purpose, they experienced unity. They experienced productivity. Because they had that unity, notice what the passage goes on to say in verse 32,
“Not one of them claimed that anything belonging to him was his own; but all things were common property to them.”
This clearly shows their concern and compassion for one another.
“And with great power the apostles were giving witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus.” (v.33)
This shows their concern and compassion for those outside the church.
When we look at this church, we see simplicity. We it comes down to it all they really did was Trust God, Love One Another, And Share Jesus. Simple – yet effective. Simple – yet essential
Can you say today that you regularly do these things? How do you try helping other believers? What are you doing to help lost people come to know Jesus? If you are not doing anything to help in these areas, then you are not committed to the purpose of the church. And instead of being an asset, you place yourself in a position to be a hindrance.
II. Examining a Heroic Action
Notice what our text goes on to say. “For there was not a needy person among them, for all who were owners of land and houses would sell them and bring the proceeds of the sales, and lay them at the apostle’s feet; and they would be distributed to each, as any had need.”
This was not something that forced or required, as we will see in a moment. Some have asserted that this church practiced communistic principles. Rather they sacrificially gave because of love for one another. They saw a need, and those that had the means took care of it, no matter what they had to give up. Anyway most of the ones in need were ones that had given up a lot just to be a part of the church. Some were pilgrims that remained in Jerusalem after the church was formed, thus starting a brand new life. Others perhaps had lost their jobs after the first persecution had broke out. Whatever the reason though, their needs were taken care of.
Luke draws out a specific person. Someone that we can look at and point to as one that had caught the vision and was committed to the purpose. And this is only an introduction, for we will see this person several times throughout the book of Acts.
“And Joseph, a Levite of Cyprian birth, who was also called Barnabas by the apostles (which translated means, Son of Encouragement) and who owned a tract of land, sold it and brought the money and laid it at the apostle’s feet.” (vv.36-37)
Great churches are made up of great individuals. Barnabas was extremely generous. He was extremely helpful, and to those that benefited from his gift – he was extremely heroic. Is there anyone that is benefiting from your giving and your generosity? Is there anyone that can say, “____________ has done nothing but go out of his or her way for me”? I want to challenge you to do that this week. Find someone that needs help and just become a hero to that person this week. Use that to put in a word about coming to church or if the opportunity arises, use it to put in a good word about Jesus.
Barnabas became known not so much by his name, but by his character. As believers, that should be how we’re known – That we are more than just a name, but that our names carry with them godly character and a godly legacy. Proverbs 22:1 says, “A good name is to be more desired than great riches, Favor is better than silver and gold.” We have just a short time to make a difference. That’s why Paul wrote in Ephesians 5:15 that we should make the most of every opportunity. Every opportunity God gives us to help someone is a gift form Him.
A certain Christian lady once said to a friend, "Our church costs too much. They are always asking for money."
"Sometime ago a little boy was born in our home," replied her friend. "He cost me a lot of money from the very beginning: he had a big appetite, he needed clothes, medicine, toys, and even a puppy. Then he went to school, and that cost a lot more; later he went away to college, then he began dating, and that cost a small fortune! But in his senior year at college he died, and since the funeral he has not cost me a penny. Now which situation do you think I would rather have?
Yes, becoming a helpful person both to the lost and the saved is a tough task, but God’s blessing will always be upon you. Wouldn’t you rather have that?
III. Avoiding a Hypocritical Attitude
After Luke puts the actions of Barnabas on a pedestal, he pulls out two people that were the total opposite. Instead of possessing character, this Christian couple was hypocritical. Also, up to this point, it would seem that the early church was flawless, however, Luke doesn’t try covering up its warts and weaknesses. No matter what we may think, there is no such thing as a perfect church.
Charles Spurgeon, the great Baptist preacher of the nineteenth century, was told by one of his church members that they were leaving his church to find the perfect church. In reply with both wit and boldness, he said, “When you find it, please don’t join it, because you’ll ruin it.
READ – Acts 5:1-11
After taking a glance at this, we are prone to think that this was a bit harsh. What was the deal with this? This act seemed trivial compared to what a lot of other believers get away with.
The problem wasn’t that they didn’t give everything. Again, giving should be voluntary, not forced. The problem was that they pretended to give everything while holding on to a lot of it. They saw the approval that Barnabas received and craved it. But their hearts were wrong and selfish. Thus, they lied and became hypocrites. And God took their lives to show that at this early stage this was unacceptable and that he wanted the church to be pure.
Now, God doesn’t always judge hypocrisy this way, but that doesn’t mean that it is anymore acceptable. God hates it. People without Jesus in their lives hate it. That may be the number one reason I hear why people don’t want to have anything to do with the church or with Christianity. The say the church is filled with hypocrites.
Would you consider yourself a hypocrite? I want you to evaluate yourself based upon what one man wrote. He said, “I met the strangest man the other day. He said he believes in the Bible, but he never reads it. He said he thought well of the church of which he is a member, but he never attends. He said a man should be honest with God in money matters, but he never tithes. He said the younger generation needs the Lord, but he isn’t leading them in that direction. He said the church needs dedicated church members, but he isn’t one. He said the church should do more ministering to people, but he doesn’t help. He is critical of the way the church is “run,” but he never participates. He says prayer changes things, but he never prays. He was a strange man indeed.”
Do you know people like that? I know one in particular – Me! I hate that about myself and God knows I hate my sins. It’s easy, pardon the cliché, to talk the talk. But walking the walk is a different story. What areas of your life are you hypocritical in?
One recent survey from the Barna Organization revealed the hypocrisy that exists in the church. I picked it because it went well with this particular text.
8% of born again Christians tithed their income in 1999
17% of adults claimed in 1997 to have tithed but only 3% actually did so.
29% of adults surveyed in 1997 actually believe that Bible commands us to tithe.
Its like the story I heard about a one dollar bill that met a twenty dollar bill and said, “Hey, where’ve you been? I haven’t seen you around here much.” The twenty answered (as the dollar bill listened enviously), “I’ve been hanging out at the casinos, went out on a cruise and did the rounds of the ship, back to the Untied States for a while, went to a couple of baseball games, to the mall, that kind of stuff. How about you?” The one-dollar bill said, “You know, same old stuff, church, church, church.”
Whatever it looks like, or whatever form its in, we must rid ourselves of any hypocrisy or we will destroy our walk with the Lord and destroy the unity of the church.
It is also important to identify hypocrisy’s source. In Ananias it stemmed from two different sources.
1. It stemmed from satanic influence. Peter acknowledged in 5:3 that Satan had filled Ananias’ heart to lie. Jesus said that Satan is the Father of lies. There’s one thing you can count on, whenever God is working in a powerful way, Satan is always going to be there to try to stop it. He tried before to put an end to the church by outside persecution. Of course that didn’t work, so why not try destroying it from the inside. Satan still does this today. The main tool he uses is hypocrisy. Whatever hypocrisy you have in your life, be certain that it is from Satan and if you don’t deal with it, it will become a stronghold in your life. However, Satan can’t force us to do anything. This is where the second influence takes over.
2. It stemmed from self-centeredness. He wanted to impress others and make a name for himself, so he lied about the financial gift. He wanted people to think he was giving a fortune and thus think he was super-spiritual. Hypocrisy always results when someone loves themselves more than they love God and others. They are willing to do what it takes to look polished in front of others rather than laboring to work on the heart. That’s where the work needs to be.
The Holy Spirit is convicting many of you here today concerning a particular area in your life that is hypocritical. Deal with it today. Confess it to the Lord, and Repent. The Bible says in James 4:7, “Submit therefore to God. Resist the Devil and he will flee form you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands you sinners; and purify your hearts you double minded. Be miserable and mourn and weep; let your laughter be turned into mourning, and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt you.”
IV. Enjoying a Honorable Achievement
Because this church was unified and committed to helping others both inside the church and outside, and because it was made up of individuals of character, and because they dealt with sin by removing it, God honored that and built a church of greatness. The word “great” is used 3 different ways and appears 4 times in this passage to describe what was happening in this church.
The church had great power. (4:33) This simply means that God was exerting His power in saving lost souls, that He was exerting His Power through ordinary people like you and me to witness boldly, clearly, and lovingly, and that He was exerting His Power to unite thousands of different people to make one Body.
The church had great grace upon them. (4:33) God’s approval was upon them. His smile was upon them. They were doing what He had called them to do. And because of that God continued to supply them with everything they needed.
The church had a great fear of God. (5:11) This people feared God’s displeasure. They knew now more than ever that He was not just a loving God, but a Holy God. It says that even those that were outside feared God. It’s not like today where you come and go as you please and do whatever you want during the week. People knew that if they were going to become a Christian they had to give up every sin in their life or not come at all. Oh, how we need that kind of fear today.
This was a great church. Not a perfect church, but still a great church. This is what we can become. This is what we should seek to become. This is to be the standard, rather than the exception.
