INTRODUCTION:
Bruce Olsen, a single American, (his fine book is Bruchko), has in effect become a Motilone Indian, of South America. He was taken hostage by communist Guerillas in the late 1980s. He taught the communists to read with the beautitudes. The recognized that the kingdom of God was like their idealist dream vaguely communicated in communism. We see the kingdom in this world in the fellowship events of Acts . . .
Acts 5 is a Vivid Historical Illustration of Two Kinds of Trouble which arise as the Kingdom of God advances; We are Challenged to Obey God Rather Than Men in the internal struggle of not seeking our own glory in good deeds and being honest in our dealings; we are taught to obey God and not men in the external adversity that unbelievers cause toward the kingdom.
In this sermon we will look at only the first one: Corruption from Within
THESIS VERSES - If you know these two verses you know trajectory of the kingdom and the dynamics of the kingdom.
ACTS 1:8 "But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth."
ACTS 2:42: And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers.
TEXT: 32 Now the multitude of those who believed were of one heart and one soul; neither did anyone say that any of the things he possessed was his own, but they had all things in common.
33 And with great power the apostles gave witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And great grace was upon them all.
34 Nor was there anyone among them who lacked; for all who were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the proceeds of the things that were sold,
35 and laid them at the apostles’ feet; and they distributed to each as anyone had need.
36 And Joses, who was also named Barnabas by the apostles (which is translated Son of Encouragement), a Levite of the country of Cyprus,
37 having land, sold it, and brought the money and laid it at the apostles’ feet.
NKJ Acts 5:1 But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession.
2 And he kept back part of the proceeds, his wife also being aware of it, and brought a certain part and laid it at the apostles’ feet.
3 But Peter said, "Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and keep back part of the price of the land for yourself?
4 "While it remained, was it not your own? And after it was sold, was it not in your own control? Why have you conceived this thing in your heart? You have not lied to men but to God."
5 Then Ananias, hearing these words, fell down and breathed his last. So great fear came upon all those who heard these things.
6 And the young men arose and wrapped him up, carried him out, and buried him.
7 Now it was about three hours later when his wife came in, not knowing what had happened.
8 And Peter answered her, "Tell me whether you sold the land for so much?" She said, "Yes, for so much."
9 Then Peter said to her, "How is it that you have agreed together to test the Spirit of the Lord? Look, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out."
10 Then immediately she fell down at his feet and breathed her last. And the young men came in and found her dead, and carrying her out, buried her by her husband.
11 So great fear came upon all the church and upon all who heard these things.
12 And through the hands of the apostles many signs and wonders were done among the people. And they were all with one accord in Solomon’s Porch.
13 Yet none of the rest dared join them, but the people esteemed them highly.
14 And believers were increasingly added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women,
15 so that they brought the sick out into the streets and laid them on beds and couches, that at least the shadow of Peter passing by might fall on some of them.
16 Also a multitude gathered from the surrounding cities to Jerusalem, bringing sick people and those who were tormented by unclean spirits, and they were all healed.
1. The Challenge of Internal Corruption
Ananias and Sapphira - Fear, Signs and Wonders
a. Contextually - Barnabas son of encouragement, acts to encourage others in his gift brought for the apostolic service.
b. Do Narrative Passages provide a basis for our action? Does History give us principles of action and precepts of Doctrine?
c. Should we then not buy property? Since we moved into our home in Brownstown yesterday, I suspect you know what I am going to say.
d. Do not forget the unfolding plan of redemption which has worked itself out to this point. Jesus prophecied that Jerusalem would be destroyed within their lifetime in the Olivet Discourse (Matt 23-24)and which, in fact came to pass in 70 AD. Hence, it would be a very short misguided principle to blindly act as the church in the AD 30s & 40s in Jerusalem.
e. Note: not communism
i. Fredriek Engels, in The Principles of Communism: 1847
"The proletarian liberates himself by abolishing competition, private property, and all class differences." "Moreover, since the management of industry by individuals necessarily implies private property, and since competition is in reality merely the manner and form in which the control of industry by private property owners expresses itself, it follows that private property cannot be separated from competition and the individual management of industry. Private property must, therefore, be abolished and in its place must come the common utilization of all instruments of production and the distribution of all products according to common agreement -- in a word, what is called the communal ownership of goods." "In fact, the abolition of private property is, doubtless, the shortest and most significant way to characterize the revolution in the whole social order which has been made necessary by the development of industry -- and for this reason it is rightly advanced by communists as their main demand."
ii. But not so in this passage in Acts: Not an abandonment of private property - "from time to time" according to need
iii. Not enforced by the authorities - voluntary
f. Agreed to give the whole amount, but plotted together to deceive. God had designed this to show that hypocrisy and pretension have no place in the church.
g. How Many Commandments Were Broken? 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 9, 10
i. Produced by pride
ii. Inspired by Satan
iii. Heidelberg: Q112: What does the ninth Commandment require? A112: That I bear false witness against no one,[1] twist no one’s words,[2] be no backbiter or slanderer,[3] join in condemning no one unheard and rashly;[4] but that on pain of God’s heavy wrath I avoid all lying and deceit [5] as the very works of the devil;[6] and that in matters of judgment and justice and in all other affairs I love, speak honestly and confess the truth;[7] also, insofar as I can, defend and promote my neighbor’s good name.[8]
h. Names: Ananias - God is Gracious (God was holy); Sapphira - beautiful (heart was ugly)
i. Parallel to Achan - Josh. 7, but more so to Nadab and Abihu and Uzzah
Leviticus 10:1 Then Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, each took his censer and put fire in it, put incense on it, and offered profane fire before the LORD, which He had not commanded them.
2 So fire went out from the LORD and devoured them, and they died before the LORD.
3 And Moses said to Aaron, "This is what the LORD spoke, saying: ’By those who come near Me I must be regarded as holy; And before all the people I must be glorified.’ " So Aaron held his peace.
NKJ 2 Samuel 6:1 Again David gathered all the choice men of Israel, thirty thousand.
2 And David arose and went with all the people who were with him from Baale Judah to bring up from there the ark of God, whose name is called by the Name, the LORD of Hosts, who dwells between the cherubim.
3 So they set the ark of God on a new cart, and brought it out of the house of Abinadab, which was on the hill; and Uzzah and Ahio, the sons of Abinadab, drove the new cart.
4 And they brought it out of the house of Abinadab, which was on the hill, accompanying the ark of God; and Ahio went before the ark.
5 Then David and all the house of Israel played music before the LORD on all kinds of instruments of fir wood, on harps, on stringed instruments, on tambourines, on sistrums, and on cymbals.
6 And when they came to Nachon’s threshing floor, Uzzah put out his hand to the ark of God and took hold of it, for the oxen stumbled.
7 Then the anger of the LORD was aroused against Uzzah, and God struck him there for his error; and he died there by the ark of God.
8 And David became angry because of the LORD’s outbreak against Uzzah; and he called the name of the place Perez Uzzah to this day.
9 David was afraid of the LORD that day; and he said, "How can the ark of the LORD come to me?"
10 So David would not move the ark of the LORD with him into the City of David; but David took it aside into the house of Obed-Edom the Gittite.
11 The ark of the LORD remained in the house of Obed-Edom the Gittite three months. And the LORD blessed Obed-Edom and all his household.
12 Now it was told King David, saying, "The LORD has blessed the house of Obed-Edom and all that belongs to him, because of the ark of God." So David went and brought up the ark of God from the house of Obed-Edom to the City of David with gladness.
13 And so it was, when those bearing the ark of the LORD had gone six paces, that he sacrificed oxen and fatted sheep.
14 Then David danced before the LORD with all his might; and David was wearing a linen ephod.
j. Oliver Wendell Holmes - "Sin has many tools, but a lie is the handle which fits them all."
Illustration: The Englishman John Eyre’s uncle had a sizeable estate of over 30000 lbs and had made his will in favor of a pastor, his intimate friend, and given it to him. Not long before his death, he changed his will leaving the pastor only 500 lbs and his nephew the rest. After his death John Eyre found the will, leaving the 500 lbs to the pastor and destroyed it. When the pastor arrived to inquire of his friend and his will, he asked if he had made a will and the nephew said no, at which time the pastor pulled out the will leaving it all to him.
2. The Cause of Internal Corruption
APPLICATIONS:
The basic issue is really spiritual pride: Ananias and Sapphira wanted to be highly regarded by believers, they coveted that position, they envied, no doubt, Barnabbas.
George MacDonald - "Half of the misery in the world comes from trying to look, instead of trying to be, what one is not."
NEXT WEEK: PRESSURE From Without: Persecution and Interrogation/Gamaliel’s Counsel - Did Not Cease
17 Then the high priest rose up, and all those who were with him (which is the sect of the Sadducees), and they were filled with indignation, 18 and laid their hands on the apostles and put them in the common prison. 29 But Peter and the other apostles answered and said: "We ought to obey God rather than men.
34 Then one in the council stood up, a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law held in respect by all the people, and commanded them to put the apostles outside for a little while. 35 And he said to them: "Men of Israel, take heed to yourselves what you intend to do regarding these men.
