Truth or Consequences
Acts 4:32-5:11
We are in the process of going through the book of Acts and refreshing our minds and hearts as to what happened in the earliest church. In the scripture time line we are only weeks or perhaps months away from the birthday of the church, Pentecost. And we are watching as everything was new. Luke has recorded the best stories and is documenting the church perhaps for historical reasons or maybe as part of the defense preparation for Paul’s trial in Rome.
Last week we talked about the need to notice God there must be some expectation that he is there. Sometimes people do things that demonstrate his presence because his character and boldness exceed what the person is personally capable of. The spirit can change all the expected outcomes ad to notice we have to be open.
This morning we are taking the assigned scripture and doing two separate readings. The first section is a sort of an aside into how the believers were living.
They were living as one heart and mind…that sounds so good, no disagreements, No differing of opinions over what we should do. Unity is what that is describing…unity.
Luke give a little glimpse of the early church tat makes people today a bit uncomfortable. They unity of the believers leads to system of taking care of everybody in the church. Some might say it sounds like communism. But I believe that it is dramatically different.
The scripture says, “No one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they shared everything they had.” Now that just doesn’t sound right does it. They gave up their stuff….Let me be more specific , THEIR MONEY, so that everyone could be taken care of.
Hay Hay Hay, we are talking about My money.
My savings, my house and Lake Place, my boat, all the things I worked so hard to get.
Scripture is hard on us sometimes. I have heard people say that we just need to get back to what the early church said and did. Then we find a story like this. People are generously giving so that thoes that don’t have get along.
People that are giving up their nest egg, the rental properties, the old home place and not putting the money in the bank but giving it up so that the people that can’t feed, cloth and house their children can.
Our reaction, all that sounds very noble and I am so glad that someone is doing that. Who me, Oh I could never do that, I am just as poor as those other folks.
I believe what the early church was doing was being the safety net. Society had no way of dealing with the poor and bad things happened to people. The people in the church that were most blessed responded to the needs. They gave up of the extra things they had, they risk their future security to meet other people’s needs that day.
When the church operates that way, and it works you get a sense of security that if…if something happens in your life that you will get the help you need.
The scripture describes the apostles teaching about the resurrection of Jesus and Much Grace was upon them.
They were men anointed by God, it was obvious in their teaching and in their leadership. It does not day that they asked the people for money, it does not indicate that they told the believers that all their property belonged to God so sell it and bring the money in.
They are not acting like a televangelist with a lot of bills to pay. They are just sharing what they know is true, the story of Jesus.
In this setting in Jerusalem there are no needy people.
-Does that indicate that God blessed everyone with a set monthly check so that the old and crippled were taken care of?
-Does it mean that no one that believed happened to be poor or needy?
No, the scripture tells us that as a response to the message of the apostles, people brought gifts. The Grace of God was so evident and so moving that from time to time the people that owned lands or houses sold them and brought the money to the apostles.
I don’t think we are directly talking about tithe here.
We are talking about people that have been blessed with possessions responding to the good news. We are talking about new believers that respond to the Grace that have received
The scripture tells us that they put the gifts at the feet of the apostles.
Ok, I think that this strongly indicates that apostles are very important to the church. They are representatives of God. They demonstrate God’s power and they teach about what God has done through the actions of Jesus Christ the son.
When these people are moved to sell some of their stuff and brig the money in they are coming before the apostles in an act of worship.
Giving to God is an act of worship.
Technically, God has no need or use for money. However, man does. Man has physical needs, food clothing shelter love and so on.
When people worship God they come to praise God for what he has done and is doing.
Songs of praise, prayers of thanks and love are great and useful and even expected by God.
However God expects the tangible as well. When we give tangible things like money, time and physical items to God via the church are coming together as an act of unity and love, We are coming together to serve humanity by supporting a safe place for anyone to come and experience God. Often out Gifts to God go out to make a difference in places we will never know or see the good. But, God knows and sees.
He knows the intention of your heart. He knows if it is worship or obligation.
In the scripture the apostles were entrusted with proper distribution of the gifts.
What we are talking about is not welfare. We are talking about helping out brothers and sisters in Christ. Some are removed from home and feel compelled to stay and may not have good jobs and no property.
Some are kicked out by their families for going against the teaching in the temple and are cut off from family and are totally on their own except for their church family.
The leaders are in charge of taking the generous gifts from the believers and using them to act on behalf of God to help the ones in dire need. To help the get on their feet.
This is not welfare because the gifts are not required (Like taxes) they are given freely and the recipients are not professionals they are doing their best.
(Not a privilege or right)
But this concept still makes us as Christians to day uncomfortable and perhaps it should. Are we fully worshiping God? Has he blessed us and we responded properly to all he has done for us?
Then the scripture tells us about one of my favorite people n the NT, Joseph.
It says, “ Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus, whom the apostles called Barnabas (which means Son of Encouragement), sold a field he owned and brought the money and put it at the apostles’ feet.”
I like Joseph because of his nick name.
Barnabas – Son of encouragement that is a powerful statement about this man isn’t it. I have a friend that calls me tom terrific, makes me feel pretty good because I know he is not making fun of me he is complementing me. Nick names are usually attached to a person by others and sometimes they stick for life. If it does, you hope that it is a positive experience.
You would hate to be called old stinker or skinflint or ugly duck.
So Joseph was a Levite, which means that when the Israelites first entered into the land of cannon they did not receive land as the other tribes did. Their reward would be in service to God and they other tries gave to their support and ultimately the Levites were to be the spiritual core of Israel.
But, when the Jews were scattered in exile they took on outsides jobs and purchased houses and land, raised crops and later when the temple came back there was not enough work and support so many Levites were just normal business people and farmers.
Barnabas is about 500 nautical miles or 800 kilometers from home. Perhaps he was very wealthy we really only know that he was in Jerusalem and that he owned a field which he sold. The field was likely back home instead of near Jerusalem.
Joseph is only doing what others have already done. Selling property and giving the church, the apostles the proceeds for the good of the community.
No big deal right? We it really is a big deal.
To live so generously had to catch people attention. I believe the only real reason that Luke includes his actions was to speak to his character. It defines that the apostles called him son of encouragement; the apostles gave him his nickname. A positive nick name that hints at humility and wisdom.
This Joseph was pretty special and influential in the early church and we know that in the future we learn of him again. So I think his being named is a way of allowing us the reader to know the depth of his faith and love.
Now we are going to read into Chapter 5 which I believe is a continuation of the image of he early church, the two sections are tied together.
Acts 5 1- 11
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.
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 to men but to God."
When Ananias heard this, he fell down and died. And great fear seized all who heard what had happened. Then the young men came forward, wrapped up his body, and carried him out and buried him.
About three hours later his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. Peter asked her, "Tell me, is this the price you and Ananias got for the land?"
"Yes," she said, "that is the price."
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."
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.
Great fear seized the whole church and all who heard about these events.
Why do I see these two sections as being connected? Because they are describing the same action, giving to the church.
As I mentioned before the giving mentioned was voluntary. Thoes that had gave as part of their worship and thanks to God. So what is happening in this part of our scripture? People are falling down dead right there in front of Peter.
Ananias and his wife decide the sell a piece of property to give money to the church. They choose to hold back some of the money. Just give part of it.
The scripture is pretty clear using Peter’s comments. Evidentially Ananias for his own reasons Comes and makes the offering and perhaps part of the process included an explanation. I have sold some land and I want to make a gift for the poor. He comes down and places the offering at Peter’s feet and Peter confronts him. Peter accuses him of lying to the Holy Spirit. Making the offering under false pretences was not good idea. By the work of the spirit he knows the truth.
How do we feel about people being struck dead for telling a lie?
Whoa that seems harsh. Tell a fib and die…it that happened today we would have a very truthful society. However, the occurrence is not a general happening. This punishment is not carried out on man in general only on someone that claims to be a believer. Ananias, just makes a little fib….Peter tells him what he did and ask a couple of simple questions.
Didn’t it belong to you before it was sold? And after it was sold, wasn’t the money at your disposal?
These two questions lead me to understand that the selling of property and giving the money to the apostles was voluntary. It was done of free choice, no direct requirement. However, I do believe that God and the Holy Spirit provided some encouragement. I believe that when others acted and gave generously, there was a lot of earthly praise.
Brother, that is so good, you are helping so many people. God is using you to bless out church.
Ananias, and Sapphira like the sound of that. They want people to think good things of them too and their decision is made out of a desire to look good which leads to pride.
But, it was not the pride that brought their deaths.
There are always people that will do things hoping the receive some at-a-boys, some personal trophies ultimately for pride. God can use people that do things for the wrong reasons. The things they do for pride can bring real good to situations and needs.
The problem here is that the givers, in feeding their pride, decided to keep part of what they got…..
Let’s be clear here. They could to chosen to do nothing and it would have been OK. After they sold the land, if they decided to only give a few dollars, a third, half any number and stated that was what they were doing ….again that would not have been a problem.
When Sapphira comes in three hours later, doesn’t it seem unfair that she does not now the consequences of ling to god before she answers the questions.
Peter asks, Is this how much you sold the land for?
Ok, think about this, she has a chance to come clean. She could just tell the truth. She chooses to keep the confidence with her husband and she suffers the same fate.
What they did was say one thing and did another. They wanted to look like super Christians but do it at a discounted cost. They lied to God.
I don’t know about you, but I am glad that God seems to have mellowed a bit.
I have made promises to God….God if you will get me out of this scrape, I will do this for you. Have any of you done that? Made a deal with God and not kept your part of the bargain?
If I have known scripture better back then I would have been really scared.
The scripture tells us that many in the church were frightened.
Can you imaging the talk around town. Did you here what happened in church today. During the offering, the preacher said that it wasn’t enough and boom. The man dropped dead. Then the same thing happened in the three o’clock service. Man church if getting tough.
I wonder of offering went up to attendance went down?
Think about this, when we notice God it can be a very frightening thing. Sometimes the power and righteousness of God is noticeably different. When we see our deficiencies it should scare us.
Let’s take just a short moment to talk about setwartship. We are all entrusted with time, talents and some amount of extra income. For some ability to organize events or repair broken things are speial gifts God intend s to use for the good of the church. Fro dome the ability ot offer special help, scha a prayer and emotional support are a their special gift. Everyone is to offer some frm of financial support as they have ability.
While all of these are expected of believers none id directly required for salvation. God will let you skate by but, I wonder if there will be questions on judgment day?
That winter day that you were told about a family with no heat, why didn’t you do something? You had the money and time. You could have really helped?
There are so many hard questions that might be asked of me. Opportunities pass by all the time.
As a Christian, we have an obligation to keep our word to God.
At your baptism or conformation you were asked to pledge your prayers, your presence, your gifts and your service.
Are you keeping your word as a Christian to be a good steward?
Do you understand why Lying is such a problem for God? God is truth, his word and actions are truth. When we lie were setting ourselves directly against truth…directly against God. I hope that you will pay attention to what god is inviting you to give to his kingdom.
He invites our participation but he does not need it….it is our choice to participate.
All Glory be to God!
