This is your church wt 11-5-06 am
Acts 4:31 to 5:11
31 And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness.
32 And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul: neither said any of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common.
33 And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all.
34 Neither was there any among them that lacked: for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the prices of the things that were sold,
35 And laid them down at the apostles’ feet: and distribution was made unto every man according as he had need.
36 And Joses, who by the apostles was surnamed Barnabas, (which is, being interpreted, The son of consolation,) a Levite, and of the country of Cyprus,
37 Having land, sold it, and brought the money, and laid it at the apostles’ feet.
1 But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession,
2 And kept back part of the price, his wife also being privy to it, and brought a certain part, and laid it at the apostles’ feet.
3 But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land?
4 Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God.
5 And Ananias hearing these words fell down, and gave up the ghost: and great fear came on all them that heard these things.
6 And the young men arose, wound him up, and carried him out, and buried him.
7 And it was about the space of three hours after, when his wife, not knowing what was done, came in.
8 And Peter answered unto her, Tell me whether ye sold the land for so much? And she said, Yea, for so much.
9 Then Peter said unto her, How is it that ye have agreed together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? behold, the feet of them which have buried thy husband are at the door, and shall carry thee out.
10 Then fell she down straightway at his feet, and yielded up the ghost: and the young men came in, and found her dead, and, carrying her forth, buried her by her husband.
11 And great fear came upon all the church, and upon as many as heard these things.
Preach on This is your church
Notice the first thing about this N.T. Church
1. The Prosperity of the Church
Back to Acts 2:42 And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.
43 And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles.
44 And all that believed were together, and had all things common;
45 And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need.
46 And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart,
47 Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.
When I say “prosperity”, in no way talking about this “name it and claim it, blab it and grab it, make it and fake it junk” ….
Wikipedia an online encyclopedia…
Word of Faith, also known as Word-Faith or simply Faith, is a movement within Pentecostal and charismatic churches worldwide. Its central doctrine is that health and prosperity are promised to all believers, and are available through faith. For this reason, it has also become known as "Health and Wealth" and "The Gospel of Greed", although these are terms usually applied by its critics. Other names, reflecting major aspects of the movement, include "Name it and claim it", "The Prosperity Gospel", and "Positive Confession".
(not taking time to refute this doctrine this morning…but let you know up front, this doctrine is not of God.
On the other hand…neither do I believe that Christians are destined to be sorrowful, woe is me, life full of heart-ache and sorrow, every day filled with overwhelming problems…type of people.
When you read the book of Acts… sure there was sorrow
-disappointments
-opposition
-problems…
BUT they also had times of JOY
Times of Victory
Rejoicing
Growth
Miracles, healings.
Here in Acts 2, the HG had been poured out.
The church was in her infancy, but GROWING!!!!
This was THEIR CHURCH!!!!
You remember Jesus asking his disciples …who do men say that I am?
Who do YOU say that I am?
Matt: 16:16 And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.
17 And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.
18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
19 And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.
AND now in Acts 2…they are beginning to see those words of Christ in ACTION.
-people were being saved.
-Jews were accepting Christ as the Messiah (this was no small feat)
-people were getting healed…
(lame man at the gate of the Temple
called Beautiful)
47 Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.
This was the prosperity of the Church!
BUT in the midst of Prosperity, Peril was discovered!!!
2. The Peril of the Church
Ch. 5:1 But a certain man… the previous chapter highlighted the Church’s Prosperity
It showed their liberality.
34 Neither was there any among them that lacked: for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the prices of the things that were sold,
35 And laid them down at the apostles’ feet: and distribution was made unto every man according as he had need.
This was the evidence of their Singleness of heart.
They had genuine concern for others.
They made sure all needs were met.
AND in the midst of the Church’s prosperity.. in the midst of the blessings of God… in the midst of the Church moving forward and much being accomplished…
There was this one couple… who wasn’t quite so SOLD OUT as others were.
Didn’t quite have the same
Singleness of heart.
They wanted to be a part of the Church, but they still had one foot in the world!
Now notice something here:
The problem was NOT in their giving.
Lot’s of people give to the church
In fact, even some sinners have been known to donate large sums of money to the church from time to time.
One pastor I know of was in a building program, and God laid on his heart to go down to this national flooring co. and ask for floor covering.
(ended up with a semi full of flooring
materials)
So the issue is not in the giving.. it’s in the HEART MATTER.
They did not have Singleness of heart.
For if they had of been forthright… and said right off the bat… we want to give our offering to the Church… without trying to be deceitful about it, it would have been alright, and we wouldn’t have this sad story to tell.
BUT As we read in our text, they concocted this story to make the Church believe that they were like everyone else, when in fact, they weren’t.
They had another agenda.
They had another purpose.
Did not have SINGLENESS OF HEART
As a result: the PROSPERITY OF THE CHURCH was interrupted with this great peril.
PERIL: exposure to risk
Imminent danger.
AND had this not been stopped, the church would have come to a screeching halt!
The problem was not only that they were deceitful towards the CHURCH…
But Peter said, thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God.
When God’s Spirit is grieved…he cannot move
You see… Singleness of heart will not allow you to come to church with a
Critical and complaining Spirit… always looking at this and that, and finding fault.
Early in the ministry before I became a Pastor… sitting underneath my pastor, I became critical about the way he was doing things…and I started complaining.
God spoke one day and said…
You are not the pastor. He is.
You know what worked for me?
Once I got prayed up, I shut up!
That’s why most people complain
And criticize. They are not prayed up.
(and the strange thing is… when they
have something to complain about
they never can keep it to themselves!)
And it Results in no unity, no one mind, no One accord.
No church growth, nobody getting saved
No church prosperity
AND while I’m on preaching on this… notice what Peter said to Ananias:
why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost…
and in the same breath he also said…
why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart?
YES…the tempter was there.
YES…the devil initially put the thought in
Their hearts.
BUT they could have resisted the devil!!!!!
They could have said, I won’t have any part in this deception!
You see, the devil could not have filled Ananias heart if Ananias hadn’t allowed him to!!!!
NOTICE.. Peter did not rebuke the devil… he rebuked Ananias!!!!!
We’re living in a day when people refuse
To take responsibility for their actions
The buck didn’t stop with the devil,
But with Ananias!
And so this great PERIL within the Church had to be addressed, and it was with….
3. The Punishment of the Church
5 And Ananias hearing these words fell down, and gave up the ghost: and great fear came on all them that heard these things.
6 And the young men arose, wound him up, and carried him out, and buried him.
This was not Peter’s doing. Peter had no power to take this man’s life. This was the judgment of God.
And This is not the first time God’s judgment has been revealed.
I read recently of Pastor Moses and great PERIL that came upon that Old Testament Church, how that men rose up against him and his authority
(read the whole story sometime in Numb 16)
But the outcome of it all as the Judgment of God… if you will the Punishment of the Church
Numb. 16:28 And Moses said, Hereby ye shall know that the LORD hath sent me to do all these works; for I have not done them of mine own mind.
29 If these men die the common death of all men, or if they be visited after the visitation of all men; then the LORD hath not sent me.
30 But if the LORD make a new thing, and the earth open her mouth, and swallow them up, with all that appertain unto them, and they go down quick into the pit; then ye shall understand that these men have provoked the LORD.
31 And it came to pass, as he had made an end of speaking all these words, that the ground clave asunder that was under them:
32 And the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed them up, and their houses, and all the men that appertained unto Korah, and all their goods.
33 They, and all that appertained to them, went down alive into the pit, and the earth closed upon them: and they perished from among the congregation.
You can say all you want… but that was under the dispensation of the Law…
We’re under GRACE.
What about this Acts. 5 story then? You can’t get much more under the dispensation of Grace than that!
Yes God is a God of love, of mercy, but also of Judgment!!!!
Gal. 6:7 Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.
8 For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.
1Pe 4:17 For the time [is come] that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if [it] first [begin] at us, what shall the end [be] of them that obey not the gospel of God?
And it wasn’t just Ananias, but his wife also who experience God’s judgment.
1. the Prosperity of the Church
2. The Peril of the Church
3. The Punishment of the Church
4. The Progress of the Church
Ch. 5:14 And believers were the more added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women.)
15 Insomuch that they brought forth the sick into the streets, and laid them on beds and couches, that at the least the shadow of Peter passing by might overshadow some of them.
16 There came also a multitude out of the cities round about unto Jerusalem, bringing sick folks, and them which were vexed with unclean spirits: and they were healed every one.
Once the PERIL was removed, Progress once again became evident.
the verse that stands out is Acts 2:46 And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart
No other plan. No other purpose. No other priorities.
They lived their lives in simplicity for one thing – to see their Church progress!!!!
They weren’t in it for selfish reasons
-to see what they could get out of it.
-to see what they coud glean
-they didn’t look to see what kind of
programs were available for their kids
teens, singles, couples, widows…
Didn’t look to see if there was a gymnasium… or basketball court….or bowling alley, or baseball leagues.
Didn’t come in looking for the capachino shop, Crispy crème donuts, or the bagel stand…
Didn’t come in complaining that the
-music was too loud
-not enough music
-church too hot, cold,
-sermon too long, too short,
-so and so didn’t sing
-so and so did sing…
They didn’t come in habitually late…
Or miss any services…
(because Uncle Matthias and Aunt
Eunice was in town visiting)
Or because the Chief’s Chariot Races
Were in the World’s Series….
Or because they had a hard day
At the Jerusalem Market and were
Plum wore out!!!!
Or because they had to get up a 4 am
To milk the goats and go fetch the
Water….
They had singleness of heart! One thing in mind…and that was the PROGRESS OF THEIR CHURCH!!!!
They had SINGLENESS OF HEART
And that brought UNITY… WHICH resulted in ONE MIND AND ONE ACCORD!!!
They came in…
To WORSHIP
To PRAISE
To SERVE
Preached Wed. night from Psalm 100
1 A Psalm of praise. Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all ye lands.
2 Serve the LORD with (sadness) gladness: come before his presence with (groaning) singing.
3 Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.
4 Enter into his gates with (complaining) thanksgiving, and into his courts with (criticism) praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.
5 For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.
If you want YOUR CHURCH to PROGRESS
YOU need to come into Church with a
-SPRING in your Step
-Smile on your face
-Joy in your Spirit
-Praise on your lips
-Worship in your heart
-Victory in your soul
You need to SERVE the LORD with GLADNESS…
Used to be a day when Christians
Were excited to work for the Church.
-would volunteer
-would make themselves available
-would see the need and just do it.
But we’re just TOO BUSY now…
Got to rest up from the weekend
on Monday night
Tues night…they got Bingo
Wed night … Aunt Harriot always calls
Thurs night … can’t miss American Idol
Fri night … everyone goes to the mall
Sat… their only day to work around the
House….
Sun… what a sacrifice to come to CH
But just can’t make it Sun. night.
What’s the problem? No Singleness of heart!!!!
Afterall, we’re busy people!
No time to work the altars and pray with people
No time to prepare for a SS class
No time to go invite anyone to church
No time to even call them on the phone
No time to work for Jesus!
NO SINGLENESS OF HEART
I read a letter written to Mr. Bayer:
Dear Mr. Bayer:
You manufacture aspirin that relieves suffering and cold and fever. The mixture used in your tablet makes it possible for a person to get out of bed and fight off headaches, muscle spasm and bad nerves. I have noticed that these tablets work wonders all through the week and especially well on Saturdays. But the people who take them cannot get rid of their aches and pains and get out of bed to come to Sunday school and Church.
Is it possible for you to put something in that pill that will work on Sundays too?
Telling you… SINGLENESS OF HEART is becoming scarcer and scarcer…
AND THE longer I pastor, the more I see this happening in our churches across the land!!!
It wasn’t so in the early Church!
Their song services were exciting,
Stimulating, vibrant.
They were singing and making melody in their hearts unto the Lord.
They were serving the Lord with gladness.
IT’S no wonder the church was growing.
No wonder the church was advancing.
No wonder souls were being saved.
This wasn’t just Peter and John fired up…
Not just the Apostles stirred up…
EVERYONE was actively involved in THEIR CHURCH!!!!
When you have Singleness of heart
Your Church will progress!!!! It will go forward! It will see results.
5. The Prize of the Church
Eph. 5:25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;
26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,
27 That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.
This is the whole purpose of Christ coming as the supreme sacrifice!
There is coming a great wedding day…
Matt. 25:1 Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom.
2 And five of them were wise, and five were foolish.
3 They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them:
4 But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.
5 While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept.
6 And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him.
7 Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps.
8 And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out.
9 But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves.
10 And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut.
11 Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us.
12 But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not.
The prize of the Church… eternally married to Christ.. what a wedding.
What a union.
What side of the door are you on????
One day the door will be shut.
IS THIS YOUR CHURCH?????
