March 9, 2025 • 42 mins
God protects the church's purity through judgment on Ananias and Sapphira's hypocrisy while highlighting Barnabas as a model of genuine generosity. The early church demonstrates remarkable unity and authenticity that we're called to emulate today.
• The early church was at its purest form in Acts 1-4, with believers having "one heart and soul"
• Radical generosity flowed from treasuring Christ above possessions and seeing fellow believers as family
• Barnabas exemplifies genuine faith by selling property and giving all proceeds to support the community
• Ananias and Sapphira wanted "maximum glory with minimum sacrifice" through their deceptive giving
• Their sin wasn't keeping some money but pretending to be more generous than they were
• God's judgment wasn't just about two individuals but protecting the entire believing community
• Hypocrisy damages not just individuals but brings down families, coworkers, and seekers
• The church should be a place of transparency where people can be real while growing in holiness
• Modern believers face the same temptation to appear more spiritual than we truly are
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Acts 4, starting with verse 32, through chapter 5,
verse 16.
Now, the full number of thosewho believed were of one heart
and soul, and no one said thatany of the things that belonged
to him was his own.
But they had everything incommon and, with great power,
(00:26):
the apostles were giving theirtestimony to the resurrection of
the Lord Jesus, and great gracewas upon them all.
There was not a needy personamong them, for as many as were
owners of lands or houses, soldthem and brought the proceeds of
(00:47):
what was sold and laid it atthe apostles' feet, and it was
distributed to each as any hadneed.
Thus Joseph, who was alsocalled by the apostles Barnabas,
which means son ofencouragement, a Levite, a
(01:08):
native of Cyprus, sold a fieldthat belonged to him and brought
the money and laid it at theapostles' feet.
But a man named Ananias, withhis wife Sapphira, sold a piece
of property and, with his wife'sknowledge, he kept back for
himself some of the proceeds andbrought only a part of it and
(01:32):
laid it at the apostles' feet.
But Peter said Ananias, why hasSatan filled your heart to lie
to the Holy Spirit and to keepback for yourself part of the
proceeds of the land While itremained unsold, did it not
remain your own?
(01:52):
And after it was sold, was itnot at your disposal?
Why is it that you havecontrived this deed in your
heart?
You have not lied to man, butto God.
When Ananias heard these words,he fell down and breathed his
last and great fear came uponall who heard of it.
(02:17):
The young men rose and wrappedhim up and carried him out and
buried him.
And wrapped him up and carriedhim out and buried him.
After an interval of aboutthree hours, his wife came in
not knowing what had happened,and Peter said to her Tell me
whether you sold the land for somuch.
And she said yes, for so much.
(02:39):
But Peter said to her how is itthat you have agreed together
to test the spirit of the Lord?
Behold, the feet of those whohave buried your husband are at
the door and they will carry youout Immediately.
She fell down at his feet andbreathed her last.
(03:01):
When the young men came in,they found her dead and they
carried her out and buried herbeside her last.
When the young men came in,they found her dead and they
carried her out and buried herbeside her husband, and great
fear came upon the whole churchand upon all who heard of these
things.
Now, many signs and wonderswere regularly done among the
(03:22):
people by the hands of theapostles, and they were all
together in Solomon's portico.
None of the rest dared jointhem, but the people held them
in high esteem and more thanever believers were added to the
Lord, multitudes of both menand women, so that they even
(03:47):
carried out the sick into thestreets and laid them on cots
and mats that, as Peter came by,at least his shadow might fall
on some of them.
The people also gathered fromthe towns around Jerusalem,
bringing the sick and thoseafflicted with unclean spirits,
and they were all healed.
(04:07):
This is the word of the Lord,amen.
Speaker 2 (04:25):
All right, jack, what did you say about this message?
Well, if it was true today, thechurch wouldn't have any
problem with me.
That's right.
Excuse me Well, who did youaspire to be like as a kid?
(04:50):
You know many children maybethis was you dress up as
superheroes, wanting to be likeBatman or Spider-Man.
I think one day, you know, I'mgoing to save the world.
I think one day, you know, I'mgoing to save the world Many
(05:13):
children dress up as cops orfiremen or cowboys, wishing to
be like those men and women.
You know high school basketballplayers move past that and they
try to mimic people like LeBronor Colby or, going back even
further, to Jordan and Bird andpeople like that.
But we all at some point haveaspired to be like somebody.
You know, one of the mostterrifying parts of being a
(05:37):
father, particularly of a son,is that from about the age of
three to five years old, theywant to mimic everything dad
does.
And can some fathers be honest?
That that's good sometimes, butoften that's not.
You know that's prettyfrightening, right?
You know my son he'll dosomething.
(05:59):
You know both of my sons, bothadults now, and they'll do
something.
And I'll think, man, I'm sofrustrated with them.
Where did they learn such athing?
And Nikki will look at me andgo true, there's old Phillips,
(06:20):
craig and Dean song.
I don't know if you remember it.
The refrain went something likethis Lord, I want to be just
like you because he, my son,wants to be just like me.
You know, there's nothing wrongto looking up at other people
in this world, but the chief aimof every one of us ought to be
to glorify God, and one of theways in which we glorify God is
(06:46):
by looking to Jesus and tryingto, by the Spirit, emulate Him.
And we do that in a couple ofdifferent ways.
One, obviously you just readthe Word, and then, by the help
of the Spirit, you do what itsays right.
There's another way, though,that the Bible teaches that we
learn to walk like Jesus walked,namely by following other more,
(07:13):
let's say, seasoned believers.
Do you remember the ApostlePaul who said follow me as I
follow Christ?
Oh, that each of us would beable to say that to other people
.
I just want to tell you thismorning that people are watching
us Both inside and outside ofthe church, and how many know
(07:36):
that not every person who callshim or herself a Christian is
worthy of mimicking or following.
Not every Christian can saythis.
So I just want to encourage youto listen today, because this
is actually a sobering text thattalks about not just God's love
(07:58):
and glory, but also Hisjudgment and wrath.
Today's text highlights a starkcontrast between Barnabas, a
genuine, selfless, generousbeliever worth following, and
the infamous Ananias andSapphira, who embody greed,
(08:22):
selfishness and hypocrisy, and Isimply want to encourage each
of us today to be a Barnabas,not an Ananias.
Are you with me?
Shake your head if I know youlost an hour of sleep.
All right, you're with me.
So I want to start by looking atthe church and the purity of
(08:44):
the early church.
You know, if we're going tounderstand this rather shocking
story of Ananias and Sapphira,we've got to understand the
state of the early church.
Look at verses 32 through 35.
Now, the full number of thosewho believed were of one heart
and soul, and no one said thatany of the things that belonged
(09:09):
to him was his own Think aboutthis.
But they had everything incommon and with great power, the
apostles were giving theirtestimony to the resurrection of
the Lord Jesus, and great gracewas upon them all.
There was not a needy personamong them, for as many as were
(09:29):
owners of lands or houses, soldthem and brought the proceeds of
what was sold and laid them atthe apostles' feet and it was
distributed to each of them asany had need.
Do you know?
The church at its inception wasat its purest form.
Hp Charles.
(09:49):
I may have mentioned this acouple of weeks ago, but great
preacher pointed this out that asuccessful business generally
starts okay, like you're tryingto gain your bearings.
But a successful business willgo to okay to good and then from
good to great.
But that's actually not truewith the church.
The church was at its best inActs 1 through 4.
(10:14):
Was at its best in Acts 1through 4.
Pretty amazing.
The early church was marked byunity.
I mean think of this the fullnumber, it says, of those who
believed were of one heart andone soul.
Imagine thousands of people atthis time.
They're from all over.
(10:34):
They're all Jews primarily, butthey're from all over the
Palestine, greater Palestinearea, and they come from
different backgrounds.
They even speak differentlanguages some of them.
They have different preferences, they're from different social
classes, and yet they're of onemind and one heart.
Why?
(10:55):
Because the most importantthing in their life is Jesus,
and in Christ they are united.
That's how the church issupposed to be.
Think of this.
No one had their own agenda andthey were just there to serve
Christ.
They were also marked not justby unity, but also by radical
(11:18):
generosity.
They had all things in common.
Look what it says.
No one said that any of thethings that belonged to him was
his own.
We talk about all the time mythis and my that.
Could you imagine with yourpossession, when you come to
church, talking about, you know,talking about your possessions
as our possessions?
(11:40):
Radical generosity.
And we talked about this acouple of weeks ago, because
this same narrative is in Acts,chapter 2.
But why were they so generous?
Well, number one is theytreasured Christ above all
things.
Why were they so generous?
Well, number one is theytreasured Christ above all
things.
(12:02):
Now, I've talked about this thatwhen you see Jesus for who he
really is and you become, likethe early church, enamored in
His beauty, you know whathappens.
The things of this world,pastor Ben, just begin to lose
their luster, don't they?
Nothing wrong with having nicethings, but that's not what
you're chasing after anymorewhen you're enamored with Jesus
and the tragedy of the Americanchurch is that we have somehow
tried to reconcile the Americandream and the gospel.
(12:24):
It just doesn't work.
It's tragic, but I just believewe don't have to.
If I could get you to see howbeautiful jesus really is, we
would never have a givingproblem.
You know, there's anotherreason.
(12:46):
They were generous.
They saw each other as brothersand sisters in christ family.
How many know behind you, infront of you, beside you, if
they are in Christ, they are abrother or sister in the Lord,
jesus Christ.
We are family, we're family.
(13:07):
What do the kids say now?
Fam, right.
Family's too long of a word forthem.
You're fam, right.
Think about this If you had ason or daughter, let's say you
have a son, all right, and he isstruggling.
He just lost his job and he'sgetting ready to get evicted
(13:29):
from his home and you have yourhouse.
But then out, you know, in thecountry, somewhere in Jackson
County or wherever, you've got apiece of land.
Is that where your land is?
You've got a piece of land andit's not something that you have
to have, but it's an asset andmaybe you're planning to build
there one day.
But let's just say that yourson.
(13:52):
Short of a miracle, he's goingto lose his house and he's got
again young children and all ofthat.
If you're a father at all, youwould not think twice about
selling that land and giving theproceeds to your son.
And that's how the early church,that's how much the early
(14:13):
church loved one another.
It wasn, wasn't this come in onSunday and just leave without
you know, or just you know,exchanging hellos and how you
doing it was like they livedlife together and they cared
about each other that deeply.
You know the church.
This is a beautiful thing.
It offers to us a uniquecommunity.
(14:35):
This is a beautiful thing.
It offers to us a uniquecommunity.
God made us to not live alone,but how many know he made us to
live within community.
We see it all through the Bible.
From the very first pages ofyour Bible, god saw that it was
not good that Adam be alone.
(14:56):
The science, by the way, hasproven that we're not made to be
alone.
The science, by the way, hasproven that we're not made to be
alone.
There's an article that I readthis week in Psychology Today
that talks about how living incommunity promotes our health,
both mental and physical, andour all-around well-being, and
(15:19):
physical and our all-aroundwell-being, like relationships,
really matter and we know thisjust because of what we've
experienced over the past fewyears.
You know, the greatest tragedyof COVID was not the sickness
itself, but it was the mandatedsocial isolation.
There's actually the APA, theAmerican Psychological
Association, published anarticle talking about how the
people around the world duringthe pandemic experienced an
(15:42):
increase in loneliness duringCOVID.
And here's what the APA said.
They said that this could have,very likely could have
long-term effects, term effects.
That affects people's mentaland physical health, longevity
and well-being.
(16:02):
We are made to live withincommunity and this is why people
join organizations and clubsand teams, because they want to
feel a part of a community.
I did at one point in my lifewhen we lived in Colorado, we,
nikki and I, had a.
We ministered to gang members,particularly young people who
are, you know, following theirparents and getting into gangs
(16:26):
and things, and what we foundout is the reason that they did
that, because not, it's not thatthey loved violence and all
that goes with that, but theyloved the brotherhood that they
felt.
But you know what?
It is only the church, uniquely, the church offers the
community that we really need,and here's why Dr Martin
(16:48):
Lloyd-Jones says that we're aunique community in history,
because not only do we havecommunity with one another, but
there's also a spiritual realmhere we have the presence of God
, and Peter talks about this inchapter 5 to Ananias You've not
lied to man, but you've lied tothe Holy Spirit.
(17:10):
Christ, by His Spirit, is withus In our greatest need.
Beloved is not communion withone another, but communion with
God.
But we also need communion withone another, community with
other people, and the churchoffers both.
Isn't that a beautiful thing,so wonderful.
(17:31):
Bill Hybels tragically,unfortunately a fallen pastor
wrote something really good inone of his books, and I think we
have this on the screen.
He said there is nothing likethe local church when it's
working right.
How many believe that?
Look at this.
Its beauty is indescribable.
Its beauty is indescribable.
(17:52):
Its power is breathtaking.
Its potential is unlimited.
It comforts the grieving andheals the broken.
In the context of community.
It builds bridges to seekersand offers truth to the confused
.
There's nothing like the localchurch when it's working right.
(18:16):
It's imperfect.
Every local church is imperfect.
But are you grateful for yourlocal church today?
I am Amen, amen.
So what we see again in thefirst few chapters of Acts is
this is the church in its purestform, and this is what we
(18:37):
should strive to be as a church.
And so this story is reallyabout God protecting the purity
of the church.
That's what it's about, and soLuke moves from talking about
the church in general and hegives us this example of a man
by the name of Barnabas, who wasa church member worth following
(18:59):
.
Oh that we would all be likeBarnabas.
Verses 36 and 37.
Thus, joseph, who was alsocalled by the apostles Barnabas
how would you like to benicknamed by the apostles?
Well, it could go either way,but his nickname means son of
(19:25):
encouragement.
He was a Levite, a native ofCyprus, and he sold a field that
belonged to him and he broughtthe money and laid it at the
apostles' feet.
So Barnabas, now in Jerusalem,has a field in Cyprus that he
doesn't need, and he thought youknow what?
I've got all I need here.
I'm going to sell it becausethere are needy believers among
us, and he just gives 100% ofthe proceeds 100% to the church.
(19:49):
It's amazing, and so he wasextremely generous.
He was also an encourager.
How many know?
We need encouragement in thechurch.
Today, jordan Peterson hastalked about this.
He said, you know, he makes ahabit of encouraging, through
(20:10):
his teachings and hisconferences, young men
particularly.
And he said it's amazing howlittle encouragement, just a
little encouragement, goes sucha long way in people's lives.
People are starving forencouragement.
Look at me, the church issupposed to be a place where
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people are encouraged, notbeaten down, not kicked while
we're down.
That doesn't mean that we winkat sin and don't deal with.
You know, don't haveconfrontation and those things.
That's necessary.
But you ought to come into thisplace and feel encouraged and
leave feeling more encouragedthan when you came in, and that
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is the job of every one of us.
Oh, let's be a Barnabas.
Barnabas could say, like Paul,follow me as I follow Christ.
So Luke moves from giving us agodly example in Barnabas, who
contributes to the health of thechurch, to giving us a warning
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and don't write this off.
It's a warning in the lives ofAnanias and Sapphira.
So let's just talk about theirsins, shall we?
Acts 5, 1 and 2.
But a man named Ananias, withhis wife Sapphira, sold a piece
of property and, with his wife'sknowledge, he kept back from
(21:32):
himself some of the proceeds howyou doing.
And he brought only a part ofit and laid it at the apostles'
feet.
So, ananias and Sapphira, justlike Barnabas, they sell some
property it's a good thing,right and they bring part of the
proceeds to the apostles.
(21:54):
And so here, use this portionor use this for the church.
What's the problem here?
The issue is not that theydidn't bring 100% of the
proceeds.
I wish I could say that thismorning, so you'd sell your land
and bring us 100%, but I can't.
(22:16):
Let's look at the issue.
Verses 3 and 4.
Peter said Ananias, why hasSatan filled your heart to lie
to the Holy Spirit?
That's the problem.
To keep back for yourself partof the proceeds of the land.
Now, here's the key.
Listen to this.
While it remained unsold, didit not remain your own To keep
(22:37):
back for yourself part of theproceeds of the land?
Now, here's the key.
Listen to this.
While it remained unsold, didit not remain your own?
In other words, ananias, wedidn't command you to sell your
property.
You did that of your ownvolition.
And then he said after it wassold, was it not at your
disposal?
In other words, we didn't tellyou to bring all the proceeds,
or even any of the proceeds tothe church.
(22:58):
Everything you own is God's,but what you do with that money
is between you and Him.
Why is it that you havecontrived this deed in your
heart?
You have not lied to man, butyou have lied to god.
So the issue is not that theamount that they gave.
(23:21):
The issue is not that they soldthe land and didn't bring a
hundred percent.
The issue is that ananias andhis wife lied to the apostles.
They were deceiving, wantingthem to think that they were
just like Barnabas and broughtit all, when they actually
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didn't.
So that's the sin of deception,the sin of lying.
Ultimately, though, we couldcall it the sin of hypocrisy,
which, by the way, was one ofJesus' greatest warnings during
his earthly ministry.
Flip with me to the book ofMatthew.
Just a few chapters, books ofthe Bible back.
Matthew, chapter 23.
(24:05):
I want to just look at versesone through five, matthew 23,.
Beginning in verse one, jesussaid to the crowds and to his
disciples the scribes and thePharisees sit on Moses' seat.
In other words, they're thekeepers of the law.
(24:26):
They teach the law.
So do and observe whatever theytell you Like.
They're teaching good things,but watch this, but don't do the
works that they do, for theypreach but they do not practice.
You known any Christians likethat?
Come on somebody.
They tie up heavy burdens, hardto bear, and they lay them on
(24:51):
people's shoulders, but theythemselves aren't willing to
move them with their fingers onpeople's shoulders, but they
themselves aren't willing tomove them with their fingers.
They do here.
It is all of their deeds to dowhat?
To be seen by men.
If you go down to verse 13, woeto you.
Woe to you, scribes andPharisees, what Hypoc hypocrites
(25:19):
.
For you shut the kingdom ofheaven in people's faces.
For you, neither enteryourselves nor allow those who
enter to go in.
Woe to you, scribes andpharisees, you hypocrites.
What the pharisees want, I mean?
They live their whole livespretentiously wanting others to
think of them better than theyactually were.
They wanted to be seen as moreholy, more righteous, more
(25:39):
generous, more charitable, morepious.
They wanted the applause of men.
They didn't care really howthey lived, they just wanted to
be seen in a certain light, andthat's the sin of Ananias and
Sapphira.
They didn't give what Barnabasgave, but they wanted to see.
(26:04):
They wanted to be seen likeBarnabas.
You know what they wanted.
They wanted to be seen likeBarnabas.
You know what they wanted.
They wanted maximum glory withminimum sacrifice.
They wanted maximum glory,which we shouldn't want glory at
all.
They wanted that with minimumsacrifice.
(26:27):
They wanted to be seen moregenerous.
Oh that, ananias and Sapphira.
Man, they are so generous, theycare about the poor so much.
Remember, barnabas means son ofencouragement and Barnabas
lived up to that name, didn't he?
(26:48):
Ananias, this is interesting.
Ananias means gift of the Lordand Sapphira means sapphire,
this gem of beauty.
So you could say her name meansbeautiful and they wanted to be
seen as gifts from the Lord andbeautiful.
And on the outside they mayhave looked like that, but,
(27:11):
friends, on the inside they wereanything, but they seemed to be
, in some sense, whitewashedtombs.
And let me just point this out.
This is so important.
Look at me, every person inhere, look at me.
This is a warning, remember,they lie, but Peter knows
(27:33):
they're lying.
How does he know?
It's this thing calleddiscernment.
The Holy Spirit revealed it toPeter.
Now, that doesn't always happen.
Listen to me, look at me please.
There are people in the church,in this church today.
I'm convinced that you come inand you lift your hands and you
(27:54):
sing and you smile and you cometo the altar, maybe even, but
you leave here and you live likehell and you might get away
with it.
I may never know, pastor Ben,pastor Hunter, pastor Jerry,
pastor Ron may never know.
The person sitting to your leftor right may never know.
(28:15):
But God knows.
You can fool us, but you cannotfool God.
This is a warning, which isvery loving, by the way.
It's not an easy text to preach.
That's why you know it's goodto preach verse or chapter by
(28:39):
chapter, whole books of theBible, because I preach things
that I would never preachotherwise.
I don't think I've ever taughton this passage before.
So you can fool man, but youcan't fool God.
So let's look at the result.
Okay, if you're a hypocrite,really listen up right now.
I'm going to see who's payingattention.
You know Verses five and six.
(29:02):
When Ananias heard these words,he fell down and breathed his
last.
That's just a reallypolitically correct way to say.
He died and great fear cameupon all who heard it.
Yeah, like I don't know if Idon't want to come to church
next week.
And the young men rose, wrappedhim up, carried him out and
buried him.
It's immediate.
(29:25):
In verse 10, the same thinghappened to Sapphira.
She fell down, breathed herlast young men came in, found
her dead, carried her out.
I just wonder, by the way shecame in like this is why church
services should be like threehours Like.
This is my argument.
Sapphira, you know beauty.
(29:45):
She had to do her hair, so shecame in later, like three hours
later.
Church services should be athair, so she came in later, like
three hours later.
Church services should be atleast three hours long.
Come on, listen.
God killed both Ananias andSapphira on the spot.
(30:07):
Does this seem harsh to anybody?
They say don't mess with God.
This is sobering.
I came in, no joke, I came inlast night.
I was here 11 hours yesterday,well, working 11 hours yesterday
, and after meditating on thisand meditating on this, I
literally fell on my face andsaid, oh God, or I knelt right
(30:31):
here.
I said, oh God, search my heartPlease.
Seriously, this is, don't makelight of this.
Why such a heart judgment?
Well, look at verse three.
Peter said Ananias, why hasSatan filled your heart?
You know, a true believer can'tbe possessed by Satan, but they
(30:57):
can be influenced.
In other words, why have youlistened to Satan on this?
What is Satan's goal, accordingto John 10.10?
To kill, to steal and destroy.
Listen, christ loves His churchso much so Ephesians 5 says that
(31:18):
he gave His life for her, andthe devil would love nothing
more to destroy church afterchurch after church, the global
church.
The gates of hell will nevercome against, you know, will not
stop.
But local churches we see thisall the time Hypocrisy,
(31:44):
negativity, gossip.
It's the enemy within andthey're destroyed every day.
You know what God's wanting todo here.
He's wanting to protect thepurity of His church.
Look with me just at the verses12 through 16.
(32:09):
Real, quickly, this is theresult of the judgment.
God's judgments are right.
You may not like it, he's God.
Who cares what you think right.
Who cares what I think?
Now?
Many signs and wonders wereregularly done among the people
by the hands of the apostles,and they were all together in
Solomon's portico.
None of the rest dared jointhem.
(32:30):
But the people held them inhigh esteem and, more than ever,
believers were added to theLord.
People were continually saved.
And then he goes on to talkabout miracles.
And all were healed and demonswere cast out.
You know why?
Because the church was pure,free of hypocrisy.
(32:54):
Now the judgment seems unfair tomodern people.
Some of you are scratching yourheads, going man, but you know
what?
Let me tell you why it's sooffensive to us.
Because we in America, in ourculture, we put the individual,
everything's about theindividual, and we will put an
individual above the community.
It was not so in the ancientworld and it's not so with God.
(33:15):
The community comes before theindividual.
So this judgment on two peoplewas for the sake of an entire
God-loving community.
And, by the way, you think.
Well, maybe Luke missed it here.
Maybe you know he had bad pizzaand he just threw this in here
accidentally.
He's remembering it wrong.
This is not a one-off thing.
(33:37):
I don't know if you remember,but in 1 Corinthians, chapter 11
, the church at Corinth, justfull of hypocrisy.
They were fighting with oneanother, putting one another
down.
There was great division in thechurch, but yet they were
coming together around theLord's table for communion,
common union, and acting as ifthey were together in one people
(34:04):
.
And I want you to look whatGod's judgment on them was.
This is 1 Corinthians 11, 27through 32.
Whoever, therefore, eats thebread or drinks the cup of the
Lord in an unworthy manner thisis hypocrisy will be guilty
concerning the body and blood ofthe Lord.
Let a person examine himselfthis is why we're doing
communion after the messagetoday, by the way.
(34:25):
Seriously Then and so eat ofthe bread and drink of the cup.
Next slide For anyone who eatsand drinks without discerning
the body, eats and drinksjudgment on himself.
Watch this.
That is why many of you areweak and ill and some have died.
But if we judged ourselvestruly, we would not be judged.
(34:52):
Hypocrisy in the early churchand, I would argue, still today,
results in judgment.
Now there's a question I want tojust deal with real quick that
many people have and there'sdifferent thoughts on this.
But the question is wereananias and sapphires really
christians?
There's a good argument to saythat they were like the
(35:17):
pharisees, who truly werewhitewashed tombs, that they
declared love for jesus butreally were not christians at
all.
But there's a great argument tosay that these actually were
christians.
But there's a great argument tosay that these actually were
Christians Because in Acts 4.32it says they were all of one
mind and soul, or heart and soul.
(35:39):
Think about that.
There's no reason to believereally that these were not
genuine believers, and I don'tbelieve a believer can be
possessed of the devil again,but the devil influenced these
people.
Now, if that is the case, it'snot a hill that I'll die on.
(36:03):
If that is the case, I thinkthis on Ananias and Sapphira
would actually be a judgment ofgrace, and I think that because
of what I just read in 1Corinthians 11, 27.
Can you put that verse?
Go back one more, okay, but ifwe judged ourselves, we would
(36:27):
not be judged Next slide, but weare judged by the Lord.
So remember what's the judgmenthere.
Some have died, judged by theLord.
We are disciplined so that wemay not be condemned along with
the world.
So if they were not believers,these Ananias and Sapphira
(36:49):
likely went to hell, right, well, they did.
But if they were believers, truebelievers, it's possible that
this was a judgment of grace,because continued hypocrisy can
harden the heart so much thatyou can just walk away from the
living God.
And this judgment could be.
(37:10):
You know, the Lord says listen,just come on home.
Really, john, in one of hisepistles talks about.
He says there are some sinsthat are not sins unto death,
but there is a sin unto death,to death, but there is a sin
unto death it's worth thinkingabout.
(37:32):
So this could be not, you know,if they were real believers.
There's no condemnation inChrist.
It wasn't condemnation but itwas a judgment of grace.
That's where I lean, but it'snot a hill I'll die on.
But anyways, what do we do withthis man?
(37:56):
I had to think about Lord.
What do I do with this?
It serves as a warning, likefor all of us.
So don't tune me out, becausethere's a great temptation in
every one of us to be an Ananiasor Sapphira.
In verse 5, it says when Ananiasheard these words, he fell down
, breathed his last and greatfear came upon all who heard it.
(38:24):
In verse 11, that's reiteratedand great fear came upon the
whole church when Sapphira diedand upon all who heard these
things.
Like we read these thingssometimes and we just think, ah,
it's not going to happen to me.
No, the church was awakened tosay I better look at my life.
Do you mind me coming to thekeys?
(38:50):
Can I just say something?
The God of the Old testament isthe same god of the new
testament and his characters isimmutable.
So I've had people say to me,generally people who are living
in sin.
Well, you know, god was grumpyin the old testament he was like
smiting people left and right.
But the new testament, like, hesends jesus and's like oh, and
we've domesticated God and we'vemade him cute and cuddly.
(39:14):
Listen to me he was a God ofgrace and wrath in the Old
Testament and he's a God ofgrace and wrath in the New
Testament.
Just read Revelation.
Look at me.
He is a force to be reckonedwith and you know what keeps me
up as a pastor at night?
It's looking at some of you andknowing how you live monday
(39:36):
through saturday, because I loveyou and I don't want you to end
up like ananias and sapphiraand, even worse, I don't want
you to completely fall away fromthe living God.
I don't want you to be a Demasand some of you right now, I
feel by the Holy Spirit, you areteetering, you are, you're so
(40:01):
close and I'm not trying toscare quote-unquote the hell out
of you.
I'm really not.
I'm just giving a.
This is, this is a lovingwarning to you, because our
church is not just uniquely thisone.
All across America, all acrossthe world, are full of
hypocrites.
Don't misunderstand me.
(40:23):
None of us live this lifeperfectly.
We're being sanctified day byday.
But if you are living inblatant, habitual sin.
Heed this warning.
We've all got to guard fromthis, because there's always a
(40:43):
temptation to want to berecognized and be seen as more
spiritual than we really are,you know.
Let me just remind you that thename of this church we are,
what's the name of our church?
Real Life, community Church.
So we know the community part.
Like we love each other here.
Right, it's community, but reallife.
(41:06):
That part of the name is reallyintentional as well.
Real life, see, I grew up in achurch where I thought I was a
large church.
I thought I was the only onewho had problems and it was not
a safe place.
I didn't feel like at least Toshare your sins and your
difficulties, your struggles.
This is real life, and thereason we named it real life is
(41:30):
because we want it to be a placeof transparency.
It's not that we wink at sin,it's not that we want you to
stay where you're at, but listento me, this is a place.
It's a safe place for you tocome to this altar today and say
, hey, I've got hypocrisy in mylife and we're not going to kick
(41:54):
you while you're down.
We're going to meet you whereyou are and help you to be more
like Jesus.
And you know, the scariest thing, this is what it teaches.
The scariest thing about beinga Barnabas or excuse me, an
Ananias or Sapphira is not justlook at me, I'm almost done here
.
It's not just that.
(42:14):
You are taking yourself downHusbands, you're going to take
your wife down and your kidsdown with you.
You're going to take yourgirlfriend down.
You're going to take yourco-workers down.
Do you know the number onereason people don't want nothing
to do with church.
Statistically, every stat thatI've seen shows this.
(42:35):
Every survey hypocrisy.
There's people who claim lovefor Jesus, and love no
differently than me.
Acts 4, starting with verse 32, through chapter 5,
verse 16.
Now, the full number of thosewho believed were of one heart
and soul, and no one said thatany of the things that belonged
to him was his own.
But they had everything incommon and, with great power,
(00:26):
the apostles were giving theirtestimony to the resurrection of
the Lord Jesus, and great gracewas upon them all.
There was not a needy personamong them, for as many as were
owners of lands or houses, soldthem and brought the proceeds of
(00:47):
what was sold and laid it atthe apostles' feet, and it was
distributed to each as any hadneed.
Thus Joseph, who was alsocalled by the apostles Barnabas,
which means son ofencouragement, a Levite, a
(01:08):
native of Cyprus, sold a fieldthat belonged to him and brought
the money and laid it at theapostles' feet.
But a man named Ananias, withhis wife Sapphira, sold a piece
of property and, with his wife'sknowledge, he kept back for
himself some of the proceeds andbrought only a part of it and
(01:32):
laid it at the apostles' feet.
But Peter said Ananias, why hasSatan filled your heart to lie
to the Holy Spirit and to keepback for yourself part of the
proceeds of the land While itremained unsold, did it not
remain your own?
(01:52):
And after it was sold, was itnot at your disposal?
Why is it that you havecontrived this deed in your
heart?
You have not lied to man, butto God.
When Ananias heard these words,he fell down and breathed his
last and great fear came uponall who heard of it.
(02:17):
The young men rose and wrappedhim up and carried him out and
buried him.
And wrapped him up and carriedhim out and buried him.
After an interval of aboutthree hours, his wife came in
not knowing what had happened,and Peter said to her Tell me
whether you sold the land for somuch.
And she said yes, for so much.
(02:39):
But Peter said to her how is itthat you have agreed together
to test the spirit of the Lord?
Behold, the feet of those whohave buried your husband are at
the door and they will carry youout Immediately.
She fell down at his feet andbreathed her last.
(03:01):
When the young men came in,they found her dead and they
carried her out and buried herbeside her last.
When the young men came in,they found her dead and they
carried her out and buried herbeside her husband, and great
fear came upon the whole churchand upon all who heard of these
things.
Now, many signs and wonderswere regularly done among the
(03:22):
people by the hands of theapostles, and they were all
together in Solomon's portico.
None of the rest dared jointhem, but the people held them
in high esteem and more thanever believers were added to the
Lord, multitudes of both menand women, so that they even
(03:47):
carried out the sick into thestreets and laid them on cots
and mats that, as Peter came by,at least his shadow might fall
on some of them.
The people also gathered fromthe towns around Jerusalem,
bringing the sick and thoseafflicted with unclean spirits,
and they were all healed.
(04:07):
This is the word of the Lord,amen.
Speaker 2 (04:25):
All right, jack, what did you say about this message?
Well, if it was true today, thechurch wouldn't have any
problem with me.
That's right.
Excuse me Well, who did youaspire to be like as a kid?
(04:50):
You know many children maybethis was you dress up as
superheroes, wanting to be likeBatman or Spider-Man.
I think one day, you know, I'mgoing to save the world.
I think one day, you know, I'mgoing to save the world Many
(05:13):
children dress up as cops orfiremen or cowboys, wishing to
be like those men and women.
You know high school basketballplayers move past that and they
try to mimic people like LeBronor Colby or, going back even
further, to Jordan and Bird andpeople like that.
But we all at some point haveaspired to be like somebody.
You know, one of the mostterrifying parts of being a
(05:37):
father, particularly of a son,is that from about the age of
three to five years old, theywant to mimic everything dad
does.
And can some fathers be honest?
That that's good sometimes, butoften that's not.
You know that's prettyfrightening, right?
You know my son he'll dosomething.
(05:59):
You know both of my sons, bothadults now, and they'll do
something.
And I'll think, man, I'm sofrustrated with them.
Where did they learn such athing?
And Nikki will look at me andgo true, there's old Phillips,
(06:20):
craig and Dean song.
I don't know if you remember it.
The refrain went something likethis Lord, I want to be just
like you because he, my son,wants to be just like me.
You know, there's nothing wrongto looking up at other people
in this world, but the chief aimof every one of us ought to be
to glorify God, and one of theways in which we glorify God is
(06:46):
by looking to Jesus and tryingto, by the Spirit, emulate Him.
And we do that in a couple ofdifferent ways.
One, obviously you just readthe Word, and then, by the help
of the Spirit, you do what itsays right.
There's another way, though,that the Bible teaches that we
learn to walk like Jesus walked,namely by following other more,
(07:13):
let's say, seasoned believers.
Do you remember the ApostlePaul who said follow me as I
follow Christ?
Oh, that each of us would beable to say that to other people
.
I just want to tell you thismorning that people are watching
us Both inside and outside ofthe church, and how many know
(07:36):
that not every person who callshim or herself a Christian is
worthy of mimicking or following.
Not every Christian can saythis.
So I just want to encourage youto listen today, because this
is actually a sobering text thattalks about not just God's love
(07:58):
and glory, but also Hisjudgment and wrath.
Today's text highlights a starkcontrast between Barnabas, a
genuine, selfless, generousbeliever worth following, and
the infamous Ananias andSapphira, who embody greed,
(08:22):
selfishness and hypocrisy, and Isimply want to encourage each
of us today to be a Barnabas,not an Ananias.
Are you with me?
Shake your head if I know youlost an hour of sleep.
All right, you're with me.
So I want to start by looking atthe church and the purity of
(08:44):
the early church.
You know, if we're going tounderstand this rather shocking
story of Ananias and Sapphira,we've got to understand the
state of the early church.
Look at verses 32 through 35.
Now, the full number of thosewho believed were of one heart
and soul, and no one said thatany of the things that belonged
(09:09):
to him was his own Think aboutthis.
But they had everything incommon and with great power, the
apostles were giving theirtestimony to the resurrection of
the Lord Jesus, and great gracewas upon them all.
There was not a needy personamong them, for as many as were
(09:29):
owners of lands or houses, soldthem and brought the proceeds of
what was sold and laid them atthe apostles' feet and it was
distributed to each of them asany had need.
Do you know?
The church at its inception wasat its purest form.
Hp Charles.
(09:49):
I may have mentioned this acouple of weeks ago, but great
preacher pointed this out that asuccessful business generally
starts okay, like you're tryingto gain your bearings.
But a successful business willgo to okay to good and then from
good to great.
But that's actually not truewith the church.
The church was at its best inActs 1 through 4.
(10:14):
Was at its best in Acts 1through 4.
Pretty amazing.
The early church was marked byunity.
I mean think of this the fullnumber, it says, of those who
believed were of one heart andone soul.
Imagine thousands of people atthis time.
They're from all over.
(10:34):
They're all Jews primarily, butthey're from all over the
Palestine, greater Palestinearea, and they come from
different backgrounds.
They even speak differentlanguages some of them.
They have different preferences, they're from different social
classes, and yet they're of onemind and one heart.
Why?
(10:55):
Because the most importantthing in their life is Jesus,
and in Christ they are united.
That's how the church issupposed to be.
Think of this.
No one had their own agenda andthey were just there to serve
Christ.
They were also marked not justby unity, but also by radical
(11:18):
generosity.
They had all things in common.
Look what it says.
No one said that any of thethings that belonged to him was
his own.
We talk about all the time mythis and my that.
Could you imagine with yourpossession, when you come to
church, talking about, you know,talking about your possessions
as our possessions?
(11:40):
Radical generosity.
And we talked about this acouple of weeks ago, because
this same narrative is in Acts,chapter 2.
But why were they so generous?
Well, number one is theytreasured Christ above all
things.
Why were they so generous?
Well, number one is theytreasured Christ above all
things.
(12:02):
Now, I've talked about this thatwhen you see Jesus for who he
really is and you become, likethe early church, enamored in
His beauty, you know whathappens.
The things of this world,pastor Ben, just begin to lose
their luster, don't they?
Nothing wrong with having nicethings, but that's not what
you're chasing after anymorewhen you're enamored with Jesus
and the tragedy of the Americanchurch is that we have somehow
tried to reconcile the Americandream and the gospel.
(12:24):
It just doesn't work.
It's tragic, but I just believewe don't have to.
If I could get you to see howbeautiful jesus really is, we
would never have a givingproblem.
You know, there's anotherreason.
(12:46):
They were generous.
They saw each other as brothersand sisters in christ family.
How many know behind you, infront of you, beside you, if
they are in Christ, they are abrother or sister in the Lord,
jesus Christ.
We are family, we're family.
(13:07):
What do the kids say now?
Fam, right.
Family's too long of a word forthem.
You're fam, right.
Think about this If you had ason or daughter, let's say you
have a son, all right, and he isstruggling.
He just lost his job and he'sgetting ready to get evicted
(13:29):
from his home and you have yourhouse.
But then out, you know, in thecountry, somewhere in Jackson
County or wherever, you've got apiece of land.
Is that where your land is?
You've got a piece of land andit's not something that you have
to have, but it's an asset andmaybe you're planning to build
there one day.
But let's just say that yourson.
(13:52):
Short of a miracle, he's goingto lose his house and he's got
again young children and all ofthat.
If you're a father at all, youwould not think twice about
selling that land and giving theproceeds to your son.
And that's how the early church,that's how much the early
(14:13):
church loved one another.
It wasn, wasn't this come in onSunday and just leave without
you know, or just you know,exchanging hellos and how you
doing it was like they livedlife together and they cared
about each other that deeply.
You know the church.
This is a beautiful thing.
It offers to us a uniquecommunity.
(14:35):
This is a beautiful thing.
It offers to us a uniquecommunity.
God made us to not live alone,but how many know he made us to
live within community.
We see it all through the Bible.
From the very first pages ofyour Bible, god saw that it was
not good that Adam be alone.
(14:56):
The science, by the way, hasproven that we're not made to be
alone.
The science, by the way, hasproven that we're not made to be
alone.
There's an article that I readthis week in Psychology Today
that talks about how living incommunity promotes our health,
both mental and physical, andour all-around well-being, and
(15:19):
physical and our all-aroundwell-being, like relationships,
really matter and we know thisjust because of what we've
experienced over the past fewyears.
You know, the greatest tragedyof COVID was not the sickness
itself, but it was the mandatedsocial isolation.
There's actually the APA, theAmerican Psychological
Association, published anarticle talking about how the
people around the world duringthe pandemic experienced an
(15:42):
increase in loneliness duringCOVID.
And here's what the APA said.
They said that this could have,very likely could have
long-term effects, term effects.
That affects people's mentaland physical health, longevity
and well-being.
(16:02):
We are made to live withincommunity and this is why people
join organizations and clubsand teams, because they want to
feel a part of a community.
I did at one point in my lifewhen we lived in Colorado, we,
nikki and I, had a.
We ministered to gang members,particularly young people who
are, you know, following theirparents and getting into gangs
(16:26):
and things, and what we foundout is the reason that they did
that, because not, it's not thatthey loved violence and all
that goes with that, but theyloved the brotherhood that they
felt.
But you know what?
It is only the church, uniquely, the church offers the
community that we really need,and here's why Dr Martin
(16:48):
Lloyd-Jones says that we're aunique community in history,
because not only do we havecommunity with one another, but
there's also a spiritual realmhere we have the presence of God
, and Peter talks about this inchapter 5 to Ananias You've not
lied to man, but you've lied tothe Holy Spirit.
(17:10):
Christ, by His Spirit, is withus In our greatest need.
Beloved is not communion withone another, but communion with
God.
But we also need communion withone another, community with
other people, and the churchoffers both.
Isn't that a beautiful thing,so wonderful.
(17:31):
Bill Hybels tragically,unfortunately a fallen pastor
wrote something really good inone of his books, and I think we
have this on the screen.
He said there is nothing likethe local church when it's
working right.
How many believe that?
Look at this.
Its beauty is indescribable.
Its beauty is indescribable.
(17:52):
Its power is breathtaking.
Its potential is unlimited.
It comforts the grieving andheals the broken.
In the context of community.
It builds bridges to seekersand offers truth to the confused
.
There's nothing like the localchurch when it's working right.
(18:16):
It's imperfect.
Every local church is imperfect.
But are you grateful for yourlocal church today?
I am Amen, amen.
So what we see again in thefirst few chapters of Acts is
this is the church in its purestform, and this is what we
(18:37):
should strive to be as a church.
And so this story is reallyabout God protecting the purity
of the church.
That's what it's about, and soLuke moves from talking about
the church in general and hegives us this example of a man
by the name of Barnabas, who wasa church member worth following
(18:59):
.
Oh that we would all be likeBarnabas.
Verses 36 and 37.
Thus, joseph, who was alsocalled by the apostles Barnabas
how would you like to benicknamed by the apostles?
Well, it could go either way,but his nickname means son of
(19:25):
encouragement.
He was a Levite, a native ofCyprus, and he sold a field that
belonged to him and he broughtthe money and laid it at the
apostles' feet.
So Barnabas, now in Jerusalem,has a field in Cyprus that he
doesn't need, and he thought youknow what?
I've got all I need here.
I'm going to sell it becausethere are needy believers among
us, and he just gives 100% ofthe proceeds 100% to the church.
(19:49):
It's amazing, and so he wasextremely generous.
He was also an encourager.
How many know?
We need encouragement in thechurch.
Today, jordan Peterson hastalked about this.
He said, you know, he makes ahabit of encouraging, through
(20:10):
his teachings and hisconferences, young men
particularly.
And he said it's amazing howlittle encouragement, just a
little encouragement, goes sucha long way in people's lives.
People are starving forencouragement.
Look at me, the church issupposed to be a place where
(20:30):
people are encouraged, notbeaten down, not kicked while
we're down.
That doesn't mean that we winkat sin and don't deal with.
You know, don't haveconfrontation and those things.
That's necessary.
But you ought to come into thisplace and feel encouraged and
leave feeling more encouragedthan when you came in, and that
(20:51):
is the job of every one of us.
Oh, let's be a Barnabas.
Barnabas could say, like Paul,follow me as I follow Christ.
So Luke moves from giving us agodly example in Barnabas, who
contributes to the health of thechurch, to giving us a warning
(21:11):
and don't write this off.
It's a warning in the lives ofAnanias and Sapphira.
So let's just talk about theirsins, shall we?
Acts 5, 1 and 2.
But a man named Ananias, withhis wife Sapphira, sold a piece
of property and, with his wife'sknowledge, he kept back from
(21:32):
himself some of the proceeds howyou doing.
And he brought only a part ofit and laid it at the apostles'
feet.
So, ananias and Sapphira, justlike Barnabas, they sell some
property it's a good thing,right and they bring part of the
proceeds to the apostles.
(21:54):
And so here, use this portionor use this for the church.
What's the problem here?
The issue is not that theydidn't bring 100% of the
proceeds.
I wish I could say that thismorning, so you'd sell your land
and bring us 100%, but I can't.
(22:16):
Let's look at the issue.
Verses 3 and 4.
Peter said Ananias, why hasSatan filled your heart to lie
to the Holy Spirit?
That's the problem.
To keep back for yourself partof the proceeds of the land.
Now, here's the key.
Listen to this.
While it remained unsold, didit not remain your own To keep
(22:37):
back for yourself part of theproceeds of the land?
Now, here's the key.
Listen to this.
While it remained unsold, didit not remain your own?
In other words, ananias, wedidn't command you to sell your
property.
You did that of your ownvolition.
And then he said after it wassold, was it not at your
disposal?
In other words, we didn't tellyou to bring all the proceeds,
or even any of the proceeds tothe church.
(22:58):
Everything you own is God's,but what you do with that money
is between you and Him.
Why is it that you havecontrived this deed in your
heart?
You have not lied to man, butyou have lied to god.
So the issue is not that theamount that they gave.
(23:21):
The issue is not that they soldthe land and didn't bring a
hundred percent.
The issue is that ananias andhis wife lied to the apostles.
They were deceiving, wantingthem to think that they were
just like Barnabas and broughtit all, when they actually
(23:44):
didn't.
So that's the sin of deception,the sin of lying.
Ultimately, though, we couldcall it the sin of hypocrisy,
which, by the way, was one ofJesus' greatest warnings during
his earthly ministry.
Flip with me to the book ofMatthew.
Just a few chapters, books ofthe Bible back.
Matthew, chapter 23.
(24:05):
I want to just look at versesone through five, matthew 23,.
Beginning in verse one, jesussaid to the crowds and to his
disciples the scribes and thePharisees sit on Moses' seat.
In other words, they're thekeepers of the law.
(24:26):
They teach the law.
So do and observe whatever theytell you Like.
They're teaching good things,but watch this, but don't do the
works that they do, for theypreach but they do not practice.
You known any Christians likethat?
Come on somebody.
They tie up heavy burdens, hardto bear, and they lay them on
(24:51):
people's shoulders, but theythemselves aren't willing to
move them with their fingers onpeople's shoulders, but they
themselves aren't willing tomove them with their fingers.
They do here.
It is all of their deeds to dowhat?
To be seen by men.
If you go down to verse 13, woeto you.
Woe to you, scribes andPharisees, what Hypoc hypocrites
(25:19):
.
For you shut the kingdom ofheaven in people's faces.
For you, neither enteryourselves nor allow those who
enter to go in.
Woe to you, scribes andpharisees, you hypocrites.
What the pharisees want, I mean?
They live their whole livespretentiously wanting others to
think of them better than theyactually were.
They wanted to be seen as moreholy, more righteous, more
(25:39):
generous, more charitable, morepious.
They wanted the applause of men.
They didn't care really howthey lived, they just wanted to
be seen in a certain light, andthat's the sin of Ananias and
Sapphira.
They didn't give what Barnabasgave, but they wanted to see.
(26:04):
They wanted to be seen likeBarnabas.
You know what they wanted.
They wanted to be seen likeBarnabas.
You know what they wanted.
They wanted maximum glory withminimum sacrifice.
They wanted maximum glory,which we shouldn't want glory at
all.
They wanted that with minimumsacrifice.
(26:27):
They wanted to be seen moregenerous.
Oh that, ananias and Sapphira.
Man, they are so generous, theycare about the poor so much.
Remember, barnabas means son ofencouragement and Barnabas
lived up to that name, didn't he?
(26:48):
Ananias, this is interesting.
Ananias means gift of the Lordand Sapphira means sapphire,
this gem of beauty.
So you could say her name meansbeautiful and they wanted to be
seen as gifts from the Lord andbeautiful.
And on the outside they mayhave looked like that, but,
(27:11):
friends, on the inside they wereanything, but they seemed to be
, in some sense, whitewashedtombs.
And let me just point this out.
This is so important.
Look at me, every person inhere, look at me.
This is a warning, remember,they lie, but Peter knows
(27:33):
they're lying.
How does he know?
It's this thing calleddiscernment.
The Holy Spirit revealed it toPeter.
Now, that doesn't always happen.
Listen to me, look at me please.
There are people in the church,in this church today.
I'm convinced that you come inand you lift your hands and you
(27:54):
sing and you smile and you cometo the altar, maybe even, but
you leave here and you live likehell and you might get away
with it.
I may never know, pastor Ben,pastor Hunter, pastor Jerry,
pastor Ron may never know.
The person sitting to your leftor right may never know.
(28:15):
But God knows.
You can fool us, but you cannotfool God.
This is a warning, which isvery loving, by the way.
It's not an easy text to preach.
That's why you know it's goodto preach verse or chapter by
(28:39):
chapter, whole books of theBible, because I preach things
that I would never preachotherwise.
I don't think I've ever taughton this passage before.
So you can fool man, but youcan't fool God.
So let's look at the result.
Okay, if you're a hypocrite,really listen up right now.
I'm going to see who's payingattention.
You know Verses five and six.
(29:02):
When Ananias heard these words,he fell down and breathed his
last.
That's just a reallypolitically correct way to say.
He died and great fear cameupon all who heard it.
Yeah, like I don't know if Idon't want to come to church
next week.
And the young men rose, wrappedhim up, carried him out and
buried him.
It's immediate.
(29:25):
In verse 10, the same thinghappened to Sapphira.
She fell down, breathed herlast young men came in, found
her dead, carried her out.
I just wonder, by the way shecame in like this is why church
services should be like threehours Like.
This is my argument.
Sapphira, you know beauty.
(29:45):
She had to do her hair, so shecame in later, like three hours
later.
Church services should be athair, so she came in later, like
three hours later.
Church services should be atleast three hours long.
Come on, listen.
God killed both Ananias andSapphira on the spot.
(30:07):
Does this seem harsh to anybody?
They say don't mess with God.
This is sobering.
I came in, no joke, I came inlast night.
I was here 11 hours yesterday,well, working 11 hours yesterday
, and after meditating on thisand meditating on this, I
literally fell on my face andsaid, oh God, or I knelt right
(30:31):
here.
I said, oh God, search my heartPlease.
Seriously, this is, don't makelight of this.
Why such a heart judgment?
Well, look at verse three.
Peter said Ananias, why hasSatan filled your heart?
You know, a true believer can'tbe possessed by Satan, but they
(30:57):
can be influenced.
In other words, why have youlistened to Satan on this?
What is Satan's goal, accordingto John 10.10?
To kill, to steal and destroy.
Listen, christ loves His churchso much so Ephesians 5 says that
(31:18):
he gave His life for her, andthe devil would love nothing
more to destroy church afterchurch after church, the global
church.
The gates of hell will nevercome against, you know, will not
stop.
But local churches we see thisall the time Hypocrisy,
(31:44):
negativity, gossip.
It's the enemy within andthey're destroyed every day.
You know what God's wanting todo here.
He's wanting to protect thepurity of His church.
Look with me just at the verses12 through 16.
(32:09):
Real, quickly, this is theresult of the judgment.
God's judgments are right.
You may not like it, he's God.
Who cares what you think right.
Who cares what I think?
Now?
Many signs and wonders wereregularly done among the people
by the hands of the apostles,and they were all together in
Solomon's portico.
None of the rest dared jointhem.
(32:30):
But the people held them inhigh esteem and, more than ever,
believers were added to theLord.
People were continually saved.
And then he goes on to talkabout miracles.
And all were healed and demonswere cast out.
You know why?
Because the church was pure,free of hypocrisy.
(32:54):
Now the judgment seems unfair tomodern people.
Some of you are scratching yourheads, going man, but you know
what?
Let me tell you why it's sooffensive to us.
Because we in America, in ourculture, we put the individual,
everything's about theindividual, and we will put an
individual above the community.
It was not so in the ancientworld and it's not so with God.
(33:15):
The community comes before theindividual.
So this judgment on two peoplewas for the sake of an entire
God-loving community.
And, by the way, you think.
Well, maybe Luke missed it here.
Maybe you know he had bad pizzaand he just threw this in here
accidentally.
He's remembering it wrong.
This is not a one-off thing.
(33:37):
I don't know if you remember,but in 1 Corinthians, chapter 11
, the church at Corinth, justfull of hypocrisy.
They were fighting with oneanother, putting one another
down.
There was great division in thechurch, but yet they were
coming together around theLord's table for communion,
common union, and acting as ifthey were together in one people
(34:04):
.
And I want you to look whatGod's judgment on them was.
This is 1 Corinthians 11, 27through 32.
Whoever, therefore, eats thebread or drinks the cup of the
Lord in an unworthy manner thisis hypocrisy will be guilty
concerning the body and blood ofthe Lord.
Let a person examine himselfthis is why we're doing
communion after the messagetoday, by the way.
(34:25):
Seriously Then and so eat ofthe bread and drink of the cup.
Next slide For anyone who eatsand drinks without discerning
the body, eats and drinksjudgment on himself.
Watch this.
That is why many of you areweak and ill and some have died.
But if we judged ourselvestruly, we would not be judged.
(34:52):
Hypocrisy in the early churchand, I would argue, still today,
results in judgment.
Now there's a question I want tojust deal with real quick that
many people have and there'sdifferent thoughts on this.
But the question is wereananias and sapphires really
christians?
There's a good argument to saythat they were like the
(35:17):
pharisees, who truly werewhitewashed tombs, that they
declared love for jesus butreally were not christians at
all.
But there's a great argument tosay that these actually were
christians.
But there's a great argument tosay that these actually were
Christians Because in Acts 4.32it says they were all of one
mind and soul, or heart and soul.
(35:39):
Think about that.
There's no reason to believereally that these were not
genuine believers, and I don'tbelieve a believer can be
possessed of the devil again,but the devil influenced these
people.
Now, if that is the case, it'snot a hill that I'll die on.
(36:03):
If that is the case, I thinkthis on Ananias and Sapphira
would actually be a judgment ofgrace, and I think that because
of what I just read in 1Corinthians 11, 27.
Can you put that verse?
Go back one more, okay, but ifwe judged ourselves, we would
(36:27):
not be judged Next slide, but weare judged by the Lord.
So remember what's the judgmenthere.
Some have died, judged by theLord.
We are disciplined so that wemay not be condemned along with
the world.
So if they were not believers,these Ananias and Sapphira
(36:49):
likely went to hell, right, well, they did.
But if they were believers, truebelievers, it's possible that
this was a judgment of grace,because continued hypocrisy can
harden the heart so much thatyou can just walk away from the
living God.
And this judgment could be.
(37:10):
You know, the Lord says listen,just come on home.
Really, john, in one of hisepistles talks about.
He says there are some sinsthat are not sins unto death,
but there is a sin unto death,to death, but there is a sin
unto death it's worth thinkingabout.
(37:32):
So this could be not, you know,if they were real believers.
There's no condemnation inChrist.
It wasn't condemnation but itwas a judgment of grace.
That's where I lean, but it'snot a hill I'll die on.
But anyways, what do we do withthis man?
(37:56):
I had to think about Lord.
What do I do with this?
It serves as a warning, likefor all of us.
So don't tune me out, becausethere's a great temptation in
every one of us to be an Ananiasor Sapphira.
In verse 5, it says when Ananiasheard these words, he fell down
, breathed his last and greatfear came upon all who heard it.
(38:24):
In verse 11, that's reiteratedand great fear came upon the
whole church when Sapphira diedand upon all who heard these
things.
Like we read these thingssometimes and we just think, ah,
it's not going to happen to me.
No, the church was awakened tosay I better look at my life.
Do you mind me coming to thekeys?
(38:50):
Can I just say something?
The God of the Old testament isthe same god of the new
testament and his characters isimmutable.
So I've had people say to me,generally people who are living
in sin.
Well, you know, god was grumpyin the old testament he was like
smiting people left and right.
But the new testament, like, hesends jesus and's like oh, and
we've domesticated God and we'vemade him cute and cuddly.
(39:14):
Listen to me he was a God ofgrace and wrath in the Old
Testament and he's a God ofgrace and wrath in the New
Testament.
Just read Revelation.
Look at me.
He is a force to be reckonedwith and you know what keeps me
up as a pastor at night?
It's looking at some of you andknowing how you live monday
(39:36):
through saturday, because I loveyou and I don't want you to end
up like ananias and sapphiraand, even worse, I don't want
you to completely fall away fromthe living God.
I don't want you to be a Demasand some of you right now, I
feel by the Holy Spirit, you areteetering, you are, you're so
(40:01):
close and I'm not trying toscare quote-unquote the hell out
of you.
I'm really not.
I'm just giving a.
This is, this is a lovingwarning to you, because our
church is not just uniquely thisone.
All across America, all acrossthe world, are full of
hypocrites.
Don't misunderstand me.
(40:23):
None of us live this lifeperfectly.
We're being sanctified day byday.
But if you are living inblatant, habitual sin.
Heed this warning.
We've all got to guard fromthis, because there's always a
(40:43):
temptation to want to berecognized and be seen as more
spiritual than we really are,you know.
Let me just remind you that thename of this church we are,
what's the name of our church?
Real Life, community Church.
So we know the community part.
Like we love each other here.
Right, it's community, but reallife.
(41:06):
That part of the name is reallyintentional as well.
Real life, see, I grew up in achurch where I thought I was a
large church.
I thought I was the only onewho had problems and it was not
a safe place.
I didn't feel like at least Toshare your sins and your
difficulties, your struggles.
This is real life, and thereason we named it real life is
(41:30):
because we want it to be a placeof transparency.
It's not that we wink at sin,it's not that we want you to
stay where you're at, but listento me, this is a place.
It's a safe place for you tocome to this altar today and say
, hey, I've got hypocrisy in mylife and we're not going to kick
(41:54):
you while you're down.
We're going to meet you whereyou are and help you to be more
like Jesus.
And you know, the scariest thing, this is what it teaches.
The scariest thing about beinga Barnabas or excuse me, an
Ananias or Sapphira is not justlook at me, I'm almost done here
.
It's not just that.
(42:14):
You are taking yourself downHusbands, you're going to take
your wife down and your kidsdown with you.
You're going to take yourgirlfriend down.
You're going to take yourco-workers down.
Do you know the number onereason people don't want nothing
to do with church.
Statistically, every stat thatI've seen shows this.
(42:35):
Every survey hypocrisy.
There's people who claim lovefor Jesus, and love no
differently than me.
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