Handling Church Problems God's Way

Scripture: Acts 4:32-37

Today we continue our series. Having been unsuccessful through governmental intimidation Satan now moves into the church…

•  Deadly Lies – The Twin Deceits, (Acts 5:1-11)

1. The setting for this chapter begins with the beginning of the church…
a. Remember the church began on the Day of Pentecost, ( Acts 2 ).
1) ( Acts 2:5 ), “Now there were Jews living in Jerusalem, devout men, from every nation under heaven.”

2) These people remained in Jerusalem, “..continually devoting themselves…,” ( v. 42 ).
3) Thus their physical needs had to be met, ( Acts 2:44-45 ), “all those who had believed were together, and had all things in common; and they began selling property and possessions….”

b. Joseph (who the apostles renamed, Barnabas ) had a heart for people and wanted to help his brethren.
1) Scripture Reading, “Joseph, a Levite of Cyprian birth, who was also called Barnabas….”
2) Thank God for His “encouragers”!! These are the ones who keep us going in tough times!!!

•  The Deception , (vs. 1-2)

2. ( vs. 1-2 ), “A certain man named Ananias, with his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property, and kept back some of the price for himself, with his wife's full knowledge, and bringing a portion of it, he laid it at the apostles' feet.”
a. Ananias & Sapphira desired Barnabas' acclaim without having his heart, ( 1 st Deceit -Hypocrisy !).
1) Hypocrisy is about trying to impress others rather than seeking to impress Christ!

2) God had warned His people, ( Psa. 101:7 ), “He who practices deceit shall not dwell in My house.”

b. Some may say, “But aren't all of us hypocrites? Don't we all ‘fake it until we make it'?!”
1) All of us are striving to become better. But are we seeking glory for ourselves or for God?!?
2) ( Phil. 3:12 ), “Not that I have already attained it, or have already become perfect, but I press on in order that I may lay hold of that for which I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus.”
3) Jesus warned us, ( Lk. 12:1 ), “Beware the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.”
4) Once this “play-acting” (hypocrisy) takes hold in the church, it spreads, ( Gal. 5:9 ), “A little…”

•  The Discovery , (vs. 3-4)

1. ( v. 3 ), “But Peter said, ‘Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit, and to keep back some of the price
of the land?'” - 2 nd Deceit - Greed ! “…greed, which amounts to idolatry,” ( Col. 3:5 ). When things come before God!
a. How did Peter know? The apostles were gifted with all of the gifts of the Holy Spirit, ( Acts 1:8 ).
1) Peter here is using the gift of “the distinguishing of spirits,” ( I Cor. 12:10 ).
2) This gift was given to protect these early Christians from Satan's power to deceive!
3) Today God has also provided a means by which His people can be protected from deceivers.
4) ( I Jn. 4:1, 6 ), “Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world… We are form God; he who knows God listens to us; he who is not from God does not listen to us. By this we know the spirit of truth and the….”

2. ( v. 4 ), “While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, was it not under your control? Why is it you have conceived this deed in your heart? You have not lied to me, but to God.”
a. Notice here the dual nature of sin: (1) the temptation by Satan, (2) and the intention of the heart!
1) Satan can only tempt – that is all he can do. But God protect His people, ( I Cor. 10:13 ).
2) God protects us from Satan, but we must protect our hearts, ( Pro. 4:23 ), “Guard your hearts with all diligence, for from it flow the issues of life.” (It directs the course of our lives!)

3. Some people have said that the early church practiced a “primitive form of communism.”
a. As Marx said, “From each according to his ability, to each according to their need.”
1) Huge difference: In Communism everything belongs to the state and it tells the people what to do with it.” “In Xianity everything belongs to God, and He lets us choose what to do with it.”
2) Notice what Peter says; before Ananias sold it – it was his. After he sold it – the money was his. The choice for what to do with the money (i.e. how much to give) – was his to make!
3) This is true with all that we give to God. ( II Cor. 9:7 ), “Let each one do just as he has purposed in his heart; not grudgingly, or under compulsion; for God loves a cheerful giver.”
4) No tithing! No designated amounts! Our giving is a demonstration of our love. It is not about how well we can calculate 10%, or what man/group we can impress!!!

•  The Deaths , (vs. 5-11)

•  ( vs. 5-6 ), “And as he heard these words, Ananias fell down and breathed his last; and great fear came upon all who heard it. And the young men arose and covered him up, and after carrying him out, they buried him.”
a. The biblical point of this lesson is not to do a case study “deceitful Christians.”
1) The purpose is to show that Jesus knows EXACTLY what is taking place in His church!
2) In the letters to the churches of Asia, Jesus begins by saying to them, “I know…!” ( Rev. 2-3 ).
3) A sobering thought, Jesus will step in to maintain the purity of His beloved bride!!!
5) After correcting their false view re: the Communion, Paul warns, ( I Cor. 11:30 ), “For this reason many among you are weak and sick, and a number sleep.”

•  ( vs. 7-11 ), “Now there elapsed an interval of about 3 hours, and his wife came in not knowing what had happened. And Peter responded to her, ‘Tell me whether you sold the land for such and such a price?' And she said, ‘Yes, that was the price.' Then Peter said to her, ‘Why is it you have agreed together to put the Spirit of the Lord to the test? Behold, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they shall carry you out as well.' And she fell immediately at his feet, and breathed her last; and the young men came in and found her dead, and they carried her out and buried her beside her husband. And great fear came upon the whole church, and upon all who heard these things.”
a. It would be a mistake to believe the punishment doled out was solely a decision made by Peter.
1) Peter could no more “kill” these two than he could have healed the lame man (last lesson).
2) ( Acts 3:12 ), “Peter replied to the people, ‘Men of Israel, why do you marvel at this, or why do you gaze at us, as if by our own power and piety we made him walk?'”
3) At all times we need to recognize that we are instruments in the hand of God, and we are called to act according to His will as revealed in His word.
4) ( Rom. 6:13 ), “…present yourselves to God as those alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God.”

•  We all have struggles in our Christian walk. This is not about those of us who stumble from time to time.
a. But for those who are playing games with God, who “play church,” – know it is an extreme sport!
1) Ananias & Sapphira found out the hard way! God always wins!

•  But some may believe that this sort of thing would scare people away from church!
1) Quite the contrary! Most people are looking for a place where the believers are genuine!
2) For not only does “hypocrisy” destroy the individual, it can also destroy a congregation!!!
3) But the reverse can only help a church grow!
4) Acts 5:14 , “And all the more believers in the Lord, multitudes of men and women, were constantly added to their number.”

CONCLUSIONS:

Quote Rom. 6:1-4